The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Villainess Hides Her Identity, and Everyone Misunderstands
Chapter 11

Being an information broker was not a lucrative profession.
Especially for an information broker like Twilight—I was destitute, lacking even the means to purchase a meal for survival.
If one were to ask why an information broker had no money, the answer was simple.
‘I lost out in the territorial struggle.’
The Capital City was fierce!
Shops vanished without a trace and reappeared—the hub of distribution! People who couldn’t even remember whether such establishments existed!
It had always been that way.
Wasn’t it the same in Seoul, where businesses failed and reopened daily?
It was the same concept.
The most successful information broker in the Capital City today was known as the Tongue of the Snake. In the original story, she was the information broker that Kashien had used.
However, there was a considerable chance I wouldn’t even be able to enter the Tongue of the Snake. The entry conditions there were quite stringent.
To put it simply, it was a place open only to those with a “premium” label.
It meant I—a lowly maid in disguise—could not use such a place.
There were many other information brokers, but I specifically chose Twilight because….
That’s right, because it was the most destitute!
I was confident that money could solve everything there!
I lifted the teacup before me and took a sip. I had just been guided inside by an employee.
The interior of Twilight’s shop was permeated with the mingled scents of rotting wood and damp dust.
Ugh, the smell of mold.
Do they even intend to run this business?
Just then, a door creaked open from within.
“…?”
A man entered and blinked in surprise.
I furrowed my brow.
“…You don’t accept customers?”
“Ah, my apologies. I heard money was being scattered about, so I wondered what sort of customer had arrived.”
Was my appearance really that shabby?
I shrugged and replied.
“Why else would I come here and scatter money?”
“Indeed. It’s been so long since I’ve had a customer that I was rude.”
I came this far because I didn’t want my identity exposed.
If I were to invoke Evelyn’s status, I should simply go to the Tongue of the Snake, which boasts guaranteed confidentiality and reliable service. Of course, Evelyn herself couldn’t even approach that place due to system restrictions.
“So?”
The man shuffled over and slouched into the chair across from me.
“So what do you want to know?”
His tone inspired absolutely no confidence.
I found myself hesitating.
Could I really trust this man who was casually picking his nose right in front of a customer?
No, I could always go to another information broker instead…
“….”
“….”
“…Ah, pardon me.”
Did he even realize I was sitting right here?
I exhaled a long sigh and made my decision.
Well, it wasn’t as if I needed particularly high-grade intelligence anyway…
“…Prince Rakiel Bernhardt. I need you to investigate everything about him.”
“The Second Prince?”
“You don’t need to be overly thorough—just compile whatever basic information you can find. Simple biographical details, gossip, that sort of thing.”
It wasn’t that I was too lazy to gather the information myself.
…Absolutely not.
What I knew from the original story or my previous experiences were merely fragments.
Since I’d never actually spoken to him properly, I couldn’t even remember what kind of person he was.
“The Second Prince, huh….”
The man tilted his head while pretending to rummage through a drawer.

[Current Disguise: Low-rank Maid / Disguise Maintenance: 78%]
[…75%…]
[…71%…]
[…67%…]

Huh?
What’s going on? Is someone watching me?
I glanced around, but the only person I saw was the man in front of me.
I furrowed my brow and spoke.
“…Excuse me?”
“…”
“Excuse me, but this is problematic.”
I faltered.
There had to be a reason I handed over that much money.
“I can’t proceed with the request like this. Why did I go out of my way to find Twilight in the first place?”
The man stared directly at me.
“…How did you know?”
“Know what? You were staring at me so openly—how could I not notice?”
“How strange.”
You’re the one who’s strange.
Why would an information broker try to pry into a client’s identity in the first place!
“…Pardon me, that was my mistake. I apologize.”
Your apology lacks sincerity!
Ah, now I understand why Twilight is so poor. He’s far too curious about unnecessary things!
Among the clients who sought out information brokers, few were willing to take such risks. Especially not those with substantial wealth.

[Current Disguise: Low-rank Maid / Disguise Maintenance: 92%]

Oh, that escalated quickly.
It seems he’s already given up on trying to figure out my identity.
He appeared to be a simpler man than I expected.
“Is that all you want to know?”
“Yes. How long will it take?”
“Hmm… about a week?”
What, it takes that long?
“Can’t you speed it up?”
“…Five days.”
That won’t do.
Swish.
Thud.
“Two days.”
“Look, just saying that doesn’t mean information comes faster—”
Swish.
Thud.
“Two days.”
“…I will serve you with utmost sincerity, customer.”
If there’s something money can’t solve, perhaps the amount simply isn’t sufficient.

* * *

Only after experiencing every flattering skill in the book and receiving a peculiar VIP business card did I finally manage to leave.
I didn’t forget to flip a few gold coins as a tip to the Employee who guided me out.
After all, generosity now ensures gratitude returns later—like a magpie repaying kindness.
“Please come again! We’ll give you the full treatment!”
“There’s really no need for all that…”
“We’ll see you out!”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll politely decline.”
As I stepped outside the tavern, the sun was already setting.
A long yawn escaped me.
Since my hundredth regression, I’d been running around without a single day of rest, and the fatigue was catching up with me.
As I dragged my weary body toward the Noble Family estate, a system window appeared.

[Quest: Help the Old Woman with Her Luggage
Reward: Stats +6]

When I turned my head, I saw an old woman struggling to move what appeared to be a heavy bundle of luggage.
Well, I should still gather stats whenever I can, right?
Based on my experience over the past few days, it took quite some time for new Quests to appear.
Especially within the Noble Family—since I’d been bustling about, Quests had completely dried up.
It was a bit tiring, but….
I quickly moved forward and stood before the old woman.
“Let me carry that for you.”
“Oh my, young lady, you shouldn’t…!”
“It’s fine. I need some exercise anyway.”
Well, I was heading that way anyway, so I might as well….

[Quest: Help the Little Boy Find His Way
Reward: Discernment +5]

This is also on my way, so….
“I can’t find the place where I promised to meet Mom….”
“Stop! Now, no more crying. Tell me slowly—where is that place?”

[Quest: Gather Apples
Reward: Strength +5 / Apple x1]

This one too….
“Oh dear, business was already bad today, and now this…!”
Without a word, I began picking up the scattered apples one by one.
“Thank you so much, young lady!”
After completing several Quests in succession, darkness had already begun to deepen around me.
…I was running much later than planned.
“Sigh, I really need to head back now.”
Really, truly, absolutely need to go back.
Just one more game, they say, and before you know it, the night is gone—that was exactly my situation.
As I exhaled a sigh and cut across the back alley, it happened.
“Hey, young lady.”
“…?”
Ugh, the stench of alcohol.
A shadowy figure was stumbling toward me from somewhere.
Before I could even turn around, he blocked my path.
“Where are you going in such a hurry? Have a drink with me.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m in a rush. Could you please move aside?”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Just one drink, just one.”
A foul stench emanated from the man’s mouth.
Ugh, the smell. Did he eat a truckload of garlic?
The man grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him.
“Ow! Sir! Let go!”
But what was even more absurd was the system window that appeared at that moment.

[Quest Name: Intoxicated Citizen
Objective: Safely escort the lost drunkard to the guards.
Reward: Reputation +5 / Benevolence +3 / Freedom +6]

What, what? Why are the rewards so good!
And they’re even giving me Freedom points?
“Oh, now that I look at you, you’ve got a nice figure? Let me see if your face is just as pretty!”
In that instant, I grew excited and exhaled sharply through my nose.
Found it, my stat!
I gripped the man’s shoulder with my other hand.
“Excuse me, sir. You seem intoxicated. Why don’t we go to the guards together!”
My precious quest!
“Let me help you! I’m a good and righteous citizen!”
You’re going to be my stat!
I began leading him out of the back alley.
“Oh, the lady is quite strong.”
The man stumbled forward, taking one step at a time as I guided him.
“Miss, take off that thing covering your face. Come on? Let me see how pretty you are.”
Ugh, the smell.
My patience as a human being was crumbling!
The man thrust his sticky-looking hand toward my face. As I turned my head to dodge it, cursing him silently with my eyes, that was the moment.
Snap.
“That’s enough.”
Someone seized the drunkard’s wrist.
“Stop right there. Unless you want to get hurt.”
A man gazing down at the drunkard with cold, crimson eyes.
It was Rakiel.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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