This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 238

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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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Chapter 238

As I watched the newly formed passage hollowing deeper with no end in sight, I recalled the thick emerald light that had emanated from King Otix’s body just before I fell.
‘King Otix’s ability creates narrow passages like capillaries inside the Gate, right? He must have been using it then.’
It was certain—Raven had told me this herself during my recent stay in Snoril.
If that was the case, the newly formed passage likely hadn’t spawned monsters yet.
I spoke quickly to Camen.
“Camen, break down the wall behind me. Everyone, follow me! We’re escaping through the passage that just opened!”
The stone wall that had surrounded me split open behind me at once.
As I darted into the passage, Serch swiftly followed and illuminated the space around us, while Heart also squeezed in—having shrunk to his usual size—and scurried after me.
Last came Camen, small as she was, erecting walls within the passage to block the monsters’ pursuit.
Bang! Bang! Crash!
As the monsters’ attacks continued, the wall blocking the passage couldn’t hold for long and crumbled.
But in terms of a human body, the passage outside was like an artery or vein, while this one was a capillary. The bulky monsters couldn’t fit through the narrow passage and merely shrieked in rage.
Smaller monsters soon gave chase, but they were sliced apart by Serch’s beam just as quickly, so there was nothing to worry about.
I ventured deeper into the passage with the spirits until the monsters were completely out of sight. As the distance grew, the din of battle faded away.
I followed the winding passage further and turned a corner. Only after going a bit more did I confirm that nothing was pursuing us anymore.
‘We should be safe for a while now.’
I finally stopped and retrieved some emergency provisions from my spatial pocket—food I’d packed in there—and distributed them among the spirits.
Ever since I learned Serch was a spirit, I’d made sure to set aside a portion for him whenever I gave food to Heart and Camen. Whether from habit or otherwise, all three of them devoured what I offered them eagerly.
As the food diminished, Camen’s shattered body began to mend bit by bit. Heart, who had looked exhausted, gradually regained vitality, and Serch’s light grew noticeably brighter—I was grateful for that.
They all licked their bowls clean and seemed to have recovered somewhat, but it appeared they still needed more food.
“I wish I’d made more and brought it along. Wait a moment—I’ll cook something for you.”
My spatial pocket contained not only an earthenware jar of soy sauce that Raven had packed, but also all manner of supplies and ingredients that were so well-prepared they only needed to be cooked, so I could make food on the spot.
“How about soy-braised chicken?”
As I thought about what I needed, the ingredients, tools, and firewood for cooking emerged from my spatial pocket. I had fire-starting tools in there as well, but there was no need to retrieve those.
Heart was here, after all.
The moment our eyes met, Heart dove between the logs as if he’d been waiting and instantly kindled a flame.
“Thank you, Heart.”
Serch also positioned himself on the ceiling of the passage, glowing like a fluorescent lamp.
Beneath that light, I prepared a meal for the spirits.
‘First, let them recover. Then I need to search for another way out.’
At the same time, I prayed earnestly.
That Bloden and the commanders would come for me as quickly as possible.
And that everyone would stay safe.

* * *

Hailey had fled through the newly formed narrow passage. The sphere of light vanished with her, and darkness swallowed the surroundings.
“Ha, this is insane. Looks like we’re losing—should we bolt?”
Nelloa, who had been watching the battle from a corner, drew a Magic Stone Lantern from her pocket and clicked her tongue.
“Still, her guards are exhausted, so it’ll be easy to catch her. Chase her down and drag her back.”
The smaller monsters entered the passage at Nelloa’s command. She then turned to the larger monsters hovering outside the passage, unable to enter.
“Pile all the dead monsters over there.”
The place Nelloa indicated was the passage through which she and Hailey had descended, and corpses of monsters that had tried to climb upward continued to rain down, thoroughly blocking the way.
‘Once more time passes, Bloden will clear all that away and come in. I need to delay that moment as long as possible.’
The large monsters began moving the corpses according to Nelloa’s orders.
Nelloa stood with her arms crossed, waiting for the monsters that had entered the passage to return. But no matter how long she waited, none emerged.
‘What’s happening?’
Nelloa gnawed at her fingernails anxiously for a moment, then gathered her courage and peered into the passage.
The sphere that had shot blade-like beams seemed as though it should be glowing somewhere in the distance, but in reality, nothing was visible—only darkness.
‘Should I go in and check myself? Or not?’
After brief deliberation, she still lacked the courage to enter. Going in recklessly would mean instant death if she was attacked.
Thinking quickly, Nelloa drew out a Derivative Gate Seed and lodged it in the passage wall. Though the wall was hard as steel, the Derivative Gate Seed was readily swallowed.
After a brief wait, the passage grew considerably wider.
Nelloa advanced into the passage with larger monsters leading the way, ahead of those she’d sent earlier.
The first thing that blocked Nelloa’s path was a mountain of corpses from the monsters she’d sent ahead.
Nelloa frowned and had the monsters clear the bodies before proceeding further.
The passage twisted and wound on. Then, at some point, it became too narrow for the monsters she’d brought to enter.
The moment Nelloa turned the corner, light flickered in the distance.
Startled, she quickly stepped backward into the shadows, her nose twitching. The smell of soy-braised sauce simmering filled the air.
Gulp.
‘Where have I smelled this before?’
It seemed familiar, yet the memory wouldn’t surface. Still, her mouth watered involuntarily.
Her stomach growled.
It was demanding food.
‘Irritating.’
Nelloa planted another Derivative Gate Seed. Once the passage had widened enough, she sent just a few monsters ahead toward where Hailey was.
A sharp hiss—
In moments, a beam of light shot out, tearing the monster apart and embedding itself in the wall. The light was far brighter than when they’d fled before.
‘She’s recovered already.’
Nelloa realized that capturing Hailey this way was impossible, and that the narrow passage put her at a disadvantage.
‘No choice. I’ll have to ask for advice.’
Nelloa retreated and sealed the passage Hailey had entered with monster corpses. Then she mounted a winged beast and made her way to Iturn, who waited deepest within the Gate.

* * *

“Iturn, I’m here.”
-How did it go?
Iturn’s thirteenth head—a draconic creature among monsters—welcomed her at once.
Nelloa savored the sensation of thirteen heads focusing entirely on her as she laid out the situation. As Iturn listened, his gaze fixed on the small holes recently bored through the Gate’s walls.
-Hmm, I noticed changes happening inside the Gate too. So I confirmed that King Otix used his Ability as planned. But I didn’t expect Hailey to escape into that passage when she was nearly captured. That’s unexpected.
Nelloa stared at the holes and let out an exasperated sigh.
“We nearly had her, and of all moments, that passage opens right behind her. At least I’ve sealed it so she can’t get back out.”
-Well done.
“The problem is how to catch her now. Even if a way opens on the other side, she’ll escape. And if Bloden arrives, she’ll have an exit route. We need to capture her before that happens. What do we do?”
-Why worry? I can issue orders to every monster inside the Gate through Telepathy.
Iturn spoke with complete ease.
-First, I’ll scout where that passage leads and how it connects. Then I’ll command all the monsters who can enter it to hunt Hailey and drive her back this way as quickly as possible.
“Through a shortcut?”
-Exactly. And the Emperor of Ilpein won’t be able to track her. I’ll block those paths and make him take the long way around.
The thought of Bloden suffering made Nelloa’s lips curl into a smile.
“That’s brilliant. But the guards Bloden left with Hailey are far stronger than expected. How do we handle them?”
Nelloa described how those protective spirits had torn through the monsters.
-No problem. They’re like young spirits, that’s all.
“Really?”
Iturn’s thirteen heads began to laugh, emitting otherworldly sounds.
-I told you already. The Spirit King himself keeps me sealed within his body.
Nelloa had heard the tale of the great divine conflict when she first met Iturn.
In ages past, the War of Gods and Demons had begun with mutual hatred and raged so ferociously that it threatened to destroy the world itself.
To eliminate the enemy’s servants who could not stay dead, both sides began sealing their foe’s greatest forces into the Abyss Realm.
Iturn, who had sided with the Demons, had sealed the Spirit King—ally of the Gods—within his own body. For a time, it seemed the Demons would claim victory.
Until a Warrior named Ilpein appeared from nowhere and joined the Gods’ cause.
One human reversed the tide. After an endless war, both Gods and Demons exhausted most of their power and fell into the Abyss Realm themselves.
Yet neither side abandoned hope for victory. With their last strength, they bestowed certain Abilities upon humanity.
Those powers were the Abilities passed down through each Royal Family today.
-What threat could young spirits pose to one like me?
At Iturn’s words, Nelloa released her worries and rose from where she sat.
“Then what should I do? I can’t just sit here idle.”

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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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