Chapter 97

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‘God damn it.’

Conrad frowned as he headed towards the ballroom.

‘The plan failed…’

Conrad’s plan was to kill Sebastian.

That was the only way he could become the heir to the House of Astoria.

That’s why he encouraged Sebastian to host the tea party.

A shady and suspicious tea party, inviting only young ladies.

The invitation even specified an absurd rule: ‘Escort knights are not allowed to accompany.’

Sebastian had questioned it.

“Uncle, why are you only inviting young ladies? And without guards… won’t they think it’s strange?”

“It can’t be helped, Sebastian. This tea party is to help you find a match. So, of course, only young ladies should be invited. Do you think you can shine in front of the handsome young masters of other families? You look like a baby pig.”

“I-Is that so? Then why no guards…”

“There are many handsome men among the guards. They’re even more dashing. Young ladies are prone to falling in love with and obsessing over guards. This tea party doesn’t need men. Invite only young ladies, no matter what. I’m saying this for your own good.”

“I understand, Uncle…”

“Oh, don’t forget to hold a rose in your mouth when you appear. That alone will win over at least three. Of course, the highlight will be your dance at the ballroom.”

“Ah… I’m okay with the rose, but the dance… do I really have to dance…?”

“You absolutely have to. Show the young ladies that you can move nimbly even with that body. Then the young ladies will be yours.”

“I understand…”

Even he thought it was all nonsense, but the naive Sebastian believed and carried it all out.

‘But why did it fail?’

Conrad couldn’t understand.

The preparation for the plan was perfect.

Currently, Sebastian’s father, the Grand Duke of Astoria, was visiting the Imperial Capital.

Only a minimal force remained at the mansion, making it the perfect time to strike.

Conrad’s plan was this:

While Sebastian was doing a foolish dance in front of the young ladies, he would detonate the magic bomb installed on the ballroom ceiling.

As a signal, the mercenary group Conrad had hired would storm in and kidnap the young ladies.

It would definitely be chaotic.

The knights of the House of Astoria would be frantically trying to stop the mercenary group.

In that chaos, the butler, Walter, would eliminate Sebastian.

It didn’t end there.

Since the heir to the Grand Ducal family had died, a thorough investigation would surely take place, so it was necessary to divert attention elsewhere.

What Conrad thought of was the young ladies.

If he kidnapped all the young ladies, the Empire would be turned upside down.

The Grand Duke of Astoria wouldn’t have time to worry about Sebastian’s death.

He would be frantically searching for the young ladies.

Other families would put pressure on him.

Then, Conrad would personally lead the knights to the villa where the young ladies were held, kill all the mercenaries, and pretend to rescue the young ladies.

Then Conrad could become a hero of the Empire and inherit the position of heir without any problems…

That was the plan Conrad had envisioned.

But it failed.

Walter was dead, and the mercenary group was captured.

Sebastian was also unharmed.

‘…Where did it go wrong?’

As he went to the ballroom, he saw the young ladies walking out with terrified faces.

Conrad passed the young ladies and entered the ballroom.

There was a large hole in the ceiling, and the surroundings were a mess.

On one side, Walter was lying dead with his head cut off, and near him were Sebastian, two young ladies, and a young maid.

Conrad immediately approached Sebastian.

“Sebastian, are you hurt? What on earth happened here!”

“Ah, Uncle.”

Sebastian looked at Conrad.

Sebastian’s jowls were being stretched by the young maid’s hand.

Like cheese.

For the heir of the Grand Ducal family to be subjected to such a thing by a young maid was strange, but that wasn’t important now.

“What happened! I heard there was a monster attack! Are you hurt!”

Since the plan had failed, Conrad needed to salvage the situation.

First, he needed to pretend he knew nothing and kill the captured mercenaries to prevent them from talking.

Walter was already dead, so he didn’t need to worry about him…

“Is this the one?”

Then someone murmured quietly.

It was the young maid who was holding Sebastian’s jowls.

“I see. This is the one who wanted to kill Sebastian to take the heir position.”

Conrad looked at the young maid with a startled expression.

The young maid was looking at the air and talking to someone.

“Okay. Thank you for letting me know.”

Conrad frowned.

“What is it, this crazy bitch? How dare a maid be so presumptuous…”

At that moment, the young maid turned her head and looked at Conrad.

Conrad involuntarily stiffened.

‘Wh-What is this…?’

As he met the young maid’s eyes, an unknown chill began to crawl up from his chest.

He didn’t feel any blame or hostility in the young maid’s eyes, but he felt like she was sharply piercing through even Conrad’s soul.

The young maid narrowed her eyes and asked.

“You ordered the butler, didn’t you? To kill Sebastian.”

Conrad’s eyes widened.

How dare a maid speak informally to him, and even interrogate him.

‘Is she crazy?’

Conrad looked at the knights next to him.

He was about to shout, “Hey! Immediately arrest this impudent bitch and throw her in jail!”

But unexpected words came out of his mouth.

“That’s right! I planned everything! I hired the mercenary group to kidnap the young ladies, and I ordered the butler, Walter, to kill Sebastian!”

“…?!”

The knights had surprised expressions.

Conrad was also surprised.

‘Wh-What am I saying…’

His mouth was moving on its own.

“I was planning to kidnap the young ladies and lock them up in a villa, then pretend to rescue them and become a hero of the Empire! That way, I could inherit the heir position!”

He didn’t know why, but it was dangerous.

His mouth was confessing against his will.

“Sir Conrad. Is that true…?”

James, the captain of the mansion’s guard, asked.

Conrad tried to shake his head.

But at that moment, his mouth opened on its own again.

“Of course it’s true! There are carriages I prepared outside the mansion right now! I was going to use those carriages to kidnap the young ladies! And if you go out the east gate of the city, there’s a villa in the forest, and I was going to lock the young ladies up in that villa!”

The guard captain James subtly gestured to the knights.

Meaning to arrest Conrad.

The knights approached with bewildered faces and grabbed Conrad’s arms.

Even so, Conrad continued to speak.

“By the way, when I become the heir, I was planning to build a harem! I was going to hug a lot of women! My taste is for women with big breasts and wide hips, but with a…”

James gagged Conrad.

“…I understand your sins well enough. Please stop talking. What kind of outrageous words are you saying in front of young ladies…”

◈

As Conrad was dragged away by the knights, Sebastian began to shed tears.

“Sob, my uncle was plotting against me… And Walter too… Does everyone hate me… Because I look like a baby pig…?”

Then Estelle and Ellie quietly whispered to each other.

“It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with being a baby pig…”

“He certainly does resemble one, though…”

Meanwhile, Lucy was looking at the soul standing in front of her.

It was the soul of the butler, Walter.

“A-Are you finally releasing me now?”

To find out the truth of the incident, Lucy had summoned and captured Walter’s soul.

Using the skill [Spirit Summon] to temporarily draw out the soul of the dead.

Lucy shook her head as she looked at Walter’s soul.

“No. I’m not going to release you.”

Then Walter’s soul widened its eyes.

“Th-That’s… Didn’t you say you would release me if I told the truth?”

“That was a lie.”

“…”

Walter’s pupils shook back and forth.

Souls have no substance.

But strong emotions and memories temporarily maintain their form.

Walter’s soul was feeling very wronged right now.

“This damn brat… How dare you deceive me…!”

Of course, even if he felt wronged, there was nothing Walter’s soul could do.

Lucy raised the corners of her mouth.

“You will become food.”

“Fo-Food…?”

Lucy spread her hand out.

Whoosh!

Then a magic circle appeared on the floor and something revealed itself.

A skeleton wearing a black robe with fancy decorations.

Each finger had a glittering gemstone ring, and dazzling ornaments were hanging around its neck.

It was Crevius, a high-ranking undead and a lich.

“Hehe, long time no see.”

Crebius greeted Lucy with an elegant gesture.

Lucy also waved her hand slightly at Crevius.

“Long time no see.”

Crevius quickly scanned the surroundings.

Ellie and Estelle standing next to Lucy.

The necklaces around the two young ladies’ necks.

Crevius’s blue eye light flickered greatly.

“Ahem, ladies, would you mind if I took a look at those necklaces for a moment? They seem like dangerous objects…”

“Crevius.”

Lucy said quietly.

“If you try anything funny, I’ll break all your jewels.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Crevius quickly stepped back.

“But what did you call me for?”

To his question, Lucy pointed at Walter’s soul.

“Eat him.”

“Oho. A human soul.”

To a lich like Crevius, the soul of the dead was like a meal.

“Thank you. It’s only one, but…”

“I’ll let you eat more next time.”

“Yes, well…”

Crevius glanced at Walter’s soul.

“Wh-What is this monster…”

Walter’s soul was terrified and tried to run away, but Crevius opened his mouth and easily dragged him in.

Swooosh!

“Eek! No!”

He was sucked into Crevius’s mouth as it was.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Not as bloody as the previous few, all things considered. Also, knew it smh, it would have been death by natural selection either way. Dumb mercs.

Dumber than Kat!