episode_0010

In front of the Duchess’s room.

Lloyd swallowed dryly as he waited for her call.

There was a bit of tension.

The smell of blood wafted faintly inside the mansion. It was so strong that ordinary people wouldn’t notice it. It was clear that this was an unusual place.

‘Are you offering a sacrifice?’

Even if they were running a blood farm, the scent of blood was quite strong, even by Lloyd’s standards that were close to his supersensitivity.

It wasn’t a good thing.

Since Lloyd was captured by Noe, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had been sacrificed alongside the other guys at any time.

‘I have to prove my worth somehow.’

Otherwise, I’ll end up being a sacrifice.

Escape from this fucking mansion. You have to stay alive until you achieve that goal.

“Come in.”

A voice was heard from beyond the door.

It was a mature yet gentle voice.

◆

Villain.

Most people are not clearly divided into good and evil, but there are those who stand on both extremes.

The Duchess of Grey was a good example.

Light ash-colored hair, elegantly tied up.

A dignified look, and a purple dress that matches the color of the dress. A villainess who sublimates her pure white, sensual skin beyond the flowing clothes due to her crossed legs into power.

She smiled at me.

“You’re here.”

Then he must have run away.

If you ran away, you probably would have seen the sight of your limbs disintegrating with your own eyes. ‘Diary’. Those who are defined as evil in this horrifyingly accurate guide are usually like that.

“Yes.”

“Was the escort carriage okay? I couldn’t take care of you separately. All the children who won the auction had to ride in that carriage.”

Although each word was soft, Lloyd felt a chill as if a snake were slithering around his body. Although he didn’t show it, the air in this mansion was definitely not ordinary.

“No, it was okay.”

Haha—.

The woman smiled beyond the fan covering her mouth.

“You know how to please others at that age.”

“What does age matter in knowing a subject?”

Lloyd took a deep breath as he answered.

There was a smell of something sweet yet pungent.

What is this scent?

As I looked around the room, a flower pot on an antique table caught my eye.

I don’t know the name, but there is a bright red flower in it.

It smelled like blood.

– ‘blood…….’

Once again, the voice muttering in my head.

Lately, I feel like my voice is becoming more concrete. Is my mental illness getting worse? Having hallucinations is definitely proof that I am not normal.

Lloyd chewed the inside of his lip.

It was to shake off the sound and pretend not to hear the voice. Now is the time to act normal.

The journal, Gray Duke (II) is clearly only unlocked when brought here as a ‘test subject’ or someone of similar status. In other words, Lloyd’s current status is a ‘test subject’.

I don’t know what that damn test subject is, but it certainly isn’t a normal slave life.

So Lloyd had to please the Duchess of Grey.

“So. How do you plan on making it worth 100 million kroner?”

She asks.

Lloyd heard the question like this:

‘If you can’t prove that you’re worth 100 million kroner, you’ll become a guinea pig, kid.’

The immediate rebuttal is, ‘When did I ask you to buy me out for 100 million kroner?’ But such a rebuttal is meaningless.

‘Then go and roll around as a test subject.’

I will answer like this.

Lloyd lifted his head slightly.

The Duchess smiles with the confident, dominating smile.

This is already her territory.

From the moment you enter, the playground is tilted.

Lloyd simply admired it.

‘I’ve never seen anyone with this level of political sense in this world.’

They are the type of people who know how to trade.

They lock themselves in their own space and negotiate within the framework they set. They always benefit from negotiating only within their own ‘territory’.

Lloyd also used this method the most.

‘Well, that means she must have taken over the Duke’s family as a widow.’

So what then?

I ended up being hunted.

There are two strategies that come to mind right now.

First, prove that I am worth more than 100 million kroner.

or not…….

‘Or break the board.’

Lloyd knelt with one leg on the floor.

Act correctly, but speak harshly.

“The Duchess is after the crown, or something similar.”

Duchess Lloyd remains silent.

The curvature of her eyes, once full of laughter, becomes gentle.

Snake-like eyes that seem to freeze just by looking at them.

Gulp.

Did you throw something too big?

Even though she said it was to break the ice, she suddenly blurted out the secret she had been keeping hidden. It was a move that would have put her in bad jeopardy.

“… Ahahahahahahahaha! ”

Belatedly, the Duchess smiles.

She is eerily beautiful, smiling without even covering her mouth with a fan. Except for her sharp eyes that were hidden like cat’s claws.

“So?”

His speech also became colder.

This is where it gets important.

Depending on how you answer, your treatment will vary.

“If by any chance she thinks that way, what would you say to her?”

My mouth is dry.

The reason why I feel more nervous than when dealing with the Demon King’s executives is probably because the ‘class’ I feel from the Duchess is higher than theirs. The size of her personality, her political rhetoric, and her ability. She is a woman who is overwhelming in everything.

He said, swallowing dry saliva.

“Now is not the time.”

“Not the time?”

“Yes. Right now, there is no space for the Duchess to exert her power.”

“Space.”

She raised the corners of her lips slightly.

Warmth returns to the somewhat cold expression.

“I’m interested. Can you explain a little more specifically?”

My heart is pounding.

A villainess who started out as a commoner, became the wife of a duke, became the official wife, and even after taking over the family, she is still not satisfied. How can we satisfy her?

First of all, the scale has to be large.

“The continent is now divided into three parts.”

“… Three parts? Holy Constantine, and the Britannian Empire. Who is the other one?”

“These are the heroes. Saint Aria, Princess Aina, and Claire above Harold. The three heroes. ”

“Those kids will all belong to their own groups.”

“But the Duchess will also feel it. The support of the common people for them is no different. It is practically admiration.”

Defeated the Demon King who had tormented the continent for decades.

In addition, he even killed the other world’s warrior who was plotting to sell the continent.

Regardless of the truth, support for them is unconditional and even worshipful.

In itself, it is power.

“What you’re trying to say is.”

“Yes. In the current situation, there is no room for the Duchess to interfere. The legitimacy of the empire, the sacredness of the Holy See, and the epic of the three heroes. These alone are enough to saturate the continent’s power pie. ”

The Duchess spread out her fan.

Flapping, flapping.

She opens her mouth after holding it to her lips and fanning it lightly a few times.

“I guess I have to push the three heroes away.”

“That’s correct.”

“Do I have to wait?”

“It’s only been a year since the conquest of the Demon Lord. That means that the admiration for them will continue to grow thicker.”

I think this explanation is sufficient.

She seemed more knowledgeable about politics and power than any other worldling I’d seen since the Ping. She seemed like a thousand-year-old gumiho.

Sararak.

The woman, with the corners of her lips raised, crossed her legs in the opposite direction as if satisfied. Lloyd looked between her pure white thighs.

“That’s enough for today.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I didn’t have high expectations, but if I do it well, it might be worth it.”

“I hope I can meet your expectations.”

“Of course.”

The woman smiled and stood up from her seat.

And then he opens his own door with his own hands.

“You’ll have to follow some procedures. Don’t worry too much and rest when you’re done.”

… So, for now, it’s a pass.

Lloyd sighed inwardly.

“… … Thank you. But why are you being so nice to me?”

Phew—.

She answers with a smile.

“That’s a bold question. Are you assuming I like you?”

“I have a personality where I can’t stand being curious.”

“I guess I’ll have to give back what you said.”

“… … ?”

“Farm tools in the storage room, jewelry in the display case. I really liked that. I thought he was a kid who knew women’s hearts well.”

Clap, clap. The Duchess clapped her hands lightly.

Just that alone brings up PTSD. Clap, clap, clap. The applause ringing in my head. And the inner voice crawling out.

— I can smell blood… Let’s cut off that wrist.

‘…Fuck.’

Why is this voice becoming clearer and clearer?

At first, I thought it was Lloyd’s own hallucination, but it gradually started to sound like someone else’s voice. Somehow, it seemed to have become even clearer since I entered this mansion…

No. I guess it’s okay. Let’s not listen.

Let’s just say the air in this mansion is strange.

— ‘Didn’t you have something to ask?’

ah.

Lloyd opened his mouth without even knowing that he was following that voice.

“I have a question.”

“Tell me.”

“It seemed like the kids were going down to the basement earlier. Where were they being taken?”

“Basement?”

“Yes.”

Duchess Grey tilted her head.

“What are you talking about?”

“… ?”

“There is no basement in our house.”

But I definitely saw the kids going down to the basement.

“You must have seen things. You must be very tired. Go inside and rest.”

◆

The room Lloyd left.

A butler approaches the Duchess.

“This is clearly an unusual child.”

“Does it look that way to you too?”

“Yes.”

The Duchess thought the same. She had felt it from the first time she saw Lloyd. That boy was special. He was bold and smart beyond measure for a child in his early tenth year. Just that alone made him useful.

“100 million kroner is not a waste.”

“But you must not forget that there is another reason why you purchased that child.”

“That’s true. What do you think? Do you think that child could possibly be ‘that person’s’ vessel?”

The Duchess pronounced the word ‘that person’ particularly quietly.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“You have not endured it well. Even in the smell of blood here. The ruler of darkness is not very patient.”

“That’s right. He didn’t even hide his mention of the podium and just said it. That’s not like that kid’s personality.”

The butler nodded quietly.

“Even if you can’t find him, he will naturally show himself if you are in the mansion. No matter how special the boy Lloyd is, can he withstand his status in a human body?

“That’s right. What about the rest of the kids? Didn’t they have the qualities to be a vessel?”

“After checking everything thoroughly, it doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“Huh. Did I miss it? I was sure it would show up at this auction.”

“There was nothing we could do because the three heroes were also attached to him. However, he is a being who can be resurrected without our help. I don’t think there’s anything to be too hasty about.”

“Yeah.”

The Duchess continued, leaning lightly against the desk.

“Lloyd, let’s wait a little bit, like that kid said.”

“Well… Should we dispose of the rest of the children as originally planned? We just needed a few test subjects… … .”

“No. Let’s observe a little more.”

“What about observation?”

“Lloyd, are you trying to use that kid as prey? You said they weren’t on good terms since the carriage?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and what about the poison?”

The butler opened the wooden box he was holding in his hand.

— Wiggle wiggle.

At first glance, black bugs that looked like they were carrying poison were writhing inside the box.

“Shall I feed them all?”

“Make sure to feed everyone. Lloyd too.”