Ch.166166. Let’s Depart for the Succubus Sanctuary Right Away!

“····What!?”

“Young master, how surprised must you be to speak formally to me? Did you really have some relationship with a succubus?”

“N-no, that’s not it! I know about succubi, but there’s no way I would do anything with one!!”

Despite the trust that had built up between them, Padericks opens his drowsy eyes, perhaps due to Serion Lykus’s letter.

“I’ve heard of creatures called succubi. Aren’t they monsters that extend their lives by absorbing men’s vital energy?”

“Yes, so are you suggesting I gave my vital energy to a succubus?”

“I was merely explaining what a succubus is, young master. Why are you getting so defensive? And didn’t you just tell me that you have no acquaintance with any succubus?”

Evaelyn….

Not only did she sell my name, but she’s also using the favor I granted to cheaply exploit my weakness?

At this rate, Selden Alphonse will become known as a legendary pervert.

The image I had worked so hard to build was about to crash to the ground in an instant.

Padericks also knows the woman named Evaelyn.

After all, he personally guided her to the bedroom.

However, he doesn’t know that she is a succubus.

Feeling the pressure of his complicated thoughts, I cleared my throat.

“Ahem!! I was just momentarily confused. I did meet a succubus in the Forest of Death. Perhaps she’s referring to that connection.”

“Then what does she mean by threatening to expose your relationship?”

“Perhaps she means to expose that I spared her life instead of killing her?”

I felt like my lies were growing the more I told them.

The falsehoods were flowing out so smoothly.

However, Padericks still maintained a suspicious expression.

“So you’re saying you spared a succubus’s life, young master?”

“I had no choice. The succubus begged for her life in exchange for giving me information about the Forest of Death.”

“Something seems odd. The young master I know would have gotten the information and then killed her….”

“Yes, I did intend to kill her after getting the information, but the succubus was clever and didn’t reveal everything at once.”

Padericks strokes his chin as if finding this reasonable.

“….I understand why you spared her then.”

“Thanks to that, I obtained information about the Forest of Death and was able to easily stop the monster wave.”

“Then wouldn’t it be fine if the succubus exposed your relationship? After all, you only kept her alive to get information about the Forest of Death.”

If everything I had just said were true, Padericks would be right.

However, Evaelyn was the type who would expose our “whipping incident” and more.

She was so confident she wouldn’t get caught, but was I the source of that confidence all along?

I cleared my throat and continued.

“It’s essentially a deal with a monster. If it gets exposed, it might not look good to Lord Serion Lykus.”

“It was all for the sake of Lake Territory. Lord Serion Lykus would understand. Or is there something else you haven’t told me yet….”

I raised an eyebrow at Padericks as he let his words trail off.

“Didn’t you say you would believe everything I say now?”

“I do believe you. I just had a few questions.”

“Then believe me completely.”

“….Understood.”

For now, I needed to go immediately and either kill Evaelyn or at least silence her.

I put on my coat and spoke.

“Send a letter to Lord Serion Lykus and call Lucien right away.”

*

“Is there a reason you had to come along?”

In the carriage heading to the Succubi Sanctuary.

With Lucien sleeping soundly with her head on my lap, I tilted my chin toward Rebecca sitting across from me. She crossed her arms heavily and replied.

“Didn’t you see Serion Lykus’s letter? It said Lord Rio was injured and needed someone to treat him?”

“I heard it wasn’t that serious of an injury?”

“I’m just following the instructions in the letter.”

Sigh….

It takes at least three days to reach the Succubi Sanctuary by carriage.

That’s why I had planned to ride Lucien and return quickly….

Damn that Rio for getting injured.

Moreover.

I didn’t remember any storyline where Rio gets injured at the Succubi Sanctuary.

That means changes have occurred because of me.

It was certainly concerning.

Of course, the most concerning thing was Rebecca sitting across from me.

“Are you satisfied with life in the mercenary group?”

“….Shall I be honest?”

“Go ahead.”

“It was better than I expected. Both the mercenary group and the knights’ order of Lake Territory, which successfully repelled the monster wave. It seems they didn’t stop the monster wave by mere luck.”

Just as I was about to nod at this unexpected praise, Rebecca continued.

“However, it seems like a waste of manpower for such excellent mercenaries and knights to risk their lives for just one nobleman.”

“They’re not risking their lives for one nobleman, but for the people of the villages in Lake Territory. They’re like heroes.”

“No matter how eloquently you put it, in the end, aren’t nobles a species that prioritizes their own lives?”

“Species? You’re treating nobles like monsters.”

“Isn’t it problematic to throw someone in jail just for casting a spell when they’re of lower rank? If we were of the same rank, we could have fought it out and resolved it.”

I smirked at Rebecca as she raised her nose haughtily.

“You sound quite resentful about not being of the same rank as me.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t want to be a noble. It’s just that—”

“Just that you can’t stand nobles who act superior about a rank they were born into, as if they earned it themselves.”

Rebecca froze with a stiff expression at my words.

It was understandable.

What I had just said was one of the grumbling complaints Rebecca always made in the original novel.

“….What?”

“What?”

“How did you know what I was about to say?”

“Am I some kind of fortune teller? Your thoughts just happen to be similar to mine.”

“….But you’re a noble.”

“Are nobles not allowed to think like you do?”

Rebecca’s pupils darted around, seemingly flustered by my confidence.

“Were you not originally a noble, Lord Selden Alphonse?”

“I’m a noble through and through. But that doesn’t mean I act superior without having earned anything myself.”

“Stopping the monster wave is something to be proud of. However, if that’s the reason—”

“I know, the monster wave wasn’t a result I achieved alone. I’m well aware that it was stopped thanks to the knights’ order and the mercenary group.”

“Then if you weren’t a noble, would the knights and mercenaries have followed you?”

I smiled calmly at Rebecca’s challenging question.

“What’s certain is that if it had been another noble instead of me, the current knights and mercenaries wouldn’t have followed them.”

“….You’re quite confident.”

“This isn’t confidence, it’s certainty.”

“I don’t think this is worth discussing anymore.”

“Why don’t you join Serion Lykus this time? You probably won’t be able to fix that nasty temperament of yours anyway.”

When I asked aggressively, Rebecca turned her head sharply to look out the window.

“I don’t understand why you keep trying to send me away.”

“Instead of being temperamental, try using your brain to think. Who would enjoy being around someone like you?”

Rebecca turned her gaze from the window back to me.

“What’s lacking about me? Magic? Healing? Combat? Other nobles are desperate to recruit me, even offering money.”

“Those nobles must not know your personality.”

“Does Lord Selden Alphonse select knights and mercenaries based on personality?”

“No, I only look at skill. Personalities can be fixed with a good beating, making them obedient.”

I joked with a smirk, causing Rebecca to give me a wary look.

“Why don’t you try hitting me then?”

“Why would I hit you when you’re not going to be my lifelong companion? It would only hurt my hand.”

“Companion, not subordinate…. You’re quite the sentimental noble.”

To break the bleak atmosphere, I took out two bottles of whiskey I had prepared in advance.

I offered one bottle to Rebecca.

“This is expensive whiskey. Can a non-noble like you drink it?”

At that, Rebecca quickly snatched the whiskey and drank straight from the bottle.

It seemed my light provocation had worked.

Seeing this, I also drank mine.

Gulp-! Gulp-!

As if in competition, Rebecca and I quickly finished the two bottles of whiskey.

“Are you drunk?”

“I’m not drunk at all…”

Having downed an entire bottle seemed too much for her, as Rebecca slurred her words a few times before collapsing on the sofa.

In the original novel, she couldn’t handle alcohol well but was too proud to admit it, resulting in several scenes where she passed out….

And now I’m witnessing it in person?

The expression “she wouldn’t know if someone carried her away” seemed quite appropriate.

“Hey, is it okay for you to be this drunk in front of a noble you dislike?”

“…”

With no response from her, I slightly raised the corner of my mouth and gently shook Lucien, who was sleeping soundly on my knee.

“Lucien.”

Lucien struggled to get up, rubbing her eyes as she spoke.

“Yes, Father.”

After rising from the carriage sofa, I hoisted the passed-out Rebecca onto my shoulder.

“Let’s head straight to the Succubi Sanctuary!”