Chapter 184: Wrapping Up in the Port City

R&e;a‍​d οn​ ​Ｋａｔ&R;e​​ａ&d;​in‌ｇ​C​ａ&f;ｅ​

Translator Note

for those wondering why 4 chapters today, you can thank Yana in the discord

The casino was bustling with noise.

Quietly stepping out of the manager’s office, someone walked toward the end of the fourth-floor hallway.

It was Raphael, the owner of Label of the Skin, a perfume workshop. With an eerily serene expression, he pulled a cart and approached the dead end of the corridor.

When he ran his hand along the seemingly solid wall, it miraculously slid open, revealing a hidden space. As he stepped inside, the wall closed behind him, and the floor beneath him began to descend.

The hum of machinery filled the air as he stood still, and before long, he arrived at his destination.

The casino’s underground.

A concealed location.

The dim space was faintly illuminated by magic stone lamps. Guided by their glow, he soon reached a massive door.

This was Raphael’s vault, where all his wealth was stored.

Raphael placed his hand on the vault door.

It was locked with a form of biometric authentication—only Raphael could open it. The system scanned everything from his magical signature to the minutiae of his physical structure.

Raphael smiled leisurely as he waited, a stark contrast to his usual impatient demeanor.

Before long, a dull beep sounded, and the vault door slid open.

Now, it was time to fill the cart.

There was so much inside that he’d likely need to make several trips. But since Her Holiness and the owner of the Grimoire had already put all the guards to sleep, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“If the manager suddenly started moving money from the vault, it’d look suspicious.”

What a blessing.

Truly, Her Holiness was a godsend.

Raphael busily transferred the money, thinking of his “family.”

After several trips, the floor of the manager’s office was now packed with stacks of wealth. In one corner, Olivier lay leaning against the wall, seemingly asleep—though there was no breath, no movement.

“Sigh. I’m practically a single mother now.”

Amidst the silence, Raphael slumped his shoulders and muttered to himself.

“When Louveci was around, things weren’t like this…”

The complaint that slipped out sounded oddly feminine for a mustached man.

As he opened the window, a crow flew in.

“Ah. I’m done here. Handle the teleportation for me.”

[Good work.]

“I caught a glimpse of Her Holiness. But man, she sure causes chaos wherever she goes.”

Just as he was about to wrap up this money-making venture, he’d run into Her Holiness. She’d seemed to have business at the casino, so he’d kindly let her in—only for her to immediately stir up trouble and vanish.

Honestly, she was just—

“I love her! She’s adorable. You should’ve introduced us sooner.”

[Because of her, our plans were completely derailed.]

“These things happen. But isn’t Louveci more to blame? Still… we can always get the missing dragon back. At least Louveci seems safe for now.”

[…]

“Ah. Don’t get me wrong. I know. Who doesn’t know she’s a traitor? But we lived like family. I don’t wanna see her dead.”

[It’s unsettling to have this conversation while you look like that.]

“Huh? Really?”

Raphael immediately opened his mouth wide—and a black butterfly flew out. His body then collapsed to the floor.

The butterfly slipped into Olivier’s mouth and disappeared.

Moments later, Olivier’s eyes fluttered open.

“How’s this, bro? Better? Ahem… Oh, darling. You’re so picky. Men should be cool and—”

[Enough. Handle it yourself.]

Whenever Olivier put on her usual act, the crow cut her off.

[And remember. If we cross paths with Louveci again, she dies.]

“…”

[Answer me.]

“…Fine.”

Olivier reluctantly nodded.

The crow spoke coldly to the woman.

[I’ve narrowed down her location. Infiltrate and assess the situation, Ethel.]

“…Bro. This body is Olivier. I’m not doing it. Ethel’s resting in the cult’s basement. Go talk to her.”

[Don’t play word games.]

She was an honest woman. Even while wearing another’s skin, she made an effort to avoid lies—just not in a way that made sense.

Her stubbornness in “not speaking falsehoods” often came off as semantics to those who knew the truth.

Olivier—no, the Apostle Ethel—stuck out her tongue.

“Anyway… How’s the Cult of Unity’s leader these days? Any progress on his project?”

[His hysterics have stalled everything.]

“Same as always… So fussy. But what he’s trying to make—it doesn’t even make sense. Does he really think he’s something special?”

[Whether it makes sense is irrelevant. Theoretically, it’s possible.]

Ethel made a face. Research, theories—she had no interest in such things.

“Either way, I don’t like it.”

Her mind drifted to Her Holiness, whom she’d seen just yesterday.

“I like the current Her Holiness way more. She looks soft, peach-colored, and even smells sweet. That guy’s ‘Her Holiness’ won’t be like that.”

[Your personal opinion is meaningless. What matters is the descent plan—]

“Ah, the Inquisition will be here soon. Hurry up and teleport us.”

[…]

The crow silently spread its wings. Just then, Ethel started dragging Raphael’s body along, prompting a questioning look.

[What’s that?]

“I promised to take him with me. We’re leaving together.”

Ethel smiled and tightly embraced Raphael. It was the face of Olivier, who had always whispered words of love to him.

“Even knowing I’m a heretic, you said you’d still love me. You’re mine forever. We’re together now.”

[Sigh…]

The crow, watching the two lost in euphoria as they kissed, covered its face with a wing. To think it had to witness this.

Soon, more crows flew in, and a song began.

By the time the song ended, no one remained in that place.

The protagonists of the love story that had shaken the port city—gone. The heretic apostle who had only needed funds—vanished.

All had disappeared without a trace.

****************

Immediately after finishing their task, Sugar attempted to contact Praline and headed to her lodgings.

It was late in the evening when they met Praline, still clad in her armor, unchanged from before.

“Sugar!”

“Let’s talk inside first.”

Sugar and Riley entered the lodging with slightly flushed faces, followed closely by Ian and Leon, whose hair was a mess from their earlier scuffle with the guards.

“Here. The contract, first.”

“You actually pulled it off… You must’ve had a hard time.”

Sugar gave a tired smile.

“I’ll hand over the Song of Silence tomorrow. Let’s all go together to finalize the contract then.”

It was too late now, anyway. Everyone present agreed.

Only then did the four of them slump in exhaustion. Flustered by their state, Praline frantically searched her lodgings.

“What do I do…? I wish I had something to offer you, but there’s nothing here. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. We didn’t come here expecting anything.”

Leon answered politely.

Hearing that, Sugar blurted out a question without thinking—something she’d been curious about for a while.

“Praline… Can you tell me why you need the Saint’s Water?”

The armor she wore even in places where it wasn’t necessary. The strangely food-less state of her lodgings.

And the unsettling, lifeless air around her.

“…Ah. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Sorry.”

She quickly backtracked, not wanting to cross a line.

Just as she hated others prying into her secrets, she extended the same courtesy.

A trait Sugar had carried since childhood.

As she awkwardly laughed it off, Riley stared at her intently. When their eyes met, he averted his gaze.

While Sugar was still puzzled, Praline spoke up.

“I can tell you that much. It’s fine.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Praline cheerfully reached for her helmet.

“Don’t be too shocked, okay?”

Then, she lifted it off.

Inside—there was nothing.

No face. No head. Just an empty, hollow space.

“I’ve been through a lot adventuring in the Shattered Lands. That place… changes you.”

The voice came from the empty suit of armor.

Sugar blinked, staring at the sight as if witnessing some profound truth.

It was bitter.

The shy, navy-haired girl from her memories had become this.

“So… to restore your body…”

Of course she’d need the Saint’s Water. To reclaim a lost body—what reason could be more desperate?

(But… can she even drink it? Does she pour it into the armor…?)

Just as Sugar was seriously pondering the logistics—

“Huh? Why would I drink it?”

“…Huh?”

At this unexpected response, Sugar’s mind blanked. From the headless Praline came a burst of energy more vibrant than ever.

“This is awesome! I don’t need to eat! Don’t need to drink! Don’t need to sleep! Don’t need to wash! Can’t even get hurt! Where else would you find a perfect body like this? A body made just for adventure! I love this! I love adventuring!!”

“I hit the JACKPOT!!”

The excitedly chattering armor practically glowed.

The four of them stared in stunned silence.

“Aah! If it weren’t for the Saint’s Water, I’d have stayed there forever! There’s still so much I haven’t seen! I want to witness it all with my own—well, I don’t have eyes, but I can see, okay?!—and reach it with these feet! Do you know about the skyscrapers that just appear in the middle of that wasteland? Or when gravity suddenly flips and you go flying into the sky—ahh, I don’t have a heart, but it felt like it was pounding!! I was screaming, ‘I’m fine with vanishing into the sky like thiiiiis!!’—”

“…Uh, Praline?”

“Ah… sorry.”

Sugar gently called her name, snapping Praline out of her fervor. She adjusted her helmet and composed herself.

“Anyway… back to the main point. I have a comrade. It’s for them.”

“A comrade?”

“On the day my body became like this, a dear comrade of mine collapsed unconscious. Someone very precious to me.”

Though her expression remained unseen, the sorrow in her voice was unmistakable.

“…So, he’s someone you used to adventure with?”

“Yeah.”

“A man or a woman?”

“A man.”

The atmosphere immediately turned peculiar.

A male comrade so precious that she’d cling to the Saint’s Water, a treasure that might not even exist.

“He’s not my lover.”

Praline laughed, then added:

“Of course, once he wakes up, I’m confessing.”

Sugar and Ian’s mouths fell open, their cheeks flushing as they let out an awed “Whoa…”

“Becoming like this made me realize—‘Ah, I never want to lose this person. I want them by my side for every adventure, for the rest of my life.’”

“That’s amazing…”

“Pfft. Nah.”

“Praline… being so bold… for the one she loves…”

Sugar murmured, dazed.

Something about it must have struck a chord in her.

“You’d do the same.”

“Why me?!”

“That’s just how love is. It changes anyone like that.”

“I-I don’t have a man I love or anything!”

In an instant, every gaze in the room locked onto Sugar. Some shook their heads, others sighed—all with lukewarm reactions.

Sugar’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“L-Let’s just go eat! My treat. You all worked hard.”

Ignoring her, Praline stood, and the others quickly followed.

Grumbling, Sugar trailed after them—though she walked noticeably farther from Riley than usual.

***************

The port city at dusk.

The breeze carried the scent of the night sea as they walked, the others bombarding Praline with questions like “How do you live like this?” and “How do you even feel things?”

‘Guess things here are wrapping up…’

It had ended faster than expected. They’d secured the Song of Silence before the auction even began. A relief, really.

Heh heh. A laugh escaped her from sheer relief. Sure, they’d learned the casino was tied to the cult, but at least their immediate task was done.

Letting out a long exhale, Sugar suddenly glanced to her side.

Her childhood friend walked in silence, his golden hair glinting under the city lights, his blue eyes fixed straight ahead.

Her gaze drifted upward, tracing his clean-cut face, then slowly trailed down—his neck, collarbone, chest, stomach, and then… somewhere further down.

“H-Huh?!”

She jerked her head away, her expression cycling through shock, embarrassment, frustration, and anger so rapidly that passersby gave her odd looks.

Her mind was a mess. She’d already been wrestling with enough turmoil lately, and now, with her guard down, her thoughts were running wild.

Biting her lip, Sugar ducked her head low.

Deep in thought, she kept her eyes glued to the ground as she walked.