Episode 336. Killer Queen, Liliana Calliope

jeobeok jeobeok.

– Lately, I felt like I hadn’t streamed much, so last night, since Lee Hoyeon didn’t come over, I casually turned on my stream? But viewers were still pouring in. I guess I’m really cut out for broadcasting─.

“Oh. Right, right.”

On the way to the dorm.

Liliana was apparently excited about meeting the centaur, judging by how happily she was chattering, and I, carrying Scarlet on my back, headed towards the dorm while responding to Liliana’s monologue.

‘So soft.’

I had my hand placed on the part connecting Scarlet’s thigh and butt.

She wasn’t particularly heavy, and having someone leaning on me felt quite good.

It felt like I was somehow gaining a sense of responsibility.

“Scarlet. You’re not in pain, right?”

“Yes. I’m not in pain.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s get back quickly so you can rest.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could walk on my own two feet….”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s all my fault anyway.”

– Right. Scout isn’t wrong. She’s a good girl.

What could I say to Scarlet? It was all my fault.

We leisurely arrived at the dorm.

“Liliana. Rest for a bit. Watch Scarlet for a moment, and then let’s go see the centaur.”

“Yep. Got it!”

I entered the room, carrying Scarlet on my back.

Carefully turning my body, I used magic to assist, making sure Scarlet’s posture didn’t collapse, and moved her to the bed.

“Phew.”

“Thank you. Hoyeon-nim.”

“You’re welcome.”

teolseok-

Watching Scarlet, unable to move her body and only blinking her eyes, I sat down beside her.

“It’s kind of fascinating.”

“…What is?”

“The human body is fascinating. Then again, it must have been immense pain, so it’s hard to recover immediately. Should I give you a massage or something?”

“Normally, I would have said it’s okay… but for today, could I ask for it?”

“Of course.”

I massaged Scarlet’s arm, who was smiling faintly.

Right. Not holding back at times like this is Scarlet’s charm.

jumul jumul.

I massaged Scarlet’s soft arm.

Poor Scarlet.

Next time, I should buy her another bowl of cheese soft tofu or something.

Actually, I was half-doubting if it would work, but as I massaged her arms and shoulders while channeling mana, Scarlet, who hadn’t moved at all, started to flinch.

Was it because I stimulated the muscles stiffened in surprise?

Forcing signals to her brain might have caused it.

“It certainly feels refreshing. You have a talent for massage.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

jumul jumul.

The two of us silently existed in the same space.

Scarlet lay on the bed with her eyes closed, and I quietly massaged her neck and shoulders.

“… Are the kids doing well back in Korea?”

“Are you referring to Daeun-yang and Dahee-yang?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

Of course, besides Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee, I’m also worried about the other heroines.

Especially Baek Ahyoung and Professor Im Sol.

I hope they aren’t fighting without me there.

It’s the same for Lucy and Lumi, and Surin noona said she had something to tell me, so I need to think about that too.

“Pretending to be a nice guy, you’re thinking about other women quite a lot.”

“….”

Scarlet turned her eyes away from me, pouting slightly.

She looked like she was sulking.

This is tricky….

How to handle Scarlet I’d been constantly pondering, but at this point, it’s foolish to even think about it.

Among the heroines, she’s the only one who makes me passive, which is strange, but that’s also refreshing.

Besides, when she sends such obvious signals, it’s hard to resist.

“… Scarlet.”

Right. Come to think of it, Scarlet always said it.

Things like this should be initiated by the man.

I met Scarlet’s eyes and brushed back her blonde hair.

Her fair skin and red eyes made her an attractive woman.

Scarlet, raising the corners of her mouth, said to me.

“… You should take care of the important business first. There’s the centaur, you know.”

“Hey, are you bringing that up now?”

We had a good vibe going. Scarlet.

Did you have to do this?

“Surely you’re not thinking of treating me like a 3-minute curry? I also want you to take your time.”

“… Why are you saying it like that.”

“Liliana-nim too will be waiting.”

“That’s true, but….”

I had told Liliana too that I would look at Scarlet’s body, but I had said it.

But since she was singing so much about seeing the centaur, she must be really looking forward to it.

sseudam sseudam.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m resting. I’ll be right back.”

“… Yes.”

“For the record, I’m the type to savor delicious food.”

“You can just go.”

I caressed Scarlet’s cheek.

Her slightly flushed face was quite cute, and although I wanted to take advantage of Scarlet’s immobile body right now, I decided to give her the time she wanted later.

As I stepped out of the room, Liliana, who was sitting on the living room sofa, ran towards me like a dog greeting its owner.

“Is it over already?!”

“Yeah. I just laid her down for now. We need to go see the centaur first.”

“Yay…! Let’s go!”

There wasn’t much preparation needed.

There wasn’t a time limit for the visit, and I could just go whenever I wanted and talk to it.

I didn’t need to make a list of things I wanted to say. I could just go and say whatever.

Of course, the centaur’s behavior worries me a bit, but since it’s bound by a mana control device, it should be fine.

I took Liliana, who had transformed into a necklace, and headed towards the main building.

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes. Mage Lee Hoyeon.”

“I’m trying to go to the underground detention room.”

Arriving at the lobby, I spoke to the guide.

Since there was no button for the basement in the elevator, I had to tell them directly.

“Ah, get in the elevator and swipe this card.”

The guide handed me something like a card key.

No wonder, I wondered where everyone went since there were no secret passages.

“How do I get to the detention room?”

“Go to the 5th basement floor and show the card. It’s a VIP card.”

“Thank you.”

Already, I’m getting VIP treatment.

As expected, my father-in-law.

I took the elevator and went down to the basement.

The 5th basement floor, perhaps because it was the detention area, had a chilling atmosphere. When I presented the card to the Iris Guild member guarding the entrance, they bowed their head and let me pass.

– Why is it so dark here?

“Well… are they trying to scare people?”

– Aha. Being in a dark and cold place must be tough!

Chatting with Liliana, I walked towards the innermost part.

The centaur was placed in a special room in the deepest area, they said.

go-

In the corridor, no sound could be heard.

As I walked, sensing the airflow, soon a large door came into view.

kkiik-

I carefully opened the door and peeked inside.

[You’re finally here.]

The room was spacious like a laboratory, and in the center, the centaur stood.

Its entire body was bound by mana ropes, and the ends of the ropes were embedded in the wall.

That must be the mana suppressor that suppresses mana.

In fact, only a minuscule amount of mana could be felt from the centaur.

“Uh… hello?”

[A polite human. Nice to meet you.]

I hesitated, wondering whether to use polite language with a monster, but since I spoke informally to Liliana too, I decided to speak informally to everyone from the Underworld.

But this guy is so calm.

To have a proper conversation, I kept thinking of words to persuade him, but there was no need.

– M-me…! I want to talk too!

“Wait a moment. I’ll speak first.”

Responding to Liliana’s urgent plea, I cast a rune barrier.

In the corner of the detention room, there was a CCTV.

With the rune barrier, I blocked the CCTV’s view.

Now, it would look like we were just having a normal conversation.

“Centaur… is it okay to call you that? What should I call you?”

[Call me whatever you like. Although you are a polite human, telling me my name is something I dislike.]

“Then I’ll call you ‘Kenta-chan’ cutely.”

[My name is ‘Chiron’.]

“Right. Chiron.”

As expected, he dislikes Kenta-chan.

You should have told me your real name earlier.

“Chiron, when you were brainwashed, do you remember everything?”

[Yes. My consciousness was alive the whole time.]

“Hmm… for now, I have some questions for you, so please answer them sincerely. At the very least, so you won’t be returned to Pandemic, I’ll treat you well. If I speak well enough, I might even be able to release you.”

Actually, there isn’t just one or two things I want to ask.

Considering what this Chiron guy said, he seemed hostile towards Liliana, or at least he seemed to dislike the succubus race.

[Do as you please.]

Seeing Chiron, who seemed surprisingly indifferent, I nudged Liliana.

“It’s okay. You can come out now.”

For now, I’ll leave it to Liliana.

Although Chiron’s words bothered me, resolving Liliana’s concerns comes first.

After Liliana finishes her questions, it won’t be too late to ask then. There’s the mana suppressor, after all.

peong-

“Oh, hello?! I’m from the Underworld too…!”

[…Yes.]

Contrary to my worries, the conversation flowed surprisingly well.

“How is the Underworld these days?!”

[Even if you ask me how it is, I wouldn’t know. Until I was summoned, it was the Underworld itself.]

“Is the Demon King still alive and well?”

[Yes. The succession war is in full swing. But….]

I stood behind them and watched their conversation.

I couldn’t understand anything about the political situation in the Underworld or famous singers, but since Liliana seemed happy, that was enough.

After about 10 minutes of firing off questions that came to mind, Liliana, seemingly running out of questions, held her head and pondered.

“Ah, what should I ask now… I can’t ask about my mom’s news. Maybe I should ask just in case? Do you happen to know of any famous goblin noodle restaurants in the Underworld?”

“… Asking like that, would you expect it to know?”

“It’s possible! I also never imagined I’d meet someone from the Underworld here, so you never know!”

“That’s true, but….”

[I know.]

No, how could you possibly know that?

Chiron looked at Liliana with a displeased expression and muttered.

[It seems you’re serious. You weren’t teasing me.]

“Huh?”

“Human. Do you know that?”

“Know what?”

Chiron, removing mana from his voice, spoke to me.

“Succubi live in a society that strictly values ability. Whether it’s their own physical strength, or the seductive power to turn strong beings to their side, ultimately, the strong ascend to the position of Succubus Queen.”

“So what?”

“I know that too.”

Why is he suddenly bringing up succubus society?

“Among them, there is a succubus who is the current Demon King’s consort. As the consort of the Underworld’s strongest being, the Demon King, she naturally rose to the position of Succubus Queen.”

“What are you trying to say? Are you seriously suggesting that it’s Liliana?”

“That’s impossible. Unless you are the Demon King, her face cannot be seen. Upon seeing her, you’d be drawn by her immense mana and become her slave. However, I have seen her daughter.”

“….”

Gradually, the outline of Chiron’s words began to take shape.

I really hoped it wasn’t something that significant.

“What is it! Summarize it quickly! Summarize it in three lines!”

“I remember your face clearly. The daughter born between Death’s Empress and Ruler of the hell.”

“… Do you really have to say it so grandly?”

Unnecessarily, what is this Ruler of blah blah….

Ah, right.

In the Underworld, they said they used English.

“The daughter of Death’s Empress and Ruler of the hell. Killer Queen. Liliana Calliope.”

“….”

“A succubus. Isn’t that your identity? Why are you hiding it?”

As soon as I heard the unnecessarily cool name that came out of Chiron’s mouth, I looked at Liliana’s face, but Liliana frowned, looking as if she was thinking, “What kind of bullshit is this?”

“What are you talking about. I’m just Liliana? And my mom works at a goblin noodle restaurant. She’s not that big of a deal.”

“… Hey. Do you have proof?”

“Of course I do. I’ll show you right now.”