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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Family Disguise
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“In any case, if we can’t tell the Crown Prince or the Saint, we have to get stronger ourselves! What about that, can we absorb more corpses from the death row inmates? Can we get stronger that way too?”
Yulia roared into the air in frustration. It was clear she was very unhappy with the current situation of constantly being on the run.
“Maybe it would be possible if my skills improved a bit…?”
After all, that was the purpose of creating familiars. It was just that my skills were lacking, so I could only use them to grease their joints, so to speak.
“Hmm… Perfect timing. This is what I was planning to talk about today.”
Just then, Edmond rose from his seat. He took a video sphere out of his pocket and placed it on the table in the center.
*Tap, tap.* As he touched the sphere, a familiar face filled the space within.
-My, my~! Esteemed client! What brings you here on this late night…? Hahaha! Not that I’m bothered by having my sleep interrupted, of course~!
Donald, dressed in his pajamas, was rubbing his hands together as always. Edmond ignored his greeting and cut straight to the chase.
“About what we discussed earlier today. I’d like a detailed explanation.”
-Ah~! You mean about the auction, sir?
“Yes. That a grimoire has been put up for the underground auction.”
A grimoire?
As I stared into the video sphere with a surprised look, Donald grinned and nodded.
-Yes, that’s correct, sir. It’s reliable information from the auction house. However, there are a few things that bother me….
“What are they?”
-As you requested earlier, I looked for additional information, and well… the item’s origin is a bit unclear, you see.
Donald scratched his head and continued, looking troubled.
-Even if it’s an underground auction, we have our own business ethics, you know? The origin is crucial for determining if an item is genuine or fake, but those fellows absolutely refuse to disclose it. That’s a clear sign they have something to hide.
“Something to hide… For example?”
-This is just what I heard from my informant, so it needs to be cross-verified, but… it seems the item was dug up from a saintess’s tomb.
Donald then added, ‘Many people consider items from tomb robbers to be bad luck, you see.’
It was absurd that they believed in such superstitions in the blood-and-guts world of underground auctions, but even more ridiculous was what he had just said.
“But the saintess’s tomb… isn’t it in the Frostwood Forest? I thought the state restricted access because it’s crawling with monsters.”
-Oh, come now~. If they let that stop them, would they even be tomb robbers? There used to be a guardian of the Frostwood Forest, but he died recently. Because of that, the forest’s defenses have weakened, and all sorts of people, from herb gatherers to tomb robbers, have been coming and going lately.
“……”
So the warlocks killing a descendant of a prophet had this kind of ripple effect.
After the Holy War, the 13 Prophets had settled in various parts of the continent. Among them, Saintess Elisa had volunteered to be the guardian of the Frostwood Forest.
Since then, the descendants of Saintess Elisa had protected the Frostwood Forest for generations.
But now that the warlocks had killed the guardian, there was no one left to protect the forest.
‘Thanks to that, the grimoire buried with the saintess has been unearthed and brought into the world. Should I consider this a welcome development for us?’
You just never know how things in this world will turn out.
“…In any case, you’re saying it’s definitely a grimoire.”
-Yes, of course. I can guarantee that!
“I need to buy it.”
-…I, uh, expected this when you asked me to find it, but. Are you serious, sir?
“Yes. How much will it be?”
No matter how precious the item, there was nothing House Walker couldn’t afford. It seemed Edmond was prepared to use the family’s slush fund if necessary.
‘Rumor has it that the secret fund my grandfather, who had a talent for business, created is equivalent to the empire’s annual budget…’
Of course, being a rumor, it was likely exaggerated. But it was true that he had a considerable amount of money to move around.
-I, I can’t do it!
Donald abruptly threw his hands up.
-If, if, if I touch such an unholy object, the Lord will surely punish me! I can’t do it!
“I might punish you before the Lord does.”
-Even so, I can’t! I may not look it, but I’m a devout believer!
He squeezed his eyes shut, a clear sign of his unwavering resolve.
“…If you truly insist on inviting my wrath,”
“We’ll do it that way.”
Just as Edmond was about to take a hard line, I suddenly interjected.
“Emily.”
“Just arrange a place for us to participate in the auction. You can at least do that, right?”
I didn’t want to step in either, but… it seemed I was better at handling people like this than Edmond was.
“Oh, my~! Of course, of course! I’ll make sure to tell them to seat you comfortably in the VVVIP section! I’ll see to it personally!”
Donald practically prostrated himself, repeatedly thanking me. I think I heard him say it at least twenty-five times before the video sphere turned off.
After turning off the sphere, I turned around to find Edmond looking at me with a slightly stiff expression.
“Sorry. Are you mad that I interfered?”
“…You’re not Isaac or Yulia. I assume you had your reasons for acting that way. I was just pondering what they might be.”
I heard Isaac grumble from behind, ‘Why’d you have to drag us into it?’ but I pretended not to notice.
“It’s just that… everyone has a line they won’t cross, you know? For him, it seemed to be religion.”
“Hmm.”
“He’s the most reputable person in that industry, isn’t he? That’s why you chose him from grandfather’s ledger, Edmond. I thought it would be better to back down just this once rather than souring the relationship over this.”
At my explanation, Edmond simply nodded with a blank face. Was he displeased with my presumptuous meddling?
I figured I couldn’t do anything even if he got angry. In a way, my actions were a direct challenge to Edmond’s authority as the head of the family and the Duke.
As I stood with my head slightly lowered in slight nervousness, I felt Edmond approach me.
*Pat.*
A large hand rested on my head. Huh? While I was bewildered, he gently moved his hand, stroking my hair.
“A good thought, Emily. Sometimes, you need to know how to be gentle and accommodating.”
When I lifted my head slightly, I saw Edmond smiling faintly.
“You’re better at this than I am.”
“……”
For some reason, I felt a lump in my throat, and Isaac and Yulia chimed in from behind to make it worse.
“Hear, hear. What kind of duke is a zombie? Let Emily be the Duke of House Walker.”
“I agree, I agree~.”
“You two… *sigh*.”
“Hey, what was that sigh supposed to mean? I just felt deeply insulted, you know?!”
“What about us! What! Huh!”
Watching the three of them bicker, a laugh escaped me before I knew it.
“Pfft, what are you all doing, with Edmond joining in~!”
They were truly incorrigible. Only after seeing me laugh did they start to laugh one by one.
By the time I came to my senses, I had completely forgotten the worries from moments ago and was just trading silly jokes with them.
That alone was enough to make me happy.
***
I fiddled with the mask adorned with flamboyant feathers. It covered half my face, making my field of vision frustratingly narrow.
It was even worse with the robe pulled over my head.
‘They said everyone wears a mask to hide their identity when participating in the auction…’
I was planning to buy a mask near the auction site. I had picked a suitable one and left early, so it seemed I was the first one ready.
‘I brought the dimensional pocket just in case. If I leave now, I should arrive just in time for the auction.’
As I was fiddling with the dimensional pocket tied to my waist, the dressing room door opened.
*Swish.*
“Ooh~. Señorita.”
“Huh?”
Isaac appeared, speaking the language of the Tahil Kingdom. He wore a mask modeled after a fox and held a single rose in his mouth.
“A toast to your eyes…”
“What-what are you doing?”
“Shh. Don’t ask, my lady. Just feel.”
As I was about to ask what kind of nonsense this was, he pressed his index finger to my lips and shook his head….
I was at a loss for words, just staring blankly. Before I could even gather my thoughts, the next person emerged.
Yulia came out wearing a plain black mask. A wave of relief washed over me, thinking I wouldn’t have to endure Isaac’s antics alone anymore.
“Yulia, hurry over here. You won’t believe what Isaac is…!”
“Yulia? Who might you be referring to? I am but a nameless… cold… hearted… assassin.”
Wow, I had to applaud Yulia’s audacity for delivering that line without a hint of hesitation.
“Señorita. Your name?”
“I am but a lone wolf…”
As Isaac and Yulia began a mind-numbing conversation, the mental damage doubled.
‘They’re really committing to the bit…’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
As if pleased by my aghast reaction, Yulia laughed once more in a monotone voice, “Hoo. Hoo. Hoo.”
My only hope now was Edmond.
*Swish!*
The curtain of the dressing room was thrown open, and finally, Edmond walked out.
“Ed…”
I was rendered speechless.
My last hope, Edmond, had appeared dressed in a three-piece suit and even a fedora, like a mafia boss from the Sirasian Kingdom.
He even had sunglasses and a cigar to complete the look!
“…Ahem. A disguise is necessary to hide our identities.”
Sensing my gaze, he added an uncharacteristic excuse. My goodness.
“Does it… not suit me?”
Edmond asked in a small voice. As if. The problem was that it suited him too well.
“You’ve arrived, Boss.”
“We’ve been waiting.”
Isaac and Yulia seized the opportunity, sticking to Edmond’s sides.
The three of them standing side by side, they truly looked like a mafia family visiting from the Sirasian Kingdom. As far as disguises went, it was a resounding success.
‘…Is this really okay? House Walker.’
It was a moment where I felt deeply concerned for the future of my family.
