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Chapter 306

There was a reason I left the task of extracting information from the corpse of the cultist to Melissa.

After all, even cutting off the bastard’s head had already been overstepping my bounds.

It wasn’t my place to infringe upon her authority any further, especially since I had already refused the position of family head.

Besides, there were still many things that needed my attention.

In truth, I had heard most of the story within the memory space, yet I couldn’t help but question why the goddess Eve had supposedly aided me merely by using the remnants of her power.

Was it simply foresight?

Or coincidence?

If it truly was only a remnant of her power, then why did she say—

—Child, free me.

Would a dead god’s remnant say something like that?

It didn’t add up.

But it was also true that if even Lispa Elde couldn’t uncover the truth, then there was no way I could confirm it now.

For the time being, all I could do was keep the crystal close and check on it periodically.

That, however, was not the only matter I needed to verify.

* * *

“Librarian.”

[Confirming.]

“The opened hall—what is it?”

It was suspicious enough that, after nearly two years of silence, a hall suddenly became available for transfer.

The Librarian had said it could provide information on this, so I had to confirm it now.

But just then, I suddenly noticed the presence of a strange intruder inside my body.

“…And what are you supposed to be?”

I spread my hand and pulled together into my palm a bizarre energy drifting within me.

It was a force I had never seen before, but it definitely wasn’t ordinary mana.

A pure white light, carrying a power that felt less like holy power and more akin to sacred force.

“Hey, Librarian. Don’t tell me the next hall’s power is something like divine force?”

[It is not.]

“Then what the hell is this?”

Irritated by this alien presence, I lightly prodded it with my necromantic mana.

‘Oi. Go poke that thing for me.’

The necromantic mana wriggled over and brushed against the white orb-like mass of energy.

—Hey. What are you? Who told you you could just move into someone else’s house uninvited?

The white cluster violently repelled my necromantic mana.

‘Tch. Get lost, would you!’

…Well, now.

A dry laugh escaped me.

It was the same no matter which mana I used.

This prickly, stingy little force rejected not only my interference but also the interference of all other powers.

And yet—

There was only one exception.

The squatter reacted solely to the intruder already lodged in my body.

“…Huh. It responds to Thanatos.”

It didn’t circulate like other powers, nor did it radiate overwhelming presence—it just sat there quietly in one place.

But amusingly, it only stirred in response to the authority of Death.

That was all.

No abilities were unlocked, no powers awakened.

And since I had no way of identifying it…

* * *

Crash!!

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted.

I frowned and headed toward the source, only to find Luna and Lispa Elde glaring daggers at each other, ready to fight.

“…Is that a Sephirot?”

Wasn’t it said that only the worthy could use it?

[It appears to be a degraded imitation. If you don’t stop them immediately, large-scale destruction is highly likely.]

True enough—neither of them were ordinary individuals.

I darted between them just as Luna’s fist and Lispa’s rainbow-colored current of Sephirot light were about to clash.

Thwack!!

Both their attacks stopped as if on cue.

“Leon. Move. I’m about to kill this damn bitch.”

“Leon. You’re not experiencing any strange symptoms, are you?”

Two completely opposite reactions.

I scowled.

“What are you both doing?”

“That fucking—”

Luna clutched her chest angrily, unable to finish.

Ah.

I got the gist.

Lispa didn’t seem like the type to hide something like this.

“…You don’t trust me?”

“I do.”

“Then trust me all the way. You’re all I’ve got.”

Admittedly, my words sounded like some shameless womanizer’s line. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ⓝovelFire.net

But unlike those types, there wasn’t a single lie mixed into mine.

“…Haa.”

Finally calming down, Luna sighed deeply and backed off.

Lispa, on the other hand, smiled up at me, her eyes carrying a sharp glint unlike before.

“What exactly are you doing, Lispa Elde Remielia?”

“I’m courting you.”

…What?

I knew she was straightforward, but this was… extreme.

Not that I disliked her after fighting alongside her through life and death, but there were lines that needed to be kept.

“Don’t cross the line.”

“Am I not allowed to like you?”

“…What?”

“….”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

True, it was my choice whether or not to return her feelings.

But whether she harbored them or not—that was her freedom.

It wasn’t really my place to interfere.

“…Do I need your permission to have feelings?”

“Well, no, but… how do I even respond to this?”

“You’re really cruel, you know that?”

She lowered her head, trembling as if about to cry.

I wasn’t used to this sort of thing.

So I stepped closer, intending to console her—

Only for Luna to grab my arm.

“Stop right there. Lift your head.”

At once, Lispa’s trembling ceased.

When she raised her face again, there was mischief dancing all over her expression.

Luna cracked her knuckles threateningly.

Lispa merely stretched, then retreated without regret.

“Cold as ever. Well, they say the one who loves first always loses. Guess I can’t do anything about that.”

“My heart belongs only to Luna.”

“Fine. If that makes you happy, so be it. I’ll respect whatever you choose. I’m not asking you to break up with her or anything.”

“…”

[Translator - Night]

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“I just… I like you. I want to give you everything I can.”

With that, translucent wings sprouted from her back.

“Leon. Please don’t use this carelessly. Who knows what effect it might have on you. Until next time. I’ll bring a gift.”

Her smile was one of unmistakable affection, not simple goodwill.

She flashed me a beautiful grin, lifted into the air, and disappeared from sight.

Luna stormed off in a huff, hammering a wooden sign into the ground with her bare hands.

—No Entry for Thieving Pigeons.

Not satisfied, she stomped around planting the same sign all over the estate.

Melissa, just out from interrogating the undead, squinted at the scene, clearly wondering, “What the hell is she doing now?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

* * *

“Big-brother…”

Arsha burrowed into my chest, trembling and refusing to let go.

Though her separation anxiety had lessened, the ordeal she had endured had clearly left her deeply shaken.

Like a frightened kitten, she nestled into me while I stroked her hair, my gaze turning to Melissa seated before me.

“The cultists… they’re not doing well, are they?”

“What do you mean?”

“Apparently the Moon’s Watchers recently destroyed over twenty of their branches. Their leader, who hadn’t acted in years, finally drew her sword. I’m guessing that’s why they were so desperate to get their hands on that staff.”

“…So there’s nothing left for us, then?”

“The cultist we caught said his branch and faction were completely wiped out. Still, he had a few traces left on him. I’ll dig into it.”

“Then I—”

“No.”

Melissa cut me off firmly.

“This is mine. Stay out of it until I’ve tracked down and compiled the information.”

Her tone brooked no argument.

I raised both hands in surrender.

It was obvious why she was being so stubborn.

And so, this time, I chose to let her handle it.

Besides, I needed to hear about the new hall—and why it had been silent for two years.

* * *

Arsha eventually fell asleep in my arms.

After laying her on the bed, I sat beside her and closed my eyes, gazing into the void.

‘Librarian.’

[Confirming.]

‘The name of the hall currently available for transfer?’

The letters in the void blurred for a moment.

Truth be told, I had been curious.

Back then, I had pressed a lot of buttons in a hurry, but I’d never properly checked what they actually were.

[Receiving hall information.]

Soon, text floated before my eyes.

[Currently, the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons is available for transfer. Do you wish to proceed?]

“…The Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons? That poison?”

I muttered blankly, forgetting this was supposed to be a mental dialogue.

Glancing at Arsha to make sure she was still asleep, I asked quietly—

“…Is that right?”

[Confirmed. Correct.]

Most halls required you to fight and defeat a designated target.

But what about opponents immune to poison?

It raised an uncomfortable question.

High-tier monsters, after all, were almost always poison-resistant.

I had imitated poison-like debuffs through necromancy before, but this was different.

“…Well. Nothing I can do now. Let’s start the transfer.”

Suddenly, a crushing nausea and dizziness enveloped me.

‘Tch. You didn’t mention this part.’

[The Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons is being obstructed by a foreign force within your body. If your vessel cannot withstand it, you will collapse.]

Ah.

So that was it.

The white force inside me was rejecting the newly received hall power.

What a damned troublesome tenant.

“Ghk—?!”

Blackened blood erupted from my mouth.

“Kh-hhkk…!”

I coughed violently, hemorrhaging as my body repeatedly broke down and regenerated.

Like being given both illness and cure at once.

And then—

“Big…..brother?”

Arsha’s eyes widened as she saw me vomiting blood.

Her tears welled instantly.

“No…! Please don’t be sick, brotherrr!”

And then she wailed.

[Translator - Night]

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