Chapter 269: Prelude to Total War


    <b> Prelude to Total War </b>


    Though situated in the heart of the imperial city, it was considered the farthest outskirts  the back alley.


    Where is this?


    How long will you keep addressing me informally, even when youre my maid?


    S-shut up!


    I had brought Alice into the most secretive area within this back alley.


    In the back alleys to such a ce?


    Alice, who was intently eyeing me from behind, seemed unaware of this ce, indicating that security was rigorously maintained.


    Indeed, this location was where I had been most meticulously prepared for this role. Naturally, security there was thorough.


    <i>Creak Creak</i>


    You How much influence did you have in this empire?


    As I touched the sturdy and solid iron gate, as robust as the main gate of the Imperial Pce, and it began to open slowly, Alice looked at me with a frightened expression and asked.


    Indeed, anyone would be frightened upon seeing the vast space beyond the open door.


    Also, the one apanying her was Frey, the most wicked viin, and rogue in the Empire Well, no need to say it; anyone could imagine that feeling well enough.


    In the end, the Moonlight Lords exclusive assassin is an ordinary woman. Just looking at this sight makes you shrivel in fear.


    S-shut your trap.


    Amid the chaotic atmosphereing from the prison, she, drenched in cold sweat, straightened up, perhaps wounded in her pride, and confidently stepped forward.


    Sav save me please


    F-forgive me


    ..!


    However, as anguished screams echoed from all directions, her tense expression revealed a sense of nervousness.


    This isnt your first time seeing such a sight, is it?


    Kreuk.


    Addressing her in a calm voice, I urged her forward with my footsteps while quietly thinking.


    <b><i> Indeed na. Shes quite skilled at managing things.</i></b>


    Of course, this ce wasnt intended for my amusement. It was simply a Secret Prison where we gathered and detained all the Empires trash.


    It was tricky to imprison them in the imperial prison since the emperor and the crown prince managed it. And, sending them to the Churchs prison was like entrusting fish to a cat.


    Hence, I had to create a new prison.


    P-please just kill me


    Spare me


    The ones screaming over there were nothing more than trash beneath human worth, not even worthy of a fresh start.


    Therefore, someone like Isabel, who once made a deal with the Demon King and initiated the attack on themoner dormitory, Empress Ramie and Rifael, and my shadow friends, who used to manage the young ves now owned by Lulu, were imprisoned here.


    While it might be tempting to just kill them, to fix this corrupt world, I needed to use them as much as possible.


    However, they seemed frail recently.


    Lulu often brought Miho here. So, was that the reason behind this change?


    So why did youe here sir?


    Of course, I have someone to meet here.


    Looking around at the wretched individuals unworthy of pity, I nced at Alice, who had been watching my reaction and adjusting her tone to formal speech. Together, we headed deeper into the prison.


    Wait here.


    ?


    Why? Do you want toe with me?


    No.


    Then stay there quietly. Its an order.


    I left Alice outside and quietly entered the room at the far end.


    Ebub, eub.


    Before me was a miserable-looking woman.


    Eub! Ebub!


    The one with covered eyes and mouth was none other than Vener.


    Could you be a bit quieter?


    Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Uuuuuugh!


    After silently observing her, I whispered something in her ear, and Vener began to thrash violently.


    Whats wrong, Ms. Vener, the eldest daughter of the Hylin family?


    !!!


    Upon hearing my words, she stopped and took a deep breath.


    If you keep thrashing around, I might reveal your secret to the world.


    Right, now this is better.


    As expected, her weakness was quite useful.


    Youll have to keep being good like this.


    It seemed like the foundation forpleting the Make Friends mission had been securely in ce.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    A few hours before, Roswyn went to find Ruby.


    <i> You are the most despicable person Ive ever known.</i>


    She was staring nkly at the system window floating in front of her.


    Frey


    Roswyn had repeatedly paused and yed back videos for a few days, watching everything Frey had done.


    <i>  Boom! Booom</i>


    <i>  Hooo</i>


    As she reached the final moments of the video, what she watched was na, who was denouncing Frey and preparing for the uing battle with the Demon Kings army.


    <i>  Sizzle</i>


    The scene quickly passed by, from na being killed by the Demon King to Frey holding her chilling body as they headed to the altar, only to be attacked in the eye by the canary, possessed by nas soul.


    <i>  Knock, knock, knock</i>


    <i>  Roswyn, are you there?</i>


    Soon, the screen showed Frey, looked like he was about to die at any moment.


    <i> Creak</i>


    When he knocked on a dpidated cabin, Roswyn came out.


    <i> Th-the p-p-poison I-a-a-asked for</i>


    <i>  Here.</i>


    <i>  Th-th-thank..</i>


    <i>  Forget that. Now just get lost.</i>


    After examining the poison with trembling hands, Frey took a flower from his pocket and offered it to Roswyn. However, she merely spoke in a cold voice.


    <i> You n to use that and thenmit suicide? In that case, hurry up, take it, and get lost.</i>


    Freys eyes dpidated upon hearing that. He then lowered his head and asked.


    <i> Since this is the end, just tell me one thing. Do you like yellow flowers? Or red flowers?</i>


    Then Roswyn replied with a smirk.


    <i>  I hated everything you gave from the beginning. It didnt matter what color it was.</i>


    <i>  Ah</i>


    <i>  You clueless bastard.</i>


    She mmed the door at the end of the words.


    The current Roswyn stared at the scene with lifeless eyes.


    In the so-called Cycle 1, Frey always visited Roswyn when hemitted severe wrongdoings.


    Because she was the only one he could do any good deed, and since she was a system-assigned helper, doing good for her didnt count toward the karma needed to unleash the Heros Armament.


    Frey visited her when Serena, Irina, or Ferloche died. But Roswyn always treated him coldly.


    Frey knew it too, so as he grew older, his visits to Roswyn, which had been daily when he was young, gradually became less frequent.


    Of course, Roswyns dislike for him was inevitable.


    It was because, in Cycle 1, Frey was truly a wicked viin.


    So, not only Roswyn but everyone else would naturally treat him that way.


    <i> Youve suffered because of me all this time, right? Im sorry, Roswyn</i>


    However, fraught with guilt and self-reproach, thest time Frey visited her, he walked along the zing street with poison in hand, staggering and muttering.


    He appeared even more pitiful to anyone who knew his truth and circumstances.


    <i> Gulp, eeee</i>


    It was heartbreaking when she saw him banging his head on the kitchen table after hemitted an immoral sin by poisoning his father.


    <i>  You bastard, why?</i>


    <i>  Its to get the system.</i>


    In the final moment, seeing him embrace the Demon King and unleash the Heros Armament by gathering all the evil deeds he hadmitted, the scene became even more poignant.


    Even those unrted to him would be sad witnessing his chronicle. However, as she looked at the whole thing, Roswyn only had a vacant expression with dried tears.


    That?


    As she absentmindedly stared at the screen, which had turned white for a while, something caught Roswyns eye.


    <i> Kugugugugu</i>


    The Demon Kings disguise was unveiled as the Heros Armament went berserk.


    ..


    Having seen that, Roswyn quietly got up from her seat.


    <i> Ssk</i>


    Then, she grabbed the top-tier potions meant for Frey, in case she might be able to save him, various offensive scrolls, and escape scrolls, and then stood up from her seat.


    I need to confirm


    She had dyed it until the end, but it was an inevitable hypothesis that needed to be verified.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Back to the current moment.


    Are you in a lot of pain?


    Oh, did youe here because you worry about me?


    Heik.


    Roswyn timidly asked Ruby, who was lying on the bed. When Ruby responded with another question with an unsettling expression, Roswyn involuntarily shuddered.


    What are you so afraid of, Lady Roswyn?


    I-it-i-its nothing


    Hmmm


    Ruby Examined her from every angle and eventually spoke with a softer expression.


    But what are you holding in your arms?


    Th-th-this is a reproduction of the potion I gave youst time? I brought it for you


    Ah.


    Rubys soft expression instantly froze upon this.


    Is it the same as you gave mest time? The ingredients arepletely identical?


    Y-yes, its exactly the same. O-only the bottle and color are different.


    Oh I see


    Nodding quietly , Rubys stern expression gradually deteriorated.


    Here, please take it You need to improve quickly since youve already improved from the previously incurable disease


    Hmm, I still have some of the effects of the potion I tookst time, so I dont need to


    But still, please


    Looking down at Ruby with a terrified expression, Roswyn tried to forcefully give her the potion with trembling hands.


    Well, I said I really didnt need it, didnt I?


    Ouch!


    Oh my.


    Suddenly, the potion bottle she was holding shattered, and Roswyn looked dazed.


    The potion bottle broke all of a sudden


    I-is that so


    Thats a shame.


    There was no way the potion bottle would have suddenly broken.


    The potion bottle she bought, which cost the highest price, was so sturdy that it wouldnt break even if an entire cart passed over it, thanks to the powerful magic protection.


    Oh, are you hurt somewhere?


    <i> Throb</i>


    With a worried expression, Ruby held her hand, and Roswyn felt a throb in her heart.


    Ah, ah ah


    As a result, Roswyn quickly withdrew her hand, turned around with a pale face, and muttered.


    <b><i>Ruby is the Demon King She was the Demon King!</i></b>


    The pupils and facial features that were briefly visible in thest moments of the video matched the current appearance of Ruby.


    Because of that, the bted and horrifying shock that hit her was so great.


    <b><i>I-I have to tell someone no matter what, I have to let anyone know</i></b>


    Roswyns legs trembled greatly, and she broke into a cold sweat. Though she knew she had to move them, fear paralyzed her.


    Hmm


    Ruby observed Roswyn moving slowly like a tortoise, tilting her head inquisitively.


    It doesnt seem like youre certain?


    Wondering what had happened, Ruby tilted her head, her expression unscathed from not receiving any penalties.


    <b><i>Even so, whats her n in leaving me alone?</i></b>


    It was because the Penalty Nullification from the Helper System also applied to the Path of Pretender system.


    <i>  Swish</i>


    As the Demon King contemted Roswyns stance, she quietly reached out her arms.


    Well then, goodbye huh? W-why wont the door open?


    At the same time, the door was locked.


    Well, Im not sure why Why would that be?


    Heik eh


    Lady Roswyn?


    So, with a terrified expression, Roswyn thought about going all-in by pulling out an attack scroll from her pocket, preparing for anything.


    <b><i>I already left the information that shes the Demon King in my room but but</i></b>


    <i> Ding!</i>


    Huh?


    Then, as she hesitated without being able to decide, the moonlight system window appeared before her.


    < Achievement: Prelude to Total War >


    Reward: Intelligence +1, Mana +1, Stamina +1


    !


    Seeing that, hope shed in Roswyns eyes.


    <b><i>M-maybe!</i></b>


    <i> Thud!</i>


    ..?


    Then, the door opened, and someone entered. Thanks to that, just as she entertained the thought of her fate being resurrected, she looked down with a puzzled gaze.


    Stay behind me, sister.


    Eh?


    Go down to the first floor. I have some business here first.


    Wearing the robe backward, the person who entered the room pulled Roswyn behind her.


    Hurry up.


    And it was none other than re.


    Huh?


    Staring at the familiar system window in front of re, Roswyns gaze became vacant.<hr>


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