Sure.
Ugh.
It’s tough.
No, seriously, who in their right mind would build a road at a wonky angle on a crumbling cliff, and if you don’t have a special magic key, you’re stuck wandering the mountain, fighting all sorts of monsters just to eventually arrive?
I know about that special magic, but for someone like me who can’t use magic, it’s just a pretty picture problem.
I mean, there’s got to be some reasonable explanation, like it’s a game or something.
First, Maleficent.
No friends.
She’s got a personality so bad it feels like it was programmed that way from birth. Seriously, her entire race is just like that.
And on top of that, she never got a chance to develop any social skills since she was always in trouble, so she’s sharp and prickly.
But unlike the loneliness of the weak, it’s more like the arrogance of the strong, which is the exact opposite of me.
Me?
Just a monster who ended up folding under torture and finds comfort in it? Surprisingly, I still have some brainpower left to realize that mindless actions would lead to real dead ends, so I’m desperately holding onto my patience.
If eating is the act of obtaining what you need to live, then gaining warmth is like a meal to me.
Under that assumption, I’m having meals that are as restrained as a Buddhist feast.
Healthy, sure, but sometimes I just want to taste those violent calories, like shoving a burger wrapped in pizza down my throat.
So, I’m slyly creating my own harvesting period.
Anyway.
This neighborhood is like a party where the monster armies flood in every few years, marking their territory, imagining it as some special treat.
And on top of that, Maleficent has no friends.
The only visitors would basically be enemies, luring them into the monster’s lair to sap their strength for a final showdown.
There’s no reason to consider anyone else’s feelings, so there’s no easy path for someone else—just me and the rest.
Only two options.
What I’m saying is, I felt like I could be stuck here all night, so I broke reality a little.
Since I know the framework of Maleficent’s memories, I wondered if I could patch together this reality without magic to see if I could enter, and lo and behold, it worked.
The most fascinating part? If it’s in a magical domain, cracks don’t appear.
The security magic Maleficent cast wasn’t that simple, and it wasn’t harder than turning stones littering the road into gold.
Lucky for me, I’m not worried about the world collapsing over something like this.
Perhaps the magic of Gashinamoo could have been easily broken too, I thought while climbing up the steep cliff.
Since Maleficent could just fly, she didn’t give a lick about adding accommodations for the poor travelers like me, making it really tough.
So, I entered Maleficent’s castle.
This place was originally an abandoned old castle, repurposed into a lair too big for one person to physically manage on their own.
But Maleficent could use magic and managed it solo.
So, now that she’s gone, what’s it like?
Whiiing.
Ragged stone pieces swayed and rattled, as a chilling breeze blew through, making a sound.
It’s on the brink of collapse.
The only good thing is that because I have Maleficent’s memories, I don’t need to search for where stuff is.
I’m ignoring the gold and treasures inside the castle. There are more valuable things, like Maleficent’s magical items or special tools. I focused on collecting those high-value items.
The value standard?
Whether there’s a deep malice embedded in it.
And lastly, I grab the diary to torment Maleficent, who made me suffer. Although it’s not a daily diary but rather one with several years between its entries.
An honest diary expressing her innermost feelings.
If that becomes a relic, I’m gonna be in tears.
Inscribed in faded memories, the diary of a person named Anne likely deleted embarrassing doodles, right?
I believe it’ll have a similar effect as I pack the diary.
Then, suddenly, I spot an open birdcage near the desk. The bottom has a withered bird bone.
She may have had no friends, but she had subordinates.
Or maybe it could’ve been a friend.
Finding no warmth in there, I lost interest immediately and headed straight out of the castle.
This castle will collapse soon.
Inside, it’s so creaky that reinforcing it would be a safety level worse than just tearing it down and building anew.
I trudged down the cliff with my luggage.
My clothes became tattered. Admittedly, what I’m wearing isn’t great for this kind of place; it’s more like what a girl would wear on a picnic.
But I didn’t have outdoor gear, so I came dressed like this.
I basically rolled my way down the steep cliff until I hit the ground.
Hmm.
I have more cargo than I thought.
A girl covered in dirt and dust, with a bunch of strange items dangling from her arms.
That’s what I look like now.
First, I cross through the monster territory Maleficent was aware of, then dash back the way I came.
The weight is hefty but doesn’t break this body down.
*
I reached my accommodation.
Surprisingly, no one pointed me out while I was running from the outskirts of the capital to my lodging. When I returned, people screamed, probably because my clothes were in such a terrible state.
After being forcibly changed into raggedy clothes by the bustling maids, I called for the butler.
“Bell, what brings you here?”
“Can I meet the king regarding matters related to Maleficent?”
Surprisingly, the butler didn’t ask for further clarification but just told me to wait a moment.
I expected at least a basic question, but he gave me a puzzled look without voicing it.
And that night.
I got into a carriage, carrying the items I looted from Maleficent’s dwelling, stopping in front of the lodging.
This time, instead of the royal castle, I entered a building slightly outside. And there, waiting for me at our usual meeting spot was Highpion King.
“You sought me out regarding the witch.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I came loaded with stuff. The surprising part? No one questioned my baggage. I thought the guards would search the items I carried, yet I passed through completely free.
Isn’t that too much trust?
What if I was there to assassinate the king?
With doubts in mind about the royal security, I placed the items I brought onto the table in front of the familiar-looking man.
“What is this?”
I pondered how to explain this and gave an answer that encompassed everything at once.
“This is Maleficent’s diary.”
As I pointed to a book, the king’s expression hardened. He glanced down at the item with a wary look.
“Where in the world did you get this?”
“I discovered the spot where Maleficent spent her last moments.”
As far as I know, aside from Victoria, no one knew what I said during her last moments.
I never spoke a word about the hidden place. Yet it’s not a lie; I know it because I obtained Maleficent’s memories.
“And I brought dangerous items focusing on those.”
I indeed grabbed things centered around danger. Magical tools meant to kill, curse, and ruin someone.
Of course, I’m not about to share how to use them.
That would make it weird, right?
“Can you tell me the location?”
“Yes.”
In response to Highpion’s question, I revealed where Maleficent’s fortress used to be.
And while I was at it, I added, “I left heavy metals like gold and silver behind, so go ahead if you need them. But the castle is decaying, so I wouldn’t recommend going; you never know when it might collapse.”
If I give them a time limit and let them know there’s treasure, they’ll probably go looking for it.
Teasing their desires works better than simply asking for something. If it’s a risk level they think they can handle, it’s easier.
“You ventured into such a dangerous area?”
“I’m not human. Plus, these were Maleficent’s belongings, weren’t they?”
Just stating the facts.
But for the listener, it could be interpreted that I moved to deal with dangerous items.
I left behind the gold and treasures, only presenting the dangerous items. I also brought along a detailed guide about Maleficent.
No matter how you look at it, I seem benevolent, right?
And I genuinely plan to keep it that way.
Though I’d impulsively extend my harvesting period, I won’t intend to do anything else. I’ll simply hold my breath, sometimes behave like a good person, and wait.
Bern City is engulfed in flames, while in the slums of Brightshin, more folks are inventing technological items.
It’s like a bribe.
I’m just trying to get along since I’ve been good.
“I can’t believe you brought so much, and there’s nothing I can do in return.”
At that moment, the Highpion King wore a bitter expression and said that. He walked over to touch the items on the table.
So, I warned him it might be dangerous to mess with them.
Of course, just picking them up and swinging them won’t activate magical items. But by saying this, he’d think I don’t know much about them.
However, if I keep giving too much, it’ll raise suspicion. Here, I’ll pretend to have benevolence while inciting the fire in Bern City just a tad.
“The screams I hear from the south never seem to stop.”
That means I’m aware that something terrible is happening. Whether it’s something the king did or not, it’s a demand for action.
And that’ll result in the worst conclusion.
Because the Scarlet Twilight Society has completely lost faith in the country. Do you think anyone would trust the king if he tries to suppress things now?
Even if it somehow works out, the really important problems are still lurking below the surface.
The fundamental flaw in the power source that goes into the clockwork machines.
Bern City, a cutting-edge city with many clockwork devices, is probably the first city to cross the critical point. Unless it’s fixed, another disaster is bound to happen again.
And what comes next after Bern City, among places with a high number of clockwork machines?
Yes.
The capital.
There’s a time bomb with a slowly ticking clock up there.
Can this be handled? Or will we just watch it blow?
Either way, I’m fine.
With those thoughts in mind, I compel the situation to turn quickly.
Now, how will things unfold?
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