Chapter: 249
If the opponent shows goodwill, it’s something to be happy about.
But if that goodwill comes after you’re making a mess in their territory, then you should have your doubts.
Underneath that seemingly goodwill-filled emotion, is there another emotion hidden? Is it possible they’re hiding their true thoughts behind a mask?
If there’s a history of similar past incidents and back then their reactions were violent unlike this time, then you should definitely raise your suspicions.
A person who slaps you and then reaches out their hand can’t be normal, right?
“Here, let’s take a sip of this tea first. It’s valuable leaves brought from the east.”
Because she mentioned it beforehand, I couldn’t view Isabel offering the teacup with a cheerful smile positively at all.
No matter how much I racked my brain, there was no reason for her to treat me kindly, unless it was thanks to the Divine Grace of God within me.
Ugh… This is all Grandpa’s fault! Bringing up unnecessary topics forced me to interpret Isabel’s arrogant behavior strangely!
Even this tea right now! With its soft and subtle aroma filling the room, it surely must be good quality, but I’m nervous thinking what else could be mixed in besides tea!
Even if a decent poison or drug wouldn’t work on me right now, it wouldn’t be surprising if Isabel had something extraordinary up her sleeve.
“Count Arteia, I don’t have much time…”
“I’m not someone who has the luxury to sit and chat with a fanatic, you know?”
“Is that so? How unfortunate. I went to the trouble of preparing this.”
I showed a sharp attitude as I pushed aside the teacup, but Isabel didn’t give any hint of being offended. She only looked genuinely sorry.
It’s weird. Something’s off.
‘The reason I’m here is…’
“The reason I came to this unpleasant mansion is simple. There’s something undeserved for a fanatic here.”
“Ah, so it’s that business. I anticipated it.”
As soon as I uttered that, Isabel started rummaging in her arms.
…Did she predict I was after the stone tablet?
How?!
When I went to the auction house, I was disguised, so no one could recognize me!
Did she find out I was in a disgraceful state?
Does she know my dark history?!
“Here’s the necklace you once sought after.”
Thinking it couldn’t possibly be the stone tablet, my eyes widened, but what Isabel presented wasn’t the stone tablet.
It was a necklace. Moderately flashy and elegantly made. An old necklace that seemed like it had been passed down through a poor noble family.
The only notable point was that I could faintly feel a strong divine presence emanating from it.
[Necklace with Divine Essence]
[This necklace used to contain miracles. It’s no different from an ordinary necklace now that it has lost all its power.]
The results from the emotion skill were similar.
I didn’t know how it was in the past, but right now, that necklace was nothing more than an ordinary necklace.
Did she notice something strange seeing my reaction? Isabel expressed doubt.
“Isn’t this what you were looking for?”
‘Yes, what I want is…’
“What I want is the stone tablet, not a necklace that’s overly extravagant for a lady like you.”
“If it’s the stone tablet. Oh, that’s what it is. My apologies, Young Lady. I mistook it since you once sought this necklace.”
Past Lucy wanted something like this?
That can’t be true!
Having stayed in Lucy’s room and seen what she used, I have a rough idea of what items she liked.
That girl loved flashy items as though she were a princess!
As soon as I began to think such underwhelming thoughts, I felt a sudden halt in my mind.
As if I should never think that way.
Then, not long after, one particular emotion swelled up in my mind. That emotion was longing.
Though it felt distant and faint, it stayed in that spot.
…This isn’t my emotion.
I don’t know anything about that necklace.
If so, then whose clear emotion remains in my heart?
It was an issue I didn’t need to ponder. The only person capable of leaving emotions in my heart is one.
Lucy.
The past Lucy Allen before I possessed her.
[Young Lady, what’s wrong?]
I came back to my senses at Grandpa’s voice.
Seemingly swallowed by the sudden wave of emotion.
‘…No, it’s nothing.’
It wasn’t something trivial, but since I couldn’t explain the situation, I responded it was nothing.
[Hmm, is that so? Then that’s fine.]
He clearly seemed suspicious, but Grandpa didn’t dig deeper. I was glad Grandpa was an adult.
After letting out a long sigh inwardly, I stared at the necklace Isabel placed on the table while pondering.
I have no idea why the feelings of past Lucy would wash over me like that.
However, one thing was certain. There was an addition to the transaction I had to make now.
I had to get my hands on that necklace.
It wasn’t something I particularly needed, but my heart urged me to do so.
“Well then, I’ll have to return this necklace.”
As I grasped Isabel’s arm, trying to take the necklace back, I stared into her eyes.
‘No…’
“No, on second thought this necklace is clearly too much for you. I think I’ll take both.”
“Both the stone tablet and the necklace? Both are valuable items.”
‘That’s fine.’
“Pfft. Are you worried about me? That’s very kind of you, but I’ll decline. That pitying look is quite bothersome.”
I pulled out the item I had prepared from my inventory.
Last night, after clearing the quest, the shoddy God had rewarded me.
It was as if it was telling me to use it to negotiate with Isabel. A diamond infused with the divine essence.
“…This is.”
Unlike an ordinary jewel, it had a warm, subtle, comforting luster, a beautiful thing.
Anyone fond of decoration would covet it, but it held even greater value for Isabel standing before me.
There’s no way she could refuse a divine item related to the God she’s obsessed with.
My prediction was on point. The moment Isabel laid eyes on the gem, she froze completely. Overwhelmed in front of such a beautiful work of art.
Not long after, she regained her senses and with trembling hands asked me.
“Where on earth did you acquire such… such a thing? If such an exquisite item came out, it wouldn’t have escaped my ears?!”
With a squeaky voice, she questioned me without making eye contact as she was too enchanted by the gem.
It must be so enchanting that she couldn’t even think about manners.
Seeing that scene, I was certain. Isabel would never be able to refuse this transaction.
‘Is this enough?’
“Alright, merchant fanatic. Are you still worried about me? Huh?”
Only after my voice rang out did she look up, hesitating between my gaze and the gem, finally wiping her face with both hands.
“I’ll prepare it right away.”
*
After escaping Count Arteia’s mansion and headed back to the academy.
“That was truly an unpleasant character. I don’t ever want to see him again.”
The previously silent sloppy fox grumbled. Her words were spot on. I also thought Isabel was a bit unsettling.
Wouldn’t she ask if I wanted to eat before leaving?
Or maybe inquire if I had any plans to receive support from the Count family?
Or would she not want to discuss the trade between the Allen family and the Arteia family?
Her wanting to maintain a relationship with me in some way was so disgusting that it just naturally slipped out.
“That kind of person, if they deviate just a little, they could commit a crime. Be cautious.”
‘Aren’t you the pervert saying the same thing as Isabel?!’
“Sloppy Fox, no matter how I think about it, aren’t you similar to her? Oh, are you possibly putting up a guard? Surely you can’t lose to another pervert, right? Wow, that’s truly disgusting.”
But isn’t it strange for you, sloppy fox, to say that?
You’re the one who’s stuck by me like a stalker while perpetually engaging in various perverted acts right next to me!
As I pointed that out, the sloppy fox frowned. She evidently didn’t like being compared to that kind of person.
“While I appreciate the cold glare, your statement needs correction. I purely love you, and that disgusting fellow eyes only what you possess.”
Different? How? You came to me for my face, and she came for my divine nature.
In the end, aren’t we fundamentally the same kind of pervert?
The world of perverts is this nuanced? Not that I’m particularly interested in finding out.
Listening to this was only going to sour my mood, so I ignored the sloppy fox and pulled out the necklace that Isabel had given me.
What is it about this necklace that every time I look at it, it evokes feelings of longing and sadness?
It felt like this is my emotion, but not quite, which provided a ticklish sensation of ambiguity.
I wondered if Karl, the knight of the family, might know something about the necklace, but he merely shook his head.
“Sorry. I’m just a junior member of the Allen family.”
Hmm. I guess my only option to learn about the necklace is to ask Benedict.
…For now, I’ll keep it in my inventory. There are more important things to focus on than figuring this out.
The last thing I pulled out was the stone tablet.
It looked so shabby on the outside that it seemed like something I should just throw away.
[What on earth is this that you exchanged such a precious gem for?]
Grandpa let out a sighing voice upon seeing the stone tablet.
From his perspective, it would be hard to understand how I swapped a divine jewel for such a lump of rock without knowing its true worth.
But that’s not me.
To me, this stone tablet was way more valuable than a gem I could only use to recover divine essence during battles.
Why?
‘It’s the key.’
[Key?]
‘Yes. It’s the key to obtain the shield I desire.’
This is a trigger to acquire a semi-conclusive shield.
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