Chapter: 266
Isabel and Phoebe lifted their heads only after quite some time had passed even after I’d finished all the procedures.
Thud.
Seeing Isabel on the brink of tears from just a light poke, and Phoebe all worked up made me feel quite pressured, but I pretended not to notice anything.
I felt like a fool even touching them would set off a chain reaction.
Fortunately, Isabel didn’t make a fuss anymore and headed to her storage, coming back with a small pouch.
“This is a space pocket. The items you requested are inside.”
A pouch worth hundreds of gold coins, huh?
I plan to return everything left after the job, but there’s no way around feeling guilty about it.
I should lay everything flat, but I can’t seem to pull that off.
…I guess I’ll visit whenever the opportunity arises. Pretending to pray for Isabel each time should make her happy… hopefully.
So, at least with this, the groundwork for a miracle is done.
Now, all that’s left is to save some people.
When I say people, I only really need three from now on. The others are just extra. Nice to have around, but not necessary.
Determined to go in with minimal manpower, even if I need to add more members, it shouldn’t be beyond one or two.
“Umm, Lady Allen.”
While I was checking my plans in my head, Isabel quietly called out.
“May I ask what kind of miracle you are trying to bring about?”
“I’m curious about that too, Lady. I haven’t heard about a specific plan yet.”
Explaining should be easy. After all, I’ve already told her everything about being an Apostle of God or an Apostle of the Evil God, so sharing my plans should be just fine.
But if I spill the beans now, I’ll have to explain it again later.
This is a plan so ridiculous that even Grandpa would say it’s nonsense, so I’ll need to explain why it makes sense to them.
So, I’d rather bring Johan, who will be a core part of the plan, before discussing everything.
When I thought of that, I asked Isabel to bring Johan, and she nodded lightly.
“You mean Bishop Johan from Lady Allen’s territory? Understood. I’ll send a spatial mage to fetch him.”
‘…A spatial mage?!’
“Is there a spatial mage in this miserable shoddy family as well?”
A spatial mage refers to wizards specialized in magic related to space.
Telekinesis. Teleportation. Space pockets, and the like. They might not be strictly necessary, but having them certainly enriches life.
“Yes. Even if I look this way, I run a large trading company. So we have several spatial mages. Some are personally contracted, and there are quite a few working with the company.”
She may seem quite sloppy and ugly in front of me, but Isabel was originally the head of a gigantic trading company.
Given that she travels around working tirelessly, it’s only natural that she would have hired a spatial mage.
Perfect timing! I needed a spatial mage I could use for personal matters.
Originally, I planned to rush over to the Newman family to fetch someone, but if there’s a spatial mage from the Artea family, that changes everything.
‘That spatial mage…’
“Who’s the pathetic one that signed a contract with that perverted fanatic?”
“Could you tell me the necessary conditions?”
Isabel adjusted her posture the moment I asked, quickly realizing what my interest indicated.
A true merchant indeed.
‘So…’
“They should be able to move about seven people at once. They must have a firm tongue, and aside from that… Hm. As long as they’re not a coward who cries at the drop of a hat, they should be good.”
“Then, our spatial mage fits the criteria perfectly.”
*
“Are we to defeat the Evil God of Darkness?”
Taking a deep breath, Johan, having heard a rough explanation from Lucy, sighed heavily.
The Evil God’s Apostle who swallowed the Burrow family. The gigantic black magic being prepared there. A special operation to stop it.
Nothing sounded far-fetched.
If a typical child said such things, they’d surely be scolded for speaking nonsense.
However, this explanation came from Lucy. The one who created miracles in Menestel. The one beloved by the great Lord Jushin.
Could there be lies in her words?
Not a chance.
“I understand what you’ve said.”
As Johan nodded, Phoebe next to him breathed a sigh of relief.
But that moment soon passed. When Phoebe locked eyes with Johan, her expression hardened once again.
Johan, having known Phoebe’s identity, had treated her sternly from long ago. It seemed memories of the past still lingered, making him uneasy.
To be honest, Johan still didn’t much care for Phoebe. She symbolized the corruption of the Church of Jushin.
However, knowing she was alongside the one beloved by Jushin and that he wanted to protect her, he was just suppressing that feeling.
Johan diverted his gaze from Phoebe, making eye contact with Lucy once again.
“However, the most crucial part is missing. How do you intend to drive away the Evil God’s Energy?”
“Honestly, I was just about to explain that. Good ol’ Bishop. Always in such a hurry.”
In a mocking tone insulting Johan, Phoebe gasped, but Johan remained unbothered.
He remembered Lucy as a fierce child from long ago. Compared to that, this was nothing.
“Is that why the kids run away at the sight of you? You devilishly reckless fool.”
…Maybe that was a little much. True.
“The plan is simple. We will create a sun right in the middle of the Burrow territory.”
“A sun… you say?”
“A sun?”
“We’re going to create a sun?”
Everyone present in the Artea family’s reception room expressed their doubts, but Lucy showed no sign of feeling anything other than confidence.
“I’ll explain it so even a bunch of suspicious shoddies like you can understand.”
When I first heard Lucy’s story, only confusion filled Johan’s mind.
Creating a sun? How on earth is that possible?
However, as Lucy’s explanation continued, Johan’s thoughts began to change.
Despite being distanced from the mainstream faction of the Church, Johan had reached the position of Bishop.
With no one else to rely on, he had diligently sharpened his skills and was among the top five in the current Church of Jushin for knowledge in Divine Magic.
Thus, he understood; Lucy’s seemingly absurd words were indeed plausible.
“I think you’ve explained it in a way even a monkey could understand.”
After everything concluded, Lucy puffed out her chest, but Isabel and Phoebe still seemed confused.
Johan comprehended their feelings.
“It’s unstable. Risky as hell. And it’s a gamble with no real-world examples backing it.”
Even Johan, who had a thorough understanding of Lucy’s words, assessed the plan in this way. Finding it simple to accept would actually be strange.
“What do you want to say, foolish Bishop?”
“Simple. Lady.”
And now Johan said,
“I desperately want to participate.”
That was indeed a bizarre request.
A person beloved by Jushin was about to bet his life to save others.
He intended to risk his life to defeat the Evil God and save humanity.
Could it be possible for him to not only stand beside but actively participate in creating miracles?
Ha! If that’s doable, I could casually wager this old man’s remaining lifespan!
“But, Lady, there are a few suggestions I’d like to make.”
“Spit it out. Foolish Bishop.”
“Yes. In the early stages of the plan…”
*
Leaving the Artea family and heading back to the dormitory, I praised myself for involving Bishop Johan.
While I initially intended to summon him as a contingency and to create a plausible reason for Phoebe to act, he turned out to play a much bigger role than I had anticipated.
Based on game knowledge and designed with unstable aspects, he tightened things up with his knowledge of Divine Magic.
Thanks to that, the gift I prepared for Tariki became even more perfect.
Of course, it’s still not finished. There’s still one more path to traverse to highlight the plan’s finale.
That’s finding a force to protect us until the sun is complete.
According to Alsatine’s report, the Burrow territory was already engulfed by the Evil God’s Energy.
If we were preparing to create a sun there, everyone in the territory would swarm us.
While a few could handle it alone, the whole territory pressing against us would be a different story.
That’s an unmanageable situation.
Even bringing a sword or Alsatine won’t help.
They wouldn’t fall, but in front of a crowd, they wouldn’t be able to perfectly guard the miracle.
In this situation, the best option would be to utilize the Knights of the Allen family, including Benedict. But they’d stick out too much. If the knights were to prepare for deployment, everyone would realize something was up.
The same goes for others. Moving too conspicuously or having no confidence in following my instructions wouldn’t work.
Adri was the one person who fit my conditions best. However, bringing her along could lead to her being purified as well, which is risky.
Pondering over these various concerns, I finally decided to reach for a last resort.
“…You want to bring the original body?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
The original body of the Sloppy Fox.
Asking the lord of the forest for help.
Thinking deeply, the Sloppy Fox might just be the perfect choice.
It has enough power to fend off a crowd.
And since it lurks in the woods, if it disappears, no one would care.
Plus, I was confident it would keep a secret.
The reason I had postponed asking the Sloppy Fox was simple.
“To the lord of the forest, the protection of the woods is the very essence of its being. Even if it were your request, there are areas where I cannot comply.”
I had no idea how much I’d have to give up just to ask the Sloppy Fox to abandon its forest.
But now there’s no choice.
What I hold in my hand is the best I can do right now.
So, I’ll throw away my dignity.
To save the people of the Burrow territory.
To put Tariki in a bind.
To smash a mace into Nakrad’s face.
To tackle the new dungeon.
“Are you listening?”
Walking up to the Sloppy Fox, who had taken a human form and was scolding me while sitting on the bed, I leaned close enough for my breath to reach its perked ears, even as it frowned.
“Really?♡”
“Eek?!”
“I’ve prepared something a disgusting pervert like you would enjoy♡ Aren’t you curious?♡ Huh?♡ Perverted fox♡”
“Y-You can’t shake the original with those words!”
“Bunny girl. You want to see her again, don’t you?♡”
As soon as I brought up the bunny girl, the Sloppy Fox shut its mouth.
Hahaha, you filthy pervert.
I knew you’d react this way!
“Puhaha♡ Why are you reminiscing about the past?♡ Isn’t it obvious?♡ You’ve thoroughly scanned her neck, collarbone, and armpits, haven’t you?♡ Like the disgusting pervert you are?♡”
“B-But I’ve never—”
“Wasn’t it you begging ‘Please stomp on me~♡’? Who are you, and what do you know that smells like trash in front of me?♡”
I could see the trembling eyes on the Sloppy Fox’s side.
It must be struggling between instinct and reason.
“Even so, what can’t happen, can’t happen! It’s the sin embedded in my soul!”
“Hmm♡ You’re saying all that doesn’t matter?♡”
“Yes!”
“Seems we have no choice~♡ Then I guess I’ll have to throw away the leash prepared for the perverted demonic fox~♡”
“…A leash?”
“Or should I give it to the shoddy dog instead?♡ Kuheh♡ I bet it would be overjoyed…”
As I giggled and rambled on, the Sloppy Fox suddenly grabbed my hands with urgency.
I was a bit taken aback by its strong grip, but the Sloppy Fox paid no mind.
It simply knelt on the floor and called out desperately.
“No! There’s no need for that! I will help you! No, let me help! I’m begging you!”
In the end, it couldn’t overcome its instincts, that garbage perverted fox.
To think this is the lord of the forest. How shocked would the beings living in that forest be if they witnessed this?
Well, whatever. This wraps up the preparations for the plan.
…
Sigh. Life, really.
Just great.
Hey, Tariki, you bastard.
I’m about to unleash the pent-up resentment, humiliation, and fury swelling in my heart upon you.
You’d better not think about going out with a pretty face.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.