Chapter 529 – Motivation is Definitely On Point
The maids, startled by Titosso’s cries, began linking minds with each other chaotically.
– “They say the Fourth Princess is a Dark Princess, but she really does seem heartless. How could she make a kid cry like that?”
– “What on earth did she do?”
– “Maybe she threatened to scratch her soul because Titosso accidentally dropped a box on her clothes.”
– “Oh my! To abuse such a cute child, the current Princess really is a maid-abuser…!”
– “Trash. Garbage. Crown Prince. Not even human!”
Sob sob. “Ugh, I shouldn’t have eavesdropped, now my heart’s hurt…”
– “Hey, stop it already! What if the Princess gets even angrier?”
– “If you’re not careful, you might get assigned to be the Crown Prince’s maid! I’ve heard all sorts of scary rumors about the Prince’s maids mysteriously disappearing in the palace!”
– “You better apologize to the Princess quickly, or you might really get dragged away by the Crown Prince!”
The maids’ panic only made Titosso cry even harder.
“Waahh! I didn’t do anything wrong! Why are you all picking on me…! Uwaaaahhh!”
Titosso’s triple-layered crying drew everyone’s attention, creating a situation where she was making a scene that could lead to all kinds of trouble. Soon enough, there might be headaches from the noise, disasters causing item explosions, and even an economic crisis in the Empire!
“Here, have some cake. Eat this and stop crying!”
“I don’t wanna eat the cake! Waaaaah!”
“I’ll give you a doll!”
“I don’t need it! Waaaaah!”
“You don’t have to attend Professor Sadako’s lecture!”
Titosso paused her crying, sniffling and rubbing her eyes.
“Really…?”
“Really!”
“Is it a promise…?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing this up when you had been fine before!? What happened?”
“Oknodie is such a fool! Can’t even see the Professor is getting scarier because of you!”
“This is Oknodie’s fault. Apologize.”
Zhuang nodded in agreement.
“Sorry…?”
“That’s all it takes. From now on, don’t make Titosso cry.”
“Okay…”
But wasn’t the reason for asking to listen to Professor Sadako’s lecture because of Zhuang’s annoying underwear?
Oh right.
I’m innocent!
It’s all the fault of the underwear!
“So, what will we do? Keep enhancing, or are we turning back now?”
“For now, we’re turning back, but there’s an issue!”
“What’s the problem?”
“If we go back now, the second semester ends and it’s winter vacation!”
So basically, returning is pointless!
“Sigh. So you’re planning to stay in the palace all winter vacation?”
“Ugh, can’t I?”
“If you want to see Giselle, who’s pretending to be part of the Revolutionary Army and gets captured in the Empire’s jail, then sure.”
“That’s a no-go!”
Giselle wouldn’t even come to the Academy unless it was for me, meaning she wouldn’t end up locked away in jail. I can’t let my selfishness put someone into a horrible situation.
Even veteran players like me sometimes have to act like a newbie with good intentions.
“By the way, before we leave, can I do one thing?”
“What are you planning?”
“Hmm~ Facility destruction?”
“…What destruction?”
“Just like everything here up to the other taboos, if I can use it, then so can other royalty. If I can’t use it, no one should be able to!”
If the Crown Prince appeared as the third-year chapter boss, it’s especially necessary to stop him.
All for the sake of my friends having a peaceful school life!
Will Zhuang recognize my efforts?
“Sounds fun. I want to join. Do I just set some fires?”
Ah! Finally, someone gets it!
Maybe they just got into the fun of breaking things, but that’s fine! Time to have heaps of fun.
“Y-your Highness? Facility destruction? Are you planning to destroy the Empire’s taboo district?!”
The palace maids froze.
Oh. These people live and work here, huh?
Poor newbies trapped in a scary place, far worse than a duplex with no heating or cooling!
Ugh, poor souls.
If I just leave them behind, I’d be sentenced to execution for enabling childish chaos and be dragged to the guillotine!
I don’t like the twisted mind games happening through mind-link, but I can’t ignore their cries for help.
“Everyone! Do you really think you can stop me, who commands a legion of monsters?”
As they sensed the impending doom of the guillotine, the maids grew pale.
I extended a hand of kindness to them.
“Let’s break it together!”
“Uh… what?”
“I’ll take you with me!”
The maids, unsure of what to do, noticed a strict and serious voice behind them.
“Follow the Princess’s orders.”
“Head Maid?!”
“…The Great Bells can sleep for at least two days with this sleeping poison, and you’re all already awake?”
At Zhuang’s words, the Head Maid quietly lifted her uniform apron to show the maid armor underneath.
Realizing she was on my side, Zhuang prepared to cast multiple spells with a flourish.
“If the purpose of His Highness is destruction followed by escape, then a competent person’s help will be crucial. Do not fear to gain our assistance.”
“Why do you want to help Oknodie? You’re a palace person. The junior maids might not know, but you won’t be able to evade a trace as the Head Maid!”
“That’s true as a palace maid. But as a maid of the Foundation, things are different.”
Zhuang’s eyes widened.
The Head Maid bowed to me again.
“I extend my respects once more. I am Katarina, the assassin maid from the Wahyhiemhai Foundation, and I will assist with the palace attack today.”
“Eek?!”
I never imagined an assassin maid would slip into the palace!
“Why is the Papa-ne Maid here?”
“Assassin maids approach all high-ranking officials who hire maids. Naturally, the Emperor and royalty are top priority.”
“Is it okay for me to evacuate with you?”
“I’m sure the Isajang understands.”
“Great! Then we can delve a little deeper than we originally intended! First, let’s remove the banishing magic circle and gather all the enhancement tools!”
Not everyone was an assassin maid from the foundation like Head Maid Katarina, but I knew that if I caused chaos today, they’d all get caught in the crossfire, so they diligently helped me.
First, I undid the security devices and broke the magic circles preventing the withdrawal of enhancement tools.
I put all the items that fit into my backpack, and for the high-class items that wouldn’t fit due to magical interference, I stuffed them into my waist or pockets, shattering anything that couldn’t be shrunk and taken along.
[You thoroughly pillaged and destroyed the Empire’s [Forbidden Zone: External Enhancement Facility].]
[Stealing Experience +100]
[Observation Experience +100]
[Trap Disarming Experience +50]
[Size Reduction Magic Experience +50]
[Insight Experience +20]
[Charisma Experience +20]
Compared to the mythic gacha spinning in the Internal Enhancement Facility, the enhancement probability and guaranteed enhancement rates are lower, but every tool you take away from the enemy is a net gain!
“This way to the next forbidden area. However, as a maid, I can only access the External Enhancement Facility, so I can’t know what lies beyond this point.”
“That’s okay, Head Maid Katarina! I know what’s over there!”
“Are you talking about a place even I, who has been concealing my identity as an assassin maid in the palace, do not know?”
“Yep!”
“…You’re truly the Isajang’s successor. I fear the dark secrets you hold, so I will not ask further. Just give me your instructions.”
The next enhancement facility is one of the Empire’s taboos dealing with the resurrection of lions, [Forbidden Zone: Body Storage].
Everyone gasped in surprise at the sight of bodies being preserved while injected with special drugs for resurrection in incubators.
Zhuang watched in fascination while Titosso hid trembling behind him.
The palace maids also seemed eager to hide behind Head Maid Katarina if possible.
“Impressive.”
“Eep!”
“What the heck has the Emperor been doing…?”
At that moment, the researchers in lab coats, realizing we were there, also looked surprised.
“What are maids doing here?”
“Oho, is His Majesty presenting new test subjects?”
“Let’s inject them with the M190 drugs. Inflicting pain while maintaining consciousness might increase the value of the sacrificial offering for lion resurrection.”
Among the researchers, a high official I had seen at the Emperor’s dinner table stepped forward.
“Oh my. Is it the Fourth Princess? Welcome to the Forbidden Research Institute.”
“Hello! Can I look around a bit?”
“As royalty, you have full access and permission to use all taboos. However, if you disturb the lion resurrection experiment currently being conducted by His Highness, he will undoubtedly be very displeased.”
“Heh, where should I be careful?”
The official proudly pointed to the capsules with black labels, puffing out his chest.
“Capsules with black labels contain heroes who have slept in the Empire’s Hero Memorial. We’ve selected those with favorable conditions for body preservation, and currently, 99 hero capsules are undergoing the resurrection ceremony. Special attention is required for capsules with three or more labels.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because they’re capsules that resurrect the corpses of historical heroes, different from ordinary heroes.”
The evil Crown Prince Pake Hiuqmag, resurrecting even heroes who have retired to the Netherworld!
Hearing the whole plan made Titosso cry in fear again.
“It’s scary here. It feels like Professor Sadako’s lecture room!”
“Speaking of which, how do you even plan on resurrecting lions? It’s impossible unless you raise the dead as undead.”
Zhuang’s skepticism made sense.
The arrogant official from the Crown Prince’s faction smirked maliciously.
“This could be a good chance to impress the new Princess, don’t you think? His Highness may not like it, but I believe Oknodie will grow tremendously. So, I’ll tell you as a special service.”
“Thanks, I guess?”
“The Empire’s lion resurrection ceremony employs the alchemical principle of equivalent exchange.”
“Are you saying you capture living heroes, kill them, and use them as sacrifices to resurrect dead heroes?”
“Bah. That would keep the number of heroes unchanged, wouldn’t it? We handle far more economical and valuable offerings.”
“What kind of offerings?”
“Are you familiar with the taboo of homunculi in alchemy? Creatures born and rapidly matured from an artificial womb, which are solely created to enhance the value of sacrificial offerings? That’s what the sacrificial humans are.”
As the official gestured, a blood tank appeared on the other side of the capsules, revealing writhing sacrificial humans trembling and looking up at the falling blood.
Zhuang calmly stated among the frozen people.
“I’ve encountered something like this while conducting assassinations before. Right now, my motivation is crystal clear.”
I desperately want to assassinate!
Expressing my desire to eliminate all witnesses, Zhuang’s rage boiled over.
It’s a thought I’ve had from time to time, but I guess Zhuang isn’t malicious, but rather a righteous one!
