Chapter 120
“Hooh.”
The disaster-specialist reporter’s eyes gleamed as if he had caught an exclusive scoop, snapping photos with his camera.
‘Please put me down. I’m not planning to return to the Summer Palace just yet.’
I was about to say that when a status window appeared before my eyes, and I clamped my mouth shut.
[ Johan’s Dislike Level decreases by 2. ]
[ Johan’s Dislike Level: 3 ]
Because of that action just now, his dislike level had dropped by 2 more points.
‘Just 2 more points and it’ll be 1…’
A dream number that wouldn’t reach 100 even if I were hit by a 61x beam.
‘Even if I’m not planning to go back, being carried like this for a bit shouldn’t be a problem.’
But Zion restrained Johan with a cold voice.
“I’m afraid, Your Highness, you cannot go to the Summer Palace.”
“Zion?”
“The capital must be in chaos right now. I’ve just removed all the mind control effects. To prevent a catastrophe, we both need to return to the capital immediately.”
“…Zion, didn’t I order you to go first earlier? You should leave immediately.”
“Why should a mere servant leave first while the Crown Prince of this empire turns his back on his people?”
Johan glared at Zion at his rude reply. The tension between them was so thick it felt like a fight could break out any moment.
‘Better not interfere and just stay quietly on his back.’
As I thought that and placed my arm around Johan’s neck, another status window popped up.
[ Zion’s Dislike Level increases by 1. ]
[ Zion’s Dislike Level: 9 ]
‘The one I’m supposed to fight is Johan, so why is Zion’s dislike level increasing?’
Confused by the sudden increase, I looked at Zion. His face clearly showed a sense of betrayal.
‘Why…? What did I do wrong?’
Does he think I’m interfering while he has to take the Crown Prince back to the capital?
[ Zion’s Dislike Level increases by 1. ]
[ Zion’s Dislike Level: 10 ]
[ Zion’s Dislike Level increases by 1. ]
[ Zion’s Dislike Level: 11 ]
Seems like that was the correct answer. The numbers kept rising without explanation.
‘Johan’s dislike level barely decreased by 2… This is going to cost more than it gains.’
I immediately removed my arm from Johan’s neck and said:
“You’re right, Your Highness. Go to the capital. I’m not planning to return to the palace just yet. I also need to treat the people here further.”
Since the disaster-specialist reporter was present, it was the perfect timing to treat more people to complete the quest.
Even for my revenge plan, it was more advantageous to stay here.
“Are you insane, Albrecht?”
“No, Odette.”
But the two transcendent beings simultaneously stopped me.
“Look in the mirror. Do you even know who the patient is right now? You’re pale, yet you’re trying to treat someone?”
“Zion is right, Odette. You need to rest now.”
‘We just had a fight of wills, and now suddenly we’re in perfect agreement?’
But I had no intention of stepping back.
“No. I won’t go back until everyone is treated.”
‘There’s a reporter here. A disaster-specialist reporter, no less!’
What if he writes: “Lady Odette! Tried helping people but got sick and left!”
‘Damn transcendent beings… Maybe it’s because the articles always praise me that they lack urgency.’
If a lousy article comes out and the people at the Summer Palace think, “Hmm, that villainous Odette, as expected,” the dislike levels would each go up by 10—20 points in total.
I couldn’t ruin the effort I’d put into lowering the dislike levels.
“Go on. If the capital is in danger, I’ll handle things here.”
The two male leads tried to stop me several times, but amusingly, the more I insisted on staying, the more the dislike levels decreased.
[ Johan’s Dislike Level decreases by 1. ]
[ Johan’s Dislike Level: 2 ]
[ Zion’s Dislike Level decreases by 3. ]
[ Zion’s Dislike Level: 8 ]
After all the back-and-forth,
“I understand your will, Odette. I’ll leave some aides behind, but put your health and safety first.”
“Albrecht, forcing yourself to help is not virtue—it’s foolish.”
After dozens of reminders, Johan and Zion finally left for the capital. The two B-rank transcendent aides of the Crown Prince remained, but they weren’t concerning.
‘It’s more unsettling for the male leads to be on Athena Island.’
Better for them to leave first than to worry about running into Charlotte.
I spoke to the aides.
“I noticed the pink-haired girl was badly hurt earlier. I’m worried she might have been caught in the disaster. Could you find her?”
Transcendents would be more efficient than me searching personally.
“Yes, miss. We will.”
“Leave it to us.”
I watched the B-rank aides order their subordinates to search for her.
After that, I focused on treating the remaining patients while feeling the reporter and aides trailing me.
By the time I finished treating the patients, quite some time had passed.
But during that time, none of the subordinates found the pink-haired girl.
The anxious Odette herself checked the beach where Charlotte had been, but there was no sign of her.
‘How could not a single person among all these patients have seen Charlotte?’
Even asking patients I treated yielded no witnesses—only I had seen her.
Seeing the sea made me recall Charlotte’s laughter, making my heart even heavier.
‘Do I really have four months left?’
Since Charlotte left the mountain village earlier than the story of <Dankuwon>, she might reach the capital faster.
Then it struck me: an item in my mind.
‘Open Inventory. Check item: “Invisible Truth.”’
The inventory opened at my command, and one square expanded before my eyes.
[ Invisible Truth (Dagger) ]
[ Dagger to cut through the unseen, for use 4 months later. ]
The same description as before.
But when I shifted my gaze to the “4,” there was a crackling sound, and the number changed.
[ 2 months later, dagger to cut through the unseen. ]
‘…My ominous premonition seems right.’
I gave a bitter smile.
‘This isn’t the time to complain about the status window. In just two months, I almost got hit by a 61x beam without knowing anything.’
Charlotte appearing two months earlier meant I couldn’t stick to my current revenge plan.
‘Then… I’ll have to speed up the plan.’
My eyes gleamed. It seemed I’d need to use the status window more proactively.
“Ah, you’ve finally arrived, Miss Odette!”
Returning to the shelter, a man greeted me warmly.
‘This guy…’
Surprise flashed in my turquoise eyes.
“Pleased to meet you. The pregnant woman you helped earlier is my wife. As a gesture of thanks, we’d like to give you a ride in our carriage when you return. It’s not a luxury carriage, but…”
He was Mueller, the capital’s top detective. In a year, he would assist Charlotte in the <Athena Island Episode> of <Dankuwon>.
In the game, he was a widower whose wife had already died, but now the woman he mentioned was the pregnant patient I treated.
‘No wonder she seemed dangerous. That pregnant woman was fated to die.’
With the reporter gone and all patients treated, I was ready to return to the Summer Palace.
“Thank you. I’ll gladly ride.”
I accepted Mueller’s support and climbed into the uncovered carriage.
But my real reason wasn’t just for convenience.
‘Mueller may already be in cahoots with Charlotte. They’ve always been a good team.’
I intended to gauge him; if he had already allied with Charlotte, I’d use him to track her.
However, instead of heading to the driver’s seat, Mueller asked an unexpected question.
“Miss, I overheard… You’re looking for a pink-haired girl?”
‘Is he testing me as Charlotte’s ally?’
I stayed cautious but answered casually.
“Yes. I saw her before the disaster, but she disappeared once it ended. I’m worried she might have been swept away, so I’m looking for her.”
Mueller was silent for a long moment, then said with a troubled expression:
“…My wife seems to have met that girl.”
“What?”
The witness I had never been able to find was none other than that pregnant woman! She had been asleep ever since returning to the shelter.
Was this a trap by Charlotte’s ally—or was it real?
“She woke briefly and spoke to me. Even though the bell in the bell tower rang, she couldn’t move quickly because she was heavily pregnant. Our house is two stories, so evacuation was slow, but she said the pink-haired girl approached to help.”
‘That’s so Charlotte-like… a selfless act.’
But the coachman unexpectedly spoke:
“…But the girl pretended to help and pushed my wife down the stairs. That’s why her injuries were severe.”
…!
‘Wha… what?’
I was stunned.
