46. Going to Find the Blackmailer I Left Behind
[Obtained boots made from golden sheep leather. Please collect immediately.]
I took the letter that Anne handed me.
The letter from the underworld contained only a brief note.
“It seems you’ve finally found the person you were looking for.”
“‘Boots made from golden sheep leather’ was the code we had agreed on between the Dark Lord and me.”
It was a signal that the job was done and that I should come receive the results.
“You did well, Anne. I have to head out immediately. Want to come along?”
“Uh, where are you going?”
Sensing something ominous, Anne cautiously asked. I answered as if it was obvious.
“To the underworld, of course.”
Anne’s face immediately went pale. She spoke rapidly like a machine gun.
“Please save me, Miss! Whenever I go there, my heart races, I sweat cold, my hands and feet get cold, and I feel my lifespan draining…”
Is the world falling apart? Society collapsing? The Earth ending?
I chuckled and lightly tapped Anne’s shoulder.
“Relax, I’m just joking.”
“Y-yeah?”
Anne looked at me with wide, startled eyes, when there was a polite knock at the door.
“Philip here, Miss. May I come in?”
At that, Anne seemed to come back to her senses and politely put her hands together as she went to the door.
“Yes, come in.”
Anne opened the door. Philip approached me cautiously.
He was as neat as ever, but something was different.
“Oh, Philip. Your eyes look red.”
Had he been crying?
His eyes were bloodshot enough to raise suspicion.
“…It’s just pollen allergies, please don’t worry.”
Philip sniffled.
‘Allergies, huh? That makes sense.’
Anyone in modern times might suffer from allergic rhinitis, asthma, or conjunctivitis occasionally.
I nodded absentmindedly and got to the point.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“The Marquis wants to see you, Miss. He wishes to discuss Miss Petunia’s future residence.”
“Hmm. Right now?”
I needed to leave immediately, but why now?
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
Philip, sensing my discomfort, quickly asked,
“Do you have a prior engagement?”
“Yes… but it shouldn’t take long. Could you please postpone my appointment with my brother a bit?”
After asking for Philip’s understanding, I set out at once.
I couldn’t afford to waste any time since Icart was waiting.
The carriage arrived in a slum district.
“Miss, the road is rough. Please be careful getting off.”
The escort reached out his hand. The road was poorly maintained, with holes and filth here and there.
As I got off, beggars hiding at the alley’s entrance rushed to my feet.
“Please spare a penny, noble lady! Helping the poor will earn you heaven.”
“I’m so hungry… I haven’t eaten anything for a week.”
The ragged and pitiful beggars—men, women, old, and young alike—pleaded, struggling with poverty and hunger.
“How dare you! Take your filthy hands off immediately, or I’ll take your life!”
One of my escorts drew his sword. Only then did the beggars flinch and retreat.
“Is that the Latre Monastery?”
“Yes, Miss.”
I gestured to the building ahead. The escort went in to announce our visit.
Soon, a man, presumably a clergyman, hurried out, looking alarmed.
He alternated his gaze between the carriage’s emblem and the lined-up guards, then bowed politely.
“What brings the noble daughter of Serteia to the sacred grounds of the clergy?”
“I heard Latre Monastery also works to aid the poor.”
“Ah, yes. Are you interested in donations or volunteer work?”
“Yes. I’m here to discuss the scale of donations. Please take me to the head priest immediately.”
The priest perked up at the word “donation.”
“I will guide you right away. May the blessings of the Celestial God be with you.”
I was led to the quarters of the monastery’s head.
As expected, the head priest gladly accepted the proposal for donations.
“The grace of the Celestial God dwells in your noble spirit, granting us the blessing to share wealth with the poor.”
Felicio, the head of Latre Monastery, clasped his hands in a prayer of thanks.
The moment I pledged a donation matching the monastery’s entire yearly budget on behalf of the Serteia marquis family, I instantly became a VIP of Latre Monastery.
After the prayer, Father Felicio repeatedly praised me.
“The Celestial God will surely value your good deeds, Sister.”
“To serve the poor is to serve the Celestial God,” I replied with a gentle smile.
But it was all just an act.
According to the original story, Latre Monastery was a place of injustice disguised as religion.
High priests, including the head priest, had forgotten the original purpose of loving neighbors and protecting the weak, greedily indulging in personal wealth through donations and sponsorships.
Donations were a tax evasion channel for nobles and wealthy commoners, and poverty relief activities were mere show when inspected by the royal family.
So it was certain that Father Felicio wouldn’t refuse my temptation.
“Father, aside from the official family donation, would it be possible to give a private sponsorship?”
“Of course, Sister. May God’s blessings be with you.”
He smiled devoutly, playing the role of God’s proxy.
[I just want to stay quietly for two hours. Somewhere no one will come.]
After sealing Father Felicio’s mouth with a large sum, I was led to a prayer room in the monastery’s annex.
A quiet prayer room with no one in sight.
Stained glass gently filtered the midday sunlight.
I looked up at the Celestial God statue on the altar and took out a prepared spatial teleport scroll.
Using magic in a place dedicated to God felt sacrilegious, but…
‘For a perfect alibi, I have no choice.’
Without hesitation, I tore the advanced magic scroll.
“…!”
The scroll emitted a blue light, enveloping my entire body.
A wild sensation like being caught in a storm shook me uncontrollably.
The preset spatial coordinates guided me to my destination.
Blink.
I opened my eyes to a completely different scene.
“Ugh, I’m getting motion sickness.”
The ride was rough.
The sensation was like condensed seasickness mixed with vertigo. I held onto the wall, bending over.
The blazing sunlight beat down above.
Unlike the quiet prayer room, the sounds of carriages and pedestrians mingled loudly.
‘At least I arrived safely.’
I wiped my mouth and stood up.
The monastery’s commercial district, specifically the high-end shopping street in the Branshelle family’s territory.
A two-story jewelry store located in a rather secluded alley, for a high-end shopping area.
I walked into the jewelry store as if it was familiar.
“Welcome, customer.”
The employees greeted me warmly. I discreetly pulled a black letter from my pocket.
“There’s no time to waste. Please guide me immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am. This way, please. The owner is waiting.”
The young clerk led me to a passage down to the basement.
A dark tunnel like a cave, a maze-like corridor impossible to see through.
Though this was my third visit in this lifetime, the path never felt familiar.
After a long walk, a corridor lined with dozens of doors on both sides appeared.
“Last time we took you to the room with the vault, but this time you’ll be going to a different room.”
“Is the owner there, too?”
“Yes, he is.”
Each door had a small palm-sized window through which a foul stench seeped.
clinking sounds
growling and moaning noises…
Intermittently, it sounded like nails scratching metal and beasts howling.
The grotesque noise grew louder as if reacting to my footsteps.
“Do you keep monsters locked up here?”
“Sometimes humans are even more dangerous than monsters. Those who need control are kept here.”
The clerk answered carefully.
‘…Looks more like a wild beast cage than protection.’
The clerk silently smiled and led me to the last room in the quarantine facility.
“This way, please.”
Clank.
Unlocking the heavy iron door produced the sound of twisting metal as the door opened.
“You’re here. I’ve been waiting.”
The Dark Lord greeted me.
He tried to fake a friendly smile.
But the wrinkles around his eyes were distorted grotesquely, and one side of his mouth twitched, making him look even more sinister.
He looked like a living corpse wearing an iron mask.
‘…He is scary.’
Though you shouldn’t judge by appearance, the Dark Lord was terrifying inside and out.
He gestured behind his back.
“The person you’re looking for is safely kept here.”
“This person…?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Despite saying “safely kept,” the man crouched inside a metal cage meant for beasts.
His face was almost hidden by disheveled hair, but his red eyes visible through the bangs were clear and sharp.
The man trembled as he looked up at me.
‘Is this the original story’s blackmailer?’
