BXBX NOVEL Chapter 269: Prelude to Total War
Chapter 269: Prelude to Total War
Where is this?
How long will you keep addressing me informally, even when youre my maid?
S-shut up!
I had brought Alice into the most secretive area within this back alley.
In the back alleys to such a place?
Alice, who was intently eyeing me from behind, seemed unaware of this place, indicating that security was rigorously maintained.
Indeed, this location was where I had been most meticulously prepared for this role. Naturally, security there was thorough.
Creak Creak
You How much influence did you have in this empire?
As I touched the sturdy and solid iron gate, as robust as the main gate of the Imperial Palace, and it began to open slowly, Alice looked at me with a frightened expression and asked.
Indeed, anyone would be frightened upon seeing the vast space beyond the open door.
Also, the one accompanying her was Frey, the most wicked villain, and rogue in the Empire Well, no need to say it; anyone could imagine that feeling well enough.
In the end, the Moonlight Lords exclusive assassin is an ordinary woman. Just looking at this sight makes you shrivel in fear.
S-shut your trap.
Amid the chaotic atmosphere coming from the prison, she, drenched in cold sweat, straightened up, perhaps wounded in her pride, and confidently stepped forward.
Sav save me please
F-forgive me
..!
However, as anguished screams echoed from all directions, her tense expression revealed a sense of nervousness.
This isnt your first time seeing such a sight, is it?
Kreuk.
Addressing her in a calm voice, I urged her forward with my footsteps while quietly thinking.
Indeed Clana. Shes quite skilled at managing things.
Of course, this place wasnt intended for my amusement. It was simply a Secret Prison where we gathered and detained all the Empires trash.
It was tricky to imprison them in the imperial prison since the emperor and the crown prince managed it. And, sending them to the Churchs prison was like entrusting fish to a cat.
Hence, I had to create a new prison.
P-please just kill me
Spare me
The ones screaming over there were nothing more than trash beneath human worth, not even worthy of a fresh start.
Therefore, someone like Isabel, who once made a deal with the Demon King and initiated the attack on the commoner dormitory, Empress Ramie and Rifael, and my shadow friends, who used to manage the young slaves now owned by Lulu, were imprisoned here.
While it might be tempting to just kill them, to fix this corrupt world, I needed to use them as much as possible.
However, they seemed frail recently.
Lulu often brought Miho here. So, was that the reason behind this change?
So why did you come here sir?
Of course, I have someone to meet here.
Looking around at the wretched individuals unworthy of pity, I glanced at Alice, who had been watching my reaction and adjusting her tone to formal speech. Together, we headed deeper into the prison.
Wait here.
?
Why? Do you want to come with me?
No.
Then stay there quietly. Its an order.
I left Alice outside and quietly entered the room at the far end.
Ebub, eub.
Before me was a miserable-looking woman.
Eub! Ebub!
The one with covered eyes and mouth was none other than Vener.
Could you be a bit quieter?
Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Uuuuuugh!
After silently observing her, I whispered something in her ear, and Vener began to thrash violently.
Whats wrong, Ms. Vener, the eldest daughter of the Hylin family?
!!!
Upon hearing my words, she stopped and took a deep breath.
If you keep thrashing around, I might reveal your secret to the world.
Right, now this is better.
As expected, her weakness was quite useful.
Youll have to keep being good like this.
It seemed like the foundation for completing the Make Friends mission had been securely in place.
.
.
.
.
.
A few hours before, Roswyn went to find Ruby.
You are the most despicable person Ive ever known.
She was staring blankly at the system window floating in front of her.
Frey
Roswyn had repeatedly paused and played back videos for a few days, watching everything Frey had done.
Boom! Booom
Hooo
As she reached the final moments of the video, what she watched was Clana, who was denouncing Frey and preparing for the upcoming battle with the Demon Kings army.
Sizzle
The scene quickly passed by, from Clana being killed by the Demon King to Frey holding her chilling body as they headed to the altar, only to be attacked in the eye by the canary, possessed by Clanas soul.
Knock, knock, knock
Roswyn, are you there?
Soon, the screen showed Frey, looked like he was about to die at any moment.
Creak
When he knocked on a dilapidated cabin, Roswyn came out.
Th-the p-p-poison I-a-a-asked for
Here.
Th-th-thank..
Forget that. Now just get lost.
After examining the poison with trembling hands, Frey took a flower from his pocket and offered it to Roswyn. However, she merely spoke in a cold voice.
You plan to use that and then commit suicide? In that case, hurry up, take it, and get lost.
Freys eyes dilapidated upon hearing that. He then lowered his head and asked.
Since this is the end, just tell me one thing. Do you like yellow flowers? Or red flowers?
Then Roswyn replied with a smirk.
I hated everything you gave from the beginning. It didnt matter what color it was.
Ah
You clueless bastard.
She slammed the door at the end of the words.
The current Roswyn stared at the scene with lifeless eyes.
In the so-called Cycle 1, Frey always visited Roswyn when he committed severe wrongdoings.
Because she was the only one he could do any good deed, and since she was a system-assigned helper, doing good for her didnt count toward the karma needed to unleash the Heros Armament.
Frey visited her when Serena, Irina, or Ferloche died. But Roswyn always treated him coldly.
Frey knew it too, so as he grew older, his visits to Roswyn, which had been daily when he was young, gradually became less frequent.
Of course, Roswyns dislike for him was inevitable.
It was because, in Cycle 1, Frey was truly a wicked villain.
So, not only Roswyn but everyone else would naturally treat him that way.
Youve suffered because of me all this time, right? Im sorry, Roswyn
However, fraught with guilt and self-reproach, the last time Frey visited her, he walked along the blazing street with poison in hand, staggering and muttering.
He appeared even more pitiful to anyone who knew his truth and circumstances.
Gulp, eeee
It was heartbreaking when she saw him banging his head on the kitchen table after he committed an immoral sin by poisoning his father.
You bastard, why?
Its to get the system.
In the final moment, seeing him embrace the Demon King and unleash the Heros Armament by gathering all the evil deeds he had committed, the scene became even more poignant.
Even those unrelated to him would be sad witnessing his chronicle. However, as she looked at the whole thing, Roswyn only had a vacant expression with dried tears.
That?
As she absentmindedly stared at the screen, which had turned white for a while, something caught Roswyns eye.
Kugugugugu
The Demon Kings disguise was unveiled as the Heros Armament went berserk.
..
Having seen that, Roswyn quietly got up from her seat.
Ssk
Then, she grabbed the top-tier potions meant for Frey, in case she might be able to save him, various offensive scrolls, and escape scrolls, and then stood up from her seat.
I need to confirm
She had delayed it until the end, but it was an inevitable hypothesis that needed to be verified.
.
.
.
.
.
Back to the current moment.
Are you in a lot of pain?
Oh, did you come here because you worry about me?
Heik.
Roswyn timidly asked Ruby, who was lying on the bed. When Ruby responded with another question with an unsettling expression, Roswyn involuntarily shuddered.
What are you so afraid of, Lady Roswyn?
I-it-i-its nothing
Hmmm
Ruby Examined her from every angle and eventually spoke with a softer expression.
But what are you holding in your arms?
Th-th-this is a reproduction of the potion I gave you last time? I brought it for you
Ah.
Rubys soft expression instantly froze upon this.
Is it the same as you gave me last time? The ingredients are completely identical?
Y-yes, its exactly the same. O-only the bottle and color are different.
Oh I see
Nodding quietly , Rubys stern expression gradually deteriorated.
Here, please take it You need to improve quickly since youve already improved from the previously incurable disease
Hmm, I still have some of the effects of the potion I took last time, so I dont need to
But still, please
Looking down at Ruby with a terrified expression, Roswyn tried to forcefully give her the potion with trembling hands.
Well, I said I really didnt need it, didnt I?
Ouch!
Oh my.
Suddenly, the potion bottle she was holding shattered, and Roswyn looked dazed.
The potion bottle broke all of a sudden
I-is that so
Thats a shame.
There was no way the potion bottle would have suddenly broken.
The potion bottle she bought, which cost the highest price, was so sturdy that it wouldnt break even if an entire cart passed over it, thanks to the powerful magic protection.
Oh, are you hurt somewhere?
Throb
With a worried expression, Ruby held her hand, and Roswyn felt a throb in her heart.
Ah, ah ah
As a result, Roswyn quickly withdrew her hand, turned around with a pale face, and muttered.
Ruby is the Demon King She was the Demon King!
The pupils and facial features that were briefly visible in the last moments of the video matched the current appearance of Ruby.
Because of that, the belated and horrifying shock that hit her was so great.
I-I have to tell someone no matter what, I have to let anyone know
Roswyns legs trembled greatly, and she broke into a cold sweat. Though she knew she had to move them, fear paralyzed her.
Hmm
Ruby observed Roswyn moving slowly like a tortoise, tilting her head inquisitively.
It doesnt seem like youre certain?
Wondering what had happened, Ruby tilted her head, her expression unscathed from not receiving any penalties.
Even so, whats her plan in leaving me alone?
It was because the Penalty Nullification from the Helper System also applied to the Path of Pretender system.
Swish
As the Demon King contemplated Roswyns stance, she quietly reached out her arms.
Well then, goodbye huh? W-why wont the door open?
At the same time, the door was locked.
Well, Im not sure why Why would that be?
Heik eh
Lady Roswyn?
So, with a terrified expression, Roswyn thought about going all-in by pulling out an attack scroll from her pocket, preparing for anything.
I already left the information that shes the Demon King in my room but but
Ding!
Huh?
Then, as she hesitated without being able to decide, the moonlight system window appeared before her.
< Achievement: Prelude to Total War >
Reward: Intelligence +1, Mana +1, Stamina +1
!
Seeing that, hope flashed in Roswyns eyes.
M-maybe!
Thud!
..?
Then, the door opened, and someone entered. Thanks to that, just as she entertained the thought of her fate being resurrected, she looked down with a puzzled gaze.
Stay behind me, sister.
Eh?
Go down to the first floor. I have some business here first.
Wearing the robe backward, the person who entered the room pulled Roswyn behind her.
Hurry up.
And it was none other than Glare.
Huh?
Staring at the familiar system window in front of Glare, Roswyns gaze became vacant.
You can rate/review this serieshere.
Advanced chapters available on
Illustrtins on our discrd discord.gg/genesistls