Chapter 168

168: Awkward Cultist

The garden was extremely spacious.

And with flower arrangements and fountain sculptures placed here and there, it was a feast for the eyes.

Even in the sweltering heat, several dwarves could be seen in the garden, carving marble.

“No, this shape is not it.”

Despite the intense sunlight, they were carving with great dedication—truly, the spirit of an artist aflame. However, as someone with no appreciation or taste for such things, all I could think about was how much this sculpture might cost—a rather vulgar thought.

After walking for quite some time, I finally reached the entrance of the mansion.

The three-story mansion was grand at a glance. Its imposing presence was so overwhelming it could rival an indoor arena.

What must it feel like to live in such a house?

Luna and I struggle to clean our modest two-story cottage every day. Maintaining a house this massive must surely be a Herculean task if not done meticulously—dust would pile up everywhere.

And where there’s dust, there might be bugs.

Where there are bugs, there might be terrifying spiders weaving their webs. The thought of cobwebs was unsettling. Reflecting on this, I began to think that the size of a house wasn’t always a blessing.

Of course, for a mansion this size, there must be plenty of staff to clean every nook and cranny every day.

Clack, clack.

There must also be maids like the one approaching me now.

“I’ve been waiting for you. I am Sydney, employed by Baron Fleur.”

A woman with her golden hair neatly tied back and wrapped in a white lace-like headpiece greeted me at the entrance. Sydney, is it?

Her maid outfit consisted of a black dress with a skirt that reached her thighs, black stockings, and pointed black boots.

Why is everything black? She looks like a reaper—it’s somewhat eerie.

Of course, seeing it from the opposite side, I must admit my current masked self with a cloak probably looks equally unsettling and terrifying.

“…”

This woman named Sydney, being a maid to a noble, evidently possessed a strong presence. I couldn’t read even the smallest hint of emotion on her face.

She’s quite beautiful but her rigid and cold demeanor made me feel somewhat sorry for her. Perhaps her coldness is actually an asset?

I don’t know.

Anyway, standing here in front of the mansion, my mind seemed to drift into all sorts of unnecessary tangents. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what I came here for. Did I get heatstroke?

“Therapist, please follow me.”

And so, Sydney, the employed help, led me inside the mansion.

I followed the narrow back of her black dress into the mansion.

Creak.

The grand entrance door opened on its own. Inside, the mansion was quite dark, as if no lights had been turned on. Walking into this space felt slightly uneasy.

Goo-oooh.

It was almost like this giant mansion, resembling a beast, had opened its massive throat and gaped its mouth wide.

How odd. Despite the blazing heat outside, I could feel a chill inside this dark mansion.

It was like stepping into a completely different world.

“Please, Baron Fleur is waiting.”

Noticing my hesitation, Sydney turned back and clicked her heels as a signal.

With a thought of “oh well,” I finally stepped fully inside the mansion.

Creeeeak. Boom.

The moment I did, the massive mansion door slammed shut on its own.

What the heck?

Is it magic?

The idea that there are doors in this world that close automatically terrified me. How could a door close by itself without anyone even touching it?

“The ancestors of Baron Fleur’s family were priests who worshiped the god of magic and sorcery in ancient times. The magic from that era still lingers in this villa.”

As if noticing my fear, Sydney offered a brief explanation. So, it’s magic. Learning its nature made it feel less mysterious and slightly less scary.

Now that I think about it, automatic doors were something I’d grown used to in my modern life. Reflecting on it again, there wasn’t really anything to be scared of.

I was merely intimidated by the size and creepiness of the mansion, which reminded me more of a dark dungeon.

Clack, clack.

Only the sound of women’s heels echoed across the vast marble floor.

Even though there were some people in the garden, the interior of the mansion felt as if only Sydney and I existed, completely hollow.

Is it just me and this creepy woman in this enormous mansion?

This fact made me unable to bear it anymore, and I finally asked:

“Is there no one else besides us?”

“They’ve all hidden. Occasionally, some come out on their own in the morning.”

“…I see.”

It was quite hard to understand what she was talking about. So instead of questioning further, I decided to just keep quiet.

However, Sydney, walking ahead, said something.

“It’s lunchtime now. Let’s have a meal first. I will take you to the dining room.”

The dining room was located on the first floor of the mansion.

After passing through a winding corridor and pushing open a large door, there was the dining room with a distinctively eerie atmosphere.

The dark atmosphere came from the heavy, black curtains that blocked out all the light. In front of them was a long, narrow table. Surprisingly, the tablecloth on it was white.

However, in this dim setting, even the white began to feel strangely unsettling, almost causing a slight sense of anxiety.

“Please sit down and wait; Baron Fleur will be here shortly.”

Following Sydney’s instructions, I sat at the end of the long table. Shortly after, she placed a white handkerchief-like cloth around my neck.

“Well, I shall take my leave.”

Clack.

With that, Sydney disappeared somewhere, her heels clicking along the way.

Now, in this eerie dining room, I was the only one left.

I turned my head around the room, observing the surroundings.

The frames hanging on the walls displayed portraits of men with odd, bun-like hairstyles. Were they baron’s family members, ancestors, or maybe the baron himself?

The intriguing detail was that each of them had black X’s painted over their eyes, giving them an unsettling vibe.

What on earth? d*mn.

Should I have come here? Should I claim I have some urgent matter and just leave? While I was deep in thought…

Creeeeek.

A door opened somewhere nearby and a significant presence was felt.

A heavy, clear sound of footsteps echoed—dressed in all black, like before, a man appeared, sitting at the far end of the table opposite me.

“I’m pleased to meet you here. I am Sodomora, a member of the Council, and the seventh-generation descendant of the city’s founding mage, Fleur von Fachone.”

Baron Fleur.

This man was the master of this vast, dark mansion.

“This main building is where I enjoy a light lunch. I hope you’ll be satisfied with some small pieces of bird meat.”

As he settled into his seat and draped a napkin around his neck, Sydney rolled in a cart and started placing dishes in front of me and Baron Fleur.

On my plate lay a small bird, about the size of my fist, roasted whole.

It looked appetizing, but the portion was small. One bite would probably finish it off.

Is it quantity over quality? Perhaps this is how the nobility likes it.

Rattling sounds were heard as a kn*fe and fork were placed beside the plate.

I could’ve just grabbed it with my hands and torn it apart.

Clatter, whoosh.

Since the baron started eating elegantly with his fork and kn*fe, I had no choice but to follow suit and slice the delicate sparrow-sized bird with my kn*fe.

d*mn, this is so inconvenient.

“Your manner of eating exudes considerable grace. Have you received higher education? Or perhaps you hail from a noble’s family?”

The baron commented, having noticed how hard it was for me to eat without showing my true face. He seemed to be impressed by my skill with the kn*fe, which I had honed since my school days cutting pork cutlets.

I casually replied without giving away that I was Samaritan.

“Just, yeah, something like that.”

“Though I don’t know why you hide your face, I presume it’s something I shouldn’t ask. After all, I myself hide my face and keep this mansion hidden.”

“…”

In response to the baron’s words, I remained silent. I just wasn’t comfortable with this meal situation. I wanted to finish quickly and go home.

So I asked directly.

“Since I have other commitments, I’ll ask straight up: I heard your daughter is ill?”

“That’s what Barbaro had told you, I assume. Yes, she is ailing. You were informed of the illness?”

“A disease where the chest… shrinks…”

“That’s correct. She has suffered for quite a while. To our credit, the Fachone family has always worshiped the god of magic, thus blessing each member with considerable magical power. Because of this, the women in the Fachone family generally have large bosoms.”

I couldn’t quite understand how having more magical energy was related to having larger chests.

Upon reflection, however, women who are adept at strange magic like Elpride and witch Nemea also tend to have larger br*asts.

They’re like mana pouches, maybe.

Thinking that the chest was a mana pouch genuinely surprised me so much that I almost laughed out loud—thank goodness for the mask.

“So, the heir of Viscount Clementor mistakenly believed my daughter had large br*asts because of this.”

“I see.”

“This is a rather serious issue.”

Trying to understand why it was serious, I conjured a mental image of the scenario.

If Luna and I were to spend our first night together and she pulled out two big peaches from her bosom, I would likely feel both shocked and utterly bewildered.

“This is quite the problem.”

“Whatever kind of person you are, whatever method you may use, it doesn’t matter. I must ensure this marriage goes through. Please, do whatever it takes. You’ll find the reward sufficient.”

“Even illegal actions, is that fine?”

“Illegal actions, you say?”

Stopping his meal, the baron instead asked me a question. I could feel sweat trickling down from my forehead to my eyes, but since I was wearing a mask, there was no way to wipe it off.

So I endured and answered.

“It may constitute unauthorized medical practices, without proper temple or government approval.”

“Our Fachone family has long been plagued by rumors and gossip. Flaur, who sold his soul to the devil; Flaur, who returned from d*ath; Flaur, who eats humans… Magic is often seen as sorcery or the tricks of demons from hell. So, we’ve always carried these rumors with us.”

Swoosh, swoosh.

The man muttered incomprehensible words and resumed slicing at his small bird. Then, he picked it up with his fork and ate it with his white teeth, exposed under his dark veil.

“And some of these rumors are actually true. Our family has done whatever it takes to restore our fortunes. Therefore, whatever act you may perform, I won’t be surprised.”

He had a strange authority. This was what it meant to be a noble—a person who governs over others.

“May I see your daughter now…?”

“If you swear to keep everything secret that happens in this mansion and promise to remain calm no matter what you see.”

Swoosh.

The kn*fe paused once more.

Soon, Baron Flaur gave me a severe warning:

“I have no intention of killing you.”

There was a brief moment of silence. The only sounds were the clatter of knives and forks against plates.

If this man, who just spoke with such sternness, heard “I’ll give your daughter a breast massage,” what would he do? I couldn’t even imagine.

d*mn it, maybe I should just leave.

At that moment, Flaur pulled something from within his black sleeve and slammed it onto the table with a resounding clack.

It was a metal bar, no bigger than the palm of my hand, shimmering with gold.

Holy sh*t. Is that gold? Actual gold?

I can’t believe such things truly exist in this world. Selling that might be enough to expand Luna’s cottage with a small garden.

“I entrust my daughter to you.”

“Okay, I’ll give it a shot.”

In this massive three-story garden stood a lighthouse-like tower. We had to climb the winding staircase for quite a while to reach the attic in this tower.

The place where Baron’s only daughter, Brigitte, resided was akin to the dungeon of a wicked dragon or demon king, a place where kidnapped princesses are held.

I wondered if the baron abused his daughter—but, as I learned from Sydney, Brigitte herself had chosen this high place as her room because she loved being at elevated heights.

Because of this, I had to climb countless flights of stairs, which was exhausting. d*mn, I wanted to toss off my robe and mask right away.

“Puff.”

When I finally made it to the top, a door adorned with a flower garland stood before me, beautifully decorating what was clearly a young girl’s room.

Clack.

Before knocking, I caught my breath, while Sydney stepped back one pace.

“I shall wait here.”

“Can I enter alone?”

Is it appropriate to send a grown man into a young woman’s chamber alone?

What if something happens?

However, this cold-blooded maid didn’t respond to my question; she just continued to stare silently at me.

Well, it’ll probably be fine somehow.

In fact, I was a little worried about what would happen if she were to follow me inside. If she stays out, it’s easier for me.

Knock, knock.

I knocked on the door, and from inside, I could hear a loud bustling sound.

Who’s there?

The voice held a notably cheerful tone, unusually energetic for someone who was ill.

“I’m uh… I’m here to treat your illness.”

Ah, there goes Dad again, hiring someone unnecessary. We don’t need you. I can’t be cured by just anyone.

What the hell?

I hadn’t anticipated this kind of issue.

The gold bar glittering before my eyes.

Its astonishing golden light forced unexpected words from my mouth.

“Why not give a diagnosis a try? Believe me, I’m quite skilled. I’ve even helped nymphs grow their chests.”

Nymphs? Have you truly seen Nymphs, Uncle?

The voice from behind the door showed noticeable interest. d*mn, “uncle,” what the hell? I felt like I’d been dealt an unexpected blow.

Such a tough opponent.

“Yes, I’ve seen many nymphs. I know what they like. They love candies.”

Hmm, so nymphs like candies, you say…

Click.

At that moment, the sturdy door slid open quietly. My experience with Paranoi had, no doubt, played a part in helping me navigate this situation with the tightly shut door.

Puff.

With a sigh, I adjusted my robe and mask once more. There are no mirrors here in the mansion, so it was quite inconvenient to keep myself tidy.

“Then, I’ll come in, young lady.”

Slowly pushing the doorknob, I entered a spacious and cozy room.

The elegant wallpapers adorned the walls, and the windows allowed ample light to pour in—completely unlike anything else in the mansion. There were neatly arranged dolls and a soft, plush bed. The whole room was far more bright and splendid than what I had imagined for a noble young lady, dazzling to the eyes.

However, a cascade of black hair, shining like curtains, flowed upon the bed.

I was genuinely astonished.

If it weren’t for the mask, I would have revealed my stunned expression to everyone.

“Uncle.”

A fairly young-looking face with a rather cute appearance greeted me with a bright smile, but her eyes, resembling those of a cat, were subtly sharp.

“Uncle, are the nymphs you saw real?”

[Author’s Note]

As those familiar with my previous works know, Michuli typically doesn’t write overly long novels.

However, with this one, there are quite a few breadcrumbs scattered throughout, requiring me to tie up many loose ends, so this could become the longest story I’ve written so far.

I hope you all will keep reading until the end, even though the story might take some time to unfold.

If you readers don’t continue to follow, Michuli might go under…

Hiik…

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