Vol. 1 - Ch. 54 - Useless Teammates Are a Drag

What in the world kind of situation was this?

Lynn did not feel any fear, because he was simply utterly dumbfounded.

This unprecedented situation had sent his mind into a brief state of total shutdown.

But the system showed no sign of stopping the flow of new information.

【Name: Lilith Milangell】

【Race: Human】

【Talent: B-Rank Dark Magic, A-Rank Strategist】

【Magic Power Level: E-Rank (Concealed)】

【Stamina: B-Rank】

【Physiological Indicators: Extremely Abnormal】

【Favorability: -35 (You bastard! I won't let you ruin everything I have!)】

【Special Relic Detected — Amon's Ring】

Amon? Was that a name?

【Amon, an agent acting on behalf of ■■■, one of the Old Ones ■■, participated in ■■■■ seven hundred years ago, and after its failure, was exiled along with its master】

Hold on, was this normal? Why was there even data redaction going on?

【Information memes are one method by which contamination spreads — this is a preventive measure】

Lynn subconsciously voiced his complaint.

"…Lord Lynn…shouldn't you be letting go of my hand now?"

Lilith's voice, smiling yet somehow carrying an inexplicable killing intent, pulled his thoughts back to reality.

"Ah…ahaha, it's just that our deal went through, and I got a little too excited, that's all."

Having realized the danger present, Lynn withdrew his hand without leaving a trace while simultaneously taking a step back.

After setting the Phlogiston Canister down on the table in front of him, he let out an obsequious chuckle:

"Well then, since there's nothing else, I won't trouble you any further……

Oh, right, don't forget to have someone send the deposit over to my carriage!"

"Lord Lynn, I haven't even fel——"

Before the puzzled Viscount could finish his sentence, he watched Lynn dash off toward the door in a flash, leaving behind only a single line:

"Don't forget about that deposit……"

……

Once he had strategically retreated to the corridor, Lynn hastily continued formulating questions in his mind, eager to see whether the system would continue answering.

"What is contamination?"

【Contamination is a mental wavelength emitted by the ■■ that descended upon this world. Its effects vary depending on the individual characteristics of each ■■】

"Could you maybe stop dwelling on that ■■ of yours?! If you really can't manage it, could you at least use a synonym to replace the redacted part of that sentence?!"

After hurling this thought out forcefully in his mind, the pop-up window before him suddenly fell silent.

Was this some kind of illusion? But Lynn felt as though it were thinking something over, weighing its options.

Finally, after some unknown amount of time had passed, new information surfaced on the pop-up window once again.

And this time, there was only a single word written upon it——

【God】

————————

Viscount Milangell, holding the Phlogiston Canister Lynn had left behind, walked excitedly toward his eldest son's room.

"My dear, although I do trust Lord Lynn, I think it might be best to first have a servant carry this thing on them for a while, given that we don't know much about where it came from."

Lilith bit her lip and spoke, her voice carrying a slight rasp.

Her pale face wore an expression nearly pleading, the melancholy in her brow and eyes thick as a tangible storm cloud.

But she still forced out a smile as best she could, reaching out to take hold of the Viscount's arm.

She absolutely, positively could not let that man succeed.

According to the original plan, in truth, the Viscount's eldest son should have died long ago.

The reason he had remained alive all this time was precisely because, while applying the Veil of Interference, she had also continuously cast a weakening curse on the snake venom's effects.

She did not wish to kill that child, but she also had no choice but to keep killing him, little by little.

It was a tightrope, and ever since that day, she had been walking along it without pause.

If the snake venom were truly to be neutralized, then all of her efforts up to this point would be rendered utterly worthless.

Because her father would absolutely not sit idly by and allow such a thing to happen.

At that point, everything would be destroyed.

Everything she had worked so hard to obtain.

The Viscount looked at Lilith, somewhat puzzled by the expression on her face.

However, his resolve showed no sign of wavering:

"Lilith, you may very well be right…but I truly do not wish to wait any longer."

Viscount Milangell slowed his pace, but did not stop:

"I have always been a very direct person, so allow me to say I'm sorry in advance.

But my child is the treasure my beloved left behind for me before she departed this world.

While he suffered through his torment, every single day, I could hear her voice in heaven, weeping and condemning me for it.

Perhaps the old me might have considered things as carefully and cautiously as you suggest,

but the moment Lord Lynn awakened him, I could no longer wait to see him hunting alongside me once again."

With that said, he gently removed her hand from his arm.

"Lilith, you are, in the end, not his birth mother. You cannot understand how I feel right now."

These words struck like a sharp blade, instantly severing the string of reason within Lilith's mind.

Watching the Viscount's figure stride further and further away, she stood there in a daze.

This was the first time he had not heeded her so-called advice.

Why was this happening?

The figure reflected in her amber eyes gradually grew more distant.

She raised her hand, wanting to grasp hold of him.

But he had already gone too far.

Was it happening again?

Why was it that, no matter how spineless and foolish these men were, in the end, they all slipped away from her grasp?

Was she truly unworthy of holding on to them?

Was she truly unworthy of continuing to live this kind of life?

No, even if it was a twisted performance, even if it was a malicious infiltration, she still belonged here.

A false happiness was still her happiness.

"Why must you insist on trusting him so, dearest?"

She suddenly stepped forward and seized the Viscount's wrist tightly.

"That man is nothing but a web of lies, in his eyes, he sees only business and money!

You may not be able to see it, but I see it very clearly!

Snake venom? The Blood Snake Society? Nothing but tired, clichéd conspiracy theories!

Have you ever seen this so-called Snake Tribe with your own eyes? Have you ever heard this so-called Frost Ice Poison with your own ears?

Our child's awakening might……no, it was undoubtedly the work of the Saintesses!

That cup of wine of his was nothing but a blind cat stumbling onto a dead mouse!"

Lilith, nearly at her breaking point, glared fiercely at the Viscount, who turned back with a look of astonishment on his face:

"So then, do you believe that man, or do you believe me!"

"Lilith, you…"

"Answer me!"

Just as the Viscount found himself momentarily at a loss for what to do, suddenly, from the far end of the corridor, came a piercing scream:

"Ah!"

Hearing this voice, the Viscount of White Pine's eyes flew wide open.

For that was unmistakably his eldest son's voice.

Without the slightest hesitation, he once again shook off Lilith's hand, with such force that it even sent her stumbling a step backward.

Watching Viscount Milangell's figure race off into the distance, Lilith forced herself to calm down somewhat.

She did not know what had happened, but she knew she had to follow after him.

As long as she firmly maintained that the Snake Tribe and the Blood Snake Society's infiltration did not exist, there would still be a way to prevent that mysterious canister from taking effect.

That's right, that fool had never once laid eyes on the Snake Tribe with his own eyes; this much was simple enough.

And so, she lifted the hem of her long dress and hurried after him with quick steps.

And as Lilith passed through the door the Viscount had flung open——

She froze in place on the spot.

For she had suddenly caught sight of——

A familiar black snake girl, lazily sprawled beside the many heaters meant to keep the Viscount's son warm.

It was none other than Liko, whom Lynn, unaware that a banquet was being held, had left behind in the carriage.

"Mmm……this place really is……so comfortable……"

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