“It’s just a silly rumor related to me.”
“…Did you know about it?”
“I couldn’t not know. The reason I came all the way here was because of that rumor.”
“Master, um, does that mean that person manipulated information and spread it around? Why would they do that?”
“I haven’t figured that out either. It was because of someone’s interference.”
As Dante said that, he stared at me intently.
“What am I supposed to do about it?”
I shrugged my shoulders and turned my head away.
“Is what His Highness said true?”
Master Verman lowered his head deeply.
“…Yes, it’s true.”
“Why would you do such a thing? Did it benefit Master to spread false rumors?”
“It wasn’t for personal gain. I did it under orders.”
“Who gave you those orders?”
“That… “
Verman trailed off and glanced at Dante.
How cruelly beautiful his face, which shone even faintly in the underground, had become. He had already experienced such cruelty intensively.
It was only natural to think that if he continued to hide the secret, he might die this time.
Sure enough, he opened his heavy mouth. His voice, which he let out with a deep sigh, gently echoed in the underground.
“It was His Majesty’s command.”
The Emperor?
..The appearance of an unexpected figure.
“…Are you saying that His Majesty ordered you to spread the rumor?”
“Yesterday, His Majesty secretly summoned me. He told me to spread the rumor that he, as the top-ranked hunter, had killed the boss.”
“Didn’t you know it was false?”
“I didn’t know. It was only after I obtained the ranking list that I realized it was false.”
Was it because his son wasn’t on the ranking list?
..So, to prevent any mention of the ranking and announce it at the party where the hunters were invited.
..Among the hunters, the ranking is shared, but the party will remain a secret as ordered by the Emperor.
‘Meanwhile, they spread false rumors to make people believe them, and they planned to reveal the truth only when the rankings changed.’
This plan was possible because the current top-ranked hunter was the crazy lady Astel.
Even if they told the truth, no one would believe them.
Even the Emperor, who is known for being fair, seems helpless when it comes to his own son’s actions.
‘Oh, it’s a political maneuver.’
If that’s the case, then it makes sense. It’s not the right way, but it’s not something you can’t understand either.
Honestly, isn’t it better than the heartless Duke Luteous, who doesn’t care about his child’s life or death?
“Where did you get the ranking list?”
“The identity of the informant is top secret.”
“I’m your benefactor, you know.”
“Huh? Oh, no, why does that matter right now…?”
“You said you’d repay the favor. Was that just something you said?”
“No, it wasn’t! While I may have manipulated information, I would never tell a lie like that!”
“You can repay it now.”
Verman’s mouth hung open.
..Asking the head of the Information Guild about the identity of an informant is no different from asking for failure.
What informant would make a deal with the Information Guild, which doesn’t even protect their personal secrets?
I understand, but it was Verman who first offered to repay the favor. Coincidentally, I was in a situation where I needed a capable informant.
Verman, who was sweating profusely, pleaded desperately.
“Please, not that… Lady, could you ask something else? I’ll tell you anything as long as it’s not related to the informant!”
“Just a moment ago, you said ‘anything.’ Alright. I’ll come visit you often from now on.”
“Ah, no, just, just once…”
Whether it was the informant or Verman, it didn’t matter as long as I could get information.
Pretending not to know the hesitating Master, I asked Dante.
“Did His Majesty really not know about what was happening?”
“Is that a question?”
“No.”
It was actually a meaningless question. It was obvious that they had some idea about it.
“If they were able to find out where the rumors originated from within half a day, it would have been easy to speculate about the mastermind behind it.”
The reason he came to find the master was to confirm his suspicions.
“So, it seems like the Emperor acted on his own.”
The character closely observed Dante’s face, which seemed thoughtful.
“Can I ask a real question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you avoid having your level measured?”
“You seem confident that I avoided it. It’s possible that my level is weak enough to not qualify for the rankings.”
“Hunters whose levels have been measured are always included in the rankings. Amateur tricks won’t work.”
As someone who had fought Dante with their sword, the character had been trying to estimate his level.
“At least S-rank or higher.”
It’s impossible for an S-rank hunter not to make it into the rankings.
“Shall I tell you the reason? The reason your Majesty’s level hasn’t been measured is that you haven’t done anything. That’s why you couldn’t enter the rankings.”
Dante used his sword only once during the level measurement.
It was when he killed a person who had become prey to the baby spiders.
Since he didn’t use any power against monsters, his level wasn’t measured.
Dante’s red lips curled up seductively.
“Did you hide and observe me? I didn’t know you were interested in me to that extent.”
“…I didn’t hide or observe you. I’m sorry, but your Majesty is not my type at all.”
“I heard that my appearance surpasses personal preferences, though.”
It was too true to deny, so I couldn’t speak. Instead, I let out a hollow cough.
“Hmm, don’t say irrelevant things and just give me the reason. I already answered your question, didn’t I?”
“Because you didn’t attack me.”
You simply let go and watched because I didn’t attack.
If the baby spiders had escaped, the capital city would have been destroyed and more, right?
“…Do you think that makes sense? The other person is a monster.”
“To me, people and monsters are similar. Unless they attack me, there’s no reason for me to fight.”
“Are you asking me to believe that?”
“I spoke the truth. Whether you believe it or not, that’s the Lady’s choice.”
“Why did you bow and smile during the funeral ceremony?”
“For one question, there’s only one answer. It’s a rule established by the Lady, and it’s the Lady who must uphold it.”
Dante stood up with a meaningful smile.
I looked up at him while remaining seated.
“You’re leaving?”
“Then should I spend the night playing with the Lady?”
“…Goodbye.”
I thought he would leave right away, but he approached me with big strides.
I thought he would stop at a reasonable distance, but no. He came so close that he almost touched my head, not just leaning down.
He looked intently into my eyes from a distance that felt like his nose was brushing against mine.
As if trying to figure out if I was sane or not.
“…Are you checking if I’m sane or not?”
“Yeah, you don’t seem too crazy, so I’m surprised.”
I squinted my eyes and smiled playfully.
“Yeah, I’m the crazy Lady. I’m so crazy that I’m considering whether to kiss you, Your Majesty.”
“…What are you going to do?”
“A kiss.”
“…To me?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
“So, it would be better for you to move that pretty face away. If you don’t want to be bitten by a crazy person.”
Dante’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he burst into laughter. The sound of his laughter echoed gently in the office.
Unconsciously, I stared blankly at Dante.
His long eyes were enchantingly curved, and between his parted lips, his white, even teeth were revealed.
It was the smile I saw during the funeral ceremony, but up close, it looked different again.
Somehow, my eardrums felt ticklish, and my heart became restless. It was like a feeling of blood rushing quickly through my veins.
Finally, I understood the conversation I had overheard between the young ladies, saying that being next to Dante made their lifespan shorter.
He was a man who, in many ways, was not good for longevity. Even the master who had been with him until his dying moments seemed mesmerized.
The man who had been laughing a moment ago leaned towards her ear, whispering seductively.
“A noble young lady likening herself to a crazy dog… How peculiar. It makes me even more curious. Will you grant me permission?”
His fragrant breath spread to her ear, causing her hairs to stand on end.
Suppressing my shivers, I whispered revengefully into his ear.
“Your Highness, do you know what happens when you get bitten by a crazy dog?”
“Well, I haven’t been bitten before, so I’m not sure.”
“Then let me enlighten you. If you get bitten by a crazy dog, you go crazy too. Do you want to be infected?”
“It’s okay. I’m already crazy.”
We silently gazed at each other.
We were so close that their lips could touch with just a slight extension. I could feel his breath, even discerning the pattern of his iris.
A strange tension intensified.
Dante, who had been slowly scanning my face, suddenly withdrew.
“Unfortunately, maybe next time. I have a personality that prefers to savor delicious things later.”
“Well, I have a personality that absolutely refuses to eat anything tasteless.”
“Don’t worry. It will be very delicious, I assure you.”
With a brief whisper, he flipped up his hood.
In that way, Dante, with his enchanting face concealed by the hood, swiftly left the office.
I stared at the wide-open door, feeling bewildered.
“It’s not about the taste, it’s because it seems spoiled, damn it!”
That kind of person is the most terrifying, you know.
It’s difficult to predict what he might do, and he knows how to use the fact that he’s crazy.
That’s why he was pushed aside in the succession to the throne, even though he was far superior to Prince Egred.
“No matter how talented he is, you can’t make a madman an emperor, can you?”
I stood up, donning my hood.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll rely on you from now on. Let’s see each other often.”
“…Yes…”
Verman’s face shifted from being truly lifeless to a more contemplative expression.
I offered him a brief comfort and left for the Information Guild.
I was not expecting that kind of tension. 🤭🤣 Thank you for the chapter!