The Peaceful Life of a Maid Who Hides Her Power and Enjoys It

<Episode 158>

 

“Was there an intruder before us? It hasn’t been long. The blood hasn’t dried properly.”

“No, the probability of it being a mutiny is higher. Look at this.”

 

Raphael, who had been conducting an autopsy deep inside, gestured to me.

 

“There are no signs of proper defense or even traces of a sudden intrusion. Most of them died without putting up much of a resistance.”

 

As I sat down next to him, scanning the surroundings, I asked Raphael.

 

“What about the possibility of an assassination?”

“If we think of Mephisto’s temple, there should only be one entrance to a tomb like this, and the distance from the entrance to the laboratory is not far. It’s not a structure that can be infiltrated secretly.”

 

Raphael looked at me as if seeing if I agreed or not, and I nodded.

 

Perhaps because we were together, our reflexes from our time in the Allied Forces came to the surface. Such small confirmations were useful when quickly exploring enclosed places like this underground laboratory.

 

‘Raphael and I are in sync like it was just yesterday.’

 

As expected, 10 years wasn’t time that could be looked down on. I felt awkward for some reason at that realization.

 

“…Rue?”

At that moment, when I turned my head at the sudden silence, I saw Rue standing somewhere motionless. I approached him.

 

The ground beneath my feet felt like a grand ballroom. A spacious hall with open space. The only difference from an actual ballroom was the enormous experiment tubes attached to the walls like barnacles.

 

This particular laboratory, unusually large and sturdy, was as disarrayed as the other laboratories we passed by.

 

But something was different.

The eerie aura emanating from inside the laboratory. The filthy air that seemed to irritate the skin.

 

“No way, is this…”

 

“Signs.”

 

Rue replied briefly, his cold gaze fixed on an empty glass container.

 

“It’s the trace of Mephisto’s heart. However, only the trace remains, the heart is gone. …Judging by the state of things, the thief couldn’t have gone far. They’re probably nearby.”

 

I looked at the shattered glass container with complicated feelings.

 

‘To think that mere traces could create such pressure. I wonder how the culprit even brought themselves to look at the actual heart.’

 

So was the heart stored in that container? I couldn’t say for sure, but I suspected that the glass was coated with some special kind of magic.

 

Raphael, who followed behind, asked as he entered the hall, 

“This is unbelievable power. Was Mephisto truly a demi-god?”

“No, I heard he was a Huwi,” I replied.

 

Raphael looked at me with disbelief in his eyes at the answer and glanced at the glass tube.

 

“Huwi… the priests of Rogue that have crossed three walls? That’s strange. Even if he was a great magician, it’s impossible for him to possess this kind of power. Especially just in his dead heart.”

 

Rue glanced back at Raphael and sneered.

 

“Your senses are quite useful, Duke.”

 

“….”

 

“Yes, this isn’t Mephisto’s original power. Many forces are mixed together. It seems he indulged in binge-eating a lot during the ten years of war.”

 

He accumulated enough power to compare to a demi-god just by eating? I had a hunch of what he was talking about.

 

“So, Mephisto consumed Heart Crystals?”

 

“Yes, but you can’t obtain this level of tangible power with just a few dozens. At least hundreds… no, maybe thousands.”

 

The quick-witted Raphael deduced the situation from our brief exchange.

 

“He accumulated power… He didn’t devour the hearts of fallen soldiers, did he?”

 

“That’s too trivial. He would’ve wanted more refined, higher-level hearts. For example, the heart of Rogue priests.”

 

Ah.

 

‘I see. That was his true objective.’

The Southern Rogue Church was a faction that was born as Mephisto’s influence spread south.

They used unethical methods to cross the walls, and as proof, there were several biological experiment laboratories where the experiments were conducted in Mephisto’s temples.

 

The priests of Southern Rogue wanted to cross the walls without enlightenment. And Mephisto used their desires to increase his power by taking the hearts of those who crossed the walls.

 

Rue, who slowly surveyed the inside of the hall, whispered softly with a faint bitterness in his voice.

 

“Did you manipulate those naive priests for this? Truly, you are the embodiment of evil, Mephisto. If your master finds out, he’d hit the ground in devastation and cry.”

 

After a brief silence, Raphael spoke up.

 

“Did you say Mephisto’s heart is nearby? I will go find it. Come with me, Daisy.”

As I was about to follow him into the long corridor, I stopped and turned my back. Rue stood motionless in the middle of the hall.

 

“Rue?”

He swept his chin and slowly turned his head towards me.

 

“Hmm. It seems like some cleanup is necessary.”

Cleanup?

 

“The energy trapped in this space is too powerful. Due to the high density of force accumulated within this confined space for a long time, there is a high possibility of an explosion even from a small external impact. Moreover, the real problem is…”

 

Rue smiled faintly, as if contemplating.

 

“It seems like this is more urgent than chasing after the culprit. Daisy, will you close your eyes for a moment?”

 

I closed my eyes as instructed. A gentle voice whispered in my ear as if it was right in front of me.

 

“Even if it’s unpleasant, endure it a little and focus your whole mind on this energy. You should be able to feel it.”

 

I breathed very slowly and concentrated on the flow of air.

 

―Come to me.

 

―Become a part of God.

 

―Give your heart.

 

A haunting voice that brings back unpleasant memories. A chill ran through my whole body.

 

It felt as if dozens of insect legs were crawling through my brain, a dreadful and repulsive feeling. Disgusting, to say the least. I shook my head with discomfort.

 

“Is this the resonance caused by the Heart Crystal?”

 

“Mephisto isn’t completely dead. His consciousness remains in the heart. His intense ‘desire’ is parasitically attached to the heart, continuing to control it. It possesses a stronger will than when he was alive. Perhaps it is similar to resonance, as you said.”

 

Rue closed his eyes slowly, focusing on that resonance, and continued his explanation.

 

“It’s dangerous for an ordinary human to be exposed to this energy for a long time. They’ll end up assimilating with Mephisto’s consciousness, becoming like a puppet. Yes, like ravens or devils….”

 

To think that one could not assimilate just into a sword, but also into the demon that had turned the continent into a sea of flames. It was horrifying to even imagine.

 

“Then were all the researchers in this underground facility already assimilated?”

 

Once assimilated, it is impossible to maintain a proper state of mind.

 

But hadn’t the researchers here been leading their daily lives without any issues for a staggering four years, until just a few hours ago? This was evidence that they hadn’t been assimilated with Mephisto. How they managed to prevent it was a mystery.

 

‘Then what happened to Natasha?’

 

I briefly wondered, but finding Mephisto’s heart was our top priority for now. The entrance to the underground was still closed, so it was highly likely that the culprit who took the heart was in the same space as us.

 

“I’ll take care of this place, Rue.”

 

“Alright. Remember the voice you just heard, Daisy. Let’s wrap up our roles and meet on the surface.”

 

Those words sounded awkward to my ears, like hearing Raphael enjoying knitting during tea time with the ladies. The combination of cleanup duty and Rue didn’t match at all.

 

Did Rue feel responsible?

Responsibility. I thought it could be another human emotion that resurfaced as the balance tilted. If Mephisto was a disciple of Dian Cecht, it also meant he was a disciple of Rue, the lord Calepa, in a broad sense.

 

“Raphael Zenail.”

Rue warned, staring at the dark passage.

 

“I allowed you to accompany us because Daisy said you’d be useful.”

 

At the hostile tone, one of Raphael’s eyebrows sharply rose as he stood on the other side of the passage. Surely, the roles they mentioned earlier weren’t just for show, right?

 

Rue glanced at Raphael with an insensitive gaze and made a clear sneer.

 

“…I’d like to agree, but looking at you, you don’t seem to be any much better in terms of skills than my Daisy. So if you don’t wish to die, don’t contradict her and just obediently follow her words.”

 

I ran towards Raphael, who seemed to have reached the limit of his patience, and shouted as I tapped his shoulder.

 

“I will take care of it well. Don’t worry, I’ll see you above!”

Now, let’s go. Let’s go quickly. 

 

Fortunately, Raphael obediently pushed me forward.

 

“Looks like your sanity has completely collapsed. Are you in your right mind to keep such a person in your heart?”

 

It’s okay. He’s not really a human.

---

 

Remember, Raphael, personality is not in Daisy’s criteria requirements

I honestly feel really bad for Dian Cecht everytime his relationship with Mephisto is mentioned. It seems like he was a soft, easy going person, so I honestly think he would truly be shattered if he’d been alive to see what Mephisto, that pos did.

 

Rue definitely seems like he considered Dian Cecht a dear friend and loved him in his own way.

I have a feeling I know who the intruder is and it’s not a very good one.