Chapter 131

EPISODE 131 – TO THE ROYAL CAPITAL (1)

After the birthday party that could only be described as Cordelia coming out as the superior one .

It was unsurprising that there was an uproar in Count Ficus’ mansion .

“So annoying! I’m so annoyed!”

Unlike her petite and lovely appearance, Emma Ficus didn’t have a gentle and sweet personality .

When compared to a puppy, she was like a chihuahua that couldn’t get over her anger and was running amok .

Not only did she break, tear, and destroy things in her room, but she also slapped the maids and kicked a fuss to the point that the concerned Count Ficus asked what happened in her birthday party .

“Explain it in detail . ”

Count Ficus, who had his youngest daughter at the age of 40, had a large and fierce appearance .

In response to his question that he asked in an irritated voice, the butler described what happened at the party while profusely sweating .

Cordelia completely dominated it .

As a result, Emma Ficus who should have been the main character of the party had become a squid .

After hearing the explanation, Count Ficus burst into laughter and then broke the ornaments in the desk before he knocked over the bookshelf in his office as he roared in anger .

“How dare you do that in my house?!”

Who was the source of Emma Ficus’ terrible personality? It was Count Ficus’ genes and education .

Count Ficus flew into a rage and the servants including the butler, spent their days under tremendous stress and suffering .

And upon hearing all of these, Jude said with a very brilliant smile .

“What else could they do then?”

What else could they do other than going crazy and destroying stuff in their house?

At Jude’s confident attitude, Cordelia frowned and asked a bit timidly .

“Won’t he do something really bad to us?”

Because Count Ficus was very powerful .

When it simply came to their wealth, the gap was so wide that even if Count Bayer and Count Chase combined theirs, they wouldn’t have half of Count Ficus’ wealth .

So if Count Ficus wanted to do something bad to Count Chase or Count Bayer…

Just imagining it was horrible as Cordelia was almost in tears, but Jude shook his head .

He lightly pinched Cordelia’s cheeks and said .

“That’s not going to happen . Offend only those you can offend . So he can’t do anything, okay?”

“Really?”

“Really . Let me explain why . ”

Jude sat next to Cordelia who was quietly crouching on the sofa, and he began to explain it step by step .

“First, he has no justification . ”

“Justification? Even though we ruined the party?”

“Yes, because of how we ruined it . Think about it . Where would he go to complain? Cordelia was as beautiful as a goddess that my daughter became a shrimp . Isn’t this unfair! – Something like that . ”

He was right . After all, the fundamental reason why the party was ruined was because Cordelia was much prettier when compared to Emma .

“Should he go to your father and say this? – Your daughter is so beautiful! How can she be as beautiful as a goddess! Because of your daughter’s heavenly beauty, my daughter’s mortal beauty is suffering! Explain to me why she is so beautiful! Explain it!”

As Jude spoke with clenched fists, Cordelia’s face turned red in an instant . She understood that he was only explaining it, but she still became very embarrassed .

“Or should he go to my dad and complain? – Why is your daughter-in-law so beautiful? Why is she so beautiful that it broke my daughter’s heart?”

“S-stop…”

“Or should he say it to other nobles? – Cordelia Chase’s beauty was like that of a heavenly goddess…how could there such an atrocity? How could someone be born with such a beauty and break my daughter’s spirits?”

“S-stop…”

“Or should he say it to the residents of his fief? Cordelia’s beauty was so great that it reached the skies-”

“You crazy b*stard, stop it! ”

Cordelia’s face turned so red as if it would explode, and she used magic but Jude quickly tore a scroll to dispel her magic .

“ . ”

“Eh?!”

“Woah, woah, calm down . ”

The effect was immediately visible when Jude stroked Cordelia’s chin as if he was calming down a puppy .

Cordelia’s eyes narrowed and she began to growl .

“Anyway, he has no justification . Cordelia, you understand now why there’s no justification, right?”

Cordelia nodded with a red face at Jude’s question .

Because it was definitely a reason that was hard to disagree with .

But in reality, there was one more reason that Jude didn’t tell her .

It wasn’t just because of Cordelia’s beauty that turned Emma Ficus into a squid .

‘Superior items . ’

All of the clothes and accessories worn by Jude and Cordelia overwhelmed Emma Ficus and her fiancé in all aspects .

What would people think about that?

They would think about the fact that Count Bayer and Count Chase having much better accessories would mean that Count Ficus was no better than the two counts .

It was an issue that was hard to contest even if Count Ficus protested .

“And Count Bayer and Count Chase are not easy opponents . If it’s just about military force, they’re one of the top families among the 12 northern families . Will he pick a fight with two of such families? It will be too much for Count Ficus even if he’s wealthy . ”

The royal family would definitely not allow an armed conflict between the families of the 12 northern families, so there would be no direct armed conflict, but the families could still wield their swords if need be .

And Count Ficus could never thoughtlessly confront the Bayer and Chase families who were called the swords of the 12 northern families .

“He could quietly put some pressure commercially…but as you know, our Bailon is not a frontier city for no reason . After all, Langesthei is where the influential merchants mainly do business . ”

Count Ficus might be a master in trading, but that did not mean he controlled the entire north .

“In short, even if Count Ficus got mad, he wouldn’t be able to crush our families’ finances, or to be exact, he can’t do any harm to the people of our families . So don’t worry . Okay?”

“Okay . ”

When Cordelia replied with a smile as if she was a bit relieved, Jude also smiled in satisfaction .

“Any more questions?”

“Uh…there is . The shampoo and conditioner . ”

“Yes, what about that?”

“How did you make it? I mean, how come you know how to make it?”

I’ve been trying to figure out his previous job .

What is it?

What kind of human knows how to make a detonating cord as well as shampoo and conditioner?

Cordelia directly asked as her eyes narrowed, and Jude shrugged as he replied .

“My friend taught me . ”

“Is your friend a chemical plant employee?”

“No, it was a person in the same line of profession as I had, but it was that person’s hobby . ”

Jude thought of his old friend’s face for a moment as if he missed that person, and then he continued to speak again .

“That person taught me so that if I went to some place that didn’t have shampoo and conditioner, I wouldn’t have a hard time . So it remained in my Memory Palace . ”

Cordelia frowned when he said it like it was nothing .

Because it was strange no matter how she thought about it .

‘Why would you go to some place that didn’t have shampoo and conditioner?’

Where is such a place anyway?

“Did your friend expect you to be reincarnated in the game world?”

“No, that’s not possible . It’s just in case I went to some remote place . ”

Jude and Cordelia thought of a completely different place when he said, ‘remote place . ’ They might have been able to talk with their eyes, but the topic came to a halt because the two had a different image in their minds .

“What about the detonating cord then?”

“It’s just part of my job?”

“What was your job? Are you really a spy? Are you 007?”

She had previously thought that it was nonsense, but the more that she thought about it, the more she thought that it might be real .

First of all, Jude wasn’t just weird but was too weird .

Even if she separated his ridiculous Memory Palace on which his JudeWiki was based on, he was not an ordinary person .

‘No ordinary person would habitually install traps near their sleeping places . ’

They must have a mental illness if they did .

On top of that, Jude knew how to make explosives like a detonating cord, and he was also good at plotting and scheming .

‘He’s good at collecting information . ’

How else would he know what kind of clothes and accessories Emma Ficus and her fiancé would be wearing?

‘If I put it all together…’

Spy, 007, legendary mercenary .

All of those were things that likely appeared in comics, but Cordelia’s eyes began to be filled with excitement and conviction at the same time .

“There is…a possibility!”

“I know what you’re imagining, but I won’t tell you, okay?”

“Why not!”

“What about you then?”

“Huh?”

“What was your job? You know give and take, right?”

Cordelia was at a loss from Jude’s words, and her gaze turned to another place .

‘Eueu, what should I do?’

Should I just tell him?

That I was a student?

But then…

‘I might have to use honorifics to Jude!’

The real reason wasn’t actually because of honorifics .

She was somehow feeling anxious .

The current relationship they had might change if they fully disclosed their past lives to each other .

“Shall we speak at the same time at the count of three?”

“I won’t do it . ”

“Eh? You won’t?”

“Yes, I won’t . ”

Cordelia kept her mouth shut, and Jude blinked his eyes but soon smiled .

“Okay, let’s not do it . ”

“Yeah . ”

Cordelia was still quiet as she pouted her lips, but she soon came up with a different topic .

“By the way, Jude . ”

“Yes, Cordelia . ”

“Why did you not agree to making the shampoo and conditioner as a commercial product?”

The next morning after the shampoo and conditioner were presented at the party .

Sylvia Crossbell appeared with fluttering hair, and suggested commercializing the shampoo and conditioner .

“This will sell! This will definitely sell!”

Sylvia who was the embodiment of elegance had shouted that with excitement, but Jude declined her offer without even thinking much about it .

Why did he do that?

Even Cordelia herself thought that it would sell well once it was made .

“Because we have to use it in the royal capital . ”

“What’s the connection between using it in the royal capital and not selling it in the north?”

“There’s a big connection . ”

Having said so far, Jude stood up and continued to explain .

“In any case, the north would always be the north . It is a remote area from the perspective of the royal capital . ”

Cordelia bit her lips at Jude’s words, as it was true since she knew it from having been born in the north .

“Put yourself in the shoes of the royal capital and the royal family, and think about it . Wouldn’t it look bad if they accepted and used items that were popular in a remote area?”

“You mean, they don’t want to accept the fashion trends of the remote areas?”

“To be frank, yes . It also includes…the fashion trends of those below them . ”

“I feel upset . ”

“But you understand, right?”

“’I’m feeling upset because I understand . ”

She thought that she knew what he roughly meant .

She had to endure it for now in order to make the shampoo and conditioner fashionable in the royal capital .

“What would happen after we’ve made it popular in the royal capital?”

“We’ll spread it all across the country and make sure we get our share of the profit . That way, my princess can buy a lot of delicious and pretty things . ”

“Ahem . ”

Cordelia cleared her throat and pretended that it was not true, but he could see it in her eyes . She seemed to be very pleased .

“Well, anyway, an invitation will arrive from the royal family soon, so we just need to go to the royal capital . ”

Cordelia used to go to the royal capital with Count Chase every year at the founding ceremony, even if her fiancé, Jude, was sick .

Because it was a precious opportunity to meet Adelia who was working in the royal capital .

“Would they allow us if we said that we’ll be leaving first?”

“We can use the name of the Guardians of the Holy Cross to make it possible . It was for this reason on why I met with them at that time . ”

Jude and Cordelia didn’t have any intentions in going to the royal capital quietly .

They had to do some power-ups by doing all the quests that were available on the way from Bailon to the royal capital .

“We must specifically stop by the Temple of Life and the dungeon of Archwizard Arkeman . ”

Each was a place where things needed to power up Jude and Cordelia were present .

“We need to find clues so that we could meet Fran . ”

Jude immediately nodded at Cordelia’s words .

Lena didn’t have much information about the location of the other two of the five heroes, Druid Fran and Necromancer Velkian .

“I wonder how Lena’s doing . ”

“I’m sure she’s fine . Perhaps she met my master by now . ”

Lena left for the southern part of the Sälen Kingdom in order to meet Landius .

Cordelia took out the feather Lena had given her .

It was a token of Lena’s friendship, but she also got it to reassure Fran and Velkian when they meet the two .

“We’ll do quests on the way, and find traces of Fran and Velkian if possible . We’ll get to the royal capital first and do some undercover work . We’ll be very busy . ”

“Hmm…okay . If my Jude thinks so, this Cordelia will follow you . Got it?”

“Yes, Madam . I shall do my best to take care of it . ”

Jude exaggeratedly bowed as if he was acting in a play, and then he extended his hand to her .

“Would you like to go now that our conversation is over?”

“Yes, Mr . Bayer . ”

Cordelia deliberately answered in a modest manner as she took Jude’s hand and stood up .

They headed to Count Bayer’s office .

They were going to get permission to leave for the royal capital first .

***

A few days later, in a completely different place .

Saluzia, a high-ranking demonic human of the Devil’s Hand, had a faint smile .

“They’re finally back . ”

Jude Bayer and Cordelia Chase .

The two who fled across the border to the land of the barbarians had returned to the north .

“Are we attacking them this time?”

Saluzia slowly nodded at the question of Kanos, her subordinate .

“We’ll target the two as they head for the royal capital . ”

The two were accompanied by Count Chase when they returned to Bailon, so they couldn’t even touch the two, but if the two went on a trip alone again, the situation would change .

‘Foolish ones…’

Did you think that the Devil’s Hand would easily give up?

Or did you think that you were completely free from the past after having been to a distant place?

It doesn’t matter either way .

I just have to capture the two foolish, yet unrivaled and sweet offerings .

“What should we do? Are you going to do it yourself again?”

“No, we might make the Guardians of the Holy Cross move . Just send three mid-ranking demonic humans . ”

Jude and Cordelia had a power equivalent to a low-ranking demonic human .

They were that much strong when she last met them, so they couldn’t have become much stronger than that in just a month .

The three mid-ranking demonic humans was definitely something excessive, but she was determined to not fail again .

“I shall follow your orders . ”

Kanos bowed and left the room, and Saluzia who was now alone, opened the Demon Record .

It was to contemplate on which demon would she summon with Cordelia as the sacrifice .

‘It’s an exaggerated story anyway . ’

She had heard that Jude and Cordelia played an active part in the events across the border .

Saluzia knew that the Devil’s Eye who occupied the barbarian lands had greatly failed, but she did not know the exact details .

‘They must have made a significant contribution . ’

But it was clear to her on what the two people with only the strength of a low-ranking demonic human could do .

Count Chase and Count Hræsvelgr must have done the really important stuff .

‘I’ll make you regret it . ’

That they didn’t let themselves be caught quickly, that they weren’t sacrificed immediately .

A small smile spread over Saluzia’s face .

It wasn’t because she found the perfect demon to summon that would use Cordelia as a sacrifice .

She was thinking of the trust of their leader whom she would recover once she caught the two .

Her position would be firmly established again .

‘I hope that day comes soon . ’

The day when Jude and Cordelia would go on a trip to the royal capital .

Saluzia’s smile deepened, and she turned her gaze to the Demon Record .

She moved her long and thin fingers as she flipped the pages of the Demon Record .