Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 34

Episode 34. Fake Coward (2)

A heart that can only be obtained from demons of triangle size or higher.

Only I, the Yeomyeonghoe, and Geomseong know the information related to the soul stone.

It was something that was not well known to the world.

That is why only a very small number of people know the name ‘Honseok’.

“You answer as if you knew from the beginning.”

“Since you said it was a mixed stone, of course I saw it in the secretary’s office…… that thing…….”

Lazrot looked visibly embarrassed.

His gaze, which was constantly shaking left and right without being able to find the right direction, was like a metronome that was quickly keeping to the beat.

“If that was true, you would have asked me something like, ‘Is that the jewel you saw at that time?’ But what about you?”

“Oh, no, I…….”

“Are you still going to ignore this?”

After releasing the hands that were supporting my chin, I leaned back in my chair and opened my mouth in a slow tone.

“Don’t be too afraid. I don’t really have any plans. I just want to talk.”

"……yes?"

Lazrot opened his eyes wide.

As the color of fear grew darker over his head, other emotional colors began to bloom beside him.

'Gray' symbolizes doubt.

As seen in front of the secretary's office, two emotional colors were appearing at the same time.

'This has rarely happened before.'

<The Color of Negation> appears only once per person. Even if two emotions are felt at the same time, the stronger one is revealed.

So then, why did this situation occur?

'Either my traits have grown, or else… … .'

There must be something about this guy named Lazrot.

Lazrot fumbled around in his bosom with trembling hands.

'What are you looking for?'

Just as he was about to put that question into words, Lazrot took out a ruby necklace from his bosom.

It didn't look like an ordinary necklace, but rather a magically processed object.

Lazrot brought the necklace to his forehead, closed his eyes, and muttered something.

Jiiing──!

A necklace that emits a faint light.

Soon the lights disappeared and the two <Colors of Negation> that had been swaying above Lazrot's head disappeared.

'It seems to be a magic that affects the mind.'

Most magics interfere with the 'physical' realm, such as breathing fire into the air or freezing the air in the atmosphere, but there were also magics that could interfere with the 'mental' realm, such as human emotions or consciousness.

Could it be that the magic that affects the 'mind' is memorized on that necklace?

Of course, this is just my guess… … .

It would be safe to say that this is true, seeing as how emotions that are difficult to control can fluctuate like that.

“I apologize for deceiving you, Sir Yurian. I was ordered by the Dawn Order not to let anyone know.”

Lazrot speaks in a serious tone.

Only a few seconds have passed, but it feels completely different than before.

He seemed so calm and collected that I wondered if he was really the man I knew.

“I see. But… it seems like people have changed.”

“……Yes, when entering or exiting the imperial palace, I use a necklace engraved with mental magic like this.”

“Hmm, is there any reason for that?”

“If we don’t do this, we won’t be able to fool the monsters that infest the imperial palace.”

Quite a brash tone.

Is this your natural personality? I'm having trouble adjusting to it.

Thinking that way, I smiled faintly.

Lazrot, who saw my smile, took a step back with his lips trembling as if he still had fear of me.

“So, can I ask you about what you wanted to talk about?”

“Oh, good.”

I felt the story was getting to the point and straightened my posture.

Information about the 'honseok' that will be accumulated from now on.

In order to control that, the ears of the Yeomyeonghoe planted in the secretary's office must not function properly.

'Or at least give out wrong information.'

“Hmm.”

After thinking about it for a moment, I quickly made up my mind.

“Lazrot, how do you feel about working under me?”

Decided to recruit the spies of the Dawn Society.

***

Lazrot looked at Yurian, his tension still taut.

Because he couldn't predict what he would do if he found out that he was a spy for the Dawn Society.

He is a man who is already famous for committing cruel acts without any hesitation.

I said I just wanted to talk.

You never know what he might do at any moment.

“Lazrot, how do you feel about working under me?”

However, what actually came out was an unexpected suggestion.

“……What are you saying?”

“It’s literally true. He wants you to work as a spy under me.”

“So what do you mean by that?”

Lazrot felt dizzy.

What on earth is this cross-eyed monster trying to say?

All kinds of questions were storming through my head, but it was impossible to find answers among them.

“It’s simple. You’ll be acting as a spy under the orders of your Dawning Council… or rather, one of the Bishops.”

Gulp.

A tone that clearly indicated his situation. Lazrot swallowed without realizing it.

“It’s like telling me to follow the existing instructions while coming under you.”

“……Are you telling me to act as a double spy?”

“It’s good because you understand quickly.”

Yurian chuckles.

Judging from his tone, it is clear that this is an arbitrary action on his part.

This means that not only the other bishops, but even Tenelon, the Archbishop, doesn't know about it.

That's why a question arose in Lazrot's mind.

'Why?'

Yulian is also a member of the Dawn Society, so why is he making such a suggestion?

There is only one thing that can be vaguely predicted by roughly gathering the given fragmentary information.

“Are you thinking of betraying the Dawn Society?”

“Betrayal? That’s something that would be misunderstood if anyone heard it. I just want to create an environment where I can work well.”

Lazrot, who had no intention of being fooled by useless wordplay, decided not to care about what was behind that smile.

Anyway, after agreeing with Yurian's words, all that was left to do was to thoroughly report what had happened to the Yeomyeonghoe.

“Oh, by the way.”

At that moment, I was laughing at Yulian for bringing up the subject without any insurance.

Lazrot noticed that he was pointing at something with his finger.

“Would you like to check this out??”

His finger was pointing to the official document he had brought.

Lazrot reached out to the papers on the table.

Densely written letters.

A look of bewilderment appeared on Lazrot's face as he checked them one by one.

“Genmel Orphanage…… List of sponsors.”

Genmel Daycare.

A small daycare center where children from the slums who have lost their parents gather.

There was a long list of people who had donated to the orphanage over the years.

Lazrot slowly raised his head and looked at Yurian's face. He was still smiling.

“After seeing Army Lazrot’s reaction in the secretary’s office, I did some research just in case. You’re from there, huh?”

Lazrot gritted his teeth at the monotonous speech that was no different from usual, and looked over the names on the list of donors again.

Lazrot's name was also written there.

“It doesn’t seem like a very large orphanage. If something bad were to happen, it would collapse in an instant.”

A drop of cold sweat ran down Lazrot's back.

duress.

Imagine what you would do to this orphanage if it didn't cooperate with you.

“Oh, don’t worry. I have no intention of harming them.”

Are you asking me to believe that?

Lazrot barely managed to swallow the curse that was rising to his throat.

“By the way, the donation amount is quite a lot. It is far more than the monthly salary I receive as an apprentice at ‘Closed Eyes.’ And every month.”

“Is that… a problem?”

“Of course not. Isn’t that why you donate to help the orphanage you came from have a better environment?”

An eerie laugh.

“Even if it’s a little… dirty money.”

Lazrot felt dizzy at Yurian's repeated words.

But I tried my best to remain calm and stared at the monster in front of me with wide eyes.

The monster's expression didn't move at all.

Wearing a mask of cross-eyed ignorance, he completely hides his own emotions while quickly digging into others' emotions.

“Since you’ve already gotten your hands dirty, why not get them a little dirtier?”

As he said that, Yulian took out another piece of paper from his bosom.

***

The night in the island, with its constant rain, was as quiet as death, perhaps because the weather was colder than usual.

In such weather, where it was difficult to even tell the difference between close and far, a man wearing a raincoat ran down an alley.

The place where he stopped as he was moving his feet hurriedly was a stylish carriage parked at the corner of the street.

As he opens the carriage door and steps inside, a man with a respectable air slowly shifts his gaze.

“Lazrot, did you bring what I asked for?”

“Yes, Bishop Aiden. This is the next destination for the Black Knight Hayden Reich you requested.”

“Good job. What’s next?”

“One of the elders of the noble council submitted a petition for personal reasons. I am not familiar with its contents or the reason for it…….”

“It’s okay. It’s probably useless content anyway. What’s important is the swordsmanship.”

Aiden smiled contentedly as he received the carefully wrapped envelope to keep it from getting wet in the rain.

He took out the contents of the envelope Lazrot had given him, examined them one by one, and then handed the documents over to the man sitting on the stable.

“Tell the Arch Bishop that this is the Sword Master’s next destination.”

“Yes, I understand. Bishop Aiden.”

“And…… um?”

Aiden, who had been speaking, stopped talking to the cult member and looked at Lazrot's expression.

“You don’t look so good. What happened?”

“Huh? No, that…….”

What happened?

At that question, Lazrot's mind naturally recalled what had happened today.

Yurian asked me to act as a double agent and limit the information flowing to the Dawn Society.

“That’s strange. It seems different than usual.”

As the words trailed off, Aiden, who was quick-witted, looked at me with half-open eyes as if he had sensed something.

Should I talk?

Or should I hide it until the end?

If he spoke, Yurian would certainly be reprimanded by the Bishops of the Dawn Order. Even worse, he would be branded a traitor and pursued by the Monsignors.

But he could still threaten my life while being pursued by the Monsignor. Yurian is a demon with the ability to do so.

What if you hide because you're afraid of it?

‘… … Chernia will be in danger.’

However, if you hide this fact, you will become a double spy.

Lazrot, clenching his fists in the midst of a serious conflict, recalled the words he had heard from Yurian before they parted ways.

– 'I will recommend the staff of the orphanage, including your younger sister, Chernia, to enter Bayer Academy. I will personally serve as the recommender.'

– 'No matter how much money you have, if you're from an orphanage, you can't enter Bayer Academy. However, if you have a recommendation from a noble family, you can. If it's a recommendation from a prestigious family like Cryphat… … It goes without saying.'

After being abandoned in the slums with his sister, Lazrot, who had become accustomed to being weighed, gulped.

He made a blunt expression as if he had made up his mind and was not concerned.

“No, it’s nothing.”

My sister was precious enough to warrant taking on such a risk.