Chapter 377: Chapter 377

“You… how the hell do you know that…!”

Lowell’s face twisted violently.

Rage, shame, anxiety, confusion, fear, despair.

Emotions that couldn’t be described flooded her expression.

It was a natural reaction. Making a contract with a demon was already a grave sin, but a contract that bound the entire family?

That was grounds for extermination.

Even the pillars of the Empire weren’t exempt. In fact, because they were pillars, the punishment had to be harsher to set an example and uphold the Empire’s discipline.

And no one knew that better than Lowell.

But Lowell didn’t do that.

No—it would be more accurate to say I didn’t give her the chance.

‘Second Legion Commander, entire family, not a curse but a contract.’

Lowell had no choice but to panic.

Every word pointed directly to “the truth of that day.”

Of course, the critical detail was “what kind of contract it was,” but there was no need to go that far.

“Would you mind crushing the flare? Even I find Sir Caron a bit frightening.”

“Actually, it might be more fun if you did fire it. The secret your Lucid family has desperately tried to conceal—what will happen if the Empire finds out? Personally, I’m very curious.”

The silence didn’t last long.

Lowell brought her right hand out from behind her back. As expected, she was holding a flare.

A small hand befitting her slight frame. And in that hand, the flare crumpled instantly.

‘Wasn’t that made of metal…?’

The flare was wrapped in a thin layer of steel. Yet she crumpled it like paper.

It was a reminder that size meant nothing to someone who could reinforce their body with mana.

Lowell opened her hand, and the crumpled flare dropped to the ground.

It was now as small as a pebble.

Maybe because I realized I could soon end up the same way, I swallowed dryly without meaning to.

“You… don’t tell me that bastard sent you?”

“If you’re referring to the Second Legion Commander, no. There’s no way a champion of justice like me would associate with demons, right?”

“Champion of justice, my ass… So now champions of justice use blackmail too?”

Even as we spoke, Lowell’s eyes darted nonstop.

It was obvious why she was surveying her surroundings.

“Looking for my companions?”

Lowell flinched for a moment. Then she casually swept her short hair aside and replied.

“No? Not at all. Just wondering if you had another hostage like last time.”

The reason she was scanning the area.

If the Cat Mask or Rabbit Mask had this information, killing me wouldn’t be enough to bury the family’s secret.

“Keke, don’t worry. I’m the only one who knows.”

“And you’re okay telling me that? What if I kill you?”

“It’s fine. I’ve set up a failsafe.”

A message telling someone to check this place if I died. Letters set to send automatically unless canceled.

There were endless ways to release the information even after death.

Perhaps realizing her hands were tied, Lowell asked the fundamental question.

“…How did you find out? The terms of the contract should make that impossible to share.”

She was right. The Lucid family’s contract with the demon.

One of its key clauses was: “Neither party can reveal the contents of the contract. If either does, the contract is immediately nullified.”

And yet someone who knew what happened that day had shown up?

A glimmer of hope lit up in Lowell’s eyes.

She must have thought the contract had been nullified somehow, in line with its terms.

“Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The contract is still intact.”

“Then how the hell do you know about it?”

“Keke, asking for trade secrets? That’s not very professional of you.”

“But really, there’s no need to worry. It was a method only I could use. No one else can do what I did, so you can relax.”

At the moment, Lowell had no way to confirm whether the contract was broken or not.

Maybe she concluded the odds were low to begin with.

Lowell narrowed her eyes.

Though now called the mad lion, she once walked the elite path. Her judgment was still sharp.

Feigning calm, pretending it was a light price, I spoke.

“The Lucid family’s Proof Token. That’s the price for my silence.”

Lowell’s eyebrows twitched. It was probably because the request was far smaller than expected.

It was simply a token that asked for polite treatment due to being affiliated with the family.

That was what a Proof Token was.

In truth, it was something Lowell could give without any issue.

‘Compared to the Proof Tokens held by Lucia or Lucas, hers is far less valuable.’

Lowell had no personal power or influence. She wasn’t likely to be treated as having her own guests.

Anyone using her token would be treated as a guest of the Lucid family, not of Lowell herself.

That’s about the extent of the token’s worth with her name on it.

And Lowell knew that very well, which meant she was very likely to hand it over. No, it was practically a given.

The Proof Token versus the family’s destruction.

The weight difference wasn’t even close.

Put them on a scale, and the “family’s extermination” would outweigh the token like an anvil crushes a feather.

Lowell flatly rejected me.

“Why not? The price is absurdly cheap compared to the weight of the secret.”

“Because, like you said, the weight is different. So why the hell do you want my Proof Token, of all things?”

At that moment, I realized I had made a mistake.

Putting the Proof Token and the Lucid family’s extermination on the same scale had only increased her suspicion.

‘This is why uncharted paths are hard.’

If this were a second playthrough, I could have made a better choice.

Swallowing my frustration, I observed Lowell’s reaction.

“I don’t know what you’re planning to do with my Proof Token… but for you, it must be worth as much as that secret, right? Then I can’t just hand it over. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Keke, are you sure? The moment I speak, the Lucid family will be annihilated.”

“You’re right. That’s exactly why I’m refusing.”

“So you’re calling it a trade, but it’s really just blackmail, isn’t it? How dare you try to threaten someone from the Lucid family… There’s a limit to underestimating people.”

Lowell’s teeth grinding could be heard even from where I stood.

“I’ll be generous and let this slide. Just get lost. That secret? Say it or don’t, do whatever you want.”

Lowell turned her back as if the conversation was over.

I had tried to resolve this peacefully, but in the end, I’d only managed to provoke the lion’s fury.

‘Well, this was within expectations too.’

There was no helping it. It was clear persuasion had failed. Time to use my last resort.

I shrugged and spoke.

“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll just have to ask someone else.”

“Hah! You think anyone in our family would fold to threats like that?”

“That’s true. A great pillar of the Empire, a lion that’s protected the Empire for centuries.”

“What about the youngest?”

Lowell turned back to look at me.

I gave a faint smile and continued.

“Adorable Miss Rodelin. Would she be able to turn down my offer?”

Rodelin, who loved her family and her house more than anyone. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel✦fire.net

She might accept my deal to protect that secret.

“She might even give up something more.”

Slow, sticky words, tinged with subtle delight.

They triggered Lowell’s imagination, and the trauma she kept buried.

“Wow… to think I can control a lion . I’m really looking forward to this.”

“She’s just a cub now, but if I raise her well, who knows? She might turn into a fine lion I can use anywhere.”

“I told you to shut your damn mouth!”

Lowell erupted in fury.

Blood vessels popped in her eyes. Her short hair spiked wildly.

It was a murderous aura strong enough to kill with a glance.

Of course it was. Because Rodelin—

Was her reverse scale, her everything.

A cold sound rang through the forest packed with tall, slender trees.

“I can’t let this slide. I was going to ignore whatever you did, but… not anymore.”

The most terrifying version of Lowell I’d seen.

Facing her, I drew my sword.

You’re going to kill me? That’s exactly what I want to say.

The final method I spoke of earlier. That is—

‘To take it by force.’

A cold wind blew through the trees. But I didn’t feel the chill.

Because in front of me, Lowell was burning.

Lowell’s glowing blue eyes and longsword shone through the darkness.

Sure, I brought this on myself… but honestly, I was a little scared.

“Keke, are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“You said you’re the only one who knows this info.”

“Keke, but if you kill me, that info might still leak.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just find out and stop it.”

How was she planning to do that?

As if to answer, the corner of Lowell’s mouth curved crookedly.

“I’ll get it out of you after I capture you. No matter what it takes.”

So, a Caron-level interrogation. Or worse, even.

It was terrifying. I nearly wanted to kneel and beg for mercy.

But it was already too late to turn back.

As if to prove that, Lowell’s figure vanished.

Back in the cave where Dolores had been trapped—I couldn’t track her movements with my eyes then.

And since my stats hadn’t changed since, it was the same now.

Black aura surged onto my blade, and Lowell retreated in an instant. Her wariness spiked.

“Keke, are you running away?”

“Shut up. I’m just assessing the situation.”

The reason I was able to react to Lowell’s movements was simple.

The moment combat began, I had used [Divine Imitation] on her.

[Aura], [Lucid Family Mana Technique], [Reflexes], [Dynamic Vision].

[Divine Imitation] allows for a total of five skills to be stored.

I used four of them here.

I didn’t want to give up [Ragnarok Blade], Yuridia’s secret technique, but it couldn’t be helped.

Accepting a bit of loss is the fastest path to victory.

Anyway, once [Reflexes] and [Dynamic Vision] were judged to be Grade A, I could finally track Lowell’s movements.

‘Well, if she had swung with full power, I’d be flying right now.’

Skill-wise, I had the upper hand. Stat-wise, I was inferior.

It was a relief that Lowell had opted for a probing fight rather than a full-on clash.

Lowell circled, still probing. The distance was awkward enough that she couldn’t charge in. A perfect situation for me.

“If you’ve got a problem, you attack first. The more time passes, the more the advantage is mine.”

Lowell was right. If the ruckus continued, someone might come this way.

If it was Caron or Adonis, the game would end on the spot.

‘Originally, I planned to catch her off guard and finish it with one blow…’

But now I had no choice but to strike first. Fortunately, I had a skill perfect for this scenario.

I reversed my grip on the sword and raised it above my head.

Lowell took a few steps back.

That was fine. The skill grew more destructive the farther away the target was.

As I said earlier, [Divine Imitation] lets me copy five skills.

[Aura], [Lucid Family Mana Technique], [Reflexes], [Dynamic Vision].

And now I activated the one occupying the last slot.

Black lightning surged from my hand.

The black lightning transferred from my hand to the blade, and soon enveloped the entire sword.

That’s right. This was—

The fifth and final slot in [Divine Imitation], and the ultimate technique of the strongest in this world.

Adonis’s third original secret technique.

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