The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 139

17. The Fake: The Taken Bastard

The battle proved to be quite anticlimactic.

Crimson, driven by panic, desperately lunged at me, but:

[Wood Control]

[Stone Control]

[Wind Control]

Tree trunks erupted from the ground, sharp stone spears shot in from all directions, and a giant golem slammed its fist down.

Moreover, Zion and Campbell seized the opportunity, swinging their mana swords with precision.

There was no escape for Crimson in the face of such a relentless offensive.

“Keuk…!”

Eventually, Crimson, covered in blood, collapsed to his knees.

The remaining expert masters had long since become lifeless corpses.

“To think that Henon Lloyd, who was reported missing, was the druid the academy was desperately searching for. You knew all along that I serve Baal and that Repli is Lust.”

Crimson spat out blood-laced phlegm and chuckled weakly.

“I’ve been completely outplayed. But you will never overcome Lust. She is truly terrifying. You’ve messed with the wrong person.”

“Why are villains always so confident even after they’ve lost? Anyway, you’re going to have to tell me what kind of abilities Lust possesses.”

“Hehehe, you’re a funny one. You won’t get a single scrap of information from my mouth.”

“That’s okay. We have plenty of time. Something might occur to you while you’re being… persuaded.”

I meticulously began working on Crimson.

As always, the Northern-style… *persuasion* service greatly satisfies customers. (A euphemism for torture, referring to a brutal method originating from the North.)

I finely crushed his bones, carefully cut his muscles along the grain before reattaching them, and repeatedly stabbed under his fingernails. He seemed to enjoy it so much that he foamed at the mouth and trembled all over. (Note: This is dark humor and may be disturbing to some readers.)

In the end, Crimson raised the white flag in just thirty minutes.

“I was wrong… Please, just kill me…”

“I’m asking you what kind of abilities Lust has. Only then will you find peace.”

“I don’t know the details… I only know that she is a higher being, not human…”

“Really? Let’s elaborate on what kind of being she is.”

“Please!! I don’t know either!!”

Crimson enjoyed about an hour of overtime before he breathed his last.

Honestly, there wasn’t much useful information gained.

I just learned the extent of the garbage he had been doing under Lust’s orders.

The only concrete information about Lust was what he said at the beginning: that she was a different species, not human.

‘Like Rebecca, a vampire? Or a werewolf? Or another demon?’

For now, she remains shrouded in mystery.

I decided to move on for the time being.

I left the cleanup to Zion and Campbell.

I severed Crimson’s head and covered it with a cloth.

“Zion, Campbell, take good care of Merian. And continue to increase the Shadow Saintess’s influence. I’ll contact you when the time is right.”

I gave the orders and returned to the Holonium Grand Temple.

As soon as I got back, I went to find Repli.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

An excited voice greeted me.

She must have heard the news that I went to hunt the Shadow Saintess.

But what to do?

This won’t be the gift she was hoping for.

“Did you catch the Shadow Saintess?”

At Lust’s question, I threw the bundle I had brought onto the table.

Thud. Roll, roll.

As the cloth unfurled, Crimson’s hideous head, with its eyes wide open in death, rolled into Repli’s view.

Naturally, her expression twisted in disgust and anger.

“This is absurd! Can’t you manage your subordinates properly?”

It’s time to use my special move here.

That is, to get angry in retaliation.

“What nonsense are you spouting? What about the Shadow Saintess?”

“I missed her. When I raided the meeting place, they had already all escaped, and only this guy’s corpse was there.”

“What?”

“That idiot Crimson tried to take all the credit and jumped the gun. And then he couldn’t even catch her and died.”

“Aaaaaaaah!!!!”

Repli, screaming in a high-pitched voice and wildly tangling her hair, kicked Crimson’s head like a soccer ball.

Her hysterical appearance was far from that of a saintess in any sense of the word.

“What is it that you *do* properly?”

“I’m the one who’s angry! Why are *you* angry, Saintess? An operation that took months of effort has been ruined because of your direct subordinate.”

“Why is that my fault? It’s because you didn’t manage the information properly!”

“Is it my fault that some information was leaked to an ally, not an enemy? In the first place, if you had properly leashed him, this would have been resolved a long time ago.”

My gaze and Repli’s collided in the air, creating sparks.

Repli emitted such tremendous energy that cracks formed in the walls of the chapel.

[Self-Purification]

[Complete Status Abnormality Immunity]

Of course, I didn’t feel any pressure.

The battle of wills continued tensely for a long time.

At the end of the push-and-pull, intangible tug-of-war, it was Repli who averted her gaze first.

“Hoo… Okay. Let’s let this one slide. What are you going to do from now on?”

The Saintess’s question.

This is what’s important.

“What do you mean, what am I going to do? Our contract is over. Didn’t you say that I would be dismissed from the position of Archbishop if I failed the mission? Good. I’ll take this opportunity to leave the Holy State.”

I pretend to back out.

Then Lust’s eyes narrowed into triangular slits.

Repli must be furious.

The Shadow Saintess is still at large, and Crimson, who had been taking care of her dirty work, is dead.

To make matters worse, if I, who was in charge of the Shadow Saintess case, leave, the Saintess will have no one to use comfortably.

She could use someone else instead, but there was definitely no one to replace high-level talents like the expert Crimson or the orichalcum adventurer. (Orichalcum is a mythical metal, here used to denote a high rank.)

I, a capable executive, took advantage of this and submitted my resignation, and I was sure that Lust, the president of the company, who was on the verge of emptying the company, would hold me back.

“Where do you think you’re going? You have to finish what you started.”

“I realized something while dealing with Crimson. I can’t work here if there’s someone with similar authority or influence as me. Give me full authority.”

“I gave you full authority.”

“Are you saying that the person who received full authority is being monitored in every move and having key information stolen? It’s just full authority in name only.”

Now for the key point.

I spoke my demands, maintaining an indignant tone.

“If a second Crimson or a third Crimson appears, this kind of thing will happen again. You might as well entrust me with the work that Crimson was doing.”

Crimson had been in charge of Lust’s dirty work as a Twilight Church member. (The Twilight Church is likely a cult or secret society.)

In other words, he was a real insider.

On the other hand, I only outwardly held the position of Archbishop, but in reality, I was practically an outsider.

I was demanding that she accept me as a real insider.

“Hmm.”

Lust’s worries deepened.

Because if I were to replace Crimson, she would inevitably have to entrust me with the management of the basement, and in the process, she would have to reveal that she was Lust.

That was exactly what I was aiming for.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Please speak.”

“What do you think about the Twilight Church?”

Finally, we’re getting to the main point.

She’s trying to recruit me as a Twilight Church member.

I took out the answer I had prepared in advance.

“Well? Aren’t they just a bunch of crazy guys who worship the Demon King? Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Do you think the Twilight Church is bad?”

Is this a test of ideology?

I have to pass this to become a real insider.

“I’m an adventurer. What’s bad for me are the guys who break the contract or interfere with the mission.”

“You move strictly according to the contract?”

“Of course. What does the public’s opinion matter? The guy who gives me compensation is a good guy. Is that a bit provocative for the Saintess? That’s just how the world works.”

The bait has been thrown.

Now I just wait for the prey to bite.

“I don’t know why you’re asking unnecessary questions, but if you keep doing this, I’m going to quit here. It’s been fun.”

I pretend to leave coolly.

Hold me back. Please hold me back.

Just as I was hoping.

“Wait.”

As expected.

I stopped walking.

“Is there anything else? Please don’t try to forcibly hold me back or retaliate. Orichalcum isn’t that easy of a rank to come by.”

“No. Rather, look at this.”

Lust turned around and slightly lowered her shoulder.

Then her back was exposed, revealing her bare skin.

A tattoo was engraved on her wing bone.

A red eye in the center of the Seven Stars.

It was a familiar pattern.

“What’s this all of a sudden? I’m having a hard time understanding.”

“Can you see the pattern engraved on my back?”

“I’m not blind, so I can see it.”

“It’s a symbol that I’m a member of Twilight.”

She finally revealed it.

My reaction here is important.

Rather than making a fuss, I maintain my composure.

“I see.”

“You’re too calm. The Saintess is a member of Twilight, no less.”

“I looked at Crimson’s corpse earlier. He had the same tattoo as you on his body. So I was suspicious.”

A nonchalant attitude.

“That’s too bad. I was originally going to report you as soon as I returned to the Empire and make a fortune, but I didn’t expect you to reveal it first. I’ve been caught.”

I consistently exposed a side of myself that was more loyal to instinct than to the distinction between good and evil.

“You were going to stab me in the back?”

“That’s a vulgar expression. Let’s just say there was a good job opportunity. Anyway, it’s all gone now, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Lust crossed her arms and glared at me.

“If I give you full authority, will you solve the Shadow Saintess problem?”

“That’s already in the past. I’ll have to be a lifer in the Holy State for the rest of my life, so I want a higher price.”

If I give her everything she asks for, she’ll be suspicious. It’s better to be seen as an incarnation of greed. That way, she’ll see me as a simple guy who’s soaked in greed.

“What do you want?”

“You said it before. The Archbishop also serves as a candidate for the next Pope.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to become the Pope?”

“Of course. And…”

I trailed off and scanned the Saintess up and down.

“If the one and only Saintess in the world becomes my woman on top of that, I think that would be enough.”

Of course, I don’t feel even a hint of lust for Lust. (Pun intended, given her name.)

After seeing the basement, the woman in front of me was just a monster with makeup on.

Nevertheless, I have to act like a pro.

For now, I’m committed to playing the role of an adventurer who’s blinded by power and women.

“You’re crazy.”

It seemed that my scheme had worked properly. A twisted smile was on Lust’s lips as she spat out the curse.

“I think I saw you right. You’re more suited to Twilight after all.”

Lust gently touched my chest with her fingertips, and I endured the urge to punch her with superhuman patience.

“From now on, you are a Cardinal of the Holy State. Do whatever you want. The more you please me, the faster you’ll grab the reward you want.”

I succeeded in becoming Lust’s henchman.

Now, all that’s left is to trap her.

* * *

Cardinal Khan.

Just hearing the name makes me feel cool.

As my business card got thicker, my power also increased.

There were no more prying eyes.

Rather, I planted spies.

I received a list from Lust.

The list contained the names of the Twilight Church members currently active in the Bellanus Holy State.

From simple commoners to priests, holy knights, and bishops.

They were spread throughout every field, gnawing away at the Holy State from within.

I also took over the management of the basement.

I wanted to free the imprisoned women, but it wasn’t time yet.

Instead, I issued a strict order to prohibit unnecessary violence or harassment.

I was also in charge of collecting divine power through the magic tool ring and delivering it to Lust.

The search for the Shadow Saintess was also resumed.

Of course, it was always in vain.

The reason was that I, the person in charge of the operation, had no intention of catching Merian in the first place.

Moreover, since I was passing internal information to Zion, there was no way there would be any progress.

Currently, I am in front of the Pope’s chapel.

The reason for my visit again is to meet the Holy Knight Johann.

He was still guarding the door.

He lives, eats, and sleeps here, acting as a gatekeeper 24 hours a day. You won’t find a more loyal individual.

“Good morning, Cardinal.”

Still, since I’m a Cardinal, he greets me first.

“I would like to meet His Holiness the Pope.”

“Still can’t. There was a strict order from the Saintess not to let anyone in.”

“Not even me, the Cardinal?”

“Of course. Even if the Saintess herself came, I would block this place.”

I’ve felt it since the selection ceremony for the Pope’s spouse, but he’s a real stubborn mule. He has a knack for frustrating people.

Still, he’s a Seven Star and a master-level expert, so I have to persuade him. He’s a necessary puzzle piece to take down Lust. Also, I need to make him my ally to get the Golden Branch inside.

Shall I start warming up my tongue? (Preparing to persuade him.)

“Sir Johann, have you heard of the Shadow Saintess?”

“How could I not? It’s a mess inside and out these days.”

“What do you think about this situation?”

“There’s no value in reconsidering. The real Saintess is Repli.”

I knew that the stubborn Johann would say this.

“There must be a reason why she’s become so famous, right?”

“I didn’t expect to hear those words from the Cardinal, who is supposed to catch the Shadow Saintess.”

“What if the Shadow Saintess is the real Saintess and Repli is the fake Saintess? What would you do then?”

Johann stared at me intently.

“I don’t know why you’re saying this to me. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”

“There’s a place I want to go with you, Sir Johann.”

“I don’t really want to go.”

“I’m not saying let’s go outside. It’s a place in the Grand Temple. Please just take a moment of your time.”

Johann is foolish, but his nature itself is kind, so he’s weak to these kinds of requests.

“It’s only ten minutes. Can’t you spare even that?”

“Hmm…”

Johann, who had been resting his hand on his chin, soon agreed.

“It’s only ten minutes.”

Ten minutes is more than enough.

I took him to the warehouse.

The destination was the basement.