QHIM chapter 54- Fake Ghost

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As soon as I stepped into the bathtub Jerry had heated for me, a groan escaped my lips.

I hadn’t realized it before, but my body was covered in countless cuts and bruises, both large and small.

These wounds didn’t match the beautiful face reflected on the water’s surface.

I slapped the water in frustration.

“I managed to get the map, but… finding the divine beast right now is impossible. The monsters and bandits we’d encounter crossing borders would be a serious problem too.”

The Kaisar Empire was a vast continent with different climates in each territory.

Moreover, monsters and bandits were bound to infest every border.

But Jeanne was useless.

Aside from his natural beauty, his personal abilities were practically zero.

There was no way Jeanne, who couldn’t even make a flower bloom with magic, could deal with them.

He leaned his head back against the tub, lost in thought.

“Usually, this is when the protagonist in a fantasy novel would gather party members.”

Though he couldn’t be the talented main character, perhaps he could at least be the headhunter who recruited them.

And there was only one place where such talents gathered. Crossing his arms, he smiled slyly.

“I’ll have to bring up the academy to Duke Michael again. I should make use of as many capable people as I can.”

Once the decision was made, the weight on his heart lightened.

Just as he was about to get out of the tub, he sank back in when he heard a knock at the door.

“Jeanne, are you in there?”

Jerome’s voice came from beyond the door, and for a moment, his mind went blank.

Wait, did I lock the door?

Even if I did… what if that crazy guy barges in?

As all sorts of thoughts raced through his mind, he forced himself to answer as calmly as possible.

“Yeah, what is it? Something wrong?”

“I checked the storage, and we’re out of firewood. I’ll need to go out and chop some. Will you be okay alone for a bit?”

Her irritation at being reported over such a trivial matter quickly turned to narrowed eyes at his next words.

He spoke as if he were leaving a child home alone.

“Just how old do you think I am? Of course I’ll be fine. Don’t worry and go. If I’m asleep when you come back, make sure to wake me, and I’ll help move the firewood.”

“Got it. I’ll be quick. And remember, it’s especially dangerous around here at night, so don’t leave the house, okay? I’ll be mad if you do.”

Jerome’s footsteps gradually faded, and once the sound of his presence disappeared, Jeanne let out a sigh of relief.

He was unexpectedly touched by the fact that Jerome wasn’t rude enough to break into the bathroom.

“How pitiful that I’m grateful for something like this.”

After getting out of the tub, he checked the clothes Jerry had laid out.

It was a loose-fitting men’s tunic.

Judging by the rough fabric, it didn’t seem like a high-quality item, and it appeared to be hastily provided from what they already had.

Once he put on the tunic and tied his hair back, he gave off the vibe of a pretty boy.

Compared to other noble girls his age, Jeanne had a younger-looking face, and as a result, his atmosphere changed dramatically depending on what he wore.

He absentmindedly caressed his smooth skin, which still had traces of baby softness, and murmured to herself.

“Sacrelians only begin to grow significantly at around twenty-five… well, they do live long because of that. It’s nice that I don’t have to shave. If Jeanne weren’t Sacrelian, having to shave every morning would’ve been a hassle.”

Though he looked like a boy now, one day, he’d have the appearance of a young man, just like the Jeanne he had seen in his dreams.

By then, it would be obvious that he was a man, even if he dressed as a woman.

Before that day came, he needed to exit this novel as quickly as possible.

“Yeah, just a little more suffering. This madness will end eventually.”

Tap, tap.

As he muttered to himself while looking at his reflection in the mirror, he heard a tapping sound at the window.

A familiar baby dragon was looking in.

He hurriedly opened the window, and Bermut flew in along with a strong gust of wind.

“Masterrrr!”

Bermut leaped into his arms, causing his to fall backward with a thud.

Looking up from his awkward position, he saw Bermut grinning with his sharp fangs exposed.

“I successfully delivered the letter you asked for! I placed it somewhere noticeable, so they’ll find it before the day’s over.”

“Well done.”

“But… are you really okay with this? Even if you go back tomorrow, you’ll be in serious trouble…”

Worry was evident in Bermut’s large eyes. he answered in a calm voice.

“I’m sure I will be. The duke, who cares so much about appearances, must be furious right now.”

She recalled the time he’d been severely scolded for running barefoot through the marketplace.

And now this had happened, too.

It would be a miracle if Duke Carlotte didn’t cast his aside.

That’s why he sent a letter saying he had sprained his ankle while fleeing from heresy and was recovering in a safe place.

“The rumors in society must already be spreading about Jeanne disappearing after a secret rendezvous with Jerome. But the important thing is the Duke Carlotte. I need to prove to him that the rumors aren’t true, even if it means nothing to anyone else.”

After all the effort he’d put into gaining Duke Carlotte’s favor, there was no way he could return to being an outcast.

If he were branded a troublesome daughter again, he’d be discarded for sure.

Crossing his arms, he tapped his cheek thoughtfully and spoke.

“By the way, the real form of the divine dragon was quite impressive.”

“Hehehe, you flatter me. But really, it was an ingenious plan, something even I couldn’t have imagined. That’s my master for you.”

He smiled at Bermut, who flattered his without missing a beat.

“So, where’s Maya’s Stone?”

“…”

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t found it? You did find it, right? You’re not about to tell me you want to visit the Room of Truth, are you?”

The moment he mentioned the “Room of Truth,” Bermut hiccupped.

Now, what exactly is the Room of Truth that made Bermut so terrified?

To explain that, we’d have to go back several months.

Bermut, my minion, had one fatal flaw—he was weak to vices, particularly gambling.

When I found out that Bermut had been skipping work to gamble with his winnings, I quietly summoned him to a windowless warehouse.

「You’re here. Sit down.」

Startled by my uncharacteristically kind tone, Bermut hesitated before approaching.

As soon as he tried to sit in the chair, I kicked the legs out from under it.

BAM!

Bermut trembled in fear, realizing the gravity of the situation as the chair crashed to the ground.

I chuckled softly and nodded.

「Seems you’ve gotten a bit arrogant after making some money. A slave daring to sit without permission…」

「I’m no longer a slave! I have more money than you! You can’t treat me like this, or you won’t get anything from me in the future!」

I looked down at Bermut, who dared to talk back, and let out a hearty laugh, wiping the tears from my eyes.

「You’re a funny one. Always trying to win with intimidation. But don’t worry, I respect humanitarianism, so I won’t use violence.」

I handed him a brush and a sheet of paper, then pointed to a portrait hanging on the wall.

「That’s a portrait of Lady Marie, the daughter of Duke Efilia. My father, Duke Carlotte, cherishes it. From now on, you’ll be replicating that painting.」

「Hah, this is nothing. My previous master once stripped me naked and threw me out into the cold. Compared to that, this is child’s play… Wow, you’ve really mellowed ou—」

「Using pointillism.」

Bermut, who had eagerly grabbed the brush, looked up in confusion.

「Sorry, what?」

「Pointillism. Do you not know what that is? It means you’ll paint it dot by dot. If any of the dots exceed 0.1cm in diameter, you’ll start over from the beginning. Now, get to work.」

And that’s how Bermut spent a week locked in the warehouse, completing 32 pointillist portraits of Marie before I finally let him out.

I showed Duke Carlotte one of the portraits, earning quite a bit of favor.

After that, Bermut quickly became obedient again, especially when I threatened to have him paint the entire Efilia family’s portraits if he gambled again.

Anyway, Bermut, having been thoroughly disciplined, shuddered as I now ordered him to find Maya’s Stone.

“No, no! I hate pointillism! I hate pointillism! There are too many dots! Too many dots!”

In the end, Bermut, driven mad, frantically flew out the window. I yelled at his retreating back.

“You bastard, get back here right now!”

Even though I raged and fumed, Bermut had already flown far away.

I sighed and ground my teeth. That damn evil dragon, just wait until he comes back.

This time, I’ll make him paint an entire village in pointillism!

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