"Did you say Jackal seems to hate you?"
Not wanting to just give up on the necklace without trying to understand what was going on, I decided to talk to Arthur. If anyone would have any insight about Jackal, it would be Arthur since they at least know each other.
"I’m not sure what he’s thinking these days. We haven’t really talked since that time we went into the dungeon together. He’s been avoiding me, and it doesn’t seem right to force a conversation."
Arthur just shrugged at my question, dashing my hopes for any useful information.
Since our duel, Jackal had been avoiding Arthur, which was surprising.
"And it’s not just me. I think it’s the same with everyone. He’s been retreating into himself more and more lately."
What’s going on?
He wasn’t like this before we went into that dungeon.
Did nearly dying in the dungeon give him some kind of trauma?
But then why does he hate me?
I saved his life, didn’t I?
What’s the problem?
Sigh. I really have no idea.
What could be triggering Jackal’s inferiority complex?
Is it me? Am I the problem?
Before, Arthur was the only one more talented than him, but now another irregularity—me—has appeared, and it’s crushed his spirit?
There are no other variables I can think of, but then why didn’t he take the necklace?
Even in the game, he accepted the necklace despite feeling jealous of the protagonist’s achievements!
My head is throbbing, and I can’t come up with any clear answers.
Thinking that maybe things would change after a bit of time passed, I tried talking to Jackal again, but the result was the same.
He hated me and, even more so, despised any mention of Jael’s necklace.
In the end, he ignored everything I said.
To think I went through all that trouble to get the necklace, only to be unable to use it and having to discard it.
This necklace is practically useless unless it’s in the hands of someone from the Burrow family.
More specifically, it’s meaningless unless Jackal has it.
I traded valuable information with Alsatian just to get my hands on this necklace, and now it’s turned into trash.
The only silver lining is that I can hold Alsatian accountable for his mistake.
Sitting in my usual spot, I crossed my legs and looked up, where Alsatian stood with his head bowed.
‘Alsatian, you know why I called you here, right?’ "Hack of an informant, you know why I called you here, right? Oh, wait. Maybe you don’t since you’re too much of an idiot to get anything done."
Alsatian’s shoulders trembled, but he didn’t argue back.
This was clearly his mistake.
Frankly, what role did Alsatian play in helping me acquire the necklace?
All he did was get tracked by the Newman family and have the item stolen.
Recovering the necklace was entirely my doing.
‘I wouldn’t mind ending our relationship right here.’ "I don’t feel like dealing with a hack like you anymore. You’re too incompetent."
Originally, our deal was that I’d provide information, and Alsatian would retrieve the necklace for me.
But if Alsatian played no part in retrieving the necklace, then I have no reason to continue providing him with information.
If the information I had wasn’t something Alsatian desperately needed, he wouldn’t have tried so hard to stay in my good graces.
He would’ve just taken what he could get and walked away.
But the information I have is more valuable to him than anything else.
There’s no way he can let it go.
In fact, I bet he’d love to try and extort it from me if he could.
If I weren’t from a noble family, he might have tried something more underhanded.
But what can he do?
I’m someone he can’t touch.
‘So, tell me, what can you offer me?’ "So tell me, why should I keep dealing with someone as incompetent as you? You’re supposed to be an informant, right? So you can figure that out, can’t you? Hmm?"
In past RPGs, one of the most dreaded phrases was when a seller asked what the buyer could offer first.
As a buyer, it’s nerve-wracking, but as a seller, it’s an easy way to gauge interest and decide whether or not to make a deal.
Sure, this method can sour relationships, but right now, I don’t care.
I’m going to get the Raven’s Crest soon anyway.
Once that happens, the Newman family can handle everything Alsatian could offer.
Why should I care whether Alsatian likes me or not?
I’m already indifferent to him.
Having him on my side would be nice, but if not, so what?
"Is there something specific you want?"
‘Why are you asking me that?’ "Why ask me? I’m not your mother, am I? Should I have to explain everything to you? Well, maybe if you cry and call me Mommy, I’ll think about it. Go ahead. It could be fun."
"...No, I’ll think about it myself."
For a second, I was worried he might actually start calling me Mommy, but thankfully, he didn’t.
Still, if I don’t give him some guidelines, he might bring me something completely useless.
I should set some parameters.
Since I’ll soon have access to the Newman family’s resources, I need something they can’t provide.
The first thing that comes to mind is, of course...
‘I want information related to the Church of the Primordial God.’ "No, I don’t trust a hack like you, so I’ll give you some guidelines. I want information related to the Church of the Primordial God."
"And specifically, what kind of information would you—"
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
‘Something valuable enough to make me talk.’ "Listen carefully, hack. I’m going to be very clear. Bring me something valuable enough to make me talk. Not sure if you’re capable, though."
The Newman family can hardly obtain any information related to the Church of the Primordial God.
They’ve been at odds with the church ever since they expanded into the underworld, constantly clashing with them.
The fact that they only recognized I had lifted Agra’s curse when they saw my necklace shows how little information they have.
But Alsatian is different.
He’s part of the underworld, but he’s not directly opposed to the Church of the Primordial God.
"I... I understand. I’ll do my best."
Alsatian looked like he wanted to say something more but bit his tongue.
He must have realized that nothing he said would get a proper response.
Don’t worry. If you dig deep enough into the Church of the Primordial God, you’ll eventually figure out what I want.
I still believe Fayvie won’t fall completely, but she might waver at some point.
I want to be there to help her when that happens.
And naturally, I’ll increase her favorability while I’m at it.
If I can secure Fayvie as our party’s healer, it’ll be a perfect plan.
I already have a tank and a damage dealer, so after securing a healer, the last spot can go to anyone.
As I was smiling with satisfaction at Alsatian’s bowed head, a knock came at the door.
"Lady Allen, Mister Alsatian, may I have a moment?"
Alsatian glanced at me, asking for permission.
I nodded, indicating he could let them in, so Alsatian called out.
"Come in."
Alsatian’s subordinate entered, looking nervously at me sitting in the center and at Alsatian, who was standing there with his head bowed, as if being punished. The subordinate bowed deeply.
"Pardon the intrusion."
‘What is it?’ "What is it, hack?"
"News from the Newman family. They’ve found the remedy."
Already? That was fast.
I thought it would take at least a few more days.
Kurtz Newman must have pulled out all the stops to get this done quickly for his son.
This means he’ll be giving me the Raven’s Crest soon to fulfill his oath.
Hmm, what should I request first when I get it?
I have so many requests I’d like to make; it’s a happy dilemma.
As I was lost in thought, imagining all the possibilities, Alsatian’s subordinate continued cautiously.
"The Newman family also requests that you visit their estate to treat their son."
‘I see.’ "Is that so?"
The moment I heard that, I understood immediately.
That’s why they included that clause.
So I would personally go to lift Agra’s curse.
<I didn’t expect them to summon you first.> ‘Neither did I.’
Is there anything that will change if I go to the Newman estate?
I’m not sure.
Even if I go, Kurtz Newman won’t dare to touch me.
Lifting another of Agra’s curses won’t change anything.
Well, except Agra might hate me even more.
But that doesn’t matter.
Since the moment I became an apostle of Armathi, I’ve already earned Agra’s enmity.
Look at how something always goes wrong every time I enter a dungeon.
There’s no way this frequency of bad luck is just because I lifted one curse.
For this kind of thing to happen, I’d have to lift every curse Agra has ever placed across the continent.
If this had happened while I was playing Soul Academy, I would have reported it as a bug right away.
There are hardly any penalties, but the benefits are far greater.
Reporting that I’ve lifted Agra’s curse to the Church of the Primordial God will increase my reputation.
It’ll make it easier to gain the favor of church figures.
The necklace’s power will be further enhanced.
And who knows, maybe our pathetic, incompetent god will give me another gift.
From past experience, whenever I’ve messed with Agra, the Trash God claps and hands me something.
The worst that can happen if I go to the Newman estate is wasting a bit of my time.
But that’s not even an issue since I can use a teleportation circle to get there quickly.
Whatever their intentions are, I don’t care.
Even if they hadn’t summoned me, I was planning to go, and now they’ve given me the perfect excuse.
I should be grateful, really.
‘When do they want me to go?’ "When does that trashy family want me there?"
"As soon as possible."
Hmm. I see.
Let’s see.
It’s still early in the weekend, so I’ll have time even if I go to the Newman estate.
‘I’ll go now.’ "I’ll go now. Get ready, you hack."
Well then, let’s go provoke Agra one more time.