When I Finished Playing the Terminally-Ill Villainous Omega C43
by berryChapter 43
At the far end of the second floor of the guest wing, the youngest son of Viscount Pauline was staying in one of the rooms.
He was absolutely seething over what had happened in the garden.
He’d finally found a chance to humiliate that thorn in his side…
Yet somehow, that bastard had escaped again.
Every. Single. Time.
“Now I understand why even Cassian is so desperate to get rid of his own little brother.”
“Damn it.”
He should’ve just died after slipping down those stairs.
If that had happened…
The mine I’d wagered away at the gambling hall wouldn’t be hanging by a thread now.
“He’s good at absolutely nothing…”
“…and yet his damned luck never runs out!”
Crash!
Unable to stand the sight of the chessboard any longer, William swept every piece off the table.
Then…
He slipped a hand into the pocket over his chest.
His fingers brushed against something wrapped in paper.
Just you wait.
William Pauline, the youngest son of House Pauline, had a notoriously foul temper and loved picking arguments.
He was also consumed by ambition.
Power.
Wealth.
In his mind, political influence was nothing more than capital given form.
There wasn’t a gambling den he hadn’t visited.
Unfortunately…
He was gullible.
And not particularly clever.
He lost far more often than he won.
Then…
Not long ago…
The perfect opportunity appeared before him.
A wager involving the closest friend of Carlos—
The second son of House Albre.
Someone William had spent years trying to curry favor with.
Having frequently eavesdropped on Carlos’s conversations…
William knew several things.
Cassian’s younger brother was terminally ill and wouldn’t live much longer.
His younger sister dreamed of becoming an archaeologist and planned to leave home upon reaching adulthood.
Unless the world turned upside down…
Cassian would unquestionably inherit House Hestian.
On top of that…
Rumor claimed someone had placed an enormous reverse bet on this particular gambling match.
The stake…
A weapon containing a Catastrophe-class mana stone.
Catastrophes were monsters humanity couldn’t hope to kill through ordinary means.
If the magical weapon was genuine…
Its value was enough to purchase an entire kingdom.
There was no way William could ignore a prize like that.
On the day he came of age…
He’d wagered the mine he’d inherited from his father.
Then all he had to do…
Was wait for Cassian’s succession ceremony.
But before that day arrived…
A devastating rumor reached his ears.
Perhaps…
The next head of House Hestian might become the youngest son instead.
Panic-stricken, William rushed straight to the gambling house to retrieve the deed to his mine.
Only to be told…
The game had already begun.
Nothing could be returned.
As he stood there in despair…
Carlos, the Marquis’s second son, approached him.
“There is one way…”
“…to avoid losing everything.”
“Join hands with me.”
Unable to determine whether those words were poison or salvation…
William grabbed the offered hand without hesitation.
Remembering that day…
He ground his lower lip between his teeth.
Knock. Knock.
A knock sounded.
The door opened.
The instant William recognized the visitor…
He jumped off the bed and immediately bowed deeply.
“Lord Carlos.”
Standing before him was Carlos Jatan Albre, the Marquis’s second son.
Recently granted the title of Viscount in his own right and destined to inherit House Albre.
Carlos walked calmly past William’s obsequious greeting and settled into a neatly arranged armchair.
A warm smile curved his lips.
His eyes…
Remained icy.
“I heard…”
“We nearly had to dispose of a corpse in my house.”
“It was an accident.”
“We simply bumped into each other.”
“I truly despise liars.”
“I’m sorry, Lord Carlos.”
“I just…”
“The thought of losing the mine Father left me…”
“…made me lose control.”
“I deeply apologize.”
“I told you.”
“If you lay hands on him yourself…”
“…you’ll leave evidence.”
“That truly was an accident.”
“As for the task you entrusted to me…”
“It’s progressing perfectly.”
“Please believe me.”
Carlos raised an eyebrow.
Continue.
“I’ve obtained the drug.”
“Oh?”
“That couldn’t have been easy.”
“One of the herbalists I deal with handles… less-than-legal business.”
“So it wasn’t as difficult as expected.”
“And where is this herbalist now?”
“At the bottom of the Fajis River.”
“Excellent.”
“I appreciate clean loose ends.”
A faint smile spread across Carlos’s lips.
William believed they were partners.
Carlos…
Did not.
To Carlos, the son of a mere viscount was nothing more than a disposable pawn.
Useful once.
Discarded afterward.
If the plan succeeded…
Excellent.
If it failed…
William would conveniently destroy himself.
Naturally…
The entire scheme belonged to Carlos’s longtime friend—
Cassian.
For years…
Carlos and Cassian had secretly raised monsters in hopes of building an army of their own.
If successful…
Even the Emperor himself would hesitate before confronting such a force.
Their goal was simple.
Seat the Seventh Prince upon the throne.
Then wield wealth and power beneath him however they pleased.
To finance their ambitions…
The two frequented gambling houses, steadily increasing their fortune.
Eventually…
They entered the largest betting operation in history.
The moment a wager involving House Hestian appeared…
Both men placed their bets under the alias—
Toucan.
If not for Cedric’s manifestation…
Everything would’ve gone perfectly.
None of this was their fault.
It was that pointless, dying brat…
Who had accelerated his own demise by manifesting.
William unfolded the paper packet containing the powder.
Carlos’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“I confirmed it dissolves instantly in water.”
“Once ingested…”
“It’ll take effect within thirty minutes.”
“Um…”
“The drug is ready…”
“But how exactly do you intend to lure him to the monsters?”
“I don’t.”
“…Pardon?”
“He is the bait.”
“So why would I need to lure him anywhere?”
“Hahaha…”
Carlos laughed softly.
The sound sent chills down William’s spine.
The drug William had acquired temporarily transformed a person’s natural pheromones…
Into those of a monster.
Smugglers commonly used it to lure monsters toward powerless captives…
So they could harvest mana stones afterward.
That…
Too…
Was part of Cassian’s design.
The plan has gone off course.
We’ll have to begin Plan B.
My hands are tied at the moment, so I’ll leave the necessary information with you.
If you wish to preserve your fortune—and claim the enormous winnings—follow my plan without deviation.
Some time earlier…
A letter bearing Cassian’s seal had reached Carlos.
After reading it…
Carlos hesitated.
Only briefly.
He wasn’t directly killing anyone.
And with an army of a million practically within reach…
Retreating now would be foolish.
Besides…
Cedric was terminally ill anyway.
Great causes always demanded small sacrifices.
Carlos accepted immediately.
The necessary materials were obtained through William, who controlled an enormous herbal supply network.
Everything was proceeding flawlessly.
Carlos smiled.
“If the plan succeeds…”
“The two of us…”
“And that person…”
“…will help make you the next head of your house.”
William had nearly lost his mine.
Simply keeping it would’ve been enough.
Now Carlos was promising him the family headship as well.
How could William not pledge absolute loyalty?
Immediately…
He dropped to one knee.
Silently renewing his oath of allegiance.
“Thank you, Lord Carlos!”
Carlos rose from his chair.
“I should go see him.”
At once, William hurried to escort him to the door.
There could only be one person Carlos referred to with such respect.
Opening the door…
William suddenly remembered something that had happened at the inn.
“Lord Carlos.”
“I have a question.”
“Make it brief.”
“I encountered that man before arriving here.”
“However…”
“I’ve already heard about that from him.”
“There wasn’t a Great Sage present.”
“Nor was there any trace of significant magical power.”
“Still…”
“One can never ignore unlikely possibilities.”
“So I planted a crystal orb beneath his bed.”
“If he comes into contact with someone possessing immense magical power…”
“We’ll know immediately.”
If a high-circle mage were secretly protecting Cedric…
Their plans could collapse.
Then again…
Someone of that caliber would’ve certainly been recognized by that person.
And the idea that a shut-in like Cedric could somehow command a Great Sage…
Was laughable.
“As expected of you, Lord Carlos.”
“Then tomorrow—”
“Shh.”
Carlos’s smile disappeared.
His sharp eyes slowly swept the surroundings.
Then…
Without warning…
He walked toward the half-open window.
Standing behind the curtain…
He stared intently into the dark garden.
“What’s wrong?”
“I felt something.”
“What do you mean?”
Recalling what had happened at the inn…
William’s expression grew serious.
“It was like…”
“A passing breeze.”
“Or…”
“The feeling of someone watching.”
Bang.
Carlos shut the window and locked it.
With the wind cut off…
Only the shadows cast by the lamp moved inside the room.
“Hmm…”
“Have a servant bring more ice.”
“Until everything is finished…”
“Keep the windows closed.”
“Only someone as meticulous as you could truly become the head of House Albre.”
“Enough flattery.”
Carlos left the room.
As William slowly closed the door…
Something detached itself from the shadow of a nearby vase.
Just before the door shut completely…
It shot forward like an arrow…
And disappeared into Carlos’s shadow.
❖ ❖ ❖
In the shabby servants’ quarters…
Locke leaned silently against the wall with his eyes closed.
Behind him…
A black shadow rippled.
The other servants were already fast asleep.
None of them noticed the winged serpent’s silhouette flickering in the candlelight.
Breaking the silence…
Locke slowly opened his eyes.
“They’re devising a rather pathetic little scheme.”
He rose from the bed.
Then extinguished the candle standing on the desk.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Because so many nobles were staying at the Marquis’s estate…
Security was exceptionally strict.
Even servants weren’t exempt.
After everyone went to bed…
Several attendants rotated shifts guarding the servants’ quarters.
What they didn’t know…
Was that no amount of security could restrain Locke.
Once darkness covered the world…
The extent of his movement became almost unimaginable.
Placing a hand against the pitch-black wall…
His body slowly dissolved into it.
When he emerged again…
He was standing in the shadow of the fountain statue in the garden.
Feeling a warm magical presence inside the stone monument…
Locke stepped casually into the fountain.
Splash.
Splash.
He reached into the body of the angel statue blowing its trumpet toward the heavens.
Though carved from solid stone…
His arm passed through it as easily as slipping into water.
A moment later…
He withdrew a small, round porcelain urn.
It glowed with a soft white light.
Inside…
Were a small amount of someone’s cremated ashes.