I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

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My tongue wants to speak words my brain hasn't approved.

My rationality stopped me from reflexively saying, 'Why did you put me in this cage without my consent?' Good job, my rationality.

The slowly turning chair stopped precisely facing me. Carisia's foot, in high heels, swayed gently.

"Tell me what you think."

Seeing someone getting executed for suggesting retreat while Cao Cao was eating chicken, I hoped I wouldn't face the same fate for proposing a strange plan without consultation. Still, we've been through a lot together.

If I think slowly, right now, it's just the two of us left after everyone else has been sent out.

If she intended to reprimand me publicly, she would have done it earlier, not now.

So, this question isn't Carisia indirectly expressing her displeasure. She's purely curious about my thoughts.

…Maybe.

"Ah. Would you like to sit down? It must be uncomfortable to keep standing."

Only an amateur would sit down immediately. If I did sit, she'd probably say something like, 'Our company is so flat, even an employee can sit with the boss.'

I am an experienced subordinate. My time working under Carisia is not for show.

"No, thank you, Boss. I wouldn't dare."

"I've confirmed there's no bugging here. Between us."

"Precisely because it's between you and me, Boss."

Carisia's eyes sharpened. Did something in my words just now offend her?

This is why it's difficult to serve a fickle superior. You never know what might touch a nerve.

"Why?"

I tensed up, trying to come up with a plausible answer.

"You may be essential to me, Boss. But I must not become essential to you."

***

"Personal attachment is a weakness."

Orthes's expression was unusually stern. Drawing a clear line. The line between him and herself never changed.

Feeling reassured yet paradoxically wishing it would change, Carisia adjusted her posture instead of sighing.

As Orthes taught, the dignified posture befitting a ruler.

"Let's compare your battle to chess, Boss. And though it's presumptuous, I'll compare myself to the queen in chess. The queen is undoubtedly a powerful piece."

A chess game against the White Light Tower. It wasn't a fair match. The White Light Tower had countless pieces, while Carisia had only eight pawns and one queen.

"But one must not get attached to a powerful piece. Sometimes, for the game, you must be willing to sacrifice the queen."

Carisia's right arm tensed on the armrest. She didn't like Orthes's words.

"Trying to save one piece and ruining the game is not only laughable but foolish."

Carisia knew well that convincing Orthes, so serious, was nearly impossible.

"…Ha."

In the end, she sighed. No matter how many years passed, she couldn't cross that line.

"Fine. Let's go back to the original topic. Why did you explain a different plan to the directors?"

***

"You are a heretic, Boss."

After thinking it through, I concluded it must have been the informal phrase 'between you and me' that was the problem.

Some people are like that. They allow subordinates to approach informally but yell, 'How dare you!' when they do.

Unless we're alone wandering the desert like in the old days, I should be respectful.

Even if she doesn't show it, she likes being treated with respect.

"A heretic. A word more fitting for fanatics who believe in vanished gods."

"Isn't that exactly the case? The Mage King is the god of magicians, and the Ten Commandments are his relics. The obsession with ascension among magicians resembles the religious desire for salvation."

Carisia's twisted smile appeared. It was a sneer mixed with hatred and anger towards magicians, specifically the White Light Tower.

"In this world, the Ten Commandments are the guidelines for salvation. Most magicians make it their life's goal to connect with the Ten Commandments even once. In such a situation, your plan is too radical, Boss."

"Do you think the directors would report to the White Light Tower?"

I nodded. Carisia shook her head, dismissing my concern.

"Boss. Secrets weaken the more they are shared."

"Even if it's to build a loyal force by sharing the secret?"

Carisia asked with a somewhat mischievous expression. But I could answer without hesitation.

"It's premature."

Carisia and I are unique. As far as I know, no other magician in this world besides Carisia thinks about destroying the Ten Commandments.

"Your wish, Boss, is beyond the directors' comprehension. What cannot be understood is either worshiped or feared."

Most magicians would not understand the idea of destroying the Ten Commandments. Instead of monopolizing them or using their knowledge for ascension, she intends to destroy them?

"And the directors are more likely to fear your goal, Boss."

The likelihood that one of the directors, fearing the permanent loss of ascension clues, would report to the Central Magic Tower is not low.

Such is the strong desire for the Ten Commandments and ascension, even for the dark magicians steeped in reality.

"It is more beneficial to hint at a plausible alternative goal to the directors while proceeding with the real plan secretly."

"Reasonable. The puppet game using Geryones and Kaicle is also satisfactory. But the artificial Ten Commandments."

Is she going to ask about its existence? My neck stiffened with sudden tension.

If Carisia doubted its existence, I would have no choice but to plead with tears to believe me.

"Do we have to use it like the Ten Commandments?"

Fortunately, Carisia didn't seem to doubt its existence at all. Indeed, even in the original story where I didn't exist, Kaicle's artificial Ten Commandments fell into her hands.

Maybe she sensed the artificial Ten Commandments' waves as soon as she arrived in this city.

"Like the Ten Commandments? Do you have another use in mind?"

"Even though the magic ritual engraved on the artificial Ten Commandments might only be Kaicle and his tower's knowledge, the amount of mana is substantial, right?"

The supermassive bomb attack White No Name used in the original story came to my mind.

No way.

"If we process it into a mana bomb and throw it at the White Light Tower─"

Oh my god. Your personality is truly innate.

"…I'll also explore that method. But, Boss. The artificial Ten Commandments could become an object of desire for the directors."

If we make it, who knows when they might try to use it for a suicide bomb. If, by any chance, Etna City evaporates due to poor management, most of my future plans will be ruined.

"Isn't it a new clue to ascension that never existed before? Its true nature might differ, but making the directors think that is crucial."

Let's steer away from the bomb idea. Please, let's not.

***

"Fatten their desires and give them a little, making them crave more."

Sometimes, Carisia thought Orthes's words resembled a teacher's teachings.

In fact, from the moment she escaped the laboratory of the White Light Tower to now, she had spent most of her time with Orthes.

"The directors' actions can be guided if you act as if the artificial Ten Commandments hold great significance to you, Boss."

The knowledge she could acquire within the laboratory was limited to magic.

Of course, there were vague memories of learning something else before being captured and brought to the laboratory.

But those memories were crushed under the Ten Commandments' information implanted by the White Light Tower.

All that remained were fragments of memories that had withered like ashes.

For Carisia, who had lost everything else, Orthes was the one who taught her things beyond magic.

"If you make them consider the lie about becoming a new king as Hydra Corporation's biggest secret."

Her loyal subordinate and teacher smiled.

"No one will be interested in the real secret."

To destroy the name White Light. Both the Ten Commandments and the Tower.

She listened contentedly to the future blueprint whispered by her most reliable ally on her path of revenge.

At the same time, she became aware of one issue.

The advice Orthes gave at the beginning of their conversation: 'You must know how to sacrifice your pieces.'

Carisia didn't like that advice.

***

"It seems you have cleared up all your doubts. May I leave now?"

I need to figure out how to meet Kaicle as soon as possible.

I need to finish planning quickly while Carisia still doesn't question it. I need to be ready to smoothly cover it with plausible words, even during an unexpected inspection.

"Yes, go ahead."

"What about you, Boss?"

"I have some thinking to do."

For some reason, Carisia's gaze felt prickly as she looked at me. I greeted her as naturally as possible and left the meeting room.

Then I rushed to my room at full speed. First, I need to wash up and think properly.

To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02