Chapter 16 - Bephelgor (1)

I made a big mistake.

I thought it was morning and my breakfast wasn't served.

I thought that Jane might have forgotten it or thought I was still in a bad mood, so I went straight to the kitchen, but when they saw me, they looked confused.

"…?"

In response, I looked at the flowing white hair on the ground. I verified it once more, and it was coming from me.

'What the hell is this?!?'

I immediately rushed to my room and looked in the mirror. Flowing white glowing hair, eyes as radiant as the sun, the fairest skin that you'll ever see on the lands, and beauty that is out of this world.

"Who the hell are you?!"

It was undoubtedly my appearance, but how did it change this much?

[Due to the increased divinity, all stats have reached their peak.]

Huh?

[Your appearance would also change in accordance with your divinity.]

Shit! Then why isn't my appearance-changing device working?

[Your real appearance cannot be masked with high divinity as you are immune to all status effects.]

What should I do? I was practically shaking my head since I couldn't find a way to deal with my current situation.

"Lady...?" A knock was heard on my door. "Jane...?!"

I hurriedly opened the door and pulled the now confused Jane into my room. But wait, doesn't Josephine usually not act like this?

Weird. This feels more like my old personality than Josephine's.

I didn't pay attention to it for now and hugged Jane's waist.

"Jane! Help me!" I was rubbing my face on the hems of her skirt.

"Eh? Lady...! What are you—" Jane looked flustered and gestured for me to stop.

Before I could cuddle up to Jane more, I saw Peter looking in from outside the door.

I immediately closed the door on him.

"Jane, I know what I'm going to tell you sounds crazy, but—"

"It's fine, my lady." She held up both of my hands and smiled at me brightly. "If the Lady is willing to talk to me about something, then that means you're finally opening up, right?"

"Jane...!" How could there be such a person in this mansion? As far as I know, in the main mansion, everyone is double-faced due to their nature, and yet, Jane is the only one I know who is both kind and caring without any malice.

I hugged Jane really tightly.

"Jane, you'll be at my side forever, right?"

Although startled, she then puffed up her cheeks. "Of course, yes. You're my only lady after all. I do not serve the Konrow family but Lady Josephine only."

"Thank you for everything, Jane." Although she didn't reply, I could feel her tears on the back of my hand.

—-

After a while, I explained everything to Jane—well, not everything per se. I excluded the gods and my memories to avoid confusion. She only knows about the Philosopher's Stone up to this point.

"But then, Lady, what shall we do with your appearance?" Jane said as she braided my hair so that it wouldn't get tangled from dragging on the floor.

"That's the problem: I don't particularly know..."

I seriously don't know. I mean, my knowledge only goes as far as I remember and what I know, so even I have my own limits.

"How beautiful...!" It seemed that Jane was amazed at her own work. "I haven't even put on any makeup yet! You're even more beautiful than the princesses I've only heard of in rumors."

I sighed in defeat. "This will become a problem, you know."

Jane refuted, "It's just so pretty..." She pinched my cheeks.

"Jane...!" I pouted at her.

"It seems that I will go to the city again," I said to Jane.

"It's been a while since you went there, right?"

The Information Guild or the Intelligence Guild.

Josephine frequently visited it as a means to know things from behind the scenes.

Don't get me wrong. She's deeply connected to the underworld, but she knows her limits and dealing with them too often will only bring ruin in the long run.

I put on the robe that Josephine hid at the bottom of her closet. It conceals one's identity when fully worn.

"Tell Peter that it's his day off now." Jane bowed at me as she noted it.

"I'll be back before supper.

"Lady."

"Yes, I know. Maybe a little late?" I could see Jane's brow frowning in doubt.

—-

"Wait. I haven't eaten lunch and breakfast yet,"

I said as I was running through the trees in the forest like a shinobi. I always thought it was impractical to run like this in N*ruto, but it was actually effective nevertheless.

Occasionally, I would see monsters jumping at me, but they got mashed into pulp when I punched them.

Eventually, I saw Old York in the distance. With my abilities, I was able to easily scale the side of the city walls.

The Fortress City, York, or Old York for short.

It was the old capital of the Byzan Empire during the demonic wars in the last century. Due to the damage done to it and its location, it would eventually be relocated within the Wailes near the ranges of the Northern mountains, or more precisely, in the middle of the Lantis Continent.

It would be abandoned but later rebuilt by the Krutzen Kingdom, who overthrew the Byzan Empire in a way that would eventually be called the "Pseudo-Demonic Crusade," to hunt down the remnants of the demon race—something which the old empire had.

What's more important is that York is a central hub for goods for common folks and also for criminals.

After scaling the walls, I was able to stealthily jump through the buildings with ease.

These feats were not because of the Philosopher's Stone. In fact, Josephine was already doing these stunts due to her upbringing as a Konrow.

I reached it.

In the middle of this bustling city, there's an alleyway obscured by the people. With no difficulty, I was able to enter the narrow space hidden by magic as a wall to stop any advancement.

"In the void, lies GOD."

As I said those words, the wall started to dissipate, and a door resembling a dungeon one appeared.

I put my palm slowly on the door.

"Stars, cosmos, gods, antrum, unverse, anima, animusphere."

After the chant, the door opened itself, and a bright light shone. I slowly entered the door, and a warm, cozy room appeared in front of me.

There was no window, but it was cold. There was only two chairs and a table in the middle. In the other chair, a man was seated with a mask with one eye, adorned with swirling patterns like a sun.

I walked and sat on the chair on the other side.

"What would you like?" It was the masked man who asked me in a deep and almost monotone voice.

I showed them an emblem with a goat-like devil with arms holding gems with different colors.

"I would like to see Umbra."

Umbra—a name forbidden to utter in this city, but those in the intelligence guild know that Umbra is the highest person in their organization, a person who secretly controls York from within.

"As you wish."

The figure approached the door on the other side, and after a while, a green-robed figure with a different mask resembling red and white on each half appeared in front of me.

They seemed to be radiating an intimidating aura, but that doesn't really work on me due to the Philosopher's Stone.

"Interesting..." his voice almost seemed alien-like, something out of this world.

I know his ability after all.

[Eye of Truth]

It's a skill that allows you to see beyond your opponent but...

[Due to the effects of divinity, you are immune to any abilities!]

My constitution negates his most annoying ability.

I intertwined my arms and put one leg over the other.

"Tell me, what do you seek, blessed one?" They asked.

"I seek a relic that can change one's appearance..."

'Pleasantries are by far not recommended in this line of work.'

They silently looked at me for a minute, then tilted their head.

"Is there not an alchemic means of concealing one?"

"It doesn't matter. What you provide is information, not an opinion. That's why I specified the relic, right?"

They twisted their head more in an inhuman manner.

"Is that so?"

I put a pouch of platinum coins on the table. It spilled on the other side.

"No... no... no..." they said as they pushed the pouch back at me creakingly slow.

"Such information is priceless, cannot be paid by money."

"Then..." I hesitated. "How about information in exchange for that?"

The figure raised his head, an expression of astonishment on his face. "Information? We are the intelligence guild. Why would we need information from you?"

"Because..." They looked at me with confusion.

"I know who you are, Bephelgor." They immediately extended their hands and revealed tentacles beneath their robes.

[Your Divine Protection nullifies any influence!]

"Your ability is useless against me, you know."

"Tsk." The illusion they made disappeared instantly, and a normal-looking human appeared before me.