Beast in the Woods, Deep in the Night - Chapter 36.2

Chapter 36.2

“Come to think of it, Christine, I haven’t heard how you first met Edgar.”

“It was a fateful encounter. I’m embarrassed to tell you.”

Christine, who had been hoping to get some useful information from William, answered with blushing cheeks. She wasn’t lying, considering how heated the situation became just a few minutes after meeting Edgar.

William could tell at first glance that she was an outsider. She didn’t look like a guild member, and she showed her emotions so clearly.

‘I was wondering what to do if she was an experienced executive of the Black Fang Guild, but it’s easier if she’s an outsider.’

William intended to earn her favor first. He didn’t intend to make her have a romantic interest in him. There was no way he would be noticed by a woman who was with Edgar Richard.

However, he needed to give her the impression that he was a great person. Only then would she listen to his suggestion.

“You may already know, but Edgar is a great guy. I can’t tell you how much he helps me. Ah, I’m working on improving the living conditions of the residents of the eastern territory.”

“Oh my… You’re a great businessperson, aren’t you? No wonder you’re wearing a mask.”

“Haha, it’s embarrassing to say that myself.”

People usually admired those who knew much about things they did not know. So William continued, pretending to be embarrassed.

“Wild beasts appear in some parts of the east and destroy people’s homes. I’m defeating those beasts to prevent them from harming the good people of the land.”

“I see.”

“Miss Christine may not know much about hunting beasts, but it’s quite a challenge. I’m just about to wrap it up and return to my hometown.”

“…”

Christine simply smiled. It was almost laughable that she, who had slaughtered cows, would know nothing about hunting animals.

‘Prince William did well after he ascended to the throne, so I know he’s not a bad person.’

He overthrew the tyrant and took the throne, and he implemented policies for the people. He adjusted the taxes that the lords had over-imposed on the people of their provinces, and found and purged the thieves who had wasted the nation’s tax money.

However, until he ascended to the throne, he was… a little arrogant and foolish, perhaps because he was a member of the imperial family. He made the same mistake several times and nearly failed to ascend to the throne, so that said everything.

She was going to give one piece of advice to the future Heilen XIII, who still thought he was the best in the world. Thanks to the good policies he made in her previous life, she was rewarded with Duff having to pay a huge fine.

“I’m glad you finished your work well. I don’t know what kind of animal you’re hunting, but I think you should make sure that you’ve handled the animal’s offspring as well.”

“The offspring?” William asked without realizing it, not expecting Christine to talk about hunting. But she continued calmly.

“Yes. I heard about it from an old farmer in my neighborhood. He said that when wild boars were ruining the fields, he took care of the big ones and felt relieved, but a few years later, the little ones came in for revenge and caused even more damage.”

“…”

William listened to her words and thought for a moment.

In fact, the ones he was taking care of were the barbarians of the east. They worshiped the black magic that used humans as sacrifices. They lived in the mountains and sometimes came down to the villages, captured the humans, drained their blood, and threw them into the fire. They were both a headache and an object of fear in the east.

Thus, William won the support of the eastern lords in exchange for dealing with the barbarians.

‘But… Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a child among those who use black magic.’

They lived in tribes, so of course there would be children born among them, but he never saw them. It was as if they were hidden somewhere.

As Christine said, if they were to take revenge on him years later, he would lose the support he had worked so hard to gain from the eastern lords, and his own qualifications would certainly be questioned.

If they had hidden the children, he would have had to take steps in advance to ensure that they would forget the dark magic and grow up to be normal children.

“… Excuse me for a moment.”

Surprised at the thought that he might have missed something, William left the balcony in search of his subordinate, who might be drinking somewhere.

Christine sipped the champagne as she looked at his back.

‘Did he understand it right away? Well, he wasn’t a dumb emperor.’

The conversation with him was boring, but it was not a loss as she had obtained information that the future emperor was being helped by the Black Fang Guild.

She now intended to get some information by talking to Edgar, Isaac, and Decius.

However, when she raised her body from where she was leaning against the railing, she felt her vision spinning. She lost balance in an instant and faltered.

‘That’s ridiculous. I only drank this…?’

Come to think of it, right after using the chimera’s tears in her previous life, there was a sudden decrease in her drinking capacity, perhaps due to the influence of the curse. Did something similar happen because of her contact with Edgar?

If not…

“…”

Edgar caught her as she staggered.

‘I thought she was being a little quiet lately.’

He thought Christine was scheming to get him again. He didn’t know if he was just frustrated with the fact that nothing happened when he put the pearl necklace on her.

But upon closer inspection, Christine really seemed to be drunk.