Chapter 16 : I am already dead

“Oof, what a disaster.” Schiller slumped weakly into the chair.
In the recently concluded etiquette lesson, Sheryl had been truly astounding.

‘Why did something like this happen when I was just teaching her how to elegantly use a knife and fork?’

She picked up a dining knife and fork, fork in her left hand, knife in her right.

Then, she cut downwards with force—not an elegant sawing motion, but with the imposing air of Hohenzollern-style Swordsmanship, sending the plate flying.

Afterward, the culprit looked over with an expression like, “How about that, aren’t I impressive?!”

By the time Schiller had painstakingly managed to teach her, it was already afternoon.

Last night, upon seeing the restriction on the Replication magic, Schiller’s heart had crumbled.

‘This damned world!’ ‘Isn’t this clearly telling him to conquer the heroines?!’

But if he went too far, the world might be destroyed.

“No, I cannot yield.” It was not yet time to give up. Although this world was not gentle at all, he…

He was rich.

Schiller stood up, with an unprecedented resolve in his eyes.

‘Why does the protagonist need long-term development to become an invincible powerhouse? Because she has no money; she only has cheat abilities!’

“Heh… heheheh!”

Levels and skills can also be bought with money!

“The weak me of the past is dead!”

He quickly changed into his long-unworn black robe and slipped out through the side door.

Target: Black market!

‘There’s nothing in this world that money can’t buy’—someone once said that.

Schiller looked around. Ignoring the large snakeskin bag already filled with various rare natural treasures, he continued to scan for his next target.

“I should have brought Celia…” Schiller’s small frame even felt a bit strained.

“It’s truly money flowing like water…” He had already lost count of how many Golden Roses he had thrown out.

However, as long as he consumed these items, he would eventually break through his current realm.

This was the so-called ‘consumption style!’

However, what he was searching for now was something else.

A magic tome, as the name suggests, is a book that records magic.

Its advantage is that one can learn the magic within simply by reading it. Its disadvantages are that it is rare, expensive, and can only be used once.

However, Schiller didn’t care about any of this.

“Money is meant to be spent!” He thanked his father for his selfless contributions, and also thanked nature for its bounty.

However, he searched almost the entire black market but couldn’t find a satisfactory target.

It was either [Cleaning LV1] or [Flowing Water LV1].

In other words, they were all R cards.

And the prices of these R cards were prohibitive.

Even the Viscount’s family couldn’t withstand such expenses.

“That’s strange, the protagonist always seems to find good stuff…”

In the game, the protagonist would also go to the black market to buy various things, and occasionally, very powerful magic tomes would appear.

‘Does the protagonist not only cheat with skills but also with luck?’

Just as he was about to give up, his gaze swept towards the moon emblem.

“…”

It wasn’t that Schiller had forgotten; he just really didn’t want to go in.

“Ophelia…”

Ophelia Valentine, the eldest daughter of the Valentine family, one of the five Great Dukes, was known as the [Golden Saintess] in the game. On the surface, her magic was based on sacred divine power, and normally, she appeared as a sheltered noble young lady.

But, in reality, as one of the heroines, she was actually a villain.

That’s right… Ophelia was a villain.

Players would only discover this astonishing fact as they played further into the game.

Of course, she wasn’t a true villainess!

In her route, the protagonist had to go through two choices, good and evil, and these two choices would lead to completely different endings. And unlike the Sheryl route, neither ending had a “good ending.”

After the protagonist chose “justice,” Ophelia would assassinate the Cardinal, then, as the Saintess, incite a rebellion in the imperial capital. In the end, the protagonist was forced to kill her personally to maintain the “name of justice.” After her death, the protagonist fell into the dilemma of “evil for killing for justice,” and subsequently, unable to bear it, committed suicide.

If the “evil” path was chosen, the ending was entirely opposite: the protagonist gradually lost control of the evil within her, eventually transforming into a Demon God, and Ophelia sacrificed her life to stop her. At the end, Ophelia held the protagonist in her arms and passed away.

The distinction between justice and evil disappeared there.

“Forget it, I’m going back!” Schiller decided it wasn’t worth risking his life.

“A gentleman doesn’t stand under a crumbling wall!” He dragged the snakeskin bag, ready to retreat at full speed.

With a creak, the door opened.

“…”

“Oh dear~ Are you leaving after such a rare visit~ I have some new arrivals of fine goods here,” Ophelia’s figure remained hidden in the black robe.

“N-no, not really. I’ve been a little kidney-deficient lately…” Schiller’s mouth twitched slightly, preparing to turn and run.

A force from his side yanked at him.

“…” A silent pressure radiated from Ophelia.

“Alright! I’ll go in and take a look, just a look.” Resigned, Schiller turned and followed Ophelia into the shop.

As Schiller stepped inside, Ophelia closed the door behind her, locking the bolt.

‘Good, so scary. Is this one of those rooms where you can’t leave without buying something?’

Ophelia went behind the counter and continued rummaging through a box behind her.

“Good, now’s my chance!” Schiller instantly spun around, pulling out the bolt with lightning speed and pushing the door open…

But his feet just wouldn’t move an inch.

“!”

Magic. This was instantly cast magic. His body was unable to move, as if bound by iron chains.

Schiller stiffly turned his head, only to see an unexpected sight.

Ophelia let out a soft chuckle, her laughter sounding particularly out of place in the cramped space. She slowly raised her hand, not to pick up goods, but to gently lift her veil.

In an instant, the dim shop seemed to be filled with dazzling light. Her molten-gold hair cascaded down, framing a face of inhuman delicacy.

And those golden eyes now clearly reflected Schiller’s dumbfounded expression.

“!”

“How disheartening, Viscount Schiller, why are you in such a hurry to flee?” She smiled gently, beckoning to Schiller.

Gulp, the sound of swallowing came from deep within his throat.

“You… who exactly are you?!” Schiller could only feign a terrified expression, then sat down at the counter.

“My name is Ophilia, just a shop owner.”

‘No, you’re completely talking nonsense.’

However, Schiller had no choice but to play along with her. After all, who knew what this Saintess wanted to do to him?

“So, what can the shop owner do for me?” Seeing his identity exposed, Schiller also shed his robe.

“I have… something you want here,” she said mysteriously to Schiller.

“!”

“You mean…”

‘Does Ophelia have a magic tome here?’ Schiller couldn’t help but swallow.

‘When one road closes, another opens! Although I don’t know what the Saintess wants, nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ He muttered to himself.

“New arrival…”

“Aphrodisiacs!”

Ophelia showed a radiant smile.