Chapter 121

“Now, this is the incantation. If you do this, you can enter the Goddess’s private space.”

Hoh.

Yeah, there’s no way something like this wouldn’t exist.

Amanin, who laughed heartily when I explained how I got here, handed me an incantation, saying he should’ve told me earlier.

It wasn’t spoken aloud, but… more like the incantation was directly transmitted into my mind.

Anyway, following Amanin’s guidance, I entered the mansion. Compared to Escario’s mansion I had visited before, it was smaller in scale but much more tidy and human-like.

Vesprede’s portraits were hung here and there, and the reception room was filled with books that looked brand new.

And now, I’m sitting at the table in the middle of that reception room, drinking tea with Sohee and Kabe.

“Dear, eat slowly. If someone sees you, they’ll think I’m not feeding you.”

“Uhhh-ahhh-uhhh.”

“Don’t talk with snacks in your mouth. Here, drink some water.”

When I held a cup of water to Kabe’s mouth, she finally gulped it down and let out a breath.

“But it’s so delicious!”

“Alright, alright. I know it’s delicious, so eat slowly.”

“Is this mansion really yours, Sister?”

“That’s right. Now that I’ve officially been recognized as Vesprede, everything is mine. Right, Amanin?”

“Hohoho. Indeed. Not just this mansion, but the entire Dark Realm belongs to the Goddess.”

“Ooh… Sister… you’re amazing…”

Yes.

That’s the look, Sohee.

Praise me. Praise me! Praise me more…!

When I’m with Eve, she’s always trying to undermine me, but seeing Sohee look at me with such reverence feels so good.

More, more, more, praise me more, Sohee…!

“But, Sister. Then, isn’t there no need for you to stay in the human realm?”

…Huh?

Now that I think about it, that’s true…?

“Hey, Amanin.”

“Yes, Goddess.”

I was about to subtly ask Amanin, but when I glanced to the side, Sohee was also looking at me with shining eyes.

…No. This doesn’t seem like the right place to ask.

If I ask here and Amanin gives some weird answer, I can’t even imagine how embarrassing that would be.

So, I quietly got up, took Amanin to the corner of the reception room, and whispered into his ear.

“Amanin, how much is my wealth?”

“Your wealth, Goddess?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not entirely sure…”

Huh?

Wasn’t Amanin supposed to be like my butler or something?

What’s going on?

“I’m only in charge of this garden and your mansion… I don’t know much about your wealth. But…”

But?

No, Amanin! Don’t drag it out, just tell me!

It’s frustrating, but with Sohee and Kabe here, I couldn’t push him.

Just stop making me anxious and tell me already.

Amanin hesitated for a while, glancing at me, then continued in a small voice.

“Given that you’ve been hosting barbecues and serving rare delicacies to the Dark Realm residents every few days, I doubt it’s much… Not to mention the orphanages and nursing homes you’ve been running with your own funds…”

What, this crazy woman.

Vesprede, you lunatic…

Did she just dump all her debts on me and run off…?

“Sohee, play with Kabe for a bit. Amanin, take care of them. Let me say it again, they’re my family. You know what that means, right?”

“Of course, Goddess. I’ll ensure they’re treated with the utmost care.”

Leaving Amanin with a smile, I stepped outside the mansion and got into a carriage.

I hesitated, wondering if anyone would recognize me, but since my appearance had changed so much from the original Vesprede, no one paid me any attention.

Should I be happy about this or not…?

“Bureau of Administration.”

I pressed a button in the carriage and stated my destination, and the carriage began to move smoothly.

No matter how many times I see this, it’s still amazing. I wonder if there’s a way to introduce this to the human realm.

Probably not, huh?

Anyway, the reason I’m heading to the Bureau of Administration now is for one thing.

Regent Kenneth.

I need to meet Regent Kenneth.

He’s the one who took over all the duties after Vesprede disappeared and has been leading the Dark Realm ever since.

After riding for a while, the carriage stopped in front of the building I had visited before.

“Hmm.”

But is it okay to just go in like this?

Last time, Keru… no, Aivis was here.

He had arranged the appointment, but can I just walk in now?

I’m a bit worried, but…

I’m still Vesprede, after all.

The Goddess of the Dark Realm.

If they don’t recognize me, that’s their problem.

Let’s just go in.

If they don’t recognize me, I’ll just say, “How dare you not recognize me?! Call Kenneth out!”

“Goddess Vesprede, you’ve arrived. Regent Kenneth is in the Regent’s office on the second floor.”

Ah.

I’ve been here before, right.

As soon as I entered, a female employee quickly came out and guided me.

“Hey.”

“I’m Anne.”

“…Anne, how did you know I was coming?”

With her short black hair swaying, Anne pointed behind me with her finger.

“Well, it’s all on the situation board.”

Where Anne pointed, there was a wall of the Bureau of Administration, with a large monitor attached to it.

The label on it said…

“Goddess Vesprede’s Situation Board…?”

“We’ve known since you left Mitran’s Garden. We thought you were going to rest after your journey.”

“Wait, so does that mean every time I move…”

No, surely not, right?

But I should check.

“Correct. Every movement you make is tracked and displayed on that monitor.”

I should cancel my plans to live in the Dark Realm.

I can’t live with every move being tracked.

What is this?

“Regent, Goddess Vesprede has arrived.”

A flurry of footsteps sounded, and soon the door opened.

Still looking tired.

A man with hollow eyes and an exhausted expression quickly came to the door and bowed deeply to me.

“Goddess Vesprede, you’ve arrived.”

Hah, I’ve really made it. The guy who used to bow to me is now the one being bowed to.

“Yes. At ease, at ease.”

I tried to sound a bit arrogant.

But it still feels off.

“Wait, I came to talk about something.”

“Of course.”

Guided by Kenneth, I sat on the sofa and decided to ask about the thing that’s been bothering me the most.

“What’s with that display board?”

“You mean the Goddess Monitor?”

“What… that weird name…”

Ugh.

My head is throbbing.

“It’s to track when you arrive, where you’re going, so we can assist you…”

…Wait. If they know when I arrive, does that mean they also know when I leave…? No, surely not?

“We’ve decided to expand the Dark Realm gates.”

“I KNEW IT!!!!”

It’s convenient for the employees, so it’s a bit hard to tell them to remove it.

I know it well myself.

When I was working hard and took a break to check some portal news, the boss suddenly appeared behind me and said, “No work to do? Feeling relaxed? Did you meet this month’s sales target? No plans to exceed it?”…

I decided to leave it for now.

If I suddenly appear while they’re working, it’s kind of scary, and if the Goddess of the Dark Realm disappears without a trace, it’s the officials who’ll be in trouble.

“Anyway, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“…Well, um. Ahem.”

Asking how much money I have is embarrassingly hard to bring up.

“Is something wrong?”

Seeing me hesitate, Kenneth’s face turned serious, thinking it was something grave.

No, don’t do that. I’m just trying to figure out how to ask how much money I have without sounding awkward.

“Well, you see. How much… wealth do I have?”

No need to beat around the bush.

Where’s my money, Kenneth? What happened to my money, Kenneth? I can’t just ask like that.

“Huh?”

“I mean, wealth. Money.”

“Ah, I understand what you’re asking, but…”

Kenneth looked a bit troubled.

What’s going on? I’m getting nervous.

It’s not like the stock market crashed and I’m ruined, right?!

“You originally owned a significant amount of land. Ah, of course, you also have liquid assets, but Goddess Vesprede preferred land more…”

“So?”

“But now, it’s tied up in a Development Restricted Area, so its value is a bit…”

“…What?”

What are you talking about?

I’ve heard of people losing their wealth because their land was designated as a greenbelt, but is that what’s happening here?

Are you serious? Is this some kind of outdated April Fool’s joke?

“Who designated it?”

“The Divine Realm did.”

“…Edell?”

“Correct.”

I almost screamed but managed to hold it back.

The Divine Realm, the Dark Realm, they’re all useless.

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