53. I don’t know what evil corruption is

In the end, this time Kefir’s project experiment was divided into two groups based on my suggestion: Professor Moriarty and Letty, along with Letty’s entourage, went to find a suitable location to try extracting new energy, which meant fiddling with those machines that go “ and so on and so forth.”

As for me, Kefir, and Nilu, what we needed to do was the so-called “sampling,” just bringing back a bit of the sample.

Normally, before I could finish such a decision, Letty would probably have shot down a lightning bolt, then found fault and started fighting with Kefir. But this time: thanks to the “cooperation” that Letty had verbally agreed to earlier, this Empress of the Rosian Empire finally managed to hold back and not take action.

We all have wings; why fight? Kefir, you…

That was amazing! Ugh! I mean, your performance was amazing!

When the furious Letty left with Professor Moriarty and Rasputin, only I, Kefir, and Nilu remained in the room, and I immediately gave Kefir a thumbs up.

“Kefir, your performance just now was really great!”

What just happened was noisy and chaotic, but in reality, it was part of my plan for Letty to “cooperate” with us. After all, in my view, villains have their own patterns of action. Unlike the “small minions” we encountered before, this time, Moriarty clearly belongs to the type with “intelligence online.”

Such a villain would definitely not provoke for no reason and expose their identity, so I thought I would have Kephier and Letty pretend to argue in front of Moriarty during this experimental project to create a flaw. That way… the great professor might not be able to hold back.

At that time, whether it was directed at Kephier or me, as long as the purpose was exposed and Kephier, the protagonist, recognized it as a “villain,” heh heh—

The result of opposing the protagonist doesn’t need much explanation, right?

Because I was too pleased, I didn’t pay attention to Kephier’s response. Faced with my praise, Kephier only frowned.

“I hope so. I always feel like that short guy is serious, sigh…”

“What?”

“Nothing, Nilu, diviner. Let’s take the sampling equipment and find a suitable place outside to collect samples.”

——

The extraction experiment was proceeding in an orderly manner, but it would still take some time to observe the results. Especially for the extraction on Professor Moriarty’s side, it required even more time to wait.

Therefore: even though I was anxious for the results and worried about whether Kephier could smoothly pass this main storyline and obtain the “treasure,” all I could do now was obediently stay in the temporary accommodation that Letty had prepared for us at night, close my eyes, stretch my legs, and sleep soundly while staring at the ceiling.

However… there wasn’t any death script tonight, but a little “accident” occurred.

“Diviner, you’re not asleep yet, are you?”

As the night deepened and I was idly drifting off, accompanied by the creaking of a wooden door, Kephier, who should have been too tired from the morning’s experiments to rest, quietly slipped in under the moonlight, holding a pillow.

“Kephier? Wait, wait, your room is next door to Miss Nilu’s.”

I immediately woke up; a beautiful girl had appeared in the room. Only a fool could sleep through that.

As for Kephier, she responded quite confidently.

“I know.”

“…”

I was left speechless; that was too straightforward.

Kephier, thank goodness you’re a beautiful girl. If we switched genders, the comments here would definitely skyrocket to tens of thousands.

“I… um, I’m here to protect you.”

Then, Kephier gave me a reason that sounded quite convincing, although I always felt that after Professor Moriarty’s threat, my dear thigh was increasingly intent on keeping an eye on me. I had no idea who she was guarding against.

However, since she said so, wouldn’t it be self-destructive to refuse?

Thinking this, I was just about to get up and make way; I couldn’t let Kephier sleep on the sofa, could I? But the next moment…

Kephier threw the pillow next to me, then quickly walked to my side, lifted my bedding, and directly… lay down!

My, my brother suddenly stiffened!

Mechanically turning my face, I heard Kephier, blushing, give a clumsy explanation: “This, it’s quite cold here. Don’t talk nonsense, don’t move, just lie still like a zombie!”

“Yes!”

You command, I obey. Moreover, in this cold weather, even with my contract that could keep me warm, I still felt the chilly wind blowing, and I wasn’t in the mood for anything else.

Furthermore, I quickly realized that tonight, Kephier really wasn’t here to do anything “inappropriate.” Rather, it seemed… she had something on her mind and wanted to confide in someone with a shared secret, which made me feel a mix of emotions and a hint of regret.

—

At a glance at the script, it was indeed so.

【Kephiel is burdened with thoughts about Moriarty.】

…A favored daughter of heaven, but hesitation is not an option.

“Euclid.”

In the next moment, Kephiel turned her face toward me.

“The professor…”

In an effort to keep myself calm, I could only count the spots on the ceiling, feeling the warmth of an extra person in the bed, an added degree of heat.

“She’ll take the bait.”

This is the villain’s theorem, and also… something that professor must do. I sensed it when she previously set me up; it seemed Moriarty was eager to use me for something. Therefore, she wouldn’t give up after just one or two failures .

“So what should I do then? Euclid, does your prophecy… say anything about that?”

“…”

“Fortune teller?”

Seeing my silence, Kephiel’s hand pressed against my chest.

I sighed.

“Kephiel, this question is for you to judge. I’m merely making a prophecy for you, not using it as an excuse to make decisions on your behalf, to overstep my bounds. The latter would mean I’m not helping with the prophecy, but controlling you.”

A villain brainwashing the protagonist— I can already imagine the consequences.

Putting that aside, I don’t want Kephiel to end up in such a state.

“Kephiel, you…”

“…”

No response came, but… for a long while afterward, Kephiel’s hand remained firmly pressed against my chest, not loosening its grip.

Phew… It’s rare for Kephiel to have made up her mind; I hope nothing else goes awry on the script’s side.

Because I always have a bad feeling, after all, that script still appears in Professor Moriarty’s narrative.

【Moriarty framed and killed Euclid.】

The word “framed”… makes me start to doubt whether I truly understand its implications in Moriarty’s actions.

——

Three days until it goes live; everyone remember to pre-order a copy. Of course, it would be even better if you’re willing to read it directly upon release. Thank you, Eggplant.

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