The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 5
After firmly dismissing Martin from the tent, Renee convened an emergency meeting with her Astras.
“First, Water lady—use this scripture to locate the Saint.”
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> begins the search.]
"How long will it take?"
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> tells you it will take one day to search within a 1,000 km radius.]
“Good. Old man, can you summon dream demons here? Or would it be difficult since we’re surrounded by priests?”
[<The Ruler of Temptation> angrily says not to underestimate him.]
“Oh? Then release them. Have them infiltrate the dreams of everyone in this area.”
She crossed her arms.
“There’s no way there were zero witnesses. She wasn’t some sword master.
If there really are none… then that means someone extremely powerful interfered.”
[<The Ruler of Temptation> boldly declares he will handle it immediately.]
“Perfect. Then let’s give everyone a nice nap. Status window.”
There had actually been good news earlier.
[<System Notification> We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
Synchronization is now complete. All system calibration have been finalized.]
That was why she had rushed Martin out.
The patch was finally done.
<Status Window>
Name: Renee Markious
Family: House Markious
Reputation: -999
Title:
<The Shame of the Markious>,
<The Abandoned Lady>
???: [Sealed]
???: [Sealed]
Bonus Stats
Power: Unmeasurable
Stealth: Unmeasurable
Stamina: Unmeasurable
Wisdom: Unmeasurable
Luck: -999
[Astra Patrons]
<The Ruthless Blood Leader>
Available Skills:
<Invulnerability> LV.999,
<Poison Resistance> LV.999,
<Sword of Asura> LV.999,
<Bloody Zombie Creation> [Sealed],
<Way of the Heavenly Demon Force> [Sealed], …(see more)
<The Queen of Waves and Healing>
Available Skills:
<Oasis of Awe> LV.999,
<Law of the Ocean> LV.999,
<Summoning...> [Sealed], …(see more)
<The Ruler of Temptation>
Available Skills:
<Astaroth's Breath> LV.999,
<Beelzebub's Smile> LV.999,
<Asmodeus' Snare> [Sealed],
<Belial's Whisper> [Sealed],
<Eligos' Promise> [Sealed],
<Succubus Summoning> LV.999 (NEW!) …(see more)
Not all skills had been unlocked—likely sealed temporarily for balance.
Still, the important ones were usable. Thankfully, all skill levels remained intact.
The only notable change was that <Succubus Summoning>, which she rarely used, had now been registered as a primary skill.
‘They’ll probably unlock the rest after I clear some quest. Typical.’
The system always worked like this—ignoring what should naturally be available, then later acting generous by rewarding it through quests.
‘Whatever. This is more than enough to survive.’
Survive?
She could probably conquer the world with this.
Renee stretched lightly, a smile forming.
Her power was finally back.
“So—first things first…”
She smirked.
“Put everyone to sleep.”
Brute force always worked best.
Renee wasn’t the only one investigating this case.
There was another.
Cedin Ansirad—the Mercenary King of the Ramdisha Empire and the head of the Sirrah Guild.
At the request of the Crown Prince, who had lost his fiancée, he had personally come to investigate—without informing House Markious.
“Lady Renee Markious came here?”
Melson, the head priest assigned to host him, nodded stiffly.
There was no one in the empire who didn’t know this man.
At twenty, he earned the title of Mercenary King.
The second strongest man in the empire.
That was Cedin.
Not to mention his striking appearance—
and his leadership of the continent’s largest mercenary guild.
“Yes. She claims she is investigating to prove her innocence.”
"...Do you believe her?"
Cedin didn’t think Renee was definitively guilty—but she was certainly a prime suspect.
Allowing such a person access to the crime scene was risky.
The priest hesitated, then nodded.
“Not entirely… but there might have been some trouble from her side if we don't give her a chance...”
Melson lowered his head nervously.
This man had come under the Crown Prince’s orders.
He could not afford to offend him.
Cedin listened to the full account of Renee’s conversation.
‘For someone with that temperament to come here herself… she must be desperate.’
He knew her reputation well.
As the head of a mercenary guild—
he knew not just rumors, but her actual deeds.
Shaving a baron’s daughter’s head.
Poisoning the Crown Prince’s food, then offering to nurse him.
Tripping the Saint.
…Though there were inconsistencies in those stories.
‘I would’ve had to meet her eventually anyway.’
“Do not provide her with any information. Especially the fact that there is a witness.”
“...Pardon?! But why—”
“This is an order from the Crown Prince.”
At the mention of the Crown Prince—
Isyre von Ramdisha—
the priest immediately fell silent.
There was nowhere his authority didn’t reach.
Some even said he held more power than the Emperor.
“More importantly, I should go and meet this lady—”
Thud.
The priest suddenly collapsed onto the table.
Cedin instantly drew his sword.
A demonic presence—
a dream demon.
The priest had succumbed to sleep magic.
‘This is powerful…’
Even Cedin, as Sword Master, could barely resist it.
This wasn’t ordinary.
This was the level of a high-ranking demon.
‘Who could summon something like this?’
And here, of all places—surrounded by priests?
‘If I weren’t here, no one would’ve noticed.’
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Everyone—
collapsed.
Even he felt drowsy.
‘This much magic… enough to covers an entire village.’
His gaze sharpened.
‘There.’
The Saint’s tent.
A powerful demonic presence emanated from within—alongside something else.
A human presence.
But not normal.
It was overwhelming.
Beyond his level.
‘Stronger than even the Crown Prince...?’
He knew—he couldn’t win.
But instead of fear—his heart raced with excitement.
‘I have to find them. No matter what.’
He had searched his entire life for someone worthy of his loyalty—
someone stronger than him.
At first, he thought it would be the Crown Prince.
But when Isyre tried to recruit him—
he realized.
‘No.’
Strong—but not enough.
Since then, life had been dull.
Even this mission—
he had taken it out of boredom.
But now—
his heart pounded.
He flung open the tent.
“Reveal your identity—”
And just before he saw the person inside—
his consciousness faded.
“What is this stray cat?”
The very person he would one day devote his life to—
was looking down at him in mild disbelief.
Renee casually lifted the completely unconscious man and placed him onto the Saint’s bed.
His black hair and clear green eyes reminded her of the black cat she used to know.
“...He’s pretty.”
'How does someone even look like this?'
Even among the many handsome hunters she had seen in her previous life, this was the first time she had encountered someone who looked as though a God had crafted him with care.
[<The Ruthless Blood Leader> says you look suspiciously pleased.]
Renee lifted his eyelids slightly, examining his eyes.
She had liked his eyes from the moment she saw them.
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> tells you it is inappropriate to treat humans like pets.]
“I’m not. My pet is a dog. Cerberus. He’s way cuter.”
[<The Ruler of Temptation> asks what you plan to do with him.]
“He’s strong. Probably too much for dream demons alone.”
<Status Window>
Name: Cedin Ansirad
Family: House Ansirad
Reputation: 792
Title:
<Mercenary King>,
<Head of the Sirrah Guild>,
<First Head of House Ansirad>,
<Sword Master>
Power: 810
Stealth: 890
Stamina: 830
Wisdom: 892
Luck: 673
Affinity: 0
Once wisdom exceeded 700, dream demon magic became ineffective.
The reason he had fallen asleep now was likely because the caster wasn’t a mere demon—but <The Ruler of Temptation> himself.
'Yup, power is the best.'
[<The Ruler of Temptation> suggests you should just kill him now.]
"No. I quite like him."
For the first time, she had encountered someone whose affinity toward her was not negative.
So he wasn’t the type to judge based on rumors alone.
'All right. I've made my decision. You're mine.'
"Let's keep him alive for now. He hasn't even seen my face."
He looked pleasant enough—and obedient, at that.
As the head of a mercenary guild, he would be useful.
As a Sword Master, he wouldn’t die easily either.
'A perfect pet companion… no, human companion.'
[<The Ruthless Blood Leader> questions what you mean by saying you like him.]
“I mean exactly that. I like him. What more explanation do you need? I’m making him my underling.”
[<The Ruthless Blood Leader> adamantly threatens to start sulking if you don't kill him right this instant.]
“Do as you please. He’s mine now. Anyway—old man, did you find anything?”
[<The Ruler of Temptation> sends you a report from the dream demons.]
As Renee closed her eyes, information gathered from the dreams of nearby individuals flowed into her mind.
Most of it was trivial—
But one piece stood out.
“There’s a witness?”
[<The Ruler of Temptation> sends you information about the witness.]
The witness was the youngest priest.
Judging by his unfamiliar face, he had not been present during Renee’s earlier negotiation.
‘They must have hidden him to keep him from being discovered.’
So they concealed a witness—and still told me to prove my innocence?
And on this man’s orders, no less.
How cunning.
Renee flicked Cedin’s nose lightly with her finger.
Crack.
His straight nose snapped instantly.
“Ah. I used too much force.”
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> warns you not to harm your ‘companion human.’]
“That wording is a bit…”
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> perfectly heals Cedin's nose.]
Animals might be spared punishment—but humans were different.
He would need discipline later.
Renee glanced down at him briefly.
Not now.
For now, she needed to return him to where he belonged.
Gathering information from the witness came first.
More than anything, she wanted to clear the quest quickly and rest.
Though she was also growing curious—
About whoever was behind all this.
“...See you again, Cedin.”
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