Second Playthrough, The Heroines All Turn Against Me - Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Exposed?
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Translation by: Weebsread👹
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Sealed Capital.
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Less than twelve hours had passed since the “Blood Ritual,” but the chaos that had engulfed the city had already been subdued. After the Empress shattered the Well with a single blow, Saintess Schiutia performed the sacred Purification, and reinforcements poured in from every corner of the realm—even General Long Yi from the Imperial Capital had arrived in person. By dawn, order had returned to Sealed Capital.
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Yet the scars of disaster remained. Streets were littered with blasted ruins, and this once-prosperous metropolis—once rivaling the Imperial Capital itself—now lay battered and broken. Nobles and merchants wailed over fortunes lost overnight. The commoners fared little better, with crowds of homeless wandering the roads. Perhaps the only ones untouched by tragedy were the paupers and demi-human slaves; having nothing to lose, they simply endured.
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City Hall.
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The Empress’s personal arrival in Sealed Capital had summoned a host of officials from the Imperial Capital overnight. As the most important minister, Sharo’s presence was, of course, required.
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Now, in a quiet break room, Sharo received a guest from Metropolis, said to be the City Lord’s personal assistant. The purpose of her visit was simple.
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“Miss Karolin, please convey our deepest gratitude to the City Lord, on behalf of myself and all the people of Sealed Capital. Metropolis’s selfless donation is a kindness the Dragon Kingdom will never forget.”
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As Sharo voiced his thanks, he made a show of pouring water, all while discreetly sizing up the City Lord’s assistant.
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Karolin wore a formal suit, her golden ponytail tied neatly behind her head. Black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, lending her an even more serious air. Her pencil skirt hugged her figure, and her long legs were sheathed in flawless black stockings—an ensemble befitting a Metropolis envoy, the very embodiment of continental fashion.
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Yet no matter how proper her posture or formal her attire, nothing could conceal her Succubus nature. In fact, the contrast only heightened it, making Sharo’s curiosity itch all the more.
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Karolin adjusted her glasses, said nothing further, and produced a contract from her briefcase, sliding it across the table to Sharo.
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He accepted it, confusion flickering across his face. But after a mere glance at its contents, his expression shifted from gratitude to unease.
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“Wait a moment. Miss Karolin, your City Lord wishes… to assume temporary administration of Sealed Capital?”
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“Yes,” she replied calmly. “The City Lord is deeply concerned about corruption within the Dragon Kingdom. This is not an accusation against you, Lord Sharo—only a precaution to ensure that the funds and supplies for disaster relief reach those in need, rather than vanishing into someone’s pocket. Again, this is not directed at you personally. That is why we request: if the Dragon Kingdom wishes to accept Metropolis’s donation, I must be granted full authority over all post-disaster reconstruction in Sealed Capital.”
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Her composure only made Sharo’s face darken further.
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“Impossible! When has a city of the Dragon Kingdom ever been handed over to outsiders for governance?”
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Karolin seemed entirely unfazed, as if she had anticipated his protest.
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“First, we’re not here to govern—only to oversee relief efforts. Second, I suggest you consider this carefully. The cost of rebuilding after such devastation is enormous. If you refuse Metropolis’s goodwill, you’ll be forced to pay for reconstruction from your own coffers, Lord Sharo.”
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“In any case, Sealed Capital lies in ruins. Tax revenue will be nonexistent until the city is rebuilt. Why not let Metropolis handle this burden? We guarantee that, within a month—once relief is complete—all Metropolis personnel, myself included, will withdraw from Sealed Capital.”
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“You need not fear ulterior motives. As the beacon of the Continent, both Metropolis and the City Lord act with benevolence. Everything we do is for the good of the world.”
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Sharo frowned deeply, falling silent. Karolin was right. After such a catastrophe, and with the Empress herself involved, there was no longer any way to profit from disaster as he once had.
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Even if he had no such intentions, he knew his subordinates all too well—corrupt to the core. He’d never relied on competence, only on obedience.
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If he let them oversee disaster relief, things would only grow worse, and he’d have no way to answer to the Empress. Besides, Karolin promised Metropolis would only remain for a month—hardly enough time to stir up real trouble.
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After weighing his options, Sharo finally signed the contract. Across from him, the Succubus’s lips curved into a faint smile.
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“A pleasure working with you. The people of the Dragon Kingdom are truly fortunate to have a minister so loyal and devoted.”
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“Oh, and the City Lord instructed me to present you with an additional gift—a piece of firsthand intelligence, absolutely reliable, straight from Metropolis.”
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“The Empress you Dragon Kingdom officials are so desperately searching for is currently in the Southern Border.”
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As she spoke, Karolin packed up her documents. She gave Sharo no chance to respond, turning and striding out, leaving him stunned in her wake.
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Sharo remained alone, brow furrowed, mind racing, sweat beading on his forehead.
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If Karolin was telling the truth—and with Metropolis’s formidable intelligence network, it was entirely possible—then there was real trouble. Because the Southern Border…
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…was precisely where the demi-humans lived.
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Why would the Empress go there?
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With a guilty conscience, Sharo’s thoughts flew at once to—
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The “Old Pact” plan!
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The moment he reached that conclusion, he felt as if he’d plunged into an icy abyss, his whole body trembling. If the Empress truly uncovered the cruel plot from years ago—one that targeted not only the demi-humans, but the entire Dragon Kingdom—Sharo could not begin to imagine the extent of her wrath.
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No, no, no! Calm down!
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He drew a long breath, forcing himself to steady his nerves. First, all his fears depended on Karolin’s words being true. Succubi were said to delight in toying with people’s hearts—maybe she’d only said it to frighten him.
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Second, and perhaps most convincing: knowing the Empress’s temperament, if she’d found even the slightest clue, she would have come straight for him. The fact that he still sat here unharmed suggested that, perhaps…
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…she hadn’t yet uncovered the truth, or had another reason for traveling to the Southern Border—something less dire than the disaster he dreaded.
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Sharo had served the Empress for many years and knew her well. With her explosive temperament, “investigation” was never her style—she always preferred to solve problems with force.
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A little calmer now, Sharo dared not linger. Rising from the sofa, he hurried out of the council chamber, heading directly for a secret chamber he’d prepared within Sealed Capital.
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Inside, Sharo rolled up his sleeve. In his right hand he held a dagger obviously forged for ritual use—twisted and grotesque, shaped like a monstrous claw.
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Gritting his teeth, he plunged the dagger into his own wrist. Blood gushed from the wound, but in the next instant, it was drawn as if by an unseen force—absorbed entirely by the ritual blade. As it drank its fill, the dagger began to change.
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It seemed to come alive. The metallic disguise sloughed away, revealing a blade of pulsing, breathing flesh, still feeding on Sharo’s blood.
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At last, sated, the hilt writhed, filth and gore twisting until a mucus-covered, bloodshot, malevolent eye gradually took shape—then snapped open, staring from the dagger’s body.