My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon
Chapter 142: We

Chapter 142: We

"Huh?"

The receptionist tilted her head, brows knitted in confusion.

"I don’t understand, Lucian. Aren’t the monsters from the dungeons made of overflowing mana? That was why they needed to be culled regularly but cannot be exterminated. How would invading other worlds help?"

At her words, Elian paused, frowning—until a crucial detail resurfaced.

The Crucible. They made the system to restrict information based on access levels. That means Katri has been working all this time not knowing we were not fighting mana creatures but aliens.

Elian closed his eyes and paused.

"System. If I reveal the truth to Katri, will her clearance level be raised?"

[Affirmative. The Crucible censors words for those below Clearance Level 0. If informed by someone with Level 1, they will be elevated.]

Elian nodded. He looked at the receptionist but saw vestiges of himself in her. A powerless being trampled over by those with strength. For such people, all they needed was a chance.

A single chance to prove that they were not trash. With the system’s confirmation, Elian stared at Katri and verified her resolve.

"Katri. Why do you wish to protect this city?"

"My family is here. I have two elderly parents and two brothers still in school. I am the only one whom they all depend on; I am responsible for them," she explained.

Katri’s shoulders began to tremble as she tried to keep her tears from falling.

"I know that I am nothing but a civilian. My talent is worthless. I know that it is foolish. But I thought that if even one breaker returned to fight, there should be someone to support them, so I waited here."

Elian shook his head as he grew impressed, "You are not foolish, on the contrary, you are brave."

The Tyrant knew this wasn’t ideal. Katri wasn’t a leader, a fighter, or even a guild veteran. But she had one thing the others didn’t—she stayed when they all ran away.

That alone made her useful. And if she could pass the test he was about to give her, she’d be worthy of more than just this city.

"Then do you want to have enough power to protect those you love?"

The receptionist held her hand to her heart as if to reassure herself.

"Yes, Lucian, I do. If it’s for my family, then I will do my all."

"Even if it means joining a war that may not end in your lifetime? This is your last chance to remain ignorant of the truth. If you decide to join the Weapons of Valestra, you cannot quit even if you die."

The clerk audibly gulped at the sudden question.

"I... want to join. But I’m just a clerk. What if I fail you?" Katri’s voice trembled. "M-maybe you should wait for someone more qualified..."

However, Elian approached closer, his gaze locked on the receptionist.

"We often arrive at crossroads in our lives. Whether we are ready or not. I will not force you. I need someone to help us grow. Do not mind your qualifications; work for me and you will get them."

Around them, the office remained untouched, a silent grave for the guild that once stood. Elian gestured to the emptiness.

"When everyone left, you stayed. Alone, without reward, such resolve is what my faction stands for."

Katri looked down awkwardly, her cheeks red, "I-I’m not someone that great..."

She really is like me. This woman doesn’t even see how brave she truly is.

His mind made up, the Tyrant interjected.

"I want you, Katri."

Surprised by the sudden declaration, the woman gasped. Elian came closer and gently took her hand in his.

"Join us. I do not believe in coincidences. We met today for a reason. I need someone to manage our presence on Earth. In return for your service, I will protect what you love and destroy all that you hate."

"... Y-You really think I can do it?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation in Elian’s words.

Anyone who still wishes to save this city, despite being powerless, will do well in our faction.

Katri Valkama took a deep breath and gripped her hands into fists.

"Okay, I will do it."

Pleased, Elian created a dagger from Dominator variants and held it out, handle-first.

"Take this. If you truly accept it, there is one last step."

Katri reached for it, trembling. "W-What do I need to do?"

"Stab yourself in the heart."

Silence. Her lips parted in disbelief. "What?"

"Show me your resolve. I promise to give you power and protection. But know that once I do, your life is in my hands." Elian pointed to the knife. "This blade is a reminder of that. Once you become a weapon, you belong to me."

"..."

The woman clenched her jaw and plunged the dagger into her chest.

The Dominator dagger pierced Katri’s blouse and eventually her skin, but its edge immediately melted afterward. When an entry point into her body was created, the ashen fluid entered the gap before sealing it.

"Well done," Elian praised.

Surprised, Katri patted her chest, looking for a wound and found none. There was only a faint mark.

Elian pulled out a high-grade potion and popped the cork.

"Here, take some and lather it on the mark. It would not do well for a woman’s skin to be blemished."

Katri blushed and took the potion meekly.

The Tyrant followed up by making a coin made of Living Metal and presented it to her.

"This coin is your proof. Keep it close—you’re one of us now."

"Okay," she agreed.

"Now, let me tell you the truth."

Elian then spent the next several hours getting her up to speed. By the end of it, Katri’s shoulders slumped, and she placed her head in her hands.

"Ugh. This is... this is... horrible... just how could they hide all this?" she whimpered.

Unable to offer her words of comfort, Elian remained silent.

"Then, the Big Three have intentionally been sacrificing the cities all to preserve the status quo? How are they any different from traitors! What kind of king surrenders his people to save his kingdom!"

The indignation in her eyes was palpable. It simmered like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

"Lucian, please tell me you have a better plan. They are merely delaying the impossible! From everything you said, there is no way the Crucible would allow such a farce to continue!"

"Indeed. Chiara and I feel the same. That is why we gave birth to the Weapons. Our immediate goal is to turn me into an official Tyrant and take over Earth. Our main stronghold will be Crestfall."

Katri scribbled on her notepad furiously, "I see. Chiara is the codename for Lady Bianca. And afterwards, you intend to establish alliances with at least four worlds to establish an Axis ring, correct?"

Pleased by the supernatural comprehension of the clerk before him, he agreed with a smile.

"Yes, Fralhame, Averignis, and Virexar would be three of them. I still need two marks to become an official Tyrant. We have some allies in the city, but we lack official structures."

"I see. Give me a moment to draft a plan."

Katri dropped all hesitation, spreading out sheets and scribbling furiously. Elian tried to read some of them, and he marveled at the notes he saw. The sheet he took detailed, in broad strokes, the manpower that would be needed to take over the world.

It was messy, raw, but the other sheets on the table began to complement the one he held. From supply lines, the number of branches, area of domains, intended strength, but that was not what interested him.

Elian returned the 1st sheet he read and took the one that had the map. It listed the dungeons within 50 kilometers of Crestfall. There were five, marked as A-Ranked. Three of them were ones he had already invaded.

The Virexar Dungeon to the north of Crestfall, which holds the Red Ants.

The Fralhame Dungeon Northeast of the city, where the Snow Wolves resided.

The Averignis Dungeon to the West, home to the Flame Swallows.

There were two more to the south and southwest.

"Ironwood Giants of Karnathi and Naga of Ysh-Natul," Elian read aloud.

Katri noticed Elian’s fascination with the Dungeons and quickly explained.

"These are the closest Dungeons to Crestfall; they are of the same strength as the worlds we already possess."

Elian smiled at the receptionist’s mention of the word "We."

She’s more than I hoped for. It must be due to Meticulous.

___

Name: Katri Valkama

Talent: Meticulous (C)

World: Earth

Species: Human

Class: Vassal

Level: 5 | (Low Dawn)

HP: 350/350 | MP: 50/50

Strength: F | Intelligence: F | Agility: F

___

Although the guild receptionist was weak by all standards, she had a C-Ranked talent perfect for office work. Elian learned how Talents worked the more he saw them. Rather than just abilities, Talents were direct projections of how a person would live.

Elian had Adamant and Driven, Bianca had Frigid, while Ned had Devoted. Each person and being acted in accordance with their Talents. Not everyone needed to be a combatant, for those supporting, an attention to detail was perhaps the best attribute to have.

"Unlike the two Church-owned Dungeons you liberated, the last two belong to the other factions of the big three."

"Ho? Do their factions have rules for them as well?"

Katri nodded, "Yes, Church-held dungeons are usually held for supplies. They are farms. The Ascendancy uses their dungeons as proving grounds or tests of strength. While the Conquest dungeons are used for training."

"What is the difference?"

"There are two. First is party size; the former faction only allows one Breaker at a time. The latter allows a single party. Second is loot; anything recovered in Ascendancy dungeons belongs to the faction. In contrast, Breakers use the Right of the Blade for Conquest dungeons."

Seeing the trove of knowledge Katri brought him, Elian smiled with glee.

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