Living As the Villainess Queen (Web Novel KR)-Chapter 425.1

The skilled warrior scouts searched Cliff Mountain and quickly discovered a cave. It wasn’t particularly well-hidden—anyone with a keen eye and a hint of suspicion could have found it with little effort.

However, Cliff Mountain was an inhospitable place. With no nearby settlements, its rugged terrain and lack of valuable resources like timber meant that few ever ventured there. Moreover, the cliff faced the fortress wall, and the fear of drawing unwanted attention kept the residents of the Holy City at bay.

Only the five kings entered through the narrow opening, just wide enough for a single person to crawl through. If there were any traps inside, those outside of royalty might not have the skill to avoid them and could easily fall victim.

After walking a considerable distance into the darkness, Kasser and Akil lit their torches.

“Whoa…”

“Incredible…”

“Amazing.”

The gasps echoed through the cavern as the flickering torchlight revealed a breathtaking sight. In the center of the vast, high-ceilinged, circular chamber, treasure was piled like a mountain. Riner stepped forward, scooped up a handful, and let it cascade through his fingers—gold coins and jewels slipping effortlessly through his grasp.

“As I suspected,” Pered murmured, his voice heavy with realization. “The donations flowing into the Holy Palace were enormous, yet it never quite added up that all those funds were being spent solely on palace upkeep and occasional charity work. Even when I investigated, there were no signs of embezzlement. Now it’s clear—they were hoarding it all here.”

Kasser nodded. “This hoard couldn’t have been amassed in just a few decades. Its history likely stretches back to the founding of the Holy City itself.” 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The others exchanged solemn glances. Though the five kings had never known scarcity, they couldn't tear their eyes away from the dazzling mountain of treasure before them.

“What could that monster’s true goal have been?” Akil asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

“I heard it wanted to return to its original world,” Richard replied. “But if that’s the case, why would it need all this treasure?”

Pered considered the question and said, “The reasons for amassing wealth are often the same—to prepare for the future.”

Richard, who had been silently observing the glittering hoard, spoke. “That creature… it lived among humans for so long that it almost became one of us. It must have struggled between its innate instincts and human desires. And what is humanity’s greatest worldly desire? Immortality.”

A chuckle rippled through the group.

“Seems like it got too caught up playing the role of god’s representative.”

“Even if it found a way back to its world, I doubt it would have returned,” someone remarked.

Lost in thought, Kasser mused, “This treasure must have been its safety net for the future. But given how desperate it was, it’s odd that it revealed this location so easily to the Dark King.” Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novèlfire.net

Pered’s expression darkened. “Ah… now that you mention it, the creature once offered me the knowledge and wealth to rule the Holy City.”

The kings meticulously searched the cavern, but aside from the gold and jewels, they found nothing of true significance.

“This treasure may seem grand,” Kasser observed, “but it’s nothing more than surface-level wealth. Gold and jewels are convenient, but there’s no truly valuable relic here.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Riner scoffed, kicking a stray coin. “That sly bastard must have another stash hidden somewhere. There’s probably a real treasure vault out there.”

“Most likely,” another king agreed. “It probably created copies of its knowledge on sorcery and stored them somewhere outside the Holy Palace.”

“Finding that place will take time,” Kasser said. “But for now, let’s decide what to do with this treasure. I believe it rightfully belongs to the Holy City.”

Richard turned to the others. “What are your thoughts?”

“This wealth will be crucial in restoring order,” one of the kings said.

“Even if it’s the monster’s legacy, it can still serve a good purpose.”

“We can use it to compensate the victims of this conflict and rebuild the city,” another added. “And we must investigate further to uncover those who suffered unjustly due to the creature’s schemes.”

“However,” Akil cautioned, “releasing such wealth all at once could lead to chaos. We must proceed carefully.”

Despite the vast riches before them, none of the kings showed any hint of greed. Watching them, Richard felt a sense of quiet satisfaction. The fact that six kings had united to defeat the creature was already a stroke of fortune—but their shared sense of duty reassured him even more.

It felt as though fate itself had guided them. The creature’s downfall had always been inevitable.

As they descended Cliff Mountain, the kings parted ways to tend to their respective duties. Kasser made his way to the annex, where the defensive magic formation had been set up. With nightfall approaching, Nicholas would soon arrive with that person, and Kasser wanted to ensure the fallen knights' bodies were properly gathered to prevent an unsightly scene.

As workers meticulously scrubbed away the bloodstains, Kasser glanced up at the darkening sky. Almost instinctively, he reached for his magic notebook and flipped it open.

[Kasser. I’m coming to the Holy City. I’m not sure of the exact time, but I should arrive sometime after midnight, before dawn. I won’t be able to contact you with this notebook until I get there. Don’t worry, just wait. See you soon.]

He read Eugene’s message several times, his brows furrowing.

She’s coming to the Holy City?

A flicker of concern crossed his mind.

Is she using teleportation magic?

Though he wasn’t well-versed in magic, he knew enough to understand that teleportation wasn’t so simple. Flora’s spells were single-use, and if any other teleportation methods were available, Eugene would have told him before he left the palace.

Kasser often heard Eugene’s voice in the words she wrote—soft, reassuring, a source of comfort. But this time, something felt different. An uneasy weight settled in his chest. Eugene had never been reckless or impulsive, yet now it seemed as if she was on the verge of doing something unpredictable.