Chapter : 10
“……”
“As you can see, I take very good care of what is mine.”
Her tone was noticeably softer than when speaking to Griselda.
With a voice that was almost gentle, Iona continued speaking smoothly.
“There are maids who fight for their masters, but there are no masters who fight for the injustices done to their maids.”
“……”
“I wonder what kind of master you would like to serve.”
[Constellation ‘Cat Head Enthusiast’ admires your speech.]
[Constellation ‘Cat Head Enthusiast’ has donated 50 diamonds!]
[▶ Current donations: 670 diamonds]
[Constellation ‘Master of Lies’ is impressed by your persuasive words.]
[Constellation ‘Master of Lies’ after much thought has donated 30 diamonds!]
[▶ Current donations: 700 diamonds]
The results were better than expected.
Without letting go of Tara’s hand, Iona turned around.
As if to say she would protect her until the very end.
Some maids, who had been watching Tara with envious eyes, quickly looked away under the sharp glare of the head maid.
It was, quite literally, a storm.
* * *
“Madam, Madam! I—I really don’t need that much money! Honestly, I don’t need any at all!”
Soon after returning to the room, Tara knelt in front of Iona, nearly in tears.
“I’m just happy that I can keep serving you, Madam. That… that alone is enough for me.”
“That won’t do. You need money to live. Since I entered this house, you were the only one who consistently served me. Consider it compensation for your loyalty.”
At first, maids had approached her sweetly.
But after one month, two months, three months… as time passed, they gradually disappeared.
When given tasks, they responded lazily, and even whispered insults about her behind her back.
Only Tara had remained unchanged.
Even though Iona hadn’t been able to give her anything extra.
“I’ll keep my promise about your salary, and you’ll be treated better than before. You don’t need to do the same work as the other maids. Stay only by my side.”
“Yes, Madam. I-I will serve you with loyalty. Truly.”
“That’s enough. Just do what you’ve been doing until now. And your leg isn’t in good condition, so get up. Rest a bit, then pack your things and bring them to my room.”
Sniffling, Tara hurried off to the maid quarters, saying she felt better doing something.
While waiting for her return, Iona slowly looked around her bedroom.
A vacant room for a personal attendant. Tara can use this for now.
Naturally, noble ladies had personal maid rooms attached to their bedrooms.
Although it had been left unused for so long that it smelled of dust and stale air… that could be cleaned.
The real problem is money.
To prove her earlier threat wasn’t empty, it would be best to buy influence over a newspaper.
That would also serve as insurance.
Yes. I need money right now. I have nothing at all.
Calming her excitement, Iona looked into empty space.
“Is it possible for me to enter the Constellation Shop?”
[Constellation ‘Master of Lies’ points out that you are not yet qualified.]
[You must pass trials first. That is the condition.]
“I know that. But surely I can at least get a tour?”
Iona lifted her chin confidently.
Wherever they were, it must be in the sky.
“You said you wanted to see stories where justice wins, right? I’m not doing this just for myself. I’m doing it to protect Tara—and to show you all something entertaining.”
There was no reason to refuse. She had justification.
And if she said it like this, at least two of them would likely help.
[Constellation ‘Revenge Service No.1’ proposes the ‘Tutorial System’.]
[Constellation ‘ My husband was torn into 14 pieces’ quickly agrees.]
[Constellation ‘Master of Lies’ says it cannot be shown for free.]
[Constellation ‘Cat Head Enthusiast’ debates fairness.]
Iona silently watched the chaotic flood of messages, then spoke.
“Please help me, ‘Exterminator of Cheating Bastards.’ I’ll show you everything as I crush them with a hammer.”
Well, the name was a bit awkward, but it couldn’t be helped.
It’s two to two. Just one more agreement needed.
[Constellation ‘Serious about punishing cheaters’ stops mid-beating their lazy husband and thinks.]
[Fine. I’ll help.]
The message trembled oddly, as if the sender was out of breath—but that must have been her imagination.
Iona let out a relieved breath.
Even she thought this was reckless.
Negotiating with unknown beings and asking for their help.
[▶ Majority of Constellations have agreed. ‘Tutorial System’ is now unlocked!]
A dazzling message window appeared.
[▶ Using the tutorial will consume ‘500 diamonds’.
Proceed?
O / X]
A very straightforward choice.
Without hesitation, Iona pressed “O”.
[500 diamonds have been received!]
[The Constellation Shop is temporarily opened in Tutorial Mode (30 minutes).]
[▶ Current donations: 200 diamonds]
Zzzt!
Space rippled brilliantly, and a golden door appeared.
It was enormous enough to fill her entire vision, framed by marble pillars on both sides.
In front of it, a red-carpeted staircase stretched invitingly upward.
Iona swallowed hard.
It feels like something is gently pushing my back… or maybe pulling me forward.
One step. Two steps.
As she slowly climbed, the door opened silently.
A blinding light filled her vision—
And then, she stood in an entirely new space.
* * *
“Amazing.”
That was Iona’s first impression upon entering the Constellation Shop.
The place looked like a maze.
Hundreds upon hundreds of five-tiered shelves stretched endlessly.
Each shelf was packed with boxes.
She first read the sign at the top.
‘Guaranteed S-rank or higher artifact. Premium random box. Price… 1 billion diamonds each?’
That’s insane. Way too expensive.
With her small, precious amount of diamonds, she couldn’t afford this.
Calm down. Money is what matters right now.
If it existed, she just had to find it.
Passing the random box section, she saw another sign.
Right side: Legendary weapon section. Not needed.
Left side… clothing designed for maximum attention.
Also unnecessary.
Moving further, another sign appeared.
Right side: Jewelry and accessories. Skip.
Left side…
“Found it!”
She couldn’t help raising her voice in excitement.
[Currency of the Entire World Zone]
Following the sign, she finally found it.
Shelves overflowing with money.
There are even old gold coins. These are from eras no longer in use.
These were practically historical artifacts.
Where was modern currency?
As she walked further, the money became more recent.
Until finally, she found what she was looking for.
Gold coins issued by the Imperial House of Ignareon.
“I want to convert 100 diamonds into Ignareon gold coins.”
She muttered while suppressing her urgency.
A message appeared.
[▶ My diamonds: 200]
[▶ Converting 100 diamonds into gold coins will yield 10,000,000 Rurik.
Proceed?
O / X]
Wait—hold on.
Ten million Rurik?
She had expected a lot, but even so, Iona froze.
Out of surprise.
If you win second place in the lottery, you only get about 40 million Rurik…
And now just her diamonds could become 20 million Rurik total!
She lightly pinched her cheek, almost unable to believe it.
But the warning saying only five minutes remained forced her to act quickly.
And so, she proceeded with the conversion.
