The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 158

Karon was finally permitted to leave the underground and move freely around the Basilisk main house.

That was after his ideological indoctrination had been deemed complete.

Of course, if he failed to control his poison or showed signs of experimental side effects, he’d be thrown back into the basement of the annex immediately.

But for now, this was enough.

He could finally hear news from the outside world.

And thanks to that, Karon came to understand something—that the same events were beginning to unfold at the same points in time.

Things he hadn’t known the cause of in his previous life became clear.

First, Duke Valkyrisen died.

It was the second Basilisk son’s doing.

“I didn’t expect you to return from facing the Duke without a single scratch.”

Karon approached the second snake casually, speaking as though in admiration.

“Everyone seems to think it was a heart attack. How did you manage it?”

Feigning praise, Karon’s eyes glittered with icy chill.

He was persistently harassed by the snakes who lived in the main house.

Maybe it was because his poison was stronger than theirs, or because his physical body was naturally superior.

They took every opportunity to subject him to outrageous abuse.

And the more they did, the more Karon acted like the perfect, loyal servant.

Like a devoted hunting dog to his master.

Eventually, the direct bloodline heirs began to use him without hesitation, even sharing information with him.

Like now.

The second snake, puffing himself up, replied proudly:

“No matter how strong your poison is, you think that’s all there is to it? If you’re born a snake, you use your head. Naturally, I exploited the Duke’s weakness.”

The Duke’s weakness.

It was the children he had taken in after being abandoned by their parents.

In truth, Karon was one of them.

“Little kids, they’ll forgive anything. That’s the trick. Use them to lay a trap. This time, I...”

“...”

Karon realized just how well he had learned to suppress his killing intent.

And thank the gods for that.

Because °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° he could now listen to the serpent’s rambling without a flicker of emotion.

***

Seraphina Bluewood had gone missing.

It was the first Basilisk son’s doing.

“Is she dead?”

Karon asked calmly, and the man, busy sorting documents, replied just as casually.

“No, I sent her to Prince Cesare Silveria. Said he wanted to own her alive, so I gave her to him on the condition that her rational mind be completely stripped away.”

“If she’s lost her mind...”

“She’s no different from a living doll. A walking corpse.”

He went on to mock Karon, saying that at least as the most promising High Priest candidate, he was better off than that woman.

“You’ll be branded with the Mark of Obedience, but as long as you follow orders, you’ll get to enjoy everything. Consider yourself lucky.”

Karon bowed his head in obedient silence.

Then she must be at the royal palace.

If he were to turn back time again, he would need to intervene before she was taken.

The moment she was captured by that prince, her mind would be lost.

So I need to...

Karon carved the solution into his memory like a brand.

***

This time, Elodie had not yet lost her healing ability.

It was strange.

The only thing different from before was that Karon wasn’t at her side.

No way...

The peace treaty broke.

War erupted.

“She’s clearly top-quality, but in that condition, she won’t last long.”

The Basilisk patriarch said this as he flipped through a report detailing the “specifications” of their test subject.

A person could be broken with just a few days of torture.

So it was no surprise that Karon—having endured far more—was now like a cracked glass, barely holding together.

The patriarch’s aide responded.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“I believe he can still be used until the time comes. His loyalty to the family has been thoroughly instilled, and he possesses a poison strong enough to wipe out entire villages.”

“Hmph...”

“Above all, the base traits of that test subject were taken from the former head researcher.”

They wouldn’t find another replacement like him, the aide added.

“You have something to do before being formally recognized as High Priest.”

The patriarch, expressionless as ever, finally spoke after silently observing Karon.

“During the chaos of war, eliminate the Capybara estate on the outskirts of the capital.”

“...”

A test of ability.

Each time Karon swallowed, it felt like swallowing needles.

Even though he’d done similar things before, this moment hurt worse.

And yet, even hearing those words, Karon’s expression didn’t change.

Just as he had been trained.

No ego. No self. Only a tool, used when needed.

“I will obey.”

Apparently satisfied with the response,

He was finally granted direct lineage.

***

The Capybara estate vanished without a trace.

In a single day—people, buildings, everything gone.

There was no precedent.

To all appearances, it looked like divine punishment.

The beastfolk of the empire were in an uproar.

And as if on cue, a rumor spread:

All of this happened because the Ratson family had been forsaken by their god.

The Capybara house, in particular, had taken a leading role in quelling public unrest after the Ratsons vanished.

They weren’t the only ones, of course—but that only made them a better scapegoat.

Those who had once followed the Ratsons purely because they were the High Priest family began to turn away.

Karon knew what came next.

The execution of the Ratson High Priest would be decided.

But things didn’t go as they hoped.

Because Elodie still hadn’t lost her healing ability.

The Ratsons hadn’t fallen yet.

Elodie was still clinging to the edge, holding everything together with trembling hands.

She’d narrowly cleared her name.

“Hm. Leave her alone for now.”

But the patriarch showed no sign of anger that the plan had gone awry.

He simply watched as Elodie struggled.

As if he had one last card up his sleeve.

***

Karon had come of age.

Though his body was a wreck, teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

The Basilisk hypothesis that repeated torture, healing, and experimentation would eventually spike both regenerative and detoxification abilities—turned out to be true.

“I can’t believe this actually worked...”

Even those who had doubted and thought he’d be ruined were stunned.

They had succeeded in fully modifying his body.

No matter what kind of deadly poison they injected, Karon remained unharmed.

Even the poison he had cultivated over the past four years no longer affected him.

Was it thanks to Basilisk research?

Not at all.

While the research had some effect, what made the real difference was the experience Karon had already gone through—before turning back time.

He had once achieved complete immunity through Elodie’s healing powers.

That was what made him into a truly irreplaceable, unique being.

And finally, Karon—soon to be High Priest—was granted the gem.

“Keep this on your person at all times.”

At last.

The object he had longed for.

“This is a hidden relic of the god Phenerus. It will soon serve as a substitute for the Holy Hammer.”

“You believe I’ll be able to wield it?”

“You must, no matter what. No one has been able to so far, but this was a relic granted to Basilisk, not Ratson.”

The patriarch’s black, abyss-like eyes glistened with untraceable ecstasy.

“Before this was bestowed, the god came to me in a dream. Told me to safeguard it, and one day pass it on to the one who would take my place.”

“...”

“To the one who will succeed me. In other words, the god’s next vessel will emerge from the Basilisk family. That’s what this means. He has heard our long-standing wish and granted it. This gem is the proof.”

Phenerus?

So it wasn’t just a stolen relic? There’s more to it than that?

But surely the god didn’t hand it over to support the Basilisks’ cruelty.

Especially not something only I can use.

While Karon was deep in thought, the patriarch’s voice began to rise with fervor.

“We may be borrowing the power of false gods now to fight Ratson, but that is no sin. Didn’t Phenerus Himself tell us to do whatever it takes to claim the High Priest’s seat?”

The patriarch’s voice grew manic.

“If we slaughter all of Ratson’s bloodline, the god’s power will become fully ours. Then this relic will function just like the Holy Hammer.”

Karon thought of Number Ten.

So that’s why he kept searching for the Holy Hammer—because even after killing Elodie, he still couldn’t activate the hidden relic.

The mystery was mostly solved now.

And finally...

Karon opened his eyes.

His gaze changed in an instant, now sharp as a blade.

“So you’ve been holding onto the relic ever since the divine prophecy?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you keeping it?”

“...Why do you ask?”

The patriarch’s mood darkened at the continued questioning.

Just like the very first time Karon had spoken to him—before time rewound.

“Know your place. Your name may be in the lineage, but you’re still a tool. A product.”

“Is it in the treasure vault?”

No reaction.

“The safe? No... then your chambers?”

Karon continued speaking, regardless of the patriarch’s increasingly threatening tone.

“Or perhaps... you’ve been carrying it on your person this whole time.”

“...”

“I see. That must be it.”

“...Have you lost your mind? A worm like you, who’d be discarded the moment you lose your worth, dares—grk!”

“That’s enough.”

Karon’s hand, laced with scentless, colorless poison, pierced straight through the patriarch’s gut.