Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: If Your Tail is Long, You'll Get Caught
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'Heh heh, still, it wasn't without gains.'
The Sky Knights from some nameless territory who had attacked me and the beastkin without knowing their place.
I'd collected the seven wyverns they left behind, along with the air plates and a hundred blessed spears, before arriving back at the territory.
The fools had followed us all the way to the entrance of the Rual Mountains before turning back at some point, and as soon as they did, I'd doubled back, gathered the spoils, and returned.
'Everyone's already here.'
I ordered the beastkin to escort the guests to the Foreign Sky Wing.
And sure enough, since they'd arrived first, nine pitch-black wyverns were parked in one corner of the spaceless Foreign Sky Wing.
Kuuooooh!
On the way back after stowing the spoils in the temporary wyvern hangar outside the city.
Bebeto let out his signature thick, heavy roar from overhead the Sky Wing.
Kiaaaah!
Kuaaaah!
'Huh...'
And then I saw it.
The wyverns playing around the hangar or on the runway flapping their wings and roaring back in response to Bebeto's cry.
'Ugh, that lucky bastard.'
How many females had he conquered? He was receiving such an enthusiastic welcome.
Gracefully flapping his wings, he landed stylishly.
Acting like he owned the place.
'I won't lose! How can a human be inferior even to a monster! Bebeto, you're my rival in life now!'
Pitiful as it was to make a wyvern my rival, the boiling jealousy wouldn't subside easily.
The master toils like a dog all day, only to hug a pillow alone in an empty bedroom at night, while another lounges around, toying with all the female wyverns like an emperor.
Envy fueled my motivation.
Not too many—just five beloved women to build a harem with and live a stylish life.
"Chung!"
As Bebeto and I landed, the waiting knights and soldiers shouted "Chung!"
It felt great.
The joy of being welcomed like this every time you return from a job—only those who've experienced it know.
"My lord, you've returned!"
"Haha, a bit late."
"You honor us. Please, come in. Prince Razsion and Princess Aegis await in the dining hall."
Derbal had come out to greet me, as if he'd been waiting.
"Everyone alright?"
"No external injuries, and Saintess Armis personally bestowed blessings for mental stability."
'Aww, my pretty girl, so thoughtful.'
Armis took care of everything without being told.
How could I not adore her?
"My lord, pork belly, kimchi, and rice cooked with kotiv are prepared."
"Oho! Really?"
Life was simple.
Work hard, come home to a warm welcome and good food—that's happiness.
Of course, if the welcomer was a woman, it'd be perfect.
"This way, please."
Derbal, perfect in serving his lord from start to finish.
He was an excellent knight, except for those occasional petty moments.
'Aegis and Irene. Heh heh heh.'
Just thinking of those beautiful faces lifted my spirits.
My steps lightened as I headed to the dining hall.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Creak.
I stopped by my room to shed the air plate and change into formal attire.
The one and only formal outfit from last year's imperial ball.
I'd brought it along in case Aegis would be sad if I didn't, and now it came in handy.
'Even I think I look sharp.'
Never measured my height, but I'd grown a bit since last year, with more muscle too.
A physique sharper than any of those "Korea muscle kings."
Especially the chocolate abs king stood out.
The formal wear draped over that perfect body.
Summer-weight cloth, but the heated dressing room building with insulation magic circles kept it comfortable.
'Time to go.'
A noble heading to entertain guests invited to his territory.
For the first time, pride swelled in my chest.
Just a year ago, I'd been chased out with hybrid wyvern Bebeto and Derbal, alone.
Now, a year later, I owned a territory that could invite royalty.
Sure, it'd be a battlefield come spring, but so what?
I knew how to enjoy the day.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Click.
I opened the dining hall door.
Invited to the dining hall specifically, they probably hadn't eaten properly on the way.
'Whoa!'
First to catch my eye: the dazzling beauties seated at the right head table.
'Not a beauty collection or anything... insane.'
At the far right head sat Aegis, Armis beside her unbound by status, and next, silver-haired Irene watching me with an enigmatic smile.
'Huh? Center head is empty.'
Opposite, little Prince Razsion beamed at me, Baron Rosero winking in welcome.
And the center head table.
My usual seat was vacant.
'Gasp!'
But the most shocking sight.
'Lu, Lucel!'
Yes.
Next to Sir Rosero among the men sat Lucel.
My roommate Lucel—no, her real name Lumina—who'd tasted my lips first on the continent, stared at me with her short, boyish hair.
She smiled brightly.
As I gawked at her.
'Still living like a guy?'
Her female identity still seemed secret.
But I'd seen it.
Lucel, with her androgynous charm, held beauty that didn't pale next to these flowery women.
'Sigh, this is awkward.'
The collection was nice, but it spelled trouble.
Androgynous first-kiss partner Lucel, my heart's saintess Armis, intellectually devoted princess Aegis despite her status, and silver-haired bombshell Irene—my big sis, but irreplaceable.
'Bebeto, I'm jealous again.'
Monsters just needed a sturdy frame and skills to claim ten, twenty females, but as a human, my conscience stung.
Even if I was just dreaming kimchi soup alone, I couldn't give up any here.
Perfect setup for getting stabbed by every guy on the street.
"Princess Aegis, Prince Razsion, greetings."
I bowed in noble etiquette.
"We greet Count Cayer, savior of our lives."
"Thank you, savior of life."
Aegis rose and bowed back, the now-taller kid following suit politely.
"Thank you for saving my life."
Irene's soft blue eyes sparkled as she bowed.
"No need..."
I put on airs per etiquette.
"Haha, without you, Count, I'd have been knighted to evil god Kerma. I'll repay this grace someday."
Baron Rosero, who hated rigid etiquette, grinned good-naturedly.
"Good to see you again, Sir Rosero."
"Thanks for your grace, Count."
After greeting Sir Rosero, Lucel and the nameless knights rose, fists over hearts in knightly salute.
"Grace? I merely did what I had to."
Without decorum, man is beast.
Long since I'd followed noble etiquette, but it felt natural.
Wasn't I originally a rude boy from the land of Eastern manners?
"Please, sit. Seems dinner's delayed because of me."
'But where do I sit?'
Entering the hall, it was awkward.
Sitting the center head as usual felt off with princess and prince present.
Didn't want my territory knights gossiping about their lord lacking manners.
"Sit here. You more than deserve the head, Count."
Aegis, still standing, indicated it.
"But with prince and princess here, how can I..."
"No. We're no longer Vazran Empire's princess and prince. Just homeless exiles under your care."
Aegis spoke without showing sorrow.
She'd steeled herself.
"Brother, sit. I'm your brother from now on, Count Cayer."
The kid prince urged maturely after her.
'Aw, poor things.'
Siblings lost parents, home, country.
My heart ached sharply.
"Sit already. I'm starving, skin to spine."
Baron Rosero urged.
Irene and the knights silently approved the center.
Refusing further would be rude.
"Very well."
I bowed briefly and took the center seat.
"We'll serve dinner at once."
No head butler, so Derbal handled it.
'Quite the big family now.'
I already had plenty of knights, now princess, prince, and seven elite Sky Knights joined.
Sitting calmed me.
Taking them in made Vazran Empire official enemy.
No fear, but duty weighed heavy.
They had nowhere if I abandoned them.
I'd embrace them all.
That was my way of living.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Scrape.
"Munch."
Clink.
A meager meal compared to the imperial feast I'd given Aegis.
But no one complained.
They busily sliced lamb steaks, spread honey on bread, sipped cool fish soup.
Crunch.
'Kuuh! This is it.'
My simple meal, no envy for others'.
One kimchi leaf ripening, heaping white rice.
Pork belly perfectly charred on charcoal.
Bliss.
"Hehe, try some. It's kimchi—cleans the palate, addictive."
"Really? Smells spicy..."
"Wash it like I do, fine."
"Alright, I'll try."
Armis had already discovered kimchi's charm.
Not used to spice yet, she washed it clean to savor.
Now recommending to Aegis to bond.
'Funny, all use 'Ai' surnames. Heh.'
Armis, Aegis, Irene.
Rice with those three? Ambrosia.
Even a miser wouldn't know this joy.
One bowl down, wrap pork in kimchi, glance at beauties instead of ssamjang, devour.
Gulp gulp.
"One scorched rice soup coming."
"Thanks."
Done eating, Derbal prepped nurungji as always.
Iron pot from dwarf request.
Cooked rice, pressed crispy.
Unlike kimchi, nurungji pronounced fine.
"One for me too, Sir Derbal."
"Of course, Saintess."
'Already changed tastes.'
Armis loved bread till recently.
Now rice, kimchi, pork belly, even nurungji's depth.
She didn't know.
Once hooked on Korean food, no escape—like drugs.
"What's nurungji?"
Aegis, face red from washed kimchi, asked.
"Wanna try? Kotiv rice soup, savory, sticks to your mouth."
"Really? May I?"
"Right away, Princess."
Quick Derbal smiled, ready.
"Thanks, Sir Derbal."
"Our house's honor to serve you, Princess."
Derbal disliked nobles, but genuine to sweet, polite Aegis.
'Good. Wouldn't want trouble in Derbal's eyes.'
Arms bend inward.
Out of favor with my right-hand, I'd be uneasy.
Swoosh.
Maids brought three nurungji bowls.
"Slurp."
Spooned hot nurungji.
"Haa..."
Warmed mouth to heart.
Winter nurungji? Pure fantasy.
"Delicious!"
"Right?"
"Yes, savory warm soup fires the heart. Hehe, not even imperial palace."
"Hehe, glad you like."
Aegis and Armis chatted like friends.
Kind faces, kind hearts.
'Heh, good for me too. Them getting along.'
I smiled warmly at them.
Zap.
'Hmm?'
Two gazes on my face.
'Irene...'
Arms crossed post-meal, enigmatic smile as always, silver elf Irene.
Her eyes said it.
Play boy, as expected.
'Lu, Lucel.'
Lucel too, mid-bite bread, eyes saying.
Am I a scarecrow?
'Gotta be careful. If they learn about Narmias, Roko Roia, and Roshiate...'
Unclear, but beep beep! Alarm in head.
Sort your long tail before caught.