Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: 23-3. Who is the Uninvited Guest?
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The Magic Club's haunted house booth was running quite successfully.
"What's scary about this...?"
"Gyaaah!!"
"...Senior, didn't you say it wasn't scary?"
The harpy and oni from earlier were back. The horned man who had seemed fearless clung to his junior with a shriek when a yellow Cerberus leaped out from the side.
"Kwaaak! It's just a cat that talks big!"
In the dimly lit booth where barely any light filtered in.
On top of that, Mardol's glass walls and ceiling distorted objects, making the costumes even scarier.
"Grrrrrr."
"Kyaaah! W-Water Ball!"
Some students even fired off spells in fright. Mardol drew his sword and sliced the incoming water orb in half.
"Don't use magic."
"Ah... Sorry. I was just so startled..."
Anywhere else, and if the princess had gotten drenched, it would've been a disaster. I hadn't seen the event where the Imperial Guard massacres players yet, but still.
"Licht, thanks."
"No problem."
The Locke Emperor probably doted on his child just as much. The fact that Mardol's features weren't public was proof of that.
'One wrong move, and heads could roll.'
I swallowed hard. Honestly, I was curious why she never took off her helmet.
'Come to think of it, I've never seen Mardol's face.'
Even if I chalked it up to my special item perk, it was still weird. I shouldn't be thinking about other women besides our saintess, but why did it keep nagging at me?
'It's because of Magic Hat. Don't overthink it, Lee Soo-hyun.'
Seeing the hidden princess's face for the first time? That screamed Mardol route to anyone. I'm all about our saintess. No harem plans, not even in death.
My feelings belong to her alone. I shook my head to clear the thoughts.
"Sorry, but please exit now."
I pointed toward the exit. Better to send them off before more trouble. After escorting one group out, Mardol spoke up beside me.
"Licht, something wrong?"
"...Nothing. So, is your arm okay?"
"Yeah. I'm strong."
The wooden monster clutched the spare helmet like a treasure. My voice echoed from the gear with blue flames flickering around it.
"Hey, Mardol. Got a quiz for you. Wanna guess?"
"Sure. Hit me."
"...Do you know what metal makes gear with the highest evasion rate?"
No matter how I sliced it, her affection was too high. Time for some dad jokes to dial it back—aim for pure comrade route.
She pondered the riddle for a long time before...
"No idea."
She looked up at me with sparkling eyes, like she wanted a hint.
"What's the answer...? Licht?"
"Mithril."
"Ah."
Mardol covered her mouth like she'd been shocked. Yeah, even you'd find it ridiculous. It was a gag our cute saintess loved.
"Ow, that hurts. Mardol."
"..."
Was she mad? She started lightly smacking me. It was more playful than painful, but expressing rejection like this was good.
"Hmph, that joke... No one could get it."
"Of course. It wasn't meant to be solved."
Failed humor needs explaining—that's the trap I prepped. I glanced at the deep pit nearby.
"So... you filled this with Training Slimes?"
"Yeah. Seemed best. Licht."
The jiggling slime monsters. No real harm there. Worst case, clothes get wet and slimy.
They could just walk through to the entrance. It was a haunted house, after all—had to have some of that.
'Ariel's... doing great.'
I spotted a cat vanishing into flames with a "Hehe!" then reappearing. Non-burning fire licked at her feet.
'She shouldn't keep doing that.'
Dizziness hit again. My hand instinctively went to the glass-masked part. My trauma was getting worse lately.
"Licht, you okay...?"
"...I'm fine. I'll rest a bit—let me know if a guest comes."
That's when it happened. Mardol suddenly set her helmet down, yanked me sideways, and pulled me against her. Her strength left no room for resistance.
"Lean on me?"
Like I wasn't already. The wooden monster matched my eye level right beside me. Like dozing on a stranger's shoulder in the subway or bus.
"No! I'm good now!"
It was exactly like that. I jolted upright. This girl was impossible to let my guard down around.
"Good. Licht. You perked up."
"You scared me. Why'd you do that?"
"...You're a perv, Licht."
It just felt like hard wood—why call me the perv? The grade exam karma ran deep. When did Mardol turn into the teaser?
'Not sure if her doing this only to me is good or bad.'
Her shift from numb and somber to more positive was nice, though.
But why me, an extra, and not another hero? Plenty of better guys in this world.
I sighed. What if she really locked me in the imperial underground? If she heard I hung around the saintess...
'Her only friend hasn't shown up lately, so she imprisons me... Nah, too far.'
In [Black Heart], if Lupus dated an Imperial Guard, something like that happened.
Now, after I saved the empress from Magic Hat, he wouldn't. The issue was her—zero prior info.
"Licht."
Granasia Empire's princess. [Grand Hearts Academy]'s heroine. Mardol Granasia. Impossible to predict.
She'd bizarrely greeted my sword in the grade exam and just told me to lean on her.
If only she had patterns like easy comrade routes Kainel or Ariel.
"Tell me more about that one?"
I was shocked she strung words together like that. The dad joke? Wasn't it lame? Her reaction gave me chills.
"What mineral does a horned duck love most?"
"...Orichalcum."
Mardol flashed a V-sign, gloating her win.
"..."
"Got it."
She saw through me. Like last time—how? Kids today wouldn't know that old humor mag gag...
"Ah, there you are. My dear grad student."
Just as I plotted to flag someone else away from Mardol.
"...Professor Dennis?"
"Hello, Professor."
The blue-haired man reeking of booze approached us.
Dennis staggered in with a friendly smile, exhaling hot boozy breath.
"You're doing well, lads."
"Here to check the club booth?"
"Yeah. Can't have issues."
He nodded agreement, popped a small bottle from his pocket with a click, and chugged.
"Any special requests?"
"Ah, please ban magic inside the booth."
"Reason?"
He inspected the glass maze, waving at the warping sizes, checking thoroughly.
"Some get scared and attack with spells..."
"Anything else?"
A buzzing voice came from beside me. Mardol, in her Cuore costume, spoke.
"...Fatigue recovery magic circle. Need one."
"Easy enough. Here."
He drew a water-drop circle. Standing on it melted away my exhaustion.
"Licht, better?"
"...Yeah. Thanks."
"Good."
Somehow her saying it felt off. She must've noticed my stagger earlier—let it slide.
"Magic barrier's set now."
Paat. The 3D magic ring in his hand expanded, orbiting the booth like Saturn's rings, dividing inside from out.
Water droplets splashed inside with a patter. Coolness pierced my visor.
"...Thanks."
"Oh, right. Licht."
"Yes?"
Done with tasks, he turned to leave but paused. Another event?
"Know about the night market tonight? Food stalls, plays, the works."
"Sounds good. You going too, Professor?"
"I'll be at the nearest tavern. Anywhere selling booze."
Drunken Dennis gonna Dennis. Hearing his classic line after ages...
'Glad he's the same guy I knew.'
I smiled unwittingly. Good thing the helmet hid it.
'Perfect for raising Kainel and Ariel's affection.'
Night market dates are romantic. Glancing over, I saw Cerberus and Cheshire Cat playing.
"Grrr...! Ariel, scary, right?!"
"H-Hey, not scary at all! Idiot Kai...!!"
"Whoa, spider there!"
"Eeeek!!"
Childhood friends knew each other too well—like bragging. Lying about bugs? Ariel's almost crying. Comfort her quick.
"...Licht, that."
Mardol pointed at the hero couple. You get it now too?
"...Why not date?"
"Dunno. Answer's simple, though."
Mutual respect is love. That's natural. Probably not ready yet. Reality's harsh.
Pure as first snow, it soils easy without resolve. Pure love breaks without it.
They eloped before the Magic Hat finale in the sequel—fitting, really.
"I don't get it..."
Mardol tilted her head, branches blocking my view.
As Dennis exited the booth,
"Ah, sorry."
"My fault for not looking."
He lightly bumped a passerby entering. Shoulders brushed.
"You okay?"
"Fine. You?"
"I'm good. Sorry."
"Nah, my bad more. Young man."
The brief encounter ended. Both at fault, no hard feelings—just a fleeting, fateful brush.
"...Dennis, huh. Long time."
Head muttered shortly, watching the blue-haired man go. He stared at the "Haunted House Booth" sign,
"If not for Magic Hat, that could've been dangerous."
He carefully readjusted the mask nearly dislodged in the bump.