Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: The Pure White Knight
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With a heavy thud, the door swung open, and we slipped inside.
What lay before us was a mountain of gold and jewels.
Treasure so dazzling it could drive anyone mad.
The fun part? It was all real.
For three full centuries...
Student council presidents, each convinced their reign was Jefrin's golden age, had stashed their spoils here to boast to the next generation.
Three hundred years' worth—hundreds of treasures on display, tailored to each era's tastes.
"An incredible hoard."
"Hm. See anything you like?"
"Nothing at all."
Nefti beamed. Not a trace of greed in her eyes.
"Impressive mental fortitude."
"No, it's not that... Hm."
"What is it?"
"It's just... You get used to fancy stuff, you know? In Royal Guard training, we saw all sorts of treasures, and some made me want them bad. But this... Haha, there's just so much."
"I see."
A treasure or two might spark desire, but a mountain like this? It feels like a museum exhibit.
Or like asking a kid how many puppies they want—they say "a hundred!" innocently. But surround them with a hundred real ones, and they freeze up in terror.
How do I know? At five, I told the director that, and a puppy pile-on left me in tears.
Anyway. Scale overwhelms desire, or it just feels unreal, snuffing out the greed.
No greed means things go smoothly.
We can only take two, per my deal with Eve, after all.
Can't sneak a couple extras?
Ha. What do they think I am?
If I could, I would. Obviously.
But past presidents weren't idiots. The total inventory is magically tracked.
They can't remove more now, but the count is locked in.
Eve gave me the list because it's magically verified.
Damn. Infuriating. Outrageous.
After all I've done—buying meals, sharing snacks, handing over the presidency, handling paperwork. A dozen imperial treasures in my pocket? Where's the gratitude? The world is steeped in darkness!
Anyway. Before looting my picks from the treasury, a proper greeting for our host.
Grrr.
A low beastly growl echoed from the shadows.
"Senior, step behind me."
"No need. Don't worry. We're the intruders here. And it's... reasonable enough."
A mane whiter than fresh snow. A size to blanket the world. Jet-black, translucent eyes on a massive bipedal frame.
The lord of this domain. One of the monarchs.
I smiled at it.
Bipedal, yet towering over me even on all fours.
Short body and legs overall. A curly tail coiled like a spring.
"The guardian beast of this land for a century. Ranien."
A white Pomeranian leaping lightly over human forms.
The boss of this map.
The colossal pure-white Pomeranian.
What a terrifying, awe-inspiring name.
Pomeranians are just bundles of cuteness, aren't they?
And this one's giant!
Even in the original game, it was hugely popular.
For promo, they'd ride it in banners.
Of course, the grindy schedules, flag management, and clunky controls made most quit...
First encounter shattered the "Let's play, woof!" ad image with its ferocity.
Ultra-limited acquisition, plus its hyper-aggressive breed. I chalked it up to no real pet experience.
Noobs thought, "How do I even hit that? Too big!" But one body-slam changes minds—talks break down fast.
No talk anyway.
It was love-hate. Twisted routes for promo bait, aggressive, brutal to tame as a mount pet.
"All ads are lies!" But hook 'em once, and they're sunk. Devs milked newbies hard with it.
Grrr!
Ranien crouched low, baring threats.
Attack intent signal.
Six patterns total. But here? None.
"【Insolent beast. How dare you bare your fangs before me? Do you know who stands before you?】"
Kiiing...
Animals have hierarchies. Recognize superiority, submit.
Seize control first, they're helpless.
"Senior, is that a?"
"Mm. As you see."
"...No intellect on Patrascheu's level."
"There's a story."
Exactly which president dumped it? Unmarked. Guess: 60 reigns back, about 130 years.
A noble picked up this abandoned pup, foisted it as a pet. President thrilled, tossed it in Loengrin Forest... and graduated.
"Never mentioned, but Patrascheu and I can converse."
"...That deep a bond?"
"No. Patrascheu enables true 'talk' with imperial blood. But doesn't that seem odd?"
"...Hm? What?"
"Fairies and humans don't share culture—why common language? Do fairies teach human tongue?"
"......Ah."
Hark's doing, ultimately. War demands lingua franca; human common became mid-realm standard.
But Ranien? No lessons. Basic smarts, no nurture, no speech or magic. Just giant Pom.
"Wild instincts left? Dangerous, no?"
"Maybe. But... looks fine."
"Right."
"Leave Ranien be. Time to pick our loot."
"Ah, yes!"
Nefti stared at Ranien, then scampered to me.
"Plans for what to take? So much treasure..."
"Two items max. One for Aila."
"Aha."
I found Aila's item quick.
"A staff?"
"Mm. What Aila needs most now."
Glance alone, tier alone—plenty strong for now.
Regina's best match, but Aila'll wield it well.
Next...
"Nefti. Your item now."
"Y-Yes... Ehehe?"
Why so shocked?
Tank in mage gear? Tanks need top gear in a party.
"Picked a few... Tch. Nothing great."
Imperial tanking rare—why stock armor?
No shields worth it; jewels and magic dominate. Painful.
Rudika's MR important, but expeditions need tank gear first.
Narrowed Nefti's to candidates; grab a match, bluff similar tier.
"Armor... Not better than Royal Guard plate overall. Shields worse than yours. Swords left, but..."
"Senior. Senior."
"Hm?"
"...Sorry, can I pick something else?"
"Fine by me... Ah, testing my Royal Guard eye? Go ahead."
"Yes! Then... that one!"
"That one?"
Nefti grinned ear-to-ear, pointing at Ranien.
That one?
Really that one?
Tons of items, but why that? Nefti giggled "Ehen."
"See, Senior... Other Royal Guards have warhorses. Amazing steeds! Mobility key for imperial escort."
"And?"
"But each costs billions of rin minimum. No way."
"True."
"So that's perfect."
"......Hm."
Logical. One question, though.
"Others ride stallions to join. You on... that? Fine?"
"Wolfram von Loengrin's Royal Guard rides a! So cool!"
No.
Not that.
The stares.
【Wolfram von Loengrin's Royal Guard rides a giant doggo.】
【Its cuteness pierces the heavens; foes can't attack. Truly Royal Guard-worthy.】
【Oh, Wolf Lord's pack rides pooches!】
I shuddered at the Jefrin rumors ahead.
...Ugh. If that spreads... my shame...
"And so cute—convenience store mascot? Flyers like 'We got pups too!' "
"Approved."
......
Devs pulled the same stunt. Mascots don't grow on trees.
Capitalism gonna cap.
But as Nefti approached—not me—it bared teeth again.
"I'm your owner now. Got it?"
"...Grr."
Accepts me, rejects her?
Imperial Bloodline redux incoming—
"Bad dog!"
"Keng!?"
Nefti spread arms, gripped its muzzle.
What followed was pure "discipline." Seen it in an EDS doc.
Grip muzzle to stop bites—sign of hierarchy challenge.
Ranien whimpered surrender. Released, Nefti puffed up bigger, glaring. Retry? Grip again. Soon, tail tucked, belly low.
Peak: mealtime.
"No. We eat first!"
Ignoring whines, Nefti chomped loudly. Ranien starved, cowed.
Pack life: alphas eat first.
Hours later.
"Hand."
Woof!
"Stay."
Woof!
"Eat!"
Woof woof!
Hours in, Nefti tamed it fully. Beamed.
"Quite skilled."
"Gluco's rural, Senior. Know animal husbandry well."
"...I see."
Tamed, right?
Thought wolf clan origins.
"Dogs are easy. Handled stubborn cows, horses too."
"What about the real holdouts?"
"Hehe. Truly defiant ones..."
"Then?"
"No choice."
"......"
Rural shortages—meat, hides. Humans first, even if family.
Nefti smiled naturally.
Kiiing.
Ranien sensed the killer instinct, belly-up.
Return from expedition.
Ranien offered its back gladly. Nefti hopped on fluffy saddle.
tough—ten riders easy.
But... Pom cavalry? For real?
"Up, Ranien!"
Woof!
Party screen: Nefti's trait 【Melee Cavalryman】 added. Title: 【Pom Rider】.
"So cool! Pom Rider!"
"......Is it."
"Yes!"
Yeah. Guess so...
"Wolfram von Loengrin's Royal Guard Nepthelian! Doubles as Pom Rider from today!"
"......"
Why's the shame mine?