Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Orders from Someone Weaker Than Me
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Io von Loengrin couldn't believe what she had witnessed.
Those beast-like eyes, cold beyond measure.
She called herself a knight.
Naturally, she had been on expeditions to places like the Sleeping Mountains or the Eastern Forest and had fought monsters before.
But Wolfram's eyes were on a completely different level from mere monsters of that caliber.
Was this really her foolish little brother?
Yet those eyes, and the voice negotiating with Lia—who embodied her own despair—lingered in her mind, unforgettable.
Even now, thinking of Lia Dia Frost made her body tremble uncontrollably.
That land. The hellish snowfields of the Frost Plains. The sky dyed purple, ice spears raining down, snow surging from the ground, the earth cracking, the world collapsing.
The sky meshing with the earth and flipping over, surrounded by tens of millions of monsters in that despair—amid the clash of ice and wind, the voice of the cold woman.
"......"
In a mere moment of amusement, the lives and deaths of a thousand people there, including her own, had been decided. She could have killed them or spared them. There was no particular reason to let them live. Nor was there to kill them exactly like that, so they survived.
And such a woman had conversed with Wolfram von Loengrin as equals, comrades with aligned goals.
Io couldn't believe it.
Either it wasn't Wolfram, or... someone had played a cruel prank on her little brother.
When she wanted to turn away from this unbelievable reality, she met someone still in Jefrin whom she knew and trusted.
"Lady Io."
"Sylphia."
Spirit Knight. Sylphia Evergreengrove.
The proud elf knight whom she had tried to sway multiple times, but who ultimately sided with Eve.
When she returned to Jefrin, how glad she had been to see Sylphia still hale and hearty.
Come to think of it, wasn't she the perfect person for this?
"Sylphia. This might overstep the current student council's authority, but there's something I want to ask."
"If it's beyond my authority, I cannot answer. Otherwise, I will."
As expected.
Still a loyal knight.
She could trust her enough to ask.
"It's about Wolfram. My little brother."
"Wolfram, you say?"
"Yes. What on earth happened to that child...? Can you tell me? He's so utterly different now that I..."
"You felt it too, Lady Io. That dignity completely unlike his school days... Those sharp eyes aren't to my liking, honestly... No. I really hate that guy..."
"Sylphia?"
"Yes? Did you say something?"
"No. You were suddenly muttering to yourself."
"I did no such thing. You must have misheard."
"...Is that so? Anyway, Wolfram seems a bit changed. Is he still as violent as ever?"
"Yes. I don't think his nature has changed. But the way he cares for the underclassmen is somewhat admirable... Or that he's not entirely rotten... This armor feels... so warm and cozy..."
"Sylphia?"
"It's nothing. Were you saying something?"
"......You seem tired, so I won't ask long. Just... since he's different from the Wolfram I knew... Is there anyone by his side egging him on or leading him to change? It's a matter of imperial importance."
"From my investigations, absolutely not. I can say that with certainty."
"...I see."
"Yes."
From the rumors Io had heard, Sylphia was undoubtedly a hardliner. Someone who had moved to expel Wolfram from Jefrin.
If this knight she trusted said so,
Then Wolfram had truly changed of his own accord.
Or...
"He had been hiding his true self until now?"
Not a mongrel dog, but a wolf.
Not a pup, but an adult.
Now baring his fangs and shaking his golden mane?
"Is this a blight or a blessing for the imperial family... And of all times, why Wolfram now."
Either way, one of the legitimate heirs to the throne had revealed himself.
"I need to hear Eve's side too..."
Having listened to Sylphia's rambling account, Io made her decision and headed to the student council room.
Io's expedition was actually a piece of foreshadowing that appeared several times in the original story.
Not long ago, when Eve issued the gold-rank entry permit, she had said things like, 'Why of all places the north? Do you know how many have gone missing there?'
That was because Io's expedition failed, and if I succeeded, I'd become Jefrin's new record holder, right? But young hot-blooded fools charged headfirst into the ice mountains and went missing.
And what's funny is, even in the original game days, plenty of noobs had stuck their heads into those northern mountains and perished.
Yeah. Newbie sob stories—why charge in when vets say don't? Every vet play has intent behind it; stick your head in knowing that.
【Lia Dia Frost】 wasn't a boss meant to be beaten when Frost Plains opened.
Strictly speaking, not even one to hunt until game ending.
What game has you fight faction bosses head-on? Faction bosses are for quests: "Thanks," get gear, accept quest. Faction bosses aren't pushovers.
If you wanna take Lia that bad, team with Gran and Felice, dunk her in lava or something. Otherwise, no dice.
Even in her home turf, Frost Plains? Bet she's two or three tiers above Elphirane. Even max-level Eve, Kelters, Regina mix with Nefti tanking? No chance. Gotta go with elf sisters Shaina, Dark, and dive in for a shot.
So Io von Loengrin's expedition? Honestly, just a showcase of hotheaded idiocy.
Even in-game, full magic resist set and you're still status-afflicted to death. Shoving a thousand knight division kids in? No way that's a strat. Lia just spared them. Normal spirits are emotion-driven: enemy? Kill first, think later. How dumb did they look that she didn't even see foes?
In this world where game became reality, even vet me treads carefully, step by step. This game's hellish difficulty. I'm so steeped I can go "Ooh hot" while it burns.
Anyway, hopefully Io leaves me alone now.
She will, right?
There was a time I thought that.
"Wolfram. I need to talk. Can you spare time for your big sis?"
"......Go home."
Really annoying.
Please leave.
Before the Super Yi Young-jin inside me awakens.
Io ignored my words.
No choice. Gotta wake Super Yi Young-jin inside and quench his thirst with her blood.
Sorry. Promised never to let him out again.
"First, respecting your self-employed stance, I've prepared about five million rin as business disruption compensation."
"Sit. I'll brew some tea."
Man, sis, that hurts. Between us, a day's nuisance is fine, why so stiff?
"Fine tea. A taste I've never had... calms the mind."
"Tea brewed from ice crystal herbs from Lia Dia Frost. Infused with cold mana, stabilizes body and mind, purifies mana flow."
"...R-Really? I see."
P.S. Quest reward from yesterday.
Don't make me laugh. Hand over the enhancement potion, you damn...!
But Lia just laughed. Tempted to stretch her cheeks.
Anyway, just tea leaves, decent amount, so distributing while name-dropping.
"So, reason for visiting?"
"Any interest in the throne?"
"......"
Whoa, straight no-build-up stab. Live once, hit the brakes sometimes. For real.
"If so, you'd be my enemy?"
"No. Don't assume."
"Assuming. Yeah, maybe. I'll believe zero interest. Then... who do you plan to support?"
"No plans to support anyone."
"Bad judgment. Wolfram. Sis saying this purely for you."
Io explained as follows.
Unless living as a hermit, as imperial kin, rumors inevitable.
Better to back someone; easier mind.
Win? Get a seat. Lose? Be scapegoat.
Logically sound.
So what?
"Even so. I won't side with Io von Loengrin."
"......"
"You're too weak to begin with."
At my words, Io widened her eyes, stared, then sighed deeply.
"Not rude?"
"Why side with someone who struggled at mere Frost Plains?"
"...Mere. Mere?"
"Of course. Me solo-clearing Frost Plains, you want me under you after collapsing at the entrance with a thousand-strong force?"
Io flushed with shame, clenched her fists.
One more before she goes.
"I don't follow orders from the weak."
"Fine. Got it. Then if sis gets strong, you'll join my faction?"
"That won't happen."
"...Why not?"
"You just wanna use me as a signboard. Better solidify my own faction, or collab with other imperial kin..."
"Who then? Big bro? Big sis? Or?"
"......"
A face flashed briefly.
Shook it off, head shake.
"Don't care who next emperor is. Collab with Trista house, build independent faction. Done."
"Saying that makes me want you more."
With that, Io stood.
Persistent one.
"See you later."
"Before that. Exam wager? I rin."
"......Sis is weak, but you insist?"
Of course.
"Yes. Separate matters."
"...Contact palace later for desired item. Don't fleece weak sis too much."
"I'll consider."
Yeah.
Just consider.
That stormy evening after Io left.
Visitor to convenience store: Eve.
Eve sat, gazed ceiling with enlightened expression.
"Sis left. Whew... truly a storm."
"Indeed. Quite the nuisance."
"You too... well. Kinda. Hardship... no, I did all hardship. Effort... no, all effort mine."
"Here to pick a fight?"
"Tch. Can't good words be heard quietly?"
Where was the good word? Explain.
Narrowed eyes, glared at Eve; she glared back.
Exchanged middle fingers as usual, growled briefly, then back to chit-chat.
"So. What'd sis say?"
"Nothing much. Join her faction. Standard headhunting."
"Did you accept?"
"Curious?"
"No! Not at all!"
At my smirk, Eve freaked.
"Why join under weaker than me?"
"Right. Expected, but... whew."
Eve visibly relieved at my tale.
"Choosing just makes you a signboard puppet. They want useful dolls."
"Yeah. Actually, offers from sis and bro flood me too."
"Hate to say it, but mutual suffering."
"Feels bad finding comfort there, but yeah."
Small sighs overlapped.
Brief contemplation. Eve spoke first.
"I'll head out."
"Take candy pack."
"Finally revering student prez? I'll take premium."
"Pay up."
"Drop dead."
Saying so, Eve slapped down ten-thousand-rin bill, grabbed candy, left store.
Alone in store, sank into thought again.
Living as Wolfram.
One day, must choose as imperial kin.
"Next emperor, huh."
Well.
If emperor guarantees my freedom, collab not impossible.
Honestly, who does that?