Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Sisters of Rebellion and Revolution
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Aila Trista.
This walking bomb of rebellion had tossed out her explosive casually and vanished.
Trista Territory. Eden.
The home base of the family boasting the empire's strongest mining industry.
I only knew it from the game's lore.
A bit west of the imperial capital.
The Trista family ruled that land filled with wastelands and mountain ranges.
Hmm. So I have to head there.
Me, starting now...
"Wolfram von Loengrin. You there?"
"Nope. If you're not a customer, get out."
"Full set of drinks and snacks. One bag of candy."
"Welcome. What else can I get you?"
Eve von Loengrin—my blood-related registry mate—suddenly walked into the convenience store.
But when I realized it was Eve, she was already a customer.
Eve, but a customer. Caught between my itchy urge to flick her forehead and treating her as a customer, I chose the latter.
"Hurry up and leave once you've bought everything."
"Treating a customer like that...?"
"You're not a customer anymore."
"...Well, that's true, but... Anyway, that's not it. I came to talk."
"About what."
"Ahem. Um. Ah, seriously. I'll only say it once, so listen up."
Eve scratched her cheek, her face flushed, then dipped her head slightly and continued.
"Th-thanks to the potions, there were fewer reports of magical motion sickness among the parents. Um... Thank you."
"Got it. Good thing you only say it once."
"...Pardon?"
"Hearing it twice might make me hurl. Tsk. What kind of thanks is that."
"If I killed you right here, wouldn't even that once disappear?"
Whoa.
No bad deeds allowed.
"So, is that all?"
"Ah, no. There's more. Have you decided where to go for the field trip?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because of you."
"...?"
"You really don't know? Listen up. This potion set sale will definitely impact beyond Jefrin. The world will be watching your moves."
And Eve's explanation continued.
The subtle differences between Trista and Ciela houses. The perception shift from the items I released. The potential conflicts that could arise as a result.
"So if you haven't decided on the field trip destination, go to the imperial palace. Wouldn't it be better to report to Father what Wolfram von Loengrin is up to there?"
"Hm. Report to Father, huh."
"Yes."
She called him "Your Majesty" in official settings, but apparently "Father" in private among family. Useful info.
That said, from Eve's words, it sounded like more hassle than I thought, and it'd be tiring. As she suggested, returning to the palace might be smart, but...
"I've already decided where to go for the field trip."
"Where? You didn't do something stupid, right?"
"...Trista's Eden territory."
"You idiot...!"
Oh my, look at her aiming a holy spear at her brother.
She might actually hit me like this.
"Hoo... I'm debating whether killing you would secure lasting peace for the Loengrin Empire."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"I know. Tsk... Anyway, Wolfram von Loengrin."
Eve flicked her hand, dissolving the spear, and glared at me.
"What."
"Watch yourself. Come back safe, without a scratch. If you get hurt or go missing, it'll be a huge problem."
"...?"
What did she eat wrong? Is she actually worried about me?
"If you die... I'll be the prime suspect. Suspicion that I tried to take you out! You have any idea how much that would block my path?"
"Aha."
There it is.
False alarm.
"...So come back in one piece."
"Mm. Will do."
The day of the field trip dawned.
Eden, where Aila Trista and Wolfram von Loengrin were headed, lay in the continent's west, naturally connected by warp portals.
Jefrin covered the warp portal fees for field trips, making it hassle-free.
Thus, these trips became arenas for 'faction confirmation,' 'benefits' or 'scouting,' and even 'betrayal.'
Students weren't just going for innocent 'field learning'; they became 'messengers' delivering 'parental orders.'
When secretly passing info to someone in the same faction, using a kid at Jefrin was easier than couriers or magic crystals.
Hence, field trips were prime for massive political impact...
"Ahaha, Wolfram! Aila! Long time no see!"
"Miss Rudika. It's been a while."
"Ahaha, thanks for including me, Rudika!"
"...I don't recall hearing Rudika was joining our group."
"Oh. Didn't I mention?"
"...No."
"I see. Rudika's coming along too."
"Wolfram! Looking forward to it!"
Aila.
Shouldn't you mention that beforehand?
"Does Wolfram dislike Rudika?"
"No, not that. But I am curious. Why the west of all places?"
"Actually, there was talk of heading south this time."
"Mm. And?"
"Going home means hassle. More assassination targets and such. Field trips aren't for picking up extra work, right?"
"Hm. True."
My head nodded on its own.
Visiting your own home for a field trip sounded like a ton of annoyances.
"Is that so? I'm just happy to go home after so long."
"Really? Aila, you're such a good kid! Haha!"
"......"
Everyone except Aila.
"I just want to relax a bit. That's Rudika's honest feeling."
"I get it. Alright, looking forward to it, Rudika."
"Ahaha. Yeah!"
Rudika offered a handshake, brighter than usual.
I lightly gripped and shook her hand, then a voice called from ahead.
"Next group. Warp portal ready."
"Let's go. Wolfram, you can let go of that hand now."
"...Hm? Oh, right."
"Ahaha, Wolfram's hands are big!"
A slightly pouty Aila for some reason, and a beaming Rudika.
Me. Rudika. Aila. And Patrasche.
Three people and one beast, utterly unconnected to politics.
Ah, what a truly peaceful trip this'll be.
Passing through the warp portal, the scenery shifted before our eyes.
A skill I'd used often in the game, but experiencing it firsthand felt oddly novel.
Like stepping into a floating oval of blue light and emerging elsewhere.
"...We're here."
"Eden's eastern gate. Mm... About a 20-minute walk to the mansion."
"Mm. Got it. 20 minutes..."
A bit dizzying.
The west was pretty hot, and walking 20 minutes in this state might kill me.
Well, Patrasche was here; if it got tough, I could ride him.
"Mm. No, they're coming soon. Ah... There they are."
Aila smiled brightly, glancing afar. Rudika and I followed her gaze to see a carriage rattling toward us.
The carriage pulled up, and an elderly man in butler attire stepped down, bowing deeply to Aila.
"Welcome home, miss."
"Yes. It's been ages, head butler."
"Indeed, it's been too long. Your Imperial Highness, Prince Wolfram von Loengrin."
"Mm."
"And who might this be? Could you introduce her?"
"Rudika Hassan Shadow, joining us for the experiential learning."
"Hassan Shadow... My. The shadows of the south..."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Rudika."
"Likewise. Please, board the carriage."
We three climbed in, leaning back as the carriage rolled forward.
Patrasche kept pace beside us.
"......"
"...Mm."
Staring like, Why can't I ride?
But ignore.
Can't help it. You look like you'd crowd it... and smell like an unwashed dog...
So you get it, right?
"......"
"Ahem."
Passing a grand, imposing mansion amid a sea of servants' welcomes, the carriage entered the grounds.
A ridiculously massive welcome at a sparkling mansion. But thanks to the tier-1 skill 【Imperial Bloodline】's compulsion—"In any situation, conduct oneself befitting imperial blood"—I somehow endured.
But...
"It's been a while, Your Imperial Highness, Prince Wolfram von Loengrin."
"Yes. Likewise."
"We'll be family someday. No need for such formality."
"Pardon?"
"Haha. You can call me father-in-law."
"...That's. Um..."
"Daddy!"
"What's wrong! Ahaha! Good things are good, right? Dear, look at Aila blushing. You never imagined this?"
Aila's father laughing and greeting me... was seriously, no joke, overwhelming.
For real.
This is no laughing matter.
After unpacking lightly and hearing the field learning started tomorrow, tonight's dinner was with the Trista heads—aka Aila's parents.
Rudika had bolted, insisting on wandering nearby.
Sneaky jerk opting for a quick escape for peace of mind.
But I couldn't.
So, in Wolfram's context... future father-in-law and mother-in-law.
......
We're not even dating, yet they're already here in this world.
This world must have a bug.
"Is the food not to your taste?"
"No. It's fine. Don't worry."
"Yay!"
And a mini-Aila staring and beaming—Spica Trista, Aila's little sister.
"Hehe. His Highness looks awkward. Tone it down a bit."
"Right. So, Aila, care to share what's been happening at Jefrin?"
"Huh?"
"No news since His Highness stepped down as president. ...I'd like details."
"Yes. Ahem. Well, starting with how I dunked on that wretched Regina Cielra!"
"Oh, really?"
"That Ciela eldest daughter?"
"...Aha. Haha..."
Damn.
My stomach hurts for real.
Afterward, Aila's one-woman Wolfram saga wrapped up after about thirty minutes.
"Ahem. And that's how it happened! Truly rebellious, right!"
Why does she even attend the academy? She could fill opera houses in the capital like this.
"Really, so revolutionary!"
"Right? Spica, you get it! Super rebellious?"
"Yes! Super revolutionary!"
"Rebellion!"
"Revolution!"
......
Yeah. That's her type.
Spica Trista.
Aila's sister, enrolling when Kelters is a second-year.
If Aila's the lady of rebellion, Spica's the girl of revolution.
The rebellion-revolution sisters grabbed hands and giggled.
...Is this hell on earth?
"Ahem. I see. Magical sweets and reforms. Steps toward the outside... His Highness has truly begun walking the path. For the Loengrin Empire's reform."
"...Mm? Uh, yeah."
"Ahem. Understood."
What do you understand?
Father on reform, eldest on rebellion, second on revolution.
Impressive family.
"And that wolf resting outside... No ordinary beast."
"Ah. Fairy queen's direct retainer. A fairy."
"Pardon? My. Indeed. That magic power... from the fairy queen who vanished centuries ago..."
"Yep."
Aila's father, Count Glass Trista, pondered deeply.
The rest was a pleasant, laugh-filled dinner. Finally, I relaxed a bit.
As the meal ended...
Count Glass Trista finally spoke.
"So, when do you plan to propose?"
"......Pardon?"
Pardon?