Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: If You Don't Want to Stand Alone
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“...And so, we’ve come to a final agreement on forming a marriage alliance for the time being, for those reasons.”
After completing the week-long brutal cold-weather training and the Karta campaign, Sion finished briefing his companions inside the tent where they had gathered. Everyone reacted with utter disbelief.
“...”
Especially Liliret, who had been staring at Sion silently since earlier. Her expression was priceless.
It wasn’t anger, nor disbelief—just a complete void of any emotion.
Thanks to that, Sion swallowed dryly about 128 times inwardly while waiting for the others’ reactions.
“Sion Klauzen, Young Lord.”
“Yes, Vice Commander Schumacher.”
“...Are you sure about this?”
“A sudden marriage alliance with a warrior from the northern barbarian tribes...”
“For now, yes. But we both have our circumstances, so we’re not rushing into it.
This agreement is just to minimize tensions between the kingdom and the north.”
It was called a marriage alliance, but the representative who had come on behalf of the king wasn’t someone who could just get married right away!
Honeymoon!
Set up house in the north!
Just like that!
The various tribal chiefs and warriors of Karta had argued exactly that point, claiming the alliance was impossible.
Of course, they’d been subdued right after by Zhan’s one-handed neck-twisting show.
“You mentioned you’re from the north, Vice Commander Schumacher, so you know better than anyone how significant a marriage alliance is to the tribes here.”
“...Indeed.
Once made, it’s like an unbreakable pact unless absolutely necessary.
As long as the marriage holds, attacking first is seen as the ultimate shame.”
“There was no other way.
With supplies to appease the northern tribes not even departed yet, this was the ‘best’ way to calm everyone down.”
Sion put heavy emphasis on “best.”
It was a signal to Liliret and Trisha, who didn’t know the full story: ‘There were extenuating circumstances, so give me time to explain privately.’
That was fine for those two, but Vice Commander Schumacher’s face wasn’t great either.
A noble among nobles, who could’ve allied with a prominent kingdom house, had put himself in the noose for his country.
No matter how strong or beautiful she was, her origins were northern barbarian tribes.
Schumacher knew full well that the nobles’ world wasn’t forgiving, no matter how noble the reasons.
‘Those clueless fools will snicker about him tying himself to a lowly woman, mixing kingdom blood with barbarian blood to birth a child.’
The thought alone made Schumacher tremble with rage.
Ignorant of how this young man in his prime was sacrificing everything to stabilize the nation, they’d gossip excitedly—enough to stir killing intent where there was none.
But he suppressed his anger.
Sion Klauzen, that remarkable noble, surely foresaw this future.
He’d sacrificed himself knowingly for his country.
“...His Majesty must be quite regretful.
Princess Vanessa too.”
At Schumacher’s mutter, Sion blurted “Huh?” He shook his head as if it was nothing and left the tent, saying he’d take his leave.
Now, only four remained besides Sion.
Liliret, Trisha, Rishika, and Kim Yu-hyun, leaning against a tent pole with arms crossed.
“Ahem, um... Liliret.”
Trisha was an issue, but Liliret was the biggest concern right now.
Sion cautiously called her name. The succubus queen, still expressionless, elegantly crossed her legs and stared at him.
“I’m going too.”
She shot up from her seat and slipped out of the tent before Sion could grab her.
‘Fuck.
Super fucked.’
Sion wanted to clutch his head and scream.
Heeding his father—the true great sage of this era: ‘If a woman’s pissed, the man’s fucked.
Reasons don’t matter; he’s unconditionally fucked.’
Especially since he was blatantly the cause.
“...That bitch.
Should’ve killed her after all.
Where is she?
Where’s that burn-in-hell bitch.”
Unlike the sulky Liliret, the woman approaching Sion with eyes blazing like they’d explode was, predictably, Trisha.
For the record, “blazing” didn’t just mean her eyes.
The mana around her heated up from her stigmata’s power, the air growing scorching.
Sion worried she’d cause a massive explosion in empty air and prioritized defusing the lit fuse first.
“Calm down, Trisha.
It was unavoidable.
This was decided for the kingdom.”
“Don’t care.
To me, only you matter, Sion.
If the kingdom or these barbarians are the problem, I’ll burn them all.
No matter the cost—even if it kills me, I’ll burn everything possible.
Just say the word.
Sion.”
“...”
Her vow to burn it all matched perfectly with that crazy bitch from novels, making Sion flinch and shudder.
This could turn disastrous. No matter how he coaxed, Trisha wouldn’t calm.
It was so dire that Rishika gripped her sword hilt, and Kim Yu-hyun, watching from behind, rolled up his sleeves with a “Should I subdue her?”
But Sion waved off the two swordsmen nearby.
Having others step in now would be like tossing fuel on roaring flames—pouring oil on fire.
‘When a kid won’t listen, the guardian has to get tough.’
With that thought, Sion grabbed Trisha’s lips without hesitation.
“Mmph?”
“Trisha, I warned you.
If you won’t follow my will, if you plan to harm my people, I can’t carry you anymore.”
“Mmmph!
Mmblmph!”
“This is crucial for me.
Yet you’re trying to ruin it.
You’re trying to ruin me.
Do you want me to burn in your flames too?”
His voice was icy cold, eyes hardened to steel.
Sion showed maximum ruthlessness.
Trisha shuddered violently, the scorching aura vanishing instantly.
Confirming she’d calmed, Sion released her lips.
She touched them, grumbling dissatisfiedly.
“...It hurts.”
“Hurts more for me.
Every time you doubt me and spout reckless words without a plan.”
“I did it for you, not anyone else!”
“I know.
I know all of it.
That’s why I worry more.
You start something ‘for my sake,’ and if my people hurt you trying to stop it...
I couldn’t blame anyone.
I’d blame only myself.”
“Th-that!
No!
You’ll never suffer because of me!”
“But I already did—when you said you’d burn it all.”
“Guhhh... How could...”
Forget kingdom or peace—Trisha only cared if the one she wanted was by her side. Everything else was irrelevant.
She’d do anything for him, craving his love in return.
Her affection—or obsession—was a blazing inferno.
‘Letting others control that flame just makes it bigger.
She must learn to dial it back herself, until she can stop igniting it altogether.’
Even the mightiest weapon or person is a hazard if uncontrollable—perfect for harming everyone around, including herself.
Trisha was with him, but not fully refined yet.
The way to control her? Become the reason himself.
“I know your heart well, Trisha.”
He’d gripped her lips hard before; now he stroked them gently.
The soft, warm feel made him linger, and her face flushed red, flustered.
“Anxious and frustrated, I get it—but wait for me.
Until I can accept all of you without reservation.”
He added a tender gaze for good measure.
Under Sion’s perfect handling, Trisha squeaked in overwhelm, then locked eyes with Rishika behind him.
Realizing her bad mood, triumph soared through Trisha like floating to the sky, mingled with slight embarrassment.
“W-well, I’ll head out too.”
Her anger at Zhan gone, replaced by forgiveness, understanding, and certainty of growing closer.
Like Liliret, Trisha bolted from the tent.
She’d probably roll in her sleeping bag, moaning “Aaaah!” in bliss.
“Haa.”
Sighing, Sion called to Rishika, who was pouting behind him—time to comfort the puppy-like girl.
“You did well, Rishi.”
“No need.
You endured far worse than me, Master...”
“These times, just nod quietly.”
Saying so, Sion stroked her shining golden hair.
Not a noble lady wasting time on makeup, but one swinging swords and training hourly—yet her hair was smoother than any pampered miss.
Had she lived as a normal woman, not a knight, she’d have tormented many men’s hearts as a beauty.
“Go rest.
Sleep deeply.
Didn’t see you properly rest while I was in Karta.”
“...Had to protect you, Master.
If you ask if it was tiring, I’d say never.
If anything... even sleep felt wasteful.
When I could be held in your arms.”
Whoa, good thing Liliret didn’t hear—would’ve made a bad situation worse.
Sion thought so, then quietly told Rishika: ‘Keep that our secret, just us.
Got it, Rishi?’
She nodded obediently. Grateful, he kissed her forehead lightly. Like the others, she darted out.
‘Aigo.’
Future worries him, really.
Self-chiding, Sion glanced sideways.
There sat Kim Yu-hyun, arms crossed, pretending with his whole body: ‘Saw nothing, heard nothing,’ staring at the wall.
“Thanks for playing along, Kim Yu-hyun.”
“Never butt into man-woman stuff, even on pain of death—that’s the rule.”
Kid sure learned that part well.
Muttering, Sion stared at him.
He could’ve left anytime without issue, but stayed till the end—must have business.
“Young Lord Sion.
Actually, I have a message for you.”
And the message Kim Yu-hyun relayed was very intriguing to Sion.
—
“Liliret.”
Reaching Liliret’s tent, Sion cautiously called her name and entered.
Anything might fly at him, but she wouldn’t kill him, right? Plus his father’s teaching: ‘If you know you fucked up, apologize first, no matter how mad she is.’
He stepped slowly.
“Um?”
No reply.
Suppressing growing anxiety, he scanned around and spotted something twitching in a sleeping bag, approaching slowly.
“...Liliret.”
Rustle-rustle.
A pale, delicate arm poked out, waving.
Come closer. As he did—
Shunk, yank!
“Gack!”
Where did that monstrous strength come from in such fragile fingers?
Sion’s collar was grabbed, face smashed into the sleeping bag.
He flailed to rise, but Liliret’s hands and chest pinned him down.
“Did you ignore my warning completely?”
Her eerie whisper in his ear made him shudder.
Better if he could see her face or eyes—but buried in her embrace, hearing only the chill voice, was pure agony.
“N-Nunim.
Hear me out first...”
Suddenly, his chin jerked up!
Liliret gripped it, gazed down briefly, then devoured his lips without hesitation.
Fiercer, hotter than ever—the kiss whitened his mind like a gunshot.
“Honestly, I was mad at first.”
Parting lips, her scary words followed. Her crimson eyes gleamed as if flames would pour out. Sion gulped; she giggled, licking her index finger before speaking.
“But then I thought: you didn’t lie.
So I felt a bit better.”
“Huh?”
“You like ‘nunim’ types.
From Lia to Trisha, your tastes seemed suspicious.
But falling for her confirmed it: definitely nunim type.”
“...”
Sion was truly grateful she saw it that way.
Liliret wasn’t dumb—this gave him an out, understanding the situation.
“...Sorry, Liliret.”
“I get it.
I know you humans live more tiring lives than expected.
Even without her, you might’ve linked with another noble.
No worries.
Unlike that bratty kid Trisha, I won’t spout nonsense about burning everything.
Instead.”
Her eyes sparkled intensely.
Jealousy, possessiveness, desire blazed within—obvious to anyone.
Sion, no slowpoke, tensed for her next words.
“This might hasten my hunger.
You know this ‘nunim’ by your side is the succubus queen, right?
Keep adding rivals, and even I can’t play generous wife forever.
Surely you don’t want me jumping into endless competition, Sion?”
“No way!
You’re my first, no matter what anyone says!
Of course!”
Flailing like a sycophant, Liliret replied: ‘Right, of course.
I’m yours forever, you’re mine forever.’ She poked his nose with her licked finger.
“Mine.
I marked it with my saliva.
Can’t monopolize alone, so I endure—but if there’s not enough to share, I turn thug too.
Got it, Sion?”
Ayu, yes!
Of course!
As Sion groveled, Liliret softened, slinking from the sleeping bag to sit before him.
Meeting his eyes, she continued.
“So, explain.”
“Huh?”
“Oh?
Think I’m dumb?
That you’d accept just ‘cause some girl swept you off?
Must be something in it for you.
Right?”
Wow, as expected of Liliret.
Muttering, Sion nodded vigorously.
As she said, beyond kingdom-tribe peace, he’d accepted for personal gain.
“Liliret.”
“Yeah, Sion.”
“I might’ve gotten just a ‘teensy’ bit stronger!”
――――――――Afterword――――――――
Yeah, no.