Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Chapter 18 - Integra
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[Good afternoon, Master.]
[Are you coming to?]
A gentle voice, as always, reached him through his hazy vision.
Luther slowly closed his eyes and opened them again before looking ahead.
There was Integra, smiling warmly.
"Integra."
[Yes, Master. This is your Integra.]
Her gentle smile shifted into a seductive one.
Feeling an odd sense of reassurance at Integra's usual demeanor, Luther shook off his sleepiness by squeezing his eyes shut tightly once more before asking,
"Where is this? How much time has passed?"
[This is one of the tents in the campsite set up near the Valkein Ruins.]
[13 hours have passed since the battle with Beast Lord Balakia.]
13 hours.
Considering he'd passed out and woken up, it wasn't an excessively long time.
[Master, may I give you a situation report?]
"Please do."
[Understood.]
With a smooth response, Integra projected several windows into the air and began explaining the situation.
[Due to this battle, 65% of the nanomachines in Master's possession have been destroyed.]
[Recovery work is currently underway, and full restoration is expected to take another 37 hours, 12 minutes, and 45 seconds.]
[In addition to regular meals for nanomachine material supply, please absorb small amounts of metals separately.]
"Absorb... metals?"
[Yes, but you don't need to eat them directly.]
[Just place them on your palm like you did with the mana stones so far.]
"Got it."
That was no problem at all.
As Luther's expression relaxed again, Integra provided more detailed information about his condition before shifting the topic to the campsite.
[After defeating Beast Lord Balakia, cleanup operations are now in full swing.]
[Adventurers are collecting byproducts from the earth dragons and monsters killed in battle, while laborers under Count Gleston's command are gathering the mud golem's remains.]
[Lete's symbolic objects are on hold for potential emergencies, and most of the participants in the operation are remaining at the campsite.]
[Based on the current chatter, it seems they're planning a small festival around the campsite tonight.]
"I see."
It made perfect sense to celebrate after taking down such a major threat.
"What about the others?"
[Lilia fainted from the aftermath of excessive tension release, but otherwise, everyone is safe.]
[Speak of the devil, here they come.]
"Huh?"
Instead of replying to Luther's question, Integra simply dismissed the various windows floating in the air and vanished.
Right on cue, Karen and Max pushed aside the tent flap and entered.
"Oh."
"Luther, sir, you're awake!"
Max was in front, Karen behind.
Karen rushed straight to the bed where Luther lay, her face brightening as she let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm so glad you're safe. You accomplished something incredible."
Max stood beside Karen, offering a kindly smile.
"I'm glad you two are safe too."
He hadn't actually seen how Max fought, but he must have shone against the skeletons or earth dragons.
And Karen—
"Thanks. I survived because of you."
It was sincere, not empty words.
If Karen hadn't deflected Arma’s four demonic swords, he wouldn't have beaten Balakia—he'd have been engulfed by the black flames and died.
Just like with Jogres before, Luther had relied heavily on Karen's superpowers every time.
Blushing slightly at Luther's heartfelt gratitude, Karen soon flashed a radiant smile.
"I'm happy I could help the angel."
"Y-yeah."
Angel.
But if the heavens turned out to be the Galactic Federation as expected, wasn't Luther actually an angel?
'Come to think of it, yeah.'
A real angel.
So maybe he didn't need to feel embarrassed hearing "angel" anymore?
[Master, I have a feeling you're thinking something awfully shameless, but regardless—Arma Valentine and Anne Rose are approaching the tent.]
Just as Integra said, Arma Valentine and Anne Rose entered the tent.
They exchanged glances with the already-present Karen and Max before approaching Luther.
"Glad you're safe."
"I'm relieved you're unharmed."
Teacher and student repeated similar words in slightly different tones.
But what was it—both shared something in common, to varying degrees.
[They're embarrassed.]
Exactly.
Arma hid it well, but Anne Rose was openly embarrassed.
[They basically just watched the fight with Balakia in the end.]
After the mana vortex activated—once the real showdown between Beast Lord Balakia and Luther began—they hadn't been able to intervene at all.
Arma had closed her eyes and opened them to find it all over; Anne Rose had been unable to use her equipment mid-battle and could only fret helplessly.
The embarrassment from doing nothing but spectate against such a formidable foe.
Especially for Arma, one of the world's top ten superhumans, the powerlessness and shame must have been intense.
Sensing their inner feelings, Luther pondered briefly before saying,
"Thanks to both of you guiding Balakia so well, I could execute the plan perfectly. Thank you."
"N-no, you found the golem."
"Ugh."
Anne Rose blushed and grew embarrassed right away, while Arma—perhaps due to being a doll—didn't blush but let out a groan, still looking awkward.
[Master, they seem to feel indebted to you, so how about making some requests?]
[They'd probably accept most anything right now.]
Integra was spouting trash talk for the first time in a while.
But it was tempting enough that Luther subtly checked Arma's reaction.
And right then—
"Luther Lightseeker."
"Yes, Arma."
Arma suddenly called his name, hesitated a moment, cleared her throat, and said,
"I don't think we'll make the deadline, so I didn't mention it before the battle... but I'm currently transporting the third fragment of the heavenly armor. It should arrive tomorrow or the day after, so keep that in mind."
"Oh, thank you."
Her tone suggested she'd hand it over immediately upon arrival.
[The third fragment—excellent.]
[Acquiring a new fragment will unlock new functions.]
[How about asking for a demonic sword while we're at it?]
'No, that's a bit much.'
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted, but it was too much.
So Luther wrapped things up appropriately.
"Thank you. I'll look forward to it eagerly."
"Mm, alright."
Arma replied curtly, her lips twitching a few more times before she simply turned to leave.
"See you later then. Master, let's go!"
Anne Rose bowed her head politely and hurried out, prompting Karen and Max to chuckle softly before saying,
"We'll head out too."
"Rest well."
"Yeah, see you later."
With the visitors gone, only Luther and Integra remained in the tent.
Integra reappeared, speaking in her gentle voice.
[Master, get some more rest for now.]
[I'll wake you when the festival starts.]
"Got it."
[Initiating sleep mode.]
[Good night, Master.]
Listening to Integra's whisper, Luther closed his eyes and sank back into deep slumber.
And three hours later.
When Luther awoke again, the first thing he heard wasn't Integra's gentle voice but the boisterous laughter of the adventurers.
[Are you coming to, Master?]
[The victory celebration festival has begun.]
Hearing Integra, Luther rose from the bed, freshened up quickly, and hurried out of the tent.
The first thing to catch his eye was a massive bonfire and countless shadows.
"Whoa, that's huge."
The bonfire at the campsite's center was truly spectacular.
Was it even right to call it a mere bonfire?
It felt like they'd stacked logs into an altar and lit it ablaze—no exaggeration.
The towering flames seemed to scorch the sky, while dozens of smaller torches lit the entire campsite as bright as day.
Hundreds of adventurers reveled in food and drink everywhere, with bards and musicians—never missing such events—singing and playing instruments all around.
It was a chaotic mess, no denying it, but strangely, it brought a smile to his face.
Luther remembered Dragon Hunter Origin.
In the original story, Beast Lord Balakia ultimately fell to Anne Rose.
But the outcome was worlds apart from now.
Anne Rose standing alone amid ruins destroyed by the undead legion, tears streaming down her face.
She'd won, defeated Balakia, but by then, over half the west lay in ashes.
Surrounded by pouring rain, all she could see were countless corpses.
Those slain in battle.
Those helplessly butchered by the undead horde.
Luther swallowed hard.
Then, like Anne Rose had, he surveyed the surroundings after the fight.
Everyone was smiling.
Unlike the original Anne Rose, who wept despite victory, all here celebrated joyfully.
[Anne Rose is over there.]
Following Integra's voice, Luther turned and saw Anne Rose chatting happily with the Asella group, whom he hadn't seen in a while, her face beaming.
Though she hadn't shone heroically like in the original, this Anne Rose looked far happier than her original counterpart.
"Awake?"
A voice from behind made Luther whirl around to see Arma holding a skewer.
She eyed him up and down for a moment before offering one of her skewers.
"You must be hungry. Eat this."
"Thank you."
It was a classic skewer of alternating meat and vegetables, grilled.
But Luther couldn't help marveling at Arma nibbling it with small bites.
"What's with that look?"
"No, it's just... well."
It was simply fascinating to see the doll-like Arma eating a skewer.
"I get it. But if an angel can eat skewers, what's to stop a doll?"
"Fair point."
Chuckling, Luther bit into his skewer.
He was starving anyway, and the well-grilled lamb was delicious.
"Good?"
"Yes, delicious. Thank you."
"Mm, good."
Arma resumed eating intently but clenched her free hand into a subtle fist, clearly pleased by his approval.
[She thinks this repays a bit of her debt.]
[Her sense of scale is pretty petty.]
Not petty—more like timid and cute, perhaps?
Smiling faintly, Luther stood beside Arma, who munched away hamster-like at rapid pace, and looked around again.
A familiar face approached.
"Luuuther siiiir!"
Rushing over was none other than Lilia.
"Oh, Lilia."
"Yes, Luther, sir!"
She braked just before his nose but inertia sent her tumbling into his arms, which he naturally caught.
[Deducting 3 points from Lilia.]
[Deducting 2 points from Master.]
'No way—Balakia was only worth 2 points, and now this costs 2?'
[My prerogative.]
As Integra stuck out her tongue, Lilia blushed in his arms and said with a messy face,
"That was an amazing performance. Thanks to you, not just everyone here but the whole west is saved. Thank you so, so much!"
Luther was a man, Lilia a beauty.
Ignoring Integra's icy glare from the side, he couldn't help but smile warmly.
"Ahem, you did great too, Lilia. Huge contribution."
"R-really? Hehehe."
Her fidgeting fingers and delighted expression were unbearably cute.
But Lilia didn't stop there, tugging lightly at his clothes.
"Um... Luther, sir."
"Yeah?"
"W-would you dance one song with me?"
Blushing furiously, she pointed to a spot off to the side with her other hand.
Couples danced in pairs to the musicians' tune.
"Hold on."
"Y-yes? Oh, sure!"
As Lilia stepped back, Luther straightened his clothes and murmured softly,
"Integra?"
*Sigh*, I can't let Master embarrass himself.]
[Analyzing data.]
[Installing Couple Dance (Western Style) Lv1.]
A flash pierced his crown.
He flinched momentarily but soon smiled confidently, offering his hand to Lilia.
"Let's go, Lilia."
"Yes, Luther, sir."
Lilia was clumsy as expected from her poor coordination, but it was no issue.
He had Integra.
[Predicting Lilia's movements.]
[Collecting data from surrounding couples.]
[Couple Dance proficiency has increased.]
Predicting her next move and matching accordingly ensured a flawless dance.
Deeply satisfied, Lilia said with an ecstatic expression,
"This is the first time I haven't stepped on my partner's feet once."
[Wait, with that history, she still asked Master?!]
Amid Integra's solo outrage, a new woman approached Luther.
"Luther, sir, you have to dance with me too, right?"
It was Karen.
Dressed casually like the others, she looked somehow different in the festive mood.
"Please take care of me."
"Likewise."
Smiling shyly, Karen gently clasped his hand and began dancing.
[Impressive skill.]
[Definitely trained professionally.]
Luther agreed.
Unlike Lilia, Karen had great athleticism, but more than that, her dancing was just superb.
'A real noble? Has to be at this level.'
Ebony black hair contrasting her pale face, mysterious green eyes, and superpowers.
What was her past?
And why hadn't she appeared in Dragon Hunter Origin?
"Luther, sir."
"Yeah?"
"Um... never mind. I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Huh?"
"Tomorrow."
Giggling, she stepped back gracefully, bowing elegantly.
Utterly picturesque.
"Then I'm off."
She headed straight to Max, who was eating skewers far off.
[Hmm, she seems intriguing.]
[Or maybe just trying to look that way.]
"No way."
Karen wasn't the type.
She definitely had something to say.
[Anyway, Master, Count Gleston seems to be over there.]
[How about paying him a visit while receiving some flattery?]
As the mini Integra on his shoulder said, Count Gleston was visible chatting with Lete's priests in the distance.
But instead of approaching, Luther turned toward the campsite's outskirts.
[Master?]
"Got something I have to do first."
[Something you have to do?]
"Yeah, something essential."
Replying playfully, Luther walked on with the puzzled, head-tilting Integra.
And after about five minutes.
Atop a hill overlooking the campsite, Luther took a deep breath and pursed his lips.
He'd come this far, but saying it aloud felt embarrassing.
[Master?]
[What are you planning here?]
Still clueless, Integra tilted her head.
Luther turned to the mini Integra and whispered softly,
"Integra."
[Yes, Master.]
Integra blinked her large eyes at him.
Vivid yet subtly moonlit golden irises.
Staring into those mesmerizing eyes, Luther took a deep breath but couldn't speak.
He cleared his throat, scratched his neck, squeezed his eyes shut and open—finally managing words.
"Would you... dance one song with me?"
Integra blinked once at his question.
Then repeatedly, before widening her eyes in surprise.
But it didn't last.
Her face flushed bright red in an instant, and she beamed, nodding vigorously.
[Yes! Master!]
The mini Integra vanished.
In her place appeared Integra in an off-shoulder dress—the same as in Asain Canyon.
A pure white dress blending into the darkness under two moons.
Silver hair shimmering softly in the moonlight.
Luther extended his hand slowly, and Integra placed hers atop it.
It was mere augmented reality footage, so they couldn't truly touch, but that hardly mattered.
[I'll queue the music.]
[Shall I make lights too?]
[What music would you like?]
How excited was she?
Smiling back at the grinning Integra, Luther stepped slowly to the music, and she matched him with a tense expression.
They danced softly, visible only to each other.