Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Sunstone Sabotage
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“What is this…?”
The elders eyed the boiled eggs and fruit punch I’d brought with strange looks.
“The color is blood-red… how bizarre.”
Old men who’d only ever eaten alcohol and meat in bathhouses.
They scowled at the red soda.
“Are you telling us to eat something like this right now?”
The knights who’d helped carry the snacks glanced urgently at me.
Their eyes said, *What now?*
‘These old folks are picky as expected.’
Now changed into spa clothes, I clasped my hands together.
Then, beaming a bright smile, I said,
“This is a fruit enjoyed by the uppermost class even in our empire.”
“Something like this…?”
To counter the elders’ skeptical gazes, I brought over a watermelon rind.
Into the hollowed-out shell…
“Yes, let me show you directly.”
I poured in plenty of carbonated water mixed with sugar.
Then added chunks of pre-cut watermelon…
“Here, try scooping it up with a spoon.”
The finicky old men picked up spoons with suspicious looks.
Pretending reluctance, they scooped some punch and tasted it.
“…”
The bald elder who tried it first furrowed his brows.
Seeing his expression, the other old men snorted with *as expected* looks.
But then.
“Ahh…”
A fizzy refreshment they’d never experienced in the North.
Followed by a whirlwind of sweetness.
“Now, eat the boiled egg in this state.”
The bald elder, entranced, picked up an egg just like I did.
And the moment he tasted it.
“…!”
Biting into the chewy egg released a savory yolk burst.
Then, to wash away the richness, he took a sip of watermelon soda…
“How is it, Elder? Would you like more…?”
Lulled by the hot springs, the old man stared blankly up at me.
A young man holding a watermelon rind with a bright smile.
He looked as reliable as a farmer fresh from harvest.
“Give me more. It’s pretty good…”
The old man nodded, his face flushing.
He, who’d always worn a stern expression, soon accepted the soda from me like a girl.
At that sight, the surrounding elders’ eyes lit up.
They were drawn to the disarmed old man.
“Give me some too.”
“Yeah, I’m curious about the taste.”
The elders began showing interest one by one.
At that, I slyly handed business cards to the knights delivering the soda…
「Vail’s Farm.」
「365 days, providing the finest watermelons.」
「Address: Border of the capital’s western office district.」
My farm’s business cards.
“Amazing, to think such a fruit exists…!”
“Sweeter than apples and so juicy.”
The elders started taking interest in the cards.
Some even successfully contracted with me on the spot.
My second overseas client after Lydia’s relatives.
“Phew, that was tough…”
While the elders filled their bellies contentedly.
I slipped out of the public bath and met Tau, who’d been waiting up front.
“As expected of my master. How did you know to prepare snacks?”
To his question, I answered flatly.
“Bakal is a nation famous for its hot springs to begin with. People from there wouldn’t be satisfied with our barely started ones.”
I patted my languid shoulders.
“So it’s better to boldly give up and soothe them with side services.”
“Were you in business before becoming a knight?”
In the past, as Irina’s guard, I’d even hosted her guests alone.
This was familiar.
“No, just instinct.”
Tau, in uniform, swallowed hard.
And looked at me with burdensome eyes.
“What’re you staring at? I just wanted to open a client in Bakal too.”
The elders had to live for them to check the Bakal emperor.
“From now on, you go into the spa and guard them.”
I took spa clothes from a nearby locker and handed them to him.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you stayed personally, Master?”
I shook my head at the tanned man’s question.
“What could I do to guard them? It’s way better with you there.”
Then, patting his shoulder, I said with serious eyes,
“You’re the vanguard of the Eastern Knights. Having someone like you will make the elders feel properly honored.”
Elderly high-rankers usually judge by rank.
So Tau would be much better than a farmer like me.
“Make a proper impression while you’re at it.”
I grinned and smiled at him.
Tau’s face softened, touched by my care.
“Thank you so much…”
Leaving his burdensome expression behind, I quietly exited the temple grounds.
Then circled the public bath wall where the elders were.
‘The risk of the elders drinking and dropping dead is averted now.’
But a sudden question arose.
‘Even if alcohol’s bad in hot springs, how did healthy old men die?’
There must’ve been something else.
To check, I carefully surveyed the public bath area.
‘Fortunately, no black magic.’
Not a trace of mana.
But…
‘What’s this incongruity?’
It felt like only this area was steamy hot, like a sauna.
Come to think of it, the council elders complained the bath was too hot earlier.
I quietly looked down at the public bath wall.
Then felt faint heat haze rising from the ground.
“…!”
Thinking it odd, I slowly placed my palm on the ground.
The instant I did.
“Ugh…!”
Digging revealed intense heat surging from below.
Following the heat, I dug further…
And found a glowing massive sunstone.
But unlike ordinary red sunstones, this one was blue.
‘This is Bakal’s sunstone.’
Bakal’s sunstones have over three times the heat output of Leon’s.
However, buried or in enclosed spaces, they emit toxic gas, so they’re banned in the empire.
‘That’s why I gave up buying for the watermelon farm.’
I examined the sunstone closely.
Soon realizing it had enhancement spells too.
‘Bakal sunstone combined with Leon spells…’
I could guess who did it.
Those who want Bakal’s elders dead.
Those who want Leon destroyed.
I activated golden aura in my hand.
Focusing it maximally in my arm, I tried to grab the sunstone.
But.
“Grk…!”
Powerful spells repelling even swordmaster-level strength.
On another level from the black magic that tormented Lea before.
“What is this…?”
‘Was there someone in the empire who could wield spells this strong?’
Frowning, I concentrated my mind fully.
Only two people in my memory could handle spells like this.
Mago of the Owl’s Nest.
And the one called the Witch…
――――――!!
The sunstone resisted like it was pitting strength against me.
Smoke even rose from my arm.
“Fine, let’s do this?”
I activated Grand Aura.
As the golden light shifted to brilliant white, the spells began to waver slightly.
――――!!
Pushing into grandmaster realm cracked the red magic circle around the sunstone.
It resisted desperately but eventually…
Kwarrr—!!
It shattered spectacularly and crumbled.
“Whew…”
With the magic circle gone, the sunstone cooled rapidly.
To dispose of it surely, I stomped and crushed it underfoot.
‘As expected of targeting elders.’
Very meticulous.
Colorless, odorless sunstone undetectable by mana or black magic.
Plus spells even a swordmaster couldn’t break.
‘I need to investigate this for sure.’
I tied the collected sunstone fragments to a messenger bird and sent it to the Owl’s Nest.
Then, sighing in relief, I headed to the last place on the temple grounds: the VIP bath.
A cozy, quiet bathhouse walled in natural wood.
Clearly for very important guests.
‘This is where Tina’s supposed to use.’
Fortunately, no sunstone here.
Well, in my past life, Tina helped the First Imperial Consort and crown prince.
‘She might be in cahoots with this farce’s culprits.’
I wrapped light mana around my legs.
Leaping over the wall, I landed in the final outdoor bath.
“…”
Under cherry blossom trees, steam rose gently from the outdoor hot spring.
Very neat and cozy.
But.
‘As expected, everywhere except Tina’s bath had sunstones.’
Faint heat from behind the plum tree.
I’d heard Lydia once fainted briefly in a hot spring too.
Probably this was the culprit there.
Now adept, I wrapped myself in Grand Aura.
Approaching under the cherry tree and striking the ground…
――――.
The final sunstone shattered neatly.
“Good.”
I exhaled deeply.
Then sat resting behind the tree for a bit.
“It’s finally over.”
Even Grandmaster power didn’t feel familiar no matter how much I used it.
Seemed my body needed more time to fully adapt.
‘Tired…’
I leaned against the tree.
Already languid from overusing strength yesterday.
‘Yeah, once this is done, no accidents from my past life for a while.’
So I wanted to rest a bit now.
Take some leave.
Hole up for three days, rest near the orphanage.
As I thought that…
――――――.
My eyes snapped open at dainty footsteps from the outdoor bath entrance.
Reacting, I cautiously peered from behind the cherry tree at the entrance.
Soon.
I spotted Lydia Andalusia entering.
“…”
Her pale, petite body wrapped in just a white towel.
A maidservant accompanied her.
“So, what was the elders’ reaction?”
She asked, well aware of the elders’ nitpicky nature.
“The response was explosive.”
But the maid smiled brightly and answered confidently.
“Explosive?”
“Yes, they pointed out the bath was too hot, but it somehow returned to normal soon.”
Lydia nodded at the words of temperature stabilizing like magic.
But soon sighed deeply with a cold expression.
“They must’ve complained nonstop until the temperature normalized.”
The maid answered confidently again.
“We soothed them somewhat with snacks while they waited.”
“Snacks…? I didn’t order any.”
The princess crossed her arms alone and asked.
“At first, the elders demanded wine and cheese. But Sir Vail served them pre-prepared fruit punch and eggs.”
Vail.
At the sudden mention, the cool sovereign’s face turned girlish.
“What…?”
“He used watermelons and eggs harvested from his own farm.”
The maid pulled out a leftover business card from her pocket.
It had my name on it.
“He even handed out these cards.”
Lydia took the card with a bemused expression.
Then chuckled at the humble design.
“So very Vail. Adorably so.”
“Thanks to that, the elders were very satisfied.”
The Eastern sovereign nodded.
Her straight black hair danced along.
“Yeah, hot springs call for boiled eggs over booze.”
Lydia tucked the card into her basket.
Her expression much improved, she asked the maid,
“So where is he? He wasn’t in the bath I assigned.”
“He went out on patrol.”
Hearing he was working till the end, the princess smirked.
“Patrol, huh… Fine, I get it. I’ll rest now, so go.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll wait at the entrance.”
The maid bowed politely and left.
Finally alone, Lydia could relax.
“Haa…”
The princess sighed deeply in relief.
Then cautiously dipped her foot into the hot spring.
“Eek…!”
Thinking no one was around, perhaps.
She flinched like a girl when her toes touched the water.
“Ahem…”
Thinking she’d lost composure, she glanced around.
Then wiggled her pretty toes and slowly entered the bath.
――――――.
Submerging fully, the princess silently gazed into the air.
Cherry branches enveloping the hot spring bloomed overhead.
The empire was colder than the East, so flowers bloomed even in summer.
She quietly admired the falling petals.
Soon…
“How long do you plan to hide?”
She glanced my way and asked.
“You knew?”
I poked my head slightly from behind the tree and asked.
The youngest princess, chin on hand in the bath, smirked.
“With your strong presence making petals fall like this, how could I not?”
“I wasn’t trying to peep. Just on patrol and…”
Fortunately, Lydia didn’t press entering the princess’s bath.
Instead, she smiled at me like wildlife under the cherry tree.
“It’s fine. I know you’re not some lecher.”
The princess narrowed her red eyes and asked,
“So, did you secure many clients for your old age prep?”
“Haha… Look the other way just this once.”
She generously let my sheepish smile slide.
Then fiddled with the towel wrapping her jade body and said,
“I heard you treated the elders well in the public bath.”
“Just selfish motives.”
I shook my head, and Lydia waved it off.
“Such humility.”
The princess smiled with her eyes.
Then tilted her head in the bath as petals fell.
“Truly wondrous.”
A petal softly landed on the princess’s black hair.
Unaware, she smiled at me.
“Always getting your help at crucial times.”
I blankly gazed at the princess’s freshened face, wet and pure.
Then, raising my lips, I replied,
“Just fulfilling a retainer’s duty.”
I bowed politely.
And the moment I looked up.
“…!”
The princess, slightly out of the bath sitting on a rock, entered my view.
One towel wrapping her pale, alluring skin.
Covering the beautiful hips of the newly adult woman.
“There’s an old myth in our East like this.”
Lydia’s face was oddly flushed, perhaps from the steam.
“A tale of a millennium-old fox called a yokai.”
The princess narrowed her eyes fox-like.
It matched the yokai she described, seductively.
“A village always got help from that yokai whenever trouble arose.”
Lydia curled her lips, looking at me like that fox.
“But the villagers, living off the fox’s grace, still feared and called it yokai.”
The princess crossed her sensual legs.
Her plump thighs swelled lewdly.
“So when new civilization came, they forgot the fox’s grace and rejected it. It left, naturally.”
Sweat beaded on her pressed thighs.
Each movement stretched it stickily, emanating a newly adult woman’s scent.
“What happened to the village after?”
I tore my gaze from her thighs.
Swallowing hard, I asked.
“What do you think?”
“It became a colony of those who brought the new ways, all enslaved.”
The princess lightly pinched the towel over her chest.
Steamy heat rose between towel and skin.
“But one girl alone escaped slavery.”
“Lucky her.”
I fanned my heated spa clothes and asked.
Then…
“That girl alone remembered the fox’s grace and tended its injured foot devotedly.”
Lydia stared fixedly at my foot.
The dirtied part from barefoot patrol.
“So the fox took only her and escaped the hellish village.”
Lydia gazed at me with mature eyes.
Perhaps from the single towel.
Her expression felt more womanly than usual.
“And that girl became the fox’s mate, turned human, and founded a new village…”
The princess slowly rose from the bath.
Her petite figure.
Even wrapped in towel, the alluring, sensual curves were clear.
“In that sense, I want to repay you too, Mikhail.”
The newly adult woman approached me.
Like the girl who became the fox’s mate.
“Sit. I’ll wash your feet.”
Lydia pointed at my dirtied foot and came closer.
Then tapped my thigh like playing piano.
“So roll up your pants.”
The princess smiled with her eyes.
As if purely offering a foot soak.