Chapter 245
Chapter 245
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 244. Sorcerers (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After meeting with the Northern Grand Duke, on the way back from work.
The returning carriage carried three imperial princesses and their secretary.
One man sandwiched between them.
Just moments ago, he had helped subdue the Empire's Black Tiger, but once he vanished, all eyes turned to the fox.
"Why on earth did you insist on going alone?"
Lydia, still sitting on my lap.
Arms crossed, wearing a sulky expression.
"Because it's dangerous. Sneaking into a country at war can't mean good intentions."
At some point, my thigh had become her cozy nest.
The young black panther glanced back at me with her red eyes.
"That's exactly it. If you go to such a dangerous place alone, how anxious do you think we'll be?"
Lydia scolded me, pressing her plush bottom more mischievously against my thigh.
But since she was so light, it just felt cute.
The contrast between her usual snappy personality and her small frame always amazed me.
"Are Your Highnesses worried about me? After watching over me all this time?"
I tried to smile it off, finding her adorable.
But Lydia's response wasn't something I could brush aside easily.
It even made me pause my playful grin and turn serious.
"Your body isn't just yours anymore."
Lydia ducked her head slightly, embarrassed by her own words.
Her pigtails draped over her shoulders cascaded down as well.
"..."
I stared blankly at the youngest princess's dark crown before slowly lifting my face.
Then, I looked at Irina and Lea sitting across from us.
The noble princesses gazing at me with worry.
Their concern wasn't about me losing to the sorcerers.
It was pure worry born from our deep bond.
"You're right, Veil. We don't doubt your strength. But now you're not alone— that's what we want you to realize."
Irina placed a hand on her chest, speaking with clear eyes.
Lea nodded silently in agreement, legs crossed.
They were princesses who led the Empire's strongest knights and lived without a care.
For such women to worry about me like this.
It made my chest feel inexplicably warm.
"I understand."
I softened my tense expression.
Then, I wrapped both arms tightly around Lydia's waist on my lap.
"...!"
The youngest princess's pigtails twitched at the touch.
She steadied her sharp eyes and caressed my embracing hands.
"I'll return without a scratch. So please believe in me."
I flashed a bright smile at my lofty superiors who worried for me.
Relieved deep down, they nodded calmly.
"And no disguising as a civil servant, schoolgirl, or saintess to follow me!"
"Got it..."
They knew how crucial this moment was.
Whether the crown prince would turn against the Empire or had other plans remained unknown.
Knowing this, the princesses silently watched me board the carriage to Cornell.
I shook off my jacket and descended the carriage steps.
Then, Miya, who had been sitting quietly beside me, hurried after.
"Veil... Why are you suddenly going alone?!"
I smirked at her urgent question.
"The sorcerers' techniques are unpredictable even for me. I could handle magic or basic swordsmanship, but protecting everyone while fighting would be tough."
"I'm strong enough too. And I'm your secretary!"
Miya placed her hands on her hips, declaring proudly.
"How could I, as a senior, send my junior alone to the battlefield?"
Come to think of it, Miya had graduated the academy early and gained real combat experience.
That's how she could take on gladiators with just a hand axe.
But this time was different.
The opponents were court sorcerers who had infiltrated the Empire ready to die.
As the one senior who truly scolded me, I wanted to cherish her.
"...!"
As I persuaded her feisty self.
I suddenly understood the princesses' anxiety about letting me go alone.
"So this is what it feels like."
Miya tilted her head at my murmur.
Her neatly combed black bob hair tilted gracefully.
"What...?"
"Nothing."
I pressed down my rising smile at Miya's question.
Then, shaking my head slowly, I stroked her cheek.
"It's not a battlefield. Cornell is my hometown."
Leaving my worried senior behind, I slowly walked away.
Wanting to reassure her somehow, I waved.
"There's watermelon in the office storeroom, cubed up."
Miya's sullen lips twitched at the random watermelon talk.
"Wait for me while you eat it, Senior."
Meaning I'd be back by the time she ate one.
At my bravado, Miya finally burst into laughter.
"Really..."
And so, I boarded the carriage to Cornell.
After leaving the princesses and Miya behind, I headed home along the well-paved road.
"Just come back safe. Then I'll really give you a proper scolding."
Miya puffed her soft cheeks.
Then, she tensed as the princesses approached.
'Did they get mad because she's intercepting my farewell...?!'
In her secretary uniform, she clasped her hands demurely and bowed lightly.
Then, she heard the voices of the noble, exalted ladies.
"Hmm... This won't be easy. He insisted on going alone."
"He did it for our sake. The opponents are sorcerers, after all."
Irina gently chided Lydia, who muttered sulkily.
She seemed more relaxed now that her bond with Veil had deepened.
"Hmph. Those puny sorcerers—our Eastern knights could wipe them out in seconds."
Irina's words irked her, so Lydia whipped her head away.
"No, Irina has a point."
Lea, whom she bumped into while turning.
Even the usually laid-back, queenly princess furrowed her brows at the mention of sorcerers.
"Sorcery originates from the southern regions. They have techniques still unknown to the Empire."
Lea, daughter of the once-demon witch Rozanna, rested an elegant hand on her chin and murmured.
"Moreover, Cornell is a haven for sorcerers shunned by the Empire. They might be colluding with southern sorcerers on something."
The academy's main gate entrance fell silent at Lea's ominous words.
Then, Lydia glanced at the two princesses and the secretary before speaking.
"So we're just supposed to spectate safely from the capital because it's dangerous?"
The Empire's Third Imperial Princess flashed her blood-red eyes.
True to her strong-willed, action-oriented nature as a powerholder, her gaze was fierce.
"Of course not."
Lea and Irina felt the same.
Like children of the Conquest King, they revealed a sly, chilling glint in their eyes now that Veil was gone.
"B-but Veil said not to follow him in disguise...?"
Miya, like a black cat among beasts, asked urgently.
The princesses smirked wickedly, as if accustomed to it now.
"Hmm... Well."
Lydia stroked her smooth lower belly, which Veil had hugged tightly.
Now that she thought about it, something black peeked through her white dress shirt.
"He said no schoolgirl disguise..."
Miya focused on the faint color, and Lydia slightly unbuttoned her shirt.
Revealing subtly what she wore underneath.
"A bunny should be fine, right?"
"...!"
Miya's lips parted at the lewd outfit she'd never seen before.
Fabric that clung tightly, outlining her navel and pubic bone.
A dizzying design wrapping her breasts without bra straps.
For the world's most noble princess to wear such a thing...!!
"Uh... uh...?"
The black cat slowly turned to the Empire's exalted eldest daughter in disbelief.
Lea, apparently already aware of Lydia's underwear, smirked leisurely.
"Right, bunnies aren't human."
Lea chuckled, hands behind her back.
Unlike usual, the First Imperial Princess wore provocative stockings with black lace.
They seemed matched to whatever she wore underneath.
"..."
Unlike the oblivious Veil, the women Irina and Miya paled.
They stared blankly at Lea and Lydia, who giggled while hiding their vulgar, sly intentions.
"Helping my soon-to-be husband is only natural, right, Lea?"
"Exactly. And I'm the best here at sorcery—might even be helpful."
The First and Third Imperial Princesses scattered, planning to act separately.
They fiddled with something tucked secretly in their pockets.
"There's stuff I want to test too."
Smooth, round crystal orbs.
Each princess caressed her own orb and parted ways.
"..."
Left behind were Irina and Miya.
The two wondered what Lea and Lydia were plotting.
And what exactly they had on underneath.
Sharing the same goal, they stared at each other blankly.
"Lady Miya."
"Yes, Your Highness Irina."
The two exchanged grave looks like knights before a great war.
Then, they boarded the same carriage to pursue the pair.
Veil's parting words had long faded into the distance.
「――――――」
"Hoo..."
I finally boarded the carriage.
Now I could be alone at last.
"Finally alone!!"
Like finding my own nest, I stretched out my limbs.
And sprawled flat on the carriage seat in that position.
I stared blankly at the carriage ceiling.
The Empire's imperial crest was beautifully engraved there.
'Who would've thought I'd end up riding in something like this...'
Back when I just wanted to live quietly as a librarian.
But Irina's visit after regressing together and my duties as a guard knight led me here.
Even Rozanna, the ultimate black幕, had reconciled with the Emperor.
Camilla had become a steadfast woman, mentoring Miya and the Verdant Knights.
Captain Lynn's sick sister was healed, and she'd return to the front lines once recovered.
"Yeah, just handle the crown prince, and it's over."
Everything wrapping up made me stretch naturally.
But one question suddenly arose.
"But what comes after that?"
Once all threats to the Empire are gone.
What happens to me?
Suddenly, the future from fortune-teller Regina's orb came to mind.
Two children lying with me in my bed.
And twins visiting from outside, plus another kid.
But the scarier part was that they might not be all.
That scene was around 5 PM.
Kids might be at tutoring or heading to the academy then.
"I'll be fine... right...?"
Chills ran down my spine suddenly.
Ever since becoming Grandmaster, I hadn't felt cold except when meeting Princess Christina.
"Just my imagination..."
I comforted myself and closed my eyes.
Took a deep breath and tried to sleep.
"They're all noble ladies—what could go wrong?"
Heading to my heart's home.
To Cornell.