Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Contact
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"Home is still the best..."
A few days after the whirlwind of events—Big Sister's picnic, the Opstein massacre, and various other matters—had passed like a storm.
'How many of the three main quests are left...'
I was sitting leisurely on a bench in the Belverk garden, basking in the sunlight for the first time in ages, when a sudden thought crossed my mind. Wearing a blank expression, I summoned the system.
Identify the Black Curtain's Identity (0/1)
Proclaim Kairen's Forces (0/1)
The remaining quests floating before my eyes totaled just two.
"Hmm..."
Compared to the daunting three main quests at the start, things felt more manageable now. But judging by the importance of what was left, the road ahead was still long.
Still, rest was important right now, so for the time being, I'd just keep enjoying the sun...
"Young Master~! We missed you so much!"
"Hiiing... You've gotten so skinny in the meantime."
"Take us with you next time!"
...or so I thought, but my sunbathing plans were dashed by the ambush of the maid big sisters, who had been pent up from not having me to themselves.
"Ughhhh..."
As they stretched my cheeks without a word of protest from me, that's when it happened.
"...Little brother."
Suddenly, a low voice came from Big Sister peeking out from behind the maid big sisters.
"Gasp."
"Eek."
"Mmph."
In an instant, the maids froze solid and scattered to either side.
Of course, thanks to the successful picnic a few days ago, the misunderstanding had largely cleared up within our family.
But to inform the servants and knights without causing a stir would take time, so the misunderstanding persisted for everyone outside the family.
"Let's play."
At least Big Sister seemed content with that, which was a relief.
"W-What should we play?"
"...Tag."
But a new issue had arisen lately: Big Sister kept challenging me to what she called "games," which were really contests.
"I'm it."
"Ah, then..."
"I'll give you ten seconds."
Honestly, it seemed connected to her newly unlocked tag, but it was a bit scary, so I hadn't checked it yet.
"If I catch you, you stick with Big Sister all day."
But watching her smile as her eyes turned red and she slowly approached me, I could guess what it was...
"Can I play too?"
A familiar childish voice came from beside me as I quietly stood from the bench, looking for an escape route.
"If I catch you, I'll tickle you all day."
I turned to see Lilien smiling with her eyes glowing red as she walked over.
"Hiiik."
With the tag players and penalties suddenly doubled, I naturally freaked out and bolted the other way.
"Hehe, I'm in too."
But Uriel was already there, smiling and blocking the path—I had no idea where she came from.
"If I catch you, I'll eat you up."
Her half-closed eyes flickered with red energy too.
"Save me!!!"
At that point, I had no choice but to activate my own crimson eyes and flee at full speed.
- Fwhoosh...!
But then, a suspicious energy surged from behind me.
"Truth be told, I've wanted to go all out against you once or twice."
As tag began, Big Sister charged at me full throttle, only for Lilien to block her path with a face full of competitive spirit, throwing herself forward.
- Crackle...!
And the next moment.
"I want to play with Third too."
Big Sister quietly looked down at Lilien blocking her way, murmuring in a low voice.
- KABOOOMMM!!!
Their terrifying fists collided in an instant, turning the garden into chaos.
"Cough, cough..."
Of course, Lilien was the first to falter, vomiting blood as she couldn't fully block Big Sister's strike.
"You know something?"
But the moment Lilien's lips curled up.
"The stronger my opponent, the stronger I get."
Big Sister's fist, lunging at Lilien, began slowly pushing back as she adjusted her balance.
"And the stronger they are, the faster I adapt."
Soon, their fists were perfectly level.
- Grriiind...!
Big Sister tilted her head, pouring on more power, then murmured with a cold smile.
"...Little brother is strong."
Hearing that, Lilien smugly turned to me.
"See that, kiddo?"
"......"
"I can at least match anyone who stands up to me..."
Of course, I'd always thought Lilien's ability was ridiculously overpowered.
"But it has a weakness."
"Huh?"
"Against two or more strong opponents at once, issues bloom for that power, right?"
However, as I observed, the fight stalemated, and Uriel chimed in—the ability had a clear counter.
"You can only adapt to one ability at a time."
"Tch..."
"In the next few seconds, you'll have to choose which ability to focus on adapting to."
For example, while blocking Big Sister's fist, she'd have to deal with Uriel's black maw charging in at terrifying speed.
"Unless you adapt to both, there's no way to cope..."
Knowing this best, Uriel smiled contentedly and slowly walked toward me.
"Uriel."
Big Sister's cold, confident voice echoed through the garden right then.
"There is a way to cope."
As soon as she spoke, Big Sister snatched the black maw about to bite Lilien's shoulder with her hand, wrapping the tentacle connected to Uriel around her arm.
"Ah..."
With all her might, Big Sister yanked the tentacle, dragging a rare panicked Uriel toward her.
"...Huh?"
Lilien, caught off guard, took a graceful spin-kick to the abdomen from Big Sister.
- KABOOOMMM...!
As a result, the two flew in opposite directions, kicking up massive dust clouds.
"Just put more strength into it."
Having eliminated her rival, Big Sister muttered that, smiled, and started walking toward me.
"......?"
But suddenly, she staggered, dropping to one knee on the ground.
"As you know, my ability is 'Predation'..."
"......"
"Even just licking with my tongue absorbs enough energy to paralyze for a few seconds."
Apparently, in that brief moment Big Sister wrapped the black maw around her arm, Uriel had licked it and drained her energy.
- Thud thud thud...
But amid the chaos, someone charged at me full speed.
"You're all missing the point."
It was Lilien, who had been flung far away but switched targets and rushed me...
Wait, why am I narrating this so diligently?
And we barely had time to hide—was this even tag?
"...Ugh!"
Before I could question it, Lilien was about to grab my clothes.
- Whoosh...!
Uriel's black maw, flying at full speed, wrapped around Lilien's leg, tripping her.
- Swoosh...!
The extended tentacle shot toward me, while Big Sister, recovered, charged full throttle.
"Uwaaaah..."
Even Lilien, sprawled on the ground, crawled forward reaching for my leg. As I screamed helplessly and closed my eyes.
- Zap...!
A massive shockwave blasted from behind me, engulfing all three sisters at once.
"......!"
Lilien reaching for me and Uriel's black maw flew back helplessly. Big Sister barely endured by slamming her fist into the ground.
"What a pity."
That brief opening led to an unexpected end to the game.
"Tag is my victory."
The one who blasted the shockwave and gently scooped me up was none other than Mother.
"I'll be taking Kairen."
Mother declared to the sisters rolling dazedly in the garden, lips curled.
"......"
Their eyes all turned red in unison, but no one dared object.
"...Kairen."
Having finally finished playing with my sisters, I relaxed and smiled at Mother.
"I think we need to make a trip somewhere together."
She smiled back at first, then whispered seriously in my ear.
"It's an urgent summons from the imperial family."
What now?
That afternoon, at the Imperial Princess Palace in the heart of the imperial capital.
"Your Highness?"
"......"
"Are you... doing makeup?"
The Imperial Princess's closest maid entered with perfectly brewed tea at the right temperature, as usual, and gaped at the scene.
"...And perfume too."
Her mistress, whom she'd thought would never bother with primping, was sitting before a mirror with various cosmetics and perfumes laid out.
"...You."
"Y-Yes! Your Highness."
"Have you ever been in love?"
In the ensuing silence, the princess's cold expression turned to a question echoing in the room.
"M-Me?"
"Who else?"
"Well... um..."
Even she, one of the few who knew the youngest princess could speak, rarely heard her mistress talk.
"O-Of course! I know a thing or two about romance."
After a brief fluster, the maid channeled her expertise, eyes sparkling as she answered.
"...Then one question."
The princess tilted her head, then spoke.
"How do you attract a man's interest?"
"Uh......"
Stunned by the blunt question, the maid shook her head, snapped to, and rushed to sit beside her.
"Does the gentleman like you back?"
"It's not about me."
"...Gasp."
Biting back laughter at her mistress's faint blush and excuse, the maid pressed on.
"So, a hypothetical man who likes you?"
"...Doesn't seem so."
The princess pondered seriously, then replied glumly.
"It's closer to unrequited love."
"Hmm, I see..."
The maid narrowed her eyes in thought.
"Um, Your Highness."
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
"Men are weak to push-pull."
"...Push-pull?"
"Yes! Especially in unrequited love."
The princess pretended nonchalance but perked up.
"If you show affection outright, you might end up being led on."
"......"
"Instead, act disinterested and make him chase you—that's the technique."
The maid clenched her fists, passionately explaining.
"I see..."
Inspired, the princess nodded and pondered anew.
"Your Highness."
"......?"
"Astridje Nox Belverk and Kairen Nox Belverk have arrived at the palace."
A maid knocked and entered, bowing as she reported.
"Shall I summon them now...?"
But the princess cut her off, scribbling urgently on her sketchbook and holding it out.
「Tell them I don't want to see them right now.」
The maid glanced at it, then eyed the princess cautiously.
「I'm not feeling well at the moment.」
The princess flipped the page, forcing a cold expression.
"...Y-Your Highness."
The maid sweated profusely, bowing deeply.
"They're not coming to the Princess Palace—they went to the guest reception hall."
"......"
"To meet yesterday's VIP in confidence..."
And right then.
"......Ah."
The princess let slip a dumbfounded sound, then clamped her mouth shut.
「Is that person a woman?」
The maid, seeing the heavily scrawled line, fidgeted before whispering meekly.
"...Yes."
Silence filled the room.
- Grind...
The princess's teeth grinding echoed softly.
"I-I'm sorry!"
The maid bowed repeatedly with teary eyes and fled the room.
"......"
The princess stood anxiously, then hurried to the window.
"I'll be right back."
And with that.
- Pop...!
A golden flash, and she became a small canary, flying out the window.
"Oh dear, Your Highness..."
The maid sighed, watching blankly.
"...Even naming her 'Lia' must've been her doing, right?"
She fervently hoped her curated romance novel wisdom would help her mistress.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace's reception hall, under unusually tight security.
"Oh, you're here. Mother Demon King and little family head."
The weary emperor greeted Kairen and Astridje as they entered.
"I-I'm not family head proxy anymore."
"Yustina. What is this about?"
Astridje, holding the sulky Kairen, sat in the prepared upper seat with an icy expression.
"Sigh, well..."
The emperor glanced at Astridje, then shook his head in headache.
"Don't freak out—don't attack first, just listen."
Astridje listened quietly.
"...A VIP from the Holy Church arrived."
The moment he finished.
- Whoooosh...
Sharp or pointed objects in the room floated slowly into the air.
"I said don't attack."
"Yustina. Why should I listen to you..."
The emperor's golden eyes glared irritably, clashing with Astridje again.
"I'll explain from now on, Your Majesty."
The tense mood paused as a woman emerged from the room behind the emperor.
"...And the 49th Demon King, Astridje."
Her shocking words in Holy Church priestess robes stunned everyone.
"......Who are you."
Astridje blanked briefly, then unleashed chilling energy, aiming the floating objects at her.
"Surprisingly, she's the Pope of the Holy Church."
The emperor answered instead.
"Naturally, I haven't broken the pact."
"......"
"No signs of info leaks either."
Astridje's eyes reddened further.
"Can't be sure."
As she turned murderous intent on the Pope and stepped forward.
"Now that the secret's out, must eliminate..."
"...Agreed."
The Pope calmly sat, accepting it.
"But will you hear me out first?"
Silence followed.
"If you still think I must die after hearing everything, kill me then."
"......"
"My presence here is top secret. Killing me won't implicate Belverk or the empire."
Her soft, confident voice filled the room.
"I've staked my life on this—will you hear me out once?"
All eyes turned to Astridje.
"...Speak once, Holy Church head."
She withdrew her telekinesis, sat with Kairen hidden in her arms, and eyed the Pope warily.
"What I have to say."
As things calmed, the Pope scanned everyone and began.
"Is about your son, Kairen Nox Belverk..."
But she trailed off, tilting her head with a faint smile.
"...Hm."
Her gaze fell on.
"Excuse me..."
Kairen, held by Astridje.
"Could you hold off analyzing me for a bit?"
More precisely, the system window floating before him, mid-tag analysis.
"Kairen needs to focus on my words..."
As everyone tilted heads puzzled.
Can you see me?
"...Yes."
The Pope nodded at the message, pondering briefly.
"And..."
She whispered lowly toward Kairen.
"I know your identity too."
Silence settled over the reception hall.
"...Huh?"
Only Kairen stared at the self-proclaimed Pope in shock amid the quiet.