Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Intelligence Reversal World (2)
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A refreshing morning dawned.
The first day living with an Intelligence stat of 2.5.
As befitting that, from the morning I was...
[When are you coming?]
"......"
'Ah, give me a break.'
What else would I be doing from the morning?
Entertaining the whims of the Empire's top figure.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
Especially since the marquis was trembling beside me.
"Your Majesty? I told you, we'll return once the Hero search is complete."
[Any progress? No, right?]
"Ahem, actually."
[As expected, nothing. Halt the search and return. You're far more important to the Empire than the Hero.]
"Wouldn't it be twice as good with both the Hero and me? It's all for the Empire, so please wait just a bit longer."
[It's been nearly a month since I last saw you! How much longer do I have to wait?!]
"You're exaggerating; it's only been two weeks. Anyway, I'll be back soon. You know my loyalty, right?"
[Tch...]
And even puffing out her cheeks like that.
At her age, it was downright pitiful.
Which only made her cuter and hotter.
"Thank you for understanding. You're the only one for me, Your Majesty."
[...Good, as long as you know. Hurry back; I'll be waiting.]
"Yes. Then I'll be off."
Cute aside, I couldn't keep indulging her whining forever.
I cut the communication at an appropriate point.
The marquis, who had been wiping his sweat, finally turned to me.
His gaze was loaded with meaning.
"Sir Yi Hyun... It seems Her Majesty holds you in high regard?"
"Don't even get me started. She nearly blocked my dispatch to Eisenhardt too? Said deploying talent like me on this was a national waste or whatever."
"It doesn't seem like that's the only meaning behind it."
"Hmm."
Normally, I wouldn't have thought much of that look.
Just, oh, he's jealous or something.
But today's me?
A man with a full 2.5 Intelligence.
I saw through the marquis's intentions in an instant.
He was suspicious of my relationship with Luna.
'Well, from the sidelines, how scandalous must it look.'
Nominally, I was engaged to Liriana.
And Liriana was Luna's daughter.
In other words, Luna and I were mother-in-law and son-in-law.
Yet here we were, sweet-talking from morning? Her whining about missing me?
'Anyone who doesn't notice that would be the fool.'
Even my 0.8 Intelligence self from back then would have clocked it.
Oh, so they're that kind of close.
An awkward laugh escaped me.
"Marquis, what you heard today... you know? It was a private chat with Her Majesty, so no need to take it to heart."
I phrased it as indirectly as possible, lest it sound like a threat.
You blab about this, and who knows when Luna's rage might spill over like hot tea.
The marquis gave a strained smile in return.
"Ahem. Or perhaps you showed me on purpose."
"...What do you mean?"
"The engagement to Her Highness the Imperial Princess isn't official yet, and it's been quite some time since the late emperor passed. We might hear wedding bells from the imperial family soon."
"......"
This guy's a pro at beating around the bush too.
Expressing 'The Empress steals her daughter's fiancé!' like that.
I bowed silently.
A mutual signal: neither of us wants trouble meddling with the powerful, so let's leave it here.
Thanks to that, I got a grand send-off from the marquis.
"Hmm."
'Why's Luna acting up more lately?'
Riding back in the marquis house's carriage.
I sank into thought alone.
Curious about why Luna had gotten clingier lately.
And the most likely reason was...
'Pregnant?'
...No news so far was the real miracle.
The knight trio had handled contraception until coming here.
But the imperial sisters? Not a chance.
Pregnancy was bound to happen eventually.
'Not certain, though.'
Still just speculation.
For now, just observe.
And treat Luna extra nice.
'Might be time to stop adding more women... except the ones I've already touched.'
Lost in such thoughts, I headed out.
Next stop: the prison.
Where Saleos was recuperating.
"My slave."
"...Maaaster♡"
"How much longer to recover? Might need to head back to the capital in about a week."
"Just a few more days♡"
"Good, get better quick. Then I'll reward you."
"Hiiing♡ Master, I love how arrogant you are despite being weak♡"
"Weird tastes. I'm off."
Who knows when I'll bed this one.
With her level that high, one romp could level me up big time.
That was why I sighed after visiting the prison.
"Hoo..."
"Back from the lord's castle again?"
"Even direct imperial duty isn't easy. Good work, Yi Hyun."
The knight ladies welcomed me.
I nodded lightly and scanned the surroundings.
Blanc, Minerva, and Lumine were absent.
"Seems a few are missing?"
"The captain and those two? They went out searching for the Hero. Some suspicious tip came in."
"Suspicious tip?"
"They didn't tell us details either."
"Hmm."
These girls do their jobs too.
I muttered softly and glanced at Hilde.
She'd been doing something with Silpi since earlier.
"What're you up to?"
"Handling the captain's duties. Accounting stuff."
"...You, doing accounting!?"
Isn't accounting super hard?
And she's doing it?
Is the sun rising in the west today?
My jaw dropped.
Hilde smirked smugly.
"Ahem. I'm a vice captain, you know. I've completed all the basic imperial officer training. Arithmetic's no big deal."
"Well, the captain handles all the tough stuff, so what's left is just simple labor."
"Ah ha."
Just basic addition and subtraction, huh.
Figures, it's Hilde.
I muttered and sidled up next to her.
She shot me a what-do-you-want look.
"Hey, I'm still on duty, so no funny business..."
"Not that. Let me help."
"...You, with accounting!?"
Her wolf ears perked straight up.
She even stuttered; she seemed genuinely shocked.
...Her reaction hurt my pride a bit.
I snapped curtly.
"I can do basic math too. Anything beyond numbers, I can't solve."
"For real?"
"Probably better than you, Hilde."
Hey, I'm a modern guy here.
Basic arithmetic? Learned that in elementary school.
Sure, by middle school I was firmly on the math-hater path.
Even basic ops made my head spin and I hated it...
'But still beats Hilde.'
"Wanna bet?"
Such a bet was born from that.
Who finishes faster.
Hilde scoffed.
"Ha, pass. I don't get off on twisting kids' wrists and gloating."
"Scared you'll lose? Then sit tight. I'll handle it."
"...Think I'll lose, so you're doing this?"
"Wasn't it?"
"That's hitting below the belt. Aren't you underestimating me too much?"
But that lasted only a moment.
Hilde's face twisted in rare genuine anger.
The opposite of her usual playful teasing tolerance.
"I'm not as smart as the captain, but I'm not on your level to be compared."
"I'm pretty smart, you know."
"Silpi, what do you think?"
"Hmm... Yi Hyun, even if Hilde acts like that, she's not a total idiot."
"Oh ho?"
Now Silpi's jumping in.
Fine, time to show off this boosted Intelligence.
"Then let's do it. With a wager."
"That confident?"
"Easy."
"Why the weird foreign words all of a sudden... Sorry, but language skills and math are different."
"All talk? Getting cold feet?"
"Ugh, fine. Loser gets spanked."
"Deal."
First time putting 2.5 Intelligence to use against Hilde.
Like using a butcher's cleaver on a chicken, but whatever.
'Let's see how much faster I am now.'
"Ready, set, go."
A ridiculously childish contest began.
A little later.
-Sniffle, sniffle.
"Me... I lost to Yi Hyun...!!!"
Hilde sulking like she'd lost her country.
Two sheets of paperwork in front of her.
What she'd processed.
Mine? Seven sheets.
Total victory.
'Wasn't even a challenge.'
Truth be told, it wasn't real math.
Just totaling up the knight order's activity expenses for the imperial report.
Addition only.
Of course it was easy if even Hilde could do it...
'But I was faster.'
Hilde counted on her fingers.
I did mental math in a flash.
Speed I couldn't dream of in my modern days.
What is it? Like upgraded hardware?
Numbers used to crawl around my head; now it's instant.
A satisfied smile crept up.
Good call raising Intelligence.
"Don't cry, Hilde. Losing to the strong isn't shameful."
"...Kyaaaah!!! I'm so mad!!! Mad enough to turn my guts inside out!!!!"
"Hilde, I don't know how to comfort you..."
"Tease me like usual!! Don't pity me!!!"
Hilde wailed on.
Couldn't recover from the shock of losing to me.
Tears welling up; she was seriously pissed.
'Why act smart then...'
"I'll call off the bet."
I decided to show mercy.
Her drooped wolf ears twitched, one perking slightly.
"...For real?"
"Yes. No hobby of gloating over twisting kids' wrists."
"Uwaaaah!!! Kyaaaaah!!!!"
Both ears shot up.
Tail straight too.
Then she aimed her tail at me.
"Just spank me!!"
"I'm good."
"Spank me!!! And see, starting today I'll study again!! Rematch next time!!!"
"Sure, if you want."
Well, there's a reason they call it loving discipline.
If this makes Hilde a bit smarter...
Happy to wield the rod.
-Rustle.
"Then I'll spank you."
"Why're you pulling down my panties?"
"Consider it consideration from a smarter person. Turn this anger into fuel for self-improvement."
"...Hilde's face is dead serious right now. First time I've seen her like this since joining the 2nd Knight Order."
"She'll study hard now."
Ass bared.
I raised my palm.
And brought it down.
Smack—
A crisp sound.
Anger leaked from her gritted teeth.
"I'm really... gonna study... I won't lose to that jerk in brains ever..."
"......"
'Ahh, middle school math teacher. Can you see me? The kid you beat on endlessly with no grade improvement... I've inherited your will and reformed one soul.'
2.5 Intelligence, a whopping +3 stages.
Using it for education felt damn rewarding.
Wrapped up daytime duties like that, then night.
Straight to the hot springs.
The most important time of day.
'Vitality 6—will it work on the Hero too?'
Conquer the Hero.
Free her from toxic self-loathing, reunite with comrades.
That was my sole focus.
'Luna's worrying me too, so as quick as possible.'
Even more reason to hurry.
Grabbed the key, unlocked the door.
The Hero greeted me.
"Why so late? I was waiting."
"Busy with official duties. Anyway, any progress?"
"None. Kneaded my breasts all night, but not a drop of milk."
"See? Needs an expert touch."
"Seems so. I'd appreciate your help again."
She even asked me to milk her dry.
Thrusting those massive tits forward; utterly lewd.
"Yes, first I'll wash you."
Common Sense Alteration Milking Technique ON.
Tongue to her breasts.
Time to test this boosted Vitality...
That instant, crash!
[Who're you ladies?]
[Blanc, Captain of the Imperial 2nd Knight Order. Heard rumors of a suspicious person here, so came to investigate.]
"......!?"
'Blanc?'
Loud voices outside the hot springs.
Blanc, unseen all day,
[Hm~ Ariel in the men's bath?]
[Hard to believe, but that's the Hero for you. She's always done the outrageous since way back.]
Minerva and Lumine.
The Hero's former comrades.
Hic—
The Hero hiccuped.
-Tremble.
"T-t-today, we should end early. If they see me like this now."
Even her whole body shaking.
Breasts jiggling with the vibrations.
"...Oh?"
'This could work.'
And me, Yi Hyun.
Man shining with 2.5 Intelligence.
I saw the path to cure here.
Now paired with the ultimate bitter medicine.
-Whisper whisper.
"Perfect opportunity. We'll continue the treatment, Hero."
"N-n-no. If they catch us."
"It's fine. I'll make sure they don't."
"But."
"You just focus on suppressing your presence. Desperately."
It'll be scary, sure, but endure.
This is loving discipline too.
I'll make you healthy like Hilde.