Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Popularity (3)
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"Ah."
"Lady. I can eat it mys—"
"Ah. Just do it."
"⋯⋯."
Carlyle obediently opened his mouth and gulped down the porridge Gray scooped up for him.
The Gray who had personally brewed this porridge herself and now stuffed it straight into Carlyle's mouth grinned.
To Carlyle, it looked just like a thug smiling amiably while holding a knife to his throat.
"Tasty?"
"⋯⋯."
"Is it tasty?"
"⋯⋯Yes."
It was just so-so, really, but saying it wasn't delicious felt like it might lead to an on-the-spot beheading in this atmosphere, so he had no choice.
⋯⋯There really is no worse nurse in the world. Just having her nearby makes his condition feel so much worse.
"Right?"
But oblivious or not to his thoughts, Gray just kept grinning.
As if the very fact of being helpful to him right now was bringing her joy.
"⋯⋯."
What on earth is she doing?
The Hero suddenly entering the palace was already quite the hot topic in itself, but surprisingly, hardly anyone complained about it.
The recent demon outbreak had left a deep impression on everyone, apparently, creating an atmosphere where the Hero's presence actually brought reassurance.
So no one had reacted much to Gray entering the palace.
The problem was what this woman was doing after entering the palace.
It had already been several days since she barged into his sickroom, declaring she'd attend to the mobility-impaired Carlyle, and planted herself there.
He had no idea what her ulterior motive was.
[⋯⋯She's probably trying to repay you in her own way.]
'Repay me?'
[Well, she overheard that story, and it moved her quite a bit, so isn't that why she's doing this?]
⋯⋯Well, she had gained some special ability and her trust level had even changed, so that made sense.
But the problem was how off-base her approach was.
His body had long since recovered to the point where he didn't need a nurse at all.
If anything, Gray's "nursing" was making him feel even more drained.
The occasional massages that felt like she was smashing his entire body to pieces could almost pass for some new form of torture.
⋯⋯No, on second thought, it was literally torture. It wasn't just a metaphor—his body really felt pulverized every time.
'Is she just pretending to nurse while tormenting me in a fresh new way?'
As he came up with a hypothesis that felt somewhat close to the truth, the Hero inside the Holy Sword spoke up with a throbbing headache vibe.
[How about thinking of it a little differently?]
'Pardon?'
[Isn't this tomboyish, disobedient girl nursing you like this because she cares about you so much? How about feeling a bit touched by that?]
'⋯⋯.'
[⋯⋯It's a bit rough, and less actual consideration and more her getting high off the idea of providing it, but anyway, her intentions are good⋯⋯ sort of⋯⋯ feel⋯⋯]
The Holy Sword's voice trailed off, mumbling.
Probably realizing in real-time how nonsensical it sounded as she said it⋯⋯
Carlyle glared briefly at the Holy Sword dangling from his arm in bracelet form.
'It's tough, isn't it?'
[What?]
'Being stuck in that form all the time.'
[⋯⋯.]
'You seem dissatisfied, judging by the crap you're spouting, so if you have something to say, spit it out instead of—'
A sharp, prickling counterattack from the Hero surged through his entire body for the first time in a while.
He twisted slightly in his seat, but the lady next to him grabbed his nape and slammed him back into the bed, telling him to rest.
A nurse choke-slamming her patient—another world's first⋯⋯
[If we merge consciousnesses next time, look forward to it.]
'⋯⋯Come to think of it, nothing much happened even when we merged this time?'
At first, he'd been wary of their consciousnesses mixing during merges, but lately, the aftereffects felt less and less pronounced.
Especially last time when she entered his body—she'd even mentioned getting hints about Carlyle or something. Now, she barely brought it up.
But the Hero's petulant complaint flew right back at him.
[Well, it might feel that way to you. Victims are always oblivious, after all.]
'Pardon?'
At Carlyle's question, the Hero swallowed her words with clear dissatisfaction.
Her pride was clearly bruised at the thought of saying what came next.
[⋯⋯Every time we merge consciousnesses, I feel like I'm the one taking losses. You're sucking me dry bit by bit.]
'Sucking you⋯⋯? What does that even mean?'
[Not telling. Saving it as a surprise for later.]
'⋯⋯.'
[Just know your mind wasn't as easy pickings as I'd hoped. Feel proud.]
'Don't give me a headache too⋯⋯'
Gray, humming a tune beside him as she prepared to continue her "nursing," was already the primary source of his splitting headache.
This time, she was wringing out a rag to place a wet cloth on his forehead.
Even though he didn't have a fever.
"Lady, don't wring it out so hard—gently, gently⋯⋯"
Before he could even finish dissuading her, the towel in Gray's hand crumpled with a crunch.
⋯⋯Not just ripping wet cloth, but exploding apart under her grip—it sent chills down his spine.
"I'll clean it up, Lady."
"Whoa there. Patients stay put."
"⋯⋯."
"I'll wipe you down with a fresh towel, then give you a massage."
Save me.
Please, save me⋯⋯
But thankfully, the world hadn't turned completely heartless yet.
Someone opened the sickroom door just as if answering Carlyle's prayer.
Someone even Gray couldn't mess with lightly.
"Good heavens, Saintess⋯⋯!"
"I'm a Cardinal. The Saintess is someone else. Don't jinx it."
As Felix replied to Carlyle's cry with exasperation, Gray frowned while rummaging for a new towel.
"⋯⋯Why are you here?"
"Stop tormenting the kid, Gray. He's about to get busy as it is."
"Busy?"
"If we don't drag this guy out soon, it'll be too much to handle."
Yawning, Felix tossed something onto the bed where Carlyle lay.
A suit that screamed high-end. Even at a glance, it looked tailor-made to Carlyle's measurements, perfectly fitted.
"You know you've been a hot potato this whole time, right?"
Felix scratched his head irritably as he spoke.
"People are about to riot if they don't see your face soon. You'll have to go out and let them gawk at who you are."
"⋯⋯."
Carlyle fiddled with the suit.
Truth be told, a little thought made it clear.
For Felix, random nobodies clamoring to see Carlyle wouldn't be an issue. The Hero Gray could squash that flat before it even reached him.
But if someone like Felix was coming here to say this...
"⋯⋯High-ranking officials?"
"The Prince and Princesses are summoning you."
"⋯⋯."
"You can ignore the others, but if they 'both' want you at the same time, you should at least make an appearance. They even asked me to put in a good word."
Carlyle's expression stiffened.
⋯⋯The two biggest headaches were calling for him together.
If those two pressured him simultaneously, even Felix couldn't outright ignore their request.
"It's fine. You've helped me before, Cardinal. I can't impose on you again."
"Can you move alright?"
"Yes. I'm managing, more or less."
Truthfully, he wasn't fully recovered.
It was the same phenomenon he felt whenever manifesting the Hero from the Holy Sword inside him, but the lingering exhaustion throughout his body was no joke. Intense combat would be impossible.
⋯⋯But compared to lying here obediently and enduring Gray's "nursing," even facing those unpleasant bastards would be preferable—escaping this place took priority.
"Alright, then tag along with your escort."
"My escort?"
"You're not the only one called."
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"Carlyle!"
"Your Highness, have you been w—"
Before the greeting finished, Ilia went flying from a kick to Gray's foot.
It happened right before the delighted Ilia, thrilled to see Carlyle, could throw her arms around him.
"⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
Not just the kicked Ilia, but even Felix and Carlyle—plenty familiar with Gray's antics—stared at her in stunned silence.
"Uh, uh, sorry."
"⋯⋯."
Even the kicker, Gray, looked flustered, which made it all the more absurd.
No acting here—her genuinely shaken eyes pointed at the kicked Ilia as she made excuses.
"Just, seeing her hug you like that suddenly made my blood boil⋯⋯"
"⋯⋯."
Why?
Why the hell⋯⋯?
A kid hugging a friendly adult out of excitement—why would that piss you off⋯⋯?
And shouldn't an apology come after that⋯⋯?
The thought crossed everyone's minds, but no one voiced it.
The opponent was Gray. Just as the sky is blue, Gray wielding violence without intellect or reason was like a law of nature⋯⋯
"She's the one who hugged the patient too hard, right? She's at fault."
"⋯⋯."
"I did nothing wrong."
Exactly. Like a law of nature.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯Ah, anyway!"
And Ilia, clearly grasping this truth despite her young age, shook herself off and stood up briskly.
As expected of our Princess. Tough as nails.
"You got summoned by the 1st Prince and 2nd Princess too, Carlyle?"
"Yes, that's how it turned out."
"I didn't hear the reason, but I'm glad you're coming along!"
"I'm honored to attend alongside Your Highness—"
Carlyle, mid-reply, suddenly shut his mouth.
He'd spotted Ilia's hands trembling as she continued the conversation.
Unmistakably, a look of 'fear.'
Different from her poor condition due to the demonic energy when entering the palace.
"I, I hope nothing bad happens⋯⋯"
Seeing that, a realization struck him.
'Ah, right.'
In her eyes.
The 1st Prince and 2nd Princess were 'monsters.'
⋯⋯He'd had faint impressions of their friendliness toward him this round, but.
Those bastards were the demon spawn who wrecked the fragile Empire entirely across every single loop.
Don't forget.
He must never forget he's walking straight into a tiger's den.
"Yoo-hoo—! You made it, Carli-Carly!"
⋯⋯And.
A tiger was charging right at him.
Lush pink hair blocked his vision. When he came to, someone was crushing him in a frontal bear hug.
"I heard you were sick the whole time! I missed you!"
A voice he remembered.
The 2nd Princess. Bellatrix Ordo Reinhardt.
And she hugged Carlyle the moment she saw him.
"⋯⋯."
Realizing that instantly sparked a terrifying imagination.
Carlyle shot a panicked glance sideways.
Gray, head twisted at an eerie angle, kept twitching her foot and leg.
"⋯⋯."
No.
Don't⋯⋯!
Any incident here would be an express train to disaster⋯⋯!
"⋯⋯! ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯!"
Carlyle flailed desperately.
Even so, kicking a Princess? Hold back, please⋯⋯!
"⋯⋯Hoo⋯⋯"
Fortunately, perhaps inoculated by Ilia's case, Gray took a deep breath and calmed her leg.
Oblivious to this, the 2nd Princess kept hugging Carlyle and pouring out her excited words.
"You're the star of this meeting, Carli-Carly! I have tons of proposals and questions I want answers to!"
"⋯⋯Is that so?"
"Yeah! I'll make sure you take mine! Let's go in quick, come on!"
"⋯⋯."
⋯⋯Still.
This level of favor was utterly baffling.
He'd never even met her once—why go this far?
But right now, something even more pressing demanded attention.
"Lady."
"⋯⋯Yeah."
"Lady. You can't."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯Yeah."
Gray's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on her face as she replied half-heartedly.
What the hell had set her off this badly⋯⋯?
"No, I'm not that mad."
"⋯⋯."
"That bitch slobbering all over my patient— no, that weird person. Weird person, yeah."
"⋯⋯Yes."
"I kinda wanna kill her a bi— no, what I mean is. Just a little⋯⋯ wanna kill that bi—"
"⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯Lady."
This meeting.
He already had a bad feeling it wouldn't be easy.
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