Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Death March (3)
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-Mom, why on earth did you fall for a scumbag like that?
Sometime ago, Siona had asked her mother that question.
Later on, she herself took the life of that father of hers... one of his many concubines, was it the nth one?
She couldn't even remember. He was the type who decided everything on a whim, depending on his mood that day.
As one could tell from that single sentence, he was far from having an exemplary personality.
In Siona's eyes, her father was the worst kind of dragon.
So, it was all the more inexplicable.
Why would she fall so hard for a male like that, even going so far as to accept the position of concubine just to stay by his side?
What value could there possibly be in him?
Even if dragons had an instinct to be drawn to the strong, that didn't make it any more understandable.
And her mother's response was even more absurd.
-Isn't he cool?
-...That male who tries to bend everyone to his whims?
-Of course, he's not a good-natured husband. But.
What was it she said again?
-There's this thrilling chill to him.
-...Pardon?
-There's this look about him that just pierces right through your heart the moment you see it. You could call it a bad personality, but sometimes it comes off as so wildly primal.
-...
-And a man's anger becomes cool depending on what he's 'carrying' on his shoulders.
...That was what her mother had said with a grin.
What exactly was it?
-You'll probably get it someday. You're my blood, after all.
-Wow, talk about delusional.
What nonsense. What does a bad personality have to do with being primal?
That's what she thought when she heard it.
Even after reaching adulthood, her impression hadn't changed much.
No matter how capable someone was, Siona had her type set in stone.
She liked gentle people.
Kind ones who considered others, who didn't try to control everyone around them on a whim.
The gray cardinal she served as a subordinate might fit that bill too, even if she didn't particularly like her on a personal level.
She had felt a fair bit of fondness for Carlyle Bellfast upon seeing him, probably for similar reasons.
Who knows. If he hadn't been tangled up in all those complicated relationships, she might have made a move first.
He was that kind, that harmless of a student.
"...Carlyle, I understand you're upset, but hear me out for a moment—"
"Professor."
So.
This situation was utterly bewildering.
Both the way that student was acting.
And her own 'reaction' perfectly matching it.
"I'm speaking."
Quietly.
With a chill settling heavily in the corners of his eyes.
Carlyle's voice dropped steadily.
...And without realizing it.
She flinched.
A cold sensation coursing through her entire body.
But what ran through her veins wasn't cold energy.
As a warrior who had reached a high realm and a dragon by birthright—a supremely powerful race—Siona was adept at assessing her own state.
And what she assessed was.
Her heart pounding like mad.
Her temperature rising. Her breathing quickening.
'...Huh. What.'
What was this?
Why was she like this?
Her face felt a bit flushed somehow. Her legs twisted slightly together.
For someone as masterful as her at controlling her physical state, this reaction was beyond embarrassing.
Separate from reason.
Her body seemed to be moving on 'instinct.'
"..."
Quietly.
She glanced at Leona beside her.
Leona didn't look any different.
Bewilderment plain on her face.
...She clearly hadn't expected such an unintended reaction from herself either.
"It's not like we're doing this because we want to. Unless the Black Lion Margrave said it in jest—which she didn't—our relationship is probably truly crucial."
"..."
"I'm not saying your feelings don't matter, but do you really need to fight like this, even in a situation like this?"
"..."
Tact...
Two dragons—who could treat humans like insects given their racial superiority—stood there meekly listening to a lecture from a human student, clearly beneath them in every way. It was a bizarre scene.
For Carlyle, it was honestly a bit ridiculous.
'Why are these people being so compliant all of a sudden?'
Leona might have seemed soft-hearted from the start, but he hadn't expected Siona to stand there quietly taking it too.
[...This isn't bad at all.]
With a voice that seemed to call for a gleeful cackle, the Hero muttered.
'...'
[The usual soft and squishy is nice, but this feral side as a treat...]
'What are you even talking about...?'
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...And so.
The dragons' bickering finally settled down.
And starting the next day, they were set to head into battle 'together.'
[...Together in battle?]
"We have to block the monster hordes pouring in right away, at least."
That's how Death Marches worked, from what he'd heard.
Monster waves would crash down starting tomorrow, so they had to hold them off.
According to the messenger from the Black Lion Margrave.
"There's about... three days of grace period."
A typical Death March spanning four days had the most massive and dangerous surge on the final day.
That's why they said thousands of defenders could be wiped out—factoring in that last push.
So, for Carlyle, it was like getting homework.
Advance his relationships with these sisters within three days, somehow.
...Yeah.
That was the problem.
"What do I even do in three days?"
[Just do what you did last time. They melted for it.]
"That's what I can't figure out how to do!"
He'd only tried it once before because Gray told him to. Carlyle himself wasn't the type cut out for that sort of thing.
Even if the sisters liked that sharp, intense vibe, he had no confidence in pulling it off consistently.
"I'm not really the charismatic type, you know? I'm no leader figure."
[...Hmm. It's a bit different from that.]
But the Hero seemed to disagree.
[Think back to when you tamed me.]
"..."
Hearing it straight from her was a bit disorienting, but he'd gotten a lot of help from her advice last time.
It wouldn't hurt to listen.
[Sure, you mostly catered to my whims, but you could unleash fire when you got mad.]
"That was because not snapping would have been disastrous."
[Exactly. I found that pretty cool.]
"..."
...Huh.
Whoa.
Carlyle blankly stared down at the holy sword.
Had she ever praised him so straightforwardly before?
[It was discerning, responsible anger that properly conveyed you're no pushover.]
Not wild emotional projection.
Refined fury flung because it was 'necessary.' That was Gray's take on the anger Carlyle Bellfast unleashed.
The dragon sisters probably felt the same.
"...Thanks."
[...]
"..."
The holy sword and Carlyle exchanged an awkward silence.
...What to say. It was embarrassing.
Having this kind of conversation with the Hero was unimaginable in the old days.
After a long quiet stretch, Carlyle cleared his throat awkwardly.
"So, how does me being able to get mad like that relate to the current situation?"
[Well, when the moment calls for it, you'll naturally snap at them the same way you did at me.]
And.
From the looks of it, those moments would come up plenty.
The dragon sisters turned awfully childish when it came to each other.
[And just keep showing that side repeatedly.]
"...You think I'll win them over by keep getting mad?"
...Somehow.
It was hard to believe.
Who in the world fell for that?
[...Women's hearts are strange things. Some dive headfirst for that exact vibe.]
"Huh?"
[People have different tastes, and the world's full of oddballs.]
...What was she saying?
"Hero, one question?"
[What.]
"Why is someone who doesn't get human emotions suddenly an expert on how people fall for each other?"
[How about shutting your trap before I twist your head off.]
"..."
[I'm already pissed off enough on the regular—don't go holding a ritual to rile me up, you little shi... Ah, no. Ahem.]
"..."
...Scary, Hero.
Carlyle shuddered as he gazed at the holy sword.
Even bodiless, her killing intent hit with sincere precision. It triggered his PTSD from countless loops perfectly...
But when he met the dragon sisters afterward, the holy sword's words weren't far off.
"...Shall we go?"
"...Yeah."
"...Yes, understood."
"..."
What to make of it.
He was treating them the same gentle way, but their attitudes felt off.
Maybe because he'd raised his voice sharply yesterday—they were awkwardly watching his every move.
...And if they were just watching him warily, fine.
But while watching.
There was something.
'...Hero. Why do they seem like...'
[Like what?]
'...Like they're expecting something from me?'
[...]
...No, really.
Their gazes were a bit intense.
Like they were hoping to see something specific from him.
"..."
Hmm.
Hard to believe, but maybe.
"...Why are you two acting so hesitant? We're heading into battle now."
He said it with a hint of irritation, feigned.
"We're in important roles here. Shouldn't you pull your weight properly?"
His benchmark was Gray, who always grated on nerves before battles.
Who knew the day would come when he'd mimic her tone on others.
"I can't stand useless people."
He growled it out.
"!"
"!"
Siona and Leona both flinched simultaneously.
Then they rubbed their faces and averted their eyes from him.
That look—how to describe it.
...They seemed pleased.
These two were thrilled at his aggressive words toward them.
"..."
The next three days.
What on earth was happening?
Carlyle shivered as he headed to the battlefield.
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