Chapter 38
Translator - Zofu
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Click. Click. Click.
The sound of footsteps harshly trampling marble echoes through the empty corridor.
The imperial palace of the empire that prides itself as the continent's mightiest nation.
The heart of the empire, brimming with splendor and majesty.
Even though it connected to a palace of royalty who could never reach the throne, such desolation in broad daylight was unthinkable.
However, the furious figure of a woman cutting straight through the center of the corridor kept even the maids who should be working from setting foot in the hall.
They knew their master wouldn't punish her servants just because she was in a foul mood, but even so, the murderous aura radiating from her awakened instinct over reason, telling them they must not approach right now.
"Those crazy bastards."
The golden-haired Imperial Princess, uncharacteristically losing her composure and spitting out a curse.
Depending on how one used it, it was a statement that could be exploited politically, but there was no one who would reveal it to the outside. Within the imperial palace, at least this palace was her own small estate.
Before the maid could even lift a hand, the Princess roughly flung open the office door and flopped down into a chair.
"Things didn't go well, I take it."
"Yeah. Spectacularly so."
The Princess spoke familiarly with the guard knight who addressed her differently from her usual charismatic tone.
It was also ridiculous that the guard knight didn't follow her into the palace and waited in the office instead, but it couldn't be helped. The imperial court officials disliked her.
She disliked wandering around the palace, so when she came to the capital, she would quietly stay outside the palace or, like today, only in her master's office. Fortunately, there was no one in the palace who could ignore the master just because her guard knight wasn't present.
"They're all fools."
At Princess Helena Glayzer's words, the guard knight tilted her head.
Under normal circumstances, Helena wouldn't have reason to say this much.
Since it was a day to actively utilize her political acumen.
"Weren't you going to hold the imperial court accountable for their opposition today? So what did they say..."
"They asked if the results were fabricated."
"...What?"
That's absurd.
That the physical examination results from the Hero Training Facility could be manipulated.
Unless the Emperor personally intervened, even someone like Helena would be insufficient with the power of a single royal.
Though it was located in Glayzer's territory, it was a place akin to joint ownership by all nations in the world. Moreover, Count Elverton, the Director of the Training Facility, loathed outside interference.
Even if one did fabricate the results, it wasn't worth the effort to manipulate something that would be exposed within the facility in less than a month.
The imperial court couldn't not know that.
In other words, they were throwing a tantrum because they didn't want to take responsibility.
Helena Glayzer, unbefitting of her nickname the Iron-Blooded Princess, let out a deep sigh and grimaced, placing a hand on her head.
"I was foolish. It's my fault for believing fools would think rationally."
"Surely they didn't just say that..."
"Ha! They really asked me if he's truly the greatest talent of all time? Asked if he's really worth all this?"
"...So because they can't trust the physical exam results, they're telling you to be prepared to take responsibility by finding any fault possible."
"Seems that way. Honestly, I don't mind up to that point. It was even slightly amusing. Because I'm confident. I saw that person and what happened with my own eyes, and I confirmed the physical exam results too. Everything that happened then."
"......."
The guard knight fell silent.
She knew it well too.
That Princess Helena Glayzer, who had visited the Hero Training Facility, was talking about the hero candidate Si-woo. Though others might not have noticed, she could tell. That the Princess's voice was excited.
Having grown up together since childhood, she prided herself on knowing Helena well. At least the Princess had rational interest and favor toward that hero candidate. Though it seemed she was still more interested in his value in the political arena.
"They probably set a condition or mission, saying they need verification."
"Exactly. They said they'd give Candidate Si-woo a mission. If he passes it, they'll acknowledge him."
It wasn't common, but it happened occasionally.
Cases where a mission was assigned to test a candidate who hadn't even graduated yet.
"I assume the mission is the problem."
"...Persuading Han So-young to return to active duty."
A single line from Princess Helena Glayzer, drained of strength.
"......?!"
The guard knight was appalled.
So utterly absurd that she nearly opened her eyes wide, even though they were already strained.
"Ha, Han So-young... Are you referring to... that person I know...?"
The guard knight stammered, unlike herself.
That was how flustered and uncomprehending she was.
She who had rejected even the entire Glayzer Imperial Court when they hung on her every word, and coldly turned down all recruitment attempts from foreign nations who saw this as an opportunity. She who had retired a full three years ago. Getting such a hero to return to active duty was an impossible mission.
"Exactly. Absurd, isn't it? They said if he's a man with talent to save the continent, persuading an SS-rank female hero should be easy? Tell them to make sense. This is a completely different situation."
Han So-young, the SS-rank hero of the Glayzer Empire, had retired despite being in her late thirties—an age more than capable of standing on the battlefield—due to mental anguish caused by certain reasons.
Persuading someone like her was impossible.
One might think she'd be fine after three years. But Glayzer already sends people every month with return petitions.
And yet they fail.
"...So what do you plan to do?"
"Haah, I don't know. But it's strange?"
"What? What do you mean...."
"You know, somehow."
Princess Helena Glayzer smiled pleasantly, thinking of someone.
Her pink tongue darted out to lick her plump lips.
"I get this feeling that maybe that person could do it."
"...I've heard people call that 'being love-struck.'"
"It's not like that."
Helena Glayzer answered curtly to her guard knight, who was also her closest friend.
That was a colloquialism related to love, wasn't it. If so, absolutely not. She had no room for such things as love.
Everything was for the sake of sitting on the throne. The supreme seat that was never permitted to a woman.
For that, she could do anything, and was prepared to give up everything. Especially if it was a body of little value. Of course, if one desired an imperial woman, a fitting price would be necessary.
'Let anyone come. If it's something I need, I'll accept anyone.'
The Princess didn't realize.
That in her mind, as she thought 'anyone,' only one person's face came to mind.
Si-woo thought the first three weeks at the training facility were leisurely yet busy days.
He approached the three fellow trainees he needed to recruit first, and built rapport with them. Each had become acquainted for different reasons, and their usual hangouts were also different. He couldn't afford to neglect even one, so he moved about busily.
It was then that he lamented his own stupidity, belatedly.
"Since I'm going to bring them all to Palania anyway, I might as well get them acquainted."
With this realization gained in the final stretch of the third week, Si-woo gathered Baek Hye-yeon, Hwang Sa-yeon, and Ash, and introduced them to each other. And tried to make the three into friends.
Of course, they didn't suddenly become best friends. They simply approached each other positively, if only because they saw Si-woo introducing them.
The three women had personalities that were too different, and becoming close seemed unlikely.
Though Si-woo's attempt seemed to have failed, it wasn't completely without results.
At the very least, he made the three aware of each other's existence.
Si-woo was on friendly terms with all the female candidates, showing off his connections. But he came to realize without anyone telling him that the only ones he was close enough to bother introducing to each other were those three.
Since the feelings each harbored for Si-woo were different, there were no major conflicts. Rather, they still had more favorable feelings toward each other. Though no one knew how long that would last.
"Honestly, I thought those three would become friends right away."
"...Si-woo, you really are...."
At Si-woo's genuinely questioning expression, the red-haired mage shook her head.
The man she had fallen in love with seemed to understand women's bodies well but was completely hopeless when it came to women's hearts. No, perhaps the problem wasn't with women, but something more fundamental.
"You think those three are just casually hanging out like that?"
"Hmm, is that so?"
At Belluna's words, Si-woo thought of them.
Baek Hye-yeon didn't seem very interested in the other two. She'd been obsessed with the sword from the start, and in her previous life too, she'd lived just fine without a single female friend. She was less a woman and more some kind of being born to wield a sword.
In contrast, Hwang Sa-yeon and Ash seemed very interested in the other two. The former had impure intentions, the latter had pitiful intentions, but either way, that was certain.
"But Noona, you said you extended your vacation, right?"
"That's why I can be here now."
Originally, she should have returned last week, but Belluna asked her colleagues to extend her vacation by three weeks. Fortunately, her party understood Belluna.
Though there seemed to be a slight misunderstanding.
'No need to tell Si-woo about that.'
"This is all because of you."
"Me?"
"Of course. You haven't given me Manjus yet."
"I didn't think it would take a whole month to meet with the member candidates either."
Si-woo spoke with a nonchalant shrug.
It was true he hadn't known, but he had thought it wouldn't take long. He'd spoken about Manjus with a 'just do it' attitude, so he didn't know how long it would take to make.
He thought recruiting the alchemist was definitely possible, but he still wanted to make it as soon as possible so he wouldn't feel sorry toward Belluna.
Si-woo knew well how long a total of seven weeks—nearly two months—of vacation was for a hero. He could take on simple missions even without Belluna, but the difference between having a core dealer or not was huge.
'I hope Hildear and Elaine are doing well... Well, they have a month, so it should be fine.'
Belluna said with a smile to the worried-looking Si-woo.
"Don't worry too much. Anyway, our party has been charging forward all this time. Everyone's thinking of it as taking all their vacation at once. As long as we don't lose our touch."
"Are you okay with it, Noona?"
"Me? Psh, I've been training so hard."
Sitting on a chair in the garden and chatting, she looked around to see if anyone else was there. Fortunately, there were no other heroes or staff in sight.
"You know? After having anal sex with you... my ability to manipulate mana strangely improved."
"......?"
"I think I've gotten stronger. Is it true that a real man's yang energy is different? It's probably because it's you♡"
Recalling that day, the red-haired mage's face flushed red.
"I'll probably get bombarded with all the missions I couldn't do when I get back, you know? So...."
Though Belluna trailed off with a seductive smile, Si-woo knew very well what she wanted to say. There was only one case where a woman made such an expression.
Heat.
"Noona."
"Si-woo. Let's go to your room♡"
"There's no one around?"
"Yeah. So hurry... Huh?"
Belluna, who had been temptingly pressing her chest against Si-woo while holding his hand, froze at his meaningful words and expression.
"S-Si-woo?"
Before Belluna could say anything, Si-woo whispered in her ear.
"Noona. Get on your knees."
"...Really?"
"Really."
Though it was a perplexing request, she was excited.
Because having sex outdoors was one of every woman's dreams.
"Ah, okay...♡"
Belluna got down from the chair and knelt on the ground, not caring that her skirt exposed her knees completely. It didn't hurt much since it was grass. Rather, the grass and dirt touching her legs excited her.
"What do you want?"
"N-Noona... wants Si-woo's semen♥"
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