Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Empire's Turmoil (1)
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"We'll have to see how things play out, but for now, I'm optimistic! Getting to smash the Immortal King's skull in person— what could be more thrilling than that? Hahaha—!"
Harley gave Rapori a straightforward answer, while leaving just a bit of wiggle room.
The stage is what matters most right now.
A hero sets out on an adventure to rescue the princess, gathers companions one by one, crushes the demon king's schemes, and finally reaches the demon king's castle to defeat him—a fairy tale story if there ever was one.
For that kind of progression, they needed a battlefield where the hero and demon king could clash fairly, display it for all to see, and keep it fully under his control.
There's a reason classics endure. Weaving the hero party into that scenario will make it even more dramatic.
But to make that setup convincing, they needed a sacrificial lamb with enough renown to pique the Immortal King's interest, yet significant enough to keep the empire from acting recklessly—a kidnapped princess figure, essentially.
Fortunately, one perfect candidate was already lined up.
Without her consent, of course.
"...I see. Well, it's good we met like this anyway. We've wrapped up the important discussions, so we were planning to head back to the Enamel Continent soon."
Above all, Harris had earned his high elf status, so they needed to visit the world tree for his awakening ceremony.
Of course, with the allied forces and commando team issues, they'd have to return quickly.
The other delegations are about due to head back too... The empire side as well, naturally.
***
The capital of the Azerion Empire, Jeron.
Clop clop clop—
Inside a carriage racing down the wide paved road toward the imperial palace, one person gazed out the window.
A petite woman with black hair draped in a blue robe.
Isea, returning from her visit to the Roselia Cathedral in the Holy Land.
It's so peaceful.
She stared blankly at the familiar streets, as if the current chaotic state of affairs had nothing to do with her.
As the empire's capital, the war's aftermath hadn't reached here yet, but that wouldn't last much longer.
To preserve this peace, many would have to sacrifice and strive...
Yet here she was, heading back after refusing a plea to lend her strength.
To where she belonged.
...Even if it's selfish, I can't argue.
But for Isea, who wasn't from this world, the small bonds she'd formed here meant more than the continent's fate.
She knew failing to stop the Immortal King would endanger everything she cherished too, but surely others could handle that without her?
Unlike her home world, teeming with people ready to step up, Fifth Princess Riley desperately needed her right now.
Her faction still lagged far behind the crown prince's in quality and cohesion.
I figured I'd stay cooped up in the empire until heading back to Earth, but Simon dragged me to the Holy Land too.
That didn't improve her view of the crown prince, though.
She'd endured his dirty tricks firsthand ever since Riley's faction started gaining ground.
She'd blocked them all through blood, sweat, and literal vomit.
And upon finally reaching the palace and heading straight to the Fifth Princess's residence, she confronted the reason she still lingered in this world.
"Viscount Pristin? You're back sooner than expected."
Golden threads of radiant hair, turquoise eyes gleaming like jewels, a tall, mature figure in stark contrast to Isea...
The Fifth Princess, Riley Carte Azerion, draped in nobility and dignity, greeted her with a soft smile from her tea table.
"Everyone, you've worked hard. Viscount Pristin and I need to talk, so please leave us."
Her gentle honorifics carried the innate pressure of one born to rule.
At the princess's quiet command, the attending maids bowed politely and withdrew.
Humm—
Once alone, Isea casually waved her hand, layering a security barrier over the room as usual.
Magic was forbidden in the palace without permission, but as the princess's personal guard, she was exempt.
With everything settled...
The moment their eyes met again...
"Sea~! Did everything go well? What did the church say? They didn't try to force you into the commando team just because you're so capable, did they?"
Fifth Princess Riley rushed over and pulled Isea into a tight hug.
"Haa, Riley. Calm down first... Oof!"
Isea sighed, trying to fend off the princess rubbing her cheek against her head, only to wriggle deeper into her embrace.
"Heehee— Dolls are no match for this. Ahh~ So healing."
"...Th-then... grrph..."
Trapped in the princess's vice-like hug, her words mangled, Isea finally twisted free.
"Aww, why?! I was so lonely without you! Terry's not as huggable as you!"
The pouting princess, Riley.
'Terry' was the bear doll Isea had gifted her for her birthday—the one she clutched every night.
"Haa, all grown up and still such a kid."
"Hmph! I'm a dignified princess in public. You're the only one who gets to see this side—feel honored?"
Riley tossed her hair arrogantly, looking down with a smug grin.
And Isea... stared up at the statuesque beauty towering over 170cm with hazy eyes, cursing the world once more.
She was so small and cute when we met...!
It was inevitable.
When they first met, the princess had been an 11-year-old pixie, even smaller than her peers.
Now, she'd shot up in height, figure, and maturity, surpassing Isea entirely.
Their dynamic had flipped since then.
Though it hadn't started this way.
—"Whoa, what? Did you just teleport? No one can enter here because of the barrier. Are you a grand mage?"
Call it luck or misfortune.
Isea had no sooner arrived in this world than she landed in a noble estate's private garden, face-to-face with a lone child.
—"From another world? ...Not from this one?"
Hearing no one else could enter, she instantly grasped the situation and spilled everything honestly.
It was her only shot at survival: win the girl's favor.
Chatting with the wide-eyed, curious child paved the way for her new life here.
—"Fun! So you know nothing about this place? I'll help! ...But on one condition."
Normally, she'd have been executed on the spot for such bad luck.
But she got lucky.
—" ...Will you be my friend?"
—"Friend? You're tiny. Call me sis."
—"Sis? Sis is... scary."
The ever-energetic girl timidly made her offer.
Isea didn't know her identity or circumstances then, but she couldn't ignore the loneliness in that delicately pretty face.
—" ...Haa, fine. Just call me Sea."
—"Sea? That's your name? Pretty!"
—"Yeah, thanks. What's yours?"
—"Riley! My name's Riley!"
The Fifth Princess of the Azerion Empire, Riley Carte Azerion (age 11), briefly escaped to her maternal relatives to avoid her siblings' scrutiny in the cutthroat palace.
And Isea (age 18), a high schooler from Earth, freshly worried about her future in this world.
Their first encounter.
Eight years later, sometimes as friends, sometimes as sisters.
Isea had been overtaken in every way, but she still treasured Riley like a little sister.
Just as the lonely Riley had leaned on her, Isea had come to rely emotionally on the child who'd first reached out in this strange world.
"...So Marquis Walter tried his shady tricks, but I caught him red-handed. He probably wanted to score points while big bro was away, but now he's the one in trouble, heehee!"
Isea smiled at Riley chattering about events during her absence, but a pang of unease hit her.
No matter how much she adored Riley like a sibling, as someone from another world, she couldn't stay forever.
Still, there's a time difference, so I can stick around a bit longer.
Her mental deadline: 10 years here, 1 year on Earth.
About 2 years left in this world.
She had to ensure Riley could thrive safely by then.
If I leave, will Riley still smile like this without a single friend? She barely shows her true self to anyone else...
Her aid as a grand mage helped, but a 19-year-old princess building a force rivaling the crown prince's took real talent.
Her genius was legendary in the empire; outsiders called her the "Iron-Blooded Princess."
Though she acted childish only around Isea.
Still... having no one to open up to was a real worry.
Isea had tried introducing friends multiple times, but Riley's trauma made her reject "this world's people."
Plenty of time left—I'll figure it out. I came here in my sophomore year, so I'll be a senior when I return. Wait, does that mean I have to take the college entrance exam? How many months left?
Trivial compared to her deeper worries...
But serious for Earth's ninth-year high schooler and this dimension's grand mage.
***
"Here, Olivia. The latest intel, refined from our investigations. Defenses around the palace and key personnel, down to the nobles staying in the capital. Took some work compiling this."
[This is... the information gathered by that man Andrew...? Quite useful... He seems like fine material...]
"Tch."
Olivia ignored Siana's attempt to take credit and skimmed the densely packed documents in seconds.
Andrew Weaver's sleepless nights of toil meant nothing to the wicked, ruthless undead legion executives.
"Oh, right! The king might send Andrew under you later. He's human, so handle with care, got it?"
[No worries... If he rebels, I'll show him horrors worse than death...]
"No, don't break him by being too harsh—that'd be a waste! Humans die quick without food and sleep!"
[Ah... Of course... I won't be that rough... For steady nutrition, three meals and three hours of sleep daily...]
"Three hours?"
Siana paused mid-conversation with Olivia.
She'd shared some camaraderie with Andrew—maybe speak up now.
[Ah... Forgot toilet and hygiene time... Hmm... Humans need some leisure too, so 18 hours of work a day...]
"Hey, that might tank his efficiency over time. Loosen up a bit?"
[It's fine... Efficiency rises with the whip...]
At that, Siana hardened her resolve.
Olivia clearly misunderstood human limits.
Possible short-term, disastrous long-term.
As she opened her mouth to point it out...
[A body that needs six hours of rest a day... Enviable...]
Better not. Sorry, Andrew.
Siana shelved her good intentions at Olivia's murmur.
Non-physical work, after all—not that harsh. Six hours rest seemed ample for ability use.
Unaware of the storm clouds over one Earthling's future, the executives returned to their main topic: fulfilling the Immortal King's command.
Just as Saint Heinrich had "foreseen."
The Immortal King Hannibal Strauss began his move on the empire.