Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Immortal Citadel Escape Operation (2)
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Siana was tasked with overseeing the residential district inside the Immortal Citadel, but she hadn't fully discarded her status as an imperial noble.
In truth, swallowing up that middling noble house had merely been a means to ease access to higher echelons. Now that she belonged to the Immortal King's army, there was really no need to cling to such a title.
But after all the effort she'd invested, it would be a shame to just toss it away, wouldn't it?
Fortunately, her master, Immortal King Hans, still saw value in it and permitted her periodic visits to the family estate.
And those rare moments granted to her were nothing short of a vacation, a chance to escape this stifling, musty place and once again savor the refined life of nobility.
"Hmm-hmm~♪"
It was only natural that a cheerful tune escaped her lips on that very day.
The moment I get out, I'll start with the finest black tea and cake to refresh my palate. Then some shopping—pure indulgence. Money means nothing now, so spend freely. First, fill in those shoe collections I've missed...
With her mind sorting through all the things she'd do upon leaving, Siana strode briskly through the gloomy corridors of the citadel.
Before heading to the teleportation circle that the Immortal King himself had installed for her, she made one final sweep of her jurisdiction, preparing for her brief absence.
And that's when she spotted an undead in the residential dining hall, looking far from ordinary.
"My goodness, Andrew? Is that really you?"
"Ah? H-ha-ha... Long time no see, sis."
Or rather... upon closer inspection, it wasn't an undead at all. It was a human—and an awakener from Earth, no less: Andrew Weaver, who had been dragged here alongside her.
His face was so haggard it was unrecognizable, his hair matted as if he hadn't washed it in ages, dark circles under unfocused, glassy eyes.
He had been mechanically shoveling food into his mouth just to survive when Siana's voice made him blankly turn his head toward her.
"...Seeing you like this, asking if you're okay would be pointless. You don't look okay at all."
"Ahaha... Ah, seeing a friendly face after so long feels good. I thought you'd forgotten all about a nobody like me since I hadn't seen you around."
"Ahem, you know that's unavoidable. Still, last time I casually mentioned you to Olivia..."
Despite his listless tone, his pointed words made her avert her gaze slightly.
In honesty, she had remembered him briefly not long ago and considered visiting, only to forget again soon after.
Well, what's done is done. And really, it's not like I did anything wrong, right?
Of course, true to her demonic nature, any guilt she felt didn't last long.
Considering they'd always had a superior-subordinate dynamic—and now he was just a fellow conscript—taking even this much notice of him was something, wasn't it?
"So, is the work that tough? I figured you'd slack off just fine with some finesse."
His ability didn't show obvious signs of use, so he could just play it easy and coast, right?
She couldn't fathom why someone as lazy as him was being worked to the bone on manual labor of all things.
"...I've tried that, too. But that woman—she spots it like a ghost. Says she can tell just from my body's vital signs..."
"Ah, I see."
The undead's basic ability: life force detection.
For someone like Olivia, grasping a person's condition through that would be child's play.
She was a literal ghost, after all.
"After getting caught a few times... they even set a quota for me. If I didn't meet it, I couldn't even return to my quarters! In an environment crawling with undead and black magic, where proper rest is impossible—that's straight-up demonic!"
Recounting it seemed to stir his frustration, his weak voice rising in volume.
And that soured the mood of the actual demon, Siana, as well.
To demons, being called demonic was a compliment—but using it as an insult was another matter entirely.
"Yes, yes. Good to see you still have some energy left. But do you really have time to chat like this? Finish eating quick and get some rest."
"Ugh! R-right. I got carried away. But sis, you started talking to me first..."
Grumbling under her breath at her scolding, he sat back down and began stuffing food into his mouth again.
Siana watched him for a moment, shrugged lightly, and turned to resume her inspection rounds.
She'd exchanged greetings after so long; now it was time to wrap up her duties and leave this wretched place behind.
Her haste blinded her to the suspicious air lingering around Andrew in the dining hall.
"Hoo—."
For a brief moment, he stared at Siana's retreating figure with a mix of relief and regret, then let out a short sigh and turned away.
I rarely see her as it is, so this might be goodbye with Siana sis. A bit bittersweet, but... no choice.
It had been over nine years since his transfer to Outerica.
With repatriation finally within reach, he aggressively continued his meal to endure the remaining time.
Soon... any day now. Just a little longer.
Dreaming solely of escape from this hell.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The second residential district of the Immortal Citadel, where contact with the outside was severely restricted.
"...Today, right?"
"Today."
There, Princess Riley and Hesperon, immersed in their usual magic training, exchanged quiet words.
The moment she had desperately awaited had finally arrived.
The day they would break free from the Immortal King's grasp and reclaim their freedom.
"The timing's perfect, too. With that Lilith woman who's been watching us gone for now, the chances of them noticing something amiss and responding immediately drop significantly."
Just yesterday, she'd left a huge stockpile of rations with instructions to fend for themselves since she wouldn't be around for a while.
Normally, sharing such info with prisoners would be unthinkable, but this wasn't an ordinary prison, so it hardly mattered.
However, it came with one unexpected issue...
"I was enjoying not seeing that face for a while, though. What a shame."
"What are you two whispering about? Riley? You look awfully carefree. Have you been living it up on their slop like a prized cow?"
The crown prince, who'd been forced into seclusion until now, was suddenly roaming free.
Simon Carte Azerion Crown Prince—initially confined here under Andrew's watch, later reduced to Siana's plaything.
His daily torments had him holing up in his quarters to nurse his weary body, but after a full day of rest yesterday, he'd recovered enough stamina to wander about.
Grown up well-fed, huh? Impressive endurance.
And as a knight with a decently trained physique, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
Of course, Siana would only adore him more for his sturdiness.
"Oh my, is that my dear brother? Have you finished today's laundry and cleaning before coming out? Miss even one day, and you might get scolded later. For insufficient obedience training, that is."
"Kgh! You... you...!"
He'd picked the fight first, only to have his sore spot prodded, leaving his face flushed as he gaped wordlessly.
He had no chance in a verbal spar—why start one in the first place?
"...Ha! Birds of a feather, huh. Mingling with scum of unknown origins. Guess lowborn blood can't be hidden."
He even dragged Hesperon into it, trash-talking her entire maternal family.
This time, Riley's eyebrow twitched.
Her maternal house was a legitimate noble line, albeit a newer merchant family without deep history—a perennial target for conservative factions led by the crown prince.
Her grandmother had married into wealth from another merchant clan, making it easy bait.
As she opened her mouth to counterattack—
"Jeez."
Hesperon, who'd been quietly watching, scratched the back of his head and stepped forward.
Even if it's true, trash-talking bloodlines crosses the line.
And technically, it included him too, didn't it?
Born into privilege as an only child and raised delicately, he couldn't let such an insult slide.
"What a sight—a crown prince talking to his sister like that. And then he lectures about dignity? Unbelievable."
"...What are you? How dare you butt in here?"
They started it, yet now he was the intruder?
A perfect showcase of his self-centered mindset.
Apparently, his "training" hadn't taken hold.
Guess I need to tell Siana. She's gone too soft on her favorite toy.
Over a month of daily sessions, yet his spirit remained unbroken—quite the ego.
Taming such a foe required consistent attention and care.
"This calls for a word with the owner. Poor training lets the pet run wild, baring teeth at anyone. The tamer's not up to snuff."
Crunch—!
"...Hesperon?"
Even a lowly commoner mocking him openly—Simon's teeth ground with menace.
Riley's face turned worried too.
It was routine for her as fellow royalty, but she could picture the fallout from someone "beneath" him insulting his prideful self.
Especially without a supervisor to control things...
"Hah—fine. Time to show you lot your place. I've been pissed off enough lately anyway. ...As long as I don't kill you, they won't complain much."
His response was exactly as she'd feared.
"Wait! You can't mean to use force here...!"
She rushed to intervene, but Simon—already at his stress limit—had no patience left.
He'd dragged his ailing body out precisely to vent that boiling rage; this was a golden excuse.
Vmmm—
Aura flared without hesitation, instantly bolstering his body and sharpening his dulled battle senses.
Though his training time matched Riley's short stint, his late twenties age and solid talent made him a proper knight.
"Heh-heh—let's see if your mouth matches your skill."
Hardly opponents for two who'd just escaped novice mage territory.
No matter his current condition.
And Simon, sensing their levels with his honed instincts, knew it well.
They couldn't possibly stop him!
"Hesperon! For now...!"
He cut off Riley's urgent words—
Boom!
"Crawl on the floor like the scum you are!"
Face twisted viciously, he kicked off the ground toward Hesperon.
Fist slicing air, aimed to pulverize his face.
And Hesperon...
Thwack!
"Gahk!"
Crash—!
...fluidly dodged and counterattacked, sending him tumbling across the ground.
Literally crawling, as he'd boasted.
"Ugh, what... the hell?"
"...Huh?"
The unexpected turn left Simon stunned and Riley—mid-spell—blinking in confusion.
He wasn't a veteran high knight, but among regular knights, he ranked highly.
A knight was a human weapon honed solely for combat.
Not something an unprepared low mage could resist...
"So hot-tempered. How's someone like this a crown prince? Really worries me about the Empire's future."
Hesperon ignored their shock, grumbling casually as he spoke his mind.
Aura from active support spells already coursing through his body.