Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Earthlings in Another World (1)
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‘...How is he here?’
Stunned by the completely unexpected encounter, Princess Riley blankly looked up at Heinrich.
A lot had happened today alone.
From the clash with Crown Prince Simon, Banshee Queen Olivia’s intervention and interference, to the dramatic escape that succeeded despite everything—and then the life-threatening crisis they faced right after getting out.
And in that desperate moment, who should appear to save them but the Hero himself?
It wasn’t strange for her to react like this.
‘...Ah!’
But her confusion didn’t last long...
Her mind flashed to what needed to be done right now, pushing aside such thoughts.
“Ah, thank you for saving us, Saint! But first, please help this person...! I beg you!”
Though momentarily flustered by the unimaginable meeting, encountering the Saint in this situation was truly a stroke of unparalleled luck.
For one, he was their lifesaver. And even if the Hero focused more on combat than healing, he was still an arch-level priest without a doubt.
With Hesperon in such critical condition, he was the perfect person for the job.
“Of course. Leave him to me.”
Naturally, even without her request, the righteous Saint had no intention of ignoring the injured man before him.
“Hmm—quite a severe state, but nothing that threatens his life, so no need to worry. He’s remarkably tough.”
“Is that so...? That’s a relief... really...”
As Heinrich began healing with holy magic and murmured in quiet admiration, Riley let out a sigh of relief while anxiously watching from the side.
Finally feeling that all the crises had passed, her tension eased, and she slumped to the ground.
What a terribly exhausting day it had been, in every way.
“Thank you again for your help, Saint. Oh, by the way, how did you know we were here...?”
With some breathing room now, her thoughts reached the lingering questions, and she cautiously asked.
It felt too dramatic to dismiss as mere coincidence.
But before Heinrich could respond...
Woooong—
Another change occurred.
A massive surge of mana instantly concentrated in the nearby air with a humming vibration.
An enormous energy that even a low-level mage like Riley couldn’t fathom formed a specific structure in an instant, warping space—and from it, a group of people emerged.
A hulking barbarian warrior who instantly drew all eyes with his savage, overwhelming presence.
A lance knight with a long spear slung over his shoulder, exuding a gloomy aura.
...And among those strangers, a petite girl.
“Saint! Space teleportation isn’t that simple! If you just rush off like that...!”
There, finally, was the familiar face she’d longed to see.
“...Isea?”
“Huh?”
Isea, who had been grumbling at Heinrich the moment she opened her eyes from focusing on the spell, paused at the voice calling her and slowly turned her head.
Their gazes met, followed by a brief silence.
Though disheveled from the ordeal, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize him.
“...Riley?”
She had poured every last Karma Point into rescuing the princess kidnapped by the Immortal King, even volunteering for the Hero Party!
She’d vowed every day to save her, no matter how many years it took...
And now the target was right here?
...Why was she here?
Isea had simply followed Heinrich, who had suddenly vanished while she was visiting the capital of Rohan Principality to help the locals under the Saint’s guidance as usual. This sudden reunion left her dumbfounded.
‘Come to think of it, the Saint was acting a bit off today.’
He’d said something meaningful like something good would happen for her soon, or that she’d meet a fated connection.
Were those hints?
But her daze didn’t last long.
“Isea unnie—!”
Whoosh—
Riley came rushing over and pulled her into a tight embrace—no, it was Riley being hugged.
This made the reality of the situation sink in completely.
Though the “unnie” title felt a bit unreal.
More importantly, right now...
“You stink, Riley. Let go.”
“Eek! That’s mean! After two months apart, that’s all you have to say?”
Whatever the circumstances, it was good news.
With a chuckle, Isea finally hugged her back and patted her comfortingly.
She’d think about the complications later and savor the joy for now.
It was a bit sudden, but this was the moment she’d been hoping for.
‘...Oh, right. My points.’
Of course, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny—just a smidge—regret over the wasted Karma.
***
The heartfelt reunion didn’t last long.
Isea soon teleported them all back to Rohan, the capital of Rohan Principality.
She’d rushed after Heinrich, thinking disaster had struck from his hasty departure, but with everything resolved, there was no reason to linger.
“Uahaha! What a windfall! These guys are so cautious they avoid the strong and only target the weak. That’s why their materials are so rare!”
In the meantime, the barbarian warrior Harley swiftly butchered the griffin and gathered its parts, but that was par for the course, so it wasn’t a big deal.
Though the sight of him ripping out the heart, crunching the magic stone, and grilling the monster meat was still hard to get used to.
‘Generating heat by manipulating mana without using aura or magic. Those green eyes—I’d love to study them sometime... Maybe casually ask once we’re closer? ...Nah, probably rude given his past.’
In fact, even setting aside his eyes, Harley was endlessly fascinating to Isea, a born mage.
‘Dragonkin’ were unfamiliar even to her, who had accessed vast magical knowledge through the princess and later participated in exchanges with mage towers.
Especially with some unknown procedure added to the mix.
If he weren’t so strong, obsessive mages would never leave him alone.
But after safely arriving in Rohan.
After notifying the Imperial Family of Princess Riley’s safe return via the imperial garrison and returning to the lodging with her, Isea learned of someone even more intriguing than Harley.
“...So, that person is an otherworlder from Earth?”
The injured man whom Heinrich had taken for further treatment was the one in question.
She’d been too focused on Riley at first to notice, but hearing he was a fellow Earthling made it natural to care.
“Yeah, his name is Heron... no, Hesperon. Weird name, right? He made it up to commemorate a new start. Pfft!”
“Hmm—?”
“His real name was Hass...un? Something like that, I forget. It was hard to pronounce.”
Isea eyed the chattering Riley with narrowed eyes.
In their eight years together, this was the first time Riley had talked about someone with such enthusiasm.
This girl, who kept subtle walls up against everyone but Isea, treating someone so casually?
It felt proud yet bittersweet, like watching a child grow up.
“Well... it made me think of you, unnie, and I had nothing else to do there anyway...”
Her words kept flowing.
About everything since being trapped in the Immortal King’s castle and meeting him.
Naturally, most of her time had been spent on magic training, so the stories centered on that.
She’d started teaching him magic out of a sense of connection, only to be shocked by his talent reminiscent of her past self.
“...His growth was so fast that I ran out of things to teach! I couldn’t stop midway out of pride, so later I had to desperately scrape together everything I knew.”
Riley raved about Hesperon’s abilities.
And Isea quickly understood why she was so insistent.
“...So, anyway? Could you take a look at him, unnie~? It’d be nothing for Isea Pristin, the continent’s top genius mage! Right?”
“Hmmm?”
Isea tilted her head at the flattering, beaming blonde beauty.
She’d wondered why the conversation dragged on; this was the real goal from the start.
‘...Yeah, it’s been over eight years since I came to this world. I can’t stay by her side forever, so she needs someone else to protect her...’
From what she heard, he had talent equal to—or perhaps surpassing—hers.
Combined with Riley’s teachings, he might grow enough to protect her fully in just a few years.
But the issue was that he was also an Earthling.
‘Someday he’ll leave her side too. It’d only buy some time.’
By then, circumstances would be very different.
With Riley back alone, the imperial succession struggle was practically over.
The wavering faction would solidify and swiftly absorb rivals, bolstered by Isea’s efforts in holding them together.
The crown prince might be isolated within a year—no need for longer.
‘But of all things, the next person she bonds with after me is another otherworlder. She still keeps distance from natives.’
She’d thought leading a faction had helped, but the deep-seated reluctance remained.
Still, plenty of time left, so solutions could come later.
“Sure. He did save you, after all. That said, I can’t devote much time with my current duties.”
Setting aside complications, Isea readily nodded to Riley’s request.
Teaching her savior was hardly much repayment.
She planned extra rewards anyway.
And if she was honest...
A selfish curiosity to observe this outsider Riley now relied on up close played a part.
Problems were more likely between opposite sexes, after all!
No guarantee this man wouldn’t develop feelings for a pretty girl like Riley.
‘Riley’s still young. As her teacher, I’ll give him a subtle warning to keep any funny ideas in check.’
The petite girl just over 150 cm solemnly nodded up at the tall beauty over 170 cm.
“Great! As expected of unnie!”
“By the way, what’s with the sudden change? You hated being called unnie before.”
“Hehehe, just felt like it? I realized it wasn’t a big deal and I was overreacting.”
Beaming, Riley hugged Isea again and acted spoiled.
Inwardly cheering at how smoothly it went.
‘Yes! This repays some of the debt. He’s still lacking, but I can make up the rest later! Plus, for unnie and Heron, being with a compatriot will help against homesickness.’
She’d already discussed telling Isea about Hesperon with him.
During their time in the Immortal Castle, they’d talked a lot, including her offer to introduce a fellow Earthling.
Hesperon, who’d planned to connect with Isea anyway, agreed and permitted sharing his info.
His “background” was fabricated anyway.
Thus, the tumultuous day ended on a warm note.
And when the next day dawned.
“Thanks for saving me. Ah! I’m Hesperon. I really thought I was done for, but you pulled me through.”
“No need. It must be the Main God’s will. I’m Heinrich.”
“Kuhahaha! You look scrawny, brother, but you’re sturdy! Call me Harley!”
Hesperon finally awoke from his injury-induced unconsciousness, allowing the group to properly introduce themselves.
As if three people who were one were among them.