Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The Devil's Whisper
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Heading to the room were me and Jenia, leaving Lea and Veronica behind.
Lea looked at Veronica and flashed a wicked smile.
“Le… Lea?”
Ignoring Veronica, who trembled with anxiety, Lea slung an arm around her shoulders.
“Why… why are you doing this…?”
“Noo~ We've known each other a decent while now, and we'll be seeing plenty more of each other… Call me by my name, nice and casual.”
“Shall I? Hehe… Lea?”
Human capybara Veronica lit up with a smile in no time.
“That's right, our little Veronica. Not dissatisfied with things as they are right now, are you?”
“Dissatisfied? I'm blissfully happy as it is…”
The naughty devil Lea, tempting the angel, began her sticky explanation.
“You think I'm the last one? I don't. Well, the fewer, the better, sure.”
“Uh… uh…”
Veronica's eyes widened, and Lea's smile grew even deeper.
“How'd it feel watching Liam head up just now?”
“That was…”
“Jealous, right?”
-…… *nod*
“Yeah. But what if it gets even worse from here? It'll probably be every three days because of me. You okay with that?”
“I… I'm fine with it…”
Human greed knows no bounds. The moment you have to share your bowl of rice, even the tiniest dissatisfaction creeps in.
“Yeah? What about every four days?”
-*shiver shiver*
“Five days? A week? Hmm?”
“No… I don't like it…”
-*sneer*
If Liam saw this, he'd probably flick her forehead at least.
But right now, Liam was behind that door, enjoying happy time with Jenia.
“Exactly! I hate it too. Jenia's getting showered with love from Liam behind that door, and what about us?”
“Um… what is it you want…?”
Lea's devilish smile vanished, replaced by an angelic, warm one.
“Nothing big… Here.”
Lea handed Veronica a small vial.
“What's this?”
“Aphrodisiac.”
“…Eh?”
-*Put this… in the meal… then… I'll take the lead… respon… sibility…*
Lea laid out the rough plan.
But Veronica hesitated, conscience pricking at her.
“Ah… still, this is a bit much…”
This wasn't the kind of regressor to back down here.
“It's fine, it's fine. Just a tiny bit, effects kick in at night—no accidents, top-shelf stuff with zero side effects.”
-*gulp.*
Her throat bobbed. She'd exposed a fatal weakness, one she absolutely shouldn't show a regressor.
Lea's eyes gleamed with the chill of a predator spotting prey.
As if she had no intention of letting it escape.
“Veronica… Longing for freedom is only natural as a human, right?”
“Right… But if it harms others…”
“No way~ Are we out here committing crimes?”
It was a crime.
“It's not for our freedom. It's to set Jenia free.”
Gaslighting.
But eroded by that persuasive voice, Veronica blankly echoed her words.
“Jenia's… freedom…”
“From what I saw, she's just shy. She'd love it once it happens.”
-*gulp.*
Prey nearly in hand.
“And… you'll be able to do it anytime you want, too.”
The final nail.
“Ah…”
The prey could only let out a faint moan.
“Then… see you at breakfast tomorrow?”
Lea bolted without waiting for Veronica's answer.
Veronica fiddled with the vial like someone enthralled by a devil.
“Jenia's freedom… an unrestricted Apostle… everyone's happiness…”
In the empty hallway, only Veronica's muttering echoed.
[Tsk tsk…]
There was even Lumi, pitying the hunted prey.
“Liam… some potion, please…”
“Mix it with water?”
“Yes…”
I pulled a potion from my subspace, blended it with magic to make it easy to drink, and sent it over.
-*gulp! gulp!*
“Phew… I might actually live.”
Jenia sat up after downing the potion.
Last night's traces had slid down the sheets, fully on display.
“Heading to class after so long… Ah, where's Lancelot?”
Jenia leaned her back against me as she spoke.
“Hmm… He'll show up soon, probably. He'll manage on his own.”
“True… He does have that class he loves.”
Me and Lea had luckily skipped very few classes ourselves.
‘First things first, recover the cube. Hope the doggo's holding the fort.’
“Jenia, Agent 2's turn coming up soon?”
“Yeah, the exam hall's seal loosened a tad… but judging by the pace, we've got a little breathing room.”
We checked the key matters first, then got up and changed clothes.
Watching Jenia slip on her underwear made me want to scoop her up.
-*hug!*
Couldn't hold back—I wrapped her from behind.
“Kyaa! That tickles…”
“Who's this pretty?”
“Gee… what're you saying…”
“Did we really eat and sleep the same? How'd you get so gorgeous?”
“Ehehe, more hugs from now on?”
“Sounds good.”
We basked in each other's warmth like that.
-*knock knock! Apostle-nim…? Jenia? You up?*
Veronica had come to wake us. She could've sent a servant, but she always insisted on doing it herself.
Still, she let us sleep in whenever we bunked with her, so it worked out.
“Clothes first.”
“Yes~”
“Be right there!”
We changed and stepped out—to run straight into Veronica.
Her complexion looked off, somehow.
She'd always greeted us with a smile before, but today she seemed anxious.
“Veronica? Everything okay?”
I asked out of worry.
“Yes? Ah… yeah! All good!”
She plastered on a smile quick as ever.
Jenia looked concerned too and checked in.
“Veronica… really nothing? You can tell us…”
At Jenia's gentle question, Veronica's eyes welled up.
“Tha… that is, actually…”
“Sleep well, everyone? Veronica~ What's wrong?”
“Hiiik!”
Lea showed up, beaming at us.
Veronica jolted, her body trembling.
“Veronica! Head to the dining hall together?”
“Y… yeah…”
“??”
Looks like the two got close overnight.
Me and Jenia exchanged glances.
“…Something feels off.”
“Same here, but…”
Jenia had even acknowledged Lea.
“She wouldn't hurt us, right?”
Faith gleamed in Jenia's eyes.
I gave a small smile back and took her hand.
“True enough. Alright! Breakfast time!”
“Hehe, yes~”
This was 14 hours before Jenia's trust got betrayed.
“Honey~ Wanna rush to magic class? Just. The. Two. Of. Us?”
“Ha, Lea. No need to emphasize it like that.”
“Jealous on the inside? Come on, hurry!”
Liam laughed like he couldn't do a thing with her, while Lea acted like they were the only two people in the world, ignoring the buzzing crowd.
Liam had at least cast a basic illusion spell, but they were still way too close.
Still, Jenia—who secretly approved of her—decided to let this much slide.
Generously.
Even if it irked her a little…
-Who's that lady next to him?
-Dunno…? How'd she snag the Crown Prince?
-Shh! Crown Princess'll hear!
Students on the verge of sparking annoying rumors.
She smiled and waved at the pair firing off heart eyes.
Liam mattered more than jealousy right now.
“Jenia… I'll head out too…”
Veronica seemed drained today.
I asked out of concern.
“Veronica, why so low-energy… hm?”
Always ready to hear out the cat maid's troubles.
She was family, after all.
“It's nothing, Jenia! Today… if anything's tough, come to me! I'll fix it for sure!”
My worry circled back as more worry. Nothing much stressing Jenia lately.
“Uh…? Yeah, what could it be?”
Not exactly an incident, but variables were always a thing.
Worried about that, maybe?
“Tell me if it's tough! Promise! Ah! Class is gonna start—see ya!”
Looks like stress from not getting Liam time.
Post-war anxiety had us all on edge. Anything happening to Liam would send us into a frenzy.
‘Ah… I got mine yesterday… Today's Veronica's turn, so should be fine?’
Liam would look after Veronica properly.
Believing that, she walked on—only for students to start squealing like rabid fans spotting an idol.
-Whoa, unreal… so pretty…
-Did you see? She looked right at me!
-Ugh… swordsmanship department's so lucky…
The usual superstar routine by now.
She kept her expression neutral and waved with a smile, as always.
‘Should've asked Liam to cast that spell.’
She stifled a laugh remembering Liam yelling our code phrase: ‘How about it? Noise cancelling!’
-Huuuuh…
Mistake. True to romance-fantasy form, the students' reaction to her smile was over the top.
‘Right… romance-fantasy world…’
She schooled her face again and reached the training grounds.
There was a classroom, but most swordsmanship lessons happened outdoors.
“Roll call time!”
The professor's shout kicked off attendance, then laps around the field to warm up…
Swordsmanship lecture…
‘? That Ki Seon guy needs to twist his waist more, no?’
Sparring time hit amid the dull lecture.
“Sparring today! Pair up with your opponents!”
Prof assigned partners to avoid skill gaps from random picks.
No Lancelot today, so she'd figured on spectating some leftover student's form.
“Crown Princess! I challenge you to a duel!”
One moron stepped up.
Annoying just to look at.
"Ha..."
