Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: The Senior Party
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Prim gathered the leaders of each army around a small round table and opened her mouth.
“The date for the assault has been set for sure.”
She spread the palace blueprints across the table and pulled out a pen.
The palace assault operation they had been preparing.
Charge in swiftly, capture the emperor, and minimize clashes between the armies.
To achieve that, the role of the 3rd Unit—the assassination squad—was absolutely crucial.
“Dawn of the 12th. The 3rd Unit will charge in first and destroy the imperial security magic circle just like we practiced.
Once security is breached, the 4th Unit should hurry to the weapon warehouse and seal off the entrance with the prepared spell.”
Prim moved the models resembling the 3rd Unit, then pushed the ones labeled as the 4th Unit toward the weapon warehouse.
“The rest of the 2nd Unit will aim bombardment spells from the rear, while part of the 1st Unit storms the barracks where the Guard Captain is and secures their surrender.”
Prim made eye contact with each of the army representatives one by one before speaking.
“If the 3rd Unit fails to capture the emperor and the 1st Unit can’t secure surrender, then advance under bombardment cover. The 4th and 5th Units stay outside with the support supplies for now. Any questions?”
Luyan, who had been listening silently to Prim’s explanation, finally spoke up.
“The reinforced imperial magic security does make me a little worried about the 3rd Unit’s assault... But seeing it all laid out like this, it feels like a winnable fight.”
“Wow, the assault’s finally on.”
“After prepping for so long, I’m kinda excited, haha.”
After all their long preparations, everyone exchanged a few words of good cheer.
Noah, who had wedged her way into the captains’ meeting as vice-captain, crossed her arms as she glanced at Luyan and the other representatives before speaking.
“No questions~”
There was no awkwardness.
* * *
To avoid showing any openings in their plot for the aftermath, Prim steered clear of suspicious behavior as much as possible.
That was why she had faithfully attended the academy, even though it wasn’t strictly necessary and just ate up time.
Of course, she’d always handled personal business during class.
Time flowed on, and today was the day of the senior party at Selk Academy.
It was a trivial affair where graduating students gathered in the banquet hall to chat idly, dance, or munch on snacks.
The unique feature of this party was that you could bring outsiders.
“Dun!!!”
Prim, disguised with her hood pulled low over her face, slipped into the general store and rapped on Dun’s locked door.
No answer came, so she used the spare key he’d given her ages ago to unlock it and step inside.
Dun was wriggling around under the covers.
Shivering from the cold outside, Prim flipped back the blanket and slid in beside him.
“You get so nice and warm when you sleep.”
She pressed her ice-cold hands against his body to thaw them out.
“Ah, fuck. Who the hell. Ah. Hey, get out, you psycho. It’s freezing.”
Dun jolted awake mid-sleep and let loose a curse.
He turned his head and spotted a blonde girl with her face shrouded in cloth.
He didn’t need to lift it to know who it was. Frowning, Dun burrowed deeper under the blanket.
“I told you to only break in for important stuff.”
Face buried in the covers, he started grumbling.
“Shit. I’m sleepy as hell.”
“Not anymore? Sorry. Go on, sleep. Listen like this.”
Prim nuzzled her face against his back to placate him.
“Whatever. Why’re you here? I’m up now anyway.”
“Haha. Dun, how about joining the senior party?”
“Huh?”
She picks the lock out of nowhere, shoves her cold ass body against him, and hits him with something totally out of left field.
“The kids from my class are begging me to bring you. They wanna see Genesis’s cute delivery boy one last time. How about it? Good way to clear your head.”
“What do I get out of it.”
“A bunch of nobles will be there.”
“Already wrapped up the prep work on the nobles.”
Dun shot back indifferently.
At this stage, any extra intel on nobles would just be redundant noise.
“There’s grand music for waltzing, and every now and then, nobles get into lover’s quarrels over partners.”
“…….”
“What do you say? Wanna go? Wanna watch? You’ll come with me, right?”
Prim widened her eyes all innocent-like and squeezed his waist tighter. The lean muscles under her hands felt rock-hard.
“Eek. Quit hugging. Fine, I’ll go, I’ll go. Get your face off me.”
“You little punk, why not? You used to love it when I hugged you.”
“That was ages ago.”
Dun rolled Prim right off the bed and cracked a massive yawn.
Swinging by the party for a mood changer didn’t sound half bad.
* * *
Dun threw on some random shirt and pants from home and headed to Selk Academy.
The party Prim had mentioned was already in full swing.
He thought about slipping in through a window to skip the hassle but went in the front gate instead.
“Wow....... They actually got that kid to come......!”
“Totally adorable......”
“No deliveries lately—wonder what happened?”
Maybe because he always looked so slovenly, even a bit of effort made the change huge.
The Selk Academy crowd, used to the delivery boy Dun with his crooked collar and baggy pants, couldn’t peel their eyes off this more grown-up, dressed-up version.
“Um....... Care to dance with me?”
One of the students suddenly approached Dun. He’d been scanning for anything fun and raised an eyebrow.
“Dun! You’re absolutely blinding.”
Prim showed up right then, cutting off the student’s pitch and jumping in first.
“Dun’s my plus-one.”
With Prim’s arrival, the students hoping to cozy up to the gossip magnet that was Dun sighed in disappointment and drifted back to their spots.
“This the lover’s quarrel you said happens all the time?”
“Pfft! You could say that.”
Prim chuckled as she swirled the orange juice in her cup, eyeing Dun.
All the twists and turns with him over the years flashed through her mind like a montage, tugging at her heartstrings.
She’d never dreamed they’d end up this close after forging such a long bond.
To Prim, Dun was her very first true friend—and the one she’d kept the longest relationship with.
Faced with a massive event whose outcome she couldn’t predict, this brief respite suddenly made the bridge of her nose prickle with heat.
“How about one last waltz, Dun.”
“?”
“Success or failure, after the rebellion, I won’t be the me I am now—so how about a final dance with this current Primavera.”
“You’ll be the exact same after the rebellion. Don’t read into it.”
“How can you shut it down so dully?”
In the end, Dun took Primavera’s hand and headed to the dance floor.
It had a casual vibe, like everyone freely dancing however.
Adventurers had been invited too, blending in among the crowd.
“Whoa, no way!!! Dun’s dancing!!!”
“Dun dance!”
“Sharing Eye squad—damn, he’s spinning, spinning.”
“Dun’s new look is wild. His usual rags set the bar so low, a plain shirt makes him look sharp as hell.”
As he danced freely with Prim, Dun clocked Sharing Eyes buzzing near him.
Adventurers really were everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Korean players popping up at an isekai party felt familiar, but the disconnect still hit a little.
Once the dance wrapped, Prim loaded a plate sky-high with food and desserts, then dragged Dun toward the terrace.
“Now what? Haven’t caught that lover’s drama yet.”
“You think drama like that just pops up on cue? Let’s chill stargazing, unwind the tension, and chat, Dun.”
She took his hand—worn out a bit from the dancing—and opened the terrace door. There sat an unexpected guest.
“Huh? That you, Young Lord Luyan?”
“Princess. Good evening. Bumping into you here feels kinda novel. Wow....... You look breathtaking.”
Dun quit his whining about sticking to the dance stage.
This oughta be good.
“What’re you doing out on the terrace?”
“Too many people, too many dance requests—I ducked out here to hide.”
Dun nodded along. Total cliché for the hot lead in a romance fantasy.
Guy and girl ditching the party crowd for the terrace.
Irahee had sworn that scene was mandatory in rofans.
Dun suddenly fixed Prim and Luyan with big, shiny eyes. Feeling the heavy stare, Luyan gave an awkward wave.
“Delivery boy, you again. Good to see you after all this time.”
“Yep.”
‘Fuckin’ hell, saw you yesterday.’
Dun nodded and played along.
After greeting Dun, Luyan smoothly sidled up to Prim and struck up conversation.
Prim, who’d kept him at arm’s length early on, seemed to be warming up after five years or so.
Her expression eased as she made room for him.
“It’s really crunch time now. What’s your take?”
“Kinda bittersweet.”
“I’ve barely slept lately with what’s coming up—can’t even imagine how you’re holding up, Princess. But you’re so resolute; it’s amazing.”
“I’ve given it my all, so letting fate take the wheel lightens the load a bit.”
Luyan smiled at Prim.
“I see. Then the Goddess of Fate is sure to look on your efforts and grant you a fine outcome.”
Prim stabbed her fork into the cake and smiled at Luyan invoking the gods.
“Is the Goddess of Fate some impartial sort who scales rewards to effort?”
“Not quite, but I pray at the temple every time that she grants fair results to you, Primavera.”
Luyan gently lifted Prim’s hand.
Mid-bite of cake, Prim stared in surprise as he dropped to one knee and pressed his lips to it.
“May I have this dance?”
“Hm?”
“No telling what happens after the assault. Let’s make one good memory first.”
Dun, who’d been eavesdropping on bated breath, let out a hushed whoa.
‘Damn~ Dude’s really laying it on thick.’
Prim let out a soft chuckle at Dun’s murmur and nodded.
Once it was all over, they could rack up good memories freely.
But that hinged on the rebellion succeeding, so banking a couple extra now wasn’t a bad idea.
“Alright.”
Prim clasped Luyan’s hand and headed for the ballroom.