Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Prim's Rebellion VER.C.PRIM
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At certain times of day, heading to Prim's secret hideout let you catch knights and mercenaries gathered quietly, coordinating their moves.
Watching the secret army she was raising in hiding to kill the emperor was pretty entertaining, too.
It suddenly reminded him of the time Seol Do-yun had stirred up a scheme to drag down the association chairman.
At first, with everyone around him going crazy or dropping dead, he'd had no choice but to team up with that guy who shared his goal. But later, as the plot grew bigger, he'd started thinking it was kind of fun.
He figured it wouldn't matter much if the guy accidentally died midway.
If he hadn't met Rihaowel, he might've wandered around and ended up joining Prim's rebel crew of his own accord. All for the sheer thrill of it, he mused.
Inside Prim's third secret space.
Dun clutched the book *Bachinum and the Divine Race* as he scouted for the perfect vantage point overlooking her army.
A massive tree stood in prime position for taking in the whole force at a glance. Up top, a plush-nestled Blue Eagle monster was gnawing away at a human leg it'd snatched from somewhere.
Pheee!
Dun climbed the tree and kicked the Blue Eagle monster's head clean off with a satisfying thud, claiming its fluffy nest for himself.
He spritzed perfume over the stinky feathers piled in the nest, then burrowed into the soft plumage and cracked open his book.
*Since the creation of this world, eleven Bachinums have appeared, including the author. Among the eleven Bachinums in history, the most outstanding was 'Ryukrian.' He alone uncovered the identity of their creators, the so-called 'Divine Race.' The name he discovered for the Divine Race was '83738465776984.'*
What a ridiculously convoluted name for a Divine Race.
And the author of this book, *Bachinum and the Divine Race*, was Ryukrian himself—claiming he was the best of all Bachinums. Talk about narcissism.
He couldn't even check the previous generation's abilities since they were dead. Lacking any objectivity... tsk.
Dun clicked his tongue and flipped the page, but his focus fizzled out immediately. Dense text-heavy books were Seol Do-yun's thing, not his.
Dun preferred educational comics or anime.
Maybe he should commission players with drawing talent to make some Bachinum info comics?
His concentration stamina tapped out, so Dun readjusted in the nest and lay back down.
Prim's third secret army was diligently repeating the maneuvers they'd memorized. Behind the training soldiers, Prim chatted with the third army's vice commander.
Looking closer, a burly man knelt there, tears streaming down his face.
*What's that about? Looks serious.*
Trying to tune in, he picked up even the faint rustle of leaves, making his ears ache.
Dun bound his curse threads, pulled a mana-weakening potion from his pocket, chugged it, and focused his senses. His vision and hearing sharpened intensely.
"I'm sorry, Princess... I'm so sorry... While I was away in the capital, my children... all killed by the Lux... My wife, she's on the verge of losing her mind. I'm sorry, Princess. I'm so sorry..."
"......"
Vice Commander Albert kept his head bowed low, unresponsive. Prim's gaze on him flickered with complication.
After a long silence, Prim bit her lip hard. Minutes later, she finally spoke.
"You've suffered a terrible loss. I understand. Go back home and tend to your family."
Albert hesitated, bit his lip, then spoke again.
"My position as vice commander of the third army... I can no longer..."
"I understand. After this training session, I'll inscribe the secrecy spell on you."
"Thank you... I have no face to show... Thank you, and I'm sorry, Princess..."
Prim reached out and patted Albert's shoulder a few times.
"Wrap things up properly, go take care of your remaining family, and do it well. You've worked hard."
Albert swallowed a cough and the surge of tangled emotions welling up, then Prim turned away.
As was her habit, she pulled out her record parchment and sent a note to Dun, who was probably somewhere picking his nose without a care.
{Primavera: Dun, I miss you. When are you coming to play in the secret garden?}
It was a note that seemed utterly ordinary, just like always.
* * *
Dun stared blankly at the gold coins piled in the glass jar.
One, two, three, four...
Thanks to hawking his loot bit by bit while wandering, the coins had really stacked up. They clinked against each other inside the jar.
"...Life."
Without showing it, Dun spat a curse as Prim's recent troubles came to mind—troubles he'd started caring about.
Why'd she have to bring a backstory about betrayal by her own mother?
Clatter, clatter.
Dun, who planned to sell goods near a monster dungeon today, packed his items and loaded up the stall.
A pigeon note alert chimed right on cue.
{Primavera: Announce your schedule for the day.}
{Dun: Ignoring your reply.}
{Primavera: Looks like the plan failed the moment I made it.}
Starting the day with Prim's nonsense had become routine.
{Dun: What's your schedule like?}
{Primavera: ...A spy from the emperor? Why the sudden interest...? What're you gonna do with it?}
{Dun: Keep you out of trouble.}
{Primavera: Definitely Dun.}
{Dun: lol jk, if you're free today let's hit a dungeon together.}
{Primavera: Spy.}
Gear packed, Dun stepped onto the teleportation circle for the 30-40 level hunting grounds.
He gripped the stall's handle tighter and fired off another pigeon note to Prim.
{Dun: Setting up shop by the Lux reed fields, so swing by if you get time.}
{Primavera: Lux reed fields?}
{Dun: Yeah, on my way.}
The magic circle's light enveloped Dun and whisked him to the Lux reed fields.
* * *
Having sent the note to Dun, Prim was paying a rare visit to the emperor for tea time.
She took a sip of her ale after reading Dun's reply inviting her to the Lux reed fields.
The Lux reed fields...
It was the area where Lux packs, moving in small units, had recently settled and succeeded in spawning a boss monster, per reports.
Their growing numbers were starting to cause human casualties.
She'd been thinking of investigating it someday, so Dun's timely invite was more than welcome.
*'The vice commander's kids were killed by Lux.'*
She recalled him on his knees, sobbing that he could no longer serve as vice commander because he had to care for his mentally broken wife.
Guilt and helplessness stabbed at her chest. The monsters rampaging—it was all because she was such a powerless Bachinum.
And the one who'd stolen her power...
Prim looked up at the emperor.
Emperor Luisa ran her finger along the gold rim of her teacup, staring intently at Prim.
"Prim, my little star, what troubles you so? Confide in your mother."
*Stabbing a knife into that heart of yours.*
Prim gulped down another scalding-hot mouthful of tea.
"I've been really into calligraphy lately. Just reviewing what I've learned recently."
"Oh? Write me a nice phrase sometime as a gift."
"That's what I've been practicing for."
Prim flashed an innocent smile. Watching the emperor play innocent made her throat burn.
"By the way, Prim. Do you lack for anything? It gnaws at me that you're stuck in that crude With Palace."
"I know there's no spare palace to give. It's fine. I'd rather my siblings live comfortably."
"Haha, such a straight shooter."
*You snake.*
Emperor Luisa suppressed the urge to hurl her teacup at Prim's head.
She'd stashed the girl away in some backwater with orders not to stir trouble, only to learn she was quietly building a force there.
The evidence was flimsy, so she couldn't execute her as a traitor yet. Too many nobles suspected Prim was the Bachinum and hesitated, unwilling to back a frame job without solid proof.
What was so special about a Bachinum that everyone protected her? She wasn't even of noble imperial blood.
Unlike herself, who'd been scorned as the child of a lowly commoner concubine despite her royal status—that infuriating girl.
*I'll have you on the guillotine, drinking wine steeped in your blood.*
"I was thinking of sending more servants and knights to support you better."
"The support I get now is already too much, Mother."
"Can't you see it as an expression of my love?"
"If that's the case, I'll gladly accept."
*She's trying to plant more spies.* Prim smiled brazenly, as if to say she knew.
If she were plotting rebellion, she'd hardly miss the implication of officially sending spies—yet Prim showed not a flicker of unease.
The cub who'd once pined desperately for her affection had turned into a snake overnight.
Irritated by Prim's inscrutability, Luisa bit her lip.
"You were just a child yesterday, and now you've grown so mature. Come here—let me give you a big hug like old times."
At the invitation, Prim approached and sat beside Luisa on the wide sofa. Luisa wrapped her arms around Prim and pulled her in tight.
"I love you, my daughter."
Luisa's eyes gleamed murderously as she stroked the back of Prim's neck tenderly.
"...I love you too, Mother."
Prim closed her eyes briefly, savoring the once-warm embrace she'd trusted.
But soon, a glint of something—anger or sorrow—welled in her furious eyes, drying just as quickly.