Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Where the Seed Was Planted
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"This tournament wasn't fair!"
"I see. And what makes you say that?"
"It's because I won...!!"
"...You do realize that sounds ridiculous even coming from you, right, Hero Candidate Pim?"
Kraaaah—!
Hero Candidate Pim threw his head back and wailed at the sky.
I brushed past Pim, who was flailing helplessly in the inescapable swamp of victory. No amount of protesting to the reception desk would change the results. The media play was already in full swing, after all.
This was the perfect chance to hammer in an unshakeable name value for him. Just like this.
"Hey, isn't that the Hero Candidate? I heard he was incredibly skilled."
"Yeah, they say he roared so loud in the tournament that he blew people away!"
"Even used an invisible sword..."
"Who the hell are you people following me around and slandering me—?! "
Heh heh heh.
If only you'd submitted to fate obediently, Hero Candidate. I would've found you a nice, comfy spot if you'd just stayed quiet.
The more you resist, the more heroic tales and rumors I'll pile on. Checkmate, Hero Candidate.
As if I'd let you scheme to disqualify me and crown yourself the winner...
Of course, even while messing around like this, I'd clean up the aftermath properly. Technically, I was the one shoving others aside to save my own skin, so once things settled, I'd pull him back in, give him money, a house—the works.
Just endure a little longer.
With the first tournament done, three more remained. Six Hero Candidate slots were left. I needed to fill as many as possible with our side.
I'd used the imperial knight Sisel Yurensuto card to block the first round, so roughly sketching out the plan:
One through alliance with the Northern Grand Duke.
One from my pure forces.
And one by pitting the Crimson faction against the Cardinal faction.
If I could neatly seal the remaining tournaments like that, it'd be ideal. And for that, I needed to start with the Northern alliance.
I had their daughter with me, so we'd talk next time. That's where I'd left it on hold. Now it was time to move forward.
Before the next tournament, I'd persuade the Northern Grand Duke and recruit him to our team.
I also needed countermeasures for the Crimson side.
From experience, the Crimson Duke and his flesh-puppeteer synergized terrifyingly well. They meshed like gears, covering each other's weaknesses almost perfectly.
They weren't low in versatility either, and they were safe. That combo could hide their base indefinitely, unleash puppets endlessly, and eventually win.
And the owner of those powers was a duke, no less.
Easy to source puppet materials, plenty of followers under him, and too politically entrenched to just decapitate outright.
Even separately, each was a tricky monster. Fate manipulation on a wide scale plus organic manipulation—what dirty, underhanded powers. While everyone else swung swords honestly.
"What insane, cheating abilities..."
"And you're saying that?"
"I don't even have a unique power."
Pingbalrez, fresh out of the bath and steaming hot, tossed in a remark as she passed by. She wore nothing but an oversized shirt, clothes draped over her arm.
If I let my gaze drift to her body, a civil war would erupt in my head, so I focused on the clothes. Black, white, pink. Bundled underwear and outfits that vaguely resembled a bouquet of flowers.
Ever since the Yuna incident, anything colorful made me think of wedding stuff. A sickness.
Come to think of it, Pingbalrez's near-nude shirt look... could it pass for a wedding dress? White and elegant.
She must've read my stare. Pingbalrez said flatly,
"If the underwear bothers you, I could... show you while wearing it."
"...Don't hesitate mid-sentence. Say it with confidence in one go!"
"I'd have done it if I could. I'm mustering courage here, so scolding me feels unfair. Oh, are you embarrassed?"
"Keep walking. Hurry up and get dressed."
I shooed away the walking erotica.
For the Crimson Duke with his cheat powers, I'd apply slow pressure. I'd planned to dive in sword-dancing, but... for marriage, I had to learn restraint.
If I charged solo yelling "I got this!" and got hurt, I'd have no face left for Yuna.
In critical situations, no choice. I'd drawn that line clearly. But at least, I should strive not to get hurt, right?
Safety first among all options.
Thud. Weight settled on my shoulder from the sofa behind me. A faint rose body wash scent wafted over. Pingbalrez hugged me from behind, chin on my shoulder.
She peered down at my planning notes and said,
"You've changed, Mima."
"Yuna did that. Trying to stay alive and take care of myself."
"And me? Have I changed you even a little?"
"I don't use libido suppression anymore, thanks to you."
Libido suppression magic disabled.
Since deciding to face even minor emotions head-on. Hadn't used my trusty ally, libido suppression, in a while. Days were thrilling, full of excitement now.
Emotions spread like wildfire, reacting chemically with others, right?
Libido was reproductive drive, tied to life's urge— not identical, but part of love.
After disabling libido suppression and modules, my imaginings grew bolder. Marriage, proposals, rings.
Marriage. And having kids...?
Me, building a happy family, living harmoniously?
Couldn't picture it. Dared not. Wondered if such a future even existed. Seemed too blissful.
But not now. Far in the future, probably. Finish what I started first. I gently gripped Pingbalrez's chin and pushed her back.
"Yuri, stop staring at my crotch and move."
"How'd you know I was looking there?"
"I felt it."
"Don't enjoy it alone—let me feel it too... How was it? Not bad this time, right?"
"........."
At Pingbalrez boldly cracking lewd jokes despite her shyness, I executed an emergency evasion. Bolted outside.
How does Bennett handle this stuff?
A short jog brought me to the mansion where the Northern Grand Duke was staying. I'd heard he'd paid off the original priest owner handsomely, kicked him out, and terraformed the place.
Definitely remodeled Northern-style. A fierce bear head trophy hung at the entrance.
Good.
Give me just ten minutes, and I'd make the Northern Grand Duke an ally. I knew him inside out, exactly how to build rapport.
I politely requested an audience with the Northern Grand Duke... and
"Scram."
"Pardon?"
"I said scram."
"........."
Door slammed in my face.
Not the underlings acting alone—cues suggested the Grand Duke himself issued the eviction. So this was... payment for pulling out of the "Courage" tournament. No pay, no next deal.
This stance?
Fine, then a token gift and thanks.
"Scram."
Promise active cooperation in the next tournament?
"Scram."
Beg Irid for those rights I'd secured?
"Scr—"
"........."
Do they just hate me?
I circled, gathering intel from afar—eavesdropping, extracting info. What I got:
Northern side saw the "Courage" tournament mess, concluded "crazy mage is dangerous." Policy: no involvement from the start.
Tsk.
Made my blood boil again. How long had I known the Northern Grand Duke's "Daisy" forces? A few words, and we'd be buddies again.
Old ties, win-win, heartwarming handshake—that was the plan. Knew their situation, ready to slip them sweet deals.
And they ignore my pure goodwill?
"『Hologram: Heart』."
Fine. Time to make them see.
Irid shuffled papers, steaming coffee beside him. Across sat Sisel Yurensuto, head bowed in shame.
"『Azure Wind Knights』 on indefinite hiatus... is it?"
"...Yes. I can only apologize to First Princess."
"Not because you became a Hero Candidate, I assume. Still uncertain if you'll be selected. So, you're leaving the knights regardless."
"Exactly. I'll... return all pay received so far..."
Manpower loss.
Irid furrowed his brow. Eastern front stable, but losing a top imperial asset was damage in itself.
Yell, remind her of imperial gifts, bind her with family and duty for years... He quelled the thoughts calmly.
Sisel served his sister—should follow her will.
Irid found the document: resignation, pre-signed by Elaine. Blank check, essentially.
Sisel's eyes widened.
"Sister worries you'll die pointlessly. If all goes well and you wish to leave... she said send you off without objection."
"........."
"You've never been bound. Sister now is free as the wind. But if a knight's honor lingers... request retirement from her directly."
"...Uuugh."
"...You okay?"
Yurensuto sensitivity surged at her lord's boundless mercy, launching a tear assault.
Irid watched Sisel sob, deemed it not his mess, stood, and bolted.
Imperial decisiveness.
Let her emotions settle.
Nothing kills time like paperwork. But he'd just lost the office to the crybaby knight—needed other fun.
"Dessert?"
Irid, mid-bitter coffee, craved sweets thanks to Analyst C. "Essential for brainpower," her dessert evangelism hooked him.
Centra loved desserts too. She'd gaze longingly at displays passing by.
But never bought—saving for Resistance, "Beer and Song" prep costly.
One of her charms: suppressing desires for the cause.
When Irid offered endless funds via shady dealings, she pondered, then chose a modest bakery.
"Prefer these over fancy desserts. More important than luxuries—with mountains out there."
"Indeed."
"......Centra?"
Am I hallucinating? Irid blinked.
Uncannily like Centra. Bright expression, jet-black hair like night sky, features evoking her...
Opposite sat a winter wolf-like man: Northern Grand Duke Elvirion Julius.
What was happening?
Before reason judged, emotion surged. Scandals with Heart, nerve wars, fights. Feelings faster than thought.
Emotional torrent birthed impulse. Irid couldn't control himself, wedged between them.
Crash!
"...Second Prince? What is this?"
"What have you done to Centra, Elvirion Julius...!"
"Mind your manners. Imperial blood or not, I'm a grand duke. Royalty isn't immortal. Warning: don't interrupt my precious time with Heart."
"I asked what you did. Why is she here?!"
Sparks flew.
Grand Duke showed raw displeasure; Irid ramped up ferocity. Amid their standoff...
A cheerful voice cut in.
"...I'm not Centra. Nor Heart. Stop getting my name wrong? Not Heart—Love."
"...Not Centra?"
"Sorry. My pet name, take it."
"That doesn't make me her. Overlapping people annoys me. Penalty: buy another bread."
Self-proclaimed Love pouted cutely.
What... story is this?
She's someone else?
Irid's reason arrived late, cleared the backlog.
Woman very like Centra. But not her.
= Obviously, unless memory-lost time-traveler Centra, she's a distant ancestor. Century gap? Centra's great-grandmother, maybe.
Searched Centra's lineage, origins, family, Resistance founder—nothing.
= Thought father Defense Bureau, but just a core member agent... maybe not. Hypothesis:
Future Resistance roots born far from Irid's reach? Like... the North.
Then.
Northern Grand Duke Elvirion Julius and this Love's line might birth Centra far ahead...
Meaning. Grand Duke could be Centra's great-grandfather.
Thus. The Grand Duke is.
In other words.
"—Father-in-law?"
"...Second Prince, if under illusion magic, say so. Seems certain to me. Get treatment pronto."
The Grand Duke pitied the mad prince.