Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Tower of the Heteromorphs (3)
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“If you asked me to describe my older brother in one word, I'd pick 'psychopath' without a moment's hesitation. Ah, if I could tack on a few more, something like 'power-mad' might fit just right.”
The First Princess, Luriel, had a distinctive look about her.
As a member of the royal family, she too had been blessed with platinum hair and golden eyes—the faint mark of the stars' favor that graced all of royal blood.
I thought back to the Fourth Princess, Aila.
The two were sisters, but finding any resemblance between them was no easy task. Aila's platinum hair veered toward gold, while Luriel's was closer to silver.
'Her eyes are the same.'
Luriel's eyes held only a pale golden hue.
It was true across the board. Compared to Aila, everything about her was subdued. Where Aila shone brightly, Luriel carried muted tones.
Yet there were two features that shattered that pallor entirely.
'Those sharp eyes, and...'
I glanced at her piercing gaze, then slowly tuned in to her words.
“Wordy way of saying he's a fucking prick.”
Her speech was thick, utterly unfiltered, and crude as hell.
That was the problem.
I seriously debated covering my ears. Normally, hearing anyone slander the royal family would be blasphemy on its own. Plugging my ears or walking out would be the proper response.
'But she's royalty too.'
Royalty was trash-talking royalty.
Ignoring it and covering my ears felt like it might be blasphemy too.
“Hmm...”
Whether I agonized over the dilemma or not, the princess just kept right on talking.
“The royal family's rotten to the core. My father's got zero interest in managing his own kids, and my brother's out there stirring shit up with his tacit approval.”
Ah, she said casually.
“'Stirring shit up' has a double meaning here. It means messing around everywhere, and also literally sticking it into every noble's daughter he can get his hands on.”
I'd learned more than I ever wanted to know about the First Prince's sexual exploits.
“Hilarious, isn't it?”
She let out a scoff.
“We're at war with the Demon King's army, but that just seems to crank his breeding urges into overdrive. He's blood kin, but sometimes I worry he'll even come after me.”
“...Pardon?”
“I'm pretty enough, after all. Don't you think? Objectively speaking, I count myself among the beauties.”
“Ah, yes...”
“Being born this hot keeps my days so busy.”
What the hell was this?
'Dizzying.'
I nodded slowly.
Dizzy or not, I had to show at least some reaction.
“...Is that so?”
“Indeed it is.”
The princess nodded back.
She showed not a shred of hesitation in badmouthing her own brother. Like discussing the weather at dawn, she continued as if it were the most natural thing.
“Anyway, seems like wildly fucking around is genetic. A psychopath like that as the next king? Can you believe how far the royals have fallen? I sure don't want to.”
So that's why she's gunning for the throne herself.
She murmured that as she took a sip of her coffee. Swallowing, she added,
“Even after living my whole life like a doll, doing whatever my brother wanted.”
I reached for my coffee as well.
“But my brother still doesn't seem satisfied.”
She slowly set her cup down.
Then lifted her head. A faint golden light flickered between her narrowed eyes.
“Killing those two wasn't enough—he's even coming for me now.”
Thud.
I halted my hand midway to my cup.
Hand frozen, I just raised my head to meet her gaze. Our eyes locked.
There was no tremor in those eyes.
No flicker in that expression.
At length, she spoke. Her red lips parted. The words were plain and direct. She uttered a single sentence.
“And next up is the youngest.”
She said it like it was no big deal at all.
2.
The Fourth Princess, Aila.
'...I hope she's okay.'
She stood by the window, letting the breeze wash over her as she lost herself in thought. Her mind drifted to her older sister, who had visited not long ago.
The First Princess, Luriel.
She'd shown up out of nowhere and asked Aila a question.
It was straightforward.
'Recommend a trustworthy mage with real skill.'
If it had been anyone else, Aila might have suggested some middling mage. But the First Princess was different.
'She's capable.'
Always brimming with confidence. Unbound by others' standards. She set her own bar for everything.
For someone like that to ask a favor...
It meant the matter was that critical. Aila couldn't just throw out any old name.
'That wouldn't be polite.'
Aila despised the royal family.
The stench of blood that clung to it wearied her. Normally, she'd only feign courtesy in situations demanding respect.
'No one there deserved my genuine admiration.'
Luriel was the exception.
If not for her, Aila would already have been killed by the First Prince.
Just like the Second and Third Princesses.
“...”
So, she made the introduction.
The most talented mage Aila knew, one whose character she could trust. A choice guided even by the stars.
The stars' intuition matched Aila's own.
She gave Luriel that one mage's name.
-Lania van Trias.
-Rosel the Wise's adopted daughter?
-Yes. You can trust her with it...
Aila didn't want to drag her into royal affairs prematurely.
So she got a promise from Luriel first.
-Don't pull Professor Rosel's daughter too deep into royal business.
-Don't worry. I'll use her clean and send her right back.
-...Pardon?
-I mean, no impact on the academy.
...Whatever. She'd accepted the request.
Though the phrasing was a bit off.
“...Nothing bad will happen, right?”
No way she'd spill all the royal dirt.
Her sister might be reckless, but not that insane.
Aila trusted Luriel.
She turned back to her piled-up assignments, but suddenly her thumb prickled. Aila glanced at it.
Sting.
Her thumb stung.
A wave of unease crashed over her.
“...Nah, no way.”
It'll be fine.
3.
“And next up is the youngest.”
With that, Luriel narrowed her eyes.
She looked at the professor seated across from her. The professor was looking back.
Bluish eyes.
No hint of fluster in them.
When people hear something hard to swallow, their reactions split two ways.
'Panic.'
Or.
'Try to read the intent right away.'
Most fall into the former.
But some land in the latter. The professor before her was clearly the latter.
'Not bad.'
Luriel fell silent.
Silence to draw out the next words. The die was cast. Now it was just about watching how her opponent moved.
She predicted the response while holding her silence.
'The most boring would be asking "What do you mean?"'
Making someone repeat themselves was dull. Doubting their own ears showed lack of conviction. Such people weren't what Luriel needed now.
“...”
And then, the professor spoke.
Her lips moved, words spilling out.
“Why me, of all people?”
Not bad.
So Luriel thought.
The professor hadn't asked what she needed to do. Just why it had to be her. Solid handling.
“Hm.”
Luriel smiled faintly.
“I needed a mage's help.”
“So you're facing some magical threat.”
“Exactly. I'm versed enough in magic theory, but my mana handling leaves something to be desired. Something's targeting me, but I can't tell what.”
Lacking ability.
“That's why I need a mage. A capable one.”
Fill the gaps with others.
“You need sharp eyes for circuits. Skill in activation and modification. And strong mana control.”
The professor met those criteria.
Luriel had sized her up herself at the Ivory Tower. She exceeded expectations.
'No issue with skill.'
But if she just needed a skilled mage, she could find one anywhere.
'The problem is...'
Whether this person had fallen into her brother's hands yet or not.
Rescuing herself from her brother with someone already in his pocket? That'd be laughable.
And this professor was free of that issue.
'No chance for brother to make contact.'
Lania van Trias.
This young professor had risen to prominence in less than three months. Too soon for her brother to reach out.
'And...'
Raised under Rosel the Wise, untouched by politics.
'Free from political meddling.'
That was the calculus.
Though unspoken.
“And in my eyes, you have the qualities.”
Luriel didn't voice it. The professor didn't ask. She just posed another question.
“What makes you think you can trust me?”
It cut to the core.
All conditions met, only one thing left. Was this person trustworthy?
Luriel answered flatly.
“Don't flatter yourself. I don't trust you.”
When it came to trust, she didn't fully buy into the professor yet. Skill yes, character no. Too little time together for trust to take root.
-Recommend a skilled, trustworthy mage.
So what was she staking her life on?
-Lania van Trias.
-Her you can trust.
“Aila recommended you.”
“...”
“I trust the youngest's judgment. Not you. Her recommendation of you.”
Luriel rested her chin on her hand.
Then continued evenly.
“I've said my piece. There's more to tell, but only if you accept the offer, Professor.”
Luriel sensed her own death looming.
She'd once been fine with dying. Ready for it anytime.
Not anymore.
If she died now, everything crumbled. She had to live a while longer. She gauged the time.
'At least three years.'
Until that child secured their place. Prepare for death, but choose the moment.
“Three days.”
For that.
“Work for me, just three days.”
She needed this mage.
“If you do...”
Luriel said.
“I'll give you my life—and everything I have.”
* * *
Facing Princess Luriel, Raniel let out an inward sigh.
'I knew the royals were a total mess from way back...'
But not this bad.
The kingdom ran fine on the surface, so she'd paid it no mind.
'Worse than I thought.'
Raniel eyed the princess across from her.
She'd rarely met this type. But she knew their kind.
People who lived for one goal alone.
They'd discard everything for that endpoint. Even their own dignity.
'...Reminds me of Uncle Kontel for some reason.'
Raniel finally sighed aloud.
Even sighing in front of the princess, Luriel didn't call her on it.
“What if I go blabbing?”
“That's the stupid question.”
The princess chuckled.
“Didn't I tell you, Professor?”
“...”
“My brother's a paranoid freak the likes of which you've never seen.”
She pushed her coffee cup aside with a clink.
“If you rat me out to him somehow... Sure, I'd die. No chance to fight back, clean and quick.”
But, she added.
“You'd die too. He leaves no witnesses.”
“...Ah, I see.”
Luriel had tried to scare her in her own way, but Raniel just looked bored.
'...Doesn't seem that risky.'
That was her first thought.
“Three days, you said?”
“Yes.”
Raniel nodded.
“Sure, why not. Let's give it a shot.”
If things went south, just bail.
With that in mind, Raniel readily accepted the princess's proposal.
Author's Note (Afterword)
Only heteromorphs gather in the Tower of the Heteromorphs :D