Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: 20. This World Won't Leave Me Alone. (1)
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“Phew… That took quite a while.”
After running as hard as I could at an absurd speed, I finally made it into the Lübella City Union.
The war had broken out a good while ago. As the front lines against the demon tribe, they conducted pretty thorough investigations, but thanks to the token from Princess Vera of Neiden Kingdom, I got through faster than most.
-They’re such a pain, holding people up like this. Aren’t they all useless? The demon tribe invaded your place and ours, after all.
-Yeah, fair enough.
The cat and the dragon, and even the lady who could’ve been the biggest problem, were all tucked away inside the carriage, so Iron Bat started grumbling nonstop from in there.
Even with the token and letter from a royal family paving the way for quick passage, we still got held up for about thirty minutes.
And during that time, Iron Bat got booted out of the carriage for the soldiers to search inside, which sparked his complaints.
-I could’ve won!
-Yeah, yeah. Tough break.
The soldiers had ruined the Go-Stop game we’d drawn on the floor while poking around the carriage.
-I had it in the bag! I was about to show some big-sister dignity!
-No, don’t show your big-sister dignity with something like that!
-Argh! You don’t get it, Master! It was best of five, score tied at 2-2, and I was pulling off an epic comeback!
The most thrilling best-of-five I remembered was a three-game sweep.
Nothing quite as empty yet exhilarating as that.
-I could’ve won… I could’ve won!
-Quit it. We’ll play again at the inn.
-Something tells me I’ll lose if we do…
Iron Bat grumbled that it’d undermine his big-sister dignity.
No, if losing at Go-Stop dents your big-sister dignity, how low was that dignity to begin with?
If it’s built on Go-Stop wins, just give it up!
“Alright, let’s see…”
I lightly guided the carriage while scouting for a place to rest for the day.
Thanks to the well-paved roads in the city center, I could steer the horses comfortably and take in the sights.
-Shouldn’t we get outta here quick?
-I told the Hero I was coming here, but given everything he’s put me through, he’ll suspect I bolted somewhere else. So even if I lounge around here like I’m chilling, he won’t buy it.
-And if he catches us?
-I’ll use you as bait and run.
If a foreign army marches into Lübella City Union territory, it’d stick out like a sore thumb.
Even if it’s a small kingdom, Neiden’s influence doesn’t hold much sway here, so other kingdoms can’t throw their weight around either.
Diplomacy comes first, then sneaky infiltration by elite squads—that’s the play.
And I’m a guy who folds to numbers, not elites.
No one’s strong against a mob, though!
“So we can relax for a day!”
My hunch was spot on.
I booked a pricier inn with stable space for the horses to rest, and we ended up chilling there comfortably for two whole days—not just one!
After a long time savoring delicious food with the lady, we stocked the carriage with emergency rations and supplies, then rolled out of our first city.
“We splurged a bit, you sure it’s okay?”
“Human currency’s useless where demon tribe hangs out anyway.”
The reward from ratting out the Hero to the princess… Ahem. No, the hefty sum from my girlfriend’s mentor for the long journey helped a lot.
Plus, the secret slush funds I’d stashed away while living with the lady were still decently flush!
But flashing human money in demon lands is too risky, so we blew most of it here.
“It’s all worthless international headache cash anyway. I kept the gold bars.”
I’d held onto some gems too.
For fleeing, nothing beats gold and jewels as emergency funds. Compact, high-value—perfect slush.
Better yet, I picked up magic items powered by magic stones for the carriage, or ones that let the cat—who can’t tap mana freely—or Kkoko’s massive reserves handle the comfy getaway life.
“Well, if you say so, no losses on my end.”
“Yeah, yeah. Huh?”
That’s when the carriage crossed the snowy white plains.
“Huh? That a person? Why’s someone out here?”
“No way bandits operate outta Lübella…”
Monsters and bandits make prime live-fire training for soldiers and knights.
Especially here in Lübella City Union, the demon tribe front lines—those cities treat them like goldmines of XP!
So their armies cheer at bandit or monster nests and charge in guns blazing.
Meaning,
“Highway robber?”
No big bandit gangs build up power here.
Still, people live here, so human threats aren’t zero.
Even with Lübella’s ironclad military and strict laws keeping crime low, it doesn’t mean zero crime.
Idiots who can’t fight a momentary urge pop up anywhere humans are.
“A woman…”
Her clothes were torn here and there, head bowed so no face visible, but the golden hair and voluptuous dress screamed not-a-guy.
“Master, whatcha gonna do?”
“Obviously…”
Dumped in freezing winter wearing thin rags like that.
High-end threads too—noble or rich merchant’s daughter, easy bet.
So.
“Ignore and drive on!”
“As expected of a trash Master!”
Messing with that spells trouble. Like some scenario quest popping up?
I’m in escape mode, not level-grinding quests!
Let passing Heroes snag those—buys time for villains like me.
“You’re not a villain?”
“It’s ex-villain, but I’ve got the history.”
“A bad-past guy as my Master… Well, present and future ain’t much better.”
A bad-life guy!
Ignoring Iron Bat’s mutter, I whipped up the carriage speed.
“Help!”
She heard the carriage and called out in a sweet, clear voice.
“Run, Brownie, Blackie!”
I cracked the whip with a ‘Hyah!’
Neighhh!
“Huh? What?”
Pain hurts humans and beasts alike.
Horses bolted screaming, and the distant woman panicked at the sight.
“Stop! Wall of ice!”
Right in front of the carriage, a massive ice barrier shot up.
“What the hell?”
Flashed me back to that dragon hunt not long ago.
“But that was different!”
That was treacherous mountain paths no normal person could climb. Now? Snowy but flat plains!
No way a mere ice wall stops me!
“Behold the skills of an ex-imperial coachman!”
I flicked the reins with flashy handwork, piloting the carriage.
That crazy chick tosses out magic like candy. And she’s out here alone in that getup on these plains?
Her backstory’s gotta be a novel.
Trying to snag my ankle with that mess!
Such an evil wench!
“Turning someone into an evil wench just ‘cause they block your escape…”
I brushed off Iron Bat’s incredulous tone.
Suddenly throwing up an ice wall? She’s no normal gal for sure?
Crashing means we die—high stakes!
Proves she’s nuts, like I thought?
“Huh?”
I cornered past the ice wall like a dream, glanced back—poof, she was gone like a mirage.
“Where’d she go?”
“Master, ahead!”
Iron Bat’s shout—up front, atop one of the lead horses, Brown one, stood a figure.
“No way, you?”
Golden hair whipping wild, dress skirts fluttering—standing on a galloping horse.
Drop-dead gorgeous, but weirdly familiar!
“Yes, Master. It’s me.”
That oddly deflating smile clicked her identity.
“Why the hell is the so-called Hero out here dressed like that?!”
“All thanks to you, Master!”
Her fierce voice clashed with the flowing hair and busty dress—I flinched.
“No way… the Empire?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Ah, screwed.
Empire’s reach out here too?!
“Thought the princess nabbed you, but Captain—no, No. 1000—sprang me. Got caught somewhere new right after, though.”
Her subtle hand flicks slowed the carriage noticeably.
One swipe severed the horse-carriage harness perfectly.
Godlike swordplay!
“Thanks to that, I’m stuck crossdressing and waiting for you.”
Horses detached, carriage lost speed.
As the Hero closed in after dismounting, the carriage crawled.
No—felt like it inched toward her!
Godlike swordplay plus top-tier magic.
What’s this guy’s limit?!
-We’re past surprises after he bagged a dragon, right?
Back then, I missed it ‘cause he just bruteforced the dragon, but now? Swordplay and magic, both refined mastery.
Fast, precise, no waste—achieving goals cheap.
Not just raw mana powerhouse, but skillful control!
“Thanks to you, Master, lots happened. Yes, quite a lot.”
Carriage fully stopped.
Hero met my eyes, yanked something from her neck.
“Collar?”
“Yes. No. 1000—er, Mira—slapped it on after busting me from the princess. Empire special: restrictions, tracker, and mine’s extra.”
Snap.
She snapped the collar, tossed it aside.
“Break it, and a summon array triggers to snag me.”
“Crazy?”
Collar hit ground—blue flash, array forming.
“Too late.”
“Damn!”
Empire tech’s insane!
Sever collar, auto-summon array?
Summon magic forcibly pulls targets here—not a familiar, a person from this world. Like teleport minus consent.
Key: forces the target.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Blue light faded. Before me and the Hero…
“Uh?”
No. 17 in pajamas, blank-faced.
“W-what’s this?”
“Hey, hold up! Why’re you like that?”
“Was working till now, just about to sleep… Instructor?”
Sorry, but mid-sentence.
“Gonna hit you first.”
“N-nooo!”
“Damn!”
Hero in drag, mage in PJs—both mages!
Before the Hero got another shot, I grabbed Iron Bat and lunged at my two ex-pupils to take ‘em down.