Chapter 255
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: They Call Me a Quack
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The Amazon rainforest was an impregnable fortress and the ultimate adversary for most armies.
The forest's dense overgrowth alone made it impossible to use most modes of transportation, and one always had to stay on guard against fierce beasts and venomous insects.
But the Green Dragon Clan was the exception.
Just two days after setting out.
In that short time, when ordinary armies struggled to advance even 10 kilometers, they had plunged hundreds of kilometers into the jungle.
And without a single straggler, at that.
It was an insane march made possible only by the Green Dragon Clan, experts in jungle operations, and especially their elite force composed entirely of masters.
Jo Mollak.
"Barbara, report."
"...Yes, Princess."
Deep in the jungle, the Green Dragon Clan finally halted their march and set up a temporary camp.
In the most central spot, inside an opulent tent made by layering several special canopies, Barbara spoke with a reluctant expression.
"We found their main base at the location you mentioned."
"Is it definitely the Forest Guild's headquarters?"
"Yes. Among those standing guard there, we confirmed multiple high-level players from the Forest Guild."
Maya, seated in a luxurious chair carved with dragons, responded coldly to Barbara's report.
"I'm not interested in the rabble. All I want to know is whether the Monster Lord is really there."
"That... We held back from getting too close out of fear of detection, so we haven't confirmed the Monster Lord's presence yet."
"And yet you declare it's their headquarters?"
"I apologize."
Maya's brow furrowed briefly as she watched Barbara bow her head.
Then, feeling her stiff muscles melt away, she smoothed her furrowed brow and let out a light scoff.
"Skip the apologies that change nothing and finish your report."
"...Yes, Princess."
Normally, she'd have to endure a few more harsh words.
But Maya let it slide surprisingly easily, leaving Barbara with a puzzled look as she continued her report faithfully.
"They don't seem to have noticed our approach, given there's no unusual movement."
"Of course they shouldn't. That's why we went to all this trouble."
Maya sneered.
Rushing their departure as much as possible.
Bringing only the elite force.
Thoroughly eliminating nearby outposts as they moved.
The ultimate goal was to ambush the Forest Guild before their movements were detected.
It was a strategy normally impossible.
Even if the Forest Guild was seen as the most ragtag among the top ten guilds, it was still one of the major powers representing the Iron Age.
After losing several outposts over two days, they'd naturally notice.
But in the Amazon at least, that "natural" outcome was an incredibly difficult challenge.
Knowing this, Maya had planned this lightning strike.
Of course, there was an even bigger reason.
That was why she asked one final confirming question.
"How's the preparation for the Great Blood Heavenly Poison Rash Formation coming along?"
"It should be ready before dawn."
"Too slow. Complete the deployment by midnight at the latest."
"By midnight... you say?"
Barbara let out an involuntary groan.
The Great Blood Heavenly Poison Rash Formation, deployed by hundreds of master pharmacists, was one of the Green Dragon Clan's ultimate killing formations.
Preparing it by dawn was tough enough, but by midnight?
This wasn't something achievable with just a bit more effort.
Yet Maya's attitude remained icy.
"Don't underestimate the Monster Lord. He's no pushover who won't notice our approach forever."
The Forest Guild were jungle-hardened veterans.
Unlike the outpost rabble, there was a limit to evading the eyes of high-level players guarding the main base.
So to capture the Monster Lord, they needed the formation ready first—a perfectly logical point from Maya, but Barbara couldn't hide her distress.
"But we lack the manpower to finish by midnight."
"Just deploy all the reserves."
"...Even the Poison Dragon Unit?"
"Yes."
"That..."
"Worried we'll be attacked here?"
Barbara couldn't answer.
The reserves, including the Poison Dragon Unit, were guarding this temporary camp.
Pulling them out would leave the place defenseless, so her worry was justified.
But there was one reason she couldn't voice it honestly.
"No, you're worried about me staying here."
"Yes."
"Hmph, needless concern."
As a clansman or close aide, worrying for the princess was natural.
Yet as if that answer was an outrageous insult, Maya glared at her with chilling eyes.
"I'm not so frail that I need pity from someone who can't even protect herself."
"But Princess..."
"Daring to argue with me?"
"...No, I'm not."
Despite her words, Barbara couldn't erase her anxious expression.
She didn't doubt Maya's strength.
But knowing her illness, she couldn't shake off her worry for Maya.
It was then, as Maya raised an eyebrow at Barbara again.
"If you have time to worry about me, worry about yourself first—hard to say it that way, huh?"
"...What nonsense is this?"
"Huh? Wasn't that what you meant?"
Maya turned her head.
And shot a fierce glare at the black-haired young man massaging her shoulders from behind.
Eyes like she could devour him.
But Rimon didn't flinch at all.
He just grinned slyly and spouted excuses.
"Oh dear, my apologies. This lowly slave misinterpreted his master's intent and let nonsense spill from this fool's mouth."
"..."
"Since I've erred, I deserve punishment. Shall I fetch the whip?"
'That lunatic...!'
Barbara swallowed involuntarily.
She'd already questioned his sanity when he casually massaged Maya's shoulders—a reckless act.
But now he seemed suicidal.
Maya wouldn't let live someone who interrupted her and teased like that.
So the next moment, Barbara could hardly believe her ears.
"Not content with mangling my words, you open your mouth on your own? Wasted all those years, have you?"
"The older you get, the more your thoughts wander, right?"
"If you want that wandering mind fixed, just say the word. I'll personally crack open your skull and repair the broken brain myself."
"I'll politely decline. I'm not ready to die yet."
"...???"
Maya sneered coldly but didn't lift a hand.
And Rimon brazenly—no, boldly—parried her jabs.
Watching the two surpass all expectations, Barbara stared in bewilderment.
The always irritable, cynical Maya not only tolerating such words from a mere slave, even if temporary, but trading banter(?).
Unbelievable, even seeing it with her own eyes.
Sensing Barbara's gaze, Maya shot her a sharp look.
"Something to say?"
"...No."
"Then drop the dumbstruck look and get to work on the formation."
"Understood."
Only after hearing her usual thorny words did Barbara snap out of it, bowing hastily and exiting the tent.
Her ghost-struck expression lingering to the end.
Watching her with displeasure for a moment, Maya coldly snapped at Rimon, still massaging her shoulders.
"Don't meddle out of turn again."
"No need to be so sharp. I didn't point out your real intentions, did I?"
"Hmph, as if you understand my true aims."
"Impossible not to."
Rimon chuckled.
After racing non-stop here, instead of immediately raiding the Forest Guild base, setting up camp and resting.
Preparing the manpower-intensive Great Blood Heavenly Poison Rash Formation.
Rimon, who knew them better than the Green Dragon Clan, could easily see why.
"Impressive. Probably only the Gold Dragon Princess and you could call such a reckless plan a strategy in the Seven Dragon Society."
"A mere slave..."
Maya flinched, about to chide his insolent, un-slavelike attitude.
The massage had ended, and his hand slid to her exposed nape.
The unfamiliar feel of bare skin touching directly—after nearly a decade, no, something she'd never experienced even then—made her body react sensitively.
She couldn't help it.
That was why she unwittingly spoke.
"...That's enough for today."
"Yes, then I'll finish the massage and go."
Rimon continued innocently, as if he had to see it through.
Her already sensitive skin.
Damn his talent—even for this, his hands grew more skilled, and Maya unwittingly moved her hand.
Smack!
"I said enough!"
She swatted his hand away with a fierce shout, freezing him momentarily.
Seeing her trembling eyes and the faint flush on her pale skin, Rimon let out a smirk.
"If your skin's that sensitive, just say so. I could've been gentler."
"With the Scales' power, I command—"
"But since the massage is done, this lowly slave will take his leave."
As Maya raised a hand, seemingly to order self-harm with the tattoo's power, Rimon swiftly exited the tent.
Or so it seemed.
He poked his head back in right after.
"And Mistress. I don't oppose the plan, but you should think about your health."
"Think I can't take care of myself?"
"Doctors make the worst patients—themselves. Know what they call a doctor who stubbornly insists on handling it alone?"
"..."
"A quack."
Thwack!
"Ow!"
As if done talking, Rimon cackled and yanked his head back, fleeing.
Maya frowned as her thrown golden needle embedded in the tent wall instead.
She extended her hand, retrieving it.
And scoffed coldly.
"Hmph, ridiculous nonsense."
Calling her a quack.
Blasphemy that would've earned severe punishment from anyone else.
Yet she let it slide because it was Rimon.
Like adding a match to a bonfire—meaningless. No point getting mad at the clan's enemy over words.
Though his insolence grated separately.
'Crossing the line as a slave so cleverly. Can't let my guard down.'
She'd assigned him massages, chores, bathing assistance—every humiliation to break him.
Yet he acted like it was a cushy job.
Maintaining his slave act so naturally, like a sly fox.
And damn if he wasn't good at it.
Try to nitpick, and he handled everything flawlessly. Hard to find fault beyond the attitude.
'No, this is expected.'
Maya calmed herself.
She never expected Rimon Asfelder to break easily.
'But that's coming soon.'
Removing one glove, she eyed the eight weights on her white scale tattoo and smirked coldly.
Two left.
Gather them, and she could kill Rimon.
She didn't expect simple self-harm orders to end him.
But it'd create the perfect chance, and the plan for that was ready.
The moment Rimon died.
Clan's vengeance fulfilled.
This farce ends.
No more tedious mornings dressing her.
No more nagging about picky eating at meals.
No more flinching at rediscovering body warmth from his unhesitant touch.
All so welcome, refreshing...
Even a twinge of regret.
'...Regret?'
Maya flinched.
She should feel joy at vengeance.
Why regret?
Why the emptiness?
The incomprehensibility furrowed her brow unwittingly.
'Pathetic.'
Not regret.
Like food tasting bland after sweet fruit.
Revenge too sweet, anticipated too much—the void after would feel like regret.
Sneering at her immaturity mistaking minor emotions, Maya closed her eyes.
Dealing with Rimon later.
First, handle Forest Guild—needed peak condition for that.
But Maya didn't realize.
She was avoiding thoughts post-revenge.
The emptiness growing, not fading.
Why she still wore his gifted flower ornament.
...Burying it all.
The loneliest princess in the Seven Dragon Society sank into solitude, as always.