Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Armored Swordmaster (1)
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Caron had told me.
If the Duchess said she wouldn't come, just leave her be.
The difference in tone compared to his concubines left me feeling puzzled.
'Maybe she's not his type? But judging by his concubines' style, you'd think he'd treasure the Duchess the most?'
If the concubines were stunning beauties, the Duchess felt like a perfect fusion of all their best qualities?
I couldn't fathom why that dawning bird wasn't obsessed with the Duchess.
"Duchess, are you truly prepared to abandon everything as a member of the imperial family and follow Baron Caron?"
"Who cares about that petty, narrow-minded, character-flawed emperor's imperial family?"
Earlier she said if she took her own life, the emperor would hunt her to the ends of the continent for punishment.
What was with the temperature shift...
"A lady of your standing could easily remarry into any fine noble house, though."
"A slender pretty boy like you wouldn't understand. But he's truly different."
The Duchess gripped her wooden sword with both hands, her cheeks flushing pink.
"He's a real man."
An answer that nearly convinced me in one shot.
But memories of countless backstabs from imperial NPC quests held me back.
'This woman might just be acting to escape this situation.'
She could be doing it because she's about to lose that legendary artifact wooden sword.
"Come to think of it, I haven't heard your name, Duchess."
"It's Lowen Blanche de Varmion."
A thrilling shock washed over me.
My speech pattern shifted without me realizing.
"You're Lowen..."
"Do you know me?"
"...I've heard countless tales from the imperial family about the most beautiful and pure flower."
"What an honor. But your speech suddenly..."
"It's an honor to serve you. I am the prince of Arcana, Ragna Volter Arcana."
"Ah, so you're that noble prince known for appreciating... refined tastes."
I knew she almost said "playboy" but caught herself.
But what filled my chest right now was nostalgia.
'So this is what she looked like in her youth.'
The Lowen I remembered was a noblewoman in her fifties, leader of the rebel army.
"Please kill the emperor for me."
Another backstab quest—I'd braced myself and taken the linked quest.
I thought it was the emperor's purge of unruly nobles via a palace coup.
But it was a real treason quest.
And when the assassination failed, Lowen took her own life.
Her diary entries still lingered in my heart.
"After my husband's disappearance, my brother tried to force himself on me. I barely escaped and thought it over deeply—it seems my brother's schemes were behind my husband's vanishing."
"Only now do I realize the meaning behind those doting eyes from childhood. And the sadness at my wedding. It gives me chills..."
Reading her diary, I learned she was from the imperial family.
Lowen's husband was Caron.
The emperor was too powerful; I never once cleared that assassination failure quest.
I remember picking up items and rewards from her poisoned suicide corpse...
"Duchess, could you entrust that wooden sword artifact to me for a moment?"
Lowen bit her lip thoughtfully, then handed over the wooden sword willingly.
"Your Highness must have acted personally because of this wooden sword. I entrust it to you."
"Thank you. I'll ensure you gather everything and return safely to Caron."
Lowen, her legs giving way, sank back into her chair.
Canelian whispered softly.
"Can we trust her? Even Baron Caron thought she wouldn't come since she's the emperor's cousin."
"Lowen can be trusted. I guarantee it."
That said, what the hell was Caron's charm?
He wasn't even handsome—just a decently built middle-aged Swordmaster.
I urgently sent a messenger to the expedition leader who was busy with looting and local procurement.
Lowen also started directing people to pack up heaps of luggage.
She showed a determination to uproot and carry the ducal castle itself if possible.
All soldiers and warhorses were mobilized to transport the territory's assets.
We had to pack as much as possible and bolt before neighboring territories noticed and reported to the imperial family.
"Don't leave a single territory resident behind!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
My soldiers, who came to plunder, suddenly turned into a moving company and helped diligently.
The duchy was vast, and there was far too much to take.
This was exactly when an inventory would be perfect.
The world wasn't that easy.
Still, for safety, I slept with Canelian and Object.
"Give it here now—my nightgown."
"Got it."
Now I didn't wrap the nightgown dress around my arm anymore. I just held it loosely in hand.
Because Canelian no longer tried to steal it.
If she tried, I'd subconsciously wrap it around my arm in my sleep and refuse.
We'd grown oddly accustomed to this bizarre situation.
Canelian returned after changing into her nightgown and saw Object lying there in her undergarments.
"The professor sleeps so soundly."
"Better dress her before she wakes up embarrassed."
"Hand it over. I'll do it. Don't look."
"Alright."
I wondered if it mattered, but I turned my back anyway.
After fully dressing her in the nightgown, Object's eyes fluttered open a short while later.
She looked at me sleepily, then checked her own nightgown attire.
"Your Highness, did you undress me again?"
"...The Duchess dressed you."
"Sleep habits can't be helped. I understand."
Maybe because she's Object, but she's so agreeable.
It was a bit amusing how all three of us had grown used to this setup.
We met Duchess Lowen and had breakfast together.
"Duchess, there's a minor issue."
"What is it?"
"I want to stage it as the territory being destroyed by a monster rampage."
"Is that possible?"
"I have a way."
"So even in Arcana, my presence must remain hidden for a while."
"Yes, exactly."
"Because of my brother, who'd crush even a flea for being too cramped? Arcana isn't in a state for war right now."
"As perceptive as ever."
Quick on the uptake, as expected.
And her beauty was top-notch.
I couldn't understand why Caron had acted that way. If it were me, I'd have brought her no matter what.
"I always told him not to trust my brother. But he didn't listen. He trusted that fool like an idiot."
"I warned him not to fall for that petty, vile man's smiling face. We fought a lot over it."
"Baron Caron's loyalty runs deep."
"It's not loyalty—he got promoted by lightning bolt, so he can't think straight. He's weak to wealth, women, and praise."
Were there men who weren't?
The six concubines crossed to Arcana first.
Territory residents were teleporting over in order of proximity to the transfer magic circle.
For over ten days, I wandered the ducal castle searching for artifacts or Objects.
No notable finds.
I built rapport with Duchess Lowen by dining with her daily.
"Unbelievable. You seem nothing like the Ragna prince I knew."
"I went astray once. But now I'm resolute, striving to become a king worthy of Arcana."
Felt like I had an office wife.
Conversations flowed easily; it was enjoyable.
Especially thrilling when cursing the emperor.
"But the concubines and all cried tears of joy hearing Baron Caron is alive. What exactly is his charm?"
"I told you—he's a real man."
"Yes, you did."
Lowen blushed deeply, answering shyly.
"I don't know about other men, but I can assure you: Swordmasters are exceptional. Especially in bed..."
She'd really opened up.
Sharing even this.
I inadvertently glanced at Canelian, and our eyes met perfectly.
Canelian shot me a flushed glare.
Her lips mouthed, 'What are you looking at?'
'Swordmasters are especially great in bed. Memo memo.'
That night.
"Your Highness, Your Highness. Wake up."
"Ugh..."
I forced my heavy eyelids open.
Canelian, in her undergarments, had drawn her sword.
I released the Object I was hugging and bolted upright.
"What's wrong?"
"There's an urgent presence approaching. Be careful."
"Got it."
No footsteps at all.
An assassin?
Knock knock.
"Your Highness the Prince, I have urgent news."
Object's eyes snapped open too. The alert magic on the door had triggered.
It was a ducal knight. Not an assassination.
Canelian stayed tense, and I spoke through the door.
"What is it?"
"Someone from the capital arrived. They sensed the territory's disorder and came to investigate."
"The Duchess seeks your advice: detain him or pretend ignorance to buy time?"
"Is he useful?"
"A 5th-class court mage."
"Capture him alive. Tell the Duchess we depart the territory immediately."
"Understood."
The knight left promptly, and soon the entire castle blazed with lights.
"Pack quickly! Abandon the rest! We move out now!"
Lowen, in leather armor astride a white horse, commanded impressively.
Knight and soldiers bustled, preparing the final march.
As I stared intently, Canelian grumbled beside me.
"You like strong women? Or other men's women?"
"Just thinking I see how well she managed the territory."
Canelian sidled close, pressing against me.
Morning hugs in undergarments were routine now, so this skinship felt normal.
"...I'm a Swordmaster too."
"...? I know."
Then Lowen spotted us and rode over.
"Forgive the impropriety of reporting from horseback."
"Understood, Duchess."
"We'll depart first within ten minutes. Will Your Highness head to the Hylpen River?"
"Yes, right away."
"Very well. Preserve your noble health."
Lowen wheeled her horse immediately.
Knight, soldiers, and residents shouldered final loads and began the night march.
"Your Highness, shall we take the airship?"
"Professor, too conspicuous. We'll go on foot."
"But Your Highness has poor stamina."
"The Duchess can carry me."
"Pardon? What?"
"Too burdensome?"
"...No, when did I say that? Just caught me off guard."
I was piggybacked onto Canelian's rigid full plate armor.
Caron was the Northern Grand Duke, but the duchy—including the castle—boasted a warm, pleasant climate.
The true north began at the Hylpen River, far north of the castle.
"Intense cold."
Shivering, I hugged Object tight under a large cloak.
Canelian, in metal armor, seemed unfazed by the brutal chill. True Swordmaster.
A massive ice mass, tens of kilometers wide, frozen solid white.
"Is this really a river? Not just an ice plain?"
"The ice is thick, but river water flows beneath."
"Monsters here..."
"Monsters that would never appear in the world otherwise."
Unless some wide-eyed player in mythic bikini armor provoked it—it would have stayed eternally under that river ice.
Trembling, I extended an arm from the cloak.
Fingertips felt like they'd snap off, but I had to maintain image before Canelian and Object.
"Remnants of the Fallen Earth Dragon, awaken from your long slumber and wreak havoc on the empire."
'Thunder Chain!'
A bolt of lightning struck the frozen river.
The field boss's red mana writhed visibly from the electric jolt.
Crack. Craaack.
Rumble! Groooar!
Huge fissures formed, shattering the river's icy surface.
Splash!
Spewing cold water jets, the Fallen Earth Dragon revealed its colossal form.
"Duchess! Now! Drive it toward the duchy!"
"Got it! Get back!"
Object and I floated via flight magic.
Canelian stomped, sending vibrations everywhere.
Sssizzle! Sizzle!
The Fallen Earth Dragon finally registered Canelian.
"Your Highness, something's off. Different from the one before. Why twelve heads?"
So the twelve were originally one that split?