Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Master of the Direct Territory (2)
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The flooding of Pendragon Lake (D'Pelius's emergence) was a quest from the extreme early stages of the story.
At this point, the average player level was under 10.
But I'd already hit level 70.
'Proud moment.'
The snowball effect from that first last-hit steal achievement, which eliminated the experience penalty based on level difference, was rolling huge.
At this rate, I'd hit max level (99) in no time.
I found the small pond that had formed in the center of the lake, together with Canelian and Silvret.
It would normally be a max-level raid dungeon.
But since the dungeon's owner, D'Pelius, had submitted to me...
Now it was just an experience farm.
'Activate Discernment Eye.'
As I turned on the skill, I could see the enormous mana and life force contained within the dungeon.
"So, powerful monsters will periodically spawn from there from now on?"
"That's right."
"If we hadn't subjugated D'Pelius this time, it would have become impossible to handle later."
Silvret shuddered faintly, as if imagining that worst-case future.
"D'Pelius's appearance is merely the beginning of the impending great chaos."
"Just as Your Highness said, something massive was threatening the entire continent."
It was just the game story progressing, nothing more.
Though I was the only player.
"Your Highness, I'll scout around the pond and return."
"Please do, Silvret."
Canelian and I were left alone.
I stared fixedly at the sturdy metal armor draped over Canelian.
Her face flushing red, Canelian began untying the straps of her armor.
"Fine, I'll take it off then."
"No matter how I look at it, that clunky armor just doesn't suit a duchess."
"But I can't go around in just bikini armor in front of everyone else."
The armor took time to put on—and just as long to take off.
Finally, the tube-top bikini hidden beneath was revealed.
"Whoa, the water here is incredibly clear."
Canelian approached the pond.
The edges were shallow and crystal clear.
You could see the pebbles at the bottom perfectly.
Canelian splashed her feet in the water like a girl, clearly enjoying herself.
"Water this clear and pure... It's hard to believe it's a monster hive."
"Monsters love overly clear water too, you know."
I blankly watched Canelian—in her tube top—splashing around.
Tall and slender, with a flawless figure.
Long, straight red hair that evoked flames.
The epitome of a heroine.
'Gotta get her into that 99% defense mode for a proper heroine pose later.'
Sensing my gaze, Canelian suddenly stopped her water play and stood there hesitantly, hands behind her back.
"Canelian?"
"Y-Your Highness is looking at me with such a weird gaze... it's embarrassing..."
"Was my gaze that lecherous?"
"Not lecherous, just... I don't know. Anyway, it's embarrassing, so hurry and switch me to a rash guard."
"You look good like that. Or should I change you to a slingshot string bikini?"
"That's basically naked! Absolutely not!"
"That's exactly why I want to."
"If you go to 99%, I'll get mad."
The sunset hung on the lake's horizon.
The clear surface reflected the red sunlight brilliantly behind Canelian.
The sight was so beautiful that I approached her without thinking.
"Whoa, Your Highness?"
"..."
Canelian backed away hesitantly, but I eventually caught her.
I pulled Canelian into my arms.
Smooth, firm skin pressed against my hands.
"W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden...?"
"Canelian. Do you still want to kill me?"
"..."
I felt her flinch in my embrace.
This was the branch point in our relationship.
Canelian had planned to kill the trash prince and make Raisha queen, securing a healthy future for both the kingdom and the duchy.
She had never once revealed those feelings in front of me.
"W-Why would I kill Your Highness...?"
She was stuttering in panic.
"I knew everything. That you wanted to kill me and make Raisha queen. That's why you hid being a Swordmaster too."
"I-I..."
"Is it still the same?"
I could have pretended not to know and buried it.
But I wanted to hear it directly from Canelian's lips.
'I know your thoughts and feelings toward me have completely changed. Still...'
"Do you still think you need to kill me for the sake of the duchy and kingdom?"
"Your Highness, I-I've never had such irreverent thoughts. Why would I kill my fiancé?"
"Before you promised to marry me instead of Ceres, didn't you plan to kill me to save your sister, the duchy, and the kingdom?"
Canelian tried to escape my embrace.
I hugged her even tighter.
As a Swordmaster, she could easily shake off a mage's strength (78), but she didn't force me away.
"T-To be honest..."
"To be honest?"
"I did think it might be best for everyone if Princess Raisha became queen instead of Your Highness."
"But for that future, I'd have to be gone from this world."
"Please, can you stop asking? You're scaring me a little with this suddenness..."
"I kept you by my side even knowing you wanted me dead. I wanted to boldly prove that people really can change."
"..."
"In your eyes now, what am I?"
Canelian's trembling stopped.
She lightly pushed me away and took a step back.
Her gaze was firm, showing no confusion or hesitation.
"Yes. At first, I planned to disguise it as an assassin's doing and kill you."
"But you'd have to hide being a Swordmaster forever. You'd be the prime suspect."
"I thought I could do that much for my sister, the duchy, and the kingdom."
"..."
"When Your Highness suddenly said you'd marry me instead of my sister, I inwardly cheered. Just give you a death by ecstasy in bed, and everything would be neatly resolved."
"...Wait, death by sex?"
"Isn't it cleaner than a knife?"
Canelian smirked.
"But at some point, those thoughts vanished completely. I don't know exactly when, but I came to believe this country absolutely needs Your Highness."
Canelian dropped to one knee on the sandy beach and bowed her head.
"Punish my sin."
"Rise."
I pulled Canelian to her feet and embraced her again, meeting her eyes.
"Canelian. You are neither my knight, nor my subject, nor my citizen. So never bow to me like that again."
"...Are you forgiving me?"
"How could I call it a sin when you were willing to sacrifice yourself for everyone? There's nothing to forgive."
"..."
"I'm only grateful that you told me everything without hiding it."
"The more I came to recognize Your Highness, the more uncomfortable my past thoughts felt."
"I'll ask once more. In your eyes now, what am I?"
A blush spread across Canelian's cheeks.
As I anticipated her answer, something soft and moist suddenly touched my lips.
It took a few seconds to realize.
Canelian had wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.
I hugged her even tighter.
The sensation of our breaths softly mingling was so ecstatic and sweet that I never wanted this moment to end.
We shared a long, sweet kiss—truly, for a very long time—before finally parting.
"This is my answer."
"...Canelian."
Unable to hold back, as I reached for her bikini, Canelian pushed my hand away.
"But that's as far as it goes."
"Why? We're officially engaged to marry..."
"Anything more comes after the wedding. Only my sister and Professor Silvret know about our engagement anyway."
"Got it. Then right now..."
This time I tried to kiss her, but Canelian scampered away.
"Canelian! Why the sudden dodge? You finished your turn—guarantee mine too! Get back here!"
"Professor could come back any time—no!"
I chased her hard, but a Swordmaster was truly like the wind.
A blazing red, flame-like wind.
Silvret returned after lightly scanning the lake with exploration magic.
As she descended toward the sandy beach, she froze in shock.
The prince and Canelian were kissing.
'Wh-when did that start?'
Silvret clasped her hands tightly.
Her heart pounded, her face grew hot.
The two were so focused on each other they hadn't noticed her arrival.
How long had they been like that?
And how much longer would it go on?
Unable to intervene or leave, she floundered alone in midair.
Finally, the kiss ended, and Canelian started running away.
The prince chased after her but soon tired, stopping on the beach to pant.
Only then did Silvret land beside the prince.
"Your Highness."
"Ah, Silvret. You arrived quickly."
Silvret decided not to mention she'd been waiting for over an hour.
"No particular anomalies. My exploration magic saw it as just an ordinary lake."
"Good. We can keep the lake's secret and farm it for a while."
Silvret hesitated before asking.
"Your Highness, what you said to me during the D'Pelius subjugation... were you serious?"
"What did I say?"
"That you wanted to... take me as your second wife..."
"Ah, that? Of course I was serious. Have you decided?"
Silvret fidgeted, her fingertips clicking together, then spoke cautiously.
"Could I not be second wife, but just a concubine?"
"...A concubine?"
"The position of second queen is too much for me. I'll live far longer than Your Highness, and I want to achieve ascension someday."
"But Silvret, I want all of you. A concubine wouldn't satisfy me."
"..."
"Give me all of Silvret herself."
"Your Highness, I'm a mage pursuing ascension..."
"Look at how desperately the Ancestor is trying to return. Heaven's nothing special. In my view, the mortal world is the best place to live."
The prince naturally pulled Silvret into his arms.
Feeling his body heat, she imagined the two of them kissing for so long earlier.
Her lips tingled, her mind heated up.
'I can't understand my own words. Concubine yes, second queen no—what kind of logic is that?'
Silvret didn't realize she was indulging in petty jealousy.
While staying in Pendragon Lake's base city, we continued subjugating the remaining monster legions.
I used Windler's gigantification once a day, keeping two uses on standby at all times.
Pinia's King Leonhardt would sigh, clench his fists, or get excited every time he saw giant Windler.
Finally, we cleared every monster assault triggered by the lake flood.
I decided to head to Pinia Castle with the king.
There, we'd hold a banquet, settle the accounts for the subjugation support, publicly announce to the Pinia nobles that Pendragon Lake was now Arcana territory, and more.
Lots to do.
No connected teleport magic circle, so we were taking the airship...
"Your Highness. Lord Chuck has prepared a tow tray for you."
Baron Caron reported excitedly from somewhere.
"How about using it, for Lord Chuck's sincerity?"
D'Pelius (miniaturized), harnessed in a massive frame like a draft horse.
The frame connected to a huge tow tray, structured to link with the airship.
"I am Arcana's sword, Mr. Chuck Jungkyung."
"He says he'll ride on D'Pelius's back and pull Your Highness's airship."
"I am Arcana's sword, Mr. Chuck Jungkyung."
"Your Highness, he claims it'll be very fast and comfortable."
"...Call me 'Your Highness' properly—'lowship' or whatever. I'm officially a prince, not the king."
An airship towed by a pet dragon...
I had to try this.