Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Beauty Raid Party (1)
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The price of mana herb sprouts that haven't yet absorbed mana rivals that of top-grade holy herbs.
That's because they can be transplanted to mana-rich areas and properly tended there.
Once they take root and begin absorbing mana, they can't be moved anymore.
From then on, you have to constantly watch for monsters or human intruders.
"Such young sprouts growing in abundance on land without flowing mana... Does Arcana truly have a place like that?"
The Emperor muttered gravely.
"Indeed, a land blessed by the Dragon."
At the Emperor's gesture, the Commander-in-Chief Knight closed the iron chest and withdrew.
"Hesin's Giant Knight appeared in the Pinia Kingdom, I hear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. There's no doubt it's Arcana's Swordmaster."
"To have kept such a knight hidden until now... Arcana's hidden strength is truly astonishing."
The Emperor thought of the wastrel prince.
Arcana's current moves were supposedly led by that wastrel prince, which was hard to believe.
'The King has regained his health. Yet he keeps the prince at the forefront while controlling the government from the shadows.'
The Emperor concluded it was to deceive the Empire.
"Continue tracking the Giant Knight's movements.
Is he truly a fool as rumored? Is gigantification his innate knightly power, or an artifact or magic?
Uncover everything you can."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Giant Knight was currently receiving lavish hospitality from Duke Valière the Magic Craftsman in the Empire's camp in Steno Kingdom.
But Duke Valière, scheming to claim the 'strategic weapon of low intellect' as his subordinate, had all information under tight control.
Even from the Emperor.
Summoning another noble, the Emperor issued secret orders.
"Find out everything about the young mana herbs Arcana is exporting."
"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, our chances of success with Arcana espionage are extremely low. Please reconsider."
"I know. Even if no clear results come, I won't blame you."
"I shall stake everything on it."
Arcana's nobles and commoners alike showed bizarrely high loyalty and devotion to the royal family.
From the Emperor's perspective, it was chilling that there hadn't been even a hint of rebellion after forcing the entire kingdom into a mandatory holy site pilgrimage.
'The Dragon's bloodline... If only we could transplant that special lineage into our imperial house...'
"Your Highness, what are you thinking about so intently?"
"Hm? Did I look like that?"
"Yes. Right, Professor?"
"Perhaps he was devising a grand strategy to overcome the monster great chaos?"
Silvret's words made me feel unnecessarily guilty.
It wasn't anything that grandiose...
'Should I have Ceres wear the Lady's Sexy Bikini Armor? Or the Lady's Sexy Holy Bodystocking?'
Bikini Armor was tank gear.
Holy Bodystocking was priest gear.
This was the real important dilemma.
'Since Ceres heals by sacrificing her own stamina, the high-defense Bikini Armor would be better.'
The sisters charging into a boss raid in matching Bikini Armors.
And if Silvret joined in the Lady's Sexy See-Through Negligee Robe?
Whoa, just imagining it makes my heart swell.
'To get the Bikini Armor, all 13 Fallen Earth Dragon Fangs need to respawn first.'
I'd been periodically scouting the Karbalon Mountains where the [13th Fang] was, but no respawn yet.
I figured a myth-grade item dropper wouldn't respawn quickly.
'But I need to prepare for the chance it never does.'
"I was thinking about myth-grade artifact armor suitable for Duchess Ceres."
"...!"
Canelian (in her rashguard) startled in my arms.
"D-Does it also have indecent exposure like the Bikini Armor?"
"The performance is guaranteed. With Bikini Armor, it's hard to die from most things."
"Th-That's true, but... Our positions are different. How could my sister bare her skin in front of Your Highness?"
"In the face of artifact performance, who cares about a little exposure?"
"St-Still..."
Her reaction is cute.
I hugged her waist tighter and nuzzled her hair a bit, and she squirmed in embarrassment.
"It's not just legendary—it's myth-grade. I'm sure Duchess Ceres will love it."
Ceres was currently spending quality time with the ducal couple.
Apparently showing off her tea ceremony skills and how healthy she'd become.
'Her strength is even superior to Swordmaster Canelian's.'
Isn't this the Nightingale effect?
Healers need strength originally. Sometimes you have to carry multiple wounded and flee.
"Duchess Ceres's excess stamina at 100% can restore 34% of your stamina. Got it so far?"
"Of course. You explained it before."
"Fighting in Bikini Armor's 99% mode reduces incoming damage to 1/100.
Her heal amount stays the same, but the efficiency is 100 times better."
She hadn't thought of that; Canelian's eyes widened in surprise.
"Th-That's amazing..."
"That's why high defense on the Bikini Armor matters. It reduces the healer's burden."
Ceres's excess stamina recovers on its own.
Using recovery potions speeds it up.
The longer the fight, the more overwhelmingly advantageous it becomes.
"Our mana will probably run out first anyway."
"Myth-grade artifacts really are crucial..."
"So in emergencies, the Duchess must use the 99% defense mode without hesitation."
"...Even for my sister, showing such an embarrassing outfit makes me hesitate... But I'll try."
Windeller's been diligently auto-hunting today too.
Ten minutes a day, without fail, sending transformation approval requests.
At this rate, it'll hit level 71 just sitting there.
"Now it's the Second Crown Princess's turn."
"Sniff... Your Highness, please don't call me that."
"Nope? I'm calling you Second Crown Princess."
My attachment elf gets embarrassed like she's being teased whenever I call her princess.
Her reaction's so cute, I end up calling her that teasingly every time.
"Second Crown Princess, hurry and deploy the incomplete activation magic circle."
"Sniff... Please..."
"Don't we need to help First Crown Princess with her aura control training?"
"Heehee... Stop teasing her."
Silvret barely managed to deploy the activation magic circle.
Canelian trained by finely emitting aura to dismantle the circle's circuits as I directed.
Joint training beneficial for both their growth.
To keep affection levels fair, I had them take turns on my lap while supervising with Discernment Eye.
"Ah! I finally get how to modify the magic circle! Thank you, Your Highness."
"A princess doesn't thank me for something this basic."
"Sniiff..."
Canelian, watching us, burst into giggles, and the micro-aura at her sword tip flickered out.
Micro-aura's just the name I gave it.
'By the way, how do I bring up the craftsman's request to the sisters?'
If they agree, I'd take Ceres as a princess too—that was the promise.
The fact it's harder to bring up than expected proves my character is normal.
"Your Highness!"
"Enter."
Silvret hurriedly got off my lap and straightened her posture.
The ducal knight entered and reported in a strong voice.
"Thousands of mobile tree monsters have been sighted!"
"Tree monsters? Do they have four pairs of eyes all around, with branches and leaves sprouting thickly from the upper body like a human head?"
"Gasp, yes! Exactly!"
"And they move like an ant colony, appearing as one massive cluster?"
"That's right too!"
Canelian, now in her armor, asked gravely.
"Your Highness, are they dangerous?"
"Not inherently. Actually, perfect timing. They're ideal for Duchess Ceres's first real battle."
Woodrender Colony.
High numbers but level 15—perfect for gaining combat experience.
"Go tell Duchess Ceres to gear up and prepare to deploy. Great chance for her experience points—no, real combat experience."
"Understood!"
I rose from my seat too.
"Thousands of tree monsters forming a colony? I've never even heard of that."
"Monsters you've never seen before will appear endlessly from now on. Get used to it."
"I wonder how the kingdoms on the Empire's opposite side are holding up."
"News is cut off because of the Empire, but probably not well."
"Duchess Ceres, that outfit...?"
"I'm battle-ready, Your Highness."
She looked spirited, which was good.
But it was far from what I'd imagined.
A mechanical crossbow bigger than she was tall.
Metal bolt magazines strapped heavily to her calves, thighs, waist, and chest.
A massive backpack on her back, big enough to stuff several grown men into.
The [Vampiric Priest's Staff] slung vertically over her shoulder like an antenna.
"Your role is healer, Duchess...?"
"Healing itself is simple. So I brought the crossbow to help in combat a bit."
"Not an anti-personnel crossbow."
That thing was an anti-air siege crossbow mounted on high walls, operated by multiple people to hunt wyverns and such.
"Recovery potions are packed in the backpack."
"...You're thoroughly prepared."
A human crane with great strength just carries it barehanded.
'A healer firing an oversized crossbow.'
"Then let's move."
No need for a guide.
I had the rough direction and location, and with that many, they'd be visible from afar.
Canelian and Ceres went on foot.
I flew with Silvret in my arms using flight magic.
I considered riding Canelian's back or sitting on Ceres's backpack.
But it looked too undignified, so no.
"Your Highness, there they are!"
"That's them."
Kuuu, kudoong, kudoong, kudoong-!
Towering trees over 5 meters tall marched in orderly fashion.
Their numbers easily in the thousands.
Low-level trash mobs before a level 70 lightning mage.
But at this time, most kingdoms would cower in fear at the sight.
We gathered and formed up our battle formation.
"These monster breaks will happen frequently from now on?"
Ceres asked me tensely.
"Don't worry. They look fearsome and there are many, but the four of us can exterminate them with ease."
With such vast numbers scattered wide.
The mob legion was traversing the lands flanking Elryad and Steno territories.
"Your Highness, shall I prepare Ragna del Lürc?"
"That defeats the training purpose. Silvret, stand by for emergencies only."
"Understood."
"Canelian, strip armor and charge!"
Canelian bit her lip looking at Ceres, then dismantled her outer armor.
In rashguard (50% defense) with just a single sword, she shot forward like an arrow.
Ceres looked at me in confusion, crossbow at the ready.
"Your Highness? Why did Canelian suddenly strip to underwear and charge?"
"Not underwear—the ultimate defensive artifact armor. Even now, she's not drawing its full power."