Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Bellatrix and Adel
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"You... confessed? You, Adel?"
"Yes."
"...You, who wouldn't bat an eye even if you fell into lava? You confessed?"
"Yes."
"...Ha, what a headache."
The more Adel answered, the more baffled Lore looked.
You too, huh? Same here.
Lore probably never imagined Bellatrix would order Adel to do something like this, so he must be even more confused than me.
He'd be wondering how Adel ever fell for me, but honestly, even now after confessing, she doesn't really love me.
Sending Lore my infinite sympathy in my mind, he suddenly widened his eyes and pointed his wooden sword at Adel.
His face was full of dissatisfaction.
"Do you have any idea how hard I've been training to beat you? And to think you've been dating a guy this whole time! Duel me! Today, I'll finally knock that smug look off your—"
-Thud.
"Lady Adel, victory."
"Kuh... h-heh...!"
"Lore, I've never once slacked on my training."
"Damn it... At least let it rattle you mentally...!"
Unfortunately for Lore, Adel would never let that happen.
I checked in the game, and whenever Adel has worries, she swings her sword. Even when her mind and body feel off, she swings her sword.
Anyway, leaving the utterly crushed Lore behind, we began our training.
I swung my shotel vigorously, just like always.
It's clear how much things have changed since the first time I used this training ground.
This must all be thanks to the Hero's holy power.
But it's still not enough to call me truly strong yet.
'The story's diverged a lot from the original.'
With Prellia confessing to me and Bellatrix sending Adel my way, more variables could pop up anytime. I need to be fully prepared.
For now, the most important thing is power. With enough raw strength, most problems solve themselves.
'Good thing Ruin's finally snapped out of it.'
Ruin must've had some realization this time around. He didn't come with me and Ariana, saying he had somewhere else to stop by first.
I don't know where he went, but... hopefully, he'll be a bit stronger next time I see him.
'Just don't take too long, though.'
Getting stronger is great, but it makes things easier if Ruin routes the heroines too.
For now, the ones with potential are Ariana, Bellatrix, and Adel.
Prellia... honestly, she's a lost cause at this point, but you never know.
She wasn't someone I could capture anyway. Wait, then neither is Adel...?
-Skreech!
"Ah."
Too many stray thoughts in my head, and my shotel just barely missed the dummy in front of me.
"Sir Is, you seem to have a lot on your mind."
"Ah, haha... Did you see that?"
"No, I just heard it from beside you."
Just from the sound...?
As expected of a knight heroine, huh?
"Impressive."
"It's nothing special. So, if I'm a suitable opponent, why not share your worries?"
"Pardon?"
"Lore said that when you have troubles, it helps to have someone listen. He grumbled that talking to a wall might be better than me, but we're lovers now, aren't we?"
"That's true, but... it's nothing. Don't worry about it. Just a momentary distraction."
"Is that so?"
Adel's emotionless eyes stared at me as if piercing right through.
She gazed at me silently for a long while before finally turning away without regret, speaking calmly.
"I see."
She's fine with it, right?
Adel wouldn't get upset, but since her emotions don't show, I can't tell what she's thinking.
'Well, that's part of Adel's charm.'
Brushing it off casually, I refocused on swinging my shotel.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Lady Princess, it's Adel.
"Come in."
The door to First Princess Bellatrix's office opened, and Adel entered with precise steps.
She immediately offered her salute. Aside from Bellatrix, no one else was in the office.
"I greet you, Princess Bellatrix."
"Hehe, Adel. Good morning."
Bellatrix warmly accepted Adel's greeting and removed her glasses, setting them aside.
"Now, shall we hear your report?"
"Understood."
Adel stood ramrod straight, hands clasped behind her back.
Soon, she spoke.
"Even now, Sir Is doesn't seem to intend to date me seriously."
"Hmm...?"
"Just earlier while swinging his shotel, he missed unlike usual. I asked if he had worries to share, but he brushed it off as nothing."
"I see... That's odd. Any man should be seeing hearts in his eyes around our Adel."
Bellatrix playfully made heart shapes with her hands in front of her eyes.
This was her playful side, shown only to those she truly trusted.
She had to appear composed to her siblings and father, and among her attendants, only Adel earned that trust.
"Let's see... What's the issue? Adel's looks are top-notch, so not that. Personality... a bit emotionless, but that's her charm."
"...I am humbled."
"No problems with Adel, then... That leaves Sir Is. Yes, the problem's with Sir Is."
"A problem with Sir Is...?"
As Adel voiced her question, Bellatrix grinned and explained.
"There's nothing wrong with you, Adel. You're beautiful and perfect inside and out. So if it's Sir Is's issue... Men usually reject beautiful women for two reasons: problems down below, or someone they already like."
Seeing Adel listening intently without a word, Bellatrix grew even more excited and continued.
"But Sir Is's down below... Hmm, he's young, so unless there's some accident, it should be fine..."
"There's no problem with Sir Is's down below."
"Huh...?"
Bellatrix faltered momentarily at Adel's confident statement.
She cautiously asked Adel.
"How would you know that...?"
"I checked when I went to wake him."
"Gasp...!"
Even Bellatrix couldn't hide her shock at Adel's bombshell.
Unaware of what was strange, Adel just looked at her with her usual calm expression.
"...How did you check?"
Bellatrix asked with a mix of curiosity and embarrassment, and Adel answered matter-of-factly once more.
"The blanket was tenting."
"What?"
"He tried to cover it hurriedly, but it was still sticking out due to the size."
"!! S-size...!"
Bellatrix's face flushed bright red.
In the midst of that, Adel asked puzzled.
"Why, Your Highness? Is there a problem?"
"N-no! No problem at all. I'm just... happy that our Adel's appeal is working!"
"...?"
"Ahem! Anyway, you're dismissed. Go wash up quick and head back to meet him, right?"
"I take my leave."
At Bellatrix's order, Adel finished her salute briskly and exited.
-Click.
"Whew..."
As soon as the door closed, Bellatrix let out a sigh of relief.
"...Adel's something else. If it were me, I'd have let out some pathetic squeak."
Currently, Adel's 'dating' Is was on Bellatrix's orders.
The reason being...
"I wish Adel would learn about love this time around."
She wanted the near-emotionless Adel to understand what love was.
And since she didn't know anyway, better to marry a good catch.
"Is Adonis. Slum origins are a bit iffy, but excellent character, looks, direct Holy Knight under the Saintess, supported by her and the Mage Tower lords... plus friends with the Hero."
Aside from his background, he was a perfect groom candidate.
With the current-generation Hero also being a commoner and friends with Is, no one would nitpick his origins.
He was perfect.
'To be perfect, my subordinates must be perfect first.'
This was Bellatrix's ironclad rule—and advice to herself.
For her to be perfect, her people must be first.
For her to be happy, her people must be first.
For her to love, her people must love first.
Bellatrix believed this was the mindset royalty should have.
"Whew... Adel's side should sort itself out with time."
Is's side seemed solid too, but it was just a wall that would crumble before the weapon named Adel soon enough.
Bellatrix relaxed and returned to her paperwork.
Then.
"...Huh? W-what's this?"
She found a report with ominous contents.
"Demons... disguising themselves as humans and hiding?"