Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: EP.13 If I Do Better
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"Enter. And... all of you, leave."
The maids glanced at the hero before stepping out. Once they were alone, Claire stared silently at Lucille. She was dressed in a novice mage's robe, clutching a staff.
No matter how one looked at it, she didn't appear to be in princess attire.
That was how Claire knew.
She had gone outside the castle.
And returned with him.
Her fist clenched. Right now, beyond the royal castle's walls, preparations for the summer festival were in full swing.
Claire gazed respectfully at Lucille before her and gently opened her mouth.
"Have you been out?"
"Yes. With my mentor."
Squeeze.
It felt like a corner of her chest was being crushed. A faint crack appeared in Claire's expressionless mask.
Lucille smiled at that.
"But did you come all this way just to ask about that?"
"Ah... no... that's not it. I have something to tell you."
What could the hero possibly have to say to her? Lucille swallowed hard.
Don't be afraid.
"I've heard you've been learning from Hyunwoo... Are you learning well?"
"Yes. I'm sorely lacking, so I want to learn even more from my mentor."
"I see. But... I'm sorry."
Lucille tilted her head. Suddenly, Claire flashed a soft smile.
That smile felt so unsettling that Lucille clenched her fist slightly.
The pain of her manicured nails digging into her palm hurt less than that gaze from the hero, that smile like she'd seized an opportunity.
"Monsters we've never seen before on the battlefield have appeared."
"Is that so?"
So what? Lucille tilted her head, and Claire spoke to her kindly, with a hint of apology.
"In the past, the Sage and we hunted many monsters. And every time, the Sage knew how to hunt countless monsters."
"So?"
"The monsters that have appeared this time are very powerful. To deal with them, we need seasoned knights, but it's not easy to deploy such knights to the battlefield."
Information she didn't want to know flooded in. Even after secluding herself for so long, her sharp mind—as proven today—could deduce why Claire was bringing this up.
Thus, Lucille felt a suffocating frustration building inside her.
"The Sage is returning to the battlefield."
When she heard this from General Leoden, she had nearly cheered.
Of course, she hadn't apologized to him yet, nor received his forgiveness.
But Hyunwoo going to the battlefield meant it would be easier to meet him than now.
In that case, somehow, by any means.
She would spend time with Hyunwoo and beg for forgiveness.
Kneel, bow her head.
If he wished, she would offer everything to apologize.
Not just herself, but Leventia and Evangeline too.
They all had the will to apologize to the Sage and beg forgiveness.
That chance.
The chance she had missed then, now impossible to grasp.
She could never let go of what might be their final opportunity, as if destined.
Light returned to her beautiful orange eyes. Biting her lip hard at the hope, the light painting her future, Lucille said,
"I see... Understood."
Lucille's reaction was calmer than Claire had expected. She thought she'd get angry. Or throw a tantrum, refusing to let him go.
When Claire lifted her slightly bowed head, her expression was bright.
"If my mentor decided it himself... I can't stop him."
A lie.
Truthfully, she wanted to hold him back.
She wanted to tell him not to go.
Why of all places, to where they were?
To the place with those who hurt him so badly?
Yet the reason Lucille couldn't show it was simple.
To him, she was still just a disciple.
And hadn't he promised?
He would watch her grow.
He would stay by her side until then.
Even after what the hero and hero party members did to him, he had stayed until the Demon King was defeated, supporting them.
Such a person wouldn't suddenly abandon her before fulfilling his promise and leave forever.
Even if he did leave... she didn't think he'd go without a word.
"I've heard the battlefield is dangerous... I'm worried."
"No need to worry, Princess. We..."
As Claire spoke seriously, Lucille unwittingly let out a soft laugh.
Even with those ruffian adventurers, her mentor got along well.
Yet he had cut ties with them.
And now you're saying it's not dangerous?
Claire noticed the meaning behind Lucille's smile and lowered her eyes, overcome with surging guilt.
It was you who treated him so cruelly, forcing that kind man to leave.
And you think you can be forgiven? Lucille's unspoken rebuke pierced her.
Her hands trembled.
Deep in her chest, the fear she'd barely suppressed welled up.
What if it was true?
For over half a year, he had avoided even meeting them.
Wasn't their last encounter just coincidence?
But what if.
What if he rejected her, rejected them, to the end?
Then?
What would she...
- Crash!!
At that moment, the locked door shattered open, interrupting Claire's thoughts. Maids rolled in on the floor, gripping weapons and assuming positions, as black-clad figures entered, radiating killing intent.
"Blaze!!"
Lucille moved first. Her staff glowed, unleashing intermediate fire magic that engulfed the assassins' bodies.
It was astonishing.
As far as Claire knew, Lucille had only been at novice mage level until recently.
How much time had passed, and she was already casting intermediate magic?
Claire couldn't help but admire the Sage's—no, Hyunwoo's—prowess anew.
- Slash!!
Claire felled the assassins who endured the Blaze in one strike and let out a heavy sigh.
Through the distant window, she saw Hyunwoo with the Queen and General Leoden.
Trouble had erupted there too, but it seemed Hyunwoo had already handled it.
As expected of Hyunwoo, Claire thought, gripping her hero's sword tightly.
"It seems intruders have breached the palace. If we leave it like this... Hyunwoo will have a hard time. As the hero, I should go clean up the surroundings in his place."
"...Please take care, Hero. And... please ensure my mentor returns safely."
Only after seeing the armed maid captain rushing in did Claire bow slightly to Lucille in greeting, and Lucille returned the courtesy.
Both smiled at each other, but their inner thoughts couldn't have been more different.
***
The intrusion at the White Rock Palace.
It was a massive incident that could shake the entire nation. The conference room in the palace, having safely weathered a storm that nearly toppled the kingdom, was shrouded in heavy silence.
"So. Have you found anything?"
Just last night—no, mere hours ago—she had nearly been assassinated, yet she sat arrogantly at the center of the conference room. Facing her ministers without a hint of change, as if nothing had happened, General Leoden groaned before reporting calmly.
"Nothing major has been uncovered. However... there is one similarity."
"A similarity."
"The incident at Baek Eun Village in the past."
The Baek Eun Village incident—it was around the end of Chapter 4 in the main story.
A group of unidentified raiders had attacked a fairly large village under the kingdom's domain, and I, along with adventurers, soldiers, and priests in Baek Eun Village, had repelled them.
Naturally, it was a harbinger of the 'Pale Moon' event. Originally, the village was supposed to be destroyed to start the event, but we stopped it and destroyed their base by chasing their leader, postponing the event.
Thinking back, it still gave chills. Of all times, right before fighting the chapter boss.
Luckily, the kids followed my instructions and left obediently; if we'd done this event instead, achievements or not, things would have gone wrong and we'd all be dead.
"That... the one who transformed at the end, right? The one with blade-like tentacles from its back. Among those who invaded Baek Eun Village, there were some with similar transformations."
"I see... Sage. What do you think?"
"Pale Moon Cult remnants, correct."
As I agreed, all the ministers groaned, and Rakel, the royal mage, reported her investigation.
"I examined the tentacles brought back then. And the conclusion is one. As in Inquisitor Valentine Priest's report..."
"Artificial tentacles?"
"Yes."
Not the Demon King's doing.
Not a monster's.
Man-made.
At those words, the Queen's plump lips twisted.
A rather cruel smile. I understood her feelings. She'd nearly died.
"I see. Then next..."
The meeting's topics were the Pale Moon Cult behind the assassins and future security for the royal family, concluding with increased security personnel.
As the meeting ended, Leoden approached me.
"I don't know how many times I need to thank you."
"It's fine."
It was for my sake too. As I brushed it off, he glanced around before pulling a bracelet from his pocket.
"Rakel checked it out, but nothing special. It's a decent artifact. Anyway, since you wanted it, take it. And she said to pass this too."
Oh. This is?
Leoden opened the luxurious box he held, revealing a staff inside. Much better than the one I'd used before.
Perfect. I was short on mana anyway.
Tucking the staff at my waist, Leoden sighed.
"In this dangerous situation, is it right to call you to the battlefield?"
"I have to go."
According to the event flow, attacks on the royal family no longer make sense. Assassinations succeed by exploiting gaps anyway.
With the kingdom on high alert now, most assassins won't even enter the castle, let alone the White Rock Palace.
So they'll turn elsewhere.
To sow chaos, harvest more lives.
To the battlefield, where they can summon the Pale Moon.
"Artificially created monsters... Rakel called them chimeras. Won't it be dangerous if chimeras spread?"
"Safer there? Back then and now, there aren't that many chimeras. No need to worry."
As I smiled, Leoden chuckled back.
"Anyway... when do you plan to head to the battlefield?"
"In a few days."
"Then you'll arrive before me. The hero has already returned."
Last night, Claire eliminated the assassins fighting knights in several areas and headed straight to the battlefield...
Unexpected. I thought she'd want to see me.
No idea what she talked about with Lucille.
"On the battlefield... avoid Hero Claire, Leventia, and Evangeline if possible. Find my adjutant. You know?"
"Yes. Got it."
Leoden's adjutant is a massive werewolf shaman. One of the better-fighting NPCs.
"I've told him you're coming before you arrive, so no worries."
As if I was worried. Leoden patted my shoulder a few times before leaving.
Alone now, I pulled out the gem from the dungeon last time.
The sinister red gem glowed even stronger. I brought it to the bracelet I'd just obtained.
- Click.
The slot for the gem opened, reacting to the light. Confirming the red gem settled in place as if it belonged and the light faded, I headed straight to Lucille.
After class, during tea time with her, I got to the point.
"I think I need to head to the battlefield for a bit."
"Yes. I heard, Mentor. New monsters undiscovered until now have appeared, right?"
"Yes. Since I know a lot... But. Will you be okay?"
I was staying in the palace as Claire's mentor. Even if it's the kingdom's request, I'd be away a few days.
Proper lessons would be impossible, and with Lucille relying on me so much, I expected disappointment or her holding me back.
Yet she didn't seem burdened.
No, she even smiled comfortably.
"If I hold you back, will you not go, Mentor?"
"Of course not."
"I thought so."
With a bright smile, Lucille rummaged and pulled something out.
It was an ornate amulet encrusted with jewels.
This...
Nice.
"Where did you get this?"
"It was a gift from before. Of course, it might be lacking for you, Mentor..."
Lacking? No way.
This amulet, imbued with powerful recovery magic, could save your life once in a crisis just by having it.
Naturally, it's quite expensive.
"You know what this is, right?"
"I do. But... can you give me this?"
"Yes."
This is sharing a life. Even handing over such a precious item worthy of royalty, Lucille nodded refreshingly as if it were natural.
"I just."
Lucille gazed at me calmly.
"Hope you return safely, Mentor."
Being cared for like this feels awkward instead.
Anyway, since she's giving it, I'll gratefully accept. Now I have to teach even harder.
Gotta find more troll-like adventurers.
"I'll do my best."
"And... um."
Hesitating, she fell silent for a long time before cautiously speaking.
"If... if the time comes when you must leave, Mentor..."
"...Yes?"
"...I'd rather you didn't go. But if you've decided it's necessary..."
Lucille lightly gripped my sleeve.
"Will you... remember you have a disciple named me?"
Moisture gathered in her eyes. I couldn't refuse her earnest, desperate gaze.
"I'll definitely remember."
"...You won't say you won't go."
"Haha. Well, that's our deal. Your growth, Princess. After that... we each go our ways."
Cleanly put.
"As expected, Mentor cuts ties sharply. Like with the cards."
She spoke softly, but Lucille's expression looked quite bitter.
Turning her head slightly, she clenched her small fist, seemingly vowing something seriously.
"...I'll try even harder..."
How much harder?
Writer's Note (Afterword)
Hello ^^ Malmoomalmoo here.
Hope you enjoyed today's chapter. Have a good night~