Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Vacation - 2
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The place we had decided to visit for our vacation was Leidnin Resort, about two days away from the capital by carriage.
The Leidnin Mountains offered cool valleys and stunning scenery, making it a popular getaway for nobles and dignitaries from various races.
It had once been under the control of the Demon King's forces and monsters, but thanks to the hero party's exploits, it was regaining its former glory.
Because of that, reservations weren't easy to come by...
"You can book a special room there?"
"Yeah."
Solving the issues there had been one of my achievements. So, while progressing through the main story, I'd cleared it and earned a permanent reservation voucher for the special rooms at Leidnin Resort.
In the game, getting that voucher let you invite characters for swimsuit service shots, so most players made sure to grab it.
And since obtaining it counted as an achievement, I'd snagged one too. I just hadn't invited anyone yet.
I was too busy chasing achievements to bother with service shots.
"Even the church can't easily get into those special rooms..."
"The royals too. The Leidnin Mountains are beastkin territory..."
Since Leidnin Resort was in beastkin lands, human authority didn't carry much weight. It was only natural that Lucille and Veronica couldn't just waltz in without special connections.
As they stared at me in admiration, I pulled a golden badge from my pocket.
They gazed curiously at the feather-shaped golden badge. I tucked it back away.
"Wow... how'd you get that?"
"I became friends with the owner there."
"...Friends...?"
Veronica flinched and gave me a steady look. She hesitated before speaking up.
"Closer than me?"
"Nope."
Not closer than Veronica, who I still met up with often even after the event.
If I had to rank it, the owner was more like an occasional adventuring buddy you teamed up with now and then.
"Th-that so? Heh heh. Makes sense. The Sage's closest friend is me, after all."
"...Ugh. I'm the Sage's one and only disciple."
"Who said otherwise?"
Still, with a trip to a nice place ahead, I worried these two might bicker the whole way.
Of course, I had my top-tier jokes and songs ready to lighten the mood, but it'd be better if we could just have fun in a cheerful atmosphere.
"And there's something the Princess will like."
"What is it?"
"They hold a duel tournament there."
"Huh?! Really?!"
"Yes. Win it, and you get limited cards. Princess, I heard you're building a new deck lately?"
"Y-Yeah..."
After I taught her, Lucille had taken quite a shine to dueling.
I'd fudged things a bit during her first game, but with her natural competitive spirit and sharp mind, her skills were improving by the day.
According to the maids, she'd even beaten the head maid last time.
"...You still playing that?"
Veronica didn't seem too interested in card games, looking bored. Tsk. Friend, it's sad you don't get the appeal of dueling.
"It's super fun. Anyway, guests get tournament entry tickets, so how about joining for the experience?"
"Are you entering, Master?"
"Uh... no."
"Why not?"
"The champion can't participate."
Naturally, I'd entered that tournament, won it, and scored some items and limited cards. I pulled my deck from my bag and showed her one card. A sparkling rainbow card—an ultra rare.
"Vintage Resort card. Boosts attack and mana when played, and restores the duelist's health."
"Wow... looks pretty good."
"Not many cards have such great effects. Give it a shot, Princess. It's so overpowered it's banned in some tournaments."
"Yes!"
She looked excited, eyes sparkling. Smiling at her, I turned to bored Veronica.
"But can you really come along? Didn't you mention something else in mind?"
"Hmm. Well, more than that..."
She glanced at Lucille and grinned.
"This seems better. You said they have a pool, right?"
"Yeah, they do."
"...Really? I see. Got it."
Veronica beamed.
As if she'd made up her mind about something.
We couldn't leave right away, though. Veronica headed back to the church first, while Lucille and I returned to the palace.
As we entered, Lucille hesitated a moment before murmuring softly.
"The hero..."
"Yes."
"...said he's heading back to the front lines."
"Is that so?"
"You didn't hear?"
"I heard he's going back."
Claire had dropped by while I was working and mentioned it casually. I'd told her to take care.
Truth be told, there was no reason for hero party members to stick around the battlefield forever. Especially Evangeline.
With the elf forest in such turmoil, the elven hero might stay to lead her people.
Or maybe take a break after all her hard work.
I'd just shrugged it off since it wasn't my job.
"Evangeline... looked really worn out."
"I see."
"Aren't you worried, Master?"
I figured they'd handle it themselves. As long as they didn't block my path, it wasn't my place to say anything.
They weren't kids anymore, and I couldn't see any reason to babysit them no matter how I thought about it.
Even if they felt some guilt or fondness toward me...
Whether to reciprocate was my call.
"I see..."
"Anyway, how'd it go this time?"
"Yes. I think I did well enough to satisfy you, Master."
Lucille clenched her fists happily, and I shared her joy.
"Your growth is my greatest pleasure, Princess. At this rate, I won't have anything left to teach you soon."
"Huh? N-No, that's not true?!"
I checked her growth stats and shook my head. At this pace, she'd hit S-Rank Mentor Achievement in a few months.
"Once you've grown to my satisfaction, I'll be on my way, Princess."
"Wha—?! Why... though?"
"I have a lot to do."
"You have to?"
Lucille knew. She had to. Even while mentoring her, I'd been wandering outside.
So she knew I wasn't content just being her teacher.
I'd only hinted at it indirectly before, so this direct mention clearly shocked her.
But that changed nothing.
When Lucille went to report to the queen, I returned to my room and found a woman waiting outside.
It was Claire.
She'd been fiddling with her hair, but startled when she saw me.
"Ahaha... Hyunwoo..."
"Why are you here?"
"Well... I had something to ask. You free?"
"Sure. Come in."
I sat in a chair inside. Claire sat hesitantly, sighed softly, then got to the point.
"Evangeline's... really down. Her condition's worse than before."
"Oh? And?"
"We had other alchemists, healers, and priests check her, but... her mental issues seem impossible to fix."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. So, if you're okay... any medicine you could prescribe?"
"This should do."
I'd just the thing from the elf forest—a top-grade mental stabilizer that helped with psychological problems and excessive stress.
"Th-this is rare, right?"
"Not that rare."
It had been unavailable due to no recipe before, but now that I'd shared it with the alchemy guild, it'd be pricey but obtainable.
Claire alternated between the potion in her hand and me, then sighed.
"Ahaha... you're saving us again."
"You all worked hard this time. That all? Then go. I have stuff to do."
Despite my dismissal, Claire looked like she wanted to say more but couldn't.
She stood, about to draw the hero's sword, then muttered with a hint of anticipation.
"Hey. The capital's festival is soon, right?"
"Yeah."
"Who're you going with...?"
The capital's summer festival.
We used to go together before.
I looked at her and smirked. Realizing what my smile meant, she fidgeted and bit her lip.
"...Figured..."
Looking dejected, she forced a smile and swung the hero's sword. Once she vanished into the portal, I glanced at the poster on the wall.
Summer festival was coming, just like Claire said. Better think of someone to go with soon.
Need to do it again for the achievement.
With the plague in the elf forest resolved and Lucille taking the lead to form a council with the various races, word spread.
Of course, as the Sage's proxy, the church gained plenty, but the kingdom did too.
That boosted Lucille's sagging reputation overnight, stabilizing the next queen prospects and pleasing the current queen.
My own standing skyrocketed as a result, so overall, a success.
"Let's go."
Lucille and Veronica approached the carriage prepared in front of the palace.
Lucille in a snow-white dress, Veronica in her usual black priestess robes.
They glanced at each other and traded barbs.
"Like strawberry cake?"
"The cardinal always wears black. Even on vacation."
Don't fight on a good day. I turned away from their sharp exchanges.
"Man~ Going on a trip with the Sage! Oh, Sage! You know they hold a duel tournament in Leidnin, right? You can't join this time, but I'm entering. Wanna see my deck? I'm aiming to win with my shaman deck..."
"I'm definitely performing in Leidnin this time."
Up on the coachman's seat were chatty shaman Wilkers and the oddly sensitive bard Lark.
They were riding along for a simple reason.
They'd gotten a request in Leidnin and suggested traveling together on the way.
Despite their quirks, they were reliable given their skills and backgrounds, so the royals hired them as escorts—hence joining us.
Wait, weren't Lily Knight Order personnel assigned for protection? Why these guys?
Are the Lily Knights that incompetent?! That insecure in the kingdom knights?!
Tragic. Really.
Hadn't even started, and my head already hurt.
"But what's the request that has you tagging along??"
"Investigation request. Investigation. Don't worry about it, Sage."
Lark hummed a tune while holding the reins. And Wilkers...
"Sage's disciple. Improved your card skills any? Wanna play a match later?"
"Ah. Ahaha... sure..."
Lucille smiled awkwardly, and Wilkers chattered on noisily. Watching, Veronica smirked and said to me.
"This trip... feels like something's gonna happen, doesn't it?"
"Nah. No way."
Even with this crew and the uneasy start...
What could go wrong?
Author's Note
Hello~ Malmoomalmoo here ㅎ
Weekends are always fun. If only every day was like this...
Sigh.
See you tomorrow! Bye~
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