Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Time Wasted, So - 1
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Having dealt with those trying to resurrect the Demon King, but if viewed on a smaller scale, it was handling traitors within the kingdom.
As such, this incident had to be widely publicized throughout the kingdom.
It was only natural. Dealing with internal enemies would solidify unity.
Moreover, with the fertile and wealthy Kantread territory up for grabs in one fell swoop, the royal family moved swiftly, and prioritizing the award ceremony was a given.
Thus, at the prepared award ceremony venue, the Queen spoke with a serious expression.
"Lucille Ermeyer. Step forward."
The beautiful girl with striking, flame-like abundant red hair walked forward confidently under the gazes of numerous ministers and nobles. She seemed dignified enough, but in truth, she was trembling with guilt.
"As the Princess and the next ruler to lead this kingdom, you have..."
The Queen began speaking with a grave and solemn face, inflating the Princess's achievements and building her authority as the future ruler.
What rested on Lucille's shoulders was prestige. These manufactured accomplishments would greatly aid her politically once she became king.
"Next, the hero party who slew the Demon King to save the world, and then greatly contributed to saving it once more. Step forward."
Claire, Leventia, Evangeline.
The official members of the hero party stepped forward. Once they were in place, the Queen praised them just as she had Lucille.
They received medals, praise, and applause from the crowd.
And at this event.
The Sage was absent.
***
"Are you okay?"
A party celebrating those who saved the kingdom was being held in the garden of Baekam Palace. Perhaps because it was a place nobles rarely entered, the attending nobles seemed preoccupied wandering around, admiring the garden.
Regardless, I just sat in the corner, munching on honey peanuts.
"With what?"
"I mean this incident."
The one who approached with a wine glass was Cecil. In a silver dress that accentuated her slender figure, she casually sat beside me.
"From what I know, this was mostly your doing."
"So?"
"Then shouldn't you be the one receiving the top merit and the medal? Well... I have no reason to receive one from the Queen here, so I declined."
As the Archduke, Cecil—and cases like Veronica from the church—were not affiliated with the kingdom. It was natural they wouldn't receive medals. Of course, they'd get equivalent rewards separately.
Still, the reason Cecil could attend this party was simple.
The Queen had secretly requested her help for this incident.
Of course, I had no idea what the payoff for that deal was.
Nor did I care.
"But you're different, aren't you?"
I was Lucille's mentor. On the surface, that made me affiliated with the kingdom. Naturally, I could receive royal honors.
Yet the reason I refused was one.
To funnel all the merits to her.
"Everything you did is recorded as the Princess's achievements. Don't you feel bad about that?"
"Not at all."
It was sincere. At least in this party hall, no one wanted Lucille to grow more than I did.
Even with her mediocre abilities, going through events like this would allow growth, so having the high-growth-potential Lucille take my merits and receive awards would naturally boost her growth dramatically.
"Sigh. Those without a mentor must live in sorrow."
Sipping her wine and grumbling, Cecil snatched one of my peanuts and chewed it.
Then she glanced to one side and let out a chuckle.
Where she was looking was where the hero party was.
"But Leventia, you know."
"Yeah."
"I never thought she'd wear bikini armor."
"So?"
"Honestly, it made me a bit jealous."
Cecil muttered with a wry smile. Jealous? What reason would the Archduke have to envy Leventia?
I looked at her and smiled.
Perfect timing.
I'd wasted time on an event that gave no merits, but now a merit-making opportunity had arisen.
I couldn't let this slip.
I pointed to her dress, which highlighted her figure without any exposure.
"What, because you can't wear bikini armor?"
"...Tch."
Cecil downed her wine in one gulp.
Cecil was jealous of Leventia. The reason was simple.
She couldn't expose her body.
Of course, even as a mage, she could wear bikini armor, but Cecil had a reason she couldn't.
I pointed to her abdomen, where the dress clung tightly, revealing the outline of her abs.
"The dragon's curse on the Claudia family. Want me to lift it?"
Cecil, who had consistently shown arrogance and composure, clamped her lips shut. Then she stared intently at me.
"Ha. Really. Hey, friend. Just what don't you know?"
"I know what I know and don't know what I don't. And people who know about the Claudia family curse know it, right?"
"Then what do you know?"
Suspicion and wariness filled Cecil's eyes. One might mistake her for a fool due to her occasional ditzy moments, but Cecil was a queen of a nation.
One who rose by her own power and held her throne with her cold temperament and ruthless judgment.
Thus, becoming her enemy would be quite troublesome, even for me.
I knew this topic touched her reverse scale, but I had no intention of becoming her enemy.
"What I know is that the scars on your body are from the dragon's curse engraved on your family, and that there's a way to lift it."
"...What?"
"That curse. It can be lifted."
Cecil narrowed her eyes. She was doubting me, no doubt.
It was understandable. Plenty had claimed they could lift the curse on the Claudia family over the years.
And all of them took hefty upfront payments, failed, and ended up harming the family.
So from Cecil's perspective, hearing this would only lead to suspicion.
If I weren't her friend, and if we hadn't bonded over the bikini armor, she'd have probably cursed me out.
"Honestly, I don't want to doubt a friend, but is it really possible? According to records, and my experience, no one has ever lifted this curse."
"Haven't you heard the rumor? Nothing the Sage sets out to do ever fails."
Cecil closed her eyes.
Even in the game, to trigger this event, you needed a certain friendship level with Cecil.
I'd saved her life in Leyden, attended her birthday party, and joined the Black Rebels subjugation event— that should be enough, right?
If not, I'd do a few more quests in the duchy.
"Sigh. Fine. I'll trust you. So? What's the price?"
"It's not exactly a price. There's that magic stone in the Claudia family, right?"
"...How do you even know that?"
The magic stone was a crystal storing mana over long periods. The family heads of Claudia would extract their mana, store it in the stone, and draw from it to resolve family crises.
With generations of heads storing mana, it held enough for hundreds of ultimate magics in succession—an artifact of immense power.
Of course, in the game, it was just event flavor for achievements; you couldn't actually spam ultimates with it.
"Anyway. I need that."
Cecil stared at me silently. Would it work? She had to trust me for the event to proceed...
"...Haa. Fine. But not for free."
"Then?"
"What you're talking about is our family's secret treasure. If someone wants to lift the curse, the family rule is to grant whatever they desire. But... if you fail."
"I'll become a member of your family. Or die?"
"Yeah. Okay with that?"
Cecil's eyes were serious, and I smiled.
Don't worry.
This is also merit-making.
For someone as rotten and decayed as me, failure isn't an option.
After that, there was no more talk. Perhaps lost in thought, Cecil left the party.
Left alone again, I quietly munched peanuts in the corner, then switched to honey walnuts once they were gone.
These are pretty good too. Maybe make some in my spare time?
"Mentor! Why are you here alone?!"
It was Lucille. Approaching with a soft smile, she gazed intently at the empty seat beside me.
"It's fine."
"Y-Yes..."
Lucille sat lightly beside me, looking utterly exhausted. For an introverted girl like her, greeting and chatting with crowds must have been tough.
Though it seemed more than that. I offered her a walnut.
"Nuts are good for recovering fatigue."
"Thank you..."
Nom nom. Lucille parted her red, plump lipstick-covered lips and chewed the honey walnut. Listening to the music echoing through the party hall, she asked softly.
"Why did you do it?"
"What, giving all the merits to me?"
Funneling merits to Lucille had been agreed with the Queen, but the person herself had fiercely opposed it.
Without me, not only would Bronze not have fallen, but the Demon King might have revived.
How could they ignore my contributions like that?
She'd thrown a fit, insisting she absolutely couldn't accept, and convincing her had been a real sweat-fest—thinking back made me chuckle.
"Yes. You're an amazing person, Mentor... This was a chance to let others know how great you are too..."
"Might come off as cringy, but everyone knows I'm great already."
With all I've done.
And if they don't, no big deal.
Boosting fame doesn't give merits anyway—what's the point?
I'm satisfied as long as it's convenient for merit-making.
And right now, it is.
"B-But still! This incident was..."
"A mentor thinking of his disciple isn't wrong, is it?"
"...Mentor."
Lucille looked up at me, lips pressed tight. In her eyes: respect, admiration.
And finally, sadness.
"You always give to me, Mentor. I have nothing to offer you..."
Lucille gripped her skirt hem tightly. Seeing that, I reached out and gently pried her hand loose. She'd ruin the nice dress with wrinkles.
"You're receiving plenty."
"...Pardon?"
"Watching you grow is my joy."
"...M-Mentor..."
Lucille's voice began to choke. I lightly patted her back, and finally, unable to hold back, she buried her face in my shoulder.
Silent sobs followed. Her small shoulders trembled, her grip on my arm tightening.
Joy? Or shame?
I couldn't tell, so I just kept patting her.
"Grow even more."
That way I get merits.
"Yes... Yes... For you, Mentor, I..."
Slowly lifting her head, Lucille smiled through tear-streaked cheeks.
That smile held firm resolve.
As if she could do anything.
With a chocolate-melting sweet face gazing stickily at me, Lucille gently took my hand.
Then, interlocking fingers, she leaned her head on my shoulder and whispered softly.
"...I can do anything."
"Anything?"
I nodded, wrapping an arm around the shoulders of Lucille—who looked up at me intently, clutching tightly with anticipation—and met her eyes.
Flinch. Her face flushed as she looked at me, swallowing hard.
She was visibly tense.
"Then..."
"Y-Yes! R-Room... L-Let's go to the..."
"Starting today, let's learn royal studies. The Queen even told me you refused, saying you hated it. And you need practical experience, so help with her duties too..."
"....."
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul! Ugh... it's cold, so chilly.
It's still October, why is it so brisk...
Everyone, stay warm and don't catch a cold!