Chapter 518: The Bitter Dreamer
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 518: The Bitter Dreamer
"Something is wrong, something is wrong, something is very, very wrong!"
Inside a room filled with a feminine aura, Muen appeared extremely agitated. He paced back and forth, occasionally clenching his fists as if to protest against his unjust fate, and at other times muttering under his breath as if cursing this godforsaken reality.
Finally, he turned his head and glared fiercely at Celicia.
"This is completely wrong, isn't it? I just wanted to sneak into a ball. Why do I have to... that?"
Muen was too ashamed to even utter those two words.
"Is there really no other way?"
"None."
Celicia, on the other hand, was elegantly savoring the coffee Wei'er had just brewed. She said nonchalantly:
"Of course, if you can think of a better way, feel free to suggest it. I’m not some tyrant or demon who’s going to force you into it."
"..."
Muen’s words caught in his throat.
Though he hated to admit it, the plan Celicia proposed was indeed the most feasible one at the moment.
After all, Celicia was the Imperial Princess, the center of everyone's attention. If she brought a strange man to the ball, it would undoubtedly draw scrutiny and suspicion from all sides. But if she brought a maid... that would be as normal as could be.
Furthermore, with the identity of the Princess's maid, Muen’s freedom of movement would be significantly increased.
It was the perfect disguise.
Except for the gender.
"Will I really not be discovered?"
After struggling for a long time, Muen slumped back into his seat, dejected.
"If I’m exposed under those circumstances, the life of Muen Campbell will be utterly finished—in every sense of the word."
"Rest assured. As long as the potion maker's skill is high enough, this kind of niche and complex potion is extremely difficult to detect while it's in effect," Celicia said. "After all, it’s a total change of your 'physical form.' It’s far more reliable than relying on masks and bone shifting, or... simply cross-dressing."
"Potion... Right, the potion!"
Muen’s eyes lit up as he said, "Senior isn't here right now. I don't have that kind of potion."
"Regarding that... you can also rest easy."
Celicia ruthlessly crushed Muen’s last hope. "For your sake, I can personally go to that old Sword Bearer and ask for a potion. By the way, he was the one who taught Anna Kabulin how to make her potions."
"...Then I really must thank you."
"Don't mention it. As your fiancée, it’s only right."
"..."
Muen lay back in his chair powerlessly, like a dying fish, feeling a genuine sense of despair toward the world.
"Is it really that big of a deal? It’s not like you’re actually turning into a woman; it’s just a change in appearance. If anything, I’d be the one troubled if you actually became a woman."
At this point, Celicia’s expression suddenly hardened, and she said coldly, "You’re so reluctant... you aren't still thinking of using your male identity to flirt around at the ball, are you?"
"...No! Why are you bringing that up again? I’m just genuinely afraid of something going wrong!"
"As long as you don't act recklessly, what could possibly go wrong? No one knows that identity anyway," Celicia sneered.
"...Maybe."
Muen looked up, staring at the pale ceiling, silently praying that no accidents would occur.
"I hope everything goes smoothly."
*
The Demon King's Castle.
Mist drifted everywhere.
To save the young girl kidnapped by the Demon King, the Hero donned her armor and gripped her Holy Sword. She hacked through thorns and brambles, crossing the lava, spikes, and the blocking Evil Dragon placed by the wicked Demon King. Finally, she arrived before the Demon King's Castle.
The castle was eerie and terrifying, with occasional flashes of lightning and peals of thunder illuminating the mist.
"Wait for me!"
Having endured countless hardships along the way, the Hero was covered in scars, yet she did not retreat in the slightest. Her eyes were filled with determination.
Yes, how could she retreat here? She knew that the delicate, pitiful girl was currently trembling in the Demon King's clutches, weeping and waiting for her.
Therefore, she had to reach her side as quickly as possible.
And so, the Hero pressed onward.
After enduring countless more trials and crossing through endless dangers, the Hero... finally stood before the Demon King.
"You despicable Demon King, give her back to me!"
The Hero roared at the blond Demon King. Her greatsword was already wreathed in the flames of her fury, ready to take the Demon King's head.
However...
"Heh heh heh... you're too late!"
The blond Demon King laughed mockingly and flicked his cloak.
Yet, what was revealed was not some secret weapon, but...
The very girl the Hero was supposed to save.
With a bashful expression, she clung to the Demon King's chest. She turned her head, her cheeks flushed crimson.
"I'm sorry, Ariel... I've already been molded into Muen's shape..."
"NOOOOO!!!"
*
Morning light hit her face.
Ariel jolted awake from the nightmare.
"Dammit, why would I have such a weird dream?"
She stood up unsteadily from the bed and walked to the mirror. She looked at the disheveled girl in the reflection—clothes messy, hair in a tangle, and despite having just woken up, there were dark circles under her eyes.
"Ah, I stayed up late again last night..."
"Curse it, I lost track of time again."
In the past, even during her busiest times, she rarely stayed up for several days straight without sleep like this.
Because back then, there was always a girl nagging in her ear, reminding her.
But now...
Bang!
Ariel slammed her hand on the table in anger.
A dream was just a dream, but wasn't that dream... a reflection of a certain reality?
The girl... had already been spirited away by the Demon King. She... could no longer belong to the Hero.
Liya was no longer her Liya.
"Whew... haaa..."
After her outburst, Ariel calmed her breathing.
She understood that mindless rage was useless. Immersing herself in cultivation and magic research wouldn't heal her wounds either.
"I should... go out for a walk."
Ariel sighed and began to tidy her appearance.
But occasionally, she would still freeze for a moment or two, falling into deep thought.
In truth, she didn't hate Liya; she respected her choice. Her previous departure without saying goodbye was only because she had suddenly stumbled upon that scene. Her mind had been in such a mess that she didn't know how to face Liya or what to say.
Of course, that lewd scene had delivered an unparalleled shock to her heart—which, despite her considering herself a "veteran," was still a pure land. She never expected that the seemingly pure and cute Liya would actually be so... in private.
Whenever Ariel thought of that moment, she couldn't help but blush. She hadn't known that little girl could play so dirty.
But setting those things aside and getting to the root of it, she simply didn't understand. She couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she racked her brain: where exactly was she inferior to that damn Muen Campbell?
Was it gender?
No, that wasn't it. She believed that as long as there was true love, the barrier of gender was not insurmountable.
But why... why was her ten years of "boiling the frog in lukewarm water" snatched away in a single day by that bastard Muen Campbell?
She was so unwilling!
Ariel clenched her fists. Even after all this time, the grief and indignation in her heart were difficult to dispel.
But... no matter how angry she was, this was it. One couldn't let themselves be consumed by anger; one had to look forward.
Ariel sighed and walked out of her room.
Just as she stepped out the door, she saw a familiar figure sitting in a wheelchair under the sunlight.
Her brows twitched, and her body tensed as she immediately became alert. She called out with a hint of awkwardness:
"Big... Brother?"
"Oh, Ariel, you're finally awake."
Under the sun, the man sitting in the wheelchair looked extremely pale. He turned to look at Ariel and offered a kind smile.
"You're back home now. How did you sleep? Are you used to it yet? If you have any problems, you can always talk to your Big Brother."