Chapter 658: Campbell
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 658: Campbell
"Sorry, I'm just here to say goodbye."
Muen gently pulled Liya into his arms.
At a time like this, whispering sweet nothings like "How could I ever leave you?" might have done more to cheer the girl up... but it would undoubtedly only sharpen the bitterness of their eventual parting.
"It’s so annoying. We only just reunited, and it’s been such a short time."
Liya pouted, her dissatisfaction growing.
In her mind, she had worked so hard to reach Belland, even neglecting much of her duties as the Saintess, yet she barely had any time to spend with her beloved.
And even when they were together, those two "bad women" were always there to interfere. It was infuriating.
The Goddess should really hurry up and punish those shameless women!
Liya grumbled inwardly, though she knew she was just venting uselessly. The egalitarian and compassionate Goddess of Light wouldn't concern herself with the trivial romantic affairs of mortals.
"But to me, this is the most important thing in the world."
Liya leaned further into Muen’s chest, savoring his breadth and warmth.
Muen smiled tenderly, tightening his embrace and resting his chin lightly atop the girl’s head.
He didn't need to weave elaborate sweet nothings like Senior Sister Anna, nor did he need to maintain playful "interests" like the Queen.
With this cute, soft girl, all you had to do in moments like this was hold her. That was enough.
If you gave her warmth, she would return it tenfold. A girl like her would selflessly offer everything she had.
"Muen."
"Hmm?"
"It’s been a long time since you last heard me play."
"Yeah." Muen looked down, meeting her eyes, which were darting about like a startled rabbit. "It has been a long time."
"Shall I play for you?"
"I’m all ears."
Liya hopped up and retrieved her violin from her spatial magic device.
Though she rarely had the chance to play after becoming the Saintess, the violin was still perfectly maintained. This wasn't just because of her love for the instrument; it was because she knew deep down that the moment would come when she would play for the person she loved once again.
"What do you want to hear?"
"Let me think..." Muen rested his chin on his hand, pondering for a moment. "Come to think of it, I still don't know the name of the piece you played the first time I heard you."
"The first time?"
A look of nostalgia flickered across Liya’s face, quickly melting into a gaze of lingering affection. "Do you want to hear it?"
"I do."
"Then I’ll play it for you."
Liya set her bow to the strings. Her fair skin contrasted beautifully with the deep mahogany of the precious wood, looking like the setting sun reflected on a lake in late summer.
"The piece is titled Liebesfreud—'Love's Joy.' Please, enjoy."
With a sway of her waist and a graceful lift of her arm, a cheerful, romantic, and deeply affectionate melody began to flow from the strings.
Muen listened in silence. Closing his eyes, he felt as if he had been transported back to that night.
It was a dim, elegant, high-end restaurant. Crystals adorned the ceiling, and gemstones caught the candlelight. Flickering shadows embraced couples whispering in the corners.
The music was about to begin.
Three minutes later, he would be targeted for assassination.
Three minutes and thirty seconds later, he would face a life-or-death crisis.
But just ten seconds from now, his eyes would meet hers—the girl standing center stage under the spotlight.
For him and for her, that was where everything began.
*
"Sigh. It’s just a brief parting, so why does it feel like we’re saying goodbye forever?"
After leaving Liya, Muen wiped his damp collar with a look of helplessness.
The perk of a soft, cute girl was that she was prone to flooding. The downside... was also that she was prone to flooding.
But regardless, it was the girl’s sincere heart, and he couldn't let it go to waste.
"You brat, you look like you're thinking about something that makes me want to give you a good thrashing." A massive, bear-shaped shadow approached at some point, speaking in a sinister tone.
"Is that so? Like how I have beautiful girls seeing me off with heartfelt confessions before I leave, while you, Uncle Ancestor, chased the enemy all this way back only to get no reward, and instead got cursed out by the Empress and the former Saintess?"
Muen stroked his chin solemnly. "Put that way, you really do have a motive to hit me."
"Tsk. If it weren't for the fact that old Campbell only has one son, with my temper from when I was young, I’d have tanned your hide by now."
The Pink Bear sat down next to Muen. A furry hand emerged from the bear's mouth, gloomily lighting a cheap cigar.
"I’m getting old; my temper isn't what it used to be. I’ll let your disrespect slide for now."
Muen turned and saw the clear imprint of a "beauty's fist" on the Pink Bear’s face. He was momentarily speechless.
"I'm sorry."
"Hmm? What are you apologizing for?"
"I shouldn't have underestimated you. To take a punch from the former Saintess and still be hopping around... I suppose only a thick-skinned brute like you could..."
"Go on, get lost! What do you know? Was that a fist? That was love!"
The Pink Bear puffed out its chest and rubbed its cheek with an air of righteous dignity. "How could an iron fist full of love possibly hurt me?"
"...Before you say that, you might want to wipe the blood near your nose. It’s staining the costume."
"..."
The Pink Bear silently pulled out a long object to wipe its face. After finishing, it threw the object on the ground and stomped on it viciously. Muen looked closer and realized it was an arm, still clad in a tattered sleeve.
"Hertz's?"
"That old bastard's."
"Is that why you got hit?"
"Half and half, I suppose." The Pink Bear covered its face in pain, looking miserable. "I talked too much trash before I started. It’s only natural to get lectured after failing."
"I didn't expect him to be able to escape from you. I recall you've already ascended to the Crowned level, haven't you?" Muen said in surprise. "A Crowned level who spent thirty years accumulating power due to a curse couldn't catch a single Hertz?"
"...I was careless." The Pink Bear’s lip twitched. "But that old thing was ruthless and cunning enough. I didn't expect him to be willing to tear off his own arm just to escape like a lizard shedding its tail."
"Is that so? The Kingdom was indeed prepared, then." Muen fell into thought.
If it were just Hertz alone, no matter how many puppets he had or how many limbs he sacrificed, he shouldn't have been able to escape the Pink Bear’s pursuit within the vast borders of the Empire.
That was the gap between a Crowned and a non-Crowned. No matter how many tricks one had, facing that massive chasm, one could only flee in pathetic desperation.
"Did someone pick him up?"
"Yes. A certain Crowned from the Kingdom. They didn't show their face." The Pink Bear’s expression turned grave. "I’ve only just ascended, and my realm is unstable. I didn't want to act rashly, so I could only watch as Hertz escaped back to the Kingdom."
"I see." Muen couldn't help but sigh again.
It seemed their preparations were more than thorough. It appeared the Kingdom had drafted this entire plan before Milne even set out for the Empire.
From the spy escaping with vital intel, to Milne’s death, to Hertz’s diversion and rapid escape... it was all linked together like perfectly meshed gears.
They had long ago treated their most talented prince as a mere pawn on the board, waiting for the right moment to sacrifice him to gain an advantage in the current game.
Should he call it brilliant... or short-sighted?
Muen couldn't judge. Whether it was a masterstroke or a blunder would only be revealed when the final results were in.
However, Muen’s heart inevitably grew heavy.
Since the Kingdom was so well-prepared, the Demon Race—who were likely already colluding with them in secret—couldn't possibly have made zero preparations for him, the son of a Duke.
It was possible that the footage of his battle with Ariel had already been sent directly to the demons.
"This is going to be tricky..."
The thought of being greeted by a bounty on his head the moment he stepped into the Abyss made Muen’s skin crawl.
He never expected to one day enjoy the kind of treatment usually reserved for a protagonist. Where was Ariel? Ariel, save me!
Oh, right. Ariel already went to the Abyss. Never mind.
"Hey, a man can't say things are 'tricky.' Take this."
"What is it?" Muen looked warily at the thick booklet the Pink Bear handed over. "Another Saintess photo book? I’m warning you, if this is another trick to frame me and then snitch to Celicia, I’m absolutely not—"
"Detailed intelligence on the Demon Race. If you don't want it, I’ll just throw it away."
"I want it! I want it!"
Muen instantly snatched the intelligence report from the Pink Bear’s hand. "Why are you only bringing out something this important now? Uncle Ancestor, you’re being too distant. We’re family!"
"Heh, now you know we’re family? You didn't sound very respectful to your elder a moment ago."
"That’s because you’re so approachable and kind, Uncle Ancestor! It’s only natural for someone as handsome as you to make people feel an instinctive sense of closeness, right?"
"You brat..." The Pink Bear laughed and cursed. "Finally learned to tell the truth!"
Muen: "..."
"Alright, enough small talk. You can read through that on the road." The Pink Bear suddenly turned serious, patting Muen on the shoulder. "Do you know why, among the current Eight Demon Dukes, that Demon Blood Princess who came to Belland to cause trouble was so weak? Why she was killed so easily by the Indra King?"
"Hmm?" Muen hadn't expected the question. He instinctively asked, "Why?"
"Because she had held the position of Demon Duke for less than ten years! And her predecessor... was personally slain thirty years ago by your father, Lorne Campbell! The name of the Lion King shook the continent because of that battle!"
The Pink Bear stared intently at Muen, emphasizing every word. "I won't give you any words of encouragement. But you must always remember... you carry the name of Campbell! It is the sharpest sword of the Empire! The Dragon-Slaying Sword!"
Boom!
A summer thunderclap rolled across the sky like a war drum.
Muen stared blankly at the once-ridiculous pink bear. The aura it released when it spoke the name "Campbell" was staggering. At the same time, the blood flowing through his veins seemed to hear the call, beginning to boil.
"Yes," Muen answered solemnly. "I will not disgrace the name of Campbell!"
*
"By the way, I heard the succubi of the Demon Race are quite something. Remember to share your thoughts with me when you get back, or just use image-recording magic..."
"Get lost!"
*
At the entrance to the Flower Sea in the Academy.
Muen stood before the mechanical gate—the one that once required a vote from the faculty to open, but which he had later been allowed to enter and exit at will—and remained silent for a long time.
After a while, he finally reached out and peeled off a small note stuck to the door.
Busy. Do not disturb.
Muen’s lip twitched. "Not busy earlier, not busy later, but busy right now... She’s probably brewing some other scheme."
Instinctively, his internal "getting-screwed-over" alarm began to buzz in his head, making him shiver.
However, after "cursing" that damned old loli thoroughly in his heart... Muen silently stuck the note back on.
"Fine, if you don't want to see me, then don't. Even though you definitely have something important you haven't told me... who told me to be so broad-minded?"
Or rather, he was already used to it.
Muen turned and left.
As he walked out of the Academy, the Indra King was standing before a carriage pulled by dragon-blooded horses, waiting quietly.
"Let’s go."
With no one else around, Muen climbed into the carriage.
"Destination: the Abyss."