Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Price of Rejection (2)
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Berryhill Prison grew dim as evening fell.
The Princess never showed up at the warden's office, even as night approached.
She must have spotted Conan and slipped away quietly.
Thanks to that, I was able to prepare to head home without any issues.
"Clea, you can head out first."
"You've been pretty busy with your training lately."
At her superior's order to leave first, she grabbed her clothes and got dressed in a flash.
With two younger siblings waiting at home, it was only natural.
"I've got to face the Tutton Grand Duchess in a few days. Can't slack on practice."
"Then I'll head out first. You focus on keeping in top form too, Warden."
Oh? What's this, her actually worrying about me for once.
Guess all my hard work has finally earned me a bit of recognition...
"Don't dump work on me just because your dark circles are back."
"...Yeah. Got it."
There it is.
Still, her consistency is kind of endearing.
The office door shut with a crisp snap, just like Clea's personality.
"...".
The blue-haired vice warden, having closed the door, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
She stood motionless for a moment in the dimly lit corridor.
Because the prison was old, even a firmly shut door left a slight gap.
As if she'd timed it perfectly, the vice warden peered through that crack to watch the warden.
Warming up before her serious training session.
"Can he win?"
Clea knew all too well.
Just how brutish the Tutton Grand Duchess's axe was.
While working as an imperial secretary, she'd seen the Duchess swing that axe at an event, and it had been utterly terrifying.
A level of raw power and skill hard to believe from someone barely twenty.
Even if Warden Derek had beaten Stillman, taking on her too seemed impossible.
At least, according to her own cool-headed calculations.
And yet...
Why did she keep feeling like an upset was coming this time too?
And why did she feel this strange anxiety the better he did?
"Idiot."
Clea scowled, furrowing her delicate brows, and closed her eyes.
It wasn't what she usually said to the warden.
This time, oddly enough, it was directed at herself.
"Doing this won't make me any different from them."
Sharp as she was, she knew the Princess and Saintess truly wanted him.
Thanks to that, Warden Derek would at least land a high imperial post or even become a foreign king.
No matter how capable she was, she couldn't offer privileges on their level.
But.
True to her clever, high self-esteem, her thinking was different from the others.
"What the warden needs isn't a gift box."
Lately, the warden had been burdened by his skyrocketing value.
No matter how many rewards or shows of affection others gave, it only made him uncomfortable.
What he needed now was stability.
And Clea had zeroed in on that perfectly.
"...".
Her lake-blue eyes gleamed faintly amid her azure hair.
She carefully closed the door properly.
Then gathered the gear he'd wear for the match in a few days.
As if meticulously tending to it herself, like a dutiful secretary.
A dark night.
A full moon hung like a circle on a black canvas.
The prison's front yard was utterly quiet.
The inmates from the reform program had all collapsed into exhausted sleep after training.
I'd trained just as hard, but sleep wouldn't come easy.
The upcoming tournament could be a major turning point in my life.
Not just mine, but this entire loop's ending too.
To keep my warden position, I need more influence.
Earning a solid placing in the Northern Sword Tournament would boost my standing in the military.
Past winners even got seats at imperial councils.
That would let me hold my post while steering the empire away from its downfall flags.
So I had to beat the Tutton Grand Duchess somehow.
"Hoo...".
I drew Anje's sword from my belt.
Alone in the chill open yard.
A shortsword wouldn't work against Selene's massive axe.
Her body reinforcement magic made her tough as rock—no matter how sharply I slashed, not a scratch.
I had to meet her head-on with a longsword and settle it.
I assumed the stance from my days as Imperial Knight Commander and focused my mana.
The blue mana I'd clung to in my first possession reignited solidly after long training.
Then, thanks to Camilla's elixir, it burned green.
And finally...
The power from my three loops of desperate struggling to survive.
As it all merged, a brilliant golden mana began enveloping my body.
The absolute power only a mature Swordmaster could wield.
"Fastest in any loop yet."
I'd trained less than before.
But unlocking accumulated perks had sped things up for sure.
Still, far from satisfying.
If this life ended in bad ending too, it'd mean nothing.
"...".
No one to watch, so I unleashed my Imperial Knight Commander swordsmanship.
Beneath the pouring moonlight.
Leaves danced faintly to the sound of slicing wind.
My steps felt lighter than ever, stepping nimbly like a dance.
――――――.
I sharply swung to bisect falling sweat drops.
Ripped the wind's flow to make a shrill sound.
Then, finally, a mighty swing toward empty air.
Shweeeek―――!!
A massive sword mark scarred the prison's outer wall—reinforced so inmates couldn't damage it.
A place even unscratched by anyone short of Swordmaster level.
"Guess to shatter it in one go, I need Grand Master."
Recent quests had spiked in difficulty.
Telling someone just stepping into Swordmaster to become a continent-rare Grand Master.
With me guarding the downfall culprits well, some other disaster must be brewing.
What now?
Earth splitting, hell monsters rising?
Or cosmic horrors from another realm descending?
Nothing short of that explains the sudden bad ending alert.
「Golden Cage」
Just the name evoked someone trying to swallow the empire.
Another hidden black curtain I didn't know about?
After slaving away as Prime Minister my whole life, and still missing evil axes.
This world was no joke. I swung my sword thinking that.
But that heavy motion halted abruptly.
A black shadow had fallen over me entirely.
Shaped like a round cage.
"Not bad. Even though I snuck up."
"Myoran...? What brings you here this late?"
Beneath the brilliant full moon stood the Eastern Sword Sage, hands behind her back.
Her fertile hips and the beautifully split cheongsam slit—enough to make one forget she was just nineteen.
"Felt a strong aura, so I came out."
"Sorry, did I wake you for nothing?"
I scratched the back of my head apologetically.
But Myoran didn't mind at all, approaching silently.
Then gently placed both hands on my waist.
Like a back hug from behind.
"What're you doing? Get back in stance."
I gripped the hilt as she said.
The Sword Sage who'd solo-destroyed the continent teaching me personally?
Definite huge help, so I complied readily.
"Now, focus your inner energy on your lower body. Even watching the enemy's sword, keep the base solid."
"Got it."
Tip I knew, of course.
But in the heat of battle, fending off their blade could make you forget.
I poured power into my lower body as she said and continued my forms.
"Men really do have sturdy lower bodies."
"What? Missed that, was focusing."
"...Nothing. Keep focusing."
"Will do."
I showed all my Knight Commander swordsmanship without hiding.
Myoran seemed pleased, continuing her guidance.
"The Tutton Grand Duchess will catch your counter-breathing attempt."
Her soft hands on my hips slid gently upward.
"I'll put my hands on your chest for a sec—breathe secretly so she doesn't notice."
"Got it."
I breathed subtly, as instructed, into counter stance.
But...
Do you usually cup the chest like a back hug when placing hands there?
Eh, never learned Eastern swordplay or tried in game, so I let it slide.
Meanwhile, Myoran murmured softly again.
"So broad..."
"Wide breathing? You mean deep?"
"Shh, focus."
"...".
Something off.
She was teaching breathing, but her chest against my back seemed to pound harder.
"Good, well-hidden. She won't catch the counter timing like this."
"Thanks. Learning from someone above my level really helps."
Thinking about it, this life had tons of people helping me.
Sure, warden-prisoner dynamic made them nice, but I owed Myoran a lot.
"Kinda sad. Once you're released soon, no more special lessons."
"...".
Her encircling arms felt a bit hotter.
"...It's fine. We can keep meeting after release."
I chuckled at her words.
Truth was, I had a plan prepared for her.
"Doubt it. Might be tough."
"Why...?"
Her heartbeat against my back stopped dead.
I gently shared my prepared "gift," unconcerned.
"Was gonna send you to the capital academy once released. Might not see you much for a while."
"Academy? Why would I go there?"
Huh?
Thought she'd love it, but totally opposite reaction.
"You said you missed training with sect sisters back home?"
"Missed the memories, not the academy itself."
Myoran's hands slipped away.
"I have zero plans to stay in the imperial capital."
Oh?
Then she just missed her homeland.
"Got it. I'll find a safe way home then."
Need a discreet route avoiding Eastern Continent Alliance.
Maybe hit up the underworld contacts from my Dark Lord days.
As I pondered ways to help her alone.
Her hands wrapped my waist again.
This time, fingers interlocked.
"Sending me off alone?"
I felt her cheek against my back.
But it wasn't warm at all.
"You said before you wanted to go together."
The space around us chilled instantly, like midwinter returned.
Beyond cool—enough to chill the spine.
"Together? Yeah, someday I'd love to visit. But not yet."
I shook my head with a casual laugh.
"Too much left to do here."
"Like what?"
Can't say it'd make sense to a kid like you.
Won't spill about downfall flags everywhere, including yours, so vague it is.
"Stuff an old guy's doing—you wouldn't get it."
I sheathed the sword.
The moment I tried lowering her tightly wrapped arms.
"Tell me. It's fine."
The Eastern Sword Sage whispered very softly.
Like a divine being granting my wish.
"I can solve it all."
"...".
She's clingy tonight.
Time to firmly draw the line for superior-subordinate sake.
"You don't need to know. It's horribly complicated."
I firmly unlinked our fingers.
Turned to face her.
"So just think about what you wanna do once you're out."
"...".
"Anyway, no plans to head East anytime soon."
That should get through.
I met her eyes, thinking so.
The same gaze from when she'd destroyed the continent last loop.
"No intention of going together at all...?"
Deep shadow fell over Myoran's face.
She went silent, then bowed her head low.
"...".
Can't be helped.
I get wanting to repay by inviting me home, but leaving the empire now risks who-knows-what.
Just reject the Princess and Eri the same way.
As long as I don't stick to Ivan or Varhan X, it's fine.
Staying by my side is the same either way.