Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Monster Hunter (1)
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It had been a while since I swapped my boots for dress shoes.
Instead of my uniform cap, I slicked back my hair with pomade, clearing my forehead for a cool, open look.
"Why'd you prepare all my clothes in such dark colors?"
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the warden's office.
Black slacks, black blazer vest.
Everything except the white shirt was pitch black, giving off serious mafia boss vibes.
But this was just the beginning.
In addition to that, the bizarre snake-headed staff I'd received as a reward for the recent giant monster subjugation.
I knew exactly what this was.
The annoying father of the protagonist's rival in a wizard movie.
"My image is already bad enough, but this makes me look even scarier."
"Warden, you look intimidating no matter what you wear, so it's fine."
Clea adjusted the corners of my jacket with eyes that couldn't care less about the world.
She crouched in front of me, sweeping her hair to the side, then brushed off the lint from my pants as a finishing touch.
"The capital has surprisingly strong winds. This outfit accounts for arriving in the chilly evening, so just wear it."
I was inwardly impressed by my vice warden's thoughtfulness.
"If that's the reasoning, then thanks. Here I thought you secretly enjoyed it every time I got painted as the villain."
"As if."
A carriage waited at the prison entrance.
Back in the day, I'd have to wait ages for one passing nearby.
Now, the academy had come to pick me up personally.
"I'll be off. Contact me if anything happens at the prison."
"What could possibly go wrong? Just focus on your lecture and come back."
Clea quietly watched the departing carriage.
Once the sound of wheels faded completely,
she tucked her fluttering bangs behind her ear and muttered softly.
"He has to look that scary to keep the females away."
Clea returned to the prison in silence.
As expected, prisoners clustered in the corridor, watching the carriage disappear.
They looked just like schoolgirls dreaming of sneaking out of the academy without the professor knowing.
Of course, their specs were nowhere near schoolgirl level.
"Is he gone?"
"Yeah, the carriage just crossed the stream."
"I wanna see Grand Elder too!! Lift me up!!"
Franca stood on tiptoes, flailing desperately.
Myoran slipped her hands under Franca's armpits and effortlessly hoisted her up.
The girl's body stretched like cheese, swaying lightly.
"He's really gone!! Giving a lecture at the academy—does this mean our kin has finally restored its honor?"
"Doubt it. They probably caught on to the staged play and called him in for an induced interrogation."
Myoran muttered with a serious gaze.
Lately, her face had taken on a remarkably mature air.
The more fully she absorbed the moon's power, the more the fairy's elegant traits emerged.
"It's an obvious trap. Of course, Derek will overcome it easily, but I'm still a bit worried."
Clea passed quietly by the prisoners.
Back in the warden's office, as she tidied the desk,
she spotted Grand Elder Dark sipping tea on the sofa.
"You look disappointed about not going to the academy with him, Vice Warden."
"Was it obvious?"
Clea glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
She looked like her usual sullen Tibetan fox, so how had he noticed?
Truly the insight of a political heavyweight, she thought.
"Your poker face is perfect on the surface, but it shows in your eyes."
The refined old man set down his teacup.
He started to light a cigar on impulse but pocketed it, mindful of Clea, who was like a granddaughter.
"The prisoners have that sparkling look like they're scheming a date with the warden, while you seem full of worry."
The elder spread today's newspaper with a smack instead of the cigar, adding,
The front page blared the scoop: Northern Giant Snake Derek Minster to Lecture at Imperial Academy.
"It's like a wife worrying about her husband's business trip."
"W-Wife...? It's not that serious."
Clea stuttered for the first time.
Even to Grand Elder Dark, letting her guard down around a prisoner was unacceptable. She cleared her throat and resumed her blank expression.
"The warden just has bad memories from his academy days, so I was concerned about that."
"Ah, right. He was bullied as a kid, wasn't he?"
"Yes. It must've been rough—he hunted down his old tormentors like dogs right after taking office."
"Indeed. That chilling expression as he crushed them with sheer power was quite the sight."
Dark chuckled, clearly relishing the memory.
Nothing beat the thrill of political victory and revenge.
"In a way, it's a triumphant return. The academy won't like that, though."
"Who knows what they'll pull. They'll try to drag the warden's name through the mud somehow."
Clea let out a short sigh.
She absently stroked the uniform cap hanging on the rack.
Just like how she someday wanted to stroke his hair and comfort him.
Of course, she had no intention of doing it openly yet.
The sly snake of a man would puff up his shoulders at the slightest praise.
She was usually so curt that even a little kindness made him think he'd done something great.
"If you're that worried, why not go check on him yourself?"
Grand Elder Dark glanced back at his newspaper and tossed out the casual remark.
It sent massive ripples across the serene lake of Clea's composure.
"Me too?"
"Yes. I have no plans to go out this time, so mind the prison for me."
A prisoner managing the prison.
To principle-abiding Clea, it was absurd.
"Doesn't matter, right? The prisoners will all bust out to see the warden anyway."
"True. But don't you want His Highness the Princess and the warden to get along? Helping us like this..."
Clea fired a sharp question.
Grand Elder Dark didn't bite immediately, chuckling at her clever probing instead.
Foxes truly are clever creatures, he thought.
"Camillia seizes what she wants on her own. She'll manage, so worry about these unpredictable kids instead."
Dark set the paper down briefly, checking for some obscure article.
He peered at Clea through his monocle.
"Still, the prisoners listen to you pretty well, don't they? It'd be great if you went along to keep them in line."
"You're overestimating me."
Dark slowly shook his head.
Then, through the monocle lens, he gazed intently at the woman.
Her face was icy cold on the outside, but her features promised steadfast support at home.
"If Derek is the prison's father, you're the mother."
"......"
Clea fiddled with her tie, burdened by his words.
But inwardly, she looked quite pleased.
Derek as father, herself as mother.
That meant they were husband and wife.
"If it's you saying it, Grand Elder, I can believe it. You're different from these prisoners..."
The vice warden slipped in a subtle affirmation.
The political titan smiled like a dark deal had been sealed.
"Go on. Anje's already packed. I saw her bags while playing chess earlier."
"Understood."
Clea nodded slowly.
She left the office with the crisp stride of her imperial secretary days.
The corridor was packed with prisoners clutching their travel bags.
They looked like high school girls hyped for a field trip.
"Anje, eat this on the way."
"Oh, thanks. But why's it so dark-colored?"
The ex-Holy See saintess chatted with Nix.
Their uncanny resemblance made Clea feel like she was seeing a twin sister.
"It's my new invention: eel-flavored jelly cookies!"
"Eel...?"
Anje eyed Nix with contempt.
Nix pouted and handed the bag to Franca.
"Cookies are always right, no matter the taste. No need to be that disgusted..."
Franca opened the bag with her chubby cheeks and sparkling eyes.
The moment she sniffed, expecting sweet cookie dough,
Shaaaa...!!
She hissed like a cat that saw a ghost and flung the bag away.
Even Myoran couldn't stand it and kicked it back toward Nix.
"At least mask the smell next time. Is the Holy See full of weirdos?"
"Sniff... It was my proud creation."
Clea closed her eyes at the dizzying sight of her charges.
She took a deep breath, then bellowed at them.
"Everyone, freeze. Where do you think you're all going?"
"Why pretend? The academy, obviously."
The red saintess cocked her head, arms crossed—the only one.
A sparrow-sized corpse flower perched on her shoulder mimicked her tilt.
"If you're acting on your own again and causing trouble for the warden, I can't allow it."
"Have we ever cost Derek anything by showing up? I remember him always benefiting."
Myoran agreed leisurely, hands behind her back.
Franca wasn't sure if she'd helped but nodded vigorously anyway.
"At least stay within the warden's predictions. That way he can lecture in peace."
"You know you can't stop us from going out. So what's your point?"
Clea covered her mouth with her fist, steadying her voice.
As if she had a meticulous plan.
"At least disguise your identities properly. So the prison isn't pinpointed."
Anje smirked at "disguise."
She gently scratched her corpse flower's chin, making its throat bob.
Out came something utterly unexpected from its beak.
Western Academy Student ID.
Eastern Academy Student ID.
Exchange student passes, no less.
"Other academy students can attend guest lectures too. Unfamiliar faces pass as exchange students without suspicion."
"What? How'd you make these?"
Clea was exasperated by Anje's criminal expertise.
She, an ex-imperial secretary, had planned to forge their IDs herself.
"I have one brainwashed contact in each academy."
"......"
The vice warden glared sullenly at the red saintess, who hadn't kicked her old habits.
Anje, uncomfortable with the blank stare, quickly explained.
"Don't worry. I only controlled the trash who sexually harassed students."
"Anyway, we're infiltrating as exchange students to watch over him?"
"Yeah. Gotta boost our warden's presence big time, right?"
"Seeing your faces in class might shock him first."
Anje wagged her finger: You know one, not two.
"Men brim with confidence surrounded by beauties. Especially me—I'll be a huge help."
The saintess handed the Western Academy ID to Franca,
Eastern to Myoran.
They still had that girlish vibe.
Then, she flauntingly pulled out faculty-level access matching Derek's.
It named a rising star novelist with pink hair.
"Erika the novelist is a Derek Minster fan. What better backup fire?"
"........."
The woman who'd boldly taken second in the manipulated July Beauty Contest.
That confident gleam in her eyes proclaimed: That's me.
But Myoran snorted.
"The warden didn't seem interested."
"He is, though? You wouldn't get it, but lately his gaze has changed when he looks at me."
Master of mental magic, she could tell just from his face.
The warden saw her as a bit cuter now.
"Once a man starts seeing a woman as cute, he's already half fallen."
"What? That's it?"
The girl in the black cheongsam stretched languidly.
A faint forsytia scent wafted from her smooth inner arm.
"He started seeing me as an adult once I fully controlled the Heavenly Jade. Romance material now."
Like a giant cat and snake baring fangs at each other.
Franca, with the sharpest fangs, eyed them both.
"Don't fight. We'll be late at this rate."
"The pet stays quiet."
Myoran and Anje retorted in unison; Franca scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Ahaha... Yeah, I'm treated poorly."
Franca adjusted her wide-brimmed hat for no reason.
"That's why he's inviting us all to dinner without pressure, right?"
"............?"
Just the two of them?
Anje, Myoran—even Clea stared at her.
"Prophet's National Rice Soup? He said it's good. So I told him about my pizza joint from 200 years ago, and he said come along."
The mood chilled instantly.
Like realizing the bat they ignored was a vampire bat.
30 minutes later.
A newly rented carriage followed the warden's departed one leisurely.
The coachman carrying four women beamed happily.
The three "students" in the back were blooming flowers of beauty...
And the pink-haired woman in the front passenger seat was utterly enchanting.
But the petite girl sandwiched in the middle looked pained.
The blue-haired woman and black-haired girl were pressing in on purpose.
"Why are you thighs so damn thick...? Modern girls' development..."
"Quiet. You crossed the line first."
The now warden-less prison.
Grand Elder Dark, alone in the office, watched their carriage depart solemnly.
"......Off they go."
Once it vanished completely,
the elder wore a gravely serious expression he showed no one.
"Guess it's time for me to get started."
He sat at the desk, pulling out stationery.
With even the vice warden gone, the moment had truly arrived.
He chuckled like an old shadow power plotting intrigue.
The completed letters read:
Bring your barbecue grills. No vice warden.
Several flew to the Imperial Tax Agency Chief and Imperial Knight Commander.
They'd surely arrive with cold beer and prime meat.
They too got nagged by their wives about grilling smells.
Grand Elder Dark was the same.
Young Clea had scolded him for the intense odor.
Having tossed prime bait her way, he grinned victoriously in the empty prison.
"Time for the feast!"
The black carriage passed the capital's gates.
Alone inside, I muttered,
"Wonder if everyone's doing okay."
The academy's sharp spires appeared in the distance.
A place I was returning to after so long.
Where memories of bullying filled my youth.
"Hope they haven't caused any trouble and are behaving."