Chapter 259

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 259

Chapter Title: Lesson 51. A Solid Alliance - 1

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―Me: Yu-won, is that you?

―Babu♡: What?

Giggling, she sent the reply. A moment later, another message arrived from him.

―Babu♡: Yeah. Anyway, sorry. It was your dimension, and I went off on my own.

―Me: I knew you went there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠because of me.

―Babu♡: Well, yeah.

―Me: It's not exactly a fun place. I'm worried.

―Babu♡: I'll wrap it up quick and come back, so don't worry.

Hee-hee.

A smile crept onto her lips unbidden.

She could understand why Dokgo Yeon had let out that uncharacteristically loose laugh yesterday.

When she thought that Ban Yu-won, of all people, was putting in effort for her sake.

It felt like a soft flower blooming in her chest, tickling her warmly.

Asya looked up from there, her face flushing beet red—she didn't need a mirror to know.

What?

Something huge?

What?

What did I give him!

What?!

Is this a confession?!

Was it finally her turn to ascend to lover status with Yu-won, like Lucelle and Mira bragged about—their nights with him... no, their romantic relationship?

'What did he mean he took? My feelings? No, but all I did this semester was cause trouble... Hot!'

As she puzzled over the messages, a lightning bolt of realization struck.

Of course, she had no points from the second semester.

But what about the first?

Skipping the stressful early days...

In the latter half, with Ire's help she realized her dragonkin identity, learned martial arts from Dokgo Yeon and shone, and even had heartfelt talks with Yu-won.

They became friends, and she'd even invited him to visit during break.

And Yu-won had gladly accepted!

'Right, that was it!'

What if Yu-won had taken that seriously?

What if he'd planned to seize the chance during summer break to advance their relationship?!

Back then, she still saw him as a friend, but she admitted to herself she'd likely have gone along if he'd pushed.

No, even then, her fondness for him might not have been mere friendship...

But as everyone knew, their vacation fizzled out, and Yu-won must have felt deep frustration.

To make matters worse, when second semester started, she showed up as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a guy!

'From then on, Yu-won worked so hard. Anyone else would've snapped endlessly and kicked me from the team, but he tried to turn me back...'

Even now, just thinking about it mixed pride, shame, gratitude, guilt, and all sorts of feelings, leaving her at a loss.

But stronger still—this.

When she thought about it seriously, her blood boiled hot, impossible to explain coolly, but in short—she wanted to throw her arms around him.

Truthfully, even stronger impulses surged, but they were too embarrassing to detail.

Her fantasies swelled daily from snippets Lucelle and Mira shared...

'Anyway! Yu-won's initiative was suspiciously bold! What if it wasn't just camaraderie... but, like... love.'

Then it all made sense, didn't it?

Trying to turn guy-Asya back to girl.

Eliminating her ancestor who tried to steal her ego.

Flying secretly to D-13 dimension to solve her family issues!

'W-what do I do? It really seems like it? He's gonna confess?!'

Asya finally felt certain.

Yu-won was going to confess to her!

Incredibly happy—happy enough to scream and jump around!

And she had zero intention of refusing, but one worry nagged.

What if he wanted to keep it secret?

If she acted like she knew, would it be awkward when he confessed?

Should she practice gasping in surprise and feigning ignorance?

―Vrrr.

As she stomped her feet in pretty realistic fantasies, the mirror vibrated again.

Tensing slightly, she checked the screen—another from Ban Yu-won.

Okay...

I'm totally okay too!

'Ah, no good. My heart's pounding so much I won't sleep tonight.'

Finishing the chat with Ban Yu-won, Asya shot up from her seat.

She'd wanted to ask what he was doing in D-13, but now that didn't matter.

What mattered was helping him pull off a perfect proposal!

That was all she could do while waiting for his confession!

―Vrrr.

Then the mirror vibrated strongly again.

Hoping it was Yu-won, she checked quickly—but no.

A call request from the old geezer back home... her father.

Even after she'd made her intentions clear, he couldn't accept it and resorted to video call on the receiver's dime.

Ronica costs a fortune!

"Tch... Yes."

The good mood was ruined, but he was still her father.

Unable to ignore him, she tapped to accept. A hologram flickered to life above the mirror.

The man who hadn't shown his face even once when she returned to the academy after break—displeased with it now looked urgent, like fire was scorching his feet.

―As Light, I've formally requested Union Academy.

"This is Asya."

―As Light!

"I said Asya."

With a firm expression, she replied.

"The prince is gone. I've returned to being a woman, Father. A very powerful dragonkin at that. It's undeniable truth—you can't reject it, nor do you need to."

―You... You would truly betray our ancestor's will?

"If that's all you have to say, shall I hang up?"

Talking back boldly to the man she'd never dared defy her whole life, Asya even felt a thrill.

Why hadn't she rebelled before?

The holy sword's master was her, her strength surpassed the entire knight order, and the people's support was hers.

Why could she only swing the sword as ordered?

No more.

No more binding herself with excuses of serving the nation.

Strictly speaking, something too precious had entered her life— she couldn't bear to abandon herself as an individual anymore.

―...Understood, Asya Light.

In the end, the king yielded to his daughter's unwavering gaze.

Had he known a little what the ancestor tried to do to her?

Or just left her be because she was easy to manipulate with the dragon-slaying sword?

Either way, he'd tried to sacrifice her for his power and kingdom's peace—undeniable.

Asya wouldn't forget, nor ever forgive.

Hiding those thoughts, she faced her father calmly.

"Asya is listening. Speak, Father."

―The academy will send you here. Come as soon as possible. Another holy sword found in Galahad could threaten Camelot's position as Guardian Alliance leader. We can't overlook it.

"As I messaged, it's just rumors of a holy sword—no threat to the alliance's stability or harm to our people. Insufficient grounds for special dispatch."

―Then apply to the academy yourself and come at once!

Facing the king raising his voice, Asya felt an odd, inexplicable emotion.

Maybe her friends had felt this way dealing with her. Suddenly sorry.

It's fine, she'll make it up going forward.

To Yu-won too... using knowledge and skills from Lucelle!

So no time to be dragged around like a leashed dog for the nation.

"I'm not going, Father."

―Prince!

"Princess now. I didn't hate the old nickname, but... shall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I spread 'Star Princess' when I visit this break?"

―Do you know it's a national crisis?! If the true holy sword master appears, Camelot's leadership falters—your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠precious people's safety too!

"If losing leadership endangers the people, does such an alliance deserve to exist?"

The king's retort failed against her cold reply.

"If leadership can be stolen by one strong weapon, is desperately clinging worth it?"

―Asya... Please. We must stop it.

Finally, the king bowed his head.

She hadn't noticed it happen naturally.

Come to think, first time seeing it as his daughter.

Thrill mixed with pity and misery.

Though expecting the answer, Asya asked.

"If found, what will you do?"

―...Kill them. Only one holy sword inheritor allowed. Can't let chaos-bringer live in our dimension.

"Ha..."

Kill.

Yu-won?

Already certain Ban Yu-won had the sword or whatever, Asya let out a scoff at the king's words.

Seeing it, the king didn't rage—silenced.

His son—no, daughter—was beyond changed from summer break.

He'd seen Union founding festival footage via Union Net—knew the cause, the culprit.

Knew he couldn't oppose, so dared not mention.

If he knew who rampaged in D-13, he'd faint.

"Father, dare I advise? Stay out of this."

Unable to watch his wrong judgment, Asya gave a hint.

―What?

"What you fear won't happen. Please manage the kingdom's chaos and care for the people."

―How would you know...

"I'm this sword's master. Even from afar, I know that much."

Applying shamelessness learned from Ban Yu-won.

Asya added a faint smile.

"It's not a holy sword, nor does its master eye the Guardian Alliance. Unless reckless, leadership's safe. Remember my words."

―Truly... truly won't come?

"Can't. Union doesn't grant wishes by tantrums."

Your days of tantruming me are over.

He'd understand that message.

"Farewell then, Father. Next visit, with my lover."

―Wha, wait—

Ending the video call, Asya pondered quietly.

'But really holy sword... no, dragon-slaying sword? Ire said true one embedded in D-rank dimension was miracle—no way another. Something similar? Still...'

Kinda couple coords.

Asya flailed limbs in fantasy, then bounced up.

"Ire—!"

The unique dragonkin resonance, dragon tongue, transcended space and barriers to her target.

"Come out, it's urgent! Hurry! Dessert on me!"

"Huh? This is Yu-won and my room..."

Next instant, Ire tore through space, appeared, saw Asya on Ban Yu-won's bed with puffed cheeks, sighed, and shook her head.

"Dragon slayer looks pathetic."

"Not dragon slayer! Anyway, sit here, quick."

Ire sighed but obediently sat beside her.

These pajama parties happened sneakily often; usually in Ire's dorm—secure even from Special Class disdain—but now in Asya's, seizing Yu-won's absence.

Ire's help was huge in Asya reverting to age-appropriate girlishness post-transformation.

In turn, Ire could show ordinary girl side sharing with similar kin.

"What do you think, Ire? Proposal, right? Yeah?"

—Like right now.

Having heard everything, Ire was certain Ban Yu-won's feelings were mere favor, far from love...

"Asya, you're the queen."

"Suddenly?"

"Queen of black history."

She teased her friend mercilessly.

The reaction was explosive, of course.

"Why again?! No, this is solid! He went to my home dimension secretly, no word to us? Matching sword couple-look! Said I gave him something huge! Even asked cross or heart! Sounds like proposal prep to you too?"

"Sounds plausible, but delusion. Exclude impossible, what's left is truth however improbable."

"That improbable?! Yu-won loving me that impossible?"

"Even if meaningful feelings built first semester, second semester dragon slayer antics eroded 100%."

"Uwaaaah, no. Nooo. I believe, I believe in Yu-won...!"

Ire watched her friend writhe in merciless fact-bombing agony on the bed, eyes soft, then pondered.

What if Ban Yu-won truly loved Asya?

Transcending impossibility, enduring her nuisances with ultimate patience, confessing love?

Didn't believe it possible.

But if... it'd feel kinda bad.

Why?

Mulling, Ire concluded.

Perhaps as fellow dragonkin woman, humiliation her appeal lagged behind Asya's.

Her personal feelings on Ban Yu-won irrelevant.

Just pity his regrettable choice between her and Asya.

"You'll see when Yu-won returns, pink diamond heart ring gift— Ow!"

Asya squirming on Ban Yu-won's bed irked her; she smacked her butt.

Nice sound, so a few more.

That was it.