<b>? </b><b>Before it’s Too Late</b> <b>?</b>
“Um.”
“…Ah.”
I saw Kania in front of me as soon as I opened my eyes.
No, it was not the normal sight, as shey entirely on the bed embracing me.
“Hello, Young Mast…eh.”
“…Didn’t I tell you not to intrude into my subconscious?”
I gazed at Kania who was dumbfounded at the situation. Then, I pinched her cheeks while frowning, and said,
“Didn’t I tell youst time that you didn’t need to do that kind of thing?”
“I apologize.”
I didn’t notice the oddities until I was done telling her off for 5 times. At that moment, I woke up from a long dream.
I was not the kind of person to tell people off, but to some extent, it had a calming effect on me.
[<strong>Passive Status:</strong> Blessing of the Stars/Critical Condition/Blessing of Partners/Exhaustion]
“…Don’t do that next time.”
Still, I checked the status window for the passive status just to be on the safe side. Then, I said with a sigh.
In the first ce, Kania did that for my sake, so how could I possibly be mad at her?
And without her help, I wouldn’t have woken up this quickly.
“Then, the report…”
“Wait, Young Master.”
I let go of Kania’s puffed cheek and got up from my bed. But she tightened her arms to hold me.
“What’s wrong?”
“A moment, let’s just talk for a moment.”
“……?”
Saying so, Kania quietly snuggled up to my chest.
“Kania, first…”
“Young Master, don’t you feel morefortable in this position, too?”
“Hm?”
Kania cut my words off and said with a triumphant voice.
“I know everything.”
“What?”
“Everything about you, everything.”
Kania somehow looked cocky, so I pinched her cheeks again. She then started smiling cheekily.
“Hehe…”
“You’re being kind of weird.”
“Really?”
In this kind of situation, Kania would usually bow her head and apologize, but she suddenly acted aggressively.
“So, what do you want to talk about?”
I was a little flustered because of it. I inquired, and Kania answered in a hushed tone while smiling faintly.
“Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn’t say it.”
“What?”
“Even if I didn’t ask you, I know all the answers to your questions.”
I watched Kania who continued being an airhead with a frown. I sighed and sat up from my bed.
“Report to me what has happened so far.”
“…But, you didn’t take any rest.”
“I’ve rested to death in the dream you arranged for me, so it’s time to get back to work.”
Even Kania vented with a sigh after hearing my words. She pulled out her notebook, wearing her piercing businesslike look that I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“To begin with, It has been two weeks and five days after you copsed in the forest.”
“…That was quite short? Last time, although stacked, I was unconscious for 3 months.”
Kania scowled at my reply but quickly changed her expression and answered.
“It looked especially long because it was stackedst time. And the special treatment is also in progress.”
“…Is that so?”
I asked slightly doubtfully. Kania answered while nodding her head with an unconcerned look.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Well, if you say so. Then… What about the ve market?”
“The ve market… it will be opened in a few days.”
“It’s finally here.”
With the second year’s main quest in front of me, I’m actually a little anxious. Kania then questioned with a concerned look.
”Are you okay? It’s not because your ns were disrupted by falling unconscious for two weeks, right…?”
“…That’s not it. I’ve done this a lot, and for a long time. But even then, an important event like this still puts me under pressure.”
Main Quest: Liberation of the ve Market
<strong>Quest Content:</strong> Raid therge-sized ve market that will open soon. Free the ves and prevent the approaching disaster!
<strong>Reward:</strong> Increases the Awakening Progress of the Hero’s Armament, Increases Total Mana.
<strong>Failure Penalty:</strong> Drastic Decrease of Reputation
While saying so, I opened the mission window of the quest.
“What exactly is the penalty for failing the mission?”
“Drastic decrease in reputation.”
“That’s better than having your vitality and lifespan decreased, right?”
I answered Kania’s question in a depressed voice.
“Even though it isn’t a main quest, it is a mission that I must seed in no matter what.”
“…Yeah, I guessed as much.”
Because if I failed this mission, it would be impossible for me to save those ves.
Moreover, the aftermath will have a significant impact on the main scenario. It would also be a once in a lifetime memory for me.
So whatever happens in this mission, I need toplete it no matter what.
“Is there any ss today? Kania?”
“Today’s a weekend.”
“Good, I will be going out for a moment… ugh!”
I lost my bnce as I tried to get up. Kania hurriedly caught me and let out a relieved sigh as she said,
“Why would you suddenly want to go out? You need to get some rest now…”
“I have something to discuss with na about freeing the ve market.”
Then I added in a whisper.
“And, there are a lot of misunderstandings between me and na.”
“So?”
“So… this time I will try to be frank with her.”
Kania’s expression suddenly began to look frightening. I don’t know why, but she looked like an angry cat, which was pretty cute.
“…Ugh.”
When I thought so, Kania’s face started to twist.
“Please take the cane there.”
“…Oh?”
I was staring at Kania, who looked especially adorable today when she averted her gaze and pointed at a cane in the corner of the room.
“Is it the one that appeared in the dream?”
“Yes, everyonebined their power to create this special cane for the Young Master, who has be feeble.”
“Aha.”
Just as she said, I started to feel the diverse power exuded by the cane.
<b><i>I don’t know for sure, but if I bring this cane to the Magic Tower, it seems like it would at least be considered an artifact. This cane might even be the strongest in the world, no?</i></b>
Moreover, they even attached cat and moon ornaments that I liked. I wasn’t sure about the other parts, but I absolutely loved these.
“Then, I will be back.”
“Oh right, and…”
I went out of the room while thinking those useless thoughts.
“…I love you, Young Master.”
“Cough.”
I cleared my throat when Kania abruptly continued her remark.
“…Right.”
After I stroked the cane for a short while, I left the room as Kania muttered under her breath.
“…You answered ‘me too’ deep inside, I know that.”
For now, I will pretend not to hear what Kania muttered behind me.
.
.
.
.
.
<i>– Knock Knock</i>
I arrived at na’s room way faster than I expected.
“Are you here?”
Because we live in the same noble’s dormitory, after all.
Even among the nobility, only those of the highest noble status can qualify to reside in the top floor, which was limited to dukes and imperial family members.
“Pleasee in.”
I waited for a while in front of her room before I heard her extremely nervous voice.
<i>– Kiiiiiik…</i>
Then, as I entered the room and gazed over at na, who was frozen in her seat, she audibly gulped.
““……..””
And so, for a short while, silence lingered between us.
“…It seems like evening hase, judging by the setting sun.”
“Ah, yes…”
“It looks like you knew I woulde.”
“Th, That… Kania notified us in advance…”
I finally managed to strike up a conversation, but the awkwardness still lingered in the atmosphere.
‘Should I try talking to her informally instead…?’
I sat across from na, and a thought abruptly floated across my mind seeing her nervous state. I was tempted by that thought but quickly shook my head to get rid of it.
In both thest round and this one, I always felt like my conscience was being pricked when I talked informally with na.
She was someone who had struggled her entire life so that she could be treated as an Imperial Princess and an Empress. Speaking informally to na would be denying all the effort she had put in until now.
“The reason I came here to look for you is to talk about something, Princess na…”
“Please drop the honorifics.”
“Yes?”
I endured the awkwardness and talked to her formally but I received an unexpected response.
“Will that really be okay?”
“I ask of you.”
I was dumbfounded and asked her once again. Only after I heard her low reply did I clumsily start talking informally.
“I-I see…well, let’s get back to the point…”
“How is your body?”
“Ah, it’s okay. I slept well for two weeks so I feel very refreshed.”
But because of na’s sudden interruption, I answered in puzzlement. She then started silently biting her lips.
<b><i>Did I say the wrong thing?</i></b>
“…Anyway, the first thing I want to talk about is your session.”
I said, as I gently stared at her eyes. na nodded with a pale face.
“I talked about itst time, but I really will make you the Empress.”
“…Ugh.”
I proimed to her with a serious look and started talking in a low voice.
“I cannot bring the Starlight Duchy to the forefront. But I will support you with my resources. The same goes for the Demon forces.”
“…….”
“If you don’t take the throne, this Empire will have no hope. Aren’t you aware of this?”
na bowed her head deeply.
“na, you don’t need to feel useless guilt. I told you, you did nothing wrong.”
I was fully aware of her mental state that had been unstable up until now, so I urgently grabbed her hand as I said so. na then began to flinch.
“Let’spletely put the past behind us and make ns for the future. We are in a hurry, right? Don’t you agree?”
“…Yes.”
“Good, then I ask for your cooperation.”
I sessfully brought out a positive answer as the result of tirelessly persuading na. However, when I let out a relieved sigh and was about to move on to the next topic.
“The next issue is the ve market. It’s opening in a few days, right? So, what I’m saying is that I need your cooperation… huh?”
I felt a ticklish sensation on the hand that was holding hers, so I asked na with a tilted head.
“na, what is this?”
“…You can see for yourself.”
I unfolded my hand with a puzzled look.
“……?”
Then I somehow held a bead with a mixture of gold and silver in my hand.
“What is this?”
“Something produced from the blood oath.”
“….What?!”
I looked at the bead in confusion. When I heard na’s response, I sprung out of my seat and shouted.
“You, You! Who did you make this oath with?!!”
“Fr-Frey.”
“Say it now. No matter how I will find a way to break it.”
As soon as I said so, na’s eyes widened.
“Who threatened you? Your lousy fucking fiancés? The First Princess that would always show off her body? If not them, then, as expected, is it the Crown Prince?”
“Frey.”
“Say who that bastard is. I will beat them up first and then no matter what I will find a way…”
“Frey, it is you.”
I was furiously yelling at her when na cautiously replied, pointing at me. I could only stop myself and freeze.
“You, to you. I pledged a blood oath to you.”
“…What do you mean?”
“That time, using the covenant at the ballroom, didn’t you ask me to marry you?”
With her speaking informally while enunciating every word, na reminded me of something from the past.
“…Not the Empire, not the imperial citizens, and not the sun. I only want to serve you.”
na silently finished her words with a reddened face.
“So marry me, Frey.”
“…What?”
“If you want, I’m okay with being the second, or even below that.”
When I heard that, the hand that was still holding hers trembled. She smiled bitterly, and added.
“Just, before it’s toote, give me a chance to atone.”
At that moment, the sight of the sun outside the windowpletely disappeared.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile,
“Lady Serena! Is Frey really here?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Is that so! Brace yourself, Frey!”
Serena and Ferloche were currently descending the stairs towards the Academy’s cer.
“This time, what kind of wicked nasty n… woah.”
Ferloche, who believed Serena’s words without a doubt stepped down into the cer, quickly feeling ice-cold.
“Lady, Lady Serena… It’s so dark in here…”
It was because the Academy’s cer was obviously engulfed in darkness that Ferloche absolutely despised.
“Quickly enter.”
“Hiiiiiiyyy!!”
Ferloche, who was frozen and surprised at the entrance, entered the cer after being shoved inside by Serena.
“…If we want to block the Western continent, we need to use a trick.”
Looking at Ferloche, Serena stroked the scar formed on her body.
“Anyway…”
She took out a device that resembled the moon ornament on Frey’s cane from her breast pocket and muttered.
“…What makes you continue to resent my husband?”
After Serena ended her words and followed Ferloche into the cer, the door behind her closed.
And silence prevailed.