Chapter: 32
“…So you were kicked out of the palace during your vacation and ended up here?”
“Yes… I was planning to handle some documents that had been pushed back because they weren’t urgent…”
I blankly stared at Izuri, who was genuinely bowing her head in regret. I had no idea where to start teasing her.
Was this a workaholic moment where the captain grips a pen even during vacation to keep an eye on his subordinates? Or should I question why this is the place he came to “enjoy” his vacation?
I couldn’t tackle either one. The former led to failure in persuasion at the imperial court, which is why he was here now, and the latter painted a clear future where he would declare to the Knight Commander that he had no friends.
But why is that guy a fan of the vice-captain?
“Yes, well. Since you’re here, feel free to make yourself at home.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“…”
“…”
Only three seconds of silence passed, yet it birthed a thick fog of frustration. If Izuri had been my mother-in-law under the same circumstances, it wouldn’t have felt this awkward.
I was convinced. This guy doesn’t just not know how to have fun; he doesn’t even understand the concept of playing. At this rate, he’ll just sit there until the end.
In a desperate plea for help, I glanced at Maria, but she pretended not to notice. Izuri was genuinely happy to see me, but she seemed sulky about our little relaxation being interrupted.
I didn’t throw any glances at Astrea.
“You seem to be thinking something rude, don’t you?”
Even as a Cheonma, my sensitivity is only quick in this area.
“I can’t help it. Captain, I’ll make this vacation an unforgettable memory.”
“Wow. Really?”
Either way, this is a great opportunity for me too.
From the beginning when I took on the escort request, didn’t I aim for some sort of connection with the royal family or the knights?
Since we’ve reached a point where they think of us when lost and wandering, if I play my cards right, I might recruit them as allies in the future.
‘He said he was 14, so the Emperor will retire this year or next, and in many cases, he’ll step down from being Knight Commander at that time.’
“What should I start with?”
‘Here I am planning out the Knight Commander’s vacation itinerary.’
For a moment, I even thought about stealing Izuri’s stats under the guise of bonding. Surely it would be way more profitable than any loot from the event.
Of course, I quickly nixed that idea. Risking my life to show off against the Commander of the Knights would be insane; after all, he’s a candidate for my future comrade.
A better plan popped into my mind.
“Let’s head to the palace.”
To the workaholic Knight Commander, let’s show that turning the workplace into a playground is all about perspective.
While we’re at it, I’ll flaunt my friendship with her to the royal ministers as well.
*
In the distance, I could see the bewildered expressions on the guards’ faces stationed at the entrance of the palace.
They seemed shocked once at her returning less than a day after being pushed to relax, then again seeing Izuri in casual clothing, and for the third, her outfit was straining at the chest compared to her armor.
“Ch-choosing loyalty!”
“Loyalty! Great job, everyone!”
“…?”
That’s when Izuri hit them with her fourth bombshell.
Honestly, it looked like she lived in the palace; it seems even they had never seen her like this before.
In a dazed state, the guards opened the door. Their stares lingered long after.
“Always stay alert while on watch. Neglecting duty in the palace is a serious crime, equivalent to insulting the Imperial Family.”
“I’ll, I’ll keep that in mind!!!”
“Sorry for stopping so suddenly. I couldn’t just sit back and watch… Hehe. Shall we go again?”
Wow. I can effortlessly turn this on and off.
Izuri transitioned from a solemn knight giving advice to a playful girl in an instant.
As mere spectators, all three of us could only exclaim in awe.
“Maria, I can’t tell which side of her is the real one.”
“Right…”
She probably didn’t enlist right after birth, so the carefree side might be her true self.
“Astrea, how did you speak before?”
“I can’t grasp the intent behind your question.”
“I’m sure you didn’t speak like that before you became a celestial demon.”
“This body has been reborn as a heavenly demon. I have no past before becoming one.”
Yeah, which one is real or fake? Does it even matter? If they’re happy, that’s what counts.
Besides, this nostalgia will fade away as we grow older. Not that it’s my experience; it’s more like a tale about a friend of mine.
*
BANG–!
“EEEEEEEK…!!”
Suddenly, Sephiroth sprang up, frozen in place as the door burst open.
Even so, she decisively closed the book she had been reading, trembling like a frightened little creature.
“4… Fourth Division… Commander? What are you doing here…?”
“Sephiroth of the Library. You’ve revealed your sins.”
The one who stormed in, kicking open the unlocked door, was none other than the commander of the Fourth Division, Izuri Pa Chest.
Excluding the outlier 1st Division Commander, she was currently the most senior among the team, prompting extreme anxiety just by being in sight.
With her dramatic entrance combined with sudden intimidation, Sephiroth burst into tears without offering any resistance.
“Why, why are you doing this…! I didn’t do anything… wrong…”
She still mustered the courage to voice her opinion, but suddenly, Sephiroth’s gaze dropped down.
The erotic novel she had been reading just moments ago, still clutched tightly in her hands. Could it be because of this?
Sure, the heroine is a knight, but the plot revolves around her being humiliated by the protagonist.
But how did she know that? The cover had long been switched to a plain leather one. Plus, didn’t she just walk in? Memories of their last encounter were faint.
“Planning to deny it, huh?”
“H-Huh…”
Such reasoning in her head shattered easily with Izuri’s follow-up remark.
“Seogokwan. What is that in your hand right now?”
“Uh, it’s a b-book…”
Sephiroth resolved that if Izuri asked her to reveal the contents, she would close her eyes and burn the book.
This was essentially a confession, but at least she wouldn’t be directly caught. After all, she had memorized every word, so she could restore it later.
“Yes. That’s why the Seogokwan has landed in my grasp.”
“…Huh?”
Sephiroth managed to halt the magic she was about to unleash.
Even then, she still struggled to interpret the situation and merely stared blankly at Izuri.
“hahahaha-!!”
“Pfft. Pfft.”
“Oh my, that girl has so much talent.”
Only after the trio smiled at her did Sephiroth finally realize she had been duped, her face turning crimson.
“Ugh…”
“Seogokwan, I hope you keep the communication port on from now on. That’s all! Bye now!”
Did she have a gut feeling that real magic might fly this time?
The mastermind, clearly a puppet in this skit, swiftly exited the scene after leaving a few words behind.
“Um… Maybe I was a bit harsh. I heard you liked this kind of prank, Seogokwan…”
“…??”
As a fallback, Sephiroth shot a resentful glare towards Izuri, left alone.
Her rapidly shifting character stole any chance to hold onto her irritation.
“Look at those sweaty palms… I’m sorry. I’ll come back after vacation to apologize for real. With a gift too!”
“Oh, uh…”
Sephiroth full of shock from the moment of entering to leaving gazed at Izuri with a stunned expression.
“…This isn’t sweat…”
In the library, calmness returned. There, the owner pulled out a tissue, wiped her hands, then cleaned the cover of the book.
It was sticky and refused to wipe off easily.
*
“Thanks to you, I really had a fun time today. How can I repay you?”
“Could you hold a knife for us later?”
That night, we returned home and gathered in a room for a little post-celebration.
After exploring the secret passage of the palace together, we had grown close enough to joke among ourselves.
“Now that I think about it, what was that secret passage anyway? It leads not just outside but all through the palace… Could it be that someone plotting treason built it…?”
“It was constructed by the late Crown Prince Guilty Pe Dororicon during his time as the Crown Prince.”
“Wow. Must have been a precaution in case of any unforeseen events?”
The truth is, they had concocted this scheme with me to skip class. At least from their perspective, it had been a serious matter, so I merely nodded quietly.
“Oh right. Umm, can I borrow Maria for a moment?”
“Maria isn’t an object.”
“Just take good care of her and return her.”
“OMG.”
“Yes. I’ll be back shortly.”
Creek–
Izuri stepped out, closing the door, and walked silently down the hallway for a few steps.
When she was far enough away so that no sound reached the room…
“Maria Garmatoa.”
“…Huh.”
Right away, it was evident that this was the Knight Commander Izuri speaking, not the girl.
Maria had an inkling when she was called out, so she answered without a hint of confusion.
“That guy stepped on a tail.”
“…!”
“Hang on. We don’t have a clear identity yet. So for now, let’s focus on the S-rank promotion exam.”
“…Sure.”
Maria clenched her fists.
Finally, finally, she could confront him again. The strength she had been nurturing targeted specifically for him would finally be unleashed effectively.
“Thank you. Did you come all this way just to let Maria know?”
“No. I genuinely had no place else to go. What I just told you was just an aside…”
“…”
Maria puffed her cheeks and gave Izuri’s shoulder a playful tap.
When she returned, she monopolized her brother’s embrace.
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