Chapter One: The Nation of Hero Support
“–So you came to see me, huh?”
In the headmaster’s office of the Magic Academy, Aldi leaned back in his large executive chair, crossed his arms, and spoke in a refined, distant voice.
“Oh, yes, I thought you could get me permission.”
“Of course I can. No problem at all.”
“Oho, as expected from Aldi! Then…”
As I humbly tried to say “Please”.
“I can do it, but… whether I ‘want to’ or not is another story, right?”
“Tch…!”
Aldi twisted his mouth into an evil grin, making me angry. That bastard…!
Aldi walked around me and said, “Hmm, what should I do~? I want to help, but I’m busy, you know~” in a playful voice. I wanted to hit him.
But wait, be patient, be patient. I really needed this cat’s cooperation to get into the Magic Library.
The last time I broke in illegally, sneaking past the guards was a huge pain. This time, I wanted to get in properly. That weird lady who called herself the librarian was getting too clingy.
So I couldn’t just give in to my instincts and beat him to a pulp, no matter how much he deserved it. Be patient, restrain yourself. I could beat him senseless when this was over. Yes.
“Just kidding. Me and Jirei are buddies, aren’t we? Of course, I’ll get your permission.”
Aldi’s words did a 180 and he smiled at me kindly. Huh, really!?
“Aldi…!”
Looks like I misunderstood.
I thought he was just a clingy damn cat without a single redeeming quality, a shitty guy, but it seems I was wrong. I’d have to rethink my opinion.
“And actually, I already had business in Rivulhilo, where the library is anyway. It would be perfect to bring Jirei with me.”
Aldi said gently, “I was just about to call you. This saves me the trouble.” I see, that’s how it was. Well, that’s good then.
“And look… I’ve already prepared everything. In order for Jirei to travel comfortably, I have arranged for a special carriage. See?”
Aldi pointed to the window with his paw. Sure enough, there floated an expensive magic carriage that would cost tens of thousands of riel to charter. Wow!
“Yosh! Let’s go then. I’ll drive so that Jirei can relax elegantly, ‘kay? I’ll send for the entry permit with magic on the way.”
“You’re a good guy after all…!”
Moved by his kindness, I immediately entered the carriage through the window.
The wide, soft seat, temperature controlled by some sort of magical device.
Drinks and snacks were also prepared. What the heck, this is the best!
“Thanks a lot, Aldi! You’re the best cat!”
I thanked Aldi deeply and stretched out lazily on the fluffy seat. Too good…
“No need to thank me. After all…”
Aldi murmured, then snapped his fingers.
Then it happened.
“Fah!?”
Ropes suddenly shot out from somewhere, restraining my body in an instant.
I heard a locking sound, as if something was locking my wrists, and was so confused that I froze.
Huh, no wait… huh? Huh?
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“I’m about to do something bad to you.”
Aldi twisted his mouth into a most evil grin. Oh crap.
“W-What are you…”
I tried to ask what that meant,
“Oh ladies~! Miss Eve! Miss Letinoa! I caught Jirei!”
Aldi shouted towards the back of the carriage I was in – behind my seat, to be exact.
“Nn, nice work.”
“Whooa! Good morning!”
I heard very familiar voices from behind me.
With ragged breathing and cold sweat pouring from my body, I turned to look. Tell me it’s a lie. Please tell me it’s a lie.
“Thank you, headmaster. Now I’m with Ray as well.”
“We heard you were going to Rivulhilo! We’re coming with you!”
Those girls – Eve sat next to me, leaning against me, while Leti clung to my head, rubbing her chin happily against it.
“…………Aldi?”
I looked at Aldi for an explanation, but
“Didn’t I say it worked out perfectly? At first I just wanted to go to Rivulhilo for business. But Miss Eve asked how to capture you. So I thought, why not take this opportunity to have a little fun with you?”
“I’ll beat the hell out of you, you damn cat.”
He whistled skillfully to no avail as he held the reins, the damn cat joking around. I wanted to beat him until he cried.
“And why is Rafine here? It’s still morning, isn’t it? She was asleep, wasn’t she?”
I suppressed my urge to hit Aldi and asked the girl sitting close to my right – Rafine.
I had understood from the beginning that Eve and Leti were in the carriage. But I hadn’t told Rafine.
But for some reason she showed up just before we left, taking the seat next to me, of course. It made no sense.
When asked, Rafine happily replied,
“Yes! After I woke up, I received a magical invitation letter from Mr. Aldi at the inn… It said [Fun Nico Nico Travel by Carriage to Rivulhilo (Jirei will be there too)], so I gratefully accepted the invitation! I heard we’re going to another country, so my disguise is perfect too!”
“Aldi? What are you doing?”
No matter how much I stared at him, he just kept whistling innocently while holding the reins. I definitely wanted to beat him senseless after that.
“Tch, if it weren’t for these restraints, I could easily escape…”
I bitterly cursed the magical bonds that bound my body.
…Well, I could still escape like this if I really wanted to.
Even with my physical abilities suppressed by the Chitou Bakunawa rope and my magic power drained by the Shirojojikan lock, I had no problems moving or casting magic. Normally, people would be unable to even walk, their strength and vitality depleted, and at worst, they would die. Don’t use such dangerous things on me.
I wasn’t actually bound by having my limbs tied like that. I’ve escaped many times before.
I could teleport far away with Spatial Transition, force my near-dead body to move after the backlash, and flee at high speed while bunny-hopping and blinking. I escaped like crazy.
But each time, Aldi would detect my surroundings with Detection Magic, accelerate to ungodly speed, and a game of tag would ensue until I was caught and dragged back.
By the slightest margin, I was faster, despite barely being able to use Physical Enhancement – but with the ancient artifacts taking at least a few minutes to remove and Aldi chasing me, it was impossible.
…And so I finally gave up and was escorted to Rivulhilo.
To put it bluntly, if I could just destroy these restraints, escape would be easy.
But I didn’t want to, emotionally.
No matter whose property they were, I didn’t want to destroy rare ancient artifacts with my own hands, except in life-threatening situations. Just arrest me like a common criminal, damn it.
“Miss Princess. Do you remember what we talked about a while ago – the night of the Ancient Artifact Exhibition?”
“Of course. My feelings remain unchanged from our discussion that day.”
“I see…then, good.”
While Eve know my love for magical tools, she was talking to Rafine about something I didn’t really understand.
Come to think of it, even though this was supposedly our first meeting in the carriage, her way of speaking seemed to imply that they’d talked before. I wonder if they discussed something at the Ancient Artifact Exhibition.
“And… Miss Eve. Please address me informally as Rafine. Although I am a princess, I wish to be treated equally regardless of status…I haven’t really had many friends.”
“I understand. You can also call me Eve.”
“Also, since I don’t have many spare clothes, I would be happy if you could go shopping for modern fashion with me sometime.”
“Sure, no problem.”
I couldn’t tell if these two were at odds or close. Hey, stop talking over me, please.
“Oh! I see it! It’s Rivulhilo!”
As I rode with a blank expression, lost in mental training, our destination country came into view.
“Finally…I’ll be free now…”
I could finally escape this room… Surely they’d remove the restraints once we reached Rivulhilo. I’d escape immediately after getting the library entry permit I came for and finishing my business. Then go and beat up Aldi. Yes, that’s the plan. Decided.
After that, we stopped the car near the Rivulhilo checkpoint and shuffled over to apply for entry, Aldi representing us.
They had removed the shackles, so once we entered the country, I would be free.
I was ready to bolt…here I go…!
But when Aldi went to hand in the paperwork and get us entry permission–
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