3
“You called for me, my lord?”
“Ah, welcome, Nicole.”
A black-haired boy sat on the throne.
A beautiful woman in nun-like attire appeared and knelt on one knee respectfully.
“Remember that pawn I acquired? That foolish noble from that country?”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Well, it seems they’ve become useless.”
“…How could that be?”
Nicole thought, how could this happen? Her master should never fail.
“I’m surprised. I thought they were just fools obsessed with power struggles, but there are wise people everywhere. This is my mistake. I misjudged that country.”
“My lord could never make a mistake!”
Nicole raised her voice without thinking.
“…I apologize.”
“It’s alright.”
She bowed her head, apologizing for her rudeness.
“—Can you do it? The [Darkness] is in the way. Will you eliminate it for me?”
“…! What… what an honor! To be entrusted with such an important task!”
Nicole trembled with joy. She was needed by her master. That alone made her feel like she was ascending to heaven. However, seeing those crimson eyes appraising her, Nicole quickly regained her composure. She hadn’t accomplished anything yet. There was no meaning unless she lived up to expectations.
“So, what will you do? You understand now, don’t you? The [Darkness] is strong. If you went directly, it’s clear you’d be defeated.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
She had no objections. She knew herself best. She wasn’t particularly bad at fighting. But based on the information, she couldn’t win in a direct confrontation with the [Darkness]. She made that judgment objectively and calmly.
“Then what will you do?”
“—We’ll have someone close to them kill them. If it’s someone they truly trust, there will surely be an opening.”
Nicole had already started formulating a plan in her head. There was no need to do it herself.
“Haha, good. I’m counting on you, Nicole.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Seeing her master laugh with satisfaction, an immense joy coursed through Nicole’s entire body like an electric current.
§
“—That’s how it is, Alice. They’ll contact us later about the party schedule. Be prepared.”
“…Yes, I understand, Father.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No… I’m just a bit tired, so I’ll rest in my room.”
Father seemed to be saying something else, but I started walking to my room without stopping. I opened the door, collapsed onto the bed, and buried my face. Then I twisted my body to lie on my back, staring at the ceiling.
“…This is the worst.”
The Aslan Magic Academy attack incident.
Guards occasionally come to the house under the pretext of investigating, wanting to hear my story. It’s really annoying.
I can see right through their suspicion that I might have aided the attackers. Such a thing would never happen even if the world turned upside down.
That’s why I haven’t been able to contact Luke for about three weeks… No, that’s just an excuse.
The truth is, I was waiting. Waiting for Luke to contact me. Waiting for him to say he wanted to see me.
I wanted proof that my feelings weren’t one-sided… That desire led to the worst outcome.
—Ice Dragon.
One of the elemental dragons that even children know about. Luke achieved the unbelievable feat of subduing and controlling an Ice Dragon.
Normally, this would be cause for celebration. In fact, I’m genuinely happy about Luke’s achievement… but.
—It just happens to be the same element as mine.
At that moment, a terrible thought crossed my mind. These past three weeks have been incredibly frustrating. Even though I know it’s not good, no matter how much I resist, I end up indulging in self-pleasure at least once every three days.
Even so, my desire for Luke to want me was stronger, which is why I endured. Normally, I’d want to go to Gilbadia right away and push him down on the bed, day or night.
It’s not something a lady should do, but once you’ve tasted that pleasure, it’s impossible to resist.
But there’s still no contact from Luke.
The reason is—could it be the Ice Dragon?
According to one theory, dragons possess higher intelligence than humans. And, whether it’s true or not, I’ve read in literature that in the southern part of the continent, there exists a race called [Dragonkin] who have both dragons and humans as ancestors. In other words, there’s a non-zero possibility that Luke has developed a relationship beyond that of master and familiar with the Ice Dragon…!
That’s why Luke hasn’t contacted me. He’s been satisfied doing this and that with the dragon—.
Is this… what they call being NTR’d…?
The moment that terrible thought occurred to me, along with a pain that felt like my chest was being squeezed, an indescribable lust coursed through my body, and I felt myself getting hot.
“…Haa… Haa…”
I summoned all my willpower to stop my hand from reaching towards my lower abdomen. This is absolutely not good. I feel like I won’t be able to turn back if I do.
I absolutely refuse to be so foolish as to lose everything by giving in to momentary pleasure.
“…I can’t stay like this.”
I hurried to my father, intending to leave for Gilbadia as soon as possible.
§
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“Oh, Mia-chan, welcome back! You’re amazing as always!”
“Whoa, elemental magic is really something else!”
“Gahaha, we can’t lose either!”
As Mia returned to the guild, many people called out to her. Yes, she’s currently active as a solo adventurer.
—All to be needed by Luke.
When information came in that Luke had become an adventurer, she decided to become one herself. She thought that would surely make her necessary to him. It’s often inconvenient for adventurers to be solo. She realized this soon after starting her activities and continues to experience it.
The reason she continues to be an adventurer despite the constraints of her noble title is solely to be useful to Luke. However—
(…Still no contact from Luke today. Should I reach out…? But…)
He might find it bothersome. He might get annoyed. Thinking this, Mia’s feet froze. Besides, doing such a thing felt like she was getting ahead of Alice, which made her hesitant.
“………..”
Before she knew it, she had become an A-rank adventurer just by completing requests casually. At first, she was ostracized by other adventurers for being a noble, but they had to acknowledge her outstanding abilities once they saw them. It didn’t take long for her to gain popularity with her un-noble-like cuteness and her ability to interact with anyone without discrimination.
“Hm? Is something wrong?”
“No… I was just thinking about something.”
“I see. Oh, right. The kingdom’s seventh S-rank adventurer in Gilbadia—”
“Tell me more about that!!”
“Huh!?”
—Gilbadia.
There was no way that word wouldn’t catch Mia’s terrifyingly sharp senses. The man who casually brought up the topic as small talk, knowing nothing, was overwhelmed by Mia’s intensity that he had never seen before.
“W-What’s wrong, Mi—”
“Quickly! Continue the story!”
“Uh, yeah… Apparently, the kingdom’s seventh S-rank adventurer appeared in Gilbadia. They’re solo like you. I think their name was…”
“—Luke, right?”
“That’s it! Apparently, he’s the eldest son of a lord, but he defeated and tamed an Ice Dragon! And he did it alone! It’s absolutely incredible!”
“…I see…”
“W-What’s wrong, Mia-chan!? You’re amazing too! I’m sure you’ll be the next S-rank—”
The man was still talking, but Mia started walking unsteadily with vacant eyes. Ignoring the voices trying to stop her, she left the guild.
“It’s… slipping away…”
The words that leaked from Mia’s lips.
If he had just defeated the Ice Dragon, there would have been no problem. As his fiancée, she would have been proud, and it would have given her an excuse to visit him, which would have been nothing but good. However, the fact that he [tamed] it was very hard for her to accept.
Mia returned to the mansion in a daze and collapsed onto her bed in her room.
“It’s slipping away…”
The fact that he tamed it means nothing other than Luke’s pieces have increased. This threatens the clear [ranking] in her mind. The ranking of those needed by Luke, including men.
This is her identity that she can never give up. She only acknowledges Alice as someone more desired by Luke than herself. However, she cannot allow the existence of someone who became Luke’s piece after her but is more needed by Luke than herself.
She simply cannot allow it.
“It’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping, it’s dropping—”
If he made the Elemental Dragon his piece, there’s a possibility Luke might need it more than her. The moment she thought of this, her heart sank into darkness.
“…I have to go, quickly.”
Mia also decided to head to Galbadia as soon as possible.
§
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