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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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In his spare time, Hans had a deep conversation with Helia.
He remembered hearing somewhere that the most important thing in education was to talk face-to-face with a child.
Although it was just knowledge he had picked up, he thought it was better than not practicing at all.
In fact, Helia had improved so much compared to before that it was embarrassing to compare.
Compared to then, he thought she had really become human.
Recently, Helia had started reading.
Hans asked her why.
“Was there a book you wanted to read?”
“Don’t you read a lot of books, Teacher?”
“I have things I need to look up.”
“I started reading books to be of help to you as well.”
Though she still showed signs of dependence on him, it would gradually fade as time passed.
Even now, Helia was spending time getting along with Clara and Ruby.
While he felt refreshed and a little sad at the same time, this was the natural growth of a child.
He only hoped that in the end, she wouldn’t become twisted by obsessing over power like in the original story.
Hans closed the book he had been reading.
Currently, he was looking into dimensional travel in the Royal Knights’ library.
Of course, there was no way such a convenient book would exist.
For now, he was slowly delving into magic.
As the saying goes, the longer the road, the more you should take detours.
If he built up his knowledge little by little, someday he might reach a hint.
“It’s about time for the guests to arrive.”
“I’ll prepare right away.”
“Prepare? You?”
“I can at least brew tea.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Helia flashed a smile and immediately left the office.
Left alone suddenly, Hans couldn’t hide his uneasiness.
No, it was certainly a good thing, but…
Why did he feel so uneasy?
He had that thought for a moment, but then changed his mind.
In any case, he was thankful that she was growing up properly.
So he should focus on his own work too.
He paid attention to his appearance through the mirror prepared in the office.
The helmet that Helia had put on him before had broken in the fight with Comprachico.
Because of that, Helia had glared at him with a scary intensity for a moment.
But she didn’t do anything more than that.
Moreover, the other members didn’t show as big a reaction as expected.
[Come to think of it, the Commander took off his helmet?]
[When did he take it off?]
[H-He’s been without it since the d-day we brought Commander Yuren.]
[He wasn’t wearing it when I met him. Was he originally wearing a helmet?]
[Commander, do you perhaps need a new helmet?]
Setting everything else aside, he was very disappointed in Clara and Ruby for noticing so late that he had taken off his helmet.
He was still their commander after all.
How could they be so uninterested?
No, forget it. It’s fine.
He was someone who would leave someday anyway.
If they got too attached to each other, it would only be more painful when that time came.
Perhaps this level of distance was right.
Just then, another thud was heard.
He wasn’t even surprised anymore.
As expected, when he looked out the window, he saw Yuren landing in the courtyard as predicted.
However, she wasn’t alone.
There were many things hanging from her back.
Looking closely, there was a girl with gray hair and round beast ears, and behind her, beastmen warriors were strung up like dried pollack, tied with ropes.
What on earth was this?
As soon as he saw that sight, Hans felt the back of his neck tighten.
He was sure he had told them to bring the guests politely.
Could it be that “politely” meant something different to a dragon?
No, no, this was no time to be thinking like this.
He had to somehow clean up this mess.
Making a quick decision, Hans immediately turned his head and ran.
Helia followed him.
“They’ve really made a mess of things.”
“…”
As Helia said, when he got closer and looked, it was quite a spectacle.
All the beastmen had foam in their mouths.
There was no way they could be conscious.
“Commander, you’re here?”
“Hmm! Commander! I did as you ordered!!”
“…”
Despite having clearly caused trouble, how could they speak so proudly as if they’d done well?
For a moment his blood pressure rose, but Hans swallowed his anger.
What good would it do to get angry?
In a direct confrontation, he obviously wouldn’t even be a match.
And if he got angry and their relationship soured?
In the end, he would have no choice but to bow his head to them.
The water was already spilled anyway.
It wasn’t too late to reprimand them for this later.
Right now, dealing with the situation was the priority.
Hans quickly ordered them to move the guests to the infirmary.
Cluna and Yuren carried out his orders without a word.
That made him even more puzzled.
What was this?
No matter how he looked at it, they didn’t seem to be rebelling.
Then why had they done this?
“Cluna, didn’t I tell you to bring them politely?”
“Yes, Commander. I carried out that order.”
“Hmm! It was impressive. To hold out so well against so many.”
“You flatter me.”
“…??”
At first, he had no idea what they were talking about, but after hearing the details, it seemed the beastmen envoy had some kind of scheme, and Cluna had noticed and responded directly.
“But it was a bit dangerous. They had figured out my weakness and persistently attacked it.”
“You didn’t use lethal force. Is there a reason for that?”
“It’s a promise with an old friend.”
“I see, then it can’t be helped.”
“If Yuren hadn’t come just in time, who knows what would have happened.”
“I didn’t do anything. I just obeyed the Commander’s orders.”
His head started to hurt as the story was more complicated than he thought.
Let’s put this issue aside for now.
The important thing now was for the beastmen envoy to regain consciousness.
Yes, that was the most important thing.
But since the envoy had visited with bad intentions, he needed to make some preparations on his end too.
Fortunately, the Royal Knights members would be returning soon.
Until then, let’s try to talk while being as careful as possible.
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The power to see the future.
To put it simply, precognition was not invincible.
Of course, it took a while to realize that.
For example, the war with the elves 200 years ago.
The reason they had recklessly gone to war then.
It was because she had trusted her precognition too much.
A future where they drove out the elves and took over that forest.
So she had mobilized all their forces without considering the consequences.
Because they would win anyway.
That was the future she had seen.
However, it was shattered to pieces.
The Forest Guardians.
Those hateful protectors of the elves had formed a special unit and launched a surprise attack.
If a bucket leaks inside, how could it not leak outside?
They were thrown into confusion.
In the end, they were defeated without even being able to resist properly.
When the elves’ counterattack began in the midst of this, Yuyoung had no choice but to swallow her pride and make a peace treaty with the elves.
Yuyoung still hadn’t forgotten the humiliation of that time.
How could she forget?
A thousand of them had been defeated by barely twenty elves.
It had been an especially rainy day.
The mud and muddy water formed by the accumulated rainwater had soaked her knees.
She had been on her knees, glaring at the enemy in front of her.
It was none other than an elf.
[Cluna, wouldn’t it be better to kill her here?]
[I agree. It’s right to cut off the bud.]
[…Just restrain her for now.]
[Our soft-hearted Cluna~ Are you trying to keep another futile promise?]
The sword that had been close to her neck was withdrawn, but the sensation from that time still remained.
As if it would cut her neck at any moment, but what was even more unbearable was the humiliation she had felt then.
“Ah.”
Yuyoung’s closed eyes opened.
A ceiling devoid of any splendor and the sour smell of medicinal herbs greeted her.
Yuyoung silently raised her upper body.
She was in an unfamiliar place.
She was lying on a bed with white blankets and sheets.
She and the warriors who followed her were all lying on beds.
It looked like an infirmary.
Which meant this was Lionheart Fortress.
Easily deducing this conclusion, Yuyoung reflected on what had happened before.
The unexpected appearance of former commander Yuren.
The warriors who had been pushed back, falling into panic because of it.
She couldn’t blame them.
The beastmen had stronger beast blood flowing in them.
Of course they would instinctively sense a predator and be afraid, but they hadn’t lost yet.
The round mouse ears on top of her head twitched.
She heard footsteps approaching.
As expected, the door opened and someone appeared.
“You’re awake.”
He had black hair.
Below that, he was wearing iron armor.
By beastmen standards, he had an ordinary appearance.
Probably not much different by human standards either.
But she couldn’t let her guard down.
He was the one who commanded the dragon and that forest guardian.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Hans. I am Yuyoung, the leader of the Rat Clan.”
There must be tens of thousands of snakes writhing inside him.
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