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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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Chapter 113
“…So? So. What happened next?”
Eloise asks, munching on a Bungeoppang with her eyes sparkling.
Hmm, you’re the type to eat the tail first.
“What happened? The friendly match I was looking forward to ended after only two rounds, and the delegation leader and our officials agreed to stop, saying—”
“No, not that. Karl. What happened next?”
“That? Of course, they all went to the Imperial Palace the next day and…”
Went to the palace. Hmm. Hmm?
“I don’t know. How would I know?”
“Oh, come on! I’m an Empire elf now! Not a Kanfra! If you asked me who I’d side with between my own kind and humans, I’d think for a second and say humans! So tell me! It’s not like you have to keep it a secret, right?”
What is this crazy elf talking about?
Aren’t secrets meant to be kept?
What does she mean by ‘it’s not like you have to keep it a secret’?
And it’s not that I’m not telling you because you’re an elf, I really don’t know the details beyond that.
I’m not an imperial official. I’m just an ordinary academy student who did what he was told and left. How am I supposed to know more?
“I don’t know, really.”
“Oh, you’re so mean! Tell me, tell me!”
“I said I don’t know! Eek!”
I can’t breathe! I quickly hit Eloise’s arm.
And Lav, who was next to me, approaches.
Then, with a loud crack, she uses enough force to pull Eloise’s arm off my neck and returns to her spot.
“Thanks, Lav.”
“You’re welcome, Master. I mean, senior.”
“Anyway, I don’t know the details beyond that. The Empire and the Lasker delegation had some discussions, and that was it. There must have been some kind of diplomatic incident, but it’s not something you should ask me about. People might think I’m some kind of minister.”
“Just become one. Honestly, if Karl said he was going into public service, the Empire would probably welcome you with open arms.”
What is she talking about? I’m already busy enough inheriting our county.
“More importantly, I was disappointed. Those Lasker knights.”
“Huh? What?”
“I thought they could at least hold their own for a few rounds. But one guy couldn’t even draw his sword properly, and the next guy managed to create some distance but couldn’t do anything after that. It was so different from what I imagined.”
I even thought, ‘Maybe my father was just playing around with them?’
If the knights heard this, they would jump up in protest, but who cares? They were really underwhelming.
Ah, no. Maybe I should have said it out loud?
Then they might have gotten angry and fought harder. Yeah, I should have!
“…Maybe it’s not that the human knights are weak, but that Karl is strong?”
“What are you talking about? Don’t flatter me.”
“No, really. I’m serious.”
I waved my hand dismissively at Eloise’s response.
“I’ve never fought knights before. The most I did was grapple with Luzernes guys on the southern front. And even though I’d never faced knights before, that’s how it was.”
“That’s exactly it, Karl. Anyone listening to you would think only ordinary Luzernes soldiers were deployed where you were.”
* * *
It was absurd.
To think he would say it was easy against the Lasker knights.
I haven’t fought Lasker either, but information still existed.
And according to that information, their individual combat abilities were at least on par with my own troops.
Yet Karl was saying the knights were ‘too weak to be fun.’
Someone who didn’t know Karl might think it was arrogance or a misunderstanding.
The problem was that it wasn’t arrogance or a misunderstanding.
‘If it’s Karl, it’s plausible.’
As I said, Karl didn’t just fight ordinary elves.
No, to be precise, he didn’t just fight ordinary Kanfras.
They were half conscripts, half barely trained recruits.
Their level was said to be higher than that of ordinary imperial soldiers, but they were far from strong.
First of all, the Assault Squad. I don’t like the name. Elves assaulting? No wonder the Empire calls them Kanfras.
Anyway, they were known for their hatred of the Empire and their expertise in close combat, ditching bows and arrows for swords to wreak havoc on imperial bases.
I can’t even imagine how many of those guys Karl fought, let alone how many he defeated.
Is that the end? Of course not. There’s more.
Especially the next two groups, they were the real deal.
‘The Black Forest Brigade and the senior guards protecting their leader.’
Since Darnang Nabal, the leader of Luzernes, was there, those two units must have been stationed there as well.
And of course, Karl must have engaged them at least five times.
Objectively, their level was on par with, or even higher than, our Extermination Unit in Hyzens.
It’s no wonder the imperial army was decimated, and it’s surprising that there were any survivors.
According to the combined post-war reports, it’s unclear how many imperial soldiers they killed.
But Karl fought them and survived.
If you told him that, he’d probably say, ‘I was lucky.’ That’s definitely what he’d say.
But sometimes, luck isn’t just luck.
Sometimes, what you think is luck turns out to be real skill. Karl is a good example of that.
‘The reason the Lasker knights felt relatively easy must be an extension of that. He’s already fought those guys in bloody battles on the southern front. How could they compare to a mere friendly match here?’
Seriously, it’s a miracle Karl didn’t kill those knights!
“Ah, I don’t know. Anyway, I’m more disappointed with Lasker.”
“Yeah, yeah. If Karl says so, it must be true. Oh, but Karl, what about father? I heard he went to the Lasker border too.”
“That’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Why is my father becoming your father? I need an explanation, Junior Eloise?”
Aww! Come on! Let’s not be so picky about that, Senior Karl. Okay? Okay!?
“Well… I heard my father just strolled around the border for a few days and came back.”
“Did he really just stroll around?”
“…According to the Special Operations Agency and Ministry of War, he had a match with the Lasker knights.”
As expected. It’s Karl’s father. My father-in-law, so of course he couldn’t just stay quiet! Hehehe!
“It was Princess Lefia’s… I mean, your junior’s maternal relatives. It wasn’t a hostile atmosphere, just reminiscing about old times and having a friendly spar like me.”
“And the result? Of course, your father won, right?”
Karl scratched his head and said it wasn’t just a matter of winning.
He said his father had been scolded by his mother as soon as he returned home and complained about it through the communication device. He added that if it weren’t for his mother, his father would have stayed longer.
Hmm. It seems like the women in Karl’s family are much stronger.
I need to figure out how to get his mother and Rika on my side. I should prepare a strategy for this later!
“…Master. I’m suddenly curious. What does your mother like?”
Wow, look at that. Lav is also catching on and trying to lay the groundwork, huh?
This is tiring! Why are my rivals so competent? Seriously!
“Well? What my mother likes… Hmm. Kanfra necks?”
Kanfra necks? Really? Seriously? If that’s the case, I could quickly take care of the remaining Luzernes forces this weekend, chop them up, and bring them back neatly salted!
[PR/N: 💀]
“I’m kidding, guys. Please stop giving me those serious looks.”
“Tsk.”
“Ahem.”
* * *
Lefia sat blankly, recalling the news the delegation leader had delivered.
“I informed the Second Princess of everything. Her Highness was grateful that the Fifth Princess decided not to join forces with them.”
“I unofficially expressed our regret to the Empire about the incidents at the Academy. I also promised that this would never happen again, so Your Highness has nothing to worry about.”
“There was talk in the kingdom of recalling Your Highness to Lasker, but the Second Princess overruled those opinions.”
In conclusion, everything worked out well.
The Second Princess became aware of the dissatisfaction among her subordinates.
She had to decide whether to persuade and embrace them or coldly dismiss them.
She realized she had been too focused on her goals.
Now, it was time to look back and see if they were following her well.
The decision was hers, but it would have been helpful.
The Empire clearly showed that it still had no intention of interfering in Lasker’s internal affairs.
At the same time, it proclaimed to the world that the Empire ultimately held the upper hand.
The mere appearance of Count Friedrich at the border shocked them, and two of the delegation’s knights were defeated by a young man from the Empire’s military.
And finally, Lefia herself—
“There you are, junior.”
Turning her head, she saw Karl approaching with a small bag in his hand.
“Senior Karl.”
“Sit down. Why are you standing up to greet me?”
Karl sat Lefia down and took out a Bungeoppang from the envelope, putting it in his mouth.
“Things worked out well. At least there won’t be any reprimand from Lasker for you. You firmly rejected their proposal and made it clear you’ll stay in the Empire, so they’ve clearly realized there’s nothing more to gain from you.”
“I see.”
“So now, junior, try living an ordinary life. The Academy is a pretty decent place, you know. I endured so much on the battlefield because I wanted to come back here.”
Ordinary.
An ordinary life.
Putting aside the kingdom, the princess title, and honor.
Just a truly ordinary life. To think she could actually have that.
“Want one?”
Lefia stared at the small bag Karl offered and carefully picked out a Bungeoppang.
After a moment of hesitation, she took a bite—
“Oh.”
Karl suddenly smiled and let out an exclamation.
When Lefia tilted her head in confusion, he replied—
“You ate the head first. Just like me.”
“….”
Lefia quietly turned her head away.
The moment she saw Karl’s smile, her face flushed hot.
She probably looked very red in the mirror.
Not wanting to show it, she just nibbled on the Bungeoppang.
“You’re eating it well. Seems like you like it. Want another one?”
Meanwhile, Karl seemed pleased that she was enjoying the Bungeoppang.
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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