episode_0074

“!!”

Without giving her a chance to raise her hand, the chimera thrust its maw squarely at Elin.

Kagak-!

A double barrier that shatters in an instant.

It’s a good thing we’ve put up an eight-layer barrier.

Elin almost got eaten.

Exactly.

Luke snapped his fingers.

The idea was to open a portal and blow the Chimera to another dimension.

Woof-

Before a portal opened that was just barely the size of the chimera.

Phew-

A dagger flew from somewhere and stabbed the chimera.

Pavabak-

It doesn’t end there.

The daggers that fell like rain pierced the chimera’s joints one after another.

Karrrr… .

A chimera tied up without being able to move.

With a gloomy groan as if in pain.

He put down Elin, who was holding the barrier in her hand.

Luke rolled his eyes, trying to find the dagger’s owner.

A duo captured not far away.

There were men wearing black hoods over their heads.

“Who are you?”

Judging from their appearance alone, it would not have been strange to think that they were fanatics who had invaded the outpost.

But if that were the case, I wouldn’t have subdued the chimera so diligently.

“… !”

The men wearing black hoods communicated with each other using hand signals.

He came closer and stabbed the chimera with his dagger here and there in its body.

Sigh.

Phew-

Knock knock….

The chimera, which was bubbling black liquid from its mouth, fell down with a thud.

Chimera scattered like grains of sand.

It has completely disappeared and is no longer playing.

“I wonder if there are any weaknesses?”

Anne muttered as she glared at the duo next to Luke.

“I think so.”

It certainly wasn’t a random mess.

The regenerative ability disappeared because the blade was stuck in the blood vessel.

Exactly.

He snapped his fingers and opened a portal beneath Elin.

Elin sucked into the portal.

I settled into Luke’s arms.

Even though there was a barrier.

Despite having just been attacked, Elin was still sleeping with a calm expression on her face.

“… … ”

Luke frowned.

He placed his hand on Elin’s chest and let mana flow out.

Contrary to the gentle expression.

The curse near the mana heart bit Luke’s mana straight away.

“Ann. Do you have a curse removal potion right now?”

“Huh? There is. Why?”

“I have to feed it to the princess right now.”

“Here.”

Anne quickly handed over the potion, though she had a questioning expression on her face.

“Princess. Please wake up for a moment.”

He grabbed Ellen’s shoulder and shook her.

In the past, even a touch near the neck would have caused a match.

“Um… .”

Now he’s crouching down as if he’s annoyed.

Swish swish.

He even rubbed his cheek against Luke’s hand like a cat.

If it were normal, it would be really cute.

There are still 6 chimeras left.

There was no time to delay.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

Exactly.

Luke created a small spark with his finger and placed it on Elin’s forehead.

“Ugh… … .”

Elin, who had been struck by lightning, opened her eyes wide and clutched her forehead.

Maybe it’s because I just fell asleep.

The tired expression remained the same.

“… Teacher?”

“I think you should get up for a moment, Your Majesty.”

“Huh… ?”

Ellen made her stupid hair into a question mark shape.

I’m sure you slept in bed.

Why are you in Luke’s arms?

Why did Luke wake Elin up by hitting her with a stick?

Where did the tent go in the first place… … .

huh?

“Where am I?”

Looking at the chaotic landscape, it was difficult to imagine that this was where the tent had been.

“I’ll explain later. First, have this.”

“Ugh-?”

He immediately poured the potion on Elin.

I’m used to it now so it’s okay, though.

The Curse Removal Potion has an indescribably horrible taste.

I drank that potion right away as soon as I opened my eyes.

“Colok, olok… Keuk… .”

Tears naturally formed at the corners of Ellen’s eyes.

A cough broke out.

The feeling of ‘hate’ naturally took shape and pricked Luke’s conscience.

“I’m sorry. The situation was urgent, so I couldn’t help it.”

Luke patted Ellen on the back and wiped her eyes.

“Huh? Chimeras… .”

I turned my head after hearing Anne’s words.

It was a place where Gailan and Victor were having a hard time.

“As expected.”

It was as expected.

“Movement is dull. Hit!”

A chimera that has become slower than even a normal mutant.

The soldiers rushed straight in and swung their swords at the chimera.

Crunch-

The much more fragile and torn flesh did not grow back.

thud.

The chimera (what was) was unable to regenerate and was scattered.

It was as if a duo suddenly appeared and did it.

“What is it? Does it have something to do with the princess’s curse?”

Anne asked, seeing with her eyes but not understanding with her head.

“It was just a guess. But I think it’s true.”

Why does Elin have to drink the potion three times a day?

This is because the curse near the mana heart will recede and then reappear over time.

Especially when you’re sleeping, you can’t drink potions, so the curse is greatly restored.

“It seems to have the ability to attract mutant creatures.”

A mutant creature that rushes at the sight of Elin.

The collapsed chimera temporarily banished the curse.

At this point, we have no choice but to conclude that there is a causal relationship.

“What the hell kind of fucking curse is that?”

“We’ll have to find out now.”

The reason I came all the way north was to definitely solve the curse.

There is no need to be impatient.

First of all, we did something about the most urgent fire.

Then next.

Who are the two people who suddenly appeared?

How did they subdue the chimera while it was still intact?

I turned my head to solve the question.

Sasa Sak.

But the duo had already disappeared from sight.

Did you decide that it was okay because you solved the chimera?

“Ann. Please tell the others that I will be out for a bit.”

“What? Where are you going?”

“I will follow them.”

Shu-

Luke drew a magic circle in the air.

These are the people who suddenly appeared and showed great performance.

I have a gut feeling that I absolutely cannot miss this place.

I traced the mana and drew a map in my head.

* * * * *

The duo’s appearance disappeared in an instant.

It didn’t matter.

The mana left is weak due to fighting.

That’s because there was no reason to miss it if you just followed the traces.

Shu-

After completing his calculations, Luke opened a portal and came out.

“… … !”

As expected, as soon as I came out, I came across a couple leaning against a tree and resting.

Men in black hoods, holding daggers and ready for battle.

In the midst of tension.

“… Teacher?”

Elin, who was in her arms, carefully called out to Luke.

“Ah.”

I ended up carrying Elin with me.

But that’s okay.

“The princess will be scared. Please stop acting.”

As far as Luke knows.

Because there aren’t more than two groups with that kind of fighting power in the empire.

“How did you get here, Leo?”

“!”

Elin’s hair stood on end at the mention of the name she hadn’t heard in a long time.

“… … How did you know?”

The man who had been keeping his mouth shut until now took off his hood.

Captain of the secret task force.

Leo had a dry expression on his face.

“Is there another organization with this kind of fighting power other than the Secret Task Force?”

“You noticed it for just that reason?”

Of course, that wasn’t all.

“He was about to save the princess and disappear. How could I not recognize him?”

“… Huh.”

Yes, that’s right.

They definitely showed up as soon as Elin was in danger and dealt with the Chimera.

The other six chimeras didn’t even bother to look at them.

Perhaps he was planning to return as soon as Elin’s safety was ensured.

“See, Captain. I told you I’d get caught.”

The man next to me quickly took off his hood.

… No. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a man.

“Whew… This is better. I almost died from frustration. Can I show my face now, Captain?”

Short green bob cut.

Chic-looking eyes and a teardrop mole under the right eye.

Husky voice.

At first glance, you might mistake him for a man.

She was a woman who only showed off her neutral appearance.

“Yeah.”

“It’s been a while, senior. Do you remember me?”

A woman looking at Luke after Leo’s permission was given.

Luke thought for about three seconds and then opened his mouth and said, “Ah.”

“Long time no see, Door Opener.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

The corners of the eyes of the woman called the door opener rose.

“Sorry, I can’t remember the name right away.”

“Tristine Glaze. How can you not remember the Northern Princess’ name?”

“I remembered when I heard that.”

okay.

A barrier magician nicknamed ‘Moon Opener’ during his academy days.

Tristin Glaze.

-Are you Luke Bucklin?

-…How did you get in here?

He is a genius who broke the barrier of Luke’s personal dormitory and intruded without permission.

She was a princess of the Glaze family, which was the northern pillar among the five major ducal families.

“Were you also a secret special forces member?”

“Yes. I thought you were pretending not to know me when I saw you before. Did you really not know me?”

Come to think of it, when I first met the secret task force.

-Because I know that he’s the type of guy who wouldn’t do that.

There was one agent who pretended to know Luke.

At that time, I couldn’t immediately think of Tristin.

“I thought the secret task force was made up entirely of men.”

The whole face is covered.

There is no outwardly visible femininity.

I thought they were all men.

“… … ”

At those words, the corners of Tristin’s eyes rose again.

Tristin has been mistaken for a man since her academy days.

No wonder I received confessions from female classmates one after another.

“I made a slip of the tongue.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

He immediately apologized to Tristin, who was twirling the dagger.

“There’s no one that the teacher doesn’t know… ?”

Elin blinked.

It might feel strange from Ellen’s perspective.

Wherever you go, everyone knows Luke.

That’s because all of them are people I knew from the academy.

“Because the academy isn’t that big.”

But you’ll know if you try to be the top student for 4 years straight.

I’ve made connections with quite a few people.

I get jealous more often than not.

If you do that, you will eventually become familiar with the faces of some capable people.

“The other members didn’t come?”

“The other two are on different missions.”

“Leo took Tristin with him on the northern mission.”

It seemed like the two of them, including Tristin, who was from the North, were carrying out the mission alone.

“… Correct.”

Leo looked at Luke as if he had discovered a strange creature.

But I wonder if the blood is still connected.

Looking at it this way, it looks like Ellin and her eyes are similar.

“What kind of mission are you here for?”

Leo pointed to his mouth without saying anything.

It meant that there was a ban.

“Is this a mission related to Elin?”

“I can tell you about that much. It’s very relevant.”

“It must be something to do with the curse.”

Leo confirmed his agreement with silence.

“Can you tell me anything about the curse?”

“That’s right. But it’s already been revealed… .”

Leo glanced at Tristin.

“… No way. Right? ”

“I don’t think it would be a bad idea to go together.”

“Are you crazy, Captain?”

Tristin let out a laugh.

“How can a secret task force accompany an outsider?”

“Isn’t this an exceptional situation? If we leave it like this, not only Elin but also the North will continue to be in danger.”

“That’s…but….”

Tristin bit her lip tightly.

There was a conflict between the principles of the secret task force and the goals of this mission.

“A companion? Where should we go together?”

Leo looked at Tristin.

I meant to ask if it was okay to tell you this much.

“Haa… Just tell me the color of the underwear you’re wearing today.”

Tristin muttered, sighing deeply.

“It’s a cave. I checked it before and there were traces of people already being there. Are you a senior?”

“Yes. As I approached, the princess fell asleep as if she had collapsed.”

“Huh? Does that have anything to do with the cave?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Leo opened his mouth and then…

He let out a sigh as if he was frustrated.

“There’s not much I can explain in words. I think it’s best to show you.”

“I think so.”

Luke looked at Elin and thought for a moment.

Should I stay by Elin’s side?

Should I follow the secret task force and find out the secret of the curse?

I put the importance on a scale.

It didn’t take long for a conclusion to be reached.

“Let’s go together. I’ll tell the others separately.”

“Good idea.”

“Teacher.”

Ellen held Luke’s collar tightly.

“Don’t do anything dangerous.”

“It won’t be dangerous. The secret task force is right next to you.”

“No. It’ll be dangerous. Maybe more dangerous than you think.”

“… … ”

If you say that, what does that make Luke?

Kuk.

Elin’s hands gripped her collar with strength.

The fool stood firm as if he had no intention of letting go.

“If we continue like this, we will never be able to remove the princess’s curse. Could you please allow me to go?”

“… … ”

“I’ll just get the information and come back quickly.”

“… … ”

“I’m not a space wizard. I can run away whenever it’s dangerous.”

“… Okay.”

After some persuasion, the strength left Elin’s hands.

“You have to be careful. If you get hurt, I won’t let you go.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Luke tried to open a portal.

I was thinking of leaving Elin in the care of Anne and Dianne.

“Elin. You should go too.”

Leo said in a firm voice.

Tristin nodded from the side.

“That’s right. Without Princess Elin, we wouldn’t be able to enter the cave.”

“… Yes?”

“Then, the barrier… … Ah, I can’t explain it because of the ban. Anyway, we have to go together.”

The moment when the root of my tongue was about to catch fire.

Tristin quickly changed his tone.

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens to you, Senior, I will protect Princess Elin even if it means dying.”

“What a reassuring word.”

Coincidentally, it seems that the key point of the secret task force mission is Elin.

Anyway, it’s fortunate that Elin’s safety has been secured.

“Finally, until this is over.”

Leo added a warning.

“Don’t let Elin sleep.”

“… … Yes?”

The more you talk to the secret task force, the more you talk to them.

My desire to quickly find out what the curse was all about only grew stronger.