Ch.302Following NPC. (5)

I ran like hell from the morning. I really ran like fucking hell.

“They said it would take a week, but I ran so hard I arrived in just five days!!”

And there it is. Once again, the Queen’s Beam pierces through the bright sky, and I run with all my might. Damn it, why?!!

What I saw when I arrived after all that running was a level 500+ magician. Some unknown hooded figure in a robe was attacking Ragni with five massive fireballs. And when I saw Ragni aiming her gun at that bastard, I…

‘I absolutely cannot let her use that attack…!!!’

Ragni’s Queen Beam would turn those massive fireballs into absolute nothing. Judging by her serious expression as she aimed at those red eyes, she was definitely planning to fire at full power. I’ve already seen the devastation of that full-power Queen Beam in the game. It punched a hole through that massive palace and carved an eight-lane highway straight through the Imperial capital in one shot. If that attack were unleashed here, the death toll wouldn’t stop at just 100 or 200…!!

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!!”

I extend my fist toward the fireballs heading for Ragni, detonating them instantly. The sight of the magician below jumping in shock is amusing, but since they tried to get us caught in the blast, I hope they just die. Then, I see Ragni losing her balance and falling from the rooftop where she was aiming her gun. Relieved that the attack was canceled, I kick off the opposite wall and fly at full speed to catch her… Wait, why is that guy—? No way.

*GRAB!!*

“I know I’ve been away for a while, and you’ve got more women around you now. I know I’m not exactly a saint, but I don’t like you suddenly switching to someone else. Even if that Royal Guard gentleman is handsome.”

The Queen’s Royal Guard from the game. The main cause of Ragni’s stat increases, the interference unit in the Ragni raid, and the one who keeps reviving with insane recovery abilities. He rushed over so hastily that Ragni got squeezed between us. Worried she might get hurt, I slow down, approach them, and snatch her away into my arms.

Fuck, he really is handsome. While both he and Ragni are flustered by my words—and Ragni even more so after I plant a jealous kiss on her forehead—I ask her: Are you really awakening as a boss? Are you trying to destroy the Empire? Are you planning to assassinate your father and take the throne?!

“…Gulp! W-well! Suddenly I started feeling like killing Father~? And maybe blowing up the Empire~? Those thoughts have been coming to me lately…?!!”

I press my lips against hers.

No. Please don’t do this. I’ve spanked women who followed me because I liked them, pushed away those I didn’t want, acted like a dog despite being a tiger, and drove people away because I’m a player class. But you asked me to come after you, didn’t you? I promised to protect you, even putting a slave collar on you. So why do you suddenly need to become a patricidal queen?

No matter how disgusting the Empire’s actions are, I don’t want you to become like that. If it’s really necessary, I’ll make a grave for your father-in-law right next to my father’s. Okay? Let’s not do this.

After sharing a deep kiss with our tongues intertwined, I slowly gaze into her red eyes. Please, please. Was it Snow White or Cinderella who came to her senses this way? Well, they woke up after sleeping, but you’re already awake. Can’t you come to your senses with this? I don’t want to solve my woman’s problems with my fists.

“Heeung. Umm… If I say I still want to kill Father, will you kiss me again?♡”

“…If you promise not to kill him?”

“I absolutely promise!!”

Maybe her heart hasn’t turned as black as I feared. When I saw her with the Royal Guard from the game, I thought she had completely fallen to the boss queen path, but it seems that’s not the case. Phew.

*Smooch*

“That’s it for today, since you made me worry.”

“…Hehe. This is nice too♥”

After giving her another light kiss, I look ahead to see the Royal Guard standing there, staring blankly at Ragni and me. But how did she meet this guy anyway? Did he cause Ragni’s corruption? Fuck, should I kill him?

“M-my lady. W-who is this person? Suddenly k-kissing…”

“Hehehe. My husband! My master!”

*Tap tap tap!*

“Your Highness!! …and Sir Jack?!”

“Oh, you! Aren’t you Kyaru?”

“It’s Dolph!!”

The assassin who got beaten by me, forgiven by Ragni, and then returned to the Empire. When the man I remembered as Kyaru shouts his name, I think, “Ah, so that was his name?” and nod. Well, I cut ties with him so cleanly that his name got fixed as Kyaru in my memory.

I put Ragni down, and she happily clings to my arm. Mmm, soft. Somehow, she’s in a much less dark state than I expected, which is reassuring. Well, she’s always had quite dark tendencies.

“So, who was that attacker just now? An assassin sent by the Empire? They seemed pretty strong.”

A magician exceeding level 500—I don’t remember seeing any magician in this world over 500 except for the Academy’s Headmaster. Was there someone like that in the Empire…?

“Huh? That was the Headmaster.”

“…What?”

What are you talking about? The Headmaster has red hair. When I blasted that person away, their hair was black.

“Ptooey! Damn it. Yes, it’s me. You must have come from far away. Did you not recognize me because of the illusion?”

“…Huh?”

The person who should have died in the massive explosion I caused slowly floats over, spits out blood-mixed saliva, and begins to change their appearance. Wait, seriously?!

“N-no! Why was the Headmaster attacking Ragni?! This is the middle of the city, and that magic just now…!!”

“Tch!! I don’t want to explain. How annoying. You explain it to him. I got injured reducing the damage from that explosion earlier. I’ll be back at the building, so clean up this mess and come back.”

After revealing herself to me, the Headmaster gives me a genuinely annoyed look, then mutters, “Damn it, I got ambushed and even suffered internal injuries trying to reduce the explosion’s power. And then these horny youngsters are just making out…” as she floats away. Uh, what the hell is going on here?!

“Um, bro? I’ll explain as we walk. Your Highness, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Hmm? Ah, my legs feel a bit weak. Jack, won’t you carry me?”

“…I’m feeling a bit dizzy too, but okay…”

After picking up Ragni, who keeps rubbing against me, I start following the ex-assassin Dolph, who says:

“Mac, have the troops handle the cleanup when they arrive. Spread the word that there was an attack by the pro-faction, and Her Highness resolved it.”

“Ah, yes, Royal Guard…”

After giving instructions to the game’s Royal Guard as if he were a subordinate, he begins guiding me as I carry Ragni.

What’s going on? Was I misunderstanding something?

*

“…I see. So that’s how it was.”

“That’s right.”

*THWACK!!*

“Kyahng!!♡”

“Oww!!”

After hearing the whole story from Dolph and confirming it with the resting Headmaster, I immediately delivered a knock on the heads of both Dolph and Ragni. These idiots!!!

“Ragni!! Even if there was a problem, you should have waited for me, not acted on your own! And you, Kyaru, you bastard! Why are you asking us to solve Imperial problems?!! Is this how you repay kindness with enmity?!!”

“Haung♥! S-sorry!!”

“Ugh, it’s not K-Kyaru but Dol—Anyway, I really couldn’t think of anyone else but you and Her Highness!”

“And Headmaster!! You’re a problem too!!”

“How so.”

“Come on, you can’t just launch such a crazy attack because someone won’t listen! If that had hit directly, wouldn’t it have half-destroyed this city?!”

“Ha! What do you take my control abilities for? I was only planning to scorch that immediate area. I was confident I could adjust it to prevent fatalities. Even the explosion you recklessly caused only blew away the rooftop.”

“That’s still a problem!!!”

Ragni smiles happily after getting knocked on the head by me. Dolph makes excuses with an aggrieved look. And the Headmaster remains proud. It’s chaos after a long time.

Sigh, really. I thought Ragni had turned into a boss and was acting separately to kill the Emperor, but she was just trying to prevent a war. Hearing that she’s figured out how to use her skills feels like a 10-year-old indigestion finally clearing up.

“Haah. So, what about our friends?”

“Something definitely happened at Muller’s territory too, but that seems to have been resolved as well. According to information from the Imperial Newspaper, the opposing faction’s territory is safe for now.”

“I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t think Ira and everyone would follow me.”

“You really need to apologize for that. To me, and to Ira and Ray Gore too.”

“…Yeah.”

Unlike when she got knocked on the head, Ragni’s response seems genuinely remorseful, making me furrow my brow. Sigh. I understand she was trying to protect Ira’s friendship and daily life in her own way. But I clearly told her: if there’s a problem, talk about it. If there’s something you want, don’t hold back—talk about it. Even if we can’t work it out through discussion, knowing about it is completely different from being in the dark.

“I’m really sorry. I thought you’d worry, and… I thought I could finish it quickly.”

“And as a result, you worried the Headmaster, me, and everyone else, right?”

“Ugh…”

“Anyway. I guess my babysitting role is over now.”

“…Ah, yes.”

After finishing the conversation, the Headmaster dusts off her dirt-covered clothes and starts to move. Ah, wait.

“Um, don’t you want to hear about the Spirit King?”

“I’ll hear about it later in Neatie. Right now, I’m not in the mood to be distracted by other stories.”

“I see. Well, the Spirit King said we could meet soon.”

“…Is that so. Thank you. I’ll really hear the rest in Neatie.”

“I also want to thank you. For accepting Ira as your disciple, raising her, and watching over the kids with concern.”

I stand up and bow my head in gratitude to her. She must have gone through a lot due to this strange situation, and even got ambushed by me at the end. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was angry, but she’s just grumbling without showing real anger.

“It’s fine. Now that you’re back, I can rest assured about ‘our troublemaker assistant.’ I’m going to strike the Imperial capital now. According to you, Ponia is barely holding off the Empire’s surprise attack.”

“Please be careful. On the way here, I didn’t see any sign of Greed’s main body. Perhaps…”

“You mean it might be in the capital. What an annoying ability to even hear about. Still, it’s not something I can’t handle.”

Despite knowing the possibility that one of the Seven Deadly Sins might be in the capital based on my information, the Headmaster says she’ll move to end the war quickly. She says she’s busy because she needs to crush the Empire and then immediately crush the Church. She really is a deus ex machina, so reliable. As for me…

“Ragni.”

“Jack, I…”

“Absolutely not. Come with me. Just follow me.”

“……”

I’ll take this stubborn princess back to our group. I want all of you to gather by my side.