Ch.333The World’s NPCs in Uproar (8)

[My lord, you’ve grown quite lazy, haven’t you? Sprawling out asleep in the middle of enemy territory with women all around you, even drooling. In my youth, I couldn’t have imagined such a thing.]

What woke me from my nap with everyone was the Headmaster’s voice echoing in my head.

‘Good grief, what is this?’

[What do you mean, what? It’s a magic spell I developed called Mind Casting. You were sleeping with such a stupid look on your face that I used you as a test subject, and it seems to be working properly.]

Huh? This magic never appeared in the game? Could the Headmaster use telepathy-like magic like this? As I pondered blankly, the Headmaster’s voice asked, ‘Game? Appear? Telepathy? What are you talking about?’ Wait a minute. Is she reading my thoughts too?!

[Tsk. There’s a lot of noise, and I can’t make sense of what you’re saying. Have you heard of similar magic somewhere? Telepathy… that’s a better name than Mind Casting. Who created it?]

‘…Please don’t read my mind without permission. More importantly, how do I disconnect this?’

[Tsk. You ask how to disconnect before asking why I woke you up. Both you and my assistant lack respect and reverence for your elders…]

‘It’s a bit much to expect respect and reverence from someone who left behind a garbage supervisor who tried to kill children.’

[……]

When I deliberately said something she absolutely wouldn’t want to hear to prevent her from prying into my mind, she seemed genuinely speechless for a moment before getting straight to the point.

[The preparations are complete. Come now. …]

No voice followed after that, and there was no sign she would speak again. Phew, I almost revealed everything about the game and reincarnation. I probably hurt her feelings by touching on what must be an extremely sensitive topic for her, but that’s what she gets for reading someone’s mind without permission.

As I slowly twisted my body to avoid waking Ira beside me, I received a status window message from Gor.

[I sensed the Headmaster’s magical power. Did something happen?]

“…Telepathy. She cast a magic that transmits and reads thoughts on me. I almost revealed everything about my past life memories.”

“…That was more serious than I expected.”

Noticing I was trying to get up, Gor first rose and gently moved Ray and Ragni off my legs, then carefully transferred Ira’s head to the pillow before looking around. Huh? What’s he doing?

“Would you like me to block the Headmaster’s magic next time? I believe I can shield you.”

“…Well, don’t block it completely. Could you perhaps intercept it instead? We should still hear if it’s something important.”

“It will be a bit more difficult, but possible. I’ll set it up so I receive it instead.”

Gor began making some adjustments, saying he would configure the status window to receive messages even when he wasn’t around. After finishing, he smiled with satisfaction and assured me that no one would be able to read my mind next time.

Wow, why is Gor becoming more and more capable? Anyway, since the Headmaster said preparations were complete, I should go.

“Preparations, you say? What are you planning to…”

“We need to enter the Imperial capital. I’ll go to the Headmaster first, so wake everyone up and come at your own pace.”

“What? You’re not going together…”

“Look at their condition. They’re sleeping against my legs with hair in their mouths. How can I make them move like this? Besides, they’ll be hungry when they wake up. Get them something to eat.”

That was my excuse, but beautiful girls sleeping with their hair down is truly a sight to behold. It’s so enchanting I’d rather take a picture to preserve the moment.

And truthfully, since I said something to upset the Headmaster, she’s probably scowling right now. I want to go smooth things over before the others meet her. Without explaining this part to Gor, I left the room first, and sure enough…

“I came as requested.”

“……”

A middle-aged woman who looked extremely angry—or more precisely, sulking—was staring at me with lifeless violet eyes similar to Ira’s, her lips pursed. Wow, she even has the same eye color as Ira. How can she look so intimidating?

“Um, you said preparations were complete. What kind of preparations…”

“……”

“…I apologize for what I said earlier. When you suddenly started reading my thoughts, I blurted out something harsh because I didn’t want you to discover things I’d rather keep private.”

“Hmph!!”

My shoulders involuntarily jumped when the Headmaster snorted forcefully after hearing my explanation. Like a genuinely sulking child, she turned her head sharply before finally speaking.

“That magic was incomplete. I didn’t know it would have the effect of reading the other person’s mind. I apologize for that part as well. But I’m human too. Those incidents left indelible scars on me, and you jabbed at them. Are you some kind of beast?”

“I’m truly sorry. But I was startled when my mind was suddenly exposed.”

I smiled awkwardly, suggesting we move past this, and she relaxed her expression and sighed, rising from her seat. Phew, did that resolve things?

“So, why did you come alone?”

“The others are just waking up and will come after freshening up. You said preparations were complete. What should we do?”

“There’s nothing much to do. The matter will be settled once my assistant and your women arrive.”

After saying that, the Headmaster fell silent, gazing at the darkening night sky. A few minutes later, when our group arrived, she spoke again.

“I can’t guarantee that the method I’ve devised will be 100% effective against the defensive magic, but there’s a possibility of success. From now on, only the people present here will approach the capital. Since this involves danger, my disciple, you…”

“I’m going too!!”

“She’s coming with us.”

When Ira and I interrupted the Headmaster, who seemed reluctant to bring Ira to a dangerous place, she sighed deeply and pulled a long staff from thin air, striking the ground. Then…

“Huh? It’s teleportation.”

“””Eh?”””

As Ira tilted her head in confusion, the floor beneath us glowed, and our surroundings completely changed. Wait, could this be…

“…This is right in front of the capital, isn’t it?”

Ragni’s voice echoed with disbelief. We had been teleported to the entrance of the Imperial capital—a distance that would take two days on horseback from Helgot’s domain.

*

“This is absurd. Having a meal right in front of enemy territory.”

“…Well, whose fault is that?”

“Nom nom nom.”

Despite her words, the Headmaster herself had finished the sandwich Gor gave her. She explained that while we were sleeping, she had come to the Imperial capital first to set up a fixed teleportation point before returning. So that was what she meant by preparations being complete? Oh, Ira, you have something on your mouth. It’s probably hard to see in the dark.

“Tsk. There’s something on your mouth.”

-Swish.

While Ira, who had the smallest mouth among us and ate the slowest, was still eating her sandwich, the Headmaster naturally waved her staff to remove the sauce from Ira’s mouth. She was so quick that Gor had already pulled out a handkerchief but stopped mid-motion.

“Gulp! That was delicious.”

“Thank you for enjoying the meal.”

“Good. Now that everyone has finished eating, I’ll explain what I’ve prepared.”

“Hey, what exactly did you prepare? Don’t tell me you found a way for someone other than royalty to enter?”

When Ragni cut off the Headmaster before she could speak, looking incredulous, the Headmaster dismissed her with a ‘Just listen first’ and continued.

“If only royalty can enter the barrier, I predict it’s one of two things. I’ve already discussed this with my assistant and you.”

“Yes.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“We haven’t heard about this.”

“I heard the gist of it. Only Ray hasn’t heard.”

“What?! When?!”

“Gor, I didn’t hear either?”

“Ah, I apologize, Lady Ira.”

“Well then, how far does ‘royalty’ extend? Assistant, answer me.”

Ignoring Gor’s teasing remark, the Headmaster prompted Ragni to answer, which she did immediately.

“Obviously the current Emperor and those connected by blood to me. There are nobles who married into the imperial family without succession rights, but you destroyed the Helgot ducal house, which was the main bloodline. As for other nobles with imperial blood, they’re too distant to be considered royalty.”

“And?”

“Hm?”

“There’s more, isn’t there?”

“…Well, like my late mother?”

Satisfied with the answer, the Headmaster waved her staff again, producing a silver cup and a small knife from nowhere. Wait, is that like an item box? How does she make things appear and disappear like that?

“Yes. The current Emperor’s wife, as I understand, was a princess from a vassal state of the Empire. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right… Wait, you can’t mean!!”

Ragni seemed to understand immediately and tried to stop the Headmaster in alarm, but she handed the knife to me. Um, what’s this for?

“Your blood is needed for the magic formula. Cut your wrist with that dagger and fill about one-fifth of the cup.”

“Oh, damn.”

The cup isn’t large, but one-fifth is still quite a bit. And why with a knife? Couldn’t she just use magic to make a quick cut? This is making me nervous.

“That knife prevents the magical energy in the flowing blood from being contaminated by other magical forces. Ira, can you see the magic formula on the knife?”

“Yes! And there are healing spells and sharpening spells on it too!”

“Correct.”

Making me cut my wrist in front of my sister is bad enough, but having her check the magic formula on the knife? Who’s the beast now?

As I stood there bewildered, wondering if this was revenge for earlier, she urged me on by shaking the cup. Fine, whatever.

-Stab!

“Ugh.”

The sensation of the blade cutting through my flesh like tofu was surprisingly painless. When I pulled the knife that had so easily pierced my skin, blood began gushing out at an alarming rate…

“…I said one-fifth. Are you trying to fill the entire cup yourself?”

“This is my first time doing something like this.”

As I filled the cup with my blood, the Headmaster grabbed my wrist with an exasperated look and began healing it with magic. Wow, it looks about half full? But Ira, why do you keep watching your brother’s blood being drawn? Is it entertaining?

“Hehehe, I think big brother’s blood is pretty!”

“Haha! How embarrassing.”

“…Is this something to be embarrassed about?”

“For once, I don’t understand Lady Ira and Master’s sensibilities.”

The peanut gallery is noisy. Ignoring Ray and Gor’s comments, I smiled bashfully with Ira while the Headmaster ignored us all and turned to Ragni with the cup and knife.

“Now it’s your turn.”

“Urgh!! H-Headmaster!! Do you know what this means?!!”

“Would I do this without knowing? Hurry up. Even though the cup is made of silver and protected by a magic formula, it can’t prevent contamination indefinitely in front of such a powerful barrier.”

Couldn’t we have done this before coming here? As if noticing my questioning expression, Ira explained to me. If this cup came into contact with the Headmaster’s teleportation magic after activating the spell, the entire cup could be contaminated. Oh, our Ira is so smart!

“J-Jack!! This is no time to be giggling with Ira! Do you know what you’re doing?!”

“Hmm? I do.”

“I know too! Hehe!”

“What…?!!”

Of course I know—it was my idea in the first place. But I’m surprised Ira knows too. So she approved of this? That makes big brother happy!

Seeing Ragni’s face turn as red as her eyes in shock, and the Headmaster impassively holding out the cup and knife to her, Ray spoke up curiously.

“Um, what kind of ritual is this? Does magic normally require human blood?”

“Well. Normally not this much. But this magic formula…”

“This is!!”

Cutting off the Headmaster who was about to explain naturally to Ray, Ragni shouted first.

“This is the Empire’s traditional wedding ceremony!! If we mix this blood and drink it, Jack and I will be eternally bound by blood!! It’s m-marriage!!”

I think I heard Ray’s jaw drop at Ragni’s outburst.