Ch.9089. Raid (5)

# 89. Raid (5)

“Don’t tell me I already have to go get that ‘approval’ thing?”

“Well… that’s a long story to explain…”

“Let me explain it.”

For some reason, Riel, who seemed quite excited, began the story.

“It all started when you two posted that couple photo on social media…”

***

About a week ago.

A certain photo was uploaded to the social media account of the Imperial Princess, Elizabeth Michael.

When the Empress saw that photo, she ran to her husband, showed it to him, and said:

“Honey! Look at these two! Don’t they make such a wonderful couple?”

The Emperor looked at the photo of his daughter and the boy who had protected both his wife and daughter, wearing matching rings and hats.

“I don’t know… What if they break up after showing off like this to everyone?”

“From what Riel told me, that’s absolutely not going to happen.”

Riel had given the Empress very detailed information about how the couple was doing and how they treated each other.

The Empress found these stories fascinating and always listened attentively whenever Riel shared such information.

“So what, are you suggesting we have them engaged?”

“Oh? Can we do that?”

“Of course not.”

The Emperor’s firm stance was expected.

No matter how grateful he was to the boy for saving his wife, he couldn’t so easily give away his precious daughter.

“So is that test for the ‘approval’ or whatever really necessary?”

“Well… yes, it is.”

“Then how can he receive it?”

Though reluctant to answer, he didn’t particularly mind, so he provided an answer to the question.

“If he can prove to me that he’s strong enough to protect Ally, and that he truly loves her…”

“That reminds me of the old days. Back then, my mother-in-law said something similar: ‘Will you stand by my son even if this country falls?'”

“I was really shocked back then.”

It seemed that this “test” was some kind of tradition passed down through generations in the Kainis royal family.

“Tell Ally directly when she comes.”

“That’s fine, I’ve already heard everything.”

They were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn’t even noticed she had approached them.

“My daughter! How long have you been here?”

“I’ve been listening from the beginning.”

Hearing her words, the Emperor spoke in a solemn voice quite different from before.

“Daughter, do you think that little boy truly loves you? You’re going to be the Emperor of this country.”

“Yes, I can be certain of that.”

Her confident voice and expression caught him off guard.

“Why are you so certain? As far as I know, you’ve only been dating for about 1-2 months.”

“Something happened that makes me sure.”

“I won’t ask what it was. You must have your reasons for not telling me.”

The Emperor composed himself again and continued.

“Still, think about it once more. You still have half a year left.”

It was clear that he also hoped his daughter wouldn’t end up in a political marriage.

“Yes, Father.”

After saying that, she was about to return to her room with Riel to prepare to go back to the academy.

The Emperor, smiling at being called “Father” instead of “Your Majesty,” said to her:

“And I’d like to meet that boy within a month, if possible.”

“Um… I’ll ask him first.”

***

“And that’s how we ended up in this situation.”

“Why didn’t you tell me for a whole week?”

“Well… I thought if I told Albert, he’d want to meet right away…”

Indeed, I probably would have done exactly that, and it would have been quite burdensome for her.

So I understood why she delayed telling me.

I mulled over the details of the test that Riel had mentioned earlier.

“But, ‘strong enough to protect’… I really need to pass this…”

Just thinking about it made me nervous.

Even in my previous life, I had never faced the Emperor in combat.

‘And now I’ll be facing him like this…’

I felt nervous, but also excited and a little thrilled.

The strongest human of this era—the only human who, according to current analysis, would win against Bael by a narrow margin.

And in fact, she had made such an assessment in my previous life as well.

-The Demon Lord is certainly strong. But not as strong as Father.-

Coming from her, who had directly fought Bael, it was all the more credible.

That’s how strong the Emperor was—strong enough that the current me couldn’t even touch a hair on his head.

But that’s precisely why I was excited.

“You seem quite looking forward to it for some reason?”

“It’s been a really long time since I fought someone with such a gap in strength.”

It would be my first such fight since I first fought her.

“Of course I’m excited.”

“I sometimes get the feeling that you really enjoy fighting? Like you take pleasure in it? Something like that.”

“Because it’s fun.”

Fighting, and hunting, had always been there to comfort me.

They were both a means to prove my worth and my only form of entertainment.

“Fighting is fun… Oh… That reminds me of someone.”

I couldn’t guess who she was referring to.

There was no one around me, besides myself, who purely enjoyed fighting like I did, and she wasn’t that type either.

“Who?”

“I’m talking about Father.”

“Ah~ I knew that.”

I had heard it directly from her before.

That her father quite enjoyed fighting.

“And indeed, it’s a level that can’t be reached without seriously loving combat.”

It made sense, considering he was a monster who, at less than 50 years of age, had caught up to Bael, who was the strongest and oldest among demons who easily lived for hundreds of years.

“And you two are surprisingly similar.”

Hearing that, Riel said:

“Your appearances are quite different, but Albert gives off a wolf-like impression, while His Majesty the Emperor feels more like a tiger.”

“In terms of usual behavior, it’s the opposite. Albert is always alone, unlike a wolf.”

Although I’d been spending less time alone lately, I certainly didn’t try to spend time with anyone except her.

“That seems less true these days.”

“These days he is like a wolf, moving in a pack.”

“So when are you planning to meet him?”

Riel seemed to want to wrap up the earlier conversation.

Or perhaps she had been instructed to get a specific schedule for the Empress.

“I’m fine with this weekend or next weekend.”

“The Princess doesn’t mind either, right?”

“Yes… I don’t mind.”

“Then let’s make it this weekend. Neither of you should have any schedules then. Probably…”

After we nodded, Riel took out her phone and disappeared somewhere.

We just stared blankly at her retreating figure.

“Senior Riel sure handles things quickly.”

“Too quickly, that’s the problem.”

I took my eyes off Riel’s now-invisible back and said:

“I’m hungry. Want to go eat?”

“They’re still serving?”

“Yes, there’s still plenty of time left. About 50 minutes.”

Since our party members had gone right at the start of dinner time, it felt like a lot of time had passed, but there were still 50 minutes left in the dinner period.

“Let’s go then. We need to keep clearing the dungeon after this.”

We quickly headed to the dining hall, and the party members who had gone ahead were still eating.

I don’t know if they were eating late or had ordered a lot, but it was good that we could eat together.

Looking at Allin’s tray, which still had quite a lot of food left, I said:

“Why do you eat so much?”

“Because I’m hungry. What did you order?”

“Bulgogi set.”

“Give me some of that, just the bulgogi.”

I chuckled.

“No way. Oh, here it comes.”

Just then, my bulgogi set arrived, and since I was quite hungry, I devoured it quickly.

After finishing my meal, I was eating a hot dog for dessert.

“Why do you eat so fast?”

“You’re the one eating slowly.”

Allin only finished her meal after I had completely finished my hot dog.

I knew she ate slowly, but I didn’t realize she was this slow.

‘Was I just not paying attention before…?’

I usually don’t pay attention to others while eating, but today, since she was sitting right next to me, I couldn’t help but notice.

As I cleared my tray and saw Allin looking for the other party members, I said:

“Let’s go, everyone went ahead.”

“They actually left first…”

“Can’t be helped.”

“So what’s the training schedule from today?”

I had posted the changed schedule in our group chat last Saturday, but this troublemaker still had to ask me directly.

“Today we’ll stick with the original teams, and from tomorrow, only the team leaders will change for sparring. After dinner, we’ll all tackle the dungeon together. Got it?”

“I actually knew all along.”

She was truly something else.

She had always been like this, but today it seemed to annoy me more than usual.

“What’s with your attitude today?”

“I think it’s better than yours.”

“What? What nonsense is that?”

“I’m much nicer than you.”

We continued exchanging such pleasant remarks as we headed to the dungeon exploration room where our party members would be.

‘Really… being with this kid makes me childish too… but…’

“It’s not so bad.”