Chapter 463: How Can I Resist This? |
Chapter 463: How Can I Resist This?
After leaving the room, during breakfast, Shien mentioned Diere’s situation to the rest of Vivian’s squad.
Naturally, they were startled.
“Diere went to the Empire alone?”
“H-how could she do that…!”
Melika and Lumia stood up involuntarily, at a loss.
Vivian’s expression also changed.
Although she didn’t know about Mara, Vivian knew about the Raifurut family in the Empire.
Diere actually went to the Empire alone. Wasn’t this walking into a trap?
“Did Diere do this on her own?”
Vivian looked at Shien and asked seriously.
“It was her own decision.” Shien ate his breakfast calmly, as if it was just a minor matter. “Although it’s a bit reckless, judging from her demeanor, this matter is very important to her. Knowing her personality, I couldn’t stop her.”
Vivian fell silent.
Lumia and Melika, on the other hand, quickly said,
“Then let’s go find her now.”
This was Melika’s thought.
“E-even if we can’t bring Diere back, at least it’s better if we all go together.”
Lumia also looked worried.
“Do you think I didn’t consider that?” Shien rolled his eyes. “But she thinks it’s more convenient for her to infiltrate the Empire alone. Too many people would attract attention, especially me.”
In other words, Diere wanted to act alone, not with them.
“This…”
Melika and Lumia were even more at a loss.
“Alright, calm down.” Vivian finally spoke, comforting the two girls. “Since Diere has made this decision, it means she has her own thoughts and reasons. Let’s respect her choice.”
Vivian had already accepted it.
“…Is this really okay?”
“…Diere.”
Melika and Lumia, however, still looked very uneasy, their worry for Diere evident.
“Don’t worry.” Shien couldn’t help but say, “Going to the Empire alone is indeed reckless, but she’s Diere, she’s definitely more thoughtful than you, and very reliable. Perhaps things aren’t as bad as we imagine.”
Shien didn’t know if he was saying this to reassure others or himself.
After all, it was impossible for him to not be worried at all.
But Diere had pleaded with him, what else could Shien do?
Just as Shien himself said, she was Diere, the second most talented person in the Kingdom, also blessed by the Goddess of Fate, just like Lucy. She wasn’t a delicate flower that needed to be kept in a greenhouse.
If she had something she wanted to do, Shien could only let her do it.
However, he couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have been so gentle last night. I should have made her unable to get out of bed today. Let’s see how she would go then.”
Shien thought fiercely.
Unfortunately, Diere wasn’t a pushover either. Although petite and usually silent, she was more proactive, even more… daring, than a certain number one princess.
Yes, daring.
Having already unlocked achievements comparable to Lucy’s accumulated ones in one go, how could she not be daring?
Shien even wanted to shout—”I’m completely drained!”
This showed that Diere’s recovery and stamina were truly impressive…
Ahem, getting off track.
“Anyway, don’t worry.”
Shien comforted the girls.
What else could they do?
They could only pray for Diere’s safety with lingering worry.
Naturally, Nadue, who had returned, saw all of this.
“That child actually made such a choice?”
Nadue frowned, then expanded her senses, merging with nature, extending her “vision” to the entire human world.
Countless images, scenes, and situations transformed into tangible information, flooding Nadue’s mind.
Nadue couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable.
Although Nadue could merge with nature and monitor the entire world, if she constantly monitored everything happening in every corner of the world, the sheer amount of information would give her a headache.
Therefore, Nadue rarely extended her vision to the entire world.
If she only focused on one target, it would be much easier.
So, Nadue usually only monitored one target. If there were multiple targets, she would give instructions to nature, having flowers, plants, trees, and other beings “watch” on her behalf, notifying her if anything happened.
Now, to find Diere, Nadue expanded her vision and looked elsewhere.
Fortunately, Diere hadn’t left the capital for long, so Nadue didn’t need to extend her vision too far and easily found her.
At this moment, Diere had changed her attire, using some magic tool to disguise herself, and had joined a merchant caravan.
The caravan’s destination was the Imperial Capital. Diere, as an adventurer, had accepted an escort mission, using the caravan’s carriages to travel towards the Empire inconspicuously.
“Quite a clever child.”
Nadue hadn’t expected Diere to travel to the Empire this way.
“I’ll let the flowers, plants, and trees watch over that child. If anything happens, I can use a revelation to inform the Hero and have him help.”
As Nadue thought this, she couldn’t help but smile because of something else she discovered.
“Perhaps there’s no need for that.”
Nadue looked at Shien, who was comforting Melika and Lumia, a meaningful look in her eyes.
…
Meanwhile, some distance away from the caravan Diere was in, a figure suddenly appeared on the crown of a large tree, looking at the caravan traveling north towards the Empire, kicking up dust.
“This Diere is quite clever, actually going to the Empire this way.”
Leisha murmured.
“This way, it would be difficult for the Empire to discover her.”
That being said, Leisha still felt it was troublesome.
“If she used spatial transfer magic, she could reach the Empire in about a day, and enter the Imperial Capital in a day and a half at most. Why bother with a caravan?”
Leisha sighed.
“Forget it, he only asked me to secretly follow Diere and rescue her if she encounters any danger. I don’t care about the rest.”
Yes.
Leisha was here because of Shien’s request, to protect Diere.
With this truly elusive Spatial Magic user, not only did she not have to worry about being exposed, but she could also watch over Diere from a safe distance, silently intervening if Diere encountered any trouble.
Leisha didn’t refuse Shien’s request.
“I’m bored of the capital anyway. It’s time for a change of scenery.”
Yes, she only came out to play because she was bored of staying in the capital, definitely not because she was afraid of being discovered by someone like Lildas or Anima if she moved around in the capital.
Of course, it also wasn’t because of Shien’s threat, “If you refuse, I’ll report you, not only to the Divine Race, but also to the Kingdom,” that she had to agree.
…Really?
…Definitely not!
However…
“Why can’t I bring Lasha with me?” Leisha gritted her teeth and muttered to herself, “That guy must be planning something with Lasha, right?”
For this mission, Shien used the excuse that “it’s not suitable to bring along a cumbersome attendant” and had Leisha carry it out alone.
Lasha was left at the Buztout mansion, making Leisha extremely worried.
Especially since Lasha had said to her before leaving,
“Don’t worry, Milady. I’m experienced. I know what to do.”
Lasha’s calm words, however, didn’t reassure Leisha, but instead filled her with deep worry.
“Ah, I’m so worried, so worried…”
Leisha couldn’t help but scratch the tree bark.
But what could she do?
She couldn’t fight against someone with so many powerful backers. Leisha didn’t dare to offend Shien.
Otherwise, knowing Shien, she would definitely suffer a terrible fate.
“Damn Shien, I curse you to never find your utensils when eating, have no water when using the toilet, lose money when trying to earn it, lose your wallet when trying to buy things, step on poop on the road, fall down in the bathroom, and be interrupted and forced to stop every time you want to get intimate with that princess…!”
Leisha began to mutter curses resentfully, completely unaware that last night, a certain goddess had cursed him with almost the exact same words.
The only difference was that the goddess’s curse would actually come true, but she canceled it herself in the end.
And Leisha’s curse was just empty words.
“Really…”
After a long while, Leisha sighed, as if resigning herself to fate, turned around, and vanished.
The caravan in the distance continued to travel at high speed, soon disappearing down the road.
…
At this time, Shien had also left the Buztout mansion and was heading towards the palace.
He didn’t walk, but rode Yulin directly.
In the capital, many people saw this scene, looking up at the black dragon in the sky with envy and jealousy.
Yulin had become Shien’s iconic symbol, attracting such gazes whenever she appeared.
Shien ignored them and had Yulin land in the palace.
Since becoming the princess’s fiancé, he had gained this privilege, being able to freely enter the palace on a dragon.