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Chapter 148. Floating Time

Well then, today too, I’m Zilbagias, drowning in training in the Reiju Territory. After waking up at dusk, I do a light spar, have a meal, do some exercise to digest, march and train in the forest, fill my belly with a barbecue, take a bath, and then study tactics…

That’s how my days go.

“Okay, that’s it for today!”

—Or so I thought, but today was an exception; we ended with just a light jog in the forest. We barely did an hour.

“Gori-nee, is something going on?”

I’m not so innocent that I’d happily rejoice, “Yay! It ended early!”

“Oh, starting tomorrow, we’re heading to a ruined city for training,” Gorirashia replied, tapping my shoulder with her spear.

“We’ll be doing urban combat drills. It’s going to be pretty tough, so rest up today.”

I couldn’t help but let out a “Ugh.” When Gorirashia says “tough,” it’s serious.

Even Kuvirtar, who usually trains with a cool expression, looked grim, and the three idiots were making dazed faces, like “Huh…?” Oh, despair is slowly creeping in.

“Okay, that’s it for today. We’ll be staying for three days starting tomorrow, so prepare some change of clothes!”

With a flamboyant wave, Gorirashia left.

“Wooah, it’s definitely gonna be tough!”

“Just when I thought I was getting used to things, this happens…”

The Knight brothers were holding their heads in despair.

“No barbecue today, huh…”

Albar Aoril, running a hand through his slicked-back hair, looked downcast. “Guess I’ll have to go hunting…” he muttered, but how much meat does he want to eat?

And so, I returned to the Valt family mansion, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

‘Isn’t it normal to be a bit happier during a break?’

Antendeixis said with a carefree tone, but that’s easy for him to say.

It feels like hell is certain to begin tomorrow, so there’s no sense of a holiday premium at all.

Honestly, I haven’t had a moment’s peace since coming to the Reiju Territory.

This is because—

“Yipe!”

I ran into a demon girl in the hallway, and she looked terrified.

—Lumiafia.

Her contorted face and wide-open eyes screamed, “Why are you here at this hour!?” Normally, I come back after a midnight snack…

After a moment of paralysis, Lumiafia almost reflexively dropped to the floor.

“S-so, your Highness, I hope you’re well…”

I replied with a simple “Oh,” and hurriedly retreated to my room. Prolonged conversation would do us neither of us any good…

Even though it’s the chief’s mansion, the living space is limited, so it’s pretty common to bump into each other like this.

“Ah-hah-hah, serves that cheeky little girl right!”

Antendeixis always bursts into laughter, but it only makes me uncomfortable as if I’ve become the villain.

In fact, it’s awkward.

Not long ago, I heard from an empty room, “Big brother, stop it! Let me go…!” with a tearful plea from Lumiafia and “Stay still! Don’t struggle!” shouted by Eijivart, eventually I even heard Lumiafia scream, “Noo, help me!” and when I opened the door out of curiosity—

Lumiafia was tied to a chair, and Eijivart was pointing a spear at her.

‘—What the hell is going on!?’

‘N-no! It’s not what it looks like…!’

‘Glurg…’

I was stunned, while Eijivart hurriedly tried to explain, and Lumiafia was foaming at the mouth, fainting.

It was seriously a chaotic scene—

Later I heard from Platy that Lumiafia had developed trypophobia or something weird like that because she was on the edge of life and death after my duel.

It’s unthinkable for the chief’s daughter to be afraid of sharp objects and unable to hold a spear, so it seems the chiefs are desperately trying to help her overcome this.

But… I can’t help but feel like it’s having the opposite effect, and that Lumiafia is getting weaker by the day…

Well, it’s not really my place to intervene, so I just ignore it.

After all, I’m the cause of it.

‘—You don’t need to feel responsible for that.’

By the way, Platy said coldly.

‘The one to blame is the one with a weak constitution. You should be grateful that this weakness was revealed just through a simple duel. If it had been on the battlefield, she would have been killed right there. My uncle complained, but he should be thanking you.’

She snorted and began to flap her fan, laughing scornfully.

Platy is so strong that she shows no mercy to the weak. Well, this whole incident came from Lumiafia’s own doing, so while I might feel awkward, I don’t pity her. I just hope she manages to overcome it somehow.

—So, I withdrew to my room but had nothing to do.

Honestly, all I could do was absentmindedly stroke Liliana.

“…What shall we do?”

Reila, equally at a loss, tilted her head and asked. She probably had work to do at the Demon Lord Castle. This unexpected free time left me unsure of what to do.

“Hmm… Oh right, Reila, you haven’t flown for a while, have you?”

“Right…”

Reila had been training in aerial maneuvers almost daily at the Demon Lord Castle, but since coming to the Reiju Territory, she hadn’t had the chance. She was holding back, fearing some trouble might arise from revealing her White Dragon form to the locals.

“Then, let’s go out together after the midnight snack.”

We could fly in the outskirts where there aren’t many people, and even if someone did see us and complain, I’d be there to supervise.

“Tonight’s moon is beautiful; I think you’ll enjoy flying.”

Her silver scales would shine against the night sky.

“…Okay.”

Reila nodded, looking pleased.

Yeah, while we’re at it, I might as well take a light tour of this town too.

I’ve only been going back and forth between the mansion and the training grounds; perhaps I’d find something interesting.

 

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