NOVEL NEXT chapter 85 - Death March (1)
"Oh, you're here?"
"……"
Yeah, yeah. Welcome, Eye of the Storm.
Last time you adopted a disaster-class magical beast as a daughter—what now?
That’s what Dean Sior’s gesture ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) seemed to say as Carlyle entered the office with a gloomy look.
Technically, the man wasn’t his superior, but still, if he had to consult someone about the current situation, there was no better alternative than this pseudo-mentor.
"Let me guess. Something happened with the Red Tower Master, didn’t it?"
"…Yes."
"What’d she promise you?"
"She said she’d do anything I ask. One time."
"Oh dear. The junior’s having a field day, isn’t she?"
"……"
Carlyle nodded quietly as Sior hit the nail on the head.
Since she said “anything,” the Hero had been listing all kinds of horrific, absurd punishments—just hearing them was enough to make his skin crawl…
"I think… I should step in and save her. At least a little."
…She was a full-grown adult. A dragon, no less—feared across the continent. If even she ended up in that state, she at least deserved to preserve a shred of dignity.
"Do you have any good jobs I could take her on? Preferably something urgent enough that no one else can butt in?"
"Wow. You’re finding work on your own now?"
"You’re the one who said I need to grow stronger. I’ll be dragged to the palace soon."
He wasn’t wrong. His 1-on-1 training with Sior lately had been pure hell. Almost enough to shatter his body.
He’d have to use the Holy Sword in a true crisis, but the backlash from even one use was severe. Ideally, he needed to handle moderate-level danger without relying on it.
Under that logic, they’d been grinding him through actual hell.
Whoever caused all this better pray they never meet him, because he was going to pour every ounce of progress into their face…
"……"
Hmm.
Maybe hanging around Gray too long had rubbed off on him.
He probably needed to purge some of the Hero out of his system.
[…Excuse you, I’m not some kind of poison…]
Ignoring the Holy Sword’s muttering, Carlyle waited as Sior nodded and spoke.
"Perfect timing, then. Take a party of four. Try seeing just how much stronger you’ve gotten without using the sword."
Sior smiled, saying Carlyle should now be able to function as a proper combatant on his own.
That was fine, but—
"…Four people?"
Why four?
What kind of mission required that many?
"Yeah… you, Blackie, and Professor Shiona. Bring all of you."
"How… did that lineup happen?"
"You know about the dungeons, right?"
"Of course."
The monster dens scattered all across the continent.
"Around this time every year, there’s the ‘Death March’ up north, at the Empire’s border. Dungeons go nuts. Major imperial organizations are required to respond."
Wasn’t it said that the swarms of magical beasts poured out thick enough to blacken the horizon?
The Northern Border Army existed solely to suppress the Death March with minimal casualties—so the rumor went.
"…Why are students like me going somewhere that dangerous?"
"That’s why I’m sending two dragons and a disaster-class beast with you. Honestly, you could sit there sucking your thumb and still be fine."
"I mean… that’s one thing, but I’m still a student."
Wasn’t this Gray’s territory, not his?
"……"
"She’s the Empire’s Hero. She needs to be on standby in case something happens inside the capital—that’s always been the excuse. Back when I was active, the old geezers swore by it."
…Suddenly, Carlyle understood.
He understood why Gray occasionally shot frost-sharp sarcasm toward the duties of the Hero.
They were supposedly the guardians of humanity—but the ones they were expected to “protect more closely” were clearly someone else entirely.
"That’s why you’re going. You’re free from that kind of burden."
"Excuse me?"
"You’re good enough to pass as a budget Hero. You can even fuse with the Holy Sword."
Ah.
So sending Gray would cause political issues, but sending Carlyle Belfast—the budget Hero—was fine.
Meaning: He was expendable enough to be tossed into danger without anyone batting an eye.
"……"
Is that really okay?
"Just suffer for one day. And while you’re at it, meet the Black Lion Margrave."
"…Meet?"
He’d only heard bits and pieces, but wasn’t that guy extremely dangerous? The Emperor’s personal executioner?
He was also rumored to be heavily at odds with Felix.
And they wanted him to meet someone like that?
"It’ll be fine. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’ll probably like you. The Gray Cardinal won’t, though."
Sior winked.
He said it like he knew the guy well. There was something strangely meaningful behind his words.
…Well, Sior hadn’t been wrong yet. Might as well believe him.
Still—
"Aren’t you being a bit irresponsible, sending me somewhere so dangerous?"
"Carlyle. You know what I’ve realized from watching you?"
"What?"
"If I toss you into a crisis, things tend to work out."
"……"
"You’re handy like that. Even when something calls for Hero-level power, I throw you in and it gets solved somehow."
This damned old man.
Carlyle’s glare bore into Sior with that exact meaning, but the dean just smiled cheerfully.
"Grow strong, Carlyle Belfast."
Sior waved him off like he was done with the conversation.
"Because if you don’t, no one will be able to handle what’s coming."
"……"
He couldn’t even argue anymore. That was the saddest part.
***
Here’s a fun fact:
When Blackie sleeps, she makes soft purring sounds through her nose—like a cat.
Carlyle gently covered the sleeping shadowbeast with a blanket.
He’d tried putting her in a different room, but she threw a fit unless she slept with him. He hadn’t had a choice.
This really did make him look like a dad raising a daughter.
If someone sees this, isn’t it kind of dangerous?
It’d be easy to mistake her for a kid he had too young in a car crash or something.
As he chuckled bitterly to himself, the Holy Sword spoke up curtly.
[I’ve never known a man safer than you.]
"……"
He wasn’t sure why he was getting insulted, but whatever. For now, it was time to end the day.
Carlyle turned off the light and lay on his bed.
Just as sleep began to pull him under—
A blinding flash went off in front of his eyes.
A heavy weight pressed down on his stomach.
"?"
What the…
Had Blackie woken up and turned the light back on as a prank?
Was she crawling on top of him again?
He pushed his eyes open—
And found a fully grown woman sitting on his stomach, smiling awkwardly.
"Uhh—guess my teleport coordinates were a little off. Didn’t expect to end up in such a suggestive position."
"……"
She clapped both hands over Carlyle’s mouth.
"Shh. No screaming. You’ll wake the kid."
"……"
Good thing she warned him. Otherwise, he really would have screamed.
"…Professor Shiona?"
Carlyle barely managed to croak out her name.
"Well now, Carlyle. This is our first private chat, isn’t it?"
Forget the chat—the fact that a professor was straddling her student was already illegal on multiple levels.
Not that she cared.
In fact, she made it worse.
"Isn’t this kind of exciting? That little thrill of wrongdoing. Why don’t you enjoy it a bit, too?"
"……"
What the hell is this crazy woman talking about?
"What exactly are you trying to do, barging in like this?"
"Sorry for the shock. But I couldn’t let anyone know I was here. Anyone."
"……"
She meant that literally. There were people who could figure out her location instantly—people like Sior. Or Gray.
So she’d just… teleported directly into Carlyle’s room.
"I have to say this. And it absolutely cannot be overheard."
"……"
"I need to ask you for something, Carlyle."
Was she always this pushy?
She didn’t seem like the type.
What kind of request was so important it justified all this?
"During this deployment, I want you to help ensure nothing bad happens between me and Leona."
"…Ensure? What exactly do you mean?"
"Nothing serious. Just relax and listen like this. You’re pinned under a gorgeous woman—could be worse, right?"
As she rambled on about how this was good for his libido or whatever, Carlyle sighed and wiped a hand down his face.
"You’re beautiful, sure. But please get to the point."
"My, thank you."
Shiona grinned.
"To explain properly, I’d have to start with the story of how I killed my father when I was young."
"…Excuse me. Let me sit up for this."
Could she maybe have started with some build-up?
This wasn’t Gray, what the hell—
***
[System Message]
▶ Quest “Family Trouble” has begun!
▶ Upon completion, “Shiona Libelle” will be added to the list of [Strategy Targets]!