Quit The Hero Party

EP.82 Tower of Oddities (3)

“If I had to describe my brother in one word, I would choose ‘psychopath’ without a moment’s hesitation. Ah, if I could add a few more words, perhaps ‘driven mad by power’ would be suitable.”

The First Princess, Lruiel, had a unique impression.

As a member of the royal family, she was born with platinum hair and golden eyes. This appearance was a result of the slight blessing of the stars that touched those of royal lineage.

I recalled the image of the Fourth Princess, Ayla.

Although they were sisters, it was hard to find any resemblance between them. If Ayla had hair that was close to golden platinum, Princess Lruiel’s hair was more silver-like.

‘Even her eyes.’

Lruiel’s eyes were faintly golden.

Overall, they were more subdued compared to Ayla. If Ayla had a sparkling presence, Lruiel had a calming color.

However, there were two elements that completely overturned that subtlety.

‘A sharp gaze, and…’

As I glanced at her keen eyes, I slowly paid attention to the words she was articulating.

“It’s a long-winded way of saying he’s a piece of crap.”

Her speech was thick and rough, without any refinement.

That was the problem.

I genuinely wondered if I should plug my ears. Originally, it would be considered disrespectful to listen to someone belittling the royal family. It would be proper to cover my ears or leave the place immediately.

‘But she’s part of the royal family too.’

The royal family was criticizing another member of the royal family.

It felt like it would be disrespectful to ignore her words and block them out.

“Hmm…”

As I struggled at the crossroads of choices, the princess continued with her own words.

“The royal family is sick. My father has no intention of managing his children even a little bit, and my brother is running amok under his father’s approval.”

Ah, the princess said nonchalantly.

“What I mean by running amok here has a double meaning. It means he’s rummaging here and there, and it also literally means he’s poking around with various noble children.”

I learned about the First Prince’s lewd behavior, something I wasn’t particularly interested in knowing.

“It’s ridiculous.”

With a faint snicker, the princess scoffed.

“While we are at war with the Demon Lord’s Army, it seems his lust for breeding is quite fervent. Although we share blood, there are times I worry he might come after me too.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m quite pretty, you see. Don’t you think so? Objectively, I believe I fall into the category of beauty.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Born lucky, my days are busy.”

What on earth is going on.

‘I’m dizzy.’

I slowly nodded my head.

Dizziness aside, I at least had to show some minimal reaction.

“…Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

The princess nodded her head too.

There was no hint of hesitation in her as she belittled her own brother. Like talking about the weather and luggage, she continued with an air of normalcy.

“Anyway, it seems like mocking male genitalia is hereditary. How could the next heir to the throne be such a madman? Can you believe how far the royal family has fallen? I hardly want to believe it.”

So, that’s why she’s distancing herself from the throne.

Muttering to herself, the princess took a sip of her coffee. As she swallowed, she spoke.

“Even though I have lived my life like a doll for my brother’s desires.”

I too reached out for my coffee.

“My brother doesn’t seem satisfied yet.”

She slowly set her coffee cup down.

Then she lifted her head. A faint golden light trickled between her lightly opened eyes.

“Seeing him trying to kill the two of them, and now trying to kill me as well…”

Thunk.

I stopped my hand that was reaching for the coffee cup.

Frozen, I raised my head and looked at the princess. Our eyes met.

There was no trembling in her gaze.

Nor in her expression.

Eventually, she opened her mouth. Her red lips moved. The words she uttered were straightforward. She enunciated a single sentence.

“And next, it will be the youngest.”

She spoke with an attitude as if nothing was strange.

2.

The Fourth Princess, Ayla.

‘…I might not be okay.’

She was lost in thought, feeling the wind blowing in from the window. What came to her mind was her sister, who had visited her not long ago.

The First Princess, Lruiel.

Suddenly visiting, she asked Ayla a question.

The question was straightforward.

“Recommend a trustworthy and capable mage.”

If it had been someone else’s question, Ayla would have introduced a suitable mage. However, the First Princess was different.

“She’s a capable sister.”

Always overflowing with confidence. Unbound by others’ standards. She held herself as the benchmark for everything.

For someone like that to ask for help meant it was a matter of importance. Thus, Ayla could not recommend someone mediocre.

“That wouldn’t be courteous.”

Ayla despised the members of the royal family.

She felt jaded by the blood-soaked royal family. So, originally, even in situations where she should show courtesy… she would have only pretended to show it.

“There was no one I could sincerely respect.”

However, Lruiel was different.

If it weren’t for her, Ayla would have already been killed by the First Prince.

Just like the Second and Third Princesses.

“…”

So, she introduced her.

The most talented mage she knew, whose character she deemed trustworthy. One she selected with the aid of the stars.

The stars’ intuition aligned with Ayla’s.

Thus, she relayed the name of one mage she had chosen to Princess Lruiel.

—Rania van Trias.

—…Is she Lord Rosel’s adopted daughter?

—Yes, she can be trusted and entrusted to her.

She didn’t want to entangle herself with the royal family just yet.

So, Ayla made sure to secure a promise from Lruiel.

—Please don’t drag the professor too deeply into royal matters.

—Don’t worry, I’ll use her cleanly and return her to her place.

—…Excuse me?

—I mean I won’t let it affect the Academy.

…Either way, she had accepted it.

Though it felt a bit off in direction.

“…There won’t be any issues, right?”

Would she really spill all the royal family’s secrets?

Even if her sister was reckless, she couldn’t be someone that insane.

Ayla trusted Lruiel.

As she tried to focus on her backlogged assignments, her finger suddenly felt a sharp tingle. She looked at her thumb.

A sting.

Her thumb stung.

Suddenly, an uneasy feeling engulfed her.

“…Oh, no way.”

Surely, it couldn’t be.

3.

“And next, it will be the youngest.”

Saying that, Lruiel narrowed her eyes.

She looked at the professor sitting across from her. The professor was also looking back at her.

Bluish eyes.

There was no hint of shock in those eyes.

When faced with an unbelievable fact, most people’s reactions can be categorized into two.

‘They are flustered.’

Or.

‘They immediately try to grasp the intention behind it.’

Most people belong to the first category.

However, on rare occasions, there are those who belong to the second. The professor before her clearly belonged to the latter.

‘Not bad.’

Lruiel remained silent.

By remaining silent, she awaited the other to speak next. The die had been cast. All that remained was observing how the other would move their words.

Anticipating the reaction that would return in silence.

‘The most boring reaction would be to ask, “What do you mean by that?”’

Someone who makes you repeat something you’ve already said is tedious. Those who doubt their own ears lack conviction. Such people are not needed right now for Lruiel.

“…”

Then, the professor opened her mouth.

Her lips moved, and she spoke.

“Why me?”

Not bad.

Lruiel thought so.

The professor in front of her did not ask what she was supposed to do. Instead, she only asked why it had to be her. Not a terrible response.

“Hmm.”

Lruiel smiled.

“I needed the help of a mage.”

“I see, so you’re facing some sort of magical danger.”

“Indeed. I have some understanding of magic, but my ability to handle mana is insufficient. I have no means of knowing if something is targeting me or what it might be.”

Lacking in ability.

“Therefore, I need a mage. A competent mage.”

Lruiel was looking for someone to make up for her lack.

“There must be a keen eye for observing circuits. They must be adept at activation and modification of circuits. And they need to be good at handling mana.”

The professor met those conditions.

At the Ivory Tower, Lruiel had gauged the professor’s level with her own eyes. She had exceeded her expectations.

‘There’s no problem with skill.’

However, if she needed a competent mage urgently, she could obtain mages from anywhere.

‘The question is.’

Is this person free from her brother’s influence or not?

It would be comical to recruit someone to escape her brother’s hold, only to find out that person had already fallen into his hands.

And the professor before her was someone relatively free from such issues.

‘Her brother doesn’t have time to reach her.’

Rania van Trias.

In less than three months, this young professor had risen in prominence. It was too early for her brother to make contact.

‘And.’

Brought up under Lord Rosel, a sage free from any political influence.

‘An individual free from political interference.’

That calculation was set in her mind.

Though it was there, she didn’t have to verbalize it.

“And I see sufficient qualities in you.”

Lruiel didn’t need to say that aloud.

The professor didn’t inquire about that either. She merely posed another question.

“What am I to rely on?”

That question was at the essence of the matter.

If all sorts of conditions are met, there remains but one. Can this person be trusted?

To that, Lruiel answered bluntly.

“Don’t be mistaken. I do not trust you.”

When it comes to trust, Lruiel doesn’t trust the professor before her. While she acknowledges her skills, she doesn’t trust her character. There hasn’t been enough time for trust to grow.

—Recommend me a capable and trustworthy mage.

Then what is she relying on to entrust her life?

—Rania van Trias.

—She can be trusted and entrusted.

“Ayla recommended you.”

“…”

“I trust my youngest sister’s judgment. It’s not you that I trust. It’s my youngest sister who recommended you that I trust.”

Lruiel tilted her chin slightly.

Then she calmly continued her words.

“I have said all I needed to say. There is more to tell, but that would come after you accept the proposition.”

Lruiel senses her own death looming.

There were times she thought it was okay to die. She has lived prepared to face death at any time.

But not now.

If she dies now, everything will fall apart. She must stay alive at least until she can gauge that period.

‘At least three years.’

She must live until that child can find her footing. Prepared to face death, but wanting to decide when to die.

“Three days.”

To achieve that.

“Work for me for just three days.”

She needed the mage before her.

“If you do so.”

Lruiel said,

“I will give you my entire being for the time that your life is limited.”

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