Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Jupiter immediately shook her head.

"Dont underestimate the frontier frontlines. Things here operate very tightly. There are many watching eyes, and not much room for slip-ups."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"Most importantly, the commander, the third prince."

Thinking of Ash, Jupiter let out a wry laugh.

"Hes completely different from his reputation in the capital. His vision isnt just broad, its as if hes reading the future or something."

Junior let out an impressed oh.

"This is the first time grandma has praised a commander so highly."

"He seems like the kind of man with many cards up his sleeve. Better to earn an honest wage than to be caught up in a disaster due to some unnecessary meddling. He pays well too..."

"Really?"

Junior shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, then theres nothing I can do. I guess Ill have to work here for a while."

"What?"

"The prince, on my way here, he made me a direct offer. Asked if I was interested in working."

Taken aback, Jupiter quickly stood from her seat.

"No, no, Junior! You promised me! You said you wouldnt use magic!"

"Ha! Are you worrying about me now?"

Junior revealed the left side of her face that had been hidden by her hair to her grandmother.

"Now?"

"!"

Jupiter could only back off in shock, at a loss for words.

Chuckling at her grandmothers reaction, Junior brushed her hair back in place and, with a wave of her hand, exited the hospital room.

"Take care and rest, Grandma. You seem to have been hurt a lot."

"Wait, just a moment! Junior! I still have things to..."

"Youve worked hard all your life, earning money by doing all sorts of dirty work, Grandma."

Turning at the entrance, Junior flashed a bright smile.

"Now, its my turn."

Her smile was cute, like a fox, yet also hinted at scheming.

"Grandma should live the rest of her life in peace, shouldnt she?"

"..."

"Ill be back, see you later~"

Thud. The door closed.

The footsteps of her granddaughter gradually faded in the hallway.

"..."

Jupiter stood dumbstruck in place.

Pain.

It wasnt her wounded body, but a certain part of her brain where memories had been etched. It throbbed fiercely.

The scene of that burning village...

Throb. Throb.

"Cough..."

Collapsed on the bed, Jupiter let out a suppressed groan.

"I caused all this."

Regret swelled in the old womans single eye.

"Its all... my karma..."

***

Lucas and I, having left the Mercenary Guild, headed to the city center.

Our destination was Ettys Honey, the only inn in Crossroad.

"So, lets see how much the operation has improved over the past ten days or so?"

I had issued orders for inn operation improvement last time.

I was considering entrusting the operation of the hotel, which would be built in Crossroad, to the inns crew here. Therefore, I hoped they could maintain at least a basic level of hotel operation capabilities. It was a test.

And so, as I entered the hotel,

"Welcome, my Lord!"

"Welcome!"

The entire inn crew was bowing to me.

They were all in suits, which I hadnt seen the last time. Whats going on?

Moreover, the interior of the inn had drastically changed.

It was definitely a bit worn out but a familiar, cozy local inn.

Now, burgundy carpets covered the floor, and an extravagant chandelier hung from the narrow ceiling. Its too much, way too much!

"...What is all this?"

As I looked around, puzzled, the inns owner came out from the back with a confident look. He was also dressed up to the nines.

"How is it, my Lord!"

"No, not how, what is this?"

[Injured or Dead Characters]

- None

[Acquired Items]

- Regular Potion : 2

- Flame Enchant Scroll : 1

- Lesser Clan Magic Stone : 12

Thats pretty simple.

There are no injured people, and it seems they returned without any significant issues...

"...?"

Wait a minute.

Something strange caught my eye.

I looked at the Acquired Items tab again. Did I read it wrong?

- Lesser Clan Magic Stone : 12

I didnt read it wrong.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!"

Before I knew it, I shrieked in shock.

Startled by the scream, Lucas, who was handling the horse reins, stopped the carriage and poked his head inside.

"Master?! Are you okay?! What happened?!"

"Clan... you said...?"

I gaped and shivered uncontrollably.

Sending an expedition to the dungeon beneath the lake before the stage begins is also part of the reconnaissance.

Because it allows us to identify what kind of monster will appear in the next stage.

And if this system window wasnt malfunctioning, the party dispatched for independent exploration had encountered a bloodline.

A stage 5 hostile legion... is a bloodline?!

What is a bloodline?

In other words, vampires.

It refers to vampires and their entire underling army.

The apex monster species that appear only in the late parts of <Protect the Empire>!

"Crazy game! Why does this appear in stage 5?!"

Is it another dark event?! Or did the game just break?!

Pulling at my hair in frustration, I noticed Lucas surprised look and managed to calm down. Yes, thats right. I should pull myself together first.

After hearing Evangelines report, verify whether its a dark event, interrogate this damned director named Aider, and then its not too late to decide.

I combed my hair back, took a deep breath, and awkwardly smiled at Lucas.

"Lets go back. To the mansion."

"Yes, your highness? Are you okay? Is it a return of your old migraine-"

"No, Im fine! Lets go back! Quickly! Damned quickly!"

At my urgent plea, Lucas started up the horse swiftly.

Inside the carriage rushing back towards the mansion, I organized my thoughts.

If indeed the enemy legion at stage 5 was a bloodline.

Could the current party win against them?

"..."

No, its impossible.

I need to reinforce more. More soldiers, stronger heroes, better items...!

Thats when I saw a familiar-looking woman in a robe walking along the road to the mansion.

Jupiters granddaughter. An SSR grade elementalist.

It was Jupiter Junior.

"Stop the carriage, Lucas!"

"Yes!"

Screeech-!

The carriage wheels squealed to a halt.

Opening the carriage door, I saw Junior standing calmly amidst the dust cloud created by the carriage.

"Jupiter Junior."

A voice with no leisure flowed from my mouth. But it was an unavoidable situation.

"You have two choices. Be conscripted by force, or be hired by me willingly."

"..."

"Which do you choose?"

With a fox-like smile, Junior gestured towards the inside of the carriage.

"May I join you inside, your highness?"

I extended my hand. She took it and lightly pushed herself into the carriage.

The door closed, and the carriage began to move again.

The closer the dusk-shrouded mansion got, the more real it felt.

Hell.

It wasnt just the name, hell difficulty, the real hell- was creeping up on this monster front line.