Chapter 63

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

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In his spare time, Hans had a deep conversation with Helia.

He remembered hearing somewhere that the most important thing in education was to talk face-to-face with a child.

Although it was just knowledge he had picked up, he thought it was better than not practicing at all.

In fact, Helia had improved so much compared to before that it was embarrassing to compare.

After all, she used to draw her sword and charge at him in the dining hall.

Compared to then, he thought she had really become human.

Recently, Helia had started reading.

Hans asked her why.

“Was there a book you wanted to read?”

“Don’t you read a lot of books, Teacher?”

“I have things I need to look up.”

“I started reading books to be of help to you as well.”

Though she still showed signs of dependence on him, it would gradually fade as time passed.

Even now, Helia was spending time getting along with Clara and Ruby.

While he felt refreshed and a little sad at the same time, this was the natural growth of a child.

He only hoped that in the end, she wouldn’t become twisted by obsessing over power like in the original story.

Hans closed the book he had been reading.

Currently, he was looking into dimensional travel in the Royal Knights’ library.

Of course, there was no way such a convenient book would exist.

For now, he was slowly delving into magic.

As the saying goes, the longer the road, the more you should take detours.

If he built up his knowledge little by little, someday he might reach a hint.

“It’s about time for the guests to arrive.”

“I’ll prepare right away.”

“Prepare? You?”

“I can at least brew tea.”

“Well, that’s true, but...”

Helia flashed a smile and immediately left the office.

Left alone suddenly, Hans couldn’t hide his uneasiness.

No, it was certainly a good thing, but...

Why did he feel so uneasy?

He had that thought for a moment, but then changed his mind.

In any case, he was thankful that she was growing up properly.

So he should focus on his own work too.

He paid attention to his appearance through the mirror prepared in the office.

The helmet that Helia had put on him before had broken in the fight with Comprachico.

Because of that, Helia had glared at him with a scary intensity for a moment.

But she didn’t do anything more than that.

Moreover, the other members didn’t show as big a reaction as expected.

[Come to think of it, the Commander took off his helmet?]

[When did he take it off?]

[H-He’s been without it since the d-day we brought Commander Yuren.]

[He wasn’t wearing it when I met him. Was he originally wearing a helmet?]

[Commander, do you perhaps need a new helmet?]

Setting everything else aside, he was very disappointed in Clara and Ruby for noticing so late that he had taken off his helmet.

He was still their commander after all.

How could they be so uninterested?

No, forget it. It’s fine.

He was someone who would leave someday anyway.

If they got too attached to each other, it would only be more painful when that time came.

Perhaps this level of distance was right.

Just then, another thud was heard.

To put it simply, precognition was not invincible.

Of course, it took a while to realize that.

For example, the war with the elves 200 years ago.

The reason they had recklessly gone to war then.

It was because she had trusted her precognition too much.

A future where they drove out the elves and took over that forest.

So she had mobilized all their forces without considering the consequences.

Because they would win anyway.

That was the future she had seen.

However, it was shattered to pieces.

The Forest Guardians.

Those hateful protectors of the elves had formed a special unit and launched a surprise attack.

If a bucket leaks inside, how could it not leak outside?

They were thrown into confusion.

In the end, they were defeated without even being able to resist properly.

When the elves’ counterattack began in the midst of this, Yuyoung had no choice but to swallow her pride and make a peace treaty with the elves.

Yuyoung still hadn’t forgotten the humiliation of that time.

How could she forget?

A thousand of them had been defeated by barely twenty elves.

It had been an especially rainy day.

The mud and muddy water formed by the accumulated rainwater had soaked her knees.

She had been on her knees, glaring at the enemy in front of her.

It was none other than an elf.

[Cluna, wouldn’t it be better to kill her here?]

[I agree. It’s right to cut off the bud.]

[...Just restrain her for now.]

[Our soft-hearted Cluna~ Are you trying to keep another futile promise?]

The sword that had been close to her neck was withdrawn, but the sensation from that time still remained.

As if it would cut her neck at any moment, but what was even more unbearable was the humiliation she had felt then.

“Ah.”

Yuyoung’s closed eyes opened.

A ceiling devoid of any splendor and the sour smell of medicinal herbs greeted her.

Yuyoung silently raised her upper body.

She was in an unfamiliar place.

She was lying on a bed with white blankets and sheets.

She and the warriors who followed her were all lying on beds.

It looked like an infirmary.

Which meant this was Lionheart Fortress.

Easily deducing this conclusion, Yuyoung reflected on what had happened before.

The unexpected appearance of former commander Yuren.

The warriors who had been pushed back, falling into panic because of it.

She couldn’t blame them.

The beastmen had stronger beast blood flowing in them.

Of course they would instinctively sense a predator and be afraid, but they hadn’t lost yet.

The round mouse ears on top of her head twitched.

She heard footsteps approaching.

As expected, the door opened and someone appeared.

“You’re awake.”

He had black hair.

Below that, he was wearing iron armor.

By beastmen standards, he had an ordinary appearance.

Probably not much different by human standards either.

But she couldn’t let her guard down.

He was the one who commanded the dragon and that forest guardian.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Hans. I am Yuyoung, the leader of the Rat Clan.”

There must be tens of thousands of snakes writhing inside him.

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