《The Abandoned Heiress Gets Rich with Alchemy and Buys an Enemy General》


 Vol. 1 - Ch. 1 - Julius Craft, the Black Prince - 1

    My whole life can be summarized into one word: unlucky.But, I suppose there was no use explaining this fact haltingly to the man with golden hair and dull-blue eyes, who flippantly crossed his legs in front of me as I tried to make him somewhat understand my situation.


    At the back of the room was an alchemy furnace. Bright sunlight streamed in through the open window adorned with curtains. There was a red chair and an office desk, a cute lamp in the shape of a mushroom, and an infinite space trunk filled with lots of materials.


    All of these were purchased with my own money. And the man who sat on the sturdy black leather chair, looking a bit worn and thin but with a strong physique, was also bought with my money.


    His disheveled golden hair was messy and a little dry but still retained some of its original beauty. He had a somewhat dirty bandage wrapped around his right eye, presumably serving as an eyepatch. Meanwhile, his beautiful, left dull-blue eye gazed at me with boredom.


    His long legs were spread out in a disrespectful manner, extending from his tattered black coat. A few stiff belts were wrapped around his leg-hugging pants, while his frayed boots were covered in mud.


    Both of his hands hung limply between his legs. Attached to both of his hands were magic cuffs with no keyholes; a red snake-like ring made of magic power, resembling a Mobius strip. A magic handcuff designed for slaves that could only be released when their master applied magic power to it.


    His back was curled up in a hunched position. To put it mildly, his posture was far from good, making it seem as if he had no trace of his former glory.


    ¡°Listen well. From today onwards, I am your master. Alright, now, what is my name?¡± I said while standing in front of the man with my hands on my hips. S?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I could see my reflection in the man¡¯s dull eye. My slightly wavy, shoulder-length hair with a tinted peachy gold hue and tied with a laced triangular handkerchief. My eyes were a slightly darker shade of pink than my hair. White skin. I wore knee-length drawers under the red apron dress and brown boots so I could roam freely. Modestly speaking, I was quite the beauty.


    I am the most unlucky woman in the kingdom. My name is¡ª


    ¡°Chloe Seigrit, was it?¡± said the man in a slightly sweet but profoundly powerful voice.


    ¡°That''s correct, Julius Kraft-san, or ¡®sama¡¯? Would you prefer that I call you ¡®sama¡¯? If it makes you feel better, I can call you ¡®sama¡¯, you know.¡±


    ¡°What an annoying woman. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Did you just call me ¡®annoying¡¯ again? Listen carefully, Julius-san. I am the master, and you are the slave. I bought you with my own money, so from today onwards, you are my slave. Well, it was a good purchase if I do say so myself. After all, I could buy the ever-victorious general, the Black Prince Julius, for only five million gold. It¡¯s a good deal, wouldn¡¯t you agree? Five million gold is an amount that can be easily earned right away by making one mysterious elixir. Alchemy is amazing, you know. You can make incredible profits with no material costs. There¡¯s no better business than this.¡±


    ¡°So? What are you going to use me for after obtaining me with only five million gold, young lady? Are you going to take over the kingdom? Or perhaps, seek revenge?¡±


    ¡°Julius-san... Seeking revenge is not very profitable, you know¡­¡± I said, sighing at Julius, who spoke those words with a cruel smile on his face.


    You don¡¯t understand at all, Julius.


    Revenge is not profitable. There might be cases where it is, but those are very rare.


    The most important thing in this world is money. With money, you can do anything. Money is the only thing you can trust. Even the verdict of hell is determined by money[1].


    In other words, I don¡¯t want to do anything that won¡¯t give me any profit.


    ¡°Listen well, Julius-san. My name is Chloe Seigrit, who used to be the only daughter of the prestigious Duke Seigrit. Do me a favor by listening to what I¡¯m about to say. Because I have a story to tell you, a story that will bring tears to your eyes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. But you¡¯re probably going to talk on your own anyway.¡±


    ¡°Now, don¡¯t be like that. You¡¯re probably bored anyway, Julius-san. As long as these magic cuffs are on you, you can¡¯t do anything, you know.¡±


    Julius clicked his tongue with annoyance.


    How uncouth.


    ¡°You see, Julius-san. I used to be the daughter of the prestigious Duke Seigrit. You might not know much about the nobility in the Astoria Kingdom, being a former enemy general and all. But, the Seigrit family had fallen into ruin.¡±


    ¡°...Go on.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, Julius-san. You seem quite interested. Are you that curious about me, the legendary young beauty alchemist called Chloe-chan¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not exactly in the age range of a ¡®young beauty,¡¯ no?¡±


    Julius¡¯s unexpectedly precise response made me feel relieved. I had been worried about how to interact with someone who wouldn¡¯t communicate with me, since I don¡¯t have the financial comfort to keep a big, uncommunicative man by my side.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m twenty, so you could still say I¡¯m a beauty.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t agree to that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so noisy, Julius-san. Moving on, there¡¯s a deep reason as to why the Seigrit family fell into ruin. When I was around thirteen years old, my mother died, and my father remarried. My stepmother, who had been having an affair with my father for many years, already had a child¡ªmy half-sister, who happened to be a year younger than me. Around that time, I was engaged to the prince of this kingdom, Cyril Astria.¡±


    ¡°Cyril Astria¡­ The First Prince?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! As expected of Julius-san, you catch on quickly! And so, I thought we¡¯d get married just as planned, but three years ago, at the noble academy¡¯s graduation ceremony, he suddenly broke off our engagement.¡±


    ¡°Broke off the engagement?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s right. Even though I had no idea why. I was publicly thrown into prison, but I managed to save my life. After that, my family fell into ruin, and I was thrown out of the royal capital, alone.¡±


    ¡°How many sins have you committed, even though you look like you wouldn¡¯t even kill a bug?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say such nasty things. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. My little sister, Aliza-chan, exposed the Seigrit family¡¯s crimes. I didn¡¯t know a thing about it, but apparently, my father had been up to no good behind the scenes. Kidnapping children, human trafficking, loan sharking, murder, and even selling bad drugs. It¡¯s like something out of a suspense novel. I had no idea.¡±


    ¡°Did he really do all that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. After I was told all of that, I was suddenly thrown into prison, and then I was dumped in a back alley in the royal capital. My father was executed and our family fell into ruin. I didn¡¯t know what was going on at all. But still, I had to survive, so here I am, a self-made alchemist. A popular one at that. Oh, how fortunate I am to be able to use magic. On top of that, alchemists make more money than regular mages these days.¡±


    For the first time, an emotional sparkle lit up in Julius¡¯s eyes. It was like a cruel flame, quietly flickering in the depths of his eyes.


    ¡°So, you do want revenge, Chloe. If you want, I can slaughter all of your enemies for you.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant, Julius-san. I don¡¯t want to do that. You truly don¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying at all, do you? As I mentioned before, revenge isn¡¯t profitable.¡±


    ¡°Your little sister, the one who trapped you, is she living comfortably now?¡±


    ¡°Quite comfortably, indeed, and now she¡¯s the crown princess. She seems to have married Cyril without a hitch. There was even a parade to announce their marriage recently. Thanks to that, my special fireworks, ¡®Flower Fireworks,¡¯ were a big hit and sold very well. It was fantastic, if I must say.¡±


    ¡°Well, your story is quite common, but aren¡¯t you angry?¡±


    ¡°Is my story really common to you? Is falling into ruin that ordinary?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a common and simple story.¡±


    ¡°I thought I was the unluckiest girl in the kingdom. That¡¯s strange... Well, I can¡¯t say I don¡¯t feel angry at all, though. However, Julius-san, the most important thing in this world is money. Money won¡¯t betray you. That¡¯s the reason why I bought you from the slave arena with my own money.¡±


    I was actually afraid to go to the slave arena, but I did my best. After all, I had heard a rumor that Julius the Black Prince could be bought for five million gold.


    ¡°And here I¡¯m asking you if the reason you bought me is for you to seek revenge. If that¡¯s what you command, I¡¯ll gladly bring you Cyril¡¯s head¡ªthe man who betrayed you. And if you want torture, I¡¯m willing to bring him to you alive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite gruesome, Julius-san. But I¡¯ve already told you, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it? What did you buy me for? Do you intend to make me your male prostitute? It seems like you must be in dire need of a companion.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit vulgar of you, Julius-san. Money is more important to me than men. I don¡¯t need a marriage partner, much less a male prostitute. It wouldn¡¯t earn me a single coin.¡±


    ¡°So, what is it then?¡±


    ¡°Listen to me, Julius-san. For good alchemy, you need good materials. And those only come from strong monsters. That¡¯s why, Julius-san, I¡¯ll have you work for me like a carthorse from now on, and you¡¯re going to accompany me in hunting monsters for materials.¡±


    Julius turned away from me, looking uninterested, and muttered in a small voice, ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡±

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 2 - Julius Craft, the Black Prince - 2

    I went over to Julius¡¯s side.Julius had obediently followed me from the slave arena, but I had been considering using a slave muzzle which I¡¯d made with alchemy if he turned out to be as aggressive as the rumors suggested.


    I came up with the idea for the muzzle when I saw one attached to a noisy dog while I was out walking. Alchemy is all about imagination; if you want to make something, you can create almost anything. Except for human transmutation, of course.


    Julius was about a head and a half taller than me. He looked intimidating when I stood by his side and was also a bit dirty.


    His uninterested dull-blue eye looked at me.


    ¡°Julius-san, now that you¡¯ve finally understood your position, you need to take a bath.¡±


    ¡°A bath, huh?¡±


    ¡°Your current state is unhygienic, so let¡¯s clean you up. We should also properly heal that wound on your eye. And then, we¡¯ll change your clothes.¡±


    ¡°What if I refuse?¡±


    ¡°Julius-san, I am your master, so please obey me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been a slave for three years, so I¡¯ve forgotten how to take a bath. Will you please bathe me, dear master?¡± Julius said mockingly.


    I was a bit annoyed. He seemed to underestimate me, thinking of me as someone younger than himself. Even so, I¡¯ve been through my fair share of hardships. If he thinks I would blush or scream over trivial matters like this, then he would be mistaken.


    ¡°Very well, Julius-san. As your master, it is my duty to clean you. Now, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Julius turned his gaze away from me and sighed.


    He probably saw me as just another twenty-year-old girl, even though I was a respectable noble lady three years ago. But now, I¡¯m different.


    ¡°Oh, right. These handcuffs might be in the way.¡±


    I hold out my hands to the magic cuffs on Julius¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I command you in the name of Chloe Seigrit. O locks, turn yourself into a collar.¡±


    As I chanted, the red Mobius-like strip detached from Julius¡¯s hands and automatically wrapped itself around his neck, transforming from a glowing red cord into a pitch-black cord. It now resembled a simple collar.


    ¡°Julius-san, once you¡¯ve become a good slave who¡¯s willing to listen to me properly, I¡¯ll remove it for you. But for now, please bear with it. If I let the Black Prince Julius roam freely, I¡¯ll be executed for sure this time.¡±


    ¡°You sure are a woman out of luck to be imprisoned and stripped of your status for an uncertain crime.¡±


    ¡°I think Julius-san, who has fallen into slavery after being betrayed by his own country, is also quite unfortunate, though.¡±


    Julius stood up from his chair. He was tall enough that I had to look up to see his face, and he looked somewhat dusty.


    ¡°As long as this magic collar is around your neck, Julius-san, you can¡¯t disobey my orders.¡±


    ¡°I know that. Disobeying orders will bring me excruciating pain and render me immobile, after all.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that you¡¯re aware. Well then, let¡¯s get started. I, Chloe Seigrit, command you, Julius Craft.¡±


    I reached out to Julius, who was much taller than me. I wanted him to sit still if possible, but I guess that wasn¡¯t going to happen.


    ¡°The first constraint is not to leave my side and to stay within the distance of my voice. The second constraint is not to do anything I dislike. Is that clear?¡±


    As I finished speaking, a decorative lock-shaped ornament appeared in the middle of Julius¡¯s black collar, signifying that the restriction had been made.


    ¡°How abstract,¡± Julius said, furrowing his brow.


    ¡°This means that you just have to obey my orders. And I don¡¯t want to restrict your freedom, so let¡¯s just say it¡¯s more like having a harmless roommate relationship.¡±


    ¡°How lenient of you. You¡¯re just a foolish woman who doesn¡¯t know what kind of man you''ve acquired.¡±


    ¡°I know who you are. You¡¯re a person called Julius. Now then, it¡¯s time for a bath. This Chloe-chan will show you her most wonderful bath.¡±


    Julius clicked his tongue softly.


    He had an intimidating presence, but I wasn¡¯t exactly afraid. After all, I didn¡¯t end up abandoned in the back alley of the royal capital for nothing.


    After that, I led Julius out of the room.


    Chloe¡¯s Alchemy Shop is located in the central district of the royal capital. It¡¯s a two-story house that serves as both a shop and a residence. The first floor is a combination of the shop and a space for my alchemy furnace, while the second floor serves as living quarters. One side of the hallway from the entrance leads to the alchemy furnace, while the other side has the staircase that accesses the second floor.


    My room had its own bath, and the room being used as storage would become Julius¡¯s room, so I¡¯d have to clean that up later.


    I guided Julius to the bathroom behind the door inside my room, which was quite small, with just a bed.


    The changing room had a laundry basket and a towel. A linen towel covered the wooden floor while a star-shaped lamp sat on the bay window. There was no partition between the bath and the changing room, but the bathing area was a step lower, covered in white tiles.


    ¡°Now then, Julius-san. Please take off your clothes,¡± I commanded Julius, who was standing right in front of me.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve forgotten how to undress myself,¡± Julius said with a hint of sarcasm.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lie, isn¡¯t it? But, since I¡¯m a kind master. I¡¯ll undress you.¡±


    He¡¯s testing me again. I didn''t think for a moment that he might actually be a nice person, but he engages in conversation surprisingly well, so I guess that¡¯s enough for me.


    I reached out to Julius¡¯s black coat. I fumbled with his belts that were too stiff to push or pull, and Julius silently watched me as I struggled for a while.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯ll do it myself,¡± Julius said with a sigh.


    ¡°I¡¯m a woman of my word, Julius-san. So please wait for a moment.¡±


    ¡°The day is coming to an end. It looks like Alchemists are quite feeble.¡± S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Using alchemy to compensate for physical weakness is what alchemists do, you know.¡±


    If only I were strong enough, I wouldn¡¯t be doing this here.


    Julius promptly undressed himself. His coat fell to the floor with a heavy thud. Underneath the coat was a naked body, slender yet muscular, without any excess fat, and covered with many small scars. Some were old, some looked new, and they seemed to have healed on their own without proper treatment.


    I quickly pushed a large towel to the naked Julius, who promptly stripped down to his underwear. I couldn¡¯t look at the lower half of his body. Although it was okay for me to look, out of common courtesy, I didn¡¯t.


    Julius was probably tired of teasing me, so he wrapped the towel around his waist, which made me feel relieved. I took off my boots and socks as well, since I had promised to bathe him.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s get you cleaned up, Julius-san. When you feel refreshed, your mood will improve as well. Take a look at the bath. It¡¯s filled with water containing my alchemically prepared Circulation Hot Spring Stone, which ensures that the water is always clean and purified.¡±


    The clawfoot bathtub was filled with plenty of milky-white water, all thanks to the Circulation Hot Spring Stone embedded at its base.


    ¡°The amazing thing about this stone is that you can feel as if you¡¯re in a real hot spring, just like the famous Snow Moon Flower Hot Spring in the Rugal district, anytime you want! This item is quite popular and sells really well, but the downside is that collecting the materials can be a hassle.¡±


    I pushed Julius, who was wrapped in just a towel around his waist and wearing a collar, to get into the bathtub. Plenty of hot water spilled over due to his size, soaking my apron. Well, I can always change clothes later, so it¡¯s fine.


    The somewhat dirty water caused by Julius in the bathtub was instantly purified by the Circulating Hot Spring Stone¡¯s effect. It¡¯s a marvelous cleansing power, though the downside is that it only lasts about a month, and I haven¡¯t been able to create an everlasting Circulating Hot Spring Stone yet.


    ¡°Julius-san, let¡¯s wash your head. I¡¯m going to remove the bandage, okay?¡±


    ¡°Do as you like.¡±


    Julius closed his eye and seemed to enjoy the warmth of the bath. The bathtub, which was large enough for me, seemed too small for Julius. I moved behind him and dampened the dry bandage with hot water using the shower. The shower, which also had a Circulating Hot Spring Stone embedded in the head part, was still in the prototype stage, so it only had a head and lacked a proper handle.


    ¡°Let me know if it hurts.¡±


    I carefully removed the bandage from Julius¡¯s head, starting with the right eye. Perhaps because it had been dampened, it came off surprisingly easy. His right eye, exposed after the bandage was removed, was hollow. A scar extended from his cheek to his forehead, and although it looked like a very old wound, it didn¡¯t appear to be festering.


    ¡°My right eye was crushed three years ago. I haven¡¯t looked at the scar. But well, it must¡¯ve healed, seeing that I¡¯ve managed to survive till now.¡±


    ¡°You have a strange mix of good and bad luck, huh? It''s a severe injury, but it seems to have healed rather nicely. Julius-san, are you the type of person with a high self-healing ability?¡±


    ¡°Slaves can¡¯t use magic, because of the brand.¡±


    Perhaps feeling refreshed because of the warm bath, Julius became more talkative. I checked his brand. It was on the back of his neck, just below the nape, and resembled the skull of a two-horned beast. It was the mark of a slave. I hadn¡¯t noticed it before due to his long hair.


    ¡°A self-healing ability isn¡¯t magic; it refers to the body¡¯s natural ability to heal wounds on its own. Seeing that you have quite a few scars, you must be quite sturdy.¡±


    ¡°Looks like it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you a nice prosthetic eye. Maybe I¡¯ll even add some special abilities to it. What would you like? Maybe something that lets you see through women¡¯s clothing? Would you like that, Julius-san?¡±


    ¡°That would mean I can see through yours too.¡±


    ¡°Oh right, then I guess that won¡¯t work.¡±


    I proceeded to wash Julius¡¯s hair by applying shampoo several times, lathering it up, and rinsing it thoroughly, which seemed to have considerably improved the stickiness in his hair.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 3 - Julius Craft, the Black Prince - 3

    I carefully washed his wounded eye, creating plenty of foam. Although Julius didn''t appear to be in pain, he seemed bothered. Still,  even if he had a displeased expression, I wouldn''t show any mercy. After all, uncleanliness leads to mental unhealthiness. And in order to fit my specially made prosthetic eye, the affected area needs to be clean."What color should the prosthetic eye be, Julius-san? Since your other eye is blue, how about deliberately choosing a different color? Mismatched eyes can be quite intriguing, don''t you think?"


    "Doesn''t matter."


    "Well, since it''s blue, how about going for red? It''s quite exciting, don''t you think? You can also have various abilities. After all, I''m the renowned alchemist in town. My specially made prosthetic eye is extremely valuable, so you should be more appreciative, Julius-san."


    "Weren''t you supposed to avoid things that don''t bring in money, Chloe?"


    He called me by my name, catching me off guard as I momentarily paused. I rinsed his wounded eye thoroughly with the showerhead. The overflowing water disappeared down the drain, making my feet feel warm from the water.


    Maybe I should take a bath when Julius is done. After all, my clothes are wet, so that might not be a bad idea.


    "Prosthetic eyes are free. Clothes, meals---everything is free. Julius-san belongs to me now, so providing these things for you is my duty as the master. In return, Julius-san..." S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "You said I should work like a carthorse."


    "Exactly. That''s right. Julius-san, you''re strong, right? I heard you performed quite well in the slave arena and had significant accomplishments in the recent battle. Although I don''t know the details, but..."


    Julius was the neighboring country''s general.


    When they heard the name ''Black Prince Julius,'' everyone in the Astoria Kingdom would tremble in fear. Except me.


    The neighboring Dystiana Empire was a vast country. The alliance of small countries, including the Astoria Kingdom, had long been threatened by their invasion. However, three years ago, when Julius, the Black Prince, was betrayed by his own country and sold to the Astoria Kingdom, the Dystiana Empire put an end to its aggression.


    I didn''t know about it at the time because I had my own struggles, but I heard rumors about it later on.


    "Even though you have blond hair, you''re called the Black Prince because you wore black armor and rode a black wyvern. And you inherited the Dukedom of the Kraft family in the Dystiana Empire at a young age, right? But then you were sold to the Astoria Kingdom and ended up in the slave arena. I''d say we''re a perfect match, Julius-san."


    "Who''s a perfect match with whom?"


    "You and I, Julius-san. We have similar unfortunate circumstances."


    "Was that the reason why you bought me? Out of sympathy?" Julius said dismissively.


    Perhaps it was because I had cleaned him up nicely, but Julius was starting to regain his original beauty. Beautiful golden hair, pale skin, long eyelashes, a high nose, and thin lips. His gaze was somewhat sharp, and his eye color was dull, but he was indeed a handsome man, as rumored.


    "It''s not like that at all. I bought you because you''re strong. Not just anyone, but someone exceptionally strong. You see, Julius-san, gathering alchemical materials is quite dangerous, you know?"


    "How ridiculous."


    "It''s not ridiculous at all. Both you and I are no longer nobles, so if we''re careless with our money, we''ll be penniless in no time. I''ll earn the money, so please defeat monsters efficiently. I''m counting on you."


    "As long as I have this collar, I have no choice but to obey you," Julius said indifferently.


    Then he immersed himself in the bathtub and closed his eyes. Despite being the one treating Julius''s hair, it felt more like I was his slave rather than his master.


    I wrapped Julius in a fluffy towel after he got out of the bath and led him to the room. Then I had him sit on a single-seat round chair.


    Quickly changing out of my wet apron dress, I decided to take a bath later; after all, Julius was still naked, so I couldn''t just leave him like that. After grabbing a black and white apron from the closet and hastily putting it on, I quickly returned to Julius.


    Using warm wind magic, I dried Julius''s damp golden hair. I had considered creating alchemical devices for drying hair, but using warm wind magic was more convenient, so I hadn''t developed such devices yet.


    Warm air gushed out from both of my hands, quickly drying his hair.


    "Oh...! Julius-san, you look beautiful! Now that you''re cleaned up, you appear even more stunning."


    His golden hair, sparkling like sunlight piercing through cloudy skies, had regained its luster. It was straight with no curls, cut unevenly. Some parts reached shoulder length, while others were as short as the base of his neck. His pretty eye, framed by long, golden eyelashes, peered through the gap in his bangs that partially concealed the other eye. He was tall and muscular, and the scars scattered across his body somehow accentuated his beauty.


    He appeared to be considerably older than me, perhaps in his late twenties at most.


    My former fianc¨¦, Cyril, was indeed handsome, but compared to Julius, I couldn''t help but feel that something was lacking.


    "You look quite ordinary, Chloe."


    "Stop it. I used to be considered quite attractive. Nevertheless, I''m still a beautiful alchemist, you know!"


    "Well, that''s a relief."


    "You just made fun of me, didn''t you? Well, no matter. Kind Chloe has already prepared some clothes for you. It''s an all-size robe that anyone can wear, though, because I don''t know your size."


    I enthusiastically retrieved a black robe from the closet. But since I had chosen the largest size available, it was surprisingly heavy. They say big things can accommodate smaller ones, and considering Julius''s size, it should fit him just fine.


    I draped the robe over Julius''s head, covering him from head to toe with the hooded garment that also had sleeves. I took the towel he had been using and tossed it into the changing room.


    Returning from the changing room, I saw Julius comfortably lying on my bed. It was a simple double bed with no canopy or anything fancy, just covered with a pretty floral-patterned sheet that I had bought somewhere.


    Julius, in his pitch-black robe, seemed at ease on the bed, although it didn''t quite suit him. Stepping closer, I reached out and tugged on his robe.


    "What are you doing, lying down like that? This is my bed, you know."


    "I took a refreshing bath, so I want to take a nap."


    "Do you think you have the freedom to do that? Come on, get up. We still have things to do, like shopping for your clothes and weapons."


    "I''m fine with anything simple. Just a sword and a spear will do. Even if they''re dull, it''s fine."


    "I can''t carry such heavy things by myself, and you''re my slave, so you can''t leave my side."


    "Then let''s do it tomorrow."


    "Are you being a spoiled child now? This is my bed, you know. Please get out of the way."


    Julius looked up at me with a hint of amusement as he lay down.


    "The first constraint is that I have to be within the distance of your voice. In other words, it means we have to sleep in the same room. The second constraint is that I''m not allowed to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, but it seems that there''s no penalty here. So that means you don''t dislike it."


    "Are you playing detective, Julius-san? Please don''t speculate on your own. Are you perhaps... already tired?"


    "I''ve been constantly vigilant every day to avoid getting my throat slit. Talking to you, an idiot, makes me lower my guard," Julius said before letting out a light yawn.


    He really did look sleepy.


    "Well, I guess there''s no helping it. I''ll go make the prosthetic eye, so please rest. You''re getting quite the special treatment, Julius-san, so be grateful."


    "Thank you for that."


    After a casual response, Julius closed his eye, and soon, I could hear his gentle snores.


    He must have been through a lot, just like me.


    I quietly left the room, letting him rest. There''s no urgent request at the moment, so it should be fine. Moving away from the sleeping Julius, I took a bath and prepared myself for my next task.


    Even when I got out of the bath, Julius was still sleeping. I observed his peaceful sleeping form, noting that his long golden eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks. I wished I could fill the hollow where his eye used to be, which seemed out of place on his beautiful face. His skin was slightly wrinkled. With a prosthetic eye and a healing spell, he would probably look much better.


    I went downstairs and stood in front of the alchemy furnace.


    "The materials for the prosthetic eye are an Evil Eye''s eyeball, a crystal that has seen the unseen, and sparkling holy water. I''ll also add a ruby because I want it to be red. As for the ability... maybe something like the ''True Anagram.''"


    I took the materials out of my infinite storage trunk and placed them into a large black alchemical cauldron, which was larger than my outstretched hands. The materials melted in the purified water inside the cauldron. With my hands raised above the cauldron, I poured my magic into it while assembling the materials. The purified water emitted a rainbow-colored light, and the prosthetic eye floated up into view.


    I picked up the perfectly round eyeball with my fingers. There was a red iris at the center of the white eyeball.


    "This looks good. Now, let''s see... the effect will be the ''True Anagram.'' It seems to be functioning properly. As expected of me, the genius alchemist Chloe-chan."


    I placed the prosthetic eye on a tray on the table. The red part of the eye had a hexagram pattern and it looked quite impressive. I was sure Julius would be satisfied. I took the prosthetic eye and returned to my room. The sun was beginning to set, and Julius seemed to be still asleep.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 4 - Julius Craft, the Black Prince - 4

    I headed to Julius''s room with the completed prosthetic eye in hand. Well, calling it ''heading to Julius''s room'' is a bit strange because it''s technically my room and my bed. But it looks like the owner of that room has been switched to Julius. Perhaps it''s a former general''s dignity at work.Well anyway, I entered my room and saw Julius lying down with the setting sun streaming in, making regular snores. I hesitated on what to do, but the desire to try out the prosthetic eye overcame the desire to let Julius rest, so I decided to wake him up.


    And to avoid dropping it, I temporarily placed the prosthetic eye on a tray on the table.


    "Julius-san, please wake up. It''s already night. It''s time for dinner."


    I approached him casually, leaning in to peek at his face. Suddenly, Julius, who had been sound asleep, woke up and twisted my arm just as I was about to tug at his robe.


    Our eyes met as he gave me a cold, piercing stare, and I responded with a sheepish smile.


    "Good morning, Julius-san."


    "What? It''s just an idiot."


    "Please stop giving me strange nicknames. Call me Chloe-chan or Master."


    "Don''t approach me so recklessly, you idiot. I might kill you."


    Julius let go of my twisted arm, sighed, and then sank into the pile of cushions stacked on my bed. The cushions had colorful butterfly and floral patterns, giving the bed a somewhat fancy appearance.


    "Don''t casually call people idiots. I am Chloe-chan, who created the miraculous Balance of Truth in just three years and is reputed to be a genius alchemist in town."


    "Unfortunately, I''m not knowledgeable about alchemy. So, no matter how amazing you claim to be, I don''t really care."


    "I have absolutely no desire for Julius-san to say ''Chloe-chan is an amazing genius~'' and then pat me, so it''s perfectly fine," I said with a pout as the beautiful Julius occupied my bed. S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I hadn''t come here to pick a fight, so I rubbed my sore right hand and brought the prosthetic eye on the table over to Julius, holding it out in front of him.


    "Please take a look, Julius-san. This is the specially crafted prosthetic eye that I made just for you, complete with the added effect of ''True Anagram.'' To activate this effect, you''ll need to obtain the ''True Glasses of Anagrams,'' which involves defeating the ''One Who Understands All'' that only inhabits the northern caves. This is an extremely rare and valuable material, so please be delighted, Julius-san."


    "Stop making so much noise when I''ve just woken up. It''s giving me a headache."


    "Julius-san, were you even listening to me? This is a special effect that would make any ordinary adventurer cry tears of joy, you know."


    "Get to the point."


    "What? Are you trying to be my boss now, Julius-san?"


    "Just cut to the chase."


    "Julius-san, you''re being too straightforward. In alchemy, you need a variety of materials, and for the effects to manifest, you have to explain them properly to your customers. In other words, storytelling is important because it''s a customer service job. Well, I don''t think customer service is your strong suit, Julius-san, but with your looks, you might attract a crowd of girls if you worked in a shop."


    Actually, that''s a good idea. That way, Chloe-chan''s alchemy shop might make even more money. I grinned while considering whether to develop more cute automatic lamps for the female customers.


    "...If I were to stand in front of the shop, people might get scared and stop coming."


    "Only high-ranking generals who served in the military, border counts, and members of the royal family know what the Black Prince Julius looks like. And maybe some wealthy enthusiasts who enjoy going to the slave arena might have seen you too. But the girls in town, when they see Julius-san, they would probably just think, ''Oh my god, what a handsome man!''"


    "I understand that my appearance suits your taste," Julius said, teasingly.


    I thought he had been listening to my talk with disinterest, but then he suddenly started teasing me. I need to be on guard and avoid being surprised every time he does that.


    "I''m talking about general preferences. Anyway, I came to get this prosthetic eye fitted, so please cooperate with me."


    "Do as you like," Julius said, leaning back on the cushion with his eyes closed. I stood by the bed, unable to reach him from my position.


    "Julius-san, could you move a bit closer over here? I can''t reach you."


    "I''m tired. I don''t want to move."


    "I''m your master, you know. Please listen to me."


    "I don''t want to move, but other than that, you can do as you please, dear master."


    I can''t believe this guy. I brought him here, and yet on the first day, I''m already at his mercy.


    "I heard rumors about you being a cruel, ruthless, and terrifying Black Prince, but you seem quite capable of having a normal conversation," I remarked.


    "...Do you really think a man who can''t even hold a conversation can lead an army as a general?" Julius responded.


    "Well, I guess that''s true. Then it seems the rumors were just rumors."


    I thought about moving closer to Julius, who was responding with his eye closed. With the tray in one hand, I climbed onto my bed. Although it''s my own bed that I sleep in every day, it was surprisingly uncomfortable. When I got on it, it was so soft that I felt like I might drop the prosthetic eye from the tray.


    "Now then. I can take the King''s head anytime you command me to. How about it, Chloe? Shall I exterminate all the people you hate?"


    "Please don''t speak like you''re some kind of demon king. Why is it that you''re ready to follow my orders only when they''re violent? Please stop being selectively obedient. I''m not looking for something like that."


    "What a boring woman."


    "Is the type of woman who''d say, ''Slaughter all of the royal family for my sake~!'' your preference, Julius-san? You have a quite unique taste," I said.


    Julius sighed and remained silent, not responding to me.


    I wished he would stop teasing me because it seemed that my acting was getting a bit awkward, and the silence in the room became uncomfortably loud.


    I was grateful that Julius had his eye closed; it spared me from the embarrassment of blushing in front of him.


    I didn''t want him to think I was inexperienced with men just because I was sitting on his knee to get closer to him. I had already learned my lesson from Cyril, that traitor, and I couldn''t help but remember his face and how many times I''d pounded my pillow in frustration. I had even failed with alchemy, creating dark artifacts several times because of that guy.


    "I''m going to touch your eye, so it might hurt a bit."


    I grasped the prosthetic eye with one hand and used my other finger to gently open the hole where Julius''s right eye used to be. I inserted the prosthetic eye into the hollow. From the back of the prosthetic eye, which adhered to the shape of the hollow, several thin yellow tubes, similar to optic nerves, extended and entered Julius''s body. The artificial eye snugly fit into the hollow with a pop. It had a beautiful scarlet iris made of ruby that shone in the center of a clear white eyeball.


    I touched the slightly twitching skin around the eye after the prosthetic had been inserted. Placing my hand over the eye, I whispered a healing spell.


    "O Goddess of Healing, Panakeia, heal the wounds of this individual with your power."


    The palm of my hand on Julius''s face became slightly warm, emitting a green light that overflowed and slowly faded away.


    I removed my hand and examined Julius''s face. Upon closer inspection, the skin around the red prosthetic eye was still twitching, but it had been repaired quite beautifully. His long eyelashes and eyelids had returned to their original state, it seemed.


    I looked intently at Julius''s face, now with two eyes, as I stroked his bangs.


    There was no discomfort. Even with one eye missing, he had a beautiful face, but with both eyes in place, he became even more stunning. There was no awkwardness in the arrangement of his eyes. I was very satisfied with how my prosthetic eye had turned out.


    Julius blinked, and both of his eyes opened.


    His dull blue eye and the crimson prosthetic eye met mine.


    "How is it? Can you see properly?"


    "I can see a perfectly normal woman."


    "See? I told you. My prosthetic eye is different from a mere decorative one that can just be inserted. It''s properly connected to the optic nerve and functions as an actual eye. I was also able to repair your face quite nicely with healing magic. Do you want to see yourself in the mirror, Julius-san?"


    "No, it''s fine. Your eyes reflect my face, so let me see."


    "Hm?"


    Well, given our proximity, I guess my eyes do reflect him.


    I blinked a few times. Julius''s beautiful face was very close. Suddenly, his hands tightly gripped my waist, catching me off guard.


    Is it because he spent so long in the slave arena, so he''s pent up with desire or something? Does he just see any woman as a potential target? Is that what this is?


    "Chloe... I can see your completely normal face, but I don''t quite understand the effects of this ''True Anagram'' thing," Julius said after scrutinizing my face.


    After staring at my face intently and making his comments, it seemed that he was just confirming the prosthetic''s effect. I wished he wouldn''t, as it left me feeling confused.


    Julius, who seemed to have lost interest, released his hand from me. I quickly moved away from his lap and got off the bed.


    "Well, Julius-san, it seems you''re quite curious about the effect of the artificial eye, aren''t you? Would you like to hear an explanation? If you do, please get off the bed, and let''s have dinner," I said.


    "Tell me about the effect first."


    "Are you going to obey me?"


    "As you wish, dear master."


    "Being straightforward is the best approach. Today''s dinner is bean soup. Now, regarding the effect of the ''True Anagram,'' it allows you to see through the true form of malevolent spirit-type monsters. Malevolent spirits don''t have physical bodies, so usually, they can only be defeated with sacred magic. However, with the True Anagram''s effect, you can defeat them even without magic. It''s a rare and valuable effect, especially for people who can''t use magic."


    "That''s all? Doesn''t seem like much."


    "It''s quite expensive, you know! Eventually, Julius-san, you''ll be crying with gratitude to me. Malevolent spirit-type monsters usually infest caves, you know."


    Julius didn''t respond and got off the bed, though he didn''t look particularly pleased.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 5 - Popular Person in the Astoria Kingdom - 1

    The next day, Julius and I headed to the main shopping district of the royal capital, Astoria. Well, my "Chloe''s Alchemy Shop" was already located in the main shopping district, so stepping outside meant I was already on the main street. A very convenient and great location, I must say.


    Yesterday, for some reason, Julius wanted to sleep in my bed. Reluctantly, I gave up my bed and dragged a sofa from the vacant room that serves as a storage space. I set up the sofa in my room and settled down to sleep on it. I don''t know who the real master is, but there''s no helping it since Julius doesn''t listen to what I say.


    Having gained the ability to sleep anywhere over these past three years, I slept soundly on the sofa and woke up refreshed. In contrast, Julius showed no signs of stirring at all; I had to wake him up and make him get ready for the morning.


    Well, I hadn''t bought any clothes yet, so I had Julius wear black, free-size slacks that reached down to his feet. Even though they were tailored for men, they were a bit too short due to Julius''s long legs. He was quite picky, with his handsome face and good figure, making him rather unpleasant.


    I had him wear unisex sandals. Despite the simple outfit, it accentuated Julius''s innate beauty. I threw away all the clothes and shoes Julius had been wearing since they were somewhat dirty. We were going to buy new ones anyway, so there was no need to wash and keep them.


    "Julius-san, take a look. This is Chloe''s Alchemy Shop in the main shopping district, the most popular and prosperous place in the kingdom of Astoria! It''s become so splendid in just three years... I''m sure even your mother on the grassy knoll would be delighted to see this[2]."


    "This is the center of the kingdom? It looks more like the countryside."


    Julius stopped in the vicinity of the shop''s entrance and looked up at my home-slash-shop. The two-story "Chloe''s Alchemy Shop" had red brick walls, a black roof, and a sign on the shop''s entrance wall. In front of the shop, I had several star-shaped automatic lighting lamps (waterproof) that I had crafted, all hanging down.


    Since this might make it seem like a lamp store, I also hung a Chaos Gaze (waterproof) in a birdcage. As the name suggests, Chaos Gaze is an eye. A round eye about the size of a child''s head, gently floating inside the birdcage.


    "The Dystiana Empire has more than double the land area of the Astoria Kingdom, so it might seem like the countryside to you, but it''s prosperous in its own way. Also, there''s a saying that those who laugh at the countryside will cry in the countryside."


    "Chloe, what''s this?"


    "Oh my, Julius-san. Are you already interested? Have you developed an interest in alchemy?"


    "It''s an eye."


    Ignoring my smirk, Julius continued to stare at Chaos Gaze inside the birdcage. The red eye of Chaos Gaze occupied a large part of its black iris, and it blinked shyly towards Julius.


    "Hello."


    Chaos Gaze greeted Julius in a sweet girl''s voice. In case you''re wondering, it can''t actually speak, so the voice is designed to echo directly into your head.


    "This is Chaos Gaze. Her nickname is Hime-chan. She greets the people who come to the shop. When someone tries to enter the shop forcibly when it''s closed, she can use her Hime-chan Beam to turn them into ashes. She''s a security device, so to speak. Unlike you, Julius-san, she''s obedient and follows orders. She has a bit of intelligence, so she can distinguish between good and bad people. She can even read their hearts."


    Chaos Gaze floated in the birdcage, looking pleased with my explanation.


    "Looks like a monster."


    "It''s not a monster; it''s an alchemical creation."


    "Did you design something like this yourself?"


    "That''s right. Alchemy is all about imagination, so my creativity comes into play when it comes to design."


    Julius-san looked at me with his red and blue eyes. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but he didn''t, so I left it at that.


    "Today''s going to be busy, Julius-san. We''ll be buying clothes and weapons for you. Oh wait, now that I think about it, maybe it''s not going to be that busy...?"


    "Hurry up, you idiot."


    Julius, who had started walking before I knew it, called out to me from a slightly distant place while I was standing in front of the shop with my arms crossed. I quickly turned my head in his direction and caught up to him.


    Speaking of which, today I''m wearing a lace triangle headkerchief on my head, paired with a red apron dress. I''m usually dressed like this 24/7. The only thing that changes is the color of the apron dress. On my shoulders, I carry an infinite storage bag that''s connected to my infinite storage trunk. It looks like a simple cream-colored cloth bag, which I purposely made to look plain so it wouldn''t attract thieves.


    "Why are you walking ahead of me like that, Julius-san? You don''t know the way around, right?"


    "No."


    "Now who''s the idiot here? You might get lost!"


    "It''s because you''re slow."


    "Julius-san, I saw you were interested in Hime-chan, so I explained everything to her. But she''s probably crying right now because you made her misunderstand with that passionate gaze of yours."


    "Does it have a gender?"


    "It does. It had a girl''s voice, didn''t it? A sweet, enchanting, beautiful girl''s voice."


    "How tasteless."


    "Do you have a problem with my sense of beauty, Julius-san? Just because you have such a good face..." I said while walking side by side with Julius in the main shopping district.


    The main shopping district had a large fountain in the center, with shops arranged in a circular pattern around it.


    The land around the fountain, being in the center, is a prime location, so many popular and high-end shops are lined up there. Among them are numerous pastry shops favored by nobles, perfume shops for the wealthy, clothing stores, restaurants, and so on.


    If you were to take a step into the alley, you''d find more down-to-earth shops.


    My alchemy shop wasn''t a high-end store, but alchemical items could fetch prices that could buy Julius alone, depending on the item, so it''s quite a mixed bag[1].


    "Julius-san, the weapons and armor shop for adventurers is right in front of my shop, on the right side of the alley."


    In front of the fountain, you could see families taking a break, and couples enjoying themselves. When people spotted me, they waved, so I waved back. Julius looked at me with a skeptical expression as I continued to greet people on the street.


    "Didn''t your Seigrit Duchy family fall into ruin due to some wrongdoing? People seem awfully comfortable around you." Julius said. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why do you seem a bit disappointed, Julius-san? Were you hoping for people to throw stones at me while I walk around, saying, ''You''re Chloe of the Seigrit family!''? Isn''t that a bit harsh?"


    "I didn''t expect it, but I anticipated it."


    "Those days are long gone. It''s been three years since I was abandoned, and the situation has changed, you know. Now, everyone in town is sympathetic to me, and they''re all rather kind. My sincerity, Chloe-chan''s sincerity, has healed the hearts of the people in town. You can even call me an angel if you like."


    Julius fell silent again. I wished he would stop doing that, making me feel like I stumbled over my words. I wondered if I should add a new constraint to the magic lock: no silence.


    "You... you were probably more entertaining when you directed your resentment at the royal family three years ago," Julius said with a mocking tone as we left the sunlit circular square. We walked through a shaded alleyway lined with cafes, candy shops, locksmiths, watch shops, and various other stores.


    I looked up at him, unimpressed. "Why do you say that? Besides, this Chloe-chan wasn''t harboring any resentment towards the royal family because she didn''t have time for that. Also, it took at least three years for me to earn enough money through alchemy to buy someone like you. So it''s impossible."


    "Three years can turn a ragged nobody into an ordinary person, huh...?"


    "What''s wrong with being an ordinary person? Some people prefer a simple, ordinary girl, you know. But I guess you have peculiar tastes, Julius-san," I teased.


    Unfortunately, I wasn''t the villainous boss character he seemed to be hoping for. Given his previous role as a general, maybe he just enjoyed warfare.


    "I''ll make sure to satisfy your bloodthirsty desires, Julius-san, by having you battle strong monsters. And I''m going to make you work tirelessly like a cart horse, so let''s buy you some good weapons."


    Julius retorted with a rather unsettling perspective, "There''s no such thing as a good or bad weapon. With any kind of weapon, you can kill a person by swinging it."


    "Are you some kind of berserker? What''s with that way of thinking? We need better weapons for a stronger you, to defeat tougher monsters, and to make a profit for our alchemy shop. That''s why tools are very important. Don''t talk like some primitive person who doesn''t understand how to use tools properly. Were you raised by wolves or something?"


    "Chloe, I want a flying dragon," Julius declared, completely ignoring my words. His tone made it sound as if I couldn''t possibly refuse him.


    "Dragons are expensive, you know. And where in the world would we keep one? They''re usually kept in the knight''s garrisons, the vast gardens of the royal family, or even in the extensive estate of my Seigrit Duchy family. Julius-san alone is already big, so we certainly don''t have the space for a dragon at my house. Also, can you at least give me back my bed?"


    "If we have a flying dragon, I can use it to fly. It''ll increase our travel speed and reduce expenses. It will also improve the efficiency of your material gathering or whatever it is you''re after."


    "That might be true, but..."


    "And you don''t seem to mind me sleeping in your bed. So, I won''t give it back."


    "Why are you so stubborn about that?"


    I sighed deeply. It was only the second day since I''d bought Julius, and it felt like I was being rolled around in the palm of his hand. But instead of feeling manipulated, I felt like I was dancing happily.


    A flying dragon, huh? Maybe I should consider getting one, even though they''re expensive.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 6 - Popular Person in the Astoria Kingdom - 2

    Setting aside the matter regarding the flying dragon for now, I entered the shop full of adventurers'' goods, weapons, and armor alongside Julius. The spacious store was filled with an array of clothing, swords, armor, and more. The assortment of goods, both on display and in the warehouse, indicated that it was a trustworthy shop with a considerable inventory."Hello, Robert-san."


    "Hello, Chloe-chan. It''s unusual to see you with a man."


    Robert, a gentleman of 36 with slicked-back brown hair and a mustache, is a middle-aged man with a seductive wife and five children. Over the course of my work, I had visited his weapon and armor shop many times, making us quite familiar with each other.


    "Yes, this is Julius-san. I bought him from the slave arena yesterday. Robert-san, could you please provide him with suitable clothes, armor, and weapons?"


    As Julius stood behind me, he, for some reason, pulled my ear. Ouch.


    "Hey, stupid. I just said that my identity is not supposed to be known, so why would you reveal my status?"


    "There''s no need to hide it. Besides, it''s just Robert-san."


    Julius is quite paranoid. However, unlike him, I am not a fool. I carefully choose whom to disclose information to.


    "Speaking of Julius from the slave arena, is it the Black Prince Julius? I must say,  that''s quite a purchase, Chloe-chan," Robert said in a calm tone.


    "If I remember correctly, Black Prince Julius had a sentence of a hundred years in the slave arena. And for each victory, the sentence was reduced by one year. He survived for three years with hundreds of victories, facing a de facto death sentence. What impressive strength."


    "Oh my! Julius-san, I had heard rumors of your strength, but isn''t that amazing?" I said, looking up at Julius, who was holding my pulled ear. Then, with a genuinely indifferent expression, Julius averted his gaze.


    "I''m not sure if the manager had a change of heart or if it''s just for attracting customers and creating a buzz, but I heard the price has been set at a level that commoners can''t afford. I thought even if he was put up for sale, the manager wouldn''t find a buyer due to his terrifying nature, unless someone very daring decided to purchase him. But for Chloe-chan to buy him, it''s truly unexpected. Well done, Chloe-chan. You have a very good eye," remarked Robert.


    "I expected Robert-san to say something like that," I replied.


    "I''m only interested in the value of things. But, Chloe-chan, it might be better not to talk about it too much. It''s only been three years since the war ended. If rumors about the Black Prince reach the ears of King Cyril or Queen Aliza, many citizens of the kingdom will be in fear. So be careful."


    "You''re right. I''ll keep that in mind."


    "Well, I know that you''re clever, so maybe this is just unnecessary meddling. However, it would be worrisome if it reaches the ears of King Cyril or Queen Aliza. Therefore, I hope nothing untoward happens to you, Chloe-chan," Robert said with concern.


    I haven''t seen my ex-fianc¨¦ Cyril and my sister Aliza in three years. Those residing in the royal castle are likely shielded from the mundane lives of commoners, and I''m probably presumed dead by now. While I don''t actively conceal my identity as Chloe Seigrit, there''s no need to announce it either. Given the passage of three years, few would likely discuss the Seigrit family. I am currently Chloe, the alchemist, so very few are aware of my current circumstances as the Duchess Chloe.


    "Thank you very much, but I''m alright. Julius-san is strong. So, please provide him with armor to enhance his strength, as well as everyday clothing and shoes. A complete set from underwear to socks, please."


    "It''s an honor to be able to choose equipment for the Black Prince Julius. Are you planning to buy a lot, Chloe-chan?"


    "These are necessary expenses, so I won''t be frugal with money."


    "You''re such a generous person. I always appreciate your help."


    Robert took out a measuring tape and began measuring Julius, who stood there calmly. As Julius was being measured for his height, arm length, and leg length, he appeared docile during the process. It was a relief that he wasn''t reacting like a wild beast that would go berserk just from being measured. I had considered the possibility that Julius might have beastly tendencies, but it seemed he was well-mannered. Being the ex-Duke of the Dystiana Empire, Julius should have received proper etiquette training. It might be impolite to think of him as a beastly individual without discernment. Three years ago, I, too, would elegantly respond as the Duchess Chloe Seigrit, saying things like "Indeed." Now, that seemed like a distant memory, and I might share some similarities with Julius.


    With some free time, I decided to peruse the items in the store.


    As I examined the newly arrived weapons and armor, I noticed Julius standing beside me.


    "Oh, is the measurement finished already?"


    "It''s done."


    "Is it okay not to choose weapons and such with Robert-san? If you decide now, your master will buy anything for you, you know."


    "You said ''anything,'' right?"


    Julius-san wore a faint smile on his lips, but the lack of amusement in his eyes was eerie.


    "You must be talking about the flying dragons, right? Just how much do you love them? Are you a dragon maniac?"


    "A dragon knight rides a flying dragon. I don''t like crawling on the ground like an ant."


    "You do know the majority of people live crawling on the ground, right? Flying dragons are expensive, you know. Or maybe you think I''m incredibly rich?"


    "You''ve got some savings, don''t you? Your lifestyle and clothing are modest."


    "Well, I''m sorry for being modest. But don''t you think this apron dress is cute? It gives off an alchemist vibe, doesn''t it? When I walk around town in this outfit, everyone recognizes me as Chloe from Chloe''s Alchemy Shop. In other words, I''m a walking advertisement."


    "I don''t care about the details of your clothing."


    "But Julius-san was the one who brought up the topic of clothing, wasn''t he?"


    Julius, with his handsome face and good physique, even made the robe I gave him look good. I don''t understand what kind of underwear a man wears, so I didn''t prepare anything for him underneath. However, I couldn''t point this out, as it was my responsibility to supply him with necessary clothing.


    "After buying everything that''s necessary, I''ll take you to the dragon shop. I think there was one at the edge of the capital... Though I''m not sure if they have a flying dragon that Julius-san would like. By the way, what happened to the black one you rode three years ago?"


    Julius seemed to have flown around the battlefield riding a black flying dragon in the Empire before becoming a slave. I say ''seemed'' because I didn''t actually see it. There must have been a war, but at that time, it felt like an event in a distant world for me. I didn''t know much about Julius either; I only knew about him through rumors.


    "Who knows? Maybe it was killed or went back to the wild."


    "Did it get attached to you?"


    "I guess."


    Julius, who seemed uninterested in many things, changed his demeanor when the topic of flying dragons came up. There was a nostalgic tone in his affirmative words.


    "Did it have a name too?"


    "What''s your point in asking that?"


    "I just came up with a good idea. Dragons have a much longer lifespan and are smarter than us, right?"


    "Yeah, that''s right. They''re much smarter and purer creatures than humans."


    "You really like dragons, huh? Well, I''ll make something nice for you then."


    "Using alchemy?"


    "That''s right. When I say ''make,'' I mean alchemy. It''s a special service. So, please tell me the dragon''s name."


    "...Helios." s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "What a cute name. Helios. Okay, I''ve memorized it. If Helios-kun is still alive, you might not need to buy a flying dragon. Can we wait for a day before going to the dragon shop?"


    "It can''t be helped."


    Julius conceded, so I expressed my gratitude, saying, "Thank you." I briefly wondered if it was strange for me to do so, but it didn''t really matter. Gratitude is free, so you can say it as much as you want. After working in customer service for three years, I became adept at expressing appreciation, although my heart wasn''t fully into it.


    "Julius-san, why don''t you choose weapons and clothes with Robert-san?"


    "I told him to choose anything because I don''t have a particular preference. And I don''t care about weapons, as I mentioned."


    "But do you have a preference for clothes? What will you do if Robert-san''s taste is bad? Because he''s an old man, he might bring extremely tasteless clothes, like a full-body leopard print."


    Julius wearing a full-body leopard print would be interesting to see. However, he looked down on me from above with a mocking expression.


    "I get a headache talking to idiots like you."


    "But Julius-san was the one who came closer to talk to that idiot, wasn''t he? I was quietly browsing through weapons alone, so don''t disturb me."


    "Do you use a sword, Chloe?"


    "I use alchemical tools. I can use a bit of magic, so I mostly use magic-amplifying wands. I''m weak, so using a sword or something would only make me even weaker."


    "But you still have interest in swords?"


    "Sometimes, customers come in and ask for special effects for their sword or armor, similar to Julius-san''s prosthetic eye. I usually recommend attaching the ''True Anagram'' effect to a sword, as it makes it easy for them to defeat spirits. It''s quite expensive, but a few capable knights and adventurers still want it. So, it''s good for me to observe what types of weapons are available, to be prepared when requests like that come in the future."


    While talking with Julius at the back of the store, Robert''s voice reached our ears, signaling that he had finished selecting Julius''s items. An overwhelming number of clothes, armor, and weapons were laid on Robert''s counter, leaving no space untouched.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 7 - Popular Person in the Astoria Kingdom - 3

    Robert was using the abacus.While waiting for the bill to be calculated, Julius and I checked the clothing and armor that Robert had prepared for us. Unfortunately, it seemed that Robert didn''t have the sense of style I had hoped for, and there were no outfits with leopard prints or anything interesting. To be frank, it was quite disappointing. I really wanted to see Julius in a full leopard print outfit.


    But more importantly, most of the clothing placed on the counter was black, befitting Julius''s nickname, the Black Prince. Although not flashy, the quality of each item was excellent. A simple touch revealed they were made from high-quality fabric.


    In addition to the clothing, there was also a black cloak, a sword, and a spear on the counter.


    "The cloak may look like an ordinary piece of clothing at first glance, but it''s actually made from the Ariadne''s threads that Chloe-chan alchemized. It''s lightweight, incredibly durable, and even if it gets torn or cut, the threads themselves have a self-repairing ability. It''s a fantastic piece of equipment, a best friend to housewives, and can be machine-washed without any problems. And as for that sword and spear over there, both were made from the Everlasting Diamond that Chloe-chan alchemized. Of course, their base stats are high, but they also have a strong affinity for magic. With Chloe-chan''s magic, they''ll be a great support for Julius-kun in battle. I poured my heart into these items to ensure that they can be useful to you in combat," Robert explained while flicking the abacus beads. S~?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow! Thank you so much!" I said, smiling and expressing my gratitude, but deep down, I was actually a bit worried.


    Ariadne''s threads and the Everlasting Diamond were both incredibly expensive. I can say that confidently since I''m the one selling them. Robert''s willingness to buy them from me, craft them, and then sell them back showed a lack of restraint, truly embodying the spirit of a merchant.


    Julius seemed to think I was wealthy, but my funds were not unlimited. If I also had to buy a flying dragon, my savings might run dry.


    I looked up at Julius. He seemed disinterested, gazing out the window. He probably didn''t understand the value of these items. Even though he used to be a dragon knight, did he not appreciate the worth of weapons? Was he really a general?


    "What is it, idiot?  I understand that you want to see your favorite face, but don''t overdo it. It''s unpleasant."


    "Even though you''re not wearing any underwear..." I muttered quietly in response to Julius''s high-handed attitude when he noticed my gaze.


    "Did you just say something?"


    "Nothing."


    Julius didn''t seem to hear, which made it feel a bit satisfying.


    "The total is five million gold, Chloe-chan."


    "...The clothing, weapons, and armor cost the same as Julius-san himself..."


    I expected it to be around that price, but seeing the actual amount was shocking. It wasn''t an unpayable sum, but it would require a lot of work. I''ll have to stave off my hunger with bean soup while I go hunting for dangerous monsters and gathering rare materials for some pending requests. I had a few jobs on hold because the material collection was too challenging, but completing them would likely cover the living costs of Julius and me.


    "The Everlasting Diamond and Ariadne''s threads are expensive materials. We had them processed by the best craftsman in the royal capital, so they come at a certain price. Besides, Julius-kun was originally from the same noble background as Chloe-chan, right? If we offer cheap clothing, it could harm our shop''s reputation," Robert calmly explained while presenting the price, looking confident that I could afford it.


    Even though Robert and I had a relatively close relationship, the word "discount" did not exist in our interactions. As I was shocked to hear that it would cost ten million gold to support Julius alone in two days, I nodded and said, "I understand."


    I took five bundles of money, each containing a million gold, from my infinite storage trunk connected to my home and handed them to Robert with a smile. Robert looked very pleased.


    "Julius-san, please put the stuff we bought into this bag."


    "Why do I have to do it?" Julius asked.


    "Because it''s yours! You should put away your own things! After all, I''m not your wife; I''m your master," I replied.


    "..."


    "Did you just click your tongue at me, Julius-san? I spent 5 million gold on your clothes and weapons, and you''re clicking your tongue?! That''s quite audacious of you!"


    "You''re buying it because you wanted to. I never asked for this."


    Julius can just spend his life naked, for all I care. I thought that, but I didn''t say so because I''m a kind person.


    With his arms crossed, Julius showed no signs of moving. Reluctantly, I started packing the clothes and weapons into the bag. Ariadne''s coat and the Eternal Diamond weapons were surprisingly light, so I managed to fit them all without much trouble.


    The clothes and weapons were gradually absorbed into my bag. Then I noticed that Julius''s black underwear was not triangular like mine; it looked more like shorts. I might need to buy some more of those, so I''ll have to keep that in mind.


    "Thank you again, Chloe-chan."


    "Your welcome, Robert-san."


    Robert, in a cheerful mood from making many sales, gave a slight nod. After greeting me, he turned his gaze towards Julius.


    "Julius-kun, please take good care of Chloe-chan. Despite how she may seem, she has been through quite a lot. Regardless of the Duke of Seigrit''s bad reputation, Chloe-chan is innocent, and everyone understands that."


    "Thank you, Robert-san," I expressed my heartfelt gratitude.


    This was probably the first time Robert had spoken so clearly about my situation.


    "Chloe-chan has become quite popular in town now. So, Julius-kun, you better take good care of her, or you''ll have people here holding a grudge against you," Robert added, showing fatherly concern.


    Despite Robert''s paternal concern for me, Julius didn''t respond and he didn''t seem angry either, although he quickly left the shop. But since he didn''t get angry, I thought I should give him praise for that.


    I waved to Robert and followed Julius.


    "Julius-san, since we''ve finished shopping, how about having a meal before we head back? There''s a cafeteria run by a beautiful lady nearby," I said after catching up to Julius, who was briskly returning along the same path. The sun had started to tilt slightly from its zenith, indicating that it was already past noon.


    "We''re going home, Chloe. You have work to do."


    "Work?"


    "You said you would do something about the flying dragon using alchemy."


    "All you can think about is flying dragons, huh? How much more are you going to think about it? For your information, I can''t concentrate on alchemy if I don''t eat."


    "You''re a useless idiot."


    "I''m still a human being, you know. Even a genius alchemist can''t do alchemy without magic and concentration."


    "Then do it with determination."


    "I don''t want to do it with determination. I don''t even have a decent income, and I can''t muster the motivation to do alchemy to the death. I invited you to have a nice meal together, and yet here we are. When we get home, there will only be bean soup, you know."


    Because we might be stuck with bean soup for a while, I wanted to enjoy a good meal for the last time before that.


    "Julius-san, you''re in your prime, so you must want to eat meat, right? You look like you''d love meat."


    "In the slave arena, I survived by gnawing on moldy bread. I''ll eat anything as long as it''s food."


    "What a wild way of thinking. Julius-san, you have to remember... You used to be a noble!" I said while pretending to cry.


    Then Julius pulled my ear without saying a word. It hurt.


    "Chloe, don''t call me a noble so loudly. Are you an idiot, or just plain forgetful?"


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "You were supposed to keep my identity a secret, right? The shopkeeper told you earlier. Did you forget? Or do you just not have a good memory?"


    "Julius-san, you listen to people pretty well, don''t you? Is it because you had a good upbringing?"


    "Listen to me more carefully, you idiot."


    "I''m listening, I''m listening. It''s because I was thinking about money and forgot."


    As we continued to argue while walking, street vendors and market stall owners came up to me, saying things like, "Chloe-chan, you''ve got yourself a boyfriend!" while handing me bags filled with food. I smiled vaguely, unable to say, "He''s my slave, not my lover."


    Julius remained silent, but his handsome appearance earned him plenty of attention from the ladies at the market.


    As I accepted all the items gratefully, my hands became full before we even reached the cafeteria.


    "Good for you,  Ms. Popular. Now let''s head back," Julius said with satisfaction.


    This was the first time I hadn''t been happy to be called popular in town.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 8 - Julius the Flying Dragon Maniac and His Beloved Dragon Helios - 1

    I bought Julius with the intention of making him work like a cart horse, but instead, I now found myself being worked like one by him. It was absurd. This wasn''t the plan. While I visualized a new alchemical construction in my mind, I lined up the materials on the counter. By the way, Julius still hadn''t changed into the clothes I bought for him. So, in other words, he was still not wearing underwear. Yet, despite that, Julius sat on my red velvet chair as if it were his own. It was a bit unpleasant.


    "Are you trying to create a flying dragon through alchemy?" Julius asked while watching me. Seeing that he had some free time, he should have considered taking a bath.


    "Do you think a huge creature like a flying dragon could come out of my cute little alchemical cauldron? There''s something called the law of conservation of mass[1], you know. You can''t create something larger than the total volume of the materials."


    "Forget about the details. Just hurry up."


    "You were the one who asked."


    Julius was as free-spirited as ever. His subordinates must have had a hard experience during his time as a general.


    "Is there a problem?"


    "Nothing~"


    He noticed. He realized that I thought of him as a troublesome man, so I tried to divert his attention.


    "Hmm, what should I do with the collar? There''s a magic lock on it..."


    Julius had a black collar with a small padlock around his neck. Strictly speaking, it wasn''t a collar, but I''d say it looked like one.


    "It might hurt you when you call him out, so let''s make it a ring, shall we? Yeah, let''s go with that."


    "A ring?"


    "A dragon horn, a flying dragon''s reverse scale, Camilla''s ring, a heavenly call, a tiny precious stone, and... Julius-san, you''ve known Helios-kun for a long time, haven''t you?"


    "I''ve raised him before he even hatched."


    "That''s impressive, Julius-san... Could you give me some of your hair?"


    "Can''t be helped."


    "Don''t make such a displeased face. Since your hair is all disheveled, cutting a bit won''t make a difference." S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I took a knife and cut a strand of his hair. Despite his disapproving look, I ignored him.


    He stared at me as if he would kill me at any moment.  It would be better if he stopped glaring at people for no reason.


    I threw the materials into the alchemical cauldron. Finally, I added Julius''s hair and poured magic into the cauldron. The process involved breaking down all the materials into separate components and reconstructing them. It seemed complicated, but alchemy relied on understanding and imagination when it came to substances.


    My teacher said so, so I was sure it was correct.


    The amount of magic power consumed increases with the difficulty of creating what you want. If your magic power runs out during the process, it may take two or three days to complete the alchemy.


    I didn''t have a large amount of magic power, so it was troublesome that I couldn''t create what I wanted immediately. And magic power is determined by birth, so there was nothing I could do about it. It was still inconvenient, though.


    "What are you making?"


    Julius was saying something. I''m concentrating right now, so please leave me alone.


    When I remained silent, Julius seemed to sense something and fell silent as well. Soon, the purified water in the alchemical cauldron began to shine with a rainbow color. My magic power seemed to be running out, and my head was getting dizzy.


    Since Julius had told me to do it with the determination to die, I would finish it today even if it killed me. That way, Julius could worship me as the genius alchemist Chloe.


    A small ring floated in the rainbow-colored purified water.


    It had a blue gem, the same color as Julius''s dull blue eyes, set in a silver ring with patterns resembling dragon scales engraved on it.


    I took out the ring, and the rainbow-colored purified water returned to its original transparent color.


    "It''s done! It looks great. Truly a masterpiece. It has the dragon horn effect and life-stabilizing effect. I''m a genius!"


    "Did you finish it? Hand it over."


    Julius naturally reached out his hand, so I hid the completed ''Flying Dragon Ring'' in both of my hands. I couldn''t think of a good name for it, so I just left it as it was.


    "Don''t think you can get everything for free. The material cost is very expensive, you know! The total is about the same as for three Julius-sans!"


    Materials for alchemy were usually collected by defeating monsters, so they''re basically free. But if you sell them, they''re quite expensive. So, saying that they were expensive was not a lie.


    "I don''t know the effect of that ring. So, I don''t know its value."


    "Do you want to know?"


    "Yes. Please tell me, my master."


    Seemingly interested in the ring, Julius flattered me. Well, I actually wanted to tell him in the first place, so I decided to do so.


    "This is a Flying Dragon Ring. The dragon horn is an item used to call dragons, so I modified it and turned it into a ring. And since there seems to be a bond between you and Helios-kun, this ring is exclusively for you."


    "If that''s the case, then hand it over quickly."


    "You''re so impatient. Please listen till the end. With this ring, if Helios-kun is alive, you can summon him. However, since we can''t keep a flying dragon here, I added the life-stabilizing effect to store Helios-kun inside the ring."


    "You talk too much."


    "And Julius-san is the type of person who listens properly. I know."


    He had a good upbringing, so he still listened to me, albeit with an annoyed expression on his face. It made me smile. I said this with a grin, and he clicked his tongue. But I had gotten used to it by then.


    "I understand most of it. So, what do you want me to do?"


    "Say thank you."


    Even among friends, there is still a sense of etiquette. Julius-san and I weren''t that close yet, but manners were important. And he hadn''t thanked me even once. Julius-san was an adult, so I wanted him to be polite.


    "Thank you, Chloe. You made it for me, and I appreciate it."


    After a moment of thought, Julius spoke. His voice was unusually gentle and sweet.


    "Oh no, that''s disgusting."


    I unintentionally spoke my mind. Julius then stood up and gently took hold of my hand, which was holding the ring. His hands were rough and larger than mine. And surprisingly warm. Slowly, his hand tried to pry open my fingers. And I resisted. Desperately.


    "I thanked you, so hand it over."


    "Ouch, ouch. Are you a child, Julius-san? How much do you want to see Helios-kun? I don''t want to give it to you now because you might use it in the room. What if a dragon flies in through the window? It would be a disaster."


    "Then where is a good place?"


    He was serious. I''m glad I didn''t give it to him. I''m so glad.


    "The downdraft from a dragon''s wings is strong, and if a dragon suddenly descends in such a quiet residential area, it would be a nuisance to the neighbors. If you want to use it, do it outside the capital."


    "Let''s go, Chloe."


    "I don''t want to. I''ve used up all my magic and I''m exhausted. I couldn''t even eat dinner in the dining room. And It''s almost nighttime, so I don''t want to go today."


    "Can''t be helped then. I''ll carry you."


    "W-Wait! Don''t try to carry me like luggage! Julius-san, you pervert! Let go, pervert!"


    As Julius tried to lift me, I escaped and ran away, screaming. It looked like we were playing around, but both of us were desperate. Especially Julius, who glared at me as if he would kill me at any moment. How innocent he was when it came to dragons. Despite being an adult.


    "Chloe... Enough already."


    "You''re the one who should stop. It''s getting dark. If Helios-kun is still in the neighboring country of Dystiana, it will take about an hour to come here. It will be night by then, and he might get lost. As a pet owner, don''t you think it''s pitiful, Julius-san?"


    "...Damn it."


    Julius stopped trying to lift me. Since his physical ability was definitely superior to mine, I was easily caught by him and was about to be carried on his shoulder, like a sack of rice.


    Julius-san, what is the matter with you? You can''t even do a princess carry even though you''re a former duke? It was a common practice for noblemen to perform a princess carry easily. While I didn''t want to be carried like a princess by him, it was quite disappointing. He had a beautiful appearance and was a former noble, yet his attitude was so disheartening. Not that I really cared.


    "I''ll get everything ready by today. So when you call Helios-kun tomorrow, please fly to the Northern Demon Mountain. There''s a troublesome monster I want you to defeat. Once you gather the materials, there''s a job that can earn about half of what Julius-san is worth. That monster''s a tough one, so I''m counting on you."


    "...Can''t be helped then. ...Hey, Chloe. What if Helios is dead?"


    Julius literally tossed me onto the floor. After lifting me up, he just dropped me. I was told that littering is illegal. This damn Julius. I was swaying from a lack of magic, unable to take a proper fall, and ended up flopping onto the floor. I fell so hard that Julius seemed to be amused and laughed at me with an extremely idiotic expression on his face. What a bad personality he had. It was a different kind of bad personality than I expected.


    I rubbed my hips and got up.


    "Do you think Helios-kun is dead, Julius-san?"


    "I don''t think so."


    "Then it''s okay. Come on, Julius-san. Let''s have dinner, take a bath, and go to bed. You''re going to be working hard from tomorrow, so good luck."


    I handed the ring, which I held in both hands, to Julius. It should be fine. Julius seemed to cherish Helios, so I was sure he wouldn''t try to call him out at night. Julius stared at the ring intently. Then, he put it on the ring finger of his left hand. I wondered if that position was okay, but it seemed to have no special meaning, so I didn''t say anything.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 9 - Julius the Flying Dragon Maniac and His Beloved Dragon Helios - 2

    The next day, Julius and I went to a grassy field just outside the capital, a bit off the main road. Julius was adorned in a high-end black coat made of Ariadne''s thread that I bought for him yesterday. Around his waist was an equally luxurious sword made of eternal diamond, which was about half my height, and on his back was a slender spear, which was as tall as I am. I, on the other hand, had my usual bag and my magic-amplifying wand. There stood the usual me, and then there was Julius, decked out in luxury from head to toe. I could feel the darkness of the disparity in our society.


    "Well then, a Julius worth ten million gold coins."


    "I must be shining brightly, huh?"


    "Sparkling, indeed."


    Julius seemed to be in good spirits today, making somewhat incomprehensible jokes.


    But in reality, Julius was shining. Shimmering golden hair and eyes of different colors. He wasn''t just handsome; his style was impeccable, dressed entirely in black. He exuded a cool charm that could tickle the hearts of many. In fact, he was fawned over on the way here through the royal capital. During the journey, he had already become the rumored ''Chloe-chan''s boyfriend.''


    I was quite popular, so rumors spread quickly. Well, Julius didn''t get angry, and being thought of as my boyfriend might save him from complicated relationships with girls captivated by his looks. Perhaps one day soon he would be called Chloe-chan''s husband, thanks to the dragon ring he inexplicably put on his left finger. Why is that though? I wondered if it was because he missed Helios that much. Well, I was sure he did.


    "Let me teach you how to use the ring right away. It''s very easy. One of the great things about alchemy is that anyone can do it, even without magic. It''s just a tool."


    "Enough with the explanations, just get on with it."


    "You''re so impatient, huh? ...Face the ring and call Helios-kun''s name. Oh, by the way, Helios-kun is a male, right?"


    "Female dragons don''t carry people. It''s common sense."


    "That''s common sense only among dragon enthusiasts, so I wouldn''t know."


    Julius laughed as if to say he didn''t know about such things. It felt like he was making fun of me, but I had gotten used to Julius in the three days since I bought him, so I wasn''t particularly upset. I''m a broad-minded person. This is great.


    "...Helios."


    Julius held the ring in front of his chest and called out the dragon''s name. The blue gem on the ring shone, creating a beacon of light in the sky. It rose like a pillar of radiance, only to disappear quickly. The blue gem continued to glow dimly.


    "Is that all?"


    "Easy to use and has a great effect. This is the wonderful thing about Chloe-chan''s tools!"


    "Do we have to wait for an hour now?" Julius asked impatiently.


    Julius seemed to be trembling with anticipation to see Helios. Considering the three years he couldn''t see him, waiting for an hour shouldn''t be too long.


    "How far can Helios-kun fly?"


    "Without carrying a person, a dragon can fly at twice the speed. Helios is the fastest dragon in Dystiana. So it shouldn''t take an hour." S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, then let''s wait until then."


    I sat on a large stone nearby. Julius stood next to me, arms crossed, while staring at the sky. He looked picturesque just standing there.


    I felt bored, so I stretched my arms and legs. I was also a bit sluggish since I had used up my magic yesterday. Although I was currently recovering, there was still some fatigue left in me. It was kind of a strange state for someone still young.


    "...Julius-san, even though you look like an ordinary person, why do people say you''re cold-hearted or cruel?"


    I was bored, so I decided to talk to Julius. Despite being talkative when taking over my bed, Julius is generally quiet. If I don''t start chatting, silence ensues. Yet, for the sake of a friendly master-servant relationship, I make an effort to engage in conversation. Because I was a good mistress, after all. It was just that the waiting time felt so boring.


    Julius glanced at me, then looked away.


    "Now you think I''m an idiot not worth talking to, don''t you?"


    "If you know, then shut up."


    "I''m bored, so let''s chat. If you won''t say anything, then I''ll do the talking. By the way, did I mention the details of the request to you?"


    "Don''t know. Not interested."


    "Interest and curiosity are essential for humans, you know! You''re still young! How old are you, Julius-san?"


    "Twenty-five."


    "You''re really young! Surprisingly young! Here I thought you were in your early thirties..."


    Our age difference isn''t that big, yet he carries himself with so much dignity. Probably because of his always-authoritative attitude.


    "Even though I''m not much older than you, you were a Duke and a General. I used to live as the daughter of a Duke before being abandoned in the capital."


    "I bet you were more of a fool back then."


    He snorted. It''s true, though I was probably more foolish back then. That''s why I didn''t like reminiscing about those times.


    "I was a quite delicate young lady, you know. Although, I''m currently a beautiful alchemist. Oh, right, I forgot to tell you about the request. This time, the alchemy comes from the master of a trading house. The alchemical item is a ''Monocle of Truth.'' It''s a pair of glasses used to discern counterfeit items."


    "You''re unfit to be a merchant if you can''t identify counterfeits on your own."


    "Julius-san, you''re a strict type when it comes to merchants, huh? Were you bullied by merchants in the past?"


    When I asked, Julius fell silent. It seemed like a question not worth answering. Understandable, I guess.


    I cleared my throat.


    "Considering the total damage caused by counterfeits, having the Monocle of Truth is beneficial. No matter how skilled an appraiser is, humans make mistakes. However, the ''Monocle of Truth'' never does because it''s a tool."


    "And?"


    "In the Northern Demon Mountain, there''s a creature called Mithra with keen eyes. We can obtain Mithra''s eyes by defeating it. Have you ever fought one before?"


    "No. I''ve killed enemy soldiers, but I''ve never dealt with monsters before. I''m not a guard."


    "Aren''t humans and monsters fundamentally different in strength? Are you sure you''ll be okay, Julius-san? You can''t use magic, and the Northern Demon Mountain is filled with caves, so you can''t fight while riding Helios-kun either."


    I could handle the subjugation alone, but since alchemicals for attacks are reasonably expensive, too much use of them could lead to a deficit.


    Until now, I had no choice but to use tools to avoid losses as much as possible. Now, I felt relieved, thinking Julius would swiftly handle the subjugation from this point onward.


    "Humans and magical beasts are the same. Hit them hard enough, and they''ll die."


    "Isn''t that logic too extreme?"


    Why is he like a berserker? While we were having that conversation, from beyond the sky, a black object flew straight towards us. It moved much faster than expected, gliding through the air before gracefully landing in front of us.


    "Helios!"


    Julius joyfully called out the dragon''s name, while Helios settled in front of us quietly.


    Unlike regular dragons, there was less wind pressure. Helios seemed to fly differently. He had beautiful black scales covering his body, a long neck, a slender torso, and large wings. Around his neck, there was an old-fashioned bridle, and on his back, a slightly worn but originally high-quality saddle. As Julius approached, Helios lowered his head. His golden eyes were lit up with a sparkle of intelligence. I knew immediately that he was a clever creature.


    "Helios... I''m glad you''re safe."


    Julius reached out, and Helios rubbed his forehead against Julius''s hand. His size was as large as my house, so I didn''t think I could keep him on my property. Looks like it was a good decision to make the ring.


    "Julius-san, it''s good that Helios is back safely."


    "Yeah, and it looks like the saddle can still be used. So that''s good news."


    While petting Helios''s forehead, Julius spoke in a somewhat calm tone. It felt like he was a husband delighted by his wife''s safety. Indeed, Helios was like a beloved wife. Despite being male.


    "Is that saddle from three years ago?"


    "Yeah. It''s the same one I left behind when I was imprisoned."


    Julius checked the connection of the saddle and reins. If it were leather, it would seem deteriorated, but there was no sign of aging due to neglect. Perhaps it''s an alchemical item. It piqued my curiosity, but I refrained from touching it as Julius might get angry.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 10 - Julius the Flying Dragon Maniac and His Beloved Dragon Helios - 3

    Julius carefully pulled on the reins wrapped around Helios''s neck several times to make sure everything was in order. After determining that there were no issues, he placed his feet in the stirrups.To make mounting easier, Helios lowered his long neck and folded his large wings. The wing membranes were covered in black scales, and when spread, the wings resembled canvas, slightly lighter in color than the membrane itself.


    Although the wings looked expansive when spread out, Helios himself had a slender body and wasn''t exceptionally large.


    The stirrups were attached just below the neck, integrated with the reins, and secured to the neck and body with thick belts.


    Helios, supported by a tail and short, sturdy legs, had wings in place of hands.


    He possessed gem-like golden eyes and a face reminiscent of a slender reptile. While travel dragons were sometimes used as a means of transportation, Helios differed significantly in physique compared to them; he appeared much more refined.


    If Helios were a human, he might resemble a muscular young man. Dragons have a long lifespan, and considering that Julius raised him from an egg, Helios should be under twenty-five years old. So, he could be either a young man or even a boy.


    Julius effortlessly mounted the saddle, positioned at a height that made me look up.


    Helios seemed pleased and lightly shook his neck. While Julius usually appeared grumpy, today he radiated a refreshing and bright demeanor---perhaps not entirely cheerful, but he did have a reasonably happy smile on his face.


    This was truly the dignified figure of Julius, the Black Prince. And they made a perfect match---or a fitting couple---I would say.


    In other words, I was the matchmaker, the ring artisan who blessed their happiness. The ring worn on the left-hand finger carried that meaning. It all made sense now.


    Julius must be a dragon maniac who could only love dragons. People come in all varieties, so I would just quietly watch over them.


    "Hey, Chloe."


    Julius called out to me.


    Despite thinking I had been completely forgotten, it seemed that he remembered me after all.


    "Yes? What''s the matter?"


    "Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and get on."


    "Get on?"


    "If you don''t get on, we can''t fly. So hurry up."


    Oh, right.


    Despite being swept away by the emotional reunion between Julius and Helios, I had completely forgotten my original purpose---the pursuit of the insightful Mithra.


    The saddle that Julius was straddling seemed intended for one person, but I wondered if there was enough room for me.


    This would be my first time riding on a combat dragon; usually, travel dragon saddles have seating for about three passengers behind the driver.


    "Where do I get on? You''re not suggesting I grab onto the tail, are you?"


    "Do you want to die? There''s enough room for one more person behind me. Hurry up and climb on."


    "Got it."


    Julius hooked the spear on his back onto a spear-holder near Helios''s neck.


    I made my way to Helios. He moved his long neck and brought his face close to mine.


    His intelligent golden eyes gazed at me with keen interest.


    "Hello."


    Following Julius''s example, I gently patted Helios''s forehead.


    There was no rejection or biting. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to be petted quietly.


    He was incredibly adorable. I could see why Julius was so captivated by him.


    "Hey, Chloe. Don''t touch a dragon recklessly. Especially the head. If he bites you, he could easily tear off your arm."


    "Helios-kun seems intelligent, so I thought it would be okay."


    "He only obeys my commands. Without me, your arm would be gone by now."


    "That would be inconvenient; life would get difficult... Sorry for petting you, Helios-kun."


    Perhaps he tolerated it for Julius''s sake, even if he didn''t like it. When I let go, Helios made a small, reluctant "kyuru kyuru" sound.


    Then, he gently rubbed his cold and firm face against my cheek.


    The cuteness and affection were about to make me explode.


    I couldn''t resist, so I hugged Helios''s head and gently patted him. He''s so adorable! His cuteness made me want to give him one or two of my arms.


    It seemed my sanctuary lay with the dragons all along. Maybe I should have bought a dragon instead of Julius.


    Although Helios might be exceptionally cute than the other dragons.


    "Chloe... Please listen to what people are saying. Get on quickly; we''re going."


    "Oka~y."


    Julius must be jealous.


    He was envious of how well Helios and I got along upon our first meeting.


    There was no need for him to be so impatient. Besides, I had no intention of taking Helios away from him.


    After patting Helios''s head a few more times, I gently stepped away.


    I then attempted to climb onto Helios''s back several times, placing my foot on his armor and applying force. I tried bouncing and pulling myself up, but Helios''s back was too high, and my body couldn''t lift itself.


    Travel dragons usually had ladders for easy climbing. Helios had stirrups on both sides.


    What should I do? I can''t seem to climb up.


    "...Give me your hand."


    "Julius-san?"


    After watching me struggle for a while, Julius sighed and reached out his hand to help me. Taking his hand, he easily pulled me up.


    Julius placed me behind him on his back.


    The saddle was indeed generously sized, and there seemed to be some room to spare, as long as I nestled snugly against Julius.


    "Thank you. Riding a dragon seems to be quite challenging."


    "On the battlefield, horses are more common. Dragons are difficult to handle, so their numbers are limited. That''s why there aren''t many opportunities to ride them."


    "I''ve ridden travel dragons before, you know. Julius-san, are you familiar with them? Do they have them in the Empire?" I spoke while gazing at the broad expanse of Julius''s back.


    His smooth, golden hair of varying lengths fell down his back. It must be because it''s Julius; even with different lengths, it looked stylish. It might become a trend in the capital someday.


    It would be amusing if Cyril started imitating it.


    "They should be available anywhere. It''s faster than a carriage for long distances, and it''s a dragon specially bred for domestication, different from Helios."


    "Kyui!" Helios made a proud sound. It seemed Helios also took pride in being a dragon.


    So adorable.


    Julius was a dragon maniac, so it seemed like he knew everything.


    Helios stretched out his bent leg and stood up. His folded wings spread out. Around the saddle, a thin magical barrier could be seen circulating around his body. It seemed like the saddle and body were fixed to prevent falling.


    Just as I thought, the entire dragon harness appeared to be made of alchemy.


    "Julius-san, this saddle is quite special."


    "It is, but it only provides minimal protection. So if you don''t want to fall and die, hold on tight."


    "I don''t plan on dying, so I have no problems holding on to you."


    With a flutter of the dragon''s wings, we were gently lifted off the ground.


    I wrapped my arms around Julius''s waist. Despite his slender appearance, his height made him quite large. He had a solid, masculine physique. Unpleasant memories threatened to resurface, though I had managed to forget about them.


    I focused my attention on the texture of Julius''s black coat.


    Made of Ariadne''s thread, the black coat felt smooth and pleasant. In terms of texture, it resembled tanned leather.


    However, Ariadne''s thread was even more flexible, lightweight, durable, and fire-resistant than tanned leather. I''m the one who made it, so there was no doubt about it.


    It turned out well, although it was expensive.


    With a few powerful flaps, Helios gracefully soared high.


    The impact was minimal, thanks to the protection barrier, providing a sense of stability.


    Julius''s back was warm. Despite being a popular figure, it had been a while since I''ve  been this close to people.


    In the past, I seemed to have gotten along reasonably well with Cyril, but I wondered how things turned out like that. S?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    It felt like I had come a long way.


    From the high-flying Helios, I could see the city of the royal capital surrounded by circular walls, the academy I once attended, and the royal castle where Cyril and Aliza lived.


    Originally, without any disturbances, I should have been elegantly fanning myself in a white castle, laughing and living a carefree life.


    But now I found myself riding a dragon with Julius, an enemy from another country, serving as my slave. Life was truly unpredictable.


    I pressed my cheek against Julius''s back.


    It''s comfortable. Sturdy and as comfortable as a new sofa.


    Helios''s way of flying involved keeping his wings open wide without flapping them much. Despite being significantly faster than travel dragons, there was almost no impact on the body. The scenery below swiftly changed from city to highway, to forests, and beyond.


    "Don''t fall asleep, Chloe."


    "The ride is so comfortable that I might doze off. Helios can actually fly even faster, right? Thanks for being considerate."


    "If you were to fall and die, it would hurt Helios. Dragons are delicate creatures, especially Helios, who takes pride in carrying me."


    "That means safe driving, no accidents and no violations, right?"


    "This isn''t a battlefield, and there''s no need to rush recklessly."


    "The kingdom is quite peaceful. It feels like a lie that the war ended three years ago."


    "The one that''s peaceful is your head."


    "Are you making fun of me?"


    In reality, those who had experienced the horrors of war understood that it wasn''t so simple.


    However, I was just trying to live day by day, and I didn''t have time to be involved in grudges, grievances, or even love affairs.


    If Helios was Julius''s lover, then I guess mine was money.


    Somehow, I felt like my life was more barren than Julius''s.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 11 - Julius the Flying Dragon Maniac and His Beloved Dragon Helios - 4

    I turned my gaze towards the voice that was calling me.At that moment, I was having a tea party with some friends at the caf¨¦ in Astoria Academy. It felt like there were several friends present, but I couldn''t recall their faces or names.


    As Chloe Seigrit, the daughter of the Duke, I was quite a timid girl despite my noble status.


    Therefore, I was always with someone, and not being in a group made me feel uneasy, as if I stood out from the norm. In terms of social status, I was second only to royalty within Astoria Academy, but I neither carried myself with high arrogance nor displayed confidence, so other nobles didn''t pay much attention to me.


    Now that I had undergone a class change into the renowned beautiful alchemist Chloe, it made me wish to kick that timid and weak-willed ordinary girl''s back and tell her to pull herself together. And by "her", I meant me.


    Well, my facial features are reasonably cute, aren''t they?


    My peach-colored, slightly curly long hair, intense peach-colored eyes, and fair skin---every feature of mine can only be described as cute.  If I had been more confident, I could have easily had men at my beck and call, but alas, my timidity held me back.


    Gloomy and timid girls could only stay in the corners of the group, even if their facial features were somewhat attractive. Even though I didn''t really know the reason behind that.


    "Chloe, we need to talk."


    Appearing at the tea party was none other than Cyril.


    Cyril had distinctive features---thick, curly golden hair and gray eyes. He looked like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.


    He was wearing the school''s black fabric uniform adorned with red decorations, his hair neatly styled---short on the sides with longer waves at the center, resulting in a peculiar hairstyle. I wondered if this was a deliberate choice due to his strong, unruly hair, but I never asked. He didn''t seem like the type to share such details.


    "Yes, what is it?" I replied in a small voice. I was convinced that I could only speak in a soft tone, embodying the image of a timid girl.


    "I want to talk with you alone," he said.


    Upon Cyril''s request, I excused myself from my friends and stood up. They sent exaggerated cheers my way, like "Kyaa!" and "That''s great!" With those somewhat forced encouragements, they ushered me towards Cyril.


    I believed I was being ridiculed, but at the time, I didn''t notice, and even if I did, I would pretend not to. Confronting things head-on was not my strong suit.


    Cyril led me to the backyard.


    We were just ordinary fianc¨¦s---neither close nor distant, simply getting along reasonably well. Perhaps Cyril appreciated my quiet nature because of his more masculine personality. I thought having a good family background, being cute, and being reserved made me quite perfect in my own way. I would have loved to show this side of myself to Julius.


    Perhaps he would say that I''m a dull woman, but who knows.


    "Chloe, about your sister..."


    "What about Aliza-san?"


    I shuddered involuntarily.  A nauseating sensation, as if my blood were flowing backward.


    My younger sister, just one year younger than me, was someone I found difficult to handle. It had only been a few years since she had arrived at our home. I was thirteen at the time.


    She was more of a stranger than a sister. Despite being cheerful, lively, and innocent, I found Aliza frightening.


    "No... I don''t think Chloe would do such a thing, but... She said that she was being bullied by you."


    "I, towards Aliza-san..."


    Certainly, I wouldn''t do such a thing.


    I would never do that. Why would I need to do something so pointless?


    That''s what I would think now. I would retort, Don''t say such foolish things.


    But, being weak-minded, I trembled with fear.


    In reality, ever since Aliza''s arrival, I had lost my place in the Duke''s household.


    Father favored only Aliza, and I was the one always scolded by him. At first, he wasn''t interested in me at all, but being scolded felt even worse than being ignored. Aliza sympathized with me, while my stepmother treated me coldly.


    If Aliza hadn''t sympathized with me, I might not have received enough dresses or meals. I should probably be grateful, but because I was an adult, being in such an environment made me even more anxious all the time.


    Poor Chloe-chan. If I could switch places with her, I would''ve used alchemical weapons for an all-out attack, annihilating everyone into tiny pieces.


    But, no, I shouldn''t do that. Revenge doesn''t pay off. I mustn''t engage in futile actions, dear me.


    "She said she was scorned as the child of a concubine, and when she addressed you as ''elder sister,'' you slapped her on the cheek... That''s not true, right...? I thought you were a quiet and graceful person."


    "I haven''t done such a thing..."


    I said while shaking my head.


    Cyril furrowed his brow in a troubled manner.  It didn''t seem like he completely doubted me.


    "That''s right. There''s no way you would do such a thing. However, it''s pitiful to doubt Aliza for spreading groundless rumors, so I came here to confirm. I''m sorry."


    "No, it''s alright. Thank you for coming to ask."


    Cyril apologized briefly, lightly tapping my shoulder before leaving.


    Looking back, from that moment on, it seemed like I had already lost my place.


    However, completely unaware of such a thing, I continued my monotonous days. Feeling the suffocation as if being strangled with cotton, yet foolishly believing that I could leave the Duke''s house once I graduated and even marry Cyril.


    Suddenly, the scene changed.


    Perhaps another dream. I had seen it many times and grew tired of it, yet here it was again.


    I wished I could stop seeing it, but dreams were uncontrollable.


    Someday, I wanted to create an alchemical tool that could guarantee having dreams you liked. However, that could be quite challenging.


    It could also be difficult to handle. If it were to be released, there might be a flood of people who wouldn''t wake up from their dreams. That could lead to the tool being labeled as a forbidden alchemical tool, and I wouldn''t want that. I could end up being marked by the Alchemy Association as a dangerous alchemist known for creating forbidden tools.


    Now I found myself in the grand hall of the academy.


    Julius said that my situation was a common occurrence, but was that really true?


    As usual, I attended the academy''s graduation ceremony. The ceremony was held as a buffet-style party, so wearing a dress was mandatory. I chose a light peach-colored dress that I had worn several times before.


    Since new things weren''t easy to obtain, I treasured the few dresses I had. I was quite virtuous in valuing things, unlike the nobles around me who wouldn''t wear a dress twice.


    Without much thought, I headed to the academy''s grand hall.


    There, for some reason, I was restrained by soldiers.


    Ridiculous, isn''t it? I was just an innocent noblewoman. Although I''m now a renowned alchemist, back then, I couldn''t use any significant magic. Someone truly harmless, quiet, powerless, unable to use magic well, and cute---aren''t these the qualities that should make one worthy of protection? Isn''t it normal for people to want to protect someone like me?


    Despite these thoughts, the strong soldiers firmly held me as I entered the hall.


    "Chloe. You''ve shown up without trying to escape."


    Cyril stood in front of me.


    His expression showed a mix of pity and anger.


    "Cyril-sama...? What in the world..."


    I asked him while being bent over, my arms twisted behind me.


    I truly had no idea. Even when trying to think of a reason, nothing came to mind.


    Centered around Cyril and me, guests and students formed a circle, watching us. There was no one to help. People I considered friends whispered among themselves while looking at me being restrained.


    "The Seigrit family appears to have a long history of wrongdoing. Aliza exposed their sins, and I learned about it. I couldn''t believe that you were involved, but the sin of knowing and remaining silent is heavy. You were living a luxurious life with blood-stained gold, and it''s not something that should be forgiven."


    "What are you talking about...?"


    I truly didn''t understand what was happening.


    Behind Cyril stood Aliza, her hands clasped in front of her chest, looking at me.


    Her face seemed on the verge of tears, presenting the appearance of an unfortunate girl who had to expose her elder sister''s sins.


    Aliza, with her blue hair and light blue eyes, had a charming appearance. She was popular at the academy, and many were there to support her as she trembled in apparent distress.


    "Take her away," Cyril ordered the soldiers.


    And then, I was imprisoned in the dungeon inside the royal palace.


    I spent a few days there. When someone came to visit me, it wasn''t Cyril but just a regular soldier.


    "...Your father was executed. Considering the crimes of the Seigrit family, preserving the family name was not allowed. Originally, you should have been executed as well. However, Cyril-sama''s generous heart spared you from that. Be grateful."


    After these events, without understanding anything, I found myself, still in the dress I wore for the graduation ceremony, discarded in an alley of the royal capital.


    And then, from that point on...


    Oh no, I don''t want to see the rest of the dream. I want to wake up soon.


    I had wanted to wake up ever since, but I was never able to.


    "...Hey, Chloe."


    I felt a distant voice calling out to me.


    Somehow, the voice sounded very angry. If I didn''t wake up soon, I had a feeling my cheeks would be pinched.


    It seems painful, so I don''t want that.


    "Wake up, Chloe. I told you not to sleep."


    "...Julius-san."


    As I opened my eyes, Julius''s well-defined face glared at me from up close.


    I was no longer facing Julius''s back. Somehow, I had been sleeping while being held in his arms.


    I must have fallen asleep, entrusting my entire body to Julius.


    Meanwhile, Helios was still flying high in the sky as Julius held me with one hand and controlled the reins with the other.


    Julius looked really angry. What should I do?


    "Looks like I fell asleep, haha," I said.


    It didn''t really have any meaning, but I just felt the need to say something.


    "You almost kept falling off, so I had to carry you. I told you to wake up, but you wouldn''t, so I considered dropping you for real."


    "That''s... Well, thank you for not dropping me."


    "We''re landing, Chloe. It''s going to be a rapid descent, so hold on tight."


    When Julius said that, I hugged him without hesitation.


    Even if it was Julius I was clinging onto, I felt a bit calmer after having such an unpleasant dream.


    Even though he seemed grumpy, he was kind enough to carry me so I wouldn''t fall.


    Come to think of it, it was for the sake of his beloved Helios that he didn''t want me to fall.


    But, well, whatever. It was still kind of him, no matter how you look at it.


    Helios gradually descended toward the ground.


    Below us, a beautiful snowy landscape covered the steep Northern Demon Mountain.


    s?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 12 - The Monster in the Northern Mountains and the Non-Magic User Julius - 1

    Julius and I reached the entrance of the Northern Demon Mountain. As the name suggested, it was a range of mountains located at the northernmost tip of the kingdom, with steep cliffs and snow-covered peaks, unlike the warmer royal capital. The entrance takes the form of a cave, guiding those who pass through to the mountain''s summit.


    In the past, it used to be a mine, and the caves were extensively dug out in all directions. However, now it stands abandoned, transformed into a dwelling place for monsters.


    "We just managed to arrive even though I fell asleep, Julius-san. Did you get lost on the way?"


    "I looked at the map yesterday. It''s a straight path north from the capital. There''s no way I''d make a mistake."


    "Julius-san, you were sleeping in my bed while I was looking at the map. It''s my bed, so please give it back."


    "No."


    Helios landed silently in front of the cave.


    Compared to the noisy flapping of a travel dragon, Helios''s way of flying was much more refined.


    After gently stroking Helios''s neck, Julius left me, who he had been carrying in front of him, and landed alone. Left behind by Julius, who descended with grace and landed effortlessly, I struggled and slipped down, dropping next to him as if sliding rather than landing. I didn''t descend; I fell.


    Seeing me in that state, Julius chuckled.


    It wasn''t like I wanted Julius to lend me a hand to help me up. I was no longer a high-ranking young lady, and I didn''t care about my skirt getting disheveled. Besides, I was wearing drawers beneath the skirt, so there was nothing to be concerned about.


    I got up, brushing off the dirt from the skirt that got soiled when I slipped.


    Helios looked concerned and gently nudged me with his cold, scaled snout.


    He was incredibly cute, so much so that I wouldn''t mind having Helios as my husband.


    "You''re such a good boy~"


    "Helios understands human language perfectly. He''s a smart dragon."


    As I praised Helios with gentle pats on his wide forehead, for some reason, Julius seemed proud.


    What should I call this? A proud parent? No, since Helios is his wife, maybe he''s just an idiot who''s madly in love .


    "Julius-san, what should we do with Helios-kun? Should we tie him up? We can also store him in the ring."


    "Are there many small monsters around this area?"


    "The Demon Mountain, as the name suggests, is filled with many monsters, but the plain ahead has few people and lots of weak monsters. They don''t provide much valuable material, so I don''t often go there."


    "I see. Helios, you''re free for a while. But don''t go too far."


    Helios let out a "kyui" sound, took a light run, and flew towards the plain.


    His way of flying was very quiet, and he looked adorable. It''s a miracle that someone with Julius''s twisted personality raised such a straightforward and adorable Helios. It''s reassuring to see that he grew up to be a good boy.


    "Oh, by the way, I wasn''t supposed to pat his head, right? He''s just so cute that I couldn''t resist. Sorry for being careless."


    I was told that touching him carelessly could result in losing an arm.


    I looked up at Julius and apologized. Julius furrowed his brow. Well, I already apologized, so there''s no need for him to be angry.


    "...Helios doesn''t get close to anyone but me. However, it seems he understands that he was able to return to me thanks to your ring. He willingly offered his head, so it''s fine to touch him."


    "Is it okay?"


    "Yeah."


    "Hooray!"


    Permission from the master had been granted.


    From now on, I''ll pet him without hesitation.


    I looked up at Helios, who was gracefully circling in the wide sky over the plain.


    It seemed that I had been recognized as an engagement ring artisan by the two of them. It was good to be acknowledged, especially considering that the rings I made were quite luxurious. The hard work was worth it. Helios''s cuteness was truly priceless.


    "Did Helios go to eat?"


    "Yeah. He can gulp down medium-sized monsters. You mentioned putting Helios in the ring, but what about meals and such?"


    That''s something that piques your curiosity, huh? It''s about your precious Helios, after all. So I guess it''s only natural to be concerned.


    "I would store him inside the ring, but since Helios is larger and a living being, I wouldn''t just leave him there. It would shrink his mass to the extreme, putting him into temporary hibernation using the life-stabilizing effect."


    "Is there no issue with that?"


    "Nope. He can stay young forever as long as he''s stored in the ring. However, it means taking away his freedom."


    While we were talking, we entered the cave.


    It was pitch dark and cold. Remnants of mining equipment like picks and shovels were scattered at the entrance.


    I took out a glowing orb from my bag and commanded, "Guide us to the summit." The palm-sized sphere radiated light, illuminating the cave. It floated gently, resembling some kind of fairy.


    "Taking away his freedom..." Julius spoke in a low voice.


    Sensing that Julius seemed bothered by something, I decided to provide some clarification.


    "Only when he''s stored in the ring. After all, Chloe-chan''s alchemy shop doesn''t have the space for Helios to be kept, so it''s just a temporary solution. ...Unless you have a mansion with a large garden on the outskirts, that would be a different story."


    "As soon as we''re back, buy one."


    "Julius-san, do you think I''m wealthy? Well, let me tell you, Julius-san. I''m the daughter of a criminal, and I had neither money nor a home three years ago. I don''t have that much financial power."


    "Alchemy or whatever you do, it must be profitable, right?"


    "It is profitable, but not as much as being a noble. ...Oh, did you just unconsciously think of something bad?"


    Julius put his hand on his mouth as if pondering something.


    Even so, I felt cold. I took out a thick, deep red cloak from my bag and put it on. Julius, with his equipment designed to adapt to temperature changes, seemed unfazed. What a society of disparities.


    "You... Seeing your situation, were you perhaps framed by the First Prince of Astoria and your younger sister?"


    "Who knows? My father might have truly been a scoundrel criminal. The Seigrit family was disbanded, and our home was destroyed. It seems that the people of the estate got angry and burned it down. The Seigrit family''s territory is now under the royal family''s custody, and at this point, there''s no way for me to investigate."


    I said, shrugging my shoulders.


    "I don''t even want to know, anyway."


    "Chloe. You have the right to seek revenge."


    "I already told you I don''t want to seek revenge. Besides, why did they abandon me in the royal capital in the first place, Julius-san?"


    I cleared my throat and changed my tone.


    "I was a rather quiet and timid girl, you know?"


    As I conveyed this in the manner of speech I used to employ, Julius made a rather displeased expression.


    After that, for some reason, he lightly poked my head. I didn''t understand the meaning, but sudden violence is a no, absolutely not.


    "Ouch, what are you doing, Julius-san? I''m a girl, so I''m delicate. On the other hand, Julius-san is strong, so if you hit my head, it might come off, you know?"


    "That way of talking doesn''t suit you. It gives me the creeps, so stop."


    "That''s too harsh..."


    How tyrannical. Getting in a bad mood over a choice of words. Julius-san, is he really a respectable adult at the age of twenty-five? It''s hard to believe he''s older than me.


    "...Please listen to me seriously."


    "Do I look like I''m not?"


    "Not really. You may seem like the type who doesn''t listen, but in reality, you actually pay attention."


    "Chloe. Wasn''t your sister harboring resentment towards you?"


    "Aliza-chan was a good girl. She occasionally told some strange lies, but... Well, she often defended me, saying that I, her big sister, was pitiable."


    I lied.


    I felt that Aliza hated me. Whether it was hate, pity, or resentment---I didn''t really know.


    But I was still afraid of that girl. If possible, I didn''t want to have anything to do with her anymore.


    My plan was to live a healthy life, earning money as an alchemist. I didn''t want to be involved with the royal family, nobility, or the complexities of relationships between men and women anymore.


    "You''re an idiot."


    "Julius-san, why are you so curious about my situation? Do you have some kind of interest in me?"


    "Yeah, I do." S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I was at a loss for words.


    What''s with this sudden attempt to get closer? It''s definitely not out of romantic feelings or anything, I''m sure. This is suspicious. Very suspicious.


    "...You''re planning to use my revenge as a pretext to overthrow the Astoria royal family, take over the castle, and keep Helios in the palace, right?"


    "It''s fine as long as we clear the Seigrit family''s tarnished name and reclaim the territory of the Duchy."


    "You really were thinking of something bad after all. How much do you love Helios-kun? It''s definitely not for my sake, is it?"


    "I''ll take revenge for your sake while I''m at it. Strictly for that purpose... Chloe, I want to clear your grievances. I appreciate you, and I want to repay the favor. I can''t stand the thought of my precious Chloe being hurt and left in pain."


    After a moment of thought, Julius spoke in a very sweet voice.


    His eyes, different in color, gazed intensely at me.


    It was so wonderful that any town girl would likely be charmed by it.


    "...That''s disgusting, please stop."


    I sighed and rubbed my arms, feeling a bit uncomfortable.


    Julius also sighed and muttered, "You''re right." If he understands, then I wish he would stop.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 13 - The Monster in the Northern Mountains and the Non-Magic User Julius - 2

    The guiding light orb proceeded without hesitation through several twists and turns, aiming for the summit.While it was possible to illuminate the cave using light magic, it was inefficient to keep consuming magical energy just for that purpose. Moreover, I''m not good at light magic.


    Being the cherished daughter of a noble family, I never planned on engaging in battles, so I never practiced handling magic seriously. Consequently, I wasn''t very adept at using magic. I could only use basic attacks and healing magic. Bring an alchemist, my true power was unleashed when I used alchemical tools.


    As we walked through the cave, I couldn''t help but feel anxious, hoping Julius would inquire about where the light orb was guiding us.


    Ever since I was abandoned, I didn''t have many opportunities to share details about my alchemical creations. Although I do explain them properly when conducting business with the people I sell them to, I would have loved to talk about them while actually using them myself. As an alchemist, the alchemical items I created were like my own children, and I would have loved the chance to share more about them. Wouldn''t it be nice if he asked?


    I glanced up at Julius while walking through the cave, feeling a bit restless.


    Julius seemed displeased, possibly because he''d been accused of plotting to usurp the royal family under the pretext of revenge. However, he always looked like that, so there was no need to be overly concerned. Even though I''ve only been acquainted with Julius for a few days, I''ve come to understand him to some extent.


    "...Julius-san, don''t you want to know about those floating, fluffy light orbs?"


    Since Julius was blatantly ignoring my gaze, I decided to initiate the conversation myself.


    "You mentioned something about the guiding light orbs. Most likely, they guide us by illuminating the specified location as they lead the way," Julius said as he walked beside me.


    What a revelation. He hit the nail on the head. Since the guiding light orbs served only that purpose, I couldn''t come up with a follow-up response. It truly was a direct hit.


    "You really did pay attention... Julius-san, do you know how challenging it is to create an alchemical item that can do that?"


    "I''m not an alchemist, so I couldn''t care less."


    "Well, that''s true, but..."


    How boring of you, Julius-san.  There''s no need to get so upset about not having a place for Helios-kun. And besides, isn''t Julius-san technically my servant?


    Why do I have to go through so much trouble as Julius''s master, to keep his beloved dragon Helios?


    Admittedly, Helios was adorable. I would love to let him fly around freely, feed him, and pat his head to my heart''s content. But my alchemy store was located in a very advantageous location, and the cost of space was quite expensive. When having a store, I had to pay a store tax according to the location, and the more sales I made, the more I had to pay a stupidly high tax.


    From the hard-earned money I toiled and sweated for, they extracted taxes, and Cyril and Aliza enjoyed a luxurious life. Thinking that made me sigh.


    Considering that, I wonder if revenge might actually be profitable.


    Usurping the royal family or reclaiming the ducal house---in terms of cost-effectiveness, with the money it took to fund just Julius, one could potentially seize control of the entire country. Not that I would do it. Absolutely not. Definitely not.


    "Where''s that insightful Mithra you were talking about?"


    "We might encounter one or two before reaching the summit."


    "How far is it to the summit?"


    "We should reach the summit by evening. Encountering a Mithra would be considered lucky. They provide good materials, but they''re quite troublesome. They''re not very common, especially among strong monsters. After all, they usually emerge sporadically from gates to other realms."


    "I don''t know. Monsters are outside my expertise," Julius said while shaking his head.


    I became anxious. Will it be okay? While I can manage on my own, I''m not strong enough to protect Julius while fighting.


    "...Julius-san, what kind of life have you led? Surely you''re not suggesting that there are no monsters in the Dystiana Empire...? They emerge from gates to other realms, formed in places where the world''s miasma is dense. The other realm is like the land of the dead, where those laden with sins are cast down, unable to ascend to the heavens. Resentment and hatred give rise to monsters, and they come out through the gates of the other realm, driven by the desire to return to the mortal realm. The gates to the other realm are essentially a sort of self-purification mechanism for the other realm."


    At the Noble Academy, first-year students are taught basics like gates to other realms---it''s the most fundamental aspect of world history.


    "I''m aware of that, but dealing with monsters is not the duty of nobles. Moreover, by the time I could wield a sword, we were already in the midst of war. I spent more time in garrisons and on battlefields than at the estate. So there was no time for me to learn unnecessary things."


    "But Julius-san, you were still young, right? Wasn''t there a Noble Academy in the Empire?"


    "The Dystiana Empire is surrounded by small countries on all sides. Astoria Kingdom was not the only potential aggressor. We were lacking in numbers for both soldiers and skilled commanders. Relying solely on individual strength in battle is foolish."


    As Julius shared this information about himself, I nodded without interjecting. Maybe he''s opening up to me? Perhaps his favorability towards me has increased. Well, I am a good master, after all.


    "I inherited the title of Duke Craft and went to the battlefield when I was fifteen."


    "...Did something unfortunate happen to your family?"


    I asked cautiously, feeling like I might be prying into something I shouldn''t.


    "...Are you curious about me?"


    Julius looked down at me with a sarcastic smile on his face.


    He turned the tables on me. Julius truly listened to people and remembered what they said. I guess I needed to be careful not to say anything unnecessary.


    "Of course, I''m curious. After all, Julius-san is my precious slave. The total cost was one million gold, after all"


    "Chloe..."


    Suddenly, Julius tugged at the collar of my cloak.


    Naturally, I went, "Eek!" The sound that came out was surprisingly uncharacteristic of a woman. I struggled to breathe, thinking I was going to die.


    As I stumbled in surprise, an unexpected sight emerged from the dark path where the light orb was absent. A white figure floated towards us.


    It was a white, eyeless floating woman in priest-like robes.


    Looking at her small mouth, high nose, and slender neck, she seemed beautiful at first glance. However, from the waist down, many partially melted faces filled with agony were growing.


    "Julius, it''s the Mourning Siena. The Mourning Siena!"


    "What is that?"


    "It''s a vengeful spirit-type monster! It''s classified as an upper-middle-class vengeful spirit-type, so it''s considered quite strong! The Mourning Siena attacks by emitting ultrasonic waves from the faces on its lower half, so be careful!"


    The faces filled with agony on the lower half of the Mourning Siena all turned towards us simultaneously.


    I hate vengeful spirit-type monsters; they''re so creepy.


    The agonized faces began shedding bloody tears and from their wide-open mouths, an ear-piercing sound wave transformed into sharp blades, heading straight for us. Before I could react, Julius grabbed me by the collar and tossed me to the edge of the cave.


    The shockwave from the sound waves roughly tore through the cave walls. Bits of chipped stone fell around me as I was thrown directly underneath.


    "...Ugh, why''d you do that?! For your information, I can handle a Mourning Siena by myself, you know!"


    "The prosthetic eye you gave me seems to have an effect on vengeful spirit-type monsters. I can clearly see where to strike for a fatal blow."


    Julius drew the sword hanging from his waist.


    It seems he left his spear on Helios''s back, probably because the cave was too narrow to use it effectively.


    Julius raised the sword, gripping it single-handedly and aiming the tip at the Mourning Siena.


    It all happened in an instant.


    I thought he was just pointing his sword, but instead, the faces on the lower half of the Mourning Siena were sliced off and sent flying through the air. The Mourning Siena recoiled, and another massive lump of blood was vomited from the remaining mouths towards Julius.


    The lump of blood, which Julius effortlessly avoided and dodged, melted the ground with a sizzling sound upon impact.


    "Gross, gross! This is why I hate vengeful spirit-type monsters!"


    While monsters never have cute forms, the Mourning Siena''s attack methods were particularly disgusting and repulsive. It''s the worst. I absolutely don''t want to touch any gooey mass of blood vomited from those eerie mouths.


    Normally, physical attacks wouldn''t hit the Siena, as they would just pass through it. However, the True Anagram effect added to the prosthetic eye was working perfectly.


    "You''re pretty good at cutting through vengeful spirit-type monsters quite well, Julius-san! Isn''t my alchemical prosthetic eye amazing?"


    "Shut up, you''re annoying."


    Since Julius seemed likely to get angry if I joined the fight, I quietly cheered for him, trying not to attract attention while staying on the sidelines. Even though I still got scolded.


    The Mourning Siena trembled all over. Just above the numerous faces, two human-like white arms sprouted, holding a twisted large sword.


    Julius blocked the Mourning Siena''s attack with his blade.


    Simultaneously, another massive lump of blood was ejected from the faces on its lower body.  s?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Before being drenched in the blood, Julius kicked off the ground, effortlessly rising into the air.


    Executing a mid-air spin, he landed with grace, cleanly severing the upper half of the Mourning Siena from its lower abdomen.


    Numerous faces, contorted in agony, flew through the air as their necks were severed. With a delicate yet unpleasant dying scream, the Mourning Siena disappeared like smoke.


    In the corner, I stared at Julius with my mouth half-open, looking somewhat foolish.


    Julius, as if nothing had happened, sheathed his sword.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 14 - The Monster in the Northern Mountains and the Non-Magic User Julius - 3

    The Mourning Siena was designated as an upper-middle-class vengeful spirit-type, so naturally, it was strong. However, Julius was even stronger. I ran towards Julius and patted him on the back in a comforting manner. Julius made a somewhat annoyed face, but I ignored it.


    "Amazing! That was really impressive! You''re very strong, Julius-san."


    "The first strike was shallow. I should be able to kill it more easily next time."


    "Isn''t it enough? I think Julius-san is strong enough."


    "A single strike is necessary to stop their breath. Keeping them alive could lead to unforeseen circumstances."


    Is that how it is?


    Julius swatted away my hand from his back, looking annoyed. After that, he started walking towards the guiding light orb.


    I picked up the dark soul, the clump of lamenting blood, and the eyes of anguish that Mourning Sierna had dropped, and stored them in my bag before following Julius. Not a bad harvest. If I had faced it alone, I probably would have been injured and exhausted my magic powers, using several alchemical attack items in the process.


    "Julius-san, you managed to earn 200,000 gold coins."


    Quickly running the calculations in my head, I felt satisfied and couldn''t help but smile at the result.


    If I had used alchemical items to attack, after deducting the costs, the profit would be around fifty thousand gold coins. Julius made a significant contribution. He was strong, and the subjugation was done in an instant. How wonderful.


    "...Stop grinning, it''s creepy."


    Julius said while looking down at me with displeasure.


    Despite that, I looked up at Julius with a smile on my face, feeling cheerful. He clicked his tongue in response.


    On the way to the summit, we encountered several monsters.


    Although each of them was an upper-middle-class monster that I wouldn''t have been able to handle alone, Julius easily took care of them, making the journey smooth. The northern demonic mountain became increasingly infested with powerful monsters as we ascended towards the summit. Up until now, my exploration had primarily been a solo endeavor, leading to instances where I exhausted my strength and had to retreat before meeting the Insightful Mithra. There were also occasions when it became too dangerous at night, forcing me to abandon my quest due to time constraints.


    Compared to that, having just Julius with me made things much more efficient. The initial costs were incurred, but Julius proved to be incredibly useful.


    "Julius-san, you''re amazing. With just you around, we''ve already obtained more than enough materials, even without defeating the Mithra. If we had only you, we might be able to conquer an entire country, don''t you think?"


    "Not just ''might be able to,'' but ''can."


    In a good mood, I chatted with Julius.


    He corrected me politely, seeming quite confident.


    I checked the hand-winding watch on my arm. We were probably somewhere halfway up the mountain.  The miasma felt thick, and the air seemed stagnant. It wasn''t just the low temperature; I also felt a bone-chilling cold that gave me goosebumps.


    Does Julius-san not feel anything? He advanced further into the depths of the cave with a calm expression. There were several dead-end paths in the midst of the excavation that seemed to be a relay point as we emerged into an open area.


    Stone-filled carts were left unattended.


    The reason the mine at the northern demon mountain was closed was due to its inherent danger.


    It was said that gates to a different world suddenly appeared all over the mine as it was being dug. To close these gates, one needed to defeat monsters or gatekeepers that were essentially harmless as long as they stayed near the gates.


    However, as long as the gates remained open, monsters that preyed on humans would continue to emerge.


    Naturally, the kingdom''s guards and mercenaries wanted to defeat them, but there were few individuals with the necessary strength. Even in the mercenary guild in the capital, there were reportedly only one or two capable of such feats. Those individuals would visit alchemy shops to create special weapons, so the rumors went.


    "Why did someone as strong as Julius-san become a slave swordsman? I''ve heard rumors that you were betrayed by the Dystiana Empire and were sold off to the Astoria Kingdom."


    "...It''s a common story. The Dystiana Empire overstretched its hand in aggression, and it was only natural that the other nations would incur resentment by invading other lands. They got wind of information that several small nations were forming an alliance to attack the empire, and one of them happened to be the Astoria Kingdom."


    Julius frowned as he spoke, then stopped in a seemingly empty space.


    He stared at the walls and ceiling as if sensing something. Next to Julius, I followed his gaze, but all I could see was a plain rock wall. It felt uncomfortable, but since this had been the case since we reached the middle of the northern demon mountain, there didn''t seem to be any significant change.


    "The empire found forming an alliance troublesome. Before that, they wanted a ceasefire. As the main general against the Astoria Kingdom, I had earned the resentment of the kingdom''s people, making me a seemingly perfect sacrifice for the ceasefire. Rather than executing me, they decided to use me as an exhibit and let the kingdom''s people torment me for a long time."


    Even as he spoke about his own story, Julius''s tone seemed somewhat detached, as if it were someone else''s matter.


    It was truly despicable for someone who had worked for the country since the age of fifteen, fighting on the battlefield, to end up being sold to an enemy nation. The Dystiana Empire was truly wicked and heartless. As for the Astoria Kingdom, I wasn''t quite sure.


    Three years ago, the Seigrit family was disbanded and my father was executed.


    During the same period, Julius was also sold off by his own country and became a slave swordsman.


    Perhaps Julius''s situation had been a topic of discussion, but I wasn''t well aware of it since I had my own concerns at that time. While our situations coincided in terms of timing, it felt like two different worlds, and I couldn''t see any connection between them.


    "But Julius-san, it was truly fortunate that you became an exhibit. Thank you for surviving. Thanks to you, I''m in a much better situation now."


    "I didn''t survive for your sake."


    "Even so, I''m grateful. So please continue to take care of me in the future."


    I made a good purchase. Even if I didn''t encounter Mitra with the discerning eye this time, it might still turn out well.


    Julius had worked enough, and it was about time to head back. And it was getting colder anyway.


    "...Huh?"


    Suddenly, I felt a tremor beneath my feet.


    I looked around nervously, but nothing seemed to be shaking. The piled rocks and the cart remained still.


    This sensation, it felt like---


    "Julius-san, it''s coming from below, be careful!"


    The scenery in front of me warped. I tried to jump backward to avoid whatever was happening, but before I could, Julius grabbed me by the collar and threw me toward the rock wall again.


    Once again, I made a "Gah" sound as I tumbled. How many times did Julius-san throw me today?


    It seemed like he considered me completely useless. Perhaps he thought I couldn''t fight. I landed on the ground.


    While I hadn''t been directly harmed by the monsters, the cumulative effect of Julius''s tosses left me with some scratches. My lower back started to ache. S?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t move, Chloe. You''re in the way."


    "It''s the Mithra, Julius-san! Meeting it in a place like this, what luck!"


    "Shut up, you idiot. You''re noisy."


    Julius unsheathed his sword.


    From the ground, seemingly cut through the previously unremarkable rocks, something slimy and resembling a cluster of giant eyeballs, each about the size of a child''s head, emerged.


    It had a shape as if several giant eyeballs were haphazardly put together, and below the connected eyeballs were several yellow optic nerves. The Mithra, about the size of three Juliuses combined, floated in the air, observing us with its multitude of eyes.


    It was a disturbing sight. The forms of monsters were always grotesque and unpleasant, which might be expected since they were said to be manifestations of the grudges and hatred of the dead who fell into another world.


    My whole body shuddered. The miasma became even denser. It seemed like a dim magic energy was overflowing from the entire body of the Mithra. It was unpleasant. It wasn''t just visually disturbing this time, but truly unsettling.


    This was the main reason why subjugating the discerning eye Mithra was troublesome.


    Due to having some magic power, encountering monsters like the Mithra triggered a rejection reaction in my body, making it nearly impossible to move properly. Of course, I would still force myself to fight, but not being able to move freely significantly lowered the success rate of subjugation.


    Julius seemed unfazed. Perhaps due to the slave mark suppressing magic power, he appeared insensitive to the faint cold magic energy emanating from the entire body of the Mithra.


    Julius rushed towards the Mithra. He kicked off the ground, floated gracefully, and swung his sword down to the topmost eyeball.


    Finally visible to the naked eye, the attack was both fast and heavy. The Mithra split into two along the path of the sword.


    The split Mithra exposed its insides, resembling the red and slimy interior of a ripe fruit. In the center of the split Mithra, there was something akin to a goddess statue offering prayers.


    The goddess statue opened her previously closed eyes, revealing large, delicate lips.


    An unpleasant and nerve-wracking scream echoed, shaking my eardrums. The outer eyes of the Mithra glowed. Rays of light shot in all directions. I rolled on the ground to avoid the light beams.


    For some reason, Julius didn''t seem to be avoiding the heat rays of light. He headed straight for the Mithra and stabbed his sword into the central goddess-like statue.


    The heat rays of light burned Julius''s skin. Thanks to the Ariadne''s coat, his body suffered only minor burns, but his exposed cheeks and hair emitted an unpleasant burnt smell.


    From the impaled goddess statue, something like dripping fresh blood began to fall.


    The Mithra''s body, split in half, was trying to revert to its original form.


    By the time Julius withdrew his sword, the Mithra had returned to its original state, floating in the air as if nothing had happened.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 15 - The Monster in the Northern Mountains and the Non-Magic User Julius - 4

    Due to the Insightful Mithra''s intense light beam, the area below Julius''s eyes and a portion of his uneven hair were burnt and charred. The Mithra floated whimsically, altering its height as if in mockery.A string-like structure, yellow, long, and slender, resembling optic nerves, grew beneath numerous eyeballs, fluttering like fins each time the Mithra moved.


    "Julius-san, the main body of the Mithra is the goddess statue inside! If you had listened to me before attacking, you wouldn''t have gotten hurt. I''m going to throw it now...!"


    "Shut up, Chloe. Stay quiet."


    Julius spoke in irritation, realizing there was nowhere to escape.


    "Julius-san, since you''re not very knowledgeable about monsters, please listen to the advice of a senior experienced in subjugation---listen to me!"


    I hesitated for a moment. I thought about hiding behind a rock and silently watching Julius get covered in wounds without saying anything, but I reconsidered. As much as I wanted to do that, the true difficulty of dealing with the Mithra lay in the fact that it was challenging to defeat alone. On the other hand, with two people, it might be relatively easy to defeat.


    I stood up from the wall and positioned myself a little away from Julius.


    I maintained a proper distance, as getting too close might be perceived as an invitation to be struck by his sword. This feels strange. I''m supposed to be the master, yet why am I the one being cautious?


    "If I keep striking it, it''ll eventually die."


    Julius warned, as if to discourage any interference.


    He probably thinks I''m incapable of fighting. I wonder why.


    Certainly, if he kept slashing, he might defeat the Mithra eventually, but I didn''t want to impose unnecessary labor. After all, he had already taken my bed, and offering a comfortable bed seemed like a good working condition.


    "That''s true! Wait no, I mean, there''s no need to go through unnecessary trouble...! Julius-san, I bought you to help me defeat monsters, but I never said that I wouldn''t help. I''m not such a wicked and heartless master that I''d stand by and say, ''Work, slave!'' or anything like that!"


    I held the magic-amplifying wand, which had been tucked into the belt around my waist, in my right hand and aimed it at the Mithra.


    The wand was about the size of a fountain pen, with a fist-sized magnifying glass at the tip. In other words, it looked like a significantly oversized magnifying glass.


    At its tip wasn''t actually a magnifying glass, but rather a refined magical stone known as a "magic stone," highly sensitive to magical energy. The wand enhanced the power of magic when used, embodying a rather simple design.


    Since I didn''t primarily rely on magic for combat, the wand I used was a cheap one. The effectiveness was the same whether it was expensive or cheap, so I always bought the cheapest one at Robert''s shop, knowing it might break.


    By the way, Robert always recommended the most expensive one each time. He was indeed a savvy merchant.


    "Julius-san, you''re a man worth ten million gold! Please take care of yourself and value your life!"


    "Do I look like I want to die?"


    "I can''t tell, but you look like you''re brimming with vitality. However, Julius-san, your defeat will cost me ten million gold! So please understand, I''m begging you!"


    "You''re... a noisy fool."


    Julius glanced at me for a moment, and I felt like he briefly lifted the corner of his lips, as if he was smiling. Maybe it was an optical illusion. Yeah, just an optical illusion. Despite that feeling, Julius''s profile still looked as displeased as ever.


    "So, what''s the plan? Charging in recklessly doesn''t seem like cherishing your life, does it?"


    "You''re right, Julius-san. You''re absolutely right. The Insightful Mithra only reveals its main body when it''s attacked. So, we need to attack the outer parts while striking the inside. I''ll be launching attacks with magic and alchemical items, so Julius-san, please handle the internals! I get nauseous when I get too close to the Mithra, so I''ll do my best to assist from a distance!"


    "Got it. Let''s quickly kill it... Helios is waiting."


    Julius seemed oddly happy as he said that.


    Right, Helios must be waiting for Julius to return. Once we defeat the Insightful Mithra, the goal of this exploration will be achieved. All that''s left is to go back. I''m covered in dust right now from being thrown around by Julius, so I just want to take a bath soon.


    "Flames of Chaos, Inferno Tempest!"


    I channeled my magic into the magic-amplifying wand. With a short incantation, serpentine flames formed around the Mithra. I could only use magic up to an intermediate-level. A powerful mage might be able to defeat the Mithra using magic alone, but my spells didn''t have that level of potency.


    The Mithra spun its eyeballs in confusion. Once again, its body began to split, revealing the statue of the goddess inside. The yellow, nerve-like strings swiftly entwined and extinguished my flames. Without hesitation, I pulled out a palm-sized red crystal rose from my bag.


    "Entangling Thorns, take care of that creepy thing!"


    Of course, the crystal rose was an alchemical item.


    I threw it towards the Mithra, and long thorny vines started to extend from the crystal rose, entwining around the Mithra while piercing its eyes with long thorns.


    The Insightful Mithra started to shake violently, struggling against the entanglement.


    As the body split again, the goddess statue inside attempted to let out a scream.


    Before I could speak, Julius was no longer by my side. Scanning the area, I realized he had positioned himself directly opposite me, with the Mithra at his back.


    I was about to shout that now was the time to attack, but with a disturbing death rattle, a crack appeared in the goddess statue. I stared in shock as the statue shattered into pieces. S?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I had no idea when Julius had attacked the Mithra. But since the goddess statue was now shattered, he must have successfully defeated it.


    In front of the Mithra, gradually vanishing like dust, Julius sheathed his sword. His golden hair swayed smoothly.


    What a turn of events.


    ---For just a moment, I thought he looked kind of cool.


    "Julius-san...! You''re so strong, Julius-san!"


    "Anyone can easily kill an opponent by exposing their weaknesses. Couldn''t you have defeated it on your own?"


    While praising Julius, I gathered the materials dropped by the Mithra.


    I managed to obtain the eerie, black and murky eyeballs of the Mithra, which meant I could now create the alchemical item for the request.


    Julius returned to my side. Somehow, it felt like I had just been praised, but maybe it was just my imagination.


    "...Um, you see, I''m not really good with opponents like the Insightful Mithra. Their entire bodies emit magic energy, and when I get close, it clashes with my magic, making me feel nauseous. So, if I tried to defeat the main body, I''d probably end up vomiting."


    "Vomiting, huh."


    "I do end up vomiting. While it''s not impossible to defeat the Mithra while vomiting, it''s quite unpleasant."


    "...I see."


    For once, Julius didn''t make a sarcastic remark. Perhaps he felt pity after imagining me trying to defeat the Mithra while vomiting.


    "I''m glad that Julius-san is fine approaching monsters."


    "I don''t really understand, but do people with magic powers always vomit when they get close to monsters?"


    Julius asked with a puzzled expression.


    His hand touched the slave mark on the back of his neck.


    His magic power was sealed by the mark, a tattoo of a two-horned animal skeleton.


    Without the mark, would Julius have also vomited?


    But knowing Julius, he would probably tough it out somehow.


    "It seems to vary from person to person, but I''m no good. I''m sensitive to the miasma and dark magic that monsters emit. I didn''t know about it in the past, but... Well, back then, I never fought or got close to monsters either."


    "...Is that so?"


    Despite asking me about it, Julius responded with disinterest.


    However, I was already accustomed to Julius''s demeanor, so I didn''t feel particularly offended. Instead, I gently brushed my hand over the area below Julius''s eyes, scorched by the Mithra''s light beams.


    "Great Healing Droplet, Gospel of the Heavens."


    My palm emitted a faint light, healing Julius''s wounds.


    Healing magic was more my forte compared to offensive magic. In the academy, they actively taught us healing magic, and my grades should have been on the higher side.


    I used to be quiet and diligent. The me from the past wouldn''t have been able to talk so casually with Julius; I would be too scared.


    "Are we done here, Chloe? Let''s go home."


    "Yes, let''s go! This is a great result from an excellent performance, Julius. Thank you!"


    Julius didn''t get angry at being healed by magic.


    Come to think of it, he was quite cooperative when I bathed him, and even when he had his prosthetic eye fitted.


    Perhaps he was more normal than I thought.


    But if possible, I wish he would stop throwing me around.


    While thinking about such things, I chased after Julius as he walked back along the path.


    Since he seemed like he might get lost, I didn''t forget to change the destination of the light orb from the mountain peak to the cave exit. I truly believe I''m a good master.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 16 - Delivering Goods and an Odd Feeling - 1

    The day after returning from the northern demon mountain, I secluded myself in the alchemy room to work on the requested item.Julius had worked hard, so I said that it was fine to sleep in the room, but for some reason, he stuck close to me, sitting in a chair in the alchemy room, occasionally tending to his sword or gazing at the ring containing Helios.


    Despite Julius often calling me noisy or an idiot, he seemed to want to be around me.


    Perhaps he just feels a bit lonely.


    ¡°I did it! Another splendid result! I¡¯m indeed a genius, a beauty!¡±


    After imbuing magic into the alchemical cauldron for half a day, I proudly praised myself as I held the completed Monocle of Truth in my hands.


    After finishing his sword maintenance and growing tired of observing Helios floating inside the ring in the form of a small dragon, Julius, who had been sitting alone in the single chair with his arms crossed, seemed to have dozed off. However, he abruptly opened his eyes once he heard my voice.


    ¡°...You praise yourself like that despite having an ordinary face. Doesn¡¯t it make you feel empty?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so noisy, Julius-san. Praising oneself is a crucial skill for surviving, you know? Don¡¯t you understand?¡±


    Especially for someone like me, who was originally timid and lacked self-confidence, words of encouragement were crucial.


    Julius, being strong and confident, probably didn¡¯t understand the importance of self-affirmation.


    Lucky for him, being born handsome. Besides, I wasn¡¯t that ordinary-looking either; I was reasonably cute, even if I didn¡¯t put much effort into maintaining myself.


    While complaining in my mind, I looked at the Monocle of Truth.


    It was an alchemical item that looked like a pair of round glasses with black frames at first glance. The total cost, including material costs, fees, and various expenses, was around 500,000 gold. I have to be careful not to overcharge, as it might drive away customers.


    It should be a reasonable price within the means of the shop owner.


    ¡°Now, I¡¯ll be delivering this to Coldman-san¡¯s place, so please come along, Julius-san.¡±


    I packed the Monocle of Truth into a small box and placed it in a black paper bag. The bag had ¡®Chloe¡¯s Alchemy Shop¡¯ embossed in gold, which I had made at a printing shop.


    Such considerations were also crucial for a shop¡¯s prosperity. Simply having cute paper bags can capture the hearts of young ladies, after all.


    ¡°You could actually wait here, but there¡¯s a contract tied to the collar, so¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t leave your side, and I can¡¯t do anything you dislike, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. You remember it well. Good job.¡±


    I praised Julius. After all, it¡¯s the duty of a good master to give praise when something is done well.


    ¡°I insisted you stay by my side because I was afraid you might run away from me and commit some terrible crime. But now that I know you¡¯re just an ordinary person, we can cancel that contract if you want.¡±


    ¡°Stop it. I might run away and try to take the King¡¯s head.¡± S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°...You still haven¡¯t given up on seizing the territory to keep Helios-kun, have you?¡±


    ¡°That too... but I sense something odd in your story. You, being a fool, probably didn¡¯t notice. It¡¯s strange that you¡¯re still alive even though your father was executed.¡±


    Julius stood up from his chair and followed a few steps behind me as I headed towards the shop¡¯s entrance.


    Today wasn''t a day for monster hunting, so Julius was wearing a loose black robe. It was the outfit I gave him on the first day I purchased him, and for some reason, he seemed to like it.


    With a leather belt around his waist, Julius carried a sword at his side, making the simple and loose robe surprisingly fitting.


    I was still wearing my usual apron dress, accompanied by a triangular headkerchief on my head. Today, it was red. Since I only had red, blue, and black, people in the town often commented, saying things like, ¡°You¡¯re wearing red today! Maybe it¡¯ll be sunny tomorrow,¡± as I passed by.


    I didn¡¯t think there was any relation between what I was wearing and the weather. However, there seemed to be a strange superstition that my wearing a red apron dress brought good luck.


    Even though I was just a woman without any influence within the kingdom, it still seemed so strange.


    ¡°...Am I not allowed to live?¡±


    Feeling a bit bothered by Julius¡¯s words, I mumbled a complaint by myself while locking the shop¡¯s entrance.


    In the cage hanging at the entrance, Hime-chan, with her eyes floating in chaos, said in a lovely voice, ¡°Take care, Chloe-chan.¡± She¡¯s cute today too. Hime-chan is so adorable.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say it¡¯s not okay. I just said it¡¯s strange.¡±


    ¡°Even if I¡¯m an ordinary-looking woman who doesn¡¯t belong to any kingdom, at least acknowledge my right to live, please.¡±


    In an unusual fit of temper, I turned away from Julius with a pout and headed towards the eastern district of the town where the Coldman Company was located.


    Julius, without showing any concern for my sour mood, walked silently beside me. The silence would continue naturally unless I initiated the conversation. Although the atmosphere wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, I felt guilty for behaving in a somewhat childish manner.


    Julius didn¡¯t have any ill intentions, yet I found myself getting upset.


    I¡¯ve always been bad at getting angry at someone. That¡¯s why I always lived with a cheerful, smiling facade, whether in the Seigrit family or at the academy. Even until now.


    ¡°Um¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Sorry for being immature just now.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not particularly mature. Being immature is normal for you.¡±


    ¡°I am an adult. I¡¯m twenty years old, a respectable adult.¡±


    Julius didn¡¯t seem particularly concerned about my attitude and responded as usual.


    I feel relieved. Even though we would be together for a long time, I didn¡¯t want to strain our relationship.


    ¡°Three years ago, you were still a duke¡¯s daughter. You¡¯ve been living alone for only three years, meaning you have the intellect of a three-year-old child.¡±


    Julius glanced at me while saying this. It didn¡¯t seem like he was making fun of me. It was more like stating facts, in a calm and indifferent tone.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? You¡¯re speaking like a grown-up, Julius-san. Despite being only twenty-five. You¡¯re just five years older than me.¡±


    ¡°...You and I are different.¡±


    ¡°Well, of course, we¡¯re different.¡±


    What is this feeling? My heart was oddly restless.


    I almost blurted out something like, ¡°Is being on the battlefield that great?¡± I took a deep breath to calm myself.


    Maybe because I was treated like a child, or perhaps because the clear distance between Julius and me was emphasized.


    Let¡¯s not think about it too deeply. I¡¯m always the cheerful and popular Chloe, the beautiful alchemist in town. If Julius and I were seen arguing while walking through the town, rumors like ¡°Chloe-chan had a lover''s quarrel¡± might start to spread.


    ¡°Chloe... What I wanted to say is that there might be a reason why you were spared. Even though your sister became the wife of the first prince, the Duke of Seigrit was executed. It¡¯s strange that an innocent person like you got imprisoned. What happened to your stepmother?¡±


    ¡°...She died.¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to talk about the past anymore. I didn¡¯t want to remember it, but since Julius kept speculating about various things, I reluctantly decided to tell him.


    ¡°She died?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Stepmother... She passed away. On the day I was imprisoned, and my father was executed. The Seigrit household was attacked, and my stepmother couldn¡¯t escape, eventually losing her life. Aliza-chan, who lost her dear mother, was popular with the public as a tragic heroine.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s tragic about it? Do they not understand what tragic is?¡±


    ¡°Well, because my stepmother, who was innocent, ended up burning to death. Isn¡¯t that tragic enough?¡±


    ¡°...No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s strange.¡±


    Julius furrowed his brow, pressing his fingers to his temples as if experiencing a headache.


    Well, it might be considered an odd situation.


    But, it was a story that actually happened, so there was no helping it.


    It seemed that some of the servants from the ducal household also became victims, but Aliza, being at the academy, was unharmed. And I was also safe as I was imprisoned.


    I learned about it relatively recently, through rumors and newspaper articles, and thought to myself, ¡°Oh, is that so?¡±


    But it was no longer relevant to me and there was no point in digging it up now.


    However, Julius seemed unusually interested, probably because he wanted to seize the throne.


    He seemed determined to go to great lengths for the sake of Helios.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 17 - Delivering Goods and an Odd Feeling - 2

    The Coldman Company, located in the eastern district of the royal capital, had become the largest trading company in the kingdom, dealing with trade with neighboring countries, mining, and the buying and selling of gemstones. The owner, Michael Coldman, was often referred to as the ¡°King of Gems,¡± as the majority of gemstones circulating in the royal capital were traded through the Coldman Company.Since they also sold many decorative items to nobles and the royal family, I was familiar with their name even when I was still with the Seigrit family.


    Recently, they started dealing with not only gemstones but also paintings and art, which led to the current request for the Monocle of Truth.


    Julius and I visited the Coldman residence, which was situated within a much larger estate than that of a lower-ranking noble, and were guided inside by the servants.


    Passing through a grand hall, we were led to a room on the first floor that seemed to be Coldman¡¯s office, furnished with a large desk and a set of sofas.


    Befitting his title as the King of Gems, the room showcased opulent necklaces and tiaras made of gold and gemstones, all displayed in glass cases.


    Coldman welcomed us with the typical smile and friendliness of a merchant.


    Being well-informed due to his status as a popular merchant, Coldman likely knew about Julius, who stood quietly behind me. However, he cast only a fleeting glance without saying a word.


    I handed the requested item to Coldman, who was a robust gentleman of about the same age as my father.


    ¡°I apologize for the delay; it was challenging to obtain the materials. The Monocle of Truth is meant to be worn like glasses. When you look at an item with it, if it¡¯s a counterfeit, paintings tear, ceramics break, and gemstones will appear as mere stones. For example, please take a look at this glass ring resembling a diamond that I brought.¡±


    I explained the usage of the alchemical item to Coldman.


    He then put on the monocle to examine the glass ring, and let out an impressed ¡°Ohh.¡±


    He was probably seeing it as a mere stone-embedded ring.


    ¡°As expected of the skilled alchemist Chloe-san. When you were still the young lady of the Seigrit family, you didn¡¯t stand out much and seemed modest and quiet. But now, you¡¯re much more lively and beautiful. How I¡¯d wish for you to be my son¡¯s bride. You¡¯ve been through quite a lot, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Coldman seemed to have had dealings with the Seigrit family.


    Even though I wasn¡¯t particularly lively to begin with, during the time my stepmother and Aliza were present, I tried to be even more unobtrusive. I lived my life quietly, trying not to be a bother to anyone.


    Coldman¡¯s impression of me was accurate, but a twinge of pain struck my chest.


    I merely came here for business, not to reminisce about the past, so I put on a professional smile on my face.


    ¡°Coldman-san, your son is already married, isn¡¯t he? He is highly regarded in town as the promising heir to inherit the company. If you have any requests for useful tools for your business, I¡¯ll be happy to create them for you. So please feel free to reach out if there¡¯s anything else you need.¡±


    Julius stood quietly behind me, arms crossed, displaying a rather displeased demeanor.


    I could feel his growing frustration radiating from his posture.


    To avoid escalating the situation further, I decided to wrap up the conversation early.


    Coldman divided the coins into five bundles, each containing ten thousand gold, and placed them into leather bags.


    After handing over the product and receiving the bags filled with payment, I checked the contents to ensure the fifty thousand gold were there. Everything seemed to be in order.


    And just as I was about to conclude our brief business and head home, the door to the room suddenly swung open.


    ¡°Father! It seems a renowned alchemist from town has arrived! Oh my, what a splendid person you are. Hello!¡±


    A charming young lady, adorned in a glamorous light red dress, entered the room.


    Her milk-tea-colored hair, strikingly similar to Coldman¡¯s, had well-maintained and lustrous locks that hair gleamed beautifully, a stark contrast to my somewhat neglected and slightly frizzy hair.


    She wore an exquisite gold headpiece adorned with dazzling gemstones, and with every movement, the jewels sparkled brightly.


    From her hair to her skin and even her carefully manicured nails, she exuded the appearance of a refined young lady.


    She seemed a little younger than me. Her curious, light green eyes were wide with interest. Her plump lips, embellished with peach-colored lipstick, gave her a charming look. Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t put on makeup in a while.


    Even without makeup, I, Chloe, the cute alchemist, was still adorable, but meeting a genuine young lady after a long time somehow made me a bit self-conscious.


    ¡°I¡¯m Eliza Coldman! Nice to meet you, wonderful person.¡±


    She was undoubtedly Coldman¡¯s daughter; Eliza greeted Julius instead of me.


    Julius did have a good appearance, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that a young girl would fall for him at first sight.


    Eliza seemed captivated by Julius, her eyes glistening like a love-struck maiden, and her cheeks started to blush.


    However, the infatuation she quickly developed for Julius was likely fragile and would shatter soon.


    Julius was quite a sinful man. Despite being capable of throwing me around, calling me an idiot, and only being able to harbor affection for a flying dragon, he could¡¯ve been a wonderful person.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, beautiful young lady.¡±


    As I watched with fear, expecting Julius to say something terrible to her, what I heard were words I couldn¡¯t believe.


    Julius smiled beautifully and greeted Eliza in a gentlemanly manner.


    Beautiful young lady.


    If I didn¡¯t mishear, Julius actually said that. I wondered what had gotten into him.


    Eliza was certainly a beautiful young lady, but perhaps she managed to meet Julius¡¯s discerning aesthetic standards. After all, she was wearing a dress and seemed well-groomed.


    ¡°My! Thank you very much! I imagined the alchemist would be an old man, so I didn¡¯t expect such a charming gentleman.¡±


    ¡°Eliza, the alchemist is Chloe-san right here. And over there is... Perhaps a bodyguard.¡±


    Coldman restrained his daughter with those words.


    Then, he turned to me for confirmation.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one from the slave arena, Julius-kun, right? We heard you were up for sale, and we were thinking of buying you to become a guard for our company. However, when we went to purchase you, we were told that a young lady had already bought you. Chloe-san, it seems you were the one who made the purchase.¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is Julius-san. I was the one who bought him. In order to gather materials for alchemy, it is essential to defeat powerful monsters. And thanks to Julius-san, I was able to collect the materials for the Monocle of Truth.¡±


    Coldman was aware of Julius, so there was no need to hide it.


    And so, I honestly explained the situation.


    Eliza clung to Julius, entwining her arm with his. I must say, she was quite bold and reckless for a young lady. I thought Julius might get angry, but he merely glanced at Eliza and remained quiet.


    ¡°So, if Chloe-san hadn¡¯t bought him first, Julius-san would have become the guard for my house? Well then, it¡¯s not too late even now, Chloe-san; please sell Julius-san to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Wait, what?¡±


    Eliza looked straight at me, asserting her claim as if it were her natural right.


    I glanced between Eliza and Coldman. Eliza had a provocative look directed at me, and Coldman made no effort to reprimand his daughter¡¯s statement.


    Finally, when I looked up at Julius, his silent eyes concealed thoughts that were difficult to discern. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Does Julius perhaps want to become the Coldman family¡¯s guardian knight?


    Certainly, he¡¯s wealthier than me, had a large estate, and he could probably let Helios roam freely. Eliza is also cute, and he might even marry her in the future, leading a life without worries.


    I¡¯m not sure. Should I sell Julius?


    ¡°But, um, the total cost for Julius-san is one million gold coins...¡±


    As I fretted over what to do, I muttered in a small voice.


    The day my stepmother and Aliza came to the duke¡¯s household, I lost my place at the Seigrit family. Dresses, jewels, everything¡ªall of it started being given to me as if it were a side benefit, just because Aliza would say, ¡°Please buy it for my sister; she¡¯s so pitiful.¡±


    Even at the academy, Aliza had somehow ended up with Cyril-sama. Although I knew my friends ridiculed me for losing my fianc¨¦ and becoming a pitiful sister, I kept quiet and forced a smile.


    Unpleasant memories flooded my mind.


    My throat felt dry. I felt an intense aversion to the fact that, even though I had bought Julius with money, he was being taken away from me.


    Hey, Chloe. The only things that matter and you can rely on are money. That''s why it¡¯s not good to be attached to people or things. People betray you, and things get taken away.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to double the offer, Chloe-san. After all, he¡¯s the Black Prince Julius. A renowned general said to conquer a nation single-handedly, and my daughter seems to be quite fond of him as well.¡±


    ¡°But, uh...¡±


    ¡°...Negotiations are over, right? Let¡¯s go back, Chloe.¡±


    Uncertain how to respond, I found myself in a dilemma.


    Julius gently pushed away Eliza¡¯s clinging hand and firmly grabbed my arm. It was a rough gesture, completely different from how he treated Eliza.


    ¡°Y-Yes, we¡¯re done here, so...! Julius-san isn¡¯t a product of Chloe¡¯s Alchemy Shop, so if you¡¯re buying, please choose alchemical items!¡±


    After regaining my composure, my arm firmly held, I offered a cheerful smile and delivered a clear farewell. Julius then led me away from the Coldman residence.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 18 - Delivering Goods and an Odd Feeling - 3

    Julius pulled my arm, and we returned to the central square of the royal capital where Chloe¡¯s Alchemy Shop was located.Julius remained silent, and I refrained from speaking.


    It felt like an odd day for both of us.


    Despite completing deliveries, earning money, and having a seemingly good day, something felt amiss.


    The weather was clear, and a pleasant breeze blew. The central square at noon was lively, with young couples strolling together and families enjoying the day.


    Despite the inviting atmosphere for a walk or an outdoor meal with Julius, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to feel in the mood.


    Prompted by Julius, I unlocked the door to the alchemy shop and entered the house.


    ¡°I find it unpleasant to see your pitiful face,¡± Julius said irritably after releasing my arm. Deep wrinkles formed on his forehead. He seemed angry.


    ¡°Wh-what¡¯s that supposed to mean?! I have days when I feel down too, you know! Julius-san, you were unusually kind to Eliza-san. The Coldman family is wealthy, and their house is big. Maybe you Coldman should have bought you instead of me!¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to say these things, but the words spilled out along with my emotions before I realized it.


    Even though I don¡¯t want to fight.


    Even though Julius had taken pity on me and brought me out of the Coldman mansion.


    I bit my lip and looked down.


    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m being a terrible person right now.¡±


    My mind was a mess. It was like a mix of my past self, unpleasant memories, Eliza¡¯s words, and my current self all tangled together.


    ¡°Cyril-sama is so kind, sister! He said he would go on a long ride with me next time. It¡¯s a pity you can¡¯t come along, sister, because you¡¯re afraid of horses! Poor you.¡±


    Words that Aliza once told me echoed in my mind. At the time, I couldn¡¯t think of how to respond.


    It was the same today.


    Even though I was supposed to have become stronger, as a skilled alchemist named Chloe, nothing seemed to have changed since those days.


    ¡°Calm down, idiot. To be upset by a conceited little girl like her, you¡¯re really just a child.¡± s?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What does Julius-san understand? Even I¡­ Well... it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    I swallowed the words I was about to say and headed towards the alchemy room.


    Julius didn¡¯t follow me.


    I could hear the sound of footsteps going up the stairs, but he probably went back to his room.


    Several customers arrived, and alchemical lamps and self-defense alchemical items sold well.


    After I finished attending to the customers, I closed the shop in the evening.


    In the alchemy room, I stood in front of the alchemical cauldron and began the process of replenishing the sold items.


    However, my concentration wavered, and I ended up creating several failed items, wasting materials in the process.


    Since it resulted in a deficit due to the wasted ingredients, I stopped working and lay down on a long bench.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry¡­¡±


    In reality, I should have gone to the dining area and treated myself to a luxurious meal for the first time in a while.


    But perhaps due to hunger, a feeling of sadness started to creep in.


    ¡°Julius-san is such an idiot, an idiot.¡±


    I muttered in a small voice. I knew that the real idiot was actually me. I got flustered on my own, got angry, became emotional, and lashed out. Just as Julius said, it was a childish attitude.


    But if Julius had come down from the second floor, maybe we could have reconciled.


    Unable to muster the courage to return to my room, I closed my eyes to distract myself from hunger.


    After using up magic energy for alchemy, I was mentally exhausted, and drowsiness slowly took over.


    I¡¯m going to have that awful dream again.


    Surely. Absolutely. But there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.


    I was taken out of the prison cell where I had been confined.


    They put me in a carriage and dumped me in the filthy alleyways of the capital. My dress was dirty, and my body had abrasions.


    The delicate heels of my shoes were broken, and there were holes in my thin silk stockings.


    I felt powerless, and I didn¡¯t have the courage to stand on my own.


    ¡°...Poor thing, she looks frightened,¡± said one of the soldiers.


    ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of the wicked Duke Seigrit. No need for sympathy. The prince has given us permission to do as we please with her.¡±


    Another soldier, with a vulgar smile, approached me.


    I ran away barefooted, rolling on the ground. My long hair was grabbed, and with intense pain, I heard the sound of hair being violently pulled out in clumps.


    ¡°No, no!¡±


    Neither my cries for help nor screams reached anyone.


    I was alone. Since the day my mother died, I¡¯ve always been alone.


    Before I knew it, in addition to the soldiers, rough-looking men from the capital gathered around me. All of them looked happy, with a cruel smile on their faces.


    I stared at the sky, foolishly blue and beautifully colored.


    ¡°...Hey. Wake up, Chloe.¡±


    I suddenly opened my eyes.


    I looked around nervously. It was the usual alchemy room. The alchemy lamp, shaped like a grape, emitted an orange light.


    The corner of my eyes felt warm. To cover up that I had cried, I rubbed my eyes hard.


    ¡°Good morning, Julius-san.¡±


    My voice was a bit hoarse. Julius sighed and pulled my arm, lifting me up from the bench.


    ¡°How long are you going to sulk? Make dinner, Chloe. I don¡¯t need to eat, but you should have a meal. Your frail body will get even weaker.¡±


    ¡°What time is it now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ten at night.¡±


    ¡°...Mother used to say that eating after nine at night makes you gain weight.¡±


    ¡°I want to send Helios flying at least once a day. Riding a flying dragon requires physical strength, so it''s not a problem if you eat a little more. What¡¯s more of a problem is riding a flying dragon on an empty stomach. You might get sick from hunger and end up vomiting stomach acid,¡± Julius said, holding onto my arm.


    This was the second time Julius had talked to me about vomiting. Even though I¡¯m a girl.


    ¡°...Alright. I¡¯ll make dinner, so let¡¯s eat together. Or would you like to cook instead, Julius-san?¡±


    ¡°...If you¡¯re fine with it being so bad that we can¡¯t eat it,¡± Julius responded after a brief moment of thought.


    I felt relieved at his usual demeanor and chuckled. It was easy to imagine Julius making a dish so bad he couldn¡¯t eat it, and that amused me a little.


    With a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, Julius ruffled my hair roughly.


    The headkerchief, which had slipped off during my nap, fell completely to the floor. My hair was now a mess, and it hurt a bit.


    ¡°Ouch, what are you doing? It came off, you know.¡±


    I escaped from Julius¡¯s hand and picked up the red headkerchief that had fallen to the floor.


    Since my work was already done, I tossed it casually onto the long bench, as if signaling that it was no longer needed.


    ¡°You came to wake me up because you¡¯re hungry, right? Please wait, I can make dinner quickly. It¡¯s not good to go to sleep on an empty stomach; you¡¯ll end up thinking about unpleasant things...¡±


    ¡°Your looks may be ordinary, but your cooking isn¡¯t bad. And providing meals is also the job of a master to their servant, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I apologize for not making dinner.¡±


    I lightly slapped my cheeks to motivate myself.


    Then, I headed to the kitchen and dining area on the second floor. Julius, as per usual, followed me and sat on a round stool by the counter. He watched me shave dried meat, lightly grill it, spread sauce on bread, and assemble vegetables into a sandwich.


    As an apology for today, I poured a special glass of wine and offered it without saying anything. Julius took a sip without a word.


    Julius¡¯s manners were probably influenced by his background; they were very refined.


    As I assembled the toasted dried meat between the bread, I wondered if, in Julius¡¯s homeland, he might have had a fianc¨¦e, just like Cyril was for me.


    ¡°Here you go, Chloe-chan''s special dried meat sandwich. It might be a bit heavy for dinner, but it¡¯s okay since you didn¡¯t eat lunch. There¡¯s also bean soup.¡±


    I presented the plate with the dried meat and vegetable-filled sandwich on the counter, then scooped the bean soup into a bowl, placing it next to the sandwich.


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll eat. I¡¯ve already made my own food.¡±


    Eating at bedtime felt a bit sinful.


    But as I talked with Julius as usual, I strongly felt hunger.


    After placing my plate with my portion on the counter, I sat next to Julius.


    I took a bite of the bread. The flavor of the grilled dried meat, the freshness of the vegetables, and the fragrance of the bread filled my mouth.


    Before I could finish half of my meal, Julius, who had quickly consumed the dried meat sandwich and bean soup, watched me silently as I continued to eat, sipping on his wine.


    I¡¯ve grown accustomed to Julius often looking at me when he¡¯s bored, but being observed while eating felt embarrassing.


    Not that there¡¯s any etiquette left to consider now. But, I used to be very careful about cutting each bite with a knife and eating without making a sound.


    ¡°...I¡¯ve told you that I inherited the ducal house at the age of fifteen and went to the battlefield, right?¡± Julius said abruptly.


    With bread in my mouth, I nodded lightly.


    ¡°My father, despite being a duke, was suspected of treason for alleged collaborations with other countries. He was imprisoned and eventually executed. My mother followed my father¡¯s fate and committed suicide, leaving me to inherit the family estate.¡±


    Julius spoke in a calm and detached manner, as if it were someone else¡¯s story.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 19 - Delivering Goods and an Odd Feeling - 4

    Julius, who lost his parents at the age of fifteen and went to the battlefield, was indeed different from me.I stopped eating, leaving the half-eaten bread on the plate.


    My stomach was full, so I took a sip of water from my glass.


    ¡°...Was he really a traitor?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t quite understand why Duke Craft had to be linked to an enemy country.


    Julius swirled the wine in his glass, tilting it.


    ¡°Just like your situation. They had no means to investigate, and I didn¡¯t investigate as well. As the sole legitimate heir of the Craft ducal family, I was kept alive as an imperial slave. The Emperor instructed me not to betray the Empire, to work for the country. So I went to the battlefield, killing people as ordered. That was the role assigned to me.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that too harsh for a fifteen-year-old child...?¡±


    ¡°We were lacking both soldiers and generals. Nobles who could afford an army generally detest fighting. So they hide in their territories, leaving the battlefield to be filled with penniless volunteers and former criminals.¡±


    Julius¡¯s slightly low and somewhat husky voice resonated in the quiet dining area. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    In a few weeks, the temperature would drop, and snow would fall. In the cool air preceding winter, the distant hum of insects could be heard.


    ¡°...True. The war has been going on for a long time, and... my life has always been the same. Back in the Seigrit ducal house, I never really thought about the war.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just how it goes. Once you distance yourself, it becomes a tale from a far-off world. Few notice the fire on the other side. Few feel the pain. ...I slaughtered enemies and allies alike, even women and children, if it was an order. I started being called the cruel and ruthless Black Prince a few years into my time on the battlefield. I fought in various places as ordered, and in the end, I was captured by the Emperor and sold to the Astoria Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°So, you survived in the slave arena for three years, and now you¡¯ve become my slave.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Looking back, I was always someone¡¯s slave. I never chose my own position... That¡¯s why we¡¯re different. ¡­In other words, I never tried to carve my own path or think about living like you. ¡­I didn¡¯t express myself well. I didn¡¯t mean to belittle you with my words.¡±


    As Julius spoke, seemingly lost in thought, he said things here and there.


    It warmed my heart. Perhaps Julius had been concerned about my attitude today.


    He seemed oddly kinder than usual. But come to think of it, despite his haughty and sarcastic demeanor, Julius had always been gentle. Though I¡¯m not sure if ¡®gentle¡¯ was the right word, at least he never resorted to violence or shouting for no reason.


    ¡°...Don¡¯t smirk; it¡¯s disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t help it. ...Um, thank you. ...But, Julius-san, even though I¡¯m now the popular, beautiful prodigy alchemist in town, it''s not like I started this shop on my own. ¡­Three years ago, after being imprisoned and dumped in an alley, my master helped me.¡±


    ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my alchemy master. I learned alchemy from her for about six months. This shop originally belonged to my master, but one day, she handed it over to me and just disappeared. After she was gone, I realized that my master wasn¡¯t interested in running a business; the shop was drowning in debt, and the taxes were unpaid. It took a year to rebuild, and another year to make a profit. And now, here we are.¡±


    ¡°Why did she disappear?¡±


    Julius asked with a puzzled expression.


    I pictured my master¡¯s face. Natalia Bartley, my alchemy master, was an ageless beauty.


    Glossy black hair, enchanting red lips, and revealing clothes that exposed half of her chest along with her legs. It was my job to follow her and drape a robe over her to avoid catching the eye of young boys.


    I had been on the verge of being assaulted in the alley before she saved me, and since then, I¡¯ve been living with her in this alchemy shop.


    My master relentlessly used and pushed me, fostering my self-independence. Ever since she disappeared, tax officials had visited multiple times, debt collectors dropped by, the house seemed on the brink of being seized, and being the hated daughter of Duke Seigrit, life had been tough.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know why she disappeared because I didn¡¯t know much about my master... Natalia-san. But she saved me, and I owe her. Natalia-san said she would give me the shop, the alchemy cauldron, and the materials. And then, she disappeared without a trace. It¡¯s as if she was never here in the first place, and there are no traces of Natalia-san in the shop or the city. Sometimes, I wonder if I was just imagining things.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t she a famous alchemist?¡±


    ¡°No one knows much about Natalia Bartley. ...Natalia-san wasn¡¯t interested in working and rarely left her room. And now that it¡¯s Chloe-chan¡¯s beautifully restored shop, it''s hard to believe this place was once in ruins. It was like a mysterious ruin in the center of the capital. I think few people even knew that Natalia-san was actually inside.¡±


    ¡°...Getting picked up by that alchemist might have been a coincidence, but the success of this shop is due to your efforts. You¡¯re doing well.¡±


    ¡°Julius-san, you¡¯re unusually kind today... Is it going to snow tomorrow?¡±


    I slid the plate with the half-eaten bread to the back of the counter.


    It seemed like a waste, but I wasn¡¯t going to eat it anymore, so I thought I might as well dispose of it.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about what upset you when I was alone earlier. ...I¡¯ve never been good at understanding other people¡¯s feelings. Helios is about the only decent conversational partner I have. So¡­ Chloe.¡±


    I looked at Julius as he called my name. For some reason, he seemed a bit troubled.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m glad you bought me. Being by your side is comfortable. The eye that was gouged out when I was handed over to the kingdom, and Helios, who was like my other half, I could regain them all because of you. I¡¯m grateful. So, don¡¯t hesitate. I¡¯m by your side. As long as there¡¯s a contract in this collar, I belong to you.¡±


    ¡°...Yes.¡±


    Julius expressed his gratitude to me very sincerely.


    His tone was different from the sweetly theatrical one he sometimes used, and I couldn¡¯t help but blush, covering my face with both hands.


    I probably turned bright red. I don¡¯t want to be seen like this.


    It almost seems like I like Julius.


    Wait, no, that¡¯s not what I meant; I need to calm down. I was just surprised because Julius showed a completely different sincerity than usual. I¡¯ve had enough of men. I won¡¯t fall in love, and the only thing I believe in is money.


    I took several deep breaths in my mind.


    ¡°...Besides, that young lady we met today was unbearable. That perfume scent and heavy makeup, her voice was all high-pitched and annoying. If I had to be around such a person all the time, I¡¯d rather die. I¡¯m glad you bought me earlier than them. I shudder to think I might have ended up in that household if things had gone slightly differently.¡±


    ¡°Julius-san, even though you were kind to Eliza-san, were you really thinking such things?¡±


    ¡°They were your clients, right? So I tried to restrain myself somewhat. ¡­When she treated me like some sort of pet, I felt the urge to strangle her.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? I thought maybe Julius-san would want to stay with the Coldman family.¡±


    If what Julius said is true, then I must¡¯ve looked foolish for getting anxious and sad.


    Julius pulled the plate of my leftover dried meat sandwich toward himself.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re a fool. There¡¯s no way that would happen. If you were planning to release the collar contract and sell me to that house for money, I would have taken you with me, called for Helios, and fled immediately.¡±


    ¡°You were going to take me with you?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You bought me, so you have to take responsibility.¡±


    Julius said that naturally and finished the remaining bread in one bite.


    I was momentarily dumbfounded, but I felt a strange happiness and continued to gaze at Julius.


    My lips relaxed. I expected him to scold me, but Julius didn¡¯t say anything.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 20 - Analysis on Chloe Seigrit (Julius’s POV) - 1

    There was a restless buzz in the air.While the slave arena was always noisy, today''s commotion felt different.


    Slaves forced to fight in the arena were mostly criminals or captured prisoners of war from neighboring countries.


    Naturally, they were a bunch of rough men, hot-headed fools covered in dirt.


    I had been lazily spending my days in a cell-like room that was supposedly called a residence for slaves. Three years ago, when I was captured by soldiers under orders from the Dystiana Empire, I resisted, killing several of them in the process. And as a punishment, they gouged out one of my eyes.


    Since then, I had been living with only my remaining left eye, but recently, probably due to malnutrition, the world around me often appeared blurry.


    I had survived these three years in the enemy nation after being sold off, enduring as a slave gladiator in an arena where I was brought as a display.


    I wasn¡¯t eager to die, nor had I ever wished for death. There were times when I felt indifferent to everything, lacking a strong will to live, but so far, there hadn¡¯t been any formidable opponents capable of ending my life.


    The sole reason for my survival was only that.


    Amidst the commotion, several sets of footsteps approached me.


    Chained up, I sat on the hard, exposed dirt floor in a small, stone-divided space. Leaning against the cold wall, the place was only slightly better than outside, offering some shelter from the rain, but it was a musty and dusty environment.


    There were times when I contemplated revenge. I considered returning to the Dystiana Empire that betrayed me and taking the head of the emperor who sold me to the enemy country.


    However, I wondered what that would truly accomplish. There was nothing left for me in the Dystiana Empire, as I had no one dear to me.


    For me, the only reliable friend and family I had was my flying dragon Helios, whom I raised from an egg. If we could fly together again, nothing else mattered.


    So, nothing mattered to me¡ªthe unusual commotion, the footsteps. Thinking that, I kept my eyes closed without directing my gaze anywhere.


    ¡°This person is Black Prince Julius, right?¡±


    The voice that echoed was inappropriately cheerful.


    It was a young girl¡¯s voice. It wasn¡¯t particularly high-pitched, nor was it low.


    It was cheerful but not annoying. Just a pleasant voice.


    ¡°This is Black Prince Julius. Captured by the Empire three years ago to form a truce agreement, Julius, the battle-hardened undefeated general, the Black Prince.¡±


    Following that, a vulgar male voice could be heard.


    It was the voice of the slave arena¡¯s manager. He had rough rings tightly fitting onto his fingers, and when he opened his mouth, golden teeth were visible. A muscular and gigantic man. Just hearing his voice was enough to build up irritation.


    ¡°Exactly five million gold, Chloe-san. I can¡¯t imagine you, a mere alchemist, could afford such an amount...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy him! I¡¯ll buy him right away. What a great deal!¡±


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    After the woman¡¯s voice, I heard the bewildered voice of the manager.


    When I opened my eyes slightly, I saw a fluttering red skirt in front of me.


    A petite woman, along with the manager, was standing before my eyes. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    She had spring-like, pale peach-colored hair, with a red headkerchief tied around her head. Her large eyes were also a peach-like shade of pink. Although not flashy, she had a charming appearance.


    Finally, I thought an angel had come to take me away. Is it finally over? I chuckled at the thought that my life would end not by someone killing me but due to malnutrition¡ªhow anticlimactic.


    The woman took something out from her cloth bag, and it seemed to be a heavy bag. She handed the bag to the manager, pushing it towards him.


    ¡°Alright, exactly five million gold. Do you have the contract? The contract is crucial, so please bring it. If you violate the contract to sell for five million gold, Chloe-chan¡¯s special contract violation enforcement bomb will explode, so be careful.¡±


    With a smile, the woman persistently repeated the word ¡®contract.¡¯


    What in the world is a contract violation enforcement bomb?


    I furrowed my brows, not understanding the term. The woman referred to herself as Chloe¡ªPresumably, that¡¯s her name.


    It was my first time dying, and it seemed that even when taking a dead person, some kind of contract is necessary. I pondered over trivial matters.


    ¡°Th-The contract, right... But, Chloe-san, are you sure about this? This man is the ruthless Black Prince Julius. He¡¯s cruel, and he¡¯s killed many people. He¡¯s not someone a delicate lady like you can handle,¡± the manager said, looking anxious.


    Chloe, holding the contract in her hands, clasped them lightly in front of her chest.


    ¡°Manager, I¡¯m Chloe, the genius alchemist beauty! If he turns out to be a violent person who can¡¯t obey orders, I¡¯ll create an appropriate alchemical device to handle him! By the way, I¡¯ve already thought of the concept. The other day, when I was taking a walk, I saw a muzzle for a ferocious dog. So I came up with something similar¡ªa rod-shaped device. When you do something bad, it releases an electric shock, making it impossible to speak unnecessarily. See, it should be fine, right?¡±


    ¡°Chloe-san... I¡¯ve been a manager in the slave arena for a long time, but I¡¯ve never thought of attaching such a cruel thing to the slaves¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Well, if you say so, it¡¯s fine. Honestly, Julius Craft was too strong and difficult to handle. I¡¯m the type who wants to show respect to the strong, so there¡¯s a part of me that felt shame about his life ending here. If Chloe-san still insists, I¡¯ll sell him to you.¡±


    ¡°Yay, thank you so much! I¡¯ve been thinking that I really want someone strong. Then, someone told me that Julius-san is being put up for sale in the slave arena. It was Roxy-san from the cafeteria who told me. I thought maybe he was already sold, but I¡¯m glad I came to buy. It feels like fate.¡±


    The woman spoke with an out-of-place cheerful tone. She was quite talkative.


    Strangely, her voice didn¡¯t irritate me. I didn¡¯t like people who talk a lot, but maybe it was because the woman¡¯s voice was pleasant to the ears.


    ¡°Well, there was also the matter of the price. Not many people would want to buy a former enemy general like Julius for such a high price. The royal family has entrusted me with handling Julius in the slave arena. In other words, I have the authority to sell him. Chloe-san, please take him home. If anyone can handle him, it might be you.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? If it¡¯s because I¡¯m a beautiful, talented, and genius alchemist, I understand. Chloe''s Alchemy Shop has wonderful alchemical items to spice up the slave arena, so please come and buy them! With alchemy, even the jewels on the manager¡¯s fingers can be transformed into splendid alchemical items. Unlimited abilities, depending on the money!¡±


    ¡°That is... certainly, someday. Now, Chloe-san, I will transfer the rights of the magic lock to you. Do you know how to use it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can use magic reasonably well. I just need to re-establish the contract under my name, correct?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Be careful with the terms of the contract. If you feel pity and decide to release him, there¡¯s no guarantee you won¡¯t be stabbed in the back.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern. I used to think the slave arena was a scary place, but I¡¯m relieved that the manager turned out to be a surprisingly normal person.¡±


    Him? A normal person?!


    I clicked my tongue in my mind.


    Is this woman stupid, or does she not realize that a man like him, who makes money by having slaves kill each other in an arena, can¡¯t be a normal person?


    ¡°Julius-san, Julius-san. Hello!¡±


    The woman approached me without any hesitation and squatted down in front of me.


    With an unadorned yet charming face, her beautiful eyes, like flowers in full bloom in spring, earnestly gazed at me.


    ¡°Starting today, I am Julius-san¡¯s master. Nice to meet you. I¡¯m the genius alchemist, Chloe-chan! Let¡¯s get along, okay?¡±


    ¡°...An unnecessarily loud woman, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    I said what I thought.


    Chloe widened her eyes and said, ¡°Julius-san spoke,¡± looking surprised. I wondered what she meant. Perhaps she thought of me as some sort of beast who couldn¡¯t even understand human speech.


    Still, the messengers from the heavens these days seem to have a lot of unnecessary chatter.


    I wasn¡¯t dying, and I vaguely realized that Chloe was a living person. Yet, Chloe, descending to me when I was on the brink of death, looked like an angel.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 21 - Analysis on Chloe Seigrit (Julius’s POV) - 2

    Chloe grasped the chain extending from the handcuffs that bound my hands with magical locks, and we left the slave arena.Outside the dimly lit, stone-built slave arena, a clear blue sky stretched out.


    It probably hadn¡¯t been much time since dawn. Although my sense of time was numb, I could infer that it was likely early morning. The front of the circular building was an open area, with rows of trees and houses with orange roofs.


    There were no signs of people. In the early morning, there probably weren¡¯t many people peculiar enough to visit the slave arena, besides Chloe.


    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t remove the handcuffs. If Julius-san is actually a dangerous person, it would be a problem for me.¡±


    Looking up at me, Chloe apologized with a somewhat regretful expression.


    I didn¡¯t respond, as there wasn¡¯t anything particular to say.


    The vision in my one eye was still somewhat blurry. Although I could see better when looking at things up close, I wondered if it would ever fully recover. Chloe seemed to have bought me thinking I was strong, but with my unfocused left eye, it was questionable whether I could lead a decent life.


    ¡°The distance between the slave arena to my house in the main shopping district is a bit far. I was thinking of taking a carriage back, but when I asked, the carriage driver said he¡¯s scared of the slave arena and ran away. So, let¡¯s use a return key.¡±


    Muttering to herself, Chloe took a golden key from the simple cloth bag hanging from her shoulder.


    ¡°This is a return key. It¡¯s an excellent item that allows me to return to my alchemy room in an instant. Unfortunately, it¡¯s disposable and quite expensive, so I prefer not to use it often. However, since I don¡¯t have the hobby of strolling around town while chaining Julius-san, let¡¯s go ahead and use it.¡±


    After a long explanation, Chloe turned the key in midair.


    Then, with a clinking sound, an invisible door appeared. Beyond the opened door, another world unfolded.


    It was not a very spacious room.


    At the back of the room, there was a large black cauldron. In the foreground, a long chair, a counter table, and a trunk were placed haphazardly. Several lamps shaped like fruits adorned the room.


    In a corner, bookshelves were lined up, filled with thick books. Though slightly blurred, perhaps owing to more colors than at the slave arena, the shapes of objects were clearly visible.


    ¡°Julius-san, please have a seat. Since you¡¯re tall, it¡¯s easier to talk when you¡¯re seated,¡± Chloe said.


    Chloe dragged a single-seat chair over and placed it in the center of the room.


    Since there was no reason to refuse, I sat down.


    As I narrowed my eye to get a better look, peering at her with curiosity, Chloe misinterpreted it as a glare. She rested her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.


    It seemed like she was trying to exude a somewhat imposing demeanor.


    However, she looked more like a wild rabbit trying to act tough, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her attempt.


    According to Chloe¡¯s explanation, the Seigrit family was a duke¡¯s household accused of wrongdoing by Chloe¡¯s sister, leading to its subsequent abolition.


    Although I had been a general in the Dystiana Empire, invading the Astoria Kingdom, I wasn¡¯t well-versed in the affairs of nobles from other countries. I had been stationed near the border, occupying towns, but reinforcements sent to other battlefields faced setbacks, and the conquered lands were retaken. It was a repeating cycle.


    After seven years of wandering the battlefield with Helios, there was no sign of the war coming to an end. Frustrated by the Emperor¡¯s reproachful letters questioning how much longer it would take, I crumpled them up and set them on fire repeatedly. Both our forces and weapons were spread too thin, with insufficient numbers. Despite knowing that my intervention could lead to victory, in the end, it only resulted in a small expansion of our territory.


    It was a foolish strategy to not concentrate forces in one place and systematically capture each country. The areas surrounding the Dystiana Empire were all enemy nations. By neglecting the defense of certain territories, they were invaded, and the captured lands were taken back. While the central nobility of the empire lived in luxury, poverty-induced instability was more evident near the borders.


    The internal situation in the Astoria Kingdom might not differ much, but the soldiers on the battlefield were better coordinated than those in the empire, simply because they were well-disciplined knights. Still, the name of Duke Seigr¨©t was unfamiliar.


    I, too, carried the title of Duke, but in my case, it was merely a nominal distinction. I was nothing more than a slave of the empire.


    Chloe, despite being the fianc¨¦e of the first prince Cyril Astoria, had been imprisoned and abandoned in the capital three years ago. She spoke of it casually, as if it were someone else¡¯s story, and her demeanor was painful to witness.


    Considering Chloe¡¯s new status as my owner, I had thought about killing her so-called sister and Cyril Astoria. However, Chloe expressed no desire for revenge.


    In that case¡ªWhat should I do?


    While immersing myself in a bath, Chloe delicately washed my hair, and the pleasant sensation of her fingertips made me close my eye and contemplate.


    I didn¡¯t like being touched by others, but Chloe¡¯s small, slender fingers somehow felt comforting and acceptable.


    When was the last time I slept in a proper bed?


    In the encampment, I often slept against Helios¡¯ belly. Although I had my own room in the ducal estate, I rarely returned there. In the slave arena, I sometimes dozed off while sitting on the rough ground, but the constant threat of danger made it impossible to get a decent sleep.


    Chloe¡¯s bed was soft and warm, and a strong drowsiness overcame me. Chloe seemed upset, but it didn¡¯t seem like she truly minded. She must be a good person.


    When I woke up, a red prosthetic eye occupied my once-vacant right eye socket.


    There was no pain or discomfort, as healing magic had been applied to mend the strained skin.


    I blinked a few times, and in an instant, my vision became remarkably clear.


    The prosthetic eye seemed to enhance the vision of my left eye, which had lost its clarity.


    Chloe¡¯s figure, reflected in my now-clear vision, was indeed charming.


    She wasn¡¯t a beauty in the conventional sense¡ªneither striking nor enchanting¡ªbut she had a modest, cute appearance, like a subdued spring flower.


    Chloe was my master, the one who had bought me, and I was her slave.


    Such an innocent-looking woman was my owner. s?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    In reality, Chloe was innocent. She didn¡¯t seek revenge, didn¡¯t adopt an overbearing attitude towards me, and instead, she took care of me meticulously. Having lived a life where one either took lives or had their life taken away, I felt a bit bewildered by her caring demeanor.


    Chloe restored what was lost¡ªmy missing eye and even Helios, whom I thought I would never see again.


    On the day Chloe bought me, I had accepted my death.


    I considered my life as one that had died once. Although I was willing to sacrifice it for Chloe, who kept insisting I should cherish my life, I had started to think a bit more about that lately.


    Despite being okay with dying at any time, living a little longer with Chloe didn''t seem like a bad idea.


    However, when I sensed that Chloe was considering selling me to the merchant and the persistent woman clinging to me, I felt irritated.


    Chloe, who is usually a good-natured fool, seemed unusually grumpy today. I couldn¡¯t figure out the reason for her sadness, so I found myself alone in Chloe¡¯s room, contemplating why she was feeling that way.


    If possible, I just wanted to be by her side without doing anything.


    Chloe was too kind for her own good, and I worried that she might be deceived by someone. By buying me, she might get involved in troublesome matters. Most importantly, listening to Chloe¡¯s pleasant voice as she talks made me feel at ease.


    I enjoyed observing her changing expressions and bustling movements.


    Ah, perhaps¡ªI treasure her.


    This is the first time I¡¯ve felt affection for someone other than Helios. I used to dislike those who shared my form. Chloe may look like me, but she is not the same. I can¡¯t explain it well, but that¡¯s how I feel.


    When I went to check on Chloe, who still hadn¡¯t cheered up, I found her curled up on the long bench in the alchemy room, fast asleep.


    I heard a small, distressed voice, and I leaned over to see her face.


    ¡°No¡­ No¡­ Help¡­me¡­¡±


    I furrowed my brow at the desperate voice.


    Her long eyelashes glistened with tears. Her delicate shoulders and arms were trembling.


    ¡°...Chloe.¡±


    Kneeling beside the long bench, I called her name.


    Her eyelids twitched, and at the corners of her eyes, tears gathered and flowed down her cheeks.


    I knew that she sometimes struggled in her sleep, feeling uncomfortable. However, seeing her cry was a first.


    She must have been through something painful. A girl from a reputable family chosen as the prince¡¯s fianc¨¦e, abandoned in the city alone. It was unlikely that she could remain unharmed without any issues.


    If she ordered me to, I could easily eliminate those who caused her pain.


    Cautiously, I touched her cheek, using my fingertips to wipe away the tears. I licked the wetness off my fingers.


    I felt an urge to kiss her.


    Lusting after a vulnerable woman was absurd.


    Placing my hand on her forehead, I shook my head.


    I need to wake up Chloe. Let¡¯s talk as usual and communicate properly. I¡¯ll stay by her side, as long as there¡¯s a contract, always.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 22 - A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 1

    It felt like I was the only one getting angry and sulking childishly, but in the end, Julius and I reconciled. With our differences settled, Julius slept on my bed as usual, and I curled up on the sofa I had brought into the room to sleep.I couldn¡¯t help but wonder when he would return my bed to me, but if Julius found it comfortable to sleep, I guessed it was fine.


    As an apology for my petty anger, I was considering giving him the bed. After all, being smaller, I could sleep just fine on the sofa. If Julius slept on the sofa, his legs might stick out, so my bed was more suitable for him.


    So I thought, as I laid on the sofa in my dimly lit room, that it would be okay to stay like this. It wasn¡¯t like I wanted to sleep in the same room as Julius. Yup, probably not.


    Probably not. But the words ¡®I¡¯m by your side¡¯ kept echoing in my mind.


    Julius must have meant that ¡®as a slave¡¯. It was undoubtedly nothing more than that. To be by my side as a slave. As long as the contract exists.


    Yes, that¡¯s right. That must be it. However, my chest felt warm.


    No one has ever said such a thing to me before.


    After my mother¡¯s death, when my stepmother and Aliza arrived, I learned to fake my smiles. I never expressed my opinions, just smiled and endured whatever was said, always escaping the situation.


    For Cyril, I was just a convenient fianc¨¦e who was quiet, never complained, and always smiled. But before I knew it, Cyril started going out with Aliza on every occasion, prioritizing her because she was inexperienced as an escort at social gatherings.


    I was... always a clown, wasn¡¯t I?


    A liar, devoid of self¡ªalone.


    But then, I wondered if the current me could truly be called the real me. I couldn¡¯t really believe my identity as Chloe-chan, the popular alchemist. But I had to encourage myself like that to stand strong.


    Julius had called me an ¡®ordinary-looking woman¡¯ many times, perhaps because he saw through my lies. After all, Julius was much more mature than me and had lived through much more hardship.


    ¡°Will you really stay by my side¡­?¡±


    Staring at the pitch-black ceiling of the room, I whispered in a small voice.


    He probably couldn¡¯t hear me; Julius was fast asleep.


    ¡°...I bear the slave¡¯s mark, and we have a magic contract. I¡¯ll stay by your side until you say you don¡¯t need me anymore.¡±


    A quiet, almost whisper-like voice reached my ears.


    Then, I sat up abruptly on the sofa.


    I had said something embarrassing. I hadn¡¯t expected it to be heard, and warmth gathered around my cheeks. It was fortunate that it was dark. Julius was still lying on the bed.


    Perhaps he was just sleep-talking, or maybe I misheard. As I exhaled and tried to lie back down, the voice reached my ears once again.


    ¡°Chloe, if you can¡¯t sleep, do you want to come over here? There¡¯s enough space for you to fit.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure whether he was serious or joking.


    He was probably teasing me. If I were to be lured by his gentle words and tried to sleep together, I would likely be casually rejected.


    ¡°Well, it was originally my bed. ¡­But it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m small, so I can easily sleep on the sofa. Thank you for your concern. ...Also, why did you answer?


    It¡¯s proper etiquette to pretend you didn¡¯t hear a maiden¡¯s soliloquy[1], you know.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite lively in the middle of the night, Chloe. Good for you. But I¡¯m sleepy.¡±


    ¡°You just made fun of me, didn¡¯t you? Julius-san, let¡¯s go for a walk with Helios-kun tomorrow and have a meal at Roxy¡¯s diner. The food is delicious. And Roxy is a beauty.¡±


    To cover up the embarrassment of my earlier words being overhead, I spoke in a cheerful tone.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ go to sleep soon. If you fall asleep from sleep deprivation, you might fall off Helios¡¯s back.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. ¡­Good night, Julius-san.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, good night.¡±


    Once again, as I laid back on the sofa, I heard Julius¡¯s reply.


    Greetings like ¡®good night¡¯ or ¡®good morning¡¯ seemed strangely endearing.


    It felt ticklish and warm. I wished these peaceful nights could continue forever.


    The relationship between Julius and me was merely based on a monetary contract, and it might have seemed distorted to ordinary people, but his words affirming the contract still provided a great sense of reassurance for me.


    The next day was supposed to be a morning just like any other.


    After having breakfast, we were planning to take a break from the shop and go for a walk with Helios when something unexpected happened. Just as we were about to close the door and head towards the outskirts of the capital, a luxurious carriage stopped in front of us.


    Descending from it was Eliza, the young lady from the Coldman Company we had met yesterday. Eliza, accompanied by her servant carrying a heavy-looking trunk, stepped down from the carriage.


    Today, she wore a dazzling light blue dress, with stunning jewels around her neck and wrists, fitting for the daughter of the King of Gems. Even her headpiece alone looked like it could cost around five hundred thousand gold.


    While Julius was a man worth a total of ten million gold, Eliza seemed to be dressed in attire that could easily cost around five million gold.


    ¡°Good day, Julius-sama!¡±


    Eliza completely ignored me and spoke to Julius, who was standing next to me.


    By the way, I was wearing my usual apron dress today, but it was black. Just for reference, whenever I wore a black apron dress, people in town often said, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s weather will be cloudy, huh, Chloe-chan! Black is a bit much!¡± So I tried not to wear it too often.


    Julius-san, on the other hand, was in his usual black robe since we were just going for a walk today. The loose neckline revealed the magic collar and the slave mark on the back of his neck.


    ¡°...Chloe, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Just like Eliza had ignored me, Julius also ignored Eliza.


    It was a battle of mutual ignoring. But in order to put an end to this futile conflict, I reluctantly decided to greet Eliza back. I really wanted to ignore her like Julius did, but considering that the Coldman Company was wealthy, I couldn¡¯t afford to be too dismissive. They might have another request for us, after all.


    ¡°Hello, Eliza-san. Unfortunately, the shop is closed today. What brings you here?¡±


    I could have greeted her in the manner of nobility with a ¡®Good day¡¯, but I chose not to.


    Julius once became displeased when I used noble language, telling me to stop because it didn¡¯t suit me. And I agreed with him; it just didn¡¯t feel right.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any business with the alchemy shop. I¡¯ve come here to fulfill yesterday¡¯s promise.¡±


    ¡°Promise¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes! If I pay double, will you sell Julius-sama to me? Not double; I¡¯ve even brought three times the amount. A total of thirty million gold. How about it?¡±


    ¡°...Thirty million gold.¡±


    Eliza said she would buy Julius for an amount that ordinary people couldn¡¯t earn in a lifetime. The heavy-looking trunk carried by her servant probably contained the promised thirty million gold.


    For the Coldman Company, thirty million gold might have been pocket change, but still, that was quite a hefty price tag for Julius.


    I wondered if Eliza truly wanted Julius that much.


    Admittedly, he had a handsome appearance, but he was also a flying dragon maniac, quite arrogant, sarcastic, and seemed too eager to take lives. Handling him was quite challenging, but there were moments when he showed a bit of kindness, which I found a bit charming.


    I felt like my personal feelings were heavily influencing my opinion, but anyhow, even with all that, what did Eliza see in Julius? Maybe it was just his appearance. While looks might have been important, they weren¡¯t everything.


    ¡°Chloe.¡±


    Deep furrows appeared on Julius''s forehead. I looked up at him and shook my head vigorously.


    I was just surprised by the amount of thirty million gold; it didn''t mean I was swayed. I wouldn¡¯t sell Julius just because of a dazzling sum like thirty million gold. I¡¯m not so lacking in principles as to do such a thing overnight.


    As I pondered all this, I found it amusing.


    I had always believed that money was the only thing I could trust, yet the idea of being blinded by money and selling Julius seemed absurd. How strange.


    Feeling a sense of amusement, I chuckled.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny, Ms. Alchemist?¡±


    Perhaps Eliza thought I was ridiculing her by laughing.


    I covered my mouth with my hand as she glared at me sharply.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s not like that. ...Julius-san isn¡¯t a commodity, so he can¡¯t be sold. Just as I said yesterday.¡±


    This time, I didn¡¯t hesitate. I wouldn¡¯t sell Julius.


    He warned me not to waver. And I could clearly express when I disliked something. After all, I am the beautiful prodigy alchemist, Chloe-chan. The timid and quiet Chloe Seigrit, disappeared three years ago.


    In response to my words, Eliza crossed her arms and smiled as if mocking me.


    ¡°Father said you were in financial trouble. You, the eldest daughter of Duke Seigrit, whose father was beheaded in this square three years ago. It¡¯s quite audacious to run a shop in the same square where your father was killed. They say misers have no blood or tears, and it seems to be true.¡±


    ¡°¡­If you think those words will disturb me, you¡¯re mistaken. ¡­Because I¡¯m well aware.¡±


    I let out a sigh.


    It was something easily discoverable once you did a bit of investigation. It would have been difficult for me, as the party involved, to claim ignorance about what happened to the Seigrit family three years ago. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    While I didn¡¯t witness it with my own eyes, it was true that my father was executed in the Fountain Square of the royal capital. Now, not a trace of that vivid event remains in this bustling central square of the main street shopping district.


    A place that was bright and beautiful, with a constantly flowing fountain of pure water, washing away all the impurities of the past.


    ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re in need of money, right? If you sell Julius-sama to me, I¡¯ll give you thirty million gold, and the Coldman Company can help arrange jobs for you as well. Besides, I know about you. I know because I had it investigated... When you were abandoned, in the back alley... Hey, are you sure it¡¯s okay for me to say it here? You wouldn¡¯t want Julius-sama to know, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    I bit my lip.


    No, that wasn¡¯t it. More precisely, it was an attempted incident, and¡ªnothing severe happened. I was mostly unharmed because Natalia-san saved me. My throat went dry. My whole body shook, leaving shivers down my spine.


    ¡°...Chloe. ...Order me to kill this woman. I¡¯ll finish her in a second.¡±


    ¡°Julius-san, please don¡¯t. ¡­I¡¯m fine.¡±


    I could sense Julius¡¯s intense anger, and I felt a wave of cold sweat run down my back. At the moment, the more significant problem was the angry, ruthless Black Prince Julius, rather than the unpleasant memories.


    Julius was always serious, so if I ordered him to, he would probably kill Eliza. Although even without an order, he seemed ready to do it. That wouldn¡¯t do. We would become criminals in an instant. And if that happened, we wouldn¡¯t be able to live together anymore.


    ¡°Such ancient history doesn¡¯t matter anymore. I was saved by my master, and I¡¯m currently a splendid and beautiful genius alchemist. Now, please leave. Julius-san is not for sale. I have no intention of selling him, no matter how much money you offer me!¡±


    I stated firmly.


    Then, turning my back on Eliza, I grabbed Julius¡¯s hand and sprinted away towards the outskirts of the royal capital, fleeing from the scene.


    There might have been no need to run, but I wanted to get away from Eliza as soon as possible.


    She resembled Aliza in a way. I wasn¡¯t fond of people like her.


    Julius followed me quietly without saying anything. He could probably run faster than me, but he obediently accompanied me, holding my hand, which was quite considerate of him.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 23 - A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 2

    A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 2Leaving the gates of the royal capital and deviating from the main road, we reached the grasslands. I intended to apologize for suddenly letting go of Julius¡¯s hand. But the palm of my hand was tightly grasped. Julius¡¯s hands were large, completely enveloping mine.


    His grip was strong, causing a slight pain.


    ¡°Come, Helios!¡±


    Julius raised the dragon ring on his left ring finger towards the sky, calling out Helios¡¯s name. The ring sparkled, and the light emanating from the gem formed a pillar of light piercing through the sky.


    In response, Helios appeared directly above. With large wings and a sleek, well-defined body, the dragon gracefully flapped his wings as if celebrating freedom in mid-air. Without hesitation, he descended rapidly towards us.


    Bewildered by the sight of Helios descending straight towards us at considerable speed, Julius firmly pulled my hand.


    He then lifted me, holding me close as if cradling me. Julius seemed to have grasped Helios¡¯s reins, but it was hard for me to see it clearly. s?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I found myself on Helios¡¯s back, held securely by Julius.


    With a swift kick from the ground and a grip on the reins, we soared into the sky.


    I could only let out a feeble scream, ¡°Ah¡ª,¡± as the scenery spun around me in a dizzying rotation. With a force equal to the previous rapid descent, Helios ascended sharply into the sky.


    Compared to Julius, who was securely seated in the saddle, my body felt unstable. He held me in a sideways embrace, and my legs dangled freely in the air.


    While riding Helios earlier, I noticed that the horse gear attached to his body was an alchemical harness with additional effects such as impact reduction, a defensive barrier, and physical stabilization.


    Although I knew it was designed to prevent falls with minimal effort, the nearly vertical ascent was visually frightening.


    ¡°Julius-san, I¡¯m falling, I¡¯m going to fall...¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t fall. If you¡¯re scared, just hold on tight.¡±


    Julius spoke in a calm voice, holding my body with one hand. However, not feeling entirely secure, I clung to Julius¡¯s waist. As he told me not to move, I tried my best to stay still by curling up my body.


    Rising at a considerable speed, I felt almost no strain or impact on my body. The scenery was shrinking rapidly, as if being absorbed into the blue sky. Piercing through the clouds and ascending high into the sky, Helios let out a triumphant ¡°Kyu¡± and gracefully circled around.


    As the ascent slowed down and Helios leveled off, I breathed a sigh of relief.


    The city of the royal capital now appeared as tiny as a speck of dust. It felt unreal that just moments ago, I had been standing in that place. The encounter with Eliza, pulling Julius along while running away, all seemed almost unreal as I gazed at the scenery from Helios¡¯s back. The view from this vantage point made me question whether those events had truly happened.


    I loosened the grip of my arms, which had been clinging to Julius.


    The last time I rode with Julius, I was behind him, and the ride was so comfortable that I ended up falling asleep. And when I finally woke up, I was being held in front of Julius to ensure I wouldn¡¯t fall.


    This time, I found myself being held in a sideways embrace, akin to a princess carry. I had thought of Julius as someone capable only of carrying or tossing a woman like baggage, so this was quite surprising.


    I looked up at Julius¡¯s handsome face. His eyes, each a different color, were focused straight ahead. The corners of his mouth were lifted in a somewhat joyful expression, likely due to the thrill of flying with Helios.


    His golden hair fluttered in the wind, presenting the majestic figure of the Black Prince on the battlefield.


    ¡°...There¡¯s no specific goal today, right, Chloe? Let me enjoy the flight as I please.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes... Please, feel free...¡±Julius turned his gaze towards me, and our eyes met. I wondered if I had just been staring at Julius without realizing it.


    I quickly averted my gaze and nodded awkwardly, my voice slightly strained. He probably noticed my unease, but Julius didn¡¯t say anything. For some reason, the silence calmed me down.


    Since yesterday, I felt a bit strange. Sometimes I¡¯d sulk or get angry with Julius, and at other times, I¡¯d feel reassured or happy. It was a peculiar sensation, similar to the anticipation of an impending storm, causing my chest to feel restless.


    Closing all the windows, preparing the lamps, and stocking up on food¡ªit felt like these moments of unease when preparing for a storm. I would anxiously listen to the creaking windows and outside noises. Yet, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant; it was a mysterious feeling.


    What is this feeling? It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve felt something like this. I don¡¯t really understand it.


    Julius lightly pulled the reins. As if understanding everything from Julius¡¯s mere gesture, Helios stretched his long neck straight. His neck, body, and tail formed a straight line, and his large wings became horizontal.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t flapping his wings frantically, the speed increased rapidly. Helios leaped high into the air, gliding smoothly to lower the altitude, then flapped his wings a few times to rise again.


    At first, I was exclaiming things like ¡°woah¡± or ¡°wow,¡± but gradually, I began to have the composure to appreciate the scenery.


    The effects of the alchemical harness seemed quite reliable. No matter how much we flew, there was no strain on my body, and the ride felt comfortable. I didn¡¯t sense the feeling of falling either. If there was any, it seemed purely visual, a product of my imagination. The dizziness in my head and the sensation of floating in the air were like illusions.


    Julius had his arm around my waist, and since there was nothing else to hold onto, I wrapped my arms around his back, grabbing onto his black robe. Since he had given me permission to cling on, I decided to take advantage of his kind words.


    Forests, cities, rivers¡ªthe landscapes of the kingdom, unseen by me until now, unfolded beneath us. Accompanied by the sound of cutting through the wind, the scenery changed rapidly.


    We passed through dense forests in an instant, soared beside a massive waterfall cascading down from a table-shaped cliff, and Helios twirled joyfully as water droplets lightly sprayed on us.


    I wonder if Julius has always experienced this view of the world.


    Even though the sky above is boundless and free, Julius, despite that freedom, had always been someone¡¯s slave since birth. After flying through the sky alone with Helios, I could imagine how desperate Julius must have felt when he was captured and separated from Helios.


    As I watched Helios joyfully soar through the sky and observed Julius enjoying himself, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of happiness too.


    ¡ªI might be stealing Julius and Helios¡¯s freedom.


    Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind. The concept of slavery itself was inherently problematic. Buying people with money was an act that, although common, was far from commendable.


    Even though I had purchased Julius with the intention of having a strong worker, a wave of emotion swept over me, prompting me to question if things should stay as they were.


    ¡°Chloe, Helios is quite fast, isn¡¯t he?¡± Julius said. His voice carried a hint of pride.


    ¡°Yes. It feels a bit different from the usual way dragons fly. If he came charging into the battlefield at this speed, it must have been quite intimidating,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Dragons are excellent for both offense and retreat. Their mobility far surpasses that of cavalry... Dealing with them is challenging, though. Just forming a unit requires a considerable amount of effort. In the Empire, I was the only proper dragon knight,¡± Julius explained.


    I wasn¡¯t well-versed in war or knights, but listened quietly to Julius, who seemed to be reminiscing about the past.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 24 - A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 3

    A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 3Helios, who had been cutting through the sky of the kingdom, now flew through gaps in the clouds, slightly reducing his speed. His wing flaps became minimal, gracefully gliding through the air as if catching the wind with his feathers. It was a very elegant sight.


    While I wasn¡¯t well-versed in dragons, the common image I had was of them flying with a loud flapping sound to support their massive bodies. But compared to that, Helios¡¯s movements were much more refined.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about military matters, but I think the Astoria Kingdom¡¯s knights were primarily cavalry,¡± I said.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. The abundance of dragon knights is probably due to the neighboring Sacred Nation of Rashid. Half of their land is made up of deserts, making cavalry ineffective. It¡¯s a country with many dragon knights and skilled magicians in terms of mobility. They don¡¯t seem to be eager for war, but their defense is much stronger than that of the Astoria Kingdom. If the Sacred Nation of Rashid were to make a serious move, they might have swallowed up the Dystiana Empire and others,¡± Julius explained.


    ¡°Even though the Sacred Nation of Rashid is smaller?¡±


    ¡°It''s not about being inferior in military power just because the land is smaller. The Dystiana Empire didn¡¯t have a decent army to begin with... Until you bought me, everything else didn¡¯t really matter to me. That¡¯s why thinking about the country¡¯s power and situation like this is a first for me. That time, just winning the battle in front of us was enough. That¡¯s all that mattered on the battlefield.¡±


    Beyond the forest at the kingdom¡¯s border, a vast desert stretched out. It looked like a sea of yellow sand.


    I had learned in the academy that the Sacred Nation of Rashid was a divine country supported by faith. People there offered prayers at morning, noon, and night, and the people were known for their gentle nature.


    Research on the Gates to the Underworld itself was advanced in the Sacred Nation of Rashid. I was told that the researchers from the Sacred Nation of Rashid were the first to unravel the mysteries of the Gates to the Underworld.


    And that they were the ones who discovered that the monsters overflowing from the Gates were manifestations of the grudges of the deceased. Some of them never returned from the Gates, having entered the Underworld to study about how to close the Gates.


    I found it quite frightening to engage in such risky activities, especially considering what they were dealing with.


    Afterward, I also pondered whether my deceased mother might be in the Underworld.


    ¡°But Julius, you¡¯re already my... how should I say it... um¡­¡±


    Saying he was my slave didn¡¯t feel right.


    It¡¯s true that Julius is my slave, but I didn¡¯t want to use that term right now.


    ¡°Well, um... you¡¯re a reliable partner for work! Since the war is over, it¡¯s all okay now,¡± I tried to convey, avoiding the term ¡®slave¡¯.


    I didn¡¯t know what exactly was okay, but I hoped that the difficult times for Julius would come to an end. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I would surely become a good employer, and Julius was reliable since he was very strong.


    ¡°...Yeah, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s over,¡± Julius agreed.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! By the way... do you perhaps have someone important in the Dystiana Empire? I hope I¡¯m not causing you trouble or anything by keeping you here,¡± I asked cautiously.


    Julius might have had a fianc¨¦e.


    Perhaps he was being coerced because that person was being held hostage, causing him to obediently follow the Emperor¡¯s orders and fight in the war.


    If that were the case, calling him my ¡®partner¡¯ might be nothing more than an imposition. It would be nothing but a nuisance.


    As I thought about that possibility, my heart felt heavy.


    However, keeping quiet wouldn¡¯t lead to anything good. If it bothered me, I should just ask. I had once kept quiet without asking anything when Eliza wanted Julius, and it led to a one-sided argument with Julius.


    So I shouldn¡¯t repeat the same mistake.


    Julius looked down at me with a curious expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one, and it¡¯s not a nuisance. ¡­Chloe, I¡¯m fine with being your slave.¡±


    Julius easily dismissed my concern that he might have someone important in the empire.


    Then, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was glad that I wasn¡¯t causing any trouble. If Julius truly wanted to return to the empire, I had intended to end the contract and let him go.


    The thought of it pierced my chest like a needle, but I considered it unavoidable.


    ¡°Partner, do you dislike it? Maybe the position of ¡®partner¡¯ is already taken? After all, there¡¯s Helios-kun. Although I feel like Helios-kun is more like a beloved spouse than a partner¡­¡±


    Feeling relieved, I spoke with a bright tone that even made me want to chuckle.


    I¡¯m quite straightforward, aren¡¯t I? Until Julius came into my life, I hadn¡¯t thought I was such an easy-to-understand person.


    Although it was more accurate to say that I¡¯d been avoiding genuine interactions with others until Julius appeared.


    ¡°You¡¯re noisy. Can¡¯t you be quiet for a bit?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m talking to make up for Julius-san not talking, so be grateful.¡±


    ¡°...That¡¯s true, I guess.¡±


    Julius looked down at me and smiled.


    It wasn¡¯t a sarcastic or mocking smile; it was more of a genuine one, as if he had laughed at something unexpectedly funny. With his beautiful face, he seemed like someone from a completely different world.


    I was surprised and found myself staring at his face for a while.


    It felt like we had been gazing into each other¡¯s eyes for an eternity. In this world where nothing but the blue sky stretched as far as the eye could see, there were only Helios, Julius, and me.


    Forgetting everything happening on the ground, it would be nice if time could freeze just like this. The sky above was so serene, calm, and satisfying that I couldn¡¯t help but wish for it to stay this way.


    I wonder, is this what a Celestial Realm feels like?


    According to the theories of researchers of underworldly matters, there exists a lower realm filled with resentment and an upper realm brimming with happiness. The lower realm is where sinners fall, while virtuous individuals ascend to the Celestial Realm.


    It was also said that those in the lower realm eventually transformed into monsters.


    ¡°Julius-san¡­ Whether you¡¯re my slave or partner, it doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s expand the alchemy shop together, okay? The goal is to build a house on a spacious plot where Helios-kun can have two or three companions.¡± Feeling a bit awkward in the silence, I spoke up.


    I expected him to call me noisy, but Julius nodded slightly.


    ¡°...Helios also wants a mate. If they become a pair, they can lay an egg. Flying dragons only lay one egg in their lifetime. So I want to raise it successfully and create another riding dragon.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯ll be the three of them. Then we¡¯ll need a large garden, won¡¯t we? I was thinking, we don¡¯t necessarily have to live in the royal capital, right? After all, the world is vast, isn¡¯t it, Julius-san?¡±


    Julius-san, you seem so lively when talking about dragons. I was happy to see him excited. Despite everything that had happened, it was all in the past.


    From now on, we¡¯re free to do anything.


    So, it¡¯s going to be okay.


    Although Eliza¡¯s words had left a deep wound in my heart, I now felt like I could move on.


    ¡°...The world is vast, indeed,¡± Julius repeated my words as if he were realizing it for the first time.


    ¡°By the way, Julius-san, why did you decide to raise a dragon egg?¡±


    ¡°...It was a long time ago, before my father was killed, when I was much younger. We had some business in the Sacred Nation of Rashid, and my father brought an egg back as a souvenir. They said it was challenging to raise, so I was determined to prove them wrong... and that¡¯s how Helios was born.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite competitive, Julius-san.¡±


    ¡°When someone says it¡¯s impossible, it just makes me want to overcome it and prove them wrong.¡±


    ¡°Is that how it works? I can¡¯t understand because I tend to give up easily.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine for you. There¡¯s no need to push yourself and get hurt.¡±


    ¡°...You¡¯ve been surprisingly kind since yesterday,¡± I spoke with my head down. I didn¡¯t want him to see my flushed red face.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 25 - A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 4

    A Walk in the Skies and the Underworldly Gate - 4The Sacred Nation of Rashid bordered the opposite side of the Northern Demon Mountain of Astoria Kingdom. Beyond the Demon Mountain to the north, laid the Ilzario Kingdom, and inland, the vast Dystiana Empire extended over a large area and surrounding it, was an expanse of sea.


    The capital was situated approximately in the heart of the country. The Astoria Kingdom, which I had only seen on maps, appeared elliptical when viewed from above.


    As we approached the border near the Demon Mountain to the north, Helios suddenly changed direction towards the opposite side. I sensed something eerie beyond the horizon on the other side of the Demon Mountain, but even after straining my eyes, I couldn¡¯t see it clearly.


    ¡°Julius-san, did you notice anything strange about the Dystiana Empire¡­?¡±


    ¡°...Hm?¡±


    As I inquired, Julius lightly pulled the reins.


    Helios circled once again, getting closer to the border. Although I had never been to the Dystiana Empire, I could see multiple layers of wooden horse barricades and several forts guarding the frontier, constructed to protect the border.


    To avoid being spotted by the border guards, Helios ascended in altitude.


    Flying within the cover of the clouds, beyond Helios¡¯ long neck, I caught a glimpse of something like a dark spot in the sky above the Dystiana Empire¡¯s territory.


    ¡°Was it just my imagination? ¡­I feel like there was something in the sky.¡±


    ¡°Chloe, we can¡¯t get any closer. Let¡¯s head back.¡±


    ¡°Alright. ¡­It was probably just my imagination.¡±


    A strange sensation ran down my spine, as if I were peering into something I shouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Chloe, when you peer into something dangerous, an equally dangerous thing might see you, so if you ever feel scared, run away. Remember that, okay?¡±


    Gentle words echoed in my mind. Suddenly, the words my mother spoke to me long ago came back to me, and the feeling of her petting my hair resurfaced. My father was reserved, but I couldn¡¯t recall any conflicts between them.


    Why am I remembering this now? Is mother warning me not to get close to the Dystiana Empire?


    Helios circled widely, following the border of the kingdom. We had been flying for quite a while, so perhaps Helios was getting tired. Wanting to head back to the capital.


    I wanted to stay in the sky forever, but that wasn¡¯t possible.


    As we attempted to pass through the snow-covered summit of the Northern Demon Mountain, I panicked and pulled on Julius¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Julius-san!¡±


    ¡°What is it this time? Did you see something?¡±


    ¡°At the summit of the mountain... There¡¯s a large gate to the underworld!¡±


    ¡°So what? According to your stories, monsters emerge from those gates, right? Are we going to close it? To help people, or to gather materials?¡±


    While I was in a state of panic, Julius¡¯s voice remained remarkably calm.


    On the snow-covered summit of the Northern Demon Mountain, a structure resembling a door appeared. It was a door that suddenly emerged in the empty space, with nothing before or after it, just an ordinary landscape.


    From high above the sky, it was clear that it was a door, and it seemed quite large.


    Since it was a clear day, we could see it vividly against the white snowy background.


    ¡°To close the gate to the underworld, we have to face the Gatekeeper, a dangerous monster. I won¡¯t do anything so drastic... But Julius-san, there are people lying on the ground!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I can see it... Were they killed?¡±


    In front of the gate, several human figures could be seen. Some were lying down, creating red stains on the snowy landscape.


    ¡°What... What should we do? Julius-san, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to do. It has nothing to do with me or you. We just happened to pass by.¡±


    ¡°B-But you see... We can¡¯t just ignore it, can we?¡±


    I¡¯ve been on many expeditions to defeat monsters to gather materials, but encountering a gate to the underworld was a first. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    My body felt uneasy, as if it was warning me not to get any closer. Those who usually confront these gates are either specialized extermination squads formed by mercenaries, members of the knight orders, or adventurers seeking bounty rewards.


    They must be conscientious individuals wishing to minimize the damage caused by monsters for the kingdom. But if I were to witness that and simply ignore it, wouldn¡¯t I be considered a heartless person?


    _We should help them. _However, it would put Julius and Helios at risk. Ordering them to do such a thing would be wrong.


    ¡°Julius-san, please drop me off at the summit! I know that they¡¯re strangers, but I need to help them. It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m strong, and the alchemical items I made for combat are the strongest in the kingdom!¡±


    Yes, this is a good plan.


    Having Helios take only me to the summit and having Julius wait with Helios in the sky is the safest option.


    That way, neither of them is in danger, and I should be¡ªprobably, hopefully¡ªfine.


    ¡°What are you talking about, you idiot? Why are you the only one dropping off?¡±


    ¡°B-But it¡¯s dangerous! I may know about monsters for gathering materials, but I¡¯m not familiar with the gatekeeper. If we go together, Julius-san and Helios might get injured!¡±


    I looked up at Julius as I spoke.


    I feel a sense of reassurance when it comes to fighting monsters targeted for material gathering, as I have knowledge about them. But when it comes to unknown entities, it was frightening. I wasn¡¯t strong enough to protect Julius while fighting against something unknown to me.


    ¡°Listen, Chloe. I¡¯m your slave. ¡­Just order me to kill the monster at the gate. That¡¯s all you need to do.¡±


    ¡°But... I can¡¯t do that, I...¡±


    ¡°You said you wanted to expand your alchemy shop, buy a house big enough to keep three dragons, right? ... The Gatekeeper of the gate to the underworld should drop valuable materials. It¡¯ll be profitable, Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Julius-san, you don¡¯t have to say such things at a time like this...!¡±


    It felt as if Julius¡¯s mindset had been taken over by my greed.


    Julius, who spoke with a smirk on his face, was surprisingly reliable, and I could feel my heart racing.


    ¡ªWhat the hell am I thinking in this kind of situation?


    ¡°Chloe, stop hesitating. Cling onto me so you don¡¯t fall behind.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    Julius grabbed the neckline of my clothes from the front and casually tossed me over his shoulder towards his back.


    A light sensation of floating and a jolt ran through my body. While fearing the possibility of falling from Helios¡¯s back, I desperately clung onto Julius¡¯s back.


    As I held onto him tightly, the effects of the harness fixed my position again. Feeling relieved for a moment, Helios began a rapid descent towards the summit of the Northern Demon Mountain.


    Julius then pulled out a black spear from the spear holder on Helios¡¯s back, and held it effortlessly in his right hand. Made of a high-quality eternal diamond, it was a long, slender spear, as tall as me, with a black handle and a pointed tip.


    Julius, the dragon knight, must have fought in this manner for a long time.


    Clinging to Julius and trying not to be a hindrance, I gazed at his back.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 26 - The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 1

    The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 1The summit of the Northern Demon Mountain, when viewed from a distance, appeared as steep slopes. However, as we approached, it seemed large enough to encompass the central square of the royal capital where my shop was located, entirely covered in snow.


    As we descended rapidly on Helios¡¯s back, I could see a massive door floating in the air.


    The rectangular door split in the middle, opening on both sides. Above the door, a sculpted face of an anguished person was carved, and the door itself seemed to be formed with overlapping human hands and feet. It was in pale white color, resembling the hue of human bones.


    The door was so huge that it could easily fit two of my shops vertically. Beyond the opened door, an endless abyss stretched out, pitch black and filled with a powerful, unsettling aura. Even though I strained my eyes, I couldn¡¯t see anything, but I felt an incredibly strong and unsettling magic presence.


    In front of the gate, a gigantic beast with three heads, each connected to chains extending from the abyss, stood as the gatekeeper.


    The beast was roughly a bit smaller than the gate, but much larger than a two-storey house.


    With a large mouth opening to ferocious fangs and dull golden eyes, its facial features resembled that of a wolf, but its long mane growing on its body transformed into serpentine forms midway, each exhibiting a sense of individuality, while a long tail resembling that of a reptile emerged from its back.


    The creature had a reddish-purple body with a drooping bright red tongue hanging from its mouth. The left head exhaled flames, the central one released icy breath, and the right one emitted a poisonous mist. Though untested, merely getting close to their breath would likely lead to dire consequences.


    The snow beneath the beast¡¯s three heads melted into a slushy, foul-smelling mess. Anything touched by the creature seemed to decay.


    In front of the beast, two individuals laid on a snowy ground, surrounded by vivid red bloodstains. They wore impressive armor, indicating they were likely adventurers sent to defeat the gatekeeper to close the gate.


    A man, seemingly the same size as the creature, stands protectively over the fallen pair, wielding a sword-like object that appears to be made of iron. He gazed up in surprise as Helios descended from the sky.


    ¡°Julius-san, it¡¯s dangerous to charge in like that¡­!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss. You¡¯re too noisy.¡±


    Straight as an arrow, Helios dived towards the three-headed monster like a lightning strike.


    Dodging the creature¡¯s fiery breath with ease, Helios pointed towards the necks sprouting the three heads. Then I felt a scorching heat, as if my body was being seared by flames.


    Julius, just like during the battle with the wise-eyed Mithra, seemed willing to endure some injuries as long as he could defeat his opponent. It seemed to be a strategy of cutting through flesh and bone, so to speak.


    If we were wearing Ariadne¡¯s cloak, we could withstand both heat and ice, but today, Julius was in his usual robe, and I was in my everyday apron dress. If we came into contact with even a bit of fire, our body will likely get scorched.


    Not wanting to get sliced, I took out a magic-amplifying wand from my bag.


    ¡°O Guardian winds of the three thousand worlds!¡±


    Holding onto Julius¡¯s clothes with one hand while raising the staff in front of my chest, I began an incantation.


    A protective wind barrier enveloped Helios and us. With each breath of fire deflected, the thin greenish defensive barrier shows visible distortions.


    Healing and protective magic were my forte, but in the face of the power of the Gatekeeper, my skills might not last that long. Julius, after releasing Helios with both hands, pierced one of the creature¡¯s heads with the spear¡¯s pointed end.


    As the beast tried to attack back, Helios jumped over, and with the spear¡¯s pointed end still embedded in the creature¡¯s neck, he in a matter of seconds, soared up, slicing the head straight through.


    It all happened in a matter of seconds after the rapid descent, so swift that it was almost impossible to comprehend.


    The severed head revealed white bones and blood started to drip down. Helios returned to the sky once again.


    The creature of the Gate, seemingly unable to fly, raised its heads high and released ice and poison breath into the sky.


    ¡°...Chloe. If we inhale that, will we die?¡±


    Julius spoke while swinging the spear to shake off the viscous breath.


    ¡°It might be fatal. I¡¯ve never breathed it in, so I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°We need to get close enough to kill it. Go figure something out.¡±


    Julius said calmly, as if he assumed I could naturally handle any situation. He probably thought of alchemists as handy people who could solve anything.


    However, I felt more happy being trusted than being casually dismissed as useless.


    ¡°...I¡¯ll figure something out!¡±


    Helios gracefully avoided the ice shards, but it seemed he couldn¡¯t dive into the poisonous mist. The creature emitted a low rumbling growl as Helios circled around it.


    ¡°Poison, poison¡­¡± I murmured while rummaging through my bag.


    I remembered the antidote alchemical item I had prepared earlier for dealing with highly toxic monsters. I couldn¡¯t help but appreciate my own genius.


    ¡°I anticipated something like this, so I created an alchemical item that can purify even the venom of a deadly hydra. It¡¯s called the ¡®Purification Space - Floral Fragrance¡¯! Listen, Julius-san, this Floral Fragrance creates a designated area where it purifies all toxins. In the past, it even saved the waterside city of Matilda from the venom of a deadly hydra. It¡¯s truly a marvelous alchemical creation!¡±


    ¡°Enough talk, just get on with it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright!¡±


    I went through all the trouble of making it, so I really wanted to explain it!


    Despite my annoyance towards Julius, I reluctantly threw the transparent pyramid-shaped object towards the creature, crying out, ¡°There!¡±


    The usage of alchemical items was usually straightforward, often involving throwing them towards the target. After that, the alchemical item took care of things on its own.


    I¡¯ve always believed that if an alchemical item is difficult to use, it loses its purpose as an alchemical item. A truly wonderful and practical alchemical item should exhibit significant effects with a simple usage method.


    ¡°Purification Space - Deploy!¡±


    As I uttered the activating words, the transparent pyramid began swirling above the creature¡¯s head, where the purple poisonous mist lingered.


    In an instant, the palm-sized transparent pyramid absorbed the poisonous mist. As the purification finished, a faint floral scent filled the air.


    The presence of the floral scent indicated that the purification space¡¯s cleansing ability had triumphed over the poison mist.


    However, there were limits to its effectiveness. If it were to absorb a poison surpassing its threshold, the transparent pyramid-shaped cleansing space would shatter into pieces.


    ¡°I dealt with the poison! Please, Julius-san, finish it off!¡±


    As I spoke, Helios began another rapid descent. S?a?ch* Th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The creature kicked the ground, attempting to dislodge the thick chain embedded in its body that was connected to the gate. Helios, seemingly understanding Julius-san¡¯s intent, flew low beneath the exposed belly of the creature.


    With the ability to fly without flapping its wings, Helios maintained a low altitude. Then Julius raised his spear towards the sky and cut through the exposed abdomen of the creature.


    The exposed belly was cleaved in a straight line, and the decaying bodily fluids sprayed with a putrid stench, corrupting the ground below.


    ¡°Chloe, hold the reins. Just keep holding them,¡± Julius said.


    I tried to respond, but Helios suddenly changed direction at a sharp angle, turning my reply into a small scream.


    ¡°Eh, whoa...!¡±


    With the sound of cutting through the air, Helios gracefully somersaulted, changing direction in mid-air. The world momentarily flipped, but thanks to the saddle, there was no danger of falling.


    Avoiding the hail of ice shards, Helios soared directly above the beast. Then Julius leaped off Helios¡¯s back, landing gracefully.


    Now alone on Helios¡¯s back, I hastily tightened my grip on the reins. But for some reason, Helios began to sway from side to side and spin in mid-air. Uttering a series of ¡°Woah!¡± and etc, I clung desperately to the reins and the saddle.


    Although it initially seemed like Helios was trying to throw me off, it was more like he was just having fun.


    He emitted a cheerful ¡°Kyu!¡± sound, expressing enjoyment.


    Come to think of it, Helios was still young, or rather, in the long lifespan of a dragon, he could be considered a child.


    Amidst all this, the ice shards kept coming, the beast extended its head to bite, and the reptilian tail attempted to knock Helios down. However, Helios effortlessly dodged every attack, as if he were playfully toying with them.


    Being tossed around, my eyes welled up with tears. But more than that, I was concerned about Julius, who had jumped down.


    Beneath my tear-filled eyes, I witnessed Julius leaping onto the beast, slicing through the serpent¡¯s head as it lunged forward.


    Meanwhile, he thrust the spear¡¯s tip into the beast¡¯s neck, which spewed poison. With a low growl, the head sank to the ground.


    Without missing a beat, Julius leaped towards the last head with an astonishing agility. The spear, extended high into the sky, froze with the chilling aura surrounding the creature. I feared that if he swung the weapon now, the frozen spear might shatter.


    It was a spear made of eternal diamond, so please, don¡¯t let that happen. Definitely not.


    ¡°Chloe!¡±


    Julius called my name again. It must be a plea for me to do something.


    The creature behind Julius¡¯s back launched an attack at him. With his weapon frozen, Julius deftly avoided the attacks, occasionally parrying with the handle of the spear, his body occasionally got grazed, and wounds started to appear.


    Come to think of it, Robert had mentioned that weapons made of eternal diamond were highly sensitive to magic.


    For a moment, I hesitated on what magic to cast.


    What kind of magic would be effective against the gatekeeper of the underworld gate?


    I wondered if such a thing even existed.


    ¡°...Chloe-chan, use the Dispelling Magic!¡±


    A deep male voice called my name.


    Feeling surprised, I nodded and pointed my magic-amplifying wand at Julius¡¯s spear to construct the spell.


    ¡°Searing Angel Seraphim, pass judgment upon all wicked beings! Divine thunder of godly punishment!¡±


    The Dispelling Magic is considered an advanced version of Holy Magic. Although I learned it in magical studies, I had never actually used it before. If chanting this spell proved ineffective, I had planned to resort to Holy Magic.


    Being neither a mage nor possessing an extensive amount of magic power, so I had my doubts.


    As I chanted the name of the Seraphim, I felt my body becoming lighter.


    Soft, white feathers descended from the sky, cutting through the frozen air as lightning struck the frozen spear.


    Julius¡¯s eternal diamond spear gleamed with pure white light in his hands.


    Alternating my gaze between the magic-amplifying wand and Julius¡¯s spear, I was left dumbfounded. However, Julius remained composed. He swung the spear, and with a calm demeanor, he struck the creature attempting to entwine itself around him.


    The beast¡¯s body burst, shining from within. Julius then kicked the creature away, jumped into the air, and thrust the gleaming spear into the last remaining head of the beast¡ªthe head of ice.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 27 - The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 2

    The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 2The beast pierced by the spear sunk into the ground, accepting death as defeat. Along with the agonizing cries, its body disappeared like mist, and the gate closed with a heavy, scraping sound.


    The folded limbs forming the door wriggled and intertwined, sealing the entrance. Alongside the sobbing voices of several humans, the gateway to the underworld faded away into the clear blue sky.


    The remains, including flesh and bodily fluids, vanished, leaving only a black hole-like mark in the snowy field.


    Helios gently descended onto the snowfield. He bent his body to make it easier for me to climb down. I slid down his rigid and smooth scales, landing on the ground.


    My boots crunched on the snow as I ran, almost slipping on the unfamiliar snowy surface. I approached Julius, who stood in the center of the massive imprint left by the otherworldly creature, a spear thrust into the ground, exposing the dark soil.


    ¡°Julius-san! Julius-san, are you okay?¡±


    Julius lifted his face at the sound of my voice, and he supported me with one hand as I seemed to almost slip on the muddy ground.


    ¡°...Your voice is too loud.¡±


    I looked up at Julius while grabbing onto his arm.


    Although his clothes were torn in places and blood was seeping through, there didn¡¯t seem to be any life-threatening injuries.


    So I breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe... I know Julius-san is strong, but I¡¯ve never seen or fought against a gatekeeper of the underworld before, so I was worried.¡±


    ¡°It was nothing¡­ is what I¡¯d like to say, but without your alchemy and magic, it would have been tough. I can¡¯t win against poison either. And, what the hell was that magic? You...¡±


    Since I couldn¡¯t cling to Julius¡¯s arm forever, I lifted myself up. Julius pulled the spear out of the ground.


    In the distance, Helios was playfully digging through the snow with his nose and tossing it onto his own body. He seemed to be having a great time and looked adorable.


    ¡°Chloe-chan!¡±


    I had intended to talk to Julius about the dispelling magic I had used, but before I could do that, a deep voice calling my name caught my attention, and I turned around.


    Running towards me was a familiar face, a man I recognized.


    ¡°Roge-san!¡±


    Roge Gregorio, the current leader of the mercenary group in the capital city, was a man with a wild appearance characterized by tan skin, silver spiked short hair, and golden eyes with a scar at the corner of his right eye. He possessed a muscular and imposing physique, dressed in the military uniform adorned with the mercenary group¡¯s emblem¡ªa hawk. Strapped to his back was a colossal sword that is about the height of his own stature.


    He took over as the leader from the previous one, if I recall correctly, about three years ago. Despite holding the title of leader, he still appeared quite young, perhaps even younger than Julius.


    I believe he mentioned being only twenty-two years old.


    Although Roge is currently a mercenary, it seems that he used to be a member of the Kingdom¡¯s Knight Order. For some reason, he left the knight order and joined the mercenary group. This information I got was from Roxy at the cafeteria, as I haven¡¯t personally asked him.


    And while we weren¡¯t very close, Roge still called me ¡®Chloe-chan,¡¯ probably because I¡¯ve performed several additional enchantments on his equipment.


    Roge seems to struggle with magic, so he asked me to add the True Anagram effect that I previously put on Julius¡¯s prosthetic eye to his weapon, a massive sword-like lump of iron that was on his back.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t for free, but he was a good customer, even though not a regular.


    Behind Roge, I could see two men who were lying in a pool of blood getting up. It seems like they were unharmed.


    That¡¯s a relief.


    ¡°Chloe-chan, thank you for coming to help!¡±


    Roge, with a beaming smile all over his face and perhaps teary-eyed, embraced me. Being hugged by Roge, who was considerably larger than me, left me feeling a bit overwhelmed.


    It was like the impact of being charged by a rampaging bull¡ªmy body creaked under the muscular armor.


    ¡°I thought I was done for! I came here to close the gate to the underworld, but it looked like I was about to die and end up in the underworld for good!¡±


    ¡°R-Roge-san, please calm down, it¡¯s alright... I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re safe now.¡±


    In a voice that seemed on the verge of tears, I patted Roge¡¯s body gently, as if he might lift me up any moment.


    If something like that happened, I could already imagine Julius making fun of me. Even now, it felt like there was a piercing gaze stabbing my back.


    ¡°Besides, Julius-san was the one who defeated the gatekeeper, not me...¡±


    ¡°Oh, right! Julius Craft! He was terrifying on the battlefield, but there¡¯s no one more reliable than him when he¡¯s on your side!¡±


    Roge started to rub his face against mine while I was still patting him. It hurt. He was like a giant animal, intimidating.


    His voice echoing in my ears was loud and noisy.


    Julius often scolds me for being noisy, but maybe this is how it feels.


    ¡°Ouch... Roge-san, do you know Julius-san?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was from the Knight Order, you know! So of course, I know him. We¡¯ve crossed paths on the battlefield before. But I didn¡¯t want to die, so I ran away at that time!¡±


    As Roge confidently admits to running away, the two men, presumably from the same mercenary group, standing behind him, frowned as if their heads were hurting. They shrugged and let out a sigh.


    ¡°Every time the Black Prince came flying in with that dragon, heads of soldiers would roll. It was terrifying. I thought there was no way we could win, so I ran and hid. Good times.¡±


    While still holding me in his arms, Roge nods in agreement.


    I wonder if he¡¯ll let go soon; it¡¯s starting to feel uncomfortable.


    ¡°Hm? By the way, why is Chloe-chan with Julius?¡±


    ¡°Roge-san, it¡¯s difficult to talk like this, so please let me go.¡±


    ¡°I was on the brink of death in the snowy mountains, and an angel appeared before me! I couldn¡¯t help but want to embrace her! I realized that I could die at any moment and wanted to live without regrets. So I just want to embrace the beautiful woman in front of me! Is that okay, Chloe-chan?¡±


    Roge boldly voiced his desires.


    While being called beautiful is not unpleasant, I still want him to let go soon. We¡¯re not that close, and being embraced by him wasn¡¯t particularly exciting. My impression is mostly that he¡¯s muscular. S?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°...Shut up. Let go... Chloe, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Julius spoke in a lower tone than usual.


    He seemed quite irritated. Julius has a short temper, so I needed to wrap up the conversation and leave before he got seriously upset. We just made up, so I didn¡¯t want to start another fight again.


    ¡°No need to be so angry. This is just a grateful hug for surviving, there¡¯s not a hint of impure intentions. Looks like Chloe-chan¡¯s guardian knight is quite quick-tempered, huh?¡±


    Reprimanded by Julius, Roge finally released his hold on me.


    Due to the tight embrace, my apron dress had become disheveled, so I lightly brushed it off with my hands.


    Then, to create some distance from Roge, I took a step back.


    I ended up right next to Julius. When I looked up at him, he had a clearly displeased expression, furrowing his brow as he glared at Roge.


    I think it¡¯s not good to glare so intensely at someone you¡¯ve just met.


    ¡°He¡¯s not my guardian knight. Julius-san is my, well...¡±


    ¡°Slave.¡±


    Julius bluntly completed my sentence.


    ¡°Well, something like that.¡±


    That¡¯s true, but when stated so clearly, it felt a bit unsettling.


    Although being partners seemed to be out of the question, it wasn¡¯t like he was my guardian knight. Julius himself said that he was fine with the term ¡®slave.¡¯ Maybe he wanted to maintain the relationship built on the purchase with money and didn¡¯t want it to be disrupted.


    Thinking about it¡ªI couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit distant.


    ¡°Chloe-chan, what¡¯s that? Sounds suspicious,¡± Roge said while covering his mouth with his hand and blushing.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s not like that¡­! Anyway, Roge-san, why were you in a place like this?¡±


    I decided to change the subject, as I didn¡¯t want to be asked further questions about my relationship with Julius.


    ¡°Why? Because I¡¯m a mercenary. Lately, it seems like underworldly gates have been appearing all over the Astoria Kingdom, and extermination squads are being dispatched to various regions. So, considering the danger in the northern demon mountains, I, as the captain, personally went there. But my subordinates were dropping like flies, and I couldn¡¯t see myself winning alone. Just when I thought I might die, that¡¯s when Chloe-chan and Julius came to my rescue.¡±


    ¡°I see. Despite your reputation for being very strong, Roge-san...¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m indeed quite strong, but it was my first time encountering a three-headed demon like the Cerberus of the Underworld, and I wasn¡¯t prepared for it. As I was about to get close, the ground rotted beneath me, and I couldn¡¯t move after inhaling its poison¡ªit seemed impossible to get close.¡±


    Roge said with a cheerful laugh.


    The two men referred to as subordinates had expressions of irritation. Since Roge chose them, they must be quite strong themselves. In the first place, to reach the summit of the northern magic mountains, they would have to confront the monsters inside the caves too.


    Just reaching the summit needed a considerable amount of strength.


    However, the Cerberus of the Underworld seemed to be even stronger. It was impressive that Julius managed to defeat it. I should treat them to something delicious today as a token of appreciation.


    ¡°How long are you going to keep talking? Our business is done here, right?¡±


    Julius, visibly annoyed, handed me the materials dropped by the Cerberus, which he seemed to have picked up without me noticing.


    ¡°Look, Julius-san, these are the Three-in-One Hearts, Underworldly Fingers, Nine Lives Poison, and the Abyssal Chains! We did it! These are all top-grade items!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Come, Helios.¡±


    Julius called out to Helios, who was playing in the snow.


    Then, he lifted me up, effortlessly hopped onto Helios¡¯s back, and took off into the sky.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 28 - The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 3

    The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 3After returning to the royal capital, we took a bath and changed into clean clothes, as our outfits were dirty from the battle against the Cerberus.


    Although Julius¡¯s wounds were healed with healing magic, his black robe had torn all over.


    He resisted discarding it, so we made a promise to buy a new one. Apparently, it was quite dear to him. I wondered if it was really that comfortable.


    I reconsidered throwing it away and decided to mend the torn parts instead.


    Since it would be a shame to waste it, I thought of using it as my nightwear. It was purely because it would be a waste, not because I was curious about how comfortable Julius¡¯s unremarkable black, free-size male robe was. I didn¡¯t have any desire to wear it. I merely thought it was a waste.


    Helios returned to the outskirts of the capital, back into the ring. Before turning back into the ring, he rubbed his large face against mine while whimpering softly. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    After getting ready, we headed to a restaurant a bit beyond the central square. Since our work for the day was done, I had taken off my headkerchief and the apron from my apron dress.


    Without them, it might look like an ordinary, albeit plain, blue dress. But I still had my usual fabric bag slung over my shoulder.


    Julius, on the other hand, had replaced his torn black robe with everyday clothes he had bought from Robert¡¯s shop, chosen by Robert himself.


    He wore a black shirt, a vest, tight-fitting black pants, and boots. He also had a black leather belt, tightened around his waist, and carried a sword. Perhaps because he was wearing all black, his golden hair, eyes of different colors, and the small golden padlock around his neck along with a blue gemstone ring stood out beautifully. Julius had good natural features, and wearing all black didn¡¯t give a heavy impression, probably due to his accessories.


    Maybe because he had been eating properly lately, the luster of his hair and skin had improved since we first met, enhancing his overall attractiveness. Walking beside him, who looked so polished, made me feel a bit self-conscious due to my simple appearance.


    However, ever since we defeated the Cerberus, Julius seemed to be in a bad mood. Although he willingly took a bath, changed his clothes, and didn¡¯t resist going to the restaurant, he seemed to speak fewer words than usual.


    Julius wasn¡¯t a talkative person to begin with, but even so, he seemed a bit more displeased than usual today. Despite having a pleasant stroll in the sky with Helios, his mood didn¡¯t lift up.


    Maybe he¡¯s hungry.


    After all, we¡¯ve been eating mostly bean soup lately.


    Walking through the twilight streets of the central city of the royal capital, I pondered this while silently accompanying Julius I was feeling a bit hungry too, and riding Helios in the sky might have left me a bit tired. Riding a dragon might indeed require quite a bit of physical strength.


    De Zanju, run by the renowned beauty Roxy, is a restaurant and bar that stayed open until around eleven at night. As a popular spot, it was crowded as usual. All five table seats were occupied, and so we decided to take seats at the counter in front of Roxy.


    Since I usually came alone, I always sat at the counter. I¡¯m used to sitting at the far end, quietly eating my meal, but today, bringing Julius along made Roxy widen her naturally large eyes as she looked at me.


    ¡°Well, well, Chloe-chan! This is the first time you¡¯ve brought a boyfriend!¡±


    ¡°Good evening, Roxy-san.¡±


    Roxy said loudly as she made drinks in the kitchen behind the counter.


    Roxy was a woman in her late twenties, adorned with rich black hair tied in a bun, slightly droopy light purple eyes accentuated by long eyelashes, and an enchanting mole at the corner of her eye. She wore a navy blue dress with a white apron over it, always wearing a bright smile on her plump red lips.


    Roxy had lost her husband early, and she considered herself a widow. She loved her late husband very much and declared that she would never marry again. Apparently, she didn¡¯t have any children.


    She was so beautiful that men throughout the royal capital had their eyes on her, yet she remained single.


    I thought Julius, who was quite particular about beauty, would find her appealing too. Thinking this, I glanced at Julius sitting next to me, but he still seemed as grumpy as ever.


    ¡°Chloe-chan, who is he, Chloe-chan?! Tell me, who on earth managed to capture the heart of Chloe-chan, who pretended not to notice all the love from men until now! Come on, tell your big sister!¡±


    ¡°¡­Roxy-san, your voice is too loud...¡±


    Roxy¡¯s voice echoed throughout the restaurant, and I could feel the customers buzzing while paying attention to us.


    Since I was a regular at the restaurant and a well-known alchemist among the lively, battle-loving men who gathered at Roxy¡¯s place, there were whispers like ¡°Chloe-chan has a boyfriend?¡± The piercing stares made me feel embarrassed.


    Julius and I didn¡¯t have that kind of relationship. Still, it wasn¡¯t easy to casually say, ¡°He¡¯s a slave.¡± Julius had warned me not to speak casually about his status, and it made me feel uncomfortable.


    ¡°...Um, This is Julius-san. Julius-san, meet Roxy-san. Isn¡¯t she beautiful?¡±


    ¡°Are there really people daring enough to court you?¡±


    While staring at my face, Julius made a mocking comment.


    ¡°No, there aren¡¯t. The men who come to the restaurant are mostly here for Roxy-san. She¡¯s beautiful, after all.¡±


    Indeed, that was the case, and I had no memory of being courted for the past three years.


    Roxy approached, leaning forward from the counter, and whispered to me in a low voice.


    ¡°Chloe-chan, is this the Julius I told you about the other day? The same Julius?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly. It¡¯s the one you told me about. He¡¯s very strong and reliable.¡±


    Julius seemed to be maintaining discretion regarding the fact that he was the Julius from the slave arena, and Roxy was considerate in that regard.


    If that was the case, I wished she hadn¡¯t shouted loudly in the first place. I responded in a low voice, and Roxy smiled kindly.


    ¡°I see, that¡¯s good. So, what would you like to order?¡±


    Roxy seemed to have stopped asking about Julius, and her voice returned to its calm tone.


    ¡°Julius-san, what would you like to eat? Anything is fine, even the most expensive. Today, I got my hands on ingredients that I could never afford on my own, so you can drink plenty of alcohol too.¡±


    I presented the menu, written on paper, to Julius.


    Today¡¯s recommendations included seafood pasta, braised beef cheeks, and for something a bit more affordable, the stewed tomato with offal was also delicious.


    ¡°...The same as what you¡¯re having is fine,¡± Julius said, seemingly uninterested.


    ¡°Julius-san, let¡¯s show more interest in the food. Every dish from Roxy-san is delicious. It¡¯s so good that you might not be able to eat my cooking anymore. How about this grilled lamb? Or do you prefer fish? Julius-san, what do you like?¡±


    ¡°What you made... What was it? The one with thin bread and vegetables and meat inside, that was delicious,¡± Julius replied, thinking about it.


    It was probably the one made by using thin wheat dough instead of bread to sandwich random vegetables and processed meat. It was rather embarrassing since it was a budget meal due to cost-saving measures.


    ¡°Um, well, th-thank you...¡±


    It was the first time I¡¯ve been praised for my cooking.


    I blushed and stammered. My ears felt hot. Why is he praising my cooking now? He has never complimented it while eating it.


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Roxy covered her mouth and grinned.


    _That¡¯s not it. That¡¯s not what it is, right? I was just surprised because Julius, for once, praised me. Yeah, that¡¯s it. _


    My certainty was gradually fading, but probably... yeah, that¡¯s it.


    ¡°S-So, um, let¡¯s go with... meat. Proper meat, the expensive kind, I don¡¯t usually buy them... but since it¡¯s a special occasion... Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Roxy-san, please give us two braised beef cheeks. Also, I¡¯ll have iced black tea, and for Julius-san, please serve him some alcohol.¡±


    ¡°Got it, leave it to me. To celebrate Chloe-chan getting a boyfriend, I¡¯ll treat you both,¡± Roxy said, winking with one eye.


    It was such a cute gesture that even a woman like me felt excited.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 29 - The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 4

    The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 4On the table of the counter seats where we sat, a large chunk of beef cheek meat, simmering in a red-brown piping hot soup on a white deep dish, was placed gently.


    "It seems she went all out."


    I thought as I saw the sizable chunk. It must be about half the size of my face. My stomach grumbled at the sight of the towering mass of meat.


    The amount of bread piled in the small basket was also excessive. What should I do? I didn''t feel like I could finish it all.


    I was served iced tea, while Julius had red wine, and a beer stein was placed in front of him. They were really splurging, but it felt like a bit too much. I wonder if it was okay for him to drink that much.


    "Thank you, Roxy-san."


    "It''s fine, just a small token of kindness from your elder sister. I''ll take care of the men bothering you, Chloe-chan, so take your time eating."


    With those words, Roxy moved away from us and started talking to other men at the counter seats. I wasn''t usually approached when eating in the cafeteria, but it seemed like she was being considerate.


    It felt somewhat embarrassing, this attention.


    "...Julius-san, thank you for today. Please eat plenty."


    Julius was gazing intently at the wine in the beer stein as if it were something strange.


    "Is this normal in the Astoria Kingdom?"


    "No, it''s different. That''s for beer glasses... Julius-san, are you good with alcohol? Please don''t overdo it."


    "I don''t know if I''m good or not. I''ve never drunk enough to get drunk, and I''ve never had the time for it."


    "...You''re quite different from the image I had of you, Julius-san."


    "What did you think of me? I remember you being quite surprised just by hearing me speak."


    "Julius-san, you''re really good at listening to people and have a good memory."


    Julius began cutting the beef cheek meat with his knife and putting it in his mouth.


    I always noticed that Julius took quite large bites. Despite eating cleanly, he was incredibly fast.


    I cut my own meat in half and gently placed it on Julius''s plate. He noticed my gesture but didn''t say anything. He''d eat it, I suppose.


    That''s good.


    I also put a small piece of meat in my mouth. It had no strong odor, just the mellow flavor of meat melting away in my mouth as if it were dissolving. It was well stewed and very tender.


    I dipped torn pieces of bread into the soup and put them in my mouth. The flavor of the soup, infused with the essence of meat and herbs, spread throughout my mouth, making me feel happy.


    "Well, um, ...how should I put it? It''s like I imagined a tremendously strong and brutal general who, uh, has wine and women attending to him, laughing loudly, like a scene from debauchery."


    "Ah, there were people like that in the Empire. Scum who never left their tents and only reported their victories. You''re not entirely wrong, but ... for example, what if everything I''ve told you so far is a lie, and in reality, I was that kind of person too?"


    "You''re different, Julius-san. I don''t think of you like that."


    "Why?"


    "Because Julius-san, you''re not good at lying. You''re honest, right? ... And, if that were true, I''d feel uncomfortable."


    I poked at the chunk of meat with my fork. It wasn''t exactly a commendable action, but as I watched the meat floating and sinking in the soup, I felt like I could talk more easily.


    "Is that because you''d think I''m foolish?"


    "It''s not that... It''s just, imagining you with beautiful women, it''s a bit... unsettling, I guess... I don''t really understand it myself... But when you say I''m ordinary, or have a plain face, or that I''m not cute, I guess that''s how you really feel."


    "I never said you''re not cute."


    "Oh, is that so?"


    I feel like he said that before, but maybe I was mistaken.


    Julius seemed grumpy until we entered the shop, but it seems like it was just my imagination. Now he was talking to me normally, and there was even a hint of a smile on his lips.


    Maybe he was just hungry after all. He fought so bravely and got all those wounds, so it made sense. Maybe the alcohol was also helping him feel happy.


    If that was the case, then I was glad.


    I preferred seeing Julius happy rather than grumpy.


    I watched as he quickly finished his portion and took a sip of wine. It lacked elegance as he drank from the large stein, but it was quite a picturesque sight.


    I continued to stare absentmindedly at the remaining half of my meat. I was hungry, but that didn''t mean I could eat more than usual.


    "Chloe. You''re the first one Helios has carried besides me. You looked quite composed."


    "Julius-san, despite you battling on Cerberus'' back, you had a good view. Did I really appear composed? Helios was spinning and swaying so much, I thought I might fall off."


    "He was probably just playing around... Helios is not even fifteen yet. It''s said that male wyverns live for five hundred years. So while Helios''s body is mature, he''s still like a toddler. He sees me as his parent, as his father. ...Probably, he recognizes you as his mother."


    Julius said it as if it were nothing. s?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I mulled over the meaning of his words in my mind.


    Thinking of Helios rubbing his large face against mine made my chest ache.


    He was so cute. Incredibly cute. But still...


    "M-Mother... Me?"


    My heart was pounding loudly against my chest. I could feel the heat rising to my face.


    Julius, casually dropping such remarks, was cunning. Sometimes he was gentle, and sometimes he''d say such surprisingly sweet things without realizing it.


    I think he''s cunning.


    Because it was Julius. There was probably no deeper meaning behind his words. He just said it because he thought that way, that was all.


    From my perspective, if Julius were the father and I were the mother, then that would mean, well, it''s like, we''re married or something, I guess.


    It''s incredibly unsettling.


    Suddenly, I became aware of the wyvern ring on Julius''s left ring finger.


    I used to think it was a symbol of Julius and Helios''s love...


    Julius pointed to the plate of leftover meat in front of me and asked, "Aren''t you going to eat?"


    It was silly how flustered I became over such simple words.


    "I can''t eat anymore..."


    "I''ll take it."


    Julius pulled the plate toward himself and finished the portion I left with a few bites.


    I wasn''t sure why, but I found even that to be cunning.


    As I realized the concentrated gazes directed towards us, I quickly raised my head, only to see Roxy and the men at the counter seats grinning at us. They were all the people we knew. We weren''t close, but we were acquaintances.


    I wish they would stop. Those middle-aged men starving for some romantic excitement must be bored. Feeling like any further embarrassment might become fodder for their amusement, I tightened my expression.


    We''ve finished eating, so let''s go home. That''s best. Let''s do that.


    "Chloe-chan, there you are!"


    Just as I was thinking of leaving, a deep, loud voice pierced my ears.


    No sooner had the door to the dining hall swung open, revealing a rather boisterous figure entering, than it became clear: it was none other than Roge, whom we had parted ways with just earlier on the summit of the northern demonic mountain, while the sun was still high.


    Roge was clad in the same military attire of the mercenary corps as when I had seen him during the day.


    He seemed to be alone; there were no others accompanying him.


    "I went to the alchemy shop to express my gratitude, but you weren''t there. The neighbors told me you might be here at the dining hall. I''m glad I came, glad to see you!"


    "Roge, welcome. Keep it down, will you?"


    Roxy admonished as Roge boldly entered the dining hall and sat down beside me, grinning.


    Roxy, who was generally kind to customers, seemed unusually annoyed. Roge''s loud voice must have been quite disruptive.


    "Roxy-san! Get me a beer, too! And since you''ve taken care of me today, I''ll treat Chloe-chan and Julius to dinner, so leave it to me."


    Roge declared.


    "Huh? Are you sure?"


    I thought Roge was rather noisy, too, but since he offered to treat us to dinner, I decided to overlook it entirely. Beside me, Julius glared at Roge with evident displeasure.


    Julius disliked loud people, so it''s likely he disliked Roge as well.


    Roxy wordlessly placed a beer in a stein in front of Roge. I heard her mutter softly, "You''re a nuisance, Roge."


    With Roge''s appearance, it seemed like even more attention was drawn from the other patrons of the dining hall than before. Everyone seemed so idle.


    "Well, it''s great to see you. I wanted to properly thank you, but Chloe-chan and the others were already leaving in a hurry, so I hurried back to the capital." Roge said.


    "That''s quite an early return. How did you manage to come back?"  Roxy inquired.


    "My subordinates were badly injured, and we were running out of healing magic and herbs, so I used the return key that Chloe-chan made for me a while ago. It was expensive, but it was worth it to have it made in advance." Roge explained.


    "All of you were covered in blood, weren''t you? Your subordinates were on the brink of death. I should have used healing magic on you... I''m sorry." I said regretfully.


    At that time, Roge didn''t let go of me while embracing me, and the next moment Julius carried me and flew off on Helios, so there was no opportunity for that.


    I do remember them losing quite a bit of blood. Since I could use healing magic, I wish I could''ve helped.


    "It''s fine. A subordinate who leaves me behind to die on my own is worthless. They should keep fighting even if they''re on the brink of death. Right now, they''re resting properly at the infirmary. Well, it''s okay, they''re alive." Roge replied.


    "I see..."


    Roge seems to have a kind face, but he was quite strict with his subordinates. As the leader of the mercenary corps, he probably had to be strict anyway. It was a world I didn''t quite understand. If Julius were injured, I would want to heal him right away.


    Glancing at Julius, I saw him sitting in silence, looking somewhat disgruntled, while he gulped down about half of his wine.


    I wondered if he was okay.


    I hope he''s good with alcohol.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 30 - Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 1

    Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 1A filled beer stein was placed in front of Roge.


    Despite usually sporting a smile, Roxy seemed rather curt this time, her "Here you go" coming off somewhat flat and perfunctory.


    Roge, however, didn''t seem to mind, and graciously thanked her before swiftly downing about half of the beer in one gulp. Given his imposing and muscular appearance, Roge seemed to have quite the tolerance for alcohol.


    "Ah, this hits the spot! Thought I was dead for a moment there. Booze tastes even better after a long fight." Roge exclaimed cheerfully.


    While I had chatted with Roge a few times when he visited my shop, this was the first time we had shared a meal together. We weren''t particularly close. Those who frequented Roxy''s shop and I were on nodding terms, but dining together didn''t exactly equate to friendship. Roge was one of those acquaintances.


    "It seems even Roge couldn''t beat the gatekeeper of the Gate to the Underworld. Those monsters are quite formidable."


    I was getting concerned about Julius''s sour mood, but since he hasn''t made any attempt to greet Roge, I spoke in as cheerful a tone as possible to avoid souring the atmosphere. Julius showed some consideration to Eliza as my client, but he was clearly directing quiet animosity towards Roge. He was like a disgruntled wolf marking his territory.


    "Yeah, they''re tough, really tough. I''m strong too, you know. ...I wanted to show you, Chloe-chan, my strength. But it''s kind of pathetic to be seen almost dying, isn''t it?"


    "It''s not like that at all. Your life is precious. I''m just glad you''re safe." S?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Chloe-chan... are you an angel...? Maybe you really are, Chloe-chan..."


    "Roge-san, are you drunk already?"


    He was only a couple of years older than me, but now Roge seemed like an emotionally expressive child now. I chuckled wryly as Roge stared at me with teary eyes.


    "I wanted to show Chloe-chan how I could easily take down those gate monsters just like Julius does, quickly and decisively."


    "That''s right. Julius-san is strong, Roge-san. Just the other day, he defeated the Mithra with a single blow. He''s incredibly strong and impressive."


    Julius was praised by Roge. It made me happy to see Roge, the leader of the mercenary group, acknowledge Julius, so I glanced at him.


    But when our eyes met, he let out a loud sigh.


    I wonder why he was so angry now. Was there something in our conversation that annoyed him? Perhaps it was too noisy or something.


    "Chloe-chan, I could take down a perceptive Mithra with a single blow too."


    "I-is that so? That''s impressive..."


    As Roge gently squeezed my hand, he looked at me with a pleading gaze. I felt puzzled by the warmth transmitted through our skin. There was an unsettling sensation where our skin touched. It wasn''t a pleasant feeling.


    I tried my best not to think about it. It was just a hand. Just a man''s hand.


    His body was large, and so was his hand. His skin was warm and tough, with prominent bones visible under his tanned skin. It seemed to be twice the size of my hand.


    As I observed his hands, something silver flashed past me, and a sharp object landed on the table in front of Roge with a swish. Sticking straight into the table was a silver knife.


    "Wow..."


    "Oh..."


    Our voices overlapped. It was hard to see clearly, but it was probably Julius who threw the knife. It was not okay to throw knives recklessly, and we shouldn''t damage Roxy''s shop table.


    Before I could say anything, Julius''s large hand covered my mouth.


    "Mmmph..."


    The words I intended to use to scold Julius turned into muffled sounds.


    "...Don''t touch her. She''s not used to men."


    I couldn''t believe what I was hearing, and my eyes widened.


    Julius said something that I couldn''t quite believe. He seemed to be standing up for me.


    Perhaps he noticed that I was uncomfortable with Roge touching me. What should I do? I felt incredibly happy, more than feeling sorry for damaging Roxy''s shop. But I also got overwhelmed because it felt like... Julius might actually like me.


    While covering my mouth, Julius pulled me away from Roge.


    "Don''t get so worked up. I didn''t come here to fight with you, Julius. I just wanted to talk... And then Chloe-chan looked so cute, I couldn''t help but hold her hands. I''m just being honest with myself." Roge shrugged his shoulders.


    Despite being targeted with a knife, he didn''t seem angry.


    "There''s nothing for me to talk to you about."


    Julius spoke in a tone I had never heard before. It was different from his usual self. It sounded cold.


    Roge pulled the knife out of the table and twirled it in his hand.


    The wine that was in Julius''s beer stein was gone. His cheeks were as pale as ever. It didn''t seem like he was drunk. In Julius''s arms, while still covering my mouth like a hostage, I felt a strange sensation that I hadn''t felt before.


    My chest felt tight. My heart was pounding so loudly, it felt like it was echoing in my ears.


    I shouldn''t be feeling this way. I knew it''d only make things harder if I started paying attention. Money might not betray you, but people and things couldn''t be trusted either, so I had always tried to keep my distance from others.


    Because if I were to lose something important again, it would be painful and unbearable, and I might not be able to recover from it.


    "I''m sorry. Ah, things never seem to go right. I came to recruit for the extermination squad for the gates of the other world, but it seems futile..."


    Roge sighed deeply.


    I heard words that I couldn''t ignore, so I pulled Julius''s hand away from my mouth.


    Still being held from behind by Julius as I stood up, I asked Roge.


    "Recruitment? For Julius-san?"


    "Yeah, that''s right. He''s so strong, I thought I could use his help. Lately, gates to the other world have been appearing all over the kingdom. The knights can''t handle them all, so even the mercenaries are getting requests. And adventurous types civilians too." Roge spoke in a more serious tone than before. "The guild has been notified of requests from the country to close the gates in exchange for a bounty. ...But, going to close the gates is dangerous, and there''s no shortage of soldiers getting killed by gate monsters even if they manage to reach the gates."


    "Is that so... But, it''s not possible. Julius-san is my important, um, work partner, and... It''s not safe for him to do dangerous things." I firmly rejected it.


    Today, we went to defeat the monsters at the Gate to the Underworld to help Roge and the others, but I didn''t want Julius to do such dangerous things regularly.


    After all, I bought Julius to expand the alchemy shop. To earn money. Not to help people.


    "Yeah, I guess so. Too bad... If I recruit Julius, that means you would have to come along too... I don''t want you to do such dangerous things, but I''ve never seen anyone who can use such powerful exorcism magic as you did before. Chloe-chan, you have potential."


    "Roge did mention using exorcism magic on the monsters at the gate, now that I think about it."


    I chose the exorcism magic for Julius-san''s spear because Roge suggested it.


    At that time, I was completely absorbed, but even though it was my first time casting it, the flow of magic felt like it had been ingrained in my body for a long time.


    "Yeah. Those monsters are said to be masses of resentment from the other world, and according to the research of the scholars from the Sacred Nation of Rashid, exorcism magic is said to be effective. Sacred magic and exorcism magic are slightly different. Sacred magic borrows power circulating in the world, but exorcism magic is said to borrow the power of angels residing in the heavenly realm of the other world... Angel Seraphim. You know how to use those, Chloe-chan, because you called out that name when chanting."


    "Just the chanting... And a bit about the heavenly realm. We learned about it in class."


    Not to brag, but when I was the Duke of Seigrit''s daughter, my grades in school were quite good. I smiled politely, rarely initiating conversations myself, and focused only on studying. That was the only thing I was good at.


    Roge nodded as if acknowledging he knew.


    "...Chloe-chan. I''m two years older than you, and I used to be in the Kingdom''s Knights. That means, during my time as a knight apprentice, I attended the same school as you. I''ve known you since then. The reason I quit the knights was because of you... It''s nothing, really... Anyway, I don''t know anyone else who can use exorcism magic as well as you, Chloe-chan. So if you ever change your mind, I want you to come to the mercenary group anytime. We''ll pay you properly and welcome you with open arms."


    "Is the conversation over? It''s disappointing that mercenaries would resort to relying on the power of women to kill such low-level monsters. It''s quite pathetic."


    "Say what you will. If the Gates to the Underworld aren''t closed and are left unchecked, countless monsters will emerge from there. Monsters attack civilian. We have to do something before they become too numerous to handle. From our perspective... No matter how much you may despise it, we want to borrow your power. From what I''ve seen, he only listens to you, Chloe-chan. If that''s the case, then I want to borrow his power too. That''s all there is to it."


    "...Is there really a human in this world worth protecting from monsters?" Julius muttered.


    Roge wore an expression that seemed deeply wounded. I felt a thorn pierce my heart as well.


    "Roxy-san, thank you for the meal. Um, I''m sorry about the table, I''ll compensate for it!" Before being dragged out by Julius, I hurriedly spoke to Roxy.


    "It''s okay, Chloe-chan. This place only attracts hot-headed men, so tables and chairs often get damaged. Besides, you did quite well. Keep protecting Chloe-chan like that,


    Prince Charming."


    Roxy smiled softly and gracefully waved her hand, bidding us goodbye.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 31 - Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 2

    Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 2Julius was holding my hand. When Roge grabbed my hand, it felt eerie, but being held by Julius''s firm and rugged yet somehow delicate hand didn''t feel unpleasant. On the contrary, it was very reassuring.


    I desperately wanted to avert my eyes from the emotions welling up in my chest.


    It''s not good. It might bother Julius.


    Repeating excuses in my mind, I denied my feelings. Still, I didn''t want to let go of the connected hand.


    "...Julius-san, please wait, you''re walking too fast."


    Julius''s walking pace was faster than mine, and I usually ended up chasing after him, but now, because our hands were linked, I felt like I was about to stumble. Passing by several shops still illuminated, we finally stopped in front of the fountain in the main square.


    With Julius''s hand still grasped in mine, I regulated my breathing.


    It wasn''t not good to walk briskly after eating. It was hard to breathe but it might have been good exercise.


    The sky above the dark square was twinkling with shining stars, and a round moon shone as if it had been cut out from the sun itself.


    The faint sound of the fountain constantly spouting water echoed softly. The moonlight reflecting on the rippling water surface seemed to flicker as if there were another sky within the water.


    Julius''s golden hair also shone in the moonlight. I recalled what Roge said about the Seraphim, the archangels who are said to govern the celestial realm within the otherworld. I think they must have had a beautiful appearance like Julius''s.


    "Um, thank you... for helping me when I was troubled by Roge-san touching my hands."


    Julius, who had stopped, didn''t try to let go of my hand.


    With my other hand, I timidly touched Julius''s linked hand, as if enveloping it.


    "Was it bothersome?"


    Julius said quietly.


    His clear blue eye, like the sky in which Helios enjoyed freedom, and the red artificial eye based on the jewel I made, locked with mine. I wish I had made them both the same color.


    Julius''s blue eye was already quite beautiful, so I felt like I added something unnecessary. At the same time, I couldn''t help but feel incredibly happy that the eyes I made were fitted into Julius''s body.


    To think such a thing... What was wrong with me today?


    I haven''t had any alcohol, but maybe I was affected by the atmosphere.


    "Bothersome...? No, I was happy." I shook my head.


    Would I feel relieved if I said what''s been inside me all this time to someone?


    Would the tightness in my chest, the discomfort, be relieved?


    I wasn''t... Chloe-chan, the cute alchemist.


    I was still the same cowardly Chloe from long ago.


    A liar, pretending to be someone else.


    Always putting on a smile.


    Completely different from Julius, who was always strong.


    That''s why I couldn''t look at Julius properly.


    My eyes hurt. For some reason, I felt like crying. It seemed like I couldn''t control my emotions well.


    "...Julius-san, I... I''m not good with men."


    "I know. ...I can tell just by looking at you."


    Indeed, Julius must have known, and that was why he helped me.


    If I let my guard down, I felt like I might start crying.


    "But, Julius-san, you''re the only one I''m not afraid of. Being touched by you, being together with you, it''s not scary. I''m okay with you."


    "You''re a fool. And too kind-hearted on top of that... I''m a killer. I''m not as good of a person as you think."


    Julius said in a flat voice, as if confirming an obvious fact.


    I gripped Julius''s hand with both of mine tightly.


    "Even if you have killed someone, there are still plenty of scary people out there... Three years ago, I was suddenly thrown into prison... and then, I was abandoned in the back alleys of the capital. ...The soldier who rescued me from prison, and then some other men, they... they..."


    "Chloe. Stay silent."


    I was told sternly by Julius, and I closed my mouth.


    "No, huh...? You don''t want to hear it, right...?"


    I tried to let go of Julius''s hand.


    Yeah, that was right, you don''t want to hear it. It was an unpleasant story. Even if you hear it, it won''t be enjoyable, it''ll just make you feel sick.


    Wanting to talk, wanting someone to listen, was just selfish, for my own satisfaction, because I wanted to lighten my heart---selfish.


    I had to be the usual cheerful Chloe, didn''t I?


    I bought Julius as the cute alchemist Chloe. So, revealing such a story now would just be a bother.


    Julius pulled my hand back as I tried to let go.


    Then, as if protecting me from all enemies, he embraced my body. His grip washed strong and a bit painful, but warm and very reassuring.


    "...No, that''s not it. It''s not like that... Living with a facade is difficult too. You''re doing well. That''s why you don''t need to tell everything."


    "Why... Why are you so kind? It''s too cunning... cunning, isn''t it?"


    Being in his arms, my facade was completely useless, and I couldn''t be my usual cheery self anymore.


    I ended up wanting to rely on him. Reverting to my weak self. I struggled to break free, but there was a difference in strength, and my resistance was futile.


    While still firmly held, I relaxed my tense body, listening to the regular rhythm of Julius-san''s heartbeat.


    "...Julius-san. If it''s not too much to ask, I want you to listen... I was scared, but my master, Natalia-san, rescued me right away, so I didn''t suffer much. But the memory of that time still lingers... No one helped me, and the men were cruel and scary. Even though Natalia-san saved me when nothing happened, it seems foolish, doesn''t it?"


    "...What happened to those guys?"


    "I don''t know. At that time, Natalia-san came flying on her broom and yelled, ''Scatter, you fools!'' in a loud voice... and they really scattered. Just from yelling loudly. I couldn''t even speak properly..."


    Because I was pressing my face against Julius''s black clothes, my vision  was enveloped in darkness. His firm arms and body didn''t scare me.


    The slightly low and sweet voice of Julius, who usually spinned nothing but sarcasm, felt comforting.


    For the first time, I was able to talk about what happened back then to someone. Earlier, no matter who asked, I would have laughed it off and said, "I was dumped in the alley," but I was so scared that I couldn''t even talk about it..


    "Chloe... If you wish, I''ll find them all and kill them." Julius was as ruthless as ever.


    I remembered him saying something similar on the day I brought him from the slave arena. In Julius''s arms, I let out a small laugh. With the laughter, my body trembled, and tears flowed from the corners of my eyes. S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you... I''m fine now. But it''s no good, right? Even though I think I''ve become strong and have to live alone, sometimes I revert to my old self... Weak and useless, right?"


    "Is it wrong for you to be weak? ...Being strong isn''t always right."


    "Is that so...? Aren''t you disgusted by me being like this, relying on you and complaining?"


    Julius disliked crying women, didn''t he? I thought he disliked troublesome women too. Actually, he just disliked noisy people.


    Yet, he was so kind to me like this, so it felt cunning, didn''t it?


    "Chloe, I am strong. Therefore, it''s fine for you to be weak."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "...Whether you''re weak or strong doesn''t matter to me. I''m your slave. As long as there''s a contract, I''ll obey you. That''s all."


    "...Yeah. That''s right. ...Thank you."


    I gently pulled away from Julius.


    It seemed like I misunderstood everything. Julius was bought by me. He was only with me because of the contract.


    Still, I wished he wouldn''t be kind to me. I might start liking him. I might start feeling like I was special. That was scary. I was cowardly, always thinking about losing things and being afraid.


    There was no guarantee that we''d always be together, and I was taking away Julius''s freedom.


    So, it was no good after all.


    I tried to laugh as usual. I thought I''d joke, saying, "Julius-san is kind because he''s drunk," but tears overflowed from the corners of my eyes and fell.


    "Chloe..."


    Gently, his hand touched my cheek. Julius-san''s fingertips wiped away the tears running down my face.


    I rubbed my cheeks vigorously with both hands and put on the usual smile as much as possible.


    "Let''s go home, Julius-san. Look, the moon is directly above us, it''s already midnight... Tomorrow... tomorrow, right? Or is it already today? When morning comes, I''ll use the finest materials I obtained to create an amazing alchemical item and sell it..."


    "Chloe... Stay silent."


    Julius took my hand again.


    I thought he was going to embrace me, but he made me hide behind him.


    At the same time, the scattered footsteps of several people echoed in the dark square.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 32 - Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 3

    Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 3Amidst the darkness of the night, we were surrounded by figures clad in all-black attire from head to toe. They appeared as black shadows under the moonlight, but their attire had openings only for their eyes, each of them holding what looked like short daggers.


    The faint light illuminated the daggers, gleaming dully.


    There seemed to be at least five of them. The impression they gave off was clearly that of assassins targeting us.


    "...Don''t move, Chloe."


    Julius said, gripping the hilt of his sword. Wide-eyed, I hastily called out to Julius.


    "Julius-san, please... don''t kill them."


    "Why? Are you asking me to show mercy?" s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s not that... it''s not that, but it''s not right."


    Though they appeared to be assassins, it might not be the case. Robert had mentioned that there were many who harbored hatred towards Julius in the kingdom.


    Even the cheerful and outgoing Roge had openly admitted, "Even if we hate him, we need his power." He would casually mention how soldiers'' heads would roll on the battlefield every time Julius and Helios arrived, but among them might have been Roge''s friends, acquaintances, or perhaps even someone important.


    If that''s the case, it would be reasonable to assume that the assassins were targeting Julius. However, they might not be assassins at all; merely townsfolk who harbored resentment towards Julius, concealed within their clothing.


    Killing them would be wrong.


    The war was over, and Julius no longer needed to kill anyone. At least, as long as I was Julius''s master, there was no need for such actions anymore.


    "It can''t be helped."


    For Julius, who even defeated the gatekeeper of the Underworld, mere humans were not enemies.


    "...I''ve been ordered to kill. Sorry about this."


    One of the shadows said.


    With their voice, the black figures lunged forward, but Julius effortlessly dispatched them one by one with his sword still sheathed, sinking them into the ground.


    It happened in the blink of an eye. The difference in strength was clear, and Julius was out of reach even for the assassins'' dagger tips.


    Julius kicked one of the fallen assailants, causing them to roll onto their back.


    Then, he pointed the sheathed tip of his sword towards the only exposed eyes beneath the cloth.


    "You''re too feeble for assassins. I don''t intend to kill you. You must have another purpose. Who gave the order?"


    "I can''t say... Sorry... Infiltrate, dissolve."


    As the assassin chanted a short incantation, their body began to dissolve into the ground.


    It was an unfamiliar magic. As the man vanished, the others who had fallen scrambled away with a clatter.


    It was such an anticlimactic and noisy end that it made one wonder what it was all about. Julius looked down at the disappearing ground with a troubled expression.


    "...Julius-san, thank you. Are you injured?"


    I timidly asked from behind Julius, who had been watching.


    "Nah. They weren''t serious about killing. ...I thought they might be the ones who hate me, but I didn''t sense any murderous intent."


    "It''s getting cold, and there''s no point in worrying about it when we''re sleep-deprived, so let''s go home?"


    I felt a sticky, unpleasant premonition creeping over me, but I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. Julius nodded without saying anything further.


    If I could sense a bad feeling, then Julius must have been feeling something even more intense, I thought.


    Even after changing into his night clothes and returning to the room, he sat by the bedside for a while, deep in thought with a troubled expression. It was quite unusual for Julius, who usually didn''t seem to fret much and would fall asleep quickly on the bed he had taken from me.


    I usually would have laid down on the sofa as usual, but since Julius seemed to still be awake, I decided to sit next to him by the bedside.


    He didn''t seem particularly bothered by my presence. It would be strange to worry about being disliked since he was sitting on my bed, but still.


    The clock showed eleven o''clock in the evening. It was about time for Roxy-san''s shop to close. I had thought it was much later, but perhaps it wasn''t that late since we had left early.


    For me, who usually fell asleep as soon as it got dark, staying up late like this was unusual. Outside the window with the curtains open, I could see the square with the fountain. There didn''t seem to be anyone watching us.


    Since I was already planning to go to bed, I turned off the lamp.


    In the darkness, Julius''s golden hair faintly gleamed in the moonlight streaming through the window.


    "...Chloe... Were you acquainted with that man named Roge for a long time?"


    Julius spoke, his gaze fixed outside the window. I hadn''t expected him to bring up Roge, so I hesitated for a moment.


    "Um, well... No, not really. Roge said he attended the same academy as me, but I was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Seigrit, and Roge was a student in the knight''s department. I don''t know much about that noble family Gregorio. The knight''s department accepts children from knightly families, as well as commoners who pass the exam, so... I didn''t know Roge."


    "I see... Chloe, I want to hear your story. Listening to your voice somewhat clears my mind. I feel restless. There''s something bothering me... Can I hear about your past?"


    "Even though you always complain about how noisy I am."


    "I do think you talk enough."


    "But... you really want to hear my voice?"


    "Yes."


    I muttered to myself in my mind, finding it odd.


    Feeling tired and a bit sleepy, I lay down on the bed with a thud.


    With only Julius''s back in my line of sight, I felt somewhat relieved. Today had been too eventful, and my emotions were still in array.


    If I thought about each thing individually, I might realize things I shouldn''t, so, as Julius suggested, I focused on recalling my past self.


    It had been a while since I felt the sensation of the bed. It felt soft against my back. It was definitely different from the sofa.


    "...Would you prefer a long story or a short one?"


    "A long one."


    "You might end up not being able to sleep."


    "I don''t mind."


    Julius replied with short words. He was surprisingly straightforward today. Usually, he''d sprinkle a couple of sarcastic remarks in between his answers.


    "I... was born as the eldest daughter of the Seigrit Duke''s family. It was quite ordinary, I think. I had a beautiful and kind mother with the same hair and eye color as me. Her name was Celestia. Celestia Seigrit. She was beautiful, kind, and fragile... She taught me not to eat after nine o''clock at night, and she also told me not to watch scary things. She said to run away from scary things."


    "What were you scared of?"


    "I''m not sure, but... it was probably something from when I was a child. I was timid, so I used to get scared of things like dark hallways, footsteps, or creaking noises in the house... I''d end up crawling into my mother''s bed. She would stroke me and tell me not to look at scary things. My father scolded me several times for going to her side because she was weak... even though he was such a quiet person, I felt like he loved my mother. It''s strange... I wonder why..."


    Sharing my past like this, speaking to someone about it for the first time, felt strange.


    I tried not to think about it as much as possible. It only brought pain to dwell on it, so I avoided it. But speaking it out loud, maybe because Julius was listening quietly, made me feel uneasy.


    "Why... did he... cheat? My father was always at home, and he seemed to work from there too. He rarely went out, especially because my mother wasn''t well... I feel like he was often in her room. They used to talk a lot. He didn''t talk much to me, though... Julius, doesn''t that imply they loved each other?"


    "I wonder... From what you''ve told me, they didn''t seem to have a bad relationship at least. As for me... I don''t remember much about my parents either. At least, I wasn''t deprived, and everything seemed normal. But in the end, they were accused of betrayal and executed, so  childhood memories are vague."


    Julius seemed to be recalling his past too.


    He spoke slowly, in fragments.


    Though he went to war at the age of fifteen, Julius seemed to have lived happily as the heir to the ducal family, taking care of Helios before that.


    Julius''s parents, like mine, seemed similar. It was comforting to think that Julius had also experienced happy times. Even though he had spent time in a different country, we somehow felt alike. Though Julius must have gone through much harder times than me.


    "Yeah... That''s right... So, when I was thirteen, my mother passed away due to an illness. I''m not sure what illness it was... My father seemed to forget about me, and he appeared to be shutting himself away alone... And then, my stepmother, Lizaria-san, and Aliza-chan came to our house."


    "Cyril married, your sister, right?"


    "Yes. I don''t know much about them. I was surprised to learn that Aliza-chan, who is only a year younger than me, is my sister... At first, I didn''t really understand... My father started favoring Aliza-chan and began scolding me more often... Aliza-chan was energetic, cheerful, and cute, so maybe he got frustrated seeing me being timid and unable to express my opinions properly."


    "You went to that ''academy'' afterward?"


    "Yes, Astoria Royal Academy. It''s still there, east of the capital. It''s like a big city. It''s a place for noble children, and I stayed in the dormitory. I remember feeling relieved to be away from the Seigritte family... Aliza-chan, being just a year younger, started attending the academy soon after. While you were touring battlefields, we were peacefully studying at the academy, even though it was during the war."


    "The central empire is similar... My position was considered heretical. So... Cyril, he was your fianc¨¦, wasn''t he?"


    It''s unusual for Julius to inquire so much about Cyril. Even though he seemed uninterested.


    I recalled Cyril. Cyril Astoria. He was only a year older than me, so he must still be twenty-one. Younger than Roge. Even younger than Julius.  He married Aliza and ascended the throne. I haven''t seen him in a while, and I didn''t even want to see him... I wondered if he was doing well...


    Well, I''m not interested, and I don''t care either way.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 33 - Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 4

    Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 4The engagement between Cyril and me, was decided when I was ten years old. Several noble daughters were gathered in the royal castle''s garden to greet in order to decide the fianc¨¦e of the crown prince.


    At that time, my mother was already feeling unwell, so I think my father took me to the royal castle. It had been ten years, so my memories are faint, but I remembered being gently rocked in a carriage with my father. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    My father remained as taciturn as ever, and I cowered in fear of him.


    I wanted to believe he didn''t dislike me, but I wasn''t so sure.


    That day, we finished only with greetings and introductions with Cyril and returned to the ducal residence. I couldn''t exchange more than greetings with him. I was nervous and not the type to approach Cyril first.


    Other children surrounded Cyril and eagerly talked to him, though.


    My father didn''t particularly scold me for that. Then, a few days later, a letter came from the royal family saying I had been chosen as the fianc¨¦e.


    I felt incredulous. But considering our status and age, it seemed reasonable.


    My mother stroked my bewildered hair and said, "Cyril-sama is a prince. Princes are meant to protect princesses. Chloe is my princess. So, everything will be fine," in a singing tone.


    My mother''s voice was light like a spring breeze, always with a mysterious resonance as if humming a song.


    I liked my mother''s voice.


    Just as Julius seemed to like my voice, I felt calm listening to my mother''s voice.


    "I and Cyril-sama, well... how should I put it... There wasn''t any passionate love or affection, I feel. Just a normal engagement... Though I''m not even sure what a ''normal'' engagement is. We exchanged letters seasonally, and gifts on birthdays, that was about it. The duchy where the capital and the ducal residence are located is a bit far apart, so unless he intended to come to see me, we could go without meeting me for a long time."


    "...And you? What about your feelings for Cyril?"


    "Feelings like liking or loving... I don''t really understand them. Since Aliza-chan came when I was thirteen, I''ve always been frightened. Always thinking when I''d lose my place... my place to belong. Trying not to get in my father''s or Lizaria-san''s or Aliza-chan''s way, always putting on a fake smile, saying ''Yes'' or ''I see,'' nothing more. ...Even though there wasn''t a place for me to belong from the start. It was foolish."


    I sighed and chuckled a little.


    Julius glanced back at me. Looking at me with the moonlight behind him, Julius seemed like a messenger descended from the sky. It felt somewhat painful in my chest. I couldn''t bear to look at Julius''s face and rolled over.


    "Even at school, I was pretty much the same. Not really ''friends''... no, not at all. Just trying not to stand out among the group of noble female students in my grade. Desperately trying to cover up, saying ''I''m harmless.'' Scared of losing my place... But in the end, I never had a place wherever I went."


    "I see."


    I thought he might say something mocking or exasperated, but Julius only gave a short reply. There was neither a mocking tone nor a condescending one. Yet, there was no sympathy or pity either. It sounded like he was accepting the facts calmly.


    "Cyril-sama did talk to me at school, but... He was more into things like swordsmanship and horsemanship, more masculine pursuits, so it seems he went on long rides on days off. I don''t have any memories of spending time together. I guess I was just seen as an engagement partner who didn''t complain and was obedient. It might be the proper way for noblewomen, I suppose."


    "I see. In any case, school seems like a troublesome place. ...I''d rather be on the battlefield."


    "It doesn''t seem like something suited for you, Julius-san. I can''t imagine you going to school."


    "Isn''t there a certain level of education already completed by the age of ten without the need to go to such a place?"


    "What we learn at school is more advanced than basic education, I suppose... And then, things like history, literature, things that you might think aren''t useful for you, Julius-san. Also, learning manners and etiquette among nobles, expanding connections, I guess. That''s what those three years were like."


    "What a waste."


    "If you don''t do wasteful things, wouldn''t you get bored with too much time on your hands?"


    I chuckled, placing a hand over my mouth at Julius''s typical response.


    It was reassuring that he spoke to me as usual, as if he had forgotten about my teary face from earlier. I hoped he had indeed forgotten. I wanted to forget about feeling pathetic and crying, just for today.


    "When Aliza-chan entered school... she became fast friends with Cyril-sama. She''s such an energetic girl, so it seems they went on long rides together. Aliza-chan had just become a noble, so she probably wanted to stay close to him as much as possible. I remained the same as always. Always quiet. ...I was probably disliked by Aliza-chan. ...Eventually, rumors spread that I was being mean to her ...Still, I kept silent."


    "That''s nonsense. And foolish."


    "Yeah, looking back now, it seems incredibly foolish. ...But at the time, my family and school were my whole world. I was scared. Scared of losing my place... of confronting something. My mother told me to run away from scary things, but I guess I ran too much."


    "I''m not blaming you. The foolish one is your fianc¨¦... It should be evident after a little conversation that you''re a kind-hearted person. People don''t change. You were foolishly kind back then too. I mean to say that your fianc¨¦ can''t even understand that, is foolish... I always seem to be short of words."


    There was a slightly puzzled tone in Julius''s words.


    It seemed like he was explaining the meaning of his words, worrying that he might have hurt me. He was kind, wasn''t he? Being treated kindly made me want to cry again, so I wished he would stop.


    "Thank you. After that, as I mentioned, I was abandoned in the capital and Natalia-san took me in. Natalia-san was a skilled mage and alchemist. She had black hair and pale pink eyes, and she was in her thirties. We lived together for about a month, and she taught me the basics of alchemy. I only knew Natalia-san''s name, and then, one day, she suddenly disappeared."


    "Did the people of the capital forgive you, a sinful Seigrit, eventually?"


    "At first, I was disliked. Even when I went on errands as Natalia-san asked, nobody would sell me anything, and I was being harassed. ...But not everyone was bad. Julius-san, you were questioning earlier if there are humans worth protecting from monsters... "


    "Yeah, I said that."


    "But, Julius-san, humans aren''t all that bad. Robert-san talked to me the same way as everyone else from the beginning and treated me equally. Roxy-san invited me in when I was in tatters and gave me food to eat. Roge-san... he came to me first when he opened his shop, asking for weapons to be strengthened."


    "...So, three years."


    "Yes. Three years. In the third year, I bought you. ...I wanted to become rich so, I wanted someone as strong as you for that purpose, just a passing thought. ...I''m sorry. To buy you for such a reason, I..."


    As I said it, it felt incredibly shallow --- like I was a terrible person.


    Julius reached out to me, gently stroking my hair as if touching something very precious. It felt nice, but it also made me a little nervous.


    But it wasn''t unpleasant.


    "I''m glad to have been bought by you. ...I feel like I''ve returned to being human after a long time, it''s a strange feeling. ...Chloe, I''m here now. I''m strong, so even if you''re a little weak, I can protect you. ...So, just be yourself."


    "Julius-san... Thank you. Let''s expand the alchemy shop together. We''ll choose a bride for Helios-kun, raise eggs... yeah, it''ll definitely be fun, Julius-san."


    Thinking about a bright and cheerful future made my heart feel lighter. The hand stroking my hair felt comforting, and a natural smile appeared on my lips.


    I probably like Julius.


    Admitting it is scary, but feeling Julius''s warmth, my heart raced uncontrollably.


    But if we could stay like this, together, just as we were now, then that''s enough.


    I''m scared of losing him someday. It''s terrifying to ask for more. Until the day of our inevitable parting comes, if we can laugh and be together, that''s enough.


    If Julius felt even a little bit of happiness with me, then that was enough. Julius laid down on the bed, enveloping me in his arms.


    I widened my eyes in surprise, my body tensing up like a stick.


    "What''s wrong... Is today the day we sleep together? This is indeed my bed, but this is a bit embarrassing, Julius-san. What''s wrong, are you drunk after all?"


    I panicked and blurted out things I didn''t fully understand. It wasn''t a joke, and my mind wasn''t functioning properly. Julius didn''t respond to my words, but tightened his embrace, holding me firmly in his arms.


    I pressed my lips together, trying to avoid letting out a foolish voice in my confusion.


    "Chloe... I''ll protect you. No matter what."


    "You really seem like a prince. I''m counting on you."


    "...Now, sleep. Goodnight, Chloe."


    Julius''s voice was so gentle that I stopped debating whether to escape and simply relaxed my body. Perhaps today he wants to sleep with me as a pillow.


    Let''s just leave it at that.


    Julius''s body was warm, and being together with him felt comforting.


    So I replied, "Goodnight." That usual farewell felt like something special tonight, something wonderful.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 34 - Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 5

    The sheets on the bed where my mother rested were milky white, and my mother, with loosely braided peach-colored golden hair like mine, hanging down beside her neck, sat up and smiled warmly when I entered the room.Thin lace curtains adorned the windows, and on the decorative table beneath the window sat a vase. Every day, fresh flowers were arranged in the vase.


    "Can I pick flowers for your vase too?" I asked my mother, wanting to please her.


    My mother smiled, her eyebrows slightly furrowed in concern.


    "That would make me happy, Chloe. ...But you see, choosing flowers for the vase is your father''s only enjoyment. So, it would be a pity to take that away from him. Shall we prepare another small vase for you?"


    My mother spoke in her usual singing voice.


    "Father is always angry."


    I wasn''t fond of my father. He spoke little, and when he did, it was usually just to say "Don''t go to Celestia''s room."


    "Your father isn''t good with words. ...But both your father and I love you, Chloe. ...Everything will be alright. I am always watching over you."


    "But mother, you''re ill and can''t leave the room, right? How do you watch over me then?"


    "That''s right. But...The sky is vast and connected everywhere. I watch over you from the sky."


    "From the sky? Your eyes are in the sky?"


    "Yes, that''s right. Your mother''s eyes are connected to the sky. Amazing, isn''t it?"


    My mother''s delicate hand stroked my hair. It tickled, and I squinted my eyes.


    "Chloe, you are special. You''re my precious princess. You''re never alone. Just like I have your father, you will have a prince... Someday, he will surely appear."


    "...Is the prince you''re talking about Cyril?"


    "Maybe it''s Cyril, or maybe not. We don''t know about the future. The future is full of hope... Nothing is decided."


    Sitting at the edge of my mother''s bed, I murmured, "I see," while gazing at my younger self listening to my mother''s voice.


    How long has it been since I had a happy dream? Dreams used to be nothing but unpleasant. In the dream, I felt like my mother was watching over me and my younger self from somewhere high in the room.


    "Chloe, you''ll be fine."


    "Mother...!"


    I reached out to my mother in the dream. My mother smiled beautifully. It was a gentle, fleeting, and very poignant smile. s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I opened my eyes to the brightness of the morning. My head was still fuzzy due to staying up quite late last night. I had been alone for so long that it was unusual for me to stay up talking with someone until midnight.


    I had been with Natalia for a while, but we had separate rooms, and Natalia usually just slept lazily unless she had something to instruct me or teach me about alchemy. So, there wasn''t much to talk about.


    Since being with Julius, I felt like I exchanged more words than I had in my entire life.


    Julius says I talk ''a lot'', but I wasn''t not really that talkative. It was necessary when running the shop to engage in daily conversations and customer service, but I had never really opened up about myself.


    Opening up about myself was difficult, but it felt like something dark and heavy that I had been harboring inside was gradually dissipating. I could feel my heart becoming lighter.


    My mother appeared in today''s dream. Perhaps I was able to have a happy dream because I talked a lot with Julius yesterday. And... yesterday, Julius hugged me. It was embarrassing but also heartwarming.


    Remembering falling asleep in Julius''s embrace, I fully awakened and sat up.


    Julius, who should have been sleeping next to me, was already dressed and looking out the window.


    It was rare for him to wake up without me saying something like "Good morning, "It is time to wake up" or "Breakfast is ready."


    He wore Ariadne''s coat today, probably because his favorite black robe was torn and taken away. Ariadne''s coat was light, durable, and could be machine-washed. Plus, the fabric had self-repairing properties, so it was suitable for everyday wear. It was quite expensive, though. I wondered if he was planning to go somewhere to fight, as he was wearing a belt with the sword hilt peeking out of the cover.


    Although I had planned to make new alchemical items with the rare materials I acquired yesterday, there was no plan for monster hunting today.


    "Good morning, Julius-san."


    "Chloe, you''re up... Hurry up and get changed."


    "What''s wrong? Did something happen?"


    I got up from the bed and quickly changed into my usual apron dress.


    Today, I chose red. Black didn''t have a good reputation, blue was okay, but red was considered auspicious by the townsfolk.


    I tidied my hair and put on a red bandana.


    Since I wore the same clothes every day, my change of clothes was quick. I was ready in a matter of minutes.


    "What''s going on outside, Julius-san?"


    After finishing changing, I stood next to Julius and looked out the window.


    In front of the fountain in the square outside the window, there was a carriage with the royal crest. The royal crest resembled a creature with two horns, much like the skeletal beast with the slave mark behind Julius''s neck, but fleshed out.


    It resembled the sacred beast of the Astoria Kingdom, similar to a sheep but not quite the same. I remembered from my school lessons that it became the royal crest due to the legend that the gods were shepherds.


    "It''s the royal carriage... What could be happening so early in the morning?"


    "Chloe, we need to flee... If we go to the Sacred Nation of Rashid, no one there will know about us."


    "Why do we need to flee again? I haven''t done anything, and you''re already free, aren''t you? Just because the royal carriage is parked here doesn''t mean it has anything to do with us."


    "Are you even more foolish than usual due to lack of sleep, Chloe? It''s obvious... it''s either you or me they''re after."


    Yesterday he was so gentle, but now Julius was back to his usual sharpness.


    I couldn''t imagine Julius suddenly becoming sweet and gentle with me.


    "Anyway, let''s see what''s happening? I''m sure it''s fine. We''re just living our lives normally, they won''t come to arrest us. I haven''t seen Cyril or Aliza in three years, you know? Besides, I don''t want to run away anymore."


    "Yeah..."


    It''s reassuring that Julius was worried about me, but this shop was something Natalia left for me. I didn''t know where Natalia went now, but until she came back, I felt obligated to protect it.


    Natalia helped me when I was a stranger to her, so I had to repay that kindness.


    And the people in the town, like Robert and Roxy, were so kind, and even Roge was a good customer, albeit a bit eccentric. And there were many others who talked to me nicely.


    Despite everything that had happened, right now the shop and the town felt so comfortable. And Julius was here with me too.Just because the royal carriage came, I didn''t want to abandon everything and run away.


    But... from now on.


    Genius alchemist Chloe doesn''t cower and runs away from threats.


    I saw some soldiers getting out of the royal carriage. They were heading straight towards my shop, and I could hear the sound of them knocking on the door.


    "Chloe-chan, we have customers."


    The sweet voice of Hime-chan, floating in the cage in front of the shop, echoed in my head.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 35 - Capture, Detainment, and Temporary Farewell 1

    I descended the stairs and opened the door of the shop.I had intended for Julius to wait in the room, but since he insisted on coming along, I reluctantly agreed. Just to be safe, I carried a satchel over my shoulder, ensuring that I could retrieve alchemical items at any time. Just in case.


    Standing at the entrance of the shop were three soldiers.


    They wore the uniforms of the Royal Knights. With blue and gray fabric adorned with the golden crest of the royal family, their identities were unmistakable.


    Even the soldier who had abandoned me in the back alleys of the capital three years ago wore the uniform of the knight order. So, I wasn''t particularly fond of the Royal Knights. I made it a point to avoid them as much as possible whenever I saw them in town.


    Though it made me nervous to speak, Julius being with me was reassuring enough.


    "Good morning, members of the Knight Order. How may I assist you?" With a smile, I inquired.


    The older man at the front looked between Julius standing behind me and my face before speaking.


    "You''re Chloe Seigrit."


    "Yes, that''s correct."


    His manner was rather impudent.


    Since the Knight Order was directly under the royal family, it wasn''t uncommon for its members to be somewhat arrogant. They were polite to nobles but authoritative with commoners. While not all knights were like that, many were indeed.


    "Was it true that you were accompanying the Black Prince Julius, an enemy of the kingdom? ... Chloe, we''ll have you come with us to the royal castle."


    I wasn''t about to be addressed so familiarly by strangers.


    While silently complaining in my mind, I made sure to keep a smile on my face.


    It seemed they had business with me rather than Julius.


    "Why? Please explain the reason for taking me to the castle."


    I asked, not understanding why I was being taken there. Julius was purchased from the slave fighting arena through proper channels, and there was a contract to prove it. There was no fault on our part to warrant any complaints.


    I stood as tall as I could, placing my hand on my hip and arching my chest, trying to maintain a dignified posture.


    "Yesterday, there was a report from Lord Coldman that his private soldiers were killed. It seems you had a dispute with their eldest daughter Eliza-sama. Were you holding a grudge? Did you order Julius to attack Eliza-sama, leading to the killing of my soldiers?" The soldier said swiftly.


    I recalled last night''s events.


    We were attacked by several people right in the square, and Julius took them down for us. No one was killed.


    Were those private soldiers of the Coldman family? Eliza wasn''t there, and the accusation that we orchestrated an attack on her and ordered the killing of soldiers was simply absurd.


    "We didn''t do anything like that; we were the ones who were attacked." Surely, they would understand once I explained.


    I glanced up at Julius. He furrowed his brow, wearing a troubled expression.


    "We have testimony from Eliza-sama. And several people witnessed Julius wielding his sword in the square last night, where he was seen arguing with Eliza-sama. ... Fragments of a rare mineral sword were found near the body dumped in the back alleys of the city. It''s called the ''Everlasting Diamond.'' Only someone like Julius would possess such a sword."


    "So? it''s not true. We were the ones attacked, and Julius-san didn''t draw his sword. No one was killed, I swear." Unpleasant sweat trickled down my spine.


    Even when I was imprisoned three years ago, no one listened to me even now.


    The royal family and the Knight Order were the authorities. I was just Chloe Seigrit, the daughter of a criminal. So, the despicable feeling of futility crept up inside me, telling me that it was pointless to say anything.


    But things were different now from three years ago. I had things to protect: my alchemy shop, Julius-san, and myself.


    With that in mind, I rallied myself.


    "You may not know how many soldiers of the kingdom that man Julius has killed. Do you intend to seek revenge against the royal family by acquiring such a madman? You can explain yourself at the castle. His Highness Cyril is calling for you."


    "Sir Cyril...?"


    "Hurry up. Julius is dangerous, so until your fate is decided, you''ll be in the dungeon. ...Considering you killed the private soldiers of Coldman Trading Company, who have strong ties to the royal family, you''ll likely face execution this time."


    "...Julius-san."


    Ah, I''m such a fool. I should have just followed Julius and fled. The world was vast, and there were plenty of cities outside the capital, I thought.


    With all my might, I pushed Julius, who seemed ready to draw his sword, with both hands, back into the room.


    "Hold him back, Hime-chan!"


    "Got it, Chloe-chan."


    I commanded the Chaos Gaze floating in the birdcage at the storefront.


    Hime-chan responded with a delicate voice and emitted a heat ray from the red eye in the center of her black body. The soldiers'' feet scorched, emitting white smoke. Ignoring the angry shouts, I slammed the door shut in front of the soldiers trying to enter the shop and locked it.


    This was just buying time. The door would be broken down soon enough.


    "What are you waiting for, Chloe? ...Just take them all down and escape. With Helios, no one can catch us." Julius said impatiently.


    I approached Julius and placed my hand on the small lock attached to the black collar around his neck.


    "Julius-san... I''m sorry."


    "No need to apologize. Let''s go out through the window."


    Julius tried to grab my hand. I shook my head and refused. Escaping might be the right choice. But how long could we keep running?


    I haven''t done anything wrong. Julius fought in the war because he was ordered to. He was just a soldier. That was all. I had endured enough pain and suffering.


    I didn''t want to suffer anymore. I wanted to prove my righteousness and live proudly.


    Honestly, I wanted to stay with Julius forever.


    But Julius belonged in freedom. The free sky, flying with Helios, suited him so well.


    "In the name of Chloe Seigrit, I command: you don''t need to be by my side, and don''t do anything I dislike. ...In other words, I''m okay, so please don''t come to rescue me."


    I infused magic into the magic lock.


    I really wanted to remove it, but Julius might come to rescue me if I did.


    Julius obeyed my command, but I think he was someone who wouldn''t hesitate to kill if it served his purpose. Perhaps he had just gotten used to it.


    But deep down, I believe flying in the sky with Helios is the only thing Julius truly desired, and I didn''t want to take that away from him.


    I don''t want to fight anyone anymore.


    "Chloe, this fool...!"


    "Julius-san, you are free. I''ll be fine because I''m... Chloe, the kingdom''s strongest alchemist!"


    As Julius-san reached out to me, I took a step back and moved away. Quickly, I retrieved what I needed from the satchel hanging from my shoulder. S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fly as far as you can. ...I had fun. Thank you so much!"


    What I took out was a palm-sized white sphere.


    I threw it at Julius''s feet.


    His eyes widened in surprise, and I could tell he was angry. It was so typical of Julius to be angry until the very end.


    I''m sorry, but I had to.


    "Emergency teleportation array, activate!"


    Before Julius could grab my arm, I activated the power of the alchemical item.


    The white sphere transformed into a shining pentagram, emitting a smokescreen. Emergency teleportation arrays were meant for escape during real emergencies, but the problem was not knowing where you''d end up.


    I wanted to specify a location, but it would take too long to activate, so I abandoned the idea.


    Julius''s figure disappeared in an instant. The last thing I heard was his voice calling out, "Chloe!"


    The door was broken down. Soldiers stormed into the shop, pointing their swords at me. I turned around and smiled at them as they rushed in like an avalanche.


    "We''re innocent, but we know how you imprison innocent people, toss them into back alleys like helpless lambs. So, please take only me."


    "You let Julius escape...! To burden yourself with heavier guilt is foolish."


    "Say whatever you want. Now, please take me away. ...But if you try the same thing as before, I''ll scream at the top of my lungs. I am quite popular in the capital, so I''m sure the people there will be furious."


    "...Take her away."


    Two soldiers behind the older one grabbed my wrists.


    I didn''t resist, so I hoped they wouldn''t handle me roughly.


    My satchel was taken away, and instead, my arms were bound with ropes. Even though I hadn''t done anything, I was treated like a criminal.


    "Chloe-chan!"


    Some people had gathered by the fountain in the square, likely drawn by the commotion.


    Roge called my name in a panic.


    "What''s going on? What did Chloe-chan do!" Roxy shouted loudly.


    Her voice was echoed by others around, demanding, "Release Chloe-chan!"


    "I told the soldiers I sold a sword to Julius because they asked, but Julius''s Everlasting Diamond sword wouldn''t dull from just killing one person. It was obviously a false accusation. There''s no way I''d sell such a shoddy blade!" Robert was angry.


    It was an unusual display of anger from Robert, who was usually calm and gentle.


    "What happened to Julius, Chloe-chan...!"


    Roge tried to rush to my side, but he was held back by the increasing number of knights from the Knight Order.


    "Roge-san, everyone, it''s okay! I''ll be back in no time!"


    I smiled as usual, despite being bound with ropes. Seeing how many people were worried about me, I felt like crying.


    Hey, Julius..


    Not everyone in the world is bad.


    So, Julius, please---be free, be happy.


    I whispered these words in my heart.


    And then, I was pushed into a carriage and taken away to the royal castle.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 36 - Capture, Detainment, and Temporary Farewell 2

    Cyril ascended to the throne half a year ago, and at the same time, he officially married Aliza, and a marriage parade was held in the capital. It seemed Cyril''s sudden ascension was due to the urgent circumstances after the king and queen were attacked by monsters and lost their lives during an outing.The marriage between the tragic Duchess Aliza Seigrit, who maintained her brightness and righteousness despite being bullied by her half-sister, and the Crown Prince Cyril, who was successively struck by misfortune, were warmly welcomed by the people.


    I remembered well that the fireworks I made for the celebration sold like hotcakes and earned me a good sum. Half a year ago, I was only interested in making money, so I didn''t bother to watch Cyril and Aliza''s parade. I didn''t have the slightest interest.


    Perhaps there was a bit of resentment, but money mattered more to me than holding grudges.


    Celebrations brought in good money, and I had no desire to regain any relationship with Cyril now. I didn''t even care to see Aliza''s face. So, I would have welcomed a grand celebration with open arms.


    Anyway, there seemed to be a huge gap between me, a commoner now, and the royal family and nobility. I rarely saw their faces now, and as long as I lived my ordinary life, I had nothing to do with them.


    It was like, I couldn''t care less.


    So, I just wanted them not to interfere with my modest and content life with Julius. As I was being rocked in the carriage, I pondered over such things.


    The scenery of the town in the royal capital, where I had lived for three years, came into view outside the window. Passing through the city center and heading straight south. I saw the drawbridge in front of the main gate of the imposing white castle, which I thought I would never have to approach again.


    The castle was surrounded by a moat. The moat was filled with plenty of water, and to reach the castle, you always had to pass through the drawbridge at the front.


    It seemed to be built for defense in times of emergency. The history of war with the Dystiana Empire was long. The castle was built strongly to protect the royal family in case the capital was ever attacked.


    The king and queen passed away, leaving behind Prince Cyril, who ascended to the throne, and Prince Sieg, the second prince.


    Prince Sieg was a year younger than me and was in the same grade as Aliza. Although I''ve only exchanged greetings with him, I couldn''t help but feel he bore some resemblance to Prince Cyril. S?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    There were rumors circulating that Prince Sieg might inherit the Seigrit family''s territory, which was under the care of the royal family. However, since it no longer concerned me, I didn''t feel inclined to actively listen to gossip.


    I gazed at the azure sky.


    I wondered where Julius was transported to with the emergency teleportation circle.


    I hope he didn''t end up in a river or something.


    Thinking about Julius getting furious if he fell into a river, my mood lightened a bit.


    I hope I could safely return and, ideally, meet Julius again someday, not in a master-slave relationship, but as equals.


    I didn''t want to involve Julius in my situation. I had been running away without confronting things, swept along by circumstances. I had to figure things out on my own.


    When I closed my eyes, I could see my mother smiling at me in my dreams. She said, "You''ll be okay."


    My father---surely, he didn''t commit any crimes.


    As a child, I didn''t understand, but surely, my father must have loved my mother. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have smiled so happily.


    I needed to find out. What happened that day. What is going on now.


    For me. For my mother, who loved me, and for my father, whom she loved. I had to be strong. Strong enough to stand on my own without relying on anyone else.


    I didn''t want to be protected by a prince; I wanted to stand beside him. Just as Julius promised to protect me, I wanted to protect him too.


    I am Chloe Seigrit, the peerless beautiful alchemist. So, everything is going to be okay.


    I repeated that to myself over and over again. I was dragged by the soldiers and then dropped from the carriage.


    It had been a while since I had been to the royal castle. Passing through the main doors and the polished stone hall with its tall pillars, there was a reception room beyond. Further beyond laid the offices where the officers work, and even further back was the harem.


    The ballroom for royal banquets and dances was located in a separate wing to the east, while the west wing houses the barracks of the knightly order and the dungeons for prisoners. That was where I was once imprisoned.


    The guards of the castle, the royal guards, and the soldiers protecting the country were all collectively referred to as the Royal Knights. Although there are several barracks, those who work within the castle were among the higher-ranking members of the knightly order.


    I was taken straight to the west wing.


    Perhaps to prevent an easy escape, the cells on the upper floors of the tower were just as cold as they were three years ago.


    According to the soldier who used to watch over me when I was imprisoned, the upper-floor cells are equipped with the bare minimum facilities to ensure the comfort of noble prisoners.


    The real dungeon was underground, just a simple cage with iron bars in a square room with nothing else, he said.


    I was escorted up a long staircase and pushed into the upper-floor cell.


    It was quite high up, with a view of the city of the capital from the window. There was a  solitary, hard bed placed in the room.


    The soldiers who pushed me in told me to "behave yourself" before closing the door with a click of the lock.


    I stared out of the window for a while. My hands were still bound, but I could walk. It hurt where the rope dug into my skin, so I tried to adjust my hands around it, but I could barely move them, rendering the rope even more difficult to work with I felt utterly miserable.


    "...That Cyril. Can''t forgive him for tying up and locking away innocent little me. I''ll definitely give him a piece of my mind." I muttered that to myself while gazing at the blue sky.


    "There''s no man scarier than Julius. He gets mad no matter what you say. Calls me an idiot and throws me around like luggage. Compared to living with Julius, Cyril doesn''t scare me at all."


    That''s right. That''s true. I felt very convinced by my own words.


    Compared to Julius, Cyril was a gentleman. He was a prince, and now he was a king, so it would be unforgivable for him to imprison me, an innocent civilian.


    Coldman Trading Company and Mrs. Eliza might have their own intentions, but if we talked to them, they should understand that we''re innocent, right?


    "Did Eliza want Julius so badly that she even lied to catch him? Or is she angry because her pride was hurt? She''s the daughter of a big merchant, and she seems to be a very proud woman..."


    I passed the time murmuring to myself. Speaking out loud calmed my mind.


    "Sure, Julius is handsome, but... just looks-wise. Get to know him and he''s arrogant and bossy, and all he does is make sarcastic remarks... Sometimes he''s kind and reliable... But the bad parts are probably more. Living with him is tough. He takes up the bed, and he''s always thinking about Helios."


    Last night-- he hugged me. What was that all about?


    "He listened to me, tried to help me, and he didn''t do things I really didn''t want."


    Will we meet again?


    We''ll meet again, right? I''m sure of it.


    "...When we meet again, I..."


    Will I be able to tell him I love him?

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 37 - Capture, Detainment, and Temporary Farewell 3

    How long has it been, I wondered. I stopped gazing out the window and patiently endured the passage of time while sitting on the hard bed.Normally, by now, I would be alchemizing new concoctions using the materials dropped by the gatekeeper of the Underworld.


    I let out a small sigh. It was at that moment when the sound of the door unlocking echoed.


    "...Cyril-sama."


    "Chloe...!"


    Entering the room was King Cyril Astoria.


    He seemed a bit more mature than he did three years ago when he was still the Crown Prince. His unruly blonde hair reached down to his back, tied into a single knot. His gray eyes stared straight at me.


    He wore the attire befitting a king, clad in white with the kingdom''s crest emblazoned on his mantle.


    For some reason, King Cyril rushed toward me as he entered the room, causing me to tense up.


    "Chloe. Are you bound? Does it hurt? I''ll remove it now."


    King Cyril took out a small knife from his belt and untied the rope binding my hands behind my back.


    After waving my sore hands, I blew gently on the red marks left on my wrists. The distinct marks of the rope remained, and blood trickled.


    I had thought he would berate me the moment he saw my face, but Cyril''s demeanor perplexed me. He was oddly gentle, as if we were back to when we were engaged. Despite imprisoning me and abandoning me in the capital.


    Cyril knelt before me on the bed and met my gaze.


    "Are you okay? Any injuries?"


    He gazed at me earnestly. Feeling perplexed, I furrowed my brow. I had prepared myself to retort endlessly if he berated me, but Cyril''s attitude was the opposite of what I had expected until now.


    I didn''t know what to say to someone who offered kind words. It felt like I had lost sight of who to direct my anger towards. But if he was that worried about me, I should ask why he ordered my capture.


    "Cyril-sama, I was brought here under your orders, right? What''s the meaning of binding an innocent person like me? It hurts, you know!"


    I finally voiced my complaint to Cyril. Yeah. I let out a loud voice at the perfect moment.


    Good for me. Keep it up.


    "My apologies, Chloe. It wasn''t me who ordered your capture and Julius''s imprisonment. It was... Aliza."


    Cyril spoke with a somewhat more composed and dignified tone than three years ago. He used to speak less formally, didn''t he? He seems to have grown up suddenly.


    "Was it Aliza-chan? Does Aliza-chan have the authority to mobilize the knights?"


    "She seems to have used my name to do so. It''s absurd to capture you based solely on testimony from the Coldman Company. Three years ago, we blindly believed Aliza''s words... believed in the guilt of Duke Seigrit and carried out his execution as told."


    Cyril spoke with anguish.


    I dropped my gaze to my hands resting on my knees. Words stuck in my throat, refusing to come out.


    I couldn''t help but wish Julius were here at a time like this. The momentum from earlier seemed to have vanished.


    I''m useless, aren''t I?


    "I was in the dungeon, so I don''t know well... but, my father was doing bad things, right?"


    "Yes, I believed so. The decision for punishment was made by my late father, the king. The decision for your exile was made by Aliza... I simply went along with what was said, obeyed, and failed to protect you."


    "I don''t understand. Cyril-sama, I don''t understand. Then, was my father innocent? And executed despite being innocent?"


    "Yeah... There''s no way to prove it now, but Duke Seigrit was reserved and difficult, yet he was an honest man... But for a long time, I only believed Aliza''s side of the story... Chloe, I''m sorry."


    Cyril held my hand and gently stroked the wrist marked by the rope.


    A shiver ran down my spine.


    I recoiled from Cyril as if trying to escape.


    "...Pointing fingers won''t alter the outcome. Even Julius is furious now because of what you and Aliza-chan did. Don''t expect him to forgive you just because you apologize. That''s for sure."


    "Chloe, Julius is a terrifying man... He''s not suitable for you."


    "Enough, Cyril-sama. We''re strangers now, so you don''t need to worry about me. Oh, and I''m sorry for saying that to the king." As I retorted, Cyril seemed surprised, then chuckled slightly.


    Then, he furrowed his brow, adopting a slightly more serious expression.


    "Chloe... What''s the deal with Aliza? Is she not human?"


    "You probably know more about her than I do, Cyril-sama... Why do you ask? Is there a problem?"


    If Julius were here, he would probably get angry and tell me it was none of my business or to stay out of it.


    But I couldn''t say it was none of my business, and since I had come this far, I wanted to know everything. I had decided not to run away.


    "...I received a message from the Coldman Company, and Aliza ordered your capture early this morning. I intended to confront her about it and headed to her room... but I heard voices coming from her supposedly empty room."


    "Voices?"


    "...It was a man''s voice. I suspected something was amiss and listened closely... The voice said, ''Kill that bothersome Chloe.''"


    "Me?"


    "...Yeah... I peeked through the crack in the door and saw... a shadowy, grotesque figure with a human-like form emerging from beneath Aliza... Is that... really her? Did I place my trust in something non-human, allowing it to manipulate me and harm you...?"


    "Cyril-sama..."


    Cyril clasped his chest tightly.


    The white attire and mantle covering his chest wrinkled and crumpled.


    "Perhaps seeing that grotesque form finally opened my eyes... I was... out of my senses. That''s why I locked Aliza in her room and came to you... Whatever that thing is, for now, we should safely get you out of here, Chloe."


    Cyril stood up and reached for my hand.


    I stood up on my own, without taking Cyril''s hand. Understanding everything was difficult, but since he said he''d let me go, I should leave from here.


    Even if what Cyril said is true, I didn''t have my cane nor my usual bag with alchemical items now.


    As I approached the door, I felt a suffocating, nauseating sensation.


    It was like something slimy crawling up from my feet, an unpleasant feeling.


    Scary.


    Terrifying.


    Something slimy creeping closer, something terrifying.


    I had always been scared of Aliza. I was timid, and Aliza was the complete opposite.


    But there was something more than that, something that wasn''t right.


    My mother always told me to run away from scary things. ButI didn''t want to run away anymore.


    Cyril stepped forward as if to shield me. S?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The darkness crept closer, drawing nearer and nearer.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 38 - From the Depths of Darkness - Part 1

    Silently emerging from the darkness, the door swung open.I felt as though a gigantic, dark, and terrifying presence was seeping into the room like a phantom. But standing before the door was Aliza Seigrit, my half-sister.


    Aliza was one year younger than me, and her face resembled her mother, Lizaria. She didn''t resemble me or our father much.


    Her cold, lake-like blue hair was neatly tied up, and her pale blue eyes seemed even larger thanks to the carefully applied makeup. She was clad in a luxurious dark blue dress embroidered with golden thread and studded with jewels.


    In the past, she was... bright, innocent, with hair as blue as the sky.


    Perhaps it was because I hadn''t properly looked at Aliza, or maybe it was because Aliza had changed over these three years.


    I could still feel the faint chill of fear, but there was a somehow alluring and sinister impression. Aliza, standing before the open door, showed no emotion on her face.


    Cyril stepped forward, as if to shield me from Aliza.


    Seeing Cyril''s hand on the hilt of his sword, Aliza tilted her head curiously.


    "Sister, it''s been a while, hasn''t it! Cyril, why are you so angry? It''s cruel to lock me up in my room and put a lock on it!"


    Aliza spoke as if the expressionless demeanor from earlier had been a lie.


    Her words were both coquettish and sulky.


    That was the Aliza I knew. She often acted like this and would cling to Cyril, saying things like, "You''re always paying attention to my sister. It''s not fair. I want to talk to you too!" and I watched Aliza from afar as she clung to Cyril''s arm.


    It felt somewhat nostalgic and ridiculous.


    Back then, my world consisted only of home and school, and every time I saw Aliza cozying up to Cyril like that, I felt incredibly uncomfortable, but now... it all seems so foolish and trivial.


    "Aliza, how did you get out? I put a magical lock on the door from the outside. Your magic shouldn''t have been able to match the magic I used on my lock."


    "Well, that''s just rude. Cyril, you''re underestimating me too much! I have magic too, you know, and you even admitted that I''m more talented than my sister!"


    Despite Cyril''s glare, Aliza seemed unfazed as she placed both hands on her mouth and furrowed her eyebrows, looking troubled.


    "I removed the magical lock. I can do something like that, you know."


    "Why did you capture Chloe? It''s been three years since then. What''s your intention now?"


    "Because my sister used a deadly assassin from a terrifying enemy nation to attack Eliza-san! She tried to kill Eliza-san because she was in her way! She has always been like that, hasn''t she? Always with such a shallow heart."


    "Well, even if I were that shallow-hearted person, Julius doesn''t even listen to me, so I couldn''t have him attack Eliza. If I were to request such a thing from him, I''d just be called an idiot or a fool and scolded." I spoke from behind Cyril.


    I wouldn''t go as far as saying ''I hate Eliza, so just kill her!'' But even if I did, I''d probably just end up being ridiculed.


    But Julius seemed to dislike Eliza, so maybe he''d be happy to kill her. No, he wouldn''t. Julius was quite level-headed, after all.


    He wouldn''t hesitate if necessary, but he also wouldn''t do anything unnecessary. Probably. I''m not entirely confident, but probably.


    "Hmm, Sister, you''ve changed a lot since three years ago, haven''t you? Back then, you were trembling and smiling meaninglessly, always fawning over me, but now you''ve become quite bold in your speech."


    Aliza put her index finger to her lips and smirked at me mockingly.


    "People change in three years, you know. Honestly, Aliza-chan, since you''ve become so happy with Cyril-sama, please just leave me alone! I was on my way to becoming a wealthy alchemist. Now that Chloe, the beautiful and talented young alchemist, has a clear and promising path ahead, don''t interfere."


    "Hehe, how absurd. Chloe Seigrit, the coward, pretending to be strong. You can''t do anything on your own."


    "Aliza, what are you exactly? I saw a grotesque figure in your room. You and that figure were discussing to kill Chloe."


    Cyril drew his sword smoothly, the blade gleaming. Aliza, facing the pointed tip with cold eyes, stared back at Cyril.


    "I am here for Chloe. Three years ago, I hurt Chloe without even trying to listen to her properly. ...This time, I will protect her."


    I stared wide-eyed at Cyril''s back, taken aback. It was the first time he had said something like that to me. But while I appreciated it, I felt nothing beyond that. When Julius said it, I felt excited and happy.


    "How cruel, Cyril! You protect my older sister, your former fianc¨¦e, instead of me, your beloved wife! You''re a cruel man!"


    Aliza laughed, clutching her stomach and contorting her body.


    Her piercing voice echoed in the small cell.


    I hadn''t realized how unsettling it was to have nothing---no staff for amplifying magic, no bag of alchemical items. Even without a staff, I could still use magic. I pondered over a few offensive spells. The room felt colder. It was morning when I was locked in here, so it must be around midday now. Despite the clear blue sky outside, the cell felt dim. S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Honestly, if everyone just believed me and listened only to me, they could''ve been happy. Why does everyone have to interfere? Right, big sister? Don''t you think so? I just want to be happy, but everyone gets in my way. Now... because you were in the way, I need to get rid of you, okay?"


    "What have you done, Aliza-chan...? Our father was always kind to you, and you lived without any inconvenience. You even married Cyril-sama... So, what''s causing you so much trouble?"


    Aliza sought my agreement by addressing me as her ''big sister''.


    But I couldn''t understand Aliza''s feelings at all. Was I really that much of a hindrance to her?


    But why?


    "You''re the troublemaker. Big sister... You know, my mother and I grew up in the slums of the Seigrit Duchy. You have no idea what life in the slums is like, do you? You don''t know how much I''ve suffered and struggled, do you?"


    "Aliza-chan..."


    No, that''s not right.


    Lizaria and Aliza lived in a separate mansion thanks to our father''s arrangement--- But where did I hear that from? I haven''t had a proper conversation with my father. I''ve never talked to Aliza about her life.


    Lizaria was intimidating, and I was always running away from her.


    I never really listened to either of them.


    "My mother used to tell me all the time. That I was the Duke Seigrit''s child. Just once... when the duke came to inspect the slums and saved her from some bad men, they fell in love. But the duke had a wife and a child, so he said he''d come back for us someday!"


    "Is that... true?"


    I recalled my father''s face.


    He was reserved and always seemed grumpy, but he always cared for my mother, who was always frail.


    I didn''t want to believe that my father betrayed my mother. But even if it were true, Aliza was cherished after coming to the ducal house. So, what was it about me that bothered her so much?


    Was I really disliked by Aliza to the extent that just living was an annoyance to her?


    "It''s true. But, big sister, my father never came for me, no matter how much time passed... And then, news of your engagement with Cyril-sama reached the slums. How could I forgive that when I was living like trash, and you were going to marry the crown prince? I told my mother many times. Let''s go to the duke''s house."


    "That was when I was ten years old, right?"


    "Yeah... I wished for someone modest and lovely as you to become my princess. I never imagined it would turn out like this," Cyril-sama said.


    I thought he chose me because of my family background, but I didn''t even know he thought like that.


    "That''s when I realized my mother had been driven to madness by life''s hardships. So she lied to me and told me I wasn''t the duke''s child, and that she didn''t even know who my father was... My mother tried to thwart my happiness. Can you believe it?"


    Aliza chuckled deep in her throat. It felt like Aliza''s shadow shifted and morphed without any wind.


    "So, every day, I prayed. ''Please make me happy.''... Then, one day, an angel appeared from the gate of the Underworld. The angel told me, ''If they become a hindrance, just kill them.'' With the angel''s power, even if I kill them, they''ll come back to life and obediently follow me like slaves. So, I killed my mother for that."


    For a moment, I couldn''t comprehend what she was talking about.


    Aliza spoke without any remorse, innocently as if it were natural.


    Aliza''s shadow stretched and morphed toward the wall. It transformed into a grotesque figure with two horns on its head.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 39 - From the Depths of Darkness - Part 2

    Did Aliza... did Aliza kill her own mother, Lizaria?The Lizaria I knew came to the Duke''s house with Aliza when I was thirteen. She was a woman with blue hair similar to Aliza''s and light blue eyes.


    I never tried to approach her, and Lizaria treated me as if I didn''t exist, so we hardly exchanged any words, but she didn''t seem dead at all. She always wore neat dresses and applied makeup properly. I never saw her getting along with my father, who was originally a man of few words, but I think she managed the house in his place and behaved as a proper duchess in his absence.


    I didn''t like being scolded every time I met my father, so I tried not to leave my room too often.


    I had to face him during meals and such.


    But if I just smiled and let Aliza talk alone, without saying anything unnecessary, the unpleasant time would pass, and soon I would enter the school dormitory, so in the end, I honestly didn''t know much about her.


    I kept running away like that, and... maybe doing nothing was the right thing to do.


    Aliza smiled innocently like a young child.


    "She lied about me not being Seigrit Duke''s child, so I killed my mother. Just as the angel said. With a knife, I stabbed her. My mother was crying, but she quickly came back to life and became a good mother who would do anything I said. The power of the angel is wonderful."


    "Aliza-chan, that''s..."


    Aliza''s shadow stretched up to the ceiling.


    I felt nauseous, like when I was surrounded by miasma. Much more disgusting than when I encountered a demon with strong evil magic.


    I bit my lip because it wasn''t the time to collapse from dizziness and nausea.


    "Aliza-chan, that''s not an angel." S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I shook my head.


    What emerges from the gates of the Underworld are the accumulated grudges, malice, and obsessions of the dead who have fallen into that realm.


    And angels... angels are said to be messengers of God who resided in the heavens. Seraphim, the highest-ranking angels with supreme power among many other angels, are said to be a collective term for angels who offered prayers along with exorcism magic. I''ve never been to the otherworld, so I didn''t really know if angels truly existed, but there was no way a messenger of God, an angel, would command someone to kill their own mother.


    That''s not an angel...


    "Sister, you envy me, don''t you? I obtained everything with the power of the angel. You have nothing! The angel told me that your mother, the bothersome Celestia, died, so I went to the Duke''s house as instructed by the angel. Then Father accepted me as his daughter and welcomed me. My father disliked you and treated me well... So, I asked my father to give you dresses and shoes because I felt sorry for you. Isn''t that kind?"


    "Aliza-chan... But why did you...?"


    "Because he''s a liar... My father, he was just a liar. Pretending to care about me... He was looking for a way to seal the angel through connections with the Sacred Nation of Rashid, even though he called me his precious daughter instead of you, who failed! I''ll tell you Seigrit Duke''s last words, sister, ''Don''t lay a hand on Chloe!'' That''s what he said!"


    "My father..."


    It felt like a block of ice was forced down my throat.


    I didn''t understand my father at all. I feared and despised him as a betrayer, even though my mother believed in him and loved him. Even when I learned that he was executed in the central square of the capital city, right in front of my shop, I didn''t even consider mourning for him.


    I was truly the worst.


    "Your angel, or whatever it is, can control the dead, right? Why did you have Duke Seigrit executed? Wouldn''t it have been easier to just kill him?" In my inability to speak, Cyril confronted Aliza with questions.


    Aliza sighed with boredom and shrugged her shoulders.


    "But, you see, the angel said it couldn''t touch Duke Seigrit or my sister. So, instead, when Cyril-sama kindly invited me to the castle, I killed the King and Queen. I didn''t particularly held a grudge against them, but I had to have my father executed, as instructed by the angel. ...So they were not longer needed. My mother, the King, and the Queen, all said their goodbyes. It''s fine, isn''t it? Because they''re long gone already."


    Lizaria died when the Seigrit family was attacked and burned.


    The King and Queen, it was said, were attacked by monsters while on a journey abroad.


    All of that, too, Aliza... no, Aliza seems to acknowledge in a tone that her angel or whatever it is did.


    "Aliza, you...!"


    Cyril raised his sword to strike at Aliza.


    I instinctively grabbed Cyril''s hand and pulled with all my might. We mustn''t engage.


    What Aliza harbors is very frightening. Something very, very frightening.


    If Cyril had attacked, he would have been crushed by the needle-like objects protruding from above and below the floorboards he was about to step on. Just the thought of it is too macabre, sending shivers down my spine.


    "Cyril-sama, why didn''t you execute me? ...Why, even now?"


    Even after my father was killed, I wanted to know why I had been kept alive for three years. Aliza was being manipulated by something she encountered in her childhood.


    Somewhere, I wanted to believe that there was just Aliza --- the Aliza who once wished for happiness.


    Because Aliza must have liked Cyril.


    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have desired marriage.


    She wouldn''t marry a man she didn''t love just because she disliked me, or because she wanted to take him away from me. At least, I definitely wouldn''t.


    "Oh, but simply killing you would be too dull. I wanted you to see me become queen and feel regret. I wanted you to experience the suffering I endured in the slums. After all, you''re my blood-related sister, right? I wanted you to suffer as I did. ...But you kept interfering with my angel."


    "When did I ever interfere with your angel, Aliza-chan? We''re not even acquaintances."


    I had no weapons or alchemical items now. So even if Cyril faced Aliza''s angel alone while carrying burdens like me, he couldn''t compete with Aliza''s angel.


    I didn''t understand a lot of things.


    I had a premonition that what Aliza carried was something even more terrifying than the gatekeeper of the Underworld that Julius defeated earlier.


    It feels like someone was saying, "Don''t get any closer now, run away."


    I wanted to buy time.


    I wanted to continue the conversation as long as possible and think about what to do.


    Aliza intended to kill Cyril. For some reason unknown to me, Aliza apparently couldn''t directly harm me. So she intended to kill Cyril and then manipulate him... and then, to execute me.


    If Cyril hadn''t realized anything and continued to love Aliza blindly, I would have been executed for attacking Eliza as ordered by her. Even though I had told myself it wouldn''t come to that, I was just as foolish as Julius said.


    At this rate, I really won''t be forgiven, will I?


    "But the angel opened many gates to the Underworld. Julius closed the gate of the largest northern demon mountain. The three-headed Cerberus. It was a child my angel cherished, but you had to kill it. How pitiful. The angel told me to hurry up and kill you, sister. And also Julius. If you had just behaved yourself, you could have lived a little longer, you foolish sister."


    "Aliza-chan, that''s not an angel after all. Monsters pour out from the gates of the Underworld and attack people, you know? The mercenaries and knights are fighting hard to close the gates and protect the kingdom''s people from the monsters, you know? Aliza-chan, do you understand what you''re saying?"


    "I understand. ...Hey, sister. I''ve seen many terrible sights in the slums, and I''ve suffered a lot, you know? Others don''t matter. As long as I''m happy, it''s fine. My happiness is given to me by the angel. So, if the angel says you''re getting in the way, then you have to disappear too!"


    "Would an angel tell you to kill your own mother? That''s not something an angel would say!"


    The shadow extending from Aliza''s body wrapped around her, intertwining with her form.


    Aliza smiled blissfully and elegantly reached out her hand towards us, gently pointing her finger.


    "Chloe!"


    The cobblestones at my feet surged, and suddenly, something resembling a giant snake''s head emerged.


    A jet-black snake with a head as large as my body, its red mouth filled with sharp fangs, opened wide and lunged towards Cyril.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 40 - From the Depths of Darkness - Part 3

    The size of the jet-black snake''s head that burst through the narrow cell floor was about the same as mine. Which meant the hidden body must be even larger.I lost my balance from the impact of the crumbling floor, rolling on the ground and slamming against the wall. The pain from the impact on my back made it hard to breathe. Cyril, who had been thrown aside, reached out a hand towards the snake that lunged towards me.


    "Fiery waltz, breath of the flame dragon!"


    It was an invocation of the highest-level fire magic, which I couldn''t use.


    Simultaneously with Cyril''s resounding voice, a fiery dragon with a much larger mass than the jet-black snake wrapped around its black body like a constrictor, constraining the snake''s body.


    Cyril kicked off the crumbling footing and leaped up, brandishing his sword towards the writhing snake.


    With a sharp sound, the sword pierced the snake''s head.


    Thick, blood-like substance flowed from the snake''s mouth, dripping onto the collapsing floor.


    I managed to get up despite the pain and extended both hands forward.


    I didn''t have a staff for amplifying magical power, but I could still use magic. Dispelling magic was effective against gate monsters. So, maybe it would work against Aliza''s angel too.


    The utility of dispelling magic was very limited.


    It was not effective against humans or beasts, and it was mediocre against monsters.


    The only thing dispelling magic strong against were vengeful spirit-type monsters, but holy magic, which was more versatile was sufficient for this.


    So, there weren''t many people who bothered to learn dispelling magic. But dispelling magic was---more useful for defeating evil monsters. I was inferior in magical power compared to Cyril. But even someone like me had a talent for dispelling magic according to Roge-san.


    It was worth a try.


    "Searing Angel Seraphim, pass judgment upon all wicked beings! Divine thunder of godly punishment!"


    With my words, the black snake''s body burst as if overflowing with light from within. White feathers scattered from the burst body, fading away.


    With dispelling magic, the miasma felt somewhat thinner.


    But the next moment, my body was overwhelmed by a sensation akin to being surrounded by even stronger and overwhelmingly evil something from all sides, and an unpleasant sound echoed in the back of my throat.


    "You thought there was only one serpent from the Underworld?" Aliza said with a gleeful laugh.


    Unnoticed, several hand-like clumps of earth sprouted from Aliza''s feet, protecting her body from the crumbling floor.


    Dark shadow-like entities intertwined with her body, clinging closely.


    "Even with the power of the angel, you can''t kill your sister directly, but an accident would do, right? I''ve come up with a good idea!"


    With a loud rumble as the walls collapsed, four snakes burst through the walls from all sides, forcibly pushing their massive bodies into the cell.


    The wall behind me and the crumbling floor.


    "Ugh, oh...!"


    Thrown from the high tower, my body plummeted upside down.


    A sense of weightlessness engulfed me.


    Falling.


    If I were to be slammed into the ground---I''d die.


    I have to do something.


    I have to do something.


    But nothing came to mind.


    "Chloe!"


    Cyril grabs my hand.


    He half-threw himself out of the tower and grabbed my hand. My body swayed in the air. With every gust of wind, Cyril held onto my hand so tightly it felt like his bones might break.


    One hand grabs the hilt of the sword embedded in the floor, seeming to support my unstable body.


    "Chloe, don''t let go of my hand, no matter what...!"


    "Cyril..."


    Behind Cyril, I saw the figures of four snakes. In the middle of the four snakes was Aliza.


    A black shadow overlapped Aliza''s body, and I witnessed the illusion of sharp horns and black wings.


    "I''m so moved, I could cry. Trying to protect my sister now, of all times. How ridiculous!" Aliza laughs, peering at me from beyond the collapsed outer wall.


    "You''re both going to die anyway, it''s absurd. Desperately clinging on. It''s really pathetic!" With disdain, Aliza says, then thrusted a short dagger-like object resembling a black needle into Cyril''s hand gripping the sword hilt.


    Like piercing fruit, the weapon slid through Cyril''s hand, severing it from his wrist. With a groan, his unsupported body slid downwards. Sweat beads on the hand supporting my body.


    "Aliza, stop...!"


    How could she do something so cruel?


    Aliza should love Cyril.


    "Cyrill is your husband, isn''t he? I know I''m in the way, so please, stop, Aliza...!"


    I pleaded in a voice tinged with despair. I don''t want to see anyone else get hurt.


    "You''re so sickeningly sweet, sister! I don''t need anyone, less alone Cyril to love me. Cyril betrayed me to save you!"


    "Aliza, wake up. There are no angels. What''s by your side is something evil!"


    "You''re foolish, sister, not to understand the greatness of the angel! Soon, the angel''s army will emerge from the gate of the other world and turn the world into a wonderful paradise! They''ll turn this rotten, despicable world into a paradise!"


    The snakes surrounding Aliza reared their heads. Simultaneously, they lunged at Cyril.


    Cyril, he was going to die. No. That couldn''t happen.


    I felt magic overflowing within me. A chant I''ve never uttered before flows from my lips as naturally as if I''ve known the spell for ages.


    "Light! Pierce the darkness and bring forth dawn!"


    Light flooded out, overwhelming the black snakes. An intense surge of light, dazzlingly bright, covered the narrow cell and obliterated the forms of both the snakes and Aliza.


    At the same time, Cyril''s body slid down. Oh, we were going to reach the ground.


    Yet, Cyril still gripped my hand, trying to pull me up. His hand, now missing, releases a spray of crimson blood into the air, crashing into the ground. I tightly shut my eyes, unable to witness the horror.


    "Julius..." I murmured in a small voice.


    I''m sorry. If I had listened to Julius, if I had chosen to escape, it wouldn''t have ended like this. If things were going to turn out like this, I should have freed Julius from his neck enchantment and let him go.


    Even the slave seal---I should have researched how to remove it and freed him.


    "Chloe!"


    A familiar, low voice called out my name.


    There was no pain or impact from hitting the ground. Something grabbed hold of me. It was a rough but comforting feeling, so familiar. With trepidation, I opened my eyes to find Julius covered in blood, glaring at me as if he were about to kill me---and I let out a small scream in my throat.


    "Julius... You''re covered in blood!"


    I was being held by Julius riding Helios, flying through the air. He must have grabbed me and ascended quickly because I could see the castle and the town of the capital below. Even though I was about to fall and hit the ground, it seemed so far away like a distant dream.


    "It''s your fault. Release the curse you put on the magic collar right away."


    Julius said with an incredibly angry expression.


    There were small cuts all over his body, blood dripping from them. Despite being unharmed, Julius looked like he had been through a lot.


    "I-I''m sorry! By the name of Chloe Seigrit, I command you! Permit yourself to come to my aid!" I hastily held my hand to the collar. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I had sworn an oath to the magic collar not to come to my aid.


    In the event of a violation of the oath, Julius''s body was subjected to excruciating pain, rendering him unable to move. In other words, Julius was covered in wounds and blood because of me. It was my fault.


    "I''m sorry... truly, I''m so sorry...! I''ll apply healing magic this time!" I pressed my palm on Julius''s body.


    With the incantation chanted, warm light enveloped Julius, and his cuts began to heal, sewing back the open wounds. I breathed a sigh of relief as the bleeding stopped. Feeling incredibly sorry, I couldn''t bring myself to look directly at Julius''s face. But now wasn''t the time to dwell on how foolish I had been.


    "Julius, Cyril...!"


    "Ah, the man who fell with you. I had Helios carry him and drop him in the midst of the soldiers who were gathering due to the commotion. He won''t die."


    "Why didn''t you bring him along with us?"


    "I could have left him behind, but I thought you''d cry and make a scene, so I helped him. Be grateful."


    Feeling Julius''s utmost kindness, I couldn''t say anything more.


    Even though I should have been in agony because of my actions, Julius had even helped Cyril. I should be grateful for that.


    Surely everything would be alright. Cyril was strong, and there were knights and mages in the castle. They''d figure something out.


    As I was being held by Julius, I pondered where to start and what to say.


    "...I always thought the oath of the magic collar was absolute. But you came to help me, didn''t you..."


    "As long as one can endure the pain... anything is possible. I endured it, but it was so painful that I thought death would be better. Because of you. I''ve lost blood for nothing. Because of you."


    "I''m sorry. I''m truly sorry."


    "Don''t do anything foolish like that again, you fool."


    "Yes. I was foolish, idiotic, and naive. I thought I could handle it on my own, that everything would be fine... but it wasn''t. I thought I was going to die... I thought I wouldn''t see you again."


    Julius let out a small sigh.


    Then, he held my head and embraced me. Despite the situation, my heart raced.


    "Julius-san, I''m sorry... Thank you for coming to help me."


    "Yeah. I''m just glad you''re safe."


    Julius muttered quietly.


    He must have been worried about me. I could feel my tears welling up, but I managed to hold them back somehow.


    It wasn''t the time to cry yet.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 41 - From the Depths of Darkness - Part 4

    From the Depths of Darkness - Part 4I wished I could have stayed in his embrace forever, but I lifted up my face from Julius'' embrace and peered at him. Looking at his face, I felt reassured, and was able to think more clearly than before.


    To organize my thoughts, I began to speak.


    "Julius, it seems... my sister, Aliza, is being controlled by something frightening that emerged from the gate to the Underworld."


    Aliza had encountered an angel that came from the gate to the Underworld after I got engaged to Cyril, and before my mother passed away. It must have been when she was around ten years old. She was still just a child. Living a harsh and painful life in the slums, Aliza had clung to happiness, and it just so happened that what she found was a malevolent angel.


    I didn''t know how much of it was Aliza''s own will, but I wanted to believe she was being manipulated, the angel taking advantage of her naive mind.


    "It was Aliza''s angel that opened many gates to the Underworld in the kingdom, and through these gates, an army of beasts would be arriving soon. They said they would turn the kingdom into a paradise."


    "After you were taken, gates to the Underworld started appearing everywhere. I was forcibly teleported to a forest somewhere in the kingdom, and when I called Helios to return to the capital, Roge was in a frenzy, saying he was short on hands."


    "Are the people in the capital alright?"


    Contrary to my agitation, Julius continued in a calm voice.


    "The knights and mercenaries are working together, closing the gates in various places. There was a huge gate and a swarm of demons above the fountain in the square where your shop is. Those who could fight were fighting back, evacuating the people of the city."


    "Is Aliza''s angel trying to destroy the country...?"


    "I don''t know. I didn''t face off against the demons. I had to go pick up a master who had wandered off on his own. Roge said they would hold out until we returned."


    Julius sighed, saying, "Relying on a defeated general from an enemy nation and a kind-hearted alchemist, what madness."


    Yet, he seemed not to think it was all that bad. Roge believed that Julius would rescue me and return.


    I gazed up at Julius''s sky-blue and sunset-red eyes.


    "Julius, that something called ''angel'' is very scary and strong. My mother told me to run away from scary things. But... I want to protect everyone. Alone, I''m weak and can''t do anything."


    I had always thought that I didn''t want to involve Julius.


    Even when trying to rescue Roge in the demon mountain of the north, and when I was brought to the castle, I didn''t want Julius to face danger.


    But maybe that wasn''t right. Surely, I was mistaken. Pushing Julius away by pretending he was unrelated was selfish and conceited on my part.


    Julius was strong, so it was okay even if I was weak, he had said that before. I think I finally understood what he meant.


    "...So, will you fight alongside me?"


    "I''ve said it before. You only need to command me. Since the day you bought me, I am your sword. I''ll slaughter anyone you deem worthy of death."


    Julius spoke with confidence as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Hearing those words, typical of Julius, made me smile slightly.


    "Your response is a bit extreme. We''re fighting demons, you know. Cyril-sama is not an enemy, and Aliza too... is probably just being controlled." S?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now, I can legally kill those who demeaned you."


    "That''s okay, really...! It''s not about revenge, it''s about helping people, saving lives."


    "...Chloe. I grabbed some alchemical stuff from your shop''s box at random, and the weapons shop owner sent you a parting gift."


    Julius handed me a cloth bag that had been tied to the rear of Helios''s stirrup.


    My infinite storage bag, which was connected to my infinite storage trunk, had been taken by soldiers. What Julius handed me was just a regular cloth bag. Inside, it seemed he had truly grabbed whatever was at hand and tossed it in. Various alchemical items were haphazardly placed inside. From luxury items to cheap ones, the contents varied. Some were useful, while others were completely unnecessary.


    As I slung the bag over my shoulder, a wand was passed to me.


    This wand wasn''t the cheap magical amplification wand I usually used---it was an expensive one that I would have never bought personally.


    "This is... isn''t this a very expensive magical amplification wand, made from processed millennium tree and embedded with sacred minerals...! It''s terrifying to think that a miser like Robert would give this away for free. There''s nothing more expensive than something given for free, Julius."


    "There''s nothing more expensive than something given for free, true. So, you will protect... the people of the royal capital. It''s an unfair deal, working for free."


    "The materials dropped by the monsters we defeat will all be mine! It''s unpaid work, but it''ll surely turn into a good profit! And, whatever is attached to Aliza is probably much stronger than the demons from the Underworld gates, so it''s bound to drop some high-quality materials we''ve never seen before! Please take care of it, Julius."


    "Ah... You, stay behind. I can''t use magic. So you''ll provide support."


    "Yes, leave it to me! With the support of the beautiful, genius alchemist Chloe, the already strong Julius will become even stronger! Now, let''s wipe out the demons plaguing the royal capital in one fell swoop!"


    Not wanting to be tossed behind Julius as before, I moved to his backside on my own. Helios''s back was quite wide, and his flying was stable, so compared to the thought of falling from the castle tower, it wasn''t scary.


    I sat behind and grabbed the straps attached to the stirrup. Clinging to Julius would make it hard for him to fight, and as we had proven last time, I wouldn''t fall off Helios''s back from just a little jostling, so it was fine.


    "Let''s go, Chloe. Let''s finish this quickly. I''ve lost blood because of you. On top of that, I haven''t eaten properly since the morning, so I''m hungry. I want to eat the bean soup you make."


    "Let''s eat something better. Isn''t it too sad for a hero who defeated evil monsters and protected the country to eat just bean soup?"


    "Anything you make is fine with me."


    Helios plunged towards the ground as if slicing through the sky.


    In a soft voice, I murmured, "...That''s not fair."


    Piercing through the clouds, the ground drew closer.


    Helios, stretching his body straight to cut through the wind, looked like a black bolt of lightning. As Julius had said, it seemed that gates to the Underworld had opened all over the kingdom. They appeared as abrupt black dots within the landscape.


    The royal castle now looked like a sinister object, like a clay sculpture made by a young child. On top of the gray structure, assembled haphazardly with torn human limbs, faces, and torsos, large enough to be a small house, it felt as though I could see Aliza standing alone, looking up at us.


    There was a considerable distance between the sky and the royal castle, and surely it must have been an illusion.


    But I could tell that Aliza was there, looking at us.


    On Aliza''s body, something with horns and wings seemed to overlap.


    With a faint smile on its lips, that something raised both hands into the air. Gates to the Underworld opened in the air around Helios, and chained winged demons attacked.


    These demons had white wings resembling those of birds, bodies like beasts, and the beautiful faces of human women. One of their eyeballs was as big as my body. Flapping their wings with rustling sounds, their intelligent eyes followed us.


    The demons, continuously uttering curses from their red lips, numbered perhaps more than ten. Around the demons, several red magic circles floated. Heat rays burst from the magic circles. The released heat rays scorched the ground, creating large cracks across it.


    The same number of monsters that emerged from the gates in the sky now attacked from otherworldly gates on the ground, as voracious griffons flapped their wings, swooping down upon us. These were winged beasts with the upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a lion, creatures that attacked from the sky and devoured anything, be it living beings or inanimate objects.


    Julius, atop Helios, who was dodging the heat rays while flying, readied his black spear. I infused magical power into my staff for amplifying magic.


    Griffons were weak to ice magic. If their wings were to be sealed, they''d have no choice but to fall to the ground. However, even if we defeat the monsters spilling from the gates, if we don''t close the gates, more will continue to emerge.


    And closing the gates would lead to Aliza''s angel just opening them again.


    In that case---


    "Julius, clear the way through the gate''s monsters and take us to Aliza!"


    "Ah. ...Don''t get in the way, you unsightly birds." Julius nodded.


    Helios charged straight towards the flock of the voracious griffons. I tried not to be in the way of Julius who seemed to swing his spear around.


    One by one, the griffons were stripped of their wings and fell to the ground.


    Continuing on, we flew towards the gate''s monsters that kept whispering ugly words.


    "Searing Angel Seraphim, imbue Julius''s spear in Holy Light of Exorcism!"


    With every graceful movement through the sky by Helios, the faces of the gate''s female monsters were slashed. Voices of agony and words of resentment filled the air. The sheer ugliness induced terrible nausea.


    "This is utterly disgusting...!"


    "That thing loitering in front of your shop is pretty much the same, isn''t it?"


    "Himei-chan is cute, isn''t she? Julius, you just don''t get it...!"


    From the gate''s monsters that were being slashed, high-pitched screams overlapped, rising into the air.


    I covered my ears with both hands. Helios''s body swayed, somersaulting through the sky. Perhaps our sense of balance was disturbed by the sound waves. I could feel the strength draining from his spread wings.


    I hurriedly took out a noise-canceling alchemical device for sleep from my cloth bag. I never thought I''d use something like this, but I was glad Julius brought it.


    You never know what might come in handy. It''s always good to be prepared. My alchemical devices, which reach even the itchiest spots, were simply genius.


    "Now, perfect silence, tranquil space, comfort in lullaby''s grace!"


    I threw what looked like a small bear mascot into the air.


    From the bear mascot, a comforting melody of a music box began to play, drowning out the screams of the monsters.


    Power returned to Helios''s body. Helios, still a child, seemed pleased by the lullaby, making a happy coo sound and glancing at me with narrowed eyes.


    So cute. My child, so adorable. Mommy''s going to work hard for you, Helios.


    "What a foolish sound."


    Julius, seemingly unimpressed, clicked his tongue.


    With renewed vigor, Helios moved much faster than before towards the gate''s monsters, who were twisting in agony. Flying freely through the sky, each movement allowed Julius''s spear to pierce through, eliminating the gate''s monsters one by one.


    The gate from the Underworld crumbled away.


    The number of heat rays slicing through the sky diminished.


    Then, once more, Helios began to dive rapidly towards Aliza.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 42 - Angels’ Descent - Part 1

    The once magnificent ivory castle now resembled a colossal white sculpture crafted from stacked human bodies. Faces, devoid of hair, contorted in agony, gazed up at me and Julius alongside Helios, their eyes darting with unease."How eerie and tasteless...! Why do creatures from the otherworld always take such grotesque forms?"


    "The otherworld is the realm of the dead, and monsters are the decayed remnants of the deceased. Humans, by nature, are grotesque and eerie creatures. Beneath our skin lie flesh, bone, and organs. Compared to rotting corpses, those creatures are still bearable."


    "Why do you have to say such things? I''m already trying to stomach their unsettling appearance! I''m a young maiden who loves beautiful flowers, you know!"


    "Aren''t you more interested in money?"


    "Well, yes, but..."


    Perhaps due to the lack of tension in our conversation with Julius, I felt my nausea and dizziness subsiding. Even the familiar scenery of the capital city revealed cracks from above, with dark figures writhing below.


    There was a large gaping hole above the central circular area that was the plaza with the fountain, where my shop stood. That must be the gate to the Underworld.


    I hoped everyone was safe, especially Roge.


    We needed to deal with the angel or whatever it was, inhabiting Aliza''s body as soon as possible. At the top of the colossal castle turned sculpture, there was a pedestal made of overlapping hands.


    Upon it stood Aliza, gazing up at us.


    Even if the elongated shadow, sharp horns and wings were visible, I had never seen a creature of such form before. The shadows seemed to take on human form unlike monsters, which did not have humanoid shapes and often appeared grotesque with haphazardly assembled mashed-up human parts.


    As Aliza came into view, Helios suddenly ceased his descent and began circling directly above her.


    Though it was difficult to see clearly, there seemed to be an invisible barrier surrounding Aliza.


    "We can''t get any closer. We''ll have to jump. Break through the barrier and descend inside." Julius declared, attempting to rise on Helios as he circled.


    Despite the distance being like that of a two-storeyed building between where Aliza stood and the sky Helios flew in, I felt utterly incapable of making the descent. As a genius alchemist with only a moderate aptitude for magic, physical labor wasn''t exactly my forte.


    "Jump from this height...?! Well, I''ll try my best, but unlike Julius, I''m just a regular human, so it would be appreciated if you could take that into consideration...!"


    I exclaimed nervously.


    "You should be able to break the barrier. Just hold on tight."  Julius replied confidently.


    "Thank you for your absolute trust in me! I''m not exactly a grand mage, but I''ll do my best!"


    Breaking through the barrier, breaking through the barrier.


    Could I even perform such advanced magic? I rummaged through my bag nervously.


    This might come in handy for situations like this~!


    I muttered to myself inwardly.


    Thanks to Julius''s haphazard packing, my bag was a mess, which made me feel queasy. Unlike the neatly organized infinite storage bag connected to my infinite storage trunk, it was challenging to find the necessary alchemical items quickly.


    "There it is! Let''s give it a try! We might just pull this off!"


    While we were in the midst of this, yellow spherical orbs began to rise from the barrier-like structure surrounding Aliza, shooting beams of light toward Helios.


    Helios swiftly dodged them, but it seemed like he couldn''t evade them forever.


    "Seal of Magic! Magic Suppression!"


    I retrieved a stamp labeled ''Seal'' from my bag.


    It wasn''t like this stamp was specifically enchanted for magic suppression. It was just a coincidence.


    When I threw the golden stamp toward the barrier, it transformed into a size roughly as big as spreading both hands wide, and the word ''Seal'' was pressed onto the barrier.


    A distortion appeared, and a hole big enough for one person to pass through opened up, the barrier cracking like an egg.


    Perhaps Aliza''s magic power was stronger than the magic seal. Although it didn''t seal everything, Julius lifted me onto his shoulder as if it were enough, standing on Helios''s back.


    "Chloe. We''re taking you with us."


    "Yes! I can fight too!"


    It felt good to be trusted by Julius.


    Being carried like luggage was embarrassing, so I wanted to make an alchemical item that could glide through the air at least a little. I wanted to land stylishly from a high place too.


    Without hesitation, Julius jumped off Helios''s back.


    The sensation of falling made my breath catch. It was similar to falling from a tower, but also different. I didn''t intend to die. I wanted to defeat the so-called angels, protect everyone, maybe even help Cyril regain his lost hand, and if possible, rescue Aliza too.


    Aliza probably lived with the fear I felt when I was abandoned in an alley, just surviving in the streets everyday.


    Passing through the gap in the barrier, we landed on top of the giant hand pedestal.


    Julius landed gracefully and gently placed me on the floor. This time, I wasn''t thrown away. That was a relief.


    Aliza smiled sweetly as she watched Julius, who had drawn his sword and assumed a defensive stance, seemingly defenseless.


    "I invited just the two of you because that wyvern was getting in the way of our conversation. Welcome back, my lady, and nice to meet you, Prince Julius Kraft."


    She curtsied, holding the hem of her skirt like a trained noble.


    Under different circumstances, it might have seemed very graceful. I aimed the expensive magic amplification wand Robert had given me at Aliza.


    "Aliza, enough! I understand you''ve been through a lot, but it''s not a valid reason to cause suffering to the people of the country!"


    "But no one helped me. The only one who helped me was the angel. That''s why it doesn''t matter what happens to this country. With the forces from the Underworld overflowing, the world will become a paradise. If I turn Astoria Kingdom into a paradise, I''ll send troops to other countries too. I''ll turn everything into paradise."


    "Other countries?"


    Julius asked with a puzzled expression.


    Aliza smiled happily and nodded.


    "Yes. I''ll turn your Dystiana Empire into a paradise too. A paradise with no life or death. There would be no need to fear death, and there won''t be any need to lament anyone''s death. A paradise of eternity. How about that? Isn''t the angel''s idea wonderful?"


    "Ridiculous. Once you''re dead, it''s over. There''s no need for anything beyond that. So there''s no need to lament."


    "Is that so? Well, fine. Since you people are a nuisance, you''ll die here. ...Let''s kill Julius first. The Julius who will become my puppet will whisper love to me. I''m sure you''ll be sad then, my lady. I''m looking forward to it. Show me your despairing face, the same despair I''ve felt. Take off the mask of a good person, hate me, show me your hatred. I want to see my sister despise me."


    Julius''s tongue clicked.


    I carefully chose my words, trying not to provoke Aliza further, and spoke loudly.


    "Aliza, I will help you. I''ll defeat the angel for you, so please wait."


    "Don''t say such stupid things! Acting all understanding, pretending to be a good person, laughing it off. The people of the capital are nothing but heartless ones who threw stones at my sister. Yet you want to protect them. It makes me sick. I hate you so much!"


    "Julius, please don''t kill her!"


    "If that''s what you wish, I''ll restrain myself." S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I directed the magic-amplifying wand toward Julius''s sword.


    "Searing Angel Seraphim, bestow the Holy Gospel, the light that sweeps all away!"


    The divine radiance emitted from the wand transformed the black blade of Julius''s sword into white.


    Several black snakes appeared around Aliza. Julius subdued them all and dashed toward Aliza.


    I also used exorcism magic, eliminating several snakes attempting to engulf Julius. It was overwhelming. Julius was strong, and while Aliza possessed power from her angel, she wasn''t accustomed to battle.


    In an instant, the snakes vanished, and the tip of Julius''s sword was placed precisely at Aliza''s throat.


    "...Weak." With a muttered remark, Julius struck Aliza''s neck with the hilt of his sword.


    Just that was enough to make Aliza''s body stagger as if she had a concussion.


    As Julius moved to catch Aliza''s collapsing body, he reconsidered and stepped back.


    "Aliza...!" I screamed.


    Hands were growing from Aliza''s abdomen. Sharp claws. Long fingers. The bloody hands protruded from the black shadows behind Aliza.


    Aliza''s body swayed unsteadily.


    Behind Aliza, who collapsed to the ground like a broken doll, stood a man with two horns and black wings.


    The man kicked Aliza''s fallen body slowly. Her slender form rolled and collided with the edge of a pedestal shaped like a hand. Her limbs bent in strange directions. As I tried to rush forward, Julius''s stern voice stopped me. "Don''t move, Chloe," he commanded.


    "...You''re the angel?"  Julius inquired.


    With long black hair giving rise to horns protruding from both sides of his head and bluish pale skin, he looked striking and his beautiful purple eyes glistened like gems. Four wings resembling those of a bird sprouted from his back, spreading wide.


    The man licked his bloodied fingers.


    "Pleased to meet you, offspring of Celestia. And you, just a mere mortal man." The man said, clad in a butler-like tailcoat. His baritone voice casually mentioned my mother''s name.


    "Why... Did you... Aliza-chan...!"


    She truly believed he was an angel.


    At least, Aliza believed in him. No matter how grotesque it might have been, it was the only thing she could rely on.


    Yet...


    "Why... Because I got bored. It was somewhat entertaining to watch until she became the queen of this country, but after that, it became dull. She was just a fragile woman, after all. Although I lent her my power, she lost so easily to that man over there, I thought she was no longer needed."


    The man put his hand to his throat and made small sounds like "ah" or "uh."


    "It''s been a while since I''ve spoken to humans, but can you hear my words clearly? Is this language suitable for humans? Can you understand? Tell me, Chloe."


    "Who are you...?"


    Looking at me, the man spoke. It was a casual way of speaking, like meeting an old friend.


    "Me? ...My name is Mephisto. I''m an angel from the Underworld."


    The man said with a beautiful smile.


    Indeed, he looked so beautiful that one might easily believe he was an angel.


    But the overwhelming, cruel, and wicked aura emanating from him made me grit my teeth.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 43 - Angels Descent - Part 2

    The man who called himself Mephisto casually waved his blood-stained hand.The hand, drenched in blood, became clean as if everything that happened until now was a lie.


    "You''re not an angel. ...What are you?"


    "I''m an angel. See? Beautiful wings, right? Four wings are a symbol of higher rank. Six wings, a symbol of special rank. It''s cruel, isn''t it? Discrimination based on the number of wings."


    Mephisto spread his black wings widely.


    They resembled those of a large black raptor, larger than his own body. If all black wings were the same, Helios''s wings would be far more elegant and beautiful.


    "Don''t lie. There''s no way someone with such wicked magical power could be an angel. Why did you deceive Aliza... why did you do such cruel things...!"


    "I got bored of the gloomy scenery of the other world. So, I thought I''d freshen up my mind in the human world. And then... my master got angry, saying, ''How long are you going to play around?'' So I thought, maybe I''ll call the forces of the other world and destroy the kingdom. And besides, playing with you seems more fun than with Aliza."


    Before I knew it, Mephisto was standing right in front of me.


    A large palm touched my cheek, and all I could do was gasp and look up.


    His hand was as cold as ice, sending chills where his skin touched mine. Disgusting and nauseating, I tried to push his hand away, but Mephisto effortlessly grabbed my hand with one hand.


    His nails dug into my wrist, and a trickle of blood ran down my arm.


    "Aliza quickly became infatuated with me and it became boring. Bringing hope to a heart filled with despair is no fun at all. I, Chloe, like pushing those who believe in the goodness of others and struggle down to the depths of hell. Indeed, you''re resilient. Even though abandoned by everyone and having lost everything, you still try to protect others. ...You''re truly Celestia''s child."


    "Do you know about my mother?"


    "I do. Very well. There was no one more bothersome. But she''s dead now. She defied reason by giving birth to you, so she died."


    "What do you mean by that...?"


    Because of giving birth to me, my mother died?


    I look up at Mephisto. He wore an enchanting smile. His purple eyes, framed by long lashes, gazed down at me.


    His face drew closer. I can''t move. Just as I thought his lips were about to touch mine, a white blade gleamed.


    "Don''t waste your breath, Chloe! This is a demon. There''s no need to listen."


    Mephisto released his grip on me to caught Julius''s sword with one hand.


    The power of purification, staining the blade white, burned Mephisto''s hand. A scent like rotten sweet fruit fizzled in the air.


    "An annoyance... for a mere human man. ...No, that''s not it, is it? You are..."


    "Silence. Die."


    Julius forcefully pulled the sword from Mephisto''s hand. The palm that was slashed horizontally was cut cleanly from the center of the palm.


    Fingers rolled and tumbled but there was no sight of blood.


    Instead, new flesh sprouted out of the severed palm, reshaping into a hand once again.


    "It''s pointless. You can''t defeat me. You don''t have the power to kill me."


    "Silence. You''ve just been cut. If you can be cut, keep chopping, and eventually, you''ll die."


    A swift strike caught Mephisto''s body. With a flutter of his wings, Mephisto tried to leap away.


    But Julius was faster, and all Mephisto could do was dodging the rapid succession of sword strikes.


    Mephisto''s arm transformed into a black blade. The sound of Mephisto taking Julius''s sword resounded the whole area. As Mephisto thrust his hand forward, something like the decaying body of a mangled corpse emerged from under Julius''s feet, trying to entangle his legs and halt his movements.


    I aimed the staff of magical amplification at Julius''s feet.


    "Divine thunderbolt!"


    With the incantation, sharp light descended from the sky. The blades of light, accompanied by white feathers, burned the undead horde at Julius''s feet.


    Julius didn''t seem distracted by the undead at his feet. He believed in me to protect him. I readied the staff once more.


    Mephisto''s blade slashed shallowly across Julius''s chest and abdomen. Julius grabbed Mephisto''s arm at the tip of the blade.


    With a strong pull and momentum, he leaped up, casually grabbing one of Mephisto''s wings, and called out, "Chloe!"


    "Light! Pierce the darkness and bring forth dawn!"


    I felt magic filling my body. The charged magic seemed to be absorbed by the staff, making my footing unsteady.


    The blade of Julius''s sword changed shape with the light. Unfamiliar characters were engraved on the dazzlingly radiant white blade.


    With that sword, Julius cut off Mephisto''s wing.


    Black feathers scattered. One piece of the wing, severed, fell to the ground.


    "You...!"


    "It seems wings cannot regenerate. Let''s make you drop all your prideful feathers."


    Julius wore a wicked grin. He put his foot on Mephisto''s back, grabbed another wing, and raised the sword.


    "Oh, this power... this power is..."


    Mephisto mutters as he flapped his wings vigorously and leaped into the sky.


    With the shock of his flapping, Julius was blown towards me and landed beside me effortlessly, like a cat falling off a fence.


    "...I see. This is fine. Chloe, let''s meet again. I look forward to seeing your heart shatter with sorrow and despair."


    Mephisto said, returning his arm, which had turned into a blade, to its original form.


    "Mephisto...!"


    "This is good, isn''t it? It''s very good that you called my name. Remember, Chloe. I am Mephisto... the deceitful clown... the being engraved as a demon." S?a?ch* Th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    As Mephisto smiled at me, Julius stepped forward to protect me.


    "It''s a hassle to be chased by wyverns, so I''ll leave you with someone to deal with. ...Until we meet again."


    With those words from Mephisto, a large portal to another world appeared in the center of the pedestal.


    The gate to the other world opened, and from there emerged a face--- a face I''ve seen before.


    "...Father."


    All my strength drained from my hand. The staff fell with a clatter from my grasp.


    Mephisto''s laughter echoes distantly. I couldn''t even move.


    What appeared from the gate to the other world was someone who looked like my father, crucified.


    I knew it was something else with my father''s appearance. But that face belonged to my father.


    The head and torso were separated, each bound to a cross with chains.


    Underneath the crosses, many skulls rolled into a mound. Beneath them, countless legs sprouted and squirmed, like the underside of a caterpillar.


    Something with my father''s face calls out my name in a hoarse voice, "Chloe, Chloe."


    "Shall I tell you your father''s final words?"


    Aliza''s words resonate in my head.


    "Don''t touch it Chloe!"


    My father was executed with his head severed from his body.


    My father had realized that Aliza was being controlled by something inhuman.


    So he accepted Aliza as his daughter, treated me harshly to not provoke her, and surely sought a way to seal Mephisto, who nested in Aliza''s body, to protect me.


    And because he knew that, he was executed. In the Fountain Square, his head was cut off, and the people of the town, glaring at me with expressions of hatred, told me he was the daughter of the dreadful Duke Seigrit.


    I neither mourned nor grieved; I simply accepted the fact stoically.


    I didn''t know how to take it. I thought my father hated me, and that he was a traitor---but that wasn''t true.


    "...Chloe, don''t look."


    My eyes teared up. Julius embraced me, shielding the sight of the monster from my view.


    "Close your eyes. You shouldn''t see that."


    "Julius, that''s... that might be, might be my father who fell into the other world... we have to help, we have to...!"


    "If that''s the case, there''s only one way to save him... to kill him."


    I pressed my face against Julius''s chest, shaking my head. It was so painful. I couldn''t breathe properly.


    "Chloe. It''ll be over soon. Don''t interfere."


    "Painful... it hurts... painful... Chloe..."


    The monster, with a voice similar to my father''s but hoarse and ragged, repeated those words to me, as if pleading for help.


    Julius was right.


    The monster is the remnant of the dead who fell into the other world. My father was already dead.


    So, bringing him back to life was impossible. I couldn''t do anything. Not a single thing.


    At least--- I didn''t want to look away.


    Julius''s body moved away from me.


    I picked up the staff I dropped, straightened my back as much as possible, and stood upright.


    I gazed at my father''s face. Through the gaps in the chains wrapped around his face, intelligent eyes looked back at me.


    I felt like I heard a voice saying "Chloe" in my head.


    It wasn''t coming from the monster. It was my father''s deeply calm, difficult, and formal voice.


    Julius rushed towards the monster.


    The sword was still filled with the power of purification. Despite the situation, it was strangely beautiful to see white feathers scattered with each swing of the sword.


    Julius cut down countless skulls flying towards him and charged straight at the monster.


    Jumping up, he cleaved the monster in half from the top of the cross.


    The monster burst from within, its form collapsing.


    My father''s hand, freed from the broken chains, reached out to me.


    "Chloe, I''m sorry."


    Clear as day, my father said it.


    I wiped away the tears streaming down my face with my sleeve and bit my lip to suppress my sobs.


    Crying, screaming, it wouldn''t change anything.


    Considering Julius''s concern for me, it felt wrong to be overwhelmed by sadness here.


    As the monster disappeared, the makeshift scaffolding made of the giant hands of the castle, which had turned into an awkward object, began to shake and collapse.


    Julius rushed towards me, picking me up, and called out, "Helios!"


    Before the scaffolding collapsed completely, we leaped towards Helios, who descended from the sky, swooping with ease.


    Aliza''s body starts falling towards the ground. From Julius''s arms, I tried reaching out to her.


    As if sensing my intentions, Helios adeptly caught Aliza''s falling body with his feet and soared back into the sky once more.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 44 - Angels Descent - Part 3

    The collapsed royal castle has transformed into a mountain of rubble.On the ground, members of the knight order and court mages were fighting against the monsters overflowing from the gate to the Underworld


    I could see Cyril taking command from a distance.


    The gates to the Underworld, which were scattered like voids in the sky, one by one, seem to be closing and disappearing like mist, perhaps because Mephisto has departed.


    Heading towards Cyril, I notice that although his right hand was missing from the wrist down, the wound appeared to have been magically treated, as it was closed cleanly.


    "Chloe...! I''m glad you''re safe."


    Cyril, who was about to run towards me, stopped in his tracks upon seeing Julius, who had descended with me from Helios.


    Helios laid Aliza''s body on the ground.


    There was a gaping wound in her abdomen, and all the blood had already drained away, leaving her face pale but still beautiful.


    Seeing the drastically changed appearance of Aliza, Cyril opened his mouth with a solemn expression.


    "Medics, take Aliza. There''s no need for treatment, but... handle her body with care, as we mourn."


    Upon Cyril''s orders, some soldiers carried Aliza''s body away.


    Then, he turned towards us and bowed deeply.


    "Chloe... I''m sorry. My foolishness has caused all this."


    "Cyril-sama, now is not the time for reflection or regret. Let''s quickly deal with the overflow of monsters. We can think about everything else later."


    "Yes, you''re right. We have enough soldiers here. If possible, would you go to assist the capital?"


    "Yes, of course. With Julius-san''s strength, we''ll sweep through the monsters in the capital in no time. Right?"


    I looked up at Julius.


    With a disgruntled expression, Julius gazed at Cyril and spoke, "Amidst the chaos, I wanted to kill you, Cyril Astoria, but thanks to Chloe''s foolish kindness, you''ve survived."


    "Julius-san, why would you say something like that? It''s not the time for such talk. You shouldn''t intimidate people recklessly."


    I reprimanded him.


    "Silence, fool. Your sister and that one are equally guilty. Your sister died to atone for her sins, but that one is still alive."


    Julius replied calmly in response to my reprimand.


    He wasn''t  joking or enraged. His voice was calm and his gaze collected. He seemed to genuinely believe what he wad saying.


    "That''s right. It''s all my fault. Many people must have lost their lives. I, too, must consider how to live for redemption. But please, wait for me. I will surely redeem myself."


    Cyril said solemnly.


    "Cyril-sama, please don''t worry. I can''t say don''t mind about it, but for now, we must defeat the monsters to save as many people as possible. We''re heading to the capital. Please take care, Cyril-sama!"


    I pulled Julius'' hand and returned to Helios.


    Helios, once again soaring upward, headed towards the fountain square of the capital.


    In the square, several armed individuals who seemed to be mercenaries laid fallen. Among them, Roge, standing tall despite his wounds, noticed Helios flying through the air and waved vigorously.


    "Chloe-chan, Julius! I believed in you!"


    As Helios descended to the square with Julius-sama carrying me, Roge rushed over with a smile that looked like he might cry.


    Julius-sama deftly dodges Roge''s attempt to embrace us both and I end up being caught in the embrace.


    It was a surprisingly strong hug. I thought my internal organs were going to fly out of my mouth.


    Roge let go of me, and said, "I thought I was going to die. This time, not just you, Chloe-chan, but Julius also looks like an angel to me."


    Then he stepped back, preparing his greatsword, while Julius stood beside him.


    I stepped back and began chanting healing magic.


    Roge''s and Julius''s wounds began to close.


    I really wanted to heal the fallen soldiers as well, but it seemed impossible.


    Using magic more than usual today, I felt like I might run out of mana. It felt like I could only use holy magic one or two more times.


    Still, there was no despair. I was  okay. Because Julius was with me, I felt reassured.


    Gazing at his dependable back, I readied my staff. From alleys surrounded by houses, I could sense the ominous magical presence of monsters.


    "I''ll finish them off in five seconds, Chloe." Julius said without turning around to me.


    "Yes!" I replied loudly, though I doubted five seconds was possible.


    But with Julius, it felt like anything was possible.


    I heard Roge mutter enviously. "How nice, being so close."


    ---Five seconds may have been impossible, but subjectively, it felt like it was that quick.


    By the time we finished clearing out the monsters in the capital, the scenery was dominated by the orange light of dusk. So, in reality, it might have been a few hours.


    But it felt like no time at all.


    Thanks to Julius, me, Roge, the mercenaries, and the knights who came to assist after clearing out the monsters in the castle, all the monsters in the capital were defeated.


    By the time the medics took the injured to makeshift clinics, we could see the people of the city beginning to return.


    Having run out of mana, I leaned heavily on my staff, using it like a cane to support myself.


    Beside me, Julius, who had sheathed his sword, stood tall as always, his hair slightly disheveled but still maintaining his usual straight posture.


    In the distance, I could see Roxy and other townsfolk running towards us, calling out. s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Chloe-chan!"


    I looked up at Julius.


    He roughly tousled my head, causing my bandana, which had somehow disappeared, to be lost somewhere. My hair and face must have been a mess.


    But strangely, I felt proud.


    I glanced up at the sky, dyed orange by the setting sun, where Helios gracefully flew.


    ---The sky, as always, stretched endlessly, a symbol of freedom.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 45 - Days Ahead, Fresh Beginnings - Part 1

    While Roxy and the townsfolk were bustling around me, showing their gratitude rather overwhelmingly, Julius stood a little apart, keeping an eye on me.I could see children and elderly women heading towards Julius, likely to express their gratitude. Even some soldiers, who might''ve still held some resentment towards Julius, were offering their words of appreciation.


    Although Julius maintained his usual stoic demeanor with crossed arms and closing himself off, the grumpy response seemed to be quite endearing to the seasoned shopkeepers of the bustling market district. They commented, "That surly attitude compliments you well, Chloe!"


    Despite the recent fright from the swarm of monsters flooding the streets, everyone appeared to be in good spirits.


    Politely declining Roxy''s invitation to join in the celebratory toast, Julius and I decided to head back to my alchemy shop as usual.


    Roxy, despite receiving a few minor injuries, cheerfully bid farewell to the mercenary group and the shopkeepers, exclaiming, "Let''s have a drink to celebrate today!"


    Everyone checked in with each other''s safety and parted ways to their respective homes. Some might have faced injuries, and others could have lost their homes. The cleanup and emotional recovery ahead might be daunting, but the townsfolk remained resilient and optimistic.


    For a moment, I found myself gazing at their departing backs with an admiring gaze, as if beholding something radiant.


    Though there were scorch marks on some exterior walls and flower beds toppled over, the shops themselves seemed relatively unscathed.


    Julius, perhaps worn out from being approached by unfamiliar faces and expressions of gratitude, appeared slightly more irritable and fatigued than during the battle.


    And Helios, who had been joyfully soaring through the sky, returned to go inside his ring once the square emptied out.


    Silently descending into the now deserted square, Helios nuzzled against my neck for a while, seeking affection. As I stroked his smooth, glossy scales, I savored the adorable warmth he exuded.


    I wished I could continue caressing him indefinitely, but circumstances didn''t permit such indulgence.


    I longed for a spacious estate where I could spend every day frolicking with Helios. It would undoubtedly be a blissful life.


    Yet, Julius no longer objected to me touching Helios, seemingly resigned to our bond.


    The weary-looking Julius seemed to regain some energy when he saw Helios, and he smiled as he indulged Helios, who sought affection from me.


    His passion for dragons never seemed to wane.


    It felt like we were back to our usual routine, even though so much hadn''t returned to normal.


    But for now, I wanted to forget and pretend that everything was over.


    Back at the alchemy shop, we decided to take turns bathing and changing.


    When the discussion of who would bathe first arose, I felt a mix of guilt for Julius''s battered body due to the magical restraints and gratitude for his help, so I let him go first. Julius then jokingly asked if I wanted to join him, and feeling embarrassed, I quickly made my escape to the kitchen.


    I knew it was just a joke, but it still made me self-conscious.


    Being alone with him again made me unsure of what to do.


    Inside the house, everything seemed normal, with no noticeable damage.


    The soup simmering on the stove, a tomato-based one with beans and various leftover vegetables, along with some diced processed meat, seemed unharmed.


    As I watched the soup bubble away, I couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    The sight of bubbling red soup, with its mixture of beans and diced vegetables floating in it, reminded me of the swirling thoughts in my mind.


    Aliza was gone, Cyril had lost his hand, and yet my thoughts kept drifting back to Julius.


    It felt like I was getting everything wrong, especially considering the seriousness of the situation.


    "Chloe, I don''t have any clothes."


    Julius peeked into the kitchen.


    Despite wearing black trousers, his upper body was inexplicably bare, with a large towel draped over his shoulders.


    Water droplets dripped from his golden hair, and scars littered his well-built torso.


    "...But you have clothes! We bought plenty."


    I said, temporarily turning off the stove and gently pushing Julius back towards the bedroom.


    Inside Julius''s closet, several outfits hung neatly.


    We did laundry every day, so there should have been no shortage of clothes.


    Despite running out of magical energy, I used the last remnants to dry Julius''s hair with a gentle gust of warm air. s?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I quite liked watching his golden hair dry in an instant with a satisfying whoosh.


    Although his damp hair had its own charm, seeing Julius completely dry gave me a sense of accomplishment, akin to bathing a large dog and seeing it fully clean afterward.


    I had bathed a few large dogs before. In the early days when the alchemy shop wasn''t profitable, I did odd jobs like dog walking and bathing. Surprisingly, there were quite a few requests for such tasks.


    "The torn robe. I want that one."


    Julius requested, seemingly referring to the black robe that had been torn during our encounter with the northern demonic mountain.


    I had hidden it away with the intention of sewing up the tears and repurposing it as my own sleepwear, but somehow he knew about it.


    "I''ll buy you a new one, so please make do with something else for now."


    "...Can''t be helped."


    Julius grumbled, reluctantly pulling out a random set of clothes to wear.


    It was more of a loose-fitting, unadorned black outfit, slightly oversized for his frame. Watching him, I realized that Julius preferred comfortable clothes over anything else.


    Returning to the room, I decided to take a bath.


    The red apron dress was stained with blood in various places and torn. It was a shame, but it would be better to dispose of it. Perhaps Cyril would compensate me as an apology. If so, I could buy myself some nicer clothes.


    First, I needed to buy Julius his black robe.


    I wondered if Robert''s shop had survived unscathed. Knowing Robert, he probably managed just fine.


    "I''ll get some rest."


    Julius called out to me as I headed towards the bath.


    Waving my hand lightly, I replied, "Take it easy and get some sleep."


    Though it had been a routine exchange before, now that I was conscious of it, it felt oddly embarrassing.


    Could I keep going like this?


    I hadn''t even been able to express my feelings properly yet.


    And... this was all my fault.


    I didn''t understand it well, but the Mephisto that emerged from Aliza''s body spoke as if it knew me. I couldn''t defeat it.


    Meaning there might still be dangers ahead.


    Maybe Julius and Helios shouldn''t be around me anymore. As I sank into the warm water, the thought struck me.


    My heart ached. Feeling on the verge of tears, I submerged my head in the water, closing my eyes tightly, trying to forget my intrusive thoughts.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 46 - Days Ahead, Fresh Beginnings - Part 2

    Getting out of the bath, I had a new conviction.Confirming that Julius was still sleeping in my bed, I changed into a cream-colored dress with an apron to cover the lower part, keeping it clean.


    With a new determination, I used up all the stored food to prepare a meal and arranged it on the table.


    Though not much different from usual, there was bean soup, processed meat, fried eggs with cheese, sandwiches, stewed dried fish and vegetables seasoned with plenty of oil and herbs. I brought out two glasses and lined up a bottle of red wine.


    Lighting up the favorite grape flavoured owl-shaped alchemy lamp, it felt somewhat presentable, not quite like the extravagant noble dinners I once attended, but it would do.


    If only I could wear a dress, but it wouldn''t suit me now, and it was unnecessary.


    Even my hair was only long enough to tie into a single knot, not long enough to be tied up.


    When I went to call Julius, he unusually woke up on his own and peeked out.


    He must have woken up by the smell of food, being quite hungry. He hadn''t eaten anything since morning and had been active all day, so I was hungry too.


    "Dinner is ready. It turned out to be a big dinner because there were too many options for our first meal today, didn''t it?"


    "Ah... sorry. Didn''t you want to rest too?" Julius apologized and seemed to be trying to be considerate of me.


    I shook my head, feeling a bit unsettled inside.


    Usually, I would joke about Julius being kind or make light of the situation, but now it felt wrong to do so.


    "I''ll be fine. I hardly got injured and moving around helps distract me."


    Julius sat in front of the two-person wooden table.


    I poured wine into the glasses.


    The orange glow of the alchemy lamp on the decorative shelf by the window illuminated Julius.


    Outside the window, it was already night time. Darkness had gathered in the dim corners of the room, and shadows danced across the walls and ceiling with every movement like shadow puppets.


    I sat in front of Julius, feeling a bit hesitant before deciding to pour wine into my own glass. I thought it would be okay to drink occasionally.


    ---Especially on a day like today.


    "I caused you a lot of trouble today... Feel free to eat and drink without any worries. Tomorrow seems like it will be tough again."


    "Yeah, you''re right. There''s a chance I''ll be summoned to the castle to find out what happened. Don''t try to distance yourself from me unnecessarily this time."


    Julius''s words hit me like a nail, and I lowered my gaze to the red soup on my plate.


    With graceful movements, Julius quickly finished his soup and moved on to the stewed fish. It also disappeared from his plate in no time.


    I scooped up a spoonful of bean soup and tasted it.


    The acidity of the tomatoes mixed with the mellow sweetness of the beans filled my mouth. Feeling the warm liquid flow down my throat, I let out a sigh.


    I had to say it, no matter what. I had already made up my mind.


    "...Julius, I''ve been thinking."


    "It''s probably not good news. You don''t need to worry about unnecessary things."


    "J-Julius, please don''t jump to conclusions before hearing me out. This is important!"


    Dismissively, Julius took a bite of the sandwich with vegetables stuffed inside.


    His movements were elegant, yet he took large bites and ate quickly.


    There probably wasn''t any time to eat slowly on the battlefield, so maybe that was why he developed that habit.


    I haven''t even finished eating yet.


    Come to think of it, Julius has never complained about my eating speed.


    He seemed like he''d be the type to tell me to hurry up or something.


    Usually, he finished eating first and then watched me eat slowly while drinking tea or something afterwards. At first, I was self-conscious about being watched, but I''ve gotten used to it.


    Maybe he was just watching me because he didn''t have anything else to do. Once I realized there wasn''t any deeper reason behind his gaze, I stopped worrying about it as much.


    "Um... I... I didn''t know anything. I didn''t know that Aliza was suffering, or that my father was trying to protect me, or that Aliza... had a demon attached to her."


    "Your sister is probably relieved to be dead. She harbored resentment toward the world... It''s a familiar feeling. I can understand it."


    Julius spoke in a quiet voice.


    The golden lashes lining his downcast eyelids casted shadows on his cheeks.


    There was no sadness or regret in his tone, just a calm recitation of facts that weighed heavily on my heart.


    "Are you... like Aliza, too...?"


    Julius had once said that there were no humans worth protecting in this world. Aliza had said that this country didn''t matter.


    If Aliza found relief in death, then perhaps Julius...


    "Before you bought me... I didn''t want to live, nor did I want to die. I lived lazily because there was no one who could kill me. That''s all... But when I look at you... I lose the will to die."


    Julius paused his meal and spoke slowly, as if confirming each of his own emotions.


    "That''s right. You have Helios, who is important to you, right? And you are his father, right? If so, dying is not an option."


    I felt relieved and wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes.


    It might be selfish of me, but I wanted Julius to stay alive.


    And if possible, I wanted to help Aliza too. Regardless of the facts, I was Aliza''s half-blood sister.


    Even though Aliza had screamed that she hated having an older sister, her words also sounded like a desperate plea for help.


    "Julius, let''s remove the magical restraint on your neck. I don''t think of you as a slave anymore, and I don''t want to take away your freedom by imposing constraints."


    I conveyed my thoughts carefully, making sure my voice didn''t tremble.


    It was something I had been considering for a while.


    Julius wasn''t the type to needlessly take lives. He was just one of the soldiers who fought in the war.


    So there was no need for restraints. He didn''t have to obey my orders.


    He had already worked enough to pay for the expensive purchase.


    So I wanted him to be free now.


    He didn''t need to get involved in my problems.


    "And then? Are you planning to remove the restraints and let me go anywhere I want?"  Julius''s voice was laced with irritation.


    I couldn''t meet his gaze as he stared at me.


    "There might be someone waiting for you in the Dystiana Empire. And... the sky doesn''t belong to anyone, right? With Helios by your side, flying freely suits you."


    I managed to say just that.


    Words got stuck in my throat, and I couldn''t speak well.


    I tried to convince myself that it was okay, that it was right, but deep down, I was angry at myself for saying such things like a stubborn child.


    "Chloe. There''s only one more constraint left on the collar now. I won''t do anything you dislike. That''s all there is to it, so there''s no need to remove it. I''ll keep this as a memento... If you allow it, I''ll return to the Dystiana Empire. There are unfinished matters."


    Julius, who seemed irritated, played with the small golden padlock at the end of the black collar as he spoke.


    "Yes..."


    Was this really okay?


    The dishes on the table, which had looked so appetizing, now seemed tasteless, and despite being hungry, I had lost my appetite entirely.


    "I won''t do anything you dislike. It''s part of the contract of the enchantment on the collar. If you don''t want me to leave right now, there will be intense pain inflicted on my body. Do you understand?"


    Julius said with a wicked grin.


    I compared the magical collar to Julius''s face.


    Of course, I didn''t want that.


    Realizing that I had been tricked into agreeing to not remove the magical collar, I covered my face with both hands.


    This isn''t fair. Isn''t that unfair? Please, let me remove the magical collar...!


    "That''s why I told you not to think too much, you fool. There''s no one waiting for me in the Empire. There''s nothing I need to do there. Even if I were to gain freedom without you, all I''d do is wander aimlessly to some empty place and die."


    "Why would you say such things? It''s as if... as if you can''t live without me, and I... I..."


    I realized... yes.


    Why had I been so cowardly? When I was imprisoned in the castle, I had thought that if we ever met again, I would tell him.


    Because I didn''t want to involve him. Because it was dangerous. Because... because I didn''t want him to get hurt.


    All of it... everything because...


    "I... I love you, Julius."


    "Chloe."


    Julius called my name in his usual flat tone.


    I had confessed, but... I had tried so hard.


    He probably didn''t even care about me at all. Maybe he just saw me as the master who bought him with money.


    "You''re always so sarcastic, calling me a fool or an idiot, you''re unsociable and domineering... but... sometimes, you''re unfairly kind. I love you. That''s why I wanted you to be free, if it meant you might be in danger if you stayed close to me."


    Once I started pouring out my feelings, more and more emotions flooded in.


    It was painful, agonizing, my heart felt full to bursting. Tears flowed like a fountain, no matter how much I wiped them away, my palms remained wet.


    I felt like I had regressed into a small child.


    "Please forget what I just said. It''s a bother, isn''t it? I''m sorry..." S?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    With a heavy sigh, Julius stood up from his chair.


    Leaning forward over the table, his face drew closer to mine.


    Our lips touched ever so slightly.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 47 - Days Ahead, Fresh Beginnings - Part 3

    My lips, soft and slightly chapped, covered by Julius''s lips, instinctively hid themselves, pressing against my own hands.This, what just happened... a kiss, right?


    Breathing became difficult, my heartbeat loud enough to burst through my chest.


    My face felt hot, tears suddenly ceased.


    "Hurry up and eat. Or should I feed you?"


    "I-I''ll eat by myself... Wait, why did you..."


    "Is there a problem?"


    "A problem? Yes, there is. What just happened is something lovers do, and... Julius, you might be used to it, but, are you teasing me?"


    I stirred the bean soup in my bowl with the spoon, feeling red-faced, and started to eat, at least the soup, as I had been told to eat quickly.


    Why did I start eating now, of all times?


    Oh, what am I even doing?


    "Such feelings... I''m not used to them. I don''t know how to express it well, but... I want to touch you, Chloe... You''re the one who''s been turning me back into a human since I became a beast at fifteen and was enslaved by the Empire. I only need you."


    Julius spoke while watching me eat as usual, his blue and red eyes piercing through me.


    Like a clear blue sky or a sunset on the horizon, his eyes resembled an endless expanse of sky, and I briefly glanced back, feeling as if something tremendous had just been said.


    It was heavier and deeper than mere words of love, causing my body temperature to rise as if I''d suddenly caught fire.


    "...That''s... unfair." I murmured, setting down the spoon.


    I swallowed the soup in my mouth, staring at the empty soup bowl and the partially eaten bread.


    Although I had cooked a lot because I was incredibly hungry, it didn''t mean my stomach had grown larger.


    It was a good decision to leave the fish for Julius. As expected, I couldn''t bring myself to eat it.


    I took a sip of the red wine in the glass.


    I had bought it for those nights when I couldn''t sleep due to bad dreams, but I hadn''t had the occasion to drink it lately, so it had been quite a while.


    My throat felt scorched as the wine went down. I felt my body temperature rise even further.


    My body felt warm. Perhaps because my stomach was now full, I began to feel lethargic.


    Julius quickly finished the bread I left and then drank up the wine in my glass. He ate and drank well. He was muscular yet slender.


    When he first came here from the slave fighting arena, he was too thin, but compared to then, he seemed to have gained some muscle.


    Yet, his body still lacked any excess fat.


    I vaguely observed his protruding throat, shaped differently from mine, which moved differently as he spoke and swallowed.


    After finishing his meal, Julius stood up.


    As I also stood up, thinking I should start clearing the dishes, Julius pulled me close, his arms tight around me.


    "Julius...?"


    He held me firmly, his solid frame palpable through the fabric, his body slightly cooler than mine.


    Pressed against his chest, I could hear the pulsing rhythm of his heartbeat. The beating heart that signified life---Julius was alive, and he was here with me.


    Despite being born in different places and having different backgrounds...


    ...It felt like a miracle.


    "Chloe... I''m glad you''re safe. Don''t stray too far from me. Stay within reach." He murmured.


    "Yes... Julius, please... don''t go anywhere." I pleaded.


    "I won''t. I won''t disappear on my own." He assured me.


    As he held me tightly in his arms, I caught a whiff of the familiar scent of soap, the same one I use. I hesitantly reached out to touch Julius''s body.


    When you have something precious, you start to fear losing it.


    It was a terrifying feeling, but... I trusted that Julius would be okay.


    "Julius, I love you... so much. Thank you for saving me, for protecting me... I''ve been nothing but stubborn and cruel... Thank you for saving my father from the Underworld. I would''ve been helpless on my own." I confessed.


    "Forget about it. It was only meant to cause you suffering, driven by malice. Chloe, any pain that befalls you, I''ll endure it in your place. So... someday, I will surely kill that demon."  He vowed.


    "I... I hate demons too. They''re cruel, despicable... I hate them. So, I''ll fight too." I declared.


    "Yeah, that''s right... Our to-do list just got longer, Chloe. Earn money, buy a house, find a girlfriend for Helios, and then... exterminate demons."


    Julius said with a hint of amusement lingering in his tone.


    His tone, carefree yet determined, made me feel like I could accomplish anything.


    I nestled my cheek against Julius''s chest, seeking comfort in his embrace.


    There was a mix of embarrassment and relief, but the feeling of reassurance prevailed.


    "Yes. It''s going to be busy starting tomorrow. It was already busy today. I want to look into how to remove Julius''s slave mark. And the collar... should we take it off? I trust you, Julius, so it''s not necessary anymore, right?"


    "The collar... is fine. Since the constraints were put in place, I started considering what you wouldn''t like. Helping Cyril and not killing Aliza, it was all because of the collar. I... I can''t trust myself. With the collar, I can at least restrain some impulses."


    "I understand. But if you ever want it off, just let me know."


    I felt like I could somewhat understand Julius''s feelings.The cruel and cold Black Prince Julius.


    I didn''t think that was the true Julius, but the past and memories wouldn''t suddenly disappear.


    Just like how I used to be weak and powerless, Chloe Seigrit.


    Maybe Julius needed something, just like how I kept reminding myself that I''m the cute alchemist Chloe-chan.


    Julius might be strong, but he was just a human, a bit older than me.


    "Chloe, it''s about time you go to sleep."


    His words, far from gentlemanly, carried a hint of sweetness, contrary to his usual demeanor.


    I closed my mouth. He loosened his hold on me slightly. My vision blurred with a golden hue, so I lowered my gaze.


    Mother used to say that a prince would appear someday.


    He might have a sharp tongue and be rough, but... I loved Julius.


    So, I would be okay.


    No matter the sadness or pain, I can overcome anything and continue living. s?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 48 - Days Ahead, Fresh Beginnings - Part 4

    The messenger from the castle arrived the next day.The castle, transformed into a bizarre shape by the power of Mephisto, had returned back to a mountain of rubble with the disappearance of magic.


    For now, the people from the castle had moved to the temporarily safe northern palace, where they were conducting assessments of various areas and providing support for reconstruction, as Cyril welcomed me and Julius at the palace.


    Cyril, with his lost hand bandaged around his neck, informed us that his younger brother was currently handling the affairs in his place, as he was still not in top form.


    Guided by Cyril into the depths of the palace, Julius and I arrived at an empty, sterile room where a white coffin was placed.


    Inside the coffin lay Aliza, her eyes closed as if still in slumber. Aliza''s body was laid in the coffin, adorned with flowers.


    "I... hate Aliza. But... I also pity her."  Cyril spoke about Aliza.


    Julius, appearing disinterested, stood next to me with his arms crossed, gazing out the window.


    I stood before the coffin, clasping my hands together and praying for Aliza''s peace.


    "Cyril, it seems that... inside Aliza''s body, there was a demon named Mephisto that emerged from the gate of the underworld. Do you know anything about it?"


    I rose from my kneeling position on the floor and returned to Julius''s side.


    Besides us standing around the coffin, the room was empty.


    The guards were stationed outside the door.


    Not sure if it was appropriate to discuss openly, I asked Cyril in a low voice.


    "...A demon, huh... The underworld is where deceased humans fall. It''s said to have a heavenly realm where angels reside. Demons are... the opposite of angels. I''ve heard of it from researchers in the underworld of the Sacred Nation of Rashid, but not in detail. They''re secretive over there too."


    Cyril placed his hand over his mouth, speaking.


    If they were researchers from the Sacred Nation of Rashid, would they also know about Mephisto?


    Although they were neighboring countries, I had never been there. The Astoria Kingdom and the Sacred Nation of Rashid had a similar stance, as they were both being invaded by the Dystiana Empire. While not allies, their relationship was not hostile, and occasionally, they exchanged knowledge about the gates to the underworld from researchers or shared information about the locations of newly appeared gates or the creatures of the gates.


    "...Mephisto... escaped." Cyril murmured.


    Cyril''s parents had been killed by Aliza.


    In other words, Mephisto was the real enemy. That was true for me as well.


    "Both Chloe and Julius did well... The people of the capital are grateful to you. As am I."


    Cyril said, shaking his head and bowing to us.


    "Julius-san is really strong. I''m grateful to him too."


    I said, tugging at Julius''s sleeve and looking up at his face.


    Julius, glancing at me briefly from outside the window, let out a small sigh.


    Feeling affection in his sigh turning into a huff, I smiled.


    Julius furrowed his brows, seeming annoyed. It might not be the reaction one would expect from someone they like, but I found it amusing in a Julius kind of way.


    Cyril, as if seeing something dazzling, spoke while looking at us.


    "It may be odd coming from a sinner like me, but I shall bestow favor upon Julius Kraft. And also upon the Seigrit family''s reputation, Chloe."


    "Thank you. I don''t really care anymore, but... not having to worry about being pursued as a criminal by the country is still a relief."


    I said, sensing Julius''s impending complaint and beating him to the punch.


    Having spoken first, Julius seemed to swallow his words.


    "Chloe... No matter what I say now, it''ll just sound like an excuse... I don''t have much I can offer. Is there anything you want or need? That''s about all I can do, I''m sorry." Cyril said.


    "Cyril, is that... anything at all?" S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I asked.


    It might be considered ladylike to be reserved here, but I was no longer a lady.


    I had learned about the shrewdness of commerce from Robert, the weapons shop owner.


    "Oh, anything at all. If Chloe wishes for it, I''ve even considered returning the Seigrit family''s territory to you."


    Cyril replied.


    The Seigrit Duchy had been under the custody of the royal family after the duchy was attacked.


    I looked up at Julius, unsure of what to do.


    He just shook his head lightly. It seemed he was telling me to make the decision.


    "I don''t need the territory. It''s too much for me... Instead, if possible, could I have something else? You know the large green area near the west gate of the capital?"


    I asked.


    "Yes, there is one. The church that was once used as an orphanage was moved to another location on the outskirts of town due to inconvenience. It''s state-owned land, but it''s a neglected place with no use."


    Cyril explained.


    "Could you give that to me?"


    "The land?"


    "Yes. To tell you the truth, Julius-san has the most adorable wyvern. But, I can''t keep it freely in the central square where I live... I thought maybe in the western green area, I wouldn''t get in trouble for letting it roam around."


    I explained.


    It was the place I had been eyeing since I decided to build a house for Helios.


    It was a spot with nothing but a church standing alone in a field surrounded by trees, enclosed by a wooden fence that nobody really came near.


    It was large enough to graze sheep, but the land in the capital was expensive, so nobody thought to graze sheep in the city center.


    I had thought it would be a good location, close to shops, and since alchemical items were mostly made to order, not having a shop in the city center wouldn''t be much of a problem.


    "It''s originally Natalia-san''s house, so it''s not really mine to begin with." I said.


    "I don''t mind, but you saved the country, so I should give you something more..."


    Cyril trailed off.


    "The land in the capital is incredibly expensive, Cyril! This is more than enough. Besides, I''ve been wanting some land! Thank you so much, Cyril. Also, I''d like permission to keep my wyvern as a pet. Would it be okay to keep a wyvern in the capital without getting in trouble?"


    I asked.


    Cyril''s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then he smiled kindly.


    I felt like when Cyril and I were engaged, before Aliza came to the ducal house, he used to smile and talk to me like this. It felt... nostalgic.


    "As long as it''s not dangerous, I don''t mind. I don''t know much about wyverns, but if you say it''s okay, then it''s okay."


    He replied.


    "Yes! Wyverns are incredibly intelligent and adorable creatures!"


    I exclaimed, passionately discussing wyverns. Perhaps this was the first step in becoming a wyvern enthusiast like Julius.


    Julius must be delighted to have land where Helios can roam freely.


    Thinking so, I glanced at his face, but for some reason, he looked even more sullen than before.


    I wonder if something happened to make him angry.


    Maybe he''s upset because I made decisions without consulting him.


    "I intend to inform everyone of Aliza''s and the royal family''s crimes and make it clear. I''ll also inquire with the Coldman Company and consider punishment. I''ll promise not to lay a hand on you two again. I want you to rest assured... Also, I plan to abdicate the throne to my younger brother and devote myself to supporting the people affected by this recent turmoil in the country. Gates to the Underworld have appeared all over the kingdom, causing significant damage. There''s a possibility of more gates appearing in the future. I''m thinking of becoming a knight and dedicating myself to the extermination squads."


    Cyril said, his brows furrowing in regret as he looked at the coffin.


    I shifted my gaze back from the unhappy Julius to Cyril.


    His hand, covered in cloth, should have been missing from the wrist down. Cyril''s determination was admirable, but joining an extermination squad seemed inconvenient.


    "Cyril, if you entrust it to me, the talented and powerful Chloe, the Beautiful Alchemist, I''ll make you a wonderful and strongest prosthetic hand! Of course, it''ll come with a price tag, as alchemy is my profession, so even for a king like yourself, it won''t be free."


    I offered.


    "...Thank you. Yes, someday I''ll come to you for that. Julius survived three years in the slave arena with one eye crushed. I, too... Even with a useless arm, I want to become strong enough not to be a burden to the extermination squads."


    Cyril replied.


    "Is the conversation over? Then, Cyril Astoria... Let''s go, Chloe."


    Julius, who had been silent all this while, finally grew impatient to leave. I bowed deeply to Cyril and followed Julius out of the room.


    Cyril thanked us deeply as we left the palace corridors and stepped outside. The sky over the capital was clear and beautiful as always. Despite the sight of rubble, destroyed gardens, and broken walls, seeing soldiers clearing away the debris gave me a sense of reassurance.


    "Julius-san, there might have been more to discuss, you know. Why are you angry? Could it be... you''re jealous because Cyril and I were former betrothed?"


    I teased, pulling at Julius''s clothes as we walked.


    Of course, it was meant as a joke. Julius being in a bad mood was nothing new, and while our relationship might have changed slightly since yesterday, in many ways, it hadn''t changed at all.


    "I don''t like seeing you talking to him."


    Julius replied curtly as he stopped in the plaza in front of the main gate of the castle.


    Wait, did Julius just admit to feeling jealous?


    I was taken aback by this revelation, unable to fully process it, and before I could react, Julius gently kissed my cheek.


    Julius smirked at my stunned silence after his brief kiss, lifting the corner of his mouth in a sly smile.


    "Well, that shut you up. Surprisingly easy." He remarked.


    "U-um, if you tell me to shut up or be quiet, I''ll stay silent...! But, um, this kind of thing isn''t really good for my heart...so...um, it''s not good at all." I stammered.


    "Do you dislike it?" He asked, clearly enjoying my reaction.


    "N-no, it''s not that...! And, um, we''re outside, so..."


    I covered my face with both hands, feeling incredibly embarrassed. My cheeks were on fire, and Julius''s calm demeanor only irritated me further.


    "You mentioned going to the Sacred Nation of Rashid to learn more about that disgusting demon. But Rashid is also known for its dragons. Convenient."


    He changed the subject.


    "You were still listening properly, Julius-san. Are you planning to buy Helios-kun''s future bride?" I teased.


    "Female dragons are less common than males. It''s a possibility."


    He replied.


    "Dragons are expensive, aren''t they? I should''ve asked Cyril for money..."


    I mused.


    Perhaps because we were talking about dragons, Julius''s mood seemed to lighten. But I could understand his feelings as a dragon enthusiast.


    "Shall we head back, Julius-san? We''ve been busy lately, so let''s take it easy for now?"


    I suggested.


    "Yeah, let''s."


    "How about walking back for a change? If you''re okay with it."


    I proposed.


    "If that''s what you want."


    He agreed. Tentatively, I interlaced my fingers with his, and he returned the gesture with a firm and warm grip.


    "Let''s buy Julius''s favorite black robe at Robert''s shop on the way back."


    Such trivial everyday moments now seemed like such bliss.