Chapter 267: Step Up, Not (2)

“Jiwon-san, may I enquiry what it is you are going to prepare for tonight’s feast?” A girl around 14 years old. She had platinum blonde hair, her irises glowing in a cyan-green colour.

“Your Highness. To explain briefly. It would be a large seafood platter with a mixture of cold and hot foods. The cold aspect including foods like raw salmon, seaweed, fresh sea urchin meat, squid and fish roe. The warm aspect to include grilled small shellfish, eels and tuna. Finishing it with various fish sauces for each.”

“It’s amazing how you are to articulate something of this complexity. I can’t wait to try.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

Her HIghness Siesta’s presence in the kitchen did much to increase the tension in the room. And it wasn’t like the chefs could just tell her to leave.

Stare—

Jiwon was slicing the killer tuna into fillets, all the while being conscious of Her Highness Siesta’s stare.

Stare—

Her Highness Siesta wasn’t moving, standing there, watching, observing, staring. Jiwon was staring to grow a little uneasy. 

Stare—

“Your Highness. The temperature of the kitchen is rather warm and unpleasant. How about returning to your room to rest. You must be tired after planning arrangements for tonight’s event.”

“There’s no need to worry, Jiwon-san, It wasn’t like I played anything major in the preparations to begin with.”

“...” Jiwon didn’t know what else to say.

He placed the tuna aside, and began cracking open the oysters.

“I heard oysters can be eaten raw.”
“Yes, Your Highness. That’s correct.”
“...”

“...”
Was she trying to imply something?

An awkward ball fell in between the two.

Why was Her Highness being so obstinate today.. no. Jiwon knew that she had been attentive of him ever since he returned to the castle.

He came for one reason: to disprove the rumors. 

Hearing that the students he failed to save returned alive? It was one of the greatest jokes in history. Laura had hinted to him about it, but he failed to take notice until he overheard the conversation from knights having a late bout at a well-known tavern.

He wasn’t able to disprove what he thought was false, because Aoki Kaito, Takata Sayu and Her Highness Alytia actually made it out alive– their explanation to their survival was an external factor– the Goddess of Comfort.

This Goddess was also the reason why Laura was able to return to this life with her memories.

It was a blessing.

But Jiwon was sceptical. Who was this Goddess? Why this cycle? Why now?

Was this Goddess here to help him, or was the Goddess going to hinder his plans?

Stare–

And since Jiwon had made it all the way to the castle to prove the rumors, he thought maybe to let loose a little with his students. Part of it was out of regret, that he had failed to protect them, the other half was that the students wanted him to explain his story. He decided to stay back.

Stare–

The Goddess of Fate Moirae knew little about the Goddess of Comfort. But hearing the description of the Goddess in question from Kaito, Moirae expressed confusion. She told Jiwon that the Goddess of Comfort had blue hair, not black. Which only deepened the mystery.

Stare–

From what Jiwon knew, Moirae was giving lessons to the heroes at the training grounds. 

Stare–

“What is it, your Highness?”

Siesta stared at the freshly cracked oysters.

“You wish to try some?”

Siesta nodded.

“Al..” Jiwon was about to pass her one when he recalled the promise he made to Laura, he merely tried to toil the soil surface.. but it dug a hole instead, “Is it alright if you waited for the evening? That way, you can fully experience the cuisine without having to taste the ingredient’s lack.”

“Do you not have trust in your skills?”

“No. That’s not what I’m implying Your Highness.”

“Then isn’t it alright if I tried it as is? I’m sure someone as excellent as yourself wouldn’t lose on a chance to have the princess of the empire taste the quality of these ingredients before being served to everyone else?”

“...”

His gravestone just arrived to the site of his grave. What could he do to get out of this predicament? 

Jiwon had never been good with words.

The way Her Highness Siesta pulled him into a series of traps was something he hated. 

“Just a little.. isn’t it alright? Or is there some reason you can’t?” Siesta begged.
“Your Highness, you shouldn’t try and poke a nest of goblins.”

“So what if I am?”

“You’ll regret it,” He suppressed the urge to kill her, trace amounts of bloodlust leaked into the surroundings. Some of the chefs froze, but Siesta stood firm.

They stared at each other for a while. The bloodlust gradually withdrew.

This princess wasn’t normal– that was what Jiwon knew. 

“Should I say it bluntly? Are all heroes as dense as people say? Jiwon-san?”

To those words of her’s Jiwon only felt the crease on his face deepen. 

This was ridicule. Her true nature was showing.

“Is it that difficult to request a taste of your cooking?”

A verbal roundhouse kick to the face. All the chefs in the kitchen turned their way for once. A pressure of a different kind bore down on Jiwon’s shoulder.

He cursed in his heart.

This princess was really.. too bold.. too capable. She knew what to do to manipulate those around her.

Jiwon sliced up a lemon, took a shucked oyster and severed the part that attached the meat from its shell. Squeezing a little bit of the lemon, he passed it to Her Highness Siesta.

“What?” Jiwon held it out to her, but she wasn’t taking it, both hands grabbing onto her dress tightly– her lips quivered.

“I-I don’t want to dirty my hands..”

“D..” Jiwon almost cursed, “Open your mouth.”

“R-Really?” Siesta’s shocked, embarrassed expression took Jiwon off guard.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“No.. thank you..” she closed her eyes, tilted her head and parted her lips.

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Jiwon brought the oyster to her mouth. Siesta shut her eyes tight, allowing the oyster to slide through. Once the meat had left the shell, Siesta placed her hand on her lips as she savoured it.

“Delicious,” her eyes seemed to sparkle.

In contrast to that magnificent glow that seemed to envelop Siesta, there was a growing black fog at the entrance of the kitchen.

“I apologize on her before,” the maid, El said.

“That womanizer..” Laura grounded her teeth.

 

===

 

‘We’ll not be going. It’s impossible to stop the rumors anymore anyways. It’s only going to cause more problems if we intervene,’ was the message Laura received.

The sun was setting, night could be seen approaching. Winter was receding, snow thinning away.

‘And as for the plan to talk to them to resolve the misunderstanding. It’s a good idea. We’ll tell Her Highness Siesta about it too.’

Gazing at the view of the kingdom from above, the mansions, buildings, churches, farmlands, the fishing dock, manufacturing sites, cobblestone streets– Laura recalled those moments of her past– those memories–

She knew, though didn't actually remember, that she became a lich in this very ballroom.

“It’s familiar.”

“Huh?”

Nakano Rika had approached the railing which Laura was leaning on. Rika was a hero possessing the Unique skill [Dragonewt]. This was a skill which made any dragon-related creatures fond of her, this included wyverns and lizard-type subspecies.

“Sorry, did I scare you?” Rika showed a smile.

Familiar.. right. Rika was the one who purified her corruption. She was the one that took on that lich.

“You remember?”

“Remember?”

“Nothing,” must have been her imagination– was what Laura thought. It would be utter ridiculousness if there were more people that knew of the truth of the first life..

“This scene, it’s exactly like the game I played once.”
“Is that so..”

At least this disproves Laura’s suspicion. 

“I wonder when I’ll finally find a dragon worthy of my calling, there’s something out there in the wilderness, across those mountains,” Rika swept her gaze across the mountain rage afar, the barely visible snow caps that seemed to bubble into the sky, “How about you? How are you faring in preparation to defeat the demon lord?”

Laura felt a sort of thorn in her heart.

What would the people think if she revealed that she was conspiring with a demon lord? For how long should this be kept a secret?

Noel had given her the green light to pass on the message to Jiwon– that he was but a bystander– and that they had a common enemy: the future Demon Monarch.

“There’s still room for improvement, I suppose,” Laura said.

“Spirit magic right? I wonder what kind of spells you can use… Moirae-dono is really amazing, to be able to forge light and space into those weapons, if you’re on par with her strength, what kind of chance does that demon stand a chance against us? What do you think?”

Rika was worried. Something inside her– she knew that it wasn’t as simple. Laura, Moirae and Jiwon. Putting aside Moirae who Jiwon introduced as someone he had not met during the first life, the fact that he and Laura were so powerful yet lost– miserably, Rika couldn’t fathom the scale of destruction and war she would have to participate in-in the near future.

“I’m sure–”

Laura wasn’t lying. Knowing that the creator of the world had descended to this world, what are the chances of things failing?

Laura had speculated that it was all a false hope when she learnt that Noel and Liliath were true demon lords, not to mention, the Demon Monarch’s previous wife, Rinalanashina. However, the more she thought about it, the more it didn’t add up. The fact that she didn’t meet Liliath, the fact that there was a 13th Goddess in this world that was supposed to only have 12, and how she was given this chance of a second life–

“– we’ll win this time around.”
“Must be because of the Goddess of Comfort, isn’t it?”

“Um..”
“You know her personally, don’t you?” Rika’s eyes narrowed to a reptilian slit. The intensity of it wasn’t nearly as pressuring as the Rika Laura knew from her first life.

“Did Oppa tell you?”

“A wild guess. I saw Her Highness eating yogurt ice cream..”

Recalling that memory, Laura couldn’t help but pop a vein and clench her fists.

She wondered how she put up a perfect poker face when she passed her the ice cream. It was probably because of that maid, El. Yes. Laura found her endless apologies guilt inducing.

“And Her Highness said it was from you.”

“What’s wrong with her.. is she trying to mess with me?”
“Um.. Who are you talking to?”

“No one..” it was a slip of the tongue. 

Her Highness Siesta—

It wasn’t Moirae that she needed to watch out for, but this manipulative princess.

“My, a pleasure to meet the two of you,” a voice boomed behind them.

When Rika and Laura turned around, they found themselves standing in the presence of the first prince of Erudite Kingdom, Raschl. Shiny blonde hair, white ceremonial clothes, a gold-red guard covered both his shoulders. Badges of various achievements clung to his upper right chest.

He smiled, golden eyes glimmering.

“Your Highness Raschl Erudite. What occasion would grant us this chance to be graced by your presence?” Laura lowered her head.

“Pleasure to meet your highness,” Rika said curtly as she was neither proficient nor did she want to look impolite.

“I came to say my greetings. How are you faring? Rika-dono, I heard you were able to show impactful growth in this short winter. My sincere words of thanks to serve the defence of the kingdom. And Jiwon-dono’s future spouse Laura-dono? May I wish you two the best.”
“T-Thank..” Rika said, blushing a little.

“Your Highness, as you grow exceedingly renowned by the day with future achievements, I pray for your good health, by the blessings of the Goddess of Nature.”

“You flatter me. Please enjoy this evening to the utmost. If your elven family faces trouble, don’t be troubled to call upon my help. The military is in need of some action you see..”

“I will keep that in mind,” Laura suppressed her shiver.

When the prince left, Rika let out a sigh.

“It's scary to be around someone like that.”
“I will have to agree..”

Laura knew very well that the prince was trying to garner the goodwill of the people..  elves included. Which was why he didn’t overstep his boundaries and kept his greeting short. If everything made sense, the most probable explanation was that he knew of Laura’s identity as a royal elf.

That said.. It was as if he knew that something was going to attack the world tree. Was this all plotted? When Laura thought back, she realized that there was indeed something fishy going on.

Laura had experienced many cycles in the past, and knew of elves that participated in demon lord subjugation. Intuition played an important role, and so did foresight..

But..

Reflecting on her past mistakes, Laura thought maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to predict the worse. With the external influences of higher beings like Noel, the future had entered this state of volatility– as if fate had disappeared from their world– that there was no longer a linear outcome to the war.

It should be alright. There would be another 2 seasons before the war began in the elven territory.. even then, she had already taken the steps and precautions to prevent the successful infiltration for the past year.

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