Tensei Oujo wa Kyou mo Hata o Tatakioru Chapter 96

"There's a lot of sharp rocks around here, so make sure to watch where you're walking."

   To my most trusted knight, Sir Leonhard.
   How are you doing on this scorching hot day?

"Hey. Your feet are shaking all over. Are you okay?"

   Even though I've just arrived at Flamme, it felt like I haven't seen Sir Leonhard's face in forever.
   We've just departed and I'm already homesick. Makes you want to laugh, doesn't it?

"Hey Marie, can you still communicate with us humans?"

   If I close my eyes, I can still see the stretches of our homeland. Someone waving to me from the other side of the river where a flower garden had spread. I can't remember it too well, but it feels kind of nostalgic… Oh, I know-

"This is hopeless. Hey, mister. If you don't help her, she'll really bite the dust."

"Marie! Get a hold of yourself! Do you even know what I'm saying!?"

"…Three years ago…before grandma died…" I coughed violently.

"Marie!!"

   And after I caught a glimpse of Wolf's face, my consciousness blacked out and I crossed over to my grandmother's side of the river. The End.

********

"Here, have a drink."

   I grabbed the water bottle while trembling. It's a mystery how I actually got it out of his hands and safely brought the bottle to my mouth. The feeling of water running down my throat…it felt beyond amazing. After sipping a few more times, my head finally cleared.

"I've returned from the dead."

   I say that, but I didn't even die in the first place. Thanks, brain. Helpful as always.
   What the h.e.l.l was I thinking? Who was the grandma that died three years ago? My grandparents pa.s.sed away before I was even born, and my grandmother from my previous life was even in better shape than I was. Last time I checked, I even died before her.

"It seems you've come back to the realm of the living. That's good to hear. You were breathing so strangely that I was at a loss at what to do. All I heard was kofuu~ kofuu~"

   Can't deny that. I thought I was Darth Vader back there.
   I couldn't speak then because not only was I out of breath, but my feet were both sore and rough. To top it off, I'd nearly crossed the life and death border.

   But in the end, the outcome was obvious from the start.

"You're a princess that's been pampered in a castle. Of course trekking through mountains would be impossible…"

   Our high but dizzying alt.i.tude had an amazing view. I could see where the green forest met and spread all over the red earth. When I looked to the far side, I marvelled at the stunning horizon.

   We were currently on top of a mountain southwest of Flamme.
   Basically, I was in the middle of climbing before I blacked out…how did it end up like this?

"This is the result of your own doing. Just accept it and give up already."

"Ugh…"

   I gave a small groan once faced with the undeniable truth, but I didn't force the issue any further.

"Should I carry you? You've clearly reached your limits."

"You'll just tell Father about helping me, won't you?" I looked at Crowe.

"Oh, but of course! 'Your Majesty, would you believe I had to drag our pampered princess all the way up a mountain?' Something like that."

"Even if I have to crawl, I will climb this all by myself." I immediately shot down Crowe's taunting comment.

   As I said those biting words, my face became visibly irritated. When I think about it, I make all sorts of obvious expressions, huh. I'm sorry to disappoint anyone who thought I was a cool and emotionless type of character.

"I'll carry her. She's my precious employer, after all."

   Wolf gently patted my head. Looking up at him, I noticed he was watching me with warm eyes. It was a gaze full of affection. It was so embarra.s.sing that I didn't know where to look.

"I haven't promised you anything yet." I muttered quietly, my insides churning with complicated feelings.

   Wolf still smiled softly at me, his voice gentle, "I know that."
   Honestly, I felt conflicted once he gave me that smile. I didn't know what Wolf was thinking; not now, and not back then.

'Would you kindly become our Master?'

   When he said that back then at the house, I was at a complete loss for words. On top of that, my brain decided to stop working. Behind me, Crowe had whispered, 'Now that's just cruel,' in his most pitying tone.

   Did Wolf really wish for me to become the Kua Clan's Master? Or was there a hidden goal? All this time and I still couldn't find his real intentions.

   And even if he truly wanted me as their Master, it's not something I can answer so easily.
   I certainly needed their help, there's no doubt about that. However, hiring the whole clan could spell its own troubles if I didn't think this through.
   But if I said no, well, that wouldn't work either. I wanted the medicine, all that they could give me.
   If I wish to stop the spreading of the disease, then I should definitely take him up on his offer. In the end, I'm still hesitating. I wasn't ready to accept it.

   Realising my own cowardice, I halfheartedly postponed my answer. And as he waited for that reply, I was heading off to see the Kua Clan in the flesh. How cunning of me.

"You don't have to make a face like that."

   I didn't know what face I was making, but I'm sure it wasn't a happy one. Wolf rubbed my head to comfort me, an apologetic smile appeared on his face.

"Delaying your answer wasn't a bad idea. After all, there's still a lot of things I have yet to tell you."

"Yep. Though you seek the princess to become your Master, you're still being vague. Are you following the intentions of your clan as the next chieftain, or are you fulfilling your own ambitious goals?" Crowe joined in.

"You're quite the sharp one."

   When Crowe mockingly clasped his mouth shut, unwilling to speak any further, Wolf's eyes narrowed dangerously.

   The exchange just now was tense, but it did bring a few things to my attention. What were the Kua Clan's intentions? Why would a clan that stubbornly refused to have a Master all this time be looking for one now? I wonder if they'd even follow a little girl like me.

   Crowe and I stared at Wolf, pressing him for an answer. He wore a troubled face as he started scratching his cheeks.

"Well, I'm sure there are many things you'd like to ask, but could we keep it for later? Let's get going now. I wanted to travel a little bit further before nightfall. I'm sorry that you'll be seeing the place at night rather than in the day." Wolf said as he carelessly kicked the rock at his feet, sending it flying.

   The terrain around here was full of rocks making it hard to sleep on. Small breaks aside, it's not a suitable place to set up camp at night.

   I nodded and stood up.
   My feet were still staggering, but my breathing was back to normal.

   Alright, I can do this… Probably.

"Do you wished to be carried, princess?"

   I gently stared daggers back at a certain soon-to-be unfortunate bird.

"Ah, wait. You said you would still go on even if you had to crawl, didn't you?" He continued.

"You're a real piece of work. As stubborn as a mule."

"You've only realised that now?"

   Crowe laughed cheekily at me, but I just ignored the noise and began to walk, leaving him behind.

TN: Rose is back! Discord is still here!

EN1: Well, this was easier than the last chapter! Thank the lord! Also, I'm really starting to like Crowe. I love how snarky he is, what a guy. Lutz is still best boy, though. Down below is an accurate summary of this entire chapter. Wolf is a rock murderer, Rose is obsessed with tea, soap, and oysters (weird mistranslations from Google-senpai), and Crowe is a fedortoting, shade-throwing rapper.

EN2: