Chapter 99

"That, what's that…."

"Shh!"

I put my index finger to my lips.

Then, I cautiously muttered, keeping an eye on Dad, who was hammering away in the distance.

"I should only tell the priest…."

"Hmm? Only me? Oh, what's going on? Wait a moment. What, what should I do with this… Ah."

Zadkiel clutched his head, pacing back and forth, not knowing what to do, and finally,

"Princess, this way."

With a serious expression, he took my hand and led me out of the tent.

* * *

Inside the carriage on our way back from the temple service.

Dad stroked my head, looking proud.

"Our princess, you worked hard today."

"No, I wasn't tired at all. Dad worked harder, Mom. Dad is amazing. The temple looks so much better after just one day."

"Ahaha! That's right, of course. Dad is super strong!"

"Right! Yaaay, Dad is the best!"

"Princess is the best too! My angel! Mmmmm~!"

Feeling happy, Dad grabbed me and kissed my cheeks.

I don't really like these cheek-squishing kisses, but I'll let it slide.

Because my mood is as good as Dad's right now!

'This, this. Could my efforts have advanced the revolution by at least five years?'

I grinned.

This temple visit really brought unexpected rewards.

"Ah, right. Princess!"

"Hmm?"

"Dad has to go to Uncle Axiom's house today. For Cheshire's training."

"Wow, really? I want to go too!"

"Are you sure you won't be tired?"

"Of course! I want to see Cheshire too!"

It's been a while! I clenched my fists and waved them excitedly.

"…Huh? Why are you so excited?"

But Dad was looking at me with sleepy eyes.

What's with that sly smile?

"Huh…."

Was I too excited about Cheshire?

I felt embarrassed, so I quietly lowered my hand and looked out the window.

* * *

At the Librue Duke's residence.

I sat quietly in a corner of the training ground, watching Dad and Cheshire train, lost in thought.

'When will Cheshire become a Swordmaster like Dad?'

Cheshire is already strong, but he needs to be even stronger.

More precisely,

'He needs to be strong enough to beat our Dad.'

Just then, Cheshire approached me, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Cheshire!"

I smiled and quickly handed him water.

"Drink! You're working hard today, aren't you?"

"Thanks."

"Hehe."

I rested my chin on my hand and looked lovingly at Cheshire as he sat down next to me.

"…What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Hehe. Nothing, nothing."

The only one who can cut off the final villain, the emperor's head.

The protagonist who will bring a happy ending to this world.

"Hehe. I like you."

I suddenly hugged Cheshire's arm and clung to him.

"Ah."

Of course, I was pushed away in a second.

"…Sorry. I smell. I've been sweating a lot."

"I don't smell!"

"…I do…."

Tch. You just don't want to be close to me.

I pouted.

"You said you didn't like Dad's excessive training, so why are you working so hard?"

"…."

Cheshire flinched for some reason and answered slowly.

"…I have to work hard. Uncle came all the way here."

"Hmm."

Well, it's a good thing because learning from Dad will help him become a Swordmaster faster.

"But, Cheshire."

"Hmm?"

"How do you become a Swordmaster?"

"What, like Uncle?"

"Right."

"I'm not sure either."

Cheshire replied.

"Didn't you know? It was the first thing Uncle said when we started training. Didn't you know?"

"What? About becoming a Swordmaster?"

"Right."

"Really?"

I opened my mouth wide.

It seems that in this world, Enoch Rubinstein was the first Swordmaster, a staple in fantasy novels.

'I didn't know that.'

As expected, this novel gives all the good things, like stats and spotlight, to the protagonist.

"I see."

I rested my chin on my hand and looked at Dad, who was still training the soldiers after teaching Cheshire for a long time.

He doesn't seem tired at all, even after doing all the work at the temple.

That… monster!

'Can Cheshire beat my Dad?'

I suddenly felt a bit down.

In the original ending,

The one who first draws his sword against the emperor is our Dad.

The emperor, with no choice to survive, uses his remaining life force to brainwash Dad.

And he ages rapidly.

'It was all Dad's plan.'

To prevent Primera from doing anything, he had to drain the emperor's life force.

In the end, the brainwashed Dad and Cheshire fight each other.

If Cheshire can subdue Dad without killing him and then kill the emperor, it's over.

That's why Cheshire needs to become a Swordmaster.

He needs to be as strong as Dad to fight him and subdue him without killing him.

"Sigh."

But Dad is too strong….

I sighed inwardly, looking at Dad, who didn't show any signs of fatigue.

"…?"

I felt a gaze. Turning my head, I saw Cheshire staring at me.

"Why?"

"Do you like being strong?"

"Hmm?"

"Like Uncle."

"Ah, yeah. Strong is good. Dad is cool, right?"

"…Yeah."

The conversation fell silent.

After a while, Cheshire spoke.

"You can't marry Uncle."

"Eh?"

"Family members can't marry."

"…? I know that."

What's he talking about all of a sudden?

"I thought you didn't know, so I'm telling you."

Cheshire said firmly, like a teacher explaining something.

I was taken aback.

"Why would I not know? I'm not stupid."

"You said you'd marry Uncle when you grow up."

"…?"

What is he talking about? I was puzzled, but then I realized.

"Ah!"

"I'm going to marry Dad when I grow up!"

—That's just a playful phrase that fathers and daughters often use.

I do it with Dad too.

'Sigh, this silly Dad. He must have been telling everyone that his princess said she'd marry me…'

He must have been joking around.

I shook my head.

"That's just a joke! I know family members can't marry. I'm not really stupid!"

"…."

Cheshire stood up with a serious face.

"Where are you going?"

"To train."

"But you just rested a little."

"I'm done resting."

"Eh. Let's eat pudding first. Auntie Maria said to eat pudding with you."

"No, you eat it."

Cheshire straightened the wooden sword he was holding and glared at something.

In the direction of Dad and the soldiers.

"I'll get stronger quickly."

"Hey? Cheshire! Wait!"

He went back to training before I could stop him.

"Ugh. Pudding…."

I guess I'll have to eat it alone.

I was looking forward to a sweet time with him after seeing him for the first time in a while.

"I'll get stronger quickly."

It's good that he'll get stronger quickly.

I stopped walking into the house, turned around, and grinned.

Beyond the low wall of the mansion, in the center of the city,

the tall and grand imperial palace stood.

'There will be chaos soon, won't there?'

The divine revelation that came to the lowest of the low.

The emperor's teachings, which discouraged treating commoners and non-magicians as humans, will be challenged.

Those who revered the emperor like a god will be thrown into confusion.

This will be the beginning of the end of the emperor's absolute power, and it will gradually crumble.

I resumed my light steps into the house.

'Hmph, you're not the only Primera.'

I am also a Primera.

* * *

Four days later.

In the emperor's office.

"The revelation has come down."

Ramon, the advisor, reported to Nicholas, who was busily scribbling on documents.

Nicholas didn't even look up, continuing to write.

"Revelation?"

An unfamiliar, ancient word.

Something from a few hundred years ago, like an ancient legend.

"What's this all of a sudden?"

Nicholas chuckled and continued writing.

"Is it so urgent that the High Priest has to put on a show?"

"…It's not a revelation to the High Priest."

Nicholas's hand, which had been moving for a while, stopped.

He finally looked up to see Ramon's pale face.

"What is it?"

"The revelation was received by a young priest named Zadkiel Terrot at the Seraph Temple."

"Seraph?"

The Seraph Temple is a gathering place for scum.

The old-school faction that doesn't obediently follow the emperor's will.

They shout about cheap justice and sacrifice, causing trouble everywhere….

So, it's like

a cesspool of people who only say the right things, like Enoch Rubinstein.

"What kind of revelation?"

"Here it is."

Ramon trembled as he placed a piece of paper on Nicholas's desk.

[The faith of my loyal followers has reached the heavenly temple.

I bestow my blessings upon the followers of Seraph who have silently upheld my will despite persecution.

When the moon in the sky is full for the first time after my departure,

all the sick people cared for by the followers of Seraph will be healed simultaneously, as if washed clean, and will rise from their beds.]

Nicholas's eyes sharpened as he read it.

"According to the interpretation of the High Temple…."

Ramon added cautiously.

"On the last day of this month. That is, when the full moon rises…."

"…."

"…The revelation states that all the sick people cared for at the Seraph Temple will be miraculously healed, all at once."