Chapter 145: Storytelling

Today, whatever, even if I was forbidden by the royalty herself to pay her a visit at the castle as it was too dangerous for her cover, I'd go there and get it done with.

In the past, I tried to find my way to my human princess through the paths every nobleman should take. By entering the castle, basically. That was stupid. It almost got me caught.

Luckily enough, the royalty's apartments had two front doors. One was unavailable for me, but the other was a grand window. Sneakily working my way through the royal gardens and terraces, I spotted my window easily.

Times were warm. I climbed up with a few jumps. The window-front door was open.

"Hello~!"

The royalty turned to me, obviously scared and startled. "H-Hyawhat!? Th-This voice...! Well, Aoi again!" Stomping her foot on the ground, the girl lightly frowned, a faint flame of rage and embarrassment in her eyes.

Casually sitting down inside the window, I tilted my head and observed the noblewoman's reaction to being surprised wearing only a light nightgown. Hugging her voluptuous breasts, she hid from the surprise, but then revealed herself to me again.

Well, I guess people could be embarrassed over that, so I turned around.

When I told the girl to dress up, she stomped her foot again and pointed out, rather angrily, that she was just in the middle of that. Well, I knew the woman forbade me to see her here, but I could tell she was irritated even before I disobeyed her command.

"Anyway. Yup, Aoi," I saluted her with my hand. "In the flesh, Lady."

"Yes," she said, with a heavy sigh, picking back up the dress she had dropped in surprise. "What're you coming here for?"

"...You don't waste time, do you—"

"You be quiet, too!"

"...Ah."

Pressing the robe on her breasts, and told me that I could turn around. Well, that was the polite way to do it. She was still dressed very lightly, her robe didn't cover half of her feminine silhouette, but knowing the scheming princess, I guessed that if she was scoring points with me, that was okay. If she was willing to please the eyes of her knight-to-be private servant, surely the servant would only feel more love and devotion toward his master.

So she stood in front of me, walked to the window where I sat and pointed a strong finger at my face, leaning in, bringing her face close, and still frowning. She warned me: "I can't have my..." showing her delicate back, she peered at the closed doors," I can't have my maids—or anyone at all—know about you... being my servant and everything, remember?"

"Right," I said, jumping in. Running to her doors, she made sure they were locked before running back to me, giving me a karate chop on the head, "Bad Aoi! Bad!" and treated me like I was some kind of wild dog that needed to be tamed.

She either thought I was so stupid or she was so stupid herself. I understood her orders and I wasn't about to mess up. After all, if it meant allowing my elven princess to enroll in one of the greatest schools of the kingdom, I didn't want to lose this woman's protection.

Plus I didn't count how many times I told the royalty that with Mana Perception, I was always careful not to visit her at impromptu times.

"Get it?!" she added after a long pause, seeing I didn't mind her. "Mind me, boy!"

"Look," I turned to her, shaking my head. "Keep your voice down first, eh?"

"B-Bad Aoi...!"

"Good. ...Now, sorry, yes," I had to let her know one more time that I wouldn't blow my cover away thanks to some stupid mistake, but that she was entirely right. "I'm careful, though."

Casually, I made myself comfortable at her place and sat on the thickest bed I'd ever tasted. Lying down, I stared at the chandelier and ceiling, thinking about how I should answer the question she asked me earlier. As I did that, she didn't seem to mind my presence so much, sighed, "Uh... spacing out? You always do. I asked you a question, earlier," and got back to dressing up.

After a minute, she was done.

"Aoi." And after she was done, I was given a flick on my forehead.

"Ow."

"Shall I repeat? What is it that you're doing here, Aoi."

"...It's got to do something with my growth, Elina," I yawned."

"I noticed you were worn out, but are you so tired? If so, this place isn't where you should be—"

"It is," I cut her short. "This... 'quest' stuff I talked to you weeks back, it—"

"Let me first make it clear: Does your presence here have to do with your growth as my clandestine knight, boy?"

The noblewoman was being a pain, but I understood she had a lot to go about within just a day, unlike me. She asked that one question, but then she asked another, and then yet another. Basically, she was making it clear she didn't want me here. It took long before she was willing to even head out of her apartments, made sure she had an hour free for me, then came back.

I explained to her then. She wanted a powerful soldier, and, according to her own judgment, I wanted golds and riches and stuff only the wealthy had. Due to that, a relationship between the two of us was established. A strategic relationship so we both got what we wanted over our little trade.

From where she stood, the more power I had the better. By helping me out with the Main Quest — "What lies behind the story...?" she would gain as much as I do. And that's when I thought of mentioning it directly to her. "The Quest," I said, "what's about... some story...?" As usual, doing that, I was pretty hesitant.

The Game's storyline never failed to support me, however. I mean, the princess was still hesitant and ostensibly unwilling to grant me my request. She most likely thought I was mostly messing around with her. Still, she eased up, came to sit on the side of the bed, and decided to be an educator.

"Aoi," she said, sighing. "Fine. You know what I'll do? I'll tell you a story. A story you'll have to learn from. Listen, being a bad Aoi isn't acceptable, do you understand?"

The last time I was told a story, it was at the restaurant and it resulted in my arising from a certain witch's cauldron. I looked forward to her tale, not knowing that it would be pretty much the same. What lies behind the story?

After we exchanged a few lines back and forth, still talking about my justification for being here among other things, I rolled to the other side of the bed, tucked myself under the pile of folded blankets, and made way for Elina to lie beside me. As if it were natural, she did sit next to me before she let herself be all comfy and slid her back down next to me.

At long last. I didn't think it would be so easy, but... Ring! The quest's instructions were completed.

❮ New instructions: Hear the Ancient Tales from Princess Elina. 0/1 ❯

The name "Ancient Tales" sounded familiar, but I thought nothing of it.

And the princess thought. If thinking was an exercise, she practiced it a lot. With the comment she made earlier, I thought she already had something on her mind, but probably not. It took her long to come up with one.

Lying on one end of the bed, I was absent-mindedly peering at her face, her furrowing brows and pursed lips. Silently nodding, before long, the storyline of the Game's quests was followed and I was told a story.

When I first met this silly girl, back then, I agreed to let her treat me like a child if she felt more comfortable that way, but today, she probably overdid it.

"...How did my uncle begin those tales again...? Hmm... Right: This telling is for every misbehaving child—I indeed said to every one of you little misbehaving punks! ...Exactly this! Pfft, the chills I felt every time his one remaining big eye was set upon me and my brothers! Yes. The story is related that way. This is the story about... I think my uncle called them 'the Ancestors'... and the evilest, fierce, and hideous monster of their time...

"The Ancestors, yes, and the monster we call 'Mana.'"

It was just an instant, but I felt my heart trembling at these words. Aching, even. I didn't know why. I couldn't tell why. All I was reminded of, during that brief second was that I had a skill. It was called "Mana's Benediction."

It was just an instant, and then, I heard a murmur in my ears. The voice was so faint. Also, it sounded just like the System's feminine robotic voice, except it wasn't so monotone and listless when it spoke then:

❮ My Skill... for my sake... you have to discover the truth... ❯

❮ Discover the truth. ❯

❮ 0/1 ❯

The princess' story went on for a minute or two, then she noticed. "...Oh? Aoi? Still here? ...Wait...! When did this kid fall asleep?!"

I didn't know what happened either. It felt like I was here, still listening to the Ancient Tales, yet at the same time, I felt away. So far away. To distant lands and forsaken countries. To faraway times and ancient territories.