Chapter 52: Chapter 52

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: An Unfortunate Encounter

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Following Iris, I walked, feeling more nervous than I had ever been in my life.

And why wouldn't I be? I was cross-dressing and entering the girls' dormitory.

It was a crazy situation where, if my identity was revealed, I could be arrested on the spot without question.

Perhaps due to the tension, my throat kept constricting, forcing me to swallow.

I don't think I was this nervous even during the group match earlier.

This was practically the most terrifying moment of my life.

'Though there was originally a scenario where Lucas infiltrated the girls' dormitory...'

I never imagined I'd be the one doing it.

"Hania, we're here."

So, it was time.

I looked up, and indeed, the entrance to the girls' dormitory was visible.

Just then, I saw female students returning from school and entering the dormitory.

Feeling self-conscious under their gaze, I subtly moved closer to Iris.

Going in with Iris would at least reduce suspicion.

It was a defensive move.

Iris, watching me, kept the corners of her lips turned up the entire time.

It was probably the first time in my life I'd seen Iris smile so much.

"Lady Iris, you're smiling too much."

"Sorry, it just feels good to see something amusing after so long."

Iris didn't deny that she was enjoying herself.

For me, it was agonizing.

But this was for the scenario.

Bear with it.

I had to endure.

"Let's go in."

Finally, I entered the dormitory with Iris.

Immediately, I saw an interior with a different atmosphere from the boys' dormitory.

The structure itself was the same; it was just the building on the opposite side.

Yet, for some reason, the atmosphere felt subtly warm.

'Is it because of the scent?'

Unlike the boys' dormitory, there was a pervasive scent of women's perfume.

"Lady Iris, welcome back."

Here and there, maids from the girls' dormitory greeted Iris.

Iris acknowledged their greetings with a familiar expression.

"Maid, doesn't Hania look a little different?"

At that moment, Iris asked an absurd question.

As I turned to look at Iris with a flustered expression, one of the maids looked our way.

She then smiled gently and spoke.

"Your hairstyle is a little different from usual, Lady Hania. That style suits you very well too."

"Oh, oh, thank you for noticing."

As I forced a smile, Iris, who was behind the maid, chuckled softly.

She was truly dedicated to teasing people.

The maid exchanged greetings and left.

As soon as she was gone, I quickly approached Iris.

"La-Lady Iris?"

"You're quite good at acting."

"Do you truly wish for me to be caught and face trouble?"

"Hania doesn't use that kind of tone, you know."

To think the Third Princess was being so mischievous.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

"You beat me in the group match, after all."

Iris then explained why she was teasing me like this.

"Revenge for that."

It was a sufficient pretext.

But Iris, as she said it, smiled playfully.

Iris, who suffered daily nightmares due to the Evil Venerable, rarely showed her emotions.

Even the act of expressing emotions was tiring for her.

But for her to be smiling this much meant...

She must genuinely be enjoying this situation.

'...Alright, as long as she's smiling, that's fine.'

Since I owed Iris for this matter,

I could sacrifice myself if it made her smile like this.

"Still, please don't do it like this."

"Okay, I understand."

If my identity was exposed, not only would I be in trouble, but Iris would too.

So, when I asked her to refrain from doing so, she readily agreed.

"Lady Iris, hello."

Just then, a student passing by greeted Iris.

Given her position as the Empire's Third Princess,

Iris was often greeted by those passing by.

The problem was that the owner of the voice I just heard sounded somewhat familiar.

Honey-blonde hair, as if imbued with the fresh sun, fluttered.

Beneath it, bright, orange-hued eyes sparkled.

Isabelle Luna.

As soon as I saw a familiar face, my body instinctively froze.

"Hello."

After exchanging greetings with Iris, Isabelle turned to look at me.

"Good evening to you too, Hania."

Isabelle was very sociable.

Among the second-year students in martial arts, there were few who weren't friendly with her.

Isabelle was also on familiar terms with Hania.

"Yeah, good evening, Isabelle."

As I gave a casual reply, Isabelle tilted her head.

"Hania, did something happen?"

"What do you mean, something happened? Nothing happened at all."

"Really? But you seem a bit quiet today."

Isabelle said that, looking back and forth between Iris and me.

What? I didn't do anything that would give me away.

At that moment, Iris's eyes met mine, and she subtly raised her arm.

Seeing that, I belatedly realized what I hadn't done.

Hania always stuck by Iris's side.

Since they had been friends and in a master-servant relationship since childhood,

Hania would always link arms with Iris whenever they went anywhere.

Noticing this, Isabelle subtly approached me and asked.

"...Did something happen between you and Lady Iris?"

Sure enough, Isabelle asked about that very point.

Iris was still staring at me intently, her arm still raised.

Damn it.

I quickly moved and wrapped my arm around Iris's arm.

"Me, having something happen with Lady Iris? That's impossible! If something like that happened, I might just die!"

When I put on a sniffly face, Isabelle reacted with a 'Figures.'

Of course, Iris had turned her head away from me, struggling to suppress her laughter.

Iris's ears had even turned red.

It felt like something inside me was breaking.

"That's a relief. Well, I'll get going. I have training again today."

No wonder she was in her training clothes.

Isabelle, as always, was engrossed in her training today.

She trained like that even though the Summer Magician's Palace was tomorrow.

I could feel how sincere Isabelle's passion was.

"Isabelle's dedication like that is thanks to you."

As I watched Isabelle's retreating back, Iris subtly remarked.

Thanks to me, huh?

If that were true, I suppose I'd feel a little proud.

"My doing? I've only ever fought with Isabelle."

Of course, I couldn't show that pride.

"Yeah, I suppose so."

How much did Iris see?

In the twenty-nine clears, Iris had acted as both the final boss and the heroine.

Yet, despite that, Iris remained a character with many unanswered questions for players.

A captivating character precisely because she remained shrouded in mystery.

The developers had made excellent use of Iris's mysterious character traits.

Just one thing was certain.

"Are you sleeping well these days?"

She suffered from terrible insomnia.

"So-so."

Dark circles, a result of her insomnia, were still visible around her eyes.

"There's a music box called 'Argol's Sound' that holds a mystery."

Perhaps because I had advised her several times on things that help with sleep,

Iris listened with interest.

"It's a difficult item to acquire, but if you play it, it produces music that induces sleep.

Rumor has it that it's a mystery that even consumes nightmares."

Iris's eyes widened.

The main reason she suffered from insomnia was due to nightmares.

A tool that could swallow such nightmares would have an effect beyond her imagination.

'Originally, the Flame of Valor would be the most effective cure, but...'

This would be a temporary solution, at least.

Of course, even this would eventually weaken over time.

As long as the root cause of the nightmares wasn't resolved,

Iris's nightmares would never end.

'Once this is over...'

Gradually, I'd have to prepare for that too.

"...How do you know all that?"

Iris then asked me a question.

The information I had given her wasn't widely known.

Therefore, Iris found it strange that I knew such information.

"I studied it in my own way."

"For what purpose?"

"Why, for Lady Iris, of course."

I smiled gently, using Hania's manner of speaking.

Iris blinked her large eyes.

She then lowered her head slightly and tapped her head against mine.

Her captivating ruby-colored eyes, gleaming, came close to my nose.

For a fleeting moment, the scent of roses emanating from her hair deeply permeated my nostrils.

For a very brief second, I felt my heart drop.

Iris whispered into my ear, her voice laced with an alluring decadence.

"Don't tease me too much."

Who started the teasing first?

Iris slowly pulled away.

'As if her innate trait wasn't 'Charm' itself.'

She instinctively knew how to make a person's heart flutter.

However, apart from that, I realized my emotional turmoil wasn't significant.

'...This is.'

Had the Shroud Bandage influenced this?

I vaguely understood what emotions the Shroud Bandage was erasing.

"So, it's bath time now."

"I'll do it in the room."

No matter what, that was a step too far.

***

After returning to the room,

I stayed put, not leaving the room.

Hania's roommate was, of course, Iris.

Thus, I could relax without worry inside the room.

"Haa."

Perhaps it was because today had been so arduous.

Leaning against the window, I let out a deep sigh.

Iris had simply left, saying she was going to bathe.

Was she not at all worried about what I might do in her room?

'Well, what lunatic would dare do anything against the Third Princess?'

No one would do such a thing unless they wanted to die.

Rumble—

The problem was that, perhaps due to all the tension, I was starting to get hungry.

Still seated in the chair, I turned my body.

A soft, distinctively feminine scent wafted through the room.

Hania's bed was overwhelmingly pink, enough to make one dizzy.

In contrast, Iris's bed was extremely neat.

It was a detail that revealed their respective personalities.

'I should have brought some food if I'd known this would happen.'

I had been too distracted to think of it.

I wanted to ask Iris, if only my heart would let me.

But I couldn't possibly ask the Third Princess for such a thing.

'Should I go out with Iris?'

I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head.

Iris was particularly playful today.

There was no telling what she might do next.

It would be better to quickly go to the dining hall and ask for a sandwich than to get into another awkward situation.

'Since dinner time is over, everyone should be in their rooms.'

I subtly opened the door.

The hallway was quiet.

I'll be quick.

Just as I resolved this and was about to step out,

"Huh?"

I happened to run into someone walking from the end of the hallway.

As soon as I saw her, my face slowly stiffened.

Because she was...

"...Hanon?"

She possessed the 'Milinae' that was uniquely capable of seeing through the Shroud Bandage.

Sharin Sazalis.

Of all times, I had to run into her right then.