Ch-117: Queen Maker (17)

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As had been the case lately, Cloud won the duel against Lorraine. The moment he kissed her, he felt the flow of magic targeting him.

'Attack? Or observation?'

With Cloud's mana-strident body, he could only feel the flow of magical energy, but he couldn't figure out his opponent's intentions.

Still, what he could do, at least, was to trace back the flow of mana to its conjurer.

Cloud parted his lips and propped his head sideways. Just when he touched, grasped onto the mana to reverse the flow of magic.

The magic that was aiming at him suddenly died.

'Observation it is, then.'

He concluded seeing how quickly the observer had slipped away with their spell.

'Who is it?'

Wizards, for a matter of fact, were rare creatures.

Not only did it require high intelligence, but it also required an aptitude for mana.

As for the wizards staying in Lupus right now, Leslie, Eri, and the wizard of Lorian's party were the only three.

So it was very likely that one of those three was the culprit.

In terms of motive, the wizard of Lorian's party was the most likely. From their point of view, Cloud was the enemy.

"What? Why did you suddenly stop?"

Lorraine was puzzled as he had plucked away his lips no sooner than he had joined them.

Cloud asked her.

"I have a question for you. Does your party's wizard know how to use observation magic?"

"Wizard? Are you talking about Grace?"

"Grace, Nabal, whatever, can they use observation magic?"

"Uh, we'll..? Maybe? I'm not sure."

As Cloud had suddenly asked while clasping her shoulders, Lorraine, embarrassed, answered involuntarily. Soon, she gasped, wondering why she was made to answer.

She was about to say something but Cloud covered her mouth with his index finger.

'?!'

The touch of his fingertip on her lips startled Lorraine, and she froze.

Either way, Cloud continued with his train of thought.

'The remaining candidates are Leslie and Eri… As far as I know, Leslie doesn't know how to use observation magic.'

Conversely, Eri has [Clairvoyance].

All circumstantial evidence pointed at Eri as the culprit.

Except for one question.

'Why would Eri?'

Why would Eri use [Clairvoyance] on him?

Surely it wasn't for the purpose of spying on him, had something happened?

Not likely.

If that was the case, there was no reason to erase the magic spell in such a hurry.

When he couldn't come up with a good reason, Cloud sighed as he caressed his forehead.

Whatever the reason, the important thing was that Eri ended up seeing him and Lorraine kissing.

That meant that a very annoying and difficult situation had been spawned.

'I guess she won't tell Katarina right away.'

Eri wasn't even close with Katarina.

To put it bluntly, she wouldn't encourage turmoil within the party.

'Even if she can't help but curse.'

He had to work something up.

'But for what excuse?'

He couldn't talk about his covert plan, so he had had to come up with a plausible excuse…

Which just didn't worsen the situation more.

While Cloud was struggling, Lorraine's brows furrowed looking at him frowning.

'What happened? Why did he go still?'

Not only opted out of kissing on the wee but was also frowning?

'Could it be that I have bad breath?!'

Still unable to get out of her perplexity, Lorraine forgot what Cloud had just asked her.

She put her mouth closer to the palm of her hand and sniffed her own breath.

'I don't think it's bad…? Not really…'

Come to think of it, she should have brushed her teeth before coming.

'No, then what's the problem?'

While Lorraine looked deeply concerned about him, Cloud, having halted his train of thoughts, opened his mouth.

"Let's end here for today."

"Huh?"

Lorraine's fine brow wrinkled.

"What's wrong with your expression? Wouldn't it be good for you if I ended it up here?"

"Huh, right. How many times do you think I've been harassed by you so far? It has nothing to do with you teasing me, right?"

"For something like that, your response was fresh every time."

"Ahh, noisy! Anyway, winning you is more important to me. So finish it quickly and duel again!"

"I'm no longer in the mood."

Cloud shook his head.

"What, what…?"

At that, Lorraine gaped.

Her clenched fists trembled.

"…Am I bothering you, too?"

From Cloud shaking his head, her brother's face, who shook his head saying he was busy, overlapped. A wave of sadness came and dampened her heart.

'Why is everyone like this?'

Looking at Lorraine, who suddenly looked hurt, Cloud felt embarrassed.

Did it hurt that much just because he wanted to finish early today?

'What should I do?'

It would be counterproductive to say he was ready to duel again.

Allow things to go back to normal on their own?

'Well, that's being too optimistic.'

As time ticked and Lorraine's expression did not seem to improve, Cloud scratched at the back of his head and said to her:

"Yeah, I'm not in the mood for that today, so let's just take a walk."

"…huh?"

Her downcast face was stained with wonder.

When Cloud confirmed that he couldn't feel the flow of another mana spike, he grabbed her hand almost as if snatching it.

"Let's go for a walk. Together."

He started walking with her in tow.

"Uh… uh??"

Lorraine's gaze widened, but she was drawn to him, her footstep falling in behind him.

How did it happen?

Lorraine thought as she wove through the ruined palace.

Cloud, holding hands with Lorraine, was introducing the old palace, but her ears did not register.

Her attention was solely focused on the hand clasping hers.

They were only holding hands, so why was she so nervous!

They usually did things much worse than this!

"…that's how it happened… What is it, you aren't listening."

"Uh..? No, no! I'm listening!"

"Why are you screaming? It's night time now."

"My heart..!"

Lorraine gasped softly. Cloud chortled.

After that, the trek of the two continued.

""

The place where the walk stopped for a while was in front of the pond in the palace garden.

"What place is this?"

The plants in the garden had withered and died, but mysteriously, the water in the pond remained transparent and clear.

"This is the place where royals used to get married or betrothed. The divine power that went into keeping that pond clean must be staggering. That's why it was able to manage to hold on even in such havoc."

"Why did they have weddings in a place like such? Queer."

"It looks like this now, but back then the garden was pretty. I guess that's why."

"Huh…"

Lorraine glanced over the garden and nodded. For she did not know the significance of the garden or the beauty of the past.

She just wanted to finish the pond tour and continue her walk.

But even after a while, he showed no signs of trudging.

"Hey. What's here—"

The moment she couldn't wait any longer, she turned her head, and Cloud kissed her on the lips.

"Eh?!"

'What, why? Were we not doing it today? Why all of a sudden…'

While Lorraine was puzzled, Cloud moved his hand. She naturally assumed that he would go for her hips or breasts. However, his hand wrapped around Lorraine's thin waist.

Very politely.

She couldn't figure out his intentions any more.

Why was he acting so gentle all of a sudden…

At that moment, the words Cloud had just said passed through Lorraine's mind like struck lightning.

– This is the place where royals used to get married or betrothed.

'Ah..?'

A, Ah?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!

No, no, wait a minute.

What?

T, This didn't make sense!

When did this atmosphere appear?

How they came to be?

Fighting, kissing, groping…

So how?

Lorraine was distraught at the thought that she, unbeknownst to her, was already acquaintances with him.

So when she writhed under him, Cloud parted lips.

Lorraine, who had regained the freedom of her lips, tried to argue, tried to protest.

But she couldn't.

Moonlight gently streamed down the night sky.

Beneath was a man who looked as if he had jumped out of a painting crafted by a grandmaster himself.

The splendid red hair attracted the attention of the viewer and the beautiful appearance latched onto that attention.

His red eyes, similar to that of Blood Ruby, didn't lose their gleam even in the darkness.

Cloud.

He was looking at her against the tapestry of starry moonlight.

Lorraine swallowed her saliva.

'Really, no matter where I look, he doesn't look a commoner…'

It was foul play, this.

She stared blankly at his face without realizing it.

Waiting for him to say something.

And waited longer.

Finally, Cloud's lips moved.

He cocked an eyebrow.

"Are you aroused or what?"

A teasing expression crept on his face.

"..?"

Lorraine's awestruck face rendered into a dumbfounded expression for a moment.

She soon realized that Cloud was pranking her. With her face flushed red from shame, she threw down her fist.

"You asshole-!"

* * *

Archbishops.

The general managers who heralded the huge diocese of their respective Kingdoms.

They held a position of considerable authority in the church, and also held considerable authority throughout the continent, which believed in one Goddess, Iris.

As far as authority was concerned, they pledged oath from the enthroned monarch at the coronation ceremony, the coronation ceremony of the ruler of a Kingdom.

And in the Kingdom of Prona, not even the new archbishop was elected, let alone the date of the coronation ceremony.

This was an opportunity for Lorian.

Making the archbishop their own would give them a considerable say in the matters within the Kingdom.

So, Lorian was currently having a covert meeting with a bishop.

"So, what the Hero says is that he'll make me the archbishop, and at the coronation, I must say something that shows my support for the Hero."

"If we can maintain a close relationship not only at the coronation but also beyond, even deeper cooperation awaits."

Lorian said, assessing Bishop Vedic.

Bishop Vedic.

Among the bishops of Lupus, he had the highest contribution to the church, so he was a popular choice as the next archbishop.

Bishop Vedic stroked his white beard.

"To make me the archbishop… The Hero sure knows how to amuse. But I see no reason to seek help from the Hero."

"Bishop Parua."

The hand that had been stroking the white beard halted.

Lorian's smile deepened.

"He was the former archbishop's favorite bishop, right? Feeding to that, there are quite a few people who support him."

"…Since the former Archbishop was into playing favourites, it can't be helped."

"Aren't you anxious?"

"What is there to be anxious about? Everything will be as it should be."

"Surely… that's a good way to put it. By the way. According to the bishop, did the descent of the Heavenly King also happen according to the natural will?"

The smile vanished from Bishop Vedic's face.

"Imagine. The sight of Bishop Parua being elected as the Archbishop. The sight of Bishop Vedic bowing to the newly elected Archbishop."

"…"

"If you want, I can erase all those insecurities."

Saying that, Lorian hoisted the small chest that had been put down on the floor onto the table.

"Please, open it."

Vedic opened the chest as Lorian said. The chest was thronged with gold coins and jewels. He stared at it for a moment longer before closing the chest.

"This is?"

"This is but only a facet of the help I can give you, bishop. If we share a close relationship, we can help each other more."

"…"

Vedic silently stroked his beard. Seeing that, Lorian slowly stood up from his seat. It would do him no good to show impatience.

Lorian spoke one last time to Bishop Vedic before turning to leave.

"If we develop a close relationship, we can promise more help. Please make the wise choice."

With those words, Lorian pulled on the hood and left.

A priest who could be said to be his aide approached Vedic, who was stroking his beard while looking at the spot where Lorian had left, and dipped his head.

"From Hero Cloud to Hero Lorian, they have all come to you, Your Holiness. No need to fret about the voting anymore. Congratulations."

"Yeah, yeah, got it. What did he mean…"

"What are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Hero Cloud and Hero Lorian, whose side are you going to choose."

Since it was a sensitive issue, the priest asked in a sufficiently surreptitious manner.

Even so, Vedic looked the priest in the eye, his expression austere.

"Do you have to ask me to know?"

"Yes?"

"You lack faith. Tsk."

You can read fully translated chapters, including the last chapter, for $20.

p(a)treon.com/Daoist02