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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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The vacation spot we had decided on was the Raednin Resort, a two-day carriage ride from the capital.
Raednin Mountain, with its cool valleys and beautiful scenery, was a popular resort for nobles and high-ranking officials from all races.
It had been closed off due to the Demon King’s forces and monsters, but it was regaining its former glory, thanks to the Hero’s Party.
So, it wasn’t easy to get a reservation, but…
“You can get a reservation for the special suite there?”
“Yes.”
Resolving the issues in that area had been one of my achievements. So, during the main storyline, I had taken care of it, and in the process, I had obtained a permanent reservation ticket for the special suite at the Raednin Resort.
In the game, the permanent reservation ticket was a must-have item for most players, as it allowed them to invite various characters and see them in swimsuits.
And since getting it was an achievement, I had gotten it as well. But I had never invited anyone yet.
I was too busy chasing achievements to care about service shots.
“Even the Church has trouble getting a reservation for the special suite there…”
“It’s the same for the royal family. Raednin Mountain is in beastman territory, so…”
Raednin Resort was in avia-folk territory, so human authority didn’t mean much there. Without a special connection, it was natural that even Lucille and Veronica couldn’t easily go there.
As the two of them looked at me in awe, I showed them the golden token from my pocket.
The golden, feather-shaped token. They looked at it with curiosity. I put it back in my pocket.
“Wow… how did you get that?”
“I became friends with the owner.”
“…Friends…?”
Veronica flinched and stared at me intently. She hesitated, then asked,
“Closer than me?”
“No.”
Of course not. Veronica and I saw each other much more often.
If I had to rank it, the owner was more of an acquaintance, like the adventurers I occasionally worked with.
“R- Really? Hehe. Of course. The Sage’s best friend is me, after all.”
“…Ugh. I’m the Tutor’s one and only student.”
“Who said you weren’t?”
Anyway, we were going to a nice place, but I was worried these two would keep fighting.
Of course, I had my high-class jokes and songs to break the ice, but it would be nice to have a pleasant atmosphere from the start.
“And there’s something the Princess will like.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a Duel tournament there.”
“Huh?! Really?!”
“Yes. And if you win, you can get a limited-edition card. Your Highness, you’ve been building a new deck, haven’t you?”
“Yes…”
Lucille had become quite interested in Duel after I had taught her.
I had cheated in the beginning, but she had a natural competitive spirit and a good mind for the game, so her skills were improving daily.
I heard from the maids that she had even beaten the Head Maid in a duel the other day.
“…Are you still playing that?”
Veronica seemed uninterested in the card game. Tsk. Friend, I pity you for not knowing the charm of Duel.
“It’s really fun. Anyway, the tournament entry ticket is included with the accommodation, so why don’t you give it a try?”
“Are you going to participate, Tutor?”
“Uh… no.”
“Why not?”
“The champion is not allowed to participate.”
Of course, I had participated in the tournament before, and I had won, obtaining a few items and a limited-edition card. I pulled out my deck and showed her a card. A sparkling, rainbow-colored card. An ultra-rare card.
“It’s the ‘Elegant Resort’ card. When used, it increases attack and magic power and restores the duelist’s health.”
“Wow… that looks pretty good.”
“There aren’t many cards with such good effects. You should try to get it, Your Highness. It’s so broken that it’s banned in some tournaments.”
“Okay!”
She looked excited, her eyes sparkling. I smiled at her, then asked the bored-looking Veronica,
“By the way, are you sure you can come with us? Didn’t you have somewhere else in mind?”
“Hmm, well, rather than that…”
She glanced at Lucille and smiled faintly.
“I think this is better. Didn’t you say there’s a swimming pool there?”
“Yeah, there’s a swimming pool.”
“…Really? I see. Hmm. Alright.”
Veronica smiled shyly.
As if she had made up her mind.
Anyway, we couldn’t leave right away. Veronica returned to the Church, and Lucille and I went back to the palace.
As we were entering the palace, Lucille hesitated for a moment, then said in a small voice,
“The Hero…”
“Yes.”
“She’s returning to the battlefield.”
“Is that so?”
“You didn’t hear?”
“I heard she was going back.”
Claire had come to see me while I was working and had mentioned it. I had just told her to take care.
Honestly, there was no reason for the Hero’s Party to remain on the battlefield. Especially Evangeline.
With the Elven Forest in turmoil, she, as a hero of the elves, could have stayed and helped lead them.
Or she could have taken a break after all the hardship.
But that wasn’t my problem, so I hadn’t given it much thought.
“Evangeline… she seemed to be having a hard time.”
“I see.”
“Aren’t you worried, Tutor?”
I just thought she would handle it on her own. As long as they didn’t get in my way, there was nothing I could do.
And they weren’t children. I didn’t see any reason why I should have to take care of them.
I knew they felt a sense of guilt and affection towards me, but…
Whether I responded to those feelings or not was up to me.
“I see…”
“By the way, did things go well?”
“Yes. I think I did a good enough job to satisfy you, Tutor.”
Lucille clenched her two fists and beamed. I was pleased as well.
“Your growth brings me great joy, Your Highness. At this rate, there won’t be much left for me to teach you soon.”
“Huh? Huh? N- No, that’s not true!”
I checked Lucille’s growth rate and shook my head. At this rate, I should be able to get the S-Rank Tutor achievement in a few months.
“When you’ve grown enough to satisfy me, Your Highness, I will be leaving.”
“W- What?! Why…?”
“I have a lot to do.”
“Do you… have to do it?”
Lucille probably knew. No, she knew. That I was always traveling, even while I was her tutor.
That I wasn’t satisfied with just being her tutor.
I had only ever hinted at it before, but this was the first time I had said it directly. Lucille looked surprised.
But that didn’t change anything.
As Lucille went to report to the Queen, I returned to my room and found a woman standing in front of my door.
It was Claire.
She, who had been fiddling with her hair, flinched when she saw me.
“Ahaha… Hyun-woo…”
“Why are you here?”
“Well, um… there’s something I wanted to ask you. Is that alright?”
“I suppose so. Come in.”
I went into my room and sat down. Claire, hesitating, sat down as well, then sighed and got to the point.
“Evangeline is… in a really bad state. She’s worse than before.”
“Oh, and?”
“I’ve asked other alchemists, healers, and priests to see her, but… it seems her mental problems are incurable.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So, I was wondering… if it’s not too much trouble… is there any medicine you could prescribe?”
“This should work.”
I happened to have some medicine I had made in the Elven Forest. A high-grade tranquilizer that helped with mental problems and excessive stress.
“I- Isn’t this… valuable?”
“Not really.”
It was only because the recipe hadn’t been known before. Now that I had released the recipe to the Alchemist’s Guild, it would still be expensive, but not as unobtainable as before.
Claire looked back and forth between the medicine in her hand and me, then sighed.
“Ahaha… you’re saving us again.”
“You guys worked hard too. Is that all you wanted to say? Then you can go. I have something to do.”
At my dismissal, Claire seemed to want to say something more, but she couldn’t.
She stood up, about to draw the Hero’s sword, then muttered with a hint of anticipation,
“Um, the festival is coming up soon in the capital, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Are you… going with anyone?”
The Summer Festival in the capital.
I had gone with Claire last time.
I looked at her and chuckled. She, understanding the meaning behind my smile, hesitated, then her lips moved.
“…I suppose so…”
Her disappointment was palpable. She forced a smile and swung the Hero’s sword. As she silently stepped through the portal, I looked at the poster on the wall.
As Claire had said, the Summer Festival was approaching. I needed to find someone to go with.
I had to go one more time to get the achievement.
The news that the plague in the Elven Forest had been cured, and that Lucille had taken the lead in forming a coalition with the other races, spread quickly.
Of course, the Church had also gained a lot, with me acting as its representative, but the kingdom had also gained a considerable amount.
As this became known, Lucille’s reputation, which had been low until now, began to rise rapidly. The current Queen seemed quite pleased with the increased stability of the succession.
As a result, my own reputation soared as well, so this incident could be considered a great success.
“Let’s go.”
Lucille and Veronica approached the carriage that was waiting in front of the palace.
Lucille, in a snow-white dress, and Veronica, in her usual black robes.
They looked at each other and said,
“You look like a strawberry shortcake.”
“You’re always in black, Cardinal. Even on vacation.”
Don’t fight on such a nice day. I looked away from the two of them, who were glaring at each other, and looked elsewhere.
“Wow~ to think I’m going on a trip with the Sage! By the way, Mr. Sage! You know there’s a Duel tournament in Raednin, right? I know you can’t participate this time, but I’m going to! Do you want to see my deck? I’m aiming to win with this shaman deck…”
“I will definitely perform in Raednin this time.”
Sitting on the driver’s seat were the talkative shaman Wilkers and the eccentric bard Lark.
The reason they were here was simple.
They had received a request in Raednin, and they were traveling with us.
Despite their personalities, they were skilled and trustworthy, so the royal family had hired them as escorts. That was how we had ended up together.
No, the Lily Knights had been assigned as escorts, so why were they here?
Were the Lily Knights that incompetent?! Did the kingdom’s knights have so little confidence in themselves?!
This was a disgrace. Seriously.
We hadn’t even started, and I already had a headache.
“By the way, what’s the request that brought you here??”
“It’s an investigation request. An investigation request. Don’t worry about it, Mr. Sage.”
Lark hummed a tune and took the reins. And Wilkers…
“By the way, Mr. Sage’s student, have your card skills improved? Want to have a match later?”
“Ah, ahaha… sure…”
Lucille laughed awkwardly. Wilkers started chattering away again. Veronica, watching them, chuckled and said to me,
“This trip… don’t you think something is going to happen?”
“Eh, no way.”
Even with this crew, and this ominous start…
What could possibly happen?
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Something about ta happen