I Became a Retired War Hero the Heroines Are Obsessed With – Chapter 27

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“……”

Lux slowly opened her eyes, blinking in confusion.

Her thoughts were sluggish, as if she had just awakened from a deep sleep.

“…Where am I?”

The familiar surroundings and the faint scent of roses told her she was in her chambers, the White Rose Palace.

And then, immediately after—

“Ugh…!”

A faint pain in her chest brought back the memory of losing consciousness.

“I fainted after using magic in Procyon’s Treasury…”

What had happened afterward?

The lingering pain told her the curse hadn’t been lifted.

But it was a mere shadow of what she had felt before, akin to the initial pangs of the curse.

Knock, knock

Just as she was trying to piece together the events, a knock echoed through the room.

“…Enter.”

Expecting the physician, Lux’s eyes widened at the sight of the man who entered.

Hair as radiant as a lion’s mane.

A powerfully built, muscular physique.

The man who entered her chambers was none other than Leo Helios, one of the Zodiac Knights.

“Leo…?”

“Ah, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

Momentarily stunned by Leo’s cheerful greeting, Lux nodded slowly.

Leo was one of the few who knew about her curse.

She could be honest with him.

“Not bad. There’s still a faint pain, but…”

“That’s good to hear. When I heard what happened, I thought something terrible had occurred.”

“…Heard?”

The unexpected word made Lux blink.

She had assumed Leo had rescued her.

“Didn’t you save me?”

“If you had collapsed before me, I would have, but you were in Procyon’s Treasury. I couldn’t enter. Besides, I was attending to other matters with Paltz.”

“Then who…?”

“Hmm, it seems your memory is still hazy. Wasn’t there someone else with you in the Vault?”

Leo’s words finally jogged her memory.

“…Allen?”

Why had she only just remembered?

He was the only other person there.

A wave of longing washed over her as she unconsciously spoke his name.

She had remembered something before losing consciousness, but the memory remained elusive.

Leo, observing her expression, asked with a sly grin.

“Oh ho, already on a first-name basis? My, my, what happened in the Treasury?”

“Where is Allen?”

Lux’s casual inquiry about Allen’s whereabouts made Leo’s expression darken.

“He…”

“D-did something happen to him?”

“He collapsed while trying to wake you…”

“……”

Leo turned away, his silence implying something had gone wrong.

Lux swallowed nervously, asking again.

“…Please tell me what happened.”

“Prepare yourself. This might be shocking.”

“…I’m ready.”

“Sigh…”

Taking a breath, Leo looked at Lux with a sorrowful expression.

Lux’s heart pounded in her chest.

“As you know, Your Highness’s curse is no ordinary affliction.”

“Yes, I’m well aware. Aerius has told me enough.”

“I also heard it from Aerius, so I don’t know the details, but it seems Allen tried to lift your curse using his Master’s Authority.”

“Allen… did?”

She knew he was strong, but curses were a different matter.

What kind of Authority could possibly attempt to lift her curse?

Her curiosity was piqued, but that wasn’t important right now.

“S-so what happened?”

“Apparently, Aerius tried to stop him, saying it was too dangerous. But Allen insisted on saving you, shouting that he wouldn’t let you die. He was radiating so much killing intent, it seemed like he was about to tear down the Magic Tower…”

“……”

Lux’s heart fluttered at the vivid description.

He had been willing to defy the Empire’s greatest mage to save her.

He valued her that much…

The faint pain she had felt earlier vanished completely.

“In the end, Aerius had no choice but to allow him to try. So, Allen placed his hand on your chest and…”

“M-my chest?!”

“…Is that what’s important right now?”

“N-no…”

Flustered, Lux covered her chest with her hands, her face burning.

“Ahem, anyway, Allen used his Authority to try and lift the curse, but the backlash was too strong, and he failed… Well, he did manage to weaken the curse. That’s why you’re awake now.”

“What kind of Authority could…”

“I’m curious about that too. Usually, a Master’s Authority is specialized for combat. Especially one awakened on the battlefield… He’s full of secrets, that Allen.”

Leo shook his head.

Lux nodded along, then realized something.

What had happened to Allen?

“Ah, I almost forgot.”

Leo’s expression turned sorrowful again.

A strange premonition washed over Lux as she waited for him to continue.

“I heard Allen collapsed right after.”

“…Don’t tell me…?”

“Yes. Sadly, Allen…”

Lux swallowed, her throat dry.

If Allen had been harmed because of her… Leo’s mouth opened slowly, just as—

Knock, knock

Someone knocked on the door.

“…Enter.”

Who could it be at a time like this?

If it was the physician, she would make an excuse and send them away.

But the person who entered was completely unexpected.

“Oh? Leo, you’re here too.”

“…Allen?”

Lux blinked, staring at Allen, who was greeting Leo.

Hadn’t he collapsed?

“Well, it’s been a while, Allen… Are you alright?”

Leo’s awkward greeting confirmed Lux’s suspicions.

She had been tricked.

“Leo.”

“Y-yes…”

“Care to explain what’s going on?”

“Ahem…”

Leo glanced at Allen and Lux, then grinned, revealing his teeth.

“Too bad. I almost had you. Haha!”

“Leo! That wasn’t funny!”

“But the chance to trick Your Highness is rare. Haha, just a little prank. All’s well that ends well, right? Especially since Allen, whom you cherish so much, is safe and sound.”

“Th-that…!”

Lux gritted her teeth at Leo’s teasing words.

She was so furious, her head began to ache.

“Oh dear, I better go before I get into trouble. Take care of things, Allen!”

“…What?”

“See you later!”

“Wait—!”

Leo vanished in an instant.

Lux’s cry was lost in the empty air.

“What… just happened…?”

Allen, completely bewildered, blinked in confusion.

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Leo quickly exited the White Rose Palace, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Ah, Allen. If only you had arrived a little later. I might have even made you cry.”

“That prank was a bit much, don’t you think, Leo?”

Aerius, the Zodiac Knight of Taurus, appeared beside Leo.

Despite her sudden appearance, Leo remained unfazed.

“You enjoyed it too, didn’t you, Aerius? You knew what I was doing and deliberately delayed Allen.”

“Don’t lump me in with you. I simply wanted to thoroughly check Allen’s condition.”

“Haha, if you say so.”

“Honestly, you’re just like Vulcan with your childish pranks…”

Aerius clicked her tongue.

Leo simply shrugged with a smile.

“So, what’s the verdict?”

Leo knew how potent Lux’s curse was.

That was why even Aerius, the Empire’s greatest mage, couldn’t lift it, only slow its progression. Aerius sighed, answering.

“Just as we suspected. I don’t know the specifics of his Authority, but… after examining him…”

“And?”

“…Lux’s curse has been transferred to him.”

Allen’s Authority hadn’t lifted the curse.

Whether he had known that from the start or had tried and failed, he had chosen to transfer Lux’s curse to himself.

Leo’s smile vanished as he asked,

“So Her Highness is safe now?”

“That’s… complicated. The curse is still present in Lux, albeit weakened. If we quantify it, Allen bears about sixty percent, and Lux, ten.”

“So the number of cursed individuals has simply increased.”

“Indeed. The only difference is…”

Lux, who had been nearing her limit, had gained time.

Leo bit his lip, muttering,

“This is the worst possible outcome. Allen’s sacrifice was in vain.”

“I wouldn’t say that. He achieved the same result I initially intended, but…”

While Aerius had planned to halt Lux’s life force to buy time, Allen had preserved her life while achieving the same goal.

The objective was the same, but the outcome vastly different.

Furthermore, he had weakened the curse, buying them even more time.

“Our task now is to find a solution within this timeframe.”

“I can’t be outdone by a youngster.”

“You’re young yourself, so what are you talking about…?”

Aerius rolled her eyes.

Leo simply chuckled and shrugged.

“By the way, you said Allen bears sixty percent, and Her Highness, ten… The numbers don’t add up.”

“I’m not sure about that either. I based my assessment on Lux’s condition while she was unconscious… but I can’t figure out where the remaining portion went.”

The missing portion of the curse, as if absorbed by something, had vanished without a trace.

Aerius couldn’t fathom its whereabouts.

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[I wonder who got the last 30%??????? it was me. i stole the last 30%.]