The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 35

"I came to save your life, why?"

It was a voice that was melodious, yet at the same time, it carried an undeniable authority. Arwen grabbed her sword again and pointed it at the owner of the voice.

"...Lady Marchius."

"Do you know me?"

Who doesn't know her?

Arwen looked at her incredulously. However, Renee seemed genuinely amused, grinning slightly.

"So, even though you know who I am, you still point your sword at me?"

"This is the territory of the Dragon. Just because the shell is Lady Marchius, it doesn't mean it's the real Lady Marchius."

"You're smart, aren't you?"

Renee turned to Cedin and said. I want her too. Should I take her? Her eyes seemed to say so.

Cedin couldn't continue his words at the sight of her eyes, as if she was looking at an incredibly cute toy.

Surely Renee, you don't see me that way too.

"Why doesn't such a smart kid know that she's digging her own grave?"

"...."

At Renee's words, Arwen bit her lip.

"You're right. This is the Dragon's territory. But you're openly provoking it? Isn't this like asking to be eaten?"

"So, not within the territory, but on the border-"

"Do you think a headstrong kid cares whether it's inside or on the border or right in front of his nose? Do you know what a Dragon is? It's a state where you can't see anything because your eyes are rolled back."

Arwen didn't say anything. Renee was absolutely right.

Arwen knew that too.

But so what. What good does it do? A knight simply follows orders.

Renee knew that too. There were always such blind followers in her previous life.

To the lord, to the guild, to the government. Those who were blind to loyalty to anyone.

Renee despised such people, and at the same time sympathized with them...

"Besides. Are you really Lady Marchius? Not the Red Dragon...?"

"You're really lucky."

She liked it.

Why? It was simple.

"Because you met me."

It's cute. If it's cute, it's all good.

[Skill Activation! - Varuna's Great Sword]

<Varuna's Sword> was Renee's favorite sword.

Originally, it was the sword of <Queen of Waves and Healing>, made by condensing the power of water.

So it never broke, and even if it bent, it quickly recovered and came back.

As long as there was water around. Renee sighed and held the sword.

She felt both freshness and familiarity.

The sword was happy. It was grateful for being called after a long time.

But Renee couldn't be happy.

She broke the tower so she wouldn't have to hold this sword again. And she has to hold it again.

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> is happy that you're using the sword after a long time.]

Only she's happy, only her.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> is nagging you to use the blood sword.]

She can't use the blood sword in front of others because it's too energetic. Renee glanced at Cedin.

She doesn't know how he will react.

Instead-

[Skill Activation! - Ego Sword]

It wouldn't be bad to use a skill from <Lord of Vicious Blood>.

The sword slowly left Renee's hand and began to split into several on its own. And at the same time, it pointed at Arwen.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> is finally satisfied!]

But, does this world also have skills like Ego Sword?

Renee looked at Arwen and Cedin.

Judging by their rapidly increasing heartbeats, it seemed like an unusually surprising sight.

Oops, her mistake. She went a bit overboard.

"Ma-magic?"

"Uh, I appreciate it if you think so."

Arwen was so surprised that she just followed the sword with her eyes.

Now she couldn't tell who the person in front of her was.

At first, she thought it was Harlan, but listening to her talk, it seemed like Lady Marchius, but this incredible magic and swordsmanship... Only a dragon could do it.

There was no way a human could do this.

Arwen was so confused that she wondered if she was dreaming.

"But you are, the only one in Marchius...."

"Weak, shameful, nothing to see. Something like that?"

"...I heard you're a-an ordinary person."

Arwen's jaw was trembling. But Renee couldn't blame her.

She knew why Arwen was trembling like a quaking aspen.

Also, ten swords of water turned in their direction at the same time.

Right, beyond the tent.

Cedin immediately changed his posture and took a defensive stance toward the intruder.

There was something. Something full of killing intent.

Just one sheet of cloth away.

Even though it was deliberately suppressing its energy...

"Cedin, withdraw your sword."

Cedin could bet his life that what was on the other side was Harlan.

"But, Renee."

"Withdraw."

And so could Renee.

Renee, for the first time in a while, wiped away her smile and heightened her senses.

The chat window had been going crazy for a while now.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> warns you of danger!]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> warns you of danger!]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> warns you of danger!]

But even without the chat window, she had already smelled danger. It had been a long time since she had smelled this.

The rawness of a beast itself. Unrestrained killing intent. And-

"Look at this."

The scent of a fellow species.

"I followed a rat and found something more interesting."

[You have encountered the Constellation <Fire of Joy and Despair>!]

[Your status is increasing!]

[Adjusting...]

[You have encountered the 'Piece of the Past' of the Constellation! Since it's not a direct encounter with the Constellation, the balance will be adjusted!]

[Your reputation increases by 50! Your current Fame: -363]

Why is the Constellation here...?

***

Meanwhile, Ishir was not in a good mood.

He wanted to join Renee and Cedin's 'Light Dragon Expedition' as soon as possible, but he couldn't because of certain reasons.

Why couldn't he do it?

"His Highness the Crown Prince is a precious hand of the Imperial family. Is it even possible for him to go on such a journey?"

"Don't pretend to worry! The truth is, You're afraid His Highness will achieve great things!"

"Oh, this person! How dare you doubt my loyalty!"

"Loyalty? Your loyalty must be towards Princess Edin, right? Such a hypocrite...!"

It was because of these pathetic people.

Ishir had been watching the ongoing chaos of the meeting for a while, seemingly tired of the fighting.

This place was the heart of the Capital, Lamars. It was the main hall of the Lambdish Imperial Palace.

And it was in the midst of the Emperor's sponsored tournament.

Only the influential noble families, officials, and the highest-ranking officials responsible for each ministry could participate. It was the core of the core.

The flower of politics and the driving force of the Empire.

"No one can stop the Crown Prince's path!"

"Even Princess Edin is quietly watching, why are you so... reckless."

What a load of nonsense.

Ishir casually glanced at the chaotic meeting.

His sister, Edin, who was sitting across from him, had a consistently gentle smile as if to prove that she was different from her brother.

Ishir smirked at the sight of Edin.

"What's so funny, brother?"

"Everything."

At his words, Edin's eyes turned cold. Her mouth was still slightly upturned.

"My sister can't go, and I'm the only one going. Is that such a problem? The people of the Empire are worried about the Dragon and have no concern for the throne."

"Hmm."

Edin's supporters coughed awkwardly at Ishir's remark.

Those who supported Ishir nodded in agreement, showing strong affirmation.

"This is a matter of fairness, Your Highness. Relying solely on force like this-"

"Do you think I don't know? The fact that the commanders of the Princess's personal knights and the Silver Eagle Knights have been absent for some time? Should I say out loud what it means for such a prominent figure to disappear at this time, Edin?"

Ishir turned his gaze to Edin and stared at her.

And then, all eyes were on her. Even in the midst of those gazes, Edin met Ishir's gaze.

"Asking about the whereabouts of my knights is impertinent."

"It's not the Princess's privilege to decide my whereabouts, is it?"

"I didn't express any opinion, brother."

"Then, mine."

The two of them stared at each other without blinking for a long time.

"You should go. For the Empire."

But in the end, Edin's words, which fell apart, caused a huge uproar in the meeting.

"Princess Edin!"

"Please reconsider, Your Highness!"

"Look! How dare you defy what Princess Edin has acknowledged!"

"Count, don't interfere...!"

Just as the meeting was about to turn into chaos again,

"Stop."

There was a voice that fell. Ishir finally smiled bitterly.

He had to come all the way to this situation to intervene.

"Disgraceful."

It was the Emperor, Astarte.

"Those who are said to be the driving force and pillars of the Empire..."

The Emperor looked at everyone once and had no choice but to do so.

Ishir and Edin, sitting on his right and left respectively, immediately lowered their eyes and remained silent.

"Edin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have also heard that you released the Silver Eagle Knights in the Dragon's habitat."

"It is just a measure to protect the Empire."

"Don't deceive me."

Instead of answering, Edin simply blinked her long eyelashes leisurely.

It was an attitude of 'So what?'. The Emperor also laughed deeply as he watched her.

"Yes, it would have been disappointing if you had just stayed still because you couldn't catch a sword."

"I apologize."

"Ishir."

The Emperor turned his head as if his interest had waned.

"Your recent actions are interesting."

"If I have fulfilled Your Majesty's expectations, that alone is enough."

"Renee Marchius. Where did you find such a useless person...?"

At the sound of his tongue clicking, Ishir clenched his fist.

But the Emperor spoke as if he didn't care about his mood at all.

"You are more of a problem than Edin. Bringing in a woman who lost the Saintess?"

"I am not someone who deserves to be called 'just'."

"You arrogant fool."

Astarte scolded him.

"Do you think you own the throne? Do you think you have taken your father's place? Do you really think that the people of the world, even the Emperor, worship you as a powerful figure who can even challenge me?"

At Astarte's harsh words, Ishir clenched his fist. The attendants were already holding their breath, unable to breathe.

Whether they were Ishir's people or Edin's people.

"What is the reason? Get rid of the false pretense that you sincerely mourn for that child. Look into my eyes!"

The Emperor scolded fiercely. Ishir slowly raised his head and stared into the Emperor's eyes.

He had always been like this.

He had always been a person who didn't see others as human beings.

Whether it was his child, his subordinate, or his only companion.

He saw them all as nothing more than pawns. Ishir did not hide his disgust for the Emperor.

"Look at this man."

Laughter echoed through the hall. Those attending the meeting were all desperate to avoid the Emperor's gaze and held their breath.

The Emperor was known to be very harsh when it came to matters involving his children.

It was even worse for the nobles. It was not a good choice to get involved in such situations.

"Do you desire this throne, Ishir?"

"...."

"Then you must prove the usefulness of that pitiful woman of yours."

The Emperor laughed with a mix of pleasure and contempt.

For the first time since the meeting began, the two siblings, Ishir and Edin, agreed on something.

No matter who becomes the Emperor-

"Or, this throne will go to your pathetic sister who can't even hold a sword."

At least that much.

And Ishir thought to himself.

She's useless.

"I will prove more than that."

Is that all?

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