Chapter 91

Good evening.

This is today's (20th) update.

Due to the situation being incomprehensible, for now, I've decided to call it a poltergeist.

After that, Ein made her way to Lloyd's tent with a subtle expression.

And around the time she was recounting what had happened.

Crona, who had stayed in the town of Balt to lobby the guild, returned to her room after finishing the day's schedule.

"Haa... I'm tired."

The cold region of Balt is something she just can't get used to.

Perhaps because of that, she feels more mental fatigue than physical exhaustion.

After returning to her room, she took off her coat and hung it on the sofa.

Since the room was kept warm, she also took off the jacket she was wearing.

Wearing only a thin blue shirt, she quickly changed into a more comfortable outfit. She only wore a skirt below.

She undid the top two buttons, giving her chest some room. As she undid the buttons, her chest, which had grown larger over time, swayed gently.

"I wonder if they arrived safely..."

Since they can't communicate right now, she doesn't know how Ein and the others are doing.

But surely everything is fine. They went with such a formidable force; if that didn't work, Ishtalika would be finished.

Thinking of Ein, who isn't here, she reached for the drink in her glass.

The cold drink seeped into her tired body. The sensation seemed to reach every cell, and Crona relaxed with a sigh.

Since seeing Ein off, Crona has also been quite busy.

Though she hasn't shown her face at the guild, she has been meeting with Lord Balt and giving instructions to the remaining members, to the point where she didn't even have time for lunch.

If Ein knew she had a lavish lunch, she would probably complain.

"...I'm alone, after all."

Though the room was divided inside, until this morning, she had been sleeping in almost the same space as Ein.

But now that she's alone, of course, she can't hear his voice or the sounds he makes.

Thinking about it, this might be the first time she's been without someone close by.

The room prepared in the castle always had Ein and the others in the same building.

Her home near the August Trading Company had Graf and Alfred.

Thinking about this suddenly, Crona felt a sudden loneliness.

"Am I... a clingy person...?"

It seems ridiculous, but she can't think of anything to deny it.

The snowfall outside the window stretched endlessly.

Staring at it, she couldn't help but feel down.

"Before I start thinking weird thoughts, I'll take a bath... maybe."

She really wanted to finish her work first.

She had a few things to confirm, and she wanted to get them done before preparing for bed.

She had decided not to work after a bath.

It might sound childish, but she hadn't told Ein that she tends to get sleepy after a bath.

Because of this, her concentration drops, so she takes a bath after finishing her work. This is one of her rules.

"But I can't sleep yet... no..."

She wanted to change her mood.

Feeling a bit melancholic, the idea of tackling the remaining work seemed daunting.

—And after thinking for a few dozen seconds, her conclusion was this.

"Yes, I've decided. I'll just wake up earlier."

She might as well go to sleep now.

Then she'll wake up earlier and tackle the remaining work.

In any case, she doesn't think her concentration will return anytime soon.

She believes this is the best choice for her.

"Since I've decided, I'll hurry. I need to prepare for tomorrow."

Today, she's been talking to herself a lot.

She was aware of it, but she also wanted to escape from this indescribable loneliness.

—She stopped by her room and picked up new undergarments and pajamas.

Thinking about which undergarments to wear tomorrow made her feel a bit better.

Though she probably won't have a chance to show them to "him," Crona is very particular about her undergarments.

It's embarrassing to say out loud, but collecting undergarments is one of Crona's secret hobbies.

She also chooses a negligee to match. It was a small pleasure before bed.

"I wonder if there are stores selling undergarments in Balt."

If there are, she wants to visit them.

If there are new undergarments, she wants to buy them and take them back.

...If she has time while Ein is away, she'll look for them. She nodded to herself.

Crona, who had reached the bathroom, started unbuttoning her shirt.

She undid the remaining buttons, gradually exposing her skin.

"Hmm... Yes. It's still a beautiful color... Pink is nice, but I still like this color the most."

A high-quality item with delicate embroidery and lace.

The touch is excellent, and the design makes her feel happy when she wears it.

The undergarments Crona had prepared for changing were black, similar to the pink ones she was wearing, adorned with beautiful lace and embroidery.

The color changed from a cute hue to one filled with sexual charm.

...There was a simple reason for choosing black undergarments.

It's because black is "his" image color, like the black pearl necklace.

Being so conscious about undergarments.

If this were known, even Crona would blush in embarrassment.

So she won't tell anyone. It's enough that she knows.

—With a rustling sound, Crona's skirt fell to the floor.

She removed her beautiful legs and took off the remaining shirt.

She put them in a nearby basket and reached for the clasp of her remaining undergarments.

*

After enjoying a bath for a few dozen minutes, she dried her long hair.

In such a grand guest room, it's natural to have such magical devices, and as a woman, it's very convenient.

After drinking water a few times, she put her work tools in the living space and headed to her room's bed.

As planned, she went to bed early to wake up early.

She thought this would prevent any disruption to her schedule.

...But her wish was easily shattered.

"...Why?"

Usually, she would feel sleepy, but today it just doesn't come.

Instead, she feels more awake. Even though she thinks about working, she doesn't feel like it.

...It was the worst situation.

She decided to drink something warm. She got up from the bed and headed to the living space.

Sitting on the sofa, she realized she didn't really want a drink.

—It was the worst. Why was she in such an incomprehensible situation? Crona was troubled.

Is it because the different environment is affecting her mentally? Thinking about it made her feel embarrassed.

As the prince's attendant, she shouldn't be acting like this.

She sighed heavily, unable to find a solution to her troubles.

...While doing this, Crona looked around the room.

Feeling restless, she scanned the room from corner to corner.

—Suddenly, her eyes stopped at one place.

"Is it... okay?"

Looking at it, she felt strangely calm.

She stood up naturally, reassured herself, and walked over.

Walking the short distance, Crona took a deep breath and opened the door.

"I... I'm coming in..."

She knew no one was there.

But for some reason, she felt she had to say it.

When she opened the door, the light came on, and the room was clearly visible.

"...Entering the prince's bedroom is a bad attendant."

She chuckled and stepped into Ein's bedroom.

Of course, no one was there. Only Crona was alone.

But she felt a sense of calm return to her heart.

"Hey, Ein. Even though you're not here... you're still helping me."

Sitting on the bed Ein used, she felt his gentle scent.

A familiar, beloved scent that began to heal her tired heart.

'Enough,' she decided, got into the bed, and hugged the pillow he used.

It only took a few seconds, but it felt like she had been holding back.

"Hmm... Ah... Hauu..."

She was surprised by the rather seductive sound that escaped her.

She must have relaxed a lot, she told herself, but her face turned red.

Hugging Ein's pillow tightly, she tried to justify it.

—Surrounded by his scent, Crona felt as if she was wrapped in Ein.

As she justified her blushing, her eyelids gradually grew heavy.

"...Come back soon, you idiot..."

A selfish, backward, and reserved complaint. Knowing her weakness as a "clingy person" was the only comfort.

—And Crona, who couldn't sleep, fell into a deep sleep in Ein's bed, as if it were a lie.

A few days later.

When Ein returned to the inn, the scent of the bed made her feel "restless," but that's another story...

*

As the night turned to morning and the outside began to brighten.

Ein sat up and stretched her back with a "Nn!"

Last night was incomprehensible.

She still doesn't know who gave her such a gift, but she decided to accept it gratefully.

She went to Lloyd and called out to Dil.

Lloyd, who came to check, saw the scene.

Of course, Lloyd and the others had no idea, and the question of how to catch the rabbit that had fled was concluded to be beyond human capability.

After that, Lloyd and Dil took turns watching Ein's tent, and a few royal guards were assigned to her.

Feeling guilty, Ein was asked to rest properly, so she listened and rested.

"Prince Ein. Are you awake?"

"Good morning, Dil. Sorry for keeping you on watch."

"Not at all. It's a relief that nothing happened."

Dil had been on watch in the tent.

When he noticed Ein was awake, he moved to the side of the curtain around the bed.

"Hey, is Lloyd resting now?"

"...Actually, Father is waiting outside to tell you something."

Did something happen?

But it would be bad to keep him waiting. Since she was awake, Ein headed to Lloyd's tent.

It was just outside, so she put on a jacket and went out.

"Mr. Lloyd. Good morning."

"Oh, Prince Ein. Despite what happened last night, were you able to rest?"

"Thanks to everyone. But I feel a bit guilty."

"Hahaha! We don't ask for anything more if Prince Ein rests well."

His hearty words were comforting.

Being able to understand her feelings like this is one of Lloyd's good qualities.

"Dil told me you have something to tell?"

"Ah, yes. Actually, we have an interesting discovery to report. Please, this way."

Following Lloyd, they arrived at a spot next to Ein's tent.

There, the two rabbits brought in yesterday were placed.

"With the light, I checked the wounds on their necks."

"Wounds? Was there something there?"

"Yes. ...To put it simply, it's art."

Calling the wounds "art" was hard to understand.

She wondered if some pattern was drawn on them.

"Art...?"

"Both were pierced in a straight line from almost the same angle and position, right into the 'core.' ...It's a terrifyingly precise technique."

Upon checking, it was indeed pierced at a machine-like angle.

Why they were brought and who brought them was still a mystery, but the skill of the one who killed them was evident.

"But this feels like a 'tribute.'"

Ein and Dil agreed with Lloyd's words.

Thinking about it, bringing such high-quality items felt like a tribute.

...Though the method of delivery was one of the worst.

"But if it's a tribute, I'm the target..."

"Yes, that's right. The question is, who is offering this tribute and why?"

"That's a difficult one. Father."

"Yes... It's probably related to someone who has been monitoring us. Moreover, someone who can get close to Prince Ein without being noticed. That's the meaning of it."

The latter meaning was the most critical.

If it were a perfect enemy, they could be killed without Lloyd noticing. Such a situation wouldn't be surprising.

Ein must be kept alive at all costs... but this plan would easily fall apart.

"So, we should be glad it's not a pure enemy."

Lloyd's words were complex.

What he was thinking most about was interrupting the investigation and returning to Balt.

The situation is too uncertain. Considering the worst-case scenario, it might be best to leave here honestly.

Ein nodded in agreement, thinking out loud.

"By the way, Dullahan and Elderlich. They didn't react, so I think we're probably safe."

"...What do you mean?"

"It's a hopeful view, but we're trying to settle something with the red fox. I don't think Dullahan would abandon me. If they were going to abandon me, they would have taken over my body easily."

He smiled dryly, but it was something Dullahan might do.

Thinking back to the incident in Eulor, he didn't think he would just be killed.

"Anyway, I wish they had come 'directly' to talk. Who they are and what their purpose is."

Emphasizing the word "directly," Ein spoke.

Hearing Ein's thoughts, Lloyd and Dil felt the validity of his reasoning.

"Indeed... Dullahan would probably try to take over Prince Ein's body."

Dil recalled the incident on the Ishtalika royal ship "White King."

Dullahan took over Ein's body and destroyed part of the ship.

The fact that Dullahan didn't do anything last night suggests they didn't see it as a problem. That's what Ein was guessing.

"The most suspicious place is still there, though."

She glanced at the Demon King's castle.

The castle, which suddenly opened its gates, might have someone who brought the "tribute."

However, they haven't decided to enter yet.

"...It's frustrating."

Going there might provide some answers.

Thinking about it, not being able to enter the Demon King's castle is a shame.

"Let's start with what we can investigate. Starting too ambitiously might lead to trouble."

Seeing the two nod, Ein started walking, wondering what to do.

Ultimately, they don't know who came and for what purpose.

"(Since we're here, I'll take the rabbit meat.)"

The second day in the former Demon King's territory.

The investigation finally begins.

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