Taming the Protagonist

Volume 3

Chapter 10 : Faust and Ganlei

West Kingdom, the paradise of adventurers, the land of miracles in the eyes of transcendents.

The Tianlu Mountain Range was the center of the densest ether accumulation on the entire continent.

This unending and massive flow of ether nurtured countless powerful magical beasts and fierce creatures in this mountain range that cut the entire continent into eastern and western parts... and this was merely one of its influences.

As the foundation of transcendence, the ether vortex surging in the Tianlu Mountain Range and its surroundings created excellent conditions for the opening of temporary entrances to the Zero Point Labyrinth.

At the same time, the previous Celestial Conquest Dynasty had established its royal capital here.

After the dynasty's destruction, countless treasures were buried deep underground or swept into the turbulence of the Zero Point Labyrinth.

Therefore, this place became the most active region for adventurers.

Every day, transcendents stepped into the West Kingdom with fantasies of changing their lives, and every day, adventurers either got lost in the Zero Point Labyrinth unable to return, or died in the terrifying traps of the dynasty's ruins.

The order here was more fragile than any territory in the Empire, but strangely, to some extent... it was more stable than many places in the Empire.

Transcendents attached themselves to power because transcendents also needed resources for promotion, and nobles happened to possess these.

But here, the words of nobles might not necessarily be as effective as those of powerful adventurers—nobles with accumulated heritage usually wouldn't take too many risks and with a full four Grand Dukes fighting openly and secretly on this vast land, it further prevented the nobles from becoming strong.

But the desperate desperadoes had the courage to use their lives as chips to seize that fleeting opportunity to soar into the sky.

With various reasons superimposed, the most chaotic West Kingdom was instead the most “fair” place in the entire Empire—of course, excluding the Hydra territory.

But this fairness—whether the fairness brought by the shift from the oppression of power to the oppression of violence made the West Kingdom's society a bit better or worse, could only be said to be a matter of opinion.

In this region where everything was possible, powerful adventurers who made a name for themselves formed their own groups, carving out territories, becoming awe-inspiring and yearned-for pinnacles and legends.

Silent Death Reflection, Severance of All Things, Whistling Strife, The Great Mage of Palaton, The Unlost One... their titles were symbols of glory and power, as well as signboards bringing endless wealth.

And among these many legends, there was one who rose like thunder and vanished like melting snow.

He didn't form a guild, didn't collect wealth, only leaving behind ethereal stories, but this seemed like a true legend, didn't it?

And this morning, when our Excellency Legend woke up, he found the petite cute scholar was still sleeping soundly on his chest, while the other young girl in the crook of his arm was nowhere to be seen.

He gently placed Mingfuluo on the bed and got out of bed naked.

The young Hydra clearly still retained a few traces of immaturity, but his shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen... every part of his body outlined mature and tough lines, plated with a layer of soft glow under the morning sunlight, like a god-given masterpiece.

Knock knock knock—

“Come in.”

Anselm responded casually while stretching his body, obviously not surprised that someone knocked on the door.

Changing into a somewhat masculine adventurer outfit, tying up her long hair and stuffing it into a soft cap, no longer looking like the gentle eldest miss usually, Marina gently pushed the door open and entered.

Holding a tray with both hands, she timed the breakfast delivery incomparably accurately.

However, the absolutely qualified Miss Secretary also had an unqualified place... that was when looking at Anselm, she didn't greet him at the first moment, but stared blankly at his body for several seconds.

Before becoming the current Hydra, Hydra ravaged the earth with that massive magical beast body.

After being burned by the Flame-Feasting fire in exchange for rationality, he created a human body.

Its growth cycle was also the same as humans, only that at a certain stage it could be frozen, entirely decided by Hydra himself.

Anselm's human body was in the period of fastest growth—although it had no practical significance for himself, for his bed partner, mm... it was obviously more pleasing to the eye and intoxicating.

—Otherwise, how could the always rational Miss Mingfuluo frequently indulge in male beauty and sleep without waking?

“An... Mr. Anselm.”

Marina, coming back to her senses, lowered her head slightly with a slightly red face: “Today's breakfast is salt-roasted flame beef fillet with water-drop matsutake, and Miss Mingfuluo's breakfast is sweet pancakes and wheat-silk milk.”

“Put it on the table.” Anselm changed clothes methodically while looking at the well-behaved Marina with a faint smile, “You were tired out again last night, no need to get up so early today.”

“This is my duty, Mr. Anselm.”

Marina, who placed the breakfast on the table, answered seriously: “Cannot be derelict in duty because of... certain reasons.”

Anselm, tightening the belt of his long trench coat, smiled—his attire was no longer that series of elegant and restrained black formal wear, but a rather unrestrained dissolute adventurer outfit.

“In the future, don't bother with Aluo's help requests... she really lost her head too. Clearly even adding Hit she couldn't handle me, yet she still wanted to drag you in.”

He glanced at Mingfuluo who seemed to be still sleeping soundly, the corner of his mouth raising slightly: “People always have to pay the price for their recklessness. Next time don't be stubborn and provoke me again, otherwise I will record the scene of you begging for mercy, Aluo.”

“...”

The petite female scholar remained motionless, but her slightly curled pink-white toes betrayed her.

Marina actually really wanted to say that this kind of thing could also be her duty, but considering her own resistance to that bliss, the young girl still couldn't say this sentence out loud.

Anselm began to enjoy his own breakfast.

The food here of course couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the Hydra Manor's meals, but he ate very happily, a kind of... happiness of realizing something was missing.

“The ruler of this Strife Fortress is Bayebop Leos under the Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke. Crowned with the title [Whistling Strife], a senior member of Zero Point Explorers, a Tier 5 transcendent.”

During Anselm's meal, Marina narrated information and intelligence unwearyingly: “Because the annual special competition will be held shortly, the adventurers gathered in Strife Fortress are very numerous... If not for many adventurers acting as mercenaries and participating in the war between Grand Duke Blood Dust and Grand Duke Sky Soil, the number of people would be even more.”

“So, you took this place as the starting point.”

Anselm nodded with a smile: “Very good, continue.”

He originally didn't plan to bring any secretary.

He had already made relevant plans himself; if there was any need, he could directly call Shadow Swamp.

But... the analysis and planning presented by Marina made Anselm decide to give this girl a chance.

“Subsequent arrangements need to be confirmed according to your action intention.”

Marina said softly: “If you, Mr. Anselm, plan to directly announce Faust's return in Strife Fortress, then I will immediately start preparing the relevant intelligence warm-up.”

“What if I plan to continue watching like this?”

“Then I will contact the Zero Point Explorers station in Strife Fortress to look for adventurers who returned from the Zero Point Labyrinth recently.”

Anselm slowly finished chewing a strip of beef fillet, tilting his head slightly to look at Marina:

“Just relying on the current you?”

An ordinary person who changed appearance, had no background, and was not a transcendent?

Facing such an inquiry, Marina just smiled: “Mr. Anselm cannot possibly stay in the inn without taking a step out forever, besides... there will always be a way.”

This was not saying she would think of a way; obviously she already had a way.

Anselm did not ask what Marina's way was, just nodded lightly, quickly finished the remaining breakfast, then carried Mingfuluo's portion and sat by the bed, gently pinching her snowy foot that was a bit smaller than Anselm's palm.

“Time to eat, Aluo.” The boy smiled, gently stroking that soft and silky sole, “Now is not the time to pretend to sleep. Where did your passion for knowledge go?”

“...So noisy.”

Mingfuluo turned over, wanting to pull her foot out of Anselm's hand, but after struggling twice unsuccessfully, she silently let him stroke it again.

Anselm said leisurely: “If you want to waste time, I don't mind spending it with you like this.”

The slightly curled-up Scholar Lady was silent for a moment, then grabbed the quilt to cover her body.

She straightened up slightly, rubbed her cheeks, and tidied herself up with a cleaning spell.

“Pancakes and milk... do you take me for a child?”

Mingfuluo huffed lightly, shifting her small butt slightly.

Originally only her foot was grabbed by Anselm, now both thighs were resting on Anselm's legs.

“Not my choice, it was Marina.”

“...” Mingfuluo's eyes focused slightly, looking at Marina standing quietly by the door.

The young girl lowered her head somewhat apologetically and said: “Very sorry it doesn't suit your appetite. Starting tomorrow, I will adjust your—”

“Forget it... no need.” Mingfuluo interrupted Marina's words, “Just follow your arrangement. I'm just not used to being... served like this by people.”

Anselm raised his eyebrows slightly: “Why can't your attitude towards me be as good as towards Marina?”

“You don't like it?” Mingfuluo's expression was still somewhat lazy; presumably the intensity of yesterday's great battle was indeed quite high, “If you don't like it, being extremely polite to you isn't impossible either.”

“Then forget it, why must friends distinguish so clearly?”

“Friends... Hmph, only you would use this method to treat friends, perverted brat.”

Mingfuluo averted her gaze slightly, not meeting Anselm's teasing eyes.

She gently rubbed Anselm's stomach with her rosy knees: “If no objection then cut the crap, I'm hungry... don't take breakfast with the hand that pinched my foot!”

“What's wrong?”

The young Hydra looked slightly surprised: “Your foot is very clean.”

“Last night it stepped on that enthusiastic tool of yours used to entertain friends, and you tell me it's clean?”

Mingfuluo's face was full of disdain: “Change hand.”

“Just this matter? It's not like you didn't eat directly—”

“Anselm!”

The suddenly raised and somewhat out-of-tune voice indicated that the Scholar Lady was really somewhat angry.

Anselm shrugged as if surrendering, changed a hand to pick up the pancake, dipped it in milk, and fed it to her mouth.

Mingfuluo first moved her head away somewhat unhappily, but under Anselm's smiling insistence, she still reluctantly nibbled on the pancake small bite by small bite like a little hamster.

...Although the expression was still not good, judging from the increasingly fast eating speed, Marina's selection for breakfast was absolutely correct.

A few minutes later, Mingfuluo, holding the cup with both hands, gulped down the last of the hot milk, gently licked the milk stain on her lip, and looked up at Anselm:

“Anything happening today? If not, I'll stay in the room to read.”

“If something happens, aren't you able to come to my side at the first moment too?” Anselm shook the bracelet on his wrist.

“So I am reminding you.” Mingfuluo said expressionlessly, “Don't find things for me to do.”

Anselm couldn't help laughing out loud: “Seems I brought a difficult-to-serve princess out.”

“It is you who are difficult to serve, Prince like a wild horse.”

Miss Mingfuluo's appearance of spitting out words related to that aspect smoothly and without changing expression was very worthy for Miss Hitana, who would blush and have a racing heart as soon as relevant topics were discussed, to learn seriously. At the same time, it also made Marina very envious.

This kind of smooth and natural chat without the slightest stagnation or break, where both sides could immediately respond and chat tirelessly... exactly how well did both sides have to understand each other, and how much did they have to like each other, for this to appear?

“Alright, who makes the wild horse need your soothing, Your Highness Princess.”

Anselm rubbed Mingfuluo's head: “I won't disturb you, rest assured.”

“Better be so.”

Mingfuluo, wrapped in the quilt, picked up the glasses from the bedside table and put them on.

A thick classic appeared out of thin air in her hand.

She shifted her body, leaned against the bed back, and just started studying on her own.

“Then next... is the sightseeing tour of Strife Fortress for the two of us.”

Anselm stood up. Gleipnir, which was usually in the basic form of a cane, did not disguise itself at this moment, but hung at his waist in the form of a chain sword, revealing its sharp edge.

Dressed in a dissolute adventurer outfit, he stroked Gleipnir's hilt; a few rare flashes of anticipation and joy flickered in his eyes.

He turned to look at Marina, saying high-spiritedly: “Ready?”

“Yes, Mr. Anselm.”

“No no no... not Mr. Anselm.”

Anselm stroked his hand over his brilliant golden hair, transforming it into a pure black color, and increased its length, tying it into a slender ponytail with a thin string.

His appearance also became very different from “Anselm Hydra”, lacking that intoxicating handsomeness and gentleness, becoming sharper, more... overflowing with evil aura.

“What should you... call me?”

Anselm, who was already completely a mature young man, even had his voice become more magnetic, and his tone also became very frivolous.

“Sorry, it was my negligence.” Marina lowered her head in response, “Please forgive my mistake...”

“Mr. Faust.”

“Very good, Ganlei, take me to see how lively the current Strife Fortress exactly is.”

“As you wish, Sir.”

Marina no longer curtsied like a lady, but just bowed slightly very simply:

“Ma Ganlei... at your service at all times.”

Since Anselm acted with the identity of Faust, she of course had to change her appearance too. So during this period, Marina Lansmarlos also had a new identity.

Her name was Ma Ganlei, Ma Ganlei Brandt.