Taming the Protagonist

Volume 3

Chapter 26 : Monster Mister and Monster Miss Are Quite In the Mood

This time, what brought news to Anselm was not a pitch-black feather, but Nailan herself.

Tall and slender, looking far from healthy, the woman whose entire body emanated a chilling, bone-deep cold aura knelt on one knee before Anselm, lowered her head deeply, and after finishing her report, quietly waited for Anselm’s response.

“Found another gate with active fire elements……”

Anselm lightly tapped the tabletop: “And it just happened to be within the battlefield of Blood Dust and Sky Soil.”

Shadow Swamp, roaming through the shadows of the West Kingdom, had been continuously bringing Anselm news from all sides.

Of course, none of it had passed through that nominal personal secretary.

“Yes. The activity level of that gate was extremely rare. The surging fire elements even pierced through the world’s barrier. Even though the gate had not yet opened, that battlefield had already turned into scorched earth.”

“So exaggerated?” Anselm raised his eyebrows slightly. “Then I had to make a trip there.”

Even that lava world that still retained Ivora’s severed remains had not leaked such an absurd amount of fire elements.

So even if he still could not find Ivora through this gate, he could still gain quite a few clues.

He looked toward the commission sheet on the table and said thoughtfully: “The gate probably opens in a little over a month?”

“Yes. According to calculations, it should be around thirty to forty days.”

“The timing isn’t too far off either……heh.”

The young Hydra let out an inscrutable chuckle, then cast his gaze back toward his loyal subordinate: “Is there anything else to report?”

“……There is, Lord Anselm.”

Nailan, who had been keeping her head lowered, raised it.

On that slightly uncomfortable, cold visage was seriousness and earnestness: “Are you going to allow Marina Lansmarlos to continue wasting energy like this, doing meaningless things?”

The handsome noble youth propped his cheek and spoke with a half-smile: “You mean, Marina wanting to build a force from scratch in the West Kingdom?”

“I don’t think that counts as resistance.” Nailan’s expression was cold. “She was just playing house on her own.”

“That was quite a harsh evaluation, Nailan.”

“I only tell you the truth.”

Anselm smiled and shook his head: “Since you think it’s playing house, why bother stopping her?”

“Because she should have been putting her energy into serving you.” The woman frowned.

There was no contempt in her words or expression, only the manner of plainly stating facts.

“She has no qualification to participate in strategy planning, but if it’s merely organizing documents and materials and relaying messages for us, that is still not a problem.”

Nailan paused, then continued in her detached, factual tone: “I know her performance in the Garden. In terms of ability, I do not deny Marina’s talent, but that is all.”

“If talent alone could decide what people should do, then you wouldn’t have distinguished between the Garden and Shadow Swamp, Lord Anselm.”

Having spoken all her counsel, Nailan fell quiet and waited for Anselm’s response.

She had mixed in no personal emotions, only hoping Anselm would make the judgment most beneficial to himself.

With Shadow Swamp operating in the West Kingdom, Marina trying to pull together a force that could oppose it was not only meaningless, but laughable.

Rather than letting her spend a great deal of effort on such a thing, it would be better for her to honestly fulfill the most basic duties of a secretary.

As for that ambition visible to the naked eye……right now, she still did not have the qualification to realize it.

Although her stance and reasons were all impeccably correct, Nailan overlooked one thing.

Just as she had no need to tell Marina Shadow Swamp’s intelligence and plans, Anselm, when he didn’t need to use her and instead used Shadow Swamp, likewise never needed to tell them his thoughts.

Shadow Swamp was a very useful tool, but tools were better at executing orders, and only executing orders.

To infer a superior’s intent required wisdom, and even more, courage.

Attempting to chart a path for one’s leader and resolving to pave the way for it was a display of loyalty, yet also dangerous——most leaders did not want their subordinates walking ahead of them.

In this regard, Marina indeed did better.

Among his many followers, this mortal girl instead was the one most daring in trying to fathom his intentions.

Was it because she had followed Anselm for such a short time, unlike the others who deeply revered Anselm’s power—ignorance breeding fearlessness—or was it that she……was simply born this way?

“Let Marina continue.” Anselm narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Don’t you think it’s interesting, Nailan.”

“……If you think so, then that could count as a reason.”

Lady Nailan, having misunderstood his meaning, responded softly: “If her little antics can make you feel pleased, then they are valuable.”

Anselm naturally did not correct anything. He stood up and said calmly: “Other than that, there’s nothing else, right?”

“……Miss Hitana’s appearance has had some impact on some of Attendant Snake’s deployments in Strife Fortress.”

Nailan honestly stated another matter that truly counted as troublesome for her, but also explained calmly: “However, this isn’t a big issue. I will have Attendant Snake make corresponding adjustments based on Miss Hitana’s actions.”

“There’s no need to indulge her like that.”

At the thought of his own adorable wolf-dog showing that proud and self-satisfied look before him, Anselm could not help but smile.

He walked to the window and looked out at the increasingly lively and prosperous streets of Strife Fortress, his eyes full of amusement:

“Whatever arrangements there are, just proceed according to them. No need to ask for my opinion. Letting her suffer a bit is fine……if anything, that’s better.”

Saying this, the young Hydra resting a hand on the window ledge lifted the corners of his mouth a little more.

That distinct lightness and confidence were enough to make many followers feel envy.

“Just wanting to make her suffer a bit, that might be a little difficult.”

“I understand, Lord Anselm.”

The woman lowered her head again and saluted Anselm: “Nailan will take her leave. If there is anything you need, please be sure to summon me.”

It could only be said that Rhine’s worry was absolutely correct.

If not for Marina, Shadow Swamp would have already completely taken over all affairs around Anselm at this time——though it wasn’t much different now, it was still better than having none.

“You have a lot of confidence in your little dog.”

Mingfuluo, sitting on the bed reading, suddenly spoke.

Miss Scholar had been there all along; Anselm did not let Nailan avoid her.

“Her progress is something you and I can both see, isn’t it?” Anselm turned his head, smiling brightly.

“If you mean how to more efficiently turn people into corpses or cripples.”

Mingfuluo closed the book and let out a cold laugh: “Then I do indeed have deep experience with her ‘progress.’”

When Anselm and Marina went to complete the commission, Mingfuluo and Hitana set out together to rescue the slaves in the lower district, and in that process, how to put it……

Even from the standpoint of righteous people, it was clearly a bit too brutal.

Mingfuluo was indeed astonished at Hitana’s growth in strength—not merely strong in the sense of violence, but comprehensive progress——balance, control, technique……oh no, Hitana’s fighting did not really have any technique to speak of.

That kind of thing was less technique and more her innate instinct and talent.

A kind of “I feel it should be done this way, as for why it’s done this way I don’t know either” talent, absurd to the extreme, enough to drive people mad with jealousy.

“Give her a bit of positive evaluation, dear Miss Aluo.” Anselm smiled helplessly.

Mingfuluo lifted her dead-fish eyes: “Feeling sorry for her?”

“If you and her argue often, I’ll be in a difficult position.”

“This is the price you have to bear for playing with multiple women at will.”

Miss Scholar snorted lightly: “You want to take all the good things for yourself?”

“Just in terms of personality……” Anselm rubbed his chin and pondered. “Whether it’s you or Hit, you’re both a bit——”

“A bit what?”

Mingfuluo casually raised her palm, and iron-gray particles swiftly gathered into a hand cannon.

“On a broad, public level, you don’t quite match the standards of a good girl.”

Bang!

A dot of purple fluorescence appeared on Anselm’s forehead.

Mingfuluo put away the gun, jumped off the bed, and walked up to Anselm with an unhappy face, standing on tiptoe to wipe his forehead.

“I’m not a good girl, that really must have wronged you.” She exerted force……or rather, thought she exerted force, and poked Anselm in the waist.

“I said it was on the public level. After all, from a passerby’s perspective, you and Hit—one cold and aloof, with no human warmth; the other irritable and prone to anger, always stirring up trouble—obviously don’t count……I already said, passerby perspective.”

With expressionless Mingfuluo reaching out to pinch his face, Anselm couldn’t help laughing: “It isn’t like that to me.”

“Then hurry up and say it.”

Cold and aloof, Miss Mingfuluo urged Anselm to say something nice.

“To me, Aluo is adorably awkward——”

“Stop!”

Mingfuluo, who had just been urging him, immediately covered his mouth.

The youth cast her a very innocent look.

“Too disgusting. From now on you’re not allowed to say it.”

As she said this, Mingfuluo withdrew her hand, tilted her head slightly to avert her gaze, and tucked the fallen strands of hair behind her ear.

“Hit does like hearing me say things like that.”

“She’s an idiot. Am I?”

Miss Mingfuluo, awkward and stubborn but cute, said coldly, while walking out the door: “Your secretary is going to accompany your little dog now. These few days I’ll go out with you to do things instead. Be grateful, got it?”

Anselm followed her small steps, forcefully restraining his smile: “Then may I ask why Miss Mingfuluo is accompanying me?”

“I’m in a good mood.”

“Why are you in a good mood?”

“So annoying.”

The petite and lovely Miss Scholar turned her head, and a faint blush that stirred the heart rose on her tender face: “Do you have to force me to say those disgusting things?”

Anselm finally couldn’t hold back and burst into loud laughter.

“What are you laughing at! You’re not sleeping with me tonight!”

“Aren’t you quite good at saying those disgusting things, dear Aluo.”

Miss Mingfuluo always suffered a crushing defeat when facing Anselm.

But after suffering a crushing defeat, she would always take the initiative to go hold Anselm’s hand.

Perhaps she actually rather enjoyed this kind of defeat.

Maybe even……with that kind of tacit understanding she had with Anselm, sometimes she wasn’t necessarily being forced into a crushing defeat.

***

Mingfuluo, sitting on Anselm’s shoulder, frowned as she looked down at the crowded, noisy sea of people below: “So loud.”

“Describing it as lively is better. Don’t always hold negative views toward this world, Aluo.”

“……Since when did you become so sunny?” Mingfuluo poked Anselm.

“Mm……” Anselm tilted his head slightly. “Since you started saying disgusting things to me?”

“Don’t always mess arou……forget it.”

Mingfuluo sighed as if giving up, then propped her cheek and asked: “What exactly is this selection tournament for?”

The “selection tournament” of Strife Fortress was an extremely famous event within the territory under the Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke, and even across the entire West Kingdom.

At first, it was merely a test established by Bayebop Leos, the controller of the Whistling Legion, to take in new blood.

But after his younger brother Mibaita Leos took over the affairs of Strife Fortress, this talented young man gradually transformed it into an adventurers’……combat tournament.

Adventurers of the West Kingdom were free.

Not directly controlled by nobles, they converted treasures excavated from the Zero Point Labyrinth or elsewhere into wealth to squander at will, enjoying life.

But among them there were naturally also those who pursued power, because once one stepped onto the transcendent path, it meant being unable to stop yearning for ascension.

But the meaning of “being strong,” lay in what?

Being able to go deeper into a more dangerous Zero Point Labyrinth?

Being able to find treasures of greater value?

Being able to become stronger……and then?

Adventurers were hyenas; they were fanatics bound up in desire, never sufficiently pure seekers of the path.

To them, being strong……needed to be able to be exchanged for something more tangible.

Yet this world happened to be so “stable.”

The Empress’s absolute dominion erased the possibility of transcendent beings fighting to the death with everything they had, leaving the most straightforward expression of this power——violence, with nowhere to vent.

Precisely because of that, many transcendent beings established domain cities, using domination and play over mortals to display their “power,” gaining meaning and value for the existence of that power.

Humans yearned for violence.

All transcendent beings, more or less, possessed that element called 【Beast】.

It was an impulse from ancient times, a desire etched into life’s instincts.

And Mibaita very keenly perceived this, so he changed the Whistling Legion’s selection tournament into an event that made transcendent beings become beasts in cages, slaughtering each other and venting their power, and……it achieved great success.

Under the operation of the Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke, 【Strife Selection Tournament】 had already become the hottest event in the West Kingdom.

Even though adventurers, inspired by Mibaita, successively held competitions similar to it, no one could reach Mibaita’s level. Aside from the Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke’s support, Mibaita’s own ability also played an enormous role.

Never the same competition format each time, an ever more well-developed tournament system—every aspect of the tournament Mibaita controlled far surpassed other peers.

And such a capable person, just because of a commission he couldn’t swallow, died inexplicably at Anselm’s hands.

Mm……died at Anselm’s hands.

Then who was the person now standing at the highest point of the stands, facing the dense, crowded sea of people, and loudly announcing the official start of the selection tournament?