Chapter 54 Some News and Taking Off
Chapter 54 Some News and Taking Off
Armor and weapons tier system
| Divine |
| Mytical |
| Legendary |
| Epic |
| Rare |
| High |
| Common |
| Low |
“Okay, okay—if you’re giving me presents, I’ll take the deal,” Iryoku finally said with a shrug. “Now don’t waste our time—show us the armor already. And throw in some throwing knives while you’re at it.”
Kloss’s grin widened. “It’s a deal, hoho! Come take a look—these are both Rare-grade leather armors, crafted from the hide of a Hyperion Bull from the eastern plains. Since you two rely on speed and agility, I kept them light. But I added some plate reinforcement to the shoulders, chest, and back for extra protection. Oh—and both sets are enchanted with a minor healing effect.”
He stepped aside, revealing two sleek sets of armor, then held up a bundle of weapons. “And here’s an assortment of throwing knives for the gentleman—and a set of arrows for the lady. Hoho!”
Yumi ran her fingers along the fine leather, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Wait… so the armor actually heals us?”
Kloss nodded, stroking his beard. “Keep in mind—the healing is subtle. It won’t magically patch you up mid-battle, but it’ll enhance your body’s natural recovery. Just a small edge… but sometimes, that’s all you need between life and death.”
With arms crossed and a booming laugh, he added, “Now shoo! Go fetch me some legendary-grade materials so I can become the greatest crafter in the kingdom—no, the entire world! Hohoho!”
Jonas stepped in gently, looking toward Iryoku. “Please don’t take offense to Master Kloss’s... enthusiasm.”
Iryoku laughed while inspecting one of the throwing knives. “Actually, I kind of like the guy’s energy.”
Then Jonas turned toward them again. “Now then, would you like to continue the magic lesson?”
Yumi opened her mouth to respond, but Iryoku beat her to it.
“Let’s leave it for tomorrow, old man. Yumi and I have some business to take care of in town. We’ll return to the castle later.”
After Jonas left, Yumi turned to him, curious. “So... what exactly are we doing?”
Iryoku gave her a soft look, gently took her hand, and walked beside her. “I just want to spend some time alone with you, that’s all. Come on—let’s walk around town.”
Yumi’s cheeks turned bright red as they walked hand-in-hand.
“Consider this our first date,” Iryoku added with a wide smile.
As they walked through the lively streets, Yumi started to notice something odd—people kept glancing at her. Some even stopped in their tracks.
“What’s going on?” she whispered, clearly uneasy.
Iryoku smirked. “Maybe it’s because you’re just too pretty.”
A group of rugged-looking warriors passed by, returning from a mission. One of them paused and squinted.
“Hey, isn’t that the short girl from the Valiant Beauties?”
“Where?” another asked, looking around.
“There! That’s her—the Valiant Beauty of the Bow!” someone shouted.
“And look—she’s wearing brand-new armor and carrying a freshly-forged bow!”
Before long, a small crowd began to form around them, murmurs and admiration growing louder.
Yumi shrank back, flustered. “Ahh… e-eto…”
Iryoku, still smiling, stepped forward. “Sorry, folks—this one’s mine. Go find your own, hehe.”
With that, he swept Yumi into a princess carry, leapt into the air, and landed gracefully on the rooftops, laughing as he carried her away above the streets.
“Ehhhh! He’s bagging the beauty!” the crowd shouted in unison.
Yumi felt like she’d been stolen away. “Somehow… that makes me happy,” she murmured, burying her face in Iryoku’s chest.
Later that night, Yumi nervously fidgeted as she walked alongside Iryoku down the hallway leading to their rooms. She kept talking—recounting the time she fought the mammoth demon—hoping to keep him distracted from what she was planning.
As they neared her door, she suddenly pointed behind him. “Wait—what’s that?” she said, feigning surprise.
Then, without waiting for a response, she darted forward. “Good night!” she called over her shoulder, slipping inside and slamming the door shut before Iryoku could react.
She leaned back against it, heart racing, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
“Fuu... Got him,” she whispered triumphantly.
But as she turned around, she froze in place.
Iryoku was already inside—casually stretched out on her bed, wearing a wide, smug grin.
She opened her mouth to scold him—but then sighed in defeat, cheeks burning red, eyes lowered to the floor.
After a pause, she spoke, her voice soft and barely audible.
“…Want to shower... together?”
Iryoku’s smirk only grew as he nodded, standing up without a word. The two of them quietly slipped into the bathroom together.
That night, they engaged in a playful, passionate battle. After a few intense rounds, they eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms, exhausted but content.
The next day, during their magic practice with Jonas, someone knocked on the door.
Without waiting for a response, the door opened and Princess Agnes stepped in.
“Lord Iryoku, Lady Yumi—we have news regarding the ladies.”
Both Yumi and Iryoku immediately straightened up, their focus sharpening. Without hesitation, they bolted out of the room alongside Agnes.
As they hurried down the corridor, Iryoku asked, “Where are they?”
“They’ve been spotted in two different places,” Agnes replied quickly. “Lady Reika was seen near Zora’s Tower, located to the southeast, between our kingdom and the Elf Lands. Lady Alessandra, on the other hand, was spotted to the southwest, near the border between our kingdom and the Dwarven territories, close to the Church of Light’s dominion.”
She handed them a rolled parchment. “Here’s a map showing both locations.”
“The region is vast,” she added, her voice edged with concern. “It stretches across forests and scattered settlements, spanning the continent from west to east.”
“Damn it, I still can’t read your language,” Iryoku muttered, squinting at the map in frustration.
Yumi took the parchment from Iryoku with a confident nod. “I can read it—not as well as Reika, but I can manage.”
They arrived at their chambers, and Agnes followed them inside.
“I’ve prepared an armored carriage for your journey,” she informed them. “It’s sturdier than the one you used before.”
As she spoke, both Iryoku and Yumi began suiting up. Iryoku moved behind Yumi, tightening the straps on her armor with practiced hands.
Without turning his head, he said firmly, “No… this time, we’ll travel light. We’ll ride Rhogan. Just the essentials—I want to reach them as fast as possible.”
Yumi glanced over her shoulder. “Where should we head first?”
Agnes hesitated for a moment before replying. “Both locations are in opposite directions… but Lady Alessandra’s whereabouts are less certain. Lady Reika, on the other hand, was last seen near Zora’s Tower. That gives us a clearer starting point.”
Outside the castle walls, Rhogan stood ready, already saddled with a couple of bags secured to his sides. Agnes, Jonas, the maids, and even the fake Count had gathered to see them off.
Iryoku walked past Agnes without so much as glancing her way. Her eyes widened as she felt a faint shift against her chest. Glancing down, she suddenly realized that her hidden blade—the one Iryoku had taken from her—was somehow tucked between her breasts.
“Wait—when did you…?” she began, flustered.
Without missing a beat, Iryoku reached out with a smirk.
“On second thought, I think I’ll hang on to this,” he said, smoothly retrieving the blade from her cleavage.
Agnes flushed, caught completely off guard. Before she could say anything more, Iryoku leaned in and whispered close to her ear, his tone surprisingly soft,
“If you bear a child, I’ll take responsibility.”
Before Agnes could reply, he turned, lifted Yumi by the waist, and gently placed her onto Rhogan’s back. Then he leapt up and settled in behind her, taking hold of the reins.
“If either of them returns before we find them, please take care of them,” he said to Agnes, his tone serious. “We’ll come back here eventually.”
“Let’s go, Rhogan,” he commanded.
Rhogan let out a low growl and began to move, drawing the attention of onlookers as its heavy steps echoed through the city streets.
A certain group of admirers caught sight of them but were quickly swept away by the serious demeanor of Iryoku and Yumi, both riding fully armored on the imposing Rhogan.
Once they were outside the city walls, Iryoku leaned forward and called out, “Now, full speed!”
Rhogan’s body pulsed with a green glow as he let out a fierce growl, then launched into a full sprint, thundering across the road toward the southeast—toward Zora’s Tower.
“Wow… it’s so fast,” Yumi muttered, eyes wide as the wind whipped past her. She clung tighter to Iryoku as Rhogan thundered across the open road.
Back at the castle gates, Agnes stood silently, watching the distant trail of dust left behind by their departure. Thoughtful and expectant, she unconsciously rested a hand on her lower belly.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps snapped her out of her reverie. A messenger knight galloped in from the city outskirts. Upon seeing her, he quickly dismounted and approached.
“Lady Agnes,” he said, bowing as he handed her a sealed scroll. “A message from His Majesty.”
Recognizing the royal seal, she broke it open without hesitation and read the contents aloud:
“Prepare for my return.” her face got worried.
End of Volume 2