Chapter 182: Althausen (7)

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It was widely known that balancing training and rest was important.

That was why Carl didn’t force bloody training on the cadets.

‘They all worked hard during the semester anyway.’

Telling those who were already diligent to work harder would only cause adverse effects.

Since they each handled things well on their own, all he had to do was check in occasionally.

Even so, the reason he pressured them with talk of tests while revealing his own skills on the first day at Althausen was to make them face reality.

But that was that—Carl, too, was enjoying a rare moment of rest.

“Run!”

Althausen was famous for its sunny weather and its wide beaches along with other seaside attractions.

After completing their training, they fully enjoyed themselves at the beach during the brightest hours of the day.

Carl, who had been playing in the water with them, returned under the shade of a parasol.

He had originally planned to rest once they returned to Leipzig, but due to NOX’s schedule and the sudden attack by a demonic beast, he hadn’t been able to rest properly and had been constantly on the move.

Since things would get busy again after this trip, he was taking this moment to catch his breath.

“……”

Unlike Carl, the cadets were sincerely enjoying the sea, fully immersed in their play.

Leaning back slightly on the sand under the shade, Carl slowly sat up and narrowed his eyes.

‘They don’t give me a moment’s rest.’

One of NOX’s subordinates had discreetly delivered a message to him.

Unless it was something significant, Queen would have handled it herself, so the fact that they contacted him directly meant it was that important.

Carl casually stood up and began walking.

The cadets were having so much fun that they wouldn’t notice his absence for a while.

He could just say he went to the bathroom or somewhere else for a moment.

“…Huh?”

But someone had been watching him much more intently than he expected.

It was Laysis herself, who had been agonizing since the night before without sleeping a wink.

Late into the night, when she had gotten thirsty and gone to the cafeteria for water, she saw Yuria stumbling out of Carl’s room, clearly drunk.

Her mind went blank for a moment, and her hands and feet began to tremble.

‘Why?’

Why had she come out of Carl’s room in secret?

Seeing her glancing around, keeping her presence hidden as she returned to her room, it was clear she didn’t want anyone to know.

Laysis had stood frozen at the end of the hallway, watching until Yuria disappeared from sight, when suddenly a single impulse overtook her.

‘What’s your relationship with Yuria?’

She wanted to reopen Carl’s door and ask him directly.

There had been too many moments of suspicion.

Even during the semester at the Bavarian Academy, there had been a strange atmosphere between them, and the sudden formation of a magic study group.

And on the last day of the semester, at the end-of-semester party, she saw them holding hands and entering the garden together.

‘Yuria said there was nothing, but…’

Her mind was in turmoil.

What did she mean by ‘nothing’?

That was why, even after returning to her room, Laysis hadn’t been able to sleep a wink until morning.

After training, she had been dragged out to the beach, and now, overwhelmed by her emotions, she wandered along the shoreline without even being able to enjoy herself.

In the midst of that, she caught sight of Carl slipping away discreetly.

Worried it might be what she feared, she glanced at the sea—Yuria was floating on a tube, basking in the sunlight.

So it didn’t seem like the two were planning to meet separately. Then who was he going to see?

Splash.

Following Carl had been an instinctive decision.

Laysis quickly moved, just barely managing to tail him before he disappeared into the crowd.

‘Where is he going?’

He passed the main street and entered a densely packed shopping district.

Doing her best to hide her presence, she followed him, but lost sight of him at a turn in the alley.

“…Ah.”

A short sigh escaped her lips.

Only then did she regain her composure and realize the situation she was in.

‘Carl must have noticed.’

Someone of Carl’s caliber would never fail to detect that he was being followed.

The fact that he disappeared without a trace now was likely his signal for her to return.

Just as Laysis, shoulders slumped and face filled with disappointment, was about to turn around—

Tap.

“…!!”

She bumped into someone standing directly behind her.

Startled, she covered her forehead with her hand and looked up.

At first, she thought it was Carl.

After all, he was the only one who could approach her without a trace.

“…Who are you?”

But standing there was a woman she had never seen before.

With long, violet hair cascading down to her waist, beauty that even a princess like herself couldn’t help but admire, and an alluring tear-shaped mole beneath her left eye.

There was nothing lacking—a perfect woman in every sense.

“That’s what I’d like to ask. Who are you, and how did you get in here?”

“…Ah.”

Laysis widened her eyes and looked around.

If this wasn’t a shopping district but someone’s private property, then she had trespassed into another’s domain.

So she quickly bowed her head and responded.

“I-I’m sorry. That’s not it, I just…”

“I was joking, Miss Laysis. This is our first time speaking directly, right? I’ve heard a lot about you from Lord Carl.”

“…Ah.”

At the mention of Carl’s name from the lips of this unknown woman, Laysis froze.

This beautiful woman knew Carl?

‘And… her eyes.’

The expression in her eyes when she spoke Carl’s name was not ordinary.

Queen let out a small laugh at Laysis, who stood blankly like a baby bird before a predator.

Then, she turned her gaze to the firmly shut door of the building and said,

“Let’s go in. Lord Carl must be waiting.”

“…Is it okay for me to go in?”

“That’s your decision, Miss Laysis. You followed Lord Carl all the way here, didn’t you? If he didn’t want you to, he would’ve shaken you off back at the beach.”

Leaving a trail for her to follow—this likely meant he cherished Laysis more than she thought.

“So, it’s your choice, Miss Laysis. Will you go in, or not?”

“…….”

Laysis hesitated for a moment.

The woman in front of her possessed an elegance and beauty that surpassed even that of a princess.

And along with that, she exuded an equally dangerous and fatal aura.

Even if Carl was involved, was it really alright to make such a hasty decision?

However, Laysis’s hesitation did not last long.

“……I’ll go in.”

She couldn’t send Carl in alone.

She didn’t have the courage to barge in and ask what had happened with Yuria yesterday, but she did have enough courage to follow this unknown and beautiful woman here and ask what was going on.

Carl would forgive her for that much of a complaint.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Queen naturally wrapped her arm around Laysis’s shoulder and walked toward the building.

Soon, she placed her hand on the doorknob, and when she pushed, the lock released and the inside came into view.

“…….”

Laysis was rather tense.

She already knew that Carl had aspects he hadn’t yet revealed.

Among all the men she had met in her life, none were as secretive as he was.

‘He said he had an organization under his command.’

Those who had handled the aftermath in the Territory of Tohochu were said to be subordinates from the organization Carl belonged to.

Then could this beautiful woman be one of them as well?

Click.

But contrary to Laysis’s expectations, the interior was ordinary.

Several people were bustling about, working as they moved boxes and luggage packed with goods.

It looked every bit like a regular merchant group no matter how she viewed it.

“Let’s go. It’s the third floor.”

“Ah, yes.”

Laysis ascended the stairs side by side with Queen.

More precisely, it was that Queen had not let go of her shoulder.

Knock knock.

When they reached the third floor and knocked, the door opened on its own.

Inside, Carl was seated on a sofa, legs crossed, reviewing documents.

Glancing toward the door, Carl gave a wry smile when he saw Laysis standing beside Queen.

“What’s the reason for bringing her?”

“You told me to leave it up to Miss Laysis’s decision. She’s involved in this too.”

“Me too?”

Laysis widened her eyes and asked the two of them.

Queen looked at Carl to get his permission, and when he nodded, she continued speaking.

“You remember the demigod Kylos, right? The ruins you and Carl visited in the Territory of Tohochu.”

“Ah, yes. That was quite the ordeal.”

“In this Althausen as well, a legacy believed to be Kylos’s has been discovered.”

“Really?!”

At Laysis’s astonished reaction, Carl touched his lips while reviewing the documents Queen had brought.

It was a matter of utmost importance—so much so that even Queen, who should have been in the capital, had come here in person.

That was because traces of the demigod Kylos, prioritized above everything except NOX’s business, had been discovered here.

‘You could only call it luck.’

It was truly lucky.

Queen had said she was reviewing records related to the territory to examine Carl’s schedule in Althausen.

In the process, she confirmed an old tale related to the demigod’s legacy and immediately began digging into that section.

Judging it persuasive enough, she had set everything aside and come down to Althausen herself to report it to Carl.

‘And to see the Master while she’s at it.’

With a smile, Queen glanced down at herself.

Since the area was a popular seaside tourist spot, she had donned a swimsuit to blend in.

As expected, she had been complimented for how well it suited her during their first meeting, so her mood was quite pleasant now.

Pleasant enough to tolerate the Young Cadet’s childish whining.

“This is the real thing. I’ve seen this text before in Bayern. It wasn’t identified as a demigod there, but to think something like this existed in Althausen too.”

Comparing his knowledge with Queen’s report, Carl judged that the contents of the document were likely true.

“The problem is the location. Only vague descriptions are given, and the exact spot isn’t marked. Based on guesses, it seems to be somewhere in the sea.”

“Most likely a dungeon connected to the cliffs. It’s worth investigating.”

“…….”

Watching Carl and Queen converse, Laysis found herself silently amazed.

‘Carl is speaking informally?’

Since enrolling at the Bayern Academy, Carl had always used formal speech with everyone.

It was the first time she’d seen him speak so casually with someone.

……She glanced at Queen.

Did that mean he had that close a relationship with this woman?

‘With me too.’

She thought it would be nice if he spoke informally with her as well.

Carl without his formal speech had a rather different charm.

“To investigate this…….”

“And that’s where Laysis’s role becomes important.”

“……Huh? Me?!”

Just as she had been thinking about Carl, Laysis was startled when she was suddenly singled out.

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