My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 243

243. Deviation (2)

Ruben’s sudden retreat caused quite a stir throughout the Empire.

There seemed to be no logical reason for it. It was more accurate to say that not only was there no reason, but it also shouldn’t have happened.

“Didn’t they occupy a third of the Elan Dur territory…?”

“They were advancing rapidly, so why the sudden retreat…?”

Ruben had been overwhelmingly pushing back Elan Dur, dismantling their stronghold, which had stood for hundreds of years.

They were rewriting history, and there was no reason or need for them to retreat. They simply had to keep pushing forward.

Ruben would surely occupy the territory of the Marquis of Elan Dur and win the war.

But instead, the news arrived that Ruben was retreating—a complete withdrawal.

“Why on earth…?”

“No, why suddenly…?”

People couldn’t understand Ruben’s actions.

“Isn’t this all a setup from the beginning?”

“As expected… was it just for show?”

Some speculated it was a scripted performance, a grand debut for the new Ruben family.

Even if their relationship wasn’t ideal, Sian was still from Elan Dur, leading some to believe Elan Dur had orchestrated this entire spectacle for Sian’s benefit.

“It’s possible, but…”

“Would Elan Dur really need to go to such lengths?”

Of course, most people didn’t think so.

“If that’s not the case, why would Ruben suddenly retreat?”

“That’s true, but…”

However, they couldn’t explain Ruben’s sudden retreat either. Ruben’s actions were strange and incomprehensible.

While the Empire’s situation was in turmoil, in Ruben, located in the Dark Forest, Aria was in her room—specifically, the large bathroom attached to her room in Ruben’s lord’s castle.

*Splash.*

Aria tested the water temperature in the bathtub before taking off her clothes.

A saintess and possessor of transcendent beauty, Aria’s body, without a single thread, exuded a unique and captivating allure.

Aria slowly lowered herself into the bathtub, starting with her legs, and when her whole body was submerged…

“Haa…”

Aria let out a sigh, her expression and eyes slightly relaxed.

Was there something special installed in the bathtub, or was there something special in the water?

“I love it…”

It wasn’t a joke; it truly felt like her body was melting away.

“Heuh…”

Sighs continued to escape. If Laura had heard her, she would have been horrified, exclaiming, ‘Saintess! What’s with that old man’s voice! What if someone hears you!’

But Laura was out sightseeing in Ruben, beaming as she went to sample Dana’s cooking.

“When it comes to me, she tells me to maintain my dignity as a saintess.”

Aria smiled and arranged her wet platinum blonde hair.

“Ah, right. Come to think of it, Ellie made me some herbal medicine.”

To be exact, it wasn’t herbal medicine but a bath bomb that improved the skin. She’d heard it was a specialty of Ruben and explosively popular in the Charlotte Empire.

Especially among noble ladies, it was so popular that supply couldn’t keep up with demand.

“I think I put it somewhere around here.”

Aria started to raise herself to find the bath bomb. No, she *was* about to raise her body when suddenly…

Suddenly, a person’s head popped out through the bathroom floor.

Silver hair and unfocused gray-white eyes belonged to a woman of bewitching beauty—a vengeful spirit.

-Should I sprinkle this?

Rea handed something to Aria.

“W-What, what is it…!”

Aria was startled by Rea’s sudden appearance. It was fortunate she was just about to get up; otherwise, she would have fallen to the floor.

Rea approached Aria and handed her something—the bath bomb that Ellie had made and that Aria was about to go find.

“How can you suddenly pop out like that! You scared me!”

-Huh? Didn’t you know I was coming?

“How would I know when you pop out like that!”

-Sian knew it so well? He knew it even when I hid my presence. But you didn’t even hide your presence, and we’re incompatible, so why don’t you know?

Rea tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

Aria shouted, glaring at her.

“How would I know that! And why are you coming in while I’m taking a bath?”

-No, I was passing by, and I heard you muttering. It looked like you were taking a bath. It feels a bit bad to come out when you’re soaking in the tub, so I was going to help you.

“I’ll do that myself! Leave me alone!”

-This girl is such a pain even when I try to take care of her.

“Who asked you to take care of me? That’s not taking care of me, it’s—”

-Okay, whatever. So, should I sprinkle it or not?

Rea held out the bath bomb in her hand once again.

Aria stared at Rea for a moment, then sank back into the tub and said…

“…Sprinkle it.”

-Girl, you’re so coy.

Rea sprinkled the bath bomb here and there in the tub.

The bath bomb dissolved, creating a fizzing foam, and a cozy, fragrant scent spread through the air.

It felt like the anger I had because of Rea was subsiding. The scent, which made me feel good for no reason, seemed to be a bath bomb that made not only my skin but also my heart feel good.

-Hey, but why are you using this?

“This bath bomb?”

-Yeah. What more could a girl with good skin want?

Rea looked at Aria’s body with drowsy eyes.

Pure white skin without a single blemish. Only her shoulder line was visible, hidden by the bathwater and foam, but it was perfect skin that I could know without having to check.

“You have to take care of it when it’s good. If you manage it after it gets bad, it’s already too late.”

-That’s true. But how could your skin get bad when you’re a lump of divine power? Muriel [a legendary priestess] didn’t even wash her face for two or three months and didn’t get a single pimple.”

That’s why I was annoyed.

Rea shook her head.

“That was only possible because it was Muriel. I’m not Muriel. I get pimples if I don’t take care of myself too much. Of course, they disappear quickly.”

Aria possessed the most powerful divine power in history; however, she was still lacking compared to Muriel.

Muriel was a priestess and one of the six heroes who saved the continent, Arnaise. In front of Arnaise, Aria was just a woman with strong divine power.

-You look exactly like her, though.

“Looks are looks. I’m not Muriel. Why do you keep comparing me to Muriel?”

Aria said with a seemingly angry expression. Then Rea nodded and replied.

-Well, you only look like her, but other parts are pathetic compared to Muriel. Your divine power isn’t as strong as Muriel’s. And most of all…

Then Rea got closer to Aria. At the same time, a strange sensation was felt under the bathwater, near Aria’s chest.

It seemed like Rea was groping. Just as she was about to shout, asking what she was doing…

-Especially here, it’s not just pathetic, it’s shattered.

Rea shook her head as if she was really sorry.

“W-What? What’s wrong with my, my chest!”

-What’s wrong? Are you asking because you don’t know? I touched it, and I didn’t know if it was a chest or a back.”

“I-It’s not that bad! And I’m not small! I’m in the top tier, even among the top tier!”

That wasn’t wrong. Aria could never be considered small.

-Are you saying that after seeing me?

But there was definitely a difference compared to Rea. Dark thoughts and darkness, and hidden by clothes… I could tell without having to check.

Rea looked down at Aria from above.

As if to say this is the difference between you and me, Rea was making an annoying expression.

“……”

Aria couldn’t say anything to Rea. She had nothing to say…

“Hmph. It’s no use being that big; it’ll just sag when you get old.”

-I’m worried about that too. It’s been a thousand years; I wonder when it will sag…

“……”

-Will it sag if Sian harasses me too much?

“W-What?”

Aria seemed momentarily flustered. Beyond being flustered, her face turned bright red.

What, what kind of embarrassing sound is that? No matter how fickle Aria’s personality was, it wasn’t to that extent.

-Oh my? Didn’t you know? It loses elasticity when you touch it.”

But Rea was unstoppable, perhaps because she was a vengeful spirit who had lived for a thousand years. She had thrown away her modesty.

Of course, even if she did, she probably would have thrown it away 960 years ago.

Aria could only avert her gaze, her face bright red.

“And you,” Rea continued, “if you’re that small, Sian will dislike you.”

“W-W-W-What are you talking about… ! Why, why is Sian coming up here? And I’m not small! You’re just ridiculously big!”

“I’m average,” Rea countered. “You, being smaller than me, are below average.”

“That’s not true!”

“Yes, yes. Whatever you say~”

Rea covered her mouth with one hand and smiled.

She looked no different from her usual self.

*Why does she look so annoying right now?*

Just then.

“Saintess. Are you inside?”

Laura’s voice came from outside the bathroom. Laura, who had gone out to see Ruben.

“Yeah! I’m in here! Come in!” Rea answered instead of Aria.

At Rea’s words, the bathroom door clicked open, and Laura appeared.

“Oh my. Rea, you’re here too? But…”

Laura looked back and forth between Rea and Aria in the tub.

“What are you two doing in the tub together?”

“Ah, we were just talking about a woman’s pride.”

“A woman’s pride?”

“Yeah, like what the average is. Uh. Wait a minute. Hold on.”

Suddenly, Rea approached Laura.

And then she looked back and forth between Laura and Aria.

“You said you were above average… but you’re even smaller than Laura?”

*Crack.*

At that moment, something seemed to snap in Aria’s head.

“Okay, let’s see if you and I die today.”

“Too bad for you. I’m already dead.”

“You really…!”

“Ebebebe [mocking sound].”

“I’m going to kill you!”

“I told you, I’m already dead?”

Aria trembled and clenched her fists.

But she didn’t continue with any further action.

She really, really hated to admit it, but…

She knew she would lose if she fought back.

“… Just you wait. Someday, I’ll make sure to help you move on [ascend to the afterlife].”

“Oh my, I’ll be waiting. Should I wait about… 500 years?”

“It’s not something to brag about being old.”

“It’s not a brag, but who knows? Maybe you’ll get bigger when you get older?”

“Eek…!”

Aria shouted in a fit of pique, but only for a moment.

She soon let out a deep sigh.

After all, she knew she would lose if she fought back now.

But now is now. It won’t be the same next time we meet.

Aria turned her head, vowing revenge.

“… More importantly, Laura. Are you done looking around for Ruben?”

“No. Not really, but I came back to tell you something.”

“Tell me something? To me?”

“Yes.”

Laura nodded calmly.

And then she said.

“Count Sian came back earlier.”

Aria’s head, as well as Rea’s, tilted together.

“Huh? Sian?”

“Now?”

“No. Earlier.”

At Laura’s answer, Rea and Aria tilted their heads once more.

He came back earlier?

So, that means he came back and left again?

“I heard he left again just a moment ago.”

It seemed that was really what it meant.

A moment of silence.

“This is for real!”

Aria jumped up from her seat.

And she strode out of the tub.

“Saintess? Where are you going…?”

“To Sian!”

Aria shouted loudly.

Aria’s expression was quite angry.

Well, it was an understandable reaction.

No matter how much she insisted on coming, Aria was Ruben’s guest.

But Aria had been left almost unattended as a guest.

Of course, it was due to the unavoidable reason of war.

And she had insisted on coming knowing that.

But deep down, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed and hurt.

She was just waiting, telling herself it couldn’t be helped.

But now she heard Laura’s words.

“He should have said he was here! And he even left again without saying anything?”

Aria couldn’t stand this.

Aria strode out of the bathroom.

Anger and resentment, a complex mix of emotions swirled within her.

Perhaps that’s why.

“S-Saintess! You need to put on your clothes!!!!”

Laura screamed in horror and followed Aria out.

#

“Just a little further.”

Diana, who was walking ahead, stopped for a moment and said.

Sian nodded slowly and scanned the surroundings.

The scenery of the dense forest surrounding them.

And the dark forest where the power of mana was felt at the tip of his skin.

*So, the Beastmen’s kingdom was in the Dark Forest after all.*

The Beastmen’s kingdom was indeed in the Dark Forest.

*Well, there’s no better place than the Dark Forest to hide its location.*

A forbidden area that even the Empire had given up on.

Almost no one on the continent searched the Dark Forest.

*We’ve moved quite far.*

And even though it was the same Dark Forest, the distance was very far.

The distance from here to Ruben was also quite far.

In terms of distance alone, it would take almost two full days to reach.

That’s assuming Sian used the Mahon Muyoungbo [a technique for moving swiftly] to its limit.

A truly enormous distance.

They had already crossed the Empire’s border.

Sian turned to Lucas and asked.

“Lucas. How are the soldiers?”

It was a very long distance, and the Dark Forest was the Dark Forest.

There were quite a few monster groups they encountered along the way.

But perhaps it was because they had been living in the Dark Forest for a long time.

“There are no major problems. You can proceed as is.”

Lucas answered without hesitation.

Sian cast his gaze behind Lucas.

The soldiers of Ruben were acting as if it were everyday life.

They seemed more comfortable than when they were at war with Elan Dur.

However, the number was less than half.

Also, Kendrick, Sera, and the Magic Corps were nowhere to be seen.

They were all left in Ruben.

*Because the war isn’t over.*

Although they had retreated, it did not mean the war was over.

Ruben and Elan Dur were still at war.

And there was no reason why Ruben would be the only one attacking.

Now that Sian was not in Ruben.

It would not be strange at all if Elan Dur gathered troops and attacked Ruben.

They could take this opportunity to attack Ruben.

Of course, Ruben’s defenses were covered with cash [well-funded/strong].

And because Rea was there, it would not be easily captured.

*But there’s always a chance of something happening.*

So, Sian left Kendrick and the soldiers and knights behind in Ruben.

And Sera and the Magic Corps.

This would be enough to respond to any unexpected variables.

At the very least, they would have enough time to hold out until Sian came to Ruben.

So, the forces that Sian currently had with him were 1,000 soldiers, including Lucas.

100 Black Lion Knights, Ruben’s knights.

Lastly.

“Hey… are you sure it’s here…?”

The timid Saintess and the priestess who assisted her.

Just as he was about to leave Kendrick and the soldiers in Ruben and leave again.

Suddenly, Aria came running, panting, and grabbed Sian.

Her platinum blonde hair was soaking wet.

It looked like she had run out of the bath, but… well, whatever.

*Hey! Take me with you too!*

Aria suddenly shouted, asking him to take her with her.

And Sian naturally refused.

It was not to attack Elan Dur’s territory.

But it was on the way to war with Elan Dur.

Perhaps a full-scale war could break out.

He couldn’t take Aria to such a place.

It wasn’t because he thought Aria would hold him back.

Aria wasn’t the type to hold someone back.

However, Aria was, after all, a Saintess from another country.

It was something that could potentially escalate into a diplomatic issue.

Sian flatly refused, but for some reason, Aria didn’t back down easily.

“You said it yourself at the last investiture ceremony. You felt Rushuria’s energy from Marquis Elan Dur.”

“So?”

“Then isn’t Elan Dur related to the Seven Demon Lords?”

He couldn’t deny it.

Sian had been internally leaning towards that possibility.

However, he couldn’t be certain, so he only considered it as a suspicion.

“So, take me with you!”

“Why does it turn out that way?”

“If demons are involved, I can’t just stand by. No, the Holy Empire can’t turn a blind eye to this either.”

Well… he couldn’t deny that either.

And if the Seven Demon Lords were really involved.

He couldn’t deny that Aria’s presence would be a great help.

A moment of contemplation.

“Alright, then.”

Sian allowed Aria to accompany him.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a war with Elan Dur.

In the first place, wasn’t it something happening outside the border?

So, now.

Aria was clinging tightly to Sian’s side.

Because of that, mana was bubbling and boiling.

‘Even achieving 100% of the Demon Body Refinement is like this.’

No matter how many times he told her to get off, she wouldn’t listen.

Sian sighed and said.

“They said it’s just a little further.”

“But I don’t see anything?”

“It seems like there’s still some distance. Or maybe they hid the space with magic.”

“Hide the space with magic? Is that possible?”

It was generally impossible.

However, if the target was a dragon, it was definitely possible.

But Aria didn’t know about dragons or anything like that.

Because Sian hadn’t told her.

Well, now that she had tagged along, he had to explain it to her, but…

He was just leaving it alone because it was a hassle.

He could feel Aria’s trembling on the arm she was clinging to.

“If you’re that scared, just stay in Ruben. Why did you come along?”

“W-When did I say I was scared? I-It’s just… my compatibility isn’t good… that’s all.”

“Oh, really? How about you stop your body from trembling before you say that? More importantly, you. Didn’t you say the same thing last time?”

Aria didn’t answer for some reason.

He didn’t know if she was pretending not to know or if she couldn’t hear him because of her fear.

“Haa…”

Sian could only shake his head.

It seemed like it would be like this until they arrived.

‘Is she pretending to be weak or what?’

Honestly, someone like Aria had nothing to fear in the world.

The Saintess with the most powerful divine power in history.

Mana boiling even after achieving 100% of the Demon Body Refinement.

There was a reason why she was called Muriel’s reincarnation.

Aria was one of the most powerful figures on the continent.

But Aria trembled with fear whenever she came to the Dark Forest.

‘Could she be feeling something other than mana?’

It was possible.

The background of the Dark Forest’s creation was a thousand years ago.

It was a forest created after the final battle with the demons.

The demons had disappeared, but their malice remained.

And what was transformed by that malice was the current Dark Forest.

There was also a theory that the mana in the Dark Forest was actually the malice that had been transformed over time.

In other words, it could be seen as the energy of demons.

And it wasn’t just a hypothesis, as Sian could faintly feel the malice lingering within the mana.

However, it was only lingering, so it didn’t affect him as malice.

More than anything, it wasn’t easily felt.

Sian could feel it because he controlled the source of mana, but Kendrick and even Leia couldn’t feel it at all.

But Aria was the Saintess, the divine power itself.

Perhaps she was instinctively sensing the malice within the mana.

“W-When… will we arrive…?”

But she didn’t seem to know anything.

Sian sighed once more and asked Diana.

“How much further do we have to go?”

But why was it?

“……”

Diana didn’t answer for some reason.

She was just staring blankly at Sian.

That was because of Sian’s current appearance.

In other words, the platinum-blonde beauty clinging to Sian’s side… no, almost embracing him.

‘Why is the Saintess of the Holy Empire here…?’

Diana couldn’t understand this situation at all.

Diana, the head of the Empire’s top information guild.

Diana knew better than anyone what kind of person the Saintess of the Holy Empire was.

That’s why she knew so well how absurd the current situation was.

No, she knew all too well that it was something that was not only absurd but also unimaginable.

Why was the Saintess here?

And why was she clinging to Sian?

Could it be that the two of them…?

But she hadn’t heard that the Saintess had a lover?

More than anything, was it even possible to make the Saintess a lover?

Diana couldn’t gauge who Sian was at all.

Diana’s expression as she looked at Sian was blank.

And Sian was looking at such Diana.

‘Why is she like that?’

Sian wondered why Diana was acting like that.

At that very moment.

“Hmm?”

Sian’s eyes widened for a moment.

Something strange caught in his senses.

At the same time, rustle.

He felt a presence from one side.

Only then did the others sense the presence.

The gazes of Sian and the others all turned to the place where the sound came from.

And what appeared was.

“Kkeueueueuk…!”

It was a man.

The man’s entire body was covered in blood.

Could it be that he was severely injured?

Blood was dripping from the gaps in his clothes, which were dyed bright red.

His pale face showed how much blood he had shed.

Even so, the man was somehow moving his staggering body.

Sian carefully examined the man’s face.

A face distorted with pain.

However, it was a face that Sian didn’t remember.

Not only Sian but also Aria, Laura, Lucas, and the soldiers of Ruben were the same.

Everyone seemed to be seeing the man for the first time.

Only one person.

“……!”

Only Diana was staring at the man with wide eyes.

As expected, Diana rushed forward as if she was shot.

It seemed that the man’s name was Hres…

“Hres?”

Sian was hearing the name for the first time.

Right then.

“He is the guild leader’s direct intelligence officer. You can think of him as the guild leader’s confidant.”

A familiar voice was heard next to Sian.

Koner, Ruben’s assassination instructor, was standing there.

Koner, who was once a special assassin of the Shadow Moon Guild.

“Unless there is something special, he is always with the guild leader. I thought it was strange that the guild leader was alone, but…”

Koner turned his gaze and looked straight ahead.

The appearance of the man covered in blood.

“Why is Hres…”

Koner could only show an expression that he couldn’t understand.

Hres, Diana’s confidant.

In other words, he didn’t seem to be an enemy.

Sian took a step towards where Hres was.

“Kkeueuk…!”

Hres’s condition, seen up close, was very serious.

Not only was his entire body covered in blood.

Blood was gushing out from the vicinity of the wound in time with his heartbeat.

Thud.

Eventually, Hres collapsed to the floor.

Diana hurriedly approached the fallen Hres.

“Hres! What happened! What is this…!”

Perhaps he heard Diana’s voice.

Hres faintly opened his eyes and looked at Diana.

And after confirming Diana’s face.

“R-Run… away… Kkeulleok!”

Hres spat out blood and continued to speak.

“T-The White Wolf…! The Knights are… now…”

A voice losing strength.

Hres’s faintly opened eyes slowly began to close.