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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: An Unwinnable Spar
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Ekiel would occasionally give her what he called a “supernatural ability massage,” using his magic to draw out her congested abilities. Afterward, her body would feel much lighter.
As she honed Anash's abilities, they began to flow more naturally within Jusielia's body. Her physique also developed, and as she grew accustomed to handling the power, her body gradually grew larger.
This was a secret method Ekiel had discovered through diligent research into Jusielia's unique condition, aided by the secret texts he had received about Anash.
Jusielia came to a stop after effortlessly running a hundred laps around the training grounds, not even breathing heavily.
She glanced at the green mana stone bracelet fastened to her hind leg.
Ekiel still hadn't given her the blue access pass.
The reason was...
‘Because I still... haven't been able to lay a single hair on Ekiel's head, sob!’
Jusielia was absolutely furious.
To be sure, Jusielia's physical strength and supernatural abilities were growing at a frightening pace.
Compared to the Jusielia of five years ago, the difference was like that between a pebble and a boulder.
The problem, however...
“Ah, Jusielia. You're already done with your run?”
“...Yeah. Hey, Ekiel.”
Jusielia lifted a forepaw and grumbled at Ekiel, who greeted her with a bright smile.
Today, too, the tall, handsome boy-emperor was lanky and seemed to radiate light.
The child who had once been merely pretty in Jusielia's eyes was gone.
Now, he looked quite manly.
Moreover, from training with Jusielia every day, his muscles had become solid and his shoulders had broadened.
The battle mage emperor, Ekiel Isles Rilberg, was growing into an even more dazzling and handsome man.
This was the problem.
‘Ha! Unbelievable!’
Jusielia swallowed her indignation.
What good was her own progress? The problem was that this damned, prodigy of a mage, who knew no limits to his growth, was developing right alongside her.
Over the past five years, Ekiel had also grown at a terrifying rate.
For example, if Jusielia grew by one step, Ekiel would grow by three, pulling even further away.
That was why, no matter how much Jusielia attacked during their spars, she could never reach him.
And so, five years had passed.
‘Sigh, just my luck.’
As Jusielia grumbled to herself, Ekiel, now changed into his training attire of jet-black leather pants and a leather shirt, approached with a grin.
“Shall we begin now?”
Lately, Jusielia's claws had grown sharper, so Ekiel wore specially reinforced leather training clothes when they sparred.
Still, seeing Ekiel like this made it seem as if he was wary of her newfound strength, which made Jusielia feel a little better.
“Alright. Today, I'm really going to tear those clothes to shreds.”
“Jusielia, that sounds a bit provocative.”
“What are you saying to a child!”
Jusielia roared in anger and lunged at Ekiel.
Her claws, enhanced with blue flames, glinted menacingly.
Ekiel stepped back, deployed a shield, and summoned mana chains, whipping them around himself.
Jusielia's flame-wreathed claws clashed violently against the golden chains protecting Ekiel right before his eyes.
Claaaang—!
His eyes wide open, Ekiel gazed into Jusielia's fiery irises and gave a soft smile.
“A shame, isn't it?”
The golden chains whipped around, attempting to coil around and bind Jusielia.
Ekiel was usually gentle, but during their spars, he was merciless.
Horrified, Jusielia quickly pulled back her limbs and twisted her body. If Ekiel's mana chains caught her, the game was over.
Fleeing with all her might, Jusielia glared at Ekiel, who leisurely conducted the beautiful golden chains with a wave of his hand, as if teasing her.
‘He's so annoying. I want to pinch him.’
Sobbing in frustration, Jusielia formed the blizzard into sharp, thick spears and launched them at Ekiel.
But Ekiel easily blocked a few with his shield before simply teleporting away.
“What! Where did you go?”
As she scanned her surroundings for Ekiel, the golden chains reappeared.
Jusielia quickly conjured a massive blizzard to freeze the chains.
As the chains' movements slowed, Jusielia laughed gleefully.
“Hahaha!”
Just then, a low voice spoke from behind her.
“Having fun?”
“Aack!”
A terrified Jusielia shrieked.
Ekiel had appeared out of nowhere, his crimson eyes looking down at Jusielia.
He gently stroked the scruff of her neck, then snapped his fingers.
Kra-kooom—!
A tremendous bolt of lightning rained down upon the golden chains that Jusielia had frozen with her blizzard.
Jusielia's face went pale.
“U-Uwaaah!!!”
“It seems my little ones like you, Jusielia.”
Ekiel, standing atop the chains floating in mid-air, said with a smile.
“Shall we end this?”
It was then.
Jusielia burned away the chains binding her with blue flames and simultaneously conjured a blizzard, directing it toward Ekiel.
“Ah.”
By the time he realized it, it was already too late.
Feeling the intense heat of the blue flames, Ekiel had no choice but to dispel the chains entirely.
Thwack—!
Jusielia seized that fleeting moment and leaped.
The agile white tiger burst through the blizzard and appeared right in front of Ekiel.
“Ah.”
As a surprised Ekiel let out an involuntary gasp, Jusielia grinned.
“What's with the 'ah'? You're getting a beating today!”
Jusielia imbued her forepaw with blue flames and swung hard at Ekiel.
Fwoosh.
The swirling heat accompanying the blue flames burned away Ekiel's black leather shirt.
Seeing his bare chest and waist exposed, Jusielia laughed triumphantly.
‘He won't die from this, right? Hahaha!’
Just then, Ekiel grinned and whispered.
“Sleep.”
“???”
Jusielia's jaw dropped, dumbfounded that Ekiel would use such a spell in this situation.
Did you... did you just use a sleep spell?
“It's not usually much, but when a high-level mage uses it, it's a finishing move.”
“Ugh... guh... chea... ter...”
In the end, Jusielia couldn't resist the sleep spell cast by the empire's strongest mage and fell asleep right there in mid-air.
Smiling, Ekiel caught the deeply slumbering Jusielia and descended from the air, landing softly on the ground.
It had been a while since he'd seen her sleeping. She'd really grown a lot.
Would it be strange to say she still looked cute and pretty?
‘She's grown so much.’
Ekiel glanced down at his burnt clothes, pondering.
‘What should I do about the access pass mana stone?’
As he left the training grounds, still pondering while holding Jusielia, one of the people waiting outside rushed over in alarm.
“Gasp! Your Majesty! What happened to the Princess? Did she faint? Was today's training too strenuous?”
“...No.”
Ekiel frowned, adjusted his hold on Jusielia, and turned away.
“Then why is she like this!”
“She's just taking a nap.”
“It's obvious you cast a sleep spell on her.”
“...I had no choice.”
Ekiel sighed.
It was Claude, who had become friends with Jusielia after the incident five years ago.
Jusielia brought him along everywhere.
He was a mage strong enough to protect Jusielia and had a high chance of being chosen as an Archmage in the future, so Ekiel had let it be, but...
‘I don't like his face.’
Ekiel narrowed his eyes at the silvery-purple hair that shimmered in the sunlight, the sky-blue eyes, and the pale skin.
Ekiel was well aware that Jusielia liked Claude's face, which was identical to the Regent's.
‘Does she prefer lighter coloring? Like her own?’
Ekiel had often stared at his own reflection, at his dark black hair and deep crimson eyes, and pondered for a long time.
When they were younger, she'd often said he was pretty and that she liked him.
‘Then again, my face isn't pretty anymore.’
Sensing Ekiel's mood as he sighed, Claude extended his hands.
“Your Majesty. I will take the Princess.”
“...And why would you do that?”
“Uh, because I'm the Princess's friend? And because Your Majesty is busy and a person of great importance?”
Claude listed various reasons.
They were all plausible and logical.
But that was precisely why he didn't like it.
Ekiel raised an eyebrow and spun around.
Then he strode toward the Emperor's Palace and spoke to the princess's attendants.
“It's fine. I will take the Princess to the Emperor's Palace to rest for a while, and I'll bring her back later. You all should wait at the Princess's Palace without worry.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Oh! Th-Then, Your Majesty! If you could invite me as well...”
“Hm. Claude, I'm sorry, but my garden is a bit small. I'll invite you next time.”
Ekiel gave a bright smile, swiftly declining, then disappeared with the limp, sleeping Jusielia in his arms.
“Hah.”
Claude was dumbfounded.
The Emperor's Palace garden... small?
‘Saying Rilberg will fall because all its mages disappeared would be more believable!’
Ekiel's ears tingled.
‘Claude is cursing me.’
Since that evaluation wasn't particularly important, Ekiel quickly headed toward the rear garden of his main palace.
It was the most secluded area, where people rarely came and went.
