How I Ended Up Becoming the Imperial Princess While Trying to Pay Off an Illegal Loan - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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014.
“This doesn’t make sense…….”
Most of the squad members were eliminated in just two matches, let alone five.
Kallen, the vice-captain, had charged in determined to restore the Griffin Squad’s honor, only to have his sword knocked from his grip by a single earnest strike from Tamia, leaving him sprawled flat on his back.
“She’s not someone who holds back…….”
“How disappointing. I had such high expectations after hearing you were the finest in the empire.”
Tamia picked her way between the scattered squad members, tapping their legs with her wooden sword.
“I hear you all draw a decent salary—you ought to earn what you’re paid…… Oh! I just thought of something!”
Tamia turned to the nearest squad member lying on the ground.
“Tell me—how much monthly salary does the Griffin Squad receive?”
“Four hundred Derl, Your Highness!”
“Oh, that’s quite substantial, isn’t it? In that case, I should sign up right away.”
Her spirits lifted, Tamia bounded over the prone soldiers and rushed toward Leon.
“Leon, I want to join the Griffin Squad.”
“You?”
Leon fixed his gaze intently on Tamia’s face.
He’d actually entertained the thought of her joining the squad before.
Since Tamia’s skill was among the highest in the empire, it was obvious the Griffin Squad’s combat strength would surge dramatically. But he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
“I beat every single one of your members. I even defeated you, the captain. My credentials are beyond reproach, aren’t they?”
He had no grounds to refuse. Truth be told, it was something to welcome wholeheartedly.
“Very well—as captain of the Griffin Squad, I gladly welcome your enrollment…….”
“Make me captain.”
“……Cough.”
Leon, nearly choking, cleared his throat deliberately and waved his hand in refusal.
“Ahem. The captain’s position is out of the question.”
“Why? Shouldn’t the strongest person naturally become captain? Hmm, unless…….”
Tamia’s eyes narrowed to slits in an instant.
“You refuse to admit you lost to me, is that it?”
“……How could that be?”
“Then let me be captain! Make me captain.”
As Tamia threw a tantrum, Leon found himself in considerable difficulty.
“I’m sorry, but the captain’s position isn’t something I can simply hand over.”
“Why not? Are you being stingy because the captain earns the highest salary?”
“……Could it be you wanted to be captain only for the money?”
“Of course! Why else would I take on such a bothersome position?”
Tamia regarded Leon with an expression as if he’d asked why the sun rises in the morning and sets at night.
She looked ready to sell her own husband if there was money in it.
‘That’s Tamia for you…….’
Leon swallowed his rising laughter and answered seriously.
“If money is the issue, I’ll arrange for you to receive a salary second only to the captain’s. However, your title will remain that of a regular member.”
“Oh, truly? Excellent! Your grace is boundless!”
“Your Highness, the princess consort—we welcome you to the Griffin Squad. We are family now!”
Fenril, who had taken Tamia’s wooden sword baptism first and lay sprawled on the ground, suddenly sprang to his feet and quickly produced the Griffin Squad’s insignia badge from somewhere, thrusting it toward her.
“Oh, by the way—what’s your name?”
“Fenril, Your Highness.”
“Right, Fenril. I’ll make sure to give you special attention from now on.”
“It shall be the glory of my house, Your Highness!”
The moment Fenril bowed deeply before Tamia, a breathless voice rang out from the distance.
“Your Highness, Your Highness! Disaster has struck!”
“……?”
The front gate burst open and a dust-covered messenger came running, prostrating himself before Leon.
“A swarm of monsters has appeared in the southern Cades Belt. You must depart at once!”
“Hmm, summer’s approaching—it’s about that time.”
The other divisions of the Griffin Squad were making their rounds across the empire, hunting monsters. Only the first and second divisions remained in the capital now.
“Very well, Kallen—take the second division and set out.”
Leon gave the order with ease, but the messenger shook his head urgently.
“That won’t do! Your Highness must depart personally.”
“Personally? Hasn’t Kallen always been the one sent to the Cades Belt?”
At Leon’s question, the messenger trembled and bowed his head deeply. Looking closer, he seemed terrified.
“Yes, that has been so, but…… this time it’s a Large-type Monster.”
“……!”
Leon’s face hardened rapidly.
The monsters that appeared throughout the Valentis Empire could be classified into four types based on size.
Small-type, Medium-type, Large-type, and Colossal-type.
Small-type monsters could be hunted readily enough by a skilled hunter, though if they appeared in swarms, even trained civilians struggled to dispatch them.
Medium-type and above required seasoned, well-trained monster hunters. Large-types rarely appeared, but when they did, even the Griffin Squad had to steel themselves for the possibility of death. Colossal-types, however, existed only in historical texts documenting the empire’s past. Since no living soul had ever laid eyes on one, historians had largely concluded that early accounts were nothing more than mistaken sightings of Large-types.

“If it were only Medium-types, Deputy Commander Kallen would suffice, but since Large-types appear to be mixed in, the entire Griffin Squad should mobilize,” Leon said carefully.
“……Then so it shall be. Begin preparations for deployment…….”
“I’m coming too!”
Amid the grave atmosphere, Tamia stepped forward with radiant cheer.
“I’m a Griffin Squad member, so of course I have to go. Right, Leon?”
The badge emblematic of the Griffin Squad had appeared on Tamia’s chest. She tapped it playfully, smiling.
“But Tamia, Large-types are far too dangerous…….”
Leon trailed off, then turned to ask her directly instead.
“Do you have any experience hunting Large-types?”
“You’re asking the wrong question. It’s not whether I have experience—it’s how many I’ve hunted.”
“……!”
Leon stared at her in shock and demanded clarification.
“All right, Tamia. How many Large-types have you hunted?”
“Thirty-five with my father and his knights as a team, and eight solo.”
“Eight……!”
Everyone present, Leon foremost among them, drew a sharp breath of astonishment.
“Surely that qualifies me for deployment?”
“Long live Your Highness! Let us depart at once!!”
“To leave one of such caliber behind would be a loss to the empire! Absolutely!”
The squad members rose to their feet in unanimous cheers.
“There’s one thing I’d like to confirm before we deploy.”
Tamia raised her hand to quiet the commotion, then turned to Leon with a question.
“Leon, we’re getting hazard pay for this deployment, naturally?”
* * *
All seventy-some members of the Griffin Squad set out at once toward the southern Cades Belt.
It was a journey that would require two full days of hard riding.
Steep ravines and humid marshlands, small villages—all drifted past in succession until, at last, the view opened wide and a vast grassland spread before them.
“We rest here for a time!”
Leon turned to face his members and called out the command in a loud voice.
Well past the lunch hour by now, they decided to take a brief break and eat their late meal.
Once they’d spread rough blankets across the broad meadow and settled themselves, the squad members began sidling up to Tamia, their eyes darting nervously.
“My name is Clifford! I’ve ridden out on monster hunts with Count Arderin several times, and he was always singing your praises—and you’re every bit as impressive as he said!”
Some of the members had connections to Count Arderin and knew of his accomplishments.
“Do you remember me, Your Highness? I’m Rubian. I participated in the northern Glacia campaign with you!”
Others shared history with Tamia herself.
“Of course I remember! You were one of our house knights back then, weren’t you? I never expected to run into you here.”
“It is an honor to be remembered. Your performance in the Glacia snowfield was truly radiant! When you came down the mountain with a monster’s carcass slung across your shoulders, it was as though a halo surrounded you.”
“So you’ve been on monster hunts with Her Highness before?” another squad member asked.
At that, Rubian’s chest puffed out visibly higher.
“Indeed! We are close companions-in-arms, bound by shared struggle. Wouldn’t you agree, Your Highness?”
Rubian’s shoulders rose with pride, as though he wore a distinguished medal.
But Leon’s complexion, standing at Tamia’s side, had begun to flush and pale by turns.
We, he thought bitterly. Who exactly is this “we”?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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