How I Ended Up Becoming the Imperial Princess While Trying to Pay Off an Illegal Loan - Chapter 5

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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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005.
“Ahem, hmph! The Count does seem to defer to his daughter rather meekly. When a father commands his child to marry, the child should obey without question.”
Duke Dupon clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“But I’m not the one who will be married, am I? My daughter happened to step out, so I’ll ask her the moment she returns.”
“Your answer can’t be delayed. You said you’d repay the thousand Derl within a week?”
“…Yes, I’ll contact you in time.”
“Tsk. Fine, then. I’ll be waiting.”
Duke Dupon rose abruptly from his seat, radiating displeasure with every movement.
* * *
[Ah, good day to you all! Ladies and gentlemen!]
The Announcer cleared his throat and brought the Amplification Magical Device to his neck.
[Welcome to the Fifteenth Annual Marital Love Guardian Monster Hunting Competition! As divorce rates continue to climb, we hope this event will deepen the affection between all the couples participating with us today.]
“Finally getting started, husband!”
Tamia, standing at the very front of the contestants, bounced eagerly in place, her anticipation unmistakable.
The Announcer continued.
[This competition rewards the team that hunts the most monsters within the time limit. For your safety, the monsters are not real—they are illusions created by magical devices.]
“I wouldn’t mind fighting real ones, honestly.”
Tamia muttered under her breath.
[However, befitting the theme of ‘Marital Love Guardian,’ should the wife sustain even a minor wound, your team is immediately disqualified. Husbands, please take note and protect your wives well while hunting. Now, let us begin!]
Pwoot—
The moment the trumpet sounded, Tamia bolted forward at a terrifying speed.
She kept a firm grip on Leon’s wrist the whole while.
“Faster! In a tournament like this, time is gold. We need to catch them before anyone else does!”
“Wait, this arena is enormous—there’s no way we can catch every monster…”
“So you’re saying you won’t give it your all? You don’t want the prize money?”
Tamia halted abruptly and fixed Leon with a piercing stare.
And that’s when it happened.
The forest rustled, and from all sides, tiger-shaped monsters emerged into view.
One, two, three… ten in total.
“You handle that side. I’ll deal with these coming from here.”
Tamia released Leon’s wrist and drew her sword with resolute determination.
“Just so you know—if you get hurt, we’re disqualified on the spot. Do you understand?”
“You think I’d get hurt fighting these kittens? That’s insulting.”
Without a backward glance, Tamia cleanly sliced through the first monster that lunged at her.
With a soft pop, the monster burst apart.
[Ah! Right as I speak! Team 25 has caught their first monster!]
“Wait, this is being broadcast live?”
Tamia grumbled, glancing upward. Aerial Magical Devices hovered there, overlooking the arena without a gap.
“Don’t get distracted!”
Leon shouted as he stabbed his sword through a monster charging at him.
But Tamia, still gazing skyward, cleanly severed the necks of two more monsters bearing down on her.
[Team 25! That makes four already! Incredible pace!]
“Ugh, that’s so loud. It’s ruining my focus!”
Watching three of their packmates vanish in an instant, the remaining monsters began to slink backward hesitantly.
“Wait, are they running? That won’t do!”
Tamia quickly drew her bow and arrows, nocking two shafts at once and firing them at the retreating monsters.
—Screech!
Pop, pop.
Leon dispatched two more monsters with his blade, yet he couldn’t help but steal disbelieving glances at Tamia.
‘Was there ever a knight in the Griffin Unit with skill like that?’
No.
Even the Griffin Unit, unrivaled in large-scale monster warfare, had no knight who could fell monsters at such speed.
In the time it took for all this, Tamia had finished her five monsters and now aimed her arrows at the ones on Leon’s side.
Pop, pop once more.
[The, the ten monsters have been slaughtered in an instant by Team 25’s hands! My goodness, who are these people!]
“What do you mean who? The champions! Now come on, let’s go!”
Team 25, having dispatched all ten monsters in a heartbeat, clasped hands again and dashed deeper into the forest.
Time passed. How much time, it was hard to say.
The Announcer’s voice, which had been cheerfully broadcasting, suddenly began to quaver.
[Team 25 once again…… Wait? Au, audience members, it seems a small issue has arisen with the Monster Generation Management Device.]
“Huh?”
[All the monsters are illusions, not real entities. They cannot harm anyone. Please remain calm……!]
“What are you talking about, darling? A Monster Generation Management Device?”
Tamia fired three arrows in rapid succession at the monsters closing in behind Leon, her voice steady as she asked.
“Exactly as it sounds. Seems there’s been a malfunction with the machine that generates the monsters.”
“What does that mean?”
“Then…….”
Leon couldn’t answer Tamia’s question.
Instead of the usual ten or five monsters at a time, they were suddenly pouring in from all directions in an explosive flood.
“……Tamia, look straight ahead!”
“What? What is this?”
While Leon’s face had gone rigid with tension, Tamia spun around to survey the chaos, and her expression brightened considerably.
“Why are there so many monsters? Yes, this is it! Ten at a time was too stingy! Come on, bring it all on!”
With a sword in one hand and a bow in the other, Tamia launched into her hunt at a speed ten times faster than before.
Arrows for the monsters charging from a distance; her blade for those ambushing from close range.
When their numbers grew too thick, she switched to throwing daggers, and watching her work was like witnessing the very spirit of the hunt incarnate.
What made it truly breathtaking was that she not only took no wounds—not a single monster could close within a meter of her.
[Attention to all competition participants!]
The Announcer’s urgent voice crackled through the amplification device again.
[Though time remains, we are immediately suspending the competition as of now. I repeat—the competition is suspended……Gack!]
Beyond the speaker, the Announcer’s voice cut off abruptly as something crashed into him, sending him sprawling backward with a tremendous clang.
“Did you hear that? So I’m first place? Yes!”
Tamia hurled her bow away and punched the air with a triumphant shout, bouncing excitedly on her feet.
“Let’s go get the prize money, darling! Come on, hurry!”
Brimming with excitement, Tamia changed course and strode purposefully toward the Headquarters, cutting through the crowd.
“Tamia, we can afford to go a bit slower…….”
Leon tried to call her back, but he soon gave up with a shake of his head.
No one could have stopped Tamia at that point—she was already far ahead.
* * *
By the time Tamia and Leon reached the Headquarters, the Monster Generation Management Device—which had been running wild—had gradually exhausted its magical reserves and finally ceased operation.
The only remaining monsters that had already been generated were loose among the spectator seating, startling the crowd.
“Not many left.”
Tamia grinned sharply, drew her sword again, and executed one final flourish. Before her brilliant blade work, the remaining monsters fell like leaves in autumn wind.
After the last creature expired on the tip of her blade, she turned to the crowd with unmistakable pride.
“Everyone, you can relax now. I’ve eliminated all the monsters!”
“Waaa, waaaaa!”
“Big sister, we love you! Kyaaaa!!”
The spectators erupted into a frenzy of excitement.
Tamia made her way through the stands, high-fiving fans with unbridled enthusiasm.
[Remarkable! Let’s give a rousing round of applause for Team 25, who delivered an absolutely brilliant performance right up to the very end!]
The Announcer, who had been knocked backward by the unexpected monster assault, had regained his composure and returned to the microphone.
[The champion of this competition is undoubtedly! Team 25, who demonstrated overwhelming skill!!]
“Darling, we’re first place!”
Tamia, unable to contain her joy, rushed to Leon and threw her arms around his neck, squeezing with all her might.
“Gah—Tamia, let go…….”
“The prize money, the prize money. Hehehehe, Father will be thrilled!”
Whether the dizzying loss of breath was from Tamia’s extraordinary strength or from shock at the unexpected physical contact was impossible to say.
[You two seem quite fond of each other. However, we would appreciate it if you could step apart for the awards ceremony.]
“Ahahaha!”
The crowd erupted in laughter at the Announcer’s quip, and Tamia, embarrassed, reluctantly released her hold.
“Sorry, darling.”
[The 15th Marital Love Guardian Monster Hunting Competition was truly special! Team 25 demonstrated not only overwhelming skill but also deep affection, and that made it all the more wonderful, wouldn’t you say?]
“Absolutely!”
The crowd roared with approval.
[Excellent. Well then, everyone! Before we proceed with the awards ceremony proper, I have some special news to share with you.]
The Announcer paused, sweeping his gaze across the spectators before continuing.
[As the popularity of our competition has grown, it seems fake couples have been increasing—those who collect the prize money and immediately divorce. Everyone! Is this acceptable?]
“Absolutely not!”
“Those shameless frauds should be arrested and thrown in prison!”
[Ha, precisely! So from this competition onward, we will serialize the daily marital life of the winning team in the Empire’s leading monthly publication, Nabul Nabul, for the next year. Should it be discovered that you are a fake couple, the prize money will be confiscated immediately! How does that sound? Your marital love will become even stronger, won’t it?!]
“What—what do you mean?!”
Leon’s face went rigid in an instant.
“Excellent! It fits the competition’s theme perfectly!”
[Now then, let us proceed with the awards ceremony. Team Twenty-Five, please come forward and reveal your identity!]
“Oh no—what do I do?”

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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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