I’m Sick of the Kind Protagonist, so I Might as Well Just Die - Chapter 33

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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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#33
“Until those men outside swear to become the Imperial Princess’s backing, and until she sits upon that throne, I will survive by any means necessary. This is a promise made upon the pride of my Noble Family, so you may trust it.”
Only then did the children nod their heads. I nodded along with them, smiling contentedly, before hastily adding a caveat.
“Ah, but this is entirely your decision, yes? I have no will in this matter, nor any intention to coerce you.”
Even as I spoke, I harbored no certainty whether such a shallow stratagem could truly shield me from Silpi’s curse.
‘Well, whatever. If this works, splendid—and if not, I’ll devise another scheme.’
The thought brought unexpected relief. Whether from the easing of my mind or from the depletion of my remaining strength by all that talking, my vision began to flicker slowly.
‘Goodness, this body is truly abysmal. Estella, how little exercise have you been doing? What happens if I lose consciousness just from a bit of conversation?’
Confronted by the inexorable limits of my exhaustion, a sigh escaped me and my eyes closed. Bilateia’s delicate hand bid farewell to me as I surrendered to unconsciousness.
“I understand your meaning well, my lady. After you rest and wake, we shall demonstrate our resolve.”
Spirited words indeed. I could only manage a faint smile before sinking into deep slumber.
When my eyes opened again, it was to an entirely different ceiling. In truth, before my vision could fully register, the rhythmic jolting and trembling that reverberated through my entire body awakened my senses.
“Mmm…”
The steady cadence of carriage wheels and horse hooves echoed through my head with a persistent ringing.
‘Where am I? Before I fell asleep, I was surely in what appeared to be a guest chamber of a respectable Noble Family residence.’
“Are you awake?”
A clear, elegant voice greeted me from above. As I lifted my eyelids, Bilateia filled my entire field of vision.
“Perhaps I opened my eyes hoping to see the most beautiful woman in the Worlds one last time before death.”
“Talking nonsense means you’ve recovered quite well.”
She shot the remark at me with a sharp tongue, then gently drew back the thick curtain of the carriage window. Dawn light poured through the gap, stinging my eyes. As I winced, Bilateia raised her hand to cast a shadow across my eyes.
“My apologies. I should have been more considerate of your long sleep.”
I tried to respond that it was fine and sit up, but neither the words nor the movement came.
‘Estella, while I was asleep, couldn’t you have worked out more specific terms with Perenustus? Rather than merely removing pain, could he have fully restored my health?’
-My desire was boundless, but the Creator’s circumstances were far from favorable.
‘What? Why? What happened to Perenustus?’
-Ask him directly when he returns. For now, this is all I can manage.
With a sigh-laden response, Estella filled my body with her will and sat me upright. Bilateia regarded me with wide eyes of surprise before nodding.
“Thank goodness. You absorbed both magic stones while sleeping—your health has improved considerably.”
“What? Hey, I told you to take those with you…!”
“You said you wouldn’t take them.”
Bilateia mimicked my tone and, supporting me, pointed outside the carriage. An elderly Knight riding alongside the carriage to escort it approached the window.
“Do you remember who I am, my lady?”
It was a greeting that felt like a test, like he was probing me. When I could not find an adequate response, Estella swiftly took control of my body and tilted my head gracefully.
“How could you ask such a thing? Cassian is Keldrian’s long-standing friend. It appears the Marquis is now leading this great endeavor in my father’s stead, and my heart is truly overflowing with emotion.”
“…If I have caused offense, I apologize. Until now, I have only met the Grand Duke and the Young Duke. I wondered if the Grand Duke held you so dear that he excluded you from this great undertaking.”
“One need not show their face to share in a cause.”
The Marquis, whose lips had been awkwardly drawn upward, continued his words in a rush.
“In any case, I am relieved you have regained consciousness. I had hoped you would rest at my residence until we returned from completing this great endeavor, but the Imperial Princess was stubborn about it.”
“The Imperial Princess’s choice was the right one. Having shared in the beginning of our flight, it is only fitting we share in the final return home.”
Bilateia’s eyes widened in surprise at my natural response before breaking into a gentle smile.
“Well then, Marquis. Would you kindly explain the current state of affairs?”
“Before the treacherous forces return from the Northern Front, I’ve determined we must reclaim the Imperial Capital and am advancing accordingly.”
I nodded in agreement. It was the obvious choice. Reclaiming the throne demanded speed.
‘No matter how overwhelmingly superior our military numbers are, striking an empty fortress is entirely different from confronting an enemy prepared for siege warfare. The odds of victory shift dramatically.’
As I was nodding, something suddenly struck me as odd.
“Wait—where is the Crown Prince?”
When I glanced subtly toward Bilateia, she pointed with her fingertip to the empty seat beside her.
“My beloved brother, Crown Prince Leonas, the legitimate heir to the Empire, grew gravely weakened during his flight and breathed his last at Marquis Cassian’s Residence.”
I furrowed my brow and straightened my posture. As my gaze shifted higher, I caught sight of a small boy riding alongside Marquis Cassian outside the window, his back to me.
A boy of slight build with his face concealed by a mask. His horsemanship was quite skilled, yet those narrow shoulders unmistakably belonged to a child. Sensing my gaze, the boy turned his head and fixed me with clear, crimson eyes.
‘…Leonas?’
I let out an incredulous laugh.
‘No, of course this follows the script I proposed, but… isn’t this disguise a bit too half-hearted?’
-In this field, we call it “dramatic license”—a single mole beneath the eye is enough to convince others of a new identity.
‘Perenustus! Where have you been? What happened?’
-I’ll explain everything slowly later. In any case, Leonas’s identity laundering has proceeded flawlessly under the protection of the guardian deity, so rest assured.
Faced with Perenustus’s utterly composed response, I clicked my tongue and looked back at Leonas. Marquis Cassian, sensing my gaze, broke into a hearty laugh and shifted slightly in his saddle.
“You must be meeting my youngest son for the first time, my lady. This rascal here is my late-born boy.”
“…I’ve heard rumors that you and your wife share a most harmonious bond.”
“Haha. Ever since this lad was an infant, people have remarked how much he resembles the Crown Prince. I thought perhaps accompanying us might bring some comfort to the Princess, even if only a little.”
Once the introduction was complete, the masked Leonas bowed respectfully toward me. His crimson eyes gleamed with a vitality I hadn’t witnessed before.
‘Leonas seems rather pleased with this assignment.’
Bilateia gazed at Leonas with tender affection, her fingertips tracing the window pane before she slowly drew the curtain closed. The carriage interior darkened once more.
“We shall soon reach the Imperial Capital. I will ascend to the throne and claim the crown, as you advised.”
“As master of Keldrian, I pledge to lead the way and carve our path forward, staking the honor of my Noble Family.”
“Wow… so you can be this impeccably courteous and well-mannered, yet you acted like such a ruffian around us?”
“The kid was putting on such a solemn face, I just matched the atmosphere.”
The moment my tone and posture shifted, Bilateia shook her head with an expression that said ‘I knew it.’ That’s when the carriage, already tilting precariously, tipped over completely.
“Ambush! We’re under attack!”
“Leave not a single member of the Traitorous Forces alive!”
“Estella!”
The instant the carriage overturned, I shielded Bilateia in my arms, but the acrid stench hit me immediately. I kicked free from the carriage just as flames erupted. In a heartbeat, I summoned Basilect and felled the nearby trees. Fragments scattered everywhere.
‘I have to hide the children! Create some kind of temporary fortification!’
The holy blade resonated faintly in response to my resolve, reducing a massive tree to rubble in an instant.
“This can’t be happening….”
“Save that comment for when your memory returns. Right now, the Princess needs to focus on staying alive and safe. Understood?”
Without waiting for her response, I hurled myself into the air.
-Aurelia! Have you lost your mind? You may not feel pain right now, but you’re not actually—
‘I know! Unless you’re going to heal me instantly, don’t try to stop me!’
-Sigh….
Perenustus’s deep sigh seemed to wrap around my body in layers, warmth spreading through my entire being.
‘What is this? Did he actually heal me?’
-Your contractor is such a fool that I cannot do that now. Just… sigh, think of it as receiving a very potent painkiller.
‘That’s enough! Thank you!’
I answered with renewed vigor, gripped Basilect firmly, and hurled myself into the heart of the battlefield. Estella’s alarmed scream echoed sharply through my mind.

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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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