It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 163
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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500 Years as Just an Extra,
The Original Story Still Won’t Begin
Episode 163
“If you keep doing that, should I call you Lady Forthen as well?”
“Oh my, I wouldn’t mind at all.”
“…Let’s just drop it.”
Rebecca, who had been glaring at Hilda intently, finally scratched her head roughly.
“If we walk while sightseeing the streets, the timing should work out about right.”
“We’ll reach the castle at 8:30, and get to the room right around 9 o’clock.”
Just as Hilda said, they arrived at the main castle entrance a little past 8:30.
The servants had apparently finished their work for the day, as there was hardly anyone around. Thanks to this, the main castle lobby had an unusually empty atmosphere.
“Did everyone go on vacation or something?”
“Everyone except those on duty leaves by 8 o’clock. It’s the Holy Night Festival period.”
“Ah, right. This would be normal then.”
For the past two years, she hadn’t been able to focus on the Holy Night Festival or anything else. Rebecca herself hadn’t returned to the Grand Duke’s Castle in quite a while.
“How long will Baron Roagis be staying?”
“You really…”
At her almost growling reaction, Hilda covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? To tease me?”
“Why do you hate it so much? It’s a title His Highness personally bestowed upon you.”
“After living as a knight my whole life, suddenly becoming a baron – how could I get used to it? I only force myself to endure it at official events.”
Rebecca had received the baron title this past summer in recognition of her achievements. Termion had even granted her a nice manor in the inner castle.
Since her younger brother was set to inherit the family house anyway, it wasn’t a bad choice for her.
“I preferred being called Sir Senberg.”
“Don’t people call you by name in private settings anyway?”
“How many people is that really? His Highness, the Grand Duchess Dowager, the Captain, and you – who else is there?”
“What do you mean? There are two more people.”
“…That’s right.”
The blonde woman who stubbornly maintained that ambiguous speech pattern, and the little girl with black hair who always ran around with a bright expression.
Rebecca’s shoulders drooped slightly as she recalled those dear faces.
“I wonder if they’re enjoying the Holy Night Festival too.”
“I hope so.”
“The Grand Duchess really loved piggyback rides. It would be difficult now, wouldn’t it?”
“Pfft, what’s wrong with that? With your build, sis.”
“Is that an insult or a compliment?”
While bickering as they climbed the stairs, Rebecca suddenly stopped in her tracks.
“Hey, Hilda.”
“Yes?”
“You’re the only one using a room on the fourth floor right now, right?”
“That’s right?”
“…Then why do I sense someone’s presence?”
“Isn’t it His Highness the Grand Duke?”
“No. His Highness’s presence isn’t like this.”
Termion usually barely revealed his presence at all.
Unless it was a special situation, he wasn’t someone who would deliberately emit enough aura for others to sense. Even if he did, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize it.
“Just in case, follow behind me at a distance. Try not to make any noise.”
“Yes.”
Hilda also nodded with a tense expression.
If Rebecca was saying this much, someone must have secretly infiltrated the fourth floor.
Sure enough, a faint light was seeping out from across the hall from Hilda’s room.
‘That room is…?’
Rebecca immediately crossed the corridor and stood in front of the door. Before she knew it, one of her arms was covered in deep teal aura.
Suppressing the killing intent that rose involuntarily, she took a deep breath and slowly opened the door.
“Who goes there! Who dares enter without permission!”
“Uh…?”
The black-haired girl sitting on the sofa turned her head with a startled expression.
“The room’s owner… I think?”
“How dare you, do you know where this… is….”
Whoosh.
The aura covering Rebecca’s arm disappeared silently.
“Ehehe….”
The girl who wiped her eyes with the back of her hand smiled brightly just like in the old days and spoke.
“Rebecca, hello?”
“…Is this perhaps a dream? Or an illusion?”
The moment she saw those green eyes gazing at her, Rebecca couldn’t help but ask that foolish question.
“I missed you.”
At the sight of the girl smiling brightly even while crying, Rebecca knelt down on one knee right there.
Thud!
“Knight Rebecca Roagis.”
The little girl who used to be below her eye level even when she lowered her posture had now become a fine lady looking down at her.
“I congratulate Grand Duchess Retis on her return.”
“Mmph…!”
While Elenora was overcome with emotion, Hilda, who had carefully followed behind, revealed herself.
“Sis? Who’s here… Ah….”
“Hilda!”
As if she couldn’t hold back any longer, Elenora ran straight to Hilda.
“Waaah!”
“G… Grand Duchess?”
“Yes yes! It’s Elly! Hilda, sob….”
“Grand Duchess…!”
Hilda, who had been holding Elenora without a word for a while, spoke with a choked voice.
“Our Grand Duchess, when did you grow up so much.”
“Mmhm…. I got a lot bigger, right?”
Elenora rubbed her cheek against Hilda’s hand, trying her best to smile somehow.
Because of her vision blurred by tears, she couldn’t see Hilda’s face properly.
“You’re still such a crybaby.”
“When was I ever like that!”
“You used to cry all the time saying you didn’t want to study etiquette.”
“I did not! Hmph….”
“Still… I’m glad you look healthy.”
Hilda, who wiped Elenora’s eyes with a handkerchief, asked carefully.
“You’ve completely returned now, right?”
“Yes! I’m all better now!”
Rebecca also approached Elenora’s side and gently embraced her shoulders.
She was happy in a slightly different sense than Hilda.
“It’s not just that you’ve recovered… You could join the Tigel Knight Order right now.”
“Ah, Rebecca recognized it!”
“To achieve this level of mastery in not only magic but also aura, that’s amazing.”
“I worked really hard, hehe.”
“Still.”
“Kyaa!”
Rebecca, who had scooped up Elenora with one arm, grinned and spoke in a playful voice.
“I am the Grand Duchess’s escort.”
“Aah! Why does everyone keep treating me like a child! Uncle did this too!”
“If you wish, I’ll carry you around like this for the rest of your life.”
“I’m all grown up now!”
Even as she said this, Elenora wrapped her arms tightly around Rebecca’s neck and laughed.
When she had reunited with Uncle and Grandmother, her heart had simply felt heavy. She had been so purely happy that it was fortunate she hadn’t fainted.
‘I really have returned.’
Only after meeting Hilda and Rebecca could she truly feel that she had returned to Retis.
“Hilda, Rebecca.”
Elenora spoke to the two of them, and to herself as if making a vow.
“Let’s… never be separated again. Never again.”
Termion stared intently at the woman who was calmly sipping her wine glass across from him.
“Why?”
“Is it alright not to go see them?”
“Elly is all grown up now, so she’ll handle it herself.”
Ailesia deflected Termion’s gaze and replied in an indifferent voice.
Of course, it was true that she was curious about how Hilda and Rebecca had changed during this time.
She also quite wanted to witness the touching reunion with Elenora.
Yet she deliberately held back because she didn’t want to carelessly intrude on the story that belonged to those three alone.
‘How was it in the original work.’
Hilda had been designated as Elenora’s court lady from early on, and Rebecca naturally became her escort knight while preparing for the New Year banquet.
Soon the story of Part 1 would begin in earnest, and it would be awkward to steal the spotlight from the very start, wouldn’t it?
She was someone who could be there or not, after all.
Of course, since she had already helped those two form connections with Elenora when she was six years old, it felt a bit like covering one’s eyes and pretending.
“Hilda and Rebecca wanted to see you very much too.”
“Well, of course they would, but today’s protagonist is Elly. I’m just a supporting character, after all.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Ugh, my inner thoughts slipped out without me realizing.
Ailesia, feeling awkward, replaced her answer with an uncomfortable smile.
Termion, who had been staring at her quietly, clicked his tongue briefly and grabbed the wine bottle.
“…Have you become quite the drinker while I haven’t seen you?”
“I don’t get drunk anymore.”
“That’s exactly what people who get drunk easily always say.”
“I could swallow deadly poison and be fine, so how could I get drunk on mere alcohol? I’m just enjoying the taste and aroma.”
“Poison?”
Ailesia asked back in surprise, but the person who had brought it up filled her glass with alcohol with a calm expression.
“Every time I went down to the Imperial Capital, it was quite a sight. I couldn’t even carelessly drink a sip of water outside.”
“…That must have been difficult.”
“It was somewhat inconvenient. Later they seemed to realize it was useless and gave up.”
“So have you really become an Aura Conjurer?”
“Who knows.”
Aura Conjurer. The supreme realm that transcended even Aura Blaster.
It was a realm that rivaled, and perhaps even surpassed, an Arch Mage who had reached the 9th Circle.
However, only two Aura Conjurers had been recorded in the continent’s history.
Even then, one was closer to speculation, and detailed stories about the other hadn’t been passed down.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. At least within the Empire, there probably isn’t a knight stronger than me.”
“There is a way to confirm it…”
“Let’s try it slowly later. What I’m curious about is you.”
“Me? Why me?”
Thud.
He set down his empty glass on the table and looked at Ailesia with serious eyes.
“That hair color of yours, what exactly happened to it?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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