Young Master, Please Put Some Pants On! - Chapter 85
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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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Chapter 85
Several days later, in the small village of Felosia located in the southwestern part of the Aizen Empire. This place, which bordered other kingdoms, was also the village with the largest human population in the Empire.
On the outskirts of Felosia stood a massive trading post that seemed disproportionate to the village’s size. This place, which normally saw an endless stream of visitors, was filled with silence today. Despite closing early, several sentries dutifully maintained their posts.
Then, from not far away, a single carriage slowly approached. The carriage stopped in front of the entrance, and soon two people, a man and woman, stepped out. The man who emerged from the carriage silently handed an invitation to the sentry.
After checking the invitation, the sentry looked over the man’s face. The man wearing a robe exuded an indescribable sense of intimidation. Through his gold-rimmed glasses, dark brown eyes gazed down coldly.
“Summer’s opal and coastal ruby.”
When he recited the password along with the invitation, the sentry nodded and guided the two inside. After confirming that the sentry had completely disappeared from sight, he let out a light sigh and pulled back his cloak’s hood.
“Haah…”
He ran his rough hands through his neatly tied hair in a gesture that didn’t match his composed appearance.
A month ago, Kermanomon had been introduced to this place by Rachel, where suspicious drug transactions were reportedly taking place frequently. He had already confirmed that most of the people involved here were half-bloods.
Since it was a dangerous place where many people couldn’t move around, he had planned to quietly infiltrate alone to assess the situation…
“Wow. This is my first time in a place like this!”
Mellis, who was wearing a black cloak just like him, was surveying the surroundings with eyes full of curiosity as if she had come to see some festival.
“Anyway, it seems like everyone looks down on the Grand Duke, doesn’t it?”
“Hehe. It’s not like that.”
At Kermanomon’s irritated voice, Mellis also pulled back her hood to reveal herself.
He had noticed from downtown that someone was tailing him. But the presence was so obvious and the actions so clumsy that he was wondering how long he should pretend not to notice, only to discover it was Mellis of all people.
Her hair, which she confidently claimed was part of her disguise, was dyed the same pink color as during the banquet.
“What do you mean it’s not like that.”
“I really came because I was worried about the Grand Duke! Look at this!”
At his irritated response, Mellis confidently pulled out a piece of paper from her chest as if she had expected this. It was a ‘Grade 1 Ability Detection Technician Certificate’ – a fresh certificate with the issue date stamped just the day before.
He knew she had been studying ability detection under Professor Hopnilman recently, but to obtain a Grade 1 ability detection certification in such a short time. It was certainly remarkable talent.
Reading the flow of magical power in a black market that was a den of half-bloods who wielded magic was an extremely useful ability. And Mellis’s abilities had already been proven once in the Western Mountains.
Moreover, passing the Grade 1 exam meant that unlike before when she had to directly touch objects with her hands to understand their flow, she could now read the general flow with her naked eyes.
‘Certainly, it is impressive.’
However, he was still uncomfortable. He didn’t like involving his people in dangerous situations. Especially when it wasn’t even a knight, but a frail sheep beastman who looked like she would collapse at the slightest touch.
“So, if you were worried about me, you should have stayed quietly at home. Why did you dangerously follow me here?”
“Why! I can do well!”
When Kermanomon frowned and pushed her forehead back with one finger, Mellis flailed her arms vigorously in protest.
‘What kind of nerve does she have…’
To follow him to a place like this. Seeing that she had managed to follow him here safely, it was obvious that Mellis hadn’t pulled this off alone – Malcolm must have helped her. No wonder there had been no nagging as usual when he said he would move alone, when they were plotting this scheme behind his back.
This one and that one – somehow there wasn’t a single obedient person around him.
Kermanomon let out a deep sigh and slowly rubbed the back of his neck with one hand as if he had no choice, then spoke.
“I kept warning you not to follow because it’s dangerous. I can’t take responsibility for whatever happens inside.”
“But the Grand Duke is by my side, right? There’s no way it could be dangerous.”
Despite Kermanomon’s scolding, Mellis blinked without a trace of doubt. As if she completely trusted him. His eyes narrowed at Mellis’s nonchalant attitude.
Kermanomon couldn’t say anything for a moment at those bright eyes looking up at him.
Soon, he pressed his lips together tightly, turned around, and muttered as if to himself.
“…If you get in the way, I’ll leave you behind.”
“Yes!”
Mellis answered cheerfully and stepped forward. Kermanomon, who had been watching her retreating figure, bit the inside of his cheek.
‘Damn it….’
The suddenly intensified heartbeat was so unfamiliar. He had to pull his hood back up to hide his reddened ears.
A few days ago, after what happened in Garulus’s room, he immediately regretted his actions. The sight of Mellis hurriedly leaving after his unexpectedly revealed feelings kept replaying before his eyes without rest.
He silently observed Mellis’s reactions. Fortunately, she seemed to act the same as usual, not paying much attention to what happened that day.
‘I’m in quite a state.’
It seemed he was the only one still feeling anxious while recalling that day’s events.
However, contrary to his expectations, Mellis also had murmuring thoughts floating around in her head.
‘Hmm, today he’s a little….’
She couldn’t take her eyes off him in his strangely light disguise. Just hiding his beastman ears made his impression distinctly different. Moreover, his hair neatly tied back in a single ponytail and draped forward, along with his gold-rimmed glasses, looked so calm and gentle.
It was amazing how just changing a few elements could alter the atmosphere so much.
This was the first time since that day that she faced Kermanomon alone. Though she didn’t want to admit it, Mellis hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him for the past few days. And if it were just thoughts, that would be fortunate, but Kermanomon appeared in her dreams every night, tormenting her.
Mellis threw herself into work and study to shake off his lingering image that appeared at random moments, and thanks to that, she was able to pass the Ability Detection exam in one go.
‘This is all because of the Grand Duke! He keeps playing these suggestive pranks lately….’
Surely that day’s incident was the same. To him, it was probably just a playful remark, but she felt ridiculous for not being able to brush it off lightly and agonizing over it for days.
Mellis pouted and glanced at him with a glare, but her guard melted away again at his gentle gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses.
“What? Is there something on my face?”
“No, I was just thinking the glasses suit you well.”
Mellis, who had answered without thinking, was startled and clamped her mouth shut. Lately, Kermanomon had completely taken to teasing her.
If he heard such words, he would surely act smugly again and put her in a difficult position. He might say he’d wear glasses every day, or ask if refined men were her type….
At a time like this when her heart was restless, she couldn’t get caught up in his mischievous pranks any further. Mellis, anticipating his response, rolled her head around preparing a comeback in advance.
“…You look good too.”
Covering his face with one hand, he spoke in a low voice. Mellis, flustered by his completely unexpected reaction, froze stiffly.
‘What kind of reaction is this…?’
If she wasn’t mistaken, Kermanomon was feeling very embarrassed right now. As if her compliment about the glasses suiting him well had made him happy.
Sensing something strange, Mellis’s entire body heated up. Why wasn’t he leisurely deflecting her words as usual?
Mellis, who had been stammering in surprise, eventually couldn’t say anything and kept her mouth tightly shut.
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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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