I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

24. Your Father Is Still Your Father

“I’ve just arrived home and am quite tired. Miss Lu Yi Thirteen, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

Jokes aside, don’t mess with the protagonist. Although the extra, Lu Yi Twenty-Three, indeed had a unique name, she was not kind to my script.

“Lu Yi Twenty-Three will kill Euclid.”

Considering my script was mostly about ‘death, death, death,’ this wasn’t surprising. But… Lu Yi Twenty-Three’s attitude towards Kefir wasn’t great either, first with sarcasm, then with mockery, as if they had been enemies for generations.

And there, Kefir, the protagonist with a ‘magnanimous’ desire to avoid trouble, was now being obstructed by her, intent on courting death.

“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave, Kefir. Speaking of which, let me share some good news with you. I’ve recently advanced to the Double-Five rank~ I wonder what kind of training you’ve undergone this time out? Or are you still stuck at the Sixth rank like a few years ago? Oh dear, that’s not good. In a few days, I might just surpass you~”

The moment she mentioned ‘a few years ago,’ I had a hunch why this extra was targeting Kefir so. However, Kefir, who had regained her confidence with my persuasion, wouldn’t be disheartened by ‘strength’ issues this time.

“Oh really, congratulations. May I go now?”

“Wait, Kefir, I’m doing this for your own good.”

With a nauseatingly insincere smile, Lu Yi Twenty-Three continued her interrogation with a mocking tone.

“Look at you, running away from home is one thing, but bringing back a suspicious stranger? Do you want to be disciplined by your uncle’s family law? There are many bad men out there. What if you’ve been deceived by him? How about I stab him for you?”

As she spoke, Lu Yi Twenty-Three looked at me with a ‘bloody’ smile, and suddenly, the way I was supposed to die in the script changed.

【Euriclide was stabbed to death by Louise XXIII with a single sword thrust.】

“So, who is this man? Surely, you didn’t bring him here in the middle of the night…”

“Please don’t say that, Miss Louise XXIII, this gentleman is…”

“Which maid is making noise here, go back to your work!”

Neru didn’t even get to finish her sentence before Louise XXIII snapped back at her.

Little girl, you’ve really narrowed your path. Opposing the true protagonist might leave you with a small life, but opposing Neru, I’m afraid your end will be counted by pieces of your corpse.

Sigh, it’s within expectations that my dubious identity is questioned. After all, I’m just a charlatan clinging to Kefir’s coattails, nothing to feel guilty about next.

“Ahem, I am…”

I decided to reveal my “private priest” status, to see if it could temporarily avert the ending where Louise XXIII kills me. Better to avoid trouble when possible.

However, the next instant!

Kefir suddenly displayed a very “domineering” expression, took my arm, and before I could react, she gave Louise XXIII a slight smile.

Not a single word about my sycophantic status!

“What do you think my relationship is with the man I brought back, Louise XXIII?”

“Ga…”

Louise XXIII opened her mouth and let out a duck’s quack! My goodness! What are you doing, Boss Kefir!?

【Play along, I find her annoying. Let’s keep her happy for a while, and I’ll explain your status later to embarrass her.】

Kefir explained to me with a contract-bound smile.

What!!?

Though playing the fool to catch the wise is a protagonist’s standard, at least consider my feelings when you do this, Kefir! I’m about to be blasted to ashes by your overbearing dragon and phoenix parents!

【Euriclide, dismembered in death.】

As I read the script, I watched… as Louise XXIII ran away from us, surprised and swift.

——

Elsewhere, later.

Louise XXIII was now so elated she almost twisted her ankle walking. It wasn’t just because she had achieved a breakthrough to the fifth rank with some “help,” but also because she was secretly thrilled at Kefir’s unchanged status. Hmph, such a genius among geniuses, now brought back to her original form.

Look at her, running away from home only to return with an ordinary man who seems to know nothing, and even flaunting him? What’s there to flaunt about such a man? Hahaha.

With that thought, Louise XXIII was too delighted to bother mocking Kefir any longer and hurriedly turned to leave. This matter had to be used well; mocking Kefir and causing her embarrassment was secondary. More importantly: this provided a perfect excuse to ask for a spot from Kefir’s father to visit the Goddess’s relics later. Once she found some treasure there, what would Kefir amount to?

Louise XXIII, unable to contain her excitement, found Kefir’s father, the founding hero of the Great Ying Empire, and the head of the Kefir family—Mr. Dragon Zerola. Then, fearing that Kefir would later cover up the man’s story, she exaggerated everything she had just encountered.

“Ah… So, Uncle Zerola, Kefir has truly fallen after running away from home. She shows no shame about bringing back a suspicious male, even boasting about it, even though the man looks sneaky and untrustworthy at first glance. You really should discipline her.”

“……Hmm.”

At that moment, Zerola sat in the hall, responding nonchalantly.

His daughter had brought a man home, and he had learned of it the night before from his student, Xiao Ma. Although he had crushed a crystal ball in his bare hands at the time, after a night’s sleep, Zerola had calmed down from his initial rage and was now in a “thinking period.”

What kind of man was Kefir? Zerola wasn’t sure. Ordinary men wouldn’t even dare approach her, let alone get close; they’d be kicked away. And despite some recent friction, Kefir’s haughty nature hadn’t changed one bit. This Louise XXIII must be twisting the truth to secure her spot later on. If not for her royal lineage, Zerola wouldn’t bother dealing with her.

Kefir, who had run away from home, had suddenly returned without a fight, which meant she must have cooled down. Why had his stubborn daughter calmed down? It was obviously related to the man she brought back. And why didn’t she explain? She must be trying to provoke him, then let the young man show off some special skill, and enjoy everyone’s shocked and regretful expressions.

Haha—Kefir, trying to play the tiger in front of your dad, you still have a long way to go, hahaha—

Pretending to take the bait, then giving them a fright later, turning the tables—a tiger eating the pig! That said, he’d still need to check the goods at some point.

Zerola was in a very good mood, even considering making a person with his beautiful wife. Unfortunately, his thoughts were interrupted by the ill-reputed royal, Louise XXIII.

“So, uncle, about the selection for the relic expedition, we really shouldn’t let Kefir, who’s not in good shape right now…”

“Cough cough!”

In the blink of an eye, Zerola had put on a face of desperately restraining his rage, cutting off Louise XXIII.

“We’ll talk about that later! I need to see what kind of state this wayward daughter of mine has fallen into after leaving home!”