NOVEL NEXT chapter 23
23 – What Queen…?
“Hmm. Hmph. Umm~”
Ah. Ahh. It feels good. Unknowingly, I find myself humming a tune.
Did something strange get on my face? Are my clothes at least passable?
That man, self-proclaimed returning student named ‘Kal,’ is about to arrive.
When they requested me as a witness for the Special Forces, it was time! I almost let out a shout.
I wondered how I could meet him again without raising any suspicion, but things worked out well.
With a military background, he seemed sharp in such matters, so there was nothing to worry about!
“Eloise Roengrang.”
Glancing back slightly, a few Imperial Special Forces agents entered.
“We’ve brought in the subjects for interrogation. The witness is due to arrive shortly.”
“Good. Very good.”
“In that regard… Please put this on.”
The agents handed me a long coat. Why suddenly give me this?
“Why? Planning to throw me into a cold room and interrogate me?”
“…Not quite. It’s because of your attire.”
“My attire? What’s wrong with it?”
Raising one leg slightly, the agents frowned.
Why are they reacting like that? Without any surprise. Could it be because of your traditional attire?
“That’s strange. Imperial men supposedly drop dead when they see a female elf like me.”
“If it were another department, I wouldn’t know, but here is the Special Forces. The charm won’t work.”
“Ah, that’s something you wouldn’t know. Everyone’s never experienced the ‘real’ beauty ranks, right?”
Laughter bubbles involuntarily. It’s as if training and the real deal are the same.
How have I managed to devour countless of my own kind until now?
Even those supposedly noble ones, in the end, are just biologically male, that’s all it is.
Look at that. Look at those eyes jittering, claiming it won’t work.
The moment they act like that, a dagger pierces the heart, a bullet lodges in the forehead.
Do beauty ranks really have to involve the body, too?
A moment’s distraction, a brief turn of the eye, and it’s already over.
Disappointing. I thought those Imperial Special Forces guys would be different, at least a bit.
“Anyway, cover up. Please don’t wear such revealing clothes outside.”
What? Oh, it’s because of the slit? Huh. Weaker than I thought.
This slit is like feeling the cool forest breeze all over the body.
Why do humans wrap themselves in all these manners and protocols, I wonder!
“Yes, yes. Thank you for your concern~ So, where should I go then?”
“Follow me.”
They walk behind the agents. I wanted to tease, but I held back.
Given their nature, if I mess around from behind, they’ll draw guns or knives.
Ah, speaking of knives, I really want to see one. It was truly handsome.
Good at close combat, superb marksmanship too!
A prince who rescues in crises—there must be such stories for real!
They say his marksmanship wasn’t great in the papers, but that’s just a cover!
They deliberately underplay it to avoid attention. Sure of it.
Otherwise, where would you find a monster blocking bullets with bullets?!
“Hehe. I wonder what that guy will say about this outfit.”
Ah, I’m so curious about the reaction. I feel like I’ll go crazy from curiosity!
What if my face turns red? Ahh! Just imagining it is adorable!!
“Hmm. The witnesses have arrived just in time.”
I turn my head, and oh my! Is that really him?!
Karl! The self-proclaimed returning student! Or was he a returning student for real? Anyway!
“Ahaha! Karl… Ahh.”
Sure. Don’t act too close. We’ve just met.
Lightly tapping both cheeks, I fake a big smile and let out a fake cough. Acting. Just acting!
Not like a dwarf, but like an elf. Gracefully, I walk towards the sword.
A sigh is heard for a moment, but it’s okay. Everything’s fine!
“The Imperial witness I requested is here. Captain Karl Adelheit, right?”
“…Yes. That’s me.”
“Ahaha! I’m Eloise Roengrang. Nice to ‘officially’ meet you like this.”
“Yes, yes. Nice. To. Meet you. Eloise.”
Hehehe. Looks good like this. Hehehe! Even the frowning is attractive!
Oh. But it was better when you had the pistol and greatsword back then.
Blood, like this… wearing it upside down is a bit cooler.
‘Why did he get discharged? If he stayed in the military, he would have thrived… Oh, maybe? Disguised as a returning student and secretly working as an agent? It’s possible, right?’
“Cough! Ahem!”
Oh. There’s a companion next to him. It’s a bit annoying that she’s a woman, but I should greet her, right?
Being rude to an elf right in front of the sword from the beginning is not a good idea!
“It’s our first meeting too. Nice to meet you. I’m Eloise Roeng…”
Uh… what? What? Wait a minute. This woman… is, right? Seems right?
“Are you perhaps the Blade Queen…? Ugh!”
Suddenly, a fierce touch catches my lips.
Surprised, I look, and there, Karl is making a surprised expression.
Oh, did I… make a mistake? Right? That’s right, isn’t it?
This is bad! I look hateful from the start! What do I do!!
*
Entering the special forces headquarters with my sister, I see a familiar face ahead.
I had a rough idea, but still! That perverted elf was the culprit. Ugh!
Even though the army had already investigated, I wondered why they suddenly called me as a witness.
Considering the close cooperation between the War Forces and the Special Forces, it was quite strange.
But if the elves requested me, the Special Forces had no choice but to call me.
‘Rather than just being a secret agent, it seems that wasn’t the case.’
If he can come to such a place, at least he should be a field commander, or even a leader.
Considering the secretive and clandestine nature of Eloise’s work, she must be a high-ranking elf.
“It seems the imperial witness I requested has arrived. Captain Karl Adelheit, am I right?”
Look at that. Hehe! Approaching with a laugh, activating the skill of pretending not to know.
Clearly saying, ‘We must act like we don’t know each other! Got it?!’
“Yes, that’s correct. You are.”
“Ahaha! I’m Eloise Roengran. Nice to meet you like this for the first time.”
“Yes, yes. Nice to meet you for the first time, Eloise.”
Gotta be friendly. It’ll make things less tiring for me too.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Oops. This is bad. Because of this perverted elf, I forgot about my sister, Ricata.
My sister gets uncomfortable even if a girl-like figure is around me.
Hey, Eloise! Greet her, greet! Quickly! Stop sticking to me!
“It’s also our first meeting. Nice to meet you. I’m Eloise Roen….”
What the heck. Why is she buffering alone like that?
“Did you mean the Blade Queen…? Ugh!”
Damn, that was unexpected. Without realizing it, I grabbed Eloise’s lips.
Why? Because if she kept shouting that word, it seemed like a ‘blizzard’ would happen.
I did let go of her lips, but Eloise looks at me with surprised eyes.
Is she awkward too? I’m awkward too. Actually, this is the first time I’ve heard that.
‘Ricata sister. Where on earth have you been and what have you been doing…’
Our sister, Ricata Adelheit, known to the public as a kind and capable lady.
Instead of entering the academy, she entered some ‘upper’ position at the age of 16 and handled various tasks.
Some called it lowly work, but it was said that there was nothing better to learn the flow of money, so those words were soon accepted. She was simply known as a true lady working hard for the family and territory.
That’s what people know about our sister in the world.
‘But none of it is true.’
Let me reintroduce. Our sister, Ricata Adelheit.
Former team leader of the Imperial Special Operations Execution Department.
She retired due to preparing for the family succession, but her connections and abilities are still remarkable.
Why? Because that special operations unit is directly under the imperial family, not a subsidiary of the war department!
As befitting her position, the fact that our sister has such experience is kept secret.
Barely anyone in our family knows about my father, mother, and me.
The master and mistress who devoted their entire lives to our household, and even the nanny, remain unknown to us.
But here’s the thing. I knew my sister held a position of authority in that dreadful place.
Never had I heard of such an absurd title as the Blade Queen, though.
Of all things in the world, it had to be her. Fortunately, there are no extraterrestrial monsters here.
“I am Ricata Adelheit. Eloise Roengrang. The leader of the Hygens Annihilation Unit, right?”
Even that perverted elf is just as intimidating as my sister. Annihilation Unit? What’s that!
“The relationship between the swords here is very, very good. So, I have a favor to ask. Could you do something about that outfit? If you’re going to cover up, do it properly.”
Thanks to the perverted elf, my sister’s identity might accidentally be exposed.
Ironically, Eloise’s attire was more uncomfortable than anything else.
It’s strange. I’m the one from the neo-Confucian world, so why is my sister acting like that?
“I’m sorry. The outerwear I gave you earlier… is here.”
Eloise swiftly puts on the clothes. Is it any different now, I wonder?
…Well, to tell the truth, not much has changed.
It seems like the special forces provided the clothes, but the problem is Eloise’s proportions are too good.
Even though she put it on, it only covers her upper body, leaving nothing concealed below.
Thanks to the side slit on the pants and the glimpse of her white thighs in between… Ahem! Ahem!
“Don’t look at that, Cal.”
“Huh?”
“Close your eyes. How dare you in front of our sword.”
Sister, I’m all grown up now. I think it’s an age where seeing that is acceptable.
“Let’s go quickly. To where the campers are. Eloise? Finish up there and let’s go.”
“I didn’t do anything in particular… Sure. Blade Queen, heh! Ricata.”
As Eloise takes the first step, my sister, who was looking at her disapprovingly, follows suit.
Without realizing it, I grabbed that sister, Ricata, and said, “Sister.”
“Yeah? Cal. What is it? Did that elf bother you? Just say the word. I’ll subtly… take care of it.”
“No, just in case. Don’t ever fall or betray. You understand, right?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t say lines like ‘Go, Cal. Quickly.’ later on.”
“What is he suddenly saying? It’s just a joke!”
Well, our sister isn’t the type to do that.
But it’s just my luck that I’ve got a weird title, so I’m a bit uneasy.