abcnovels
Chapter 34: Debra (1)
Chapter 34: Debra (1)
***
The Crown Prince ultimately couldn't hide his disappointment and left. He smacked his lips while looking at the massage chair until the end before returning to the Imperial Palace.
Only then did she feel relieved.
I absolutely can't let it be taken!
Though she had restricted her usage time out of concern for withdrawal symptoms, the difference between self-restraint and literally not being able to use it because it was gone was immense.
“….”
She sat in the massage chair, calming her startled heart.
Whirr whirr- rumble rumble- whirr whirr-
“E-Eut.”
As someone who was practically a workaholic, the effect was truly great. Perhaps the Crown Prince felt the same, which was why he felt it was such a shame.“….”
After 30 minutes of massage, she reluctantly got off the chair. She didn't realize her expression was not much different from the Crown Prince's when he left.
I can’t believe there are only 2 days left now...
That wicked Oradge!
I-If he was going to be generous, shouldn't he at least let me use it for a month?! H-How can I know if it's really good or not in just 2 days?!
But what could she do? She just… had to make the most of the remaining 2 days.
After all, recently, her work efficiency had doubled.
"By the way..."
Her face hardened. She was bothered by what the Crown Prince had said.
-It seems that punk will start moving in earnest soon.
-That punk? Do you mean...?
-You know, don’t you? The one who joined the Second Prince...
She also became serious at the Crown Prince's words. In fact, she had no interest in the royal succession struggle and didn't want to get involved, but she had a reason to join hands with the Crown Prince.
The punk the Crown Prince mentioned was extremely dangerous. So much so that she, who wanted to distance herself from politics, had to join hands with the Crown Prince.
She bit her thumbnail, showing an anxious look.
Could she really deal with that guy by joining hands with the Oradge?
Currently, the continent was suffering severely from mana pollution. With the development of Magitek, reckless development had caused all kinds of disasters.
In such a situation, that punk appeared like a savior.
Blue skin, black pupils without whites.
He called himself a Celestial who descended from the sky.
The upper echelons of the Empire showed great interest in this unprecedented race.
-As you know, the continent has already suffered significant mana pollution due to reckless mana usage. At this rate, even the Magic Empire will end.
-If we stop the development of Magitek from now on, can't we do something about it?
-How foolish. Do you truly think one can stop the advancement of technology artificially? And the mana pollution is already severe. It's like a runaway train that cannot be stopped.
-T-Then, what should we do?
That punk had said his home was beyond the sky.
-Excuse me?
-We ‘Debrans’ will never turn a blind eye to your difficulties.
The officials of the Magic Empire were taken aback by his words. After all, his claims were outrageous.
-I intend to send a distress signal to my home, ‘Debra’.
He had two arms and legs like a human, but his appearance couldn't be considered human.
-If you cooperate well, we will accept you as members and bestow the Blessing of Debra upon you.
-Bless…ing?
-We can extend your lifespan by two times and free you from minor ailments.
At first, no one believed him. The idea that his home, Debra, existed somewhere in the universe beyond the sky was ridiculous.
Although she personally had some understanding of the universe through the Integrated Dimensional Community, the continent was only just beginning to show interest in the universe.
No nobles were tempted by his sudden appearance and his promise to guide them to the universe beyond the sky.
However, as mana pollution became severe enough to obscure the future and various problems arose, interest began to grow.
Moreover.
-Oh! Oh! Truly a Celestial! Thanks to you, my sick body is now healed!
-Ah, ah...! Is my daughter okay now?
-Y-You're saying you can extend my lifespan?
-My legs... My legs can now move!
He began to take control of the Empire like a savior.
On top of that...
-KEUAAAAAH!!
-Even an 8th Circle is nothing. How dare you challenge a Celestial.
He easily defeated an 8th Circle Mage who had quarreled with him.
A pillar of light descended from the sky, turning the 8th Circle Mage into ashes without even a chance to resist.
Considering that no 9th Circle had appeared due to mana pollution, he was undoubtedly the strongest.
-We Debrans have already conquered the realms beyond the sky. So if you cooperate, I shall report to my superiors and ensure your treatment.
-I, too, am merely a castaway, but if I can establish communication, such things are trivial.
After that, he joined forces with the Second Prince and began receiving all sorts of support, thus conducting research on…something. He started drawing on the continent's resources and constructing buildings.
Perhaps he joined the Second Prince because the Crown Prince was an extremist who believed Magitek should be halted immediately for the continent's sake.
It was around then that the Crown Prince came to her.
Saying how something was going wrong.
And after investigating together, they confirmed that the continent's mana pollution was rapidly increasing.
According to her calculations... in less than 100 years, it would be so drastic that it would be hard for humans to survive.
It was not just the Empire but the entire continent's survival that was at stake.
So, she couldn't help but feel urgent.
"The Oradge alone might not be able to solve this problem, but..."
The Oradge was the only hope she could cling to.
At the very least, if she could get a clue to solve the pollution or develop Magitek to counter that punk...
In a way, the Oradge was also a being from the universe, so he might know something about that punk.
"But still..."
It would be difficult, right?
She was desperate, practically grasping at straws. How much could she really trust the Oradge and follow his words?
Could the Oradge really do something about that Debran? Even if what he said was true, Debrans were also beings who roamed the universe, weren’t they?
The pillar of light the Debran had unleashed was still vivid in her memory.
When the massive pillar of light struck from the sky's end, she almost found herself praying to God, who she didn't believe in.
It felt like divine punishment.
“….”
Moreover, the internal issues couldn't be ignored. Though the Crown Prince was active, moving here and there, the results were unsatisfactory.
The punk’s support base was already too solid.
If the Emperor moved, it might be different, but the Emperor remained silent on this issue.
"How frustrating."
She sighed continuously. On the bright side though, her stress had been alleviated somewhat lately thanks to the massage chair.
It was then.
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Huh? What's so frustrating?
She was startled.
Perhaps it actually was the case...!
"Could it be that you were watching me and hearing what I was saying?"
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Ah... well.
“!!”
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Kek.
"KYAAAAAAH!!"
She screamed, recalling the events of the past few days.
"H-How could such a shameless...!"
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Um. I wanted to keep it a secret because I thought you'd react like this, but now that you've caught me, I guess it can’t be helped. So, how was the massage chair? Kek.
She felt like her eyes were about to roll back in rage. The ‘Kek' at the end made her feel like she was going to lose it.
What was at least fortunate, though, was...!
She was extremely grateful to herself for restraining from using the [Adult Mode].
"How... how...! You, youuuu! Voyeur! Pervert! Shameless!"
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Ah, well, there's no need to worry about that. I have a rather competent friend… who mosaics all the good scenes. Tsk.
"M-Mosaic?"
She didn't understand what he meant, but it felt like her vision was going dark, making the sky turn more yellow.
What about when she sniffed the blanket before bed, sang and danced in the shower, and punched a large doll to relieve stress?
Had he seen all that too?!
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Shh. It's a secret (Wink)
“….”
What secret?! Did he think she would let it slide with that?
She was rendered speechless. She didn't know where to even start and what to criticize.
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Instead, I'll extend the massage chair period. Heh.
“….”
Grit-
F-Fine. Yes. That's not the important thing right now, after all.
Honestly, even if she tried to block his vision, she didn't know what to do, so she couldn't stop it.
And judging from the Oradge’s past actions, who didn't blink an eye despite being criticized harshly in the Integrated Dimensional Community, he wouldn't stop even if she told him to.
"I-I’m sure y-you know my situation if you've been watching me, right?"
Honestly, she didn't think the Oradge could help, but she had to at least ask.
If it was the Oradge, who had been watching her, then...!
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Uh... sorry. I'm not that free. Heh.
“…!”
The Oradge’s tone as well as his every word was irritating.
She gritted her teeth and endured.
"Rather than extending the massage chair period...!"
Of course, extending the massage chair period was extremely, extremely, extremely important, but...!
She desperately held back her tears. She was a woman who could suppress her desires for the greater good! Surely!
"I need a different kind of help."
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Help?
"This is a very serious problem for me!"
[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]
-Kek.
“….”
She trembled with anger at the Oradge's message, but soon realized.
"Please... I’m begging you. Please just listen to me first."
That she was in a position where she had to beg for mercy from him.
She knew that the Oradge was not someone who would easily grant her request just because she /genesisforsaken