Nozomu couldn’t stop his laughter, and he almost exploded. “Ahahah! You sure are funny, Chuji! We are also in training, and we are going to apply for the Academy of Adventurers. Hopefully, next week, if things work out as they should.”
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“Cool! I am also going to apply! Maybe we will meet there! Oh! We could make a Party! A dangerous, treacherous, defying Snake-kind, an angry-looking Cat-kind, and a smiling Human! The adventures we could have together! The Monsters we could slaughter and bathe in their blood while using their bones for toothpicks! Taming Unicorns and Dragons! Conquering the hearts of every damsel and Knight around! The Minstrels would make songs about our deeds! Awesome songs!”
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“That would be cool, actually. I hope we can meet there then. Now, if you excuse us, we have to talk with the Guild Master, or we will never get back to Ourelona before night falls.”
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Chujitsuna Hito covered her mouth with both hands and said in a muffled voice. “No way! You are in the Guild of Koyaga! How is she?”
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Nozomu wondered why the strange reaction, because the once-smiling girl was now genuinely surprised, with her eyes wide open. “Yes, we work there. You know Miss Koyaga then?”
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“Of course! Everyone knows her! My mother hates her guts! She and the Princess were always with my father in the academy. They were great friends, but my mother hated to see them together! She always thought one of them was after him! I like Miss Koyaga; she is funny! I often go visit her to say hi, and we hang out for the entire day. Will you send her a kiss from me? I will leave you now. It seems my Party already chose our next Quest! We are going hunting! I like hunting! It’s always fun! Bye, Nozomu! Bye, little yellow-cutie eyes! You are just so adorable! “
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With a last pinch on Taisetsuna’s cheeks, Chujitsuna Hito left for the Quest Board to meet the group that was talking in front of it. Nozomu smiled at the way her long green blouse wiggled as she slithered, and Taisetsuna punched his shoulder and asked, “Why are you smiling so much, dumbass? Did you like to see her big breasts bouncing as she giggled like a moron?”
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“Actually, yes. She sure has some nice, big, and wiggling breasts. I thought you said that Snake-kind couldn’t be trusted, but she seems harmless.”
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“A total airhead, if you ask me! Who goes around kissing girls she has never met? She is completely nuts!”
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Nozomu shrugged as they approached the reception desk. “I like her. She is friendly and funny.”
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Taisetsuna made a throw-up face and looked at the Quest Board again, just in time to see Chujitsuna Hito throwing her a kiss as her Party left the Guild.
…
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When they finally left the Guild to return home, the moment they stepped outside, the Captain of the City Guards was waiting for them.
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He made a forced smile and spoke, “I sent a Messenger to the Capital, and I want to present you with my deepest apologies, Sir Nozomu and Dame Taisetsuna. I had no idea who you were, so you can’t blame me for being cautious, considering the threat that is always lingering over us.”
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Nozomu shook the hand the Captain was offering him and asked, “The Empire is being active lately? I didn’t hear anything about it.”
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“Since the war ended, they never crossed the border again, but there are always occasional soldiers training near the river that serves as a border. It’s probably their way of saying they are there and to show off a bit. We do the same on our side, of course.”
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Nozomu went to the stable to get the Unicorns, while Taisetsuna was speaking with the Captain, and when he returned, they went to the Magical Circle again, with the soldiers walking on both sides of the street, glancing at the Unicorns.
A quick visit to the building, and the Mage came out, following Nozomu, and went straight to the columns to activate the Magical Circle. Nozomu waved at the Captain, and the Magical Dome covered the Circle, transporting Nozomu’s group back to Ourelona instantly.
As they were walking towards the Guild, people approached them to congratulate them on their new title, because the Adventurers made sure to spread the news.
While Nozomu was in Puurmani, teaching the Guild’s Cook how to make pizzas and chocolates, Koyaga was in the Princess’s office.
She came for a visit in the morning, and the moment she entered the Castle, a servant took her to that office and told her to wait there because the Princess was finishing talking with a Merchant and she would arrive in a few moments.
When Koyaga was going through the pages of a book that was on a shelf, reading about the country’s former history, the door opened, and the Princess came rushing in, with her face all red, as if she had been running the entire way to get there.
She told the maid that was with her to leave them alone and to not let anyone enter, and she went to Koyaga, who was bowing at her the moment the door closed.
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She cushioned Koyaga’s hands and greeted her. “Long time, no see, Koyaga. The last time you came to see me was over six years ago, if I recall correctly.”
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“Yes, you are right. It has been that long already. How have you been, Mere? Did your Nobles give you a hard time lately and have you beheaded someone?”
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“Ahaha! No, not really, but after Nozomu and Taisetsuna’s first visit, I have one Noble in my dungeon studying Royal Etiquette. Please take a seat in that chair. I want to know everything you have been up to.”
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Koyaga nodded and followed her to the desk. She sat on one chair in front of the desk, and the Princess sat on the other. Surprisingly, the Princess didn’t sit on her main chair, which looked like a small throne, and preferred to sit on the chair in front of her desk, facing Koyaga, and she looked nervous, biting her lip and holding her breath.
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Before she had time to say something, Koyaga took a slow, deep breath before speaking. “Nozomu is the reason I came here today, actually. He talked with me last night, and he told me you are both now involved. I pretended to not mind so much, but I cried until I fell asleep after he left my room. Over these last few days, from being intrigued by him and having fun with him, I found myself caring for him. I am not sure if I am in love, but I know I like him. I just want to know if you really like him, or if it was just a whim that made you tell him to wait for you for three years.”
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“So you like him… I do too. It’s not a whim of a spoiled Princess, because you know very well that I was never one of those. It took me a long time to heal the broken heart from your refusal to live in this Castle and to be with me, and when I wasn’t expecting it, Nozomu appeared, with his serious eyes and honest ways. I still love you, you know? I also told him that yesterday. I guess my plan of waiting for three years is not only for him to get older and more easily accepted by the Nobles, but it’s also for him to be sure he wants to be with me, and for me to be sure that I love him more than I love you. I may be using him to forget about you, but he is also using me to forget about another woman, so I guess we are both having problems with our past.”
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“Another woman? Me?”
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The Princess tilted her head a bit, looking puzzled. “He didn’t tell you? I guess he doesn’t want to worry people, but he told me after I questioned him why he seemed so attracted to me, and he told me I looked just like a woman from his past. That puzzled me, and his explanation puzzled me even more. He said that after his memory loss, he remembered another life, when he was older, had two kids, and was married to a woman that looked just like me. I suppose it was because we talked so much yesterday that he had a weird nightmare and woke up half the Castle with his screams. I got worried and went to his room, where he confused me with that woman, someone named Theresa. It hurt a lot, seeing him looking straight at me and talking as if I was that other woman.”
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Koyaga leaned back in her chair, completely dumbfounded. “I had no idea… I noticed Nozomu is way different from the Nozomu I used to know. That one was a rude brat that, more times than not, I almost knocked out. But… aren’t you afraid that he recovers his memory and goes back to being the rude brat he used to be?”
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“That could happen, yes. That’s why three years of waiting would serve as well. I don’t want to end up with a broken heart again…”
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“I… I am sorry, Mere. Despite what you might think because of the way we parted, I also loved you. I still do. The problem is that you are the ruling Princess, and you are supposed to get an heir to rule after you, but with me, that would never happen. You also failed to understand the reason I couldn’t be a Royal Guard or a Captain, and I preferred to work as an Adventurer, even after that injury that almost killed me.”
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The Princess gave a gentle smile, and as she spoke, Koyaga felt her heart skipping a beat. “I know your reason, Nozomu told me. You should have told me at that time that to you, being an Adventurer is a calling, a duty that you want to follow. I would understand. It would surely make me love you even more, but I would understand. It may sound stupid, but I never thought of that until Nozomu said it, but we could be together in this Castle, in secret. I have several hidden passages I can use to travel underground or between walls, and none of my Nobles knows about them. Only me and my old personal servant know the man who has been at my side ever since I learned how to walk. He was the one that taught me about the passages and always made sure that no one else knew.”
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“I see… I… don’t know what to answer that… You are with Nozomu now, and for us to be together… I don’t think it would be fair to him if you cheated him with me…”
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“Well, I have three years to wait to have him at my side as my partner. I guess we could… You know… be together from time to time… I like him, but… it is you I love… I suppose I need to talk with him next time he comes here… I think he more or less knows because I told him I couldn’t forget you until now.”
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“Yes, he is wise for someone that young. He also told me more or less the same, and that I should talk to you. I noticed his sad look as he left, but I made little case of that, but now I think it was because he was guessing what could happen if I talked with you. Still, the fact remains that you need an heir, and I can’t give you that.”
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The Princess bit her lower lip and looked down as she asked, “Would you… be angry if I bared Nozomu’s child? I think he will probably refuse, because I told him to wait for me for three years, and now if I tell him I changed my mind, and that I wanted to have him as my consort just to fool everyone and to get an heir, when in fact, I was with you… Yeah, forget that; it is just a dumb idea.”
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“That is actually… a good idea… I don’t know if he will accept it, but I don’t know anyone else who would keep that a secret. The problem is if he loves you. I got the feeling that he likes you a lot, but knowing him as I do, the moment I tell him we want to be together, he will be sad, but he will support us and help us in any way he can. Perhaps… I am not sure what he will say, but it might work. That… if you want to be with me like that…”
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The Princess grabbed both hands rest of Koyaga’s chair and pulled her close. She leaned forward and answered within millimetres of her surprised face. To be with you is the only thing I ever wanted, Koyaga, ever since I met you. Having us grow old together and enjoy life together. If you let me, I will do everything in my power to make you happy, near me."
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Koyaga smiled and caressed the red face of her longtime love. “I am sorry for taking all this time, Mere. I was a major fool, but if you let me, I will make sure to compensate for all the lost time.”
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They kissed, forgetting all the time they were apart. It was as if time had never gone by, and they were again the same silly teenagers that made a mess every day in the Academy and drove their teachers mad while meeting in secret as a couple in love.
…
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