Free Web NovelChapter 67: Desolated Fortress - Aftermath
"I know, I know. You must be wondering, why the two of us have different surnames. To be frank, her real name is Ophelia Rostanta. She’s just using the name Ross as a cover to hide her identity from the public."
With closed eyes, Olivia stretched her arms and back.
"Wait... Should I have said that?"
She widened her open eyes in shock.
"Oh, whatever. I think it’s fine." she added, returning to her relaxed demeanor as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Where was I... Ah, right. Her name. You see, everything started from the day she ran away from- Hm?"
She cut herself off when she noticed the state Mika was in.
"..."
His jaw dropped to the ground and his eyes were about to pop out, making him appear like some kind of fish one would find in the depths of the ocean.
"H-hello? Can you hear me...?"
Sheepishly, she waved her hand in front of him, checking for any responses. However, he did not show any reactions.
She sighed.
"I’m talking to you." she said with an indifferent expression, following up with a chop to Mika’s head.
"Ugh!"
Mika crouched down, grabbing his head in pain. His body was shivering and small tears were on the verge of coming out of his eyes.
"Aren’t you fussing a little bit too much about a light chop?" she asked with a tilted head.
"L-l-light chop...?!"
It felt like a serious punch from Ophelia.
He shifted his annoyed and enraged eyes to her, but after quickly realizing who that person was, he instantly averted his gaze again.
"So... So your Highness is Ophelia’s sister? Does it mean that Ophelia is a royal?"
"You did listen, huh? And no, she isn’t part of the royal family anymore. She’s..."
She put a finger on her chin and began thinking.
"You know what? Ask her herself."
"Really...? Weren’t you so adamant about her just a few minutes ago?" he asked, feeling disappointed about her sudden change of mind.
"Shut up. I made my decision."
Not only her tone but also her glare was sharp.
"Y-yes!" Mika replied submissively.
Olivia proceeded to take out a sheet of paper from the pile next to her.
"Should I leave?"
"No, I was just about to ask a few things."
"?"
"We had to put this on hold for a month because we needed your insight." she elaborated after switching back to her calm and focused version.
"I see. Sure, let me help- Wait."
"What is it?"
Olivia lifted her head up from the paper.
"Wait... Wait, wait, wait! D-d-did you just say a month?!"
Mika got up from his seat with his hands carefully slammed on the table.
"Calm down. Remember that it’s nighttime."
"S-sorry..."
Obediently, he sat down again.
"When I arrived at the fortress, you all were in terrible shape." Olivia said.
"W-what about the demon? And are the others okay?" Mika asked concerned.
"I exterminated the demon on the spot, no worries there. And about the others..."
Olivia’s gaze turned bitter.
Mika gulped down his saliva. Apparently, the others’ well-being was more important to him than the fact that Yater was defeated.
"Unfortunately, most of the squad died. Aside from the students, only a few survived."
"..."
Mika tightly clenched his fists. His mournful gaze was cast down.
Deep down, he knew that this would be the outcome. After all, he was there, when Yater killed one after another while disguising himself as their comrade Ray Taker. freewebnoveℓ.com
"The students... What happened to them?"
"They were treated by us and as soon as they were better, we sent them safely back to Loogam. We also included a letter concerning the situation."
"I see..."
"What about Wendy? Do you know anything about her whereabouts?" he added.
His tone was soft.
"Wendy? I suppose, she was the one, who had it the best out of everyone. She somehow ended up crossing paths with me and my squad. She ended up with just minimal injuries." Olivia replied
"And Zack? How is he?"
"He’s also already up and kicking. To be honest, he seems even more energetic than ever..." she said, sounding a bit surprised and overwhelmed.
There was one more person he wanted to ask about. However, he was scared as the last time he saw her, she was on the verge of dying.
"Your Highness... Did Ms. Ross survive...?"
This time, Olivia’s eyes sharpened. She appeared sterner.
"She’s alive, that’s what I can say."
Mika’s eyes enlarged. His mouth widened.
The feeling of delight flooded him.
"However, as of now, I can’t let anyone meet her."
"Huh?"
His crescent smile turned upside down.
"She’s currently held captive in a special place and only authorized people are allowed to see her."
"C-could I ask why...? Am even I not allowed to go see her...?"
Olivia shook her head.
"Sorry, but I can neither tell you the reason nor can I allow you to see her."
"Is that so...?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"For how long will she be held captive? When will she return to Loogam?"
"I also can’t comment on that yet."
"..."
Olivia focused her attention back to the paper on the table.
"Let’s return to the initial topic. I already talked with the others. I only need your point of view now."
"I understand..."
He was dejected.
Mika wanted to see Ophelia. He wanted to confirm her well-being with his own eyes.
But he also wanted to talk with her again. He did not realize it yet, however, he started to see her as a friend with whom he could be himself, considering that she knew his secret.
"..."
Olivia had a hint of guilt and pity in her eyes. And yet, she continued with her task.
"Alright, let’s start with the first question..."
Olivia asked Mika about his fight against Yater.
How did they fight? How long did they fight? How was Mika able to survive against Yater? What kind of abilities did Yater show him?
What did Yater say to him? And who was the person, he was impersonating in the end?
She asked many more questions. She wanted to know every detail. No, she had to.
Mika tried to answer as truthfully as possible. However, he also said that he was just stalling time by running from Yater, who was for whatever reason taking his sweet time chasing him.
This was the only lie and excuse he told Olivia. And as ridiculous and unbelievable as it sounded, she wrote it down and did not doubt it.
The system was trying to say something in the meantime, but Mika did not pay it any heed.
"Thank you for cooperating with me. You can leave now, I bet you’re tired. You may have just woken up from your month-long sleep, but talking so much and walking around from the moment you got up must be still tiring your mind and body in your current condition." Olivia said while she kept on writing the report.
"Yes..."
He got up and was about to leave the room.
His shoulders were lumped down a bit and his head was hanging low. He moved like a broken and dejected person.
Olivia heaved another sigh as she put her pen away.
"Wait."
Mika stopped in his tracks.
"Do you perhaps have a thing for my little sister?"
"H-huh?!" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
With a reddened face, he turned around.
The embarrassed Mika looked at the smirking Olivia, who in turn seemed like she was teasing him.
"Do you want to see her so badly?"
Her voice sounded both empathetic and mocking.
"..."
Mika averted his gaze. He was still blushing from one ear to the other.
"How cute..."
On the other hand, Olivia was clearly enjoying this.
She stood up and approached him.
"!"
Mika flinched for a moment when Olivia suddenly lifted his chin with her soft and thin fingers.
His eyes met hers.
He began to blush even more.
"Y-your Highness, c-could you please let go...?" he asked sheepishly, unable to endure the physical contact and distance.
"If you really want to see her so badly, I can maybe give you permission to visit her." she whispered into his ear playfully.
"!"
[Attention. New side quest.]
"However, I have a condition."
She stepped back from him standing one arm-length away.
"A condition?"
"Let’s fight." she stated bluntly while crossing her arms under her breasts.
"W-what?!"
"Heh, do you really think I’m convinced with your answer from back then? As if I would believe that you managed to stall time against an A-rank demon!"
"..."
[Side quest: Win against Olivia Rostanta.]
"B-but how could I harm your Highness...?"
Mika was nervous. And he honestly wanted to avoid fighting her.
Not just because of her position as the queen, but also because he heard about her strength.
"Jeez, why are you so stuck-up..." she sighed.
"Well-"
"Then, I will hereby order you to fight me!" she stated, clearly abusing her position.
[Reward: Time limit for the powers will increase to four minutes.]
[Punishment: Your mind will take over your mouth.]
