The Terminally-Ill Rejects the Approach - Chapter 52

Unlike Klaus, Luibel was not surprised at all.

Rather, she had a serene expression because she had registered Ilei as her aide and checked Ilei’s level and detailed stats.

Light Sage

Favorability: (Unknown)

Ilei’s aide level had reached the highest value of Lv.99.

‘Ilei was an OP character in the original work too.’

Although her mental age was at the level of a child, the time Ilei had lived was longer than anyone else’s.

Even though she had the appearance of a small child who could be held in one’s arms like this, her actual age was quite old, and her abilities were just as outstanding.

Looking at it this way, just having Ilei as a companion was a tremendous force, but the journey of Hezen’s party in the original work was not easy.

It was because Ilei, who had a willful and fastidious personality, did not help Hezen’s party when they needed it.

‘But unlike in the original work, Ilei is neither willful nor fastidious.’

Luibel grinned while stroking the head of Ilei, who was snuggling up to her and rubbing against her.

“Lord Klaus, let’s hand those guys over to the guard.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Klaus answered awkwardly and tied up the bandits.

Klaus said he would go and hand the bandits over to the guard, but Luibel stepped forward, saying she would go with him too.

And as soon as they handed the bandits over to the guard…

[Sudden Quest: Wanted (1)] completed!

[SYSTEM] Quest succeeded!

[SYSTEM] You have gained 4730 experience points.

[SYSTEM] You have gained 200,000 gold coins.

A string of quest success messages arrived.

As soon as the bandits had intruded, a quest notification message arrived, allowing Luibel to be aware of their intrusion.

Thanks to this, she was able to handle the bandits without panicking and also gain experience points and gold coins.

“Thank you, adventurer. They were very vicious guys who only targeted travelers, but we’ve managed to catch them like this.”

The guards were happy and babbling explanations, then they looked closely at Luibel’s face and asked cautiously,

“But by any chance… are you not Princess Luibel Azester?”

Startle.

As Luibel showed a noticeably startled expression, another guard next to them exclaimed in admiration as if they had belatedly realized it.

“Oh, this pink hair and brilliant amber eyes! And the sword of the Azester imperial family at her waist…!”

“Well… I am indeed Luibel Azester, but…”

When Luibel nodded her head in acknowledgment, the guards’ eyes sparkled.

“Oh my god, you’ve solved our headache like this…!”

“Wait, then the recent quieting down of the monsters inhabiting the Dreamy Forest is all…!”

The guard shouted in a voice of realization.

[SYSTEM] Your fame has increased by +50.

“No, that wasn’t me, it was my companions who did that!”

Luibel hurriedly explained so that they would not misunderstand. It was Klaus who had hunted the monsters, and it was Ilei who had caught the bandits.

“Humble too…”

“Indeed the hero of the prophecy…”

However, the guards praised Luibel with a different meaning.

“No, it’s not humility…”

Whether Luibel was embarrassed or not, the system message diligently conveyed its notification.

[SYSTEM] Your reputation has increased by +100.

“…”

Luibel stared at the system message, her ears also flushed red.

Having grown up as a powerless princess in the imperial palace all her life, she was not immune to being noticed and praised like this, so she felt shy.

However, it seemed that the system wanted to make her, the player, a hero somehow.

Seeing how her fame and reputation increased no matter what she said.

‘Argh, I don’t know either. What’s good is good!’

Luibel decided to just enjoy the shy and embarrassing situation.

Squeak! Squeak squeak!

―Everyone worship Lulu! Squeak squeak squeak! Squeak squeak squeak squeak!

Piya’s joyful cries filled the guard post as it flew around above her head.

[This is the timeline separator]

On the way back to the inn.

“Your Highness’s name has already spread widely.”

Klaus said proudly, puffing out his chest.

“People, talked about Lulu.”

Ilei said, holding my hand and swaying it gently.

Squeak!

―Of course! Lulu is none other than the player chosen by the system!

Piya chattered incessantly, not quiet for a moment.

I don’t know why they seem more proud than me, but…

‘They’re prancing around more since Anselot isn’t here.’

I chuckled at Piya, who was chattering endlessly as if she had found her own world, then suddenly my thoughts reached Anselot.

‘I feel like I asked for no reason.’

A few hours ago, recalling the conversation I had with Anselot, a quite gloomy feeling came over me.

‘I must be crazy. Why did I dig into someone else’s past?’

I felt like I had brought up an unnecessary topic to him.

‘Whether Anselot had a woman he liked or not, what does it have to do with me?’

A sigh escaped from between my lips.

‘Now she’s gone, he said…’

Why do I feel so unsettled by that nonchalant answer from Anselot?

Could it be that all those lonely looks Anselot showed from time to time were because of that woman?

‘No, wait.’

I was lost in thought about Anselot for a while, then suddenly came to my senses.

‘Why do I keep thinking about Anselot?’

As soon as I realized the truth, my face flushed even more than when I received excessive praise in front of the guards.

“Ugh…!”

I groaned and shook my head violently from side to side.

This is all because Anselot broke his promise.

I keep thinking about Anselot because I resent him for breaking his promise to protect me.

Rather than blaming myself, I should blame others.

“Lulu, are you okay?”

Ilei tilted her head, as if my behavior looked quite strange.

[This is the timeline separator]

When we returned to the inn after cooling down in the cold air.

We found Anselot causing a huge ruckus.

“Anselot…?”

Anselot, who was shaking the inn owner by the collar, turned this way at my call.

“Ah, Princess.”

Anselot released the collar smoothly and approached this way with a harmless eye smile.

“What were you doing?”

“I was having a peaceful conversation about the inn’s security.”

“Ah. Peacefully…”

I paid my condolences inwardly, looking at the inn owner on the verge of fainting.

“Are you okay? I heard bandits broke in.”

Anselot asked, examining my body here and there.

“Yeah. Totally fine. I even got a bounty!”

I showed him the jangling money pouch I received as a quest reward.

However, Anselot’s expression became even more grim as he stared at the heavy money pouch.

“…So, where are those guys now?”

Anselot asked in a very calm voice.

“Wh-why?”

I had an instinctive feeling.

I shouldn’t tell Anselot the whereabouts of those two guys.

“What do you mean why?”

Anselot said with a benevolent smile.

“I’m going to have a nice talk with them to live righteously.”

“…No. You don’t need to talk to them. I gave them enough of a good talk.”

When it seemed like I had no intention of answering, Anselot looked at Ilei, who had been tightly holding my hand all this time.

“Hey, fog kid.”

“…?”

Ilei blinked her eyes and tilted her head, answering in a dazed voice.

“Where are the bandits now?”

“Lulu handed them over to the guards.”

“Aha.”

Anselot, who had found out the whereabouts of the bandits, curled up the corners of his mouth.

“I’ll be back.”

Anselot waved his hand and left the inn.

He didn’t say his destination, but it was obvious where he was headed.

‘Oh boy, please don’t cause any trouble.’

However, contrary to my wish, the next morning.

[SYSTEM] Your reputation has decreased by -50.

[SYSTEM] Your fame has increased by +50.

As soon as I opened my eyes, my reputation had plummeted.

On the contrary, my fame had soared.

‘Infamy is also fame…’

I did nothing overnight.

So this is Anselot. Anselot must have done something.

‘What on earth did he do?’

I briefly speculated on the things he might have done, then chose not to be curious for the sake of my mental and physical health.

[This is the timeline separator]

Our next destination was the Kingdom of Luenhart.

The Kingdom of Luenhart, which was also Anselot’s home country, was located on the way from the Azester Empire to Daishinden.

However, aside from the fact that it was simply on the path of our journey, I had a reason to visit Luenhart.

‘Luenhart is where Hezen meets Saint Maria in the original work.’

The third main scenario had not arrived yet, but it was evident that the next stage would be Luenhart.

Above all, the sudden quests that had been arriving non-stop for the past two weeks were steadily leading our steps towards Luenhart.

The content of the sudden quests was mostly about catching vicious wanted criminals or hunting down monsters that harassed people, thanks to which fame and reputation steadily increased.

Gradually, there were many people who recognized us, or more precisely, ‘Luibel Azester’.

And on exactly the 14th day after leaving the Dreamy Forest, we arrived in Luenhart.

While everyone scattered to attend to their own business, I wandered around the streets filled with the atmosphere of the upcoming festival.

Then finally, the third scenario arrived.

[SYSTEM] Main Scenario is activated! (▶Preview Scenario)

“Love and duel…?”

I frowned at the name of the scenario that arrived.

‘Love and duel!’

It was a name that somehow felt repulsive. Even the exclamation mark attached at the end felt ominous.

Squeak! Squeak squeak!

―Lulu, what are you doing! You have to press [▶Preview Scenario] quickly!

“…”

Unable to resist Piya’s urging, I checked the scenario.

Then splendid roses and pink hearts poured out profusely.

I was appalled at the vividly unfolding scene before my eyes.

What unfolded before my eyes was none other than me saving Maria, who was in crisis, and sharing a beautiful and true love with Maria…

‘You crazy system! Why are you so unbiased!’