“Welcome back, bro.”
After leaving Veronica's room, Greg walked back to his dormitory with steps so light he felt like he was walking on clouds.
The return of “Little Greg” today made him exceptionally happy; the joy of recovering what was lost was simply beyond words.
What's more, he had even done a test run today, and all functions were perfectly normal. This meant he would have the chance to execute real cave exploration missions in the future.
Of course, while he was thrilled to have resolved this major anxiety, he hadn't forgotten that his primary purpose in returning to the Magic Tower today was to rest.
After all, he had spent the last few days working like a pack mule—carrying stones, clearing debris, and repairing walls—which had left him utterly exhausted.
And today, he had been thoroughly squeezed dry, leaving him feeling completely hollowed out.
The mere thought of having to go back to being a pack mule tomorrow made him realize that survival was key. He needed to get back to his dorm and lie down immediately.
But as he walked through the corridors of the Magic Tower and rounded a corner, he ran headfirst into a familiar figure: the Third Imperial Princess, Sarah.
She was carrying a massive stack of documents that almost completely blocked her vision, forcing her to peek out from the side of the pile to see where she was going.
Greg recalled that due to the death of Crown Prince Finn, the throne would likely be inherited by one of the princesses in the future.
Thus, to familiarize themselves with politics, several princesses had already begun taking charge of planning the reconstruction of some imperial streets. This was their first step into state affairs.
Since Sarah had helped him last time, Greg took the initiative to greet her:
“Princess Sarah, long time no see. You look quite busy.”
Sarah peeked out from behind the stack of documents. Seeing it was Greg, she first offered a polite smile, but when she got a clear look at his exceptionally exhausted expression, that smile instantly turned into sympathy and concern.
Holding the documents, she turned her body slightly toward him, her tone filled with care:
“Classmate Greg... You look so tired. Is it because the reconstruction work lately has been too hard? Or is it...”
She paused, lowering her voice slightly. “...because of Wendy?”
“Hmm?”
Greg was taken aback.
But before he could speak, Sarah continued on her own:
“I know Wendy was taken away by that mysterious powerhouse who conjured the black sun. You must be devastated, right? After all, you liked her so much...”
Although Sarah felt relieved that her sister had been saved, she was also filled with sympathy for Greg.
She knew Greg must be forcing himself to put on a brave face. After all, it couldn't feel good to have the girl he loved snatched away by someone else in such a grand, public manner.
“But you have to stay strong, Classmate Greg. Wendy... she definitely wouldn't want to see you so depressed.”
...
Listening to Sarah's well-meaning but completely off-base consolation, Greg felt a wave of awkwardness.
But he couldn't exactly explain that he was actually the mysterious powerhouse who conjured the black sun, and that Wendy was doing great, let alone that they had already exchanged bodily fluids.
So, he could only play along. Putting on a feigned look of strength, he spoke with a touch of deliberate resignation:
“It's fine, Princess Sarah. As long as Wendy is safe, I am already satisfied.”
“!”
Hearing this, Sarah froze.
Looking at Greg's face—which was clearly written with exhaustion and loss, yet still trying hard to squeeze out a smile—an uncontrollable wave of emotion surged in her heart.
What a deeply devoted person... and so selfless!
On the spot, Sarah set down the documents in her arms, grabbed Greg's hands, and said with utmost seriousness:
“Classmate Greg, you are a good person. I promise you, if you ever face any difficulties in the future, you can contact me anytime. I will do everything in my power to help you!”
Greg could only nod perfunctorily. “Uh... Okay, I understand. Thank you, Princess Sarah.”
Realizing that letting this misunderstanding develop further could become very troublesome, Greg gently freed his hands from Sarah's grip, made an excuse about wanting to rest early, and took his leave.
Sarah stood in place, watching Greg's departing figure, her heart unable to calm down for a long time.
She couldn't help but think: Greg is so handsome, so outstanding, and so deeply devoted. If only I could take my sister's place and give him some warmth...
But in the next second, she shook her head vigorously, sternly reprimanding herself. What on earth am I thinking!
He and Wendy were mutually in love!
How could I have such thoughts of taking advantage of his vulnerability?
But after a moment of silence, she couldn't help but think again: “But... it should be fine if I find an opportunity to introduce him to Father later, right?”
“After all, he is indeed a talent. Although he hasn't graduated yet, the Empire could try to recruit him in advance.”
Thinking of this, her mood inexplicably brightened. Humming an unfamiliar tune, she picked up her documents and walked down the hall.
...
“I feel like the misunderstandings around me are really starting to pile up.”
Greg arrived at the dormitory door.
He fumbled around in his pockets, only to realize he had forgotten his key.
He sighed and knocked on the door. “Hajimi, open up. I forgot my key.”
This was a three-person dormitory, but Corwin and Rom had apparently been dragged off to do hard labor somewhere, so there was no one else in the room at the moment.
Greg had temporarily settled Nightmare here.
After he knocked twice, a rustling sound came from inside, followed by the clicking of the lock.
The doorknob turned, pressing down, and the door opened a crack.
When Greg pushed the door open, he caught sight of Nightmare sliding down from the doorknob.
Greg couldn't help but chuckle.
“I feel like your skills as a cat are multiplying. You won't end up reluctant to change back to your original form in the future, will you?”
Nightmare flicked her tail, her vertical pupils casting a sidelong glance at him. “Who do you think forced Us into this versatile state in the first place?”
With that, she turned back into the dorm, leaped, and landed precisely on Greg's bed, continuing to fiddle with a pocket watch in front of her.
Greg closed the door and walked in.
The last time Nightmare had temporarily parted ways with him, it seemed to have been for the purpose of finding this pocket watch.
Since returning, she had been huddled on the bed for the past few days studying this object, occasionally nudging the cover with her paw or pressing her ear against the dial to listen for something.
But even after several days, she still hadn't figured out anything significant.
Greg took off his coat and hung it over the back of a chair. “I've told you several times, don't keep bringing trash to where I sleep.”
Nightmare didn't even look up, her tail lightly patting the bedsheets.
“We have also told you several times that this is not trash. We can feel that it is saturated with the power of the Mother of Clepsydras.”
Greg looked at the ordinary-looking pocket watch with some skepticism. “Are you sure your nose isn't broken? This isn't a dungeon. How could a pocket watch you picked up from who-knows-where have anything to do with an Outer God?”
“Actually, We find it quite strange as well.”
Nightmare's voice carried a rare trace of confusion.
“Why would this pocket watch be found in a place with absolutely no connection to it?”
She flipped the pocket watch over with her paw, her golden vertical pupils staring at the intricate patterns on the cover.
“It is almost as if... someone placed it there on purpose to lure Us over.”
Greg chuckled. “Heh, I think you're just overthin—”
The words died in his throat. Greg suddenly stopped, because he realized... that might actually be a very real possibility!
Rate on N.U.
