Chapter 45: How did you meet my brother? ( 5 )

Isela’s POV

…

“I’m going to become the greatest adventurer!”

Said Isela, aged fifteen. And that became her will. Well, not really, considering that she was alive. That said, it was closed. On her very first day as an adventurer after running away from home, she was nearly swallowed alive by a Karentosaurus.

That, coincidently, was her first encounter with the man. The War God. Ah, no, that was something unrelated. At the time, she only saw the appearance of a prince. Long brown hair flowing down like a river, beautiful alabaster skin, and purple eyes.

“If only you had a horse…”

“… What?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m Isela. Thank you for saving me.”

“I’m glad that you’re safe. My apologies, but I must leave. It’s urgent.”

"Yes-eh?"

“Geese. You found her?”

“Hold up… yeah. I think so. Oi! Ghislaine! That’s you?”

“What the? Geese? Wait, is that Rudeus with you?!”

And so, she watched her prince leave for another woman. Unwilling to let it go, she chased after them.

…

Despite moving as fast as she could, she had barely kept up with them, much less heard the full contents of what they were talking about.

“I was in the North.”

“Wait, how are you—"

“I dug through a mountain... It’s a long story.”

However, they eventually stopped.

“What is it, Laurel?”

“Mana.”

Her prince said, his tone slightly excited.

“I sense traces of my own mana here.”

“What?”

“Someone we might know is here. Follow me.”

And then, they ran. Again. Then we discovered soldiers being attacked by a Red Leaf Tiger as well as bad people. My prince dashed in style as he wiped out all the enemies alone in one fell swoop.

Then, along with the soldiers, her Prince Charming had bolted through the ranks of soldiers, defeating every single one of them as swords flew all over the battlefield and causing mayhem towards his enemies. Her prince, without a single drop of dirt on him, walked through the red carpet and saved the captured people.

“Philip! Hilda!”

“Laurel?!”

Having seen them hugging him so dearly, she had assumed that those were his parents. Would she be able to get their approval? As she watched them, the woman named Ghislaine had pointed at her with a sword towards her neck.

“Why are you following us?”

“Eh?”

“You’re still here?”

Her prince stared at her. He was so handsome. Tall, handsome, and strong. And he was kind and gentle to boot. It was such that she couldn’t help but be enchanted by his charms.

“I-I am going to become the greatest adventurer!”

Isela spat out. Silence filled the battlefield as everyone stared at her. She could feel her face going red. Why had she said that out of the blue? Her prince stared at her silently, and he pulled out a piece of paper but was then stopped by the monkey-faced man.

“Boss.”

“Sorry, working habits.”

Isela’s instincts were screaming that it was her chance. Without hesitation, she grabbed the paper for a better look. It was a contract. The conditions weren’t too bad. So she signed it. Immediately. Without hesitation.

“…”

“Boss. You… really have a damn good face.”

“... Wut?”

…

That was not it. After being embarrassed for dozens of reasons, she managed to enter their ranks with open arms. It was mostly because part of the contract included secrecy. But what of it? She was glad she had done it.

It was great to know more about her prince—ah, wait, he wasn’t a prince. His name was Laurel. Still, he was handsome. Courageous and highly intelligent.

“There’s a possibility that they would pin the blame on Sauros.”

“… That is true. It seems that we have to return as quickly as possible… We might not make it in time.”

“There won’t be an issue.”

“Hm?”

“I’ll dig a hole through.”

“Excuse me?”

As expected, her man casually said that he would dig a hole through the Red Dragon Mountain Range as if it were merely an inconvenience. He would even defeat the Seven World Powerhouses if it meant that he could protect his loved ones.

She could imagine he would do that, half-naked while showing off his upper back as he dug through the mountain with a gigantic axe. Ah, how manly would that be? Ah, no, no. She shouldn’t lose focus. Every second of that man’s back was precious.

“That said, Philip, how do you intend on saving Sauros?”

“You need not to worry. I have my ways.”

“I see.”

Laurel nodded. It seems like he had guessed what the man had in mind. Truly, what a great man her husband was.

“Laurel, what do you intend on doing?”

“For now, build up a search team.”

“Do you even have the capacity to afford—"

Instead of answering, Laurel slid something to the table. As Isela was only secretly spying from the outside, she couldn’t see what he had given the other man. However, the man’s doubtful expression had changed the moment he saw the contents of the paper.

“This-This?”

“A mere painting of corn. Weren’t all Asuran nobles all per—I mean, having great interest in the refined taste of flowers? If this were sold in batches, I doubt we couldn’t rake in gold with this.”

“… You are… quite the devil.”

“Takes one to know one.”

The two laughed as they talked about the greatness of the idea. As expected, her man was a genius.

“Alright, it seems that luck really is on our side, huh?”

“It’ll depend on who gets the upper hand now that the dice have been cast."

…

Four months later, and here she was. B-ranked adventurer. Her man had meticulously chosen tasks that could be fulfilled in one day, all while planning and ensuring their health and stamina, making it a situation where not reaching that rank is but a humiliation.

However, she wasn’t satisfied. Why? Just why? Why aren’t they married yet? It’s not like she’s bad with her looks, nor does Laurel dislike her either.

Ah. Right. It’s probably because of those bitches that kept following by his side and annoying him. All they did was cause trouble for my man while acting cute with their tails wagging all over the place. What’s so good about Beast Kins, anyways?

It’s not her fault that he wasn’t interested in her; it was because those bitches had seduced him. Especially that bitch with blue hair. How dare she barge in and steal him using her grandma as an excuse? Every time her husband saw that woman, he basically changed. Tripping, smiling, blushing… And then he brought a new bitch home. Tch.

A cute little maroon-haired girl wearing maid attire at that. That girl was a child, but she would without a doubt grow into a fine beauty. As well as a terrifying rival. Tch. I mean, look at her clinging onto him in a princess carry, seducing him with her innocent look. He even gave a threat. HE NEVER THREATENED ANYONE FOR ME!

“What’s Laurel like?”

Tch. This bitch just got here, and she had the gall to act like she owned the place. Ah, no. Isela shouldn’t be acting like this in public. Laurel would think badly of her. What she should do is drive this girl away instead.

“A man who changes his women like changing his clothes. Once his attention is gone, you'd be no different from dirt on the sidewalk."

Isela said with great irritation. Right, he was a man who only cares about work, so all you bitches better back off from my husband. Just you wait. Sooner or later, Laurel would recognize her greatness and fall into her arms. So, she just needs to push out all her contenders before then.