065 – Never Seen a Talking Cat Before?

“What… what should I call you, esteemed feline?”

Myaaong~

Mihane was currently away on urgent business, at His Majesty’s request.

After amusing myself by playing with Mihane’s cat in Princess Asher’s chambers, and confirming that Princess Asher had finally fallen asleep, exhausted…

I tentatively asked the feline its name.

“…Myaaong-nim?”

Myang?!

“Ah… could you perhaps answer in our language?”

“Y.a.o.n.g.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

It was evident that, despite being capable of human speech, the feline was actively avoiding a proper conversation with me.

“Um… …would it be alright if I were to pet you, esteemed feline?”

Mya~

Thankfully, it didn’t seem to hold any hostility towards me.

The feline sauntered over and rubbed its cheek against me of its own accord.

‘…Cute.’

Ah… I don’t know anymore.

It’s cute, so whatever.

“Um… ahem… is there anything you might desire, esteemed feline? Anything that Mihane is unable to provide, I would be willing to acquire for you.”

Myaong~

“O-Of course. I did not intend to speak ill of Mihane. It’s simply… you saved my life, so I would like to express my gratitude…”

“You’ll really do anything for me?”

As if it had been waiting for this opportunity.

The feline finally decided to engage in conversation with me.

“Absolutely! Anything you wish for, esteemed feline…”

“I want to see a baby!”

“…Pardon?”

“If the Master and Madam have a child, how precious would it be!”

“Hya…!”

“A vampire can’t have a child with a human, so Madam is essential to see the Master’s child.”

“I don’t know…! And why are we talking about vampires…!”

“Just saying~.”

“Wo…woo…”

“That expression is perfect. The kind that gets men hot. Go to the Master with that face, and twins will pop right out.”

“Hyaaah!”

“Where are you going? Don’t run away!”

“Please, just talk about the cat again…!”

Myaong! Myaaong~ Baby nyaong~

“There are human words mixed in…!”

*

After generating a new aether core in each of the six bodies.

I wanted to chat with Professor Layton or Alexander, but.

Both of them, like the others, said they would look for talents suited to their magical aptitudes…

“Uh, uh? Is he jumping straight into the fire?”

Good heavens.

Usually, one starts with water, earth, things like that, no?

Why start with fire first??

Anyway…

To be so eager as to jump into fire first, just to find their magical talent.

The two of them were currently filled with a great sense of anticipation.

‘I guess they’ll manage the rest on their own.’

Realizing that cultivating the remaining second aether core, finding a magical talent, and training the talent they found were all things they had to do on their own.

I felt a sudden urge to go home and rest.

“Good work, everyone~.”

After muttering the closing remarks alone, in a voice too quiet for anyone to hear.

I left the scene, leaving behind those who were diligently figuring out their magical aptitude.

As soon as I stepped outside, I headed without hesitation to Princess’s room, where Miss Ella and Miss Isabella were.

“Have you finished all your work, Mihan-nim?”

Seeing Miss Ella relaxing inside the room, I could solidify my resolve.

“Let’s run away, quick.”

“Pardon?”

“We need to run away, quickly.”

“..What are you talking about?”

The academy’s on vacation, and I was hoping to finally get some proper rest.

“If we stay here any longer, we’ll have to work…!”

Barely surviving the vampire nest, then fighting the heart harvester who took over the Succubus Queen’s body.

Having sealed the heart harvester who occupied the Succubus Queen’s body, now I’m teaching magic to the Empress’s closest aides.

“Mihan…?”

After teaching magic, what other task will be assigned?

Considering His Majesty repeatedly recounted the story of the escaped dungeon prisoners before requesting I create Aether Cores for the imperial inner circle…

It was clear His Majesty would ask me to recapture the escaped dungeon convicts.

“My dream is to be a rich layabout.”

“Ah… well, if you marry me, I could make that happen…”

“Alas, His Majesty will surely keep me working.”

“…Alas?”

“I plan to flee.”

“…Isn’t that defying the imperial decree…?”

“We’ll manage somehow. Quickly, rise, Ella. We’re eloping.”

“Is ‘eloping’ even the right… word for this situation?”

I seized Ella, who was playing some kind of make-believe game with Lady Isabella on the floor.

And escaped from the princess’s chambers.

Of course.

“?”

While fleeing from the imperial palace…

I locked eyes with His Majesty in the distance, who was regarding me with a questioning gaze.

I bowed deeply.

And didn’t cease our elopement with Ella.

*

“Hm?”

I locked eyes with Mihan, who was tightly holding the hand of his lover and hurrying somewhere, as if he had urgent business.

‘Where is he going?’

I wouldn’t stop him if he had pressing matters.

But right now, we needed to focus on restoring the palace. I was going to ask if he could help search for the criminals who escaped from the dungeon.

‘A shame.’

Everyone has their own important matters.

And Mihan was one of those individuals who worked hard for the country, even without being asked.

Even if I was the emperor, I couldn’t just stop him.

‘Perhaps we will meet again another time.’

I offered a silent farewell to the departing figure of a hero who raced off to protect someone.

“Did it go well?”

I went to meet those who had gained the ability to use magic thanks to Mihan.

“Your Majesty.”

They all looked like they were possessed by some madness.

Creating a bonfire in the training ground and climbing into it…

Not only burying their heads in water-filled pits, but completely submerging their entire bodies…

Buried in the dirt, with only their heads exposed, eyes closed… is that really alright…?

“…Are you alright?”

“It’s quite alright! I shall see His Majesty in proper form right away-.”

“Nay, stay where you are. It is fine. Is it not all done for the sake of magic?”

“Thank you for understanding!”

Fortunately, compared to their near-mad behavior, their expressions were filled with hope.

It was around the time I realized that Mihen had instilled in them a genuine hope.

“Teacher Mihen? Where are you? I have a question.”

Arben Theo, the Vice-Commander of the 5th Order, began to search for Mihen.

“Teacher Mihen?”

“What is it, Arben?”

“Teacher Mihen told us to find our magical talents, and it seems I have discovered mine.”

“Weren’t you the ones who sent him away?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I saw him leaving the Imperial Palace with his lover a little while ago.”

“…Eh?”

…What is this? The feeling is as though Mihen has fled.

Suppressing, as much as possible, the feeling that he had simply run off without finishing his work.

“Wait, wait… …So, Mihen… …He left without receiving any reward?”

After making history by creating a whole six potential mages at once…

I couldn’t help but admire his behavior, leaving so abruptly without any compensation.

“To have so little desire for worldly things…”

Elixirs, money, connections.

I had constantly offered him things that anyone would be tempted by, yet I could not make Mihen completely mine.

At best, all I had gained was that Mihen now treated me truly like a friend.

‘I want him.’

Strong.

Respected.

Constantly proving himself.

And yet, a person who effortlessly accomplishes things that no one in human history has ever been able to achieve has no ambition.

That lack of ambition meant that once I had made him my own, there would be no chance of Mihen ever betraying me.

“…Margrave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If your son-in-law were to take a concubine, how would you feel?”

“…Your Majesty?”

“Recently, my daughter has been talking about wanting to marry another man rather than saying she wants to marry her father when she grows up.”

“…If it is Your Majesty’s command…”

“Ahaha. Just a jest, Margrave. I hope you won’t take it too seriously.”

I decided to put more thought into how to make Mihen completely mine.

Because…

He is so devoid of greed that he would never betray the Imperial Family.

And despite not being fully healed, he stopped the demon who had taken possession of the Succubus Queen’s body.

To give up on someone who possesses the ability to use magic with merely three spiritual elixirs seemed wasteful.

“Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty..”

“What must I do? Do you know if there’s a way to make both you and Mihan utterly mine?”

I simply couldn’t bear to lose such a talented man.

“..May I dare ask what you mean by that?”

“Mihan chose to ingratiate himself with his father-in-law as a wish he could ask of the Emperor. Perhaps, if I ingratiate myself with you, could I gain Mihan?”

“..Pardon?”

“What if I were to appoint you to the rank of First Duke with the authority of the Emperor?”

“???”

“If the other Dukes object, well, so be it. If it’s for the sake of obtaining Mihan.”

“Your Majesty..!”

*

“If we’re grown adults, we should handle things ourselves now.”

“Pardon?”

“Since we’re both adults now, let’s just take care of things on our own.”

“..Shall we?”

Truthfully, I didn’t have much else to teach anyway.

After it was proven that I possessed absolutely no talent for water magic, I hadn’t really received any particular lessons from Lillian Isolde.

I resolved to ask her for further instruction again once I returned to the Academy.

For now, I was content to indulge in this life on the run with Ella.

“Master.”

“?”

“The Mistress wants to have Master’s child.”

“???”

“Ah, that’s not it..! It’s not like that..!”

“The Mistress says she doesn’t want to have Master’s child?”

“Eeeek..! C-Cats aren’t supposed to talk..!”

Myaong~ Nyaaong~

“Mihan-nim..! The Cat-nim keeps.. mocking me..!”

What is this situation?

Why does Isabella seem so delighted, as if she’s found a fascinating new toy…?

And also, even amidst all this…

‘What are you looking at? Never seen a talking cat before?’

What could be the purpose of that man who keeps watching us from afar?