The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

30 – Right Before Chapter 30

She heard the worn-out door slowly creaking open.

Sensing something amiss, Raelle concealed herself, ears attentive to the intruder’s movements.

Thud-thud.

Heavy footsteps.

“A man in a black robe?”

He didn’t seem dangerous, but someone carrying a trove of treasures in such an unusual pocket was unlikely to be an ordinary person.

He could be associated with magic, or maybe he had struck deals with demons.

During the war, she’d heard tales of many turning against humanity and siding with demons.

Now that the war was over, they might all be fugitives, and he could be one of them.

“Somehow, there’s no reason to hide your identity to that extent.”

Recalling the appearance of the man she had just dismissed from her thoughts, Raelle nodded her head.

– Tiptoeing, tiptoeing.

As she entertained these futile thoughts alone, the intruder’s footsteps gradually drew nearer.

Deciding to move towards the veranda at the back before the intruder came any closer, Raelle closed her eyes and focused her mind.

Gradually, starting from her toes, her body became transparent and eventually vanished without a trace from where she stood.

Having vanished in this manner, Raelle reappeared in the room adjoining the veranda, drenched in sweat.

“It’s so draining.”

Every time Raelle utilized her abilities, it demanded a considerable amount of her energy.

Although it was an ability she had possessed since childhood, the distance she could travel was short, and its efficiency was so low that after one use, she had to rest for half a day before being able to use it again. Hence, she refrained from using it frequently.

“If only I could go a little further.”

Regretting the limitations of her ability, Raelle quietly approached the closed door leading to the veranda.

She cautiously grasped the dusty doorknob and turned it as silently as possible.

– Creak, creak.

“Why is it like this?”

Only the noisy sound of the doorknob turning echoed, but the firmly shut door showed no sign of opening.

Perplexed, Raelle leaned against the inner wall, hiding, and waited for the intruder’s actions.

Surely, they must have heard the sound and would approach this way.

“Hide behind the wall, then sneak into the room and escape unnoticed.”

Having devised her plan relatively calmly, she pressed herself against the wall, eagerly awaiting the intruder’s entry.

– Tiptoeing, tiptoeing.

As expected, the intruder’s footsteps were gradually drawing nearer.

– Tiptoeing, tiptoeing.

“They’ve reached the front of the room.”

Raelle imagined her plan in her mind and poised herself to flee at any moment.

– Thud.

The footsteps ceased.

Seems like they’re being cautious before entering the room.

‘Come in!’

Raelle, fearing even the slightest sound leakage, waited without moving a finger.

“I found it.”

Bang!

With the sound of collapsing walls, a fist surrounded by armor struck Raelle’s face.

The impact sent Raelle sprawling on the floor.

The intruder crossed the giant hole in the shattered wall and entered the room.

Raelle turned her head to see the face of the intruder approaching.

Her eyes widened.

“Sis…ter of the Holy?”

Haganess, clad in knight’s armor, alternated between looking at Raelle and holding a relic detector in one hand.

“Who are you?”

***

“Quite a mischievous face…”

Wolfgang sighed as he held a short-haired girl with blonde hair.

The girl, who had been playing with friends on the playground, blinked her large green eyes unknowingly.

“Sorry.”

Wolfgang let go of the child and tried to recall the memories once more.

Short blonde hair, mischievous face, tall stature, well-built body…

“No, matching eye color isn’t enough. Even the conditions that clearly recall the memory don’t seem to fit.”

Despite thinking of relatively clear evidence like gender and physique, he found himself looking for a completely opposite man or child.

He knew his ability, which seemed to have a loose screw somewhere, but the more he knew, the more he hesitated to use it.

“Finding by scent in the first place…”

Wolfgang chuckled with disbelief, remembering the stolen purse.

‘The problem isn’t the money inside.’

The God’s chain he brought just in case.

A relic with the ability to seal any power except for spatial magic.

He had to recover it, at least that.

“…Should I just go?”

There wasn’t anything essential for his peaceful and carefree days living quietly in the forest.

“Write. No. Must find.”

But considering the relic coveted since ancient times, and its usefulness in any sudden situation, thoughts shifted.

Moreover, for the original purpose of Rom and to retrieve the gun left at the restaurant, money was necessary.

As determination resurged for the pursuit, a pungent, damp smell hit Wolfgang’s nose.

“What’s this? This unpleasant, uneasy smell…”

It seemed a scent attributed to abilities, not the lush smell of surrounding grass and flowers.

“Ah~”

Realizing something, Wolfgang began chasing the scent.

“I should have remembered the item sooner.”

The forgotten pouch.

The pouch that had been carried throughout countless battles in the war, soaked in blood and sweat.

That was the distinct smell of that pouch.

Chasing the scent led him to an abandoned house on the outskirts.

Clutching his fists, Wolfgang resolved, joints cracking.

“I’ll really kill them.”

***

2

A tall man whispered quietly to the chubby man standing beside him.

“Leaving such a burdensome task to such an innocent child.”

The chubby man nodded in agreement.

“That’s true. It’s either live as puppets of the council or be driven away.”

Their gazes were fixed on the girl walking at the forefront, holding a crown.

“Well, that’s quite a shock. Unable to cry, making such a vacant expression.”

Rosalia couldn’t comprehend the current situation.

She was certain she had cried in her room at the palace after the funeral. Theo came in, asked for her, she drank from the cup he offered, and then lost consciousness.

“What, what on earth is happening?”

But when she came to, a funeral was being held once again.

With a dazed mind, Rosalia couldn’t untangle the confusion until the funeral’s end.

After the funeral, she returned to the palace and thought to herself.

“Has time turned back? Then soon…”

Knock, knock, knock.

“Princess Rosalia. It’s Theo. May I come in?”

With the recurring events, Rosalia felt a chill.

The same things were happening again, just like before she lost consciousness.

“…Yes, please come in.”

Theo entered the room, holding a warm cup of tea that emitted white steam.

“Princess… Are you alright?”

Theo’s approaching figure with a worried expression felt repulsive.

It was because his smile, which she saw last before losing consciousness, vividly remained in her mind.

‘Based on the circumstances, did Theo poison me? Why on earth?’

“I’m not even crying. Too sad for that.”

Rosalia retorted to Theo’s concerns with a dry voice, fixed on the gaze of the teacup he was holding.

“What should I say…”

Theo’s chubby hand reached out towards Rosalia.

She turned her body, avoiding his touch.

“It’s alright, Theo. Thank you for worrying.”

Theo wiped his damp hand on his pants and placed the tea on the table.

“…I may have been overly worried. The princess, who I always thought of as a mere child, is now showing the dignified appearance of a queen.”

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Theo smiled with a delighted expression, unsure if he was sincere, as he noticed Rosalia’s brave attitude.

“I have to become stronger too. To follow in my father’s footsteps and become a great king.”

“You’re absolutely right!”

“But why did you visit for some business?”

“Ah…”

Theo replied with a puzzled expression.

“I came to comfort you because I thought you would be greatly saddened. With this fragrant tea as well.”

Theo lifted the cup of tea that he had placed on the table.

“But it seems I underestimated you. You’re enduring so well.”

Rosalia smiled sweetly as she looked at his face.

“Thank you for worrying. I appreciate the tea as well.”

“No, Your Highness.”

In gratitude, Theo bowed his head.

Placing the teacup back on the table, he responded.

Then, Rosalia reached out her hand towards the table, lifting the teacup.

Theo’s gaze followed her hand.

“The meeting is soon, right? I’ll see you then, Theo.”

“Oh, yes… Your Highness, I will see you shortly.”

“Just a moment, before you leave…”

Theo, about to leave after the farewell, halted at her words.

Rosalia handed him the teacup she held, saying,

“As the new king of Terosa, it’s your first official toast. Will you accept it as a celebration?”

“Hahaha… Your Highness, it is an honor, but…”

“Theo, now that you are a king?”

“Oh… I apologize, Your Majesty. But this is something I…”

Rosalia, her face wrinkled, spoke with a firm tone.

“Are you already refusing the king’s command?”

Surprised by the queen’s stern attitude, Theo hastily prostrated himself, begging for forgiveness.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

“Then, get up and have the tea.”

Theo got up slowly, accepting the teacup she offered.

After swallowing nervously, he brought the teacup to his lips.

“Oops, it’s hot!”

The teacup in his hand fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

The contents inside spilled all over the floor.

“I-I apologize… Your Majesty…”

“… Clean it up and leave. I’ll be in the meeting room first.”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Your Majesty…”

As Theo, still dazed, cleaned up behind Rosalia leaving the room, she began to breathe deeply, the tension in her easing.

“I really came back.”

The confusion in his mind seemed to have cleared up a bit.