The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me - Chapter53

53 – Uproar at the Hot Springs

Upon arriving in the Kingdom of Kelli, the first thing Ascal saw was…

“Oh my!!!! The Emperor’s Dragon himself has come all this way!!!! It’s an honor, truly an honor. I hope you haven’t accumulated too much fatigue, we have prepared a place for you to rest right away!”

The king personally rushed out to greet Ascal and his party.

“Oh, and my daughter and I are personally fans of yours, so if it’s alright, could you show your face at dinner later…?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The king, bowing his head continuously, escorted Ascal and Serena to the best room.

Ascal sat on a plush chair and recalled what had just happened.

“Hmm.”

“But you’re the king, so why did you come out so modestly?”

“Hmm, when did you come?”

“Just now.”

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There were clearly two assigned rooms.

Serena had already changed into a light outfit and entered Ascal’s room.

“Although the Kelly Kingdom is an ally of the Empire, in reality, we are nothing more than a vassal state. Just by asking for help for such a small matter, you can tell, right?”

Serena scoffed mockingly.

Being the king of the Kelly Kingdom, he has less status than a Marquis with the Empire’s name.

For example, compared to the Earl Erin Dale right in front of them.

“But despite asking for help, he doesn’t seem to be particularly interested in solving the problem.”

“Oh, well… Oh, my. Is this your first time dealing with such matters?”

As Serena looked around the room, she naturally brought out a bottle of liquor and opened it, pouring it into Ascal’s glass.

“What the Kelly Kingdom really needs is not actually solving the problem, but the assurance that our Empire will come and say, ‘This hot spring is fine. It’s safe.’ If that’s the case, people will believe it.”

Serena swirled the liquor around.

Ascal pretended to drink the liquor and secretly emptied his glass.

“But in reality, people are missing, right?”

“No one knows if they fell into the hot spring and died or if they were kidnapped, right?”

Swirl.

“So, let’s enjoy ourselves today, just the two of us.”

“Sigh. Why don’t you get drunk even though you drank so much? This is unfair. I’m just left like this, while Julia is with you all the time, taking care of you…”

Thud.

The effects of the drink substitution technique, honed through many drinking parties, were excellent.

Drunk Serena passed out in an instant.

Although Ascal had confidence in his drinking capacity, secretly pouring the drink on the floor, spitting it out, pretending to drink and pouring it on the napkin, he was far from skilled.

“Learn one more thing.”

Ascal covered Serena, who had fallen, with a blanket.

Serena groaned and fell into a deep sleep. She didn’t show it, but she seemed tired from the journey.

Ascal put on his coat and went outside.

The Kingdom of Kelly was a unique country.

It was a land so peculiar that it stood out on the continent, because the south was always summer and the north was always winter.

Legend has it that the fight between two dragons created the land like this, but the exact truth couldn’t be known after all these years.

In any case,

Two seasons coexisted in one land.

That’s why the Kingdom of Kelly was chosen as the top resort in the Imperial Magazine for three consecutive years.

When you get tired, you can enjoy the sunlight on the beach and then go to a warm natural hot spring.

It is the best place as a resort.

‘I’ve always sent my subordinates, but I’m finally here myself.’

Ascal couldn’t hide his excitement.

But now the work comes first.

People disappeared at the hot springs, so how could he leisurely wander around the Kingdom of Kelly without any worries?

If he was a true imperial agent, he had to uncover the truth of this disappearance through strict investigation and inquiry.

And detectives always get involved in dangerous situations.

In the midst of investigating the missing persons passionately, it often happens that they themselves go missing, which is a pity.

And in that repeated history, there is only one additional person, Ascal Erendale.

I’ve already thought of a pen name.

‘Cal would be nice.’

In order to disappear naturally for now, I need to know how people disappeared.

Ascal began his investigation.

A. Village Anakne: It seems like a clear marital fight to me. The husband shoved her, right? Why else would they have come here for a vacation and only the husband returned? Maybe the wife cheated or they had a fight over money. This is clearly a murder case, not a disappearance.

B. Deity: The White Dragon was angry. It’s a punishment for disrespecting our kingdom’s guardian deity, the White Dragon. If we don’t offer one hundred sacrifices to the White Dragon as soon as possible, more disappearances will occur.

C. Local resident: The Siren Hot Springs, where the disappearances occurred, have a slightly higher temperature than other hot springs. And the path to get there is rough. From what I see, it seems highly likely that someone fell and slipped after soaking in the hot springs for a long time and got dizzy.

D. Kingdom of Kelly Investigator: Maybe the hot springs were too hot and melted their bodies?

“Indeed.”

People’s words are not helpful at all. The guess of the native who had lived here for a long time seemed plausible.

“I need a more natural route for them to disappear.”

Ascal conducted on-site verification for the perfect disappearance plan.

Although the Siren Hot Springs, where the missing person occurred, was guarded, showing the Empire’s emblem allowed him immediate entry.

The hot springs steam rose and filled the air.

It was captivating enough to make one want to immerse themselves immediately, but Ascal first took out the contamination measurement device given by Bernstein.

If it turns red, it means there are hazardous substances, and if it turns green, it means everything is normal.

Beep.

“There doesn’t seem to be any problem with the hot springs.”

It was just a slightly hotter hot spring.

Why did the people who used this place go missing?

“Grr.”

“……!”

Uh oh.

What came into view was a giant bear with white fur.

Ascal silently took a step back without showing any signs of panic.

The bear approached with one step.

“Could this creature be the culprit of the disappearances…?”

A bear that woke up from hibernation and attacked people because it was hungry. This place must be its hunting ground. That would make sense.

However, Ascal had no intention of just letting it happen to him.

Ascal was born with the body of a warrior from Mukga.

“Finally, it’s time to show off my hidden swordsmanship skills.”

Ascal prepared himself to be able to respond at any moment.

“Grr.”

“?”

However, the bear did not rush forward. It just lifted its front paw and stood still.

As if greeting him.

“Grr!”

The bear let out a dissatisfied growl.

“What does it want?”

Reflexively, Ascal raised his hand to face him.

Then, the bear lowered its paw as if satisfied.

And the bear turned around and started to leave.

“…?”

Ascal hurriedly came down to the hot spring. And he explained the incident to the investigator.

“I found a bear. Maybe this guy is the culprit of the missing case.”

“Oh, that guy. He’s not dangerous. He’s a bear that wanders around here and likes to be greeted. Please say hi if you meet him.”

If there was something like that, you should have said it earlier.

Ascal looked at the investigator with an incredulous expression.

The next day.

“You went to the hot spring alone yesterday?”

“It was for the investigation. But it seems like the conversation is getting shorter.”

“I don’t know. Serena got mad. I’m going to use informal language.”

Serena puffed up her cheeks.

And she jabbed Ascal with her finger.

“Shall we go together today for sure?”

“If it’s for the investigation…”

The princess didn’t seem to take the investigation seriously at all.

‘How can I separate this interfering princess…’

While pondering, the two of them arrived at the Siren Hot Spring without realizing it.

“To be honest, this is the first time I’ve seen a hot spring. And it’s the first time I’ve come to a resort with someone else.”

Serena glanced at Ascal and said.

Mischievous Serena pushed Ascal towards the hot spring with the palm of her hand, trying to make him fall in.

But.

“There are feathers that I haven’t seen before?”

Ascal discovered a large feather-like object and stooped down.

And Serena, who lost her balance, fell into the hot spring.

“Eek!”

A wet Serena shivered all over.

“What the heck.”

Ascal focused on the feather he picked up.

The size of the feather was unusual. He had never seen such a large feather before. It almost looked like an eagle’s feather.

Sniff sniff.

As I sniffed, I could smell a strangely pungent aroma.

“This is…”

“aaah!”

Just as Ascal was about to figure something out, Serena screamed.

When he turned his head, Ascal saw an unbelievable sight.

Above were creatures that resembled women, and below were creatures in the form of birds, surrounding Serena.

They were silently gazing down at her.

“Siren!”

Monsters that seduce and kidnap people with their song.

Siren glanced at Ascal without saying a word, and then looked at Serena again with a frightening expression.

And they began to sing.

A very enchanting song.

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Ascal felt his eyes grow heavy.

Zuma is coming.

But he could withstand it.

It was an attack that he had already developed some resistance to.

But in the end, it was a matter of time.

He had to find a way to resolve this crisis.

He didn’t even want to imagine what would follow if Serena were to be kidnapped.

“Tired? Feeling sleepy?”

Maybe.

“Sing a song!!!! Serena!!!!!!”

Ascal felt it. It was definitely making him sleepy, but it was clearly less destructive than when Serena acted as Sery.

Yes.

Clearly, the voice of Sery the actress was superior to the sirens.

Serena looked at Ascal as if asking what this sudden request was about, but seeing Ascal’s serious expression, she decided to trust him.

“Anfarra, dhal vair, khalin stara mael. Zorindor, rin far, alendor, krae sael,

Dorindal, khael rae, belindor, jhae mael.”

It was a sweet singing voice.

Ascal started to experience a different dimension from before. To overcome the dimension, he had to hit his own cheek with his fist.

“It’s effective…”

The singing siren seemed startled when she heard Serena’s singing voice. Soon, the siren folded her wings and stopped singing.

It felt like the frustration of meeting an opponent of a different caliber and being defeated in a song battle.

And then, something unbelievable happened.

Countless sirens simultaneously folded their wings and lowered their heads.

As if they were paying respects to a queen.

“How… how did this happen?”

Serena was bewildered.

Ascal could only voice the thoughts in his head.

“I think I’ve been recognized as the queen of the sirens…”

Serena Barba, the Second Princess of the Barba Empire.

Becoming the queen of the sirens.

“All the missing people were in the territory of the sirens. It seems like they were tested, and if they didn’t pass, they were used as servants.”

Serena, who had settled on the shoulder of a large siren, said.

“They were all sent home.”

“It’s been resolved well.”

“The sirens taught me how to sing, so I will learn more. They teach songs that seduce men, right? I’m looking forward to it. Cuckoo.”

Ascal broke out in a cold sweat.

Anyway, things were resolved well.

All the missing people returned home, and the hot springs began to operate normally without any problems.

The king expressed excessive gratitude once again.

“Indeed, you are the dragon sleeper of the empire!!! To resolve a problem that the investigators couldn’t solve for weeks like this!!!! Stay in our kingdom for as long as you want!! Of course, we will bear all the costs.”

It was regrettable that the missing plan failed, but it was a good thing that the missing people safely returned to their families.

“Shall I take a little break before going…?”

Since he had completed the mission successfully, no one would say anything if he enjoyed a little vacation.

Ascal nodded.

One day.

One week.

One month.

“Comfortable… at ease…”

Ascal enjoyed his relaxation, fully immersed in the hot spring waters. His shoulder stiffness, which had been a chronic condition, had disappeared, and there was no work stress here. This was heaven.

“I could stay here for the rest of my life, now…”

He absentmindedly gazed up at the sky.

It was incredibly clear.

“Oh, how long has it been since I came here?”

Time had passed for so long that his sense of dates had become blurry.

“I don’t know. Let’s rest a little longer.”

Buzzing sound.

A flying ship appeared in the sky.

A flying ship? Why?

And the ship was gradually getting closer.

On it, the emblem of the Imperial Royal Family was visible. Painted in black.

Only the Imperial Special Forces could wear it.

Its nickname:

The Empress’s hunting dog, that not even snivels obedience.

“Damn, this is really messed up.”

After becoming a minister, Ascal had restrained himself to maintain his dignity and had not uttered any curse words. But this situation was just too f*cked up.

The door of the flying ship opened, and a rope descended.

And a person’s figure appeared.

“Father?”

Descending from the rope was Ascal’s father, Arthur Devere. The emblem on his chest gleamed in the sunlight. It was the symbol that only the leader of the hunting dogs could wear.

“I’ve made quite a name for myself.”

“……”

“Now let’s go home, son.”

His tone was like that of someone who had come to bring back a wayward son.

“Oh, what a shame. If only he had stayed a little longer, he would have become mine. I had planned to make him the next King in the next generation. Oh, what a shame.”

The girl with white hair shuffled her feet.

A white scale was attached to her cheek.

“Unryong, that guy is lively. He’s too lively.”

Baekryong tried to take out the cherished jade ornament he always carried in his arms to calm his heart.

“Oh no! Where’s my jade ornament? Where did it go? It can’t be gone, it can’t be.”

Baekryong sniffled.

“Here it is. A memento.”

Ascal, who had returned to the Empire, received lighter punishment than expected. He had resolved the problem well, and since he was in the allied kingdom of Kelli, the situation was well understood.

Serena had already returned.

“What is this? It seems like there’s a strange energy flowing from the bead… Did you pick up something dangerous?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, I brought it back from the Kelli Kingdom, so do as you please.”

“You can keep this suspicious thing to yourself.”

Burnstein threw the white bead at Ascal. Ascal reflexively caught the bead.

“He says to keep it even if I bring it back. Tsk.”

Ascal stuck out his tongue and put the bead in his arms.

There’s no use for it, so I guess I’ll just keep it as a decoration at home.