The Ural Empire

Regarding that so-called “official document” that Kefir said she “tore up,” but actually just “hid,” I thought about it all night and decided to play dumb and believe her.

Miss Kefir, you are the boss, you are the protagonist.

If you say you tore it up, then it’s torn.

If you say it was an official document, then it’s an official document.

I completely agree!

After all, in a story, anyone who dares to “point fingers” at the protagonist’s decisions and raise objections—those so-called “cannon fodder” characters—never end well.

I know the truth, but if I don’t say anything, won’t that solve the problem?

I really am a clever little fox.

A few days later, after getting the real official document from Uncle Zerora—and not that fake one with the huge word “Marriage” written on it—Kefir also brought along the “teammates” she had handpicked and set off on the journey to participate in the “Joint Nations Mission to Explore the Goddess’s Ruins.”

After the extremely foul-mouthed Pony got crushed by Kefir, the atmosphere inside the ordinary carriage became a little stiff.

Fortunately, over the next few days, Kefir kept introducing the route and explaining the upcoming tasks, so I didn’t feel too nervous.

At this moment, inside the carriage, Kefir was explaining the route.

“The location of the Goddess’s Ruins is at the border of multiple nations.

To avoid conflicts and disputes, a ‘neutral zone’ was specially designated during the summit.

But even so, we can’t let our guard down just because the situation seems peaceful.

After all, the closest country to the Empire of Albion is the Northern Rosia Empire, and the people there… well, their personalities are hard to describe in a few words.”

At this point, Kefir sighed as if recalling some psychological trauma, then shifted her gaze to me.

“Euclid, you’re a heretic priest who’s always been running around the evil organizations of various countries, so you probably know more than I do, right?”

I didn’t react.

Kefir’s gaze suddenly turned sharp, and her tone carried a hint of jealousy.

“Euclid!? Nilu’s chest looks great, doesn’t it!?”

“This melody belongs only to the heavens, how rare to hear it on earth—ah! Ow, ow, ow… mercy! I wasn’t intentionally looking over there…”

As Nilu panicked and covered her chest with her hands, Kefir twisted my head back into position.

“Ah, the Rosia Empire, right? I know it—cold climate, but full of little lolis.”

“You sure know a lot, heretic priest.”

The murderous look in Kefir’s eyes made me snap back to my senses in a hurry.

“Ahem! But the Rosia Empire is very martial—they’re the kind who’ll throw a bottle and start a fight at the slightest disagreement.

So if we have direct contact with them during this ruins expedition, we should be careful.

For example… Miss Nilu, how about I escort you back right now?”

Nilu’s little face instantly turned red, while Kefir sent over a wave of threatening discontent.

“Heretic priest, stop making moves on my maid.

Besides… we’re about to reach the neutral zone.

At this point, why are you acting like an armchair strategist?

Don’t tell me you’ve been thinking about this the whole way here?”

“Pretty much.”

I gave a bitter smile.

After several days of traveling, we were almost at the Goddess’s Ruins.

So, even though I now knew that I had a huge walking troublemaker by my side, I could only grit my teeth and keep going.

My eyes drifted once again to Nilu in her maid outfit, then quickly looked away under Kefir’s threatening glare.

The people chosen for this ruins expedition were picked by candidate Kefir herself, as long as the number wasn’t excessive.

So this usually aloof protagonist, who doesn’t like interacting with too many people, ended up picking companions who are clearly “main cast” members—Nilu and I are here as support staff.

The Goddess’s Ruins—though that’s what they’re called—in my eyes, it’s just a “dungeon” for Kefir, the true protagonist, to level up and grab treasures.

The script already made it clear that Kefir will power up here.

As the “final boss” Euclid, who would die if I didn’t cling to Kefir’s thigh, of course I had to come along!

But… with Nilu here, the script just got way more complicated.

【Nilu encounters a miraculous event in the ruins, her small universe explodes! She gains unmatched power!】

See? Wherever Nilu goes, it’s always instant level 999, legendary rings raining from the sky.

Nilu is also one of the future “protagonists” destined to stab me to death later.

The stronger she gets, the easier it will be for her to kill me.

Helping Kefir enter the dungeon and level up is important, but now I also have to find a way to stop Nilu from encountering any “miracles.”

I blinked and already had an idea.

“My prophecy tells me Nilu might be in danger, so from now on, Miss Nilu, you’d better not leave my side.”

“Mr. Euclid…”

Nilu immediately looked at me with gratitude, making me feel a little guilty for a moment.

But Kefir had been watching me like a hawk this entire trip.

Before I could say more, she grabbed me by the collar and yanked me away from Nilu, pulling me to her side.

“Does it feel good to lie to my maid with your prophecies?”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Can you really call it lying when it’s part of the script?

I looked at Kefir’s resentful expression.

Wait a minute—why does my “thigh” look like it’s jealous?

The carriage jolted, and Kefir’s cute expression lasted only a moment.

The instant the carriage stopped, she shed her relaxed attitude from the journey.

“Looks like we’re here.

Do you see the checkpoint guarded by soldiers up ahead?

The ruins are just beyond that, in the neutral zone.”

“We’re about to leave the territory of the Albion Empire.

You two… absolutely must not leave my side!

Especially you, heretic priest!”

“Of course, Kefir.”

As a flood of “Euclid dies in various gruesome ways” scenarios popped into my head, I clenched my fists.

No matter what, I have to hold onto Kefir’s thigh.