[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 210 – If It Works, It’s a Revolution (8)

The carriage slammed into the ground, its rear end tilting upward.

Zakrion, seated at the coachman's seat, flung his body to the side just in time—causing the carriage to flip entirely, landing roof-first on the road.

Rolling across the ground and springing back up, Zakrion ran to the carriage and yanked the door open.

The frame was so twisted it wouldn’t open properly, so he all but tore it off—allowing the Second Princess and her adjutant to crawl out.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. But what was that?”

“Not sure exactly. Looks like one of those things that followed the secret prince into the capital.”

As soon as the carriage flipped, the monster had leapt clear, landing on the street.

Its humanoid torso sprouted six limbs, each ending in long claws. The grotesque figure sparked screams as people fled in terror.

Sharian, pulling thread from her sleeves, glanced sideways at the wrecked carriage.

The horses were dead, and the vehicle had flipped—no longer usable.

Thankfully, other carriages lined the street. If they could hijack one and ride straight to the Academy, that’d do the trick.

All they needed to do now was hold off the monster long enough for the Second Princess to escape.

“Zakrion!”

The moment Sharian called his name, Zakrion immediately understood everything—years of teamwork had honed their instincts.

“Your Highness! This way!”

Zakrion pulled the Second Princess toward an abandoned carriage left behind by its fleeing coachman.

Noticing the Second Princess moving, the monster turned its body—only for Sharian to lash out, wrapping it in threads drawn from both sleeves.

Just keep it tied up. Once the Second Princess gets far enough, vanish into the alleys or rooftops.

But her plan didn’t work.

The monster slashed through the threads with its claws.

What—!? These threads can’t be cut even by ogres!

Worse, the creature cunningly left one strand intact—grabbing it like a fishing line and reeling it in.

The force was overwhelming. Sharian couldn’t resist and was being dragged toward the beast.

If this kept up, she’d be within range of its claws!

Just as the claws came slicing down, she released the thread, flipped into the air with a back somersault, and evaded.

“Damn it.”

Seeing the monster shake Sharian off and advance quickly, Zakrion cursed.

“Grab the reins!”

Grabbing the adjutant by the collar, he tossed him into the coachman’s seat, slipped his knuckles on, and charged forward.

“We’ll hold it off—go now!”

CLANG!!

Zakrion shouted as he blocked a descending claw with his knuckle-dusters.

“Hyah!”

With the adjutant cracking the reins, the carriage lurched forward—and the monster twisted again to give chase.

“Stop it! Don’t let it get away!”

Sharian and Zakrion threw themselves at the beast, desperately trying to keep it from reaching the carriage.

Suddenly, the monster halted its attack and began to tremble.

“What the hell is it doing?”

“Gasp!”

Its belly rapidly expanded—then tore open as a smaller monster emerged, drenched in some kind of fluid.

Though “smaller,” it was still the size of a calf, with multiple claws that made it no less threatening.

It spun around and—at terrifying speed—took off after the fleeing carriage.

“Stop that thing!”

But Sharian and Zakrion couldn’t follow it.

Another pair of arms had sprouted from the main monster’s torso.

It now had eight limbs. There was no gap to get through.

Its claws were so powerful that close combat was near impossible.

But Zakrion was a brawler, reliant on his fists—and Sharian’s threads had proven ineffective.

Best they could do now was distract it, then disappear when the moment was right.

“Here I go.”

Sharian and Zakrion launched themselves simultaneously.

“Gah!”

“Ugh!”

Clipped by the side of the creature’s claw in a flash, they were flung into a storefront stall.

Still, they seemed to have landed at least one blow—two of the creature’s arms lay severed on the ground.

Scrrraape—

The monster dragged its claws across the stone pavement as it stalked toward the Dark Elves.

Crack, crunch—

Just as it raised its claws again, newly regrown arms protruding from its back—

Fwooosh—!

With a whistle-like sound, one of its attacking claws was cleaved clean off.

“What the hell is this shit?”

The monster turned its gaze toward the voice.

There stood Dian, tousled brown hair and one hand on his hip, staring up at the beast.

“Not a monster. Not a human. A chimera, maybe? Gross.”

Angered at the loss of its claw, the beast began growing another from its back.

“Professor! Watch out!”

“That thing’s disgusting!”

As new claws erupted from its back, Dian flinched and swung his fists wildly.

Thwack thwack thwack thwack—!!

Blood splattering everywhere, the creature crumpled to the ground.

“God, seriously.”

Dian brushed off the slime and blood from his hands, clearly annoyed.

“So what’s going on here, exactly?”

He turned to the two Dark Elves, who were still catching their breath.

“Second Princess! Her Highness is in danger!”

# # # #

While the Dark Elves were tied up fighting the monster, the adjutant urged the horses forward with all his strength.

The smaller creature that had burst from the main one’s belly was gaining fast.

“Out of the way!”

Pedestrians screamed and scattered as the runaway carriage raced through the streets.

But other carriages couldn’t move so quickly—and the Second Princess’s vehicle began scraping and crashing against others, taking damage.

She kicked the battered door open and leaned out, sword in hand.

“Keep going. I’ll handle that thing.”

She slashed at the smaller monster, now racing alongside the carriage.

It abruptly slowed, swerving to avoid the blade.

Falling back, it suddenly disappeared from view.

Without hesitation, the Second Princess stabbed the roof above her.

Feeling the blade hit something, she twisted and yanked it back—tossing it to the floor at once.

Sticky acid melted the blade, oozing down to the hilt.

“It’s on the roof! Heading toward the front—watch out!”

“Wahh!!”

Her warning came just in time—the adjutant screamed as the creature leapt from the roof onto one of the horses and spat green acid from its mouth.

The horse’s flesh melted away, bones exposed.

“Jump!”

The Second Princess and adjutant leapt clear—just as the carriage crashed into a building wall and exploded into debris.

“Your Highness!”

“Draw your sword!”

The Second Princess shoved aside the helping hand and shouted urgently.

The smaller creature was approaching, pushing aside rubble.

Seen up close, it was grotesque—an oversized human head, eight claws, and drool dripping from its mouth that hissed and smoked as it hit the pavement.

“Your Highness! I’ll protect you!”

The adjutant took a stance, sword in hand.

Aura began to emanate from his body—an ability only the physically gifted could wield.

He was a former high-ranking Imperial Knight. He had once nearly died in a suicidal cavalry charge—only to be saved by a strike force led by the Second Princess. Since then, he had sworn absolute loyalty.

“I’ll cleave you in two!”

With his aura flaring, he charged—and slashed.

But the creature vanished.

“Damn!”

Turning sharply, he realized the monster had reappeared behind him, charging at the Second Princess.

With her weapon melted and no other arms, she grabbed a chunk of rubble.

“Your Highness!”

CRACK—!!!!

Dian appeared and delivered a punishing blow that sent the creature flying.

“Son of a bitch!”

His shoe, now melting from the acid, was quickly tossed away.

“What the hell even is this thing?”

Dian bent down to inspect the burst remains of the smaller monster.

“Not a person. Not a monster either…”

“Dian.”

The Second Princess called his name.

“You’re a bit later than expected.”

“Uh? Late? What do you mean?”

Seeing the question mark on his face, she shook her head.

“No—it’s enough that you came at all.”

“What is all this?”

Dian nudged the creature’s remains with his toe.

“And that thing that puked this one out—what happened? What kind of mess have you dragged along this time? And where were you racing off to in a carriage this late?”

“We’re going to the Academy.”

“The Academy?”

“There might be more of them.”

“Hmm… I’ve no idea what’s going on, but sure. Hey, over here!”

Dian waved to a nearby coachman.

“To the Academy!”

“Uh, no way!”

The coachman, terrified by the monster earlier, shook his head violently—until Dian shouted:

“Double the fare! This beautiful lady here will cover it!”

“Right this way!”

With the Dark Elves joining them, the carriage took off.

# # # \#

“Dian.”

Across from him in the carriage, the Second Princess spoke up.

“I’ve given your proposal some serious thought.”

“My proposal?”

“It’s not bad. And seeing you rush here to save me, I understand how you truly feel.”

“I do?”

“If nothing major stands in the way, I’d like to proceed with it as soon as possible. But the timing is… unfortunate.”

“Proceed with what?”

“Even commoners must go through proper steps to marry. How much more complicated, then, is it within the imperial court?”

“Marry…?”

“Yes, Dian. Marriage.”

Dian stared blankly at her.

What the hell is she talking about? Did she hit her head?

“Uh… right. Haha.”

The Second Princess smiled at the sight of Dian’s reaction.

‘So he knows how to get shy, huh? How cute.’

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]