Chapter 26: My Lord Husband, Caught in 4K

Click clack

In the dark, quiet night of the academy’s lecture hall, Diabel, the student council president, walked alone.

She enjoyed strolling in empty places.

Once, she had asked her master:

“Why build a cabin in such a remote place?”

“Hmm… it’s a bit complicated to explain. Let’s just say I like the quiet night air.”

Back then, she couldn’t understand why a master capable of single-handedly crushing a den of demon-worshippers and annihilating an imperial knight order would enjoy such a simple life.

“Now, I think I get it a little.”

The world wouldn’t leave a mercenary of his caliber alone.

Growing weary of it, it wasn’t strange for him to seek out secluded places.

Night walks made Diabel feel a connection to her master, so she grew fond of them.

Rustle

As she walked through the silent corridor, she sensed a presence.

At this hour?

Maybe a couple looking for a place to fool around?

“Even if this title is just for show, I can’t let this slide as student council president.”

Feeling annoyed that her precious time, tied to her master’s memory, was being disturbed, Diabel decided to act on her rarely-used authority.

Concealing her presence, she melted into the shadows and moved toward the sound.

As she approached, three figures came into view.

“To think I’d end up in the women’s bathroom.”

“That’s why we waited until this late hour on a weekend when no one’s around.”

“Even so, knowing it’s empty doesn’t make it any easier to walk into a women’s bathroom… ugh!”

One figure pushed the one in front.

“You’ve always been so rigid about these things. Typical hero.”

Drawing closer, Diabel recognized them.

Saintess Artoria? And Sofia, the republic’s princess?

A rare combination.

Likely the second and third most notable figures in the academy.

Since they could interfere with the “organization’s” plans, Diabel had thoroughly investigated them.

And…

“Don’t just push me like that.”

“Sorry, Bisus. But you were hesitating at the bathroom entrance for over 30 minutes. That’s on you.”

“Exactly. Even if you’re my lord husband, wrong is wrong.”

“Even you, Artoria?”

The academy’s most-worthy freshman.

Despite his unremarkable background as a baron’s son, he was close with both Sofia and Artoria, summoned the republic’s leader, and had Naber Schreig, a genius from a renowned swordsmanship family, at his beck and call.

Robina said this guy wouldn’t be easy…

She’d only known him through the organization’s reports until now. This was her first time seeing him in person.

“Hm?”

Sofia suddenly turned toward Diabel’s shadow.

“What’s wrong, Sofia?”

“Just a second.”

Sofia walked slowly toward Diabel’s hiding spot.

She sensed me?
No way.

According to the organization’s intel, Sofia di Rubellion was only at the peak of Sword Expert.

An incredible achievement for her age, but not enough to detect Diabel’s stealth.

Diabel fully activated her interdimensional concealment, a transcendent technique that separated her existence from the dimension, making her unobservable until directly perceived.

The cost was temporarily losing her senses.

“…My mistake?”

“Sofia?”

“Sorry, I must’ve imagined it. Don’t worry.”

After scanning the area, Sofia returned to the bathroom.

“…Phew.”

Diabel released her interdimensional state.

“What kind of monster is she?”

To think Sofia nearly detected her stealth, which even Sword Masters couldn’t sense.

Though not certain, it was shocking enough.

“Why are those three sneaking into the women’s bathroom in the lecture hall at this hour?”

It looked suspicious.

As the biggest variables in the organization’s plans, it’d be wise to understand their actions.

But recalling Sofia’s monstrous perception, Diabel hesitated.

It’s risky.

Getting closer might expose her stealth.

She could claim she was patrolling as student council president, but that would make them wary, undermining the title’s usefulness for her plans.

Diabel melted back into the shadows.

Getting close was too dangerous, but observing from a distance was different.

“Got it? A hunter doesn’t need to rely on sight alone. By using mana like this, you can see through obstacles and gain a one-sided view of your prey.”

One of her master’s survival techniques.

Though he likely never imagined she’d use it to spy on him while he was relieving himself.

Enhancing her vision, Diabel peered through the bathroom wall.

She could see the three figures’ silhouettes moving inside.

While she couldn’t discern exactly what they were doing, their outlines were clear enough from afar.

“…!”

What she saw shocked her.

When Sofia first pointed to the women’s bathroom, Bisus thought she’d lost her mind.

Go in there?

“Sorry, I didn’t explain properly. The incident that sparked our bond happened in that bathroom—specifically, the one on the second floor of the academy’s first research lecture hall.”

Her explanation made sense.

An incident that deepened his bond with Sofia in a dream.

A place like the women’s bathroom, where he’d never go otherwise, would be a strong enough trigger.

It was the perfect location to spark a dream tied to Sofia.

Still…

“Going into the women’s bathroom is a bit…”

Even on a weekend, getting caught by a female student would be social suicide.

“It’s fine. Just come at night when no one’s around,” Sofia suggested.

So, the three of them sneaked into the lecture hall’s bathroom late at night.

The women’s bathroom.

The ultimate forbidden zone for men.

What’s it like inside?

With a mix of guilt and a sliver of curiosity, Bisus entered.

But it was just a dark, unlit bathroom.

Nothing special.

If anything, it looked like the kind of place a ghost might pop out of.

Not that it matters. With a Sword Master and a saintess here, any ghost would get exorcised instantly.

“So, we’re here. Now what?”

Bisus looked around and turned to Sofia.

Thud

“S-Sofia?”

Sofia tripped him, making him fall backward.

“My lord husband!”

Before his head hit the ground, Artoria caught him, cushioning his fall with her hands.

In the process, his face ended up buried in Sofia’s chest.

Her scent filled his senses.

“This should do it.”

“What kind of shameless…!”

Diabel’s face flushed slightly.

From her perspective, seeing only silhouettes, it looked like a woman straddling a man, his face buried in her chest, an unmistakable scene of intimacy.