Chapter 152: The Pouting Princess Really Is Adorable!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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Several hours later.

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After carefully confirming no spies were lurking nearby, Lin Wei descended from the heavens in a blaze of radiant light, soaring down toward the earth like a falling star.

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On a green hillside some distance away sat Iresha—once a princess, now the obstinate-yet-charming mage of the Hero’s Party—busily sulking. With her elbows perched on her knees and her cheeks puffed out in indignation, she glowered pointedly at the landscape below.

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Twilight was creeping over the world. From this vantage, the distant village was little more than a blur, just a few smoky wisps and the shimmer of indistinct movement beneath the fading sun. But with 【Farsight】 magic, distance posed no challenge for Iresha; she observed every detail within the village as if standing in its heart.

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“You’re finally back!” she snapped as soon as she sensed Lin Wei’s arrival.

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She twisted around, glared daggers at him, then swiftly turned away, propping her chin atop her palm—her signature pose when annoyed.

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“Handled our business—sorry I kept you waiting,” Lin Wei said, brushing the dust from his robes.

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Anyone could see Princess Iresha was still stewing with resentment. Even slouched as she was, her slender figure radiated that effortless royal grace; but the way her pale cheeks were puffed out betrayed her lingering grievance.

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For someone so naturally tsundere, her petulance seemed more endearing than irksome. In fact, it was almost as if she’d honed this routine—she knew exactly how to make her indignation both striking and utterly adorable.

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Lin Wei caught himself smiling at the sight of her wild red hair and fuming pout. He crouched beside her, trying not to laugh.

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“But Miss Iresha, you don’t look very happy right now, do you?”

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Earlier, he’d cast Flight without warning, eager to save time. He’d simply launched himself into the clouds, dragging her with him before she had time to react.

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He hadn’t expected that the proud, fearless Princess Iresha would turn out to be afraid of heights.

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He realized only after he’d let her drop from above the clouds, allowing her to plummet freely before he finally remembered to ask her to scout the village below.

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…Now that he thought about it, he did feel a bit guilty after all.

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She was a comrade—a partner who’d gone so far as to slip him some good fortune on the side. Giving her orders and then treating her like cargo was, well… more than a little inconsiderate.

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After a brief glance at the distant village—confirming it was safe—Lin Wei opened his palm and revealed a carefully-wrapped bundle, holding it out to her.

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“Here—a peace offering.”

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“And what’s this supposed to be…?” she grumbled.

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Honestly, being suddenly plucked up by the collar and whisked skyward like a sack of potatoes had scared her half out of her wits! No warning, no explanation. Just grabbed, hoisted through the clouds, and dropped back down as if she were luggage.

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Worse yet, her level was too high to let her faint from fright. She’d simply endured the whole harrowing experience, heart pounding, until he’d finally unceremoniously released her midair.

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And now he thought a little present would smooth everything over? Hmph!

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“It’s dinner—freshly made after we finished that job,” Lin Wei offered.

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“I was in such a hurry to get back to the capital, I completely forgot about your fear of heights. I just… well, dropped you. Honestly, I meant to bring you down safely myself.”

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Her fear of heights wasn't even the main issue—they both knew it. But tossing someone out of the sky from ten thousand meters up, magic or not, really was a bit much.

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Lin Wei scratched his head in embarrassment. If things had been reversed, he would be cursing himself out, too.

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“Hah! You think a meal is enough to—wait. Did you say you cooked it yourself?”

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She’d already prepared a fresh round of complaints before forgiving him, but the words dried up on her tongue.

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There was a sudden gleam in her wine-red eyes as she peeked at the bag in his hand.

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It was an unremarkable travel pouch, the sort used for day trips. But as she leaned closer, the savory aroma of food drifted out: rich, complex, utterly mouthwatering. The containers inside still radiated comforting warmth, as if the dishes had just left the stove.

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So, not only had he made dinner as an apology, he’d even used magic to keep everything hot.

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“Since when could you cook…?”

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Lin Wei pulled out the food containers and spread a napkin, arranging everything with deliberate care.

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With each new, colorful dish set before her, Iresha’s eyes widened in surprise—and her empty stomach growled in anticipation.

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“I had to learn to survive, didn’t I?” Lin Wei chuckled, a note of pride in his voice. It was second nature to him now.

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He’d always had a knack for cooking, but since moving to the Demon Lord’s Castle—and discovering just how rustic demon cuisine could be—he’d seriously raised his standards.

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Whenever work got overwhelming over the past two years, he’d escaped into the kitchen, letting the simple act of making a good meal soothe his nerves.

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Besides, after marrying Veya, learning to cook was a necessity. If he hadn’t improved by now, he would’ve lost his mind—or starved.

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“Go ahead. Give it a try. See if it suits your taste?”

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Let’s see how it actually is...

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Iresha absentmindedly picked up a meatball, swathed in glistening tomato sauce, and popped it into her mouth.

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As she chewed, her eyes sparked to life.

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A perfect blend of spices and flavors blossomed on her tongue. The exterior had been flash-fried for a crisp bite, yet within it was tender and juicy—satisfying without falling apart.

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“This is—this is amazing!” she exclaimed, startled. Her eyes grew round with delight. Instantly, she grabbed her utensils and began sampling every dish in the box.

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Honestly, she’d been ready to forgive him the instant she realized he’d cooked—at least he’d put in sincere effort. But to find the food was this delicious, this skillfully made? That was wholly unexpected.

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“And I picked up a few storybooks, too—something to read in case you get bored,” Lin Wei added, placing a small stack next to her.

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He glanced toward the horizon. “The guards posing as demons probably won’t appear until well past midnight. We should have a long wait ahead of us.”

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He unloaded the rest of his tote, setting it within easy reach.

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A true ambush—a real covert attack—would come in the dead of night, when even the most watchful were at their weakest.

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It was only a remote village, but it was unlikely the enemy would strike at some absurd hour like four in the morning; even for the most disciplined, dusk was the wisest time to avoid notice.

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He scanned the far-off village, and in the next breath, he released a faint wave of mana, cloaking the area. Instantly, every subtle shift was relayed to his mind—a mental map of the battlefield, each movement and nuance falling into place.

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“Waiting isn’t really the problem,” Iresha admitted softly. “But, just now—did you say you went back to the capital during our down time?”

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As an adventurer, long stretches of quiet and waiting were second nature.

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She devoured her meal, each mouthful warming her from the inside out. In the silence beneath the growing dusk, the simple pleasure of food, of fullness blooming in her belly, felt almost luxurious.

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“I already mentioned it, didn’t I?” Lin Wei replied, rolling his shoulders. “I’m the Holy See’s special envoy, on the trail of Duke Ous’s crimes.”

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“They let me use the teleportation array. Saves a lot of time.”

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“So you weren’t exaggerating. You really do work for the Holy See?”

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He said it so casually that Iresha was stunned. The last time they’d met, Lin Wei had only just become a probationary citizen of the Empire. And now—a month later—he was a special envoy of the Church?

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How could anyone’s circumstances change so drastically in such a short span? What on earth had he gone through in that time?

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Lin Wei shrugged, already composing a plausible tale. There was no harm offering a little embellishment to this stubborn—if endearing—mage girl.

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“You know I’m an expert alchemist. As soon as I arrived in the Imperial Capital, the Magic Academy was recruiting research assistants—I applied and was accepted. Not long after, I crossed paths with Duke Ous himself, who was feuding with the Holy See over some supplies looted by the demonkin. The Church gave me an assignment; I completed it perfectly, and managed to catch the Pope’s attention.”

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He paused, glancing at Iresha, who hung on every word.

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“Then—by pure coincidence—I got caught up in repelling an incursion by the Cult of the Evil God… even fought off some assassins sent by Duke Ous. After all that, the Pope himself named me special envoy and sent me here to investigate.”

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It was all simple, clear, and carried just enough truth to sound real. Lin Wei felt rather proud of his storytelling. He wore a look of complete sincerity, as if his every word were irrefutable fact.

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“In the end, I just relied on my own abilities to get where I am now.”

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“You already know I’ve kept my true level hidden all along. So, it’s not really that surprising things turned out this way.”

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“I trust you can understand that much, can’t you, Miss Iresha?”