Fluffy (8)
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βWow, itβs so clean!β
Aristine approached with admiration, staring at the sword that was just as tall as her.
βItβs like a mirror. The wavy patterns are so clear too.β
Rather than backing away in fright, she looked like she was about to thrust her nose into the sword.
As Aristine carefully examined the blade, she even reached out her hand towards the sword.
But before her hand reached it, she paused and glanced up at Mukali.
βMay I touch it?β
Mukali didnβt like other people touching his sword. Any warrior would agree with him. However, he nodded his head.
βI have no other choice if I want to win the Princessβ favor.β
He really, truly, completely had no other choice.
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βThank you.β
Aristine smiled sweetly and touched the sword gently.
The feeling of cold iron.
It felt strange to the touch, giving her a little chill.
βAmazing. Iβm just touching it, but it feels like itβs going to cut me.β
βIt does cut the skin, even if you donβt apply any force.β
Mukali said boastfully.
βMn, the polishing technique on this is outstanding. Demonic beasts have such hard shells. So it needs this much sharpness…β
Aristine tilted her head and mumbled.
Then she lifted her hand from the sword and looked straight at Mukali.
Mukali flinched.
Because she was looking at his sword, Aristine was right in front of him. He suddenly wanted to cover the left side of his face. He didnβt want Aristine to see his disgusting scar in full detail and back away.
However, Aristine did not back away nor avert her gaze.
She just looked at him like she usually did while dealing with people as if it were nothing. He couldnβt see any repulsion on fear on that small face.
βHow do you manage the rust?β
And she simply asked a question, just like that. It was a serious and prudent question.
She didnβt care about his terrifying and abhorrent scar; what she cared about was the sword.
The sword Mukali was proud of.
βYou mean how I protect it from rusting?β
Mukali felt his throat clogging up.
βMhm.β
Management of rust, huh. He never thought he would be asked this kind of question by someone that was not even a warrior.
βShe seems very interested in swords.β
She didnβt sound like she was asking such questions just to be in his good graces.
βWell, I have to clean it, so it doesnβt rust. I do that every morning and evening.β
βAs expected, it requires a lot of work.β
βThis guy is precious, so I have to treat him as much.β (T/N: Heβs referring to the sword)
Mukali said as he flicked a finger against the sword.
βI take care of this guy carefully every day, and it responds amazingly in return. Although itβs huge, it has quite the elasticity. Thatβs because the master who made this sword treated different parts with different heat. When you do that, the hardness will be different for each part. For this, the hardness is related to the carbon and…β
The scientific side was something Aristine had no knowledge about.
Aristine listened to him talk while taking a guess.
It was fascinating that Mukali, who was a consumer and not a manufacturer, was talking about such difficult principles. Even in Silvanus where studies were developed, the scientific field was treated as a high-level area of study.
βHe must really like swords.β
Mukali, who was bragging about his beloved sword, belatedly came to his senses as if a dam had burst. Even his fellow warriors hated his kind of talk.
The people who liked to dig into such detailed principles were not warriors, but weak-kneed naΓ―ve academics sitting behind a desk.
βThatβs why I usually donβt talk to people about this…β
Plus acting like this didnβt suit his huge frame.
While feeling awkward inside, he tried to study Aristineβs complexion but she nodded seriously.
βThanks for telling me. Iβve learned a lot.β
β…Then Iβm glad.β
Mukali secretly looked away.
When the conversation came to a brief pause, Mukali felt a little awkward for some reason. He was curious about what the Princess was doing, but somehow, he found it hard to look back at her.
Inwardly, he began to recite the steps of sharpening a sword. If she didnβt say anything by the third step, he figured he would say something.
Not that he really wanted to continue his conversation with the princess. This was only just a strategy to get information.
As Mukali went over the first step in his head, he couldnβt bear it and thought to himself.
β…Should I just say something at the second step?β
The moment he decided that and turned to look at Aristine…
βAck!β
Aristine suddenly cried out.
Mukali was startled and his eyes went wide. He unconsciously strengthened his grip on his sword.
Mukaliβs huge frame blocked Aristine like a solid wall. His sharp eyes alertly scanned the room, back and forth. However, he didnβt see anything that looked dangerous.
βWhat is it?β
Mukali raised a brow in doubt and just then…
βThe tea has gotten cold…β
He heard a small voice mumble below his chest.
β…Tea?β
He looked down and saw the Princess with despair written all over her face like the world had been destroyed. With a teacup tightly clenched in her hand.
βStrawberry cream tea…I really wanted to taste it…β
She couldnβt have looked more depressed.
Mukaliβs mouth opened a few times before shutting close. He felt absurd, speechless, and somehow a little angry, but he also felt like laughing because she looked so dejected.
βHaa, I guess I was too focused on listening. And forgot this important thing.β
Aristine placed the teacup back on the table. But her gaze still lingered on the rose-colored tea. Let alone forget about it, her eyes were practically dripping with regret.
Aristine smacked her lips lamentfully then she looked up at Mukali and shrugged.
βBut thatβs because the conversation with Sir. Mukali was very interesting.β
And thatβs good enough, she added with a bright smile.
Mukali momentarily stared into her eyes.
βItβs just tea; canβt she ask them to serve it again?β
Such a thought flashed through his mind.
Aristine had more than enough right to do so. But the fact that she didnβt consider calling back the maids despite thatβ.
βIs it because of me?β
He remembered how the maids looked at him like he was a bug with 20 legs. Naturally, Mukali didnβt want to see them a second time.
β…β
Mukali put his sword into its sheath.
After he left, Aristine would probably call her maids and ask them to bring the tea that she wanted so badly. No, she definitely would.
However.
βHow about you visit our house sometime?β (Mukali)
βHm?β
βWe have that kind of tea in my house too.β
Ehem, Mukali faked a cough for no particular reason. This was also to keep a close eye on the Princess.
βWow, really?β
Aristine was delighted.
Being invited to someoneβs house.
That was something she could never even imagine as someone who had lived locked up and alone.
βThen Iβll bring you some scones.β
After speaking, Aristine frowned.
βI can take them, right? I heard itβs not polite to go empty-handed when someone invites you, so I should be able to ask for that much…β
Even if she had formed an alliance with Tarkan, it wasnβt good to spend too much of his assets. Which is why she only ate the food and refreshments that were given to her.
βAlthough the quantity has increased lately, so Iβm happy.β
Especially since she always had tea-time when Tarkan came, and she liked the fact that he never touched his dessert.
βScones?β
βMn, the scones here are really good. Itβs delicious even when itβs cold. Try it.β
β…β
Mukali looked at the scones on the table with skepticism in his eyes.
βIβm sure Milord…β
There was a meeting he didnβt attend due to outside affairs, and he heard that at that meeting, Tarkan ordered them to find a pΓ’tissier. More precisely, a pΓ’tissier good at baking scones.
Everyone said he might be trying to develop new battle rations or something. But…
βDonβt tell me…β
The thought suddenly entered his mind, but Mukali quickly shook his head.
βNo way. It canβt be, definitely not.β
After all, he had been serving beside his lord for so many years. That was definitely not it.
βHeβll bring the scones soon as our new battle rations! They must be using the Princess as a test subject! Of course!β
Mukali thought to himself in that manner and took the scone Aristine offered him.
It was delicious.
*,*,*
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 82 - February 26, 2026
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 81 - February 26, 2026
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 80 - February 26, 2026
cute πππ
thank you for the update, miss ruby π₯°β€οΈ
They’re so adorable! (β―α΄β―)
Thanks for the chapter! And I really love she, so cute.
Right?! I even suspect now that she has no idea with how a relationship between a man and woman could go or something about those stuff, since she basically only learned from other people’s perspective and I don’t think her ability, Monarch’s Sight, would show her such things…
It’s amazing that these two weirdos with completely different things going on their mind still can have proper conversation π
Anyway thanks for the new chapter π
Mukali is a Grade 2 Himbo loll. Thank you for the chapter!!
Thanks for the update Miss Ruby.
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Haha you’ll soon see the impossible , by that time bringing some cake would be the least Tarkan would do γ γ γ
interesting. heβs an interpersonal dumbass but a total sword nerd. cool! INNER DEPTHS! π
Thank you for translating!!! These Iβm misunderstandings are hilarious π
OMG MUKALI IS A SWORD NERD SO CUTE π»π»π» I surrender, Mukali is the dumbest cute person in this novel and I love it!! He inviting Aristine to visit him a a a a a I hope they become best friends! Thank for this sugar chapter, Miss Ruby!
Thank you for chapter πππππ
Thank you so much βΊοΈ
Thank you !
Mukali is the himbo we needed. Bless his dumb heart.
I guess this misunderstanding will go on for some time.
still waiting for this to update, please come back soon miss ruby π
Why are they all so dumb lmao
Oh my lord…can he get any cuter!!! He’s so fluffy! Must protek!!! Gah… Oh he’s killed many for sure, but …he’s so adorbs… It’s lethal!!!
Mukali is super Adorable!! I love him so much, the gigantic Dork! Thank you for the translation, Ms. Ruby! I’m enjoying the story much more clearly here in novel form!