Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

After all, Ariel possesses extraordinary charm.

Magic academies and magic guilds are havens for antisocial thinkers, and many privately criticize the ministers and royalty who control the current government.

Even in a place like this, no one criticized Ariel.

If that's the case, she would certainly become a beloved monarch, just like Kavanist-Srian-Asra, the human leader in the later stages of the Laplace campaign who became king after the war.

Many people would give up their lives for Ariel.

Dilik was one of them.

It's no wonder Dirich was angry that this awareness was met with such irony.

"Indeed, living this kind of life might not be dangerous... but this way of life is no different from those corrupt nobles..."

Perhaps Ariel was unwilling to live up to everyone's expectations?

Was I chosen as the Guardian Mage because I was perceived as someone who wouldn't be burdened with heavy responsibilities?

Although Ariel doesn't usually say anything, could she actually dislike me a lot...?

"Ugh……"

Just as Dilik was thinking this and feeling a little depressed, he suddenly heard a faint conversation.

"Ok?"

It seems like someone is talking behind the toilet.

"Princess Ariel...assassination plan..."

Dirich recognized the dangerous words from the unclear sounds and immediately held his breath, pressing his ear against the wall.

"You mean, Prince Gravel actually considers Princess Ariel a threat?"

“That’s right, she is incredibly popular with the people. His Highness Gravel once lamented that even though Princess Ariel had expressed no interest in the throne, she was more famous than him.”

"Thinking about it that way, it is indeed strange... Even if she is showing that attitude now, she may still be secretly working to ascend to the throne."

"Since you can't win by fighting head-on, you'll try to win from behind... is that what you mean?"

Upon hearing this, Dirich couldn't help but frown.

Ariel was popular with the public partly because of her innate charm, but also because she appeared in public more often than the First Prince Gravel.

Unlike Gravel, who valued activities inside the palace but did not attend events outside, Ariel frequently participated in activities outside the palace.

For example, when the bridge over the Altir River, which flows past the capital, was completed, she attended the inauguration ceremony and became the first person to cross it. She also participated as a VIP in the Grand Magic Dance Competition held by the Magic Academy, personally presenting bouquets and prizes to the winners.

She gained high name recognition and received enthusiastic support from the people precisely because she participated in activities that had nothing to do with political struggles.

“That’s right, I’ve already made plans. This is for His Highness Gravel, and also for the Kingdom of Asra.”

"Haha, you're still as thoughtful as ever."

……

Dirich initially wanted to step in and kill the two men immediately, but he quickly changed his mind.

The people talking outside are probably nobles from the First Prince's faction. They're the kind of people who will spend money like water to make things go their way, and who will do any dirty thing without a care in the world. If they're exposed and pushed to the limit, they'll come up with shameful excuses to try and escape punishment. There are many such scoundrels in this palace.

Even if Dirich uses magic to kill the two of them here, it will be meaningless.

Instead, it will only be seen as Ariel ordering the guardian sorcerer to kill the nobles of the First Prince's faction, which means she harbors hostile intentions towards Gravel and will suffer harassment and attacks from the First Prince's faction in the future.

Although Dirich thought that it would be good to gradually force Ariel to work towards the throne, if Ariel herself lacked fighting spirit, she would still be passive and gradually driven to the brink of despair, eventually being played with like a mouse and brutally murdered.

So he abandoned his plan to kill the nobles and left the toilet.

Regardless, we must find a way to resolve the current predicament.

The nobles said they had already made arrangements. In that case, Ariel will inevitably become their target in the next few days. Let's see what happens.

Could it be an assassin? Or poison?

Report this to Ariel immediately, both to raise awareness and to encourage her to fight.

With that thought in mind, Dirich began to walk quickly back to the White Lily Garden. As he walked, he took out his wand from under his robes, so he could deal with any attack that might come his way.

"...How long has it been since I last fought?"

While studying at the magic academy, mock battles are held regularly. Sometimes the participants fight against students from other magic academies, sometimes against students from knight schools, and sometimes they form small teams of three or five to engage in group battles.

Several times throughout the year, under the guidance of teachers or adventurers, students will enter the forest to accumulate practical experience in combat with monsters.

He wasn't inexperienced in killing people. For example, during a simulated battle, he accidentally used magic to hit a vital spot, killing his opponent instantly; and during the exam to select a princess's bodyguard, he was made to fight and kill a death row inmate to determine if he could be used in a crucial moment.

However, the enemy's assassination plan must have taken their combat capabilities into account. If the enemy is going to send assassins, they must be highly skilled enough to handle them.

They had to face a real life-or-death struggle. The thought made Dilik's hands tremble slightly.

"Can I truly protect His Highness? No..."

Dilik expressed this unease, but then immediately denied it himself.

"what?!"

Upon returning to the White Lily Garden, Dirich witnessed an astonishing sight.

From the depths of the White Lily Garden, in an area known as the Hibiscus Forest, a giant wild boar slowly emerged on two legs.

That was the end of the wild boar.

Individually, it is a D-rank monster, but it leads a large number of ferocious fighting dogs, making it a C-rank or even B-rank ferocious demon. Generally, it is only encountered deep in the forest, but due to its considerable numbers, it sometimes leaves the forest to attack villages, capturing and eating livestock or human children.

Long ago, a small village was attacked and wiped out by the Terminator Boar, which led more than twenty fierce fighting dogs. As a result, the Terminator Boar is considered the most well-known monster in the Kingdom of Asura.

Like the Spelud tribe, if children misbehave in villages near the forest, the adults will warn them: "If you don't go to sleep in the middle of the night, a huge wild boar will come and eat you up."

Dirich was well aware that the End Boar was a terrifying monster, and he knew its name and appearance.

However, why are monsters appearing here?

Oh, right, that conversation I overheard earlier... Could it be that what those nobles arranged was...?

Dirich, his thoughts racing, noticed that Ariel and Luke seemed unaware of the End Boar's presence. Even though the monster had clearly taken Ariel in its sights, its eyes gleaming with a hunter's sharp light as it stared at her.

Dilik ran forward.

He tried to chant a magic spell as he ran.

However, the final boar also began to act at the same time, pushing aside the grass and rushing straight towards Ariel.

Too late!

Dilik stopped singing.

"Your Highness Ariel! Please run away quickly!"

"what?"

Upon hearing Dirich's shout, Ariel expressed her doubt, but immediately got up and noticed the enormous creature rushing towards her from the side. She quickly jumped sideways and fell to the ground.

The wild boar crashed into the trees in the garden, breaking them as it turned around.

Taking advantage of this moment, Dirich intervened between the monster and Ariel.

A huge wild boar stood before him.

Saliva dripped from his mouth as he stared at Dilik with sharp, piercing eyes.

What is this guardian mage trying to do? They're only a short distance apart, and facing such a massive monster. With the enemy so close, there's no way they can finish the incantation in time.

But Dirich didn't chant at all.

He simply spread his arms wide and shouted:

"Luke! The rest is up to you!"

The next instant, Dilik was hit by the punch from the Boar of Ending, and he flew out of the air.

All his ribs were broken, his internal organs were shattered into pieces, and he was vomiting blood as he flew through the air.

Finally, he crashed into the inner wall five meters away, shattering his spine.

"puff……"

Is it a stroke of luck that I didn't lose consciousness?

Or is it simply misfortune?

Ah...am I going to die?

Dirich was fully aware of his impending death.

At the same time, he also sensed the taste of death.

He was certain he had suffered a fatal wound.

I think I've seen guys die from this kind of injury before...

Dirich didn't feel fear. Perhaps it was because the situation was so sudden that his brain couldn't keep up with the unfolding events.

Within his line of sight, he saw Luke draw his sword and charge toward the end of the boar.

You're so stupid, Luke... How could you possibly win by yourself... Oh, really? It's because the gate is on the other side, so just running away isn't enough...

Dilik simply moved his gaze around, observing his surroundings.

Princess Ariel... Is Princess Ariel alright?

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that although Ariel was somewhat confused, she did not show any fear and was heading towards the location.

"Dilik...! Oh my god... We must find a healer immediately!"

Hearing Ariel's worried cry, Dirichlet mustered his last strength to speak:

"Ugh... Compared to... that... thing... please... run away quickly... cough cough..."

"Dilik! Don't speak! Is anyone there?! Is anyone there?!"

"Cough cough... It's no use... Princess Ariel... I'm... beyond saving..."

"How could this be... You need to pull yourself together!"

Dirich looked at Ariel with surprise.

Because he always thought that Ariel and Luke were hostile towards him.

For some reason, he suddenly felt a urge to make a joke, even though he was in that situation.

"So...so I...didn't...suggest that you...run away?"

Ariel was taken aback when she heard this.

Then, she looked at the loyal guardian mage who had fallen to the ground with a different gaze than before.

“Dilric…”

"Your Highness Ariel...this is my last request...please...please...become Queen. And then, make Asura a better country...oh!"

The broken ribs pierced his lungs, and Dilik coughed up a large amount of blood.

Ariel saw his appearance and remained silent...

She nodded quietly, then turned around.

Before Ariel stood a giant wild boar.

Luke had been knocked away and was looking at them with a desperate expression.

Ariel glared fiercely at the monster.

"I don't know where you come from, but I am the one destined to sit on the throne of the Kingdom of Asura! How can I be killed so easily in a place like this! Get out of my way!"

Despite her loud advocacy, the wild boars obviously couldn't understand human language.

Faced with what looked like the most delicious food on the scene, the monster panted excitedly as it slowly approached Ariel, step by step.

Seeing this, Dirich began to pray.

As a follower of the Millican faith, he prayed to heaven.

"Please, God, help Ariel in this crisis. I'm willing to give my life for you."

The prayers did not reach the heavens.

Dirich understood this perfectly well. Saint Milis was a great man, a savior who saved all living beings… However, Dirich could understand that in this situation, such prayers would be utterly futile.