Episode 35
"Lord Frey! Are you alright?"
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Shall I carry your books?"
With the weekend over and Monday returning, as I headed to the classroom for class, the noble students began crowding around me.
Normally, I would have smiled as best I could and dealt with them, but right now, I simply didn't have the mood to deal with these guys.
"...Sorry, I'm a bit tired right now."
So when I spoke in a low voice with an annoyed expression, the guys who were watching my reactions began disappearing one by one.
As expected of people who make their living through social maneuvering, they're quick to read the room.
"Lord Frey... you seem to be in a bad mood today?"
But someone approached my side and started whispering in a soft voice. Seriously, there's always one clueless person among these noble kids.
"What do you want?"
"Ah, have you forgotten me already?"
But when I turned my head, a face I'd seen somewhere before came into view.
"...I thought I told you not to crawl around."
"My, how scary."
Thinking back for a moment, I recalled that this was Isabel, the daughter of the Marquis house who had insulted Kania last time.
'...Shouldn't she be under investigation right now?'
I was speculating why this girl was walking around fine when I had clearly exposed the Marquis house's corruption to my father, but then I remembered that my father had collapsed and rubbed my forehead.
'The accusation didn't reach the Imperial Palace because Father collapsed?'
The fact that my carefully laid plans had failed, combined with the fact that my father's collapse was my fault, made my mind increasingly troubled, and Isabel, unaware of my feelings, started scratching at my insides with a smile.
"You still remember my face, I see?"
"Yeah."
"Then why do you keep sending me away?"
"...What?"
When I frowned and asked, Isabel started making a sullen expression.
"Your servant keeps sending me away. If you remember my face, there shouldn't be any reason for that, should there?"
Unable to contain my disgust at the words that came out of her mouth, I eventually stopped walking and spoke.
"Isabel, I heard you're preparing for an engagement with the First Prince."
"Yes, that's right."
"Then why do you keep doing this?"
When I frowned and asked, Isabel said with an expression that said it was obvious.
"Because he's ugly."
"What?"
"Giving my first time to such an ugly man... how should I put it... isn't it too sad as a woman?"
Watching Isabel speak with her eyes wide open, I started laughing.
"Haha, ha... impressive."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"But I'm not feeling well these days. I'll deal with you later."
"...Sigh."
Wanting nothing more to do with her, I put my hand on the brooch I was wearing on my chest and tried to leave, but suddenly Isabel sighed and started speaking.
"Is that cheap thing really that good to you?"
"......."
"Well, everyone has different tastes... anyway, I wanted to make a proposal..."
"...A proposal?"
"Would you dance with me at the upcoming ball?"
Hearing that, I smirked and spoke.
"...What about the Prince?"
"Hmm... he's stupid and fat, so if you dance with me just once, he'll be huffing and puffing and let me go. He did that last time too."
"Aren't you afraid of lèse-majesté?"
"...Right now, it's just you and me here, isn't it?"
At those words, I laughed with an incredulous expression, and Isabel smiled and started walking out of the corridor.
- Tap tap
Meanwhile, I tapped the brooch to end the recording and asked her one question.
"...But why are you doing this to me specifically?"
She looked at me intently for a moment, then answered as if it was obvious.
"Because you're handsome."
Leaving those words behind, she exited the corridor.
"...Doesn't seem like anything has changed from last time."
For some reason, I sensed a suspicious aura from Isabel and used the 'Information Search' function, but there were no particular changes.
But what is this unsettling feeling?
"...Young master."
"Startled me!"
I had been frowning for a while when suddenly Kania's voice came from beside me.
"W-what... Kania? How long have you been there?"
"...I've been by your side the whole time."
"What?"
Black aura was rising from Kania's body as she spoke.
"Kania, that kind of mana-consuming magic is..."
"It is basic dark magic that seeps into the shadow of the master I serve. The dark power consumption is also very minimal."
"Still, there's a risk of being caught..."
"This magic has been used for stealth since ancient times. So unless it's Lady Perloche, a saintess, there's no one at the academy who can see through this magic. And Lady Perloche is on my side right now."
".........."
I was looking at Kania in a daze, unable to speak, as she refuted my words point by point, when she suddenly frowned and started muttering.
"...Strange, the dark power within your body still exists."
"Hm?"
"Ah, never mind. Anyway... what will you do about that person's proposal?"
"Well... I'm not sure..."
"Please decline."
Kania, finishing her words, seeped back into my shadow and spoke.
"For some reason my mood... no, my feeling is bad."
Hearing that, I stood silently in the corridor for a moment, then touched my shadow a few times with a curious expression before heading to the classroom.
"...Right, today is outdoor class."
But seeing the classroom empty, I made a resigned expression and muttered, then patted my head and turned my steps outside.
I really seem to be losing my mind these days.
.
"...Look at that. You don't even have the basics down."
What Isollet conducted outdoors was a team battle.
But calling it a team battle, it was actually a typical massacre.
That's because Isollet divided the teams into commoners and nobles.
Naturally, the nobles swaggered as usual, provoking or goading the commoners to go easy, but the moment the identification-concealing magic Isollet had prepared in advance activated, they started screaming and groaning in pain.
Of course, there were some skilled ones among the nobles, and Klana in particular was active, but that was it.
The overwhelming majority of skilled commoners began eliminating the nobles one by one, who were mostly just filling up numbers, and eventually, the few nobles and Klana, who held out until the end, were targeted and eliminated.
If she had used the sun's mana, the result might have been different, but that was for lethal purposes, so Klana intentionally held back.
Anyway, as a result, all the nobles including me were kneeling before Isollet, listening to her cold rebuke.
"The capital is no longer safe. You all know well that recently some monsters broke through the capital guard and defense formation."
As she said, the capital's defenses were partially breached recently. And that would lead to the monster invasion event, but since I took down the final boss of that event, I don't know what will happen.
"Yet you hold such complacent thoughts and only put on airs of authority... The Empire's future is certainly bright, isn't it? Isn't that so?"
"...Yawn."
"Frey, I'm saying this for you to hear. So open your ears wide and listen."
The reason Isollet was angry at me like that was because I was at the center of the nobles who were threatening and provoking the commoners earlier.
Standing at the center of the behavior I hate most and getting scolded is really unpleasant, but thanks to that, I earned quite a few points, so I'm satisfied.
"From now on, a battle will be held once every three days. So get beaten and crushed all you want and realize your incompetence."
Saying that, Isollet quietly gave the dismissal order and headed to the main building, ending the class.
"Ugh... my waist..."
Feeling terrible pain in my waist that had been beaten with holy power by the saintess, I got up and witnessed Klana walking somewhere with her shoulders hunched and a dark expression.
Worried about her, I carefully followed her without being noticed, and she was heading to the academy's backyard.
"Kania, can you cast a stealth spell?"
"...You're going to follow her?"
"Yeah, her expression looks very dark."
Receiving stealth from Kania who had attached herself to my side and following her, I started to see quite familiar faces.
"The First Prince, and the First and Second Princesses... All the suns of the Empire have gathered! How dazzlingly annoying."
"...If those are the suns of the Empire, the Empire will have no dawn."
Kania said in a sarcastic tone, but there was nothing wrong with her words.
Because the Imperial family, except for Klana, are all trash.
The current Emperor is incompetent.
He's not particularly bad-tempered or cruel... but he's indecisive and incompetent, merely watching as the Empire crumbles.
And the current Empress is a villainess.
She bore the Emperor's child before the original Empress, Klana's mother, and used schemes to drive her out and take the Empress position herself.
Thanks to that, the real power of the Empire lies not with the current Emperor but with the Empress, and because of that, Klana, born late, was pushed to the bottom of the succession order.
Of course, in the Sunrise Empire where the Emperor's authority is higher than anyone, if the Emperor said one word, the Empress's power would disappear... but because the Emperor is incompetent, this is happening.
And taking advantage of that situation, the First Prince and the First and Second Princesses are pressuring Klana heavily.
Probably, that's why Klana is making such a resentful expression right now.
"...Klana, you've been doing fun things lately, haven't you?"
"You reckless girl... do you think you're something?"
"Eek..."
Sure enough, the princesses started poking at Klana's chest with cold expressions.
"You keep acting up... you're embarrassing the Imperial family..."
"I apologize."
"Well, fine. Find your partner at the upcoming ball and behave yourself for a while."
".........."
At those words, she started biting her lip tightly.
In the previous timeline, she had secured many allies before the engagement ceremony and overturned Imperial power once... but with the ball unexpectedly moved up, it seems she hasn't been able to secure all her allies yet.
It seems true that the Empress was enraged because she missed an important event to attend the auction last time.
"...Tch."
After the princesses had been berating Klana for a while and left the backyard, the First Prince, who had been silent until then, quietly spoke.
"...Useless girl."
Leaving those words, the Prince quietly followed the princesses out of the backyard.
".........."
The princess who had been standing blankly in the backyard for a while made a lonely expression and headed somewhere.
""...Meow.""
Soon, baby kittens poked their heads out from a crack in the building she arrived at, and seeing her, they came out toddling and started rubbing their cheeks against her feet, and the princess made a pitiful expression and started petting the baby kittens.
Feeling sympathy for her, I quietly sighed and spoke.
"...I should help the princess."
"What?"
Kania frowned at my words, but I continued with a calm expression.
"I have you at least... but the princess only has cats right now."
"...Lately you've been getting along with Lady Perloche."
"Given our relationship, I can't exactly be openly close with her."
"You were being openly close..."
"Anyway, I need to help her."
When I said firmly, Kania sighed once and asked again.
"...So, how do you plan to help?"
"I have a plan, so don't worry."
"...As if you have one."
When I said calmly, Kania, who had spoken without realizing it, went blank for a moment and then hurriedly started apologizing.
"I'm sorry, young master. I made a slip of the tongue..."
"Pfft..."
I was laughing because her human side was so funny when suddenly something popped out in front of us.
""......!""
We froze for a moment, but when the baby kitten started looking at us with round eyes, we breathed a sigh of relief.
"...My, why did you suddenly run over there?"
But when the princess's voice was heard right in front of us, we froze again.
The stealth magic may hide our presence to some extent... but if we're right in front, we can't help but be caught.
Of course, if I were alone, it wouldn't matter if I was caught, but right now Kania is next to me...
"...Ugh!"
Suddenly Kania hugged me tightly, covered her mouth with my hand, and started rolling in the grass.
Thanks to that, I was rolling with Kania without knowing what was going on, getting grass and dirt all over my body, when Klana pushed through the grass to pick up the baby kitten and discovered us, making a shocked expression.
"W-what are you two!! What are you doing here right now?"
"Mmph, mmph! Mmph!!"
Kania started making muffled sounds and tearing up, and Klana, who quickly grasped the situation, changed her expression coldly, gathered solar mana on her fingers, pointed at me and said.
"Frey La-on Starlight, get away from her this instant."
"...Tch."
Fearing she might shoot solar mana at my head, I quickly separated from Kania and muttered.
"...Acting all high and mighty just because she's a princess."
"What did you just say?"
"It's nothing. Your 'Highness.'"
Replying in an annoyed voice to the princess whose eyes were blazing, I looked at Kania lying down and said.
"...Just accept being held like usual, why are you resisting?"
"...Ugh."
At that, Kania made a shameful expression and turned her head, and at the same time, golden aura started rising from Klana's body.
"...You should think carefully. Even with your already precarious position, think about what will happen if you touch me, the acting head of the Starlight family."
"I understand, so please leave."
Undeterred by my sarcasm, the princess burned even more aura and started approaching me, and judging that if I got hit by her I might never wake up again, I quickly started to leave the backyard.
"Ah, right. I received an invitation to the ball... I heard you're choosing your fiancé there?"
Then, remembering something to say, I secured a safe distance, stopped, and looked at Klana who was emitting golden aura and started speaking.
"So, who will you choose?"
"It's none of your business."
"From what I know... all the fiancé candidates were trash recognized by the Empire. Whoever you get engaged to... you're going to have a rough time, aren't you?"
"...Shut up."
"Rather than getting engaged to such people, how about coming to me instead?"
"Frey La-on Starlight, aren't you afraid of lèse-majesté?"
To the princess who finally exceeded her anger threshold, I made an annoying expression and left one last word.
"Well then, see you at the ball. 'Third' Princess."
Leaving those words behind and ignoring the burning solar mana felt from behind, I was hurrying toward the main building when I stopped and looked at the system window floating before my eyes and muttered.
[Acquired 300 Villain Points! (Bait)]
"...Who on earth writes the messages that appear next to the acquisition window?"
Tilting my head at a question I'd probably never find the answer to, I hurried my steps again.
I'll probably either be killed by Serena soon, or have my back torn open.
.
"...Caw."
"Yes, you've come."
Meanwhile, at that same time, in an unknown space.
A girl sat with a bored expression on a splendid throne placed high above, and when a crow with emerald eyes entered through the open window, she raised her eyes and asked.
"Caw, caw!"
"...Speak in human language. I can understand you, but it's quite unpleasant to hear."
"Understood, Demon King."
The girl called 'Demon King' by the speaking crow smirked and said.
"I haven't awakened yet, so what Demon King? Just call me successor for now."
"...However, you are the last hope of the demons. We demons believe without doubt that you will bestow the destruction we have waited so long for upon the world..."
"...Enough, your words are too long. Are all demons normally this talkative like you?"
At the girl's rebuke, the crow, who had closed its mouth for a moment, watched her reaction and then opened its mouth again.
"...I have a report to make."
"Speak."
"Regarding the recent deaths of the Succubus Queen and Yukarius..."
"Enough. Don't speak of it."
But when the Demon King made an annoyed expression and cut her off again, the crow made an urgent expression and said.
"But... this is important..."
"Did I not say it's enough?"
"........"
The crow, trying to continue speaking somehow, quickly started bowing its head when the girl snapped and emitted a sinister aura in all directions.
"...I will ask just one thing."
"Please speak."
The girl, looking at the crow with disdain, raised her head slightly and spoke with an interested expression.
"If there is a Demon King, naturally there must be a hero too, right?"
"That is..."
When the crow hesitated to answer, the girl waved her hand, then smiled brightly and said.
"Never mind, I think I already know the answer."
Before the girl who finished speaking, an opaque window visible only to her was floating.