“Oww… Damn it, that damned master… I’ll get my revenge someday.”
After being thoroughly disciplined by my master in front of everyone, I was briefly taken to the infirmary for treatment.
I wasn’t seriously injured, but with bruises here and there, the school nurse advised me to apply some ointment and get some rest. So I lay down on the medical bed and reflected on the conversation I had with my master just moments ago.
“Restrictions, huh…”
Having been his disciple for quite some time now, I considered myself to know my master fairly well. But even so, he still held many secrets.
Despite possessing such immense power, I still didn’t know why he chose a life of seclusion, and his attitude toward the existence called the Heavenly Church left me feeling deeply unsettled.
What should I do…?
It’s been years since I randomly got transmigrated and ended up in the world of the game I used to play, but I still haven’t found solid footing in my life.
Since I thought it was just a simple dating sim game, I initially planned to stay close to Pollo, the presumed protagonist, and live a reasonably peaceful life. But the power I ended up with and the enemies that kept appearing wouldn’t allow me that kind of tranquility.
If I could, I might’ve just cut off all ties with everyone I’ve met so far and lived freely without attachments… but I hate that idea.
Maybe it’s because I’m a fool by nature.
At first, I treated everything and everyone with emotional distance, like they were just NPCs, trying not to get attached. But as I breathed and lived in this world, I began to feel that this place where I now put down roots was real.
Even the heroines I initially got involved with under less-than-ideal circumstances… I couldn’t treat them coldly in the end.
Now, I think I’d actually miss them if they were gone.
So I’ve come to understand…. I can’t go back to how things were before.
“…Can I really do this…?”
Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.
Maybe it’s because of the cheat-like nature of this transmigration, but I’ve gained power far beyond what’s fitting for someone my age, and many people praise me for it.
But there could be enemies stronger than me showing up at any moment.
Clatter!
“Whoa, what the hell? Just because I’m alone in here doesn’t mean you can barge into the infirmary like—”
I was deep in thought when the door suddenly swung open without a knock, startling me slightly.
Naturally, I turned my eyes, thinking it must be one of my club members here to check on me not so much out of concern, but to see how I was holding up.
But only one person was standing there.
“Uh… um…”
“…I’m here.”
Familiar blue hair.
Her half-closed eyes, as if she were sleepy, held pupils that shone like brilliant sapphires.
“Um… Lady Frezia? Why are you here…?”
We had a brief connection when I helped her find her way, but aside from that, there was no real reason for us to interact.
The fact that she came to the infirmary alone where I was…. threw my mind into disarray.
Could it be… a scouting offer from Bellum Academy?
No, if that were the case, the headmaster would have come personally.
Then I suddenly recalled her wish to duel with a new Aura Lord and a cold shiver ran down my spine.
“…It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Wh-What was?”
“The one who saved me… and Delphine.”
“!”
I’d hoped it hadn’t been noticed, but with how much I’d shown, it would’ve been foolish to think she hadn’t realized.
Even if I wore a mask, someone of her caliber would have sensed something familiar in the way I moved with a sword.
“…Thank you.”
“Hm?”
“For saving me… and my… friend. Thank you.”
She sounded a little awkward and embarrassed at the word “friend”, but considering her status and personality, that girl Delphine must truly be someone precious to her.
“It’s nothing.”
I hadn’t helped them expecting gratitude anyway.
In the end, I was just trying to stop those damned Heavenly Church bastards from doing horrible things to innocent students. It was just a coincidence that the person I helped happened to be her friend.
Still, hearing a thank-you from someone like Frezia who always seemed so cold and indifferent felt strangely… new.
“Then fight me in a duel.”
“Get out.”
Sorry, but that’s kind of impossible right now… given the state of my body…
Oops. I accidentally said that out loud.
I hope she doesn’t make a big deal out of me being rude and talking informally to a princess from another country.
“…Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’? I’m a patient right now, okay? I just got beat up, and you’re asking me for a duel out of nowhere. What kind of manners are that in your country?”
“Oh… sorry.”
Okay, so she does have some common sense. She’s just a little oblivious, but at least she’s not a bad person—
“Then duel me once you’re better.”
“Can’t you just hurry up and go back to your country already?”
As if I didn’t already have enough on my plate, now she shows up asking for a spar like it’s some kind of playdate. My head actually started to hurt.
“Look, I mean this in the nicest way, but you’re already strong. If you just keep working at it, you’ll go far. So why are you so obsessed with picking a fight?”
“?”
What’s with that look of complete confusion?
Wait, was there some hidden custom in this world where men and women were supposed to duel the first time they met?
“You’re strong.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Not quite a fully formed Lord yet… but still, very strong.”
“Right, that’s true.”
“So you have to duel with me.”
Is it me who’s uneducated? Or is it her?
Once again, I was reminded of the importance of early childhood education as I stared at Frezia, who probably flunked all her language classes.
“Look, there’s no benefit for me in dueling you. Sparring is only useful when both sides are at a similar level. It helps both people grow. But with you, there’s nothing for me to gain.”
“Hmmm…”
“From what I’ve seen, you’re just using your naturally gifted physical abilities to make up for gaps in aura control. If you spar with me, you’ll learn a lot. But what about me?”
If she wants to take, she should be prepared to give something too.
It might’ve sounded harsh or cold, but if I went along with everything just because she was a princess, it’d only spoil her more.
Frezia thought for a moment, then looked at me with eyes that were clear and bright.
“…I’m pretty.”
“…That’s true.”
It was kind of funny hearing her say it so confidently herself, but I couldn’t really argue with her.
The fact was, even compared to the other girls in our club, her dazzling looks didn’t fall short in the slightest.
“I’ve had a lot of guys confess to me. But I turned them all down. They were weaker than me.”
“Your standards are kind of weird.”
Is this an upgraded version of “I don’t listen to people weaker than me”?
Like, “Men weaker than me don’t even have the right to hold my hand” or something?
“A lot of guys got hurt trying to impress me.”
“That’s just because they were idiots.”
Men really must have two brains. One up top and one… down below.
And it’s clear the one on top never wins against the one below.
As I casually shot down all her arguments, Frezia tilted her head, stared at me blankly for a moment, and then suddenly blurted out:
“Wait… are you impotent?”
“All right. That’s it. Come with me. Let’s fight. I’ll beat you as badly as you want.”
She went and said the number one thing you should never say to a healthy man.
As a proud believer in gender equality, I was just itching to let my fists that were sobbing with frustration fly at her as soon as possible.
“Everyone always tried so hard to win me over. I’m pretty; I’ve got a good background. If you beat me, you can have me.”
Ah, so that’s what she meant.
It sounded like she was saying that, if I had the skills for it, she’d give me a chance to make her my girlfriend.
Heh—
But when I responded to that with a scoff, she didn’t take it well. One of her eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
“…What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing…”
She was definitely pretty. But I didn’t feel any real romantic attraction toward her.
She was always blunt, her expression as stiff as stone, and her reactions were so minimal that there was nothing cute about her.
Honestly, the noble lady who was easy to tease and had a wide range of facial expressions was way cuter.
Or maybe the princess, whose real face shows whenever she gets flustered. Or the saintess, who’s timid but still speaks her mind.
Even someone like Luna who was bold and assertive would be better.
…Huh?
For a moment, the thought gave me a strange feeling of discomfort. But I shrugged it off, thinking it was nothing.
“You’re pretty, sure, but that’s about it. No charm, no expressions, and all you ever talk about is wanting to spar. You’re like a duel freak.”
“……”
“Kid, looks aren’t everything. You probably don’t get it yet because you’ve never dated, but—”
“I get it.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll show you.”
With that, Frezia climbed onto the bed where I was resting.
Her movements were far too stiff to be seductive, so I just kept watching, curious about what she was trying to do.
She slid between my legs, lay down with her back to me, and rested the back of her head on my stomach.
In that position, she tilted her head slightly and met my eyes.
Then she grabbed my hand before pulling it to her cheek, making me squish it over and over.
“What do you think?”
“…Soft.”
Her cheeks really did have that soft, squishy feel to them. Like a baby’s.
“My mom and dad always ask me to let them do this. They say my cheeks are cute.”
“Yeah, I can see why.”
Maybe it was because she was practically half-dragon, but her skin showed almost no signs of aging. Her cheeks were incredibly soft and plump, with a strangely addictive texture.
She probably thought she was being seductive by letting me touch them… but honestly, it just felt like I was playing with a grandchild or something.
Bang!
“Mars, are you okay? It looked like you got hit pretty hard earlier…”
“If you’re really not feeling well, we can call the imperial physician—”
“I’m so sorry! I should’ve come see you earlier, but I had to take part in the closing ceremony…”
“Honestly, the Count was working you way too hard. Next time, I’ll say something about it myself—”
“Sorry, Mars! I didn’t think my father would actually come find you—”
…
…
…
Oh.
I’m screwed.
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