Fake Holy Power and Delinquent Crown Prince

[…?] Ah, this? I flinched a bit seeing the angel's furrowed expression. I thought she was a ghost, but damn, her face is so expressive. Does she understand everything?

"Ni chi pa ro ma."

[…?]

"A ri ga to."

[…]

Her expression was getting weirder by the second.

"Can you hear me?"

I tried some normal talk. Then the angel's face lit up. Ah, there we go. She gets it. Out of all things, she understands that… Half-asleep mumble, but looks like she caught it.

"So, you a virgin?"

[…]

Might as well go all in since I was already rude. The angel stared at me like I was the most ridiculous thing ever. Staring at her, she kinda reminded me of someone.

"Just say yes or no. Can't talk or something?"

[…]

"Guess not, huh?"

Seems legit. Got it. She can't speak. Reminded of that, I reached out casually.

Swoosh.

My hand passed through her translucent body. No touch.

[…!!!]

The angel freaked out at my move, covering her chest. Where I was aiming? Secret.

"Sorry. First time seeing a ghost. Wondered if I could touch you. Anyway, how do you even use the horizon coordinate sys—"

Right as I started asking, the angel moved. She raised her hand.

Swoooosh—!!!

Pink energy spread from her fingertips. Forming letters, showing them to me. Can't talk, but can write, huh.

"…"

I stared blankly. The angel looked at me desperately… One problem.

"I can't read."

[???]

She doesn't know. I still can't read properly. What the hell's that word? Never seen it in the dictionary.

The angel gaped in disbelief. Wanted to do more, but alas, this orphan's limits were clear.

Then.

Knock knock knock.

A knock from outside. […!]

The angel vanished like smoke at the sound.

"Aw."

Too bad. Definitely eye candy. Big tits. Pretty face, big tits. Big tits. Important, said it three times.

"Hmmm."

Whatever about the vanished angel. Creak—!

The door opened, someone entered. I glanced over. It was Aeria.

"Ah, Mage…!!!"

"Yo."

She looked fine, thankfully. Aeria got shipwrecked with me too, but no signs of injury or pain.

"You okay…? You're finally awake…."

"Finally? How many days was I out?"

"Two days. You've been down for two days."

"Two days…?"

Two whole days? Longer than I thought.

Body feels fine, though. No injuries, mana okay. No backlash from mana thirst.

"You really okay?"

"Yeah. Nothing weird."

"Phew…."

"You?"

"I'm fine too. No injuries…."

"Nah, not that."

"Huh?"

I eyed Aeria.

"Your saintess gig didn't get—!"

"Eek!"

Smack. Soft hand clamped my mouth. What's with the aggressive play? Aeria jumped in shock. Her face was cute. So I instinctively licked her palm.

"Kyaa!"

She recoiled in disgust. What, wasn't expecting that?

"Salty. You skip washing after the bathroom or what?"

"W-what?! No way!"

"Sure, liar."

I winked, beckoning with a finger. Aeria's disgusted face? Not bad. Not my type, but pretty girl acting like that? Nice. Am I turning into a perv?

"Eek… heek…."

"Thought you wanted secret talk. Scream like that, someone'll come."

"…Ah…."

"Your reaction says you didn't get caught, huh?"

"…"

Aeria's face darkened.

"How… did you know?"

"How? You react so obviously whenever saintess comes up. Anyone'd notice."

Her acting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was trash. Amazing she's lasted this long. Should've been busted ages ago.

"You shouldn't know."

She reacted to that. Shouldn't know?

"C'mon, how could I not?"

"…It's the power of miracles."

"Huh?"

I tilted my head at "miracle." Miracle? What miracle.

"People can't perceive me properly… It was a chance made with miracles. But how can you perceive me?"

"…Perceive? What perceive."

Can't perceive? Everyone else does fine.

"They make you do laundry fine, all the chores. What can't perceive?"

"They can't perceive saintess-related stuff."

"…Oh?"

Some weird power? Saintess can do that?

"Wait, why's a saintess doing maid work anyway?"

"…R-running… away."

"Running? A saintess…? Why?"

Why? Why would she? As I puzzled, Aeria hesitated.

"Th-that… I can't say. Sorry. I have reasons, really hard to…."

"Ah, got it. Don't say then."

"Huh?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

She got flustered at my casual reply.

"Why?"

"Not curious…?"

"Curious, but you can't say. So whatever."

Honestly, didn't wanna get involved. Saintess on the run, posing as maid? Bad news.

"What good's me sticking my nose in?"

"…"

"Don't tell. Ever."

"…Uh… ah… okay."

I eyed dazed Aeria, then looked behind her.

That thing's weird too.

The translucent angel behind her. Eyes closed, like asleep again. No idea what miracle use means, but some big power. Explains saintess fleeing and maid infiltration.

Can Aeria see that angel?

Pink-haired angel. Come to think.

"Hair's pink, right?"

"Huh? Ah, yeah."

"But now it's brown? Turned back then too."

"…When using holy power, it reverts. Not now, so…."

"Ah, yeah, said you can't use holy power."

"…T-trying miracles caused side effects…."

"…Hmmm."

That damn miracle. Can't use holy power because of it?

"Really useless state…?"

"Uh…?"

"Saintess can't even heal? Not a real maid, super useless…? Then what's the point?"

"…Y-you're saying that right in front…."

"Big tits and pretty, nothing else useful…."

"Mage, she's right there?"

"Yeah. Meant for her to hear."

"…"

Am I crazy? Aeria's face said it. Then she fidgeted, spoke up.

"Um…."

"I'll keep it secret."

"Huh?"

"You're a saintess. Secret. But if busted later, I knew nothing, got it?"

"…Ah! Yeah, yeah!"

"Won't treat you special as saintess. Same as always."

"…Y-yeah, don't want special treatment."

"Cool. Since I know the secret, can I do whatever? No price for keeping it?"

"…Huh? Like what…?"

"Can I touch your tits?"

"I'll just say it."

"Wait wait, joke!"

Tits are a no-go? Thought she'd hesitate at least. Firmer than expected.

"Anyway, useless saintess."

"…Call me Aeria. Please."

"Sure, useless Aeria."

"…"

"How's the young lady?"

"Ah."

Mentioning Iris thawed Aeria's frozen face.

"Lady's treated, healthy now."

"Means the heal worked."

That inefficient thing. Holy power mimicked with mana. Worked, huh.

"…Yeah. Surprisingly did."

Aeria nodded.

"Thanks to you, I didn't get caught. Not full recovery, so passed as luck."

"No traces left."

That good, huh. Holy and mana totally different, yet heal worked. Wild.

"…Thank you."

"Huh?"

Aeria thanked me suddenly. For what?

"For?"

"…No one died in front of me."

"Ah."

Saving Iris?

"Eh. Same for me, no need to thank."

No thanks for saving one when I could. One less weight off my mind.

As I thought that.

"Um… so about that."

Aeria spoke carefully. More than hiding her identity.

"Yeah?"

"Um…."

Right then.

-Where's that bastard!

"Huh?"

Rough voice from outside. Rowdy what?

-H-hey, why…!

-Don't block. Where's he now.

Bad vibe. Instinct screaming. Should play dead? As I ducked under covers.

Bang—!

Someone smashed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the door open.

Oh.

Familiar face. Platinum hair, golden eyes.

"That guy from before?"

The one I magicked into the sky.

"Found you."

He grinned at me.

"You're up!"

"…Hm?"

"Waited for you to wake. Knew it'd be today!"

Grinning creepily, I narrowed my eyes. What the hell? Obsessed much? Rematch?

That's annoying. Did it last time, why again? Ugh. As I grimaced.

"Hey, mage."

"Huh?"

"Come with me to the Empire."

"…Pardon?"

What now?

"Go to the Empire, smash that stuck-up bitch's nose. Do that, and I'll give you Magic Tower Lord."

"…Tower Lord?"

What situation is this? Empire? Stunned briefly.

"Well? Let's go now. Carriage ready—."

"Enough."

A big hand appeared behind the youth. Grabbed his shoulder.

"Guh!"

Platinum youth staggered.

The arm's owner: Duke Colton Clay. He subdued him easily, spoke.

"Duke…! Hurts! Hurts bad!"

"Crown Prince of the Empire showing such lightness harms the Empire."

Duke gripped regardless of screams.

"…What?"

I froze at Duke Colton Clay's words. Crown Prince?

Crown Prince?

His name Crown Prince? Has to be.

Ah, right. Name's Crown Prince. Wishing that.

Fuck no.

Who'd name a Crown Prince? Then it hit, looking at the youth.

Crazy bastard.

How'd I forget? In this novel, platinum hair and golden eyes mean one thing.

…Imperial family.

Glorious emperor's blood. Lehart imperial symbols. Empire's highest. And this idiot.

Was imperial.

I magicked an imperial?

Fucked. Execution incoming?

What now? Kill and silence?

Crazy fuck. Should curse him, yet killing first. I'm something.

Screaming Crown Prince. Holding him: Colton. Me: rough thoughts, anxious eyes. Useless Aeria. This square mess.

"Ruin, right."

"…Yes? Yeah."

Colton spoke to me.

"Know about the item you had."

"Item? What item…?"

What'd a parentless orphan have? Barely saved mom? Staring blankly.

"The wooden stick snapped in half."

"Ah! My wooden sword mk1."

"M…?"

"My treasure."

"…"

"Why that? Broke again?"

"Broke? Wasn't broken initially…. You broke it?"

"Yeah. Broke on its own…?"

"…Haha."

Colton laughed. Crown Prince froze.

"Duke laughing…?"

"You don't know what it is."

"Know. Awesome-shaped wooden sword."

"…Not that."

Colton sighed, like unsure how to explain.

Then.

"It's from the World Tree relic."

"What?"

"World Tree…?"

"Yes."

Crown Prince and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Aeria startled. Me? Meh.

What's World Tree. Gotta know to freak, shit.

"You don't even know that."

"Shitty birth, no learning."

"…Your adoptive mom taught nothing?"

"No time to bond, not that sweet."

"True. That woman would."

"You know my mom well?"

"Well."

Colton said chillingly.

"Drew sword to kill her countless times."

"Shouldn't have asked."

Unneeded info.

"So. What's World Tree?"

Episode 60? Nah. World Tree: elves' tree? Dunno details.

"Continent's sole god devoted to mortals' flesh."

"Huh?"

"Elves' god. Your item: from that god's fragment."

"…Just made from great wood?"

"Yes. But not just great."

"Then?"

"World Tree can't be processed. Never burns, rots."

"…Huh?"

Something off. Then.

"What's this fragment. Said made from."

"Wrong. Said from the relic. Not crafted."

"From?"

"World Tree ejects by will. That's one. Called divine relic."

"…Ooh, divine relic."

Cool word. Divine relic.

"God's divine relic unbreakable, unruinable. Keeps form."

"Huh? Doesn't break? But…."

Broke fine.

"That's the mystery. Divine relics need god's choice to touch. Unworthy can't even approach."

Duke eyed me puzzled.

"How'd you break god's flesh?"

Like incomprehensible.