Chapter 74

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Translator: Ebonarch

Chapter: 74

Chapter Title: The Butterfly Flaps Its Wings Twice (4)

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Whoooosh—!

Sudden gusts of wind threw my balance off in an instant.

'...Shit... damn it...!'

Teetering on the edge of the foothold, I threw my back far and flailed my arms wildly.

"...Hah... hah..."

A moment later, I barely regained my balance and crouched down, panting heavily.

Having survived by the skin of my teeth, my body trembled with terror.

'...Almost died without even seeing the boss's face.'

—Crack

I'd calmed my shaking a bit and was about to move when an ominous sound from underfoot told me there was no time to spare.

"...Haa..."

A sigh escaped me naturally.

My head throbbed from repeated use of telekinesis, but to avoid death, I climbed up the footholds. That's when Hikat's voice rang out.

"Shut your mouth! Who the hell are you talking to...!"

...I'd hurried as fast as I could, but at this rate, I wouldn't make it in time.

I took a deep breath and leaped upward, rapidly creating footholds one after another.

Crack— Craaack—

Maybe because I made them in such a rush, each step let out a loud, foreboding crack.

"I told you to shut up!"

The final foothold shattered just as I jumped.

In that instant, I saw Hikat swinging his sword.

I suppressed the chills crawling up my spine and shouted.

"...Stop."

Thud—!

Tension cracked my voice, and I misjudged the landing distance, sending a sharp pain through my legs.

Blood vessels bulged in my eyes from the agony, but I kept a straight face and continued.

"...Back off if you don't want to die."

I poured every ounce of pure sincerity into my words for Hikat.

'...Please back off!'

If the princess went berserk, it wouldn't just be him—it'd kill us all.

Did my sincerity get through? Hikat's sword tip, aimed at me instead of the princess, trembled.

"...What are you! Where did you come from?!"

I didn't have the stamina to spare a breath for such a pointless question.

"I'm asking you!"

The moment Hikat yelled, I slammed my right foot down.

Whoosh!

Pouring out what little mental energy remained, I kicked up a cloud of dust from the ground.

Seizing the opening as dust blinded Hikat, I activated the Tamer's unique ability.

>>>>

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even cast low-grade earth magic, so the princess might get suspicious seeing me suddenly use mid-grade, but it was far better than losing my life.

The incantation left my lips, and mana drained from my body like the receding tide. A conical spear of earth shot toward Hikat.

Boooom—!

Still blind from the dust, the earth spear slammed straight into Hikat's chest.

Of course, with that ring, it wouldn't kill him.

...But stopping him for a moment was enough.

I rushed to Liana and reached out with all my strength, shouting.

"Your Highness the Princess!"

Grab it.

Please grab it.

I'm begging you—please grab it.

"...Hee hee♬"

My desperate plea must have reached her—Liana looked at me with a soft smile and trotted over, taking my hand.

'Got it!'

I wrapped my arm around her waist like I was kidnapping her and pulled her back quickly.

Once we'd put some distance between us, Liana giggled in my arms.

"I told you to call me Liana, not Your Highness the Princess?"

"Even now, you say that...?"

Her carefree words in this situation reminded me once again that for her, this was something she could end anytime she wanted.

'Can't blame her...'

Even without her lifting a finger, if 'Pavolre Melphisa' lurking in her shadow appeared, this would all be over.

Of course, everyone here except the princess would die...

Then, in an exaggerated, theatrical tone, Liana said,

"Oh my, that's exactly why—because it's like this. Look at the situation. Doesn't it feel just like a hero rescuing a princess kidnapped by the villain?"

"...."

To me, it felt more like yanking out a bomb before the fuse burned down.

"...Arghhh! You think this crap will work?!"

Light flared from Hikat's ring, and he started slashing wildly at the earth spear.

As I said, Hikat was top of second-year level—someone I could handle.

...The problem was, my skills weren't even close to top of first-year class one.

'...And the matchup sucks...'

His ring nullified any attack below a certain level.

To beat it, you either dragged it out until his mana ran dry or hit with one overwhelming blow...

I had neither the mana to stall nor the power for a one-shot.

In other words, by the book, this was a loss.

...If we went by the book, that is.

Eyes fixed on Hikat, I opened my mouth.

"...Your Highness the Princess."

"Yes, Eugene?"

"A little help?"

"...What? The prince is asking the princess for help?"

Liana sounded baffled, like I'd said something outrageous.

"...Yes. No one will notice now, with his vision blocked."

"...Hmm♪"

I could feel her grinning behind me, even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without looking.

I'd deliberately skipped familiar wind magic for earth—not just to seal Hikat's movements, but mainly to block the other students' line of sight to the princess.

In this state, even if she revealed her hidden power, only I'd know.

Of course, my life would be at risk...

I just hoped her curiosity and fondness for me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠outweighed my life.

"Not asking for normal help, huh... Eugene, was this your plan from the start?"

"...Yes. It was."

I swallowed hard at her question.

It felt like waiting at hell's gates for the king's judgment.

"Hee hee hee♪ So fun. I'm curious how you knew, but... that'll be a treat for later♪"

I clenched my fist and swallowed a sigh of relief.

...Looks like I'd survive, for now.

"...Don't... don't ignore me!"

Hikat screamed about not ignoring him, but I had no attention to spare.

"So, have you decided?"

"Yeah! You're super fun, Eugene... but that doesn't mean I have to help?"

"What about our safety—yours and mine?"

"Haha♪ Joking, right?"

As expected, that fell flat.

Honestly, I should be grateful just to be alive.

...I didn't want to play this card, but no choice.

With a short sigh, I said,

"...Help me, and I'll accept Your Highness's invitation..."

"Huh? For real?!"

Before I finished, Liana was in my face, eyes sparkling.

"Y-Yes... I'll formally accept, so...!"

"Arghhh! Stop ignoring meee!"

Hikat closed the gap in a flash, sword raised high as he screamed.

"Hee hee. Deal. But you have to keep your promise?"

I nodded, and Liana raised a finger without even glancing at Hikat.

Her incantation echoed, and time seemed to freeze—sound halted as Hikat stood stock-still.

...Then, from his toes up, he crumbled to dust in that frozen pose.

Clink—

A moment later, the only proof Hikat had been there was the ring on his finger.

"Oh? The ring's left."

"...Sorry to ask in this situation, but could you give that ring to me, if possible?"

Normally, I'd shut up to avoid provoking her, but this ring wasn't obtainable at this point.

If I could snag it with one word, better grab it.

Sure, it guzzled mana to enhance the body—a no-go for my low reserves.

But handing it to Vivian, whose physical stats lagged her mana, would be huge.

"Hmm... What's the trade?"

"...Money.."

"Not money. I've got plenty."

...Of course the imperial princess would.

I sighed at Liana, eyes twinkling like she couldn't get enough of this.

"...I'll stay at the palace for four days."

"...Huh?... H-Huh?!"

She yelled in disbelief.

"You planned to stay less than four days?"

Truth be told, I'd have bolted on arrival, but official entry and exit took two days minimum.

Arms crossed, cheeks puffed, she said,

"One month. Say you'll stay a month, and the ring's yours."

"...I'll compromise more. Five days."

"Ugh... Sneaky... Fine, two weeks then? That's a huge concession, you know?"

"...Last offer. One week. If not, I give up on the ring clean."

I meant it.

Missing the ring stung, but even squeezing, a week was my limit.

More, and I couldn't clear the three main scenarios.

"Ughhh.... Feels like I'm losing out, but... fine. One week."

She sighed in defeat and placed the ring in my hand.

"Thank you, Your Highness the Princess."

As I bowed and stepped back, Liana tugged my shirt, forcing me to bend, and whispered in my ear.

"That'.s. Why. Call me Liana, not Your Highness."

"...Too close, Your Highness the Princess."

"Hmm... Stubborn to the end. Fine."

Released, I exhaled in relief. Liana tapped her red lips with her index finger.

"Someday, I'll make you call me Liana♪"

The empire's sun smiled radiantly, enough to chase away dawn...

Beautiful enough to make even me, who knew her true nature, feel my heart skip.