Teacher, They're Fighting
"...What did you just say?"
I was so shocked that formal speech slipped out. What did Clana just say? Did I hear that right?
"W-Well..."
As those thoughts raced through my mind, Clana caught my bewildered reaction, and her eyes began to tremble.
"Ugh..."
She couldn't get the words out and ended up hanging her head.
"...When exactly did you make the Blood Oath?"
When I asked her that softly, she glanced at me nervously before starting her explanation.
"When you were passed out, I fed you my blood."
"Don't tell me that bandage on your hand..."
Her hand had been wrapped in bandages, which now made sense. I never imagined it was a wound she'd inflicted herself for a Blood Oath—and to me, no less.
"........Hoo."
"F-Frey."
As I frowned and gently stroked her bandaged hand, Clana—who'd been watching me anxiously—spoke up in a quiet voice.
"I'll use everything at my disposal to help you. You deserve it."
"...Yeah."
"You said earlier you needed my help with the slave market, right? I'll provide information and manpower related to it. What exactly do you need from me?"
Once she said that, I let out a sigh and answered.
"I'm going to free every single slave at this slave market."
"...What?"
Clana's face filled with shock. She clearly hadn't considered a scenario where all those slaves would be liberated.
"Is that even possible?"
"...There's a good chance, and with your help, it'll be even higher."
"W-What do I need to do?"
I hardened my expression and began to explain.
"Be the hidden mastermind behind the liberation incident."
"...What?"
"Become the hero of this slave market liberation."
Her mouth fell open at my words.
"The aftermath of this incident will be huge. It'll be the perfect halo for you to become the empire's sun."
"Y-You..."
"Of course, I'll stay in the shadows. You know I can't reveal my identity."
Clana nodded quietly at that, but soon her face turned sad.
"But... is that really okay with you?"
"Eh, everyone will find out eventually. I can bask in the praise then."
I said it jokingly, but Clana bowed her head, her hands starting to tremble.
"...Hm."
As I watched her silently, I put on a serious expression and spoke up.
"Clana, there's something I need to tell you."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you think your self-esteem has gotten too low?"
It was a thought I'd had every time I saw her lately—her confidence had plummeted recently. It was understandable in the past, but now that she knew everything, if it continued, it'd be a problem. Time to address it head-on.
"I can still clearly picture you sitting on the throne, radiating charisma as you commanded a final stand against the Demon King's army."
"B-But..."
When I spoke with genuine sincerity, Clana started to stutter.
"But now, all I see is you trembling at everything. You're even stuttering words you never used to."
She looked away, at a loss for words.
"...But I'm nothing special."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm just the third princess who was lucky enough to be born into this status—nothing more. I felt that to my bones this time around."
Clana answered in a depressed tone, then sighed and continued.
"No matter how hard I tried, there was a wall I couldn't overcome. I realized that last loop."
"...You mean the Demon King?"
"Yeah. At first, I couldn't accept it, so I worked even harder to leap over that wall somehow..."
Her voice trailed off, and she looked at me with guilt in her eyes.
"...But instead, I ended up hindering—and hurting—the one person who could actually break it down."
"That's not your fault..."
"And I even caused trouble for her... Ah."
I gave her a puzzled look as she muttered gloomily and suddenly clamped her mouth shut. Then, quietly, I summoned the info window in front of me.
"Let me read your status window for you, Clana."
"Huh?"
"Frey?"
"Dominance Aura... that's a great trait. Just a glare can make opponents shiver."
As I recited the info window contents with a serious look, Clana started to look puzzled.
"The third princess who had nothing but her bloodline, rejected by everyone—she rose to this level through her own pure effort. And you think you're nothing?"
"But like I said, effort has its limits..."
I cut off Clana's trembling voice and fixed my gaze on her.
"Do you know what your disposition says in my eyes?"
The one shining clearly: her 'disposition.'
"It's Hegemon."
"He-Hegemon?"
"Yeah. It means a ruler who commands all under heaven."
Clana's eyes widened at my words.
"My system isn't entirely reliable... but it doesn't lie about this."
"D-Does that mean..."
"You have more than enough qualities to become emperor, Clana."
I smiled with full conviction, and Clana's face filled with disbelief.
"So, have some confidence."
"Frey..."
"That way, it'll be worth serving you."
With that final push, Clana's trembling hands stilled.
"..........Ah."
She froze completely, her golden eyes reflecting me as she whispered softly.
"Is that... so?"
Her gaze had changed completely from before—not hollow and self-loathing, but shining like a true leader's.
I nodded firmly once more, and she smiled tenderly.
"Then, even if just to not disappoint you, I'll do my best."
"Good, that's all I..."
"Like I said earlier, use casual speech with me from now on."
Her expression suddenly turned solemn, and only then did I feel truly relieved. The passive girl from recently was gone—the empire's true sun had returned.
"Alright, then... Oh, about what you said earlier..."
I smiled warmly at her, but then remembered her earlier words and hesitated, about to bring it up.
"Well, let's end the talk here."
"Huh?"
"What I said before..."
"That was just my declaration."
As I stammered in confusion, the still-composed Clana pointed to the door, dismissing me.
"See you later."
"...Huh?"
Something felt off.
......
Frey left the room with a dumbfounded look.
"...Ngh."
Clana watched his retreating back silently, then let out a small groan when she saw his hand gripping the cane tremble.
Clack.
"Frey..."
Once the door closed.
"Sorry for being selfish..."
Clana dropped her composed facade, buried her face in her desk, and wore a sad expression.
"But..."
After lying there for a while, she murmured in a voice thick with tears.
"Before your time runs out, I just want to leave a mark of you..."
Her murmurs turned to sobs.
......
"Young master, have you finished?"
"Ah."
Stepping out of Clana's room, I spotted Kania with her expressionless face.
"Kania, what are you doing here?"
"...I just followed."
"Just?"
She'd left me alone earlier, but now she was here. And her eyes were half-lidded for some reason. Did she eat something weird?
"Young master, take this."
"...Huh?"
As I pondered, Kania handed me something. Tilting my head, I saw it was an ornate potion vial.
"It's a medicine that calms the mind and steadies the nerves."
"Why give it to me all of a sudden?"
"For your well-being."
She kept offering it, so I took it absentmindedly and drank. It was a tonic from Kania, so no issues, and my rattled state from Clana's words was real enough.
"...Oh, this works."
"Doesn't it."
Feeling much better, I handed the vial back, and she smiled faintly.
"I'm glad it seems effective, seeing your relaxed expression."
"...Yeah."
I eyed her a bit awkwardly, then leaned on my cane and started down the hall.
"Young master, where to this time?"
"To meet someone connected to the slave market."
Kania stared piercingly for a moment, then asked softly.
"A woman, right?"
"...How'd you know?"
"I had a feeling."
I made an awkward face at her reply, then asked cautiously.
"Are you using black magic or something?"
"Pardon?"
"No, just... you've been reading my mind spot-on lately."
"If I used black magic, you'd notice."
She replied calmly.
"I've served you for years—I can tell from your expressions alone."
"...Really?"
"Yes. I'm your capable butler, after all."
I chuckled at her shrug.
"...Hm?"
Then a familiar sound echoed from down the hall, making me tilt my head.
"Why are those two here?"
"Kuuu!!"
"Gugu gu!!"
The owl and pigeon were flying straight at me with full force. How many times had I seen this scene?
"They don't get tired, huh."
"Yeah, how does a pigeon even fight an owl? Isn't it outmatched physically?"
"The pigeon is 'fighting' the owl?"
As I chimed in, Kania's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yeah, it was fighting pretty well."
".......!"
Her face suddenly turned offended, like her pride was hurt.
'Should I train it or something?'
I tilted my head at her, but as the two birds closed in, I wondered if I should teach them no-violence rules.
Flap flap!
"...Huh?"
They landed on my shoulders, gripping with their talons, and began flapping.
"What the—?"
I was being dragged off somewhere by them. Seeing their serious expressions, I muttered softly.
"...Did they get into a fight or something?"