Subjugation Battle (7): Jealousy on a Smooth Day 2

Day 2 of the subjugation battle went more smoothly than expected. Low-level magic beasts weren't even a match for Ashu. The one-sided slaughter from yesterday continued. They'd already gathered over thirty magic stones. At this rate, victory was a sure thing.

Easy peasy.

Ashu was collecting magic stones from a safe distance. She'd decided to keep some space to avoid getting in the way of the fighting.

Though there are other reasons too.

Preparing for any potential ambushes, just in case. Sure, who would pull something like that in broad daylight? But you never know. Even with the sun high, the forest was dangerous. Trees and underbrush everywhere—perfect for hiding.

But something else nagged at her.

It's ridiculous we haven't run into a single guard.

For a massive event like this, the guards would be top-notch in both quality and numbers. Managing a huge forest like this with just a small team would be impossible. Could it be the Grand Duke? No, that was too much of a leap. There was no way he'd kill his own son at an event this big. Familicide was a heinous crime, punished severely even in the empire—no one would take that risk.

"...I'll worry about it later."

Winning the subjugation battle came first.

I have to get this...!!

For my comfy retirement life!

"Tch...!"

Sihan Kan Hart, looking fatigued, sheathed his sword. Thud. A massive wolf-shaped magic beast collapsed, shaking the ground. That made eighteen. He had no idea how many Ashu Kan Hart had taken down, but it still wasn't enough. If he couldn't dominate overwhelmingly, he risked losing his successor position—or worse, becoming a family head in name only, rejected by the vassals.

The pressure weighed heavily on Sihan's shoulders.

"Knight, do you know how many Ashu Kan Hart has gotten?"

"...I'm sorry, I don't know either."

"Understood."

The escort knight bowed his head. Sihan clicked his tongue and caught his breath.

Come to think of it, who was that woman next to Ashu Kan Hart?

Noble children usually paired with their personal escort knights for these events. But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ashu Kan Hart's escort was right here with him. The only one by Ashu's side was that unfamiliar woman. Even with the mask, her alluring aura had captivated the audience. Regardless of age, most men couldn't help but stare, entranced. Sihan was no exception.

"Knight, who was that woman with Ashu Kan Hart?"

"From what I know, she's the new young master's teacher."

"His teacher...?"

She looked too delicate for subjugation battle participation. Had he dragged her along by force? She definitely seemed scared of Ashu.

What a spoiled brat.

Sihan ground his teeth and vowed to crush him with sheer skill, earning recognition as successor from everyone.

A wastrel like that has no place in the Grand Duchy once I'm head.

If so, Ashu Kan Hart would be exiled far away.

"D-Disciple..."

"What."

"Th-That guy's fine, but..."

"Huh."

I fidgeted with my hand. Ashu's twitched in response. Even in this cold weather, holding hands so long had made sweat pool between our palms.

"C-Can't we let go now...?"

"No."

"B-But if a magic beast shows up...!!"

"I'll cut it down faster than it can get close."

Ashu stubbornly gripped my hand tighter. I had no idea how things had escalated like this.

...Probably because of that prince earlier.

I sighed, recalling the recent encounter.

[Hey, you punk!!]

[Y-You little...!!]

[Hunt going well? Eh, your personality sucks, but your skills are solid.]

[Why do you keep picking fights—!!]

[Sis, long time no see.]

Byrn leaned right in my face. My heart pounded wildly. My mouth went dry.

Th-This kind of situation was too much for me...

[Huh? What's with all the dirt?]

Pat pat. Byrn dusted my shoulder, waved, and left.

[Good luck, everyone.]

[G-Goodbye...! G-G-Go saf—]

It felt like a storm had blown through in seconds.

[...Hey.]

[Y-Yes?!]

[From now on, don't go far. Stay by my side.]

[B-But won't I get in the way of fighting?]

Ashu's eyes flashed, and he suddenly grabbed my hand. That was the start of all this.

Well, at least the prince is a good counter to my precious disciple.

Seeing Ashu get one-sidedly smacked down was refreshingly novel. Byrn Sigvard—practically a prince cola. Watching my bratty disciple fume with rage melted away years of pent-up grudges.

Good thing he still doesn't know who I am.

Ashu and Byrn becoming friends wouldn't be bad at all.

But man, this is impossible to miss.

Even I, a guy in a past life, could tell.

Ashu strode ahead, his slightly angry eyes just like those kids at the orphanage eyeing a new sibling. That's how the original siblings acted when jealous.

"Hee hee."

"What. Why are you laughing like that creepily."

"Disciple, you're jealous right now, aren't you?"

"...What?"

It felt good, somehow. Compared to day one, it was huge progress. My rude disciple was actually jealous! I couldn't hold back the grin leaking out.

This is just 10% training degree?

Later on, he might treat me like a mom. No, since I was a guy before, more like a parent.

If only it turns out that way.

Ashu as the main villain did horrific things. He'd kill without mercy if it opposed his goals, no exceptions. Even his own territory's people. If weird rumors spread, he'd root out and eliminate the source. In the isolated Grand Duchy, with Ashu's overwhelming martial prowess, no one could win against him. The people lived in constant terror.

That was the future if Ashu went off the rails as the main villain.

Though Ideal's influence was a big part of it.

Which meant I could prevent that future.

[P.S.: May you ultimately reach a happy ending.]

Happy ending...

First, I needed to get a handle on this body, but if I had the leeway, challenging it didn't sound bad.

'If I can manage it.'

I was sinking into happy delusions when—

"What did you just say."

Ashu scowled and asked again.

"Jealousy. You seem jealous right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now, disciple?"

I bent at the waist, giggling as I prodded. Normally, my precious disciple would explode and charge, but it didn't scare me at all. If anything, it confirmed it. Proof my training was paying off.

"...Jealousy."

Ashu muttered blankly, his face like he'd gained enlightenment.

"Is that it."

"Y-Yes...?"

Ashu's eyes glazed over, and he suddenly seized my shoulders.

Wh-What the—?!

Had I stepped on a landmine? Touched something wrong?

His vacant stare pierced right through me, like he was licking every hidden corner of my secrets. Goosebumps erupted all over.

Status window!!

I checked the status window just in case, but nothing had changed. Ashu's eyes like that were way too scary. It didn't feel like looking at a ten-year-old kid. More like peering into an abyss you shouldn't see...

"Hey."

"E-Eek."

Did he really get mad because I said jealousy...? Kids' moods were unpredictable. Maybe I'd hit one of Ashu's unknown landmines.

"S-Sorry, disciple... Are you really mad...?"

I groveled preemptively. Ashu didn't respond right away. He just stared at me, hands still on my shoulders, for a long while.

"D-Disciple...?"

"Never leave my side again."

"Huh...?"

"Answer."

"O-Okay."

"Promise."

Ashu stuck out his pinky. I did too, but my hand shook badly. Felt like signing away my bodily autonomy.

An awkward silence followed the promise. Ashu kept walking, still gripping my hand tight.

...I wanna go home.

Pathetic, me—scared of a mere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ten-year-old, trembling, watching his mood.

And this is just 10% training degree...?

What the hell happens at 20%? Ashu definitely felt something for me now. Impossible to miss, even for an idiot.

But whether it was good or bad... who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knew.

Then at 20%...

For the first time, the future after the subjugation battle started to scare me.