Chapter 1
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 1
Prologue
"Phew, I lost."
"Still weak as ever. Shouldn't you have realized something after doing this much?"
It was a prickly answer, but I had nothing to say.
Just how many sparring matches has it been?
My stamina is depleted and I want to stop now, but Aniel is warming up as if preparing for the next match.
The opponent was a Hero candidate possessing talent that might allow her to defeat not just the Demon King, but perhaps even the Demon God.
That’s why I couldn't understand it even more. The reason why she keeps trying to spar with a trivial being like me, who struggles to subdue a single slime alone.
Perhaps it was pressure to hurry up and leave this Academy.
Right now, others were also sending unkind gazes my way.
"Grand Duchess. Is it alright if I excuse myself now?"
Since I had understood the situation well enough, I tried to tactfully withdraw from the spot.
She would probably accept it as well. There shouldn't be anyone who wants to pointlessly waste their precious time.
"Why?"
However, Aniel asked back, noticeably flustered.
While bewildered by the completely unexpected reaction, I checked the time and answered.
"Princess Lucia has also requested a sparring match. The appointed time is approaching, so I intend to prepare."
It wasn't an excuse. There were actually quite a few people other than Aniel who requested sparring matches with me.
Representative candidates for the Hero's Party included Princess Lucia, the Elf Kingdom's Royal Knight Kaen, and the Imperial Religion's Saintess Hanelope.
Like Aniel, they were all powerful individuals and people on the side of the Imperial Palace faction.
It was practically bullying, but in order for me to stay at the Academy, I could not go against their moods.
In any case, Aniel and Lucia are friends.
"I definitely warned them not to touch this guy."
I heard a somewhat murderous voice, but I thought she would let me go without any issues.
"G-Grand Duchess?"
"Don't go."
Until she grabbed my wrist.
"Only I can spar with you. So don't go to anyone else but me."
Rather than Aniel grabbing my wrist, my gaze landed on the empty space above her head.
Numbers suddenly appeared in a place where there should clearly be nothing.
To think that the only perk I possess is 'Favorability increases by 1 every time I lose.'