I Launched a Confession Attack on Yergina
I Launched a Confession Attack on Yergina
"Wh... what did you just say?"
A flustered Yergina stammered, entirely unlike her usual self.
Ian felt the same way.
'What the hell did I just blurt out?'
Sure, quick thinking was crucial for dodging an immediate crisis, but... declaring that he had fallen for Lady Yergina of all people.
Even after the words left his mouth, he couldn't help but feel bewildered.
Still.
'Not like I can take it back now.'
If he tried to laugh it off with something like, "Ahaha! Just kidding!" in this situation, his body wouldn't be torn to dust—it would be ripped apart at the molecular level.
Though whether he became dust or molecules didn't make much of a difference.
'Either way, I'd be dead.'
And he didn't want to die.
So, the words he'd already let slip were a done deal. The only option was to treat what he said as the truth and push forward.
"I... I like you, Lady Yergina. I've admired you in secret for some time."
He stammered a little, but that only added a tremor that made it sound more genuine.
Yergina grew even more flustered.
She couldn't remember the last time someone had confessed sincere feelings to her in a back garden like this. No—had she ever even received a confession before?
For someone who spent every day moving between the front lines, this was a world completely alien to her.
Then Yergina quickly caught on.
"You only glimpsed me for a split second just now. How could affection form in such a brief moment? This sounds absurd."
In that split second, Ian's mind raced.
He arrived at a plausible answer.
"I've long held an interest in those who safeguard the border. Among them, I first encountered your likeness in a magazine, and as I nurtured those feelings..."
"And?"
"When I saw you burst through the door today, I realized once again that it was your indomitable strength I admired. That's why I rushed out after you so urgently."
"Huh."
Yergina let out a long sigh.
She looked troubled, embarrassed, and utterly perplexed.
Watching her react that way, a sudden thought struck Ian.
'... This feels like Pongpongi's instincts just took over.'
A brainless confession attack that works even on named characters. Apparently, the skill level of Pongpongi's confession attack was higher than he thought.
He mulled over that useless thought in silence.
Yergina parted her lips with visible difficulty.
"B-but, aren't you the Imperial Princess's plaything?"
"I'm not a plaything, I'm a man. And even our connection isn't the sort of relationship you're imagining."
"Hah."
Pongpongi's instincts were telling him something.
This person is trying to push him away right now—so cling on with even more persistence.
When it came to the confession attack, Pongpongi's authority was absolute.
Ian surrendered himself to the flow.
"My feelings are firm."
Twitch.
Yergina, who had never trembled before any foe, felt her shoulders give a light shudder.
Her crimson eyes narrowed like a cat backed into a corner.
"If that's the case, then tell me exactly what you find so appealing about me."
"May I speak frankly?"
"No. You must speak only the truth."
"Your appearance."
"... Appearance?"
"I prefer strong women. To be even more frank, when I saw those thick, weighty-looking yet snow-white thighs, I just..."
"Enough."
"?"
"That's enough."
With a sigh, Yergina turned her back to him.
'... Did I push too hard?'
He might have gotten a bit carried away by the mood.
The sight of Yergina's ears steadily reddening caught Ian's tense gaze.
After steadying her breath for a moment, she murmured quietly in that posture.
"In terms of strength, the Third Imperial Princess, who carries the bloodline of the Empire, would be mightier than I."
It was an answer she had barely managed to string together as a refusal, but it was also true. Even without being the Emperor, the presence of Estrid's bloodline—the Imperial Princesses and Princes—wasn't something easily surpassed.
Enough romantic entanglement.
Ian decided to place his bet.
"That's precisely why I hope you will one day stand above your house, Lady Yergina."
Swish.
She turned around with a serious gaze.
"Are you speaking of Hermann?"
"It won't be difficult."
"My conflict with Hermann is well-known. The fact that you would deliberately bring that up makes me doubt the sincerity of everything you've said so far."
Yergina's eyes blazed red.
But Ian stood his ground with even more confidence.
"He's not my target."
"Then?"
"I'm talking about someone higher than him."
"Higher?"
The corner of Ian's lips curled upward.
"You should claim the Dukedom for yourself."
Expression vanished from Yergina's face.
A moment passed like that.
— CRACK!
A sound like air splitting rang out.
He blinked, and Yergina's fist was stopped right in front of his eyes.
"...?"
The strands of hair lifted by the wind settled back into place.
Ian stared blankly at the fist placed before his eyes.
Did this person just throw a punch?
But he hadn't sensed any sign or movement at all.
"Hoh. You've got quite the nerve, boy. Are you telling me you can read killing intent?"
... Read what now?
Ian was baffled.
He hadn't just failed to read her killing intent—he hadn't even known she was about to throw a punch.
He was doing his best to grit his teeth and pretend not to be startled.
— Crrrumble.
The tree behind Ian toppled over.
"An amusing fellow, I'll give you that much."
"......"
"But, child. There's something called a gap between us. I don't see any reason why I should continue this conversation with you. Grow a little more before you come back."
Yergina judged others by strength.
The condition for being able to converse with her was a rank of at least late 4-Star. A level Ian was still a long way from reaching.
'I thought I could ride the confusion from the confession attack and slip my way in.'
It seemed tricks didn't work on a named character of Yergina's caliber.
Not that there was no way at all.
'Even if my rank isn't at mid 4-Star, I just need to prove my ability is on that level.'
He was confident in that.
Conveniently, the Grand Martial Tournament was starting tomorrow.
He could use that.
"What if I took first place in the tournament?"
"First place?"
"Yes. I'll win at the venue where all the notable rising talents from the North and across the continent are gathered."
"You don't seem to be at that level."
"I'll show you I am. Then, at that time, please acknowledge my feelings."
Yergina faced Ian with an ambivalent expression.
"... I may not acknowledge your feelings, but I'll at least hear out your story."
The confession attack had succeeded.
◆
The next day dawned.
Walking toward the tournament grounds with Danya, Ian replayed his encounter with Yergina in his head.
'The confession attack was more effective than I expected.'
It was a means to throw the opponent into confusion and take what he wanted in the gap that it created.
Above all, since the accumulated experience of confession attacks was ingrained in Pongpongi's body, he could make the target feel pressured as naturally as flowing water.
'If the situation calls for it in the future, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use this on other named characters.'
They soon arrived at the tournament grounds.
Ian glanced around.
In this world's setting, wherever you went, half the population was female.
That also meant half the people were always viable targets for a confession attack.
"Heh heh..."
A laugh escaped him involuntarily.
Danya, who was walking beside him, asked with a worried face.
"Ian."
"Hm?"
"You haven't... regressed back to your old state, have you?"
"Old...?"
"No. Never mind. Sounds like you've got it rough, nya. Hang in there."
Pat pat.
Rising on her tiptoes to pat his shoulder, Danya headed toward the outer edge of the grounds.
Nobles were taking their seats one by one in the prepared chairs.
A buzz of chatter filled the air.
Many nobles had gathered at the tournament grounds.
The atmosphere was brimming with anticipation for the Grand Martial Tournament about to begin.
The 'Grand Martial Tournament' was a venue where promising nobles of the northern region, along with nobles from across the continent invited by the Northern Grand Duke, gathered to compete in martial displays.
While many participated in the matches directly, there were also a considerable number of people who had come to watch the spectacle, treating it as part of the social banquet.
'Plenty of faces I saw at yesterday's banquet.'
Considering the chaos Yergina had caused at that banquet, these nobles were remarkably bold.
'Well, I suppose they're northern nobles for a reason.'
They weren't the type to scare easily just because someone had died.
If anything.
"Oh my. I saw you dancing with Lady Sharon yesterday, and it was wonderful. How did you manage to dance so intensely well?"
"Thank you."
"So, would you mind holding me like that just once as well?"
"As many times as you like."
"Kyaa!"
There were several young ladies who, for whatever reason, found it so amusing they wanted to strike the ending pose with him.
It was a bit overwhelming, but it was also a chance to solidify his image as the Princess's man.
"Goodness, look at this forearm—you've been hiding something like this so well. May I touch it?"
"Of course."
Hm. Still, why did he feel a prickling glare from a certain beast-kin off in the distance?
There were those who glared at him in a manner different from Danya.
Especially men clad in plate armor.
The envious stares from those who appeared to be knights were considerable.
"The Imperial Princess's man? Tch tch, what do these girls see in a gigolo like that to cause such a fuss?"
"I hear he'll be entering the tournament. If I end up facing him, I'll smash him to pieces."
"Hoho, what need is there for Sir Jade to step in? Look at those frail legs. One low kick looks like it'd snap 'em."
Ian found it rather absurd.
Especially since they had bothered to bring plate armor to a tournament that was practically an extension of the banquet.
'They don't even look like they'd make the rank of average knight.'
Given that most of them were around early to mid 3-Star... frankly, their posturing just looked ridiculous.
Ian ignored them.
There was no reason to pick a fight over something like this.
He simply offered a leisurely smile.
He had only been basking in his role as the Princess's man for a short while before someone murmured.
"I-it looks like it's starting. Lord Hermann is coming up."
Hermann Pierce, looking somewhat haggard, stepped onto the platform. He must have had a serious headache dealing with the aftermath of yesterday's incident.
Yet his expression remained dignified.
After surveying his surroundings, he bowed his head with an air of refinement.
Then, with a deep voice that matched his rank, he shouted aloud.
"Let the Grand Martial Exchange begin!"
The heat of the crowd surged.