A Day Where Nothing Goes Right
A rotten day all around. 'So the creepy stare I felt the whole way into the city was from this guy?' I'd had this weird feeling of being watched the entire time, but I never imagined the third prince would pop up out of nowhere. Even if they say those golden diamond-shaped pupils are a symbol of the royal family or whatever, do I really have any business with him? ...It felt kinda familiar, like I'd seen him somewhere before, but I brushed it off as my imagination.
Hearing from Aunt Merlen that I couldn't properly handle my witch powers as a witch because "I wasn't born a girl"... well, that made me worry even more that it'd be even harder to control. But all those anxieties and troubles just evaporated in an instant, leaving me with a really strange feeling.
"I never imagined Aunt Poppins had such a fine grown son! Makes sense since he's a male witch." Male witches are inherently weak from birth, so there are tons of people trying to kidnap them. And then there are those driven by resentment and revenge against witches who try to kill them. But if you're the kind of freak who can't even hold "mana" in your body? No matter how much you train, without mana, you're stuck with innate limits. Even a lowly zombie has mana, and even a tiny baby rat has mana—what more is there to say? It's that mana that allows evolution, change, and growth...
The third prince was getting even more lively, acting like a total idiot.
"To become an artisan renowned in history despite your frail body, even supplying cheese to the royal family!! I respect you, Tendo! Unlike a dummy like me who was just born into royalty!!!"
"Call me bro!!" He grabbed my hand and shook it wildly. I felt so awkward and guilty that I couldn't say a word, just forcing an awkward smile. A body without mana is a huge liability, so people can't help but give you side-eye.
"And these calluses... I can't even imagine how much training you've done... You use a sword, right? Then how about a spar—"
"Your Highness, that's rude."
"Ephemera!! That's not polite!! I just want to respect his efforts, show my admiration, and build a friendship!!"
"No, it's rude for a mere part-timer at Madam's shop to be impudent to her employer's son."
"Oh, right. Any chance of a raise?"
"Your Highness."
"...Are you mad? Ephemera?"
She kicked him out the window and kept giving him the eye from the side, but she wasn't actually angry. Even after punching a steel pillar and putting a hole in it without a scratch on her hand, Ephemera was smiling as she warned him. For real, even as childhood friends, she grumbled that he should consider her position as the heir to the knight order guarding the royal family.
"I just want to get close... It's not like guys my age are a dime a dozen..."
In the palace, as the youngest, he was babied endlessly, and in rebellion, he slacked on studies to become the idiot prince. Hell, he even failed the academy entrance because he lost to a witch who wasn't using her powers. At least since he lost to a Witchcraft, the royals called it a natural disaster and sent him consolation money.
—The third prince just didn't want to miss a chance to make a friend who didn't tiptoe around him.
"Isn't Madam Poppins's son good enough?"
"That's rude to him."
Ephemera freaked out, saying that considering Madam's achievements, if the prince messed up, past Dragon Lords would swarm the guardian dragon to nag about repaying the favor. Just imagining it was horrifying. The guardian dragon would cry to the current emperor hero, asking what he'd done wrong. Then the hero would chew out his kids for whatever nonsense they were up to... How far down the chain of terror would it go? It'd definitely hit Ephemera.
"Hang out with him like bros. I don't have many same-sex friends either."
"Ooh... You're my first guy friend!!"
What? A confession? She said Orochi—er, the prince—was always that passionate, so cut him some slack. The image he showed at academy entrance was clearly for public show. It'd be rude to say it, but he looked dumb. Still, his grades were probably better than mine... Thinking that made me inexplicably depressed.
"Um... I'm the head of a ducal house with a title, but don't expect too much... The territory's in rough shape—"
"It's fine. I don't care about titles or lands. I just need to know Ephemera's a good person."
"What? Flirting, Orochi?"
"Shut your trap, please."
Your Highness, don't you get it? Our master's bright marriage prospects are being heroically blocked. Orochi attacked his face with a snake puppet while the prince flailed around yelling "Kwaaack!" It was obvious how close the three of them were just from watching.
While we waited a bit, Aunt said since I was here, I could carry more supplies, and she dropped a pile about 7 meters high. Everyone stared at her with "how the hell do we take this?" faces.
"That's less than I expected? Not many people in the family?"
"Just two of us."
"Then you're stocking up hearty. Shall we go? Hup!"
Looks like it's just Orochi and Ephemera living there. I was curious why, but asking felt rude, so I easily lifted the bag. If I were a girl, I couldn't have dreamed of it, but back in male form, it felt light as a feather—depressing. Why the hell do all my hard-earned muscles vanish when I turn female...? Do they all go to boobs and butt? That's why they're so huge?! Well, no complaints then.
"...Y-you okay?"
"Yeah, no problem. Back home, I've moved heavier stuff."
"I-if it's not rude, like what?"
"A three-story house?"
"?"
I said I'd moved houses for people relocating. Back then, I was super busy every day. At the academy, I just study, and even when I want to exercise like usual, I lose to the pink dumbbells. I worried I'd gotten out of shape, but it still felt light, so I was relieved.
"I've been training!"
"You have everything Ephemera likes... The ideal match?"
"Your. High. Ness."
I pulled the massive load like an ox cart, and everyone was amazed. Orochi pulled out a handkerchief, maybe to wipe sweat, but it was so light I wasn't even sweating. Ephemera muttered about how much effort without even magic power. The prince just kept gasping in awe.
About two hours after leaving Sword City Arista, we arrived at Ephemera's territory. Traces of a village remained, but it'd all been demolished into a vast, jaw-dropping plain. Following what looked like old roads etched in the ground, a massive ducal mansion greeted us. The locked gate had some magical treatment; when Ephemera held her sword to it, it opened on its own.
The duke's garden was more homey than expected. Livestock barns with chickens and cows, fields with crops. It was set up for people to live in the mansion.
"...Don't say I met expectations, but disappointing?"
"Totally my taste? A farmer's dream."
"R-really?"
Why was the top student so shocked...? With walls, no worries about thieves, and no beasts snatching livestock.
After graduating the academy successfully, living in a place like this with Mom sounded nice.
"Living with your mom... Not bad."
Ah, the top student doesn't know our mom is Aunt Merlen... Foot in mouth. Still, for someone who studies hard, the place felt surprisingly off.
After unloading and unpacking, they invited me to stay the night. First time sleeping over at a friend's— and it's the top student. What a weird connection...
As I headed to my assigned empty room, the prince slung an arm around my shoulder.
"...If we're gonna see each other often, you'll find out anyway. Mind if I tell you?"
"Personal story?"
"I was there too, so it's more my story. Fine, right?"
The prince made the serious face I'd seen at entrance exams and sat on the bed, pondering where to start. "It's ancient history," he said heavily.
"Since we were kids, my friend Ephemera was a genius prodigy. Me? Dumb then and now... We were the same age, and her family guards the royals, so we hung out a lot. Maybe the royals saw us as a pair, but that'd be rude to her fiancé."
"Not her fiancé..."
"Even I'd hesitate marrying a dummy who flunked academy entrance..."
"Sorry..."
"Why are you apologizing...? Anyway, it was a disaster. You know magical beasts?"
Sudden calamities born into this world. More evil than monsters, magical beasts—the academy teaches how to deal with them. I'd only seen monsters; my first real magical beast was at the academy. Meeting one outside isn't ideal.
If you live normally, you might never encounter one in a lifetime.
"Ephemera's birthday, her whole family went on a picnic." Parents, her, little Orochi, even the royal knights. Overkill for a picnic, but safety first, the prince said.
"A magical beast took Ephemera hostage."
Genius or not, she was only about seven.
"Later named the Master Killer. Specializes in Mana Drain, grows by Corpse Devouring abilities. Worst type."
Stronger the foe, the worse the counter. It ate people for intelligence, stealth and ambush specialized—missing first response was fatal.
"Knights annihilated, parents killed, Madam arrived but got critically ambushed and fled after judging unwinnable."
"That bastard..."
It devoured the whole knight order and escaped, then kept ambushing heroes and strong ones, devouring to reach demon king level. Now, over ten years later, near transcendent; even the hero risks death, the prince sighed.
"Assassination specialist with escape skills. Since monsters like Aris Witchcraft appeared, these freaks multiply."
Madam hunts diligently for revenge, but it ambushes and flees, a headache. The prince teared up, hand on my shoulder.
"After graduation, Ephemera'll leave for revenge over rebuilding! So marry her to prioritize that!"
"Wait, how'd it go there...?"
"Wouldn't you pity our big-ass beautiful Ephemera dying without a mate?!"
"...Can I kill him, Your Highness?"
"No, he was real, not my delusion?"
"Came to call for dinner, and he's spilling personal secrets..."
Ephemera chopped the prince's throat with her hand, seeing his distress. He yelped and flopped on the bed.
"...Everyone has circumstances. The Ephemera house's swordsmanship is for protecting someone. Just proof of strength."
I'd never guessed her desperate training was for "revenge." Her sensitivity to not bothering others had reasons. Heavy... If I don't get engaged here, bad end where Ephemera dies on revenge?
The dinner started in awkward, heavy silence—I wanted to bolt.
"Miss, if two or three jobs are tough, do blowjobs."
Orochi joked to lighten the mood, but knives nearly flew; atmosphere was razor-sharp.
"Artisan level, picking any girl, but think a bit..."
"Your Highness, can I hit him?"
"One from you and I'm dead."
After dinner, walking dark halls without a light, heading to rooms with the prince. "Guys' all-nighter?" Good idea, but with this vibe?
"...That magical beast targets valuables for devouring?"
"Yeah. It aimed for me, a royal, back then."
"What if swordmaster, royal, and male witch together?"
Why Mom hid me so thoroughly as a male witch. Even if Madam hid it, why'd everyone buy it? Post-academy creepy stares bugged me, so I asked; prince said "Could be."
No sound. No killing intent, no presence—perfect assassination no one noticed.
"....."
Missing its strike, the magical beast mimicking human disgust eyed the sword in its hand. Like Ephemera's, but battered from rough use. Then it looked up at me.
How? No idea, but... my hair got snipped a bit. I didn't wanna answer...
"That's not much of an ambush..."
"Behind me!"
Prince jumped forward protectively, aura sword in hand.
"...Aunt set a barrier here, how...? The house head's sword?"
The beast insulting the dead knight's honor with greed-swinging sword twisted the prince's face. He blasted the window with magic; alarms rang.
"Your Highness! That sword, please!!"
"Nonsense!!"
"Trust me once!!"
"I know you're strong, but opponent's bad! No mana means aura users win!"
He'd risk life here; get Ephemera away before rampage. I begged for the sword, but as royal, protecting people is duty—even incompetent. No convincing; cold sweat as...
Killing intent choking the air flooded the mansion.
From shadows, pajama-clad Ephemera appeared behind the beast, sword drawn. Questioning intrusion brief; rage exploded at the sword.
Like a berserk animal, roaring, unleashing storm-thunder mana wildly. Aura on sword, full-throttle killing intent never shown even vs. hero—toward the beast. One swing cratered walls, collapsed ceiling, shattered glass with brutal pressure.
Beast clashed swords like playing.
"Stall till Aunt comes... Hide meanwhile!"
"No, please!! Lend that sword!!!"
"I've owed Aunt since childhood... You survive!"
"Ears blocked, Your Highness?"
"Not!! What crazy royal hands a powerless farmer a sword vs. monster?! Think!!"
"True!!!"
I ditched convincing, hunted a sword. Where...? Should've brought from dorm!!!