【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 47: Princess Mariessia POV, The Hero of Mariessia

“Your Highness! Numerous urgent reports from the defense lines across the region! The number of monsters is still increasing!”

“Understood. Order the troops in each area to gradually retreat to the second defense line. Continue the evacuation of the surrounding residents.”

It’s hopeless. My personal guard alone needs more strength.

But still, is it normal for this many monsters to appear? It feels abnormally excessive.

“Your Highness… this might be the Mega Stampede of Colossal Monsters.”

“What did you say? Such a thing…”

The Mega Stampede of Colossal Monsters… has happened over 50 years ago. It’s like a fairy tale from my childhood.

Why now?

Lord Baldo is not here… Milene is not here… the main forces of the kingdom are not here… my brother has fled…

Why is it happening now?

Even as I grappled with this near despair, more and more bad news arrived from the knights.

I regretfully sent a message to Lord Baldo just a while ago.

It was selfish to ask for help after exiling him from the country.

Such an incredible request without any reason.

But still…

I ended up contacting Lord Baldo…

If it’s him… he might be able to do something.

After all, Lord Baldo is my…

◇◇◇

This was when I was ten years old.

Back then, I was quite naughty. I loved to escape my maids and freely explore the castle, perhaps what you’d call a tomboy princess.

That day, I played happily with a magical tool I had taken from the treasury.

But then, the magical tool activated…

And I was trapped.

The tool was meant for imprisoning criminals.

Thick walls surrounded me. Above, below, all around me… enclosed by inorganic walls… I didn’t know what to do.

Just as I was about to cry…

I heard a munching sound from behind.

What! A monster!?

No, it wasn’t.

It was a gentleman…

He is sitting with his back against the wall, legs crossed. “Hello,” he said, fiddling with a wrapped package.

What are you planning to do?

As I was on high alert…

He offered me an anpan, a commoners’ food.

What’s with this gentleman?

He said my father called him, but he seemed suspicious.

He was beaming, having bought anpan from a famous shop in the capital. I didn’t understand. It was all so confusing.

I felt sorry for involving him but kept my distance.

I slapped my cheek.

I can’t rely on this gentleman. It’s dangerous.

I’ll take responsibility for my actions! As a royal, I must be prepared for such situations!

I can use a little magic. I’ll show him.

First, I cast fire magic, then ice magic on the wall.

Then, I shot stone bullets with earth magic.

I learned this from my royal tutor. Metals become fragile with temperature changes.

But it was no use…

Not a single scratch!

Wasn’t this magical tool called Adamant Prison…?

Wait, adamant! Isn’t that the hardest substance in this world!?

Tears welled up in my eyes again.

I wanted to cry out loud… What!?

What’s this? The gentleman forcefully stuffed the anpan in…

“This insolent person!” I was about to scream…!?

What is this? It’s delicious! Munch!

What in the world is this? Anpan is amazing! Munch!

“Young lady, just eat for now… I’ll handle the rest,”

Handle? What are you going to do, Mister?

While munching on the anpan I received, I gaze intently at the gentleman.

Mister began to take deep, exaggerated breaths! That’s quite an overreaction!

And then he drew his sword…

“―――Sei!”

He said “Sei!”

What does “Sei” mean?

Then something unbelievable happened!

The adamantium wall split cleanly in half, crumbling down with a thunderous crash.

Incredible! Who is this gentleman!?

“The young lady made the metal brittle with fire and ice magic. That’s why I could cut it. Otherwise, there’s no way I could have sliced through something like adamantium,”

Eeeeh… Does that have anything to do with it?

I feel like my magic didn’t make much of a difference…

But…

“You did well, young lady. We could escape because you didn’t give up. Great job,”

The gentleman praised me!

He’s so cool that the details don’t matter!!

Then he squeezed my hand tightly and smiled warmly.

After that, people who must have been worried about me rushed in.

But the gentleman had disappeared somewhere, leaving only a faint scent on my hand.

Years have passed since then… I had almost given up on ever meeting him again.

After all, the gentleman probably doesn’t remember me.

One day, my father called me and introduced me to three young girls. They are the Tri-Gods.

I was amazed that girls my age had such power to represent the country.

But what truly surprised me was…

Behind the young Tri-Gods, a man was munching away.

―――He’s eating anpan again!

I met my hero again!

◇◇◇

“Princess, this place is dangerous! Quickly, to the escape route! We have a fast carriage waiting outside,”

The knight’s voice echoes in my mind.

I’m abruptly pulled back to reality. What was I doing leisurely, lost in memories?

―――What did I learn from that person?

I convey my intentions clearly to those preparing to escape.

“What are you saying? There’s no way I can flee!”

The demons are approaching the kingdom. If not, who will lead the front?

―――I will not give up!!

“Princess! A large flying demon above! Is that… a Giga Wyvern!?”

“Everyone, stay calm! The magic unit, start your long-range attacks! Prepare the giant anti-air crossbows!”

“Princess! The magic attacks are ineffective! It’s approaching us!”

“Fire all the anti-air giant crossbows at once!”

The large arrows designed for demons are launched simultaneously at the beast.

“Princess! No effect! They’re all being deflected by its scales!”

“Damn…”

―――I can’t end like this!

I release both fire and ice magic at the same time.

I have grown a bit since then. I can now use magic simultaneously.

But…

Kyuueeeee―――

The massive demon crushes all my efforts, charging us with a menacing cry.

Is it all in vain…

―――If only I could meet Baldo-sama once more…

―――!?

Despite the massive demon’s charge… Am I still alive?

What is that!?

The demon that charged just now is blown far up into the sky!

For some reason, other demons are also being blown upwards!

From behind, a horde of demons is being sent flying upwards as if bouncing off something!

“Pr-princessss! The horde of demons… in the sky!?”

“What’s that? They’re being blown away by something like a wall! Is this… a 【Barrier】? It’s like a fireworks display of demons!”

“Princess! Reports are coming in that demons are being blown away in various places; the threat is diminishing!”

A huge wall passes through the royal castle.

Bouncing off the horde of demons as it goes.

―――This scent…

I will not forget it.

Ah… he saved me again.

Hehe, as always, my recklessly wonderful hero.