I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 36-37

Chapter 36: Ice Blade

Aaaaaah!? No way, no way, no way!

What is this strength!? I really want to run away!

But pulling back now would be way too lame!

Above all, I can’t back down when my favorite is cheering me on!

“Gaaaaaaa!”

“Tch! Persistent—Ice Road.”

“Gaaaa!”

“I tried to make it trip, but that didn’t work either… The power is one thing, but not having time to charge it is a problem too.”

My ice magic was still developing, and Alvis himself had never put in real effort, relying only on his talent.

His movement was somehow holding up thanks to Sebas’s harsh training, but his magic practice was all self-taught.

That was why big spells took time to prepare, and there was no guarantee they would even succeed.

“But I have no choice but to try.”

“Gaaaa!”

I dodged the enemy’s attacks while picturing the magic in my mind.

Strength that would not lose to those arms.

Something thick and sharp.

“Master! Watch out!”

“Gaaaaaaaa!”

“Damn—Guh!”

I concentrated too much on the magic.

I stepped back on instinct, but a fist still sank into my stomach.

I rolled across the ground but somehow managed to get back on my feet.

“Kuh…”

“Master!?”

“Don’t come here! (Good grief! Why am I making my favorite worry like this!)”

“Gaaaa…!”

“Don’t get cocky. Freeze and pierce—Ice Lance.”

“Gaa!?”

The enemy swung its arm to knock it away again, but the arm broke this time… I at least managed to destroy one arm.

Still, it was not a finishing blow.

Damn it, I should have trained seriously.

With Alvis’s specs, he should not be struggling against an enemy like this.

“G… Gaaaaaaaaa!”

“…It’s completely enraged now.”

I healed the wound in my stomach while thinking as fast as I could.

My magic was draining quickly. If this kept up, I might run out first.

More than anything, I could not let my favorite see any more pathetic sights from me.

At that moment, I noticed blood flowing from the enemy’s broken arm.

If it was bleeding, then maybe I could cut it.

“…I see. It might be worth trying.”

“Gaaaaaa!”

I placed my hand on the sheath and lowered my stance.

I pictured an ice blade, freezing cold ice.

I drew the enemy in as close as possible and built up my magic.

“Master!”

“Don’t worry. Ice Blade—Setsugetsuka.”

“Gaa!?”

Before the enemy’s right arm could reach me, I stepped in and drew my sword in an iaijutsu cut, severing the wounded left arm.

The enemy’s arm flew off, yet it still wore a fearless grin.

As if saying something like this would not kill it.

“What’s wrong? Come at me.”

“Gaaaaaa!”

“It moved—checkmate.”

“Gaaa? …G, g, g…”

Ice spread from the cut surface of the arm and covered its entire body.

And then… its whole body froze solid and quietly shattered into pieces.

—

Chapter 37: Reward for the Battle

It was improvised, but I was glad it worked out well.

If I could not deal damage with ice magic itself, I just had to drive it straight into the body.

That was why I wrapped the sword in ice and froze it from the cut.

Heh heh heh. I turned around, thinking I had looked cool, and… my favorite’s face was right in front of me.

“Master! Are you all right!? Are you hurt!?”

“W-W-W-What——(Aaaaaah! She’s hugging meeee!?)”

The shock was so great that no line worthy of Alvis came out.

The soft feeling against my chest, the nice smell from her hair, the scent unique to women that stirred a man’s instincts.

All of it was ruining both me and Alvis.

“…Oh my, I’m so sorry.”

“H-Hmph, it’s unnecessary worry. (C-Calm down, me.)”

“You’re right. Master is amazing, after all.”

“Hmph, that’s a foolish question. (Yes! I somehow kept up appearances!)”

I braced my whole body and barely kept my knees from buckling.

The shock of being hugged was part of it, but my magic and stamina were almost completely gone.

Still, as Alvis’s pride, I could not collapse here… No, as myself, I did not want to collapse because I wanted to look cool in front of my favorite.

After that, I received praise from the knights and Arnold and the others.

“Your Highness Alvis! That was brilliant!”

“Yes! To think you defeated a goblin general all by yourself!”

“It was fairly tough, but it was no match for me. (It was super close, though!)”

“That’s impressive. A goblin general is a steel-rank monster, and you handled it with such a cool face…”

“Hm? A steel-rank monster? …Forgive my ignorance, but please explain.”

“No, that’s only natural. Unless you’re an adventurer or knight, you wouldn’t learn about it.”

While one knight went to report, I got an explanation from another.

Monsters and magical beasts had ranks, just like currency, going from highest to lowest: platinum, gold, silver, steel, copper, iron, stone.

A steel-rank monster was mid-level, something a few mid-tier adventurers or several full knights would face.

In other words, it was not an opponent a student who had not even graduated yet should fight alone.

…No wonder it was so strong! I almost died!

“I-I see… (Scary…)”

“But do you really have no combat experience?”

“Well, I actually have a little. That must be part of it.”

“Your Highness in combat… That would be… No.”

“You’re quick on the uptake. It’s better for you not to pry any further.”

It was true that this was my first monster, but I had fought the church’s assassins twice.

Yet those assassins were weaker than a goblin general.

No, they probably prioritized stealth over combat ability.

An apostle-class would be different, though… I needed to train soon.

“Yes, understood. Still, if Your Highness wished, you could immediately become an excellent knight or adventurer… No, that was disrespectful.”

“No, I don’t mind. There are many famous knights and adventurers. It doesn’t feel bad to be compared to them. Above all, it’s thanks to them that public order is maintained.”

I was going to withdraw from the race for emperor’s succession.

That meant I had to take some other job.

I did not want to serve under the brother who cornered me or the girl who cornered Yulia, so knight or lord was out.

In that case, adventurer was a strong candidate.

I could not support my favorite if I was just a NEET.

…Maybe I should become Yulia’s knight instead?

Build a new house for Yulia and get hired as a knight there… Not bad.

“To think… you don’t look down on us… I have to tell everyone about this.”

“Hm? I don’t really get it, but if you have time, teach me about adventurers’ work or knights.”

“Yes, sir! If it’s me, anything!”

“Good. Do as you see fit.”

And so, I decided to listen while we waited.

But for some reason… the two people watching from a distance were looking at me with sparkling eyes.

Seeing that, Yulia nodded firmly with an “Mm-hmm.”