Kiss of The Saint

It seems Siegfried had already set off for the Braginor Highlands with his classmate Leon and senior Alex.

Isn’t he underestimating this a bit too much?

Normally, preparing for an expedition would take much longer than just one day. However, with the Castel Highlands in danger, there wasn’t much time to spare. The Castel Highlands are one of the kingdom’s most famous summer resorts and a vital tourism asset.

As I was pondering what to do next, a commotion outside the dormitory window caught my attention.

When I threw open the window, I was stunned by the scene below.

A military parade…?

It wasn’t just a few hundred soldiers but an overwhelming number, as if preparing for a war with a neighboring country. The academy’s grounds were filled with countless rows of strong, battle-ready troops.

“One, two… eight, nine, ten?!”

By estimating the area they covered, I realized there were around 100,000 soldiers gathered. Even though the three who went were from powerful noble families, assembling such a massive force was no small feat.

“Please excuse us!” 

Just as I was captivated by the sight, a voice called from outside my room. When I gave permission to enter, the familiar trio stepped inside.

“Prince Brad, we present the heavy infantry tanks and water wizards of the Magus family for your command.”

“I see, with those heavy infantry for defense and the water mages to flood the enemy, you’re planning to overwhelm them.”

“Yes, exactly as you say!”

Omoneel immediately knelt before me upon entering, his head bowed in submission. The Magus family, of which he is a part, specializes in water magic and holds a significant role in the kingdom’s mage army.

“Your Highness I’ve brought mounted mercenaries from my father’s forces! They’re fearless, the kind who wouldn’t even flinch before the Demon King’s army!”

“Oh, now that sounds interesting.”

Next, Sontac, from the Azel family, performed a flawless sliding kneel as he made his report. His family had long tamed fierce nomadic tribes, using them as mercenaries known for their ruthlessness.

“However, with such a large number of soldiers on the move and preparing for battle, the issue of logistics becomes a concern.”

But…

“You needn’t worry, boff. My Eugene Baron family oversees the commercial guild, so we can secure all the supplies you’ll need.” 

Kobiuul thumped his chest with confidence. Although the Eugene family wasn’t a military noble house like Omoneel and Sontac, they were responsible for road maintenance and held significant influence in the commercial guild.

While Siegfried, in his impatience, rushed off with his two companions, I found that Omoneel and the others had thoughtfully prepared everything for our expedition in advance. 

These three were way, way more competent than in the original story…

As we were discussing plans, someone knocked on the door again. To my surprise, it was Freesia, stepping into the room. Her face was bright red, as if she had caught a fever.

“Uhm… Brad-sama, please take care of yourself,” she said softly.

“You don’t need to remind me of that.”

Seeing the shy and blushing Freesia, Omoneel and the others quickly caught on.

“It seems we’re intruding,” Omoneel said with a knowing smile.

“Oooh, I’m getting fired up!” Sontac added energetically.

“Then, Prince, we’ll see you later, boff,” Kobiuul finished, all three heading toward the door.

“Wait, you don’t have to—” I tried to say, but before I could finish, the three of them were already gone.

Incredible. Not only had they prepared everything for the expedition, but they even had the sense to give us some privacy with Freesia. They were a far cry from the bumbling trio I remembered from the original plot.

Now, left alone in the room with Freesia, the awkwardness was palpable. Her face remained flushed, and though it seemed she had something to say, she hesitated, her words caught in her throat.

“What’s with the fidgeting? If you have something to say, just spit it out…”

Huh!?

A soft sensation brushed against my lips, accompanied by a refreshing, citrus-like scent…

Freesia had suddenly kissed me. In the original story, something this bold only happened when her affection level was maxed out.

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped. But as soon as Freesia’s lips parted from mine, time seemed to start moving again.

“They say a saint’s kiss grants protection from calamity.”

After saying that, Freesia’s face flushed even redder than when she entered the room—her pale, translucent skin turning a soft pink from her neck to her arms—before she quickly left.

I stood there, pressing my lips with my hand, completely stunned. I had no idea how much time had passed since the kiss, but when I came to, Lily was watching me with a devilish smirk.

“Hmmm, so it was both of your first kisses, huh?”