It Seems Like I Got Transmigated Into An Eroge - Chapter 19 : Interlude [Lily]

“Ugh…”

“Are you alright, M’lady?”

“Yeah… What happened?”

“M’lady, you engaged in a battle with a disciple of the saint and—”

“Okay-okay, I remember it all now. How’s my condition?”

“Fortunately, M’lady, there’s nothing wrong with your body.”

“Alright, you’re dismissed. I’ll rest for now.”

“Yes, M’lady.”

The elven healer left my room, leaving me all alone.

“Haah… Anya, are you there?”

[Yes, milady.]

On the floor, a magic circle materialized, and from it emerged a snowy wolf with sharp canines and golden eyes. Its body stretched over 10 feet long, accompanied by a white coldness that scattered directionlessly around the entire room.

“So, we lost, huh?”

[Yes, milady. I apologize for my incompetence.]

“No, it’s my fault. I let my guard down.”

I clenched my hands tightly and gritted my teeth due to the defeat and my own failure. Never before have I tasted such a bitter defeat, unlike when I lose to my brothers. That person shattered my pride and dignity as a high elf and princess of the Askar kingdom. Moreover, it was the person who took the position that was supposed to be mine originally.

Defeated twice by the same person—first, Sister Irene chose him to be her disciple when it was meant to be me. Then, he defeated me despite lacking mana, being a man, and a human. It infuriated me.

When Sister Irene arrived at the party with him, my irritation escalated, prompting me to leave the banquet for a breath of fresh air. To my surprise, the person I was annoyed with followed me to the garden. Initially, I ignored him completely, waiting to see if he would take any action, but he remained hidden in the brush.

Then, a drunken man attempted to hit on me, further fueling my anger. In my heightened state of frustration, I accidentally killed him in the heat of the moment, as it brought back memories of that day. Shortly thereafter, he appeared wearing a fox mask, feigning surprise at the sight of the lifeless body before me. In the grip of my resentment, I completely forgot about the person I had just taken the life of. In that moment, an idea crossed my mind, and I decided to test his abilities to determine if he was truly worthy of Sister Irene’s attention. Unfortunately, this only resulted in my embarrassing defeat.

“What kind of monstrous guardian showed him mercy, Anya?”

[The boy doesn’t possess a guardian spirit, milady.]

I stared at Anya in disbelief. “Wait, he doesn’t have one? Are you certain? Could his guardian be concealing its presence?”

[He faced us solely with his own immense strength, milady. My keen senses can detect anything. Moreover, when you ensnared him in ice, he bided his time until you drew near, then shattered the ice, forcing us into close-quarters combat.]

“Yes, I was aware of that. I let my guard down then, which led to his victory. If only I had known he had the power to easily break the ice… Haaa… If only I had my sword with me at that moment… He’s an anomaly. Yet, are you completely certain he lacks a guardian? Aren’t there cases where guardians willingly form contracts even with individuals devoid of mana? I believe they’re referred to as Eleos Spirits.”

[Indeed, milady, but such spirits abstain from using their powers. They’re often referred to as solitary spirits, as they select companionship over everything else. These spirits are unable to wield their sacred abilities, as there exists no mutual exchange of mana between them and their companions. In circumstances where the contractor or their master’s life is imperiled, the spirit retainer is rendered powerless due to the restrictions of their own nature and the world’s laws.]

“Sigh… Anya, do you think he orchestrated all of this intentionally?”

[Yes, milady, I believe so.]

“Furthermore, he persistently pressed on, even when faced with the ice barrier. If only I had my sword then… Haa… Nevertheless, he pressed on and backed me into a corner. I hadn’t anticipated that he would opt for close-quarters combat. What are your thoughts on that?”

[I cannot say for certain, milady. He likely possesses confidence in his close combat skills.]

“Yes, that seems likely. Sister Irene must have imparted significant training to him. Ahh—! Envy wells up within me! He receives personal tutelage from the person I hold in the highest esteem, one of the world’s preeminent swordsmen.”

[Not necessarily, milady. However, his success is probably rooted in his instincts.]

“What do you mean by that?”

[He might have experienced a near-death situation before. The essence I sensed within him conveys an unyielding determination to survive, regardless of the cost. His instincts heightened to an extraordinary degree when confronted with dire peril. This instinctual response significantly enhanced his focus, enabling him to discern the flaws in my barrier. I am convinced that his every move was calculated.]

“…”

I found myself speechless… Every piece fell into place—reflecting back on our duel, each strike he launched targeted the vulnerable areas where I was susceptible had it not been for Anya’s barrier. Moreover, he never struck the same spot twice, frequently altering his attack pattern as though seeking something. He executed these tactics flawlessly, maintaining the strategy consistently.

Upon reflection, I comprehended the extent of his formidable nature. He never flinched or retreated despite his disadvantageous position; instead, he fought back relentlessly. Could his self-assuredness in his abilities be this unwavering? A truly formidable individual, to say the least. Still, he is the individual chosen by Sister Irene, thus such qualities are to be expected.

“Sigh… It appears my defeat is undeniable.”

[Fret not, master. I shall strive harder in the next encounter.]

Anya’s fluffy head rested on my lap, making me smile, so I started stroking her furry head.

“Thank you, but it’s more my fault. You did your best.”

The sound of the door opening caught my attention.

“Lily~! Are you feeling well now? Is there anything you want?”

“I’m fine now, father. Thank you for worrying.”

He sat beside me and started stroking Anya’s head too, alongside me.

“Have you learned anything from your defeat?”

“Yes, I became full of myself because I’m gifted with a tremendous amount of mana, so I let my guard down. I have too many flaws… I lack in so many parts…”

“That’s good to know. I learned from Irene that he’ll be attending the same academy as you. I know you’re upset because your Irene chose a manaless person to be her disciple rather than you, but can you please forget your personal grudge toward that guy?”

“Eh? Ah… Yes, father…” I cast my head down in dejection. Father’s correct; I blamed him for everything because I’m upset that Sister Irene chose him over me. But I don’t know if I can easily get rid of my personal grudge of mine.

“What about thinking of him as a rival?”

“Oh… But why? Because rivals can make each other strong?”

“Partially, but harboring hatred won’t get you anywhere, as it will only lead you into disarray. You just need to change your mindset to get stronger. Why do you want to be stronger? Is it to protect the kingdom? Or for yourself? Remember, being strong for oneself isn’t a bad thing, but always remember the world doesn’t revolve around you. You can be selfish as long as it will not bring harm to others. Think about what you want to become. You are the future of our kingdom, as our great guardian chose you.”

(Yes, milady. I’ve chosen you as my contractor because I saw something special within you.)

“T-Thank you.”

“Being upset over a defeat won’t get you anywhere. Stand up with your face forward, along with your dignity and pride in your chest. A mere single defeat won’t faze you. Learn from your defeat and move on.”

“… Yes.”

“So, what are your thoughts about the disciple of your sister, Irene?”

“He doesn’t back down, a person who always pushes forward in life. He thinks decisively. He wouldn’t say so, but he can do it. I understand the difference between us. He lives to push forward in life, while I, on the other hand… I’m a naïve person…”

“Hm, interesting… Just remember that feeling of defeat and turn that into something powerful. Well then, I’ll go now. Later, Lily.”

“Likewise, father.”

Father left the room. While I’m contemplating my dearest father’s wise words, what he said makes a lot of sense. I don’t have the motivation to get stronger because I’m full of myself, thinking that I’m fine with just my gift, that I can be the strongest without doing anything.

“We’ll start training from today onwards, Anya.”

(Yes, milady.)

Someday, I’ll make sure to repay it with your own defeat. Now that I think about it, I forgot his name already. Ca—Cloud? Something like that… Nevertheless, I’ll repay it someday, Cloud.