It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 67 – The Caring Upperclassman

On the day of adventure training, we departed from the school.

Our destination was the western dungeon.

Originally, we’d planned to gather medicinal herbs on the highlands.

While Misty and I could manage, Riti and Zaik weren’t exactly high in combat ability.

But Driema loudly objected.

She said, “We have Larba-sama and me, so let’s do dungeon exploration instead.”

According to her, she wanted to go to the dungeon in first year, but the upperclassmen chose the highlands, so she didn’t want to go two years in a row.

Incidentally, despite talking big, Driema apparently wasn’t particularly high in combat ability either.

Still, since I wanted to try the dungeon if possible, I didn’t oppose strongly.

I figured with me, Misty, and Larba, we could probably defeat most monsters.

And so we were walking along the road.

“Adventure training is nothing special! Let’s take it easy!”

The one talking actively was Driema.

But still…

“She’s really changed, hasn’t she?”

“Was Driema-senpai not like this before?”

“No.”

Before, she always had a stern face, glared at me, was full of hostility toward me, and treated others coldly, but now she was smiling and talking a lot to Misty and Riti.

Her whole atmosphere seemed much softer.

“What’s up, interested in my betrothed?”

Larba called out to me.

“I was just thinking she’s gotten brighter.”

“Hahaha, girls who laugh a lot are wonderful, right? There’s a goddess beside me who smiles at every opportunity. It’s the best.”

Larba was lavishly praising Driema.

I think calling her a goddess is going too far though.

There’s only one goddess in this world.

That’s right, just Misty.

“So, is that your goddess?”

“Yeah.”

Larba indicated with a jerk of his chin.

“I’ve seen Misty-san at the palace occasionally, but this is my first time talking to her. By the way, how are things with Zeke? Are you two getting along?”

“I wonder… But Zeke-sama is kind to me. He even defended me at school before.”

“Hmm, well, he may not look it, but he’s a softy. He even helped Larba-sama and me get together… Oh, perfect. Let’s talk about various things tonight. Including each other’s love lives.”

“Yes, I’d love to.”

“And you’re called Riti, right? Oh, so you came here from the Lindl Duchy. You’re small and cute—you’ll probably bring out the protective instincts in boys. Do you have a betrothed?”

Driema was at the center of the three, keeping the conversation going.

From an outside perspective, she looked like a talkative, caring upperclassman.

“Oh, so you’re from the Bensam family?”

“Yes, though I’m the second son.”

“That doesn’t matter at all. So, you’re Zeke’s follower, right?”

“Yes, I’m allowed to stay by Zeke-sama’s side.”

When I shifted my gaze, Larba and Zaik were chatting happily.

Though to me, Zaik wasn’t a follower, and he was only by my side because he chose to be there on his own—but it wasn’t worth correcting, so I decided not to point it out.

“I see, I see. Then I gotta be nice to you too. Besides, in terms of houses, mine is also what you’d call a frontier noble living away from the capital. Position-wise, we’re similar. Let’s get along.”

“Yes, please. I’m honored to be close with someone called the Mighty Sword.”

“If you have any troubles, just say anything, alright? And make sure you serve Zeke properly.”

“Of course!”

Yeah, they seem to be getting along well—wait.

“Hold on, Larba. You’re the Mighty Sword?”

I mean, Larba is one year older than me, so she’s 16, right? That’s several years earlier than in the game!

“Yeah, you know, I’m in the capital to attend school, right? Through Driema’s connections, I met the Sword Saint, became his disciple, and somehow got him to acknowledge me and give me the title. At first, I couldn’t land a hit at all, but it was the result of working hard because I couldn’t show Driema such a pathetic side.”

“Seriously…”

Amazing, so this is the power of support.

“Wait, you were in the capital, Larba?”

“Yeah, Driema prepared a villa for me, so we’re living together.”

“What!?”

A villa? And living together!?

That’s way too much information all at once!

“You’re living together!?”

“Yeah, it’s not something to be surprised about. We’re betrothed with both families’ approval.”

“That’s true, but… but Driema is royalty. Is that okay?”

When I asked in surprise, Larba made an exasperated expression.

“It’s fine. Who’s going to complain?”

True, no one would complain… or would they?

“What about Driema’s mother or her brother Elliott?”

“Hilma-sama comes by occasionally but doesn’t say anything in particular. When I reported getting the Mighty Sword title, she praised me with one word. Elliott-sama came once, said ‘I’m counting on you with Driema’ in just one sentence. That was really all.”

I’m kinda surprised it’s going so well.

“Oh, but at that time Elliott-sama talked to me about factions. He asked if the Ribauto marquis house would side with Zeke.”

“What did you answer?”

“I said I’m not the head of the house so I don’t know for sure, but probably yes. Then Elliott-sama clicked his tongue without saying anything. Well, I’d say relations are good.”

No no, he clicked his tongue at you.

The relationship isn’t good if he’s only visited once.

Still though.

“If you’re in the capital, Larba, you could’ve told me. You haven’t come to any parties either.”

“Hmm? Driema said she contacted the palace. And she said we don’t need parties until after graduation.”

“…………”

Didn’t Driema not tell the palace?

I actually didn’t know about it.

“More importantly, I almost forgot.”

Larba bumped into my shoulder with his whole body while saying in a low voice to lend him my ear.

“Did you make some kind of grudge?”

“Huh, what are you talking about?”

“There was a noble’s messenger who came asking to rough you up for money.”

Me?

“What was that noble’s name?”

“Who knows, it was a lot of money, but I refused right away so I didn’t ask. Any ideas?”

“Hmm.”

Eh, who could it be?

Top candidate is former teacher Hens who I defeated and got fired. Second is Levin, who I ended up stealing followers from. Long shot would be Toprak, who I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.

But still.

Would Levin, who hasn’t attacked directly, do something like that? He seems like the type to complain directly, and same with Toprak—I don’t get the impression he’d sneak around using others.

Is it Hens after all? But he’s the guy who didn’t become head of the house, so could someone like that pull money from the family?

“I don’t know.”

“So you’re not saying there’s none. Well, be careful.”

“Got it, thanks.”

Larba warned me while laughing.

Larba really is a good guy.

“Also, let’s fight again sometime. I’ll show you the results of my efforts over these years.”

“…Please go easy on me.”

Being targeted by an unknown noble versus fighting the Mighty Sword—which has a higher danger level to my life?

That’s what I was thinking as I walked.