My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~ - Chapter 005: Mock Battle

Though he had the justifiable cause of wanting to stay at the academy—

He’d picked a fight with the top brass who led a pack of one hundred thousand right after enrollment.

Well, maybe he should flee at night. While Kishō seriously began to consider that option, Ōka revved up her chattering.

“Honestly, Shō-kun, you’re way too indifferent to dragonkin culture. You won’t form a pack. You avoid girls. And to top it off, you say you’ll just live in a human city. I get how you feel, but you’re still a dragonkin, so—mmph!”

Ignoring Ōka’s lecture, he covered her chattering mouth with his hand.

Before he knew it, the other students had started whispering amongst themselves as well.

Immediately after, “Silence!” Instructor Mi’on’s rebuke cut through the stirring crowd. Ōka’s body jumped. When Instructor Mi’on glared around the area with a sweeping glance, the room instantly quieted. He released his hand from the teary-eyed Ōka and patted her head.

Satisfied with the silence, Instructor Mi’on nodded once and prompted the Princess to introduce herself.

The Princess stepped forward.

A strong wind blew, and her long black hair danced and coiled around the girl’s white nape.

“As introduced, I am Kuroyo, a first-year top-ranked student of the Upper School. Though only for today, I ask for your cooperation.”

Tremors ran through the previously settled crowd.

“No way? A girl can be top-ranked?!”

“But the Upper School has sons of famous nobles. I can’t believe it.”

Males are naturally superior to females—this was the common understanding among dragonkin.

Among many species, males tended to be born specialized for combat, but this tendency was particularly strong among dragonkin.

Of course, there existed masculine women, and there were plenty of exceptions. However, that only applied when comparing males and females of different bloodlines—if the bloodlines were comparable, the male would definitely be stronger.

Moreover, this was Central, the highest educational institution, and specifically the Upper School’s top rank. For a woman to reign at the top, suppressing renowned males, exceeded their comprehension.

Many directed doubt her way. Rather, those who believed her outright were rarer.

And one such rare, naturally foolish person sat right next to Kishō.

“That’s amazing, Shō-kun. Maybe I should force her to give me an autograph after all.”

When he casually responded with “Yeah, yeah,” she pulled at his arm in dissatisfaction. Was she aware her chest was touching him? No, she definitely wasn’t. Kishō sighed inwardly.

“Well, she certainly doesn’t look like she’s lying.”

She was far too composed for someone telling a lie. Besides, with her noble status as a Princess, there was no reason for her to lie. And Instructor Mi’on wasn’t correcting her. If so, the Princess’s words must be true.

Having gained Kishō’s agreement, Ōka’s mood seemed restored.

The Princess at the center of attention showed no sign of being intimidated by the doubt directed at her.

“Are you really top-ranked? Show us proof!”

To the heckling thrown by an oblivious male student, she didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. She tilted her head slightly, pondered something, then broke into a full smile.

“If you wish to know my ability, let’s see. How about a mock battle with me? If I defeat everyone here, you should be somewhat convinced, shouldn’t you?”

She sharply pointed the tip of her practice sword challengingly at the male students.

A man can’t swallow his spit after spitting.

Provoked, the male student indignantly climbed onto the stage.

It was a familiar face. The toad-faced male student.

“That’s, uh, the third-ranked guy… what was his name again?”

“Gudon-kun.”

Oh right, that was it.

He couldn’t bother remembering unimportant guys’ names.

“I thought he was an idiot, but I didn’t know he was this much of a fool.”

“Picking a fight with the Princess… he’s got a death wish…”

Branded incompetent. Unable to fully demonstrate dragonkin power.

That’s why he picked fights—Kishō had thought.

What a guy who never learned no matter how many times they spoke with fists, though he had guts.

That’s what he’d thought.

But picking a fight with the Princess was an entirely different matter.

His foolishness was so profound it even evoked pity.

A frog who doesn’t know the ocean croaks.

“You called yourself Kuroyo, right? If I win, how will you make it up to me?!”

“Let’s see. If by some chance I lose, I’ll grant one request from you.”

The Princess answered smoothly without hesitation.

No doubt or conflict existed there. Only absolute confidence.

At first glance it seemed a graceful response, but Kishō felt an unpleasant scratchiness in his chest.

“Anything? Really anything?”

“Yes.”

“Heh. No backing out later.”

A vulgar smile plastered itself across Gudon’s face.

Even the cheerful Ōka’s expression stiffened at his shamelessness in not even hiding his base desires.

For dragonkin, duels were a common method used to resolve disputes.

In official duels, one wagered their life and the rights to their pack. Losing meant literally losing everything.

Since this was in mock battle format, it wasn’t an official duel. However, a vow exchanged in the presence of an instructor as witness should carry considerable binding force. If she broke her promise, her dignity as Princess would be ruined. Which meant she’d have to accept whatever demand was made.

For instance, even if he demanded her body.

The image of firm, supple skin and a lasciviously swaying body rose in his mind, and Kishō ground his teeth in displeasure.

“Things can go wrong even with long odds. What if you lose?”

Glancing sideways, he saw Ōka watching the match’s outcome with a worried expression. Was it his imagination, or were there faint tears welling in her large eyes? Such a hopeless softie. As someone of the same gender with her preferences, she’d gotten completely emotionally invested.

Both parties assumed their stances on stage.

From that alone, Kishō could see the outcome.

“Don’t worry. The Princess will win.”

“Huh? Why?”

The swordsmanship used by dragonkin wasn’t just swinging a sword.

They refined the [Ki] circulating through their bodies, amplified it, wrapped it around the sword, and fought by increasing the sword’s sharpness and destructive power. Naturally, to excel as a swordsman, proficiency with [Ki] was crucial in addition to sword technique.

And when [Ki] proficiency reached the master’s level, [Ki] sublimated into [Sword Aura]. It was often described as “rising like flickering flames, dissipating like smoke.” What had merely coated the sword now became a higher-dimensional energy rising from the blade.

However, explaining this to Ōka was difficult. Because [Sword Aura] could only be seen by those who’d attained true mastery. As far as Kishō knew, no Lower School student except himself could wield [Sword Aura]. Even if he told her, he had no way to prove it.

And now, for the first time since entering this academy, he witnessed someone else’s [Sword Aura]. Navy blue [Sword Aura] rose from the practice sword the Princess held. He found it beautiful. His eyes were stolen away.

The match ended in an instant.

[Ki] and [Sword Aura] were different in dimensional quality. A direct block would either send the practice sword flying or shatter it in two. Even trying to deflect the force, he wouldn’t withstand the load on his arms.

As a result, shortly after it began, the toad-faced male student lay sprawled on the stage. That he merely lost consciousness—rather than it being good luck or divine protection—was due to the Princess’s exceptional skill.

Without basking in victory’s afterglow, the Princess said, “Who’s next?”

The third-ranked student had been instantly defeated. No one could casually step forward.

A heavy atmosphere dominated the space.

The one who broke the silence was, naturally, the Princess.

“Instructor Mi’on, may we proceed as planned?”

Kishō didn’t miss the brief furrow that formed between Instructor Mi’on’s brows. She deliberated something, then raised her voice.

“Moridate, take the stage.”

A large man called Moridate climbed onto the stage.

If Kishō’s memory served, that man should be the Lower School’s first-year top student. In other words, this was a summit battle between the Lower and Upper Schools’ first years—but without even watching, the result was obvious.

Kishō looked up at the heavens.

Moridate’s massive frame sank onto the white dragon stone stage.

“Disappointing… I had some hopes.”

Though victorious, the Princess looked visibly dejected.

And so the top-ranked students from each year were called in order, only to be defeated repeatedly.

“I see. They’re calling them by overall grade ranking.”

“Too bad, Shō-kun. You might’ve put up a good fight in swordsmanship.”

“Too bad huh. I’d say I got saved instead.”

“Huh? It’s a chance to appeal to the Princess!”

When he’d first enrolled, Kishō certainly had harbored desires to show off to girls and had flaunted his sword skills to stand out a bit.

But that was ancient history.

After being turned on and cursed by many girls, his values had twisted 180 degrees.

“If they misunderstand that I’m excellent because I can use swordsmanship, I’d be in trouble. I’ve had enough of being disappointed.”

The third-year top student collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

The Princess sighed sadly.

She carelessly swung her practice sword, dispersing the [Sword Aura] clinging to the blade like smoke. Beautiful flowers have thorns. Though he knew the difference in status that mustn’t be crossed, his eyes were involuntarily drawn to her gallant, beautiful profile. Suddenly, the Princess’s eyes locked onto him from almost directly sideways, as if glaring. Their eyes met.

He reflexively looked away. Too late. The Princess slowly turned toward him, now facing Kishō directly, and sent an unreserved gaze. Please don’t let it be me. Kishō prayed to gods he didn’t even believe in. It was futile.

“Hey, you there. You can see it, can’t you?”

Everyone’s gaze gathered on Kishō, sitting at the back of the row.

Knowing it was half a futile resistance, Kishō turned around and played dumb with an “I don’t know anything~” attitude. The female student sitting behind him looked around with a “Huh? Me?” expression.

“Oh. You’ve got nerve.”

Before he knew it, the Princess stood right in front of him.

Still seated on the viewing bench, Kishō looked up at that beautiful face. A practice sword’s tip pointed at his nose.

Her black hair, carried by the wind, grazed Kishō’s nose tip.

A feminine fragrance tickled his nostrils.

Their eyes met. Stared at by those bewitching eyes, his heart jumped with tension. The Princess peered intently at Kishō’s confused face. Suddenly, the Princess’s eyes widened, and her pale pink lips naturally curved into a crescent smile.

“I see. I’m starting to believe in fate a little.”

“Uh, what do you mean?”

This time he genuinely didn’t understand.

The Princess’s brow furrowed, her eyes narrowed, and a sharp light kindled in her pupils.

“You can see this, can’t you?”

At Kishō’s nose tip, [Sword Aura] manifested at the practice sword’s point. The sword tip pressed forward. Getting hit wouldn’t just hurt. Reflexively twisting his body to dodge, he simultaneously grabbed the practice sword and changed its trajectory.

“Just as I thought.”

” What do you mean ‘Just as I thought’ ! That was dangerous!”

Kishō had roughly guessed why the Princess had targeted him.

Earlier, Kishō had momentarily followed with his eyes the [Sword Aura] scattering from the practice sword—which should only be visible to those who’d attained true mastery. She must have keenly detected that subtle change in his gaze. Despite being exposed to the stares of so many students, she hadn’t missed even one person’s shifting gaze, even the slightest discrepancy. What observational ability. Kishō felt renewed awe toward the Princess.

“You dodged desperately because you could see it.”

“Anyone would dodge even if they couldn’t see it!”

The Princess grinned wickedly. The way that villainous smile looked so alluring when decorated with beauty made it all the more troublesome. Her jet-black eyes looked down at him triumphantly.

And Kishō realized his slip of the tongue. “Even if they couldn’t” —that one phrase was unnecessary. This was a statement premised on being able to see it. This was as good as admitting it. Belatedly, he understood why she’d smiled.

“You will accept. Now stand.”

Kishō had no cards left to play. Desperately grasping at straws, he sent a pleading gaze toward Instructor Mi’on as witness, but she merely gestured with her hands to stand.

(Well, of course…)

He sighed inwardly. If it were another subject, there might’ve been hope. She might’ve judged it a waste of time to pit the dropout Kishō against her, or she might’ve stopped it citing the power gap. However, specifically in swordsmanship, he’d received “Excellent.” There was no reason to stop it.

“Well, if granting her wish repays my debt, that’s fine.”

He’d wanted to thank her for so long. For giving him courage beneath the Dragon King Tree.

They faced each other at the stage’s center.

The Princess assumed her stance. Though her body should be small and delicate, when she straightened her back and held her practice sword directly, she looked large. Her dignified bearing even conveyed the dignity of royalty.

[Ki] filled the Princess’s surroundings. The [Ki] eventually sublimated into [Sword Aura], rising like flickering flames from the practice sword. It was pleasant [Sword Aura]. He was even moved that besides himself, there existed a student who could refine [Sword Aura] to such a high level.

He had no choice but to steel himself. Kishō released [Sword Aura] all at once, bypassing the conversion from [Ki]. For the first time, surprise colored the Princess’s previously impassive expression.

He formed a plan in his head.

(This isn’t a fight to the death. It’s just sword training practice. An extension of that.)

His plan was set.

Instructor Mi’on raised her arm and declared the start.

“Then, begin!”

The moment it started, both leaped into each other’s embrace in a single bound.

In that instant, tremendously high-purity compressed [Sword Aura] and [Sword Aura] mainstreams collided.