My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~ - Chapter 051: The Storm Arrives

Leaning out the window, he looked up at the sky.

Black clouds were covering the heavens.

Wind had picked up. Feeling the chill, Kishō closed the window, carelessly arranging his disheveled hair as he turned around—

The academy’s greatest beauty stood before him.

Or so he thought, but it was the Princess.

He still wasn’t accustomed to her otherworldly beauty, and embarrassment made direct eye contact difficult. Moreover, the Princess’s sense of distance remained completely broken, and she stood incredibly close.

The warning bell rang, and female students rushed past at a jog.

Main building second floor. First period was about to begin. Many students passed through the hallway. The Princess who’d blocked his path stepped one pace closer with her usual meager expression, and Kishō reflexively retreated one step. Then she advanced another step without hesitation. Facing that shukuchi technique, which invaded his personal space in an instant, he took another step back—

BONK!

Since he’d been looking outside at the weather until just moments ago, naturally a window existed behind him. Unluckily shifting slightly, what he struck was the hard window frame.

“Ow—”

Numbing pain shot through his skull, and Kishō groaned while pressing the back of his head.

The Princess who’d been watching that pathetic display with a blank face tilted her head questioningly.

“What’s wrong?”

He got the feeling an unspoken nuance of “Why are you panicking so much?” was included, and Kishō grew anxious internally.

‘(There’s no way I can say I thought she was going to kiss me.)’

The heat from last night seemed to return. He felt his face growing hot.

It wasn’t mating season or anything, so feeling aroused during the day was embarrassing. Kishō averted his gaze diagonally and desperately considered excuses. Then, remembering something:

“Come to think of it, I can’t find my dirty dragon robes—”

Before he could ask if she knew, this time the Princess’s gaze slid distantly away. Her eyes were obviously darting about.

“Hey. Don’t tell me this is your doing.”

“What are you talking about?”

Though her tone affected composure, her eyes swam left and right. They paddled so obviously it was almost ridiculous.

“Yesterday before bed, I put my dirty dragon robes on the bed. But after you left my room, I got tired and fell asleep right away… When I woke up this morning, they were gone.”

When he tried to peer into the Princess’s eyes that wouldn’t meet his, just the pupils slid away to the opposite side. Her usual poker face remained intact, but observing carefully, her face also seemed slightly flushed. Acting dignified and upright without lowering her face was perhaps very like her, but with her eyes swimming so obviously, it meant nothing.

Kishō sighed in exasperation.

“You’re not even trying to cover it up at this point.”

“I have no need to cover anything up.”

“Then why did you steal my dragon robes?”

“I didn’t steal them! W-washing. Yes, I just took them home to wash. Washing my husband’s dragon robes is a wife’s duty, after all.”

Contrary to her words, the Princess’s pupils spun round and round like whirlpools. This was the first time he’d seen her this flustered. Kishō lifted the corner of his lips slightly mischievously:

“If you have nothing to hide, why won’t you meet my eyes?”

The Princess who groaned “Muuu” was incredibly cute.

“More importantly!”

Cutting him off forcefully, the Princess changed topics with brute force. And brought completely unexpected information.

◇◇◇◇◇

Afternoon.

Was it a precursor to the storm? Strong wind blew fiercely.

The sky that had been covered by ominous black clouds since morning now swirled as if rain would fall any moment.

Lower School, main building second floor.

The large windows set in the hallway rattled against the strong wind. Was there a gap somewhere? Cold wind that had invaded the school ran straight down the corridor.

In the wide hallway, large stone pillars stood at positions dividing classroom from classroom, and when viewed from a distance, their shadows became blind spots untouched by human eyes.

Afternoon in the dim midday with no sun out. Whether due to the thick black clouds, darkness reminiscent of dusk enveloped everything.

In such circumstances, a man and woman tangled in the pillar’s shadow.

“Kyah!? Wait, Shō— mmph—”

He covered the talkative mouth with his hand, pressing the small body against the wall to silence her. Short-cut chestnut hair fluttered, and the girl’s lively scent grazed his nose. Brown eyes brimming with tears looked up at him reproachfully, but Kishō ignored that and pressed his body close as if embracing her. Ōka’s body temperature transmitted through the dragon robe fabric.

“Mm-mm—” Ōka made noise.

“Be quiet.”

“Mm-mm—”

Ōka thrashed about. The sound of her banging the wall with her elbows was noisy. Kishō pressed even closer, forcefully sealing her movements by covering her. Ōka’s face dyed bright red, and she shook not just her body but even her neck, resisting with all her might.

“I said be quiet.”

“Mm-mm—”

Forcefully suppressing her violent resistance, Kishō said in a low voice laden with menace:

“Don’t make noise.”

Ōka’s face stiffened with a flinch. He whispered at her ear, offering a choice.

“I’ll remove my hand if you promise not to make noise. What’ll it be?”

Tearful Ōka nodded vigorously.

But he didn’t release her immediately. Sticking just his face out from the pillar’s shadow, he carefully stole a glance down the hallway. Confirming no abnormality, Kishō relaxed with relief. He gently removed his hand from Ōka’s mouth.

“Shō-kun, you pervert.”

“Huh?”

Criticized with a downturned, flushed face, only then did he realize he’d been strongly embracing Ōka, and Kishō reddened and quickly separated.

A piercing stare came from tearful Ōka looking up at him.

“Any girl is fine for you.”

“Why would you think that!?”

“Because you just assaulted me.”

“N-no, that’s—”

He’d covered her mouth, taken her arm, and pressed her against the wall while embracing her—thinking it over carefully, this was an act that could reasonably be interpreted as assault. The moment that awareness sprouted, blood rushed to his face, and Kishō felt it grow endlessly hot.

He desperately tried to think of excuses with his confused head. Then—

“Are you switching from Yō-chan?”

“Ngah—”

Critical hit.

Ōka’s usual devilish charm had fallen silent, replaced by a deadly serious face.

Precisely because her seriousness came through, Kishō became greatly flustered. Therefore, he reflexively made the most foolish response possible.

“I’m not interested in your body.”

Ōka’s eyes narrowed coldly. Without noticing that warning, Kishō compounded his folly.

“Besides, you’re not developed enough for me to even realize I was embracing you— guah—”

Ōka’s right fist sank into his solar plexus. It was a fairly serious punch—powerful enough to turn a magic beast into chunks of meat. In other words, it was unimaginably painful.

Air expelled from his lungs, and saliva spread to fill his mouth. His legs trembled, and though the impulse to drop to his knees struck him, Kishō somehow endured.

“Ah… ugh… Ōka… you bi—”

Ignoring the protest he barely squeezed out, Ōka drove her right fist into Kishō’s abdomen once more. The stone-faced Ōka’s quiet attack. Silently, again and again.

However, though the first surprise attack landed cleanly, from the second strike onward he properly tensed his abs to guard. Dragonkin abdominal muscles honed through training were harder than stone pillars. Yet despite being pummeled like a sandbag repeatedly, the blockhead who could finally realize she was genuinely angry only then raised the white flag.

“I get it. Ōka. I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

He caught her wrist the moment her fist struck his stomach. Ōka’s knuckles had peeled skin, swollen bright red.

“After pushing a girl down, what terrible things to say. Reflect on yourself—”

Sulking Ōka said tearfully.

I didn’t push you down— Kishō wanted to protest, but since the pressure emanating from her tearful eyes was extraordinary, he opened and closed his mouth wordlessly before shutting it. Instead he took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her skinned knuckles.

“I’m sorry. But you suddenly shouted.”

“Oh? So Shō-kun pushes girls down when they shout?”

“That’s not it. Listen to my explanation.”

“Oh really?”

Half-lidded Ōka sent a suspicious stare.

“Shō-kun. Let’s be honest. You got aroused by my charms, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

“I see. You wanted to devour my still-unripe, immature body.”

“That’s not it!? Besides—”

He almost said: Maybe if it were the sensual Kuroyō, but there’s no way I’d get aroused by you— then Kishō closed his mouth. He felt sharp killing intent on his skin.

With an unnaturally cheerful smile, Ōka said:

“Besides?”

“Ah, no. You and I aren’t in that kind of relationship.”

“So any girl is fine.”

Her chestnut hair turned away with a huff.

A sullen, displeased aura seeped from her entire body. Hit by the negative aura powerful enough to curse an evil god to death, Kishō felt like fleeing immediately. However, considering smooth future relations, he needed to clear up the misunderstanding.

“That’s! Why! Did you forget? What Kuroyō said that day.”

“What are you talking about?”

Had the black clouds brought cold air? The heat from yesterday felt like a lie as chills set in. Rain seemed to have started falling in drops, as raindrops hitting the window glass made small sounds.

Looking around the silent, deserted hallway once more, Kishō heaved a great sigh.

“You got the charm, right? Are you wearing it properly?”

“Y-yeah.”

Saying so, Ōka pulled the chain hanging from her neck and drew out a circular talisman with a magic circle drawn on it from her chest. It was a charm to ward off evil.

“Never take it off. Not when bathing, not when sleeping.”

“Geez, I know already. You’re so persistent.”

“You definitely don’t get it. You have zero sense of danger.”

Bringing weapons to the academy was prohibited. Real swords of course, but magical amplification accessories as well. This talisman was protective gear, and strictly speaking fell under armor rather than weapons, but the possibility of violating school rules remained high. Yet the Princess had prepared this talisman, saying it should be worn despite that risk.

“By the way, apparently that one thing could build a mansion. Absolutely don’t lose it.”

“I don’t want to carry something so valuable…”

“That’s how dangerous this is. Just keep it on quietly.”

“Ugh, why are you so worried… That was just a hypothetical, right?”

“No, it’s not. Did you know a female student went missing last night?”

“What?”

Had the rainfall intensified? The sound beating against the windows gradually grew fiercer. Only the sound of large raindrops striking echoed through the silent hallway.

“It’s information from Kuroyō, so there’s no mistake. I don’t think regular students know yet.”

Tension filled Ōka’s voice.

“Could that possibly mean…”

Tension made Kishō feel his mouth go dry. Moistening his lips with his tongue:

“She’s alive.”

Ōka’s face turned pale. Kishō thought he probably looked the same.

“No way. That girl… that girl should be dead.”

“No, she wasn’t dead. What Kuroyō said was correct.”

“But, but… but…”

“You understand, right? The meaning of a student vanishing within the Dragon Emperor’s territory.”

Ōka swallowed her words.

“There’s no other reckless fool who’d cause trouble in the Dragon Emperor’s territory. She’s alive. There’s no other explanation.”

“But that girl, you…”

“That’s right. I killed her. But she was alive.”

“You’re saying she survived being cut in half? That girl… Alice!”

“No, you already understand. That wasn’t Alice at all.”

Horizontal rain driven by strong wind violently struck the windows.

At that moment, light flashed through the black clouds. Several seconds later, thunder roared, tearing through the silence.

“Eleshia Ignosius.”

Ōka whispered that name.

Again, the black clouds flickered for just an instant as if dispelling darkness. A roar shaking the atmosphere echoed.

Kishō’s thoughts flew to that day— the moment right after escaping Beast King Forest.