My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~ - Chapter 056: Wind Magic Instructor Fūga

Leaving Instructor Meika’s private room and visiting the stronghold— Instructor Mion’s private room— there was no response to the knock. Kishō brought a hand to his chin, making a thoughtful gesture.

“It was a room with thick walls. If she’s in the adjacent preparation room or something, she might not notice.”

“Hey Shō-kun, don’t get weird ideas.”

The possibility of feigning absence existed. For example, she might be holding her breath beyond the door, or in the midst of hiding the abducted female student.

Breaking in was physically possible. No matter how sturdy the door, Kishō’s [Sword Ki] could easily breach it. However—

“I know. Can’t force our way without evidence. They’d gladly expel me.”

Just as he tried to leave the Teacher Building with Ōka who’d sighed in relief, someone called out.

“Right now should be breath class. Skipping again?”

When Kishō turned around, no one was there.

Strange? Just as he tilted his head, Ōka jabbed his side.

“Geez! You’re rude as always, Kishō-kun!”

Lowering his chin to look down, a young girl was angrily waving both arms up and down with a huff.

“Oh, what. It’s Fūga-sensei.”

“What do you mean ‘what’! That’s doubly rude. Though I do like double cheeseburgers myself.”

“Unfortunately I don’t have burgers, so please forgive me with this.”

Taking out candy from his dragon robe sleeve pocket and placing it on his palm, the young girl who saw it lit up and snatched it away greedily. Quickly tossing the candy into her mouth, she moved her jaw making clinking sounds.

“So what are you doing in the Teacher Building?”

Toward the teacher in the place furthest from dignity, Kishō responded with a wry smile.

“Well, I came with business for Mion-sensei, but there was no response to my knock.”

“Ah, if that’s it. She just went back to the main building moments ago.”

Apparently they’d crossed paths while captured by Instructor Meika. Kishō shrugged with exasperation and patted the young girl’s head while sighing.

“Wh-what are you doing! Sensei isn’t a child, you know! Don’t pat my head!”

“After showing a delighted expression over candy, that argument lacks persuasiveness.”

“How dare you! You impudent student!”

Instructor Fūga was outraged!— or so, she began flapping her green dragon robe sleeves. Since this was her usual behavior, Kishō showed no particular concern. On the other hand, Ōka pressing close as if clinging to Kishō’s arm seemed somewhat uncomfortable.

“Hey Shō-kun, that’s really rude.”

“It’s fine. Always like this.”

“What’s fine! The only one who speaks impudently to me, a Warrior-class sixth rank— highest-ranked Martial Princess— is you!”

Raising both arms with a “Rarr!”, he observed the young girl protesting before him with a cold gaze.

Instructor Fūga. Of course, the possibility she was Elesia Ignoosis wasn’t zero. However, from an aptitude attribute perspective, her using curse magic was impossible by natural law. This was absolute principle, and even if she lacked an alibi, the heavily made-up Instructor Meika and other teachers also couldn’t have committed the crime.

Therefore, the culprit could only be dark magic instructor Mion or the academy director Seiran with unknown attribute— that was Kishō’s deduction.

But simultaneously, Kishō felt an indescribable unease. He was overlooking something. Yes. Among the information he’d learned so far, he was overlooking something critical— he couldn’t shake that feeling.

Something like a small thorn stuck piercing his chest. Shaking his head as if dispelling that discomfort, Kishō bowed.

“Fūga-sensei, thank you for Beast King Forest.”

Fūga brought her index finger to her lips with a flustered look:

“Shh! Don’t say it loudly. That’s a secret.”

She looked around the empty Teacher Building hallway repeatedly.

In Beast King Forest, the young girl teacher had overlooked their entering the depths. Moreover, regarding the Princess’s severe injuries, she’d apparently shielded Kishō from responsibility.

“Ah, right. Sorry.”

Kishō bowed and honestly apologized.

To settle matters smoothly, they’d coordinated their story that the Princess’s judgment led to entering the forest depths. If this lie was exposed, Instructor Fūga wouldn’t get off lightly either. He couldn’t repay kindness with treachery.

As Kishō hung his head in remorse, the young girl stood on tiptoes and desperately stretched her right hand. Apparently trying to pat his head to comfort him. Reading the atmosphere and bending down slightly, a small hand landed gently on his black hair.

“You don’t need to worry. Protecting students is a teacher’s duty.”

On those lips floated an adult smile unsuited to a young girl.

◇◇◇◇◇

On the way back to the main building pursuing Instructor Mion.

Advancing down the connecting corridor for a while amid horizontal rain—

“Ugh.”

Gorgeous red and black dragon robes. He saw a female student with sharp eyes wrapped in Upper School uniform walking toward them. Hair tied in back, a single black strand swaying left and right matching her pace. Why was the beating horizontal rain evaporating with a sizzling sound? Just how high was the temperature around that woman right now?

Kishō was reflexively driven by the urge to do an about-face, but with Ōka present he couldn’t flee, so he decided to pass by with a nonchalant face.

However, that sun-like woman grabbed the arm opposite from the one Ōka clung to as they passed.

“Hey, lend me your face.”

“What do you want?”

That woman— the academy director’s daughter Kōran— distorted her refined brows displeasedly. Her strong-willed eye corners lifted, glaring straight at him. Due to her tall stature, their eye level was nearly the same.

“Are you lending it or not, which is it? I don’t have time, so answer right now with [YES] or [Yes].”

“Did you think I’d conveniently say [YES]? Obviously the answer is the opposite, [Yes]— they’re both the same!”

Irritated by the petty trick, Kishō clutched his head and screamed. Ōka who’d been shaken off said “Kyah!” and separated.

“I’ve got your word.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, his chest was grabbed forcefully. Pulled with tremendous strength, Kōran’s face approached.

“Wait. What are you—”

With momentum like she’d headbutt him, as violent lips closed in, he reflexively slipped his right hand in to guard. Muffled sounds leaked from Kōran’s mouth sealed like a gag.

“Mmph!”

Kōran who forcibly ripped off that restraint placed both hands on her hips taking an intimidating posture, and with her freed mouth released anger:

“Hey, what are you doing!”

“That’s my line!? What are you suddenly doing?”

“It’s obvious. Kissing you.”

“What!? Don’t screw with me!!”

At that earth-shattering statement, Kishō retorted with eyes nearly popping out. Kōran sighed as if truly exasperated:

“Don’t you know refusing a meal prepared for you is a man’s shame? Besides, I got consent.”

“You didn’t get it, this is news to me!?”

“You said you’d lend your face. Face includes lips, right? Didn’t you know?”

“Huh!? That’s what you meant!? How was I supposed to know!?”

Even Kishō was taken aback and blanched at the absurd argument.

From her slender tall frame, Kōran declared transcendently:

“If I don’t get engaged to you, Onee-sama will abandon me. So hurry up.”

“I’m not hurrying!? Besides, your motive is impure.”

“Are you stupid? What’s impure about love devoted to Onee-sama? It’s transparently pure.”

What? Has my head gone crazy?— Kishō seriously considered for a moment. But immediately shaking his head and reconsidering calmly, he concluded the woman before him had a crazy head with 120% purity. While confused, Kishō remained calm:

“Packs serve their master, right? By your logic, the master is Kuroyō. Even giving a hundred concessions and forming a pack, do you think I’d accept a woman who won’t pledge loyalty?”

Delivering his full-force sound argument, Kishō puffed his chest as if saying “how’s that?” Even the Princess couldn’t rebut this.

However, logic didn’t work on madwomen. Logic not working was precisely what made them mad. Kōran said with an attitude like it was obvious, showing no agitation:

“You give instructions to Onee-sama. And Onee-sama gives instructions to me. It’s essentially like I’m following your orders, so it’s fine.”

“Why’s it like a game of telephone! That’s inconvenient as hell.”

“You don’t get it. Excluding Onee-sama, I’m Upper School first-year top. Naturally, I’m included in Onee-sama’s Happy Family Circle Plan members.”

“What’s a Happy Family Circle Plan!? First I’ve heard of it, and I only see an unhappy future!”

“In short, there’s no better catch than this. Be honored.”

“By any measure, this is a disaster property. The kind where I get stabbed in the back if I let my guard down.”

“I’d stab you even without letting your guard down though.”

“At least pretend to obey there!?”

The conversation isn’t advancing!— Kishō clutched his head and crouched. Reality evasion.

Looking up to see Kōran’s face properly, she even wore rule-violating earrings on her left ear.

“This woman’s hopeless. 120% purity crazy! Can such a heroine exist!? Not even in fictional worlds would such a madwoman exist!”

“Of course. Because I love Onee-sama to madness.”

“At least deny the madwoman part!?”

Though in a troublesome situation, he’d gotten entangled with an annoying person. Even trying to forcibly proceed, he could picture the scene of her blocking his path. Then, strike her unconscious and slip away in that opening— just as Kishō began considering dangerous things, a救いの hand reached out.

“Ah, Yō-chan.”

“ONEE-SAMA!!!”

Visible even from afar. From the main building direction, the Princess wrapped in an overwhelming beauty aura walked toward them. Back straight, dignified bearing. Stride marking regular, consistent rhythm, yet graceful, supple movements combined with that beauty captivated all who saw.

“What’s wrong? Crouching there like that.”

Finding Kishō crouched clutching his head, the Princess tilted her head slightly and said so. Kishō stood up to tattle, but Kōran’s killing intent began generating prominences saying “speak and die,” so he prudently shut up. However—

“Nothing at all. Following Onee-sama’s instructions, I was deepening friendship.”

She lined up such lies, so Kishō couldn’t stand it and retorted:

“Don’t lie! You unilaterally pressed for a kiss for incomprehensible reasons!!”

However, Kishō still didn’t properly understand the Princess’s thought process, what she considered right. If he’d understood, that line wouldn’t have emerged. The Princess brought both hands to her chest and with sparkling eyes:

“I see. Then finish quickly.”

“I’m not finishing!?”

Nothing unusual.

Just one more troublesome madwoman added.

The Happy Family Circle Plan might be quite serious.

“More importantly, did you see Mion-sensei? I lost track of her.”

Unable to deal with two madwomen called royalty, commoner Kishō immediately changed topics. Fellow commoner Ōka also seemed somewhat put off.

Unlike Kōran, the honest-natured Princess nodded solemnly without showing displeasure, then said something completely unexpected:

“I’ve been looking for you. The missing female student was found.”