My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~

Never harm dragonkin.

Dragonkin were a race with strong comrade consciousness. Living by helping pack companions, they were extremely sensitive to companions being hurt. A combat race that grew bloodthirsty with overreaction and burned with fighting spirit for retaliation. Humans who feared that rough temperament warned: never harm dragonkin.

Especially when high-status individuals were hurt, the waves of that anger grew larger.

If by any chance a Six Consort-class were injured, they’d wage war regardless of opponent and continue fighting to the death. That was the dragonkin race.

Therefore, even within packs, one must never harm other dragonkin.

Having lived with them for several years, Elesia knew well. In dragonkin society, acts disturbing pack harmony were taboo.

So she couldn’t attack in broad daylight. It had to be done in secrecy, outwardly settling matters peacefully. That was the constraint imposed on Elesia as a foreign element.

Elesia Ignoosis lurked today too, avoiding making waves.

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Finishing classes, Elesia Ignoosis walked boldly through the main building hallway. Students passing by bowed politely, and being careful not to reveal her cruel true nature, she raised one hand and welcomed them with a smile.

The crowd of students split left and right of their own accord. No one obstructed the path. A good feeling. If she obtained that body, would she feel even more delightful? From impatient feelings, Elesia accidentally leaked a wicked smile. A brief opening shorter than a blink. No one would notice. However, the perfectionist couldn’t resist the impulse to tear apart and eliminate all students she’d just passed.

She slowly exhaled as if calming blood throbbing throughout her body.

‘(Of course, I cannot do such things.)’

Dragonkin were sensitive to companions being hurt.

If many students died or were injured, it would definitely become a major problem and draw Six Consort interference. The possibility of winning against top executives leading hundred-thousand packs was zero. This body would certainly be destroyed.

Therefore, utmost caution was necessary even when switching. To avoid arousing the slightest suspicion, she observed the target’s speech patterns, habits, and mannerisms over long periods, training until she could perfectly trace them. Only after being able to play a role indistinguishable from the original did she finally act. That acting ability rivaling professional actresses perfectly copied even personality.

For the past month and a half, she’d continuously observed the target from hiding.

Now, the actual movements Princess Kuroyō showed and the movements imagined with closed eyes matched completely. Even switching immediately, she had confidence to perfectly play Princess Kuroyō. Not a single person would notice the discrepancy.

Also, for insurance when executing the plan, she’d obtained a sub-vessel. If the attack failed and her academy position became precarious, the arrangement was to abandon this body and flee. In that case, she’d have to abandon her current comfortable life, but it couldn’t be helped. To obtain that supreme vessel, this level of risk should be tolerated.

Suddenly, she stopped.

Speak of the devil. From ahead, ultimate beauty that would reduce all master craftsmen’s artworks to mediocrity approached. A genius seen once in a millennium. Fluttering black hair, walking gracefully—this round’s target, Princess Kuroyō.

‘(Hehe, you fool who cannot notice my existence. I don’t know what you intend, but setting foot in Lower School, my territory, was your undoing.)’

She passed by with a feigned innocent face.

When she’d heard about decoding magic formulas just by touch, she’d panicked, but concluded such abnormal feats were impossible. When the [Abyssal Mist]’s darkness synchronization trick was exposed, she’d been surprised, but since that was magic her master developed, others knowing it wasn’t strange.

‘(However, soul transference is my unique and far more complex formula than [Abyssal Mist]. Decoding it in that short time is impossible, and even if decoded, she shouldn’t have identified me lurking in the academy.)’

No, perhaps— Elesia also thought.

Given clever Princess Kuroyō, she might have realized Elesia lurked inside the academy through methods beyond imagination. For example, turning Elesia’s conveniently arranged situation against her—

‘(No, impossible. If she’d identified me lurking in the academy, and if she truly could decode magic formulas just by touch, she need only touch everyone in turn to confirm. That rude behavior would also be permitted given her Princess status.)’

Elesia shook her head vigorously.

Yet somehow, she couldn’t dispel the anxiety. Why did she feel indescribable unease at this juncture— the eve of execution?

If anything came to mind, perhaps the Beast King Forest incident? For a long time, she’d maneuvered cunningly and claimed countless lives. Not even her tail, let alone her methods, had ever been exposed. The sole exception, having her true identity revealed, was that one time. Had that failure of accumulating trivial mistakes become trauma?

‘(No. Even if noticed, I have that insurance.)’

The final choice between two. The final insurance prepared for worst case.

Giving a hundred concessions, even if her lurking in the academy was exposed, identifying Elesia without touching her was nearly impossible.

Five years had passed since obtaining the current vessel. Throughout that time, Elesia had continued playing that person, yet was never once suspected. Not even the slightest doubt was raised.

Unlike the improvised merchant’s daughter, this was different. The length of years playing the role directly translated to track record and confidence. The experience level truly differed. Therefore, tricks like drawing out slips of the tongue shown in Beast King Forest no longer worked. Even if baited, it was meaningless. Elesia had confidence to deceive them completely.

And without complete identification, by academy— no, pack rules— they couldn’t lay hands on Elesia. Therefore what required caution was Princess Kuroyō touching her. Paying attention to only that one point practically guaranteed Elesia’s safety.

However, unforeseen circumstances existed in all things. If by any chance her true identity was exposed, she’d have no choice but forceful measures. After stealing Princess Kuroyō’s body, eliminate all evidence and flee.

From her dragon robe sleeve, Elesia withdrew a black egg. When she poured [Ki] into it, the egg glowed ominously in sinister green.

—Master-Servant Egg

A cursed egg that captured and sealed monsters.

Curse magic had been embedded within it, making the first person to view it the master and binding the contents to absolute obedience. The plant monster used to eliminate the merchants, and the Apocalypse-class monster used to corner Princess Kuroyō—the Storm Turtle—had both been brought in and controlled through these Master–Servant Eggs.

And now, the eggs in Elesia’s possession also contained Apocalypse-class monsters. She had three of them on hand. Releasing them would have turned the academy into a rain of blood.

‘(Yes. In worst case, I’ll indiscriminately massacre teachers and students alike. Must eliminate witnesses.)’

Elesia Ignoosis floated a cruel smile.

Classes had already begun, and only the sound of rain striking windows echoed quietly through the hallway.