My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~ - Chapter 82: Tsukino

A stone object, modeled after a dragon, poured hot water, not breath, from its mouth. The water streamed into a wide bathtub, filling the entire surface with steam.

“I must use alliances, neutrality, and hostility properly… huh.”

Leaning back in the hot water with a sigh, Kishō was alone, recalling Kōran’s advice.

“Uumu. Upper School students are future noble candidates, so I understand the logic that it’s better to get along. Even His Majesty the Dragon Emperor makes diplomatic efforts, so picking a fight in all directions isn’t a good plan. It’s a natural reason. But you see—”

He looked up at the high ceiling through the steam.

The purpose Kishō had come to the Upper School for was to prove his ability. He came to prove that he was worthy to marry the Princess. For that, he needed to win against at least the top-class students.

Moreover, simply winning wouldn’t be enough. Unless he showed an overwhelming difference in ability—enough to overturn the handicap of using only a sword—the teachers would likely continue to find fault.

“If so, the plan becomes beating up the top students of each grade in order, but. Hmm, is this as reckless as I expected?”

When it came to the top students of each grade, they were, so to speak, the head candidates for future nobles. Being hostile to all of them felt somewhat—or rather, quite reckless.

However, it was also a fact that without that victory, he could not prove his ability.

If you set up that one, this one won’t stand.

Kishō meditated while being bathed in hot water under the dragon’s mouth. He felt just like an ascetic monk.

Finishing today’s trial enrollment, Instructor Hyōri had said:

“Tomorrow there is a swordsmanship class. By all means, please show me your ability.”

Whether Kishō desired it or not, he would be forced to match skills with strong people either way. And he must continue to win against all of them. After all,

“While you continue to respond to our expectations, we shall treat you as an Upper School student. However, if we judge you unsuitable, at that time we will expel you mercilessly. Okay?”

Instructor Hyōri had nailed him down like that, too.

Actually, the fact that he could soak in the bathtub in a reserved state like this was also a privilege as an Upper School student. Regarding the point that he was isolated in a special dormitory for guests instead of the main dormitory, he couldn’t help but feel a slight malice, but considering that he had reserved a whole noble’s mansion, he didn’t feel so bad.

However, all of this came with the condition that he could convince Instructor Hyōri and the others. If he failed, it was a fleeting treatment that would disappear like dew.

“In short, for me, a challenger, I have no composure to play diplomacy, huh.”

The conclusion reached through his meditation was the same as his original intention. If one said he had returned to the starting point after going around once, there was no progress, but if interpreted that he had reached the same conclusion even after understanding various circumstances, it could also be said to be proof of growth.

His thoughts became somewhat clear, and just as he stood up from the bathtub, thinking of getting out soon, Kishō froze grandly. After all, ahead of his gaze—

“I will wash your back, Master.”

In front of his eyes, large fruits wrapped in a bath towel shook jiggle.

A slender, big-breasted girl was standing in the steam. The swelling of her chest emitted an overwhelming presence, and water droplets, whether dew or sweat he didn’t know, traveled down her soft skin and were sucked into the deep valley.

Although his gaze was nailed to that fascinating sight for just a moment, time started moving immediately, and Kishō turned back instantly.

“————Ha? Why are you here!?”

“Because Tsukino is a slave, I came to take care of Master.”

“You don’t have to take care of me!?”

“But, your back…”

“You don’t have to wash my back so please get out!”

“Certainly.”

No matter how much he had someone on his mind, from the perspective of an adolescent boy’s heart, it was absolutely impossible not to be nervous in front of a half-naked girl.

The Princess was also on the larger side, but Tsukino’s had grown violently. To the extent that Kishō’s gaze was forcibly sucked into her chest as if pulled by the mighty gravity possessed by a giant planet. That was exactly why he turned back and cut off his vision, but—

Splash.

The sound of stepping into the hot water was heard from behind, and Kishō’s spine straightened with tension, and simultaneously a loud alarm rang in his brain.

“Wait!? Tsukino-san? I feel a sign of approaching somehow though?”

“Yes. Tsukino will wash Master’s back.”

“You aren’t being certain (obedient) at all!?”

Wasn’t ‘certainly’ meant to signify understanding or undertaking?

Kishō, who was confused, couldn’t move from the spot.

The steam rising from his feet rose as if stroking his flushed body.

That his head felt hazy, was it because he bathed too long or—

Splat, something soft touched his back.

His arms were wrapped around his waist as he was, and he realized he was being hugged. Remaining standing at attention, Kishō stopped activity completely. His breathing also almost stopped together. The sensation of the chest pressed tightly against his back became strong.

“Tsukino was happy. That kindness of accepting Tsukino, who is a burden, I was happy about it.”

“But, I have someone I like. So this kind of thing is…”

“I know Master has no romantic feelings. I also know that it is the benevolence of kind Master. But, I want to repay the favor even a little. Is it no good?”

“N-No good, or rather. I am also a man so, if you stick to me, my reason will…”

“E-Excuse me! For Tsukino to do such a thing, it was immodest.”

A sound of whoosh was heard, and the soft sensation left.

“While being of lowly slave status, I did something excessive. Please forgive me.”

A voice sinking in shame that seemed about to disappear. At the words humbling herself, Kishō’s chest ached with a pang. Reflexively, he turned back toward Tsukino. Wrapped in a bath towel, she was trembling, her slender arms placed on her chest, and making a face like she was about to cry.

“Don’t say lowly status.”

“But, because Tsukino is a slave.”

“So what if you are a slave? Aren’t you such a charming girl.”

“Slaves are lowly things. Once fallen, one remains like that forever.”

At the overwhelming lowness of her self-affirmation, Kishō felt a sense of deja vu.

Ah, I see. He thought. She was his former self.

Something hot welled up, and so as not to spill it, he looked up at the ceiling instantly.

“Hey, do you know? I, you see, was the bottom of the bottom, ranked lowest in the Lower School until just half a year ago.”

“Master was?”

A suspicious sound mixed in the question form.

Well, it’s unbelievable, huh. Kishō had no choice but to smile bitterly.

“Ah, I was a target everyone scorned. That I was a half-dragon with no aptitude attribute.”

“But, Master won against Sōsetsu-sama. I do not think you are of a status to receive such treatment.”

“Correct. I have power. But, no one noticed that true value. Students, teachers, the Headmaster… and even this me myself. So I didn’t question the label of incompetent given by the academy. Same as the current you.”

Tsukino gasped hiss.

“But, there was a guy who noticed my buried talent quickly. Because that person found me, the current me exists. That person says this: ‘You are a vessel of a Dragon King.’ You’d laugh, right? But, I can declare with confidence now that that is not nonsense but a realizable dream with feet on the ground. Because everything that person said has been right until now, and there has never been a mistake even once.”

“Um… that person is, don’t tell me…”

Closing his eyes, Kishō recalled the face of his beloved lover. The face of a peerless beautiful girl. That face in his imagination was smiling softly instead of the usual lack of expression.

“It’s okay, I guarantee it. If it’s that person, surely, she can find Tsukino’s buried talent. Not as a slave or anything, but Tsukino’s merits as one Dragonkin.”

He returned the gaze he was looking up with. For some reason, Tsukino’s figure wrapped in a bath towel looked distorted.

“And I also will make an effort to be able to find your merits. So, please don’t say sad things like lowly slave status anymore. Because you are a splendid single Dragonkin, and such a wonderful girl.”

Kishō could only imagine the harsh days she spent as a slave. Even if he could pity her past, he couldn’t empathize. However, he could walk the future ahead together. That’s why, extending his hand,

“Treat me well from now on.”

There, Kishō’s vision went dark.

Splash! Shaking a large amount of hot water, he dove headfirst into the water surface.

He felt he heard a voice saying “Master” in the distance.

That he realized he seemed to have gotten dizzy from a long bath was on the lap of Tsukino, who was trying to nurse Kishō, who suffered from heat exhaustion.

◇◇◇◇◇

A wide mansion reminiscent of a noble’s residence.

If it were known that a man and a woman were alone in the special dormitory—he didn’t know what Ōka would say. Kishō decided in his heart that he would absolutely keep silent about this for one thing.

“In the first place, I haven’t done anything shady… wha!”

Himself, completely naked, who collapsed from heat exhaustion. Who was the one who dressed him and nursed him? An embarrassing memory revived for just a moment, but Kishō falsified the memory with spirit.

Was it the dining room? At the corner of a ridiculously long table, Kishō finished dinner. Ingredients were stocked in the dormitory, and Tsukino cooked the meal. If he made do with breakfast, lunch, and dinner using the ingredients here, the food expense problem seemed likely to be solved.

Kishō wanted to surround the dining table together as a gesture of friendship, but he was stubbornly refused by Tsukino. According to her,

“Tsukino has not yet formally escaped the status of a slave. So now, it is not permitted to take a meal lining up shoulders yet.”

It was sad that she couldn’t discard the way of thinking as a slave, but the words “now” and “yet” felt like they expressed a change in her state of mind.

“Well, I won’t force you. Let’s change little by little from now on.”

“Yes!”

While he ate dinner, Tsukino stood behind him the entire time and served him. That made Kishō harbor a sensation just like having become a real noble.

And in the intervals of serving, she told him about her upbringing.

It seemed it was when Tsukino was five years old.

A struggle over territory developed into a war with Dragon King Sōsetsu, and Tsukino’s parents both died in battle—the survivors of the defeated flock were captured and made into slaves.

Tsukino spoke sadly.

“Tsukino’s father was a noble of Ryūsei (Dragon Saint). But, it seems the difference in war potential with Sōsetsu-sama was too large.”

Territorial dispute was a façade, and the imperialistic idea of picking a fight with appropriate pretexts and securing the personnel of the fallen flock as a labor force was said to be common in noble society.

“The weak are weeded out, they probably go by that, but… it’s too cruel.”

“But that is why diplomacy is important. As long as an alliance is concluded, one will not be attacked.”

And Tsukino, who was captured at the age of five then, was apparently made a slave attached to Sōsetsu, who was the same age. From there, receiving treatment not thinking of her as a human, days of hell began.

“But, Sōsetsu-sama had no interest in Tsukino. So my body could remain pure.”

“You weren’t violated? It might be rude to say this, but I’m relieved.”

“Tsukino was lucky. Because it seems other girls attached to princes sometimes had their purity scattered…”

Kishō furrowed his brows with all his strength.

“Hey, Dragonkin are supposed to marry the partner they first made a pledge with as Principal Consort, right? In that case, if they cross the sexual line, isn’t it reason to marry that girl?”

“Yes, that is correct. But in reality, it gets crushed.”

“Unreasonable no matter where you go, it makes me vomit. Or rather, I can’t be convinced in the first place. Doesn’t making a pledge and not marrying as Principal Consort go against the Code or whatever?”

“Yes. It goes against the Code. So if one does something like making a fuss—”

Tsukino moved her wrist and mimicked cutting a neck.

“There are girls who didn’t come back…”

“Is it silencing because the ‘safe if not found out’ theory holds?”

Slaves were not ‘comrades’ of the flock, Tsukino said. That was why there was no obligation to protect, and inhumane acts passed. And because it was natural for them, there was no one who blamed it. If convenient, they were discarded immediately—that was the existence called a slave.

“But coming to this academy, Sōsetsu-sama was also kind in the beginning. So Tsukino was also relieved, but from around the time summer was about to enter, his treatment became harsh again.”

“Was there some change of heart midway?”

“I do not know that. But, Tsukino thinks it was good. Because I could meet Master like this.”

When he patted Tsukino’s head, she blushed and looked down.

Then looking at Tsukino’s face at close range, he noticed suddenly.

“Did you cut your hair?”

“Yes. Because it was uneven, I cut it off from the shoulder.”

Tsukino, with a somewhat cheerful expression, laughed happily as if saying she had no lingering regrets anymore.

She might also have been able to take a positive step forward.

◇◇◇◇◇

A wide mansion reminiscent of a noble’s residence.

The comforter was moving up and down matching the sleeping breath fwaah.

Exuding fatigue, Kishō sighed. Fixing the comforter softly, he left his own room.

Since she was a slave exclusive to Kishō, when he heard they would sleep and wake in the same room, he felt dizzy. Moreover, she said she would sleep on the floor. Of course, he couldn’t let her do such a thing. The fatigue of Kishō, who succeeded in putting her to sleep in the bed after a push-and-pull dialogue, was deep.

“If I’m not there when she wakes up in the morning, surely she will be hurt, huh.”

That said, he couldn’t sleep in the same bed either.

Then if asking how Tsukino was doing until now, it seemed she was sleeping and waking in Sōsetsu’s room. In the boys’ dormitory? Kishō wondered, but it seemed it was possible because they had obtained formal permission from the academy. In short, since she had no room in the girls’ dormitory, she had no choice but to use the same room as Kishō. Truly not treated as a human, Kishō felt unpleasant.

“Well, I should just sleep on the sofa, huh.”

Thinking lightly, Kishō went down the stairs of the special dormitory.

When he opened the front entrance door, cold outside air came in. Breathing white breath, and trembling with his body, Kishō opened the door fully.

“Now then. Shall I begin the Upper School Exploration – Night Session?”

Since he decided to take Tsukino in, he had to think about various things. The time had come when he should face the thing called a flock seriously.