My Beloved Princess ~The Boy Called Incompetent Rises with Only a Sword and the Princess's Devotion~ - Chapter 94: Circular Arena

It was decided that the confrontation with Unran, Commander of the Imperial Guard, would be held in the circular arena on the Upper School grounds.

Notice had been given in advance to the students of both the Upper and Lower Schools, and invitations had been sent to all of them. For this day alone, the Upper School grounds, which were normally off-limits, had been opened to Lower School students as well, allowing them to come and go freely.

The contestants’ waiting room on the first floor of the circular arena was a bleak, stone-built space. Desks and chairs had been piled up in one corner, but they were buried beneath a thick layer of dust. When Kishō ran a finger across the top of one desk, beautiful wood grain appeared beneath it. Blowing on the fingertip that had turned gray, he looked around the room again.

“Hey, hey. If they’re going to use this as a waiting room, the least they could do is clean it.”

Apparently it had not been used in a very long time. Even the tapestry hanging on the wall had lost its vivid colors and gone dull. When he rested a hand on one of the desks and put his weight on it, it creaked.

Dust swirled through the room every time Kishō moved.

With her back against the stone wall, Kōran irritably brushed away the drifting dust.

“Apparently, it had already fallen out of use by the time Mother was assigned to this academy.”

As the two of them stood there, fed up with the dust in the air, the waiting room door was suddenly thrown open.

The one who burst in was Tsukino, fully armed with an entire set of cleaning tools.

“Please leave it to me, Master. Tsukino will clean it!”

She declared it with complete determination.

No—before Kishō even had the chance to stop her, Tsukino had already launched into action. She immediately began wiping things down with a dustcloth. She had brought not only a bucket and cloths, but also a broom and a duster.

“Yesterday, I happened to have a chance to talk with Tsukino. When I mentioned that the waiting room probably hadn’t been used in a while, she got all fired up and insisted on cleaning it. Just let her do it. That child wants to be useful to you.”

Kōran said it as Tsukino went to work.

She beat the dust from the tapestry with the duster, swept the fallen dust on the floor into piles with the broom, and carefully wiped down the desks and chairs with the cloth. The water in the bucket quickly turned a muddy black. Without minding the dust that covered her from head to toe and left her looking gray herself, Tsukino scrubbed with all her might.

“Want me to help?”

“It is all right! Please leave this place to Tsukino.”

Her movements were brisk and efficient. It was exactly the work of a professional.

Thinking that amateurs would only get in the way, Kishō withdrew to the corner of the room.

“I can’t believe such a good girl was ever a slave.”

“This is not a society where people with excellent character naturally rise to the top.”

“What about Kuroyō?”

“In Onee-sama’s case, it is because ability accompanies her that she has influence. She is not standing at the top merely because she is virtuous.”

The two of them watched Tsukino hard at work. Her skill was almost mesmerizing, and the filthy waiting room was transformed in the blink of an eye.

“I still haven’t had the chance to properly talk to Kuroyō.”

“About Tsukino?”

“Yeah. I mentioned it briefly when we finalized the alliance, but for some reason Kuroyō wanted to hurry back to the Lower School. We didn’t get to talk at length.”

“I see. Then just talk properly after the match is over.”

That was true enough, and Kishō laughed.

“I also need to explain Tsukino to Ōka and Alice-san. I’ve been saying all this time that I would never form a flock, and now I’ve completely changed my tune. They might lose faith in me.”

“If they want to lose faith in you, then let them. If they cannot follow your decisions, then your connection only amounted to that much.”

“No, even if you say that. I made it very clear to Ōka that I wasn’t going to form a flock, and Alice-san is human. It’s not such a simple matter.”

The sound of Tsukino dusting echoed through the room.

Keeping her eyes on Tsukino’s work, Kōran said,

“This is supposed to be a life-and-death match, and yet you’re as calm as ever.”

Kishō scratched the tip of his nose, looking faintly troubled.

“To tell the truth, I’m a little excited. If I win this, then my relationship with Kuroyō will probably be acknowledged. Besides, there’s no one left in the academy against whom the current me can go all out.”

“I see. So your spirit’s high.”

At that, Kōran uncrossed her arms and turned back toward him.

“A message from Onee-sama. I believe in your victory. Let us meet after the match ends. You really are trusted, aren’t you? If she were anxious, she would have come to see your face herself.”

“Oh. Then give Kuroyō a message from me too. Tell her I’ll definitely win and come to pick her up, so she should wait and look forward to it.”

“The sort of thing someone says right before a battle?”

“Oi, don’t put it like that. That’s a famous death flag.”

Kōran’s shoulders shook as she laughed.

“Understood. I’ll make sure to convey it to Onee-sama properly.”

◇◇◇◇◇

There were two arenas on the Upper School grounds.

One was the Indoor Arena used for classes, located in the annex of the Upper School’s main building.

The other was the Circular Arena, built outdoors.

The Indoor Arena had a maximum capacity of around a thousand people. The Circular Arena, by contrast, boasted the exceptional capacity of fifty thousand. It was a remnant of the days when martial tournaments had been held at the academy, and long ago it had served as a festival ground where students competed before large invited crowds.

“All of that is in the past now, of course. Apparently there were various problems.”

Looking down from the special viewing seats at the very top of the Circular Arena, Sōgetsu spoke as he surveyed the state of the general seating below, where students sat here and there in sparse clusters.

Princess Suiren, waiting quietly behind him, answered.

“I think inviting the masters of other flocks as honored guests was a rather bold decision. However, it seems that became the source of disaster and led to conflicts between the guests. If a festival of peace becomes the trigger for war, then the whole thing was putting the cart before the horse.”

“As expected of Suiren. You are knowledgeable.”

“You flatter me.”

“And so.”

Crossing his legs on the luxurious chair, Sōgetsu cut to the point. His gaze remained fixed on the still-empty circular stage far below.

“Why do you think they gathered all the students in this disused Circular Arena?”

“They probably intend to make an example of someone.”

“Of Kishō-kun?”

“Yes. By showing all the students the sight of him losing to Unran, I believe they mean to damage his credibility.”

“That would be troublesome. Wouldn’t it affect the faction as well?”

“Yes. Regrettably so.”

“Hm.”

Sōgetsu nodded and tilted his head.

“Do you think there’s any chance Kishō-kun could win?”

“Not one in ten thousand. That is not an opponent a student can defeat.”

“That makes it even more troublesome. In the first place, if he faces the Commander of the Imperial Guard, it’s questionable whether he’ll even come back alive.”

“Are you troubled? For all that, you look quite pleased, Sōgetsu-sama.”

From where Princess Suiren stood behind him, Sōgetsu’s face should not have been visible. And yet the corners of his mouth had undeniably softened.

“My intuition is usually correct. I have a feeling Kishō-kun won’t lose so easily.”

◇◇◇◇◇

Passing through the entrance of the Circular Arena and climbing the stairs led to the spectator seats.

On the other hand, if one continued straight ahead without taking the stairs, that path led to the contestants’ entrance, and a side passage branching off halfway led to the contestants’ waiting rooms.

In that narrow passage of stone walls, so dim and enclosed that it almost felt oppressive, cold air drifted through the darkness. Standing there alone, with his back against the wall, was a swordsman dressed in black.

He was a beautiful man with long hair and extremely refined features.

His name was Unran.

He was the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

At the edge of Unran’s vision, a shadow took shape.

“Will you not use the waiting room?”

At the figure who had appeared soundlessly from the darkness, Unran clasped his hands before him in respect.

“Princess Kuroyō.”

A girl with peerless beauty inherited from her mother. Though she was only fifteen, she gave off a mature allure far beyond her years. Unran was not unacquainted with her.

“It has been a long time. Have you been well?”

“It truly has. Long ago, you often took me out sightseeing.”

In the expeditions meant to broaden Princess Kuroyō’s knowledge, Unran had often been assigned to escort duty. The Dragon Emperor doted on Kuroyō especially, and in order to ensure absolute safety, he would place Unran at her side.

It had not happened only once or twice. Back then, Unran had often traveled to various places with the young Princess Kuroyō. Although he was unsociable by nature, perhaps because Kuroyō herself was similarly reserved, the two had gotten along strangely well.

Even now, they were on the sort of terms where they would exchange small talk if they happened to meet.

“I hear that today’s opponent is Princess Kuroyō’s fiancé.”

When Kuroyō gave the slightest tilt of her chin, Unran once more clasped his hands.

“Since I have been ordered to do this, it will be a serious match. Please understand.”

“That is fine. Given your nature, you would not be able to hold back anyway.”

“I hear that his swordsmanship is of Dragon Duke class.”

“That is so. Even if this is only a mock match using practice swords, if it reaches Dragon Duke class, there is not much difference from a real blade. Even though we have known each other since childhood, I cannot ask you to go easy on him.”

Silence fell between them.

The light stones embedded in the ceiling dimly illuminated the passage.

Unran gripped the practice sword at his side.

“However, rest assured—I will not use the Dance of the Water Dragon. That is a secret technique that slaughtered a Dragon Duke. As expected, I cannot use such a thing against a student.”

“Hoh. But what if you find yourself unable to win without it?”

Princess Kuroyō’s jet-black eyes peered into Unran as if they could see through everything.

They were bewitching eyes just like her mother’s, eyes that seized hold of people and would not let go. He must not be charmed by them. Unran turned his gaze aside.

“Even if, hypothetically, I were placed at a disadvantage, I swear that I would never use it.”

Brushing the black hair over her shoulder back into place, Princess Kuroyō smiled faintly.

“Hearing that puts me at ease. You are a man who keeps his word.”

“And your fiancé… though I know him only by reputation. You truly trust him, don’t you? You genuinely believe he will not lose in a pure swordsmanship match.”

A smile rose to the face of Princess Kuroyō, who was usually so expressionless.

“What a foolish question. He is a man worthy of entrusting with my everything.”

With those words, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the desolate passage.

The time for the match to begin was drawing near.

◇◇◇◇◇

The spectator seats of the Circular Arena were sparse.

For a venue large enough to hold fifty thousand people, the academy’s total student body of around nine hundred was nowhere near enough to fill it. A few members of the academy staff could also be seen here and there, but even so, the number of people present was still under a thousand. In other words, there was roughly one person for every fifty seats. The density of the crowd was absurdly low.

Perhaps because of that, many students had gathered toward the front rows, where it was easiest to watch the match.

Among the people concerned for Kishō, Alice and Fūyō had also taken seats in the front row.

Alice, brought there by Fūyō, could do nothing but stare in admiration at the huge facility. It was her first time seeing the Circular Arena, and words failed her. She could easily imagine its glory days, when every seat had once been filled and the place must have throbbed with excitement. Just how intense had the atmosphere been?

“Hm? I wonder where You-chan went?”

Looking around at the endlessly wide rows of seats, Ōka tilted her head while holding popcorn in both hands. A faint loneliness showed in her profile.

“She said she would be back right away.”

Princess Kuroyō had only just left her seat.

Ōka, who had missed her departure, puffed out her cheeks.

“Mou~, even though I told her to wait.”

Beside Alice, Fūyō was stuffing popcorn into her mouth while swinging her short legs. Incidentally, although she insisted she was an adult lady and had come as Alice’s guardian, she was so hopeless at housework that she had become completely dependent on Alice to cover everything for her.

“Oh my, oh my. Eating popcorn so carefreely like that? Are you in a festival mood?”

Meika and Mion arrived together and sat down next to Fūyō.

Adjusting her triangular glasses, Mion said,

“Well now. Because Kishō’s rise through the ranks was too smooth, things have become troublesome.”

“That brat’s finished now, isn’t he? With Unran as his opponent, even he can’t—”

“Oh my~? Meika-sensei, that sounds an awful lot like concern on your face~.”

“What are you saying? I don’t care what happens to that damned brat.”

Alice started fidgeting at the unsettling tone of the teachers’ conversation.

She had only heard from Fūyō that Kishō was going to be fighting on a grand stage. Faced now with the unmistakably ominous atmosphere, she leaned toward Ōka, who had already started eating her popcorn, and whispered,

“Um, Ōka-san.”

“Mhm? What is it, Alice-chan?”

“Do you think Kishō-kun will be okay?”

Ōka made a thoughtful face for just a moment, but immediately returned to her usual sunny expression.

“Daijoubu, daijoubu! Sho-kun’s the type who comes through when it really counts.”

She gave a thumbs-up and winked.

Then, just then, Princess Kuroyō returned to her seat. For some reason she was carrying a long sword, and with her was an unfamiliar male student. He had sanpaku eyes and hair like a lion’s mane. When Alice bowed politely to the large boy, he returned the bow in kind. He looked scary, but he seemed to be a proper sort of person.

“Mou~, where were you, You-chan~?”

“Sorry. I was speaking with an old acquaintance.”

“And who’s that?”

“This is Shishiten. He has a frightening face, but he is a man with fine spirit.”

The boy called Shishiten turned red and lowered his gaze.

Alice understood immediately. Scary face or not, he was just an adolescent boy.

More and more people gathered into the front rows.

The place had grown lively.

“Hyōri-san, Hyōri-san. It’s like a festival, isn’t it?”

“It is, isn’t it~? I wonder how many decades it has been since this place was last used~.”

“Hmph. The inside of your head is a festival all year round, isn’t it?”

There were even three unfamiliar female teachers among the crowd.

Then Kōran arrived as well, bringing along an unfamiliar female student. The girl looked timid, but she was cute. Her breasts were quite large.

Could this be another new harem member? Alice’s imagination swelled inwardly.

As it happened, she was more or less correct.

“Onee-sama. That guy seems in good condition.”

“Yes! Master was full of motivation!”

“I see. Then there is nothing to worry about.”

Receiving reports from Kōran and the unfamiliar female student, Princess Kuroyō gave a satisfied nod.

And then the time came.

Cheers rose up from the many female students who had gathered in the front row seats.

The contestants were entering.