Vol 1 Chapter 27 – The Challenge of Adventure【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

I look down at the ground.

There lies Brecht’s severed head, his face twisted with hatred.

I’m the one who killed him.

Phew…

Still, that was a worthy bout.

I savored pain every bit as exquisite as in the ogre battle. Wonderful…

The slashes Brecht dealt me, Princess Debora’s explosions—

and, above all, the deadly poison gnawing away at my life!

Those agonies blended into a harmony I’d never experienced, filling me with euphoria.

The ogre’s brute violence had its charm, but the slow, life-draining torment of poison is on another level.

I’m glad I managed to shield Princess Debora…

And Brecht’s malice and bloodlust were magnificent.

The ogre showed them too, but as a dull-witted monster its feelings were too pure.

That thick, festering will truly comes only from intelligent humans—or demons.

Cough, cough…

A spasm rises in my throat; I hack up a wet clot of blood.

Hmm… Brecht did call it a potent toxin.

This suffering is sublime, but untreated it might actually kill me.

Then again, with my immortality skill, who can say?

“Erik!”

I’m half-tempted to see if I’ll really die, but Miriam comes running.

I suppose I’ll let her heal me this time.

“Miriam, sorry, but a heal, please…”

“Nothing to be sorry about. Hold still.”

She must still be exhausted from the ogre fight, yet Miriam casts her spell without a single complaint.

She really is far too good for someone like me…

Ah—purging poison hurts like blazes.

The agony of having my insides churned up is even better than mending flesh—ahh!!

“That was amazing, Erik!”

While I writhe between pain and pleasure, Princess Debora addresses me.

Very few people ever receive concern from royalty.

Has anyone ever been pampered by Princess Debora, the infamous “Spoiled Princess,” before now?

“Taking that poisoned arrow for me, tanking my explosions, then pushing forward—you’re every inch the Hero! I commend you.”

“Thank you.”

Princess Debora pats my head with her small hand.

Moments like this remind me she’s still a child.

“I’m counting on you from here on out.”

So more of this is in store.

A child’s innocent malice… I don’t dislike it.

Ordinary people don’t want to be shot twice with arrows tipped in lethal poison.

Naturally, I don’t mind.

“No… I can’t allow this sort of recklessness anymore.”

“Huh? We’ll head back to the capital and then straight out on another adventure. Danger goes with the territory, doesn’t it?”

“Erik is on standby.”

“Then what’s the point of making him my knight?!”

Overprotective Miriam and Princess Debora—who probably sees me as a handy tool—square off.

Business as usual.

“Erik-dono! You saved us yet again.”

“Alfred.”

Alfred hurries over, a squad of escorting knights in tow.

Thankfully, it seems no one was killed.

It seems the only actual injury is the knight Brecht felled.

Even if their foes were just bandits, the disparity in numbers was huge… but that’s what you expect from knights chosen to guard royalty.

“Even with poison coursing through your body, your resolve to bring down the enemy was spectacular. Truly, the loyal knight Her Highness selected.”

“Hmph.”

Princess Debora looks prouder than I, the one being praised.

…Let’s not mention that I stepped forward less to defeat Brecht and more to get hurt.

“However—”

“Hmm?”

Alfred’s face tightens; he falls silent.

What’s wrong?

“It’s nothing.”

He gives an evasive smile.

Hmm… I’m curious, but not enough to pry into someone else’s worries.

Best leave it be.

They say curiosity killed the cat.

…Though prying would amuse me.

“Ah—speaking of that, I did kill Brecht.”

“Hmm? He was trying to assassinate me, so it’s fine, right?”

Princess Debora defends me as soon as I mutter.

She probably thinks I regret failing to take Brecht alive for a proper trial.

But I’m not that merciful.

Rather…

“He said it was a contract. Meaning there’s a mastermind behind this attempt on Princess Debora.”

“…True.”

Ideally we’d have captured Brecht alive, interrogated him, and traced his backer—but the avalanche of pain left me euphoric, so I lopped his head off.

“Eeh? So there’s still someone after me? What did I ever do?”

Despite someone wanting her dead, Princess Debora stays unfazed.

Gutsy royalty are reassuring.

Still, her first instinct to complain rather than self-reflect is pure Debora.

That thick-skinned nature… I’ll follow it forever.

“Have no fear, Erik-dono.”

While I ponder how to unmask the mastermind, Alfred offers reassurance.

“We caught several bandits alive. They may know less than Brecht, but comparing their testimonies should yield fairly reliable information.”

“Ohh.”

Following Alfred’s gaze, I indeed see a few bandits being dragged off.

Whether they share Brecht’s intel is unclear, but…

“That won’t be an issue.”

“They’re genuine bandits, not soldiers or assassins in disguise. A mastermind who hires base scum willing to sell out anything can’t be very clever. Information probably leaked right to them.”

“I see…”

Had they been real assassins or trained soldiers, we’d never have won so easily.

For whatever reason—stinginess or otherwise—the mastermind used mere bandits.

That’ll make corroboration easier; the mastermind clearly isn’t formidable.

“Great! Since we’re going right back to adventuring, so let’s wrap this up fast.”

“About that… it may be difficult.”

“Eh!? Why?!”

Princess Debora, still buoyant, snaps around.

She’s sure we’ll embark on another escapade soon.

I too would love to be worked to the bone, but…

“If King Rei learns we stumbled into a ‘Beginner-Slayer’s Chamber’ and got caught in an assassination attempt, it’s hard to imagine he’ll send you out again so readily…”

We survived the ‘Beginner-Slayer’s Chamber,’ but we’re exceptions.

Most people die there unseen, doomed to wander the dungeon forever.

Would doting King Rei send his daughter back into such danger?

I doubt it.

Plus, the assassination plot remains unresolved.

Until the mastermind is caught, any parent would keep his daughter close.

“Th-that can’t be… b-but if Erik’s there, we’ll be fine, right…?”

“Of course I’ll give my all as your knight, Princess, but I’m not that strong. King Rei knows this. Even if you’re allowed out, it’ll likely be within the capital—with a hefty escort.”

I systematically crush her hopes.

Being argued down with logic actually pleases me, but…

Still, it’s the truth.

The king’s overprotectiveness will only intensify.

And he barely trusts me.

To him, I’m a disposable tool.

Which is precisely why I obey him… but that aside.

In short, no doting king would entrust Princess Debora to someone he barely trusts.

“R-right! Then we just won’t tell Papa! If he doesn’t know, we’re fine! Erik, if you spill, I’m gonna be mad!”

Princess Debora glares daggers at me.

Keeping quiet might work, but…

“As your knight, I’ll obey, Princess. However… Alfred and the others are here.”