Vol 1 Chapter 9 – The Unbecomingly Sensible Person【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

Princess Debora had shed the dress she’d been wearing just moments before and changed into practical, easy-to-move-in attire.

Indeed, if she’d declared she was going to the dungeon in that dress, it would have created a wonderful situation for me, her stand-in, but I suppose I would have been forced to stop her.

With my level of strength, I can’t fully protect Princess Debora.

…Since I’d need to throw myself in harm’s way, that would have been just fine by me!

“…Huh? Onii-chan, what’s wrong?”

Seeing Prince Orace, who had been conversing with us, Princess Debora wore a blankly puzzled expression.

Unlike King Rei, who never leaves this castle, or Princess Debora, whom the King adores to the point of practically confining her within its walls, Prince Orace actively travels the nation, handling problems and disputes, so, much like myself, he’s hardly ever at the castle.

…Truly, he’s remarkably grounded for a member of this country’s royal family.

I wish the other royals would learn a thing or two from him.

“Debora, I’ve told you to call me Aniue… That’s not what matters right now!”

“What is?”

Princess Debora tilted her head, looking utterly clueless.

That innocence made it hard to believe she was the one who’d just been blowing my body to bits. Thank you very much.

“Why did you have Papa summon Hero-dono!?”

“Huh? I wanted to go to the dungeon. That’s why, okay?”

“F-For such a personal reason, you summoned Hero-dono…”

Prince Orace staggered, his legs nearly giving out.

Whoa, that was close…

As for me, I rather enjoy the absurdity of being jerked around for personal reasons, so I have no complaints, but…

“D-Don’t tell me… you didn’t do anything to Hero-dono and the others… did you…?”

He looked back and forth between me and Princess Debora, apprehension written all over his face.

…If I were to say, “She blew me up repeatedly,” I probably wouldn’t be able to experience Princess Debora’s explosions anymore, would I.

I should probably just gloss things over with one of my vague smiles here.

“She shredded Erik’s body with explosions.”

“M-Miriam…”

No good. Miriam spilled the beans without a second thought.

Is this her own way of getting back at Princess Debora?

I’m suffering damage too, you know!

“Wh-Wha… Wha…?!”

Prince Orace’s eyes bulged.

Well, the explosions of the “Spoiled Princess” are incredibly powerful.

Even I would have definitely died if not for my own skills and Miriam’s healing magic.

Do you understand the bliss of being able to experience such pain?

“Oh, yeah, listen, Onii-chan! The Hero is amazing! Even after taking my explosions, he was totally unfazed!”

Princess Debora, completely oblivious to Prince Orace’s feelings, reported happily as if she’d found an amusing new toy.

She probably doesn’t feel a shred of guilt.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have earned her bad reputation as the “Spoiled Princess.”

I wasn’t “totally unfazed,” you know. I was one step from death’s door.

…A toy. That has a nice ring to it.

“Guh…”

“Gggggh…!”

“Th-This moron…!!”

Prince Orace’s face was bright red, openly showing his anger, but he didn’t direct it at Princess Debora.

No, he couldn’t. If he upset Princess Debora here and she threw a tantrum, the damage would be catastrophic.

The collapse of the royal castle, the death of the prince.

It would likely be the beginning of the end for the Kingdom of Vilemse.

“W-Was Hero-dono alright!? No, there’s no way he’d be fine after taking one of her tantrums, but…”

“Yes, I was fine. After all, I have Miriam.”

So, you can blow me up even more, you know?

No need to hold back. Go all out.

“He wasn’t fine. Normally, he would have die—”

“Mmph, mmph!”

“Heh heh heh.”

I cover Miriam’s mouth again as she tries to say something she shouldn’t.

…If I put my fingers in her mouth, I wonder if she’d bite them off for me?

Prince Orace’s face paled rapidly.

Seeing my and Miriam’s state, he must have realized the severity of those explosions.

Yes, the explosions that hammered into me just when I was about to collapse, as if to forbid it, were the best I’d experienced recently.

“Going to the dungeon is out of the question!”

“Ehh, why not!?”

“You’re the princess of this country! We can’t possibly send you into a dangerous place like a dungeon!”

“It’s fine! I’m strong… Besides, it looks like the Hero is pretty capable too!”

Hmph… When it comes to endurance, leave it to me.

And I’ll also use my own body to shield Princess Debora from any attacks. As a human shield.

“Debora! Don’t cause Hero-dono any trouble!”

“Uuuughh…!”

“I-I’m not causing any trouble…!”

Tears began to well up in Princess Debora’s eyes.

Prince Orace, who would normally notice, seemed to have so much blood rushed to his head that he hadn’t realized it yet.

Hmm, I could just stand by until she throws another tantrum, but I really don’t think I can handle explosions aimed at both Prince Orace and Miriam with just my own body.

Miriam is indispensable to me, and Prince Orace is necessary for the people as the sole conscience of this country’s royalty.

I suppose I should step in here.

“Her tantrums are more than enough troub—”

“Mmph, mmph!”

“It’s quite alright, Prince Orace. If someone like me is good enough, I would be glad to accompany Princess Debora.”

I once again cover the mouth of Miriam, who was about to blurt out something unnecessary.

“Hero-dono… But…”

Prince Orace still looked troubled by my words.

He’s likely thinking that he mustn’t allow me to be put through her explosions again.

Though for me, it’s no problem at all… In fact, I’d be delighted!

I go over to Prince Orace and whisper discreetly in his ear.

“Indeed, you might feel uneasy with just me… In that case, please secretly assign some knights as guards.”

“N-No, I was planning on doing that anyway, but… are you sure about this, Hero-dono? You took Debora’s explosions, right? Don’t you want to get away from my sister?”

As if.

“Yes, I don’t. I’ll be fine. I can’t leave this child alone, after all.”

“Hero-dono…”

For now, I’ll just say something that sounds good.

I can’t tell anyone about my M-attribute.

Because few people would try to inflict pain on someone who actively seeks it.

“I’m sorry. She’s my unworthy sister, but please look after her.”

Prince Orace gave me a slight bow.

Honestly… I wish he’d act more arrogantly.

“…Only for the dungeon.”

“O-Of course!”

Miriam said with a reluctant look, and Prince Orace replied as if it were a matter of course.

Unlike me, she doesn’t have any versatile skills and is a mage specialized in healing magic.

Being near Princess Debora for long periods—who throws tantrums over the slightest thing and generates explosions powerful enough to kill—must be incredibly mentally exhausting.

Hmm… I wonder just how long I’ll be allowed to stay near the princess…

“Thank you, Herooo!”

“Oof…”

Princess Debora came leaping at me.

Since she’s short, her head slammed into my solar plexus.

Haaah…

“Hero, you said something good! I’ll praise you for it!”

“Thank you very much.”

………

Princess Debora made me lower my head, then patted it with her small hand.

To have my head held down and patted by such a small child, looking down on me… This is quite nice, isn’t it…

Miriam’s cold gaze stabbed into my back.

This, too, is nice…

“Haaah… Debora, don’t get too carried away, okay? In the dungeon, don’t go into dangerous areas. And make sure you follow Hero-dono’s instructions properly, understand?”

“Okayyy~”

“…Is she going to be alright?”

Prince Orace fretted like a concerned mother, laying out a list of precautions.

Seeing Princess Debora listening with only half an ear, he wore an incredibly worried expression.