Vol 3 Chapter 77 – The Usual Two【Vol 3 – The Amazon Queen Arc】

“Ahh, that was so much fun!”

Debora, walking ahead of me, murmured cheerfully with a bright smile on her face. Her long, fluffy hair swayed as she moved—she looked genuinely happy.

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Yeah! Being cooped up in the castle studying all the time is so boring I could die. Especially now that I know how fun adventuring with Erik is—it’s even worse.”

Debora turned around and smiled up at me. Looking at that adorable smile, it was hard to believe she was feared and reviled as the “Spoiled Princess.”

Though recently, perhaps because she’d become more approachable, she didn’t seem to be avoided quite as much… Today, I’d been dragged along by Debora on what she called an adventure.

In reality, it was more like completing quests given to us by King Rei while he wore a bitter expression as if biting into a sour bug. However, ever since Debora started accompanying us, the king had stopped giving us obviously unreasonable requests.

He couldn’t afford to lose his beloved daughter, after all. Conversely, that meant he didn’t care much about us at all. How delightful.

Occasionally, when Debora wasn’t around, he’d still give us unreasonable orders… but the frequency had decreased so much it was a bit lonely. Well, seeing her so happy made me glad as her Knight of Fealty.

“…I wish I could die of boredom.”

Miriam muttered under her breath. The quiet woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail spat out words small but brimming with hostility.

Naturally, sharp-eared Debora wouldn’t miss it. She glared at Miriam with a piercing look.

The intimidating presence radiating from that small frame was unimaginable—truly befitting a royal of the Kingdom of Vilemse.

“Hah? Did you say something? Erik’s little hanger-on. Your voice is so tiny and you were so useless I didn’t even notice you were there.”

Debora put a hand to her mouth and sneered at Miriam. True, Miriam had no combat abilities and couldn’t contribute in battle, but she was invaluable for recovery afterward.

Though the recovery involved excruciating pain, so only a masochist like me could fully appreciate it.

“No, it’s fine if you didn’t hear. The royals of this country all have poor hearing—they can’t hear the voices of their people, so it can’t be helped.”

Miriam wasn’t backing down. When struck, she delivered a counter.

“…You really don’t know fear, do you? You do realize I’m royalty, right? Should I have you executed?”

Please execute me instead.

“Is it truly the way of royalty to lord over a position you didn’t earn yourself? I want no part of such a country.”

I’d be absolutely delighted with it.

“I really don’t like you after all.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

They both smiled at each other—sweetly, of course. Not a friendly smile, but one overflowing with hostility and murderous intent.

And here I was, standing between them… their gazes felt so good… But these two really didn’t get along.

I’d be happier if they got along and tormented me together… Still, I liked to think their relationship wasn’t fatally bad.

After all, Debora never actually tried to execute or imprison Miriam. In fact, speaking to her the way Miriam did would normally warrant imprisonment.

Yet it had never happened once. That meant Debora must acknowledge Miriam in some way, right?

She’d been treated like something fragile her whole life, so someone like Miriam who spoke bluntly without reservation must be precious to her.

“…If you weren’t Erik’s partner, I would’ve blown you up ages ago.”

“…I really hate royalty.”

Perhaps, in their own way, they were actually getting along.

“Ugh. I finally get to spend time with Erik after so long, but there’s a pest here. It’s annoying. And lately, Erik’s been all lovey-dovey with that burly knight too. I don’t like her either.”

“We’re not being lovey-dovey…”

Debora puffed out her cheeks in complaint, clearly referring to Eleonora-san. The knight with short black hair cut in a bob and sharp features.

Debora probably called her that because of her imposing armor and weapons.

“I hate agreeing with Princess Debora, but lately Erik has been getting too close to Eleonora-san.”

“Eh… really?”

Miriam spoke reluctantly but echoed Debora’s sentiment. That wasn’t true though…

I thought of Eleonora-san, who was probably maintaining public order in the capital by now. I didn’t think we’d been lovey-dovey…

Besides, rather than doing anything lovey-dovey, I just wanted to get beaten up.

“Though, we do have plans to meet up afterward…”

Of course, that wasn’t some romantic rendezvous either. It was to have mock battles to help suppress Eleonora-san’s sadistic tendencies.

She was facing her sadistic nature head-on and working to improve herself. She held back even with criminals, only beating them up a little, so she needed an outlet.

That’s where our mock battles came in. They’d turn into real fights despite being called mock battles, and with our difference in ability, I’d get thoroughly pummeled… truly, a relationship where both parties got exactly what they wanted.

So it wasn’t the kind of relationship Miriam and Debora were implying…

“But you go drinking afterward, don’t you?”

“Well, yes… as a kind of ‘good work’ thing…”

“That’s exactly what I mean…”

When I nodded to Miriam’s question, Debora looked at me suspiciously. …No, there’s really nothing going on? Don’t most people have after-work gatherings?

When we went drinking, Eleonora-san would usually get drunk and launch some kind of attack—I couldn’t miss that. Her thick rear end face-sitting me being a prime example—it tickled my masochistic side perfectly.

That suffocating sensation… it was wonderful.

“Ugh… seriously, Erik only has weirdos around him. You’re my knight, so you should be more selective.”

“Right. Like a danger-loving royal brat who happens to be a loli.”

“Hah?”

“…………”

The atmosphere tensed again. Good. The two glared at each other. I was completely left out.

Being ignored… felt pretty nice… But at this rate, we wouldn’t get back to the capital anytime soon.

We’d completed King Rei’s orders, so we should head back quickly…

“Oh, speaking of which…”

On the way here, there should’ve been a tree bearing fruit. I could grab some fruit from there and give it to them.

They probably liked sweets, and it might lighten the mood a bit. While I personally enjoyed being trapped in this tense atmosphere, it seemed a bit dangerous if Miriam and Debora’s relationship became fatally bad.

I left them and went to pick the fruit. Since we’d just passed it, I found it quickly.

“Now, how should I pick it?”

Climbing the tree… the trunk seemed too thin for that, so maybe I’d throw stones to knock them down. With that thought, I reached down to pick up a nearby stone…

“Found you!”

“Huh?”

I heard a cheerful female voice. It wasn’t Debora or Miriam—I turned toward the unfamiliar voice…

“Gah…!?”

A strong impact hit my head, and I collapsed. As I fell, I caught a glimpse of blood coming from my head.

After collapsing, what appeared before me was a brown-skinned leg. …Wait, what is this wonderful development?

Savoring the intense pain in my head, I lost consciousness for a moment.

◆

“Tch. You’re so annoying.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

Debora and Miriam glared at each other. Their hostility and murderous intent were real. If Erik weren’t there, Debora would’ve blown Miriam up, and Miriam would’ve certainly found some means of retaliation.

The two were terribly at odds over Erik-related matters, locked in fierce conflict, but…

“…Wait. Where’s Erik?”

“…!”

Debora muttered, and Miriam gasped, looking around. The figure of Erik, who always stood between them with a wry smile mediating their disputes, was nowhere to be found.

“…Erik?”