Vol 9 Chapter 18: Understanding the Situation

“…Uuugh… That’s cruel, Allen. You always, always, somehow pamper Lidia, but in the end, you’re harsh with me! E-Even I get angry, you know? I’m really going to get mad!”

Cheryl, utterly exhausted from being chased around by the ‘Fire Phoenix,’ throws her upper body onto the round table and sobs pitifully. It’s definitely fake crying. I won’t be fooled anymore.

The remaining three—the Sensei, the Headmaster, and Ricardo—

“……”

Have been completely silent since earlier, sitting cross-legged on the ground, wordlessly chugging wine.

Their clothes and armor are in tatters, by the way. All three of them have traces of genuine tears on their cheeks. I’d like them to reflect a little. Well… I’m not generous enough to let them off with just this, though.

The younger trio—Tina, Ellie, and Liene—are drinking fruit juice while discussing something. “…Ellie, Liene.” “Y-Yes…” “We need to work harder.” They’re surprisingly earnest kids, all things considered.

I answer Her Highness the Princess matter-of-factly while stroking Chiffon, who’s showing her belly at my feet, with my foot.

“When and where did I ever pamper Lidia?”

“Exactly! I haven’t been pampered at all!! I’m troubled because there’s not enough of it!!!”

“…Lidia, if you’re going to say things like that, get away from Allen right now.”

Cheryl glares resentfully at the crimson-haired princess who has pulled her chair right up against mine and monopolized my right arm. On her lap, the young beast Ria sleeps peacefully.

I gently wave my hand and smile while alternately patting my sister Karen, who moved from my left shoulder to rest her head on my lap, and Atra, who’s clinging to her.

“It seems—I’ve been spoiling Cheryl too much. From now on, that affection—”

“Should go to me! That’s your dutyyyy—”

“…Will not go to you. I think I’ll direct it toward Chiffon, Atra, and Ria instead.”

“A-Allen!? Th-That’s too much!! I-I’m supposed to become your direct superior, you know? Y-You could at least, um… t-take that into consideration…”

Cheryl lifts her face, mumbling.

I turn to Student Council President-sama, who’s watching the situation while caring for Felicia on the nearby sofa, seeking her opinion.

“Stella, what do you think? Getting too close to one’s direct superior is problematic, right? Especially since I’ve been granted such overwhelming authority to investigate anything.”

“—Yes. I agree. It would invite unnecessary suspicion from those around you, so I think maintaining an appropriate distance would be best. …Allen-sama.”

“Yes?”

“—Um… th-that… Cheryl-sama’s… th-the affection you were giving to her, c-could you… d-direct some of it toward me too? I-I would be happy. Is that… not allowed?”

Stella timidly voices her modest selfish request. How cute.

I find myself pressing my temples and admonishing my two classmates.

“—Lidia, Cheryl. Did you hear that? That’s the level of modesty Her Highnesses should normally have! And yet, look at you two!”

“If I acted modest, you’d hate it, wouldn’t you?”

“Allen, I’m plenty modest compared to Lidia!”

“Cheryl, you’re terrible when you explode like you did today. Stella, can you come here?”

“—…Yes.”

Stella’s face brightens with joy as she gently places a cushion under Felicia’s head to avoid waking her, then eagerly comes over to sit in the chair beside me.

At the same time, Lily-san also moves to a nearby chair. I give her a flat stare.

“…I didn’t call for you, Lily-san.”

“Ufufu~♪ It’s fine, isn’t it~? After all—Allen-sama and I are engaged—”

“I won’t listen to that delusion either! Please handle it yourself next time. Ah, but Stella’s case is different. If you ever get a marriage proposal you’re not interested in, please tell me anytime, okay? If I can help, I will.”

“—…Yes.” “Muuu~! You’re playing favorites too much~!”

Stella blushes bashfully while Lily-san puffs out her cheeks and flails about.

I shrug and turn back to my classmates, who are preparing the ‘Fire Phoenix’ and various light magic spells, lightly clenching my hand to dispel them.

“Now then—shall we have a slightly more serious conversation?”

Lidia and Cheryl rest their chins on the round table with dissatisfied expressions.

“…Hmph! You’re mine, you know!”

“…Allen, if you’re too mean to me, I’ll become a bad princess!”

“Yes, yes.”

“‘Yes’ only once!!”

The two classmates harmonize their voices.

It reminds me of our Royal Academy days.

I call the younger trio.

“Tina, Ellie, Liene—come a bit closer too.”

“Y-Yes!” “Y-Yesh!” “Onii-sama?”

I’ll deal with the Senseis another day. I still have some dangerous topics to discuss with them.

Once Tina and the others approach, I intentionally lower my voice to draw their attention.

“Everyone, I’m sure you understand, but… what we’re facing now is a terrifyingly formidable enemy. Based on the circumstances, their threat level will not decrease going forward. It will likely only continue to rise. —At the same time—”

“We still don’t know who’s sitting across from us at the board. …Except that they’re a genuine madman.”

Lidia picks up where I left off.

Stella and Cheryl’s expressions sharpen with intelligence.

“I read the reports in the southern capital. Mass-produced imitations of the Grand Magic ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Light Shield.’ Using that power, they created artificial vampires and even demons…”

“They even summoned bone dragons using dragon remains? What’s important is the ‘blood’ of the families that have passed down ultimate and Grand Magic. Our ‘blood,’ everyone here, would serve more than adequately as a medium. Going forward, we’ll need to fundamentally review each person’s security arrangements.”

“But… with an opponent who does such reckless things, just saying ‘security’ alone…”

Tina interjects. A clever girl.

I nod while refilling the pale blue-haired princess’s glass with fruit juice.

“That’s precisely why—Her Highness Princess Cheryl Wayne Wright appointed me as her direct investigator. With this, I should be able to enter the royal palace, so from now on, tutoring sessions will be held in the palace’s inner garden. That way, at least on weekends, Lidia, Chiffon, and possibly Anko-san and I can protect you all.”

My black cat familiar meows on my lap.

Understanding dawns in Tina and the others’ eyes.

Her Highness the Princess takes issue.

“…Allen, the list of people you’re protecting doesn’t include the name of fragile, fragile me?”

“Cheryl… if you’re alone, you’re stronger than me, aren’t you?”

“Allen-san~! What about me, what about meee~!”

“…Lily-san, you’re stronger than Cheryl, right?”

“Playing favorites! Favoritism!! We’re delicate maidens too!!!”

Her Highness the Princess and the young lady chorus together.

My left sleeve is tugged.

“…Allen-sama.”

“Hm? What is it, Stella? Ah, don’t worry. It goes without saying, but I’ll properly protect you too—”

“…I don’t want that.”

“Stella?”

The Saint pouts in dissatisfaction.

Then she looks at me directly.

“The current me is certainly unreliable. I can’t possibly match Lidia-san or Cheryl-sama. But, but—but! I want to protect you too—I want to protect Allen. I don’t want you to get hurt for my sake! So please make me stronger! Strong enough to protect you!!!”

“…Stella.”

“Heh, Stella gets it.”

“That’s right.”

Lidia and Cheryl grin at Stella’s declaration.

Tina and the others are momentarily caught off guard—then raise their hands one after another.

“S-Sensei, I feel the same way!”

“I-I want to be useful to Allen-sensei too!”

“Onii-sama, Liene can fight too!”

“……”

It seems my students have grown more than I thought.

The only older self-proclaimed maid who hasn’t spoken is smiling while winking, ‘Already, just marry them all—’ I’m not reading beyond that!!

I chuckle wryly and nod.

“…What troublesome students you are. Like with the ‘Fire Phoenix’ earlier, we’ve learned many new things from this series of incidents. I’ll teach you everything in order. Let’s keep working hard together from now on.”