The Mob Noble Who Got Reincarnated in a World Where Men Are Naturally Protected—So I Trained Like Crazy to Protect Girls Instead, But Their Love Got Way Too Heavy - Chapter 18: Aegis’s Natural Enemy

Chapter 18: Aegis’s Natural Enemy

The next day, just past noon, I found myself without either Wiz or Aegis hovering around. Stretching out with a huge yawn, I sprawled lazily across a bench in the courtyard.

The warm spring sunlight made it the perfect weather for a nap.

If either of those two had been here, I’d have been scolded to death for acting so careless. But today? I was free. Nobody nearby, no one to nag me—so I basked in a rare moment of peace.

…Which is why, when I sensed a noisy group approaching, I immediately felt reluctant.

There were at least four of them, judging from the overlapping presences. And how did I know that while keeping my eyes shut? Simple—I was committed to pretending I hadn’t seen a thing.

“So then, Lady Illucia, she actually said, ‘Oh, I never gain weight no matter how much I eat!’ Can you imagine?”

“Ufufu, how silly. …Oh my, it seems someone else got here first.”

Yup. They’d definitely spotted me.

I doubled down and stuck to my act—playing dead, or rather, playing nap. Even if they tried something, I could always spring up at the last second.

“Ugh, it’s a boy. …Wait, huh? A boy? Why is there a boy lying here all alone, not surrounded by girls?”

“You’re right. Judging from his looks, he’s from a lower-noble class… anyone recognize him?”

“I don’t.” “Me neither.” “Nor I.”

I could feel them leaning closer to peek at me, but I stubbornly clung to my fake nap.

Nope. Don’t know a thing. Don’t see a thing.

Besides, napping in the courtyard was a basic right granted to every student.

“Normally, boys from lower-noble classes are the cockiest ones, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they do tend to have… certain personality flaws, shall we say.”

“‘Certain’? Lady Illucia, you’re far too generous! They’re arrogant monkeys, that’s what they are—monkeys! Actually, no, monkeys at least stay active, which makes them healthier!”

“Ufufu, well now, let’s not get too worked up. Still, if we’re being honest, this one seems sturdier than the average boy. He’s got a solid build… and tanned skin too.”

“Gulp…! N-No, all boys are no good! Lady Illucia, you’re in danger! We must leave immediately!”

Chattering away, the group finally shuffled off, their voices fading as they moved further from me.

And with that, satisfied, I let my fake nap melt into a real one.

But just before sleep fully claimed me, I thought I heard someone murmur:

“Still… to nap so defenselessly in the courtyard, without even a single companion watching over him… fufu, what an amusing boy.”

Whether I truly heard it or only imagined it, that day I enjoyed one of the best naps of my life.

Later that afternoon, carrying that hazy memory…

“Huh? Wiz, you’re busy today?”

“Yes… I really, truly wanted to spend the time working on development with you, Tect, but I was summoned for some bloodline-related obligations…”

“Ah, well. If that’s the case, then it can’t be helped.”

I gave a wry smile and waved my hand.

For noble girls—especially those from titled bloodlines—“bloodline matters” were practically the highest-priority task imaginable.

It was like being summoned by the head of a prestigious family. No matter how much anyone else pouted or sulked, nothing could override it.

I remembered when my little sister once didn’t get that, threw a tantrum, and ended up getting absolutely chewed out by our mother. The memory made me chuckle a little.

“Well then, I’ll work on things with Aegis today. See you tomorrow.”

“Ughhh, Tect… alone with that shorty…! Uuuu, fine… see you tomorrow…”

With watery eyes, Wiz kept glancing back at me again and again, clearly reluctant, before finally leaving. All I could do was give a bitter smile as I watched her go.

“…Guess that means I’ll just wait for Aegis by myself.”

Leaving the classroom, I headed alone toward our meeting spot.

The destination was the same courtyard where I’d napped earlier. It sat right between the upper- and lower-noble class areas—perfect as a neutral gathering point.

Normally, Wiz would scold me for walking there alone, but since she wasn’t around today, I went straight there. Sitting down, I spread out the blueprint and started jotting down the issues I’d noticed during production.

And then—

From the upper-noble side of the courtyard, Aegis’s voice rang out loud and clear.

“I told you already! Mind your own business, will you!?”

Aegis stormed into the courtyard, stomping like she was trying to crush the ground itself under her boots.

I blinked at her sudden entrance and was just about to call out, when several girls marched in right after her.

“That may be so, Lady Aegis! But as this year’s top student, you must act as a model for the others!”

“That’s right! Secretly meeting with a boy from the lower-noble class…! It drags down the dignity of the entire upper-noble class!”

Pressed by the chorus of protests, Aegis let out a low growl before snapping back.

“How many times do I have to say this!? Tect is my childhood friend! Our relationship isn’t some frivolous fling! Got it? Now back off already!”

“But still—!”

“There is no but still! Didn’t you hear me!?”

The girls kept pressing, so Aegis stomped her foot hard against the ground.

CRACK!

The stone floor split, fragments scattering as a small crater spread out from her heel.

“…!?”

That shut them right up.

Even among the already-strong girls, Aegis was on another level. There wasn’t a single person in our year who could beat her in an arm-wrestling match.

Faced with that kind of overwhelming strength, the girls faltered, clearly intimidated. It looked like they were about to mutter some last insult and retreat.

But then—

From the back of the group, someone else stepped into the courtyard, arriving just a little later than the rest.

“Aegis? Don’t you think it’s a little cruel to scare them like that?”

The girl who spoke stood out instantly.

Her long pink-blond hair was curled into elegant vertical rolls, and her soft, drooping eyes gave her a gentle, almost angelic aura.

I recognized her right away. She’d stood beside Aegis at the entrance ceremony, delivering her greeting with poise.

One of this kingdom’s princesses—Illucia Fararche Constantine.

“…Saying that like you’re some saint, when really it’s just because you don’t like me…!”

Even Aegis, bold as she usually was, couldn’t bare her fangs outright when the words came gently from a member of the royal family. She snapped back, sure—but her tone was clearly weaker than usual.

Watching from a distance, my eyes widened in surprise.

So that’s how it was. Aegis belonged to a powerful marquess family, but even then, it wasn’t strange for her to have ties with royalty.

And of course, she was the top student of the upper Class One. Same as the princess. Naturally, they shared the same class.

Which meant—standing right in front of me was someone even Aegis couldn’t defy. The realization struck me like a fresh shock.

As I was still processing that, the princess spoke again.

“What are you talking about? All we’re discussing is dignity. Friendships that cross social ranks are disorderly and beneath our class—that’s all.”

“Oh, give me a break! Surrounding yourself with man-hating girls and turning it into some kind of yuri harem? Ridiculous!”

Aegis shot the princess a sharp glare.

“Let’s be honest—you just hate boys! What you’re really saying is, ‘Stop doing anything that might make the boys act cocky,’ right!?”

At her words, all of the princess’s attendants flinched in perfect unison.

And honestly? She had a point.

I tried to keep humble since my marriage prospects depended on it, but the other guys? They were totally drunk on their privilege. Walking piles of trash. Narcis, for example. Yeah, Narcis.

“I get the feeling, believe me! Sure, most of those guys are arrogant jerks who deserve to be smacked down, no argument there! But that’s not the same as this!”

Aegis’s voice rang out, cutting clean through the princess’s entourage.

Honestly, if someone told me I had to marry one of those pompous clowns, I’d want to throw in the towel too. No wonder she was bitter.

I sympathized so hard that I found myself crossing my arms and nodding along from a distance.

But then, while I was half-watching like some nosy bystander… the princess’s eyes suddenly met mine.

…Eh?

Why on earth was someone as exalted as a princess looking straight at me?

“…Fufu.”

And then came that mysterious laugh. Seriously, what was that about?

“I see. So you truly trust this gentleman, then.”

“That’s right! Don’t lump Tect in with those other boys!”

Aegis crossed her arms and gave a sharp “hmph!” through her nose.

The princess only smiled softly in return.

“Very well. In that case, I’ll overlook it this time.”

“Eh?” “L-Lady Illucia!?”

Her attendants all faltered in shock as the princess smoothly turned on her heel.

“Then, Aegis. Do take good care of that gentleman.”

“Hah! Like I need to be told!”

With that, Princess Illucia and her followers departed. Aegis gave another proud “hmph,” spun around—then froze as her eyes landed on me.

“…T-Tect!? Why are you here—wait, d-don’t tell me, you saw all of that!?”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry… was I not supposed to?”

I blinked innocently, and Aegis groaned, stomping her foot.

“Ughhh! So she only backed down because you were here watching!? That’s what this was about!?”

Apparently, Aegis considered it a total defeat. I just tilted my head, baffled.

Still… seeing the princess up close for the first time, I got the strong feeling that beneath her gentle demeanor was someone far sharper—and far harder to read—than she looked.

“She must’ve judged that my persuasion was unnecessary once she saw your reaction, huh!? How humiliating!”

Aegis ground her teeth in frustration.

Watching her fume like that, I couldn’t help but laugh dryly. “So even Aegis has a natural enemy, huh.”

And with that, the two of us headed back toward the forge together once more.