The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 16: My One And Only

The match with Lucia had ended.

Looking at the results alone, it was my overwhelming victory. In the end, she lost without being able to do anything. As I watched Lucia lying on the ground being tended to by her mother—suddenly Cornelia hugged me.

Arms wrapped around me from behind as if restraining me.

“C-Cornelia-sama?”

“Hehe. Ahaha! Luka is amazing. That match just now, I could tell just by watching. You’re stronger than me, who was pampered as a genius.”

“That’s… we won’t know unless we fight.”

“No, I know. Lucia, was it? She was quite strong too. I’m confident I could win. But I can’t beat Luka. My instincts are telling me intuitively. That no matter what I do, I can’t match you.”

Oh? Just being able to understand that told me she was considerably strong. She seemed confident she could even beat Lucia, and personally I wanted to cross blades with her right away… but it wasn’t that kind of situation.

Besides, baring fangs at royalty was tantamount to treason. Now wasn’t the time to rampage. I banished the wicked thoughts from my head.

“I’m really happy. Hey, Luka.”

“Yes.”

“You’re free after this, right?”

“There’s the party.”

Your father is the host.

“Who cares about the party? It’s just garbage conversation and then it’s over, right? A waste of time.”

“His Imperial Majesty would be angry if he heard that.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Father has expectations of me. Though I have no intention of meeting them.”

“So? If I hypothetically had time, is there something?”

“Let’s go to my room. I have something to tell you.”

“Something to tell me? Can’t you do it here?”

“No way~. It’s embarrassing!”

“Embarrassing?”

What on earth was she planning to say? I was a little curious…

I glanced briefly at father.

“Head of house. Cornelia-sama apparently has business with me. May I step away for a bit?”

“Business? …Very well. If it’s the princess’s request, it can’t be helped. I’ll handle the aftermath here.”

“Thank you.”

I received permission from head Lucius. Now I could skip the party without problems. As Cornelia said, I had absolutely no interest in the party itself either. In a way, it was convenient.

I had been able to measure Lucia’s ability, and thanks to taking her attacks, I had also etched into my body what magical power was all about. I was confident I could manipulate magical power now too.

Grinning inwardly, I gave Cornelia my earlier reply.

“Cornelia-sama. Since the head of house has given permission, let’s move to your room. I’ll listen attentively to what you have to say.”

“Yay! This way!”

The restraint from her arms was released. However, immediately after, my arm was grabbed and I was pulled along.

I was forcibly dragged away by her as she ran.

☆

Following Cornelia’s guidance, I entered her room. It was a terribly empty room. The interior was too plain. It was as if she paid no mind to fashion or other people’s eyes.

Just a place to sleep and wake up. Nothing more.

“This is… Cornelia-sama’s room?”

“That’s right~. Were you surprised it’s simpler than you thought?”

“Well, yes.”

“That’s natural. Because no matter how much you decorate a room, it’s still just a room in the end. Whether it’s pretty or run-down doesn’t make much difference.”

“More than that,” she pulled my arm further. I was pushed down onto the bed just like that.

“Let’s do naughty things now.”

She climbed on top of me and showed a bewitching face that was somehow not childlike.

She vigorously tore off her clothes—her dress. I could see white, smooth skin. Her underwear was impudently black.

You’re the same age as me, right?

“What are you planning, Your Highness?”

“Huh? Aren’t you excited?”

“What do you expect from an eight-year-old?”

“Of course you’re a child! But Father said before that as a princess, my duty is to bear the best children.”

“I see.”

“So I thought it would be good to make children with Luka, who has the greatest talent?”

“So Your Highness thought.”

“Yes! Correct answer!”

Princess Cornelia raised one hand and laughed innocently. I let out a deep sigh.

“Cornelia-sama is still eight years old… there’s no way you could bear children. Even if you could, please don’t. You could die if things went wrong.”

This world’s medical technology wasn’t as advanced as my previous life’s Earth. People commonly died during childbirth.

Since I could use divine power, I could still lend a hand, but an eight-year-old mother was really pushing it.

“Mm. I thought that might be the case. That was a joke.”

“Your eyes were serious though.”

“Acting, acting. More importantly, I have something more important to talk about.”

“The main topic?”

“Yeah. I’ve been alone this whole time.”

Princess Cornelia began speaking in a small voice, bit by bit. I listened quietly.

“No one can catch up to me. Big brother and big sister are ordinary people. I’ve even beaten adults before, you know? But because of that, I couldn’t get close to anyone.”

There was slight sadness in Cornelia’s expression.

So-called inability to have conversations due to intelligence gaps? Or perhaps there were many whose hearts were broken by her strength. So Cornelia distanced herself from others. Deciding that she was special and others were inferior.

Well, that wasn’t wrong. She actually was a genius. In terms of talent alone, she might be number one among the main characters.

“I wondered if I’d keep getting stronger all alone… Just when I was thinking that, I heard about it. About Luka.”

“That I was someone with talent to match yours?”

“Yeah! And that was wrong. Luka is more amazing than me! I wasn’t alone, and the summit was still far away!”

She spoke with unusual happiness. She raised both hands in a pose of joy.

“Thank you, Luka. For giving me hope. Thank you, Luka. For saving me.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“I’m happy just that you exist. Let’s get married in the future. Let’s make the strongest children!”

“I decline.”

Since it was getting painful, I forcibly dropped her onto the bed. Getting up, I got off the bed.

“Do you hate me? Am I annoying?”

“What I hate are people who settle for being weak and noisy people. If anything, Your Highness falls into the category I prefer.”

“Really?! Th-then, if I get much, much stronger, will you marry me?!”

“Eh? Ah… I’ll think about it positively.”

To be honest, I don’t have any desire to get married.

My wanting to become the strongest doesn’t mean I want to become head of the Salvatore ducal family either. So it wouldn’t be a problem if I never had a partner.

“Yay! It’s a promise, okay? Even if I can’t beat Luka, I’ll beat everyone except Luka. I’ll kill anyone who gets in the way, and I’ll do anything for Luka.”

I felt like the highlights disappeared from Cornelia’s eyes. She took on a somehow sticky atmosphere and made an ecstatic expression.

—Shiver.

I felt a strange pressure and a chill ran down my back. What was that just now?

“More than that, let’s hurry and get changed and go back. The party venue might be in a bit of uproar by now.”

“Is that so?”

“All the ducal houses aren’t there.”

At least Lucia probably wasn’t in the mood for a party anymore.

“Hmm. I don’t care.”

Even saying that, she called for a maid.

I left the room and waited in the hallway for her preparations to finish. In the end, various things happened.

☆

In a corner of the imperial capital, the residential district.

Late at night when the commoners had gone to sleep, despite the late hour, one boy was swinging a wooden sword relentlessly.

Sweat dripped and golden hair swayed violently.

“Seven more… years! In seven years… the academy’s! Entrance exam! Will begin!”

Every time the wooden sword sliced through the air, it made a whooshing sound. After a while, perhaps having exhausted his stamina, the boy released his stance and collapsed on the ground.

Still covered in sweat, he looked up at the night sky.

“I’ll definitely get admitted. For that, I won’t waste even a second! I’ll rise in the world, become stronger than anyone—and become a true hero!”

He made a fist with his outstretched right hand. Strong determination and confidence dwelled in the boy’s green eyes.

He was truly this world’s—