The Talentless Wicked Prince Wants To Survive ~ The Only Way For Me, Reincarnated As The Punching Bag Third Prince In A Romance Smartphone RPG, To Live Is To Not Break Off My Engagement With The Duke’s Yandere Daughter Who’s Stronger Than The Heroine~

“…”

Several minutes had passed since Cardis had given the signal to begin the match.

Carla and I still stood facing each other, weapons at the ready, not moving an inch.

Well, I mean, all I had was a shield, so all I could do was wait for her to attack. If I tried to strike with it, I’d just open myself up and get taken out instantly.

“Carla, what’s the matter? His Highness Harold has so generously agreed to take all your attacks, and yet you hesitate? Don’t tell me you’re holding back?”

Christia, apparently losing patience, began to taunt. That set off the others, who started egging her on one after another, even Cardis, who was supposed to be the referee.

“Sigh… as Harold’s younger brother, this is just pitiful to watch…”

“Lord Wilfred…”

From the corner of my vision, I could see Wilfred pressing a hand to his temple, while Christia gazed up at him with moist emerald eyes.

Seriously, if those two wanted to flirt, could they do it somewhere else? They were ruining the atmosphere over here.

“Tch… how thoughtless they are…”

Carla clicked her tongue in visible irritation.

I totally understood how she felt.

“…Still, His Highness Harold is a frightening opponent. Despite my repeated feints, he hasn’t shown a single opening.”

“Ahaha…”

That was way too generous an evaluation of me, wasn’t it? If anything, she was the one with no openings. I had no choice but to play turtle here.

“Even so, we can’t stay like this forever. Then… here I come!”

“!?”

Making up her mind, Carla kicked off the ground, her sword held in a middle guard.

Whoa, she was fast. Maybe even faster than Cedric, Sandra’s older brother.

BBu…

“!? You blocked it!?”

“Of course!”

I’d been taking Sandra’s blows every day in training, and she was far stronger and faster than this. Compared to that, this much was manageable.

After exchanging a flurry of strikes, Carla leapt back to regain her breath. I matched her, taking a deep inhale and exhale.

By this point, I wasn’t even aware of the onlookers anymore, not Christia, not Wilfred, not Cardis.

All I could feel were the encouraging gazes of Sandra and the others behind me.

“Fufu… at first, I thought this whole thing was an insult and a nuisance. But now, I must thank the Saint.”

“Lady Carla?”

“Why wouldn’t I? To be able to fight to my heart’s content against such a formidable opponent as His Highness Harold, how could I not be grateful?”

Carla smiled radiantly, her face brimming with joy.

Ah right… I’d almost forgotten. In Engage Hazard, though she carried herself as a disciplined holy knight, she was actually one of the game’s top-tier battle junkies.

“Haha…”

Remembering that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Even though I wanted to avoid the heroines, as a fan, it was honestly exciting meeting one of them in person like this.

“In that case, please allow me to show you the greatest technique of Carla Delminio!”

She lowered her stance and raised her wooden sword high overhead.

That posture! I recognized it immediately from Engage Hazard.

The strongest earth-element skill: [Direct Drive].

“Here it goes! Direct Drive!”

“She’s coming!”

Leaping high, Carla brought her sword down with all her might, unleashing a flurry of strikes like shooting stars raining across the night sky.

But…

“AAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“Guh…! HAAAAH!”

I raised my shield high and met every single one of her blows head-on, my voice rising in a roar.

If I hadn’t earned the title [Adamant and Unbreakable], I probably wouldn’t have been able to withstand this assault.

…Without Sandra’s training in the first place, I’d have been taken out instantly.

Ever since I’d regained my past-life memories and had met my beloved fiancée, ever since my fight to survive had begun, everyone’s support had made me this strong.

That’s why…

“I will never lose! No matter what attack comes, I’ll block every last one of them!”

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Our shouts echoed through the training grounds.

Neither of us gave an inch. One swung her sword, while the other held fast with his shield.

The clash went on, blow after blow, until Carla had burned through all her SP from using her skill and was down to regular strikes.

Even so, she didn’t stop. As long as she could move even a single finger, she would keep fighting on.

Because that was the kind of heroine Carla Delminio was.

“Hehe! This is fun! This is so much fun!”

“Haha! I couldn’t agree more!”

Before I knew it, I’d been drawn in by her energy, completely absorbed in the battle myself even though all I was doing was defending.

And then…