What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally?

After several hours of swaying in the carriage. I passed through the main gate of the royal capital with Iris and the others.

“Ooh! So this is the royal capital! Amazing. There are so many people.”

The scenery visible from the carriage bed looked more brilliant than any world I knew. The crowd density was incredible.

“Please don’t look around so much. If people find out I’m here, we’ll be surrounded.”

“OK! I’m gonna do a little sightseeing then!”

I got off the carriage. Full-speed dash!

“Wait!? Yu… Yuu-san! Please wait!”

I shook off Iris’s restraint and disappeared into the crowd. I’d randomly browse around the food stalls. Maybe even buy some street food!

▼△▼

“………..”

Total restraint!

Yuguram-kun, age 15, wrapped completely in chains and being transported by carriage.

After that, I was caught by Iris who came chasing after me and forcibly tied up. Moreover, before being caught, I’d been beaten up by guards who received a report that “there’s a suspicious masked person,” and was about to be thrown in jail when Iris rescued me.

So I wouldn’t do something like forcibly breaking the chains.

Considering my previous life’s age, I was around the age where I’d be called an old man, so being captured so pathetically was kind of embarrassing.

I reflected that I’d definitely gotten too carried away.

Running around the city while shouting was no good. It bothered everyone around me (common sense).

“Really… Getting caught by guards within ten minutes of arriving in the royal capital is impressive in a different way.”

“Right? I was surprised too.”

“Don’t puff out your chest. I meant it was embarrassing.”

“I think so too…”

I was surprisingly bothered by it internally. It was my first time getting caught, including my previous life…

“We’ll arrive at the royal palace soon, so please behave yourself, okay?”

“What about exploring the royal palace?”

“No.”

“Looking for secret rooms?”

“There aren’t any.”

“Randomly entering the treasure vault?”

“I’ll kill you.”

Apparently everything was off-limits. I’d even made a list of things I wanted to do.

“Absolutely do not leave my side. Behave! Follow me, understand?”

“Is that a proposal? I accept gladly.”

“…You seem to be enjoying life.”

“Pretty much.”

Jokes aside, we arrived at the royal palace. Still wrapped up, I got off the carriage and passed through the entrance to the royal palace. The stares from around me were intense. Well, it definitely looked like they were transporting a criminal.

“By the way, Iris.”

“What?”

“Do I have to reveal my face to His Majesty?”

“Of course you do. Since we’re giving you sanctuary, I at least need to tell His Majesty. If it’s discovered later that I kept it secret, I’d become a criminal.”

“True. But I’d hate it if he said something like ‘kill him on the spot.’ I’d definitely resist, you know?”

“Is that something to say in front of me? Leave it to me. I’ll handle it somehow.”

“Nice. That’s a completely unreliable statement.”

“I’ll knock you out.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

After our brief conversation, we arrived in front of the audience chamber. The doors opened with a heavy sound. At the end of my line of sight sat the figure of the king on his throne.

“Oh, Iris! Welcome back. How was the monster subjugation?”

“It concluded without incident. The northwest should be safe for a while.”

“Good, good. As expected of a Child of God. …Hmm? Now then, who is that suspicious masked person?”

His Majesty’s gaze slowly turned toward me. I greeted him while tied up.

“I have graciously come to you.”

Bonk!

Iris hit me on the back of the head.

“Please be serious.”

Saying that, Iris removed my restraints.

“Sorry, sorry. First impressions are important, right? So I was trying to make an impactful greeting…”

“Normal is fine. You just look more suspicious.”

“…I see.”

If she said that, I had no choice but to be serious. I put my hand to my mask and removed it.

Golden eyes were exposed before the surrounding soldiers and the king.

“!? Those eyes…!”

“It is my honor to meet you, King of the Aldnoa Kingdom. I am Yuguram Albain Kushana. Just an ordinary Third Prince.”

“As I thought… the Child of God of the Kushana Empire!”

“Scoundrel! How did you get this far!”

The soldiers surrounding His Majesty all raised their spears at once. The king’s expression was also tense.

“What is the meaning of this, Iris? Why is an enemy nation’s prince here?”

“I brought him here.”

“What is your reason?”

“According to Yuguram-sama, he wants to defect to the Kingdom. If our country will give him sanctuary, he’ll cooperate in the war against the Empire too.”

“I didn’t say that much.”

They were freely interpreting things. Well, whatever.

“You believed those words?”

“Yes. Yuguram-sama actually saved me from monsters. It would have been far more beneficial to kill me. And… this person’s strength is real. I absolutely cannot defeat him as I am now.”

“For you to say that much…”

Sweat beaded on His Majesty’s face. I tried to appeal that I had no hostile intent.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. If I intended to, I would have killed everyone here already. The fact that you’re alive is the best proof.”

“You! Getting carried away in front of His Majesty!!”

Huh?

The soldiers’ gazes became even sharper. There was killing intent mixed in.

“Yuguram-sama… please refrain from speaking as much as possible. You’re making the situation more complicated.”

“Really?”

“Yes. For now, I will give Yuguram-sama sanctuary. On top of that, I have one proposal.”

“…Let’s hear it.”

The two family members talked while ignoring me. I quietly watched the scene as I’d been told.

“I want Yuguram-sama to become my teacher—my training partner!”