What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 58 - Childhood, and Encounter

One week remained until His Majesty’s birthday festival.

The public was already in festive mode. Walking through the streets, I spotted flashy decorations everywhere.

“Everyone looks so happy… even though it’s just a birthday festival.”

“It’s not just a birthday festival. It’s the birthday festival of His Majesty, who serves as our nation’s standard-bearer. It should be celebrated grandly, shouldn’t it?”

“Is that how it works? I completely don’t understand the appeal.”

Even in my previous life, I wasn’t that fond of flashy festivals. Small-scale ones held at local shrines were fine.

Especially now, we were on the verge of war with the Empire. Normally, we couldn’t afford to spend money on things like this.

War consumed money like water. We shouldn’t be able to waste even a single coin…

No, maybe that’s exactly why. To hide the dark seeds of war visible in the future, people might be forcing themselves to laugh and enjoy the present.

“Yuu-san must have had a lonely childhood. I sympathize.”

“Why would you say that? My childhood was when I really made my mark.”

“What did you do?”

“I made holes in the palace walls for training.”

“That’s terrible.”

Don’t blame me for that! It was Yuguram who destroyed things, not me.

The past Yuguram had noticed the palace walls made of sturdy materials and tested how much his abilities would work on them.

As a result, he made holes in the walls and sliced through several pillars when he wasn’t even at half strength.

Yuguram had been mischievous since childhood. How much tax money the citizens had to pay to cover those damages…

Yuguram’s mischievous legends continued beyond that.

“I also disappeared for several days during presence-erasing training. The search was quite troublesome.”

“What were you doing… you were an idiot then and now.”

“Who’s an idiot?!”

“No, that’s just normally troublesome. Please stop pulling the same stunts here.”

“Do you think I’m the kind of child who would rampage even as a grown adult?”

“Shall I read out your criminal record?”

“I’m sorry.”

I was self-aware that I’d been acting strangely since coming to the royal capital. I already had an arrest record, so it wasn’t funny.

“It’s fine if you understand. But I don’t dislike the childish side of you either, Yuu-san.”

Iris chuckled softly and began walking. Around the corner of the hallway, down the stairs to the courtyard.

Even though His Majesty’s birthday festival was about to begin, there was no change in my daily routine.

We gripped our wooden swords and clashed them together.

“That’s right, I haven’t told you yet, Yuu-san.”

“Hm? About what?”

We talked while repeating attacks and defenses.

Iris spoke as she struck:

“Soon! Or rather today, the guest I mentioned before is coming here. Please be sure not to be rude!”

While pushing back Iris’s sword, which was imbued with magical power at full strength, I remembered.

“Ah… now that you mention it, you did say something like that—!”

Iris was repelled backward.

I didn’t close the distance and waited in place. While watching Iris’s next move, I thought to myself.

—So that woman is finally coming… It’ll be impossible not to meet face to face, so I’ll definitely end up talking to her…

To be honest, I didn’t really want to meet her. While that woman was also top-class in looks, her personality was problematic… It would be troublesome if my abilities were discovered.

There was also the matter of my identity. I’d told Iris and a select few people, but I had no obligation to tell someone from another country.

So to keep it hidden as much as possible, I should avoid unnecessary contact.

“She’s a bit eccentric! Your sexual harassment would be absolutely unacceptable, Yuu-san!”

“I choose my targets too!”

I wanted that woman’s underwear, but I’d be troubled if I picked a fight and got beaten up, so this time I was torn between going on a date with Nana or staying locked in my room.

Because that woman was…

“That’s good to hear.”

Clang! A dry sound rang out. My and Iris’s wooden swords collided vertically and stopped without either pushing or being pushed.

The atmosphere changed. Today’s training ended here.

Iris would be busy welcoming the guest too. Recently, we haven’t been able to take much training time.

“Well then, I’ll go to His Majesty first. Please feel free to amuse yourself, Yuu-san.”

“Okay. Good luck with work, Iris. Take care.”

“I-I’m going… ehehe.”

For some reason looking extremely happy, Iris waved as she returned inside the palace.

After seeing her off, I called out to Nana, who was nearby.

“So that’s how it is, Nana. Shall we go on a date together today?”

“Date? We did that before.”

“You can go on dates as many times as you want. It’s fun, right?”

“Yeah, fun.”

Since Nana agreed, we put our luggage in our room and left the palace together.

With the birthday festival approaching, many shops lined the streets everywhere. It was already in festival mode even before the festival began. My heart raced at the sight, different from usual—bump.

While walking, I suddenly collided with a girl who came out from the side.

We both stopped moving.