What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 67 - Defeat, and Training

Lycoris’s incredible strength exploded.

The arm strength put into her sword created an impact greater than even Iris’s.

“You’re certainly strong… that was a good strike.”

“I’m honored by your praise! But I’m not happy being blocked with such a cool expression!”

“Now, now. I’m the strongest, so you don’t need to feel down.”

“You… are that type of person, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes. I have confidence in my abilities alone!”

Saying that, I deflected Lycoris’s sword.

Her sword, lifted upward, was delayed in returning for a split second.

In that time, I entered Lycoris’s guard.

Even with a wooden sword, I had no hobby of hitting women.

Thinking bare hands might be permissible, I lightly gripped my fist—and threw a punch.

My fist cut through empty air.

“Whoops?”

From that incomplete state where she’d been thrown backward, Lycoris kicked the ground and moved back.

Her leg strength was inferior to earlier, but still sufficient to avoid my attack.

I never expected to be dodged.

“Heh… not bad.”

“That was close. If I took an attack from you, who surpasses me in arm strength, that alone could decide the match.”

“I wouldn’t seriously punch you that hard.”

“Is that discrimination?”

“No, no. Not laying hands on cute girls is my principle.”

“You were punching me though.”

“…It’s my principle.”

“Geez! Please fight seriously!”

Lycoris readied her sword and kicked the ground again.

I wished she wouldn’t keep denting the ground like this.

If Iris found out I’d crossed swords with her, I’d probably get scolded by association too.

“Haaah!!”

Lycoris’s sword speed increased further.

Brown slashes approached before my eyes one after another.

But it wasn’t a speed I couldn’t follow.

I dodged Lycoris’s sword attacks like dancing, and as she approached—I tripped her.

“—Kyah!?”

Lycoris fell down easily.

Just like with Iris, these charge-straight-ahead types had trouble dealing with attacks to their feet that split their attention.

The idea that power solves everything was a delusion.

That only worked if you had mana on my level.

“Guh! To think you’d attack my footing like that…”

“Overwhelming force isn’t the only thing that breaks equilibrium. Small techniques are often important, Princess Lycoris.”

I pointed my wooden sword at her fallen neck.

The match was over.

“It’s frustrating, but you’re right… That leg sweep was splendid. It was fast and came from outside my awareness.”

“It’s a technique I used to toy with Princess Iris. Princess Lycoris should feel free to use it as reference.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Oh?”

“Certainly, the sound of ‘a technique that defeated Princess Iris’ is lovely, but such small techniques don’t suit me. It’s power after all! Overwhelming power solves everything!”

“But you lost.”

You couldn’t solve it, which is why you’re lying on the ground right now.

I thought that retort internally while watching her get up.

“Thank you for the match. The extremely brief time I could fight you has painted color in my life.”

“Color?”

“Yes. I’ll use it as nourishment for the future. Would you like to fight me again sometime?”

“I refuse!”

I only dealt with Lycoris because I had to.

Unlike the battle-crazy her, I had no aesthetics or interest in fighting.

I threw the wooden sword to her, turned on my heel, and returned inside the palace.

I heard Lycoris’s sad voice from behind.

“That’s unfortunate… but I won’t give up!”

▼△▼

The day after winning the one-on-one with Lycoris.

Iris appeared in my room while I was sleeping peacefully.

“Good morning, Yuu-san! It’s morning! Perfect training weather!”

I was magnificently roused from sleep.

How many times have I told you not to unlock people’s room doors without permission…

“What’s this all of a sudden? Wasn’t early morning training canceled because Lycoris is here?”

“Well, Lycoris seems to know you well now, so there’s no need to hide anymore.”

“That woman… she told Iris about me.”

“—It can’t be helped. That was the best way to drag you to the training ground.”

“Geh! Princess Lycoris…”

She showed herself from the entrance with a pop.

She had a mischievous smile, but I absolutely didn’t forgive her.

I covered myself with the blanket and pretended to sleep.

“I don’t want to work today. Snore…”

“Don’t want to work…”

Nana imitated me while sleeping beside me.

Then someone approached the bed.

The bed creaked as they whispered in my ear:

“Shall I throw you from the window again?”

—You bastard…!

Despite losing to me, she was threatening me.

Since Lycoris might seriously do it, I reluctantly woke up and sat up.

Nana also got up nonchalantly.

“Papa, are you training?”

“Seems like it… this is the worst. A nightmare.”

“What cruel words. And here I’m so drawn to you.”

“Drawn…!?”

Iris was severely shaken by Lycoris’s words.

Her mouth was twitching.

I had a bad feeling.

“Yuu-san… what happened between you and Lycoris yesterday… please explain it to me thoroughly, okay? Yes. Until that’s finished… I won’t let you escape!”

…This really was a nightmare.