What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 70 - Wicked, and Dance

Lycoris suddenly threw a bomb.

I and Iris, who weren’t in defensive positions, took its full force defenseless.

“Come, Yuu-san. Let’s hold hands and go on a date!”

“Why?”

“Because I want to hold hands with you, of course!”

“I don’t want to hold hands with you at all though?”

“It’s fine if I want to! Love is sometimes one-sided!”

“You’re just forcing it.”

Lycoris reached out trying to grab my hand.

I gracefully avoided that fierce attack and escaped to Iris’s side.

Following the momentum, I grabbed Iris’s hand.

“Y-Yuu-san!?”

“Sorry, but I have a prior engagement. You should hold hands with your maid.”

“Mmm… Princess Iris is being unfair. I’m working so hard to convey my feelings too.”

“In your case, your wicked emotions are too prominent…”

She had clearly become a landmine.

I wouldn’t step on such a thing.

“Yuu-san… did you want to hold hands with me?”

“That’s what you’re asking in this situation?”

Iris asked me with reddened cheeks.

I think the answer was already clear.

“I wanted to. Iris’s hand is a bit cool and feels nice.”

“Fufu. You’re warm, Yuu-san. Just like you.”

“What do you mean ‘just like me’?”

“It’s a secret. More importantly, let’s enjoy the festival, Yuu-san, Lycoris.”

“The composure of a winner!”

“Ehehe.”

Unusually, Iris puffed out her chest with a smug expression.

I thought she was bad with such words… was she really feeling the winner’s composure?

“It can’t be helped. Stella, let’s hold hands too and compete with Iris and the others!”

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”

Even the dependable maid couldn’t hide her confusion.

▼△▼

The five of us, including the maid, walked down the street.

While putting food bought from various shops into my stomach, I looked up at the clear blue sky.

I wondered when the bandits and monsters would attack.

Since they were targeting the treasure vault, the timing should be early.

Right now, most residents were out in the town center.

His Majesty would also make rounds in a carriage partway through.

If they were going to steal, that would be the best time.

“Yuu-san? Is something wrong?”

“Hm? No, nothing. I was just thinking everyone looks like they’re having fun.”

“Anyone would enjoy a festival. You can’t enjoy it because you’re wearing that mask, Yuu-san.”

“It’s not the mask’s fault. Besides, I’m enjoying myself plenty.”

“You’ve just been eating and drinking since earlier… won’t you do something more like dancing?”

“Dancing? You mean dance?”

“Yes. Look how men and women are dancing together happily everywhere? That’s a common sight at festivals.”

“I don’t think dancing has anything to do with a birthday festival…”

“It’s fine as long as it’s enjoyable. It’s not anything formal.”

“Hmm. How free.”

As expected of the Kingdom.

It didn’t turn into an “worship the emperors!” development like the Empire.

The people had their own ways of enjoying themselves, and nobles and royalty didn’t oppose it.

An ideal country.

“So, Iris wants to dance with me.”

“…Well, to put it simply.”

“That’s fine. Shall we dance here?”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course, of course. I’m a man who can dance.”

In my previous life, I only did it as part of classes when I was a student, but this body—Yuguram Albain Kushana—could dance.

Since he was royalty, that kind of general education was no problem.

“You are a former prince. I have high expectations.”

Saying that, Iris smoothly extended her right hand.

I entrusted my food to Nana and took her hand.

“Nana, don’t eat too much of that.”

“I know. Munch munch.”

“Really?”

She was already reaching for the food before I could warn her.

I’d bought Nana her own portion earlier, but was she a big eater like me?

Well, whatever, I thought as I leisurely danced with Iris in front of me.

The spectators around us were saying:

“Hey, a suspicious person in a mask is dancing with a cute girl.”

“Is this a crime?”

“She must be forced to dance! How pitiful!”

“I brought soldiers! We’ll lend our strength too!”

They were making a fuss.

—Why though?

Even though we were just dancing normally, soldiers called out to us.

It worked out because Iris told the soldiers and spectators that I wasn’t a dangerous person.

As always, my mask harbored a curse.

“Yuu-san, Yuu-san. Please dance with me next.”

“Why don’t you dance with your maid?”

“It won’t look right without a gentleman partner, will it!? Please allow at least that much!”

“Alright, alright…”

Right now we were in disguise, so no one would think she was the princess of the Prominent small kingdom—I swallowed those words.

Lycoris was also a girl, and it would be pitiful to ignore only her.

Speaking of which, after Lycoris would be Nana. I was confident I’d definitely be reported.

“—Kyaaaaaah!!”

The moment I reached out to take Lycoris’s hand, an ear-splitting scream reached us.

It seemed… trouble had occurred.