When the Villain Joined the Knights to Avoid Doom Flags, but Somehow the Heroines Started Approaching Him - Chapter 30: The Senior's Resolve and What Comes Next

Chapter 30: The Senior’s Resolve and What Comes Next

As expected, the academy was temporarily closed.

However, since the cause of the attack was identified, classes were set to resume as usual tomorrow.

“Now that I think about it, it’s kind of amazing how the academy just decides to keep going, even with the building this wrecked.”

“Well, with all the funding they’ve gotten from various donors, they probably feel obligated to show some pride, no matter what.”

“It must’ve been quite the fight,” Lieselotte said with a wry smile as she joined them.

From the rooftop, the aftermath of the battle was clear. The section of the building they had been in earlier now looked like it had been hit by an airplane. 

The wall was gouged out horizontally, and they could easily see the doors to the classrooms on the other side.

“I didn’t do anything wrong! It’s all that brat’s fault!”

“Sure, sure, we get it. But you did dive straight through the roof in the flashiest way possible to take the shortest route. What would you have done if someone had been underneath?”

“I-It didn’t seem like anyone was there, so I jumped…!”

Iris, realizing she bore some responsibility for the destruction, averted her gaze.

The way she looked so much like a child trying to cover up her mischief was undeniably endearing.

“So, I was helping the teachers guide the evacuation… but was the enemy really that strong?”

Lieselotte asked curiously.

Hearing this, Iris puffed out her cheeks in frustration and muttered bitterly.

“…They were strong.”

“That’s unexpected, coming from you.”

“Well, even with me and Senior working together, we couldn’t overpower them…”

Hearing this, Lieselotte was taken aback.

She had seen Iris’s abilities firsthand before, and Celia was a senior member of the Royal Capital Knights.

The idea that the two of them together couldn’t overwhelm their opponent seemed hard to believe.

But looking at Iris’s expression, it was clear she wasn’t lying.

“Well,” Yulis chimed in, resting his chin on his hand, “it’s not entirely surprising.”

Lieselotte turned to him in surprise, and Yulis began to explain.

“Iris’s weapon isn’t exactly ideal for small, confined spaces. On top of that, the opponent this time was tricky—you wouldn’t know how to deal with them unless you figured out their abilities first.”

“So, it was more about the environment and compatibility than anything else?”

“Kind of like when a picky eater brings food they hate to a picnic and gets scolded by their mom. Besides… this is just my gut feeling, but Senior wasn’t going all out either. It’s not surprising she couldn’t overpower them.”

“Wait, you’re telling me Senior was holding back?! While I was putting up with the embarrassment of my dramatic entrance and giving it my all?”

“I said it was just a hunch, didn’t I? And ‘not going all out’ doesn’t necessarily mean holding back. Maybe she couldn’t use her full strength because she was worried about collateral damage or was trying to match her movements to yours. There could be all kinds of reasons.”

Celia, with her longer experience as a knight, didn’t seem like the type to hold back intentionally.
In other words, it was likely that she simply couldn’t unleash her full potential, either due to environmental factors, certain restrictions, or perhaps the risk of negative consequences if she had.

Regardless, Yulis’s observation that Celia wasn’t going all out was just a gut feeling based on the atmosphere.
Overthinking it wouldn’t lead anywhere useful.

“Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Clank. The rooftop door swung open.

The ones who appeared were Celia, now the topic of conversation, and their protected target, Princess Fia.

“…And there she is, the infamous senior.”

“Oh? Were you perhaps talking about me? Fufu, it’s tough being such a popular girl, isn’t it?”

Not even close.

Iris’s unimpressed glare focused squarely on Celia.

“How are your injuries, by the way?”

“Hm? Oh, thanks for asking, Lieselotte. Luckily, they were minor enough that the white-coated healer could take care of them.”

“But more importantly…” Celia let out a small sigh.

“After discussing things with the teachers, the conclusion was reached—Lady Fia is banned from attending classes for a while. Truly embarrassing, isn’t it?”

“Well, that’s hardly surprising. If she kept showing up, we’d probably end up with another wild runner turning the academy into their personal obstacle course.”

Lieselotte and Iris both nodded in agreement, seemingly convinced by the decision.

However, Yulis wore a faintly guilty expression.

(…I talked big about letting her attend the academy, and this is the result.)

If he had been more vigilant and managed to keep the intruders captured instead of letting them escape, maybe the situation could’ve been resolved.

Perhaps Fia could have continued attending the academy.

The thought weighed heavily on him, filling him with regret.

Yulis glanced toward Fia, who was standing beside Celia.

Just then—

“…!”

Fia turned her face away sharply, her cheeks tinged with a faint redness.

(What… What does this mean…!?!)

The sight left Yulis in shock.

(Did she start hating me!? Is it because I talked big and this is how it turned out!?)

She might have expected him to handle things better, but he had failed to deliver.

As a knight sworn to protect her, his failure wasn’t just disappointing—it might’ve damaged her trust in him entirely.

It wasn’t unreasonable to think her opinion of him had dropped from “dependable protector” to “all talk and no action.”

(If the princess—no, the heroine—ends up disliking me, I might have triggered a ruin flag! And with mid-bosses showing up, does this mean the story’s back on track…?!)

Despair overwhelmed him.

Yulis dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he mourned his perceived failure.

Meanwhile, Fia stood nearby, fanning her flushed cheeks with her hand, as if trying to cool them down.

(W-Why…? Why does my heart start racing every time I look at Yulis?)

Meanwhile, as the other three observed the interaction between Yulis and Fia—

(Yulis is crying, but… this is what I think it is, right?)

(Sigh… Master’s way with women is really something.)

(While I wasn’t around, he already charmed her? That’s Yulis for you.)

Each of them cast a slightly exasperated glare at the “quick-moving hero.”

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention something,” Celia suddenly spoke, breaking the moment and shifting the mood.

“It’s about what happens next. For now, the princess will be living with us.”

“…Wait, does that mean Lady Fia will be staying in the Knights’ quarters?”

“No, not the Knights’ quarters. While that would certainly be safe, the Knights’ headquarters is too busy, with many people coming and going, including clients and associates. It’s unlikely, but if an enemy managed to sneak in without us knowing… the consequences would be unthinkable.”

The forces stationed at the royal capital’s garrison were more than sufficient, and security was strict. 

However, because it was the hub of the Knights’ operations, the constant comings and goings made it a high-risk location.

The more people entering and leaving, the more opportunities and routes there were for infiltration.

If someone with hostile intent managed to get inside… it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that they could carry out an assassination.

“Then wouldn’t the royal castle be a better choice?”

“The castle’s security is solid, but if an attack like this happens again, other members of the royal family could be caught in the crossfire.”

“Exactly, Lieselotte. The plan is to quietly relocate to a new base with only our small escort group.”

Celia raised a finger, her tone playfully mischievous.

“This time, we’ve got the perfect place, courtesy of a certain merchant’s daughter. Apparently, she owes a debt of gratitude to a certain ‘cool hero.’”

Staaare.
For what felt like the umpteenth time that day, Lieselotte and Iris cast unimpressed glares at Yulis.

Yulis immediately recalled the face of the heroine he had helped not long ago.

(Hooray… yet another beautiful girl waiting to welcome me wherever I go… yay.)

The thought somehow left him teary-eyed.

As the ever-popular “hero” of this world (or game), Yulis gazed at the sky with slightly misty eyes, feeling the weight of his “popularity.”