When the Villainous Flame User Trapped in a Time Loop Starts Living Earnestly, Every Female Party Member Turns into a Pervert and Now the World Is in Danger!? - 14

Chapter 14: Resolve

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“Ah, I did it! Magina-san, when I did it the way you said, I was able to form the Mana Sword!”

“Once you learn the knack, you won’t forget it. …Especially someone like you.”

The special training that began the next morning proved that, after all, the Hero was a Hero. She had simply lacked proper magical education back in the countryside. Once we taught her the knack, she could do it. She was the same type as me, though it still wasn’t enough…

“Now, after magic comes real combat training with me. Stamina… Well, you’re full of things you lack. Now then, practical training with me. (Well, she had more than enough talent, so the more experience she got the sooner she’d reach the top level… Still, I had to rapidly train her to last time’s standard… We were still far beyond reaching the power that was triggered from the anger she had experienced when she beat Bocchama back then… That anger-triggered power bhe reached is still far beyond what we have now…)”

“Yes, please! Hyahaaa!”

She picked up what we taught her quickly. Even if she was knocked back once, her guts to get up showed, and when she clamped down she was sharper than before. When she had been cut short at the first test, she had broken mentally, but once she got fired up she could grow without limit… And honestly? I really needed her to grow stronger quickly. Like, seriously. Please just get way stronger—like, boom—in an instant.

“At this rate, she’s improving visibly by the minute… Is this what they call genius?”

“Hard to say. Since she never had proper training or guidance in the right environment, she’ll grow quickly at first… The real question is, when will she hit her limit?”

“…I see…”

“By the way, Goshujin-sama… Your control over the shape and form of the Blue Flame has improved even further.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes… (I never realized in the previous timeline since Goshujin-sama hardly made any effort back then, but you truly are exceptional. If Goshujin-sama keeps growing at this pace, he could join the Golden Generation of Miracles as well… No, no, I’d prefer if Goshujin-sama focused on his blissful piggy life with me instead of fighting the Demon Lord’s army, though)”

And somehow, it seemed I was also one of those “I can do it if I try” types. I’d been feeling more in the groove lately. If I kept getting stronger like this, maybe I could even change the future, the one where I couldn’t protect or accomplish anything last time.

Still, a lot had already gone off-script, so I didn’t know what might happen now… And that uncertainty was terrifying. And even though Nemeth was growing stronger, she was still far weaker than when she’d beaten me senseless in the previous timeline.

“Senpai, what kind of hero are you aiming to become?”

“…Huh?”

Nemeth asked me that with a pair of pure, unclouded eyes during a break.

“W-well, I’m not really aiming to become a hero or anything…”

“What!? Why not?! Someone as strong and talented as you—someone who inspires and uplifts others—why wouldn’t you?!”

“N-no, no, no, no, don’t overestimate me! I’m not that big of a deal—”

“Muuu~ I can’t accept that! It’s strange for someone like you not to aspire to be a hero! Then why did you come to the Magic Academy? You’re even training like this! I thought you were going to lead us juniors forward!”

“No, the Magic Academy thing was… Family circumstances, and the training is just for… Well, for various reasons.”

I never expected Nemeth to misunderstand things to the point of thinking I was aiming to become a hero. And when I told her I wasn’t planning to become one, she actually got angry and stepped right up to me.

“Then what are you trying to become in the future, Senpai?!”

“Huh? Th-the future…?”

That was something I’d had all the time in the world to think about—but had been avoiding the whole time.

(A pervy life! …Well, aside from that, I’m curious too. Last time,Bocchama’s life ended pitifully, but… What about now?)

(A blissful piggy life! …Is what I’d like to say, but what path does Goshujin-sama truly intend to walk…?)

Sword and Magina’s eyes both lit up with a sharp “gleam” as they turned their bodies toward me, clearly ready to listen. But even when she asked me that question… My future, huh…

“I’m…”

It was true that I wasn’t aiming to become a hero. Even though I was the son of the army’s supreme commander, once my father and the others had written me off, I was left to do whatever I wanted. So I’d never thought of serving the nation like they did, nor had I ever intended to fight the Demon Lord’s army for the sake of the world or humanity.

Even living properly now wasn’t for the sake of the future—it was just atonement for what happened last time. A form of self-satisfaction. The only reason I trained was…

『Onii-chan, are you okay?』

…Because back then, when I was nothing but trash, collapsed on the roadside, someone had reached out to me.

“…I’m just trying to build up enough strength now to handle things when I run into trouble in the future.”

“Muu, what’s that supposed to mean? Senpai, you need to have a bigger goal than that!”

Well, I couldn’t exactly say the real reason, so for now, I left it at that. Then—

“Indeed! How lamentable that the son of a noble house supporting our nation would think so small!”

“‘“““!?””””

At that moment, a thunderous, booming voice echoed across the manor’s garden. I turned to see who it was, and—huh?!

“Eh?! Ah—what?”

A towering, muscle-bound giant stood there, with wild, sharp eyes and spiked green hair.

Clad in jet-black armor, radiating an overwhelming aura of martial prowess…

“P-P-Prince Budo!?”

It was the prince of this country.

“Eh, wha—P-prince!? Wait, the prince of this country!?”

“N-no way…”

“Wh-why is he here…?”

Nemeth, who didn’t recognize the prince’s face, hurriedly stood up, and both Sword and Magina rose to their feet in visible shock. Seriously—why the hell had the prince come here, of all places?! And to make matters worse…

“Ufufu, hope you don’t mind us dropping in, Habiri~♪”

“Ehh?! The princess too?!”

Even the princess was here?!

“My, my, Habiri. Training from the morning, huh… Looks like you really have turned over a new leaf.”

“Indeed. I’m somewhat relieved. When His Highness personally came for an inspection, you weren’t lazing around or frolicking with your slaves.”

And right behind them were my father and my older brother, following as if in attendance. Why the hell were they here too?! No, first things first…

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Habiri?”

“Y-yes! It’s been a long time, Your Highness! May I ask what brings you here today…?”

I immediately dropped to one knee and bowed my head. Just having him approach made my breath catch—the pressure was immense. He was the Empire’s prince, one of the strongest in the nation, with power equal to my brother’s. Of course it was suffocating. He’d always been terrifying, even back in the day.

“I came to see you.”

“…What?”

“During today’s discussion, Commander Engou and Retsuka mentioned that the fool of a noble’s son—who was supposed to be nothing but a spoiled brat—had changed his ways and begun to display remarkable talent. Even if they are your kin, those two are not ones to exaggerate or show favoritism. If such men speak that highly of your potential, it warrants my interest. You may well bear the future of this nation.”

“Wha—wait, seriously?”

“Moreover, my sister herself passionately praised your deeds yesterday. After that, I decided I had to see you with my own eyes.”

He came to see me… The prince who had never shown the slightest interest in me before was now personally visiting from the royal palace? No, seriously, you didn’t need to come!

“Th-th-then perhaps you could have sent word beforehand…”

“If I had, you would have simply put on an act—or tried to hide something, would you not?”

“Ugh…”

And then…

“In any case, I wish to see your power. And the best way to do that… Is to test it myself.”

“Huh?”

“Stand up. You will face me—right now!”

I couldn’t say it out loud, but—seriously?! The muscle-brained prince was butting in now?! Things were already going wildly off-script compared to the last timeline—I had no idea where this was heading anymore!

And come to think of it… Wasn’t this the same prince who was destined to die eventually, too?

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