Friendly Match (4)

“···Useless.”

“What’s wrong, Princess-nim? Should we make our move?”

“Yes. There’s no point waiting any longer.”

“Shouldn’t we wait a bit more? Some might still return, even if not all of them.”

“I wish that were true, but it seems those fools were more incompetent than I thought.”

“?”

The magic power wasn’t flowing.

The Magic Paths I’d connected to those who volunteered to help me had all been severed.

Naturally, I hadn’t cut them off myself.

They were forcibly severed.

“···That.”

“Indeed. Seems they’re all lying unconscious somewhere.”

“Tch, thought this would be easy…”

“We shouldn’t have relied on incompetent fools.”

Stella knew better than anyone how ridiculous her own words sounded.

Incompetent fools.

Well, it wasn’t wrong.

Since they couldn’t accomplish even what was expected of them, they had no right to complain about being called incompetent.

They were still immature after all.

However, it wasn’t that they lacked skill.

With little time having passed since enrollment, the difference in ability between students wasn’t significant yet.

Except for a few exceptional individuals, everyone’s skills were roughly similar.

That’s why I accepted anyone as allies – it wouldn’t make much difference who joined.

Yet they all lost.

To students who should have been hunting in groups.

This wasn’t defeat through divide-and-conquer tactics.

Judging by when the Magic Paths were severed, they were defeated simultaneously.

···Meaning they were defeated by an existence beyond standard measures.

“The Watcher?”

“Most likely. We should consider that lowlife too.”

“Ah… Right. She was here too.”

What on earth were Father and that Grandma pretending to be young thinking?

I couldn’t understand why they’d allow a living bomb like that into the Academy.

That Grandma always goes on about how children are innocent and such, so maybe she easily permitted it…

But even Father allowed a demon seed to enter?

“But she’s been quiet lately, hasn’t she?”

“···Hmph. Must be thanks to that new teacher the Grandma brought in. She has a good eye for people.”

“Princess-nim… You shouldn’t call the Principal ‘Grandma’…”

“She is a Grandma. Everyone knows she’s an old woman who’s lived long past her prime, don’t they?”

Why doesn’t everyone else call that Grandma ‘Grandma’?

No matter how I look at it, that old woman is too foolish.

“A hundred years old yet acting young – it makes me sick. Whenever she passes by, the smell of decay…”

“P-Princess-nim! That’s too much!”

“What is? It’s the truth. No matter how respected an elder is, being old doesn’t change…”

Crash.

One of the earrings dangling from Stella’s ear shattered with a loud noise.

“Ahem, such venerable experience. Sometimes I feel proud to know such a distinguished person.”

“Princess-nim…”

“W-what? Why?”

“I told you to stop when you had the chance…”

“What? I didn’t do anything!”

“Right, right.”

…Damn that Grandma.

How long had she been watching?

Shouldn’t she be busy at this time?

There’s no way a magic bullet would coincidentally fall from the sky and graze my earring.

She must have been watching.

Despite pretending otherwise, she’s sensitive about age-related comments.

Academy life just got more troublesome.

Maybe I should throw a tantrum later to appease her.

Just thinking about having to placate her sulking made my head hurt already.

***

“···.”

“···.”

“Why such gloomy faces? Haha! Young students should enjoy their youth while they can! Time flies quickly!”

The Principal’s cheerful laughter echoed through the situation room.

But no one believed her laughter was genuine.

And why would they?

She’d suddenly found free time and barged into the situation room just as those insults reached her ears.

Right when we were wondering if this was okay, she personally heard it.

Her judgment was remarkably swift.

Gathering magic power in her hand – bang.

The magic bullet pierced through walls and instantly destroyed Stella’s earring.

The distance between here and there wasn’t insignificant…

As expected of the Principal.

Damn strong.

“…Ah, Teacher Ophelia, come see me later. There’s a student whose mental state needs… adjustment.”

“Understood…”

Other teachers gave me pitying looks.

…If you feel so sorry, why not help?

I turned to them pleadingly, but everyone avoided eye contact.

Traitors. A sense of betrayal washed over me.

***

“Well, fine. What’s done is done – I’ll think about it later.”

“Princess-nim, we have no plan…”

“Quiet. I never expected that Grandma to be listening.”

What’s that busybody Grandma doing here anyway?

Of course, the impending fallout was terrifying too.

…But that’s not something to handle immediately.

First, we must deal with the matter at hand.

“Prepare yourself, Charlotte. They’re coming this way.”

“Using your childhood friend like a servant… Hello? I’m a Duke’s daughter too?”

“Enough chatter. Prepare. We have no reinforcements left. Since it’s come to this, let’s give them a proper fight.”

“Ugh, my fate…”

Crack, crack.

As I warmed up for the coming battle, Charlotte spoke to me with evident annoyance.

“Princess-nim, don’t you think this is somewhat improper?”

“What is.”

“A princess fighting with her fists? Why not learn swordsmanship now? Or spear techniques! Archery too!”

“Not interested.”

“Why not?!”

“This feels more natural.”

People talk about lacking refinement and such…

But such things are utterly useless in real combat.

A princess’s dignity? Sounds nice.

But in battle, you should think about landing one more hit rather than maintaining appearances.

It’d be more shameful to lose while clumsily wielding an ill-suited sword just to preserve dignity.

“…Sigh. Fine, cast Enhancement on me.”

“Good, knight. The Queen marches forth. Provide escort.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After casting Enhancement on ourselves and waiting several minutes, two figures appeared before us.

A woman in pure white nun’s habit with silver hair, and a student in all black providing stark contrast.

“…As expected, it was you.”

“Ah, hello Princess-nim.”

“Greetings… Several students went to your area earlier.”

“Oh, those guys? They’re probably sleeping soundly.”

“…”

Our prediction was correct.

For some reason, a fight broke out between those fools and this ominous pair.

…Idiots.

They should have avoided the fight.

If they’d targeted just one, they might have at least inflicted some damage even if they couldn’t win.

This shows the downside of Enhancement.

It creates a false sense of omnipotence – making you believe you can achieve the impossible.

Being able to do things you normally couldn’t makes you blind to power disparities.

With several Enhanced students around, they probably charged in without thinking.

Never realizing they faced an unbeatable foe.

“Perfect timing. Since there’s two of them, I’ll handle the brute. Charlotte, you take the Watcher.”

“Eh, why?! I can’t last long!”

“It’s fine. I’ll finish quickly and join you.”

Perhaps offended by Stella’s remark, Orca bared her teeth in a fierce smile.

“Quite the confidence. Is that a royal trait? Your arrogance reaches the heavens.”

“This isn’t arrogance – it’s called self-confidence.”

“Everyone who said that before you ended up kissing the floor. Want to try?”

“…Gladly. I like that spirit.”

At the brink of combat, an unexpected presence shattered the tension.

“Hey Leo… Can’t we just go back?”

“Shh, quiet…! They might hear- oh, too late…”

“…What are you doing here?”

“Ah, hello… haha. We’ll just be on our way, so please continue what you were doing?”

I remember that boy.

Leo, was it?

I investigated him before because an orphan having artifacts was suspicious – possibly an assassin’s puppet or hermit’s disciple.

But surprisingly, he had no background.

He must have potential to enter the Academy, but…

His current skills are unremarkable.

The girl piggybacking on Leo…

“Eileen, isn’t it.”

“…”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t enroll? Never thought you’d change your mind.”

“…I was forcibly enrolled.”

“As expected. I told you giving up would be better.”

“…”

Tch.

Still not in her right mind.

Where did her past glory go?

Of course, even rusted steel remains steel – she must have some skill left…

But years of decay take their toll.

She’s not the girl she once was.

“If you’re not fighting, then disappear. Useless things. You’re in the way.”

“Stella. You…”

“I know, Eileen. This makes you angry, right? How could you not be?”

I smirked at my old friend, provoking her like childhood days.

She was always like this.

Pretending indifference but easily provoked.

…Just like now.

“You know me too well…”

“Eh? Miss Eileen? What are you-”

“Diiiiie!”

“Waaahhh?!”

“Haha! Charlotte! Stop them! Their crime is Attempted Royal Assassination!”

“Sigh…”