episode_0024

“Princess, no, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

She called me “Your Highness” while seated in one place.

The seat I occupied was among the royal family’s reserved seats behind the stage. Among these seats was one with my name on it.

I noticed that next to it, in very small letters, it said ‘Guest.’ Just a guest, recommended by the royal family to sit here, I suppose. But if I stay here, people might misunderstand and think, ‘That person is royalty?’

Murmurs were already starting to be heard faintly. Is this what they call an itch in the ear when someone insults you? This morning, my body was enveloped by numerous jealous and piercing gazes.

If it were jealousy aimed at the target of a heist, that would be one thing, but I don’t particularly care for jealousy directed at an ordinary target. I don’t prefer it. Dislike it!

But now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

“If it’s this seat.”

I raised my head, looking at Your Highness.

“Is that so?”

Your Highness looked puzzled as to why I asked such a question, her eyes the color of the sky symbolizing freedom spread wide, oh, that’s too much. Her pupils pierced through me.

I slightly raised my chin at Your Highness and spoke.

“But why…”

Why, for what reason. For what cause.

“You’re sitting on my lap, aren’t you?”

You’re sitting on my lap, Your Highness.

“Because you’re my future husband?”

Damn, did you think I’d let it slide just because you said I’m your future husband while smiling like that? It’s not like I go around pretending to be nice. I’m from Earth. My character isn’t all that great.

Well, during a heist, I become so unlike myself that I almost forget I’m from Earth, but that’s part of my charm.

Self-praise, isn’t it?

Right. Self-praise.

No, well, I mean, you can sit on my lap. But the problem is that it’s on the stage, where all the Academy officials’ eyes could be fixated.

Sitting on laps isn’t a big deal. I was sitting on someone’s lap just a while ago before coming here. But in such a public place, some restraint, or better yet, not doing it at all, would have been preferred.

“Don’t say strange things and go back to your place, Your Highness.”

“I don’t have a place to go back to?”

“…What?”

What is this princess saying now? No place to go back to? She’s royalty, right? What kind of nonsense is that?

The benefits of being royalty are substantial. So, shouldn’t she be able to get a seat with just a word? No place?

Principal Lira isn’t that strict. To maintain relations with the royal family, she would accommodate Your Highness as long as it’s not excessive. Just asking for a chair, wouldn’t she grant that?

As I looked at her with an incredulous gaze, she also vaguely understood why I was giving her such a look and chuckled.

“Your place is, your place is on your lap. Would you like to see your future husband’s lap?”

-Swish.

With a mischievous smile, Your Highness lifted herself slightly off my lap.

Curious about what this princess wanted me to see, I gazed intently at the spot she indicated.

“…Your Highness?”

On my lap was nothing other than a very small piece of paper. On that paper were these words:

[Reserved Seat for Your Highness]

“This, this paper…?”

-Pluck.

Ignoring my words, Your Highness readjusted herself on my lap.

Well, having your butt lifted feels good. It’s soft. Should I ask if I can touch it later?

Oh, that’s too perverted a thought. But isn’t this normal? The male protagonist experiencing something like this and not feeling aroused is what’s strange.

However, that’s not important right now. This could lead to a real misunderstanding. A royal sitting on a commoner’s lap? It’s sure to cause some strange misunderstandings.

“Yustet····.”

“Ah~ I don’t know, I can’t hear you~ Ahhhhhhh.”

Yustetia, who was using formal language until just now, closed and opened her ears, transforming into a playful girl, ignoring my words as she did so.

That behavior is something I just did. And she’s copying it right away. Is she trying to mess with me?

She must be able to hear. Doing that won’t make it completely inaudible. But, it’s annoying.

Well, the behavior is cute, but cuteness doesn’t solve everything. Cuteness may be the truth, but let’s distinguish between public and private matters, Princess. I could really get socially crucified for this, you know?

Just thinking about how my image spread on the internet with the hashtag “Princess sitting on a commoner’s lap”… Phew, it’s fortunate that this isn’t modern times.

If rumors spread quickly in modern times, a woman sitting on someone’s lap?! And that person? Similar comments would be posted, going beyond social crucifixion, with otakus who secretly loved Yustetia targeting me.

But the princess doesn’t care about such things. She continued to open and close her ears, making an effort to ignore my words.

Haha, this is really messed up.

······Ha, now even I’m confused. Let’s just stay like this.

Now, feeling dejected, I decided to accept it.

As I didn’t resist anymore, Yustetia, understanding that I allowed her to sit on my lap, relaxed.

How much time had passed? I waited, responding to Yustetia’s utterly meaningless words.

“Alright! First-year students, please enter!”

The headmaster of Leonios Academy, who had suddenly arrived. The Red Dragon and the hero who prevented a disaster once. Headmaster Lira called the first-year students with a thunderous voice.

Why did I describe Headmaster Lira so highly? It was very simple. If I didn’t do something like that, I felt like I’d be screwed. What should I say… instinctual sense? If I introduced her as just a cheap woman who easily sheds her scales, I felt like I’d be screwed. Survival instinct?

-Thud!

The auditorium door swung open violently, allowing the cool outside air to flow in and out of the hall.

And the lively, cheerful atmosphere that was there just a moment ago turned cold as soon as the first-year students entered.

First-year students are newcomers to this academy. It’s natural for the second and third years to evaluate these newcomers. That’s why the atmosphere, which was relaxed until now, became serious.

Oh, by the way, the highest grade, the fourth year, is on a mission. From the fourth year onwards, they go on various missions to subdue monsters.

Poor guys, missing out on such a fun event. This is really a popcorn-worthy situation.

Nervous first-year students and seniors observing them closely. Oh, what fun.

If I were included there, I would have to play along with the atmosphere, but not now.

“Future husband, want some popcorn?”

“You’re not sticking to the rules anymore? Where did you get this from instead of that?”

“From the void.”

“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it. I don’t decline offers.”

-Crunch.

Taking the container of popcorn that Yustetia, who claimed to have taken it from the void, handed me, I tore open the popcorn and looked around the hall with Yustetia.

Wow, this is so fun. Look at how tense the first-year students are. Was Shieline like that too? When I possessed her, Shieline had already finished the entrance ceremony, so I don’t know that feeling.

Still, if I’m having fun, that’s enough! Right now, I just need to watch.

“Is this caramel? It’s delicious.”

“Caramel? This is butter.”

“Oh, I see.”

Caramel didn’t seem to be an option. Sugar? It just doesn’t fit at all. Still, as long as it’s sweet, that’s all that matters.

Huh? But the history of popcorn shouldn’t be that long; why is it already here in this world? This isn’t a modern world, is it?

Hmm… I don’t know. Maybe someone did some magic with corn and ended up creating popcorn. Let’s not dwell on it too much. This is a fantasy world, so popcorn could exist, right? Or maybe there are monsters made of popcorn?

Even thinking about it myself feels absurd. Let’s just enjoy the sight.

“First-year students! Everyone is here! Then let’s proceed with the 43rd entrance ceremony!”

Leading the new students with a thunderous yet clear voice, Headmistress Lira’s appearance was truly different from what I saw last time, almost as if that previous image had completely vanished.

Yes, that’s how Headmistress Lira should be. When she’s not crossing scales, she looks like a regular person in her twenties, enough to be disappointing, right?

“Do you want a drink?”

“Oh, sure.”

Without hesitating to accept the drink that Yustetia seemed to have conjured from thin air, I sucked it down eagerly.

Hmm, a straw? It makes me wonder if they have these in this era, but since it’s a fantasy, let’s go with it.

“Is this orange?”

Sipping on the orange liquid, I continued to observe the first-year students.

Among them, only a few were sitting in a relaxed manner, while most students were sitting upright, visibly tense.

The first-year students sit on the right side, with the second and third years on the left. That’s because many students drop out starting from the second and third years.

What’s the criteria for dropping out?

Naturally, it’s the bottom 10 based on midterm and final exam results.

Huh? How am I still here when I haven’t even trained?

Uh~ Perfect score on the written test~ But only 10 points on the practical~

It was a close call indeed.

Now that I’m training hard, I shouldn’t be at risk of dropping out. Thinking so, I continued munching on popcorn as Headmistress Lira shouted once again.

“First-year cadets! Unlike the homes you came from, this academy is where you become stronger! Train! It’s an educational institution created to protect the kingdom! And it guarantees your future! If anyone here decides to act like a troublemaker as if they’re at home…”

-Flutter!

With a menacing expression, Headmistress Lira summoned only the wings of a red dragon in her human form.

The wings she summoned were so massive that they nearly touched the walls on both sides of the auditorium.

Then, with dragon eyes now in place of her own, Headmistress Lira spoke.

“Everyone, expulsion.”

-Screams!

The atmosphere froze.

The actions of some first-year students who were making noise just a moment ago came to a standstill.

As if receiving an order, as if feeling a presence, they froze.

It was none other than Headmistress Lira’s ability, or more precisely, the cheat ability that any dragon can use.

‘Dragon’s Utterance.’

Activating this utterance and speaking with a presence imbued in one’s words can freeze the atmosphere and instill fear in weaker beings.

Except for the newly arrived Ayla, most students were trembling with fear internally.

However, the second and third years, being stronger, weren’t as shaken.

But the first-year students…

-Whoosh.

-Wha, what is this… S-scary… Cold… Ughhh…

-Presence… No, Dragon’s Utterance… It was real… a real dragon!

-W-wor, words… Words can’t…

A place too quiet to be called an uproar. No screams could be heard, but one thing was certain: every student was feeling fear deep within.

One person, precisely one. The top student of the first year seemed to endure a bit, but verbs are verbs. A mere top student of the first year couldn’t withstand it.

Oh, by the way, I’m not trembling in fear.

Hmm? So, am I strong?

No?

“Future husband, are you comfortable?”

“Is it formal or informal language? Anyway, I’m comfortable. They say moon magic is like this, right?”

“Hehe, I also think so.”

“It’s formal language.”

It was all because Yustetia blocked off the Crescent Moon’s domain.

Among the other abilities of the Crescent Moon’s domain is an effect that blocks debuff abilities, but it only activates when the opponent is significantly stronger, so I didn’t explain that. It’s hardly ever used anyway. The Crescent Moon’s domain is mostly used for defense against attacks.

Oh, but there was one person who didn’t tremble in fear.

‘Ayla.’

Ayla.

A monster who could be considered to have inherited the greatest talent from the calamitous early years.

Although she may not be stronger than Headmistress Lira, the difference isn’t so vast that she stands quietly like that.

Headmistress Lira was already aware of this fact, so there was no sign of surprise.

“Well, now that it seems to have quieted down, let’s get straight to the point. Our academy has a tradition that clearly demonstrates the power of seniors to you first-year students!”

Why does such a tradition exist?

Well, it’s not incomprehensible. It’s probably a scheme to make first-year students respect seniors and not act arrogantly towards second or third-year students.

However, in the novel, one second-year student loses to a first-year student.

The 10th-ranked second-year student lost to the top student of the first year, Etten.

The opponent of this Etten is the top student of the first year and one of the antagonists, Pyran Anfors.

Just hearing the name might make you wonder if it’s a girl or a boy, but the top student of the first year is a girl.

One of the talent-packed individuals who inherited the original human genes deeply like me and Ayla. But why am I the weakest?

Sigh, life. Just live diligently for what? Since there’s a refuge at Hufip, it’s fine.

As long as there’s Hufip, everything is fine.

Rationalizing things like that, I continued to listen to Headmistress Lira’s words.

“All right! Then, top student of the first year, Pyran Anfors! Fight with Etten, the 10th-ranked second-year student!”

“Just a moment.”

“Hmm?”

Someone interrupted Headmistress Lira’s words.

In that situation, I was also taken aback, but I could tell from the beginning who had stopped Headmistress Lira.

The one who halted Headmistress Lira’s words was none other than Yustetia sitting on my knees. Perhaps because she was sitting on my knees, her voice sounded distinctly clear.

I was trembling with unease, wondering what mischief this princess would do next. Being royalty, even though we were on the same team, I felt scared that she might betray me.

“Princess Yustetia? What’s the sudden matter?”

No matter how much she was Headmistress Lira, the opponent was royalty. I bowed my head first and entered.

Yustetia looked at Headmistress Lira and then pointed with her finger… huh? She pointed at me?

Why is this princess suddenly pointing at me after speaking to Headmistress Lira?

I tried to stand up feeling uneasy, but Yustetia increased my weight with moon magic, preventing me from getting up.

Taking advantage of that moment, Yustetia opened her mouth to Headmistress Lira.

I just thought, she’s probably just playfully pointing at me, right? And silently prayed inside.

I asked her to stop this crazy princess from causing trouble.

“Please make this person and the top student of the first year fight.”

There is no god.