Ch.293Revolutionary Princess NPC. (8)

“…How is the princess’s condition?”

“Th-that is…”

When was this? It’s a memory from before I started calling my father “Your Majesty.”

“Y-yes, the etiquette education was completed in just one week. Law studies, royal studies, tactics, and even history will be c-completed within this month.”

“This month? …That’s slower than expected, perhaps?”

“N-no… It’s not an issue with the p-princess. It’s just that the teachers preparing the lessons can’t keep up with her pace…”

I thought I would finally receive praise. From my father who always kept me at a distance. I thought he would finally say I did well, that I was truly his daughter. I had put in every effort to complete studies in a month that would normally take “ordinary people” years. But.

“F-Father…?”

-Flinch!!

What I received wasn’t the gaze of a father looking at his daughter. The teachers beside him, the retainers and knights around us—they all looked at me as if I were something alien, and I… I was still young.

“I-I’m sorry, Father. I’ll work h-harder and try to finish everything within this week…!”

“Th-that’s enough! The princess shall return to the separate palace and focus on her studies!!”

I’m sure they said my etiquette education was complete. When Father frantically waved his arms and gave the order, the knights who moved placed their hands on my shoulders—which didn’t even reach their waists—and took me away. Such treatment. This is how they treat [criminals]. Why was I treated that way? Now I know the reason, but back then…

“…Why? Why? Do I need to do even better?”

I didn’t yet know that my father, who had already stopped calling me by name, was calling his 3-year-old daughter a monster.

*

-BANG!!! CLANG!!!

“Guh?!!!”

“Now. Since introductions are over, I’ll ask you comfortably. What’s your skill? Do you know the Emperor has gone mad because of you? Or is that your skill?! Making your own parents go insane?!!”

“Ugh!!!”

-CLAAANG!!!

The Saint charged forward, seemingly unconcerned about the penetrating wounds from the magic bullets, swinging her stone staff which I blocked with my sword before firing my gun again.

But while earlier the bullets had been piercing through the Saint’s body, now that black magical energy was flowing from her, the bullets only caused her to stagger slightly without penetrating. Has her body hardened? With that vitality, now weapons don’t work either? This is really getting out of hand.

“Hey. Won’t you answer me? If I know your skill before taking it, it’ll save us trouble later.”

“Oh really? Then I’ll never tell you, even if I die.”

“Pfft!! If you die, I can find out anyway!”

“That just means I need to not die, doesn’t it?”

“Ahahaha!! You think that’s up to you?”

-CLANG!! CLANG!!! BANG!!!

She’s getting heavier. Faster. Her ability to ignore bullets is stronger than when I first saw her, and now she’s even swatting away magic bullets with her staff. I’ve read books about combat Saints, but I never imagined they were such monsters. The person who wrote that book probably never actually saw Saints in real combat. Or if they did, it was beyond their comprehension.

“Your expression is getting worse. How about it, do you understand now? Do you finally realize you can’t win?!”

-CRASH!!!

“Guh!!!”

I deflect her mercilessly swung staff with my sword and dodge to the side, leaving a crater in the ground. Her strength is almost at Gor’s level? She might even be stronger than Jack if I’m not careful.

“Hey, I heard you were a princess who was only book-smart and didn’t know how to fight. But your movements look like someone who’s been in combat for years or decades. Is that your skill?”

“Why are you so interested in my skill? Is the self-proclaimed Saint not satisfied with holy power or demonic power, and now wants my power too? What, are you trying to steal it like you did with demonic power?”

“Ahahah!! Self-proclaimed? I was a proper Saint, and now I’m a high priestess. And yes, that’s right. Your power. I intend to take it. It’s easier if I know what I’m getting, right?”

The existence of [Skills]—not magic or magical power—is information known only to a tiny minority of people on this continent. But the Saint of the Church not only knows this information but also says she’ll steal my skill? This is getting dangerous.

-BANG!! BANG!!!

“Huh?! What’s this? Is that weapon of yours getting stronger?!”

“I’m curious how you know about guns.”

If they stop working, I just need to infuse more magical power into my shots. The rate of fire decreases, but the power definitely increases. Since I don’t know how she steals skills, I’d rather avoid close combat, so I increase the power of my magic bullets and quickly create distance. For now…

‘The evacuation of civilians is complete.’

Just by keeping this woman talking, I’ve given enough time for the citizens and revolutionaries to evacuate. And…

‘…Fifteen priests remaining. Apart from the ones I shot down, our forces have only killed three.’

Seven people per priest. That’s how I gave the orders, and the personnel were distributed quite neatly. Mac and Dolph each took down one, and someone from another unit I don’t know took down another. At least it seems not all priests can resurrect with infinite healing like that monster. If I stall for time and the battle turns in our favor, I’ll attack that woman with the unit. Even if she escapes, we’ll have achieved our objective. That can be considered a victory.

Having completed my assessment in the blink of an eye, I sheathed my sword and held guns in both hands again.

“…Huh? What’s this? Dual guns again?”

“Ha! I’m tired of directly receiving your stupid power. I’ll keep my distance and beat you one-sidedly!”

I pour about twice my usual magical power into both guns and start rapid-firing. Perhaps surprised by the stronger power, the Saint tries to deflect the bullets with her staff but starts getting holes in her body again and backs up a bit. Well, they heal immediately anyway.

“…Wow. What kind of skill do you have? Does your skill have something to do with that crazy weapon? I never thought I’d get holes in my body in this state.”

“I never thought there’d be a monster standing there so casually after I shot through her head and heart. Is that your skill?”

“Huh?! What are you saying? I thought you were supposed to be smart, but are you stupid?”

“What?”

What does she mean? Wait. Could it be…

“I already told you earlier, didn’t I? I have a skill that makes me ‘one perfect being.’ This healing ability is naturally part of a Saint’s qualities. What’s wrong? You’re dumber than I heard.”

“…I see. Indeed, I might have been a bit stupid.”

-Click.

“Huh?”

After hearing the Saint’s words and confirming from her expression and tone that she wasn’t lying, I holstered my guns and took the stance of the man I love.

“What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re going to fight me with your bare hands?”

“Yeah. I was stupid. Against someone like you, I don’t even need ‘weapons.’ I can make you kneel with my bare hands.”

-Crack!!

My words must have been quite provocative. I can hear the sound of teeth breaking, and her mouth starts glowing just like when she was hit by my bullets. She’s not destroying her own body and healing herself, so this must be some kind of automatically activated holy magic.

“Fine, fine. I get it. I understand you’re a fucking stupid bitch. Honestly, I was letting you go on because I was curious about how you fight with those weapons. But I’m done now. The talk is over. I’ll tear off your limbs, rape you hundreds of times, steal your skill, and make you beg to die after rendering you worthless.”

My life is really strange. Rei is also a beautiful woman, but why does every piece of trash I meet always say they want to rape me? Isn’t my position a bit odd? Because I’m a princess? Imperial royalty? Is my chastity really that valuable?

My so-called parents want to use me as breeding livestock, kidnappers, assassination squads, and after that Miho woman with her lesbian beast-person tendencies, now even a woman with a dick. I really hate this, hate it. In my life, Jack alone is more than enough to desire my body!

-Clench!!

I clench my fist and spread my legs. The same stance Jack took when he faced the three of us, recalling the combat he’s shown so far and projecting his image onto my body.

‘I can do this.’

“Die.”

Didn’t she say she’d tear off my limbs and rape me? The Saint leaps at me with speed incomparable to before, swinging her staff with what looks like the intention of splitting my body in half. Fast and heavy. But…

-Whoosh!! Slip!! Grab!!

“Gahk?!!”

“Just as I thought.”

I slightly move my body to the side to avoid her attack, then immediately extend my arm to grab the Saint’s neck. From what this woman has been saying all along, I should have noticed it, but I only realized it now. I really am stupid.

“Eek?!! What is this!!!”

-THUD!!

“Kuhk?!!”

I deliver a punch to her solar plexus, projecting Jack’s fist, and the Saint’s body bends. I meant to pierce through her, but she’s quite solid indeed.

I release her neck, lightly strike her jaw to rattle her brain, and as her body staggers, I grab her shoulder and drive my knee into her solar plexus. Before she falls, I raise my leg and strike her jaw again, sending the Saint flying. Unlike when she was shot, she doesn’t seem badly injured, but her eyes show confusion, not understanding how she just got beaten.

A strong one. Why did I judge her to be like the strong opponents I’ve faced until now?

‘…As the Headmaster said, magical power, magic operation. I have too little talent in that area. No, I have just enough to be useless. That’s why I get scared in advance. By the magical energy I sense, by the holy power. It’s the same mistake I made when I couldn’t move against the Headmaster.’

“Wh-what?! What was that movement just now?!! You, have you been hiding your strength all this time?! Don’t tell me you haven’t been using your [Skill] in battle until now?!!”

I have no reason to answer and no obligation to explain. I simply take a light stance again, tear my lips into a smile, and beckon with my finger. The Saint, falling for my provocation, rushes in thoughtlessly again, only to have her neck, face, and waist kicked by me, sending her flying once more.

“Ku-kuhk!! F-fuck?! What is this!! H-how!! How are you injuring me with your fists!!!”

I don’t answer. It’s clear that woman knows [Skills] exist, but doesn’t know that one person can possess ‘multiple Skills.’ She said she only has the skill to become ‘one perfect being’ and no other skills. But I…

“You said the conversation was over, so how long are you going to roll on the ground? Aren’t you coming at me?”

[You possess multiple Skills that even my Master would fear.]

“I’ll show you the fists of the strongest man I know on this continent. The man I love most. The ‘true monster.’ I’ll show you everything.”

[-Occupation: Raid Boss (Slave of the Ottoman Empire)- Level: 450 Name: Ragni Bluemoon: Age 22.]

[Strength: 10+ 3,351]

[Agility: 10+2792]

[Intelligence: 330+??????]

[Luck: 200+????]

[HP: 203,931]

[MP: 99,180]

[Skill: Wisdom of the Blue Ruler.]

[Skill: Ruler’s Aura.]

[Skill: Imperial Quality.]

[Skill: One Who Stands Above.]

[One Who Stands Above Effect: One born to stand above cannot be less capable than those below. Steals the stats of humans subjugated to oneself. (Takes 50 percent of the subjugated target’s stats.) [Current number of targets: 1,201.] ]

[Heaven-Blessed Talent Effect: Mimics actions and stats seen once. The talent bestowed by the world is not something that can be reached through effort. (Target: -Jack, Ira’s brother-)]