Ch.92A Happy-Looking Expression

The sonic boom shattered the princess’s body—

—or at least, that tragedy didn’t quite happen. Thankfully.

I wiped away the cold sweat dripping down my face.

Even though I had deliberately aimed only for her sword, the power was still this intense.

I nearly became a genuine royal assassin.

The collapsed princess was still breathing normally. From the outside, there didn’t appear to be any major bleeding.

“Uuuugh…”

Though she couldn’t get up and just groaned strangely while lying face down.

“Are, are you really okay?”

“Gaaahh…”

Hmm… maybe she’s not okay?

I approached Leonore to examine her complexion.

Her eyes had rolled upward, as if she was half-unconscious.

Transparent saliva dripped from her weakly opened mouth.

She looked strangely happy, but it definitely wasn’t a normal expression.

“Nigel, come here!”

“Ah, yes sir.”

Nigel, who had been standing in a daze, snapped to attention and hurried over.

She too seemed shocked by the attack I had demonstrated.

“Princess Leonore’s condition seems really off. Is something seriously wrong? If so, this could be a disaster.”

“Hmm… it’s just simple unconsciousness. The shockwave seems to have rattled her brain and internal organs a bit. Except for her hands, there doesn’t seem to be any major problem.”

Hands?

Only then did I notice Leonore’s fingers.

The wooden sword was nowhere to be seen, and all her pale fingers were twisted in a strange way.

The skin of her palm was completely peeled off, with blood seeping through.

“Looking at this, we should probably pour some potion on it. Is it okay if I carry her?”

“Given Her Highness’s character, I don’t think she would mind.”

Supporting her back and inner thighs, I carefully lifted Leonore’s body.

Her limp arms dangled loosely.

Hmm… she’s quite soft in various ways. Maybe because she’s completely relaxed.

“I can ask this Fel guy or the other attendants for treatment, right? Surely the knight training grounds must have healing potions.”

“I suppose so.”

This level of injury… with potions and priests, it should heal quickly.

I carried the princess up the stairs from the underground training area.

Nigel followed behind, carrying my equipment.

As soon as we left the training room, we ran into Fel, who seemed to have been waiting outside the door.

After seeing Leonore’s strangely blissful expression, Fel let out a light sigh and guided us to a separate room.

Saying he couldn’t bring guests to Her Highness’s room without her permission, he would bring recovery potions if we waited here.

I carefully laid Leonore on the bed in the separate room and waited for his return.

Shortly after, Fel returned with several glass bottles and slowly dripped the liquid into the princess’s mouth.

He poured the remaining liquid over her damaged hands.

His attitude suggested this was a familiar routine, as if such incidents happened frequently.

Not long after, Leonore woke up.

—-

“Wow, that was amazing! My sword just disappeared before I could do anything!”

The awakened Leonore laughed refreshingly, leaning against a propped-up pillow.

Thanks to the recovery potions she had consumed immediately after waking, she now looked quite normal.

“Are you feeling better now? I was a bit shocked when you couldn’t get up.”

“Well, I’ll need to rest until tomorrow to fully recover, but I’m fine enough now! That was fun, thanks to you.”

Leonore’s eyes were filled with joy.

Was it really that enjoyable? When essentially all she did was get hit.

“I’m glad to hear that. I enjoyed it too. It’s been a while since I wielded a sword.”

I had been feeling rather restless lately.

I couldn’t do much while focusing on recovering my strength.

“I’d like to request another match sometime… but I suppose that would be impossible? Unfortunately.”

“…Yeah.”

After the succession dispute ends, depending on the outcome, one of us will head to the execution block.

…Or possibly face an even worse fate.

I wonder if there’s a way to help her avoid execution.

Maybe I should talk to Leopold.

For a while, Leonore and I discussed our duel.

Her weaknesses, countermeasures, and matters concerning Karma.

“So, how does one learn to use Karma? I couldn’t figure it out at all.”

“Well… perhaps experiencing extreme combat situations frequently? For theoretical aspects, the Empire’s knights would know better than I do.”

“They all just give vague answers. Reflect on your life, burn with conviction, melt your soul into your sword. That kind of thing.”

Those really are vague answers. Though they’re actually correct.

Well, if it could be conveyed in just a few words, it wouldn’t be called enlightenment.

—-

“I should head back now. Injured people need plenty of rest.”

I stood up after chatting for a reasonable amount of time.

She looked disappointed, but Leonore needed to rest for a while.

She couldn’t attend the banquet with bandages, could she?

“Tsk, you’re right about that. It’s disappointing, but can’t be helped. Tell Fersen, and he’ll take you back to the academy.”

Fersen? Is that the man they called Fel?

“Thanks for your consideration. Take care, Princess Leonore.”

“You too. I’ll rest here a bit and head back tomorrow. See you at the banquet.”

The banquet, huh…

“I doubt we’ll be able to chat amicably then.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Leonore gave a bitter smile.

—-

“That was incredible.”

“Hm?”

In the carriage on the way back, Nigel suddenly spoke up.

“That five-strike combo at the end. Even I could barely follow it with my eyes, let alone respond to it.”

“It felt strange even as I was using it. Like the world had slowed down.”

Time slowed, my body felt heavy. Even sounds stretched out, muffled.

As if I had fallen into a different world alone.

Nigel’s eyes gleamed with admiration.

“I’ve heard that only renowned masters experience such phenomena… it’s truly remarkable.”

“Still, I’m not skilled enough. I was completely exhausted after just five strikes.”

In a way, it was a technique where I failed to control my strength.

I had essentially given up on a prolonged battle and poured all my strength into a single exchange.

If the opponent had blocked or dodged, I would have been defenseless against the counterattack.

Well, that wouldn’t be an issue with deeper Karma accumulation.

“The proper way to use Karma is to maintain its power throughout the battle. You’ll become more proficient with practice.”

“I suppose so.”

Since I’ll be using it extensively from now on, I should get used to it quickly.

—-

We arrived at the lodgings around two o’clock.

An awkward time, too late for lunch and too early for class.

With no better option, I filled my stomach with snacks and headed to the training room.

Now that my condition had recovered, I planned to practice and get accustomed to using Karma.

“What an admirable mindset!”

Nigel was absolutely delighted.

…Honestly, I had been somewhat negligent with physical training. Though I had diligently learned techniques.

That’s because my body doesn’t even lose muscle after nearly a month of rest.

“Oh! Lord Haschal! I’m overjoyed to see you’ve recovered.”

“Yes. Working hard as always, Kalix.”

Kalix, who was lifting weights, welcomed me.

His scaled biceps kept flexing.

“A healthy muscle houses a righteous mind.”

Nigel nodded vigorously, expressing intense agreement with Kalix’s words.

“Is that so?”

Then are Hersella’s muscles unhealthy?

No matter how I think about it, her mind is far from righteous.

After exchanging greetings, I began my workout.

Gradually adjusting the activation of Karma, checking the level of strength I could maintain throughout combat.

The results were astonishing.

No matter how much I increased the weight, I didn’t reach my limit.

The exercise equipment was more likely to break under its own weight before I reached my body’s limitations.

“Are you even human?”

Even Kalix had to ask.

Even to the eyes of this muscular Dragonborn, my strength was abnormal.

I put down the barbell with its bent support and chatted with Kalix during his rest period.

While absently watching Nigel train with enthusiasm.

Perhaps inspired by me, he was putting in twice his usual effort.

“This monk will be deployed again starting tomorrow.”

Kalix brought this up during our conversation.

Didn’t this guy just return from deployment? He would have been a great help if he had been around.

He’s surprisingly unhelpful.

Though this current matter was an internal power struggle within the Empire, so it wasn’t something a Dragonborn should be involved in anyway.

“Really? You’re quite diligent. You haven’t been back for long. Who’s the enemy?”

“Monsters again, I’m told. Until half a year ago, monster appearances weren’t very frequent, but lately, they seem to be occurring quite often.”

Well, that makes sense.

It’s a kind of precursor. A sign that this world will soon undergo great changes.

It’s still a bit early, but… anyway, it means the moment of change is approaching.

After all, monsters are the primary enemies of this world.

In a way, they’re also prey for growth.

“Hmm… sounds tough.”

Unlike humans, they don’t accumulate Karma.

Though I suppose they gain combat experience.

“All this is part of accumulating merit.”

Kalix put his palms together and laughed heartily.

—-

Finally, the day of the banquet arrived.

I boarded the carriage wearing the academy uniform.

I didn’t bother with any other adornments. Why would I do such unnecessary things?

I was fortunate that Nigel was the knight accompanying me.

If it had been an ordinary maid, she would have made a fuss about dressing up properly.

Then I would have been subjected to hair styling, makeup, and even being forced into a dress.

Like the woman sitting next to me.

“Hm? Do you have something to say to me?”

Frider tilted her head. Looking completely different from usual.

Her silver hair, neatly combed down, was half twisted up and secured with a jeweled ornament. Light makeup around her eyes and cheeks gave her a brighter appearance than usual.

Even her usual uniform was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a flowing dress.

A red dress revealing her snow-white shoulders and upper chest. Even a sparkling jeweled necklace around her neck.

“You look… quite… elaborate.”

Where did they hide our Frider?

Where did the lonely Miss Frider with no friends go, replaced by this beautiful lady who could have hundreds of suitors?

When she approached me saying we might as well go together since we were headed to the same place, I couldn’t hide my shock.

“Of course I need to dress like this. You seem to have forgotten, but I’m a member of the Duchy of Faelrun. If I went to a banquet at the Imperial Palace looking like I usually do, I’d become the subject of all kinds of gossip. That would be a dishonorable act that would tarnish the Faelrun name.”

Frider laughed haughtily.

With that attire, it suited her surprisingly well.

Come to think of it, she really was a noble lady from a great aristocratic family.

Though neither her behavior nor personality ever suggested that.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll be counting on your escort, Sir Knight.”

“Ugh.”

“How rude.”

Frider grinned.

It was truly a difficult appearance to get used to.