episode_0007

“Hmm.”

Claudia sensed Sofia entering the bathroom.

Since she had set up a barrier, they wouldn’t meet directly, but Sofia’s power just now was equal to hers.

At least she must have ascended to being a master.

She didn’t even know if the barrier would be broken.

There’s no need to attract attention by revealing the existence of the barrier.

“I’ll return today.”

Claudia turned back, fluttering her cloak.

“But next time, I won’t let you go. So wait for me.”

Having made a promise, she should trust Versus and wait while doing what she needed to do.

…But just in case, should she let that guy go?

After casting a spell for a moment, she concealed herself from Versus’ sight.

“…Is she still alive?”

It felt like a bolt from the blue in a clear sky.

She felt as if a storm had swept through.

“Versus?”

“Yeah?”

As Claudia left, taking down the barrier, Sofia, who had entered the room normally, faced Versus.

“Sofia, why are you here? This is the men’s bathroom.”

“T-That’s…!”

Of course, she thought something had happened, but maybe it was just her mood!

A situation where she had entered the men’s bathroom without permission.

Versus might think she’s a woman crazy about men.

“It took so long, I thought something had happened! I-I didn’t come in with any other intention!”

Meanwhile, Versus was secretly horrified.

If only he had come a little earlier, he would have encountered the princess!

Moreover, at Sofia’s level, couldn’t she read traces of magic? I need to get out of here quickly.

“Ah… It took a little longer, hehe. Let’s just get out of here quickly. This is the men’s bathroom. You shouldn’t come in.”

Versus quickly led Sofia out.

* * *

“Sigh.”

After parting ways with Sofia, Versus returned to his cozy room and lay down on the bed.

It had been a really long day.

I never thought I’d meet the princess at the academy at this point.

First, I bought time with the princess.

I don’t know what it is, but the princess has to compete with the crown prince for succession. She probably won’t pay much attention to the academy.

Now the problem is Sophia and Artoria.

Sophia’s and Artoria’s obsession with me is stronger than I thought.

Artoria suddenly coming at midnight and Sophia clashing with the princess in the principal’s office were like that too.

It seemed that their dreams had a greater effect on them than expected.

Certainly, when a friend from a past life appears in a dream, they feel more attractive, but…

It’s strange to be this obsessed.

This is not just dreaming; it’s something different.

Claudia and Sophia’s progress is also like that.

Rather than a dream…

Regression.

Yes. It felt like regression.

But that doesn’t make sense.

There was no regression in the original novel.

I’ve hardly done anything, so is this level of change reasonable?

Drip, drip

Versed summarized the current situation in his notes.

…I can do this.

It’s actually better than the initial miserable situation.

If the heroines become stronger, if I maintain those relationships well, maybe the possibility of survival has increased.

I… will definitely survive.

Thump

Versed put out the fire and closed his eyes.

Perhaps due to the events of the day, he fell asleep immediately.

Pah!

Whoa!

Chirp chirp

Squawk

Huh?

Versed realized that he was in the middle of a battlefield.

A dream…?

Thunk

Versed’s view was blocked by a massive muscular body.

“Hahaha! I am Ton Tou, the second commander of the Demon Realm!”

The dark-muscled demon raised a club larger than an adult man over his shoulder.

“Die, warrior Versed!”

I’m going to die!

Despite being terrified by the club coming to crush his head, contrary to his intentions, his body moved on its own and shattered the club.

“The treasure that the demon king personally bestowed upon me!”

Vissus’ body leaped up, and with his drawn sword, he cut through the bodies of the demons.

“So what?”

His mouth moved as he spoke nonchalantly.

Vissus realized that he couldn’t move his body freely.

He realized it was a dream, but it felt like watching a first-person VR movie, not being able to move as he pleased.

Vissus roamed the battlefield, slaying the demons.

No demon could withstand his attacks.

In every path he had taken, allies triumphed, and all soldiers praised him.

Is this my power?

The body in the dream belonged to Vissus himself.

But that power was akin to the legendary heroes from tales.

A supreme weapon that could cleave any foe in a single blow.

Not the pitiful body of reality, but the body he desired.

How can I not bring this ability to reality?

It was so regrettable that such tremendous power could only be used in dreams.

It would be more fitting to say that he was admiring rather than using it.

“Sir Vissus! Sir Vissus!”

At that moment, a messenger ran towards him, calling out desperately.

“What’s the matter?”

“Breathe slowly and speak. What happened to Sophia?”

A soldier who caught his breath spoke.

“Lady Sophia is facing the surprise attack of a large demon army alone at the flank of the battlefield!”

Upon hearing the word “surprise attack,” Vissus immediately dashed towards Sophia’s camp.

An unbelievable speed of human sprinting.

It was a movement speed that seemed as if the surrounding space was folding and shrinking.

Shortly after, Sophia, fending off numerous demons, came into Vissus’ view.

There were already many corpses of demons slain by Sophia, but there were too many enemies, and Sophia’s body was heavily wounded.

“Sophiaaaa!”

Virsus swung his sword mightily.

Kwakwakwak

The huge sword swept away the demons who were about to attack Sophia.

“Virsus?”

Virsus approached Sophia and stood back to back with her.

“You fool. Why are you facing this army alone? Do you want to die?”

“Haha. If this size of army attacks from the side, our main force will collapse. It would mean defeat in this battle.”

“We could have sent some troops from the main force to help! Why do it alone?”

“That would put the main force at a disadvantage… We can’t do that.”

“I can win alone, you know? You don’t need to worry! It’s better for you to be safe…”

“But you came to save me. I believed in you.”

“You…”

The two knights crushed the demon army attacking them.

Although they were heavily fatigued, they could see the end of the large demon army.

Puuuu

The distant sound of a horn spread.

“It looks like our main force has won.”

“We killed all the enemy commanders before they arrived.”

“Reinforcements will come soon.”

“Yeah. Let’s hold on a little longer.”

Wooong

As they regained their resolve, a demon suddenly appeared and launched a surprise attack with a dagger.

“What?”

The demon commander had approached while concealed.

A dagger enveloped in magic.

Virsus noticed that the tip of the commander’s dagger was aimed at Sophia.

And he realized that he couldn’t block the attack even if he swung his sword.

Virsus leaped in front of it.

Fwoosh

“Virsus!”

It was a blow aimed at Sophia’s head, but Virsus intercepted the attack with his body.

“Hehehe. Not my intended target, but I pierced the heart of a hero.”

“Demon!”

For a brief moment, Sophia wielded her sword over the wall.

“Aaargh!”

And she cut down the commander and the remaining forces.

“Virsus! Are you okay?”

“Cough… This hurts like hell.”

“Don’t speak!”

“Hah. Do you think I’m going to die from just this level of injury?”

Sophia knelt down and carefully examined Versus’s wound, then tore her clothes to administer first aid.

“Whew. Luckily, the vital organs were missed.”

“Cough! What did I say?”

“Don’t talk, just stay still! I’m going to take you to the priest right away.”

Sophia propped up Versus.

“…Thank you.”

Versus hung on Sophia’s back, unable to see her face, but he could tell she was blushing even without seeing it.

Thud

Versus saw the ceiling of his lodging in front of his eyes.

Am I awake…?

A dream.

What was that?

Just a simple dream?

Or was it a dream Sophia had, or a memory from a previous episode?

In a state of confusion, Versus grabbed the handle of the bathroom to wash up.

Creak

Then he tore the handle off.

…Huh?

Was I always this strong?