episode_0016

“Princess, well… since no one is here, there’s no need for formalities, right? You also dislike formalities, don’t you?”

Despite the crackling of the fire in the background, signaling the burning mansion, I silently ascended to the second floor where the socialite chairman was and stood in front of Eustatia.

Rather than feeling discomfort at my presence, Eustatia looked at me with a face filled with curiosity.

“Hehe… That’s right. I’m not particularly fond of formalities. They’re too fake.”

– Swoosh.

With a mischievous smile, Eustatia sat on the couch, propped her chin with one hand, and extended the other hand towards me.

“So, what do you want to say? It seems like you came to me with some purpose in mind.”

– Chuckle.

Sitting on the couch just like Eustatia, indicating an equal footing in our conversation, I brushed aside Eustatia’s outstretched hand and said, “To come without a purpose when there’s a fire, isn’t that strange? But it’s not about the fire, is it?”

“Hmm? Then what is it?”

I responded to Eustatia’s question with a wicked grin.

“Do you see them over there?”

I pointed with my finger at the fallen nobles.

Eustatia was the only one who witnessed everything that had just happened from start to finish. Moreover, she despised pretense, was not overly arrogant or foolish, making her a perfect princess.

Even such a princess would naturally be curious, and the fact that she was listening to me so attentively sparked my interest.

If she wasn’t interested, it would have been difficult to converse on equal terms. This was something only possible in this place where the socialite chairman was disappearing in flames.

Well, getting to the point, I am going to frame those nobles by using Princess Eustatia to make them faint. In other words, I will take the blame.

Originally, I intended to use only Carla, but now that the variable of Princess Eustatia has emerged, I’ll have to make use of her as well.

When I pointed at the unconscious nobles, Eustatia tilted her head and said, “Hmm, they are quite visible indeed. But aren’t those nobles over there fainted by the Ainu child who is lying apart?”

“Yes, that’s right. Since you saw everything from beginning to end.”

“So, what do you want? If it seems interesting, I’ll listen.”

As expected, Eustatia was a woman who listened well when something piqued her interest.

If it seemed interesting, she would listen. Therefore, I should ask for something that would arouse her curiosity as much as possible.

And what I would ask Eustatia for is something that only she would find interesting.

“Make me the culprit who made those nobles faint.”

With a grin, I answered while propping my chin with both hands.

Seemingly taken aback by my unexpected request, Eustatia burst into laughter.

“Ahaha… Is that for real? Haha, hahaha! That’s hilarious!! How amusing! I never expected such a request! It’s so intriguing!”

Laughing heartily, yet maintaining her royal demeanor, Eustatia’s laughter revealed a glimpse of a typical royal figure finding something genuinely funny.

After laughing heartily, Eustatia wiped away a tear that had welled up due to laughter and responded to my request.

“I’ll do it. I’ll do it and that’s it. This is the first time I’ve been asked for such an intriguing favor. So… if I become a witness, is that all you need? As a witness that you made those nobles faint.”

“Yes, that’s correct. However, it would be better if you didn’t make the report yourself.”

Yustetia seemed slightly taken aback by my strange words.

Of course. The only people here right now are me, Lulu, and Yustetia. Who else could possibly make a report besides Yustetia?

But this is all part of the plan. Yustetia just needs to serve as a witness. The reporting can be left to that guy.

“Um… I’ll come in a bit. Please rely on me as a witness later.”

“If it fails, can I make the report?”

“If it fails. If it fails, I’ll send a sign. Just stay there. You won’t even make it to the fire anyway.”

“That’s right, thanks to my moon magic. Well then… please do something interesting for me again.”

“Yes, yes.”

As it seemed like that guy would arrive soon, after exchanging a final conversation with Yustetia, I went back down to the first floor and stood in front of Lulu immediately.

Lulu lying there unconscious. Lulu who confessed her love to me.

That Lulu was now sprawled out. Deep in a sleep so deep that she wouldn’t even wake up if I shook her by the collar.

A very good state indeed.

-Thunk!

Grabbing Lulu’s collar quickly, I waited for the right moment.

Until that guy arrives, the timing, the perfect timing.

Some may be curious about who that guy is.

Naturally,

-Thud!

“What… what is this! What in the world is happening!”

Karla.

Seemingly just noticing the commotion, Karla rushed in sweating and opened the door urgently.

Confirming Karla’s entrance, I waited for her gaze to meet mine.

‘Now.’

As Karla’s gaze was about to meet mine, I flung Lulu, whom I had been holding by the collar, aside.

-Thud!

The sound of Lulu being flung echoed through the hall of the burning mansion.

That sound penetrated Karla’s ears completely, and she looked at me.

“S-Sir Rain, you…?”

Nobles lying unconscious nearby.

And Lulu, who had just been flung aside and was now collapsed.

While the incident could be considered an accident, these unconscious figures couldn’t be attributed to an accident.

Obviously, someone intentionally made them faint.

And when Karla, who had just arrived, saw this scene, she could easily misunderstand the situation.

Sir Rain, meaning I had made all of them faint. That’s what it would seem like.

“Oh…”

I sighed heavily.

Karla must have been convinced.

She must have thought she stumbled upon a scene of assault.

Moreover, in that scene, there was Lulu, who harbored feelings for her. Even though Karla pretended not to care outwardly, she did have a soft spot for Lulu.

It’s natural. It would be weird if she didn’t reciprocate after being saved.

“Sir Rain!!!!!”

With eyes blazing, using body reinforcement, Karla began to rush towards me.

There was no way the nobles fainted because of Karla. In other words, it was Lulu who fainted and exploded.

All while firmly believing that I had made them faint.

I tried to look as much like a criminal intending to commit the perfect crime as possible, a bewildered expression. Then, I stepped back and used Moment Capture.

-Pow!!!

“Ugh…!”

Delivering a precise knee kick to Karla’s abdomen as she charged at me, I followed up with a kick to her head as she fell backward.

-Thud!

“Argh…!”

As her head took a hit, Karla staggered back, groaning.

Wait a minute. She shouldn’t faint.

I instinctively dodged Karla’s attack and counterattacked.

Oh no… my instincts are messing up the plan.

I guess there’s no helping it.

-Swish.

“?”

Mistakenly knocking out Karla and causing a disruption in my plan, I looked at the dazed Yustetia and crossed my arms in an X shape.

Observing my actions, Yustetia, with a face that seemed to suggest she thought I had failed, chuckled heartily and descended to the first floor.

Even as she descended to the first floor, there was a fire spreading, but the flames extinguished as soon as they reached Yustetia’s side.

That is one of Yustetia’s moon magic skills, the ‘Crescent Moon’s Domain.’

The Crescent Moon’s Domain is a formidable defensive skill that blocks all attacks against Yustetia.

It will deflect everything, including flames like just now and even Ayla’s sword strikes.

However, being invincible is not the case. There is a limit to how much it can block, so even if Ayla uses her sword twice, it will break through.

Well, the moon magic doesn’t end there, and although it won’t be easy for Ayla to win, it’s not impossible.

“Haha… You have a bit of humanity in you. Where did that confident human from earlier go? Strong-willed, resilient, and perfect.”

“If you’re thinking of making me your fiancée, please stop.”

Yustetia’s mention of being strong-willed and resilient could be interpreted as a hint towards wanting a fiancée.

As mentioned before, Yustetia desires someone with strength, vitality, and endurance, all rated S. She wants a sturdy person.

Moreover, someone younger or of the same age?

Clearly aiming at me since we look about the same age.

But I can’t afford to get engaged. If I do, I won’t be able to marry Rachel, the other remaining person.

For now, I need to divert my attention. Since Rachel’s principle of not touching others’ men couldn’t be violated, engagement is absolutely out of the question.

“I understand~ Don’t do such things~”

Breathing a sigh of relief at Yustetia’s words, I asked once more for confirmation.

“…Is that so?”

“No?”

“……”

“Just kidding~ Just kidding~ So, what did you fail at?”

To prevent the atmosphere from becoming awkward due to my silence, Yustetia, trying to lighten the mood, got straight to the point.

Yes, that’s better. Let’s not engage in strange conversations.

Pointing at the unconscious Karla with my finger, I said, “Tomorrow, use moon magic to wake this child up at dawn. Then, make sure she reports to the academy. That way, I’ll clear my name. Oh, and don’t wake her up.”

This time, I pointed at the fainted Lulu with my finger.

Understanding my words, Yustetia smiled mischievously, tapped Karla and Lulu, then said to me, “Send this Ainu to the dormitory and wake her up at dawn?”

“Yes, don’t forget to make her report.”

“Okay~ Got it~ Even so, because you’ve knocked out nobles of the Viscount rank, you’ll only receive a mere 10 demerits.”

“Will that ruin my life?”

“Yeah~ Right~ Anyway, I’m off~”

“Goodbye.”

After tapping Lulu and Karla, using one of her moon magic skills, ‘Moonlight Energy,’ Yustetia left the meeting room.

She probably took them to the academy. Well… now that everything is done, I trust Yustetia to handle the rest, so I briskly walked out of the meeting room.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Anticipating the exciting day ahead, I waited eagerly.

And the face of Seira in anticipation of tomorrow was that of a man filled with excitement.