Chapter 282
Expedition ⑥ — Act 1
Translator : PolterGlast
When we arrived at the city of Salaam, an army was
lined up in front of the city gate, and in the center, Princess Clarice,
dressed in military attire, was waiting to welcome us.
I was tormented by a slightly bad premonition. Immediately
dismounting, I stepped forward in front of Her Highness, knelt, and greeted her
upon return.
"I report to Her Highness Clarice. We have
returned just now, having achieved victory in the battle to respond to the
friendship between our King and His Majesty the King of Fearalt."
"Demon Territory Count Solis, on behalf of His
Majesty, I thank you for fulfilling the great mission. You have demonstrated
the martial might of the Kingdom's trusted sword; I believe His Majesty must be
very pleased. ..., I, who was left behind, am not pleased at all, though. It was unfair of you."
Only the last sentence was muttered in a small voice audible
only to me, revealing her true feelings. Saying so, Her Highness floated a
freezing smile like the one my mother gives my father when angry, and passed
right by me. Then, stepping forward in front of the magnificent man clad in
jet-black military attire behind me, she performed a standing bow.
"!"
"Your Majesty, I have the honor of meeting you for the
first time. I am Clarice, daughter of King Kyle. It is a great
honor, both as a princess and as one aspiring to the martial path, to meet Your
Majesty, renowned for valor."
Wait, Your Highness, what are you confessing! To begin with,
Her Highness's existence is already an open secret to the soldiers and members
of the Tia Trading Company because her face is known, but strictly
speaking, neither of them should be
here!
"Hey... Halim, why is the Princess going out of
her way to greet Brother?"
"No... Boss, I don't know either. I mean... didn't she
just say 'Your Majesty'?"
"Halim, what does 'Your Majesty' mean! Unlike
the Boss and Halim, I even put my arm around his shoulder!"
"As for me... I said something incredibly rude to
him~"
"More importantly, you guys... that 'Beheading Count' was also
on our ship! All of us... might get our heads cut off for being rude..."
This last remark from the Boss sounded equal to a death
sentence for them. And turning pale, they clung to Raphael.
"Boss, it's unfair. You knew, didn't you? For heaven's
sake, why didn't you tell us such an important thing?"
"Idiots! Since he was incognito, there's no way I could
tell you such a thing."
"Eeek, eeeeek!"
The last scream was uttered by Halim and the others
when Count Flame, hearing their whisper, glanced at them.
『Zahark, Halim, rest assured. Count Flame
won't cut heads recklessly for such things. His Majesty was also quite pleased to hear the voices of the
people after a long time.
But... such talk should be done in whispers. We can hear everything too.』
I thought so myself but didn't voice it.
Even so, this Princess really does it. It's all thanks to
this unruly princess that things got complicated here.
"I am truly happy to receive the greeting of Her
Highness Clarice, the hero who saved her motherland, also called the
Goddess of the Kyle Kingdom."
"Your Majesty, 'Goddess' is embarrassing. However,
please let me confirm just one point. Naturally, that Goddess refers to a War
Goddess, right?"
Is that what you care about?! I unintentionally tsukkomi-ed in my heart.
"Hahaha... o-of course. That splendid military attire
is indeed the War Goddess herself."
Even King Fearalt, known for his boldness, was
slightly taken aback. I mean, how amazing is this Princess to overwhelm a King
of another country at first sight!
"This was specially made for me by the Demon
Territory Count, who received the honor of subjugating the Klimt in
your country's Demon Territory. It protected me many times in this
battle as well."
"That is... I apologize again for exposing Her Highness
to danger. Although Flame here will accompany you to your country to
formally apologize for this matter and discuss future compensation, if there is
anything I can do now, please say it without hesitation."
The moment she received those words, I felt Her Highness's
eyes shine sharply. I could see the corners of her beautiful mouth rise
slightly, managing to suppress a laugh.
Somehow... I have a really bad feeling.
"Then, taking advantage of your words, please grant a
trivial reward to one aspiring to the path of martial arts. It is a very simple
thing."
"U... umu."
Bad! This Princess, having secured a commitment, is now
laughing blatantly.
"There are two things I wish to ask. First, please
grant me a bout. I wish to ask for instruction from Your Majesty, renowned for
swordsmanship. Second, permission to subjugate monsters in the Principality's Demon
Territory. I wish to offer armor made from a Klimt obtained by my
own hands to my father, King Kyle. To add grace to the victory
ceremony..."
She did it! This muscle-brain Princess, demanding permission
to enter and leave the Demon Territory, which I had been dodging by
various means possible, in a different form... Dedicating it meekly to her
father—that's nothing but an excuse!
"The Princess into the Demon Territory... that
is hard to accept, but I have been committed. Very well, let's do this. If you
can take one point from me with swordsmanship... no, if you can inflict even a
single scratch on my armor, I shall judge that you can sufficiently protect
yourself even in the Demon Territory. How about that?"
"Thank you very much for your generous words. I have
certainly accepted your promise."
No, that's wrong. That's a bad move. At least make it 'if
you win'... I wish you had stopped there.
Certainly, a year ago, even Her Highness Clarice, who
had already advanced to the rank of Sword Demon, could be handled lightly by
me, a lower-ranking Sword Master, due to the difference in actual combat
experience.
Well, those who faced Her Highness until then probably only
'partnered' with her using proper swordsmanship, but I showed no restraint or
consideration.
Whenever there was an opening, I mercilessly used elbows and
feet other than the sword. In our first
exchange, I kicked the unruly horse, who was off guard when we grappled, with
my right foot with all my might.
If it were a refined match, maybe, but in battle, this is
natural. And considering the future, it also meant breaking Her Highness's pride.
After that, Her Highness, who knew only formal
swordsmanship, was defeated by me entirely.
But she must have been extremely frustrated. According to
what I heard from Carla, whenever she had free time, this unruly
princess requested matches with Carla, and as a result, she seems to
have improved considerably now.
Carla herself
is blessed with natural talent and is an unrivaled master slightly inferior to
the Commander in the current Demon Territory Count's domain.
Accompanying me to the academy, she became a student,
polished her skills with the Knights in the Royal Capital, and
accumulated practice matches just like actual combat with the Commander in the
territory; as a result, she had grown into a considerable master. Her Highness
has grown to the point where Carla says she sometimes loses in matches
recently.
"I say to both of you. In the public eye, please
consider each other's positions. Let's enter the city of Salaam for now.
There, after calming down first, we can talk slowly... and we are also in a
hurry to move on."
"Phew, Demon Territory Count, I understand what
you say. Let the soldiers go to Salaam for now; we shall change the
venue. A place to calm down has already been secured."
"Huh? A place?"
"Demon Territory Count, it is not worth being surprised; the muscle-brain Princess
you always mention is an unruly horse who runs off to who knows where if you
don't hold the reins. The opponent for today just happened to change from you
to His Majesty."
Saying so, Her Highness covered her mouth with her hand and
laughed 'Hohoho' especially princess-like; seeing this, I held my head. How am
I supposed to report this to His Majesty!
I mean, does that mean she was diligently preparing with the
intention of challenging me, who returned, betting entry and exit to the Demon
Territory originally...
Ignoring me holding my head and worrying, King Fearalt
also seemed keen, perhaps her muscle-brain behavior touched some chord.
Needless to say, I felt an abnormal affinity with Count Flame, who was
also holding his head next to me.
Count Flame, tonight let us two exchange cups of sake
and complain about each other's masters!
I unintentionally thought so.
And so, the first act began.
To avoid public eyes, I blockaded the training ground, which
had been prepared on the outskirts of the city before I knew it, with all my
might so that only limited people could enter, except for perimeter guard
soldiers.
To begin with, depending on the case, there is even a
possibility that we have to pretend this match never happened. No, not a
possibility; no matter how it turns out, we must pretend it never happened.
A Princess of the Kingdom enjoying a sword match with the
King of a neighboring country... because it's an impossible story.
Ignoring my feelings, the match had begun.
Two people holding wooden swords and taking a Seigan stance (middle guard). Of course,
only limited people were watching. Just in case, Holy Mage Rosa
was also standing by right on the sidelines.
King Fearalt is strong. I heard rumors that his sword
skill is the best in the Principality, but seeing it in person, his intimidating aura is extraordinary. In
terms of skill, I wonder if anyone in the Kingdom can match him... in terms of
intimidation, honestly, he's above my brother.
And the King probably grasps Her Highness's skill accurately
through his specialty, espionage. However, probably from the academy days in the Royal Capital... That might be the only
chance for victory.
No, it would be troubling if she won, though...
"...!"
With silent spirit, Her Highness strikes. King Fearalt
receives it. No, it might be better to say he receives the slash head-on and
repels it. The significant difference in reach and physical strength; this is
also a big handicap.
After repelling the slash, simultaneously with stepping in,
the King counters with a swing too fast for the eye to follow. Her Highness did
not receive it head-on but parried it splendidly by turning her wrist softly.
For a while after that, offense and defense continued back
and forth; Her Highness releasing slashes too fast for the eye to follow, and
the King repelling them.
"Both are splendid."
"Commander, who do you think will win?"
"In terms of ability, His Majesty King Fearalt
is still superior. That is why he is enjoying it. But therein... lies an
opening. Besides, Her Highness hasn't brought out that yet."
Yes, Her Highness's strength is not just sword skills
swinging a great sword around, but sword skills handling a katana, which seems to have been passed down in
the royal family. Rather than the chopping movement peculiar to swords, she
uses unique sword skills like piercing and cutting sharply like a katana.
But such sword skills do not exist in this world. Except for
them...
"It's about time."
As the Commander said, Her Highness is nearing her physical
limit. While adjusting her breathing which was about to run out, she took the Kasumi stance (mist stance) to deliver her best move.
The King, perhaps realizing something, grinned. After a
moment of silence, their swords crossed.
Just before Her Highness's wooden sword aiming at the King's
eyes was repelled, she twisted her wrist quickly and lowered her center of
gravity simultaneously, switching to a different slash. Even that, the King
moved intending to repel, but here Her Highness switched sword skills from
chopping to sharp cutting and piercing.
Caught off guard by the sudden change, the King still
reacted quickly and moved to sweep away Her Highness's sword.
He managed to respond even to Her Highness's irregular
movements, but for a moment, the King appeared to be purely on the defensive.
And... the sword strikes crossed... Victory and defeat were
decided. As King Fearalt's victory.
The King's thrust sword stopped just before Her Highness's
neck. However, Her Highness's sword, instead of protecting her own neck, had
cut the armor at the King's waist.
"Hmm... Splendid! Realizing you couldn't win, did you
aim for a mutual strike? If the step-in was a little sharper, in actual combat,
I would have been cut. That resolve is splendid. Worthy of praise."
"It is regrettable. If my arms were a little longer, if
my stride was larger, I could have cut deeper... But, a promise is a promise!"
"Ah!"
There I realized for the first time. Didn't Her Highness aim
for this from the beginning? Feeling clearly that there was still a difference
in ability, betting a ray of hope on taking the commitment, 'If you can
inflict even a single scratch on my armor...' Sacrificing all previous
attacks, even her main attack, for this.
"That is how it is. Demon Territory Count,
please take me along as promised."
Her Highness approached with a beaming smile, like a dog
frolicking saying 'Praise me, praise me, give me a treat too.'
It can't be helped...
"Your Highness, it was a splendid fight. I am
impressed. As promised, I will take you to the Demon Territory."
"Hmm, sounds interesting. Shall I also accompany you
for this one?"
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Count Flame screamed, but it was already too late.
"A Princess of the Kyle Kingdom is entering the Demon
Territory. As King, it stands to reason to ensure safety and see it
through, right?"
Could it be that King Fearalt intentionally took a
strike he could have defended? To let Her Highness save face...
Seeing the King grinning, I couldn't help but think so. This is why muscle-brains are...
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