Chapter 44

Well, for the time being, I was just lounging around my room… but I was bored.

Those of us who were left over had each been given a room, and we were all staying in close proximity to one another. Furthermore, each of us had been assigned a personal attendant—which was really just a polite way of saying a guard.

It looked like the meeting between the Dragon Emperor and Grandfather’s group was going to take a long time, so I figured I might as well take a look around the castle.

…The moment I stepped out of the room, my assigned attendant was right there.

“Are you headed out?”

“Yeah. Well, just for a light stroll around the castle. I don’t really know my way around, so would you mind showing me the ropes?”

It would be a pain if I accidentally wandered into a restricted area and got yelled at.

“I understand. Then, I shall guide you.”

She agreed surprisingly easily.

However, this woman felt even stronger than that Captain from before. Her movements and the sheer amount of magic power inside her were incredibly high-level. I was fairly certain she was a dragon.

But it did make me wonder: would a proud dragon really serve as an attendant, even for a guest?

“…It is impolite to stare so intently at a lady, Sir Ryu.”

Oops. It seemed I’d been staring at her a bit too much.

“Ah, sorry. I’m just not used to this kind of thing. Besides, you’re a pure-blooded dragon, right? Is this okay with you? I figured you’d hate being an attendant to a human, even if they are a guest.”

“I keep my professional and private lives separate, so please do not worry.”

In other words, she definitely hated it deep down. I figured I should probably stop asking so many questions.

“This is the dining hall.”

And so, the tour began.

“Now this is what I call a view.”

The place was much wider and grander than I had anticipated. As we moved from the dining hall to the library and then the soldiers’ training grounds, we eventually came across a massive courtyard.

“I am glad to see it is to your liking.”

“No, really, it’s amazing. I’ve never seen a place this magnificent and beautiful before.”

“Lady Gwyber and the Princess will be pleased to hear that.”

“Oh, so there’s a princess here too?”

“Of course. For the sake of those of us who serve her, we must ensure Lady Gwyber leaves behind an heir.”

This lady was surprisingly shrewd. Telling me she needed the Lady to leave an heir for their own sake.

“Well, I guess for a country, that is an important matter. Yeah, important. Kids are important.”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

This person was really hard to talk to!

Also, I figured it was about time I said something.

“Can I ask one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“Who’s been following right behind me this whole time?”

My ‘Magic Power Detection’ and ‘Sixth Sense’ had been picking up a reaction for a while now, and it was starting to bug me. Someone was observing me while maintaining a fixed distance. To be honest, it didn’t feel great.

“…”

Silent treatment, huh?

“Hey! I’m willing to at least talk, so come on out.”

As I glared toward the space behind us, someone finally emerged. It was a young girl with pink hair tied up in twin-tails.

“How did you manage to sense my presence!?”

…What is this, some bratty kid?

“So, what do you want with me?”

“Give me that thing you have on your waist!”

My waist? Did she mean my Wakizashi?

“Like hell I’m giving this to a brat like you.”

“Wh-!? Did you just call me a brat!?”

“Go be a kid somewhere else and wave around a toy kitchen knife or something.”

I made a shooing motion with my hand. Seeing this, my attendant gave a heavy sigh.

“Please hold out as long as you can. I will go fetch a guardian.”

“Ah, thanks. Much appreciated.”

The attendant vanished instantly. Yeah, that lady was definitely a master.

“You… you dared to make a fool of me…”

“Just hurry up and go home. Your guardian is coming for you.”

“In that case, I’ll just take it by force!!”

Well, this turned into a fight with an unexpected opponent in an unexpected way, but I guess it was fine. My opponent was just a kid; I figured I’d play along for a bit.

The brat charged straight at me, but I lightly stepped aside.

“Tei!”

Since I knew she was aiming for the Wakizashi, dodging was easy as pie.

“Eeei! Just hurry up and let me take it!!”

“Not a chance.”

Even if she was an annoying brat, I couldn’t exactly go around punching a kid, so I decided to stick to a strictly evasive strategy.

“Ugh… just hand it over already!!”

“Oh my, is the little lady a crybaby? Are you gonna start blubbering?”

I gave her a mocking smirk.

“Ugh-gaaaa!!”

“Whoa, the little lady’s mad now.”

I mocked her even further.

“That’s it! Now I’m officially furious!!!”

“Whoa, hey!”

Just because she was mad, she decided to target me directly? She aimed a strike right for my solar plexus! How spoiled was this kid raised? Her parents must be total idiots. I was starting to lose my patience.

“If you keep doing stupid crap like that, I’m gonna hit you. You okay with that?”

“The only ones who can hit me are my father and mother!!”

“Shut up with that ‘father and mother’ crap!”

Since it seemed nobody else could hit her, I delivered a solid kick that sent her upward.

“Eh?”

The girl looked shocked, but I hadn’t even put my full strength into it yet.

“Y-You…! You actually kicked me!!”

“So what? What’s wrong with kicking a shitty brat?”

“Normally people don’t say that so nonchalantly!? Besides, I am definitely not a shitty brat!!”

“No, you’re definitely a piece of shit. Only pieces of shit try to steal things from people.”

“I am allowed to be forgiven!!”

“Well, I don’t forgive you.”

Since she wouldn’t listen no matter what I said, I decided it was time to crush her. I didn’t give a damn what her parents would say later.

I activated ‘Physical Ability Enhancement’ and ‘Battle Spirit.’

“Sorry, you shitty brat. My policy for kids who won’t listen no matter how many times they’re told…”

I took a stance with my fist, concentrating my magic power as I spoke.

“…is to punch them until they get the message!”

At the same moment I landed the punch, I released a burst of magic to increase the impact!

“Guh-!!”

The brat was sent flying, slamming straight into the castle wall.

“Phew.”

Maybe because she was light, but she flew a lot further than I expected.

“Uu… uuu…”

“Oh? You didn’t pass out? You’re one sturdy brat.”

“Waaaaah!!!”

Whoa!! She suddenly burst into tears!

“Why… why can’t I win!? Even though I have more magic power… and my bloodline is superior… why!?”

Yikes. This kid was actually bragging about her bloodline.

“Bloodline doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a matter of whether you’re strong or weak right now.”

Wait, that line of thinking was totally how a monster would think.

“If… if it’s come to this, then even if I have to—”

“My, what an unexpected outcome.”

…As I thought, this lady was no ordinary person. She was slipping right through my ‘Magic Power Detection.’ I got a reaction from my ‘Five Senses Enhancement’ and ‘Sixth Sense,’ but even then, it was faint and vague.

“A-Awa-wa-wa!?”

The brat started trembling the moment she saw the attendant.

“Are you two acquaintances?”

I figured I’d ask. She let out a sigh and spoke.

“She is my granddaughter.”

Wait, granddaughter!?

“Then you’re more than enough of a guardian!!”

“I refuse. I have no need for a granddaughter with such poor upbringing.”

That was some harsh language. Then who were the parents?

“Um, I am so sorry for my daughter’s behavior…”

The one who said that was—

“Gwyber?”

Which meant this kid was the Princess of this country!?