I Tried A Test Slash And Ended Up In Another World (4)

“You shouldn’t think you can run away, you know?”

“Guh!”

The afternoon was devoted to an Otherworld Studies lecture taught by the princess herself.

She personally taught me knowledge about this world.

Right from the start, she hit my utterly exhausted self with a remark straight to the core.

“Even if you try to run after we set out on the journey, it’ll still be execution, you know? I’m going with you, after all.”

“Damn it…”

That was right.

Erika Etoile, the kingdom’s Second Princess.

She wasn’t just a princess—she was also one of the greatest mages in the kingdom.

She wielded all kinds of magic and could wipe out even multiple enemies in an instant.

People called her the Goddess of Victory.

And she, too, had been chosen as part of the Hero’s party heading to defeat the Demon King.

“If you run, I’ll kill you on the spot.”

“T-that’s way too scary.”

“Then do your best with everything you’ve got. I’m helping you for that reason too, you know.”

“……”

“What is it?”

“No, I was just wondering why you’re helping me at all.”

Over the past few days, I’d realized something from dealing with her.

The princess had a terrible personality.

In front of the king and the people of the castle, she played the role of a refined princess—but in front of me, she was completely different.

She threatened me at every opportunity using my secret as leverage.

And when I screamed during harsh training, she laughed as if she were having fun.

She had told me I didn’t need to be formal when we were alone, which honestly helped a lot.

But I figured the version she showed me was probably her true self.

And the studying we were doing now was the same.

-Why can’t you understand something this simple?

-You really are stupid.

-How pitiful.

She mocked me like that over and over.

I was aware I wasn’t smart, so that part was fine, but she didn’t have to say it so bluntly.

It wasn’t like I had a strong heart.

Yet despite her nastiness, she still hadn’t told anyone my secret.

With her personality, I thought she would have exposed me long ago just to enjoy watching me despair, but…

“What’s your goal?”

“I’m looking for my destined partner.”

“D-destined?”

“You know, right? Someone you want to be with. Someone you want to marry.”

“…Haa…”

She suddenly started saying something very maiden-like.

As I stared at her in mild disbelief, she puffed up her cheeks and continued.

“What’s with that reaction? Are you making fun of me?”

“N-no, not at all! I just thought it was unexpected…”

“Really? Any girl would dream of that, wouldn’t she? I want to meet my destined partner. But being a princess is difficult. I can’t even choose who I marry on my own. Even now.”

I tilted my head.

So what was she getting at?

She answered that question herself.

“You see, in this country, when a Hero appears and successfully defeats the Demon King, the princess is destined to marry that Hero.”

“Eh…?”

Did that mean… marrying me?

“I’ll say this upfront. I absolutely refuse.”

“……”

“Why should I have to marry some unremarkable guy like you? The moment I saw you, I knew—you’re not the one.”

“Guh…”

What was this feeling?

I didn’t really care, but somehow it made me really irritated.

“But if I defeat the Demon King, you’d have to marry me, right?”

“Yes. If you were the real thing.”

She grinned as she continued.

“If you’re real, you have the obligation to marry. But if it turns out you’re a fake, there’s no need to marry you.”

“Hey, wait a second! That sounds like you’re planning to expose me as a fake!”

“After the Demon King is defeated. At that point, even if you’re a fake, no one will criticize you. You’ll be the hero who saved the world, you know? Who would dare execute you just because you’re a fake? The people wouldn’t accept it.”

“T-that’s… true?”

Would it really turn out that way?

If it did, that would be a relief, but…

Something still bothered me.

“I want to choose who I marry myself. That’s why this is the perfect opportunity. On this journey, we’ll go to many places and meet many people. I’m sure I’ll meet my destined partner too.”

“……”

She clasped her hands in front of her chest and spoke dreamily.

Her overly maiden-like goal left me unsure how to react.

“What’s with that face? Do you think I’m stupid?”

“No, not at all!”

“Good. Then focus. This is the only way you survive. And it’s also the way I find my destined partner. Our interests align.”

“I see. A mutual benefit.”

That might actually be better.

Rather than some awkward sympathy, a clear relationship of interests was easier to understand.

I fought to survive.

She used me to achieve her goal.

A relationship where we used each other for mutual gain.

“Then for now, we’re allies, right?”

“Yes. For now.”

The way she said it carried hidden meaning, but I swallowed it for the moment.

Either way, without her cooperation, my survival wasn’t possible.

“Questions settled? We don’t have much time, so let’s finish this quickly.”

“I get it. Why do I have to study even after coming to another world?”

“If you don’t like it, that’s fine. I can switch to another tutor.”

“No, please continue.”

Studying alone with someone who didn’t know my situation…

Just imagining it felt suffocating.

She was mean, but because she knew my secret, I felt a little more at ease.

That part helped.

“…Wait, come to think of it, you said it was good that I was a fake, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I already explained why.”

“You did, but then what if a real Hero had been summoned during the ritual… what would you have done?”

Her goal would have been ruined at that point.

“Do you think the Hero would be your destined partner?”

“I wouldn’t know until I met him.”

“And if you thought he wasn’t…?”

What would she do then?

She averted her eyes, smiled, and answered.

“Then that’s that.”

Yeah—this expression meant she was definitely thinking of something terrible.

Like killing the Hero in the chaos of the Demon King subjugation…

“Don’t pry any further.”

“…Right.”

“Hehe. Wise choice.”

Way too scary.

I called her an ally, but wasn’t this princess actually the most dangerous enemy?

“I’ll say this once. I have no intention of compromising, no matter what.”

“……”

“Now that you understand, back to studying.”

“Yes…”

I absolutely had to defeat the Demon King.

If I failed, or if they decided it was impossible…

My life would end in this world.

And so, I spent a full month pushing myself through training.

Basic physical conditioning.

Swordsmanship instruction.

Learning about this world.

And—

How to use the power of the cursed blade.

I still had no idea what this sword truly was.

All I knew was that it wasn’t an ordinary blade.

That it could slice through space itself.

For me, it was a substitute for a holy sword.

I would master the power of the cursed blade and defeat the Demon King.

And then, I would finally be free.

“Do your best, me!”

To survive safely!!