Battle Race in the Fantasy World

Battle Race in the Fantasy World – 95

EP.95 The Game of Wits Begins

Following Yurika, Kyle kept glancing around.

He wondered if she was taking him to the training grounds.

Or perhaps to a secluded place where she would suddenly say, “Let’s have a match!”

Given her history of similar behavior at the academy,

where she had thrown a punch at him the moment they met, his suspicion was understandable.

‘Where are we going, exactly?’

Having received his medal and completed the commendation ceremony, he wanted to return to the academy quickly.

There was a mountain of tasks waiting for him. First, he needed to tell Tisha everything in detail.

Next, he would meet Elga for tea and similarly inform her of the events.

Then, he would converse with the Saintess and check if her stamina had improved.

Ian and Leto would likely cling to him again, and he couldn’t forget Nell’s PT sessions.

Lastly, he needed to rigorously work on his upper and lower body, which he had neglected.

‘There are knights stationed everywhere. Is she really planning to spar with me?’

Just then, Yurika finally stopped walking.

The two of them stood inside a building with striking white marble.

Judging by the surroundings, it seemed to be a royal building.

“Hmm. Here, we won’t be disturbed.”

Hearing that there would be no disturbances, Kyle thought, ‘I knew it!’ and clicked his tongue.

She was planning to bother him with another sparring match.

Just when he thought things were going smoothly, she was provoking him again!

“…What? Why are you glaring at me?”

“I’m waiting to see when you’ll attack.”

“Attack? Me? Why? Why would I attack you?”

Shouldn’t I be the one not asking that question? Last time at the academy, you threw a punch at me the moment we met!

And now she’s pretending not to know anything!

“Oh, do you want to fight? If so, I’m all for it, but are you sure? Here?”

“…I remember you throwing a punch in a more dangerous place last time.”

“Did I? Sorry, I don’t really remember the things I do.”

How convenient for you, Your Highness. Must be nice being a royal.

Kyle grumbled internally and then suddenly tilted his head, thinking, ‘Huh?’

From Yurika’s tone, it seemed she genuinely had no intention of fighting.

The knights around them also seemed too close for it to be a sparring setup.

It felt more like they were just patrolling the area to ensure no one approached.

“…Your Highness. The reason you called me here is really…?”

“I told you, I have something to talk about. That’s why I asked you to follow me.”

What’s gotten into this combative princess? Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?

While Kyle was thinking this, Yurika suddenly approached him.

“I’ve been thinking.”

“Thinking?”

“Yes. At first, I thought it would be best if you became mine, but now I see that might be difficult. So, I decided to tell you. If that’s hard, then I’ll become yours, Kyle.”

“…What?”

“I’ll become your possession.”

For a moment, Kyle wondered if he had misheard.

The woman standing before him was neither a slave nor a commoner.

She wasn’t even just any noble. She was a princess. The Emperor’s legitimate daughter!

“Princess Yurika, I don’t think I understand what you’re trying to say.”

“It’s simple. Take me. Then I can take you too.”

Yurika suddenly grabbed Kyle’s hand and placed it on her chest.

Startled, Kyle shouted, “What are you doing!” and pushed her away forcefully.

“Ouch.”

Yurika Sebastian Lovisa de Lotringen, one of the top ten strongest in the Empire, a woman so powerful that even the other top ten found her formidable, fell backward like an ordinary woman.

With a thud, she landed on her backside.

‘What the…’

Kyle was the one who was more shocked.

Yurika, of all people, falling over from a mere push? Absolutely not.

The title of one of the Empire’s top ten wasn’t something you earned just by swinging a sword well.

It was a name reserved for those who had transcended human limits in every aspect.

It meant being able to handle surprise attacks in an instant.

Yet here was Yurika, one of the Empire’s top ten, sitting on the ground.

“That hurts.”

“Oh, I… I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Why am I apologizing? Kyle thought, but he had already apologized.

Yurika smiled at his reaction and stood up.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“…You need to say something that makes sense for me to give an answer.”

“Why? Why doesn’t it make sense?”

“What kind of person would agree to such a statement? Not just anyone, but the Empire’s princess saying, ‘I’ll be yours.’ Who would accept that?”

“What’s wrong with it? If you don’t want to be mine, then I’ll be yours, Kyle.”

Am I talking to a rock? Why does this conversation keep going in circles?

And what’s the difference between you being mine and me being yours?

In the end, the Emperor’s legitimate daughter being with a so-called northern barbarian is the same thing!

Kyle endured the throbbing in his head, contemplating what to do with this woman.

Why was she acting this way? It would be easier if she just wanted to fight.

Talking about marriage and having children, it all seemed like nonsensical babble.

But now it was clear that Yurika was one hundred percent—no, a thousand percent serious.

“Sigh.”

Kyle let out a sigh and looked at Yurika.

“Your Highness, why are you doing this? Why do you keep talking about marriage and children?”

“Because I want to be yours?”

“I mean, why! What’s the reason! Are you doing this to fight me?!”

At Kyle’s question, Yurika hummed and then nodded.

“At first, yes. I thought if you became my man and I became your woman, we’d always be together. And then we could fight as much as we wanted.”

“That’s….”

“And I was curious. How strong would a child born between us be? One side is one of the Empire’s top ten, and the other is someone who could surpass even that top ten. If a child were born between us, wouldn’t they be the strongest in history?”

It was an absurd reason. She approached him just for that?!

If she had said it was because he was impressive or manly, he might have felt good for a moment.

But her reason was to fight and to see how strong their child would be!

‘Am I some kind of stud horse?! A sperm bank for superior genes?!’

Just as he was about to Letort angrily, Yurika’s next words left him speechless again.

“But you know, as time passed, and I kept hearing about you, I became curious about something else. More than anything else, I became curious about you.”

Circling around Kyle with a smile, Yurika continued.

“It’s fascinating. You’re strong, but different from other strong people. What should I say? Hmm, yes. I’m envious. You can do things naturally that I can’t, no matter how hard I try. So, I became curious. Beyond you as a strong person, I wanted to know what kind of person Kyle is. I wanted to know more about you.”

It still didn’t make much sense. What was so fascinating about him?

All he did was work out diligently, without boasting or showing off his strength, just treating others well.

“So, Kyle. Can’t I be yours? I want to know. I want to be like you. Strong and admirable like you. If I stay by your side, I feel like I can learn and grow.”

It was a statement that made him want to throw his hands up in exasperation.

The reason still didn’t make much sense, but it was Yurika saying it.

She wasn’t someone rational like Tisha, Elga, or the Saintess.

She was a highly instinctive person, someone who did whatever she wanted if it felt right.

She was drawn to strength, wanted to possess it, and if she couldn’t, she was willing to be possessed.

That explained her obsessive behavior towards him.

It was so firm that there was no way to dissuade her.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be clear. I don’t have any particular feelings for you right now.”

“I know.”

Hearing her say she knew with such a nonchalant face made him feel even more disheartened. Damn.

Don’t get weak. Stick to what you need to say, he thought.

After organizing his thoughts briefly, Kyle continued.

“To summarize, you want to be like me. You want to know more about me.”

“That’s probably it. Something like that.”

“If you’re just curious about how to become strong like me, there’s no need for all this. Just….”

“No, it’s not just about wanting to be strong. It’s not that simple.”

“…Alright. Then, I won’t avoid you for now. Even if you say it’s not necessary, I need a bit more time. But, there are some conditions.”

“Conditions?”

This isn’t some kind of conditional meeting, what am I doing?

Scratching his head, Kyle thought for a moment before listing a few conditions.

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***

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After the commendation ceremony, held for the first time in thirty years, the Fifth Princess returned.

The Emperor, who had been waiting for his daughter, sat down to greet her.

“You’ve worked hard.”

At the Emperor’s words, Yurika bowed her head.

“Did you meet with that boy, Kyle?”

This was the main point. Both the Emperor and the Princess wanted to know the same thing.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I met him and we talked.”

“What did he say? Did he find your approach too overwhelming?”

Anyone would. Even the Emperor, her father, understood that.

Although she was his daughter, her thoughts and actions were often incomprehensible.

That’s probably why, despite her beauty, she hadn’t attracted a single man.

Of course, there wasn’t a single man Yurika had shown interest in first, either.

“He said he wouldn’t avoid me.”

“Oh?”

“But he set some conditions.”

“Conditions? What were they?”

“Not to suddenly try to fight, no talk of marriage or babies, at least for now.”

At Yurika’s words, the Emperor nodded thoughtfully.

He had always felt that Kyle Jonathan seemed to have a kind heart.

“Do your best.”

Perhaps, he might finally see the son-in-law he thought he’d never have.

The Emperor allowed himself a small, cautious hope.