The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

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“…Puhut…hahaha…”

I sometimes think about it, but Hoyeon’s laughter had an oddly creepy side to it.

It felt like behind her smile, which wasn’t directed at me but at someone else, there was always something unknown lurking.

I couldn’t tell what it was, but… I definitely thought it was dangerous.

“…Are you having fun?”

She had shown this kind of smile during swordsmanship club time too, making me wonder if she enjoyed watching fights.

But it seemed like she didn’t actually like fighting herself.

“Are you asking if I’m having fun? Of course. There’s nothing quite as enjoyable as watching a fight. So, who do you think will win? The blue-haired guy or the one wearing the white headscarf over there?”

Seeing her casually asking me about the match-up as if it were truly entertaining affirmed my thoughts that she was indeed a princess.

Well, it was just a friendly match, so there was no real disadvantage to losing, so maybe I didn’t need to think too seriously about it.

The two male students were grappling with each other, neither side giving an inch.

I wasn’t particularly fond of determining who wins or loses, but since it was Hoyeon’s suggestion, I figured I might as well give it a try.

“Maybe the blue-haired guy will win. The white headscarf guy is putting up a decent fight, but there’s a size difference, you know? And since I don’t feel any mana from him, it looks like he’s holding on purely with skill.”

“Oh? You think so? I believe the one with the white headscarf will win. It looks like he has a hidden trick up his sleeve.”

They were fighting so evenly that opinions were divided.

They were predicting each other’s moves, blocking and countering with flair, and it was impossible to foresee the outcome.

“So… what shall the penalty be?”

“…Penalty?”

“There has to be a penalty for bets, or it won’t be fun. Come on, suggest anything. I’m feeling confident, you know?”

For a rare moment, she displayed a triumphant demeanor, implying she was okay with any penalty.

Her provocation had sparked a competitive spirit within me.

“…How about stripping?”

I casually threw out a classic suggestion for a penalty, but it seemed her thoughts were slightly different.

“…That’s not a fair deal! What gains do I get from seeing you naked…!”

I suppose I suggested it quietly, as she got quietly angry.

Oh, so that was what made her mad. In that case, I needed to come up with a different suggestion… but nothing else came to mind.

Offering to buy something was also off-balance because her financial power was overwhelming.

…Ah. Would this work?

“Then… how about deciding where to go this weekend? I think it would be mutually beneficial.”

“If that’s the case… hey, that sounds good. Alright, let’s go with that.”

It seemed she agreed because she thought it was a reasonable deal. Coincidentally, there was indeed a place I should visit at least once.

After all, we didn’t have to go for sure; but putting that aside, it was a beautiful building, and I wanted to visit it with Hoyeon at least once.

“Sure. Sounds good… Oh, it looks like the match is about to end.”

The blue-haired student was almost pressing down on the white headscarf student.

Realizing he shouldn’t use technique, the white headscarf student was barely holding on against the blue-haired student’s sheer strength.

Just when it seemed the blue-haired student would smoothly win, an unexpected turn of events happened.

As the white headscarf student took a step to the side and tilted his sword, the blue-haired student momentarily lost his balance.

Seizing that moment, the white headscarf student slashed at the blue-haired student’s neck—

But there was no splash of blood.

The blue-haired student was now nervously checking his neck, unsure if this was a dream or reality.

“Win to Finn. It was a great match, everyone. Now return to your seats.”

“That was the expected outcome.”

Hoyeon, closing her eyes and wearing an oddly frustrated expression, was honestly cute, but right now, I just wanted to win against her.

“…Beginner’s luck, I suppose.”

“Next, Baekhoyeon and Lemuria. Come forth.”

– – – –

I had vaguely thought that my name would be called someday, but I never expected to be called second.

“Oh, Hoyeon is going second! Are you going to predict the outcome again?”

Dokan, that guy, seems unexpectedly serious about the competitions. It was clear from how he brought up the match instead of cheering.

“…Aren’t you going to cheer for me?”

That’s disappointing. I was thinking of cheering him on if he was at a disadvantage.

“Ah. Of course, Lady Hoyeon will surely win… but still. A match is a match, you know.”

Realizing his blunder, he hurriedly sent me some encouragement, but he ruined it with unnecessary comments at the end.

“Ha. Whatever. Of course, I’m betting on my own victory.”

“I’m betting on Lady Hoyeon too.”

Did I make a mistake suggesting a bet with him? That’s what I thought. I just wanted to watch the fight and chat a bit with Dokan.

Seeing him approach this with sincerity made it seem like it was a misstep after all.

With a slightly sour mood, I headed down to the arena. Though no one called it that, it was obviously a coliseum.

There were plenty of weapons in the rack, but none were the same as the ones I used back home.

It was extremely concerning to request anything from that psycho professor…

“Professor Georg.”

“What is it, Lady Hoyeon? Are you in need of a weapon? Someone like you surely wouldn’t need one.”

…This guy? He had subtly dismissed me before, but now he was blatantly ignoring me?

Back then, I thought he was just being casual, but now I knew he was totally insane, which was quite infuriating.

“Make me a sword that’s at least the length of my leg.”

I ordered Georg, telling him to just make it already.

To my surprise, he made the weapon I requested right away… or rather, it seemed like he pulled it out from some space, and then he silently headed to the corner of the arena.

“Take your positions.”

“…In the name of the great ancestor Remus, I hope for an honorable match! My name is Lemuria! Prepare yourself!”

My opponent was a chattering girl. It seemed that for nobles, such bothersome behavior was some sort of etiquette.

“I’m Baekhoyeon.”

Of course, I had no reason to adhere to such annoying formalities. I didn’t have any legendary ancestor or title to invoke.

Perhaps my brief response left Lemuria feeling humiliated.

“…Ready. Begin.”

As soon as the signal was given, she charged right at me.

Seeing mana swirling around her body, she was clearly someone who employed the mana breathing technique. If she could do that, I would have placed a bet on her!

“…Ugh.”

Even though she had a build similar to mine, I could feel a surprising amount of strength for someone of her size.

Maybe she was offended by my short greeting because her attacks were ferociously relentless. But…

Compared to my father or Black Wolf brother, her skills were pathetic.

“This is… the end!”

As she kept playing defense, it seemed she gained confidence and began to throw out a huge attack full of openings.

Just like that, I aimed for her solar plexus.

“Keugh…?!”

She hadn’t anticipated a counterattack, so Lemuria fell forward, still in her sword-raising stance.

I had aimed for her neck, but like a mana-breathing practitioner, she quickly recovered from the shock and blocked it with her sword.

What a waste.

“…You, without mana breathing technique… how could you…!”

She continuously chattered away.

Perhaps her rhythm had broken from my counterattack; she was now struggling to enter my range.

Then I should go in myself.

I was accustomed to attacking, but it seemed she wasn’t so good at being on the defensive, as her efforts to fend off my attacks were barely succeeding.

She was still blocking my strikes just in the nick of time, but her body was accumulating minor injuries everywhere.

She was just swinging at someone with lesser capabilities than herself. Desperate to escape, but I had no intention of letting her go.

Even if my level was poor, this was my father’s swordsmanship.

There’s no way I’d lose to someone like her.

“…Ah!”

I struck her sword aside forcefully, breaking open her defenses.

Even if A-class in the swordsmanship club might not win, I could handle this level of clumsiness easily.

Likewise, there was no splattering of blood. All the minor wounds she had vanished like a lie, and Lemuria, with her torso intact, was standing there, tears brimming as she clenched her fists in frustration.

“I lost… it felt like I could have done just a bit better…”

…I thought she’d accept defeat.

“Victory for Baekhoyeon. Surprisingly, Hoyeon, you possess a deep understanding of swordsmanship. Both were excellent matches. Now return to your seats.”

Can’t I use a sword?

After glancing at Georg, I carefully returned the weapon to the rack and headed back to my seat.

“Once again, you are amazing, Lady Hoyeon! Your skill is worthy of A-class!”

“How many times must I say it? I was terrible.”

If it were my father or Black Wolf brother, they would have taken out their swords before I could even hiss greetings.

Even if they actually acknowledged me, they would have split me in two with their blades.

Compared to their swordsmanship, my skill and strength were pathetic.

But even if it was just pathetic, it could be useful in situations like this one.

“…That aside, it’s again two against one. What to do, I look likely to end up where I didn’t want to go?”

“The outcome of a match is always uncertain until the end.”

Her statement was so textbook that I couldn’t think of a rebuttal.

“Right… do your best.”

While I hadn’t decided on a place to go… I was thinking I might check out that pet supplies store again. I wanted to see those bizarre creatures there.

Another student made his way to the arena, and we continued our bets on who would win.