Chapter 7: Trampling the Scumbag Crown Prince
The day after accidentally sharing a bed with Barbara…
Smack! Siegfried throws a white glove at my feet.
“Pick it up!”
“My hands are full. You pick it up.”
I’m busy loading supplies, wishing for a golem’s help but stuck doing it myself. Yet this idiot challenges me to a duel.
“Cowardly mutt, refusing my duel! Have some shame!”
“We’re about to fight demons, and you want to reduce our forces? Prioritizing personal grudges makes you an irredeemable fool.”
“Scared of losing? I’m the crown prince, I can’t lose to a commoner like you. Fine, I’ll train you. Even a coward like you should fight me then.”
How hot-blooded is this guy?
Part of me wants to stall, just to see if he'll beg me to fight.
“As I said, I’m busy. If you want a fight, I’ll face you at dusk on that hill after my tasks.”
Scooping his glove with my toe, I flick it back with my knee. It hits his face.
“Pfft! Mocking me like this… I’ll settle it in the duel! Don’t expect to walk away intact!”
Siegfried summons me to a hill outside for the duel. Arriving, he’s waiting.
“Unacceptable! Not showing up on time for a duel? What a coward!”
“I said after my tasks. You’re just forcing your rules on me. Acting like I’m wrong is absurd.”
Plus, Siegfried’s rules change constantly. Classic wishy-washy scumbag boss. Ignoring his yapping, I scan the hill. I’m completely surrounded.
“Quite a crowd. Better not get caught in the crossfire.”
“Hahaha! These are witnesses and my loyal men. You’ll lose before them. But I’m human. Apologize for your rudeness and lick my boots, and I might forgive you.”
“Me? Apologize to you?”
I point to myself, confirming with Siegfried.
“Yes!”
Hands on hips, he answers with a smug grin.
“Keep your jokes in your head. I work for Oiraan. The only one I respect here is Nirvana. How could I respect a fool who gangs up on one person for kicks?”
“You must want to die. I’ll erase you completely with my special staff-rifle «Eckesachs»!”
Siegfried draws a sword from its sheath.
Is it a staff or a sword? «Eckesachs» is a sword that casts alchemy, very close to a magic sword.
Following him, the surrounding officers ready their staff-rifles, each uniquely shaped—custom-made, no doubt.
Grabbing the sling of my staff-rifle, I ready it.
“Hahaha! What’s that shoddy weapon? Everyone, laugh!”
“‘Hahahahahaha!’”
At the idiot prince’s call, the officers mock our nation’s proud weapon.
“What a bunch of fools. Are you really leaders? I’m speechless!”
“What’re you saying!?”
They’re mocking the standard-issue «Metrix» staff-rifle.
A superior weapon developed with painstaking effort against demons… It may not match Ackersen nobles’ magic.
But…
Its advantage—usable by commoners with minimal training—is invaluable.
“A crown prince misjudging his nation’s proud weapon… Hand your succession rights to Nirvana, Karla, or Rinne. Otherwise, this country will collapse before the demons act.”
If Ackersen’s nobles and Oiraan’s commoner soldiers joined hands… we could truly exterminate the demons.
Wald and Nirvana’s goals were right.
But Wald’s driven by selfish desires, while Nirvana’s excessive self-sacrifice is painful to watch.
“Shut up! A commoner-turned-general daring to lecture me, the crown prince! Everyone, punish this arrogant fool!”
“I’m touched. You must really want me to rack up merits.”
“What’re you saying!”
“Can’t you tell? With inferior combat skills and brains, you can’t call Nirvana incompetent, small fry.”
“What!?”
“You’ll get thrashed here and never see the battlefield. Kukuku, it’s my turn from now on!”
“Keep talking!”
My taunts make Siegfried’s blood boil, raising and lowering his fist. But a hand stops him.
Hans, standing by, calms Siegfried.
“Wait! Don’t get riled. It’s his provocation. Spread out, attack from a distance. Get close, and his hand-to-hand will eat you alive. Learn that much.”
“Y-Yeah… right.”
Siegfried, cooling off, lowers his fist, regaining composure. The officers murmur in unison.
As expected of Hans-dono…
I kinda thought so too.
The ultimate lackey, calming that idiot prince! Though his combat skills are as unpolished as ever.
“Now, Hans, take the lead. Defeat him, and I’ll reward you handsomely.”
“No, no, this is Siegfried-dono’s duel. I shouldn’t…”
“What! Defying me!? You’re demoted two ranks!”
“No way!”
“Cowards like you, step back! Either way, I’ll punish that fool myself!”
I couldn’t help but feel reassured by the ever-reliable Hans-paisen.
With so many folks around here having low magic resistance, if I could just use «Puppet», this’d be over in a flash… But I can’t just go throwing around powerful, multi-target magic like that without a care.
As I’m trying to keep my identity under wraps, Siegfried, without even waiting for the duel’s signal, suddenly raises «Eckesachs» and slashes through the air.
“Get obliterated, you filthy commoner!”
He’s probably loaded «Green» into «Eckesachs»—the air itself turns into a blade and comes flying at me. Just swinging and missing triggers alchemy, huh?
But come on, for a sneak attack, it’s way too telegraphed, and the wind blade’s so slow it’s like a fly could land on it.
I duck low, and with a whoosh, the sound of slicing air passes by as Siegfried’s wind blade zips past like an express train.
“Tch, duel start!”
Despite Siegfried’s blatant foul, the senior officer acting as the referee simply places the handkerchief on the ground without tossing it. A duel is supposed to begin when the handkerchief hits the ground, but they have no intention of fighting fair.
“Bwahahaha! Take that! And that! And that! Just dodging’s no fun, medic!”
Whoosh, whoosh—«Eckesachs»’s barrel makes a whistling sound, scattering wind blades everywhere, but…
“—S-Siegfried-sama! Gah!”
“—Ugh!? My arm! It hurts, it hurts!”
Not a single one hits me; instead, they keep smacking into the senior officers standing behind.
“As expected of the crown prince of the mighty Oiraan Empire. Quite the expert at clearing the riffraff, aren’t you?”
“You mocking me?! But just running around isn’t gonna make this interesting! Come on, bare your fangs at me!”
“Oh? Well then, I’ll take you up on that.”
“What?!”
The moment Siegfried’s eyes widen, a wind blade slams right into me.
“Bushu♪”
Siegfried grins smugly, gloating over the hit as he looks down at me.
“Hahahahaha!”
This from the guy who was panicking when his attacks kept missing earlier…
But honestly, it didn’t do a damn thing, so I figured I’d play along and mimic a damage sound with some beatbox flair. It came out pretty convincing, so I’m kinda pleased with myself.
Still, if he realizes it had no effect, Siegfried might just lose it and go full dark mode, so I pull something out from my «Treasure Vault».
“You think this is over?! Take this! And this! And this! And this! And this! And this!”
Guys like him get cocky the moment they sense weakness… He’s a real piece of work when it comes to bullying the weak.
«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»
«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»«Potion»
Every time I take a wind blade head-on, I chug a «Potion», then take another and chug again, repeating the process.
With each hit, I burn through a «Potion», closing the distance to Siegfried step by step.
When I’m just a few steps away, the idiot finally notices.
No, seriously, way too slow to catch on.
“What kinda ridiculous fighting style is this?!”
“I haven’t broken a single rule, unlike you. Plus, I’m coming straight at you without running away. What’s your problem? Spit it out.”
Siegfried, maybe scared of me, starts backing away as I raise my staff-rifle and step in hard.
“Checkmate!”
“Eek!? Gah!?”
I swing my staff-rifle like a barbarian wielding a club, smacking Siegfried square. Unable to block the blow, «Eckesachs» goes flying and clatters to the ground.
“That one’s for Nirvana. How’s it feel? Hurt much?”
“Fweh!?”
Siegfried’s pretty little nose cartilage crumples, and blood gushes out spectacularly.
“I-I was wrong… Please, I beg you, spare me…”
Man, pretty boys really do turn uglier than ugly when their face gets messed up…
He pleads with me in a prayer-like pose, but for a split second, his eyes dart side to side.
Silence…
“Looks like you’ve lost what little loyalty you had left.”
Siegfried probably tried to signal his lackeys to kill me while begging for his life. But not a single one of his men responds to his command.
“Hey, someone, anyone, kill this fool! I’ll give you any reward you want! Women, too! Or how about a title? A way better life than—”
The senior officers under Siegfried’s command just shake their heads, refusing to answer his call. I quickly grab his arm, spin behind him, and press a knife to his throat.
“I could just slit your throat right here and now, you know?”
“S-Stop… What do you want? Money? Honor? Or maybe women? Oh, right, you’re a commoner, aren’t you? I could elevate you. Knighthood’s nice, you know!”
“Knighthood as the lowest rank, huh…”
I mutter under my breath, and Siegfried hurriedly corrects himself.
“N-No, I mean, I could make you a baron! So, how about putting that dangerous thing down, yeah?”
Everything he says is so damn petty.
His pathetic groveling makes me want to puke.
“Don’t ever touch Nirvana again. Next time you try anything, I’ll carve your head from your body and feed it to ghost cockroaches.”
“I-I understand…”
“And when you address Nirvana, call her ‘Onee-sama.’”
“Got it…”
“And refer to yourself as ‘Nirvana-sama’s servant.’”
“No way I’d agree to that!”
“Or I could just slice your Adam’s apple right now?”
“Fine, I’ll say it, I’ll say it…”
I lower the knife and holster it, giving Siegfried a light shove to let him go. Blood’s still pouring from his nose, no sign of stopping.
“P-Please… I beg you, give me a potion…”
I rummage through my «Treasure Vault».
“Hm? There’s one left. Fine, take it. I’m a better medic than you, after all.”
“Hah, hah, I’m saved…”
By my count, the potions I drank should’ve been the last ones… Oh well, if there’s one left, might as well!
Siegfried chugs the golden liquid like it’s an energy drink.
“Ugh, what’s with this aftertaste?!”
Oh… crap, I forgot. That potion… it’s Nirvana’s holy water…
Pinky swear, if you lie, I’ll make you drink potion pee! Well, I guess I already did.
As I watch Siegfried, beaten to a pulp and slinking down the hill like a whipped dog—
«Do you desire power?»
What?! My eyes widen at the familiar voice, and I glance around. That sinister tone, fit for a curse… It’s the same voice I heard when Nord, implanted with demon factors, awakened as a demon lord.
But I’m fine, unaffected.
Then it hits me, and I look at Siegfried…
“B-Bo…jii…”
Propped up by Hans and his lackeys, he suddenly reaches out, grasping at something in the air. As I stay on guard, Barbara comes running, her face pale.
“Nord, big trouble! Nirvana-sama’s gone missing. She didn’t come this way… did she?”
“No, haven’t seen her. To think she’d get separated with you around…”
Could she have been kidnapped?
Just as I start to panic—
«What kind of power do you desire?»
“The power to slaughter that fool over there, Bojii!”
“Siegfried-sama, what are you—?!”
“S-Stop, gah!”
Siegfried lets out a roar, shoving aside the senior officers supporting him and cutting them down with «Eckesachs».
“Blood, blood, BLOOD!”
Licking the blood off «Eckesachs»’s blade, Siegfried’s blue eyes shift, glowing an eerie red…
«Nirvana’s Perspective»
—Over that hill, huh!
—Is Siegfried-sama really there?
—A duel with some upstart medic?!
It’s getting noisy outside, and I thought it might be a demon attack, but turns out it’s Nord and Siegfried dueling.
Oh, Nord…
Knowing him, he’s probably clashing with Siegfried over me.
Why does he care so much about me? And yet, when I try to thank him, he brushes it off. But that just makes me want to give him everything… It’s not like I’m not embarrassed if he sees me naked—that’d be a lie—but I don’t hate it. He’s got that bad-boy face that’s probably made tons of girls cry, yet he’s such a gentleman. It’s unfair…
It’s making me fall for him even more.
“Are you curious?”
As I stare toward the hill, Barbara speaks up.
“Yeah…”
“Shall we go?”
“Huh?!”
Barbara’s words catch me off guard. Normally, she’d stop me…
We blend in with the soldiers heading toward the hill and follow the same path.
I thought Nord was strong, but challenging Siegfried, one of the strongest in our nation? That’s just reckless.
I can’t bear the thought of Nord getting hurt because of me.
I have to stop this duel no matter what—but it’s too late. The moment I look, I see Siegfried’s wind blade hit Nord.
“Nord! No, no, NO!”
“Nirvana-sama! It’s dangerous!”
I feel like I’m losing my mind.
Nord doesn’t dodge the wind blades, taking them head-on, getting wounded but advancing one step, then another. He’s determined to make Siegfried understand his strength, all to protect my status.
But I don’t care about that!
I’d rather not see Nord get hurt and disappear from my life!
As I try to push through the senior officers surrounding me to step forward…
“—Gwah!?”
“Huh!?”
A wind blade hits the officer to my right, and his upper body collapses, leaving only his legs standing on the ground.
“You see now, Nirvana-sama. Stay behind me.”
“Y-Yes…”
I can’t help but think it’s dangerous to entrust the empire to someone like Siegfried, who swings his weapon blindly without regard for friendly casualties, even outside of battles with demons. But I’m overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, unable to do anything.
Still, for Nord to withstand Siegfried’s one-hit-kill wind blades with just potions… it’s unreal.
“Checkmate!”
“Eek!? Gah!?”
Nord, who kept enduring the wind blades and advancing, finally catches Siegfried.
He won…
Against that Siegfried…
The man second only to Father in strength, someone even Barbara, third in rank, couldn’t touch.
Most people here probably don’t know, but Nord subdued Siegfried using only imperial alchemy, without any magic.
It’s as if he’s declaring himself the next emperor with that overwhelming difference in power…
Which means… this is a proposal to me!?
Nord doesn’t want me to marry King John. He’s saying, “Don’t marry that guy… run away with me.” That’s why he’s been brushing off my attempts to comfort him. He’s aiming to steal me from King John with his strength, in such a bold, masculine way.
No, no, no… Nord, with such a passionate proposal, I… I’m going to lose it!
“Nirvana-sama? Nirvana-sama? Fana-sama!?”
“Eek!? Don’t startle me like that!”
“My apologies… You were blushing, so I got worried.”
Barbara pulls me back to reality just as I’m basking in Nord’s fiery love. If I could be greedy, I’d have liked to stay in that moment a bit longer…
“—He took the wind blades on purpose, and that upstart protected us?”
“—Nobody’s died since he started taking the hits. Siegfried’s a piece of shit, isn’t he?”
As the duel comes to a close, the watching soldiers start to murmur.
Siegfried, abandoned not only by the soldiers present but also by his senior officers, slinks down the hill with only a handful of close aides.
Then something strange happens.
“The power to slaughter that fool over there, Bojii! Blood, blood, BLOOD!”
Siegfried suddenly goes berserk, slashing at the soldiers around him indiscriminately. Even for someone like Siegfried, this isn’t normal behavior.
Has he lost his mind?
“Nirvana-sama!”
“Barbara!”
As I grow suspicious, the soldiers panic and rush down the hill. Caught in the chaos, I get separated from Barbara.
“This way, Princess Nirvana.”
“Who are you!?”
In the confusion, as I lose sight of Barbara, someone grabs my hand and leads me to the safety of a rocky outcrop. It’s the nun I met at the orphanage I visited for a goodwill trip.
«Elise’s Perspective» (Before Nirvana’s Abduction)
I was brought to Kannenberk, a fortified city in the Oiraan Empire. I was invited to what seems to be the lord’s mansion and told to wait for a while.
Adding the molasses Nord-sama gave me to the tea they served makes the fatigue of the long journey melt away.
As I calm down, I wonder… why all the way to a neighboring country? Just then, the door to the reception room opens.
“Elise, sorry for the trouble. But I’m glad we could meet again.”
“I’m sorry for always causing you trouble.”
I stand from the sofa and share a hug with my parents who enter. Father looks a bit thinner, and Mother seems to have a few more wrinkles…
“Father, Mother, don’t worry about it. As I wrote in my letters, I’m doing fine.”
When I flash a smile, my parents’ eyes widen in surprise.
“Unbelievable… That letter was written under Nord’s censorship, wasn’t it?”
“The handwriting was definitely yours, but…”
They must have swallowed the malicious rumors spread by those jealous of Nord-sama’s success. I immediately deny it.
“Nord-sama would never do such a thing! Father, Mother, you’re misunderstanding him.”
But… their reaction isn’t what I hoped for.
“It’s okay, this isn’t the Villance household.”
“That’s right, you can tell us the painful truth. Nord’s been bullying you, hasn’t he? And Marianne and Meina, too?”
Marie-sama and Meina-san bullying me?
Marie-sama, younger but so wise, and Meina-san, so kind?
Thinking of them brings tears to my eyes…
“Ugh…”
My parents don’t understand Marie-sama and Meina-san at all.
“What’s wrong, Elise? Why are you suddenly crying…?”
“It must have been so hard. It’s okay now, come here.”
Father opens his arms, but I shake my head and speak up.
“No! I… I never thought my own parents could be so clueless! Nord-sama told me, ‘You don’t have to work as a maid. I’ll prepare a dowry, so you can return to your parents anytime.’ And that’s not all—Marie-sama always listens to my worries… Meina-san never scolds me despite my constant mistakes and kindly teaches me how to work. So why… why can’t you understand, my own parents…?”
My emotions surge, and I find myself talking back to my parents for the first time. They furrow their brows, looking troubled, and ask,
“You really haven’t been mistreated or abused by that Nord?”
“There’s no chance you’ll be rejected by a suitor, right?”
Ugh!
If anything, I’m the one sneaking into Nord-sama’s bed at night… but I can’t say that in front of my parents.
I’ve already decided on my future husband, Mother…
“What’s wrong, Elise? Answer properly.”
“We must take down the Villance dukedom…”
“Completing maid training at the Villance household would be prestigious, so… no, I don’t think that’s an issue.”
My eyes are probably darting nervously in front of my parents.
In times like this, I need to change the subject… no, switch topics.
“Where’s Brother?”
My parents exchange glances, and Father speaks.
“Lotus isn’t coming.”
“Why me and not Brother? Wouldn’t Brother, the former captain of the Royal Guard, be more useful?”
“It was their specific request—they wanted you, Elise.”
I’d heard this could be a chance to restore the Magdalia family, but I didn’t know who was supporting my parents.
“Who exactly is helping you and Mother…?”
As I try to ask, I feel something brush my shoulder and jump back in surprise—there’s someone there.
“It’s alright, Elise. It’s a simple job that you and Count Magdalia can surely handle.”
When did she get here?
No footsteps, no shift in the air—a nun in a wimple appears, her mouth covered by cloth. Her eyes seem familiar, but…
Maybe because I’m so emotional from reuniting with my parents, I can’t place her.
“Please, everyone, take a seat.”
Though her mouth is covered, I can tell from the tight cloth that her lips are curved upward. It’s a gentle smile, but I hear Father gasp, clearly tense.
“I’ll be direct. Bishop-sama, what is the task assigned to us?”
“Now, now, don’t be so nervous, Count Magdalia-sama. It’s not a difficult job.”
The woman called Bishop keeps trying to ease Father’s tension.
“There’s a girl named Nirvana at a rundown orphanage. I want you to bring her here.”
Nirvana…?
I think the princess of the Oiraan Empire has that name.
Hearing the Bishop’s words, Father downs his teacup in one gulp.
“Could I have another cup? The tea here is delicious.”
“Yes, indeed.”
My parents exchange glances and smile. The tea, imported from Ackersen, is a bit old, over-fermented, and sour—not exactly delicious…
“Bishop-sama, may I step out to pick some flowers?”
“Of course, go ahead.”
As I stand, my parents give me a knowing look. The second cup of tea was a signal.
I leave the room and close the door, immediately pressing my ear against it.
“It’s a simple task of picking her up. How about it? It’ll restore your place as the leader of Ackersen’s Holy Alliance.”
“Bishop-sama… it’s not a bad offer.”
“See? See?”
“But I refuse! Even if I’ve fallen, I want to be a father my daughter can be proud of. The Magdalia family, tarnished as it is, has produced saints and holy knights! I won’t be complicit in kidnapping another country’s princess!”
“That’s my Corin. The man I chose.”
Father, Mother…
“Truly useless people… I was going to restore your countship. Throw them in the dungeon. And when Elise returns, seize her immediately.”
My parents signaled me to escape. Hearing the Bishop’s words, I pretend to go pick flowers and slip out of the mansion.
Father, Mother, wait for me!
I’ll come back to save you, so please stay safe until then!
«Siegfried’s Perspective»
Ah, this overwhelming sense of omnipotence coursing through my body.
I let my guard down and got my nose broken by some upstart commoner, but after listening to that mysterious voice and making the contract, I feel no pain at all.
And that’s not all.
My magic circuits are fully activated, mana flowing to every corner of my body. This fresh sensation is a first in my life. I don’t feel like I can lose to anyone anymore—not to that upstart commoner, not to Ackersen’s Black Hero… With this, I can take her back for sure!
I had a woman I loved.
Elise Magdalia… I’d heard rumors of a peerless beauty in Ackersen, a candidate for the next saint, but I dismissed them as nonsense. Yet the moment I laid eyes on her, my heart was stolen. Her appearance was like a perfect work of art crafted by the gods over eons. Her silver hair glimmered beautifully in the sunlight, her blue eyes as clear as the southern seas. Her sharp jawline, her moist, peach-colored lips…
Everything was exactly to my taste.
Unlike my incompetent yet beautiful half-sister Nirvana, Elise, as a saint candidate, is said to wield top-tier healing magic. During my first visit, I only saw her from a distance, but my heart was full.
But on my second visit to Ackersen, when I went to secure an engagement with Elise, the Magdalia estate had already been sold off. Neither she nor Count Magdalia were anywhere to be found. It was a massive miscalculation, assuming no fool would refuse an engagement with me, the crown prince of the Oiraan Empire. In my despair, I clung to a faint hope and visited Ackersen’s Hero Academy, where noble heirs gather—a place akin to our empire’s Hero Academy, a military officer school.
As I watched from the shadows of the gate, I saw a shifty-looking man and a stunningly beautiful woman walking close together toward me.
Elise!
“Nord-sama!”
“Don’t cling to me so much.”
“No way, it’s a maid’s duty to serve at her master’s side.”
My investigation revealed the unthinkable: my ideal woman had been reduced to a maid, her family ruined by a man named Nord Villance.
To use a pure saint candidate as an outlet for his lust is an unforgivable sin!
I wanted to cut him down right there, but I’m not foolish enough to do something reckless in enemy territory like Ackersen. I made the bitter decision to return to Oiraan, swearing revenge on Nord Villance…
With this surging power, stealing Elise back from Nord Villance will be child’s play.
«Wind Blade Slash»
But first, I must eliminate the fool before me. With that thought, I raise my hand, and a magic far surpassing the alchemy unleashed from «Green» erupts.
Annoyingly, the upstart medic rolls clumsily across the ground, dodging my magic. He seems to be reuniting with Barbara, talking about something.
As I strain my ears, I can miraculously pick up even distant voices. As expected of my awakened power!
“Nord, leave this to me and go find Nirvana-sama.”
“No, you’re more familiar with the terrain, so…”
“My magic is specialized for attack, not suited for searching.”
I don’t miss a word of what Barbara says to the medic.
“Nord, you say!? You’re the one who took Elise!!”
No wonder his haughty tone, sharp nose, and lips match Nord’s.
“Because of you, my future partner was defiled! You’ll pay with your life a thousand times over!”
“Kukuku, don’t make me laugh! That woman became my maid of her own accord. Your delusion is beyond ridiculous…”
I try to slice off the bangs hiding his identity as Nord with a single strike, but «Eckesachs» is deflected from an unexpected angle. Barbara slides her elbow up, parrying the slash.
“Hey, fallen prince. Who’re you looking at? Your opponent’s me!”
“A mere demon lackey dares defy me, a human!? Dark elf!”
“What’re you talking about? Look at yourself—you’re a demon through and through!”
Barbara pulls a compact mirror from her pouch and tosses it to me.
I catch it and look at my reflection.
“Ugh!? What’s this!? Is this me!?”
My face in the mirror has turned completely green. No way—this can’t be! I pull off my glove, and even my once-fair skin has turned green.
“Nord, don’t worry about me, go! Bring Nirvana-sama back safely…”
“Don’t die, Barbara! If you survive, I’ll take you on again.”
“I’d like that.”
While I’m reeling, Nord scurries down the hill like a beaten dog.
Could it have been… back then? Yes, during the battle in Tobils, when that demon calling itself the Insect King injected me with venom.
“No choice, then. Barbara! I’ll make you a blood sacrifice first!”
I’ll violate, torment, and humiliate her, and even if she begs for mercy, I’ll kill her without pity!
«Nord’s Perspective»
There’s no mistake.
It’s the same phenomenon as when I awakened as a demon lord. Siegfried’s been implanted with demon factors. His ego is still strong, so full awakening will take time.
But once he fully awakens, even Barbara, having regained her dark elf powers, won’t be able to stop him. I hand her the «Evil Eye», and though she looks suspicious, it’s insurance.
I have to find Nirvana before he fully awakens!
If something happens to her—like getting her limbs torn off—my death flag will be raised. As I scatter «Evil Eye» and race down the hill, nearing the fortress’s outer wall, I spot a young lady running toward me with a desperate look.
Elise!?
Why is she here!?
As I’m stunned, she waves at me.
“Nord-sama—!?”
She knows it’s me!?
Elise, overwhelmed with emotion, thrusts her hands forward and crashes into my chest. We both tumble onto the grassy green carpet. Straddling me, she’s overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her face.
“Why the hell are you here? Explain.”
“There’s something I need to ask you, Nord-sama… No, I can’t possibly ask that…”
“Just spit it out.”
“B-But… it’ll trouble you.”
If you don’t tell me, I’ll be the one troubled.
“You being around me is already a pain in the ass.”
“Huh?”
I meant to say something kind, but my Nord-speak comes out harsh, pushing her away. Elise’s face darkens, like a sudden rain turning into a torrential downpour.
Damn it! A girl’s in trouble, and my Nord-speak screws it up!
“One or two more problems won’t faze me. Let’s get your business done quick. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve got other annoying people to deal with.”
“Nord-sama! Thank you!”
Long story short, Elise tells me her parents are being held by the concubine faction allied with the Elon cult. Elise is strong, but only against demons. Against humans, her saintly conscience holds her back from hurting or killing anyone—except me, her natural enemy.
Save Elise’s parents or Nirvana… I’m forced into a brutal choice. But I quickly solve the trolley problem thrust upon me.
Obviously, I’ll save both.
In a shitty game like «Rising Hero», it’s obvious what happens if you don’t save both. Elise, who deeply loves and respects her parents, would fall to darkness if she lost them. Then the correction force would shove me into the Elise route, and she’d kill me.
I’ll save the heroine from her pinch and escape my death flag to live a happy, slow life.
I taught Nirvana cheat skills from my game knowledge at the Hero Academy. If she uses them, she should hold out for a bit, even in a crisis!
As I steel myself, something nags at me, and I ask Elise,
“How’d you know it was me just by passing by?”
“It’s simple. Once I’ve caught the seductive scent of Nord-sama, there’s no forgetting it!”
Haha…
A dry laugh echoes in my mind.
Come to think of it, after class one day, I felt a presence in my room and hesitated at the doorknob. Peeking through the keyhole, I saw Elise burying her face in my pillow, in the middle of… self-indulgence. I pretended I saw nothing, went to train, and when I returned, the bed was made as if nothing happened.
The pillowcase and sheets were replaced with new ones, so if I searched Elise’s room, I might find my used covers and sheets…
As I’m mulling this over, a glint flashes in the sky.
“Nord-sama, could that be…!”
“Yeah, she’s here.”
Kruru the wyvern slowly flaps her wings, descending from high altitude.
“Thanks for the trouble.”
—Kyururun♪
When I call out, Kruru affectionately nuzzles her long face, demanding pets.
Having bonded with Kruru through a contract seal, I ordered her to fly above the clouds to avoid detection by the Oiraan Empire.
As I stroke Kruru’s scaly forehead, Elise shows concern.
“Good job, Kruru-chan. «Healing Wind»”
—Kyui kyui♪
Kruru happily bobs her mouth up and down. When Elise and I lock eyes, her radiant smile makes me wonder if she’s some divine being.
“I want to be Kruru-chan…”
“Did you say something?”
“N-No, nothing.”
“Then hop on!”
“Yes!”
I climb onto Kruru’s back and take Elise’s hand.
Wait, why’d my hand move on its own? Elise takes it without hesitation and climbs aboard Kruru.
If Kain saw this, he’d probably lose his mind again, wouldn’t he?
“Nord-sama, the place is…”
“The lord’s mansion in Kannenberk, right? I’ve got that figured out.”
“As expected of Nord-sama! You’ve already investigated!”
I didn’t investigate. I just happened to know from my past-life memories.
“Here we go. Hold on tight.”
“Yes!”
«Strength Boost», «Acceleration»
I cast support magic buffs on Kruru.
I once tested how fast Kruru could go with buffs—she easily broke the sound barrier, and I got flung off.
Since then, I always pair buffs with «Wind Wall».
Elise wraps her arms around my waist, holding tight. Her massive chest presses against my back, the soft, warm sensation nearly turning me into a baby again…
Kruru reaches the lord’s mansion in Kannenberk in no time. Landing on the slate-tiled triangular roof makes me feel like a thief or ninja.
Kruru’s too conspicuous, so I have her wait in the sky for now.
—Kyururun♪
As we part, Kruru extends her wingtip.
“Good luck! …Tch, a wyvern pulling a cool move.”
Elise and I touch Kruru’s wingtip. As she takes off, we stick to the attic window like perfectly synced partners.
«Nirvana’s Perspective»
The nun brought me to the orphanage I once visited. But it’s completely different now. The walls are crumbling, the roof has holes, and the beams and pillars are eaten away by termites, ready to collapse… How could it fall into such ruin in just a few years?
When I visited, there were at least twenty children younger than me, but now it’s completely deserted. Did they all grow up or get adopted?
I can’t help but worry.
“Hey, where is everyone? Where did they go?”
Sensing an ominous air from the nun staring vacantly at the decaying orphanage, I grab her shoulders and ask hysterically.
“The children…? They’re dead. All of them.”
“No way…”
“It’s no lie. They all had high hopes for you, Nirvana-sama. You were supposed to be the savior of us poor folk. But you betrayed us, trying to flee to Ackersen! I was in despair. That’s when the concubine faction reached out to me.”
I’m speechless at the nun’s words, covering my mouth with both hands.
The concubine faction—a group of nobles, clergy, and merchants supporting Antonia. It started small but grew powerful by aligning with fanatical Elon cultists.
“No! I wasn’t trying to flee. If things continued like this, we’d be worn down, and before we lost those capable of using magic, we needed to create a strong bloodline.”
“Relying on a neighboring country!? Just as Antonia-sama said, we should stop expecting anything from you, Nirvana-sama. We’ll make this country better our own way.”
The nun raises her hand, and people start emerging from the ruined orphanage.
Elon cultists.
Surrounded, I pull my staff-rifle from my «Storage».
“Nirvana-sama, do you think you can beat them? Stop this pointless resistance. Or… do you want to be defiled like that dark elf by your side—what was her name, Barbara? To have your pure body violated by these men?”
“You… you did that to Barbara!?”
“Hehe, that happened before I joined, so don’t take it out on me. If anything, we’re the ones who want to vent our anger! We reached out for salvation, and at the critical moment, you let go. That’s how you nobles always are. But Antonia-sama, a commoner by birth, will save us.”
“You don’t know anything about Antonia. She has no mercy, no justice, no compassion, no restraint… nothing.”
“Even so, she’s better than you, who has nothing at all!”
I thought I’d been trying my best, but being confronted with reality makes me want to collapse. While I ran around trying to help those suffering before me, I lost power in the court and even my status as a princess was threatened.
Why, when demons are invading, do we fight for dominance instead of joining hands…?
“You got taken advantage of because you’re weak!”
That’s probably what Nord would say…
I’m weak… always needing someone to save me.
Then there’s only one thing I can do. I pull the trigger on my staff-rifle.
Sparks fly from the staff-rifle loaded with «Red», shooting skyward. With a pop, it causes a small explosion, like red Nirvana petals blooming.
“What are you aiming at? Oh, you’re trying to call for help. But in a desolate place like this, no one will—”
Nord, under his alias Noct, taught me to fire the staff-rifle straight up as a signal if I needed to send a message.
But there’s no way Nord would come to save me…
That’s when it happens.
—Who’s there!? You—gah!
—The commoner faction!?
It’s getting noisy outside the orphanage gate. Could someone really have come because of my flare? If so… there’s only one person it could be.
I start to shout toward the gate.
“Nor—huh? You…”
“Fana-chan, don’t worry. Your hero, who defeated the demon lord, is here to save you.”
He said that, but all I felt was anxiety…
The one who came rushing in wasn’t Nord, but that creepy boy from the Hero Academy who’s always stalking me.
His name… I don’t even want to remember it.
«Kain’s Perspective»
I was dragged all the way to the Oiraan Empire. Despite being a hero, I was stuffed in the back of a covered wagon, and my butt feels like it’s about to split into four pieces from the pain.
But… if I get to see cute Fana-chan again, it’s no big deal!
I poked my head out from the wagon and asked the old man holding the reins.
“For real, for real, for real, I get to see Fana-chan, right? And go on a date with her, right?”
“Yes, of course, Kain-sama.”
“I mean, the hero who defeated the demon lord is skipping his homecoming to grant your request, so there’d better be a proper reward, or I’m not doing it!”
“No need to worry, Kain-sama. Once you save Nirvana-sama and defeat the despicable Antonia and Crown Prince Siegfried, who control this country, we’ll arrange for you to spend a special night with Nirvana-sama!”
Wait, isn’t that a bit different from what they promised at first?
More importantly, something else caught my attention…
“For real? Wait, who’s Nirvana? I want to be lovers with Fana-chan!”
“It’s fine, Kain-sama. Fana is Nirvana-sama’s nickname. And she is the princess of the Oiraan Empire.”
“What!? Fana-chan’s real name is Nirvana-chan, and she’s an Oiraan Empire princess!?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Score! If I marry Fana-chan, I’ll live a life of luxury! Nord won’t even compare.
Still, why would Fana-chan go to a place like the Hero Academy?
“So, why’d they send her to a lousy school like the Hero Academy, which doesn’t even appreciate a demon-lord-slaying hero like me and makes Nord a professor?”
“I’m not sure… perhaps she had someone special in mind.”
“S-Someone special!? That’s gotta be me, right? Right? You think so too, don’t you, old man?”
As I grabbed and shook the old man’s shoulders, I heard murmurs from the others in the wagon.
—This guy’s as easy to manipulate as the intel said.
—Yeah, the rumor that a hero will defeat a demon lord if you stroke his ego is true.
—I heard Nord Villance was a womanizer, but this guy’s even more indiscriminate.
—Shh, he’ll hear you.
Heh! Everyone’s talking about me.
Strong, kind, handsome, good at math, and loved by all—a flawless hero.
Nord’s just on a different level, that’s all.
After a while of being jostled in the wagon, I saw a huge fortified city in the distance.
—There’s fire rising!
—It’s coming from the rundown orphanage!
The old men stopped the wagon and started talking.
“Hah, hah… Nirvana-sama is at the orphanage.”
One of their scouts returned with a report. Hearing Fana-chan’s name, I stood up and declared to everyone,
“I’m a hero. When someone’s in trouble, I have to save them!”
Wait for me, Fana-chan! I’ll rescue you right now and show you how cool I am, so much that Nord won’t even get a chance!
«Nord’s Perspective»
“Guh!”
Good thing I learned palm strikes from Mao.
These fanatics have insanely high magic resistance. If I went all out with «Sleep», I could knock them out easily, but it might affect areas beyond the mansion…
After knocking out a guard with a gut punch to the solar plexus, I signaled Elise, who was hiding around the corner. She moved like a well-trained special forces operative, quickly lining up beside me.
In a maid outfit…
And holding a knife in a reverse grip with her dominant hand. If I didn’t have trauma from «Rising Hero», I’d say armed maids are cool, but honestly, it’s freaking terrifying.
We took out the guards one by one and reached the basement where Count Magdalia and his wife were held. Confirming no one else was around, Elise muttered,
“Nord-sama, it’s like this isn’t your first time in this mansion…”
“Obviously… I did my homework.”
In my past life, that is… I memorized the map when Barbara protected Kain and got captured by the concubine faction. The basement’s humidity is off the charts—far from cool, it’s damp and miserable…
“Nnnh!”
Elise let out a weirdly seductive sound, wiping sweat from her cleavage with a handkerchief.
“Nord-sama? Want me to wipe you down?”
“Wipe your own damn sweat!”
When our eyes met, her gentle smile almost made me say, “Yes, gladly!” out of reflex.
As I stayed wary of taking Elise’s teasing seriously, I spotted Count Magdalia and his wife behind the iron bars.
“Elise!”
“Father, Mother!”
Seeing Elise, the couple grabbed the bars, overjoyed to reunite safely.
My eyes got misty, and I was wiping them with a handkerchief when—
“Why is the Villance duke’s son here…?”
“Elise, explain what’s going on.”
My bangs must’ve flipped up, revealing my face to Elise’s parents, blowing my identity as Nord.
“If this is the Villance duke’s doing, I refuse!”
Elise’s dad is such a pain in the ass…
He’s generally likable, peace-loving, and treats everyone equally regardless of status—a good guy. But he despises Wald and ignores him completely.
“Father!”
“If Corin’s out, so am I.”
“Even you, Mother…?”
“You fools! This isn’t the time for petty nonsense. If you’ve got complaints about me or my family, save them for after we get out. Just don’t make your daughter cry!”
“This is a matter of pride. Even if the Magdalia family has fallen, we won’t accept charity from the Villance family.”
Ugh, these stubborn idiots!
As we argued, a loud clank rang out, and the dungeon ceiling opened, flooding the cell with torrents of water—not just their cell, but all the others too.
“Such a cowardly move!”
“They clearly don’t intend to let us live.”
“Looks like we were being played.”
“A water attack, huh?”
Nice one. I almost wanted to hand Elise a zabuton for that quip, but there’s no time to mess around. If we leave it like this, Count Magdalia and his wife will drown.
“Damn it—water attack, huh?”
“Eek, what do we do? We’ll drown!”
Exchanging a glance with Elise, I delivered a flat line, and she followed suit.
«Freeze»
I fired ice magic at the water outlet, freezing it solid to stop the flow.
“So this is the Black Hero’s power…”
“No time to gawk while taking a bath. Let’s get out of here. If you refuse, I’ll blast the walls and drag you out by force.”
“Fine… looks like we can’t defy you.”
“Corin…”
Elise’s mom placed a hand on her dad’s shoulder. I burned through the cell bars with flame magic, and the four of us escaped the basement together.
“Sorry, Elise.”
“You were right.”
“Father, Mother… as long as you understand.”
Elise and her parents huddled, whispering something.
“By the way, Elise, we’re moving forward with adopting Nord-kun as a son-in-law… That’ll weaken Wald’s influence.”
“Oh, Corin! Brilliant idea!”
“Father, Mother… please do.”
I couldn’t hear clearly, but a chill ran down my spine, like another death flag had been raised. I just want to get the hell out of this place. With the two of them rescued, my business here is done.
«Explosion»
I blew a hole in the wall and strutted out like it was the front door.
“Come on, Kruru!”
—Kyurururun♪
Kruru destroyed a spire with her talons, taking out a sniper aiming at us.
Is it just me, or is this girl getting smarter every time we meet?
“It’s gonna be a bit heavy, bear with it.”
—Kyururu!
I apologized for the four of us climbing onto Kruru’s back, but she shook her head and slapped her chest with her wing, as if saying four was no problem.
“I’ve got one question for you guys. Can I take those bastards out?”
“Huh? Nord-kun?”
«Explosion Finale»
While Elise’s dad hesitated, I unleashed explosive magic from the air, bombing the lord’s mansion—the den of evil—in Kannenberk.
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