“Ugoh!? O-Ojou-sama…!?”
“Listen well, Ashley.”
I exhaled with a “fuu,” and resolved to confess to him.
“I don’t dislike you, you know.”
“Wha… eh?”
Ashley’s eyes went black and white. He looked at me with a “what are you saying?” expression.
“Ah, let me clarify—I don’t have romantic feelings for you, okay? You’re a pervert who collects my fallen hair to make [Mini-Reite dolls].”
“H-how did you know that!?”
“Because I’m a villain. I keep track of my subordinates’ hobbies to prepare for betrayal. And… precisely because you’re such a pervert, I think of you as one of the few people I can trust.”
That’s right. There are very few people I can trust.
Even those who seem to praise me, they all seem to be either flattering me or have some ulterior motive.
But in that regard, Weiss-kun and this guy are different.
Weiss-kun is just completely unfriendly. But instead, I can clearly tell there’s no lie in his words or actions.
As for Ashley, he’s a pervert.
The slimy smile he directs at me is completely that of a pervert.
Yes, a pervert. So very much a pervert. Honestly, it’s disgusting.
But precisely because he’s a pervert, I can clearly tell that he really does like me.
“And yet you’re proceeding with the conversation on your own and trying to leave me? ——Don’t screw with me.”
Anger filled my chest again.
I grabbed Ashley’s collar and brought my face close while still stepping on his belly.
Even this guy looked pained, but I didn’t care. I’m a villain, after all.
“Don’t underestimate me, you virgin.”
“!?”
“You are my ‘possession.’ Don’t you dare act on your own will.”
What’s this about ‘throwing your life away as responsibility’?
Looking closely into his confused eyes, I whispered in his ear.
“Everything you are belongs to me. Live and die by my side.”
“Hah, hahi——!”
The butler vigorously nodded his head up and down.
Good, that’s right. “Good boy,” I praised and patted him.
Then he turned red and collapsed. How cute.
“Now then.”
Next is the prince.
I removed my foot from the butler and turned around… wait, what’s with that look like you’re seeing something unbelievable?
Well, whatever. ——Here’s what I’ll say to Weiss-kun.
“Show me your true power, Weiss-kun.”
“…!”
I told him with a straightforward gaze.
I’m not disappointed in Weiss-kun at all. Rather, “This is where it starts, right?” I smiled.
“Weiss-kun. Did you intend to kill the butler?”
“…No.”
“What were you conscious of before the duel?”
“…Your words. In my clumsy way, I tried to make sure he’d only be severely injured.”
That’s right. Weiss-kun is a kind person, and he’s someone who can work hard at things he’s not good at.
Yes, so then—
“Abandon all of that consciousness.”
“!?”
“Attack Ashley with real intent, with killing intent.”
“!?”
Oh my, Weiss-kun, why are you opening your eyes so wide?
“R-Reite-jou. Such a thing is…”
“You can’t do it? Don’t tell me you were still planning to face him while holding back poorly?”
Ah, just as I thought. You really are a kind person.
But.
“It’s pathetic, [Ice Prince]. I’m not looking for you to struggle against his strength.”
“…!”
I pierced through the confused prince with my mirror eyes.
That’s right. Even I’m the same as the other soldiers.
What I was secretly hoping for before the duel was ‘the sight of Weiss-Strain winning with transcendent swordsmanship.’
I don’t want to see your weakness.
“Meet the expectations, Prince. Mine and——theirs.”
I extended my arm as if turning around. There were the members of the soldier corps who had been looking forward to this duel.
My eyes didn’t miss it. Despite being surprised by Ashley’s ability and unexpected identity, they looked ‘disappointed’ that Weiss-kun couldn’t achieve an overwhelming victory.
“It would be fine if you could overwhelm him while holding back. But you can’t, right? Ashley is skilled, right?”
“…Yes, that’s right. He’s strong enough that unfamiliar restraint would lead to defeat.”
“Then there’s only one answer.”
Enough of this half-hearted questioning. I’ll deliver the final blow to his hesitation.
“Weiss-Strain. Will you mock all of us and Ashley with a half-hearted fight, or will you demonstrate your perfected martial prowess? What will you choose as a prince——and more importantly, as a [man]?”
——A creaking sound rang out.
It was the sound of Weiss-kun gripping his sword hilt tightly.
That was a clear ‘answer.’
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“…Reite-jou. Originally, I’m just trash.”
His face lowered, his eyes hidden.
“Unlike my excellent younger brother, the Second Prince, I’m neither smart nor personable. I’m really a useless prince.”
His voice dropped.
His fighting spirit disappeared.
He even sheathed the sword he had been gripping again.
As if giving up on everything.
“But—”
Suddenly, the atmosphere became violently agitated.
A chill ran through, making my skin crawl. Some among the soldier corps even groaned.
“…Precisely because I’m someone who has nothing, I’ve continued to swing my [sword] every day. Thinking ‘at least I won’t lose in this,’ I’ve piled training upon training…!”
What dominated the dueling ground was cold fighting spirit overflowing from him.
Eyes that looked forward again. What dwelt there was the light of obsession.
“The [strength] I obtained that way… there are those who believe in it… And I myself believe and want to believe in my ability alone… Ah, then—”
Only then did we finally notice.
The appearance of seemingly giving up and sheathing his sword.
That was his combat stance. The ‘drawing stance.’
“To show my pride, I won’t be defeated! Don’t screw with me——!”
In an instant, radiation light overflowed all at once.
Pale blue reminiscent of absolute zero. Yet the perfected cold light was like the sun, threatening to burn our eyes…!
“…Wake up, Ashley. That seems to be the prince’s true power.”
“I’m already awake, Ojou-sama.”
Ashley was standing beside me before I knew it.
Before the blue aurora, he showed a ferocious smile.
“Ah, it’s finally going to get interesting…! That’s how it should be, that’s how.”
“You’re in a good mood. Were you always a battle lover?”
“Yes, well, actually. I originally joined [Hell Wolf] because I was hot-blooded.”
He put his hand in his pocket and handed me his usual glasses. “They probably won’t survive unscathed,” he said.
“I’ll entrust them to Ojou-sama. Please put them in your chest if possible.”
“I understand.”
I threw the glasses on the ground somewhere.
Now, it’s finally time for the real duel.
“…I showed an unsightly display, Ashley. I won’t hold back anymore. I’ll show you my [only strength].”
Weiss-kun held his blade at hip level. The drawing stance was the same as at first. But the overflowing blue light and fighting spirit were completely different.
“Fuhah, excellent, Weiss-Strain!”
Ashley also made his Gift’s gray light shine brightly.
His expression was vicious and warlike. So he’s been hiding such true nature behind his glasses all this time.
“I detested the cruelty of [Hell Wolf], but I still love the excitement of battle! Therefore, let’s do this, Prince——!”
And the butler charged all at once.
Fast. His crouched rushing form was like a wild wolf.
“Next I’ll punch right through your skull. Maximum output, Gift [Ash Dust ogre]!”
Even more sooty light overflowed.
It enveloped Ashley as if he were covered in ash—it was the ability-killing ability. Weiss-kun’s ability swordsmanship won’t work on that.
“With this!”
“It’s over,”
he shouted as the butler struck, but however—
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