Chapter 10: Have You Ever Read a Romance Novel?

“What are you so happy about that you’re giggling like that?”

Kariel asked inquisitively, seemingly bothered by the girl giggling above his head while they were on their way to school.

-Hm? Oh, it’s nothing much. I just had a pleasant dream.

“……Do ghosts even dream?”

When Kariel asked back in astonishment,

-If you’re so curious, why don’t you try becoming like this too?

She giggled again.

He couldn’t tell if those words were a joke or just idle chatter.

It was clear she wasn’t being sincere.

Like a giant tree in a forest that even a dim mist could not hide.

Yet, upon actually approaching, it was not a giant tree, but rather a rotten, twisted dead tree or a similar structure.

This woman seemed to show everything, yet she never revealed a single decisive thing.

From a human perspective, one might call it a bit unfair.

No, expecting something human from a Demon King was the real problem.

At this point, Kariel swallowed a bitter smile, realizing that he himself was far from normal.

-The Great Demon King once said that when the Demon King of Pleasure becomes immersed in delight, her tastes become quite foul.

“……And?”

More importantly, what is ‘delight’?

Regardless, she continued to prattle on unilaterally, intoxicated by her own excitement.

-If things had gone slightly wrong, I might have become the Demon King of Ecstasy or the Demon King of Obsession instead of Wisdom. Wow, just thinking about it again makes me dizzy. But then again, that kind of corruption might not have been so bad?

“……?”

He knew well that she was fundamentally insane, but sometimes he wondered what on earth her mental world was like.

‘They say geniuses are eccentrics.’

But wasn’t she an absurd existence that even those extraordinary geniuses would treat like a fly?

Still, compared to the lethargy and boredom she usually displayed, she seemed quite lively, which was somewhat better.

‘Is that a bad thing?’

A Demon King possessing motivation.

How horrific!

Even when she had no motivation, she was a disaster in herself for Kariel; at this rate, an even greater disaster would…

-Since your resolve and determination have been recognized in a way, I wonder if this is both a misfortune and a stroke of luck for you?

“What’s being recognized, and what’s misfortune or luck….”

He had no idea what she was talking about.

However.

‘The fact that that woman, Melineos, and her filthy prophetic power have been triggered means that Kariel has a high potential to become a threat.’

She had no particular intention of forcing him, nor any plan to guide him in that direction.

…But watching them fight tooth and nail until both self-destruct might be quite entertaining in its own way.

-Well, it’s only one possibility, and it’s a bit disappointing that it’s not a fixed future.

In the Demon King’s judgment, unlike the Prophetic Dream that girl had seen, the boy did not have the temperament to fall into corruption easily.

At least not unless several fatal triggers and accidents overlapped multiple times.

…He might become a failure or a wreck.

But he didn’t have the nature to sharpen a blade of revenge while shedding tears of blood.

Of course.

…That might be different if the Demon King herself openly pushed him into the abyss.

“Stop talking to yourself and say it so I can actually understand, will you?”

-I don’t want to. Why should I? What’s so cute about someone like you?

“…….”

-Don’t you think my mercy is incredibly deep, just by leaving your clumsy intentions alone and watching from the sidelines?

“Sigh….”

It was exactly as she said.

The Demon King, who claimed she had achieved her goal.

That intention and purpose.

And how the aftermath of it had affected the continental situation.

It wasn’t for nothing that Kariel had been frequenting the library lately.

Since he already visited the library periodically, no one would find it particularly strange.

Rather than for reading, there was no better place to organize his thoughts in peace.

However, now that the second-quarter exams were over, only the arrival of vacation remained.

Consequently, the overall atmosphere of the classes had become very relaxed.

…Of course.

That wasn’t true for everyone.

“Kariel! Can’t you keep your posture straight?!”

“…….”

A truly meaningless time.

The time spent repeatedly training in that grand Imperial Sword Form.

Kariel had approached the training with blatant insincerity.

Because of that, the swordsmanship instructor immediately pointed it out, and as the target, he began to be lectured for all to see.

“Is your patience finally running thin? You at least put your heart into the lessons before; what is this joke you’re playing now?”

“…….”

“Why? Do you intend to give up on becoming a knight after all? Or perhaps you think that since your father is a Hero and the Knight Order Master, and your grades are decent enough, you’ll be fine once you graduate?”

“Sigh….”

“A sigh? You… right now….”

“I apologize.”

Kariel bowed his head obediently.

“I believe it is because I am not feeling well.”

“Now you call that an excuse….”

The instructor let out a huff of exasperation and nodded slowly.

“…If that’s the case, you should have said so and stepped out earlier.”

“I have no excuse.”

Kariel bowed his head deeply once more.

After that, the two reached a compromise where he would legally watch the training.

‘She told me all this training is meaningless for me, so why should I endure or work hard now?’

At a point where training actually resulted in a negative effect, how could he possibly find motivation?

-It’s only going to twist your muscles and sharpen useless instincts, so that’s the right call.

The Demon King floating above his head giggled, saying the same thing.

Even after the Sword Form training ended and transitioned into sparring,

He sat to one side, wasting his time staring blankly.

“…….”

The Princess watched him for a moment.

But truly, it was only for a moment.

====

Arrows fly.

Not one, not dozens, but at least hundreds.

In total, there would be more, but for now, those hundreds were all Kariel needed to worry about.

Holding his shield, eyes wide open.

He advances.

“Urgh!”

Due to the momentum of the arrows, his body was thrown backward the moment he blocked them.

As he sprawled out, he tossed aside the shield in his hand and immediately crawled forward to pick up another fallen shield.

“Ah, shit?!”

But the shield was shattered.

With the following barrage, his entire body was exposed to the rain of arrows like a straw target.

“Urgh!”

This process repeated dozens, hundreds of times.

Finally, he managed to advance about twenty steps.

However.

That was merely the starting point.

-Either annihilate the enemy or you die; those are the only two ways to resolve this training battlefield.

And.

“Aaaagh!”

-This battlefield is the same.

Hundreds of Iron Armor cavalry charge with spears leveled.

As if the Earth Axis had been struck by thunder, the ground shook and heaved violently as if an earthquake were occurring.

The cavalry charge hit.

“―?!?!”

There was no time to scream.

Compared to the rain of arrows, dodging at the start was easy, but the aftermath was the problem.

The cavalry charge swallowed him instantly, like a giant tsunami.

Even if he wasn’t pierced by a spear, the sensation of being hit by a horse or trampled by hooves—becoming rags, breaking, being crushed and shattered—was an absurdly horrific experience.

“Ugh!”

When he opened his eyes.

The Arrow Barrage fell again.

Another twenty steps.

No, this time he was lucky; despite being hit in the arm and chest, he advanced further, reaching twenty-six steps.

But it ended there.

And again.

The Arrow Barrage.

Just as he was starting to get used to it.

The cavalry charge unfolded again.

“Have some consistency!”

There was no time to complain.

This time, he was pierced by a Flag Spear.

“Urgh!”

He wasn’t skewered completely, but the impact caused his arm to be pierced and hang limp.

Before he could even realize it or feel the mental shock.

He was knocked over by the cavalry again.

After that, as before, he was repeatedly hit and trampled by horse legs and hard iron shoes, his entire body disintegrating into tattered rags.

“Is this even supposed to be training?!”

Isn’t it basic common sense to at least provide conditions where one can resist?

If you throw a child to a wild beast and tell them to survive, would any child actually survive?

But regardless of Kariel’s inner thoughts.

He died and came back to life repeatedly.

“Ugh!”

The moment he returned to reality and opened his eyes, a surge of nausea and the urge to vomit rose. He covered his mouth and took deep breaths for a long while.

-Reality is merciless. Remember that there is no world, nor anyone, for your sake.

“Huu… huu!”

-If you’re annoyed, your only choice is to become stronger and wiser. It is the truth of the world that those who are ignorant suffer, and those who are weak suffer.

The giggling Demon King, in appearance, was the very image of a beautiful little devil.

He was told that she was exactly his ideal type, but why did his hatred swell like proofing bread the more he looked at her?

“Hey, are you… okay?!”

Suddenly, hearing a familiar voice, he looked up.

“…….”

“Your complexion is….”

“Didn’t I ask for a little time?”

Seras Esdina.

“I didn’t come here to hear that answer. Do you think the library is a place to come just to see you?”

When Seras countered with a frown, Kariel thought that made sense and apologized obediently.

“…Sorry if I reacted too sensitively.”

“Y-you don’t have to be sorry.”

Seras let out a breath, whether it was relief or a sigh.

“While we’re on the subject, do you need more time to think? You’re not planning to consult your parents anyway, right?”

“…….”

Kariel fell silent for a moment at the blunt question.

-Oh, this is getting interesting.

Interesting?

What on earth did that Demon King see to call it interesting….

“I suspect this body may also be involved.”

Hm? This voice….

Seras reacted sharply, straightening her back.

Hostility flowed openly from her tone.

“…For what reason has Her Highness Elhermina come to a place like this?”

“Seras. It’s not as if I’ve come to a place I’m forbidden to enter, is it?”

“Of course not. However… for you to visit in person….”

“I did not come here to leaf through booklets. To be precise, Seras, I came here to see you.”

Then, for a moment, she gazed steadily at Kariel with her blue eyes.

“Kariel. The engagement ceremony is in one month. I assume you’ve heard the news?”

“……?”

No, I haven’t.

-Wow, so this is what they call a catfight. How exciting.

What kind of reckless nonsense is that Demon King talking now….

More importantly, a catfight? A fight between cats?

-Oh, you don’t know that? Have you seriously never read a Romance Novel?

Kariel suppressed his irritation and took a calm, deep breath.

“Then I shall quietly withdraw. It seems the two of you have business.”

At that, Seras pressed close to him without warning.

“Kal. Wait. More importantly… are you really okay?”

Seras clung to him, touching his chin and carefully examining his complexion.

“…….”

And the Princess just watched this indifferently.

He didn’t know why, but Kariel suddenly felt a very strange sensation, as if he had been thrown onto thin ice.

‘Why is it so cold?’

Only after Seras realized her own unbecoming behavior and flinched back was Kariel set free.

“Then….”

“Such an attitude toward your fiancée is somewhat insincere.”

As if she had been waiting, Elhermina cut in.

“Not yet. Wouldn’t it be problematic if you were too eager?”

“Seras. This is the Academy. There is no need to use formal language with me.”

“If you say so, gladly.”

-The atmosphere is heating up!

Ignoring the crazy prattling of the insane Demon King.

Kariel left the scene.

-I’ll stay and watch a bit more! I can’t miss such a goldmine of an event!

…Let her do whatever she wants.

Kariel ground his teeth and increased his pace, almost running through the corridor.

Fearing that those two might call him back at any moment.