“Hoh. You’re approaching me.”
I glared coldly at Regina.
How dare she. How dare she approach Wolfram von Lohengrin, a member of the Imperial family?
Such rudeness. Do you think I would tolerate that?
“Neck… With those cold eyes, with those long fingers, me…”
Hoh. You’re approaching me, are you?
“Please. Me…”
…
……
Don’t come.
“Please… with those long fingers, me…”
Don’t, don’t come to me!
I tried to pull my body back, but I couldn’t.
No—rather, I walked forward.
The strangeness of trying to step back but moving forward instead.
“…【Swamp】.”
“Hehe. You know it well.”
Regina Ciela. More precisely, the Ciela family’s secret magic.
[Magic power dominates the surroundings.]
[Dominance is true power.]
[The family’s magic wields power through domination.]
[Bind everything under the name of Ciela.]
【Swamp】—
Literally, Regina Ciela scatters her overwhelming magic power of 21 throughout the surrounding area, possessing the ability to seize and control the entire space.
It seeps in, clinging and dominating.
And what’s even more frightening is 【Ciela’s Invisible Hand】, which uses formless magic power.
Truly fitting for a great merchant family—an amusing naming sense, but its nature is anything but amusing.
I can’t see it with my eyes right now, but behind Ciela there’s an invisible hand of magic power.
She’s probably using that to pull my body, and with my current state, I have no way to resist.
“Can’t you get that hand off!?”
At that moment.
The jet-black crystal intervened.
***
The black crystal cut through the swamp and erected a barrier as if blocking my path.
At the cracking, furious voice from behind me, Regina shifted her gaze past me, and I could clearly tell how enraged the owner of that voice was.
“【Black Crystal: Single Shot: Enlarge: Maximize: Defense Ignore: Guaranteed Hit—】”
Already six verses.
But Ayla didn’t stop her fury.
“【Over Drive!】”
Seven verses.
The additional effect attached was even a 6-tier ‘Magic Berserk’—meaning to surpass her own limits and ensure a guaranteed hit.
“…Triasta. Lady.”
“How dare you, how dare you, how dare you…!”
“So you’re thinking of firing that? To start a conflict between Ciela and Triasta?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t?”
“……”
【Black Crystal】—Ayla, standing behind me, aimed it toward Regina in front of me.
Naturally, with my body controlled by 【Swamp】, I couldn’t see Ayla’s face.
However, I could see Regina’s face in front of me.
Regina was being overwhelmed in presence.
Her magic power was overwhelmingly higher, but the two had different wills.
“……”
“Hurry and release that magic power. Or I’ll fire.”
It was a cold remark I couldn’t imagine from the Ayla I knew until now.
I could tell just from her voice.
It was neither bluff nor exaggeration.
If Regina didn’t release this swamp, Ayla would fire. She spoke only that fact.
And immediately after. 【Swamp】 was released.
Regina squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head deeply to me.
“…Wolfram Imperial Prince, I have committed an indiscretion.”
“This matter will be officially protested to the Ciela family through the Imperial Court.”
“…Ugh.”
Using magic power to restrain the Imperial grandson.
That is an unforgivable crime in this Zefflin, and moreover, in Lohengrin.
The Ciela family will likely take a hit.
That is the weight the Imperial bloodline carries for humanity, and for the Empire that encompasses the entire world.
Ever since the First Emperor Hark von Lohengrin invaded the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm, secured human rights, and obtained a mutual non-aggression pact, Lohengrin has been humanity’s ruler and protector.
No matter how trashy Wolfram’s status is, threatening his person is a serious crime.
Regina Ciela.
This time, she crossed the line too far.
Even I, who usually let things slide, have no intention of laughing this off.
“…Understood. I will accept it.”
Of course, the entire Ciela family wouldn’t collapse, but it was that severe a matter.
Everyone around was speechless.
At this moment, there were countless spectators in this place, but none dared to speak up.
Triasta. Ciela. And Lohengrin.
No one present was bold enough to open their mouth in a conflict between these three houses.
“…Then I shall take my leave. May you stay well.”
Regina bit her lips tightly and bowed her head deeply.
And as Regina tried to step back, Ayla grabbed her and stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“…Huh? The Ciela family has said they will accept the crime of daring to threaten Lohengrin. Before making an even bigger mistake… I’m grateful to you, Lady Triasta, for stopping me.”
“That’s only the story of the Ciela family that dared to threaten Lohengrin, and the Triasta family that protected against it.”
“…And?”
“Family doesn’t matter. A threat was made to my fiancé, Wolfram! And I, Ayla, have not forgiven you, Regina!”
“………Huh?”
Ayla stepped in front, blocking between me and Regina.
In that brief moment she passed by, I saw Ayla’s eyes.
And there, I saw the Ayla I remembered.
The newbie cutter. The most vicious, worst boss of the early game. The eyes of 【Ayla Triasta, Lady of Rebellion】.
“I never liked you from the start. Since it’s come to this, I’ll put an end to it completely so you never pull such nonsense again.”
“……Then what do you intend to do? Are you saying you’ll expel me?”
……
A sense of deja vu struck me.
Act 3.
Yes. It’s Act 3.
Ayla Triasta raised her banner against Eve von Lohengrin.
As a result, the Triasta family was cornered, and Ayla Triasta’s end was decorated by Regina Ciela. As a result, Ayla was expelled.
Now, Regina Ciela has committed a crime against Wolfram von Lohengrin.
What follows is easy to guess.
…The Ciela family will be cornered. And using this situation, Ayla Triasta could easily expel Regina Ciela.
Act 3, with their positions reversed.
Is this how Regina Ciela ends?
…It could happen.
If Ayla fully hardens that resolve, it’s possible.
She protected me, and if she testifies to Regina’s threat on the spot, she has enough influence to do so.
The spectators here are merely speechless. ‘All elite magic department students well-versed in politics.’
Above all, I just invoked the name of Lohengrin.
And the name Triasta is by no means inferior to Ciela.
Triasta, backed by the Imperial name. The scales have already tipped.
With just a little public opinion, Regina will… be finished.
“Expel?”
Ayla’s calm response came to Regina’s question of whether she would expel her.
Ayla was cool-headed, and Regina’s eyes began to tremble endlessly.
And Ayla delivered her final judgment.
“Do you think I, Ayla Triasta, would do something so petty?”
“…Huh?”
“I’m saying I can’t stand you relying on that paltry magic power of 21 and acting like a lunatic.”
“…Wha, what?”
Ayla extended her index finger and pointed at Regina.
Her voice was completely different from just a moment ago.
Not the icy-cold Act 3 boss Ayla Triasta I remembered.
It was filled with passion, like the rebellion-babbling Ayla I’d grown accustomed to.
“In the final exams, there’s a sparring match, isn’t there? I’ll completely crush you then! Get beaten by my rebellion and behave like a dog with its tail between its legs!”
“……Ha.”
“Will you accept the match? Class Vice-President!”
“I have no authority to refuse. I accept. …Class President.”
“Good. Then you may go!”
“……Stay well.”
And so Regina retreated in a hurry, while Ayla put both hands on her hips and snorted.
“Phew. Good. Now, in the final exams, I’ll make that withered elf get on her knees and say ‘I’m sorry. I was reckless, relying only on my paltry magic power.’ Hmph. Now I’ll become the top of the class in both written and practical exams. A perfect rebellion!”
Ayla muttered something to herself.
“Ayla.”
“Wolfram. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine.”
“Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness.”
“……Why did you challenge Regina Ciela to a duel? As she said, you could have had her expelled.”
“Do we really need to go as far as expulsion?”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Just teach her a lesson so she never dares to defy us again. …Expulsion is too harsh a punishment, don’t you think?”
“Hah.”
A laugh escaped me involuntarily.
In the original story… Regina would have mercilessly declared Ayla’s ruin.
But the Ayla of this Zefflin, now that I’m here… did not wish for Regina’s ruin.
“People make mistakes. They just need to be thoroughly scolded and reflect on it.”
“……I see.”
Innocent and upright eyes.
A straight back.
Footsteps that look only forward.
“So, do you have a secret plan to beat Regina Ciela? As you know, magic power 13 can beat 15, but when you get to 19 and 21, it’s a different story.”
“Oh my, I’m not alone, am I?”
“……”
“Wolfram. You’re here with me—so what’s there to worry about?”
Saying that, Ayla smiled brightly and looked at me.
I see.
Even if it’s hard alone, together, surely…
“If we’re together, we can overcome magic power 21, can’t we?”
Yes. Together, surely…
“No. That doesn’t exist.”
“………………Huh?”
Surely, my foot.
Where would such a thing be.
—
Returning to the convenience store, I reviewed what had happened today.
“Brother. What are you doing?”
“I have something to think about for a moment. Spica, are you on guard duty again today?”
“Yes! Hehe. Just leave it to me! I, Spica Triasta, will protect you!”
“…Hm. I see.”
Saying that, Spica’s bright smile reminded me of Ayla.
This world right now is not Boss Ayla, nor the ruthless War Mage Spica.
…
……
Ah, honestly, I really didn’t want to accept this, but the reason Regina snapped wasn’t just because she’s naturally completely unhinged—the Secret Lovely Potion might have played a part too.
So she was always a messed-up girl, but her being completely messed up today… in a way, that’s partly my fault too. Because of that, Ayla went berserk… hmm. So this duel isn’t entirely unrelated to my responsibility.
“Brother is fragile… Even though you’re an adult, you’re weak… Hehe. I have to protect you.”
“……”
Spica mutters something and stares at me intently.
That’s probably… because of the Secret Lovely Potion too.
Ignoring Spica’s heated breath and gaze, I immersed myself in thought again.
The difference between magic power 19 and 21 is despairing. The number 2 is by no means something that can be bridged.
In fact, even if Ayla had used her full power to strike down with her black crystal right there, if Regina had defended with her full power… there would have been almost no damage.
If only Ayla’s magic power were 20, or Regina’s were 20, it would have been a different story.
20 and 21 are not completely impossible if there’s luck and opportunity.
In other words, what’s needed to somehow bring this fight to a ‘doable’ level is… magic power 1.
And in my head, of course, I know a way to raise magic power by 1.
“…Tch.”
Ayla was angry not over family entanglements, but purely for my sake.
She thought that if I were there, we could bring down Regina.
Then… I should repay that trust.
“I didn’t want to get entangled, but…”
A hidden heroine.
And the heroine who produces the most bad endings.
“Phitia Bluebreeze.”
Race.
Blue Dragon.
