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It seemed like we had taken quite a beating, so we all went downstairs to check on Orcus’s condition. Elena didn’t swing her fan with the intention to kill, and since he was protected by magic from the start, he was bound to be all right. But the scene we witnessed was so shocking that I couldn’t help but worry, even though I knew better.

Aside from the physical aspect, there were also mental concerns to think about. Fortunately, when we arrived downstairs, though he couldn’t get up yet, Orcus appeared to have regained his senses and smiled, waving at us as he saw us approaching.

“What brings you all down here? Did you come for a group outing? Is this truancy? The Department of Knights’ top students are really in hot water now.”

Orcus was as playful as ever. He joked with us, and we responded in kind.

“You got your butt kicked pretty hard. Is your face okay? No, wait—did you hit your head too hard and lose your mind? Just look at your face; it’s as green as a fish that crawled up from the sea.”

“Right? I heard the sound of you being hit from way over here. Maybe it’s best to stop talking. You should rest quietly, or your mouth will hurt even more. Just chill out, Orcus.”

“Brother! How can you just sit there and take that beating? You should’ve held up one arm and wasted time dodging! I told you to train with me when I suggested it! If it were me in that situation…”

I took my turn to tease Orcus after Noel, and while Noel’s words seemed innocent and well-meaning, they still came off as a backhanded compliment to anyone listening. Orcus, realizing that we all saw him get knocked down, covered his face with his hands.

“Ugh… were you all watching?”

We responded with nothing but smiles, making him blush and his ears turn red.

I said to Orcus, “Why are you so embarrassed? Just get up quickly; it’s disgusting to watch.”

“…Damn. Please give me a little sympathy. I got beaten up without being able to do anything.”

“What can we do about how amazing Elena is? By the way, as Noel said, you need to train harder. How does someone who can use Divine Power end up losing in close combat? You can use enhancement magic too, so if you combine that with Divine Power, it should give you a clear advantage. But losing this easily is because you didn’t train enough. And even if you sensed you were about to lose, you should’ve held on until the end. Are you just going to give up like that in a real fight?”

Hearing my words, Orcus clicked his tongue and nodded.

There were many regrets watching him, so my tone became somewhat scolding, and seeing him nod without saying anything indicated he understood he quit too soon.

To be honest, at his age, Orcus’s accomplishments were not subpar. It was just that Elena was too overpowered; Orcus was not at a level where he’d be losing to his peers.

Most of the magic he used focused on easy-to-cast projectile-type spells for ranged combat. Divine Power primarily enhanced and healed his and his allies’ physical capabilities. He wasn’t the type to fight up front directly.

In some sense, his combat style suited his position, as it would be very dangerous for the Emperor or Crown Prince to be on the front lines of battle.

Orcus’s true strengths would shine when he was not alone but leading allies or commanding troops.

His magic might not possess overwhelming offensiveness, but being able to buff and heal made him very suitable as a commander in the back line. When shielded at a distance while executing all that, it would naturally be difficult for the enemies responding.

However, Orcus was not just any commander; he was a prince. He was destined to become the Emperor of the Empire, so settling for just that would not suffice.

Of course, there would always be allies to protect him, but unexpected variables must always be considered, so he needed to be at a level where he could protect himself even if left on his own.

With so much on his shoulders, it was not an option to die so easily on the battlefield, just like moments ago. He needed to endure and survive. That way, reinforcements could come, and he could plan for the future.

Being a smart guy, he likely understood what I wanted to convey. I didn’t feel the need to elaborate on it. The light in his eyes peeking through his fingers indicated he had already steeled his resolve.

“Oh, I have so much to do…”

“Of course, the one who stands at the top has the most work to do.”

At my words, Orcus glanced between Reinhardt and me, nodding and replying.

“Well, I’ll need to put in that much effort if I plan to boss you two around. But what do you plan to do when I become Emperor? Aren’t you afraid of the future?”

“Do you really think a figure as great as an Emperor would be so petty as to take revenge for something that happened in childhood? Besides, it’s not like it’s happening yet, so it’s all good for now.”

“I’ll make sure to ascend to the throne quickly, even if it’s for my own grievance.”

“Brother! What are you saying? Our father hasn’t even officially given you the position yet. You need to hear what he has to say first!”

“Right. Who knows when His Majesty will hand over the reins? No one can tell when he decides to do it. My grandfather even said that considering His Majesty’s health, he could function for decades more.”

We all laughed at Noel and Reinhardt’s comments. Even if Orcus becoming Emperor was already certain, when it would happen was up to the Emperor himself. For now, Orcus was just a prince, so teasing him was fair game.

Orcus let out a few incredulous chuckles before standing up.

“Let’s go. Richard needs to see if he can take a hit too.”

Now that I thought about it, the practical lesson hadn’t ended yet. Elena and Richard were likely still going at it. Following Orcus’s lead, we headed towards the Practice Stage to watch Richard get hit by Elena.

*

“As long as you’re not participating and just observing the practice, that’s perfectly fine. Please make sure to take in a lot.”

The professor supervising the combat practice gladly permitted our observation. It seemed he wasn’t at all curious as to why students from the Department of Knights were here, likely because he was indifferent, not caring since it wasn’t his department.

This indifference was just fine with us.

Elena was still standing on the Practice Stage, and while Orcus and I had been chatting, it appeared she had already taken down several other students, as the stage looked quite different now. The embers from where Orcus had fought long went cold, and there were noticeable cracks and numerous scars etched into the stage, making it look like a battlefield.

Her next opponent was Richard, who looked even more nervous than Orcus had at the start. Given how Orcus had fared, it was no wonder. I decided to lighten Richard’s mood a bit by cheering him on.

“Hey!! Richard!! Why are you so on edge? If you’re a man, stand tall and walk confidently!!!”

“Uh? Damian?!”

At my voice, he jumped and turned around. Reinhardt waved beside me, and Richard stared at us in disbelief but said nothing, merely nodding slightly to indicate he understood.

“Hmm?”

I felt a prickling gaze directed at me from across Richard, and when I looked, Elena was glaring at me with a sulky expression. Maybe she didn’t like that I was cheering for Richard. Noel then asked me.

“Uh-oh. Damian. Elena’s totally pouting now. What are you going to do? Maybe cheering her on now would make her feel better?”

“It’s okay. I did it on purpose.”

“What?”

I waved at Elena as a gesture, and pulling her head away without looking made her look cute. After witnessing my smile and Elena’s reaction, Noel finally realized that I had teased her on purpose to see that side of her.

“Hehe, let’s see how well you hold up.”

Orcus looked at Richard with a sly smile, seemingly hoping that Richard would suffer more than he had. It was quite absurd that such a petty guy would one day be the Emperor… the future of the Empire seemed dim.

“I’ll head out first.”

“Join us.”

The fight between Elena and Richard unfolded in a manner completely opposite to what Orcus had hoped for. Just like with Orcus, it was Richard who initiated the attack against Elena, who countered using elemental magic of the same type as the spirit he had summoned.

Of course, to negate an attack using the same elemental magic, the caster had to have superior ability over the opponent, so Elena demonstrated the gap between her and Richard.

The battle between them was brief and concise.

Each time Richard’s attack was nullified, he summoned different elemental spirits, and Elena cast corresponding elemental magic. Ultimately, when all of Richard’s attacks were negated, he admitted defeat and quietly left the Practice Stage. Elena didn’t bother to stop him.

“Wow… that was overwhelming.”

“W-what! Why did you only do that to me?! What did I do wrong!!!”

At that, Orcus started berating me, but I shrugged it off. He just seemed like he wanted to hit someone. Just because they were romantically involved didn’t mean I could see through all of Elena’s feelings like a clear window, so I didn’t respond to Orcus’s questions.

After Richard left, a while passed without anyone else taking the stage, and I thought the class was over, but since Elena was still standing there, it was clear it wasn’t done yet.

Before long, a familiar girl climbed up onto the Practice Stage, trembling all over. She appeared to be Elena’s last opponent, and seeing her face made it clear why she looked so flustered.

“….”

“Ugh! Hnnn… Haaa…”

Elena’s final opponent was that girl who had confessed to me not long ago. She looked terrified, her eyes welling up with tears, and was trembling much more than when Richard had faced off against Elena.

Even with Elena not using her magical pressure this time, just making eye contact with her seemed to send the girl into a panic. Interestingly, she wasn’t the only one reacting that way; when the girl trembled, the students below the stage did too. Most were girls… and they all looked disheveled, likely from facing Elena before.

Ultimately, without properly engaging in a fight, the girl on the Practice Stage fainted before the class ended. The bell signaling the end of the lesson rang at a fine moment too.

I didn’t feel any pity. Thoughts crossed my mind that even if I were Elena, I would probably act similarly.

The professor had left the moment the bell rang, and Elena walked toward me, leaving the girl sprawled out on the Practice Stage behind.

Elena’s expression seemed ambiguous, perhaps because of seeing the girl, or maybe she was annoyed that I cheered for Richard. Her face was hard to read, suggesting her emotions were faintly expressed but not positive, so I decided to start by clearing up the situation regarding Richard.

“Elena, about cheering for Richard earlier…”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence before she came close and abruptly covered my mouth. Before I could do anything, she had drawn near and taken my lips—caught completely off guard. It had been long since I felt shy about a kiss, but this was all too sudden, and my head grew cluttered.

“This feels kind of different.”

Elena’s calm commentary seemed like something I hadn’t seen before. It felt mature, but I couldn’t quite express it. I had seen something similar before when she was angry last time. However, unlike then, this time there was no specific anger directed at someone, making it completely different.

Elena said that in passing and slightly turned her head to look at the other students, who were visibly overwhelmed by her presence. It was her warning to them. Thus, I realized this moment extended from what had happened in the Garden last time.

“Indeed… it’s definitely different.”

I felt like I had become a princess captured by the Demon King, and it was a strange feeling.

Not that it was bad, just…

 

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