Chapter 38 - Vesteria Kingdom and Elite Guard [1] (2/2)

We navigated through the city of Orest, and arrived at the place where the dormitory of Thousand Blade Academy was connected.

「My dormitory is here. See you later, everyone.」

Rose came to a halt and waved goodbye.

「Aa. Goodbye, Rose.」

「Make sure to wake up on time tomorrow.」

「Take care of yourself.」

After parting with Rose, as we turned towards our dormitory – a gust of wind breezed through.

「That’s some nice wind-」

「Aa, yes.」

And when I and Ria were walking shoulder-to-shoulder together – I saw a man in noble clothing who did not seem to be from around here.

(Civilian clothes within Thousand Blade Academy huh, how unusual…)

And the very next moment,

「High King Style – Destruction!」

He closed the distance between us instantly, and unleashed a sharp slash filled with murderous intent.

「!?」

I narrowly blocked it by drawing my sword right away.

(…Guh, so strong)

Unprecedented acceleration, and this weight – he is not an average swordsman.

Moreover,『High King Style』is the same school as Ria.

「W-What are you doing all of a sudden…!?」

「You unsightly trash… Don’t get close to Ria-sama…!」

The pompous swordsman, scowled in anger.

(…Ria『sama』?)

And then,

「C-Claude!? Why are you here!?」

「Ohー, it’s been a while, Claude!」

Ria and sensei called out to the mysterious swordsman, Claude.

Sharp eyes with long slits, which were scowling at me for some reason.

Slightly long glossy black hair.

White noble clothing.

The age is probably around 15 years old.

Height is slightly shorter than me, about 165 cm.

「Uh… Ria, I would appreciate it if you could introduce me?」

「Ah, sorry. This child is Claude-Stroganoff. The Captain of the Elite Knights of Vesteria. Who should be busy with work over there, but is here somehow…」

「I see…」

I still don’t know why he attacked me, but…

He seems to be friendly.

「Ria-sama, it’s been a long time! And – what’s the meaning of this Leia! There is a worm near Ria-sama!」

(W-『Worm』…?)

We haven’t even got to know each other yet. Or rather, we haven’t even exchanged a single word, worm is a little too much…

Leia-sensei, who was severely reprimanded by Claude-san, shook her head sideways in a good grief manner.

「Don’t get so worked up, Claude. How do I say this… they both are in a special relationship.」

「S-Special relationship…!? N-No way… L-L-L-… Lovers!?」

He turned pale and quivered.

「Oh no, that’s not right. Much more than that actually. A『Master-Servant Relationship』- to put it simply, a『slave』」

As he received that shocking reveal,

「M-Master and Servant…? Slave…? ……Eh?」

He whispered as the colour in his face drained away completely.

「Se-Sensei!?」

「L-Leia!? Why did you expose it!?」

「Hahaha! There’s no point in lying, right?」

Saying that, sensei laughed sonorously.

(T-This sensei…!)

She’s completely enjoying this situation – like a criminal who takes delight in people’s reaction to his crimes.

The other party is the Captain of the Elite Guards of Vesteria.

If mine and Ria’s slave contract is known… I can’t even predict how troublesome it will be.

「R-Ria-sama… is that the truth?」

Claude-san’s last bastion – asking Ria directly.

(…This is our chance!)

If she says『no』clearly here, that will be the end of the story.

All of the sensei’s petty schemes will come to nothing!

However,

「Eh, ah, umm… U-Un…」

For some reason, she nodded while blushing.

(Un… this kind of honesty and unable to lie is the virtue of Ria.)

It’s a very good thing as a person, and I want her to be like that in the future as well.

(However… there is a separate『place and time』for that!)

Claude-san, who was confronted by a hopeless reality from Ria,

「Wh-Wha… Ria-sama, a slave…? 〜〜!」

He was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the shock, and fainted on the spot.

「C-Claude!? Hold on!」

「Hahaha! Things have turned out interesting again, Allen!」

Sensei patted my back.

(…This is bad. This is probably… the worst of them all.)

Although just in name, the princess of another country is enslaved.

That one fact is very, very heavy.

In addition to that, Ria’s father. In other words, the King of Vesteria… I heard that he is a very doting parent.

(When Claude-san regains consciousness, if I make even one wrong move…)

I’m sure it’s going to be more troublesome than ever.

(Haa… why does this keep happening to me…)

I looked up at the blue sky, exhausted and heaved a very large sigh.