248 Difficult Decision (1/2)

The extravagant and chaotic story met with a truly miraculous and unexpected turn of events. The sudden appearance and injection of many characters both served to shock the audience as well as push the chaotic story to its climax.

The silver-haired Demon King seemed devilish and charming, the blonde prince knight was handsome and attractive, while the green-haired magic prince had a casual air of mystery and naturalness. On the stage, these three cool-to-the-max princes simultaneously proposed marriage to the young and beautiful princess. This was something only seen in fairy tales.

Below the stage, everyone had begun shrieking and screaming. Although they didn't recognize the other two princes, everyone could clearly identify the Princess Knight, who was guest-starring in this play as the blonde prince knight. For even the respected Princess Reyne to act in this play meant that this would definitely become a hot topic of the celebration.

”I…”

Cold sweat was dripping down my back at a furious pace. My survival instinct told me that if I made the wrong decision here, I would be met with an instant death penalty.

”It was only supposed to be a play, so why am I suddenly making a life and death decision?!”

However, the laughter of a certain silly cat, which was enjoying the predicament I was in, transmitted itself to me through our soul connection.

”…Your instinct is pretty good, but you must take a closer look. This is no mere simple acting. Take a look at those girls' resolution. At the very least, you should reply to them seriously.”

At the place where Elisa was standing, mana had started spreading across on the ground like magma, transforming into extravagant red runes and a spell array.

This was no effect for the play, nor was it any useless decoration. This was a demonic contract, and even if I was the one who taught her how to use demonic contracts, the Demon Marchioness had long since surpassed me in skill at making soul contracts.

Amelia didn't use any spells, but her words themselves had the power of spells to begin with. The force of her words already told me that the moment I agreed to her proposal, it would become an eternal contract.

And, Reyne who seemed to be joining in just for the fun of it, didn't use any particular magic, but judging from how her lips were so pale and how her tiny body was trembling, this young girl had worked up all of her courage. The young princess had finally worked up her courage in front of all our citizens.

”If I choose wrong…”

”…you'll die.”

I didn't need that silly cat to remind me that I was currently at the brink of a crossroads.

However, judging by how resolute all three beauties appeared to be, I had to make a decision now. Many thoughts flashed through my mind, but some things weren't set from the very start. I took a deep breath and made up my mind.

”I…”

*Boom!*

Before I finished saying another word, a huge black shadow descended from the sky. The wings from that figure blocked all sunlight, and just the atmospheric pressure caused by the movement of its wings at such a low altitude caused the entire stage to collapse.

”My name is Deathwing, the heaven-sent destroyer, the ender of all. Nobody can stop me, and nobody can go against me.”

The huge red dragon was actually quite dexterous for its size, and flames could be seen burning in its eyes. The dragon's roar scattered the clouds, and the dragon's breath scorched the skies. Meanwhile, the red-haired knight on the dragon's back read her lines in an exaggerated tone.

”Ah, I'm Prince Kasha from the Land of the Deep Canyons. Even though this is just our first meeting, Princess Peach's beauty has instantly shattered my ice-cold heart! I shall use my power to steal away my love. Let's go, Deathwing!”

Before I could react, the huge red dragon lunged towards me and grabbed me away in its claw. All that remained behind were the astonished actors and audience.

”Ahhh! A huge dragon!”

”Princess Peach has been kidnapped!”

There was yet another miraculous unexpected turn of events in the story, but since the main actor had been mysteriously kidnapped, how was the story supposed to go on?

A strange silence filled the air for several moments, causing anxiety and unrest to spread throughout the audience. Just as they were about to explode in dissatisfaction, somebody appeared to save the day.

At the same location where Princess Peach had been kidnapped, an originally rolling on the floor and laughing black cat suddenly transformed herself into an incredibly beautiful gold elf.

”Ah, the suddenly arrived prince of darkness and huge dragon have kidnapped the beautiful princess. The three princes have decided to team up and find the divine sword that can defeat that fearsome huge dragon in order to save their future fiancée.”

After a pause, the gold elf, who had an astonishing Charisma stat, clapped her hands lightly, indicating for the curtains to be slowly closed. Her alluring smile seemed to reveal that the story still hadn't ended.

”This is the end of Princess Peach's different dimension adventure story, and I would like to thank everyone for your passionate support! We welcome everyone to pre-purchase tickets to see the next episode: 'The Three Princes Bravely Adventuring in the Life-Threatening Island!'”

”Ohhh! I'll definitely come for the next episode!”

It seemed that there was already a huge fan of this play.

”I'll come even if it isn't free next time.”

”…So only the first part was free. Such a devious method to make money. But, for the cute Princess Peach, I'll definitely come for the next part as well!”

Alright then, let's not mention any more about this audience member's motives for wanting to come to the next part. This boy adjusted his eyeglasses and had an expression that seemed to say, ”There's only one truth!”[1]1

”My prince! Could you give me an autograph?”

”Your Highness, the silver-haired prince, please look in this direction!”

”…Is there a poster for this play? I want one of the three princes! I'll buy one no matter how expensive it is!”

It would seem that the three females acting as princes now had their own loyal fans as well.

But, after the curtains blocked everything off from sight, there were two of the princes that stood right where they were, exchanging cold glances with each other.

”…Perhaps the moment he agreed, your demonic contract would take effect. You really are Roland's student; you're just like he is. As long as you achieve your goal, it doesn't matter how underhanded or lacking-limits the techniques you use are. I heard that you became Roland's girlfriend under similar circumstances, forcing him to agree under the situation without giving Roland a chance to choose at all. Are you that afraid of Roland making a choice from the bottom of his heart?”

”Oh? So, Sister Amelia is all honest and open? I won't even mention how you suddenly put yourself into my script like that. Could you explain just what you meant by using the highest level of truth magic? Besides, I'm his girlfriend, and with his personality, he had a 99% probability of choosing me. Why would you kill off your own chances like that?”

”That might not be the case. Under the power of my ability, he would be unable to say anything but the 'truth' just now. What he said could only be the choice he wanted from the bottom of his heart. Sense of responsibility, reputation, the situation, and other such factors that could influence him into making some other decision would no longer take effect, and the only thing he could say would be the truth in his heart. In that case, do you still have confidence that you would definitely win?”

”…”

Although Elisa fell silent, this was obvious evidence that she, indeed, wasn't fully confident.

The two ”princes'” conversation caused the stage workers around them to shiver in fear… so what was the third prince doing at this moment?

”He actually glared at me…”

This pitiful ”third prince” was sighing in complaint about how the ”princess” had looked at the other two princes in hesitation and in astonishment, while the expression for her had been the anger and threatening attitude that a parent would have towards a child. She was also considering just what punishment she would receive since she had angered Roland so much.

”…Brother Roland seems to be really angry. He wouldn't spank me again, would he? Ahhh, I'm so pathetic! It's so embarrassing! Why did I rush out there like that, and even say such embarrassing words out loud?”

But even if Reyne was currently hiding in a corner behind the stage, demonic temptations would always come looking at just the right time.