The Elemental Sword Demon King
Episode 197: Imperial Princess Secrets
"But I'm obviously not playing around."
"Hmm?"
"It's okay, okay." The imperial princess turned her gaze away as if displeased. Although Kaizo doesn't know why he's angry.
"But anyway, this is really a beautiful place." Gazing at the sunlight pouring in from among the branches that served as the ceiling, Kaizo gave his opinion.
It's pretty quiet. In a place like this, he should be able to concentrate and meditate alone. At this moment, Kaizo's gaze suddenly fell on the branch that covered the area.
(Cracked and broken? No, it's cut by a sharp knife!)
If they are pruned, it is done too haphazardly. It felt like someone was swinging a sword and hitting a branch by accident.
(Also, these footprints are.) Kaizo once again turned his gaze to the ground.
There were signs that the grass had been trampled violently. Unless there is heavy activity taking place in this place, such a path should not be left in the grass.
"Tiana, what were you doing here until just now?" A little suspicious, Kaizo asked.
"Of course I'm practicing kissing with you, Kaizo♪" Tiana replied instantly.
There was no response from Kaizo.
"Seriously, Kaizo, don't make me say something so embarrassing." The imperial princess reprimanded.
"Then actually?" Coughing lightly, Kaizo asked again.
"You're very dense all the time, but only in this area are you really sharp." Tiana sighed as if she had given up on fighting back.
"Say, can you keep this a secret from Victoria?"
"Ah yes, I know."
Seeing Kaizo nod, Tiana sat down beside him and told him, "I'm here, receiving sword training from «Deus El Machina»."
"Sword?" In response to Tiana's quiet confession, Kaizo asked. In «Tim Salamander», Tiana's role lies in support through ritual prayer.
Based on this premise, getting him to use a sword in battle should almost never happen. Moreover, he also had no idea in combat training, having never trained as a Spirit Contractor in the Academy.
"Of course, this is not an official practice, but I only learned some swordsmanship for self-defense. At the very least, I wish I could protect myself."
"Why are you suddenly thinking about this? Even swordsmanship and martial arts cannot be learned overnight."
"I know, but..." Tiana bit her lower lip hard. It was an expression that lost its usual calm, full of despair.
"I can't stand it. For me to always be protected and to be a burden to others."
"Tiana, you support the team very well. The only reason we defeated Nephesis Loran was thanks to your perfectly constructed protector."
"All the praise lies in Karmila's efforts. I didn't make a difference at all." Tiana shook her head and said, "at that time, even if I join the frontline, I will become a burden. And it's clear Victoria and the others can support you very well."
(She seems to lack confidence. The fight against Nephesis Loran seemed to be the trigger. Most likely it was an idea that had entered Tiana's mind long ago.)
"I never thought of you as a burden, Tiana." Kaizo said while looking directly at Tiana's face, "Victoria, Eve, and Aura are the same. Everyone believes in you."
"Kaizo?"
Decorated by adorable eyelashes, her twilight-colored eyes slightly fluttered and muttered, "Thank you for comforting me."
"It's not comforting, I'm just telling you the truth." Kaizo timidly turned her eyes away.
"Fufuu, Kaizo is tsundere♪" The usual naughty smile that appeared on Tiana's face reappeared as she quietly stood up.
"It's almost time to go back, otherwise Victoria and the girls will be worried."
"Victoria already knows we're together. There's nothing to worry about."
"God, I'm not talking about such worries."
****
POV: The Victoria Blade
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"What the fuck, Kaizo really brengs*k. I don't care about him!"
Meanwhile, Victoria was sitting with her knees in front of her chest, throwing pebbles into the river. Behind him, Salamander paced around as if worrying about his master.
"Kaizo is mine!"
Water splashed in the distance. At this moment, the sound of someone stepping on the sandy soil could be heard.
"Vi-Victoria, what are you doing? You look so moody."
"Eve?"
The one who spoke to Victoria was Eve. Although their relationship was originally like a natural enemy in the Academy, it had developed enough after they became teammates that they could now discuss things.
In addition, Salamander frantically disappeared once Eve was seen.
"Has Her Majesty the imperial princess been found?"
Throwing a larger stone, Victoria patted her skirt, stood up and replied, "Yes. He's probably making out with Kaizo right now!"
"Hm. What are you talking about? What's going on?" Eve's eyebrows lifted.
Seeing that, Victoria told him what had just happened in the forest. Hearing Victoria's explanation, Eve showed a serious expression and nodded, "So. Kaizo was taken away by Her Majesty the imperial princess."
As an additional note, the reason why she had always referred to Tiana as Her Imperial Princess Royal Highness even though they were teammates, was, it was because he came from a knight family that served the Eldant imperial family from generation to generation.
"By the way about that," Eve put her chin in her hand and muttered softly, “So Victoria, you noticed it too. Sword skill used by Kaizo.”
"Yes. Although Kaizo said she didn't know him, and it was just a coincidence that they both learned the same swordsmanship from Principal Aidenwyth."
“Really? Since Kaizo said so, then maybe it is.”
"But somehow I kept feeling he was hiding something, about Rei Assar." Victoria frowned, immersed in agonizing thoughts.
(If it has nothing to do with it at all, Kaizo's attitude is too suspicious. Come to think of it.).
Suddenly, Tiana's words came to Victoria's mind. 'For example, Kaizo is Rei Assar himself or something?'
(No way, right?) Victoria shook her head.
(They only used the same sword skill. That idea is ridiculous. Rei Assar was the person I idolized, that kind of thing should have happened, but somehow, I couldn't calm my mind.)
From the beginning, Victoria's intuition was always very sharp. Now the turmoil in his heart felt similar to that feeling. Or perhaps, at least in the realm of intuition, Victoria inherited the same character her older sister had as «Ratu».
"Kaizo said, 'I am not an acquaintance of Rei Assar.' But pondering this deeper, he did not say that he was not Rei Assar himself." Victoria voiced her sudden idea.
"What are you talking about?" Eve shrugged her shoulders in despair.
"What, I'm just saying it's possible, that's all!"
"How is it possible? Besides, three years ago, wasn't Rei Assar a beautiful young girl? Purely in terms of probability, I think it's more believable that the masked Spirit Contractor you mentioned from «Inferno» Team is the one."
"That girl is really a con artist disguised as Rei Assar. The real Rei Assar was not a person like him!"
...
*Connected.....
*Note: This story is fictitious. If there is a similarity in the name of the character, the scene, or the story, it is a mere coincidence and there is no element of intentionality.