The Elemental Sword Demon King
Episode 212: The Disappearance of the Imperial Princess
POV: Kirigaya Kaizo
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"Geez, what a rotten fortune."
After suffering from Aura's frozen treatment, Kaizo prepares to return to the tent.
"Eh?"
Coincidentally, she happened to see Victoria out of the woods. His hair was styled into a ponytail, standing upright like a blaze. Behind him, Salamander was chasing after his master as if trying to keep his master's mood in check.
(Well, the fact that his mood is bad is quite easy to understand.)
Smiling wryly, Kaizo approached Victoria and patted her on the shoulder, "Hey, Victoria."
"Life, Ka-Kaizo!?" Turning her head back in response, Victoria blushed and shouted as soon as she saw Kaizo's face. "W-what? Stop scaring me!"
"Whatchu mean? It's just a regular greeting."
"Secretly, I-I don't feel like that about you!" Blushed in her ear, Victoria suddenly turned her face away.
(What's going on?)
Although Kaizo is not sure what is going on with her, Victoria acting strangely is nothing new that should surprise Kaizo.
“How is Tiana's condition?”
"Hmph, how do I know? That perverted daughter or whatever."
"Are you fighting again?"
Victoria pouted, her face still looking away, and Kaizo sighed helplessly.
(Already I suspect, the quarrel of these two girls is not new either.)
The two continued to walk side by side for a while.
"Hey, Kaizo?" Victoria suddenly spoke up.
"What?"
"This morning when we engaged «Four Dewa» in a sword fight, you used his sword skill again, right?"
"What, are you repeating the same topic from yesterday again?"
Despite his shock and shock, Kaizo continues to retaliate defiantly.
(Obviously the suspicion hasn't gone away completely.)
"I'm not talking about that. Otherwise, we'll end up arguing again."
"Nothing serious either." Kaizo replied calmly.
"Looking at what happened during that sword style, made me wonder. Could we have become your beaver? Maybe you can perform to your fullest ability if you fight alone, like Rei Assar, the «Strongest Sword Style Holders» three years ago. Things like that."
Victoria's eyes are serious. Kaizo didn't know exactly why he was asking this. Most likely, it was a topic raised during his quarrel with Tiana just now. Yesterday, Tiana also suffered from the same problem.
"I'm..."
Just as he was about to say something, Kaizo hesitated. What he needed to say were not words of comfort. Therefore, he had to consider carefully before he said any words to say.
(My past self will definitely give a different answer compared to now.)
In the past, Kaizo undoubtedly pursued power as an individual. At the time, he thought of it as a logical thing. After all, having people who needed protection would cause one to become weak.
Only by eliminating the need to protect anyone or anything, someone brave enough to give up his own life became the most powerful. That's what was taught in that crazy facility. But everything is different now.
(It is precisely because of my friends who fight by my side that I can become this strong.)
This was something he discovered for the first time only after enrolling in the Academy and meeting Victoria and the girls. Even the dark spirit that had taught Kaizo everything he knew did not manage to accomplish this.
Raising his bowed head, Kaizo spoke up, "The existence of my teammates has made me stronger. This is my whole power now. If I were alone, I would definitely not be able to defeat that «Nephesis Loran»."
This was not a lie or humility but his sincere feelings.
"Kaizo's..." Victoria clenched her fists tightly in front of her chest.
Her bright clear eyes, resembling rubies without gaps, looked somewhat wet. Apparently, he was thinking of something in his head.
"It's kind of embarrassing, you know."
"Y-yes."
I don't know who started it, but they both started avoiding eye contact.
"But anyway, thank you."
"Secondly, or you turn into charcoal!"
With little temptation, Victoria returned to her former form.
(Oh yeah, that's how it should be.) Kaizo smiled wryly at herself.
Suddenly, Eve arrives from the air via magic «Flight» and asks, "Hmm, what are you two doing there!?"
Landing on the ground with a thud, he quickly thrust his sword towards Kaizo's neck and said, "Kaizo, what kind of outrageous act are you doing again?"
"What are you talking about? I've never done anything like that!"
"I-that's right. Indecency, such a thing is not done!"
"What, to think you'd mention indecency?"
“Victoria, saying such a thing while blushing will only cause misunderstanding!”
Hearing Kaizo's cynical comments, Victoria awkwardly turned away from Eve.
"By the way, Eve, did something happen while you were patrolling?"
Kaizo didn't think a serious and hardworking knight captain would just put his duties aside.
(Something must have happened.)
"Ah yes, just now the wind spirit reported."
Eve turned to a serious expression and waved to summon a petite spirit to serve her. It was a translucent spirit shaped like a butterfly.
"His cup, Her Royal Highness the Imperial Princess has come out of «Pengbarang»."
"Tiana?"
"What did you say!?"
Kaizo and Victoria screamed in shock at the same time. The forest at night is very dangerous. Tiana must know that well.
"Why did this happen?"
In the middle of her question, Victoria suddenly opened her eyes wide and muttered, "Could it be because she fought with me?"
"No, Tiana wouldn't act like that. Not that she's you, Victoria."
"W-what the fuck!?"
Kaizo decides to ignore Victoria's sneer.
"But what happened? Entering the forest alone is really dangerous."
"But there's one more thing. It turns out he didn't go alone."
"Huh?"
"His wife, Her Imperial Princess Royal Highness went to the forest, at night with Kaizo."
This statement led to a long silence.
"Huh?"
Eve stared intently at Kaizo as she shouted, "As I said, Her Imperial Highness Princess is with Kaizo!"
"Kaizo, you-you?"
Victoria's crimson hair blazes like a big fire. Kaizo felt there was some kind of strange misunderstanding, or rather, he had been framed.
"Tu-wait a minute, don't you think this is too weird!?" Kaizo frantically protested. "From earlier I helped Aura wash the dishes."
"Hmm, that's right after you say it. I just parted with Tiana a moment ago."
"Then Kaizo who saw the wind spirit was..."
Realizing the peculiarity of the situation, the two girls were confused with their heads tilted.
"Say, if this is true, then this is a very serious situation, right?"
"Indeed, this is even worse than if he went alone."
"If he was alone, then it was certain that he couldn't fight back the moment someone walked into the barrier."
...
*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.