Kaze no Kishihime volume 1

Prologue

The girl was running.

She looked to be about ten years old. Her vivid peach-colored hair swayed beside a face as cute as a porcelain doll.

Ahead of her, she spotted another girl, about two years older, running in front.

“Wait! Big Sister, wait!”

“Hurry up, Karin! This way!”

After running for a while, the surrounding grassland disappeared, replaced by a sheer cliff. It was a massive crater known throughout the region as the “Dragon’s Footprint.” Some said it had been formed in ancient times by a meteor falling from the sky; others claimed it was the birthplace of a primordial dragon. Why such a beautiful crater existed, no one knew. All that was certain was that, right in the middle of the plains, there lay a hollow as if a giant dragon had stepped there.

The crater had a diameter of roughly three hundred mails and a depth of about two hundred. Its walls were almost perfectly vertical, dropping straight down. If you leaned over the edge and looked below, the light would already fade after a few dozen mails—beyond that lay unfathomable darkness. Staring into it gave the impression that the hole extended endlessly into the depths of the earth.

Their parents had strictly forbidden them from coming near this place. But the sisters’ curiosity was impossible to suppress, and so they had secretly come here anyway.

“Hey, Karin! Look at that.”

The older sister pointed toward the crater wall. In a spot where the light barely reached, a single beautiful flower glowed faintly blue.

“What a pretty flower!”

Karin exclaimed, while her sister smiled with a hint of mischief.

“Right? So, Karin… I have a little wish.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to go pick that flower for me.”

“Whaaaat?! No way! It’s way too far!”

The flower was at least twenty mails away. Climbing down a nearly vertical cliff just to pick it was obviously impossible.

Even as Karin protested, her sister remained completely unfazed.

“It’s fine. Karin, didn’t you just learn Float recently?”

That was true.

Karin was born into a family of mages—nobles who could wield the miraculous power granted by the gods: magic. Magic was primarily divided into four systems:

Fire, water, wind, and earth.

Among them, Karin had awakened and inclined to the wind aspect at a very young age.

Just recently, she had even learned Float, a spell her sister still couldn’t use. It was something that had made their parents very happy.

Float was a spell that freed the caster from the pull of gravity, allowing them to hover in midair.

But…

Karin hesitated.

Seeing this, her sister snapped at her.

“Seriously, Karin, you’re such a coward! Why are you always so timid?”

It was true.

Karin was more timid than most people. Despite having the talent to learn a spell like Float at just ten years old, she was extremely easily frightened. Even now, if a window was left slightly open at night, she would get scared. And whenever she saw the narrow gap between a wall and a piece of furniture, she would worry something might be hiding there—she wouldn’t even dare go near it.

“You can float so well already, right? Grabbing a flower like that should be nothing! Honestly, you’re such a scaredy-cat!”

Being called a coward again and again made Karin angry. If one more trait were to be added to her personality…

Competitive. That would be it.

A timid yet competitive girl.

That was Karin.

“I-I’m not a coward!”

“Oh really? Then go get it.”

Her sister said it with an innocent smile, but Karin felt that if she backed down now, she’d be made a fool of. Steeling herself, she gripped her small wand and began to chant.

“Vor… Sol… Wind…”

And then, her body lifted into the air.

Adjusting her altitude with small movements of her wand, the vast abyss opened up before her.

Her legs instinctively trembled.

The crater looked as if it led straight to hell. A primal fear of the darkness, along with the simple truth that if she fell, she would die, shook Karin to her core.

“What’s wrong? Getting scared already?”

It’s fine. I’m good at magic.

As long as I don’t look down into the pit… if I just focus on the wall, I can definitely do this…

Telling herself that, Karin leapt into the crater. Reducing the effect of Float, her body slowly began to descend.

With her left hand pressed against the wall, she carefully moved closer to the flower…

“Amazing, amazing! You can do it!”

Her sister’s voice echoed from above.

Karin did her best not to look down, descending little by little. She focused only on the wall and the flower…

But at the very moment she reached out her hand, she glanced downward.

“Eek.”

Beneath her feet was an abyss of darkness.

A world of pure, absolute black.

That darkness seized Karin’s heart. In an instant, her concentration shattered, and the spell broke.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Her body suddenly grew heavy.

It was nothing short of luck that she managed to grab onto a protruding rock.

Her wand slipped from her right hand and vanished into the darkness below. Without a wand, mages like her couldn’t cast spells.

She will die.

Karin clung desperately to the wall.

“Karin! Karin!”

Her sister’s desperate cries rang through the air. But there was no way her small hands could support her weight forever—her strength would soon give out.

Why… am I such a coward…

I have talent for magic… and yet I can’t even do something this simple…

Karin cursed her own fear. All it took was a moment of hesitation, and she had lost her focus…

The last of her strength slipped away.

Her body fell from the wall.

Karin shut her eyes tight.

I’m going to die.

Despair, as deep as the darkness itself, crushed her heart.

And in that instant…

Someone grabbed her hand.

“…Huh?”

Her falling body came to a stop, suspended in midair.

“Don’t move.”

A strangely gentle voice reached her ears, and Karin slowly opened her eyes.

A knight was firmly holding her left hand. The lower half of their face was hidden behind an iron mask, and above it, a pair of narrow eyes gleamed.

It was impossible to tell whether they were male or female, but they were clearly young.

In their right hand, a military wand glimmered in the sunlight.

“Hold on tight.”

The knight lightly waved the wand, and both of them began to rise.

After being brought back outside, Karin and her sister bowed again and again to the knight.

“Good thing I happened to pass by… You should really be more careful with reckless adventures like this.”

With that, as if nothing had happened, the knight mounted a massive phantom beast. It had the head of a lion and the wings of an eagle—a manticore. It seems like the knight had spotted Karin’s danger from the sky and rushed to save her.

Just as the knight was about to depart, Karin called out.

“Um! Please come to our home! Let us properly thank—”

“No need for thanks. I simply did what a knight ought to do.”

“Then at least… please tell me your name!”

Beneath the mask, the knight seemed to smile. Their eyes softened slightly.

“There’s no name worth giving. Farewell.”

But Karin called out once more.

“W-wait! Then at least—please tell me one thing!”

“What is it?”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Her sister, who until now had stood silently with an awkward expression, finally snapped.

“That’s so rude, Karin!”

Even so, Karin refused to stop. She clung stubbornly to the knight—her savior—and pressed on.

“Aren’t you scared? Seeing… seeing such deep darkness! Don’t you worry about what would happen if you fell? Don’t you feel afraid at all?”

The knight took Karin’s right index finger. Then… after chanting a brief spell, they held that finger tightly.

A warmth spread through her fingertip.

“What is this…?”

She looked at it uneasily, but there was no visible change.

“I’ve placed a spell on your finger.”

“A spell?”

“Yes. A spell to give you courage. When you’re so scared you can’t bear it, use that finger I just enchanted to write the word ‘courage’ on your left palm. Then, like this—lick it.”

Karin tried doing it once.

“Does your chest feel warm?”

And strangely, her chest really did begin to feel warm…

Karin nodded in a surprise.

“That’s all you need. Whenever you feel afraid, just do what I told you.”

The knight looked at Karin for a moment, then suddenly kicked the manticore lightly in the belly. Carrying its master, the phantom beast soared into the sky.

Even after the knight disappeared into the distant horizon, Karin kept staring into the sky.

Her sister called out to her several times.

“Hey, Karin, let’s go home already.”

But it was as if the words never reached her. In a daze, almost like she was dreaming, Karin murmured:

“I’m going to become a knight.”

“What are you saying? That’s ridiculous—girls can’t become knights!” her sister laughed.

Karin looked at her index finger. Even now, the tip still held a faint warmth. Staring at it, she thought:

I’ve found my destiny.

!(Prologue on the main page was translated by the Silvered Tongue group and leads to their external website. In the full text, it's my translation)!

Chapter 1 — Karin goes to the Capital

When the youth dressed as a knight passed through the capital’s gates, people along the street let out murmurs of admiration.

They looked about fourteen or fifteen. A cheap-looking blue coat, a white shirt with overly decorative frills, outdated knee-length riding pants, and a pair of faded black boots.

Only the wand hanging at the waist shone brightly, but even its design could hardly be called high-class. Still, it had clearly been used for a long time; the countless scratches carved into it offered a glimpse of the many battles it had seen.

Every single piece of clothing was out of fashion. In the capital, such a rustic outfit should have invited ridicule.

And yet, not a single person laughed.

What kind of face could someone wearing such clothes possibly have?

The moment people caught a glimpse, any thought of mockery vanished instantly.

Vivid peach-colored hair, and a face that shone with youth, could only be described as beautiful. Together they gave this young noble an air of overwhelming elegance and nobility.

And then… what drew the most attention of all was the question of this poorly dressed noble’s gender.

Yes, the face was undeniably beautiful, almost the embodiment of beauty itself. If dressed in formal attire and taught proper etiquette, they would surely feel no shame attending any ball or banquet.

But the outfit, no matter how one looked at it, was that of a man.

At the same time, they could also be mistaken for a beautiful girl in men’s clothing… yet the lingering elegance of the face made it impossible to tell—

Was this a beautiful girl? Or a beautiful boy?

That ambiguity only deepened the strange aura surrounding the figure. A mysterious charm radiated from their entire being, drawing in everyone who looked, and at the center of it all were those slightly upturned eyes. Light brown eyes, filled with unwavering will, shimmered under the twin moons like a glistening spring, asserting their presence. They transformed the impression of this small noble into something striking and intense.

But most importantly, though... The chest was perfectly flat. Completely devoid of the two gentle curves one would expect of a woman.

Thus, the passersby whispered among themselves, unable to decide whether this almost unreal, beautiful and dignified young noble was male or female.

If one were to reveal the answer plainly—

This noble was a girl.

Beneath that worn-out knight’s attire was the slender body of a fifteen-year-old.

Her name was Karin Désirée de Maillart.

However, she could not give that name. So she shortened its pronunciation and made it more masculine “Karin.” Because she absolutely could not let anyone realize that she was a girl.

So why did Karin come to the capital dressed like this?

Of course.

She has a dream.

Ever since that day… when she was saved by a passing knight in her hometown, that dream had quietly taken root within her.

“To become a knight.”

And if she was going to do it, then she would become the greatest knight in the country…

When speaking of the finest knights in this nation, there was only one answer: the Royal Guard’s Magic Knight Corps, entrusted with the honorable duty of protecting the king.

Every young noble admired that black cloak, the prestigious Magic Knight Corps. But as a woman, even stepping through the gates of knighthood was forbidden.

And so, Karin disguised her girl’s body in male attire and came to this city.

Of course, her family was against it.

But in the end, they were overwhelmed by Karin’s determination and reluctantly allowed her to leave.

With forty common gold coins given by her parents, and only a small amount of luggage, the young noble girl set out for the capital.

Before her departure, her father—himself a poor noble—had spoken in a voice that sounded almost resigned:

“Among my children, you’re the only one who would seriously say you want to become a knight, so I have no choice but to accept your journey. But Karin, you are trying to become a knight as a woman. You must be prepared to endure hardships far greater than those faced by men. Of course, you have excellent aptitude and great talent for magic, but that alone will not be enough. What you need to succeed is not just talent in magic. More than anything, you need courage. Listen well, my daughter. It’s fine to be stingy with money… knights and money are incompatible, so that can’t be helped! But listen carefully—courage is the one thing you must never be stingy with. No matter what happens, no matter who you face, you must never take a single step back. Well… unless your opponent is His Majesty the King or the Captain of the Guard, that is… but still, you carry the name of House de Maillart. You must never be timid or shrink away. No matter what, you must always muster your courage! Courage! You do have a timid side, and that worries me…”

Only then did her father realize he got carried away, and he looked slightly embarrassed.

“And one more thing, you must conceal the fact that you are a woman at all costs. Until you achieve some degree of success, you must never let it be known. These days, female knights are no longer unheard of, but as you know, the Royal Magic Knight Corps, which prides itself on tradition and honor, does not permit women to join. If that were to be exposed, you wouldn’t simply be expelled. You must always keep this firmly in mind.”

Holding those words in her heart, Karin set out for the capital.

She hated her timid self. She could not forgive herself for having talent in magic, yet trembling and faltering at crucial moments. That was why Karin longed for something different.

That knight who saved her that day…

She wanted to become a knight like that, and beyond that, to become someone worthy of being called a hero.

That was Karin’s one great dream.

The capital, which she was seeing for the first time, was full of noise and life.

Though the crowds initially made Karin shrink back, she soon grew accustomed to them.

Stalls lined both sides of the street, each one tempting her to stop and take a look, but she quickly regained her composure.

“No matter what, I need to go see Lord Dragignian of the Magic Knight Corps first…”

But where exactly was she supposed to find this Lord Dragignian?

Though reluctant, her father must have felt guilty about sending his daughter off empty-handed. Before she left, he told her: if she wished to join the Magic Knight Corps, she should visit his old friend, Lord Dragignian, and he gave her a letter.

She took the letter out from her chest. It seemed to be double-layered; the seal had not been waxed. Inside was an envelope addressed to “Lord Dragignian,” along with a slip of paper bearing an address.

“Fusoviar Street, District Three, Jeviel Dragignian.”

After asking a passerby, she learned that Fusoviar Street was some distance away. She followed the directions she had been given, but the capital’s maze of narrow, tangled streets quickly caused the countryside-raised Karin to lose her way.

Where… am I?

Glancing around as she hurried forward, Karin failed to notice the large man approaching from ahead.

The man, for his part, was loudly chatting with his companions while gnawing on a piece of bone-in chicken and didn’t notice Karin either.

The two collided violently in the middle of the street.

Naturally, the one who was sent flying was Karin, whose body weighed barely a third of the man’s.

The giant didn’t budge at all. Looking down at Karin sprawled on the ground, he burst into laughter.

“Wahaha! What’s the matter, kid? If you don’t watch where you’re going, you’re gonna get hurt!”

Still laughing loudly, he turned as if to leave.

For most people, being mocked like that by such a hulking man would crush any thought of protest. Karin was no exception. Her innate timidity stirred, and she couldn’t help but begin to tremble.

But at that moment, her father’s words flashed through her mind.

No matter what, you must have courage!”

That’s right. She had only just arrived, so there was no way she could let herself be looked down on already.

A coward could never become a knight, Karin!

Karin immediately glared at the man and shouted:

“Y-you knock someone over and just try to walk away like nothing happened?!”

The large man stopped instantly and turned around.

His body was packed with muscles, like a warrior from ancient arenas. A massive jaw that looked like it could crush bone, paired with slicked-back blond hair and a head as rough and solid as stone…His wrist might well have been as thick as Karin’s waist. If not for the wand at his side, he would have looked more like a swordsman or a spearman.

“What? If you’ve got something to say, then say it.”

The townspeople watching from a distance couldn’t help but shiver. Complaining to a brute like that, this young noble must be an idiot.

No one present thought Karin was a “girl.” With her flat chest and masculine clothing, they all simply saw her as an unusually beautiful boy.

“Someone as big as you should walk at the side of the road so you’re not in the way.”

At this point, there was no backing down. Even as she tried to steady her trembling body, Karin forced the words out.

The large man, on the other hand, broke into a nasty grin.

“Someone like me—a hero—belongs right in the middle of the road. You, on the other hand, should scurry along the edges like a rat… unless you want to get crushed.”

Karin, forced herself to keep complaining, with a cold sweat running down her back.

“Don’t be ridiculous… the one who’ll get crushed is you.”

The large man’s expression changed. But in the very next moment, it twisted into a smug grin.

A beautifully dressed young noble girl happened to pass by. She looked like the daughter of some aristocratic house, as she was accompanied by several attendants.

In an instant, the large man suddenly dropped to his knees at her feet.

“Eek!”

“Please! allow me to serve you!”

“What is going on?!” The attendants of the noble girl immediately fell into an uproar. But as if none of it mattered, the man continued rubbing his head against her feet.

“I became a knight for the sake of serving a beautiful young lady like you! Please, please, let me become one of your attendants!”

The noble girl looked on the verge of tears, but the man did not stop his pleading.

“With all my heart! I beg of you!”

“Aaaahhhhhh!!”

As his head nearly brushed her feet, she kicked him straight in the face. He flipped over and collapsed onto the ground. Seizing the chance, the noble girl fled with her attendants.

Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, the large man slowly stood back up.

“…What exactly was that supposed to be?”

Karin muttered in exasperation.

The man, however, smiled cheerfully.

“I just can’t resist cute girls! I came to the capital to serve beautiful maidens, but things never go my way! Ah, good thing you’re a pretty boy! If you were a girl, this would’ve been a real problem! Someone as good-looking as you is rare even among women!”

His teeth flashed as he spoke, growing more animated with every word.

“…Pervert.”

The word slipped out before she could stop herself.

The man’s face changed.

“Pervert? You call this a perversion? My devotion to lovely young ladies?! Unforgivable! That, of all things, I absolutely cannot forgive! Just for that one word, I ought to run you through!”

“Shut up, pervert. Pervert, pervert.”

Karin pushed her luck further.

Even though she was quite a coward, she had a tendency to get carried away once she gained momentum. It often led to trouble, but she herself never realized it.

“I’m not a pervert! I just have a lot of love!”

“A pervert like you shouldn’t be walking in the middle of the road. Actually, you shouldn’t even be outside. You’re a nuisance to everyone. More importantly, you’re making me uncomfortable.”

Karin fired off her insults in rapid succession.

“Y-you!”

The giant’s face flushed bright red. Pointing at the wand hanging at Karin’s waist, he roared:

“Fine! Then prove whether I’m a pervert or not with that!”

Karin’s body trembled.

Ah… this is a duel challenge.

Back in the countryside, she sparred a few times with the children of nearby nobles… but never against someone who looked this strong.

This is bad… I let my guard down because I thought he was just some pervert…

While she was panicking, the man continued:

“Tomorrow, two o’clock. Behind Saint Christ Temple. Don’t think you can run, I’ve got plenty of friends in this capital. I’ll find you in no time!”

Shaking with anger, the giant turned and walked away.

This is bad…

She felt like she might cry, but it was too late now. Still… at least she had shown her courage.

Trying to reassure herself, she straightened her back and started walking again.

The passersby had no idea what was going through Karin’s mind, yet they simply admired a bold young noble they’ve just witnessed.

Karin resumed her search for Fusoviar Street.

Even after wandering for thirty minutes, she still couldn’t find it, and unease began to creep in. Thinking she should ask someone for directions, she looked around for a suitable person.

She found herself in a small square nestled between temple buildings. Nearby taverns had set up tables outside, turning the space into an open-air drinking area. Under the blue sky, alcohol seemed to taste especially good, and such places were quite popular.

Thinking she might find someone to ask here, she approached, and suddenly heard a striking voice.

“Allow me to dedicate a song to you.”

“Oh my! Narcis, how wonderful!”

Turning toward the sound, she saw a young noble seated in a chair, surrounded by several women.

His outfit was… overwhelming. The shirt he wore underneath wasn’t just flashy—it was absurd: a shimmering purple garment woven with gold thread, reflecting the light in every direction.

And his face matched it.

Or rather, it was strange in its own way.

Narrow eyes, a sharp nose, and thin, angular cheeks.

He had the features of a beautiful young man, but wore makeup like a stage actor.

The women gathered around him didn’t even seem to know what was so appealing about him, yet each of them squealed in delight.

“Just as stars shine in the heavens, so too you shine upon this earth, those stars are your eyes. Like rosebuds that irresistibly draw one in… rose-colored cheeks, lips like roses…”

Aren’t those all just roses? Setting aside the face for a moment, how could a man have such a limited vocabulary?

Thinking that, Karin couldn’t help herself and she blurted it out as if she might gag.

“That’s a terrible song.”

The man seemed to catch the remark instantly and turned his gaze toward her.

At first, his eyes widened at Karin’s beauty, but the moment he noticed her outfit, his sharp expression returned. It seemed he had briefly mistaken her for a beautiful girl, then judged her to be male based on her clothing. A very easy man to read.

“A terrible song, is it? I believe I heard someone say that. Was that you just now?”

With a sharp motion, he crossed his legs.

This is bad.

Karin’s face turned pale. Isn’t this turning into another pointless conflict?

But she couldn’t let someone like this see her fear. Gathering all her courage, she spoke boldly:

“Yes. That was me.”

“Hmph!” The man known as Narcis snorted.

This guy… dared to insult me. But with ladies watching, best to respond with refined sarcasm.

That seemed to be his thought process. Then he noticed Karin’s clothes and burst out laughing.

“Just look at that outfit! I don’t know where you picked it up, but it’s terribly outdated! In this day and age, you wouldn’t see something like that even in the most remote countryside of Gallia!”

Even so, the women didn’t laugh at all.

Instead, they stared at Karin, entranced by the presence of such a strikingly beautiful youth.

Narcis seemed to notice that subtle shift in their attention.

His face twitched with anger.

“Indeed, a beautiful boy. If you were a woman, even His Majesty might take you as a concubine. But unfortunately, you’re a man! And worse, you can never be number one. After all, here in the capital… you have me, Lord Narcis!”

With that, he began striking dramatic poses, one moment resting a hand against his chin, the next biting down on a flower taken from a vase.

But the women, like devoted fans, ignored him completely and instead gathered around Karin, staring at her intently.

“What a lovely boy! Your skin is so beautiful! Are you wearing makeup?

“Where are you from? What kind of place produces such beauty like you?”

Karin looked at them coldly.

“That’s none of your business.”

Seeing this, something in Narcis seemed to snap.

You could expect that. He clearly had immense confidence in his appearance.

At last, he pointed at Karin.

“My dear flowers, tell me. Between that boy and myself, who is more beautiful? Though, of course, the answer is obvious.”

The women exchanged troubled glances. It seemed they didn’t want to hurt Narcis by telling the truth.

Thanks to the male attire and flat chest, none of them realized that this young noble was actually a girl.

At that moment, Karin spoke again. In any case, she should avoid pointless conflict if possible.

“Who’s more beautiful has nothing to do with one’s ability as a knight, does it? From my perspective, you’re already quite beautiful. There’s no need to compete with anyone in that regard.”

“That’s right, that’s right! Such a well-spoken young man!” the women chimed in.

“Y-you all… that’s enough…”

Watching Narcis tremble, Karin began to find it a little amusing.

And once that happened, she couldn’t resist pushing a little further.

“That’s quite a shirt you’re wearing.”

“…What?”

Narcis blinked in confusion at the sudden remark.

“I mean your shirt. Where did you even find something that shiny? What exactly are you trying to do, wearing that? Performing in some kind of stage play? Even clowns don’t dress like that.”

Having his prized shirt criticized like that, Narcis’s face darkened to a deep red. Clenching his fists, he began to pant heavily.

“Y-you… you—you—you… are you making a fool of me?!”

For some reason, that reaction only made it more entertaining, and Karin couldn’t help herself.

“Of course not. I’m not that bored. Besides, I have no interest in you, so there’s no reason for me to make fun of you. I just think that shirt is a bit too much, that’s all.”

The women burst into laughter.

“That’s true, Narcis, that shirt is too much!”

“It’s so bright even the sun would run away!”

As his beloved shirt became the butt of jokes, the veins at Narcis’s temples throbbed violently.

…This is bad. I got carried away again.

Karin quietly decided to slip away.

“…Well then, excuse me.”

“Hold it right there.”

“What is it?”

“I rather like that shirt.”

“Then cherish it properly. Farewell.”

“Hold it.”

“…Now what?”

“Could you give my shirt a chance to restore its honor? Don’t worry, it won’t take much of your time.”

Another duel.

I messed up… Karin clutched her head in her mind.

“Tomorrow at two, behind Saint Christ Temple. Sounds good? And don’t even think about running, I’ve got plenty of friends in this city.”

She wanted to say “no thanks”, but to become a knight, courage mattered above all else. That was what she was told before leaving home.

So, with a strained expression, Karin nodded.

What am I going to do…?

She had only just arrived in the capital, and already she’d been challenged to two duels. It was terrifying—terrifying enough to make her feel like she might die.

With a gloomy expression, Karin kept walking.

After asking many people for directions, she finally reached Fusoviar Street by evening.

Bathed in the light of the setting sun, it was an old residential district lined with brick apartment buildings. The brown brick walls, coated with white plaster, were faded, but gave off a calm and refined atmosphere. The people walking along the street were all elegantly dressed nobles.

Wow… as expected of nobles in the capital. So refined…

Just as she was thinking that, a dazzling procession appeared before her.

A group of knights in pure white uniforms, emblazoned with red sacred emblems. Looking closer, they weren’t riding horses, but unicorns with brilliant white coats.

Karin couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

Like something out of a painting, the knights advanced in perfect order, silently passing by her. Their stern, disciplined faces stared straight ahead, never wavering.

Each of them radiated an overwhelming presence—it felt as if any one of them could stand against an entire unit of soldiers.

Karin watched them with shining eyes.

“…The Magic Knight Corps.”

She whispered it under her breath.

There was no doubt, these were the very knights she had long admired. The royal guard of the Tristan Kingdom, the object of every noble’s admiration. She had heard that the Corps was divided into several squads, each mounted on a different kind of phantom beast bearing the squad’s name.

Which meant, this was the Unicorn Squadron.

Ah… Karin let out a quiet sigh of wonder.

Just imagining herself wearing that uniform and riding a pure white unicorn made her too excited to stand still.

“Magic Knight Corps, Unicorn Squadron! Magic Knight Corps, Unicorn Squadron! Magic Knight Corps, Unicorn Squadron!”

Murmuring it to herself, she resumed her search for Lord Dragignian’s residence.

What kind of noble could someone be to be capable of introducing her into such an extraordinary order of knights?

Filled with anticipation, her heart trembling, Karin checked one address after another, but…

Although she reached District Three, there was nothing there except a restaurant.

“…………”

Karin stared blankly at the building.

Did I get it wrong?

No… that couldn’t be. This was definitely District Three of Fusoviar Street.

She pushed open the door, and a friendly young waiter hurried over.

“Welcome! Um…”

He seemed unsure whether to address her as “miss” or “sir.”

Karin spoke casually.

“I’m a man. Though I do get mistaken for a girl a lot. Also, isn’t this supposed to be Lord Dragignian’s residence?”

The boy looked puzzled.

“This is our establishment—the ‘Breeze Pavilion’…”

Seeing this, a well-built man, likely the owner, approached.

“Is there a problem?”

“This customer is asking whether this used to be Lord Dragignian’s residence.”

The owner nodded.

“I see. Lord Dragignian transferred ownership of this estate… hmm, about ten years ago. After we took it over, we turned it into a restaurant, as you can see.”

“Then… where is Lord Dragignian now?”

The owner shook his head.

“I don’t know… perhaps he returned to the countryside, or… well, he was quite old.”

Stepping out of the restaurant, Karin stood there, frozen. A shadow slowly fell across her beautiful face, enveloping her figure into the dark clouds.

Unease filled her chest, and Karin nearly dropped to her knees.

She had only just arrived, and already, in the blink of an eye, she’d been challenged to two duels.

And the one person she could rely on—Lord Dragignian—was nowhere to be found.

It was hopeless.

She stood there, dejected for a while… then slowly clenched her fist.

“I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose…”, she muttered.

But just telling herself that wasn’t enough.

There was only one thing left to do.

That “magic.”

It was Karin’s secret spell. She didn’t know how it worked, but whenever she used it, courage would well up inside her.

With her left index finger, she wrote the word “courage” in her palm, then licked it. At once, warmth spread through her chest… and courage surged up from within.

It was the “magic to summon courage” taught to her long ago… by the knight who had saved her.

Back in the countryside, she relied on this spell many times. Before things like duels, she would always use it once. When she did, her fear would vanish, and her body would fill with a sense of invincibility. Mysterious masked knight… as long as I have this spell, I’ll be fine!

The situation was, without a doubt, desperate.

But, “To become a knight.”

There was no way she could abandon that dream. No matter what, she had to find her courage. Courage!

Repeating those words like a spell, Karin stepped forward.

Chapter 2 — Cendrillon

While Karin continued searching for Lord Dragignian’s residence…

In a corner of Midsummer Street, inside the duty room of the Magic Knight Corps of Lord Jervul’s estate, a woman sat with her elbow on the desk, frowning in frustration.

She looked to be around twenty-two or twenty-three. Long, beautiful black hair, blue eyes, and glasses, her features were undeniably attractive. And yet, there was an atmosphere about her as sharp and severe as a drawn blade.

This was Vivian Jervul, acting commander of the Magic Knight Corps.

She tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk, clearly irritated by something. At that moment, a servant opened the door and peeked inside.

“Lord Cendrillon has arrived.”

“Send him in at once.”

Vivian replied in a voice that perfectly matched the room: cold, and devoid of any warmth.

The servant nodded and ushered the man waiting outside into the room.

The man who entered was… peculiar.

His face looked young, yet his grayish-silver hair and the monocle over his melancholic eyes gave off an ageless, almost unsettling impression.

And yet, his features were so strikingly well-formed that the strangeness seemed to vanish, replaced by a dangerous kind of charm. Any woman would likely gasp in admiration and find herself drawn in…

But… The stern expression he wore, as if enduring some kind of pain, dulled that charm considerably.

Vivian fixed him with a cold glare.

“Well then… you’ve caused trouble again, haven’t you, Cendrillon?”

The man called Cendrillon averted his gaze, his lips tightening awkwardly.

“My father’s away because of his illness, so don’t cause trouble… How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?”

“Um… what exactly are you referring to? I have no idea what you mean.”

Cendrillon replied, cold sweat forming on his brow. He didn’t seem particularly good at lying.

“Last night, on Ziktony Street… Who was it that got into a fight with the knights of Germania at the ‘Cavern Torch’ tavern?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t go anywhere near that place. I spent the evening peacefully playing cards at the Bacchus household.”

As he said that, his face turned even paler.

“Don’t you lie. I have evidence. To begin with, it was you with those two idiots, playing cards against the Germanian knights. You were not at the Bacchus’s house, it was the ‘Cavern Torch’ tavern. At first, it seems it was just an ordinary game, but it happened that you started losing and refused to pay the Germania knights. When they got angry, you drew your wands.”

Vivian spoke with a vein visibly throbbing on her forehead.

“You apparently made quite a mess of the Cavern Torch. What do you intend to do about it?”

With a sharp motion, she handed a sheet of paper to Cendrillon.

“What’s this?”

“A repair invoice from the establishment.”

Cendrillon immediately panicked.

“I-it’s a misunderstanding! First of all, I’d like to clarify! We didn’t lose under normal circumstances! Those Germanian knights were cheating! Seriously, what underhanded bastards!”

“Oh? And then?”

“When we exposed it, they drew their wands first, so we had no choice but to fight back. Besides, you know I hate fighting. It’s impossible that we would’ve attacked first.”

“You say you had no choice, but it seems you went a bit too far. Two people are unable to stand, and five more are injured to varying degrees. We’ve already received a formal protest from the embassy.”

“We were injured too.”

“Oh? Who?”

“Me.”

Saying that, Cendrillon lifted his shirt. His torso was wrapped in bandages.

Vivian’s expression stiffened.

“What? Let me see that properly.”

“Yes,” he said, letting her examine the wound. Sure enough, there was a faint stain of red seeping through.

“That’s not a light injury. Are you alright?”

“Yes. I was struck directly by a magical arrow. If I weren’t a water mage of my level, I would have bled out.”

“Should you even be standing?”

“I was lying down until just now, but since Lady Vivian summoned me…”

At that, Vivian bit her lip and took hold of his hand.

“Honestly… don’t make me worry like that… If something happened to you, what would I do? There’s no one else in this corps I can rely on. If only you would take things a little more seriously…”

A subtle, intoxicating charm drifted from her. It was enough to unsettle anyone who wasn’t careful. Seeing such a change from Vivian, who was always stern and composed, left Cendrillon momentarily confused.

Vivian looked at him with heated eyes.

Then she closed them, and slowly leaned her lips closer.

Cendrillon panicked.

“W-wait… um! Lady Vivian! I, Cendrillon, have sworn never to give my heart to a woman!”

But faced with Vivian’s beauty, he couldn’t hold out, he found himself closing his eyes.

And then… a sharp pain shot through his abdomen.

“Gyaaaaaah!”

His wound had been mercilessly squeezed, and he let out a scream.

“W-what are you doing…?”

“Just kidding, idiot. That’s exactly why you got baited by such an obvious trick.”

Vivian returned to her seat as if nothing happened, shaking her head.

“I understand the situation now. But what are you going to do about the tavern you wrecked?”

Cendrillon, sweating, clutched his aching stomach and spoke through the pain.

“They brought it on themselves.”

“Oh?”

“The place was helping the Germanian knights cheat. They had magic cast on the table so they could see our hands.”

“…You really are fools.”

“So that invoice can be ignored. Filing a complaint like that would be as useful as a thief crying foul.”

“Then why did you lie in the first place?”

Faced with such a straightforward question, Cendrillon could only sweat nervously.

“B-because… I don’t like getting scolded…”

“How honest.”

Vivian smiled and beckoned him closer.

But Cendrillon shook his head, looking like he was about to cry.

“N-no, I’m good.”

“What’s wrong? I’m about to reward you. The acting commander of the Magic Knight Corps, Vivian Jevre herself, is going to personally reward you. Now come here.”

“I refuse.”

He shook his head again.

Vivian’s tone shifted into a command.

“Come here.”

In the end, it was still an official order he couldn’t defy. With no choice, Cendrillon stepped closer to Vivian.

The next moment, she grabbed him firmly by the neck and began pressing his wound again and again with her fingers.

“Gyaaaaaaaahhh!!”

“Now, Cendrillon… didn’t I tell you? The Magic Knight Corps is in a delicate situation right now. So behave yourself. I did say that, didn’t I?”

“P-pain! Please—stop!”

“You and those two idiots… honestly, raising fools is exhausting. Don’t you think so? My dear subordinate, my precious retainer? You agree, don’t you?”

“Y-yes! Exactly as you say, Lady Vivian!”

“Good. Then consider this your lesson. You’ll be taking a pay cut for three months. Make sure you inform those two you’re always with as well.”

After being thoroughly disciplined, Cendrillon stepped out of the estate, clutching his aching abdomen.

He still looked half-dead.

“Is she trying to kill a wounded man…? Honestly… I’d just managed to heal…”

On the verge of tears, he began chanting his specialty, water magic.

Using Heal, he managed to close the wound, but it wasn’t completely restored. In this world, those who could use magic were called nobles, and though they were feared and respected, magic wasn’t nearly as convenient as people believed.

“Damn it… that cold-blooded woman… one day I’ll make her cry.”

Even though he said that, it was almost impossible to imagine Vivian crying.

“…Sigh. A pay cut… I’m already barely scraping by!”

These days, for various reasons, the Magic Knight Corps’ salaries were already harshly limited. And now a three-month reduction? That was no joke.

His mood was in ruins.

“…What should I do now…?”

He didn’t feel like going straight home to sleep. In the end, Cendrillon decided to go have a drink.

He headed to the bustling Ziktony Street in the capital, Tristania, and entered a tavern called the “Silver Barrel.”

Despite its name, it was a cheap establishment, run by a quiet father and his lively daughter. It was the kind of place with a relaxed, unrestrictive atmosphere. Whenever Cendrillon was short on money, he came here, because they let him run a tab.

Today was no different.

As he pushed open the door, the tavern’s poster girl, Tanya, came over to greet him.

“Oh! Isn’t that Cendrillon? Welcome!”

She looked about sixteen, a cheerful girl with a bright smile and shining chestnut-colored short hair. She was quite popular; many customers came just to see her.

Cendrillon took his usual seat at the far end of the counter and ordered wine.

“Give me a bottle of Dorf vintage.”

“The usual, then?”

Tanya said that, then leaned in close to whisper in his ear.

“Your tab’s getting pretty big, you know.”

Cendrillon’s shoulders slumped.

Not even being able to drink what he liked freely, was there anything more depressing?

Especially now that his pay had been cut, expensive wine would be out of reach for a while.

“…Then just something cheap.”

“Even then, it’s still going on your tab, right?”

Tanya stared at him.

“W-well… yeah.”

“Well, I’ll let it slide this time. But in return…”

“What?”

“Next time, will you take me to see a play?”

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

Cendrillon glanced at her, then shook his head.

“Go with your friends.”

“Hey! Come on! I’m inviting you!”

“I’m busy.”

“That’s a lie! You’re always just drinking!”

Tanya puffed her cheeks in annoyance, but soon her expression turned curious.

“Hey, Cendrillon… why don’t you ever go out with women? Your friend Narcis always has a different girl with him.”

“I’m not interested in women. Quit talking and bring the wine.”

“What a waste. You’re actually quite charming, you know.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah… how should I put it? It’s like you’ve got a shadow over you. A lot of girls are drawn to that.”

I see… a shadow, huh.

Cendrillon gave a wry smile.

But if they knew the truth behind that “shadow”… their illusions would surely shatter.

The reason he came to “dislike women” was due to a certain incident.

It wasn’t that he truly hated women.

It was just that, ever since that incident, he couldn’t bring himself to take anything seriously. No… more than that, he felt he had no right to love anyone at all.

And so, whenever the topic of women came up, Cendrillon would fall silent. Ironically, that only drew in women like Tanya, who were fascinated by that very attitude.

At times like those, he would simply claim that he “hated women.”

Tanya tried for a while to keep him engaged, bringing up different topics, but before long she seemed to give up.

She set down the cheap wine and snacks she had prepared in front of him.

Taking slow sips of the low-quality wine, Cendrillon reflected on his situation. Joining the Magic Knight Corps was a good thing, but day after day, his life consisted of drinking, gambling, or dueling…

It was, in its own way, enjoyable.

And yet… it felt as though something inside him was gradually being worn away.

I wasn’t like this before. Back then, I was full of energy… full of hope for the future.

Of course he was

Because back then, he had been the happiest man in the world. Born into an enviable family, together with the woman he loved…

So why was he now sitting here, drinking cheap wine in a place like this? The answer was simple.

It was his own fault.

The reason he could no longer love women. And the reason he had left home…

Back then… if these hands didn’t cast that spell, his life would surely have been shining brightly.

Just a small mistake… and everything had been taken from him.

It was his doing.

These hands… “Forgive me.”

He murmured it under his breath, then took another deep drink of the cheap wine. The burning liquid slid down his throat, setting his stomach ablaze. Only like this could he dull the pain of the past.

“My life really is… covered in ash. Oh, Cendrillon…”

Staring into the dark red liquid in his glass, he muttered to himself.

He was only nineteen, and yet already, he was completely steeped in a ruined life.

His life, like the color of his hair, was shrouded in gray clouds.

Cendrillon recalled the paintings of the “Saint” he had often seen as a child. A sacred girl, both gentle and stern, depicted in religious art, he could never grow tired of gazing at her.

In the painting, the saint extended her hands, saving the weak from the depths of the water. Did such a beautiful woman truly exist in this world?

If he could meet a saint like that… perhaps the gray clouds covering his life would finally disperse.

“But the sin I’ve committed won’t disappear because of that.”

He muttered, tilting his glass.

The “Saint” didn’t exist. And even if she did, his sins would not vanish. For the rest of his life, he would have to carry that burden.

And yet… perhaps God pitied Cendrillon, and listened to that small, insignificant wish. The door opened, and a young noble stepped inside.

The moment he saw them, Cendrillon caught his breath.

Then his heart jolted, as if struck by lightning.

Before him stood a face, dignified and beautiful, just like the saint from those paintings. The figure looked about fourteen or fifteen. Beneath soft peach-colored hair were slender eyes, their pale brown irises gleaming like clear gemstones. A perfectly shaped nose, neither too high nor too low. Lips like small cherries, gently curved downward.

Everything about that face was arranged with flawless symmetry, as if crafted by the hand of a god.

What… such an unbelievable beauty… A girl like this exists on this street…?

That overwhelming beauty drew not only Cendrillon’s gaze, but the attention of everyone in the tavern.

But… it seemed that God was not smiling upon him after all.

“Huh? A boy?” Those words, spoken by another customer, snapped him back to reality.

Yes, the noble was dressed in a man’s knight attire, a crude military wand hanging at the waist. It was the sort of outdated thing any woman would dislike.

And on top of that, the chest was perfectly flat.

The slender figure could easily be mistaken for a girl… but if they truly were a woman, there should at least be some slight curve, even if undeveloped.

A “boy.” Oh… so it’s a boy.

A disappointed sigh spread through the tavern, and Cendrillon let out a deep breath as well.

Of course. There was no way God would grant his wish.

Thinking that, he gave a wry smile.

Come on, Cendrillon, even if that was a beautiful girl instead of a beautiful boy… what would it change?

Just a stranger in a tavern, nothing more.

The idea that a saint would descend to wash away the ash clinging to him

was nothing more than a foolish delusion.

That “boy” was, in fact, Karin Désirée de Maillart, the cross-dressing girl who came here, lost in despair, thinking she should at least fill her stomach first.

But Cendrillon was not a god, he had no way of knowing that.

Karin slowly looked around the tavern, as if choosing a seat. It seemed that she preferred somewhere deeper inside, and without hesitation, she walked straight in and sat down two seats away from Cendrillon.

Tanya approached, looking completely captivated.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my, what a beautiful guest! W-what would you like to order?”

Her voice was already trembling.

Karin spoke in a clear, composed tone:

“Milk. And something good to eat.”

The “boy’s” voice was as beautiful as a hymn.

Cendrillon stared at Karin, stunned.

What a vast world this is… To produce such a beautiful boy, this world really is something.

He found himself admiring it sincerely.

However, just as such beauty naturally drew attention, it also invited trouble.

Tanya, practically dancing with excitement, brought over the milk and set it down in front of Karin. Just then, a drunken man shouted loudly:

“Hey! Kid! This is a bar! If you want milk, go home and drink your mother’s!”

Cendrillon went pale.

Such a cliché line, it wouldn’t even appear in a stage play. It was almost embarrassing just to hear it.

An awkward murmur spread through the tavern.

Karin slowly stood up.

Her face had turned slightly pale, that remark clearly irritated her. It wasn’t just her beauty; her presence itself was striking.

With all eyes on her, Karin spoke:

“Was that you just now?”

Her tone was calm, but beneath it lay unmistakable anger.

Sustained by the “magic of courage” she just used, Karin felt invincible. There was nothing she feared.

The drunk, clearly the type who couldn’t read the room, kept mocking her:

“Yeah, that was me, you little noble brat. Seriously, pick a better place to drink. A beauty like you sitting here sipping milk ruins the mood completely. Or what, you gonna pour drinks for me? Maybe sway those hips while you’re at it?”

“He’s a boy.”

Someone muttered it, but the drunk only got more carried away.

“Doesn't matter! If you look that good, who cares if you’re a boy or a girl? Come on, kid… why don’t I—”

Before he could finish, Karin spoke again.

“Say one more word, and I’ll kill you.”

Her voice was flat, like she was simply stating a fact.

The entire tavern fell silent, as if something had been abruptly cut off.

The drunk forced a laugh.

“H-hey now, just kidding. Listen, kid, there’s a beautiful world out there you don’t know about. I was just trying to show you—”

“Say one more word, and I’ll kill you.”

Karin repeated it, without the slightest exaggeration.

A vein bulged on the man’s forehead as his irritation boiled over.

“Who do you think you’re killing?”

“I’ll kill you.”

“Don’t screw with me! Who do you think is getting killed here?”

In one swift motion, the man drew a pistol from his belt. He looked like a former mercenary.

He pointed the gun at Karin and cocked it.

Screams broke out in the tavern.

“Hey, kid… didn’t I tell you to pick your place? Maybe a country bumpkin like you doesn’t know, but this area isn’t exactly well-behaved. Proper nobles don’t come here. Even if I kill you, no one important is gonna notice.”

Even so, Karin didn’t change her expression. She looked at the gun as if it were nothing more than a stick.

It wasn’t bravery. It was recklessness.

“If you don’t want to die, toss your wand over here. Slowly. And don’t even think about chanting a spell, I’ll shoot without hesitation. Don’t get any ideas. At this distance, no matter how fast you chant, gunpowder and bullets are faster.”

Cendrillon swallowed.

Having served in the Magic Knight Corps for years, having seen battle and duels, he knew the man was absolutely right.

But Karin shook her head.

“I refuse.”

“…What?”

She placed her hand on the military wand at her waist.

“If I throw this away, then I won’t be myself anymore. So I refuse.”

“You wanna die?!”

“I refuse that too.”

“Didn’t I just tell you?! The gun is faster!”

Then, in a firm and composed tone, the “boy” declared:

“Your bullet won’t hit me.”

“At this distance, there’s no way I’d miss! I’m a mercenary, you know! I’ve fired more shots than I’ve had meals!”

“It won’t hit.”

“Are you an idiot?!”

“I have a dream. Until that dream comes true, I won’t die no matter what happens. So your bullet won’t hit me. Go ahead, aim carefully. I don’t know how many times you’ve fired a gun, but this will be the last bullet you ever fire.”

Cendrillon was stunned.

What kind of nonsense logic was that?

And yet, coming from this boy, it somehow sounded convincing.

Just as the tension in the tavern reached its peak…

the man backed down.

“Tch! I don’t have time to deal with idiots!”

He threw the gun aside and scrambled out of the tavern. The tension instantly dissolved.

Karin returned to her seat as if nothing had happened and calmly resumed drinking her milk. The patrons all looked at her with admiration. Tanya, in particular, stared at her as if she were gazing at a god.

Cendrillon picked up the gun from the floor and placed it in front of Karin.

“Hey, you. This is your trophy.”

Karin glanced at him, then quickly lost interest and looked away.

Feeling ignored, Cendrillon frowned.

“Looks like you’re training to be a knight, but about this… I can’t praise it. Sure, it worked out, but that man was right. At that distance, the gun is faster.”

Speaking as an older noble, he offered his advice.

“There were no bullets in it.”

…What?

Cendrillon looked at Karin with a hint of unease.

She figured that out instantly? She looks four or five years younger than me, what kind of observation is that?

“…That’s impressive.”

He muttered, then picked up the gun to check.

The hammer had been cocked… but the pan cover was shut, so he couldn’t see inside. Did she look through the barrel? That’s impossible.

How did she figure it out?

He couldn’t make sense of it.

“That’s incredible.”

Absentmindedly, Cendrillon pulled the trigger toward the wall.

Bang!

A deafening gunshot rang out.

Cendrillon jumped, and the tavern fell into chaos.

Gun smoke filled the air as he coughed violently. Looking at the wall, he saw a large hole blown through it.

“…So there were bullets.”

He muttered in disbelief.

Karin looked at him with a completely indifferent expression.

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“Don’t guess like that. Seriously, one small mistake and you’d be dead.”

“I told you. The bullet wouldn’t hit me.”

With that, Karin finished her milk in one gulp.

“You look like you’re training to be a knight, but with that attitude, one life won’t be enough. If you confuse courage with recklessness, you’ll end up shortening your own lifespan.”

Karin set the ceramic cup down on the counter.

“Could you keep quiet?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m in a bad mood right now.”

What is with this kid?

That attitude rubbed him the wrong way. Being talked to like that made him want to provoke her.

A smirk crept onto Cendrillon’s lips.

“Oh? In a bad mood, are we? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Karin turned to face him.

“Depending on your attitude, you might end up with some unnecessary injuries.”

Pretty bold words for a kid.

Cendrillon couldn’t help but tease her.

“Injuries? From you? That pretty face of yours would be in real trouble if it got hurt.”

A faint blush appeared on Karin’s porcelain-like cheeks.

“Sounds like you really want to get hurt.”

“Of course not. I hate pain.”

“So you’re just a coward, then. In that case, be quiet, you useless idiot.”

Karin glared at him coldly, a hint of contempt in her eyes.

…Right. To someone who still believes in their future without question, I must look like nothing but a failure.

Normally, being spoken to like that would provoke anger.

But Cendrillon simply backed off.

“Yeah, yeah… maybe you’re right. Sorry for bothering you.”

Seeing that attitude, Karin’s expression changed.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Not at all. I admire you.”

“…You, do you even count as a noble? Is there such a thing as a noble who gets called a coward and doesn’t get angry?”

“There is. You’re looking at one.”

“What a disgrace.”

“Yeah. I am.”

Saying that, Cendrillon lifted his glass.

Karin grabbed the bottle of red wine and poured it straight over his head. The liquid splashed down over him, but he didn’t so much as flinch.

“Hey, what are you doing? What a waste.”

“Get angry already! You call yourself a noble?!”

Karin shouted, clearly irritated.

“Pointless. Getting angry never leads to anything good.”

At that moment, two men pushed open the door and walked in.

One of them was dressed in such extravagant clothing that it almost felt like someone had distilled the very concept of “gaudy” into a dye and painted it onto him. A doll-like beauty, with narrow eyes that suggested how many women he had made cry.

The other was a towering, muscular man, even larger than the one from before. Long golden hair, a rugged jaw that looked like it could crush iron, and a broad chest like that of an ancient arena fighter.

An overwhelming, dominating presence radiated from him, one that made everyone else seem insignificant.

These two were Narcis and Bacchus.

They were also members of the Magic Knight Corps, and Cendrillon’s closest companions.

The three of them were always together, eating, drinking, fooling around, working… and when it came to duels, they would act as each other’s seconds.

Bacchus, Narcis, and Cendrillon—the three knights were famous throughout Tristania.

Though not in a particularly flattering way.

The most troublesome trio in the history of the Magic Knight Corps. Constant instigators of chaos. The three fools who were always giving Acting Commander Vivian headaches.

Bacchus and Narcis spoke at the same time:

“Cendrillon! So you are here!”

“What is it, Bacchus? And Narcis, you’re with him too?”

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you! I’ve got a duel tomorrow, and I need you to be my second!”

“A duel? You too?” Narcis asked, surprised.

“What, you as well? So that’s why you were looking for him! You should’ve said so earlier!”

“I was going to tell you when we found Cendrillon.”

Cendrillon shouted in frustration:

“Don’t joke around! Lady Vivian’s going to kill us!”

At that moment, both Narcis and Bacchus noticed Karin sitting beside him and their eyes widened.

“Why is this guy here?!”

“You know him?” Cendrillon asked.

“What do you mean, know him? He’s my opponent tomorrow,” Bacchus replied blankly.

“Mine too.”

The three of them turned to stare at Karin.

Karin calmly glanced between Narcis and Bacchus.

“What, you all know each other?”

“You know these two?” Cendrillon asked in disbelief.

Karin nodded.

“We’ve agreed to duel tomorrow. Though I don’t mind doing it now. I don’t really have anything else planned tonight except sleeping.”

She said it as casually as if suggesting dinner.

Cendrillon stared at her, stunned.

This personality…

It was like she had a sign on her back that said “Open for duels.”

Bacchus, face flushed, shouted:

“Fine! Then I’ll fight you right now!”

Narcis nodded in agreement.

Karin replied calmly:

“Then give me a moment. I’ll finish eating first.”

And she began quickly finishing the food in front of her.

With the three knights in tow, Karin made her way behind Saint Christ Temple.

The moonlight was bright enough that, even with only torchlight, the area wasn’t too dark.

“Nice and quiet here.”

Karin said, almost to herself.

The three exchanged glances.

“Hey… Cendrillon,” one of them muttered. “What exactly is this kid? Is he fearless… or just an idiot?”

“How would I know?”

“I’d say he’s so scared he can’t think straight anymore.”

Cendrillon thought about it too, but shook his head inwardly.

No… that wasn’t it.

This guy… he probably truly believed what he’d just said.

“The bullet won’t hit me.”

He must believe that not even magic could touch a single hair on his head.

On the battlefield, people who believe “bullets won’t hit me” are always the first to die…

But this one felt different.

That statement didn’t feel like a lie.

No… more accurately, it felt like he wouldn’t allow it to become a lie.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, something felt off.

Karin, who until just now had seemed completely at ease, suddenly changed. Her face turned pale as if struck by a fever, her lips clenched tightly, her body trembling.

“What? What’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”

“N-no! It’s nothing! Just… a little cold!”

Karin snapped hurriedly, turning her back as she fumbled with something out of sight. The “magic of courage” had a time limit.

After a while, it would fade, just like heat escaping from the body, and the courage would vanish with it.

But in moments like this, all she had to do was use it again.

Trace the word on her palm.

Then lick it.

And once more, courage would fill her body.

When Karin turned back to face them, the trembling had stopped.

Wrapped once again in that overwhelming sense of invincibility, she placed her left hand on her hip.

Bathed in moonlight, her figure almost looked as if it had been enchanted by a spell of charm.

A beauty so striking, so sacred, it made one catch their breath.

“What are you muttering about over there? Come on, let’s begin.”

With that, she swiftly drew her wand.

The hesitation from before was gone, her movements were smooth, almost flowing.

Just from that alone, Cendrillon understood—this was no ordinary opponent.

At such a young age, to handle a wand like that…

How much effort had she put in?

The same thought crossed Bacchus and Narcis’s minds, and a tense chill settled over them.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re scared. There’s three of you and only one of me, surely not?”

That line made Bacchus’s face flush red.

“Tch… listen to this brat! Fine, I’ll take you on. I was the first to challenge you, after all.”

“No,” Narcis cut in, shaking his head. “That agreement no longer applies, so I have the right as well. Don’t you agree, Cendrillon?”

Cendrillon grimaced.

“…Hold on.”

“What is it?” Bacchus asked.

“Didn’t Lady Vivian strictly forbid us from dueling? And didn’t we just get into a fight with the Germanian knights? I was just scolded and got my pay cut.”

“If no one finds out, it’s fine. Besides, silencing a kid like that isn’t exactly difficult.”

“And really, look at him, he’s just a child. There’s no way he’s a match for you. You should stop.”

Cendrillon thought so too.

No matter how confident the boy seemed, Bacchus and Narcis were seasoned fighters. There was no way he could win.

“Being talked down to by a kid like that, doesn’t it bother you?” Karin provoked.

A vein bulged on Bacchus’s forehead.

“There are kids you can forgive, and kids you can’t.”

Karin shot back immediately:

“And there are perverts you can forgive, and perverts you can’t. You’re overwhelmingly in the latter category.”

“Yeah… I’m definitely going first. If I don’t kill this guy, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

“No, I said I’m first!”

“Just wait—”

The three of them argued among themselves.

Watching them, Karin’s body began to tremble slightly.

Then… a violent pressure filled the air.

WHOOSH—!

A fierce wind burst forth.

It tore past Cendrillon’s cheek. The three men stared at Karin in shock. There was no need to ask, they already knew that guy is not ordinary. It was wind magic.

The force swirling around Karin took form as wind even before any incantation could be spoken. Her emotions manifested directly, whipping into a small storm.

Raising her wand, Karin spoke:

“Before we begin, there’s something I need to say.”

“Go on,” Bacchus urged.

“First, I apologize for going too far.”

…An apology? That didn’t match her attitude at all. The three exchanged glances.

Karin pointed her wand at Bacchus.

“You over there, the big idiot. Bacchus, right? I apologize for calling you a pervert. You’re rather an excellent pervert, and I hate perverts like you the most.”

Bacchus flushed even deeper with anger.

Then Karin turned her wand toward Narcis.

“And you, the delusional one. Half-baked pretty boy. Narcis, right? I apologize for insulting your shirt. But no matter how I look at it, that color is still too much. It’s excessively gaudy. And of course, I hate you too.”

Narcis’s face turned pale with fury.

Then Karin performed a perfect knight’s salute.

“That concludes my apology.”

“That wasn’t an apology at all!”

Bacchus shouted—but Karin was already too focused to hear him.

The way she stood, staring them down with a commanding presence, was like a beautiful apex predator. There wasn’t a trace of carelessness in her stance, it stirred something in the three men.

Cendrillon, caught up in the strange exhilaration of the moment, found himself honestly thinking this “boy” is in fact beautiful.

“Well then, you seem to be arguing over who goes first. In that case, I’ll decide. No objections?”

“Let him decide,” Narcis said.

Bacchus nodded.

“Fine. No hard feelings, no matter who he picks.”

Both of them puffed out their chests as if to say choose me.

“That one over there—the pretentious one!”

But Karin pointed her wand at Cendrillon.

On her otherwise composed, beautiful face, anger, absent until now, began to surface.

“You had a lot to say earlier, didn’t you? People like you are what you call meddlers. I don’t know if it comes from kindness or what, but every word of it was irritating. And that roundabout way of talking… it’s infuriating! If you’re a man, say what you mean clearly! And on top of that—you’re a coward! I can overlook everything else, but I won’t forgive cowardice! You’re a disgrace to nobles! I’m going to beat that out of you from start to finish—come at me!”

Cendrillon let out a tired sigh and shook his head.

“I don’t mind, but I’m just an observer.”

“If you don’t fight, I won’t fight anyone.”

Bacchus and Narcis both looked at him, troubled.

“That’s a problem.”

Urged on by his friends, Cendrillon sighed again.

“I really don’t like these kinds of things…”

He glanced at Karin.

She stood there, brimming with fighting spirit. If Bacchus or Narcis fought her…

she might get hurt.

No, at this point, with how angry they were, it wouldn’t just end with an injury.

… Seems like he had no other choice.

Cendrillon stepped forward and drew his wand—a black iron military wand, polished from years of use.

“Hey, I was the one who challenged him first,” Bacchus protested.

But Narcis stopped him.

“Leave it to Cendrillon. He’s serious.”

The man standing there now was no longer the lazy, half-asleep Cendrillon from before. There was focus in his eyes. His stance was flawless. It was the posture of someone who had undergone considerable training.

Seeing that, Bacchus nodded.

“Same as always… a solid stance.”

And not just his stance, his strength was also well known. The two of them had witnessed it many times on both the battlefield and in duels.

“Well then, as courtesy demands, let me introduce myself first. My name is Cendrillon. I will be your opponent.”

He spoke in a tone that still lacked enthusiasm.

Karin gave her name in return.

“My name is Karin de Maillart. My specialty is wind. The problem with my wind… is that it’s too strong. It might even kill you. So don’t hold it against me.”

Her voice wasn’t pompous, it was completely sincere.

Cendrillon smiled.

“I use water. Sorry for mentioning it late, but facing water can be quite troublesome.”

“Thank you for the concern, but I’ve never paid attention to my opponent’s element. No need.”

The two stood facing each other, about fifteen mails apart.

“Well then—let’s begin.”

Just as he was about to chant, a sharp pain shot through Cendrillon’s abdomen.

Damn… right. The wound from last night’s duel isn’t fully healed…

The emergency treatment earlier had dulled the pain enough for him to forget, but now it flared up again. He’d already done what he could with water magic; all that remained was time. But if he fought now, the wound might reopen.

“What’s wrong?”

Karin looked at him, puzzled.

“N-nothing.”

Seeing that, Narcis muttered quietly:

“That guy… could it be his injury from last night…?”

“Ah, that stab wound from the Germanian knights! Don’t tell me it hasn’t healed yet…”

Bacchus’s face turned pale.

Cendrillon stopped the two of them from stepping forward.

“It’s fine… really… nothing.”

“But… you… I mean…”

“I’ll manage. Sorry to keep you waiting. Here I come.”

Enduring the pain, Cendrillon began his chant.

“Il… Votar… Nid… Is…”

Moisture in the air condensed, forming water that coiled and gathered. In front of his wand, it took the shape of several whip-like strands.

More than a dozen whips of water, it was the spell called Water Whip.

With sharp whipping sounds, they lashed through the air at high speed.

Karin, in contrast, didn’t chant at all.

Cendrillon extended the whips freely, closing in as if to surround her. Fine droplets of water splashed against his face.

I like water…

He always believed that.

Water felt like it could soothe his dried, worn-out heart.

Water can heal me… But only that. It cannot save me.

Then what can save me?

What can wash away the ash that covers my heart?

He didn’t know.

He swung his wand. The water whips struck from all directions.

In that instant, Karin gave a short chant and moved her wand.

Crack!

A sharp gust exploded outward, instantly shattering the incoming whips.

Cendrillon let out a low whistle.

I see… so she really does have the skill to match that attitude.

But it’s just finesse. I’ve seen plenty of wind users at that level.

Then, he prepared to chant the next spell—

BOOOOM—

A thunderous roar erupted as the wind surged. It was a gale like a tidal wave.

The blast didn’t just hit Cendrillon, it sent Bacchus and Narcis, who were standing behind him, flying into the wall.

Cendrillon immediately cast water magic, forming a cushion between himself and the wall. A soft, gel-like mass of water absorbed the impact.

But Bacchus and Narcis, merely spectators, were slammed into the wall and collapsed, groaning in pain.

“Sorry, I can’t control the output very well. If you can, please stand farther back while watching.”

It was just a basic wind spell, nothing more than making air move. And yet, the sheer force of it was overwhelming.

He had never seen wind with that kind of power before. And she cast it so casually.

I see… this one’s no ordinary opponent.

If that’s the case, then better end this quickly.

Cendrillon chanted the spell Blade. High-speed rotating water coiled around the tip of his wand. A water blade was not something to take lightly, those who underestimated it often lost their lives.

The tightly compressed, rapidly spinning water became a razor-sharp edge, capable of slicing through iron in a single stroke. Even the scattered droplets flew like pellets.

Seeing Cendrillon’s Blade, Karin cast the same spell.

At the same moment, the two rushed forward, clashing in a brilliant exchange at the center of the temple courtyard.

Karin used wind magic to lift herself into the air and attack from above, one could really admire her affinity for wind.

Elusive as a butterfly dancing through the sky, striking with the speed of a hawk. Her small frame was perfectly suited for aerial combat.

So young, and yet her wand technique was incredibly refined.

Bacchus, who had just managed to get back on his feet, spoke with concern, while Narcis checked his face in a mirror beside him.

“Hey… is Cendrillon gonna be okay? Isn’t he getting pushed back?”

Narcis, still staring into his mirror, replied in a voice almost like singing:

“His water magic isn’t really suited for combat, I’ve always thought that.”

“Then why let him fight?! He’s gonna lose! Damn it! Does this mean the legendary winning streak of the Magic Knight Corps’ three knights is about to end?!”

“Don’t worry about it,” Narcis said lightly. “That guy’s wand technique is the real deal, best in the kingdom. I’ve never once seen him lose with Blade.”

I see… Cendrillon thought.

The boy was fast, very fast. And his spells carried real power. But perhaps due to lack of battle experience, his movements followed a few fixed patterns.

Cendrillon, who had been purely on the defensive, shifted the moment he spotted an opening, as if he had become a different person.

Whenever Karin attacked from above, there was a brief instant where her motion stalled. That was the moment.

He thrust his wand in.

It sounded simple, but in reality, it was like threading a needle. Even calling it an “opening” was misleading, no ordinary fighter could have noticed it.

“What—?!”

Her leg was cut.

Karin’s composed expression cracked. The attack had clearly caught her off guard and fear flickered across her face, just for an instant.

Seeing that expression, so fitting for her age, Cendrillon’s own face softened slightly. One more strike, and he could end it.

Of course, he had no intention of doing that.

He is just a kid. And besides, Why is he so beautiful?

The way he moved through the air, like a spirit of the wind.

No… not a spirit. More like—

Cendrillon cut the thought short with a wry smile. Come on. He’s a boy.

There’s no way—

He aimed for her right hand, the one holding the wand, planning to knock it away and end the match cleanly.

But in that instant… He twisted his body too forcefully in order to make the strike, and his wound tore open.

A sharp pain ripped through his abdomen.

“Gah—!”

His body froze for just a moment. Cendrillon’s eyes widened from the pain, and what filled his vision was…

A gale. A violent, surging wind.

Karin’s quick burst of wind lifted his body clean off the ground and he hit the ground hard, his wand slipping from his hand.

“What the hell?! He lost?! That’s not what you promised!”

Bacchus shouted.

Karin slowly approached the fallen Cendrillon, pointing her wand at his face.

Through the pain, Cendrillon smiled.

Guess I failed at just teaching her a lesson…

“I lost. I surrender.”

But Karin didn’t lower her wand.

In her eyes burned something new. Anger.

“You! You changed your target at the last second, didn’t you?! If you’d driven that wand through me, the match would’ve been decided! What was that supposed to mean?! Are you mocking me?!”

Her voice trembled with fury.

Outwardly she still looked composed, but underneath, her emotions were boiling.

“There’s no way I’d kill a kid. And besides…”

“And besides what?!”

“You’re beautiful.”

He said it plainly.

Karin’s face flushed bright red, then twisted into something fierce.

“Y-you…! What do you think a sacred duel is?!”

“…Huh?”

Cendrillon blinked, stunned.

What is wrong with this kid? Didn’t I surrender? Didn’t I just compliment him?

Why is he angry?

“H-hey, wait a second. What are you doing? I already surrendered.”

“This doesn’t count as a victory! It’s a draw! And I will absolutely, absolutely never forgive someone like you who mocks others!”

Karin’s body trembled violently.

“H-hey, wait, it’s already decided! It’s over!”

Bacchus and Narcis, who had stepped closer to check what was happening, were blown away in an instant.

“Hey, wait! Stop!”

And despite having just unleashed such a powerful spell, Karin began chanting again.

A massive sphere of compressed air churned violently at the tip of her wand.

“W-wait! What are you planning to do with that spell?! I told you, I surrender!”

Cendrillon scrambled backward, trying to get away. But it was pointless. The giant mass of air struck his body, and he blacked out.

“…Ugh…” With a groan, Cendrillon opened his eyes. Narcissus and Bacchus were looking down at him, both visibly worried.

“…What happened to that brat?”

Clenching through the pain coursing through his body, he asked.

Narcis replied: “After unleashing that spell, he just… disappeared. No idea where he went.”

“I see… What the hell is wrong with that guy…”

What kind of kid loses his temper that easily? At this rate, he’ll never turn into a decent adult…

Cendrillon thought.

“Want us to track him down and teach him a lesson?” Bacchus offered.

But Cendrillon shook his head.

“No… forget it. Honestly, I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.”

That’s what he said, but they would definitely be entangled again. Completely unaware of what kind of turn things would take, Cendrillon muttered in annoyance.

Chapter 3 — Lord Jervul’s Residence

The next morning…

After waking up in her inn room, Karin recalled what happened the night before, and her face flushed bright red.

“Uwaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!”

She rolled around on the bed, letting out a completely unladylike groan that didn’t match her refined appearance at all.

She looked like a completely different person from the calm figure she had been the night before. Because she had sworn never to let anyone discover she was a girl, she always forced herself to stay composed in front of others.

But now, alone, it was different.

“…I lost.”

The words slipped out in a feminine tone.

Karin had never truly wanted to become a boy, so when she was by herself, she naturally returned to her normal way of speaking.

“To think I’d lose to someone like that!”

Even though it had been called her victory, anyone could see that she had lost that duel. The moment her leg was cut, the outcome had already been decided. If he had struck her body then, she wouldn’t be standing here now. Even the wound on her leg was nothing more than a shallow cut that wouldn’t even leave a scar.

Frustrating.

Not even being treated as a proper opponent, why did that feel so frustrating?

That gray-haired man… his name was Cendrillon, right?

That roundabout way of speaking. That mocking gaze. That attitude like he was looking down on her… and on top of that, he was a coward.

“…To lose to someone like that… I guess I’m still not good enough…”

Her confidence, which had been so firm until now, began to waver.

After all, up until now, as long as she used the “magic of courage” taught to her by that knight, she never lost, no matter the opponent.

But the world really was vast. In a city like this, people of that level must be everywhere.

The fact that he held back and spared her was proof that her training was still lacking.

And on top of that…

he said she was beautiful.

Unforgivable.

To think about something like that in the middle of a duel, what kind of disgraceful knight was that?! Whether someone was beautiful or not, that kind of thing had nothing to do with it!

Karin grabbed the blanket, imagining it was that damn knight Cendrillon, and beat it repeatedly.

Only after venting her anger did she finally calm down and start thinking clearly.

Even if she had lost, her dream of becoming a knight would not waver.

Although she didn't  manage to meet Lord Dragignian, the very person who was supposed to introduce her, it still felt too early to give up.

After agonizing over it for a long time, Karin finally decided to go directly to visit the captain of the Magic Knight Corps, Lord Jervul. She had no introduction, but at this point, her only option was to explain her situation honestly and ask for permission to join.

Returning to the countryside was out of the question, but she also had no intention of drifting aimlessly around the capital. In the end… she would just have to face the difficulty head-on.

After worrying over various things, preparing herself, and thinking through how to explain everything, it was already nearing evening. If she didn’t hurry, it would be dark soon. Karin quickly rushed out of her room.

When she asked the innkeeper for the address of Lord Jervul’s residence, his eyes widened.

“Oh! A noble as beautiful as you?”

Thinking he was mocking her as some “pretty little kid,” Karin shot him an irritated look. The innkeeper, sensing that, said nothing more and simply gave her the directions.

Apparently, it was on Midsummer Street nearby.

Following the route she received, she soon found Lord Jervul’s estate. As expected of the royal guard entrusted with protecting the king, it was a large and imposing mansion.

She knocked nervously on the door.

No response.

She waited for a while, but no one came. Just as she began to wonder what was going on, a nobleman approached from behind, casually opened the door, and walked inside.

“…?”

Was this the kind of place people could just enter freely?

It was hard to imagine in the countryside, but perhaps things worked differently in the capital. Karin did the same, she opened the door and stepped inside.

A narrow courtyard lit by torches came into view, leading to the entrance hall. She knocked again. Still no response. However, she could hear noise from inside.

So someone was there.

Gathering her courage, she pushed the door open.

What greeted her was chaos.

A large group of men who looked like knights were gathered together, drinking heavily in broad daylight and shouting loudly. Every single one of them looked rough and ill-mannered.

What is this…? Some kind of party?

Lavish nobles holding banquets for days wasn’t unusual, but what was with these people? Listening closely, they weren’t even talking about anything important.

It was all love talk. Stories about flirting with maids, making promises with noble girls…

Karin frowned deeply. She hated this kind of talk.

She was infatuated… falling in love… Those weren’t things a knight should concern themselves with. A knight should devote themselves to the king and country, earn glory, and become a hero.

What could possibly be more important than that?

The men turned sharp eyes toward her.

“Well well! What a high-quality catch! What’s this, little lady? Playing dress-up as a knight?”

“This is not a game. I have come to apply for entry into the Magic Knight Corps.”

Her outdated, overly formal tone made the nobles burst out laughing.

“It’s a boy! Now this is a ridiculous applicant!”

“Sending someone who looks like a girl! This corps really is finished!”

Karin felt anger rise in her chest. If this weren’t the captain’s residence, she would’ve drawn her wand already.

“These must be knights from other units invited here…” she thought.

“May I meet the captain?”

“The acting captain is upstairs.”

One man jerked his chin lazily as if to say “go ahead.”

Karin went up the stairs and knocked on the door at the end.

“Come in.”

A young woman’s voice.

Karin hesitated for a moment. A secretary…?

She opened the door. Inside sat a woman in her early twenties, leaning on a large desk, staring straight at her.

Karin froze.

The room itself radiated with severity—tapestries depicting battles, multiple military wands mounted on the wall, shelves filled with medals and decorated hats.

It was unmistakably the room of a seasoned warrior.

But…The one sitting there was a young woman.

She had long, straight black hair and deep blue eyes. Her face was undeniably beautiful, but the aura she gave off was sharp, like a blade.

“…Wait.”

Was this the acting captain?

“I heard Lord Jervul was an elderly warrior…”

The woman brushed back her hair and looked at Karin coldly.

“Who are you?”

Her tone was blunt, almost rough, completely at odds with her appearance.

Straightening her posture, Karin answered.

“My name is Karin du Maillart.”

The situation was unexpected, but at the very least, the woman was sitting in the captain’s seat. Proper etiquette had to be observed.

“What is your business?”

“I have come from my homeland to apply for entry into the honorable Magic Knight Corps.”

The young woman said nothing. She simply stared at Karin.

One minute… two minutes…

Time passed in silence. That gaze, like she was being evaluated, was deeply uncomfortable.

She’s going to say I’m ridiculous… probably.

Showing up unannounced, without any recommendation… Karin, already timid by nature, began to grow extremely uneasy. Just as she was thinking she might not last without writing “courage” on her palm, the woman smiled.

“Very well. I’ll allow you to join.”

Karin’s mouth fell open.

“…What?”

“What is it?”

“What do you mean ‘what is it’?! You don’t even know who I— I mean, what kind of person I am!”

“Because you have a good face,” the woman replied flatly.

“…Excuse me, is that really all?”

One surprise after another, Karin could only stare at her in disbelief.

“It’s not just about beauty. You can tell a lot about a person from their face—what they’re thinking, what kind of person they are. It’s more reliable than some half-baked paperwork. Or… are you someone suspicious?”

“I’m not, but…”

“My name is Vivian du Jerval. I am acting captain in place of my father, who has fallen ill.”

It all happened far too easily.

And besides, weren’t women not allowed to join? That was why Karin had gone to such lengths to disguise herself as a man.

“I heard that women are not allowed to enlist.”

“I am the acting captain, not a regular member.”

It sounded like a flimsy excuse, but Karin had no authority to argue further. In any case, it seemed that women still weren’t permitted to join.

A bad feeling crept over her, and she spoke up.

“Lady Vivian, may I ask something?”

“Just call me Vivi.”

“That would be far too disrespectful! To address the acting captain so familiarly—”

“It’s fine.”

Vivian smiled. Karin had no choice but to comply.

“Th-then… Lady Vivi. I’m grateful, but… is it really alright to accept me so easily?”

“It’s nothing. We’re short on personnel right now. As long as there aren’t any major issues, we accept people.”

Short on personnel? What did that mean? The Magic Knight Corps was supposed to be the dream of every noble in the country.

“Of course, not just anyone can get in.”

…Really?

At this point, it felt like anyone who applied would be accepted. Otherwise, there was no way it would be this easy.

That uneasy feeling swelled inside Karin, threatening to overwhelm her.

Come to think of it…

“Um… the people on the first floor…”

“Our elite Magic Guards—the Griffin Squad.”

A bead of cold sweat ran down Karin’s forehead.

Something was clearly off. This Magic Knight Corps was nothing like what she had heard about.

B-but…

She recalled the noble figures of the Unicorn Squad, clad in pure white cloaks, and nodded to herself. Yes, there were units like that. And the Unicorn Squad still existed.

No matter what, she would find a way to join that distinguished unit.

Then, she could still become the knight she dreamed of.

“Now then, sign the enlistment form. According to regulations, you’ll start as a knight apprentice. Once you achieve notable merit, or after serving the required time, you can be formally recognized as a knight.”

Karin signed the document, filling in her date of birth, the name of the priest who witnessed her baptism, and the names of her father and grandfather. There was no field for gender.

She let out a quiet sigh of relief. Even though she had resolved to keep up the lie, putting it into writing still made her uneasy.

Then, as minimal proof of identity, she took out the letter of introduction she didn’t use.

Vivian glanced at it briefly and immediately put it away in a drawer. It seemed she had no interest in Karin’s background.

“Then report for duty starting tomorrow as a knight apprentice. You’re aware that there’s no pay during the training period, correct? Do you have enough money?”

“I still have about thirty gold coins left, the ones my father gave me.”

Karin answered honestly.

“In that case, even renting a room would be difficult.”

“Eh? Is that so? Back in the countryside…”

“I don’t know how things are in the countryside, but this is the capital of the kingdom Tristania. Even the most rundown room costs five gold coins a week.”

Karin’s face went pale.

Now that she thought about it, even the inn was quite expensive…

“Well, don’t worry. I’ll figure something out for your lodging and meals. Anything else?”

At that moment, Karin decided to voice her wish honestly.

“I’ve already received such generous treatment, so I hesitate to ask…”

“What is it?”

“I would like to be assigned to the Unicorn Squad.”

Vivian’s brow twitched slightly.

“The Unicorn Squad?”

“Yes.”

“That unit doesn’t exist in the Magic Knight Corps. We have the Manticore Squad, the Griffin Squad, and the Hippogriff Squad. That’s all, and each squad has a fixed number of members.”

Karin’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean? Just yesterday, I saw a unit of knights riding unicorns in the city.”

“A unit riding unicorns? Ah… that would be the personal guard of Duke Eustache.”

Duke Eustache.

The prime minister of the Tristain Kingdom, a man said to be a once-in-a-century political genius. Though still young, he was known to handle the affairs of the entire government.

Even Karin knew that much, so hearing that it was his personal guard came as a shock.

“The Duke’s personal guard?”

“That’s right. The one who assists His Majesty as prime minister, Duke Eustache. The unit assigned to protect him is the Unicorn Squad.”

So… that wasn’t the Magic Knight Corps at all? Then… didn’t everything already go wrong?

The Magic Knight Corps she had dreamed of was nothing like she imagined. And the knights she had admired with her own eyes… belonged to someone else entirely.

Sensing the subtle shift in Karin’s thoughts, Vivian smiled knowingly.

“You’re Karin, correct? I’m very grateful that a young and… beautiful noble like yourself has joined the Magic Knight Corps. As acting captain, I have high expectations for you.”

“Th-thank you very much.”

“Right now, the Corps is in a rather difficult situation… though that’s not something I should be telling you. In any case, do your best. That’s all.”

At this point, there was no way she could say something like “I quit.”

It seemed that this Corps possessed nothing but the remnants of past glory. At this rate, it probably didn’t hold a very good reputation in His Majesty’s eyes either…

Could she really become a great knight by joining a unit like this?

Karin’s misfortune didn’t end there.

Vivian suddenly called out:

“Cendrillon!”

“…Huh? What did she just say?”

The door to the adjoining room opened, and a man stepped inside.

“You called for me?”

Karin couldn’t help but let out a small cry.

“Y-you—!”

Standing there was the silver-haired young man, the very same Cendrillon she dueled the night before.

The anger that had been simmering inside her suddenly boiled over.

“Y-you…!”

This guy… this guy who made a fool out of her was actually a member of the Magic Knight Corps?!

“You! Why are you here?!”

Cendrillon’s eyes widened in surprise as well.

Watching the two of them, Vivian spoke with amusement:

“Oh? So you know each other? Even better. Cendrillon, this is Karin, he just joined us as a knight apprentice.”

“What?”

Cendrillon looked at the agitated Karin, clearly confused.

“And I’d like you to look after him. It seems he doesn’t have a place to stay, so let him lodge at your house for the time being.”

“I refuse.”

Cendrillon rejected the idea immediately.

If someone like that violent brat started living in his house, there was no telling what might happen.

Keeping her smile, Vivian turned to Cendrillon.

“Why?”

“Please listen. This Karin… how should I put it… If I’m being polite, he’s not exactly well-mannered.”

“Sounds like he’ll fit right in with you.”

“He won’t. My body won’t survive it.”

Cendrillon said flatly.

Vivian’s voice turned cold.

“This is an order.”

“That is the one thing I cannot obey.”

“Then I’ll dock your pay for insubordination. Normally, it would be a death sentence.”

It was like a spell.

Cendrillon’s shoulders slumped.

“…Understood. I will comply.”

“Good. Disobeying orders isn’t something a knight like you should be doing,” Vivian said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Karin panicked.

“I’ll find a way to rent a room! So please, anything but staying with this guy. No, at his place—”

“Rent a room? Didn’t I just say that’s impossible?”

“Then I’ll sleep in the stables!”

There’s no way I can live with a man! My identity will be exposed! And of all people, it has to be this Cendrillon?!

Vivian frowned slightly.

“I can’t have a noble sleeping in a stable. And this residence is already full.”

Karin cried out:

“Then please revoke my enlistment! I’ll gather money somehow and apply again later!”

“You do realize, you’ve already become a member of His Majesty’s guard. If you wish to leave, you’ll need His Majesty’s permission. If you leave by any other means…”

“…What happens?”

“You’ll be considered a deserter. Under normal circumstances, desertion is punishable by death. It would be such a shame for a promising young noble like yourself to be executed… but the law must be upheld.”

That was it.

Karin felt her last hope vanish. This Vivian… she was dangerous.

“Now then, Cendrillon. Why are you refusing?”

“Because I prefer living alone.”

“I know.” Vivian smiled.

“That’s precisely why I’m assigning this to you.”

Both Cendrillon and Karin slumped in defeat.

Vivian waved her hand dismissively.

“That’s all. Karin, ask Cendrillon for the details. You may go.”

Cendrillon’s home was on Chekton Street, near Lord Jervul’s estate. The entire walk back, he remained silent.

Only occasionally scratching his head in irritation.

Karin, on the other hand, was restless the whole way.

I have to live alone. That’s non-negotiable.

If she were to live with someone, her identity as a woman would inevitably be exposed.

And of all people… it had to be him.

The bitterness of last night’s defeat lingered in her mouth.

I actually lost to a guy like that…

“This is it.”

Cendrillon pointed at a building with a grocery shop on the first floor. Karin finally raised her head.

“Your place is a food shop?” She glanced at the goods on display.

Cendrillon shook his head.

“Of course not. I rent a room upstairs.”

It seemed the third floor of the building was where Sandurion was renting his room. Just as they started up the stairs, he muttered:

“Seriously… what a joke. Why do I have to take care of a violent maniac like you?”

Karin immediately snapped back.

“Who are you calling a maniac?”

“You, of course! You, with that drunken-looking pink hair!”

He pointed at her with his finger as he spoke, and Karin shook her head.

“I am not violent. If you want to say that, then what are you supposed to be? Holding back in a duel, who do you think you are? Th-that, that kind of attitude, treating people like fools… that is what makes me the most angry!”

“How could I possibly go all out against a child?”

Cendrillon said this with a troubled expression, and Karin immediately drew her wand.

“Y-you dare say that! Then this time I will definitely settle things with you! Last night I was simply careless! If I fight seriously, someone like you—”

Just as they were arguing, the shop owner, who had been weighing beans, spoke up. He was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes.

“Well now, young master, is this a guest?”

“…He will be staying at my place.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

The shop owner looked Karin up and down, then let out a sound of admiration.

“My, how beautiful! Even Lord Narcis would pale in comparison! What a waste that you are a man!”

Ugh…

Really, why does everyone have to praise my appearance like that? Being complimented for that does not make me happy at all.

I just want to be acknowledged as a knight as soon as possible. If that happens, this man, Cendrillon, will not keep treating me like a fool.

It seemed that Cendrillon had rented out the entire third floor. That said, there were not many rooms, just a living room and a bedroom, nothing more.

After entering the room, Cendrillon dropped himself into a chair. Karin looked around, but there were no other chairs.

As she stood there awkwardly, Cendrillon said with exasperation:

“You… do you not even know how to say ‘I will be in your care’?”

“I am not staying here because I want to. It is because of an order, so I have no choice but to comply.”

Karin replied in a trembling, angry voice. Though timid by nature, she was also quite competitive. She could not stand being looked down on by this man, there was no way she would bow her head to him.

Then Cendrillon spoke in a cold tone.

“Hey, kid. That is enough.”

“What! You dare call me a kid!”

“You are a kid, so I call you a kid. I do not know what backwater you came from, but did your parents not teach you even the slightest bit of manners? In a situation like this, no matter how much you dislike the other person, you are supposed to lower your head politely. Otherwise, you will never become a knight, nor even a proper adult.”

Ugh… Karin had no response. What Cendrillon said was completely correct. Reluctantly, she lowered her head.

“P-please take care of me, Lord Cendrillon.”

“You mean, ‘I will be in your care.’”

“I—I will be in your care.”

There was not the slightest trace of gratitude in her expression.

Cendrillon sighed and shook his head.

“Honestly, joining the Magic Guard at a time like this… You look like some sheltered young noble. Why would you even come to a unit like ours?”

“…Is it wrong to want to become a knight?”

“You must have read some hero stories, found them lacking, and decided you wanted to become one yourself, right?”

Mm… not entirely wrong. Karin’s face flushed red.

“Listen. I am not trying to harm you. Go back to the countryside tomorrow.”

Cendrillon waved his hand dismissively.

“What did you say?”

“I said, if you value your life, go back.”

He took a bottle of red wine from the shelf and poured himself a glass.

“Would that not count as desertion?”

“That is just meant to scare you. If a mere trainee runs away, no one will care. Honestly, Lady Vivi is causing trouble again, what is she thinking? Letting someone like you join… What is the point? Listen carefully, if you value your life, go back.”

Karin clenched her fists.

“Do not joke with me.”

“What did you say?”

“I said, do not joke with me. If I can become a knight, then I do not care what happens to my life. ”

Cendrillon shook his head. He had seen too many young nobles say things like that, only to die on the battlefield. Spirit was important, but…

“You saw it yourself, didn’t you? The state of the Magic Guard. I am not trying to frighten you.”

Right.

Why did the once-glorious Magic Guard end up like this, like some den of vagrants?

“It was not like this half a year ago. They were not exactly paragons of virtue, but there was still a group of reasonably decent people. But…”

Karin swallowed hard.

What Cendrillon was describing was something genuinely frightening.

“It all began when the commander, Lord Jervul, fell ill. After that, one by one, the captains of each squad started to die. There were all kinds of causes, some lost in duels, some were attacked by bandits while traveling, others were struck down by shadowy assassins who appeared out of nowhere…”

A bead of sweat slid down Karin’s forehead.

“From that point on, rumors began to spread, that the Magic Guard was cursed, that it was abandoned by the gods. And as if to prove those rumors true, misfortune started befalling the members as well—falling from horses, injuries during training. That much would be one thing, but there were even deaths. Some were attacked in the dead of night by unknown murders, others were killed in their sleep by thieves… the causes varied. In the end, those who had ability—or at least some sense—could not endure it any longer and left, one after another. And what remains is what you see now. There are not even a third of the original number left. At this rate, the unit will be disbanded, so they have reached a point where they accept anyone who volunteers. I am hardly in a position to criticize, but there really are a lot of strange people now. The reason you were able to join so easily is precisely because of that.”

“…………”

Seeing Karin fall silent, Cendrillon smiled.

“I am serious. Things have calmed down a bit recently, but those who left are not coming back. That is how it is.”

Karin felt as though she could not bear the fear.

What did that mean… would she be cursed too? Her face turned pale, and her legs began to tremble.

“What is it? Are you scared?”

“I am not. I am simply steadying myself.”

Karin quickly turned her back to him, traced the characters for “courage” on her left palm with her index finger, and licked it.

Then her mind settled… and courage welled up from withinю She already decided, on that day, to become a knight.

To become the greatest knight in the kingdom.

When she turned back again, she was no longer trembling. A bold smile appeared on her face.

“How interesting. So this is the adversity granted by the gods. Perhaps even this situation is part of it.”

Seeing Karin look around the room as she said that, Cendrillon shook his head.

“…Honestly. Courage and recklessness are not the same thing. Well, there is no point saying that to someone as young as you. You would not listen anyway.”

“And what about you, then?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Why are you still in the unit?”

“Because I have nowhere else to go.”

Cendrillon leaned back, resting his hands behind his head, and laughed.

“In any case, I will not give up. I absolutely will not.”

“I see. Then I will not try to stop you anymore. Do as you like.”

Saying that, Cendrillon stood up.

“What is it?”

“I am going to sleep.”

Just like that, ignoring her presence, he moved toward the bedroom. Karin hurriedly spoke up.

“Then where am I supposed to sleep?”

“Listen. Let me make one thing clear, I am not your father, and I am not your brother. I am only letting you stay here because of Lady Vivi’s request. Where you sleep is something you can figure out yourself.”

As he said that, Cendrillon began taking off his clothes. His bare chest came into view, and Karin immediately panicked.

“W-what are you doing?!”

“I am going to sleep, so I am taking off my clothes.”

With a look that said what are you talking about?, Cendrillon continued undressing. He looked slender, but his body was well-built.

“D-don’t undress in front of other people, you idiot!”

Karin’s face flushed bright red as she turned away. Cendrillon looked at her, puzzled.

“Aren’t we both men? What are you talking about?”

“Th-that may be true, but…”

At that moment, Karin suddenly realized something. If she was going to live here with Cendrillon, then that meant…

There was a real possibility that her body could be seen.

How could this be? This was a serious problem.

Karin, who had never once imagined being seen by a man, could not contain her emotions. Her face burned red.

The problem did not end there. The unease from earlier rose up in her mind once again.

If the fact that she was a woman were exposed… even if the Magic Guard was short on manpower, she would probably be expelled. No, she might even be thrown into prison. She already prepared herself for that possibility, but if it could be avoided, she wanted to avoid it.

Fortunately, her body was very slender, lacking the softness typical of women. As for her chest, honestly, it could be called flat. That was precisely why she had been able to pass as a boy like this, but…

If we live together in such a cramped room, it will definitely be exposed.

As Karin was worrying about this, Cendrillon continued taking off his clothes one by one.

Naked.

Na—ked!

“Do not take them off! Do not do it here! Go outside if you are going to undress!”

Panicking, Karin lunged at Cendrillon.

“H-hey! What are you doing!”

“I am begging you, do not undress in front of me!”

At that moment, Karin noticed it. Around Cendrillon’s abdomen, there were bandages, faintly stained with red, it was a fairly serious wound.

“Th-this… could it be from my magic yesterday?”

Although she unleashed her magic in anger after the duel, she had not intended to injure him this badly, and so she asked anxiously.

“Of course not. This is a wound I already had.”

At that, Karin realized. This man… he was not only holding back, he was fighting while injured! And even under those conditions, he demonstrated that level of skill with Blade. Contrary to his flippant attitude, he was actually a frighteningly capable fighter.

But at the same time, a surge of anger rose within her.

“So I lost to someone who was injured! It was not just that you held back! How can this be!”

The wind around her began to stir.

Not wanting a repeat of last night, Cendrillon quickly said,

“Hey, stop that! I already said that counts as your win. That should be enough, right?”

“Not at all! How long do you intend to make a fool of me!”

Without thinking, she lunged at him, ending up clinging tightly to his bare body, and Karin flushed bright red.

“D-do not come any closer! Let go of me, you idiot!”

“You are the one who jumped at me! Enough already! I am injured, you know!”

Karin lowered her head silently. Seeing that, Cendrillon looked at her in surprise.

“Wait… are you that type? A man who likes men…”

“N-no, it is not like that! It is just… I am not used to seeing other people’s bodies, or having mine seen…”

Mumbling excuses, Karin made Cendrillon stare at her in exasperation.

“You… and you still want to join the knights? If war breaks out, what do you plan to do?”

Having finished undressing, Cendrillon tossed his clothes onto a chair and took a set of sleepwear from the wardrobe.

Then he went into the bedroom and brought out a blanket.

“Here, use this. As for where you sleep, on the floor or on a chair, that is up to you. Though if you want my advice, go downstairs and grab some straw from the stable.”

With that, Cendrillon returned to the bedroom.

Karin stared at the worn-out blanket for a moment, then obediently went down to the stable and brought back a bundle of straw piled there.

The strong animal smell made her uncomfortable, but she had no choice but to spread it out in a corner of the living room. Then… after taking a deep breath, she took out her sleepwear from her luggage and groaned, clutching her head.

It was a frilly women’s nightgown, extravagantly decorated with ruffles. If she were seen wearing something like that, Cendrillon might faint on the spot.

“I might actually be an idiot…”

When preparing her things, she didn’t think about sleepwear at all. She had never intended to show it to anyone, so in that sense, it could not be helped…

In any case, there was no way she could sleep in that. But sleeping in her only set of knight’s clothes was also troublesome. If she did that, they would get wrinkled, and if she ever met someone of high standing in that state, it would leave a bad impression.

After thinking it over, Karin decided she would just sleep in her undershirt for now.

While telling herself that she would buy proper sleepwear first thing tomorrow, she carefully began to undress. Boots, jacket, then trousers… just as she was down to her undershirt, the bedroom door opened.

“Hey, Karin, before going to sleep you need to put out the candle on the table—whoa!”

Water from a pitcher splashed over him, and Cendrillon let out a shout.

“What are you doing!”

“D-do not come in when I am changing, you idiot!”

Karin quickly covered her body with both hands and let out a shout.

“What a strange person…”

Muttering that in exasperation, Cendrillon returned to the bedroom. Karin wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and collapsed onto the bundle of straw.

Then she closed her eyes.

She had finally joined the Magic Guard she had long admired… and yet, the road ahead already seemed difficult.

The Magic Guard itself appeared to have fallen into disarray, and she could not even live on her own.

In any case, no matter what, she had to find a way to become a full-fledged knight, Karin made that resolve firmly.

If she did, she would receive a salary, and she would be able to rent a room. Until then, she absolutely had to keep the fact that she was a woman hidden.

And then… what was with that man? The one she was forced to rely on—Cendrillon! There should be a limit to how much someone could mock another person!

Karin’s competitive nature made it impossible for her to accept being held back against. No matter how much she tried to forget it, she could not.

“One day, I will definitely defeat him.”

Completely…

Whispering that, her small body, already exhausted, was soon overtaken by deep sleep.

And so, just like that, the strange cohabitation between Karin, the cross-dressing knight trainee, and Cendrillon, the knight who disliked women, began.

Chapter 4 — Dormitory

The next morning…

When Karin opened her eyes, Cendrillon was already awake and eating breakfast.

“Mm… good morning.”

She said this as she started to get up, then suddenly remembered she was only wearing a thin undershirt. She quickly hugged the blanket to herself, letting out a muffled groan.

At that, Cendrillon merely glanced at her.

“Hey, listen.”

“What?”

“I want to change. Could you step outside for a moment?”

Cendrillon stood up. For a moment, it seemed like he was about to leave the room, but he did not. Instead, he walked step by step toward Karin and suddenly grabbed the blanket, trying to pull it away.

“What! What are you doing! Stop!”

Karin desperately clung to the blanket. Beneath it, she had nothing on but her undershirtno matter how flat her chest might be, if he saw her like that, her identity as a woman would be exposed.

Cendrillon folded his arms and looked down at her.

“How long do you plan on sleeping? What kind of subordinate wakes up later than their superior? I was lenient with you yesterday, but starting today, I will be strict. After all, you are still just a trainee.”

As he said that, he yanked the blanket away.

“Ugh!”

In that instant, Karin became as fast as a gust of wind.

The moment the blanket was pulled away, she snatched up the wand lying beside her and cast a wind spell.

“Whoa!”

The blanket wrapped itself around Cendrillon’s face. In a flash, Karin grabbed her folded clothes, dashed into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut.

Then, in barely five seconds, she changed. The buttons were not even fully fastened yet…

“Hey! What do you think you are doing!”

When Cendrillon opened the bedroom door, Karin had her back to him, frantically fastening her buttons. Once she finished, she turned around.

Her beautiful face was filled with anger.

But Cendrillon remained completely at ease in the face of it.

“I told you already, did I not? I do not like people seeing my body!”

“Oh, you did say that. But so what?”

“What do you mean, ‘so what’?”

She was a young girl, being seen like that was as embarrassing as death itself. But she could not say that out loud, and the frustration building inside Karin became unbearable.

“Th-then name your conditions!”

“My conditions?”

“Yes. From now on, when I am changing, you must absolutely not enter the room. In exchange, I will do anything.”

“Are you serious?”

Cendrillon looked exasperated for a moment, then immediately smiled.

“In that case, I will leave all the housework to you.”

“Housework?”

“Yes. Laundry, cleaning… and shopping as well.”

She had never done housework before, but there was no other choice.

“…All right.” Karin nodded.

When they arrived at Lord Jervul’s residence, it was already crowded early in the morning. Just like yesterday, a rough-looking group gathered, loudly chattering about trivial nonsense.

As Cendrillon and Karin entered the mansion, two familiar faces emerged from the crowd—Bacchus and Narcis.

“Hey, Cendrillon, I heard you are in charge of a trainee.”

As Bacchus said that, he noticed Karin behind him and widened his eyes.

“What? You are the trainee knight?”

“That is right.”

Karin crossed her arms and nodded.

Narcis also widened his eyes.

“H-hey… Cendrillon, are you serious? This one? You are not joking, are you?”

“…No. I wish it were a joke too, but it is not.”

“Speaking of which, brat. You sure ‘took care’ of me the other night.”

Bacchus stepped forward. Karin felt a bit intimidated, but she quickly licked her left hand and then spoke boldly.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

Thinking back, she did lose to Cendrillon, but not to this man. Besides, wasn’t he blown away beautifully by her wind magic the other night?

If this was her opponent, he was nothing.

Karin fixed Bacchus with an extremely cold stare. Being looked at like that by someone as overwhelmingly beautiful as her created a strange, irresistible pressure.

A bead of sweat ran down Bacchus’s forehead.

“Th-this is strange… really strange… why do I feel like this… I…”

Clutching his chest in distress, Bacchus suddenly dropped to his knees before Karin.

“Please allow me to serve you!”

This man, Bacchus, was someone with the rather troublesome ambition of wanting to become “a knight who serves a beautiful princess.” Cendrillon muttered dryly:

“Bacchus, this one is a boy.”

“Ah!” Bacchus snapped back to his senses and immediately stood up.

“That is right… hm. I do not know why I reacted like that… my training is still insufficient.”

“Rather than training, it is more like your brain capacity is insufficient, is it not?”

Karin said coldly, and Bacchus flushed red.

“Hey! You! Think about it, I am your superior! What’s  with that attitude!”

Though Bacchus shouted angrily, Karin did not change her expression at all. She already completely dismissed him.

She stared at him in silence. Her gaze was utterly cold, more like she was looking at a stray dog by the roadside, completely devoid of emotion. A strange silence filled the air. Before long, Bacchus seemed unable to endure it any longer, took a deep breath—

“Haahhh—!”, and once again dropped to his knees.

“Please allow me to serve you!”

“I told you, he is a boy.”

Cendrillon said with a troubled voice.

“Ah! What is happening… my body just moves on its own…”

“You are my friend, but sometimes I genuinely think it would be better if you were dead.”

Then Narcis shook his head in a somewhat alluring manner.

“I see… so now that you have joined, that means the Magic Guard now possesses the two most beautiful people in the history of Tristain. Of course, I am first, and you are second.”

“I do not care about rankings.”

“Anyway! That makes you one of us now! From here on out, let us get along! Boy!”

Laughing heartily, Bacchus threw an arm around Karin’s shoulders, as if he had completely forgotten being blown away by wind magic the other night.

“Your attitude changes quickly for someone after just one day…”

“Well, strong people are popular! They are reliable in battle and duels! Your wind magic was incredible! I was shocked!”

I see… he is a simple, good-natured person, though quite foolish, Karin thought, slightly revising her opinion of Bacchus.

“What a waste that you are a man! If you were a woman, I would immediately serve you! The heavens truly are cruel, to create such irony!”

As he said that, he looked at her with an oddly heated gaze. Being stared at like that by a dull-witted giant filled Karin with intense discomfort, and a faint killing intent stirred within her.

Then Narcis spoke again.

“Second place.”

“What do you mean?”

“Beauty.”

“I told you, I do not care about rankings.”

Hearing that, Narcis shook his head in frustration.

He, too, seemed rather simple at heart.

Karin glanced at Cendrillon. At some point, he moved away and was casually chatting with other members at a slight distance. That effortless composure irritated her for some reason.

He held back.

Just that alone was enough for Karin to be unable to forgive anything about him.

But… looking around, the hall of the mansion was packed with members. They said the numbers were decreasing, so why were there so many people here? As the royal guard, should they not normally be working in the city or out on assignments?

“There sure are a lot of people.”

As she muttered that, Bacchus laughed.

“Well, we have nothing to do, so we just kill time here.”

“Aren’t there various duties? Like guarding His Majesty…”

“Because of the reduced numbers, even the guard duties have been dismissed,” Narcis said with a sigh.

“What did you say?”

They were supposed to be the royal guard, yet it was as if they were told, “You are no longer needed to protect the king.” Was that really acceptable? In other words, the members who should have been stationed at the palace gathered here because they had no work to do.

“No wonder it is so crowded,” Karin muttered to herself.

“Then… who is in charge of guarding His Majesty?”

At that, Narcis and Bacchus both grew serious.

“…The Duke of Eustache’s personal guard.”

I see, the pure white Unicorn Corps is the one protecting the king… that certainly is a formation worthy of guarding His Majesty.

…I still want to join them.

She was lost in thought when—

“What is that look? Like you would rather be over there,” Bacchus teased.

“N-no, that is not the case,” she said, a bit flustered.

“Ah, those people are all just for show,” Narcis said as if he knew everything.

“You are talking about yourselves, are you not?”

“Anyway, that is why we just spend all day killing time. Ahh, is there nothing fun to do?”

“We really are bored.”

Karin muttered gloomily.

But only the official knights could afford to idle around. For Karin, who was merely a trainee, there were all sorts of chores waiting for her. First of all, she had to go to the stables behind the mansion to take care of the mounted beasts tied there.

The members of the Magic Guard each had their own mounts—manticores, hippogriffs, and griffins… If they were personal familiars, it would not be so troublesome, but ordinary riding beasts were a complete nightmare.

No matter how one looked at it, they were unruly, and up close, every single one had a ferocious appearance that made them frightening. When she brought them chunks of food, they would roar loudly and nearly bite Karin along with it.

After feeding them came the cleaning. Whether they wanted to play or something else, whenever Karin approached, the beasts would lick her, claw at her, and even try to bite her, leaving her completely disheveled.

In any case, taking care of these creatures was extremely troublesome. Karin hasn’t yet summoned her own familiar, but if she ever ended up with something like this, it would be a disaster. Just the cost of meat alone would be enormous. No wonder trainees were not given a salary, Karin thought.

After taking care of the beasts, next came cleaning the mansion.

Since she had been working alone the entire time, she asked Acting Captain Vivian whether there were no other trainees, and the answer was yes.

Apparently, it was because most could not endure the harsh life of a trainee and quickly quit. On top of that, the current state of the Magic Guard was very deplorable, as she saw.

It seemed she joined at quite a disastrous time.

And then, by evening…

Karin returned to Cendrillon’s room, completely exhausted, but more work was waiting for her.

She had all the housework to herself.

Since it was in exchange for the condition that he would leave the room when she changed, there was nothing she could do. But once she actually started doing it, she began to regret it. This deal really did not seem to worth it…

Since he lived here alone, the living room was not too bad, but the bedroom was terrible. First of all, between the bed and the wall there was a pile of unwashed clothes, like a small mountain.

She did not even want to touch them, but she had no choice but to endure it and carry them to the shared water area behind the building. However, she had never done laundry before and had no idea how to do it. Even poor nobles usually hired a few servants.

For now, she filled a bucket with water, threw the clothes in, let them soak, then took them out and wrung them dry. She was not entirely sure, but it should be something like that.

As she continued this process, she suddenly came across something outrageous, and her eyes shot wide open. Wrapping it in a towel, she rushed back into the room and shoved it at Cendrillon, who was sitting in a chair reading.

“Hey! You! What is this!”

Cendrillon glanced at it.

“Oh, it is just underwear,” he said casually.

“Do not make me wash something like this!”

Karin threw the undergarment at him. Cendrillon peeled it off his face and replied in an annoyed tone.

“It is laundry. Of course there is going to be underwear.”

“How am I supposed to wash that! I do not even want to touch it!”

“I accepted your condition. If you are a noble, then you should honor your word.”

At that, Karin had nothing she could say. Dejected, she took it back. However, there was no way she could wash something like that with her hands.

After casting a wind spell, she threw it into the water. That way, the clothes could be agitated and washed as they were spun around.

As she watched the clothes turning, her irritation gradually began to rise.

Why do I—Karin Désirée de Maillart—have to wash that man’s underwear…!

“He held back… He held back!”

“He—he insulted a sacred duel!”

“He trampled—trampled my pride into the ground, completely!”

“What the hell! Acting all superior! You are only four years older than me!”

Even as she shouted, her agitation did not settle, if anything, it only grew stronger. Karin’s frustration turned into pressure, whipping up into a gust of wind, until even the water in the bucket churned like a storm.

“Wah!”

She hurriedly weakened the spell, but it was already too late.

A shirt was torn apart.

“The shirt tore… but it is not my fault. It was already worn out.”

She reported it awkwardly, and Cendrillon’s expression immediately changed.

“Which shirt?”

Faced with that intensity, Karin instinctively shrank back. There was a faint sharpness hidden in those usually drowsy-looking eyes.

“…This one.”

When she reluctantly held up the torn shirt, Cendrillon seemed to relax.

“I see. Be more careful.”

He stood up, walked over to the wardrobe, checked inside, and took out a shirt. It was just a plain white one, nothing special, but he looked at it with clear care.

At that moment…

There was something warm in his distant, unfocused gaze. Karin could not help widening her eyes.

“…………”

After staring at the shirt for a while, he quietly put it back.

“The shirts in here do not need washing. I do not wear them anyway.”

“G-got it.”

Cendrillon sat back down and resumed reading. With nothing to do, Karin dropped onto the bundle of straw and watched him.

Where exactly was that strength hidden in this absent-minded man?

Cendrillon seemed to be quite the reader. In the living room stood three large bookshelves, all packed with difficult-looking books.

On the wall opposite the shelves was a fireplace, and above it was a wand on display. Just from its design, one could tell it was both old and expensive.

Sitting beneath it and reading, Cendrillon looked like a scholar. But the moment he picked up a wand, he became a first-rate fighter. Karin had personally realized that during their duel. Back in the countryside, there was no one that skilled.

He really was the ideal noble, refined in both intellect and martial ability…

That was the impression he gave off in silence.

And yet, he lived in this creaking, run-down place.

Just who was this man?

Karin found herself wondering.

About a week later, Karin had gradually grown used to living with Cendrillon, and had also managed to gather some of the things she needed.

First was sleepwear.

To save money, she hesitantly borrowed one of Cendrillon’s undershirts. Compared to her, it was far too large, hanging off her like a nightgown. She hated the idea of wearing that man’s clothes, but there was no alternative.

Next was a chair.

This one she brought from Lord Jervul’s residence, something that was already discarded. It was a small folding chair, probably meant for outdoor use, perhaps even for the battlefield. But for someone as small as Karin, it was more than enough.

And little by little, she began to understand what kind of person Cendrillon was.

Basically, he had no interest in other people. As long as Karin quietly did the housework, he would not say anything unnecessary, and as promised, he always left the room when she was changing.

Karin was grateful for that indifferent attitude. It was best that he did not pry into her affairs.

However, there were still three things that dissatisfied her.

The first was the food.

Karin was still growing, and if possible, she wanted to eat something better. But in this house, the meals consisted of nothing but hard bread and bean soup, day after day. At first, she wondered if it was some kind of bullying or mistreatment, but Cendrillon ate the same thing.

She had once asked him why.

The answer was simple.

“I do not have money.”

I see. There was nothing of value anywhere in this room.

Well, I guess I'll just have to accept it.

And the second thing was alcohol.

Cendrillon spent most of his time reading, but as he did, his hand would absentmindedly reach for the glass on the table.

Then he would bring it to his lips and drink.

While reading, he repeated that motion over and over again.

It was not wine, but a rather strong liquor. It seemed to be distilled from the leaves of some Yomongi tree, with a distinctive scent and color.

In any case, Cendrillon drank that strong liquor as if it was water. Bottles of the same brand were piled up on the shelf like a small mountain, and several empty ones were scattered in the corner.

When she saw him at the tavern before, he was drinking in the same way.

It was not the way someone drank for enjoyment. The more he drank, the more he fell silent, as if the world had already ended, pressing his thumb against his forehead with a troubled look.

Karin always thought drunkards were supposed to be loud and cheerful, so the way Cendrillon drank felt strangely unfamiliar to her.

As she stared at him, Cendrillon noticed her gaze and looked up.

“What?”

“Even if you do not have money for food, you still have money for alcohol?”

“Yes. Because this is a necessity.”

Is that not backwards? she thought, but he probably understood that himself. In simple terms, he just could not live without alcohol.

“You drink a lot.”

“Yes.”

Cendrillon answered plainly.

“You must like it.”

“Not really.”

It did not sound like something he enjoyed.

And then… before long, he would prop his elbow on the table and doze off. If he fell asleep in the living room, it would be troublesome, so Karin would help him up and carry him to the bedroom.

Every time she did that, she would think, why did I lose to someone like this? and feel deeply frustrated.

And finally, the last thing she disliked… was his attitude.

Cendrillon showed no interest in Karin at all. At first, he would scold her now and then, but at some point—perhaps he had given up—he stopped saying anything altogether.

It seemed he saw her as just a child and could not be bothered dealing with her. Karin could not forgive that attitude no matter what, and it always left her irritated.

Her worry about being exposed as a woman had lessened, so there should have been no reason to complain, but it still angered her. Even a drunk like him treated her like a child. Karin was filled with a humiliating sense of frustration.

And then, one day…

As usual, after laying the passed-out Cendrillon on the bed, Karin suddenly felt her hand being gently grasped.

“What—!”

Her heart jumped for a moment. It was the kind of grip one might use to hold a lover’s hand. And besides, it was the first time she had ever had her hand held by a man, her heart nearly leapt out of her throat.

But it seemed he was only half-asleep from the alcohol, and his grip quickly loosened. This guy… Karin trembled with anger.

What did he think he was doing, grabbing a girl’s hand like that!

She felt the urge to hit him, but since he usually did not pry into her affairs, she wanted to avoid being asked, “Why are you getting angry over something like this?”

Then she would just go back to the living room

“…Na.”

Cendrillon seemed to murmur something, then began snoring.

“…………”

I must have imagined it…

For a moment, it had sounded like he called her by her real name.

That could not be possible. There was no way Cendrillon could know it. In front of him, the name “Karina” was never once spoken.

Karin looked at his sleeping face. Sharp yet delicate features… he looked older, but he was only nineteen.

Why did he drink so much?

The question crossed her mind.

Was there some reason? Did it have something to do with that weary, world-worn air about him?

…No point thinking about it. It did not matter.

Karin crawled into her straw bed.

So this is what the knight’s life I dreamed of is like…

A faint sadness settled in her chest.

It was expected, but no one was kind to her. Everyone was strict, always pushing troublesome work onto her, and every day was filled with chores. There was no time at all for training.

It looks like days like this will go on forever… without even a single day to rest…

Images of her warm home in the countryside rose in her mind, her kind parents, her cheerful siblings… She almost started to cry, and Karin pinched her cheeks hard with her fingers.

She must not cry.

She left home with the resolve to become a knight. When she imagined herself in shining armor, riding a magnificent beast, for some reason the image that came to mind was the Unicorn Corps she saw before. If she was going to join anywhere, it had to be there… she could not help thinking that.

…Ah, I really need to earn some merit soon.

Or make a name for myself in a duel!

Once she became a knight, Cendrillon would surely stop treating her like a child. And when that happened, she would defeat him with everything she had. Imagining the look of frustration on his face, Karin let out a small, private laugh.

But…

Each day passed in the same dull routine.

No chances to earn merit, no events to make a name for herself—nothing happened at all.

Was she really going to remain stuck here like this…?

A sense of sadness crept over her.

However, that opportunity came sooner than she expected.

Chapter 5 — Four vs Four Duel

As usual, after finishing her work at Lord Jervul’s residence, Karin was resting in the hall when Bacchus and Narcis showed up, both looking unusually pleased. Their faces practically radiated happiness.

“You two look like you are in a good mood.”

“Of course we are! Today is the payday!”

The full knights received a stipend from the palace according to their rank. It was divided into twelve parts and paid out once a month on a fixed day. And today was that day.

“So we are heading out for a drink now. Want to come along? Cendrillon is coming too.”

At that moment, Cendrillon walked over.

“This one is not coming.”

He shut it down immediately, and Karin clenched her fists.

“Why not?” Bacchus asked in surprise.

“It is too early for drinking,” Cendrillon said flatly.

“I was already drinking a bottle a day when I was nine.”

“If he does not take a break now and then, he will collapse.”

With Bacchus and Narcis both speaking up for her, Karin straightened her posture as if to back them up.

Cendrillon glanced at her and muttered, “I suppose it cannot be helped.”

That one line filled Karin with joy, finally, she would get to eat something decent!

For the past week, all she had eaten was hard bread and bean soup, with a bit of dried meat, raw vegetables, and apples. That was it. It was not as if Cendrillon treated himself any differently, he simply had no interest in anything but alcohol, so his meals never changed.

Back in the countryside, at least the food was normal. Living like this was exhausting.

At last, something proper to eat! Just thinking about it made her smile.

The place the four of them went to was the same tavern Karin visited before, the “Breeze” tavern, which had once been Lord Dragignon’s residence.

Bacchus seemed particularly fond of the place, going on and on about the food.

“The mussels here are incredible. They say they are shipped from the northeastern sea using ice magic. Steamed in red wine, it’s so good your tongue melts.”

They were led to a table, and the dish was brought out right away.

“Here, Karin, try some.”

Bacchus urged her on.

She took a bite, and was stunned. He was right, it was so good it felt like her tongue would melt. The garlic and the taste of the sea blended perfectly, it was truly a fine dish.

“This is amazing!” she blurted out, and Narcis smiled.

“So Cendrillon has not been feeding you properly, has he?”

“That man only cares about alcohol. What a strange person.”

Karin glanced at Cendrillon. He did not touch the food at all and continued drinking silently. Even with something this good right in front of him… she could not help feeling exasperated.

Bacchus downed his wine in one gulp and laughed heartily.

“And on top of that, he hates women! The two greatest pleasures in life—women and good food—and he enjoys neither. Honestly, it is unbelievable!”

Even when he was told that, Cendrillon showed no reaction.

As the alcohol went down, the atmosphere gradually grew livelier.

Bacchus burst into loud laughter and began bragging about his exploits—stories of duels he had won, nobles he had defeated, things like that. Some of the names he mentioned were well-known, which surprised Karin.

Narcis was not about to lose either. His stories were all about romance—being pursued by some noble lady, spending the night with some young noblewoman… the kind of talk that made one dizzy just listening.

After they finished, they turned to Cendrillon for his opinion, and he would always reply the same way:

“Impressive. That is quite something.”

That alone was enough to please them, and they only grew more enthusiastic.

Karin leaned closer to Cendrillon and asked quietly,

“Are those stories true?”

Cendrillon answered in a low voice:

“They are, more or less. Just replace ‘marquises and counts’ with street thugs, and ‘duchesses and noble ladies’ with women off the street.”

I see… so they have been embellishing quite a bit.

Still, since the two of them were clearly enjoying themselves, Karin found herself enjoying it too, regardless of how true it was.

“So, Karin! I am strong, right?”

“You are a pervert, though.”

“Karin, now you understand, do you not? I am the most beautiful man in the history of the Magic Guard.”

“Your taste is terrible, though.”

Even though she kept replying sharply, the two of them were too drunk to notice. “I see, I see, you are a good one!” they said, urging her to eat more. They were not listening at all, but thanks to that, Karin was able to fill herself with food.

“Why are you two so close?”

Karin voiced the question that was on her mind. From the outside, the three of them had completely different personalities and appearances, yet they got along like brothers.

“We just clicked,” Bacchus said.

“At first, we could not stand each other, though,” Narcis added.

When Karin asked their ages, she was surprised to learn that both of them were still under twenty, they were only eighteen.

Setting Narcis aside, Bacchus did not look eighteen at all. When she said that honestly, Bacchus puffed out his chest and replied, “That is just because of the difference in experience.”

While they were enjoying their meal, the door to the tavern opened, and a group of four splendid knights dressed in pure white entered.

A hush fell over the place. Karin stared at them and immediately recognized them as the Unicorn Corps saw before. Seeing them up close, their appearance was truly dazzling.

In contrast to the Magic Guard, whose outfits were all mismatched except for their black cloaks, their white uniforms were perfectly unified, as if they stepped out of a painting. Their wands were sheathed in scabbards woven with gemstones and silver chains. Karin could not take her eyes off them, completely captivated, but Bacchus and Narcis both wore bitter expressions.

What was going on? As she wondered, one of the Unicorn Corps members who had taken a seat spoke up.

“Hey, it smells in here.”

He was a young man, about the same age as Karin and the others. The other knights nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, it smells like mold.”

The innkeeper rushed over and bowed his head.

“I do not notice any particular smell… If there is anything lacking in our service, I humbly ask for your forgiveness.”

“Oh, it is not the tavern’s fault,” the knight said lightly. “It is certain customers.”

That line made Bacchus’s face change instantly. He rose with a low growl, but Cendrillon stopped him.

“It is not worth it.”

“But—”

Karin could feel that something was off.

“Our guests here are all fine people…” the innkeeper said nervously, wiping sweat from his brow. The Unicorn Corps were clearly important patrons, but he could not afford to anger the others either.

“Fine people? Perhaps. To be dismissed from guarding His Majesty and still walk around like that… yes, that is quite impressive.”

Narcis placed a hand on his wand and moved as if to stand, but once again Cendrillon stopped him.

“Ignore them.”

“But we cannot just sit here and take that!”

Cendrillon, however, remained unconcerned.

“Did not Lady Viviane already warn us to behave? We just had a clash with the Germanians recently, did we not?”

I see… So the Magic Guard and the Unicorn Corps, who served as the Duke of Eustache’s personal guard, did not get along. Come to think of it, the Unicorn Corps had been assigned to protect the king, which meant the Magic Guard had been pushed aside and mocked for it.

“Look at those black cloaks! It is hard to believe nobles once admired them. They look like crows!”

Karin felt anger rising. What kind of Unicorn Corps is this? Just a flashy name… she thought, though she did not have the courage to say it aloud.

The Unicorn Corps knights grew increasingly brazen.

“Throw those people out,” one of them told the innkeeper. “It ruins the meal.”

Both sides were nobles, and the innkeeper was at a complete loss.

“P-please, have mercy…” he pleaded, bowing again and again. One of the knights, apparently irritated by the sight, kicked him hard, and a loud crash echoed through the tavern.

That was enough.

Karin quickly wrote “courage” on her palm with her finger and made a motion as if swallowing it. Then she stood up and pointed straight at them.

“Do you call yourselves nobles?”

“Who is this?” the knights said, looking at her in surprise.

“Karin, stop,” Cendrillon said.

“Why should I stop? Does it not anger you? They are mocking you!”

Cendrillon replied calmly,

“If we cause trouble again, our pay will be cut.”

“Are we not already poor enough? What is there left to worry about?”

Cendrillon answered seriously,

“I would not be able to afford alcohol.”

Karin stared at him in disbelief.

“You… is alcohol all you think about?!”

She shook off his hand and glared fiercely at the knights, who were sneering at her.

These were the Unicorn Corps she had once admired? Her disillusionment turned into burning anger. To think she had believed people like this were admirable…!

“Who is this kid?”

“Just a child, is he not?”

“So the Magic Guard has fallen so far that even children can join!”

The knights burst into laughter.

Karin’s expression changed. Her eyes sharpened, and her body began to tremble slightly. The air around her stirred, turning into a wind that wrapped around her.

“What is this? Too scared to say it to my face? I thought so. You are cowards, rotten people who can only whisper insults from a distance like women!”

“…Cowards.”

At that word, the laughter stopped.

The innkeeper, realizing he could do nothing, had already retreated, and the other customers sat in silence, sensing the tension.

One man stood up. He was a large man, not quite Bacchus’s size, but still imposing. Under his arm he carried a wand as large as a spear. His face was flat, almost snake-like.

“Oh? So you are hiding behind a child now. It has been a while.”

“Hey, that is Angelo,” Bacchus muttered.

“You are right,” Narcis said in surprise.

“Who is that?” Karin asked.

“He used to be in our unit,” Bacchus explained. “But he caused too much trouble and got kicked out… Looks like he joined the Unicorn Corps. Clever bastard.”

“So, a traitor,” Karin said.

“But he is strong,” Bacchus added quietly. “Be careful.”

Karin’s eyes grew even sharper.

“The Magic Guard really has fallen,” Angelo sneered. “All that is left are fools like you and children. No wonder it is headed for dissolution.”

The knights burst into laughter again.

“Shut up, you traitor. You will get what is coming to you.”

At last, Karin’s hand moved to her wand.

“Hey. If you draw that, even a child will not be forgiven.”

In the suddenly silent tavern, the knight’s voice echoed.

Cendrillon grabbed Karin’s wrist.

“That is enough, Karin.”

“Let go!”

He tried to stop her from causing a scene, but another hand intervened.

“Do not stop him, Cendrillon. He is right. Those people are unforgivable.”

It was Bacchus. Narcis also stood, placing a hand on his wand.

“There are things more important than a pay cut.”

“I challenge you to a duel,” Karin declared, drawing her wand.

For a moment, even the fear in the tavern was forgotten. All eyes were drawn to her poised figure. She stood there with such dignity, it was almost beautiful.

Bacchus and Narcis stepped forward, taking positions at her sides.

“I will issue a challenge as well.”

“As will I.”

The Unicorn Corps members rose to their feet.

“Four on your side, four on ours. Very well, we accept.”

Cendrillon stood up with a weary expression.

“…What a pain. Lady Viviane is going to scold us again.”

Both groups made their way to the courtyard of Saint Christophe Monastery, the same place as before. At this hour, few people passed by, making it an ideal location for a duel.

They stood facing each other at a distance of about fifteen paces.

Bacchus, Narcis, and Karin glared at the Unicorn Corps, ready for battle.

Cendrillon, on the other hand, stood slightly behind them, arms folded, looking thoroughly annoyed.

“Then let us begin. Let me remind you, it was you who issued the challenge. If you die, you have only yourselves to blame,” Angelo said.

Karin stepped forward slowly.

“Enough talk. Come at me.”

“For a child, you have quite the presence. I would enjoy teaching you a lesson, but… my opponent is him— Cendrillon!”

Angelo pointed his wand toward Cendrillon, who stood at the back looking bored.

“I have disliked you for a long time. Always acting so high and mighty! Today, I will send you to your grave.”

He raised his spear-like wand.

Cendrillon was about to sigh and say “What a pain,” when Karin stopped him.

“Hm?”

“I am your opponent!”

“You cannot beat him,” Cendrillon said.

But Karin had already raised her wand and rushed forward. Thanks to the courage spell, she felt invincible. If she defeated Angelo, then Cendrillon would finally stop treating her like a child.

“Right! After Karin!”

Bacchus and Narcis followed.

Angelo clicked his tongue and swung his wand. A massive sphere of air surged forward, threatening to engulf Karin.

But in an instant, she leapt upward, evading it, and came down from above with her wand imbued with “Blade.”

“She is fast!”

Her relentless assault forced Angelo onto the defensive.

At the same time, Bacchus and Narcis engaged their own opponents.

The battle unfolded in dazzling exchanges.

Cendrillon let out a sigh, drew his wand, and faced his opponent, a young man with a dull expression.

Without even stating his name, the man launched a spell. It was water magic, just like Cendrillon’s. In a place without natural water, one had to draw upon moisture in the air.

Several ice arrows shot toward him. Cendrillon, looking annoyed, cast “Blade” and deftly knocked them aside.

The first to finish was Narcis, who specialized in earth magic.

His opponent raised several golems from the ground. Narcis smiled and cast his own summoning spell.

But his golem was not made of earth.

A shining golden figure appeared.

“My Golden Lady! Crush them!”

The three-shaku-tall golem, shaped like a noblewoman, wielded a fan and effortlessly destroyed every earthen golem.

Seeing his constructs annihilated, the opponent immediately raised both hands in surrender.

“Ha! How is that? My Golden Lady! A noblewoman of pure gold!”

“Pure gold? That is brass,” Cendrillon muttered under his breath, then moved.

His own duel ended quickly. With “Blade,” he closed in, his opponent responding in kind. But against a master, it was hopeless. Within three exchanges, the opponent was pushed to the brink.

One more strike would end it.

Cendrillon feinted, thrusting toward the body to force a block, intending to follow up with a strike to the wrist.

That should have decided it.

But instead, the opponent did something unexpected, he leaned forward, completely unguarded.

“You idiot!”

Cendrillon’s strike pierced his chest.

It drove deep into the heart. A fatal blow.

“Damn it… I messed up.”

At that moment, the man, expression unchanged, swung his wand.

“What?”

Cendrillon jumped back. The knight, with a hole in his chest, suddenly sprinted away and vanished into the darkness.

“…What was that?”

There was no mistake, his wand had pierced the man’s heart. Yet the man had moved as if nothing had happened. Even water magic, which governs the body, could not do that.

Cendrillon stood there, stunned.

Bacchus finished next. His opponent, a fire user, was badly burned, and though Bacchus himself was scorched, the other man could not endure it and surrendered.

Bacchus crossed his arms, glaring down at him.

That left Karin.

Angelo was strong. His wind magic, manipulated with surprising finesse for such a large man, sent blades of air slicing toward her. But Karin’s “Gale” was overwhelming, scattering every attack. She toyed with him in the air, using her superior mobility.

Covered in cuts, Angelo finally dropped to one knee.

“Is it over?” Karin asked.

“Not yet!”

Driven into a corner by someone who looked like a child, Angelo’s eyes were bloodshot with frustration.

Certain of her victory, Karin surged forward, her wand wrapped in “Blade.”

But she made a mistake.

“What?!”

Assuming he would only use wind, she had not expected earth magic.

A hand of soil burst from the ground and seized her leg. Angelo, it seemed, could use a bit of earth magic as well.

“Fool! A child like you knows nothing of tactics!”

A massive scythe of air came swinging toward her neck.

“This is bad—!”

At that instant, her courage vanished. The memory of the abyss she had nearly fallen into as a child overlapped with the image of the blade.

“I am going to die—!”

Then suddenly, the weight on her leg disappeared. She felt her body lifted, and then she was on the ground.

“Idiot! Do not get careless!”

Cendrillon.

“You—”

Angelo tried to continue, but the blood loss robbed him of strength. He staggered to his feet, only to collapse again.

Bacchus and Narcis cheered.

“Nice one, Karin!”

“You are incredible! You actually beat Angelo!”

But Karin only bit her lip in shame.

At the very end, she made another mistake. If not for Cendrillon, she would have died.

Beside her, Cendrillon glanced once, then seemed to lose interest, sinking into thought.

The defeated knights gathered around Angelo and began treating his wounds. It looked like his life had been saved. Finally, he let out a weak breath.

But even so, being defeated by someone younger than himself still seemed hard for him to accept; his face remained completely blank.

Bacchus and Narcis picked up their opponents’ wands, snapped them in half, and warned the knights, who were watching in frustration.

“Do not speak ill of the Magic Guard again.”

Karin, her face mixed with regret and the shame of being saved, lowered her head to Cendrillon.

“…Thank you. You saved me.”

But Cendrillon seemed distracted. Only when she spoke did he come back to himself, then he hurried over to Angelo, who was sitting there in a daze.

“Hey! Angelo!”

“…Hmph. What, come to mock me?”

“No! The guy who fought me, what was his name?”

“Oh, Pedro. What was that guy doing, running off like that?”

“Who exactly is he?”

“How should I know? He only joined recently. I am not even sure if that is his real name.”

That was not unusual. Many knights used false names to avoid bringing shame to their families. Cendrillon did the same, and so did Narcis and Bacchus. Even though Cendrillon was close with them, he did not know where they were from.

Cendrillon looked toward the direction where Pedro had disappeared and let out a sigh.

“Hey, what is wrong with you?” Karin asked, puzzled.

“That guy… I stabbed him straight through the chest… but he ran away like nothing happened.”

“Come on! That is impossible!”

“I am not lying. It is true.”

Cendrillon’s serious expression made the others look at each other. Bacchus patted him on the shoulder.

“You are just tired. It probably slipped past his side and looked like that.”

“…And besides, you always drink too much,” Narcis added.

Karin, clearly annoyed, spoke up as well.

“Right. That must be it.”

His complete disregard irritated her, even after he saved her.

“No, that is not it! I am telling you—it went straight through the center of his chest!”

He tried to explain, flustered, but no one listened.

Bacchus and Narcis threw their arms over each other’s shoulders and shouted:

“We are the proud Magic Guard! Oh—!”

“Alright! Let us gather the others and report our victory!”

Narcis shouted, and Bacchus immediately agreed. They picked up the captured wands and started off, with Karin following behind them.

“Hey! Wait for me! You idiots!”

Cendrillon hurried after them.

That night… the members of the Magic Guard were in high spirits over the long-awaited good news. Everyone had been craving a taste of victory. And the fact that their opponents had been the arrogant and detestable Unicorn Corps made it even more satisfying.

Among the stories, Karin’s performance as a trainee became the highlight. “You defeated Angelo! That is incredible!” they said, congratulating her and constantly raising their glasses in her honor.

In that way, Karin was welcomed by the Magic Guard and accepted as one of them.

But…No one believed what Cendrillon said.

Left with no choice, he sat alone and drank quietly.

And then… for some reason, the sensation of stabbing someone earlier that day brought back memories of the past. That “incident,” tucked away in the corner of his mind, began to surface again and again.

“…Damn it.”

He muttered as he kept drinking, but once awakened, the memory would not let him go. Before he knew it, he was completely drunk.

Karin, sipping her drink by herself, noticed Cendrillon had collapsed in a corner of the tavern.

“That guy…”

She felt a headache coming on. Even in a moment like this, he remained shut inside his own world. Looking at his face, a sense of frustration welled up inside her. He held back in their duel, and today, he saved her life.

She could not bring herself to celebrate with everyone else.

At least today… she was the one who lost.

She thought that as long as she used “courage,” there would be no opponent she could not defeat. But that was not true. She could not beat Cendrillon, and she could not beat Angelo.

With that realization, doubt crept into her heart.

…Could she really become a knight like this?

Even as those thoughts filled her mind, Cendrillon lay there, drunk and unconscious.

Karin walked over to Cendrillon and shook his shoulder.

“Hey, who falls asleep in a place like this? Wake up.”

“Mm…”

But he only groaned, as if uncomfortable.

If he threw up here, it would be a complete spectacle. Karin helped him up.

“Come on, let us get some air.”

Saying that, she led him outside.

In his drunken sleep, Cendrillon drifted back into the past.

In the forest of his hometown…

By the spring he loved, resting his head on “her” lap, basking in the sunlight. Strands of bright golden hair brushed against his face, and in his dream, Cendrillon smiled.

“Pierre, what is it? Does it tickle?”

Pierre was his real name, a name he had abandoned in the past… a name no one spoke anymore.

In the dream, he spoke to the golden-haired woman.

“Karinā, your hair is teasing me.”

“Karinā.”

His lover from long ago.

The only woman he had ever loved.

By coincidence, it was also the true name of the girl now calling herself Karin—but Cendrillon did not know that.

In his dreams, she was always wrapped in light. The woman who led him toward paradise, her skin carried a warmth like the sun itself.

In that hazy state, under her gentle, tender gaze, Cendrillon could think of nothing.

“Oh, it is not teasing. I am doing it on purpose.”

“Why?”

“So you will not forget that I am right here.”

Those words pierced his chest. He reached out, and “Karinā” gently took his hand. He lifted himself, drawing his lips closer to hers…

Karin led Cendrillon into a deserted alley. She did not want passersby to see a member of the Magic Guard in such a disgraceful state. Their reputation was bad enough already.

“Hey, get it together.”

She scolded him as he staggered. Honestly… why did this man have to drink so much?

He had so much ability… was he not just wasting it like this?

If only he drank less.

As she was thinking that, Cendrillon suddenly murmured:

“…na.”

Karin froze.

“Hey, what did you just say?”

She leaned closer, wanting to be sure. Her pink hair brushed against his cheek.

“…Karina.”

This time, she heard it clearly.

There was no mistake, he called her by her real name. Why? How did he know? As those thoughts ran through her mind, her heart began to race.

“How do you know that name—”

Just as she asked, Cendrillon suddenly grabbed her by the neck.

“Mm—!”

It took her a moment to understand what was happening.

His lips… were pressed against hers.

By the time she realized it, a full ten seconds had already passed.

Her lips felt sealed.

Sealed… by his lips.

What? A kiss? What was happening? Was she… being kissed?

The meaning of the word finally caught up with her and exploded in her mind. Her face burned.

A kiss… she was being kissed… no, more precisely—her first kiss was stolen.

It was the first kiss of her life. She had never imagined something like this would happen, and her thoughts spun into complete chaos.

Anyway—!

Now was not the time to blush or panic!

Karin twisted her body, trying to break free, but the more she struggled, the tighter Cendrillon held her, pressing her firmly against himself.

“Ughhhhhhhhh…!”

As expected of a man’s strength, if she could use magic it would be another matter, but as she was now, she could not escape at all. As she struggled, Cendrillon held her down with force and precision, then pushed her onto the ground.

“Stay by my side… always.”

Cendrillon said it with intense eyes. Struck by that gaze, Karin found herself nodding before she realized it.

But the next instant, understanding what that meant, she hurriedly shook her head.

“N-no… that did not count!”

In the dim alley, Cendrillon’s hand moved.

“—!”

Karin’s eyes went wide.

In his dream, Cendrillon lost himself in Karinā’s lips, hungrily deepening the kiss, his tongue tracing inside her mouth. It was a kiss so vivid and intense it hardly felt like a dream. Karinā’s lips responded just as fervently, her body seeming to try to slip free from his grasp.

When he finally pulled back, he murmured:

“Stay by my side… always.”

Karin’s body froze.

Cendrillon’s hand moved to Karinā’s chest—

—but there was no soft fullness. Only a flat, smooth plane.

“Karinā?”

The moment he said it, the haze of drunkenness shattered, and reality came rushing back.

“…Ka… Karin?”

Karin trembled beneath his hand—his housemate, the “boy” apprentice of the Magic Guard. All color drained from Cendrillon’s face.

“N-no way… I…”

Karin’s face trembled, on the verge of tears.

I messed up…!

Mistaking him for his past lover, he had kissed this “boy”… and even—

“My… my chest… you touched it…”

“I—I am sorry.”

“And… and you kissed me…”

Karin said, her voice shaking.

“I am really… sorry.”

This was bad. Even if it was a drunken mistake… it was still with a boy! No matter how beautiful he looked—he was still a boy!

Karin shoved Cendrillon away.

Then, clutching her chest, she ran off.

…This is bad. He must have been completely shocked.

I have to clear this up later.

But… what was that dream?

The memory of it lingered in his mind.

Cendrillon let out a long breath.

It felt too real.

“Karinā.”

That name carried so much within it—joy, despair… and a sin that refused to fade.

A sin he could never forget.

Something like a lump rose in his throat, making it hard to breathe.

Forgive me.

He whispered it, but knowing those words would never reach her only drove him deeper into despair. Cendrillon buried his face in his hands and let out a heavy sigh.

Chapter 6 - Philippe III and Grand Duke Eustache

Within the royal palace of Tristainia, the current king, Philip III, stared gloomily at the chessboard before him. A man in his late thirties, he possessed gleaming golden hair, carefully groomed beard, and a powerfully built frame befitting his epithet: the Hero King.

His sharply carved features resembled an ancient marble sculpture, radiating an imposing dignity.

The heroic figure who had once personally led an army and crushed the mighty Germanian forces upon the lands of La Valliere still remained unmistakable.

And yet, that face now lacked vitality.

His brows remained tightly furrowed as he occasionally nodded, pretending to listen to the words of the chancellor. In truth, however, not a single sentence carried meaning inside Philip III’s mind. The man’s speech flowed through one ear and out the other like the prayers of some foreign religion.

“Your Majesty, are you truly listening to what I am saying?”

The one who spoke was a narrow-eyed man with black hair slicked neatly backward, around twenty-five or twenty-six years of age.

Though he wore black clerical robes that made him resemble a priest, the military wand hanging from his waist and the sharpness in his gaze gave him the aura of a battlefield commander rather than a holy man. And upon closer inspection, every piece of clothing he wore was clearly a luxurious custom-made article. Even the silver-glimmering wand at his side was finer than the one possessed by the king himself.

This man was none other than Grand Duke Eustache, Chancellor of the Kingdom of Tristain.

“If there is anything Your Majesty finds questionable, I ask that you please say so openly.”

He bowed respectfully, his tone perfectly courteous.

“No matter whether I find something questionable or not, there is hardly any room for me to interrupt, is there?”

“How could Your Majesty say such a thing? You are the king of this nation.”

“The king? You mean me? A man whose only role is nodding approval at whatever policies you present is called a king?”

Philip spoke with open sarcasm, while Eustache merely smiled.

“Without the glory of Your Majesty, the kingdom could never prosper as it does. Especially not through the efforts of someone as insignificant as myself...”

The king grimaced bitterly at those words.

Philip III was an unparalleled warrior. Wand in hand, he could scatter armies single-handedly. Leading troops, he had never once known defeat. He was a Hero King destined to be recorded in the history of Halkeginia itself.

But Heaven withheld from him a talent for politics.

Under Philip III’s reign, the strength of Tristain had steadily declined year after year. Naturally so, when his policies consisted of little more than reckless improvisation: introducing laws on a whim, increasing taxes without foresight, even waging wars merely to preserve appearances...

And just as the fury of the people neared its breaking point.

The man who slammed the brakes on the kingdom’s collapse appeared. It was Eustache.

With astonishing dexterity, the Grand Duke took control of Tristain’s politics, diplomacy, and economy, carrying out reform after reform until the kingdom finally regained its former prosperity.

Yet none of that amused Philip III in the slightest.

The Hero King possessed pride worthy of his title.

But no matter what argument he raised, he could never outtalk Eustache. Eventually, their disputes had devolved into little more than childish sulking, and by now Philip scarcely even wished to voice opinions anymore.

Still, resentment lingered in his heart, leading him to occasional acts of childish rebellion. During gambling nights, for instance, he became absurdly competitive over cards. Or at ballroom festivals, he would try to outshine the Grand Duke.

Yet even if he managed to defeat Eustache in such trivial matters, the satisfaction lasted only moments before the inferiority returned once again.

“That is enough. Handle all political matters however you please. More importantly, it is your move.”

Philip III gestured toward the chessboard.

Eustache moved a piece with complete indifference, whereupon the king once more sank into thought.

“Your Majesty, there is another proposal I wish to present—”

“Stop dancing around it. Call it what it really is: an order.”

Philip snapped irritably.

Eustache narrowed his eyes. Though still young, his face possessed frightening sharpness.

“You wound me with such words... What I wished to discuss concerns the Unicorn Guard currently responsible for protecting Your Majesty.”

“Oh? That rigid bunch who act like templars? What about them?”

“I wish to offer them to Your Majesty.”

“What?”

Philip raised his head, only to shake it immediately with displeasure.

“No need.”

“And why is that?”

“I already have the Royal Mage Guard.”

“Is that not the force whose numbers now resemble a comb with missing teeth?”

“That is why they are currently being reorganized, or so I have been told. Once sufficient numbers have gathered again, I intend to return them to active guard duty. I have no need for a new royal guard.”

“I have heard the recruits consist mostly of thugs and street rabble. Frankly speaking, I often wonder whether a collection of criminals can truly serve as Your Majesty’s protectors. If they were dissolved entirely, the kingdom could even spare itself unnecessary expenses.”

Philip III’s brows tightened sharply.

He still held deep attachment toward the Royal Mage Guard that had protected him for so many years. It was a knightly order passed down from his ancestors, steeped in tradition. Furthermore, although its captain Jervul now lay ill, he had once been Philip’s own mentor in the art of the wand.

Disbanding them had never once crossed his mind.

“Do not be ridiculous! Listen well, Eustache. I will tolerate almost anything you say because I know well enough that you are smarter than I am. But the Royal Mage Guard is another matter entirely! Once their numbers recover, they will return to guard duty. On this point alone, I will never compromise.”

Grand Duke Eustache slowly shook his head.

“Even so... if they are to guard Your Majesty, they must be an elite force. Even after reorganization, there is no guarantee the old veterans will return. My Unicorn Guard, on the other hand, consists solely of carefully selected warriors. I understand Your Majesty’s attachment to the Royal Mage Guard, but if something were to happen to your safety, the consequences would be irreparable.”

Philip fell silent with a low grunt.

Everything Eustache said was correct.

And yet, his pride could not bear the thought of even his personal guard being manipulated at the Grand Duke’s whim.

“There is no need to worry. True warriors still remain among them.”

“Warriors, you say? Does Your Majesty know what members of the Royal Mage Guard did at an inn just the other day? They violently attacked innocent Germanians. To avoid causing an international incident, the Germanians reportedly did not even draw their wands. Truly pitiable. And yet your guards continued beating them regardless. Counting both serious and minor injuries, there were over ten victims. The ambassador has lodged severe protests.”

Philip stroked his beard with obvious annoyance.

“They have already been punished. I ordered their wages reduced. Besides, calling the Germanians innocent is nonsense. I heard they struck first.”

“Ah, well, these matters always become a matter of conflicting stories. Neither side ever admits fault. In any case, if your guard consists merely of violent men eager to brawl with foreigners, that is rather troubling...”

At that very moment, a young page burst into the chamber.

“Your Majesty! Terrible news!”

“What is it, Dipere?”

The page glanced nervously toward Eustache.

“There is no need to hesitate,” Philip said mockingly. “Even if you tried hiding something from the Chancellor, he would discover it soon enough anyway.”

Even such blatant sarcasm failed to disturb Eustache’s calm expression.

“T-Then I shall report it! It seems members of Your Majesty’s Royal Mage Guard have violently clashed with Grand Duke Eustache’s Unicorn Guard!”

“What?”

Philip III’s eyes widened in shock.

And for the first time, even Grand Duke Eustache’s brows drew sharply together.

“And then? What happened afterward? Which side won?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! It appears the Royal Mage Guard emerged victorious. Four against fourб and every one of them won! They even displayed the enemy wands they seized as trophies and held a celebration afterward!”

Light gradually returned to Philip III’s face, though he quickly forced himself back into a stern expression.

“Hmph! I see! But fighting against the personal guard of our greatly esteemed Chancellor is unacceptable! And holding a celebration afterward is even worse! Put a stop to it immediately! At once!”

Even so, the delight in his heart could not quite be concealed, and he kept sneaking glances toward Grand Duke Eustache.

“I see now, Chancellor. Perhaps you truly were correct after all! What an utterly troublesome group they are!”

The page seemed to grow more excited as well, puffing out his chest as though boasting about his own achievements while continuing the report.

“Yes! And among them was apparently a mere trainee boy! Yet he moved like the wind itself and even defeated Sir Angelo!”

“What? Angelo? I have heard he was an exceptional fighter!”

“That is exactly the case! And this youth may not even have reached fifteen years of age yet!”

Philip III could not help clapping his hands.

“What a splendid young man! He sounds exactly like I did in my youth!”

Then he turned toward Eustache with open pride still written across his face. The king seemed overwhelmingly delighted that his own royal guard defeated the Grand Duke’s elite force.

“Honestly, the Royal Mage Guard are nothing but violent brats who constantly cause trouble. But yes, I see it now—if they were weak, they could never hope to protect me. Just as you said earlier.”

Grand Duke Eustache lowered his head deeply, while Philip III turned toward Dipere.

“This troublesome bunch clearly requires personal discipline from me. Tomorrow, bring those brave warriors... no, those unruly ruffians before me. Understood?”

Dipere bowed and hurried out of the chamber at once, while Eustache himself also prepared to leave.

“Then, Your Majesty, it is nearly time for you to rest. I shall take my leave now...”

“Mm. Good work! Ah, Eustache—provide some compensation in my name to the wounded members of your guard. Tell them to rest well!”

Philip III said this with a broad smile.

After leaving the palace, Grand Duke Eustache stepped into the waiting carriage at the royal coach station. Heavy curtains covered the windows so that nobody could peer inside.

The carriage began moving silently the moment he sat down. Behind it rode two unicorn knights serving as escorts.

“Have you finished saying everything you needed to say?”

The woman seated opposite him spoke once they left the palace grounds.

She was a beautiful young woman around eighteen or nineteen years old. Her long golden hair fell in soft curls nearly to her waist. Gentle drooping eyes and soft, supple cheeks gave her an irresistibly warm charm.

Her full feminine figure was wrapped in black nun’s robes, and the overall image radiated maternal tenderness... like a saint stepping forth from a religious painting.

“Novelle, things have become troublesome. It seems the Royal Mage Guard actually won. That fool Angelo knew only how to boast.”

The woman called Novelle smiled sweetly. It was the sort of warm and gentle smile capable of capturing the heart of any man who saw it.

“My, just as I expected. Those three cannot really be dealt with through ordinary means.”

“So it is them again...”

“Yes, those same violent little troublemakers from before. There are hardly any spirited people left besides them anymore. As long as they remain, it will be difficult to completely uproot the Royal Mage Guard.”

Her expression resembled that of an older sister delighted by the exploits of her younger brothers.

“And the ‘puppet’ I borrowed from you turned out to be useless.”

“What?! You already deployed him? How impatient you are!”

A strange glimmer shone briefly in her eyes, causing Eustache to shake his head.

“Of course I did not reveal his true nature to anyone. I simply had him mixed into the ranks disguised as a knight. It was also meant as a form of experiment.”

“Honestly... I kept wondering how you intended to use him. Did I not already tell you? ‘Puppets’ are only effective when used in groups. Sending out a single one accomplishes nothing at all.”

“I know,” Eustache replied bitterly.

“But how marvelous! Men like them truly deserve to be called heroes!”

Novelle sounded genuinely delighted.

“You seem awfully fond of them.”

“Yes, I rather like them. Despite possessing such strength, they still stubbornly remain with the Royal Mage Guard instead of abandoning it. Everyone else fled long ago.”

“What incomprehensible fools. If they were merely a little more clever, they could live far better lives...”

“But is that not exactly what makes them charming? To ignore profit and loss for the sake of something more important. Men ought to be like that.”

Novelle laughed cheerfully.

“Still, it seems it is not only those three.”

“What do you mean?”

“There appears to be another—a trainee boy. Apparently he was the one who defeated Angelo.”

“My! What an extraordinary child! To defeat Sir Angelo... I would dearly love to meet him.”

Watching Novelle’s innocent delight, Eustache could only smile wryly.

“Honestly, sometimes I cannot tell which side you belong to.”

“What are you saying? Of course I stand on Your Grace’s side. Though enjoyment is an entirely separate matter... that is all.”

“This is not some game. In any case, the Unicorn Guard must become the official royal guard as quickly as possible.”

Eustache glanced sideways toward the woman beside him.

“I am an impatient man, Novelle. That is why I wish to entrust something to you.”

“I am not particularly good at staging ‘accidents’ or manipulating people into provoking riots and brawls, you know. I am not nearly clever enough for such things.”

For a brief moment, Novelle wore the innocent expression of an ordinary young woman while saying something utterly horrifying.

“There is no need to worry about details. We no longer have time. How you accomplish it is up to you, but failure is unacceptable.”

“Plans are always vulnerable to the whims of the god known as ‘disharmony.’ For humans to pursue perfection is rather beyond our place, don’t you think?”

“And yet, I know you can do it.”

Eustache spoke those words because he fully understood that the woman sitting before him was among the most terrifying individuals on the continent of Halkeginia.

“My, my... it seems I have been greatly overestimated.”

Novelle replied in a voice overflowing with delight.

Chapter 7 - Three Knights and Karin are Honoured with the Audience

The morning after Cendrillon and Karin dueled with Angelo and the Unicorn Guard, then ended up kissing after Cendrillon got completely drunk at the victory celebration…

Enduring a pounding headache, Cendrillon dragged himself into the living room. Last night, after a messenger from the palace arrived and forced the celebration to disperse, he returned home and immediately collapsed into bed.

In the living room, Karin silently gnawed on a piece of bread. Ever since what had happened the night before, she ignored everything Cendrillon tried to say.

“H-hey…”

Cendrillon awkwardly greeted her, while Karin bit her lip, fists clenched on her knees, cheeks slightly red.

This is bad… he thinks I am into men…

That was the misunderstanding Cendrillon arrived at. Well, after the way he acted last night, he could hardly blame her.

At any rate, he had to clear things up.

“Listen, Karin. I was really drunk last night. I am sorry for doing something so disrespectful to you.”

“…………”

Karin silently chewed her bread and turned her face away.

“It is true that I dislike women… but that does not mean I like men. I want you to understand that.”

After saying only that much, Cendrillon began eating his bread as well.

“Th-then…”

Karin asked in a trembling voice.

“Why would you do something like that to me?”

Cendrillon hesitated over how to answer. He had no intention of speaking about his former lover, much less admitting that he mistook the boy before him for the woman from his dreams.

“Well… I was drunk. For a moment, I mistook you for a woman.”

“…But you hate women, do you not?”

“That is true…”

“So actually you really like women after all. Liar.”

Cendrillon replied helplessly:

“…It is not that I like just anyone.”

Karin glanced at him and felt her face heating up again.

After all, he had suddenly done something like that to her. Of course she could not stop thinking about it.

And on top of that, he had touched her chest at the end. Unforgivable…!

But at the same time, the frustration of not being able to get angry openly irritated her even more. A man would not get angry over having his chest touched.

“Karina.”

Cendrillon had definitely said that name.

Could it be… that he really knew her true name?

If he knew, and liked her despite that, was that why he did such a thing?

But if that was true, then her identity as a woman had already been exposed… and surely he would have asked why she was pretending to be a boy.

Yet judging from his attitude, he did not seem to suspect her real identity at all.

So then… was it really another woman’s name?

The thought alone irritated her. Why am I even worrying about something like this? Whatever!

Karin turned away and left the room to head for duty.

“H-hey! I am coming too!”

A flustered Cendrillon hurried after her.

When the two of them arrived at Lord Jebal’s estate, something unexpected awaited them. Vivian suddenly summoned them over and informed them of something almost dreamlike.

“What did you say? His Majesty wishes to see us?”

Even Cendrillon sounded surprised. Beside him stood Bacchus and Narcis, who have also just arrived and been called in.

All of them wore tense expressions. That was only natural—a mere knight being personally summoned by King Philip III was an extremely rare thing.

“That is right. It seems he has something to say about last night’s incident.”

Karin’s face turned pale. Did they anger the king with their duel with the Grand Duke’s Unicorn Guard? Even Cendrillon looked confused.

Watching them, Vivian smiled bitterly.

“Honestly… this is why I told you all to behave yourselves.”

It was possible that everyone present would be punished because of what she had done. Karin stepped forward and declared loudly:

“The duel was proposed by me! The other three only became involved because of me! If there is blame to be placed, then place it on me alone!”

Vivian merely smiled.

“You can tell that directly to His Majesty. Honestly, do not stiffen up so much. What is done is done. I understand His Majesty’s temperament well enough, this might even turn out to be interesting.”

The four of them, together with Vivian, boarded a carriage sent from the palace and headed toward the royal court.

Karin could barely sit still. Her fate was about to be decided. If she displeased the king… wouldn’t everything come crashing down?

With a mixture of admiration and anxiety, Karin gazed at the royal palace she was seeing for the first time. Beyond the gates stretched a vast courtyard. The hedges and trees were  carefully trimmed into the shapes of knights and dragons, and at the center of the circular carriage court stood a fountain rhythmically spraying water into the air.

The palace itself towered overhead with overwhelming grandeur. Streams of water—deeply tied to the royal family of Tristain—flowed down the walls and connected with the fountain below.

A palace of water…

That was the impression Karin had.

After stepping out of the carriage, the four were not taken to an audience chamber, but instead guided to what seemed to be a back room near the attendants’ quarters.

Passing through a low doorway, they entered a space that resembled a hidden chamber. The walls were draped with layers of satin, and inside stood several chairs and a small desk. Everything was luxurious enough to belong within a palace.

Vivian looked perfectly calm, as though she was here many times before, while Karin felt as if her heart might leap from her chest.

In any case, her fate would be decided within the next few minutes. Even if she angered the king, she at least wanted to stand proudly before him, so she forced herself to straighten her posture.

Beside her, Bacchus and Narcis also looked extremely nervous, while Cendrillon wore the same sleepy expression he always did.

Then, suddenly, the moment arrived.

The satin curtain was drawn aside, and the king appeared.

For the first time in her life, Karin saw Philip III.

The figure of the “Hero King” she has always admired matched her imagination perfectly—a magnificent and imposingly handsome man. Behind him stood a young black-haired man in priestly robes, with a cold and severe expression.

Philip III slowly swept his sharp gaze across the four of them. That alone was enough to make Karin feel as if she might die from tension.

“Vivian, are these the troublesome little hooligans you spoke of? The violent criminals who beat up the poor Unicorn Guards?”

Philip III asked in a strong voice. It was slightly higher-pitched than Karin imagined. Just hearing those words made her feel as though she was cast straight into hell.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

After Vivian answered calmly, Philip III frowned.

“What audacious fools! To think that knights belonging to my royal guard would use violence against the Grand Duke’s honored retainers! Apologize to the Grand Duke at once and accept your punishment!”

Karin’s face went pale. She did anger the king!

But just as Cendrillon stepped forward, about to apologize, Karin remembered Vivian’s earlier words:

“Tell His Majesty directly.”

So Karin stopped him.

“Karin?”

Then, gathering her courage, she straightened her back proudly and declared:

“Please direct the punishment at me alone! I was the one who proposed the duel! The other three were only dragged into it because of me!”

At the sight of the beautiful young knight standing there so boldly, Philip III seemed barely able to contain himself. The strict mask he had been forcing onto his face cracked for a moment, and he let out an admiring exclamation.

“What an excellent young person! Well, Grand Duke, what do you think? Do you truly wish to punish such a splendid youth? Hmm? What is your opinion?”

At the word “Grand Duke,” Karin realized that the black-haired young noble before her was none other than Grand Duke Eustache, the Chancellor himself.

The two greatest men in the kingdom stood before her.

Karin bowed deeply to the Grand Duke.

“I sincerely apologize for injuring your guards.”

The Grand Duke gave a bored snort and turned his gaze away from Karin toward Philip III.

“I never intended to punish them in the first place. Interfering in quarrels between knights would only make me appear petty. Besides, was it not Your Majesty who summoned me here demanding apologies?”

“So then, we may call the matter settled, yes? Ah, I would never show favoritism simply because they are my own guards. One cannot set a good example that way.”

“As Your Majesty wishes. Now then, I still have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave.”

The Grand Duke departed coldly.

It seemed the danger passed, and Karin quietly pressed a hand to her chest in relief. Vivian, Bacchus, and the others looked much the same.

Then, the moment the Grand Duke disappeared from sight, Philip III’s attitude changed completely. Overflowing with excitement, he practically bounced around the room.

“Now then! My brave warriors! Tell me everything about the duel!”

He eagerly demanded every last detail.

Karin and the others were dumbfounded by the king’s sudden change in demeanor. The four of them described the duel, while Philip III repeatedly urged them to go into even greater detail.

Apparently, the king—who was constantly overshadowed by the Grand Duke—was absolutely delighted that his own royal guards defeated the Grand Duke’s retainers. His earlier anger had merely been an act. As he listened, it was as though memories of charging across battlefields in his youth had resurfaced, and he listened with the enthusiasm of a child.

The part he enjoyed most was Karin defeating Angelo.

“Ohhh! So it truly was you who defeated Angelo!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Though still young, this one possesses extraordinary mastery over wind magic. I heard he danced through the air while cutting Angelo to pieces…”

Vivian spoke as though she had witnessed it herself.

“I too excel in wind magic. I see now—truly the element of heroes.”

Receiving such praise from the king filled Karin with joy.

To think she would actually be praised by the king himself…

“Listen well, my brave warriors. I adore young nobles such as yourselves—strong, spirited, and loyal. From this day onward, continue to stand as my friends. I ask this of you.”

As he spoke, Philip III extended his hand to each of them. The honor of kissing the king’s hand was exceedingly rare, and the members of the Magic Guard nervously kissed the back of it one by one.

“You have all shown exceptional courage and loyalty to me. Therefore, accept this.”

Philip III summoned an attendant and personally handed Karin a leather pouch.

Inside was a heap of gold coins.

Karin bowed deeply.

“Well then… I still have matters to attend to… I must be going now. Ah, yes!”

Apparently remembering something, Philip III called for another attendant.

“Bring Mariana here.”

A young girl of around twelve or thirteen was soon led into the room. She had brilliant chestnut hair and large bright eyes. Yet at a glance, it was obvious she was no ordinary girl. Every movement carried the natural grace and gentleness of someone born to be served by others.

“Father, you called for me?”

The girl lifted her skirt and curtsied politely.

Standing beside Karin, Narcis murmured quietly:

“…Princess Mariana.”

Karin nearly let out a startled yelp. This girl was none other than Princess Marianna, the only daughter of Philip III, said to be showered with endless affection.

“...She’s truly beautiful.”

Bacchys spoke in a tone as if he were witnessing a dream. He looked ready to throw himself to the ground before her at any second, so Karin forcefully stomped on his foot.

Indeed, though she was only just about to turn thirteen, her beauty already stood far above others her age. The princess noticed the knights standing nearby and smiled.

“Father, who are these people?”

“They are the knights who will be serving as your guards starting today.”

At those words, the members of the squad exchanged stunned looks.

They were going to guard the princess?

“You are currently being reorganized anyway, are you not? I cannot yet assign you to serve as my own royal guard, but protecting the princess should pose no problem.”

Then he turned toward Marianna.

“My daughter, did you not say you wanted your own guards?”

“Yes! Because I really dislike that Eustache fellow, so naturally I dislike his guard corps too. Just having them come near me is unpleasant enough, and then they shamelessly ride unicorns on top of that! Besides, shouldn’t unicorns belong exclusively to me? Why would Father ever approve something like that?”

What a blunt princess.

Originally, unicorns were meant to be used only by princesses of the kingdom, generally for royal carriages and similar purposes. However, when Grand Duke Eustache established his personal guard corps, he requested permission from Philip III to use unicorns as riding beasts.

Considering the Grand Duke’s achievements, Philip III had little choice but to grant the request.

“There are various reasons for it. You will understand someday.”

“He’s such an unpleasant man!”

“You must not say such things so loudly. The Chancellor has done a great many things for me and for our kingdom.”

Marianna turned her gaze toward the knights.

The moment she noticed Karin, her cheeks gradually flushed red. Karin’s appearance, beautiful enough to resemble a remarkably handsome young nobleman, seemed to capture Marianna’s heart instantly.

Walking up close to Karin, Marianna tilted her head slightly.

It was a gesture meaning: State your name.

“My name is Karin Désirée de Maillart. It is the greatest honor to be entrusted with the protection of Your Highness.”

Karin spoke with utmost seriousness.

“How wonderful! So your name is Sir Karin? What a beautiful guardian knight! I’ve already taken a liking to you! Father, thank you very much!”

Marianna declared this with a radiant smile.

“But Karin is still only a trainee. Is it truly acceptable to entrust such an important duty to him?”

Vivian said this, and Philip III nodded.

“Did he not defeat Angelo? If he possesses the skill, what problem is there? If he serves well as the princess’s guard, he will surely rise quickly through the ranks. Before long, he should become a proper knight. Work hard.”

Hearing such words from the king himself, Karin felt as though she might float into the sky. At that moment, it felt as though a glorious future was already decided for her.

“Y-Yes! I would gladly give my life for this duty!”

“M-M-M-My name is Bacchus! Thank you so much for this supreme honor!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Bacchus could no longer contain himself and dropped to his knees at the princess’s feet, tears already streaming down his face. Most people would probably have been frightened by such behavior, yet Marianna, worthy of being a princess of an entire kingdom, merely smiled calmly.

“I look forward to working with you,” she said.

Chapter 8 — Cendrillon’s past

Ever since being assigned to guard Princess Marianna, Karin’s arrogance had reached unbearable levels.

After all, the Royal Mage Guard still stood on the verge of dissolution, and because of that, the other members constantly praised and flattered him. Karin herself seemed to enjoy the treatment, gradually carrying herself with ever greater confidence.

Cendrillon, however, could not help feeling uneasy about it all.

Certainly, Karin possessed remarkable talent, and her judgment in battle was excellent.

But… the inexperience that came with youth gave off an unmistakably dangerous feeling. It was the same during their duel, and the same during the fight with Angelo.

If I didn’t save him back then, he would already be dead.

And there was something else that bothered him.

Before every duel, Karin would always lick the palm of his left hand. The moment she finished that motion, the trembling appropriate for someone her age would vanish instantly, replaced by eerie calmness.

Cendrillon had no idea what kind of spell it might be, yet the gesture lingered unpleasantly in his mind.

In any case, so far the guard duty itself did not involve any real danger. Once they reached the palace, all they really did was trail after the princess wherever she pleased.

There were no signs of imminent war, and thanks to Grand Duke Eustache’s political skill, the citizens showed little unrest. There was no particular danger to speak of, and yet…

Today as well, Princess Marianna specifically requested Karin accompany her on a walk through town. The princess seemed extremely fond of sneaking out incognito.

Accompanied by only a handful of guards, she wandered aimlessly through the streets. She was remarkably good at disguises too—dressed as an ordinary street girl and with her hairstyle changed, she looked exactly like a native child of Tristainia.

Cendrillon and Karin followed several paces behind her. Meanwhile, the princess darted around restlessly like a puppy, constantly making them nervous.

Suddenly, Marianna tried to enter a particularly unsavory-looking area, prompting Cendrillon to step closer and whisper quietly into her ear.

“Your Highness, this is not exactly a respectable district, so…”

But Marianna merely smiled and grabbed Karin by the wrist.

“With Karin here, there is nothing to worry about.”

“Hm?”

Marianna looked up at Karin with innocent eyes.

“No matter what kind of enemy appears, Karin will defeat them all, won’t he?”

Karin puffed out her chest proudly.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

After the mission ended, Cendrillon spoke to Karin with a bitter expression the moment they returned home.

“You need to stop getting carried away.”

“What do you mean?”

“What would you have done if something happened after bringing the princess into such a place?”

“There’s no way I’d lose to people like that.”

Karin answered stubbornly.

“Under normal circumstances, a mere knight apprentice would never be entrusted with guarding the princess. It’s better to remain cautious. Be careful.”

Hearing that, Karin lowered his head resentfully.

There was another source of unease weighing on Cendrillon’s mind.

The knight whose chest had been pierced during the duel with Angelo’s group, yet continued fighting as though nothing had happened. Nobody believed that story no matter how many times he told it. Afterward, he had even asked Lady Vivian to investigate the Unicorn Corps, but the knight named Pedro vanished completely after that night.

No matter how he thought about it, something was wrong.

Something bad was happening.

And yet if he spoke about it, everyone merely dismissed it as “the ramblings of a drunkard.” That frustrated him deeply.

Karin, meanwhile, found herself dissatisfied with Cendrillon for entirely different reasons.

For all the lofty things the man said, he was still just a drunkard. Worse, whenever he got drunk, he mistook Karin for someone named “Karina.”

Tonight, the same thing happened again.

As usual, by midnight Cendrillon became completely dead drunk, forcing Karin to drag him onto the bed.

And once again, Cendrillon murmured:

“...Karina…”

There he goes again.

Karin glared down at him coldly.

“Who exactly is that supposed to be?”

Me? Or someone else?

The question bothered her unbearably.

“Hey… why do you know that name?”

The demand slipped out before she could stop herself.

Then Cendrillon muttered softly:

“...I’m sorry…”

His face burning hot as he apologized.

“W-Why are you apologizing? Why do you know that name…?”

Karin tried to continue, only for her words to be abruptly cut short as Cendrillon nearly pressed their lips together.

Startled, Karin shoved him away.

“You… what exactly are you…”

“Forgive me…”

“Y-You idiot… if you’re going to apologize, then don’t do things like that.”

Karin’s voice trembled, but before she knew it, Cendrillon had already pulled her tightly into his arms.

“...Who exactly is Karina?”

There was no answer.

So that means… it really is me?

“W-Why are you doing this?”

The question escaped her again.

This infuriating man who treated her carelessly despite her incredible skill… this hopeless drunkard who acted as though everyone around him were fools…

And yet now he clung to Karin with the defenselessness of a child.

“...Do you know my true identity?”

“...I do.”

What? He knows?

Which meant her secret really had been exposed?

But how?

D-Don’t tell me…

Karin’s imagination immediately spiraled out of control.

The drunken Cendrillon, deeply curious about the gender of someone as beautiful as Karin…

Karin herself, fast asleep…

A hand quietly reaching over… pulling aside her clothes…

“...!”

Unforgivable.

“T-This… pervert… you degenerate man-eating monster…”

Karin trembled with fury. I’ll beat him senseless, freeze him solid, boil him alive with magic, tear him apart with wind spells—

Just as those thoughts filled her mind—

“Don’t leave… Please… it’s my fault…”

The near-tearful voice stopped Karin’s hand.

“D-Don’t say things like that in that sort of voice…”

A pathetic man with drunken, unfocused eyes.

Someone who once said he had “nowhere left to go.”

“...D-Don’t tell anyone… about me…”

Karin whispered that quietly, and Cendrillon nodded.

For some reason, seeing him behave with such childlike innocence caused Karin’s anger to fade.

And then suddenly, their lips met again.

Karin desperately tried to pull away, but Cendrillon was far too skilled at kissing. Every movement of his tongue gradually drained the strength from Karin’s body little by little.

Before long, all strength left him entirely, and Karin collapsed back against the bed.

“N-No…” she protested weakly, but Cendrillon’s body pressed down over her. Karin wanted to blast him away with magic, kick him off, punch him, yet her limbs refused to obey him.

Still, she absolutely did not want to be attacked like this. It wasn’t as though she liked Cendrillon or anything. Her body simply froze every time the man suddenly forced himself close like this.

Just as tears threatened to spill—

“Grrr…”

Snoring.

Cendrillon fell asleep directly on top of her.

Face burning bright red, Karin smacked Cendrillon on the head repeatedly, but the drunken man never even opened his eyes.

And once morning came, Cendrillon would inevitably forget everything that happened the night before. He probably had no awareness whatsoever that every night, once drunk, he ended up embracing Karin like he had during the victory celebration.

But had he truly discovered Karin’s real identity, and then unconsciously embraced her in his drunk state?

Or…

Was he really mistaking Karin for somebody else after all?

Unable to stop thinking about it, Karin finally decided to ask Bacchus and Narcis directly.

“Do either of you know someone named Karina?”

At Lady Vivian’s estate, Karin asked the question while Cendrillon was absent.

“Who’s that supposed to be?” Bacchus asked.

“...Every night, Cendrillon keeps saying that name.”

“Hm. Well, it sounds like a woman’s name, so it’s probably a woman, right?”

“That much is obvious.”

Then Narcis gave a more thoughtful answer.

“Maybe it’s the name of a woman from his past?”

“I-Is that so?”

Narcis tilted his head thoughtfully.

“Come to think of it, I vaguely remember hearing something about why he joined the Royal Mage Guard... Though he was drunk at the time, so he probably doesn’t even remember talking about it himself.”

“Tell me.”

Karin urged him on eagerly, and Narcis continued.

“Apparently, he was betrayed by the woman he was engaged to, and then ran away from home because of it... Though I don’t know the details.”

Hearing that, Karin clenched his fists.

What a pathetic man.

To think his reason for joining the Royal Mage Guard was getting dumped by a lover!

And this was the same man who lectured her about immaturity.

Then came the realization that “Karina” was not referring to her, but to another woman instead, and anger began welling up endlessly inside her. She had vaguely suspected as much already, but hearing it stated outright somehow made it far more infuriating.

If Cendrillon mistook her for another woman and because of that not only kissed her, but even touched her chest…

Unforgivable.

Because of such a misunderstanding, even her first kiss had been tainted!

No, wait. She had already decided long ago that she would never lose her head over something as foolish as romance, didn’t she? So why should something like a first kiss matter?

That was what her mind insisted.

And yet she was still furious.

But even if she confronted Cendrillon about it, what would happen?

Why are you angry? I already apologized for the kissing. Besides, you’re a man, aren’t you? Stop making such a big deal out of it.

Most likely, Cendrillon would just say something like that and end the conversation.

Once Karin imagined that, she found herself unable even to complain properly, left to silently stew in frustration alone.

While she was lost in those thoughts, Lady Vivian suddenly appeared and called out to them.

“Karin! Narcis! Bacchus! And Cendrillon too! Are you all here?!”

“Y-Yes!”

The three of them straightened immediately.

“A messenger from the princess has arrived. You are to accompany Her Highness to Deauville tomorrow.”

Deauville was a health resort near the sea, roughly three days away by horseback.

“Deauville? What for?” Bacchus asked.

“It seems to be a pleasure trip. Since Her Highness intends to travel incognito, you will not be using magical beasts. You will ride there on horseback instead. Command authority will belong to Cendrillon. Make sure he understands that. That is all.”

After relaying only those instructions, Vivian hurried away.

To be chosen as attendants on a royal journey!

That could only mean they were deeply trusted.

Karin felt excitement burning hot inside her chest.

After returning home and reporting the matter, the very first thing Cendrillon said was:

“Good. Since I’ll be commanding the mission, my first order is this: you stay behind.”

“W-What?! What did you just say?! Why?!”

“I already told you before, didn’t I? You still lack experience. On a short trip like this, guards must remain constantly alert. If something happens, it will already be too late.”

“I can handle guard duty perfectly well! Stop treating me like an idiot!”

“I’m not treating you like an idiot.”

Cendrillon answered in a troubled voice.

How am I supposed to explain this so this arrogant knight apprentice actually understands? he wondered bitterly.

In the end, he decided he had no choice but to speak plainly.

“I have a bad feeling.”

“A bad feeling?”

“Yes. That knight named Pedro... despite having his chest pierced through, he remained alive. And the Royal Mage Guard was weakened far too quickly afterward. I suspect the two things are connected somehow.”

Karin sighed in exasperation.

“I already told you, you were drunk—”

“No.”

Cendrillon interrupted her sharply.

“It wasn’t that. I wasn’t seeing things because I was drunk. Something is wrong. Someone is plotting something dangerous... To that man, the Royal Mage Guard is an obstacle. I’m certain of it. This is a conspiracy, and for someone still immature like you, the burden is too great.”

“So you expect me to just sit around and wait? Don’t make me laugh!”

At those words, Karin finally snapped.

Seriously, how long was this man going to keep treating her like a child?

Despite doing those kinds of things to her every night while drunk! Mistaking her for another woman!

“Tell me something—who exactly is the immature one here?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You. Do you even know what you do to me every night?”

Cendrillon’s face immediately paled.

“I already said I was sorry about that—”

“It wasn’t just the night of the celebration.”

Now his cheeks began turning red instead.

“You’re joking…”

“I’m not joking. It’s true. Though of course you probably don’t remember any of it because you’re always blackout drunk, you alcoholic!”

“S-Sorry…”

Cendrillon lowered his head in shame.

“You really do unbelievable things, you know. You hug me tightly like this, and your hands start moving around like this—”

The more Karin spoke, the angrier she became, until her entire body trembled.

“...Couldn’t you just resist?”

Cendrillon asked awkwardly.

“You’re way too strong!”

In reality, it was because her own body lost strength entirely, but saying that out loud felt like it would somehow ruin everything, so Karin deliberately kept silent.

And before she realized it, she got so emotional that she accidentally blurted out what Narcis had told him earlier.

“Honestly! Being unable to forget some woman from your past is what’s truly immature! Her name’s Karina, right?! Even after being betrayed, you’re still hopelessly attached to her!”

“Was it Narcis? That idiot talks too much…”

Cendrillon muttered tiredly.

“Seriously, just how badly were you betrayed? For you to still be this obsessed, it must have been something huge, right?”

Cendrillon let out a quiet sigh.

“She never betrayed me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was the one who betrayed her.”

“Then why not just apologize?”

“She’s no longer in this world.”

Karin fell completely silent.

“…………”

Cendrillon continued in a calm voice.

“Do you want to know why I keep feeling that you’re in danger whenever I look at you?”

“…………”

“Because you’re exactly like I used to be. Young. Convinced you can do anything. Believing there’s nothing in the world worth fearing. Thinking that as long as you have a ‘dream,’ anything is possible. I was exactly the same… right until that day.”

That day.

The day he lost Karina.

“Do you want to hear the story?”

Karin silently nodded.

And slowly, Cendrillon began speaking.

“When I was two years older than you are now, I had a lover named Karina.

I was the son of a territorial lord, while she traveled from place to place performing alongside her father.

Normally, a romance like that could never happen.

But I fell in love with her gentle smile and beautiful golden hair.

When I confessed my feelings, she accepted surprisingly quickly. Being a noble probably played some part in it, but that wasn’t all. She genuinely loved me too.

We began seeing each other, though ours was a forbidden relationship. Secretly… quietly… we would meet over and over again in the forest. It was a small and fragile love.

But something like that could never last forever.

Eventually our parents found out and tried to separate us. Being young and foolish, I decided to abandon everything and run away with her.

Naturally, they sent pursuers after us.

Nearly ten highly skilled knights.

There was no possible way for us to escape.

They caught up to us almost immediately.

And then… they seized her.”

At this point, Cendrillon clenched his fists tightly, his expression twisted with pain.

“One of the knights grabbed her arm, trying to drag her away. Several others surrounded me, leaving me unable to move. And I knew… if we were separated there, we would never see each other again.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, I began chanting a spell.

I was overflowing with confidence back then. After all, people praised me as some brilliant prodigy. Even from dozens of arses away, piercing the hand of the knight holding Karina with a magical arrow should have been effortless.

At least, that was what I believed at the time.

But it was nothing more than arrogance.

Was it because I was nervous? Because the pressure made me falter? At this point, I no longer know.

No… perhaps the truth is simply that I was immature.”

Cendrillon spoke in a low murmur, as though all emotion had long since been left somewhere far away.

“The magical arrow that was meant to pierce the knight’s hand instead pierced Karina through the chest.”

“It struck beautifully. Perfectly. Straight through. She died instantly. Even my beloved water magic could not save her.”

Karin stood there speechless while Cendrillon continued calmly.

“A man who killed the woman he loved with his own hands… does not even deserve the right to follow her in death. When I someday stand before her in Valhalla, how am I supposed to apologize?”

“And thus,” he added bitterly, “a man fit only to wander a dust-covered road through life was born.”

Karin bit down hard on her lip.

She could never have imagined that this careless, drifting man carried such a past inside him.

Cendrillon looked at her with complete seriousness.

“You really are extraordinary, Karin. I have never seen anyone use wind magic as skillfully as you do. But precisely because of that, I have to say this: act more carefully. Do not become arrogant. Courage and recklessness are not the same thing.”

I don’t understand.

Karin still felt like a child.

She could not truly comprehend Cendrillon’s pain or sorrow.

“To kill the person you love most with your own hands…”

What kind of feeling was that supposed to be?

Karin could not understand it.

She clenched her fists tightly.

And before she realized it, tears were already flowing from her eyes.

“...Take me with you too.”

Cendrillon let out a quiet sigh.

“Understood,” he said at last, gently patting Karin on the head.

“You really are kind, Karin. Someday you’ll become someone truly remarkable. But if things become dangerous, fall back immediately. You are to follow my orders. Understood?”

Karin nodded silently.

Chapter 9 — Confrontation at Deauville

Deauville was a small town with a population of only around two hundred people.

Originally, this lonely settlement by the sea survived only through gathering shellfish and fishing. But every summer, because of the ocean currents, the sea would begin shining with rainbow colors. Tourists wishing to witness the beautiful sight gathered there each year, bringing the town a modest amount of profit.

Now, with summer only just beginning, the townspeople were busy preparing the inns that operated exclusively during the warm season.

And during such a peaceful time, a man and woman suddenly appeared.

One was a tall, powerfully built nobleman.

The other was a young woman with dazzling golden hair dressed in nun’s robes.

The unusual pair drew curious stares from the townspeople as they walked.

An old man approached them kindly and greeted the noble.

“Welcome, travelers. Um… it’ll still be a few more days before the sea turns rainbow-colored—”

A wand suddenly thrust forward and pierced straight through his chest.

Slowly, still smiling faintly, the old man collapsed onto the ground.

Moments later, a woman who had witnessed the scene screamed.

Then red blossomed across her chest as well, a magical blade fired by the nobleman pierced her.

As panic spread and the people of Deauville fled in terror, the nobleman continued slaughtering them one after another without the slightest change in expression.

The massacre unfolded beneath dazzling sunlight with such unreality that it almost resembled some grotesque stage play.

It did not take long for terror to consume the entire town.

Those attempting to flee discovered nobles armed with wands blocking every exit and desperately begged for help.

“Sir Knight! There’s a murderer in town! Please save us!”

The only reply was magic.

Every route out of Deauville was already sealed off.

And so the townspeople were slaughtered one by one by the gathered nobles.

By the time every resident of the town had been killed, roughly two hours had passed.

“Oh.”

Having discovered a man hiding in the grass behind a house and impaled him with a lance of compressed air, Angelo turned toward Novelle, who had silently observed the slaughter from behind.

“So this is enough, then? Sister.”

A bitter expression twisted Angelo’s face, while Novelle merely smiled gently.

“Yes.”

“You really are a terrifying woman. I’ve been a soldier for many years, but even this is new to me. Ordering the massacre of an entire town…”

“You dislike killing?”

Asked that question, Angelo nodded immediately.

“Obviously. Who the hell actually likes killing people?”

“And yet you still did it.”

“Because you told me to! You said if I did this, I’d definitely be able to defeat those bastards…”

Angelo spoke through a distorted expression, his eyes filled with rage and regret.

“So your resentment runs even deeper than your revulsion toward murder?”

“That’s right. That Cendrillon and that arrogant little knight apprentice… If it means killing them, I’d sell my soul to the devil itself.”

At those words, Novelle smiled with almost saintly warmth.

“But I am not a ‘devil.’”

“Oh, come on. Anyone who says ‘let’s slaughter an entire town’ and means it—if that’s not a devil, then what is?”

“Because these people have been granted eternal life now. They’ve left behind this cruel world and reached a place free of suffering.”

“Hah. Pretty words. Seriously, I’ll never understand the nonsense nuns say.”

“Come now. Let me free you from this hell as well.”

As she spoke, Novelle gently placed both hands against Angelo’s cheeks.

“What? I don’t need some blessing fro—”

The instant he spoke, something like an electric current surged through Angelo’s body.

“GAAAH!”

His body convulsed as though struck by multiple bolts of lightning. Sparks burst violently from him while the smell of burning hair spread through the air.

Then, gradually, his skin began taking on a pale pink hue…

His eyes rolled back, and Angelo collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

“Honestly… this world truly is hell, don’t you think? I find myself thinking that so often.”

Novelle placed a hand upon Angelo’s corpse.

And then—

To any ordinary observer, the sight would have been impossible to believe.

Angelo’s body slowly rose back to its feet.

Then, wand in hand, he turned toward Novelle.

“Welcome to our ‘Kingdom,’ Sir Angelo.”

With Princess Marianna surrounded at the center of their group, Karin and the others departed from Tristainia. As usual, Marianna dressed in an inconspicuous manner, resembling nothing more than the daughter of some provincial noble family. Meanwhile, Karin and the rest of the Royal Mage Guard also refrained from wearing the cloaks that would reveal their identities as guardsmen, making them appear to be nothing more than ordinary knights.

Bacchus and Narcis chatted noisily and cheerfully, while Marianna repeatedly dismounted every so often simply to admire the scenery. Yet amidst that lively atmosphere, almost festive in mood, only Karin and Cendrillon followed behind with tense expressions upon their faces.

“You two look awfully gloomy.”

Even when Bacchus teased her like that, Cendrillon’s confession from the previous night still echoed in Karin’s mind, leaving her unable to join the merriment.

Marianna, meanwhile, grew slightly dissatisfied with Karin’s behavior and constantly tried to draw her attention.

“What’s wrong, Karin? You look bored.”

“That is not the case.”

“Yes it is. You look terribly bored. Aren’t you happy to be traveling with me?”

“Of course I am.”

Even though she was still only thirteen years old, Marianna was already surprisingly skilled at attracting the attention of men. Like some flirtatious beauty, she would cast alluring glances or flash charming smiles. Any ordinary man would probably have surrendered instantly.

But unfortunately for her, Karin happened to be a woman.

And because none of her charms seemed to have any effect, Marianna became even more desperate to make this knight apprentice look at her more attentively.

In the small town they had arrived at earlier that day, Princess Marianna reached her hand beneath the table during lunch and took hold of Karin’s hand beside her. Karin, having no real way to refuse, could only helplessly squeeze the princess’s hand back in return, but… Apparently that alone encouraged Marianna too much.

That night, at the inn where they stayed, Marianna summoned Karin to her room and ordered her to read aloud to her, Karin could only comply with resignation. When she arrived, Marianna first warned her that absolutely nobody could learn she had called a young knight to her room late at night. If such a thing became known at court, both she and Karin would surely be punished severely.

After sitting down upon the chair placed in the center of Marianna’s room, Karin began reading from a collection of poems, while Marianna listened in complete fascination to Karin’s beautiful voice. Karin was exceptionally skilled at controlling her voice; if she truly concentrated, she could produce a tone very much like that of a young man. Without that ability, disguising someone with such overwhelming beauty as male would have been impossible to begin with…

After a while, Marianna gazed at Karin with an intoxicated expression and said:

“You’re so beautiful it almost feels as though you stepped straight out of those poems.”

“I am honored.”

The reply carried not even the slightest trace of actual pleasure, making Marianna even more dissatisfied.

“That town we’re heading to next, the one called Deauville, has a truly beautiful sea, you know. The colors are not vivid yet at this time of year… but under the sunlight it shines in rainbow colors.”

Marianna clearly expected some response like “But Your Highness is even lovelier.”, instead, Karin merely replied:

“That sounds wonderful. I look forward to seeing it.”

Such a cold response.

Faced with such complete inability to read the atmosphere, Marianna finally became sulky. No matter how socially unaware someone might be, in a situation like this they would at least offer some sort of flattery. Yet Karin remained perfectly upright and vigilant, seated lightly in the chair as though she would immediately draw her wand the moment something happened, her eyes constantly observing the surroundings.

“I originally hoped that this trip would be just the two of us.”

For thirteen-year-old Marianna, saying something like that required tremendous courage.

Yet Karin simply answered in a regretful tone:

“If only I alone were present, it would not be possible for me to properly protect Your Highness.”

“You could. Aren’t you very strong?”

“I am merely an inexperienced young fool, however…”

“However?”

“I believe that someday I will improve enough that I alone will be able to carry out the duty of protecting Your Highness.”

Because Karin looked directly into Marianna’s eyes and said such words with absolute sincerity, Marianna felt her heart bloom with joy. Slowly, she extended her hand, and Karin rose gracefully to place a kiss upon it. Gathering even more courage after that, Marianna pretended to stumble and threw herself against Karin’s chest. Karin supported her with her slender arms. Only because Marianna was still small like a kitten was she able to hold her up so easily; if the princess grew even a little more, perhaps they would both end up toppling over together instead.

Looking down at Marianna as the girl stared dreamily up at her, Karin inwardly broke into a cold sweat wondering:

What am I supposed to do here…?

Marianna was incredibly cute. Even through Karin’s eyes, the mixture of youthful adorableness and the first budding traces of mature feminine charm made it feel as though something truly dangerous was happening.

And on top of that, the princess clearly seemed to harbor feelings for her. Even Karin, who was terribly slow when it came to romance, could understand at least a little of what Marianna felt after the girl pretended to trip just to throw herself into her arms like this.

But…

I’m a woman…

There was no way she could accept those feelings.

Yet neither could she reveal the truth about her gender, Karin could only remain there in complete confusion.

And yet she could not reveal the truth about her gender either, leaving Karin utterly lost and troubled.

“Do you have a lover?”

Asked such a question directly, Karin had no idea how she should answer.

If she answered “no,” then Marianna would probably pursue her even more aggressively afterward. But if she answered “yes,” then she would simply be lying.

Troubled, Karin could only put on the attitude of a young warrior and answer:

“It is because I am still training.”

“Even though you’re this beautiful?”

Marianna said so with a genuinely astonished expression, causing Karin to smile faintly.

“I simply do not have the leisure to lose my head over romance.”

“Then… does that mean I still have a chance?”

Marianna closed her eyes and puckered her lips slightly. The princess’s lips were red and glossy like delicate flower petals, but Karin felt absolutely no interest whatsoever.

So after placing a kiss upon her forehead instead—

“It is about time for Your Highness to sleep.”

Karin said so in a troubled voice.

At last, Marianna properly began sulking.

“Then you may leave.”

Turning her face away, she crawled into the blankets.

After bowing and leaving the room, Karin found Narcis standing there with an openly suggestive grin on his face.

“Well now, handsome prince. So? What did Her Highness taste like?”

“Don’t joke around.”

Karin answered with obvious displeasure.

“Still, our princess really has reached that romantic age… If you manage to firmly capture Her Highness’s heart, your rise to glory will happen quickly enough, young man.”

Even after being told that by Narcis, Karin merely shook her head.

“If one does not possess the strength to match such status, then rising to glory has no meaning.”

Nearby, Bacchus was rolling around on the floor crying dramatically.

“Ahhh! Ahhh! I’m so jealous! Ahhh! Ahhh! Why didn’t Her Highness choose me?! AAAAAHHH!”

“Where’s Cendrillon?”

Karin asked, only to receive the answer:

“Downstairs.”

Was he drinking again?

At first Karin worried that was the case, but she quickly realized she was mistaken. Cendrillon was simply sitting in a chair, silently watching the entrance in case anyone suspicious tried to come inside.

After Karin sat down beside him—

“And the princess?”

He asked that immediately.

“She’s already resting.”

“I see.”

After answering briefly, he once again turned his gaze back toward the doorway.

“This is honestly troublesome. Her Highness seems extremely fixated on me.”

“That sounds like the highest possible honor.”

Cendrillon said so with a smile.

“I’m not joking.”

Karin answered in an irritated voice.

“What’s the problem? Just humor her a little. Think of yourself as her play-romance partner.”

“You make it sound very simple.”

“I’m not joking either. Someday, Her Highness will have to marry royalty from another country… Before that day comes, wouldn’t she naturally want to experience romance at least once during that brief period of freedom?”

“And what about you?”

Cendrillon slowly shook his head.

“I can no longer fall in love with anyone.”

“...I see.”

Looking at him like that, Karin tried offering to take over the watch duty instead.

“You probably want to drink by now, don’t you?”

“That’s honestly surprising. You’re the first person who’s ever told me ‘go ahead and drink.’”

Even so, Cendrillon still made no attempt to stand up, continuing to stare toward the entrance.

“You really think something bad is coming?”

Karin asked worriedly.

“I don’t know. If this is merely paranoia on my part, then that would be best. But there are definitely people who consider the Royal Mage Guard an obstacle. To people like that, this journey is the perfect opportunity.”

“If something really does happen… then I’ll become everyone’s shield. While you escape with the princess, I’ll hold them back. Understood?”

Because she had selfishly insisted on accompanying them, Karin at least wanted to accomplish that much.

Though if such a situation truly occurred… she would probably tremble so badly she could not move at all.

No, it’ll be fine. As long as I lick my left palm.

The only reason she lost to Cendrillon and Angelo before was because she became careless.

Karin desperately tried convincing herself of that, causing Cendrillon to smile.

“Don’t laugh. You were right when you said I’m still immature. That’s probably the only thing I’m capable of doing.”

“It’s too difficult for you.”

“What?! Stop treating me like a child! It’ll be fine! As long as I have courage, I can definitely do it!”

“Courage…”

The moment he heard that word, Cendrillon smiled faintly.

“Licking your left palm? What kind of spell is that supposed to be?”

Karin’s face immediately reddened.

Still, she had no intention of hiding it anyway…

“...There’s magic placed upon my left hand. If I perform that action, I can summon courage and stop feeling fear entirely. That’s why I can do anything. Before, I only lost because I got scared, so…”

“That,” Cendrillon interrupted in a serious voice, “is exactly the problem.”

Cendrillon spoke in a serious voice.

“What are you talking about?”

“That’s nothing more than your own wishful thinking. Convincing yourself that you ‘can do it’ and then attempting things beyond your own abilities—it’s nothing but that sort of foolish self-delusion.”

Karin’s expression immediately changed.

“What?! Don’t be ridiculous! For a knight, courage is more important than anything else!”

“What exactly is necessary for a knight, I don’t know… But in missions like this, where someone must be protected, the thing that matters more than anything else is probably cowardice.”

Cendrillon continued calmly.

“When you don’t know what may happen, don’t know where an attack may come from, or who might strike at you, then you should shrink your head in like a frightened turtle and carefully observe your surroundings. Otherwise, irreversible mistakes happen. Courage that’s merely forced out of yourself only gets in the way.”

Unable to understand what Cendrillon was trying to say, Karin answered roughly:

“My courage is real! It was given to me by that knight! Real ‘courage magic’!”

Cendrillon suddenly grabbed Karin’s hand. Closing his eyes, he remained silent for a few moments before eventually shaking his head.

“There is no magic placed upon your left hand at all. It’s merely a suggestion.”

“W-What did you say?”

“I’m a water mage, so I can immediately tell what parts of a body have magic placed upon them. Your left hand is completely clean. There are absolutely no traces of magic there. I don’t know who told you that story, but they probably only said it because they wanted to help a frightened child gather courage.”

Karin stared blankly at her own left hand.

The “courage” that knight had supposedly given her… had been fake all along…

“How can that be…”

Looking at the stunned Karin as she continued staring down at her hand, Cendrillon spoke again.

“I’ll say it clearly. You merely convinced yourself that you possessed ‘courage,’ became intoxicated by that belief, and therefore acted recklessly. And because you lacked the corresponding strength, you lost to both me and Angelo.”

“…………”

Faced with Karin’s silence, Cendrillon continued:

“Don’t look away from the fear inside yourself. Face it properly. Otherwise, you’ll make irreversible mistakes just like I did.”

Looking at the troubled Karin, Cendrillon smiled softly.

“You’re a good person. I’m sure you’ll become an excellent knight someday. That’s exactly why I don’t want you to end up becoming like me.”

The group arrived at Deauville the following day… precisely the afternoon of the third day since their departure.

The first person to react upon seeing the town was Bacchus, who let out a cheerful shout.

“Ohh! For a countryside town, this place is actually pretty beautiful!”

After lightly kicking her horse onward, Princess Marianna quickly rode ahead.

“Your Highness! Wait! Please wait!”

Narcis hurried after her.

However, something about the town felt strangely wrong.

Even though it was broad daylight, there was not a single person visible in the streets.

“What’s going on?”

Marianna tilted her head in confusion.

“What, is there some kind of festival happening somewhere?”

Bacchus joked awkwardly, after which Marianna said:

“Let’s check the inn we always stay at.”

The inn Marianna had chosen was a beautiful building standing atop a hill overlooking the surrounding scenery. After arriving at the small riding area before the entrance and dismounting, the group tied their horses to the wooden posts there.

Without even waiting for the horses to be secured properly, Marianna released her reins and immediately tried running into the inn.

“Your Highness, please wait. Allow me to investigate first.”

After stopping her, Cendrillon opened the door and stepped inside.

The interior was silent like a cathedral at dawn.

“Hello—? Is anyone here?”

Even after raising his voice, no answer came.

Cendrillon crossed through the entrance hall and checked the kitchen as well, but that place too was completely deserted.

Feeling a terrible premonition, he returned outside and reported to the others.

“Something is wrong. There’s nobody here.”

The tension in Cendrillon’s voice caused unease to appear upon Marianna’s face.

“What exactly is happening…?”

At that moment, Karin’s voice suddenly called out from behind the inn.

“Hey—! Come over here!”

“What happened?!”

It was the stable area.

Looking toward the direction Karin pointed, they saw something smeared across the stable wall.

Something that looked very much like blood.

“KYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”

The moment Princess Marianna saw it, she fainted on the spot, causing Cendrillon to hurriedly catch her collapsing body.

“For now, we should retreat. This town feels dangerous.”

Karin proposed that immediately, but after looking into the distance, Cendrillon quietly said:

“...Looks like we’re already too late.”

From below the hill, a large crowd could be seen slowly approaching them.

It was not the atmosphere of people coming to welcome visitors. Some carried spears, others pistols or swords. There were even people holding hoes and clubs… each of them gripping some sort of weapon as they slowly advanced toward the inn.

When they checked the opposite side as well, they discovered another massive crowd climbing up the hill from there too. And they were likewise armed with all kinds of weapons.

The building atop the hill already seemed to be surrounded from all directions by a crowd of well over a hundred people.

“What the hell is wrong with these people…”

Bacchus muttered before stepping forward and shouting loudly:

“HEY! What exactly are you people trying to do?! There’s a person of extremely high status here! I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but don’t you dare do anything stupid!”

Completely unmoved by Bacchus’s warning, the armed townspeople continued advancing silently.

“Those people aren’t soldiers or thugs… They’re the residents of this town.”

Sure enough, there were men and women of all ages mixed among them, all dressed in completely ordinary clothing. The only strange thing was that every single face lacked vitality, while their wandering, unfocused eyes remained fixed in this direction.

“If you keep coming any closer, we’re not going to hold back!”

The instant Bacchus roared that warning, the people at the front raised their pistols.

“Bacchus! Get down!”

At the exact same moment Cendrillon shouted, gunshots rang out.

“WHOA!”

Bacchus instinctively crouched down while clutching his head as several bullets whistled past above him.

“You bastards!”

Enraged, Narcis began chanting a spell. The earth and stones nearby immediately hardened into fist-sized projectiles before flying toward the men holding pistols.

The “Earth Bullets” struck their targets perfectly in the chest, blasting open enormous holes with sickening sounds.

“W-What?!”

Narcis stared at the men in shock.

Despite having massive holes blown clean through their chests, not a single one of them fell over. They simply continued walking forward.

“What the hell is this…”

Cendrillon immediately turned toward the others.

“For now, get inside the building.”

After the group rushed into the inn, they locked the front doors shut.

“What the hell is going on?! Who are those people?! Why are they attacking us?!”

“They’re not normal humans.”

Narcis answered in a strained voice.

“They’re exactly like my opponent during that duel earlier. Even after having a hole blasted through his chest, he kept moving.”

Cendrillon spoke calmly.

“What kind of magic could possibly create monsters like that?!”

Bacchus shouted furiously, causing Cendrillon to shake his head.

“Right now isn’t the time to think about that. We need to escape this town.”

“Can’t we use Flight and escape through the air?”

Karin proposed.

Cendrillon glanced toward Narcis.

“I’m counting on you to scout ahead.”

Narcis nodded before chanting a spell and floating upward through the window.

And then—

Gunshots rang out simultaneously.

“GH—!”

Narcis immediately dropped lower.

At that same instant, magical arrows came flying out from the forest. Hastily, Narcis slipped back through the window.

“So there are mages out there too.”

“In that case, escaping through the air is impossible.”

Cendrillon said grimly.

A mage floating slowly through the sky would obviously become a perfect target for long-range attacks. While maintaining Flight, they could not cast other spells, meaning they would quickly be riddled full of bullets and magic.

“What do we do, Cendrillon?”

Karin asked anxiously.

The moment Cendrillon noticed one of the approaching townspeople carrying a brightly burning torch, he made his decision immediately.

“Narcis, use a golem to delay them for ten seconds. During that opening, everyone will mount up and break out of the town, Bacchus will take the lead. Once the golem is deployed, Narcis will carry Her Highness and follow directly behind him. Karin, you’ll support Narcis, and I’ll stay behind to cover the rear.”

The three of them immediately began moving.

After Narcis finished chanting his spell, a golden-glowing golem appeared and began running off in the opposite direction from where the horses were tied. Gunshots immediately rang out from that direction, several bullets striking the brass golem with heavy metallic thuds.

The residents of Deauville climbing up the hill had their attention drawn toward it.

“Now!”

With Bacchus leading the way, Narcis carrying the unconscious Princess Marianna followed behind him, with Karin immediately after that. Cendrillon brought up the rear, sprinting forward while keeping his wand raised without relaxing his guard for even a moment.

While Narcis’s golem distracted the townspeople, the four of them quickly mounted their horses.

The instant a gap opened in the road leading toward the town streets, Bacchus struck his horse forward, and the four riders burst out in a straight line.

Several people noticed their movement and immediately changed direction toward them.

Swinging his wand, Bacchus released flames from its tip, surrounding the approaching townspeople within a sea of fire.

From the shadows of the forest, men resembling hunters carrying bows appeared.

“Karin! Wind magic!”

Narcis shouted loudly, causing Karin to immediately chant a wind spell. Violent gusts wrapped themselves around the group, causing the incoming arrows to veer off course.

Then gunshots rang out once more. It seemed armed townspeople were hiding somewhere nearby. Unlike arrows, the lead bullets could not be deflected by the wind, and shots began striking around Karin’s group one after another. Blood suddenly sprayed from Bacchus’s shoulder.

“Bacchus!”

“It’s nothing! Just a graze! We’re escaping exactly like this!”

It seemed he intended to use his massive body as a shield while forcing their way out of town in one charge.

The four horses burst onto the main street running through the town. Most of the townspeople appeared to have gathered around the inn, leaving only a handful of figures visible here.

“We’re escaping straight through!”

But unfortunately, things were not going to proceed that easily.

From behind them, a horse approached at terrifying speed.

“They’re catching up!”

Karin shouted.

As Narcis was carrying the unconscious Marianna, they could not increase their speed any further.

At this rate, they would be overtaken. And at that moment…

Cendrillon suddenly pulled on his reins, turning his horse around.

“Cendrillon!”

Karin cried out, instinctively trying to turn her horse around as well. But Cendrillon shouted sharply:

“Don’t come back!”

“B-But!”

In the instant Karin hesitated, Cendrillon cast a spell. An arrow of ice lightly struck the rear of Karin’s horse.

Startled, the horse abandoned its attempt to turn around and instead continued sprinting straight ahead.

“Cendrillon!”

Karin shouted once more, only for Narcis to roar back at her:

“That’s enough! Leave him to handle it! Our mission is protecting the princess! Have you forgotten that?!”

Karin gritted her teeth tightly and clenched the reins.

“Damn it!”

Watching the three riders safely disappear down the street, Cendrillon turned back toward the approaching knight and faced him directly.

The knight wore a hat…

But the instant Cendrillon saw the face beneath it, he felt himself drawing one step closer to understanding the truth behind everything happening here.

“...Angelo.”

The rider was none other than Angelo of the Unicorn Guard.

However…

Something about him felt different from before. There was no life in his expression whatsoever. He looked exactly like the townspeople from earlier… and exactly like Pedro, the knight whose chest had already been pierced through before.

Cendrillon raised his wand and cast Water Whip.

Curved whips formed from water surrounded Angelo from all directions before piercing directly through his body.

And yet Angelo did not stop.

Without the slightest change in expression, he continued charging directly toward Cendrillon.

Wind blades wrapped themselves around Angelo’s enormous lance-like wand as he swung it toward him.

Cendrillon immediately leapt down from his horse to evade the attack. The momentum of Angelo’s Blade instantly sliced Cendrillon’s horse clean in half.

What terrifying power.

Ordinary magic would not work against that thing.

If he could blast Angelo full of holes, perhaps it would stop moving. But before that happened, his own mental strength would likely run out first.

Cendrillon likewise began chanting Blade.

After turning his horse around once more, Angelo lowered his wand again and charged forward.

And through the sensation transmitted by the Water Whip still piercing Angelo’s body, Cendrillon realized something abnormal about the water circulating inside him.

That sensation was one only a corpse could possess.

That man was already dead.

Then why was he still moving?

It had to be the work of some kind of magic.

And yet, Cendrillon had never seen nor even heard of such magic before.

“So you really are dead already, aren’t you?”

Back when he was alive, Angelo had been an irritating man who constantly picked fights with him… and yet, seeing him continue attacking even after death filled Cendrillon with a strange sense of loneliness.

Angelo swung down the wand enhanced by Blade, while Cendrillon leapt backward to evade it. Then, in one motion, he closed the distance and drove his own attack deeply into Angelo’s chest.

From there, he slashed upward through the armpit.

And yet Angelo still continued moving.

The upper half of his body, already nearly severed in two, twisted violently toward Cendrillon as he continued attacking. At this point, it seemed he could probably continue moving even if only fragments of his body remained.

Burning him away with flames would probably be the fastest solution, but unfortunately Cendrillon was poor at fire magic.

Once more, Cendrillon cast Water Whip.

However, this time the whips were different from before.

Each strand was as thin as paper itself, sharp enough to resemble razors.

While avoiding Angelo’s attacks, Cendrillon wrapped the water whips around his body.

“Don’t resent me for this, Angelo.”

The razor-like water whips wrapped around Angelo instantly carved his body into pieces. His wrists, legs, and torso fell apart with wet sounds as they struck the ground, finally ceasing movement.

But the danger had not disappeared.

At some point, the townspeople surrounding the inn had already arrived nearby. From both the front and rear of the street, they slowly closed in around Cendrillon.

It seemed he had been completely surrounded.

His battle against Angelo had already exhausted nearly all of his mental strength. Facing an undead mob armed with weapons, there was no possibility of breaking through.

And yet…

He did not feel afraid.

Instead, as the townspeople slowly approached him, Cendrillon felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward them.

Thinking about it carefully, wasn’t he himself much the same?

Even though he was technically still alive, he had long felt as though he were already dead.

No hopes.

No dreams.

No reason to live, nor anyone who truly needed him.

Only at the very end had he managed to be of some use to those children.

That being said… who exactly had transformed Angelo and these townspeople into living corpses like this?

Being unable to learn the answer to that question was his only regret.

“At last… I can finally go to your side, Karina…”

Just as Cendrillon murmured those words, the townspeople suddenly parted to form a path.

And from within that opening, a woman slowly appeared.

Dazzling golden hair.

A gentle smile, and the robes of a nun…

At that moment, Cendrillon felt as though his mind had finally broken.

There was no way this could be possible.

“She” could not possibly be standing here.

And yet at the same time, another thought surfaced in his mind:

Perhaps it is merely someone who resembles her…

No.

There was no way he could mistake that face.

It was unquestionably her.

Novelle gazed directly at Cendrillon, a smile slowly appearing upon her face.

That smile connected violently with the memories buried inside him.

Three years ago.

A beauty so overwhelming that merely looking at her had felt like dreaming.

That smiling expression…

The one he would have never forgotten, not even for a single moment…

“It has been quite a long time, Pierre.”

There were very few people left in this world who knew his real name.

And among them, there had only ever been one—

“Karina…? Is that really you?”

Cendrillon spoke in a dazed voice, utterly unable to believe the scene before his eyes.

“Yes. It has been three years since we last met, hasn’t it? You look much more like an adult now.”

Joy and shock mixed together inside him, and Cendrillon nearly gave in to the impulse to rush forward and embrace her.

And yet, the feet that tried to move suddenly stopped.

He himself… He has personally buried Karina with his own hands. There was no mistake about it. He carried her corpse into that forest himself and erected a small gravestone beside the spring.

“What is wrong? It has been so long since we last saw one another…”

“...Who are you?”

“I’m Karina, of course. Goodness, why are you making such a frightening face?”

Novelle laughed cheerfully.

“She should already be dead.”

“But I came back to life… Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say I was reborn. Though truly, I have not changed at all. Just as before, I still love you deeply.”

“You’re the same as Angelo and the people of this town. A walking corpse animated by some twisted magic.”

Novelle slowly approached Cendrillon. His body trembled slightly, and yet he could not move. This is impossible, his reason screamed that conclusion at him, but his emotions refused to listen.

Novelle reached out toward him and gently touched his cheek.

“Does this feel like the hand of a corpse to you?”

Her hand was warm, a living human hand, filled with flowing blood. The moment that warmth touched him, Cendrillon became unable to think at all.

Heat surged upward from deep within his stomach.

“No… impossible… this can’t…”

“Accept the reality before your eyes. This is the truth.”

Reality. Yes. This was reality. She was standing here before him now. He could even hold her like this… The instant he wrapped his arms tightly around her, overwhelming joy flooded through his entire body.

“I wanted to see you so badly.”

“I felt the same way.”

“I-I wanted to apologize to you…”

“There is no need.”

“I’m sorry… I made a mistake… Please forgive me…”

“It’s all right. It’s all in the past now.”

Novelle gently embraced Cendrillon’s head.

A deeply familiar scent reached his nose.

It was her scent.

A gentle, nostalgic fragrance, as though the warmth of sunlight itself had been turned into perfume…

“I wanted to see you so badly. Truly… truly, I wanted to see you again.”

She pressed her face close against his cheek, her long golden hair brushing softly across his skin.

“It tickles… so much it almost makes me cry.”

“I’m doing it on purpose.”

“Yes… that does sound like you.”

Novelle smiled with overflowing tenderness before softly whispering:

“So that you would never forget that I am here.”

After escaping from the town, Karin suddenly pulled on her reins, bringing her horse to a stop.

Bacchus and Narcis stopped as well.

“What are you doing, Karin?!”

“We should be safe once we’ve made it this far, right? I’m leaving Princess Marianna to you two.”

The instant they heard those words, both men realized what Karin intended to do and shouted at once.

“Wait! Even if you go back now, it’s already too late!”

“You’ll die too!”

“I still haven’t seen that idiot make his frustrated face yet!”

The moment she shouted those words, Karin turned her horse back toward Deauville and spurred it into a full sprint.

As she rode, she shouted at the top of her lungs:

“What the hell… acting all cool like that! Don’t tell me you think sacrificing your own life so everyone else can escape somehow counts as redemption?! That’s nothing but your own selfish wishful thinking!”

Novelle gently stroked Cendrillon’s head and softly whispered:

“Pierre… would you like to come with us?”

“...Go where?”

“To our kingdom.”

“Kingdom?”

“Yes. Right now, I’m working very hard to create one.”

A kingdom?

At those words, Cendrillon suddenly remembered the residents of Deauville writhing around them. Every one of them had lost the vitality in their expressions and merely stood there blankly.

“Will I… become like them as well?”

“Of course not. You are not some ‘puppet’ like these people…”

Slowly, Cendrillon pushed Novelle away.

“Pierre?”

“...Who are you?”

Cendrillon spoke in a voice that sounded close to tears, because at that moment, he remembered another “truth” standing before him. The woman before his eyes truly was Karina. There was no mistake about that. But then… What exactly was she doing?

Creating living corpses.

An act so monstrously evil that even demons themselves would fear it. The Karina he had known was not someone capable of such things.

Could it be… That Karina, whose life had been taken by the magic he himself unleashed, had somehow been revived through some grotesque and forbidden spell? He had never even heard of such magic before…

And yet somehow, that explanation felt closest to the truth.

Tears overflowed from his eyes.

If that really was the case… Then just how great a sin had he committed?

Not only did he killed the woman he loved most, he turned her into a demon.

Cendrillon slowly fell to his knees.

“...Forgive me, Karina.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because of me… you became…”

Then Novelle stepped closer and reached out toward his cheek once more.

“You’ve suffered so much, haven’t you? Let me take you away. To a world without pain. A world without sorrow. A place ruled only by kindness and love…”

The spot touched by Novelle burned with a pain like electric current.

“I’m going to die.”

He had no way of knowing what had happened to her, nor what sort of conspiracy was unfolding here. He would never see his companions again.

And now, without understanding anything at all, he was about to be killed by the hands of the lover he once believed dead.

And yet… if he could go to the same place as her, perhaps that too could be called a kind of happiness.

“Karina…”

Tears streamed down his face as he prepared to accept the final moment—

At that instant, Cendrillon’s body was violently blasted away by a fierce gust of wind, sending him tumbling across the ground.

“Don’t just casually say that name. It’s irritating.”

Together with the sound of an annoyed click of the tongue came a sharp voice overflowing with anger.

Cendrillon’s eyes widened.

The first thing he saw was long peach-colored hair dancing wildly in the wind, shining with vivid color. The figure standing straight-backed before him looked almost exactly like the saintesses from the religious paintings he had seen as a child.

“Karin…”

Cendrillon spoke in a dazed voice, causing Karin to immediately shout back at him.

“Who exactly was the immature one here?! Who was it that confused courage with recklessness, huh?!”

Cendrillon tried to force himself back to his feet, but… a sensation of numbness still wrapped around his entire body. It had to be because of Novelle’s magic from earlier. If she continued using it on him like that, then he would already—

“If I didn’t come back, you would’ve died!”

“My, Pierre, is this a friend of yours? You should introduce her to me.”

Novelle spoke as though they were attending some refined social gathering. Karin immediately raised her wand.

“Who’s Pierre?”

“My lover, of course. Though nowadays he seems to be using a very strange name. ‘Cendrillon’—is it? Is that hair dyed too? To match the name? You always did love little jokes like that.”

Novelle spoke with a voice full of affection.

“You…”

Those words made Karin realize the true identity of the nun standing before them.

Could this woman… really be Cendrillon’s former lover?

But didn’t he say she was dead?

Novelle, meanwhile, seemed to have realized Karin’s true identity as well.

“You… could it be that you’re his lover? Did you come running back because you didn’t want me stealing him away from you?”

Karin stared directly at the golden-haired woman controlling the people of Deauville. Dressed in black nun’s robes, she looked exactly like a devout sister of the church, and there was even a gentle atmosphere of compassion surrounding her.

And yet, hidden beneath that compassion, this woman transformed an entire town into an army of the dead.

And more than that, she herself should already have been dead as well.

And yet now she stood there smiling before them.

Hidden beneath that gentle smile was something that could only be described as evil…

“What… is this woman…?”

She was terrifying.

A fear that felt as though it were clutching at her heart made Karin’s entire body tremble.

There was nothing more frightening than an opponent whose true nature remained unknown. The bottomless abyss of the “Dragon’s Footprints” she saw as a child overlapped with the woman standing before her now.

The fear was so overwhelming that Karin felt herself close to breaking down. Instinctively, she almost moved to write “courage” upon her left hand.

Her index finger began moving toward her palm—

“...Ngh.”

But at that exact moment, Cendrillon’s words flashed through her mind.

“Don’t avert your eyes from the ‘fear’ inside your own heart.”

Karin slowly lowered her left hand.

Against this woman, mere courage alone would never be enough to win…

With her entire body trembling, Karin glared directly at Novelle.

She was so frightened she could hardly bear it, and tears began spilling uncontrollably from her eyes. A choking sound escaped Karin’s throat.

“Uu… uuwaa… ugh…”

Even while sobbing miserably, Karin still gripped her wand tightly.

And continued facing Novelle.

“My, my, you’ve started crying. Am I really that frightening? There’s nothing to be afraid of, you silly little thing.”

“Of course you’re frightening! How could someone like you not be terrifying?! I can’t even understand what you are!”

Karin shouted through tears, having already lost any composure necessary to maintain her masculine tone.

“Run away! Karin!”

Cendrillon shouted desperately toward the panicking Karin.

“Shut up already! Just shut up and watch! It’s not like I came back to save you or anything! It’s just that if I left you behind like this, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night! Seriously… acting all high and mighty! You have no idea how hard things have been for me! Calling me reckless… What’s wrong with relying on magical courage anyway?! I can’t help it! Because… because I…”

Karin began chanting a spell.

It was merely simple wind magic, and yet its power was extraordinary.

The violently rising gale caused Novelle’s nun robes to flutter wildly.

“My, what a frightening expression. Don’t be so angry. Such a beautiful face would go to waste.”

Novelle smiled with genuine delight before quietly retreating backward. The residents of Deauville surrounding her immediately began closing in.

There were over a hundred of them.

Seeing them raise pistols and bows—

“They’re terrifying… There’s no way we can fight that many.”

The moment she finished chanting, Karin leapt upward at incredible speed. In one motion she flew to Cendrillon’s side, grabbed his body, and launched herself into the air.

Karin retreated behind a nearby building.

“H-Hey… Karin, run away already… Leave me behind.”

“Shut up! Be quiet for a second! I’m trying to think!”

Suppressing the panic caused by her fear, Karin desperately forced herself to think.

Escaping while carrying a completely paralyzed Cendrillon was impossible.

Which meant…

She had to find some way to deal with those things.

“Those people… are they being controlled?”

Cendrillon slowly shook his head.

“No… I can’t sense any sign of life from them. Perhaps some sort of evil magic is animating their corpses.”

Karin bit her lip tightly.

Those people…

They did nothing wrong. They had merely been living ordinary lives.

And then those ordinary lives were cruelly stolen away from them, leaving them manipulated by that woman and forced to attack others…

Sorrow mixed together with frustration, and tears once more flowed from Karin’s eyes.

Those tears washed the fear away from inside her.

She could not continue trembling like this, nor did she have time to lose herself in confusion.

She had to dedicate victory to the souls of those people.

Karin tightened her grip on her wand and slowly raised her head. By then, tears no longer flowed from her eyes.

“Karina… why…? What in the world happened to you…?”

Hearing Cendrillon mutter those words, Karin glared fiercely at him.

“Cendrillon, listen carefully. That woman is not your former lover anymore. She’s something else now. You understand that too, don’t you?”

“...I know.”

“If you understand that, then start by healing your injuries. You can at least manage that much, can’t you?”

That enormous horde of corpses.

They had already died once, which meant they would not stop unless their bodies were completely torn apart with magic. But against numbers like that, tearing every single one of them apart with magic was impossible. Their mental strength would run dry first.

“Wouldn’t the magic animating them be purified by ‘Healing’?”

The instant Cendrillon heard those words, realization flashed across his face.

“I see… It’s definitely worth trying.”

“There’s no time for you to keep hesitating. Listen carefully—I’m going to pull up the seawater, and you’ll cast ‘Healing’ onto that water. Water magic resides within water itself, right? Just like Wind resides within the wind. That’s how it works, isn’t it?”

Cendrillon nodded.

“But there are over a hundred of them. Can we really scatter water over every single one?”

“Don’t underestimate my wind.”

The moment Karin said that, she began chanting a short incantation.

Il Wind.

Then she spun her wand in a sweeping motion.

“Tempest.”

It was merely a simple spell meant to create a tornado.

And yet its power was utterly overwhelming.

A colossal vortex of air nearly two hundred feet tall erupted from the tip of her wand, while violent winds lashed against Cendrillon’s face. Had they not been standing at the very center of the vortex, they would already have been blown away.

Effortlessly controlling that monstrous “wind,” Karin looked almost like a child of the wind itself.

Commanding the gale while standing above it all…

At that moment, she resembled the legendary “Wind King” from myth.

Cendrillon became so captivated by the sight that he nearly forgot to continue chanting.

“Hurry up and cast ‘Healing’ already!”

Startled back to his senses, Cendrillon hurriedly began chanting the spell for “Healing,” aided by the immense quantities of seawater surrounding them. The sea, said to be the birthplace of life itself, was naturally an exceptional catalyst for water magic. The spiritual energy he consumed was replenished by the abundant seawater.

The child of the wind fearlessly drove that gigantic tornado directly into the sea itself. Enormous masses of seawater were swept high into the sky, scattering seven-colored light beneath the rays of the sun.

Spray from the sea splashed across Cendrillon’s cheeks.

And every time he felt the touch of water, Cendrillon always found himself thinking the same thing.

I love water.

Water could heal him.

But only that much.

It could not save him.

The one capable of truly saving him…

The one who could sweep away the “dust” covering his heart…

“Now! Cast ‘Healing’ onto all of this water!”

Seeing the residents of Deauville gathered along the shore, Karin shouted loudly.

Cendrillon released “Healing” into the enormous masses of seawater being drawn upward by the tornado. Filled with the power of life, the seawater began shining even more brilliantly.

Then Karin unleashed the tornado containing that immense quantity of seawater imbued with “Healing” toward the gathered residents of Deauville, or more accurately, toward the entire town itself.

From behind the residents of Deauville who had become “puppets,” Novelle looked toward the shore, where a gigantic tornado had appeared within her sight.

“My… what is that? A tornado? Goodness, it’s enormous.”

Before her eyes, the tornado continued growing larger and larger until it completely engulfed the residents of Deauville. And then… The transformed townspeople began collapsing one after another.

“What is happening?”

The tornado reached the skies above the town and scattered seawater downward like rain. The moment the water touched her skin, Novelle understood.

It was “Healing.”

The two of them had infused the seawater itself with “Healing,” then used that gigantic tornado to shower it down over all of them.

“I see. That was quite clever. It seems today’s victory belongs to you.”

Smiling gently, Novelle turned around. Around her, several magicians appeared from seemingly nowhere and followed behind her like shadows.

Humming happily as though she were about to break into song, Novelle walked away in the direction opposite the shore…

Watching the residents of Deauville collapse like puppets with their strings cut, Cendrillon let out a relieved breath. Beside him, meanwhile, Karin collapsed onto the sand while gasping heavily for air.

Cendrillon hurriedly rushed over to her side.

“H-Hey! Karin! Are you all right?!”

He lifted Karin into his arms and prepared to cast “Healing.”

But in the very next moment, the sound of snoring escaped from Karin’s mouth.

She had probably exhausted every last bit of her mental strength.

That sleeping face looked so innocent and beautiful that it was difficult to believe she was the very person who had created such a colossal tornado moments earlier.

As he stared at that sleeping face…

Something resembling a premonition quietly appeared within Cendrillon’s heart.

And as he thought that, the young wind-user with such an immature-looking face suddenly seemed—

Cendrillon’s cheeks flushed red.

After watching her quietly for a while, Karin slowly opened her eyes.

“Mm…”

“Are you okay?”

“What about the townspeople?”

“...None of them are moving anymore.”

“I see…”

Karin closed her eyes sorrowfully. Cendrillon likewise lowered his gaze and offered a prayer for the innocent victims.

Simply because they happened to live in this town, they transformed into walking corpses.

Compared to the fate those people suffered, his own misery suddenly felt no more significant than childish playacting.

“What happened to that woman?”

“...Judging from the fact that nothing else has happened since then, I think she probably disappeared.”

The moment Cendrillon answered, Karin slapped him across the face.

“W-What was that for?!”

“Idiot! Stop worrying about me and go after her already!”

“T-That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m worried about you.”

Hearing him answer so seriously caused Karin’s face to flush bright red.

And at that exact moment, she realized something.

Ah… did I just use a feminine tone?

This is bad. Did I let something slip?

Trying to cover it up, Karin quickly said:

“You’re not planning to let her go just because she was your former lover, are you?”

“...That’s not it.”

Cendrillon shook his head as he answered.

Fortunately, he did not seem to have noticed.

Perhaps he simply lacked the composure to notice right now.

Quietly pressing a hand against her chest in relief, Karin continued:

“Let’s regroup with Bacchus and the others. This still isn’t over yet. We still have to safely escort Princess Marianna back to Tristania.”

Cendrillon nodded before turning his gaze toward the sea.

Watching the ocean continue its tides as though nothing had happened at all, the emotions he suppressed until now suddenly surged violently within his chest.

His former lover.

Why? How could she still be alive?

And yet the truth remained, Karina had truly appeared before his eyes.

As a cruel demon…

He did not know what happened to her, but surely what he himself did was part of the reason.

With these very hands, he would have to defeat her himself.

Only by doing that—

Only by doing that could he offer some measure of consolation to the dead of this town.

Cendrillon made that vow within his heart.

And yet... even after making up his mind, tears still streamed from his eyes. Never, even in his dreams, had he imagined that their “reunion” would happen like this. He could no longer imagine anything more tragic than this.

The woman he loved most became the worst kind of monster...

The tears would not stop falling.

Like a helpless child, Cendrillon clenched his fists tightly. He grieved for the people she killed, and he grieved for Karina, who became a demon.

Watching Cendrillon continue to cry, Karin felt an indescribable emotion rise within her. Until not long ago, she thought of him as nothing more than a thick-headed drunkard… But that was wrong.

He’s just... a weak person too.

Despite being so weak that he looked ready to collapse at any moment, he refused to lean on anyone. Instead, he drank alone, called himself “Cendrillon,” the man covered in ashes, and abandoned everything.

But now, something was different.

Though tears still streamed from his eyes, there was now a light of determination within them. Surely what happened today did change something inside him as well.

Just like it changed her.

Someday, perhaps, Cendrillon would fight that woman. At the end, he was a master with the wand, a specialist in battle.

But there was no way he could face her alone. Someone would need to stand beside him.

Karin grasped Cendrillon’s wrist and helped pull him to his feet.

“Get up. We’re leaving.”

Epilogue

When they arrived at the small town where they stayed at the inn only a few days earlier, Bacchus and Narcis were there gathering nearby lords and nobles and organizing a military force.

“Hey! They’re alive!”

The moment they saw Karin and Cendrillon return safely, all three of them were overjoyed. Marianna threw herself into Karin’s arms, saying, “Thank goodness you’re safe...” before bursting into tears.

Cendrillon explained the entire sequence of events to the three of them. About being attacked by Angelo, and about how the former lover who should already have been dead appeared to be the true mastermind behind everything...

“You mean Angelo?”

Narcis and Bacchus both stared in shock.

“In other words...”

“Could it be that the Unicorn Guard is involved behind the scenes as well?”

“Those bastards... do they really hate us that much?”

“Or rather, perhaps it would be troublesome for them if the Royal Mage Guard continued to exist?”

The moment Cendrillon said that, the two men exchanged glances.

“So all those incidents that kept reducing the number of men in our unit...”

“Yeah, it was probably all their doing. Or rather, the Chancellor’s orders.”

The Chancellor—Grand Duke Eustache, the “other king” of Tristain... a man of such overwhelming political power that people referred to him by that title.

And that Grand Duke wanted to eliminate them?

The color drained from both men’s faces.

“In any case, this situation is far too complicated. We should discuss what to do next with Lady Vivian.”

Both men nodded. Afterwards, Bacchus took command of the assembled nobles and set out toward Deauville to investigate the situation there.

Because the princess herself was attacked, the incident escalated into a massive disturbance that even resulted in a corps of dragon knights being dispatched from Tristania.

The gathered regional nobles, together with the dragon knights, once again headed for Deauville. And just as expected, every resident there had been annihilated. All of them were killed by magic.

While the investigation into the incident was still underway, one of the dragon knights arrived carrying a royal decree.

“Are you Sir Cendrillon of the Royal Mage Guard?”

“That’s right.” Cendrillon nodded.

“His Majesty commands that you return to the royal palace immediately and deliver a report regarding the incident.”

Thus, Cendrillon and the others decided to temporarily return to Tristania while escorting the princess. Since the princess herself was placed in danger, an enormous number of guards were assigned around her.

For the sake of Princess Marianna’s protection, Philip III had mobilized an entire company of troops.

Princess Marianna rode inside a specially prepared carriage, dragon knights guarded the skies above, and hundreds of soldiers surrounded the procession from the front and rear as it advanced down the road.

The atmosphere was so tense it felt as though they were marching toward war itself.

On the road back to Tristania...

Narcis rode closer to Cendrillon, who was accompanying the carriage, then leaned in and lowered his voice.

“...Hey, Cendrillon. Is it true?”

“What are you talking about?”

After glancing nervously around to make sure no one was listening, Narcis continued hesitantly.

“...Your former lover was controlling the people of that town?”

Cendrillon answered firmly.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“...You really shouldn’t talk about that so openly.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’ll put you in a terrible position. If things go badly enough, they might even suspect you of being involved and throw you in prison.”

Cendrillon shook his head.

“I’m going to tell the truth exactly as it is. This isn’t something that should be hidden.”

“Hey! I’m saying this because I’m worried about you!”

“Then I appreciate it. But I’m done running away.”

That was what Cendrillon truly believed.

I won’t run anymore. Not from my fate, and not from the sins I committed...

If everything that happened began the moment his spell accidentally pierced Karina that day... then he had a duty to uncover the entire truth.

And a duty to bring it to an end.

If this was truly his fate, then he would face it properly. He would confront it with the kind of caution that bordered on cowardice, yet without running away.

“The opponent is Grand Duke Eustache himself, you know? There’s no telling what kind of methods he’ll use. Seriously, you’d need more than nine lives for this.”

Narcis spoke in exasperation.

“You could still leave, you know.”

“Don’t be stupid. We already boarded the same ship, so I’ll stick with you to the end. I think that idiot feels the same way too.”

Narcis pointed toward Bacchus, who was swaying atop his horse ahead of them with a sleepy expression on his face.

“Things will work out somehow.”

“Why?”

Cendrillon looked toward the small figure riding ahead of them on horseback and answered:

“Because we have the ‘Wind.’”

For some reason, the sight of Karin before him overlapped with the image of the saint from the religious paintings he saw as a child. His heart skipped a beat, and he found himself thinking:

Water can heal me... because I am a user of Water.

But that is all it can do.

It never truly changed me.

Perhaps the thing capable of sweeping away the ashes covering my heart... might actually be this girl’s “Wind.”

Cendrillon remembered the way Karin spoke earlier. That was completely the manner of speech of a woman.

When cornered, did he naturally revert to speaking that way? That boy...

Could it be that she was actually...

A faint redness gradually spread across Cendrillon’s face.

Meanwhile, Karin, riding ahead of them, was being tormented by fierce regret.

Not writing “courage” on her left hand earlier deserved praise.

But still... still...

I totally used a feminine tone back there～～～～!

Karin let out a silent groan and lowered her head.

This was awful.

Maybe she had already exposed herself... If it were discovered that she was actually a woman, she would no longer be able to remain in the Guard. And at a time like this too… when everything was so important, when this was the perfect opportunity to distinguish herself. She absolutely did not want to be dismissed.

However, Cendrillon was not completely himself earlier because his former lover appeared before him, so it was probably fine, right? Just as Karin was thinking that and secretly glancing back over her shoulder, she saw Cendrillon riding closer while, for some reason, blushing faintly.

The moment she saw his face, Karin’s own cheeks flushed red as well.

This is bad. Did he figure out I’m a woman?

Cendrillon guided his horse alongside Karin’s and quietly spoke to her.

“Karin, um... about what happened earlier.”

“W-What about it? Go ahead and say it.”

“Well, you know... the way you were speaking earlier. That was the manner of speech of a woman, wasn’t it?”

Karin’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

So he really noticed.

Well, of course he did. Naturally he would have noticed after she had shouted like that...

It’s over. I’m going to get expelled.

While she was sinking into despair—

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Eh?”

“You probably have your own reasons, right? Besides, I have no intention of criticizing someone else’s ‘preferences.’”

Preferences?

What was he talking about?

As Karin sat there in growing unease, Cendrillon continued in a low voice.

“Still... I was really surprised. I never imagined you were actually a ‘twink.’¹”

“............”

“For a split second I honestly thought you were a girl. But there’s no way a woman could have a chest that flat... Hm? What’s wrong?”

Cendrillon finally noticed that Karin’s shoulders were trembling violently. Her entire body shook with rage, and wind began swirling around her.

“H-Hey? What’s wrong? Why are you getting angry? I already told you I wouldn’t tell anyone! Hey! Stop!”

“I am NOT a twiiiiiiiiink!”

A violent gale exploded outward.

Cendrillon’s body was blasted high into the air.

1.  Quite hard to translate this authentically, as it’s basically “shemale” or “femboy” or “trap”, but not quite "trans".

Afterword

Heavy Wind is a fantasy romance story about a beautiful girl disguised as a man, struggling over the problem of “I absolutely cannot let anyone find out I’m actually a girl!”—a problem that men naturally never have to worry about—and becoming swept up in love and adventure because of it.

After all, because she cannot reveal that she is a woman, even if she falls in love she cannot convey her feelings. Just imagining the painful emotions of a crossdressing beauty who cannot honestly express what is in her heart is already unbearable for me personally. Cute and cool—an “ikemen beauty,” if you will. If readers are willing to accompany such a girl on her adventures, nothing would make me happier.

When thinking about the world of a story, I often imagine a plaster statue. Normally, a story can only depict things from a single angle. But if you compare it to a plaster figure, then depending on whether you look from above, below, left, or right, you end up seeing entirely different expressions.

So if readers are able to glimpse the “world” through cuts taken from different angles, that would make me very happy.

And naturally, the one who guides the story and pulls it forward is the crossdressing beautiful girl herself! The very phrase “girl in men’s clothing” does not even need something like the Takarazuka Revue as proof—that concept itself is already romance. After all, a crossdressing girl becomes dramatic simply by putting on ordinary girls’ clothing. It’s unfairly powerful. I wonder if I succeeded in portraying that sort of crossdressing heroine properly. I humbly leave that judgment to you.

As always, I would also like to deeply thank Usatsuka-sensei for the beautiful illustrations. Every single time I request artwork under an absurdly tight schedule, yet he still delivers incredible work. I truly am grateful. At this point, Yamaguchi genuinely cannot bring himself to sleep with his feet pointed toward Osaka anymore. To Mr. S and Mr. M from the editorial department as well—thank you for all your hard work. And finally, to all the readers: thank you all so very much.

I hope you will continue accompanying Karin, Cendrillon, and the others in their adventures and exploits as their world continues to expand from here onward.

—Noboru Yamaguchi