Kaze no Kishihime v1c2

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.