Just hold on until then.
“Everyone shut up and get ready for battle. Can’t you see that villain over there?”
I point at Kamiya Ritsuko with Durandal.
In the empty hall, she stands there with a relaxed expression.
I never understood why a villain would wait for their allies to prepare when watching in animation, but in reality, I can’t think of a time I’m more grateful.
“I don’t like this situation at all… But if you command it, there’s nothing I can do. I am your loyal maid, after all.”
“Eri-Ring will protect the Master.”
“Leave it to me, your future wife, Kim Deok-Sung. I’ll handle everything.”
The three women switch to battle mode with their colorful lines.
They block the space between Ritsuko and me.
Sturdy slaves, like a bowl of gukbap.
It’ll be tough to play this by ear again, but at least it’s better than holding out alone for ten minutes.
“Kim, I… Ugh!”
Makoto slumps down.
Her face turns pale.
“No… No… I…”
Makoto trembles as if she’s lost her mind.
It seems Ritsuko is whispering nonsense like, “Your place is only in the first aisle,” and “Would they still consider you a friend even after seeing your true self?”
Normally, I would have to say something kind like, “But you’re still my friend,” like Yuji, but since there are three meat shields standing in for Makoto, I can just leave her be.
“Are you all finished preparing, kiddos?”
Ritsuko speaks in a sultry voice.
Puff.
She exhales a cloud of cigarette smoke.
“Just to let you know, ladies? My target is nothing but that foolish boy over there. Kim Deok-Sung. If you back off now…”
Thud, crash.
She throws the pipe she was holding on the ground.
Ritsuko draws a short sword, the Imanotsurugi.
Clink, clank.
With a mint-colored flash, full-body gloves envelop her.
“…I won’t kill you. It’s my last mercy.”
Ritsuko smiles faintly.
You can tell she’s a light novel villain with that type of bravado.
I can’t help but scoff at her shallow tactics.
If she thought she could sway the trio with that, she was mistaken.
This is a kind world.
Betraying a bond forged with unthinking, no, boundless trust is simply not an option.
“How could Eri-Ring abandon the Master? You’re showing a total lack of sense, you old lady.”
“I agree with Nishizawa. What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you hag? Since when does a wife abandon her husband? Oh, wait, could it be that you’re an old spinster who’s never been married, so you wouldn’t know? If so, I apologize.”
“What on earth are you talking about? Where in the world is there a wife who abandons her husband? Ah, is it because you’re a spinster who has never been married that you don’t understand? If that’s the case, then I won’t apologize.”
“I’ve already sworn to be his dedicated maid, and this oath of Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte won’t waver under the nasty schemes of someone like you! So just give it up!”
As expected, Olivia, Rin, and Nishizawa firmly reject the suggestion with their unique remarks.
Yeah, this is it.
Today, I can let their dazed comments slide.
Ritsuko’s face twists bizarrely as she hears the three of them speak.
“Spinster…? Auntie…? M-Ma…? Ugly woman…?”
“You’re definitely an auntie. Comparing you to the gorgeous Eri Ling, who boasts a galaxy-rank beauty with her firm, youthful skin, there’s no way you’re not the spinster auntie here! Just look at your sagging skin. Eba-daba-daba-deb! Did I hit a nerve? Ah. Auntie.”
Nishizawa sticks out her tongue and mocks Ritsuko.
Snap.
Ritsuko’s forehead wrinkles up.
If this were an anime, you’d see the veins popping.
“I don’t mind being called an auntie. That’s true anyway…”
Ritsuko clenches her fists.
Her eyes gleam ominously.
Kansai dialect spills out of Ritsuko’s mouth, unrestrained.
“But calling me a spinster is unforgivable!! You adorable little brats!! Change of plans! I’m going to wipe you all out, wipe you out, and wipe you out again!! I’ll make you regret calling me a spinster in hell!! Mirror Image!!”
Ritsuko’s voice, almost a desperate scream, echoes through the empty staircase.
That carefree demeanor is nowhere to be seen now.
She’s a villain hit by spinster hysteria.
It’s such a light novel-like situation that I can’t help but chuckle.
“Damn it.”
Aren’t we in a serious situation right now?
Zap!
With a flash, Ritsuko’s body splits into four.
Mirror Image.
The S-Rank villain Ritsuko’s gift.
The ability to create her own clones using magic. The maximum number of clones she can create is four.
As the number of clones increases, her original power weakens proportionally, but this is inside a deadly barrier.
The clones within the barrier are boosted, giving Ritsuko’s duplicates power rivaling her own.
A villain cloning herself.
[Synchronization]
Her ability activates.
The blade of Durandal trembles as the Black Prince’s talents and experiences imprint themselves in her mind.
A chilling sensation washes over her.
A warning bell rings in her head.
I need to dodge.
I roll my body out of the way.
“Take that! Rookie! Kamiya Ryu Killing Technique, First Form, One Strike!!”
Flash.
Suddenly appearing in front of me, Ritsuko swings a dagger.
What a world where even assassins shout out their skill names.
It’s horrifying.
Vroom.
Her dagger barely grazes past my ear.
It was a terrifying moment; if I had dodged just a beat too late, I might have lost my head.
“Seriously, that’s messed up.”
I grip Durandal tightly.
[Synchronization]
I activate my abilities in layers.
More talents, more experiences flood into my mind.
“Ugh.”
I bite my lip.
A headache thrums in my head.
Vroom.
Durandal shakes like crazy.
Black magic flames ignite along the blade.
I immediately swing the sword in retaliation.
[Black Light Sword Technique]
[First Form]
[Black Light Slash]
Zing!
Ritsuko’s dagger and Durandal clash, sending out a wave of magical energy that sweeps around us.
The magic waves engulf the surroundings.
A terrible resistance crawls up my wrist.
I grit my teeth.
If I can just hold on for ten more minutes…
“Oh? You’re not half bad, huh? Stronger than the data says…”
Ritsuko licks her lips.
She swings her dagger, laughing.
“Can I show just a little ‘seriousness’ now? Kya hahahaha!”
Is this woman crazy?
*
In a completely dark shopping mall.
BANG! BOOM!
Explosions echo from all directions.
Store signs shatter and tables and chairs are smashed and scattered.
“What do you mean I’m a spinster? Get lost!”
Whoosh.
Ritsuko dives toward Olivia, swinging her dagger.
Tap.
Olivia narrowly dodges Ritsuko’s attack, swinging Flamberge.
“Do you want me to call you an old hag if you’re not a spinster?”
Flames burst forth, painting the air in platinum.
“Kamiya Style, Second Form! Sound Blade!”
“White Flame Sword Style, First Form! White Flame Thrust!”
The two women shout their skills as they clash.
Clang!
Mint-colored magic intertwines with platinum flames, creating sparks.
On the opposite side, as Olivia and Ritsuko collide.
BANG!
With a loud explosion, a glass display case shatters.
An eerie chill spreads around.
A long katana-wielding girl with a navy ponytail, Shinozaki Rin, sneers coldly.
“It’s just a shameful display from a spinster who’s never been married.”
“Shut your mouth!!! Don’t call me a spinster!!”
At the mention of “spinster,” another blade from Ritsuko lunges at Shinozaki Rin.
Flash.
Just as that mint light flickers.
“The sword of Shinozaki is invincible. If you didn’t know, you better learn now.”
Shinozaki Rin swings the Totsuka no Tsurugi with a serious expression.
KABOOM!
With an explosion, ice shards scatter in the air.
In the midst of the battlefield.
“Uuuh….”
Makoto is sitting on the ground.
Ritsuko’s voice constantly echoes in her head.
[Why are you just sitting there?]
[Are you betraying the Ichimon?]
[Now’s the time, aim for the target’s back.]
Makoto’s hands tremble uncontrollably.
In her line of sight, she sees her lord.
Her lord, Kim Deok-Sung, in combat mode, is struggling to fend off Ritsuko’s attacks while wielding Durandal.
Clang! Clang!
The metallic sounds resonate as the magic waves reach her.
“I can’t… I can’t do that… I can’t betray Kim-kun… Kim-kun is… Kim-kun is…”
Makoto shakes her head.
Her hands tremble uncontrollably.
She cannot betray him.
But…
Facing Ritsuko is terrifying.
Just seeing the leader of the Kamiya Clan, who has oppressed her all her life, makes her hands shake.
Though there are no nanomachine bombs, her body can’t move.
The trauma engraved deep within her bones.
[Don’t want to? I can hear some truly ridiculous things.]
[Just because you entered the academy doesn’t mean you’re truly a student of Shuo Academy.]
[Do you really think you became friends with him?]
[What if your truth as an assassin and cross-dresser is exposed at the academy?]
[Do you think they’d still consider you a friend?]
Ritsuko’s voice echoes in her ears.
“Ah…”
Makoto’s eyes widen.
Makoto’s eyes widen.
Her head drops.
From a young age to now.
For Makoto, who grew up in abuse and neglect, the past two weeks of academy life felt like a dream.
A normal day she always longed for.
Laughing and chatting with friends, eating together, and studying—she enjoyed such days.
Even the jealous looks from Olivia, Rin, and Eri were delightful to Makoto.
“Everything was happy.”
At the center of it all was Kim Deok-Sung.
The man who saved her even after knowing her true identity.
So perhaps she thought she could forget her mission and just live as a student.
She might have been deliberately avoiding a conclusion like today.
Just as Ritsuko said.
If her identity were exposed, there would be no one at the academy who liked her.
If she were abandoned by everyone.
Perhaps even her master might leave her.
The moment she imagined being abandoned, Makoto’s vision blurred.
“After all, I…”
Makoto lowers her head.
Her body grows weak.
[Yeah. Makoto. The only place you belong is with us in the Japanese class.]
Ritsuko’s words linger in her ears.
Just as tears flow from Makoto’s eyes.
“Hey. Transfer student.”
A familiar voice reaches her ear.
Makoto turns her head.
There stands the beautiful girl with orange twin tails, Nishizawa Eri, holding a chain scythe.
Nishizawa Eri frowns as she looks at Makoto and says, “What are you doing? Didn’t you also like the master?”
“I-I like him…?”
She likes him.
Upon hearing those words, Makoto’s heart races.
It was then that Makoto finally realized.
The identity of the strange feelings that had been welling up inside her earlier in the locker room.
It was the feeling of romantic affection.
“If you really like the master, prove it. Stop being a fool and go out and fight!”
Swish!
Nishizawa Eri throws her chain scythe.
The scythe strikes Ritsuko’s clone directly.
“But I… if my identity is revealed, I… might get abandoned by everyone…”
“Stop talking nonsense! Transfer student! Eri’s master is clumsy but kind, so he doesn’t care what kind of distasteful person you are.”
Nishizawa Eri’s orange gaze turns to Makoto.
“Even if everyone abandons you, the master will not. The master that Eri loves is that kind of person. So…”
Nishizawa Eri continues.
“Go out and fight. If you really don’t want to be abandoned by the master. Otherwise, your determination and feelings end there. Just a fickle whim, like a feather. Hmph.”
In a flash.
After finishing her words, Nishizawa Eri disappears from beside her through a blink.
Makoto bites her lip.
The last words Nishizawa Eri left linger in her ear.
Just a fickle whim, like a feather.
“No…”
Makoto stands up.
Her feelings for the master are not a whim.
It’s a solid loyalty and deep affection.
Thump.
Her heart beats.
[Okay. Get up. Stand up and stab Kim Deok-Sung in the back.]
Ritsuko’s voice echoes in her head.
In Makoto’s view, the battlefield appears.
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