I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 7

“Gah!”

Cast aside your distractions.

Right now, I am but a blade.

A weapon that exists solely to slash.

I released my breath in one swift motion from a resting position and swung down my sword.

“Ugh!”

With an unpleasant scraping sound, the sword ricocheted away.

Gritting my teeth, I looked ahead and saw a thick steel plate standing resolutely, showing no signs of a scratch.

“Dammit.”

My hand tingled.

Unable to suppress my anger, I collapsed onto the floor.

How many times have I repeated this now?

I stopped counting after about thirty attempts.

Yet, I still didn’t achieve the desired result.

If only a tiny scratch had appeared…

“I shouldn’t be this weak.”

A command from the imperial family ordering a deployment to Heros, in the Rozelia Duchy.

Father had clearly stated as much.

The Akses Duke House has been a loyal knightly family since the empire’s founding.

When it comes to defeating enemies, they’re always the first to charge, and when the empire needs defending, they act as the last line of defense.

In other words, receiving a deployment command from the imperial family means it’s time to eliminate enemies.

“Today marks the third day.”

It has been three days since my father headed to the imperial family for deployment preparations.

Since then, I have been infinitely repeating the same training to cut through this steel plate.

If it were an ordinary steel plate, I could have at least left a scratch.

But this one is a Magic-protected Steel Plate.

“Are knights supposed to be monsters?”

In the empire, a knight refers to someone wielding a sword as part of the Knight Order.

But simply wielding a sword doesn’t make one a knight.

Only those born with talent can be considered among the top tier.

Even in the Akses Duke House, a knightly lineage, if one lacks skill, they can’t become a knight.

At best, they might attain a managing position within the Knight Order.

What I’m doing right now is merely the most basic test to become a knight.

Cutting a Magic-protected Steel Plate.

The only things I can use are my own weapons and Physical Enhancement Magic.

A small scratch won’t do. It needs to be cut cleanly in half.

But as of now, I can’t even manage a small scratch.

“I can’t protect Reina with skills like this.”

The deployment order from the Akses Duke House means to eliminate the enemy.

And this time, the place I will go is Heros in the Rozelia Duchy.

Of course, it shouldn’t entail fighting against the Rozelia Duke House.

Reina had met with me last Friday, and she didn’t seem any different than usual.

It’s absurd that the Rozelia House, known as the second Duke House alongside the Akses Family, would become the enemy of the empire.

But I know.

This world has changed from the original story I once saw.

Before entering Arcana, there was no past meeting between Reina and the female protagonist.

During the ball, had she not moved as she did at the end, Reina would have died.

The grand framework of the story may be the same, but the intricacies of the tale are surely different.

Perhaps this has occurred because I am not the true Aike.

If that’s the case, it’s possible that Reina might find herself in danger during this deployment.

“…No way.”

I must become strong enough to protect Reina no matter what.

At the very least, I need to be able to ensure her escape.

But how?

I have not skipped a single day of training.

I can honestly say I’ve poured out blood and sweat as I worked hard.

Yet, it’s still not enough. Not just a little—far from it.

If I can’t even surpass the basics to become a knight, how can I ever protect her?

Our bodies may be the same, and I’m enhancing mine in the same way, so why is there such a disparity?

I wish someone would teach me.

“Aike, young master.”

“Hmm?”

As I lay on the ground lamenting, someone spoke to me.

It was Noelle, the maid who had helped me change clothes on the first day.

“Your father has returned.”

“Already?”

I had thought he’d be back around tomorrow.

“Yes. And he has orders for you to join him.”

“Got it.”

I wanted to practice a bit more, but if it’s Father’s orders, there’s no helping it.

I sprang up, placed my sword into its scabbard, and followed Noelle.

“I’ll be going to the imperial palace tomorrow, so prepare yourself.”

“Yes?”

As soon as we arrived at the office, Father spoke to me.

“The Emperor has personally summoned you. It’s a moment of great fortune.”

“I, uh, what does that mean…?”

“It means His Majesty has recognized your abilities. So be sure to prepare properly. We can’t afford any mishaps tomorrow.”

What am I supposed to say?

It was all so sudden that my mind went blank.

What on earth have I done to earn this recognition?

“Father. Tomorrow, I was supposed to meet Reina…”

“Even after I’ve said the Emperor personally called for you, you still want to search for that girl?”

“It’s not that.”

“I’ve already made arrangements, so no worries. Just don’t stress and head back.”

“Understood.”

With that final conversation, I left the office as if I were being chased away.

What is even happening?

This is so out of the blue.

“Dammit.”

I wanted to vent such grievances, but of course, I couldn’t.

All I could do was prepare for my trip to the imperial palace tomorrow.

★

“Sigh.”

Inside the rattling carriage, I quietly exhaled.

This was the second time I’d left the Akses Duchy of ‘Arcadia’ since the ball.

Both times, the destination was the imperial palace in the capital of Astraya, ‘Orcheon’.

The difference this time being, last time I only went to the outer ballroom for the ball, but this time I was entering the main palace itself.

Under the Emperor’s orders no less.

Father never told me the precise reason.

He just kept saying that I shouldn’t disappoint the expectations he had for me.

The more he said that, the more burdened I felt.

If I were the true Aike, it might be different, but as I am now, I cannot meet their expectations at all.

…But I have to manage somehow.

After all, I’m a noble now.

I must value my family’s reputation.

“Sigh.”

As I approached the system, I could only let out a sigh in the face of the growing sense of pressure.

“One more day, my lord.”

“Ron. As I said yesterday, that was over ten years ago. What do you expect will happen if he hears?”

“But even Chris has said that the only central commander in his heart is Lord Ados!”

“…That guy still.”

Before entering the palace, Father was talking with the knights of the Central Knight Order, which guards the imperial family.

Regardless of being from the Akses Duke House, one must undergo various evaluations before entering the palace’s main hall.

In the meantime, he was rekindling old friendships through conversation.

“By the way, young master, might you be Prince Aike?”

“Yeah. I imagine you’ll be joining the Central Knight Order one day.”

“I see. Your Highness. Do you remember me?”

The knight, who had first called me Ron, suddenly spoke to me.

“S-sorry.”

I bowed in response.

Ron waved his hand with a smile.

“It’s okay. It’s been over ten years since I last saw you.”

That wasn’t the issue I wanted to address, but I was relieved to have it come across positively.

“Uh, um. You should be able to enter now.”

Receiving news that evaluations were complete, Ron and all the other knights straightened their postures once again.

“The sword that protects the empire! We salute Ados, the 31st head of the Akses Duke House, and Prince Aike!”

“Salute!”

With Ron’s shout, everyone saluted my father and me in perfect unison.

The coordinated movements were sharp enough to make me want to say I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

“That is the path you are to take from here on.”

“Yes, Father.”

I quietly nodded in response to Father’s words, which urged me to firmly take in the scene of the knights.

Though this was my first time entering the palace’s main hall, thanks to my father, I was able to walk without hesitation.

As I quietly observed the palace following Father, it felt simpler than I expected.

Recalling the extravagance of the outer ballroom, it felt rather anticlimactic.

“Aike, take your position.”

Arriving at the audience room without noticing, at Father’s command, I took a deep breath, straightened my waist, and looked ahead.

Two knights stood on either side of the massive doors to the audience room.

The knights nodded to Father and me, and Father returned the gesture before opening his mouth.

“The sword that protects the empire. Ados, the 31st head of the Akses Duke House, and his son Aike seek an audience with His Majesty.”

“Eternal glory to the empire!”

“Eternal glory to the empire.”

With a light tap, the knights brought their spears down onto the floor.

Then, the doors of the audience room creaked open, revealing the interior.

As the doors opened fully, Father stepped forward naturally, and I slowly followed him into the audience room.

“…”

Any thoughts of the palace being simple were wiped away the moment I entered the audience room.

The interior was adorned with countless jewels.

It was a beauty akin to viewing star clusters against the night sky.

Moreover, the grand throne in the center of the audience room.

It was overwhelming enough to make one think it reached the limits of what humanity could create.

And sitting upon that throne was Emperor ‘Raphael Aegis Astraya,’ radiating an undeniable majesty.

“It seems it’s been only a day, Ados.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the Emperor began to speak, both Father and I kneeled in respect.

“Aike Akses, the second son of the Akses Duke House.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve heard much about you. I called you here because I wanted to have a conversation.”

“It’s an honor.”

To whom and what stories could he have heard?

I was exceedingly curious, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

“Well then, let’s take a seat. There are others waiting for you as well.”

“Understood.”

At the Emperor’s words, Father and I immediately stood and took our positions.

But then, moving to a different setting, and that someone is waiting here too—what could that mean?

I had thought it was surely related to the orders about the Heros deployment in the coming week.

Following the Emperor and my father, I wandered through these thoughts.

“It’s been a while, Aike.”

“…Your Highness.”

Our destination was the Reception Room deep within the imperial palace.

And waiting for us inside was the Crown Prince, smiling as he sat in a chair.

“Make yourself comfortable. After all, it’s just us.”

The Emperor chuckled lightly and took a seat at the head of the table, while Father and I sat opposite them, facing the Emperor and Crown Prince.

“I hear you’re set to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament in Heros soon. Both my father and I are looking forward to it.”

The Crown Prince was the first to strike up a conversation.

And the moment he did, my thoughts stopped.

“…Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“Hmm? The special martial arts tournament being held in the Rozelia Duchy this time. I’m told you’ll be competing as well, as Lord Ados mentioned three days ago?”

What in the world is he talking about?

Internally, I let out a silent scream.