I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 74

“…!”

I covered my mouth, barely stifling a scream that almost burst out.

In an instant, Aike, who had been poked in the shoulder, quickly stepped back to catch his breath.

It’s fine.

As long as there’s a barrier in the Training Hall, it’s not a serious injury.

It wasn’t a deep stab, anyway.

As expected, Aike slightly turned his shoulder and faced Crown Prince Leon again.

“Hah.”

Even knowing he was fine, I was scared when Aike got hurt.

I recognize the greed in my heart, but if possible, I want it to end without him getting hurt at all.

“Please….”

Once again, Aike and Crown Prince Leon clashed.

Aike was looking for openings among the flurry of attacks, just like he always did.

Crown Prince Leon, on the other hand, was evading those strikes as much as possible, waiting for a solid counterattack.

It was certain that the Crown Prince had landed a critical hit on Aike’s shoulder, but Aike was slowly widening the wounds on the Crown Prince as well.

A stalemate.

At least from what I could see, their skills were nearly equal.

“Yet I still think the Crown Prince will win, don’t you?”

“Indeed, during the midterms, the Crown Prince emerged victorious, and currently, it’s Aike who’s getting the bigger injuries.”

I could hear several students discussing from behind.

Most were predicting a victory for the Crown Prince.

Then who, I wonder, was I really hoping would win?

Simply put, if the Crown Prince wins, this engagement will be lifted.

To achieve my objective, I should want the Crown Prince to win.

But I didn’t want to see Aike lose.

‘I intend to win with my full strength at least.’

The conversation I had with the Crown Prince last time popped into my mind.

‘If you handle it half-heartedly, you won’t be able to win, and it will be hard to hear Aike’s true feelings as well.’

I also want to know Aike’s true feelings.

‘If he’s really unaware of his own issues, I must teach him.’

So.

“Don’t lose, Aike.”

I whispered, hoping for his victory, too softly for anyone to hear.

★

“Guhh?!”

As soon as I felt the unpleasant sensation of the blade slicing through flesh, I quickly retracted.

Fortunately, the wound wasn’t that deep.

Even without the barrier in the Training Hall, it was a light wound that could heal with simple pressure.

“Phew.”

As I caught my breath, I recalled the scene from earlier.

‘I might really be disappointed in you this time.’

That thought coincided with the Crown Prince’s movement as he slipped through my openings and poked a strike into my sternum.

I clearly saw the movement.

But I couldn’t react.

What was the reason?

There was no need to think about it too hard.

I simply fell for the Crown Prince’s words.

“Focus.”

Whatever he said, my goal didn’t change.

I will win this duel.

That’s all I needed to think about.

After organizing my thoughts, I slightly turned my shoulder; it was just a dull throb, so it didn’t hinder my movements.

“Hah.”

Let’s stick to the basic tactics.

I’ll use the reach difference to take the initiative, and when an opening appears, I’ll thrust my sword.

I could already well predict the Crown Prince’s tactics.

He would deflect my attacks and lead me into a prolonged battle, aiming for a moment to counter.

It sounded simple verbally, but as the opponent, it highlighted just how exceptional his talent is.

Still, it’s okay.

I can win.

I could tell enough from the earlier standoff.

The Crown Prince had been evading my attacks as much as possible, but he hadn’t evaded perfectly.

His clothes were already torn in several places, and blood stains were seeping through the edges.

They were shallow wounds, but even they would pile up and become burdensome.

“Hmph!”

With a shout, I closed the distance again.

Swinging Neia at his left leg, the Crown Prince barely managed to evade the strike.

I must not stop.

With that thought, I spun my body and continued my assault.

The sound of the sword slicing through the air.

The clash of steel.

The ringing of blades bouncing off one another.

Such sounds echoed around us.

And the Crown Prince’s body gradually accumulated more wounds.

Unlike before, he didn’t open his mouth to speak.

He simply blocked my attacks with a calm demeanor.

No, let’s not think about it.

What mattered most was winning this duel.

“Hah!”

I swung Neia, striking the Crown Prince’s sword hard.

For the first time, he furrowed his brow.

Seeing his right arm trembling while wielding his sword confirmed it wasn’t a mere deception.

Now’s my chance.

Without anyone needing to tell me, I instinctively knew.

This was the moment to place my bets.

Quickly, I closed the distance with the Crown Prince.

He immediately tried to backpedal, attempting to create space, but that would be impossible.

There was a clear speed difference between walking backward and running forward.

I attacked his shoulder, legs, and continued on to his side and arms with Neia.

The Crown Prince tried desperately to avoid my strikes, but more shallow wounds began to accumulate.

Stay calm.

Don’t get excited.

If I just keep pushing like this…

“Aike.”

Don’t listen.

It’s a ploy to confuse me.

“What is so….”

“Hahhhh!”

I drowned out the Crown Prince’s words with a battle cry as I lunged forward and realized it.

I’d already fallen for his trap.

“Cough!”

The unnecessary large movement of my attack wouldn’t go unnoticed by the Crown Prince.

In an instant, he thrust his foot into my sternum.

I couldn’t breathe.

“…!”

Being pushed back several times while clutching my chest, the Crown Prince slowly approached me.

Is this how it ends?

Am I really going to lose like this?

The moment the Crown Prince aimed his sword at my throat, the classmate who was acting as the judge for this duel would declare my defeat.

Damn it.

Even trying to catch my breath, the pain in my sternum distracted me from focusing.

I barely managed to rise, but there was no way I could regain my stance.

I was barely standing upright.

“Aike.”

Yet the Crown Prince didn’t move closer.

He stopped about three meters away and called my name.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Wh-what is this about?”

“It doesn’t matter, does it? If this continues, I’ll win anyway. You’ve got one last chance—just got to talk to me in exchange.”

It was true.

To be honest, the duel was over already.

No excuses were needed.

In the end, it was I who collapsed first.

“Ah, I may have phrased that like an invitation, but you don’t really have a choice. Plus, the sound barrier is already up, so no worries about being overheard.”

Cruel.

Even though the end wouldn’t change, why did he make me feel this miserable?

That thought ignited my anger.

But.

“I think you may be mistaken.The one who first brought up breaking off the engagement was Lady Reina.”

With those words, my anger subsided in an instant.

“…What?”

“There’s not a single lie in what I just said. I swear on my name.”

The sharp pain in my sternum felt dulled, perhaps because of the incomprehensible words.

“And you asked. Was everything I said back then a lie? If you’re asking if it relates to Lady Reina’s happiness, I still wish for her happiness.”

“If that’s the case, then the engagement….”

“I just told you. The one who first brought up breaking off the engagement was Lady Reina.”

My head started spinning.

If what the Crown Prince said was true, what was I even doing here in this duel?

If Reina genuinely wanted to break off the engagement, should I be losing this duel?

I couldn’t understand.

“But Reina likes the Crown Prince….”

“Aike. I’ve wanted to ask for a long time. Why do you think Lady Reina likes me?”

Well, that’s what was written in the side story of the original work.

“They hardly ever meet, and even when they do, they don’t have any real conversations. Yet you seemed to think that Lady Reina liked me, and I didn’t expect that to be genuine.”

In the side story, it described Reina as genuinely loving the Crown Prince, her arranged marriage partner.

“I’ll say it again, Aike. The one who intended to request the breakup first was Lady Reina. And she never developed feelings for me.”

Why did it end up like this?

There was no need to ask that question.

I knew.

If there was someone twisting the contents of the original story, it would be me.

Then, because of me, did the world in which Reina could be happy vanish?

“Ha, haha.”

A dry laugh escaped unbidden.

Am I an idiot or what?

No, I was actually an idiot all along, up until now, before I got isekai’d into this world.

Laying in a hospital bed every day, waiting for death without any hope.

What kind of goal would I strive for, being a pathetic loser?

I felt so pathetic about myself that I could almost cry.

“I lost….”

In the depths of despair, as I was about to declare my defeat,

“Get a grip, Aike.”

For some reason, the Crown Prince kicked me to stop my spiral.

Though I had no strength and was lying on the ground, I quietly looked up at him.

“The conversation isn’t over yet.”

“…Isn’t it the case that I have to lose for Reina to break off the engagement?”

“That’s not the point. Like I said earlier, you don’t have a right to refuse.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes held such icy calmness.

“I know you treasure Lady Reina. Sometimes I even envy that. I have no friends who value me as much as you do. But conversely, it can be frightening.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Think about it yourself.”

With that final remark, the Crown Prince fell silent.

Was that it for the conversation?

Yet the Crown Prince stood still.

He merely gazed at me.

What was he hoping for from me?

What could he want from a pathetic loser who had ruined everything without any understanding?

“Honestly, I don’t get it.”

Slowly, I turned my gaze towards Reina.

She was looking at me as if it was only natural.

Reina, tell me.

If you wanted to break off the engagement, why didn’t you just tell me?

Why didn’t you stop this duel?

Why?

“Aike. If you beat me, the breakup will never happen, right? Then does Lady Reina really want you to lose?”

Certainly not.

You’d mentioned that Reina was the one who wanted to break this engagement.

“Seeing Lady Reina’s face right now, do you really still think so?”

Her face?

Since the audience seats were a bit far away, I couldn’t see her expression clearly.

But after hearing the Crown Prince’s words, I don’t know why, but I was enhancing my vision with magic.

“…Reina.”

Reina was biting her lip.

But she wasn’t crying.

She simply had her hands clasped together, gazing at the arena.

No, to be precise, she was looking at me.

As if she believed in me.

As if she wanted me to win.

If I won, the declaration of breaking off the engagement would not happen.

Yet her expression seemed to say she would not accept my defeat.

“Ha ha.”

Another dry laugh escaped.

Why hadn’t I realized this?

I really am a fool.

While thinking about changing the future, I thought I could keep my relationships the same; that makes me an even bigger fool.

‘At the end of the goal you desire, who will ultimately be there? Think long and hard about that.’

‘I’ll pray that when this duel is over, we can both find the answers.’

‘And most importantly, will you be satisfied?’

‘The one who hurt Lady Reina is standing next to her.’

Only now could I comprehend the meaning behind what Ender Dean, Sophia, and the Crown Prince wanted to convey to me.

What I desired was Reina’s happiness.

I vowed to create a world where she could be happy.

But I wasn’t standing at the end of that wish.

In the happiness of the future I craved, the most important person—myself—was missing.

So what did I truly want?

“I want to walk together with Reina until the very end.”

After all, the Crown Prince had left Reina to die in the original.

If I was going to save her, then from the start, I should have been prepared to make her happy myself.

An idiot.

A foolish idiot, turning a blind eye to my responsibilities.

An idiot who tried to cheer for the girl he liked marrying another man.

A true pathetic fool.

“Hah.”

I took a deep breath and stood up.

Before I knew it, the pain in my sternum had completely subsided.

The trembling of my whole body had stopped.

Someone might say I was cowardly if they could read my thoughts right now.

But so what?

It was they who provided me the chance.

It seemed like he had expected this from the start.

So, to repay that, I should get back up and give my all to break him apart.

“Have you sorted out your thoughts, Aike?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve certainly come to my senses.”

My vision was clear.

My body felt light.

The distractions were slowly fading away.

I felt I could evade all of the Crown Prince’s attacks now without getting hit.

“So what’s the conclusion?”

“I’m going to win. I will defeat the Crown Prince.”

“If you win, there will be no declaration of breaking off the engagement?”

“Who said that? If I win, I’ll do as I please. Whether I win or lose, I’ll do what I want, but isn’t it a bit cowardly to just comply with what the Crown Prince wants?”

“Well, that does make sense. Then let’s talk about that properly after the duel.”

“Agreed.”

I slowly settled into my stance.

I would be ready to dash out at any moment, powering every part of my body.

“Then let me ask you one last question.”

“Feel free to ask.”

“How do you feel about Lady Reina?”

That question almost made me burst into laughter.

To think he would ask something like that now.

I turned my head and glanced at Reina for a moment.

“I like her.”

“As a romantic interest?”

“More than anyone else.”

The Crown Prince curled the corners of his mouth up, a fierce smile forming.

I likely wore the same expression as him.

“Hahhhh!”

We both shouted at the same time as we stepped forward.

I had a single target.

Leon.

I will defeat you.