Chapter 27

I quickly threw the parchment on the floor and dodged, but I was genuinely a bit surprised.

Swish, the sound of the sword flying was quite loud.

"Oh, even if you're rotten, you're still a Junji, aren't you?"

Indeed, it was a bit tough with the new Richi.

To be precise, it was a pity that this body's limbs were short.

"Haha! You, you only run, don't you? Don't you?!!"

It would be a counter if it hit, but before it hit, that blind sword was swirling around.

'If we had fought on the stairs, I would have just pushed him away.'

At the same time, I made a decision.

After all, it was a sword swung in fear.

It would self-destruct if left alone, but time wasn't plentiful.

'I have a lot to do today.'

In the end, I decided to endure a bit of inconvenience.

'Have I only fought a couple of times?'

Just thinking about the battles I went through to become the head of the family in the previous cycle, there were over a hundred.

Let alone when combined with the wars.

What I chose was to take a bit of a risk.

'That guy is no match for me.'

When I, who had been dodging well, raised my face to the sword path, Karon hesitated for a moment.

'Right. Do you have many thoughts?'

From the thought of what would happen if I really harmed a direct descendant to the hesitation of a child who hasn't committed their first murder yet.

That guy couldn't become a lunatic or a ruffian like my older brothers.

I easily dodged the pause in the sword, but the blade grazed my cheek.

At the same time, I kicked Karon's chest. It was a very satisfying hit.

It must have hurt a lot, you bastard.

Clang!!

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"Look at the mess you're in, wielding weapons that don't suit you."

I calmly said this and turned to pick up the parchment. Or rather, I tried to.

At the same time, a tingling sensation was felt on my back, and I sighed as I quickly moved.

"Oh, what's going on here?"

At the familiar voice, I turned my head to see a sword floating in the air, enveloped in a stream of water.

The power of water.

'The only person in this elementary institution who can use the power of water is...'

Guessing the identity, I turned my gaze, and sure enough, Laila was standing there.

Behind her, two teachers were visible, but they were obscured by Laila.

She looked at me and Karon with a sharp, flawless face and walked over.

"The swords on display are not for threatening fellow students, Karon."

It was a seemingly indifferent and businesslike tone.

But why, for a moment, I saw a sharp, piercing gaze.

"The fact that a bloodbath almost occurred in the building I represent is not at all pleasant."

"L-Laila-sama, I, I..."

"Power comes with responsibility. This is a basic principle taught in all whale classes. I don't think Karon would be unaware of this."

"I, I just, just...!!"

"Enough. We'll hear the rest in the disciplinary room."

With a firm statement, Laila nodded, and the teachers behind her took Karon away with businesslike expressions.

They seemed to glance at me for a moment, but only briefly.

Soon, only Laila and I were left in the corridor.

I was still in a crouching position, trying to pick up the parchment, so I straightened my body.

"Thanks."

At my greeting, Laila only slightly raised an eyebrow.

With a sharp and businesslike face.

"There's no need to thank me. I was just doing what was expected of me as a leader in this educational institution."

"But Laila, you never act unless it's a formal disciplinary meeting, right?"

That's what the Laila I know would do.

From the previous cycle, I didn't think she had changed.

"I understand it was difficult to intervene without knowing the cause, but I'm still grateful for your help."

Laila's expression, which had been staring at my face, momentarily clouded.

"You are someone who should always remain neutral and hear both sides."

I recalled a distant past. A fair person.

A person who, by their fairness, had supported me whether they wanted to or not.

"Thanks."

"...I'm almost confused if I'm talking to the top student of the intermediate institution."

Laila sighed softly.

"Let me make it clear, if another child had been in the princess's place just now, I would have stopped the sword. That's my role."

Well, if it hadn't been me, Karon probably wouldn't have swung the sword in the first place.

"Well, who knows if I've made a huge enemy of Karon. But I'll think you helped me. Thanks."

At this, Laila's expression became subtle.

She hesitated, touching her tightly tied hair, and then exhaled.

"You are truly a unique person."

With Laila's exhalation, the stream of water dropped the sword and then came to me to pick up the parchment.

I received the parchment in a daze.

"There's no need to explain the situation. I heard everything."

"Heard everything?"

"The first floor corridor of the elementary institution isn't soundproof."

A whale capable of using the power of water has excellent senses.

She must have heard the sound and come here.

It saved me the trouble of explaining, but I had a slight doubt.

If she heard the conversation, she might not have understood the full context.

"Well, that sounds a bit strange. Do I have to go to the disciplinary room too?"

"You don't need to."

I had openly provoked Karon in the middle.

'If we were going to the disciplinary room together to explain the situation, that would be different.'

At least it didn't seem like a situation where she would openly support me.

"The princess doesn't need to go to the disciplinary room. Because she doesn't want to."

"Her?"

"Yes."

Laila's stream of water gently lifted me.

Thanks to this, I was floating and facing Laila.

"Lord Pierre asked me to take good care of Lady Calypso."

"…What?"

I hesitated.

'Did I hear that wrong?'

I couldn't maintain my composure.

Naturally, I showed a surprised expression, but it was already too late.

"I owe Lord Pierre."

I don't know how she interpreted my expression, but Laila smiled slightly.

"No, to be precise, I should say I follow Lord Pierre."

What? Laila is Pierre's person? Dad's person?

That's quite surprising, but... I'm not surprised by that point.

'Did Dad ask her to take care of me? Why? When?'

My lips moved slightly and then closed.

I wanted to ask properly, but I had to be careful.

'I'm lying right now...!'

If I said the wrong thing, the lie might be exposed.

I secretly swallowed my breath.

Damn, how do I ask?

It was a perfect deadlock.

Laila, understanding me, smiled slightly and said,

Of course, she couldn't possibly know my true thoughts.

"Of course, this is the first time I've received such an order. I didn't know he would give such an order."

"Uh..."

I laughed awkwardly.

Ha ha ha?

...There's no way that's true.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

* * *

What's going on? How did this happen?

After being taken by Laila, I boarded the carriage and just kept sweating.

The attendant, seeing me after a long time, had a lot to say but didn't approach me.

I was glad about that.

However, it was unpleasant to sweat continuously during the silence.

'Um... Should I go today?'

It was the same routine as always.

After the educational institution, I would head to the building where Dad lives.

But my feet felt heavy.

'No, if I go, a completely terrifying Dad will be waiting, right?'

I imagined it.

"...So, you've been having fun all this time, deceiving me?"

"Was it fun? You didn't even realize you were in the palm of my hand."