Chapter 77

"Indeed, she's outrageous... It's really unacceptable. That princess Camilla Reisenburg... She's really, really outrageous. Are you listening? Klaus?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm listening. She's outrageous..."

"That's right... It's like, boom, and then it becomes a mess, and then bang... Do you understand?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's right..."

What's going on? I'm giving Klaus information about Camilla, so why does he look so troubled?

After toasting with the new vintage of Lieber, each dish served was exquisite. The appetizer, a salad of steamed chicken and vegetables dressed with a vinaigrette, was followed by meat, fish, and vegetables, all of which were intricately prepared without being overly heavy, allowing the flavors of the ingredients to shine.

After the new vintage of Lieber, we were treated to three-year and five-year Lieber, and I learned about the differences in their flavors. Lieber wine deepens in color, aroma, and flavor as it ages. For me, a first-time drinker, it's hard to imagine how the new vintage I drank today will mature in three or five years, but apparently, connoisseurs can make some predictions just by tasting the new vintage. That's why they will pay in advance to secure good vintages for three or five years ahead.

And now, what I'm drinking is a ten-year Lieber. The amber-colored wine has a smooth texture when it hits the tongue, followed by a rich aroma that explodes in the mouth. The sense of euphoria that washes over the mind is indescribable. It feels like my consciousness is floating in the air, and I could easily have an out-of-body experience with just a little nudge.

"Already, the Reisenburgs prioritize their own interests... They only think of us as monkeys..."

"Yeah, yeah, that's right..."

"When we were summoned... She said we could choose between obedience or death, in that golden armor... How outrageous!"

"Well, I've never actually met her, so I don't know..."

"Huh... Klaus, you've never met Camilla?"

"No, I've already said that many times. That's why Kent is providing the information..."

"That's right, that's right... That's why information is so important."

As the lord of Wolzard, Klaus is one of the seven leaders of the Republic of Lanzhelt, but he says he has never met Camilla. Due to the Demon Forest acting as a border, there is trade between the two countries, but the exchange of key figures has ceased. Therefore, I am providing Klaus with information about Camilla before the envoy arrives.

Ah... Why is the world spinning? Why is it spinning?

"Ugh... It's really true... She's really outrageous..."

"Klaus, should I carry you back to the boarding house?"

"No, it's probably too late, and the people at the boarding house might be asleep. I'll let you rest in my room."

"Sleep... What are you saying... There's still Camilla's... *sigh*..."

"Alright, let's take you to the room."

"Alright, I'll leave it to you..."

"Come on, Kent, let's go..."

As I was grabbed by the collar and dangled by Donovan, as usual, I said,

"Hey... Donovan, I'm not a cat... *sigh*..."

"Yeah, I get it, now walk."

"Ugh... The floor is wobbly... Klaus, the floor is..."

"Idiot, it's your legs that are wobbly."

"Huh? My legs... What do you mean..."

While being dangled by Donovan, I felt like I was walking on clouds, and I was thrown onto a large bed.

"Ah... This isn't the boarding house... The walls... My hands can't reach them..."

"Just go to sleep."

"Is that so? But, the information about Camilla..."

"She's outrageous, I get it, it's fine."

"Okay... Okay... Okay..."

"Really, you usually hold back so much..."

"Okay... Okay..."

The bed Donovan threw me into was so soft that I was quickly pulled into sleep.

When I came to, I was facing Camilla in the guild's training ground. Camilla was in her usual golden armor, holding a sword with a large gemstone in the hilt, and I was in leather armor, gripping a wooden sword in my right hand.

"Hmph, you insolent monkey... I will personally guide you to the afterlife, be grateful!"

"Not a chance! The spirits of Funa, Takayama, the old and new duo, and Gase Megane give me strength!"

"Hmph, what nonsense... The thoughts of monkeys are already being digested by goblins and turned into excrement in their bellies."

"You... You will not be forgiven, Camilla Reisenburg, prepare yourself!"

I stepped forward with my left shoulder forward, raising my wooden sword to the upper right.

"Hmph, you monkey... You will only serve to rust my sword... Mana, Mana, the ruler of the world, gather, gather, gather in my body..."

"Too slow!"

The moment Camilla began her incantation to enhance her body, I charged forward with all my might. I had been training rigorously for this day, and I could use the body enhancement magic without an incantation.

"What... Without an incantation... Ugh..."

Despite my sudden charge, Camilla barely deflected my strike. The collision of her gemstone-encrusted sword and my wooden sword produced a high-pitched sound.

*Clang, Clang, Clang!*

One, two, three strikes, the sounds of the swords clashing echoed through the guild's training ground, and the crowd watching cheered loudly.

"Take her down, monster tamer!"

"Princess Camilla, knock her out!"

"Go! Demon King, bring down Reisenburg!"

"Princess Camilla! Please do your best!"

With each clash, shockwaves rippled through the guild, causing the doors and windows to vibrate. The training ground cracked and split, but neither Camilla nor I stumbled. We moved at blinding speeds, never missing a single opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

How much time had passed? It felt like just a few minutes, but it could have been hours. The edges of Camilla's sword and my wooden sword were visibly worn, and both our physical and magical energies were nearing their limits.

"Hmph, for a monkey, you're quite stubborn..."

"Hehe, you're really out of breath, aren't you, princess?"

"What are you saying? I'm not even twenty yet!"

"Really? You were worried about your figure after a bath?"

"K-King... You've seen what you shouldn't have seen... *roar*!"

"What!"

With a roar, Camilla's magical power exploded.

"I'll wipe out the entire city of Wolzard!"

Her magical power converged in her sword, which glowed with a blinding light. It was likely her final, all-consuming strike, using the remainder of her magical power. I could easily avoid it, but if I did, everyone behind me would be in danger. I couldn't afford to lose anyone else.

"Are you ready, monkey? Take this... Royal Impact!"

The amplified magical power from Camilla's sword came at me like a massive wave of destruction.

"Ooooh! Dark Shield!"

I extended my left hand, activating a massive dark shield. The shield deflected Camilla's magic, redirecting it into the sky. I activated another dark shield in its path, reflecting the magic back.

"What is this black wall? My magic... *gasp*!"

Struck by the reflected Royal Impact, Camilla's armor shattered.

"Enough, Camilla! Take this, Final Explosion!"

"Kyaah!"

With a swift step, I delivered a diagonal slash, sending Camilla flying high into the air. She fell to the ground like a rag doll, and the training ground fell silent.

"It's over..."

I had used most of my magical power in that final strike and collapsed to my knees, but the long battle was finally over. I could finally report our victory to the fallen comrades.

"It's not over... It's not over yet..."

"What?"

Camilla, still wearing the remnants of her armor and bleeding from her forehead, stood up, leaning on her broken sword. I tried to stand, but my wooden sword, which I was using as a cane, shattered.

"Don't give up, Kent!"

Yui's healing magic gave me strength as she ran to my side.

"Kent, take this..."

Manon's healing water rejuvenated me. I mustered all my strength to stand. Camilla's usually well-kept golden hair was now a mess, and her face was that of a mountain hag.

"This is it, monkey!"

"Camilla!"

Camilla threw away her broken sword and charged at me with a clenched fist. I took a fighting stance to meet her.

Camilla threw a powerful right straight without any feint. I barely dodged it and countered with a left hook, but it was blocked by her reflexively bent elbow. I aimed a powerful right straight at her face, but she countered with a left hook. I tried to duck and close the distance, but her knee strike aimed at my face. I sidestepped to avoid the knee and, with a shout, threw Camilla to the ground, my body forming a perfect bridge as I slammed her head into the ground.

"Ugh..."

Camilla's body went limp, the last of her strength leaving her. I released her, and she lay motionless on the ground.

"Cough... Kill... me..."

*Roar*... I've got Camilla's kill, thank you!

"Don't be ridiculous... You think someone like you can die easily?"

"Cough... I can't... As a member of the Reisenburg royal family, I can't be disgraced by a monkey like you..."

*Laugh*... Don't think you have any choices left as the defeated...

"Stop... Stop..."

As Camilla tried to crawl away, I held her tightly from behind, but I was also at my limit, and a severe headache began to cloud my consciousness.

"Cough... After all this, to defeat Camilla... and yet..."

In the fading consciousness, I struggled to repeat, "Camilla is outrageous... Camilla is outrageous..."

*Ah, my head hurts... But, this Camilla is outrageous... What?*

There was a soft sensation in my arms, but what was it...? I opened my eyes, and everything was red. I thought I was crying blood, but when I shifted my gaze, I saw smooth, porcelain-like skin.

*Huh...?*

The warmth in my arms was trembling. The person I was holding was not Camilla Reisenburg, either in build or color. Also, I seemed to be in just my underwear... And the object in my arms felt like it was only covered by a thin layer of silk...

The sense of accomplishment from defeating Camilla vanished, replaced by a headache and a growing sense of unease.

"Mr. Kent... Will you take responsibility...?"

"Eeeeh...?"

At Beatrice's mosquito-like whisper, the blood drained from my face. *What? Did I... Did I do something?*

"Of course, you will take responsibility, right?"

"Ah...!"

As I heard the whisper in my ear, I turned my head with a *creak* and saw red rabbit ears in my field of vision.

"Good morning, Mr. Kent. Last night was fun with Leiche, wasn't it...?"

"O-Oh, good morning, Marianne... T-This is...?"

"Mr. Kent, a woman's body is delicate, so you shouldn't be so rough."

"B-But, this is a dream..."

"It's not a dream."

"B-But, the feeling... The warmth... It's not a dream..."

*Ah, I've been cornered...*

"This situation... Even I can't