chapter 18

Light entertainment and sweet atmosphere. Unbelievable.

Even after that incident, it was very peaceful, to the point of questioning. Is it really okay for it to be this peacefull?

It seems that the Tiruzoto Empires messenger doesnt come for a while, so it was really peaceful. Yup, as I thought, peace is the best.

Today theres a once-in-a-month practice match!

I was taken to the knights training grounds by Chiffon. Apparently she was here to watch Stefano. No, not him, Chiffon. Absolutely not him. Mom wont let you!

Anyway, I couldnt stop Chiffon as she tugged me along with glittering eyes, and in the end I was practically dragged to the training grounds. Its actually break time right now, so we invited Ariade as well but she cut us down with a not interested. Unn, so cool. I want to be cool too.

The training grounds were a short walk away from the dorms, and was crowded with people. Wha, wait, is this all women? From what I can tell by their clothes, theyre all maids and servants. There are even some n.o.ble ladies watching from the balconies. Wait, isnt that the prince at the very top over there? Is this actually some sort of country approved event that only I didnt know of? Is that it?

So this becomes my first time seeing a practice match. But.

W h a t i s w i t h t h i s P L A C E ! !

Its almost as if some traveling troupe arrived, full of noise and excitement. Well, the knights probably wont be able to endure training day in and day out while living with similarly sweaty guys if they didnt have something like this. Theyll become more enthusiastic if theyre being watched by women. It only happens once a month, so I guess its okay. I have no interest in things that have nothing to do with me. Ah stop. You though I sounded like Stephano, didnt you?

But I never thought that there would be so many women coming to watch the practice matches, since I was always cleaning the dorms at this time. I guess theyre really popular because they protect the country.

High pitched cheers of kyaa! was heard. It seems like the previous match ended and knew knights had come into the arena.

Ah! Look, look, up next is someone from the fourth knight corps!

What!

After saying that, chiffon dives through the ma.s.s of maids and servants to the front. I was surprised as how she had shrewdly ended up in the very front. Its only times like these that chiffon can be so calculating.

I decided to watch the match from a tree a distance away from the arena, even though I couldnt see very well but theres less people there. I am actually taller than the average woman around here, so if I forced my way to the front like Chiffon it would be bothersome, and even if I got to the front I would be subject to a lot of booing. Besides, even from here I can clearly see whos in the training grounds.

okay, so the next match is

Its Stefano and the captain. captain?

KyaStefano-sama!

Eh? Sama?

Youre as gallant as ever!! Please do your best!!

Eh? Gallant?

Kya! He looked my way!

No he looked at me!

Wha, dont wink Stefano. What are you, the prince?

Whats with this cheering.

I was watching these girls with a dazed look, but it seems that the captain is being cheered on as well.

Your hair is as lovely as ever! How did you braid it so nicely!?

Apparently he does it himself.

Please let me use your lap as a pillow!!

Lap pillow?

Let me touch your smooth skin!

Arent these turning into personal desires?

Please wear my dress!!

Un, that one I agree with. If he cross-dressed he would be cute. eh? Dress?

Lutoria-sama!! Do your best!!

That, that. When you talk about cheering thats the norm. Wait, the captain, Lutoria? Ah, yeah. The prince called him that too, didnt he. I had forgotten again. To me the captain has the mental image of the captain and I cant exactly think of him as anyone else.

But hrm, so the captain was quite popular as well. Somehow I begin feeling a complex feeling. Ah, I should have eaten him.[1]

Anyway, should I be cheering someone on? If Im going to root for someone, its definitely going to be the captain. Why should I cheer on the stupid womanizing Stephano? Captain-! Please beat him to a pulp!! I cheered for the captain internally.

Ah- I really want to eat Na.s.saus food maybe Ill go there later today.

Dragon riders normally use a long-reaching spear or longsword, but this is a match between humans. Theyll probably use the weapon they are most used to.

Stephano has chosen to wield a thin sword. I thought the captain was using a dagger, but if I looked closely he had a blade in each hand so its probably a pair of short-swords. So hes ambidextrous. You learn something new every day.[2]

Both partic.i.p.ants got into position, and the knight serving as the referee sent up the sign that both sides were ready, starting the match immediately. At the call of the referee, the previously silent arena exploded into a squealing cheer, and I instinctively covered my ears. It was a miracle as to how the two of them could still go about their match in this noise. While I was thinking this, I followed their movements closely, and quickly became absorbed in the match.

Especially since Stephanos heavy handed attacks are contrasted by the captains light movements, almost as if he grew a pair of wings. The kyaa-kyaa screaming isnt all that bad. With cool men[3]comes high pitched cheering, its the same in any world.

I probably wont be able to see those eyes up close anymore.

Probably because theyre moving a lot, but occasionally I would see those eyes from behind his bangs.[4]

Even his hair, which used to be my job to braid, has been taken over by someone else. Even talking to him will become hard now. Thinking back about it now, all that happened feels as if it was all a lie.

Even though we had come into contact so casually before, now there is so much distance between us.

what is this. Its almost like Im a maiden in love! No, no. It just that the captain looks so delicious ah- the captain is so distant, is what I was thinking.

Stephanos blade grazes the captains head and his hair comes undone. One of the captains braids slips apart quickly. The captain ignored his now free-flowing hair and instead struck Stephanos now un-guarded chest with his sword. Stephano quickly tried to block, but probably because of the strength in the captains attack, he was blown backwards.

Ooh, nice. I was very impressed.

B l o w n b a c k ?

Stephano was blown away brilliantly. Yup, he was blown away to an impossible distance. It even caught some people nearby.

Stephano is slammed against the castle wall, a few meters away from the training grounds, with a loud sound. If he landed badly it could have broken his back, but it seems that Stephano is pretty tough, seeing how he was already up on his own two feet before any of the knights could help him. The fact that I thought serves you right is a secret.

If you try really hard you might be able to get someone to move about 3, 4 meters but he flew about 10 you know? Thats not a normal humans strength. The entire area is dead quiet. The captain is also staring at his left arm, as if he doesnt understand what happened either. I also noticed that he was consistently opening and closing his hand.

Aah, dammit! I shouldnt have given him that arm!!

Its originally a part of my body. It wouldnt be weird even if it could exert that kind of strength.

Since Im trying to blend in with human society, Ive been maintaining my stamina and strength at human levels. Thats why I can live normally amongst humans. But the captain knows that its an arm given to him by a dragon, something that has powers beyond human limits. Thats probably why such a large amount of power came out.[5]

The onlookers finally snap out of their dazes and begin murmuring as I thought the contract and I soon gain the overwhelming urge to sigh. I didnt make a contract. I dont even want a contract in the first place, its too troublesome and a heavy burden.

Please stoopp.

Suddenly the captain turns his head and looks my way. Our eyes met perfectly.

Even though the captains eyes were hidden by his bangs as usual, I definitely felt our eyes meet. I somehow ended up taking up a defensive posture. I have a very bad feeling. The captain tilts his head a little bit, but when he realizes its me, beckons me over.

Eh, why?

Me? Through this horde of women? Go there? Is that what youre saying? NoNoNoNoNoNo-Impossible!![6]

I dont have that kind of courage! I dont want to get involved with relations.h.i.+ps with women under normal circ.u.mstances!! If I go out there now, Ill definitely be added to their Black-list!!

I felt bad, but I shook my head from side to side and bowed deeply, before escaping with lightning speed. If its the captain, he would probably forgive me. Or more like forgive me dammit! And lets also pray that youll forget about me quickly.

Even so, that arm is really troubling. What to do.

I have never regretted the actions of my instinct-influenced self as much as I am regretting it now. It was really delicious though.

While I was grumbling about the stupidity of my actions, huh?

-My right arm is strongly tugged backwards. Surprised, I immediately turn around.

Vito, why did you run.

Uhya. When did you even get behind me?!

I look up at the captain, who pulled my arm, in surprise. I havent seen him face to face in a while and one of his braids have come undone, but its definitely the captain. I didnt think he would come chasing after me, and I had let down my guard. The captain looks at me curiously, as if not understanding why I had fled that place at such a speed. Wait, seriously? You dont know why?

Uhm you know, because Ive been transferred to a different a.s.signment.

Nn- ah, thats right.

You forgot? And dont speak like youve just remembered.

Really, what a slow person.[7]

It makes me, who was thinking about how distant weve become, seem idiotic. The captain talks to me as usual, and theres a part of me which is relieved by this.

Its kind of complicated. Emotions are difficult.

So did you need something from me?

Hair, came undone, so.

By chance, did you call me over back then just for that? You should be able to do that much by yourself. Well, Ill do it anyways since you came all this way and theres no one else here, but still.

I have the captain sit on the bench, and go behind it, accepting the hair tie from him. The captains hair is soft and nostalgic to the touch, and my mouth is not salivating. Its not. it really isnt, okay?

Ah, Ill take this chance to properly give him my greetings.[8]

Captain, Im sorry that I didnt properly give my farewells before the a.s.signment change

Nn-[9]

I wanted to go, but I couldnt get the time to do so.

Nn-

It was only for a short while, but thank you.

I complained a lot, but it was really fun. Even waking up the captain every morning, braiding his hair, watching him talk happily about dragons, casually chatting with the vice-captain, worrying about Reinas wounds, watching Stephano get scolded by Rance, and especially Na.s.saus food.

It was fun. Every day had a sense of satisfaction to it.

Again, I come to realize that I really liked it there. I really felt at home there.

Nn-

Since Ive gotten used to braiding long braids, it was finished quickly. When I tell him its done he turns around and looks up at me. I caught a glimpse of his black eyes from behind his bangs. In a distantly nostalgic manner, he curls his fingers around my hair and trails his fingers downward, stroking my cheek. It tickles.

Vito, doesnt say anything

about what?

About my eyes.

The captain moves aside his bangs and showed me. The sudden appearance of the captains eyes is bad for my heart. Out of all the people Ive met so far, the captain is the only one that has the black eyes I yearn for. Those very eyes are now reflecting my appearance. However its not my appearance but rather the appearance of the village girl I ate. I dont remember my true appearance. Knowing that the me that is reflected is all but a fabricated lie, I feel a bit depressed and fall into silence. I wonder where the real me is.

Even so, it looks like I have to say something. Hes been remaining silent, waiting for my answer.

Well, uh, its beautiful.

Really, its pretty to the point that its bad for my heart. Its so nostalgic, it makes me want to hold on to it.

The captain, as if he was suddenly in a good mood, chuckled.

It probably because he blew Stephano away. I can understand. Eh, thats not the reason?

Youre the only person who says things like that, really, Vito.

Eh? Really?

It feels like dj vu.

I mean, black eyes are rare, right? So people, always curious. Lots of people dont like.

So thats why the captain hides his eyes with his bangs. Its amazing how he can move so well with such narrow visibility. Although he does trip sometimes.

But it seems the captain has things he worries about too. The captain gave such a sad smile that I was reminded that the captain really was human, too.[10]

Well I love[11]

eh?

What I was thinking came out of my mouth, and I startled myself.

Eh? EH? Wha, wait thats a confession! No! Thats not what I meant!! I just really love that color black! I like it too much! Th-The eye! The irises! The black! I ended up shouting that nonsensical gibberish in a panic.

The captain listened with a blank expression, but smiled softly and gave me a soft thank you

Aah how embarra.s.sing. I want to crawl into a hole and disappear! Whats with this sweet atmosphere! Agh my red face! Calm down!! And like that I was panicking on my own.

Strange. Your eyes, very similar.

Apparently he was observing me while I panicked.

I dont want to hear who Im similar to! If I hear it, I feel like everything would end. I earnestly felt that it really was a good idea to change my a.s.signment.

Aah, dammit.

Whenever I talk to the captain I always end up acting up.

Seriously, whats with that.