Chapter 12

"Right, what's this guy? Make him spill why he attacked."

Oscar gave orders to his coachman.

I also peered at the face of the ruffian being held down—then.

"It's you."

"Do you know him, Noah?"

"Yeah, a bit."

To my surprise, the attacker turned out to be that debt collector.

Looking around, I didn't see the group who had been kowtowing in front of the Prince's mansion.

I explained the series of events that started with Alice.

"I see, so it's a case of revenge, then."

"Shut up! Let me go, damn it!"

"That's hard to hear, I'll dislocate your jaw."

"Huh?"

Following Oscar's command, the coachman, with extremely practiced movements, dislocated the debt collector's jaw.

He was skilled, not just a coachman.

Well, this guy's fate doesn't matter much to me.

More importantly, the armor linked with Leviathan.

Oscar marveled at how I handled it, but I wasn't sure if I was really that good.

I wanted to test it a bit more.

I looked up at Oscar.

"Brother, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it, go ahead."

"I want to test how well I can use this armor. Can you lend me one of the mages you have?"

"That's easy. What do you want to do?"

"Um..."

I explained my thoughts to Oscar.

After listening silently to the end, Oscar smiled.

"If that's the case, I'll do it myself."

"Are you sure, Brother?"

"Yeah. I want to see it too, and it'll be more satisfying to do it myself."

"Got it. Then let's do it in my mansion."

"Sure."

He nodded and entered the mansion with me.

Just before leaving the scene, Oscar signaled to the coachman, and the debt collector was taken away.

He attacked a prince, so he's in for a severe punishment.

We didn't go into the mansion but came to the garden.

We faced each other, about ten meters apart.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

Oscar nodded and began chanting a spell.

A magic circle spread at his feet, and the magical power made his noble attire flutter.

Immediately, many flaming arrows flew at once.

One, two, three—seventeen in total.

Seventeen flaming arrows flew and scattered a few meters in front of me, then attacked from all sides.

I didn't move, standing calmly.

The arrows that flew were blocked by shields formed from the ring linked with Leviathan.

Seventeen arrows, seventeen shields.

I perfectly blocked all seventeen arrows Oscar shot.

"Wow... That's amazing. You're the first to block my attack so perfectly, Noah."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I've been practicing, but wow, Noah, you're incredible. I really want to show this to His Majesty."

Excited, Oscar nodded.

"Let's wait a bit more."

"Why?"

"If I show it to His Majesty, he'll definitely ask, 'What's going on?' It wouldn't be good if I can't explain my power at that moment."

"I see. You're smart, Noah, to think that far."

I smiled back at Oscar.

I thought about how to make this ability more my own.

☆

The next day, to change my mood, I went to the place where Alice works.

The debt collector is probably finished, and if Alice is still worried, I want to tell her and reassure her.

Thinking that, I went to the place.

Alice was just singing.

I didn't want to interrupt her, so I gave the waiter ten Reen, including a tip, and listened to her from the best seat.

Yeah, as I thought.

She can grow more. She will definitely grow.

Thinking about her promising future, I quietly listened to Alice's song.

After one song, Alice caught her breath.

Some customers threw tips during the intermission.

Among them, one customer, unsteady on his feet, approached the stage.

"Hey, girl, that was a good song. Here, this is a reward."

"Thank you."

"Come here a bit, pour me a drink."

"Sorry, I can't—"

Alice, used to dealing with such drunkards, tried to refuse without changing her expression.

"Hey, back off. I saw her first."

Another drunkard appeared from the opposite side.

"Shut up, I was here first."

"You're the one who's noisy, back off."

The two drunkards, each trying to impose their own rules, fought over Alice.

Alice looked troubled.

"Hey, what's the matter?!"

"Let's settle this!"

The two became more heated and punched each other.

Thud.

A dull sound rang out twice.

"Ouch!"

"Ugh!"

The two clutched their fists in pain.

I had stepped between them.

If this continued, there would be blood.

I didn't care what happened to these two, but I didn't want Alice to get involved.

So I stepped in, between their punches.

Leviathan reacted, and two shields emerged from the linked ring, blocking their punches.

The drunkards, having punched iron shields with all their might, clutched their arms in agony.

"What the hell, you!"

"Don't get in the way!"

I silently drew Leviathan and slashed at them.

In the next moment, their clothes were torn to shreds, leaving them naked.

"W-What?!"

"Ahhh!"

Torn only their clothes, the men turned pale, screamed, and fled.

I held back to avoid bloodshed in front of Alice.

Using Leviathan to intimidate them was good, but if I had "killed" them, it might have had a negative impact on Alice.

So I made them leave in a comical way.

"What was that, amazing swordsmanship!"

"That's the prince. Wow... As expected of the prince, his sword skills are top-notch."

The atmosphere, though initially tense, became more relaxed after the men were stripped and chased away.

I asked Alice,

"Are you okay?"

"Yes... Thank you."

"Hey, owner."

"Y-Yes! I'm sorry, Your Highness."

The owner, who had been watching from a distance, hurried over, bumping into a table in his haste.

"Don't let in customers like that from now on."

"But, the store is supported by such customers. We are in business—"

"I understand. Then I'll buy the store."

"Wh-What?"

The surprised owner received the gold I took from my pocket.

"There's a thousand Reen. I'll buy the store, so refuse such customers."

"Y-Yes! Thank you!"

The owner, holding the gold high, bowed repeatedly.

"Your Highness..."

"What's wrong, Alice? You look troubled."

"Thank you so much, how can I repay you?"

"Just sing."

I answered immediately.

"All I ask of you is to sing. Just keep singing."

"Just keep singing."

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it. I want to show you to His Majesty one day, so keep practicing."

"Yes..."

Alice's eyes welled up with tears, and her cheeks flushed.

"Your Highness?"

"Can you sing one more song?"

"Sure, I'll sing."

I nodded with a smile and returned to my seat at the back.

After I sat down, Alice smiled shyly, touched the strings of her harp, and began to sing again.

"Hmm..."

From the start, it was clearly different.

As she sang, the difference became even more apparent.

Alice's song enveloped the store.

I, and the remaining customers, were all captivated by Alice's song.

It was clearly different from her previous performances.

It seemed to have grown—no, evolved in an instant.

I knew she had talent, so it made sense that she improved.

But why so suddenly?

Lost in wonder, I listened to her song until the end.

The moment it ended, thunderous applause erupted.

All the customers who had witnessed Alice's transformation stood up and applauded enthusiastically.

"What's really going on?"

"Perhaps it's the power of Your Highness."

"Huh?"

Someone spoke from the side, and I turned.

A familiar face, it was—.

"Byron."

The merchant I met at the Third Chancellor's party, Byron.

Byron, with a look of admiration, said,

"Why are you here... No, what do you mean by 'the power of Your Highness'?"

"Your Highness made that girl evolve. She shed a layer to respond to Your Highness."

"Is that possible?"

"Rarely. But Your Highness, who can do this, is truly remarkable."

"I see. Will it continue?"

"As long as Your Highness continues to support her."

Byron said definitively.

Then, it's good.