第３２７堀：ケーキの恨みと女子会 (Part1)
Side: Labyris
"So boring."
"It really is boring."
Aslin and Firia voiced their complaints.
The younger members currently remaining in the Agust capital were finding themselves with too much time on their hands. It couldn't be helped, really. We were currently confined to a guest room in the Agust royal castle, just the four of us.
With the King of Agust having returned, the castle had caught its breath, but the soldiers were still on edge, preparing for the possibility of war at any moment. Everything would likely shift drastically depending on the outcome of the negotiations between Yuki’s group and the Magic Sword User envoy. Well, it seemed like Luna had already waded into the mix and turned everything into a chaotic mess.
...I’m glad I didn't go.
"Indeed. Ratz and Rurua have gone to see Feigel, and Deryu has gone out on an investigation with Kirika..."
As Shera said, Ratz and Rurua had headed off to negotiate with Feigel—not about the radios, but about cameras. They were framing it as goods from Samantha’s ducal family, of course. Since our previous conversation had been interrupted by the emergency, they had decided to go ahead and settle the matter while things were relatively calm. Deryu was also working with Kirika, providing support for an investigation Yuki had requested. Once Yuki and the others returned, things would start moving quickly, so Ratz, Rurua, and Deryu were busy handling what needed to be done in Agust while they still could.
...Meanwhile, us little ones were stuck in this room.
If we wandered outside carelessly, we’d likely get dragged into some strange trouble. The others seemed to understand this, so despite their grumbling, they were passing the time playing cards. Shera and I joined in, though we were mostly just zoning out.
"Honestly, it would’ve been better to go back to Weed and attend school. Or we could have just gone with the envoy to the Hifie Holy Kingdom."
"I should’ve just played with Vilia-chan."
"I wanted to go with Brother."
"Now, now, this kind of experience is good for you once in a while. And... I win."
" " "Ah!" " "
Shera, who had been lecturing us, had nonchalantly won the round of President.
"Unyuu!! I won't lose next time!!"
"I won't let you take the snacks!!"
"I suppose I don't have time to be moping, either."
We were so bored that we had even started betting, just like Milly and the others often did, but I had been too careless and let Shera take first place. Today’s snack was a chocolate cake, and I had to prevent half of it from being stolen at all costs!! The person in last place had to give up half their portion, so I had to finish in second or third place!!
"Mmm, delicious."
"It really is."
"Yes, it’s quite tasty, isn't it?"
"...Shera."
"No, Labyris. You were the one who came in last."
Ugh, how cruel. Half of my chocolate cake was gone. Yes, I had lost in a close match and was now a pitiful girl who had half her chocolate cake stolen by Shera. ...Fine. I’ll just tell myself it’s a diet.
As I was consoling myself and nibbling on my remaining cake, the room door suddenly swung open.
"Smells sweet! I smell something good!!"
The rude person who barged in was a boy who looked to be around the same age as Yuki or Taiki. He was dressed quite well, and since he was carrying a sword inside the royal castle despite not being a soldier, he must have been someone of some importance. The man walked straight toward us, looking stunned, and then...
"So, this is the source of the smell."
" " "Ah." " "
*Yoink, gulp.*
Incredibly, half of my remaining cake vanished into that jerk’s mouth.
"Oh, that’s tasty!! Give me the rest, too!!"
He reached for the rest of the cake, but we weren't about to let that happen a second time. The three of us immediately grabbed our plates and scrambled away.
"Hey, don't run!! You rude brats!! Such delicious sweets are wasted on you—hand them over to me!"
...Alright. I won't kill him, but I’m definitely going to send him flying.
*CRACK!!*
"Gah!?"
*Roll, roll... THUD!!*
He really went flying from just one right straight.
"That’s a strike."
"It’s a strike."
"Indeed. If there were pins, they’d all be down."
Yeah, I think so too. But, putting that aside...
"So, who are you? Barging into a lady's room and stealing things?"
In Weed, that’s an instant arrest. Stealing sweets is a serious crime, too!!
"...Y-you!! Do you have any idea what will happen to you for doing this to me?!"
...Ah, one of *those* types.
For now, I walked over to the man, who was struggling to get up, and stepped on his face.
"I don't care what happens to me!! Give me back my cake right now!! And since you saw us relaxing in our room, you should be kneeling and thanking us for the view!!"
"Y-you!? G-gah!?"
Ugh, it’s so infuriating. I knew I felt uncomfortable being seen by men other than Yuki, but this one was especially grating. Not only did he eat my cake, but when he pushed past me, he touched my chest!! With his elbow.
It’s an execution. Even if it wasn't intentional, it’s an execution. No trial needed.
Just as I raised my foot to stomp on him again...
"You!! What are you doing to the young master!!"
I heard a voice, followed by the sound of something cutting through the air. I could have deflected it, but for several reasons—partly to vent my frustration and partly because this jerk wasn't enough to pay for his crimes—I decided to play along. I stepped back.
A silver line flashed where I had been standing, and a soldier-like man stood there, having finished his sword swing.
"My, my, quite aggressive against unarmed children, aren't you? This piece of trash here was the one being rude, you know?"
I said, smiling provocatively. This kind of attitude usually works well on his type.
"L-lies!! This brat attacked me out of nowhere!! Cut them down!!"
" " "Yes, sir!!" " "
At his command, the other soldiers drew their swords as well. No one here bothered to verify the facts, huh...
Well, then I don't need to hold back.
"Ugh..."
"Guh..."
"I-impossible..."
In just a few seconds, all ten soldiers were lying neatly in the hallway.
Pathetic. Their training is clearly lacking.
Now, back to that piece of trash...
"D-don't move!! Do you care what happens to this one?!"
"Oh?"
"Unyuu?"
He’s surprisingly quick. Is he a G?
Before I knew it, he had grabbed Aslin and was holding a sword to her throat.
But that’s actually counterproductive. Look, the Ten Demon Beasts are already crawling out from behind Aslin...
"What is all this noise!! Labyris, are you alright!? Wait, what are you doing to Aslin!! Hikky!!"
You’re busy, aren't you, Princess Inis?
Well, thanks to this, I have a perfectly valid excuse to beat him to a pulp. I’ll leave the troublesome cleanup to Princess Inis.
And, that aside, "Hikky" is quite the name.
"Nothing is happening. This monster was acting violently, so I am merely trying to subdue it!!"
...Calling us monsters after everything? How incredibly rude.
"Don't talk nonsense, you fool!! These children are my guests and the schoolmates of the Dragon Knight!! And what do you mean 'subdue'? From where I’m standing, it looks like you lost to an unarmed child!! Have you no shame?!"
"Hii!?"
Startled by Princess Inis’s fury, he pressed the sword even closer to Aslin’s neck...
"It hurts!! Don't touch my chest!!"
He had gripped her torso so hard that he’d squeezed Aslin’s chest, and she was in pain. I was about to kill him right then and there, but...
*SNAP!! CRUNCH!! CRACK!!*
With those sounds, Hikky’s arm bent at a zigzag angle, the sword at her throat shattered, and Aslin slipped out of his grasp and landed safely on the ground.
"Huh?"