第５４５堀：関係ない そう関係ない (Part1)
**Chapter 545: It Doesn't Matter, Yes, It Doesn't Matter**
Side: Yuki
The sparring match between Vilia and Princess Stasia intensified.
"..." "..."
They exchanged blows in silence, parrying, blocking, and counter-attacking. However, there was a decisive difference between them: their weapons. Vilia wielded a spear, while Princess Stasia used a sword. Their ranges were different. Well, in terms of effective reach, the spear’s tip and the sword’s blade are both lethal, so which holds the advantage depends on the wielder's skill.
Generally, it is said that the spear has the advantage over the sword. As I mentioned, the spear has a longer reach and a wider attack range. In Japan, there’s a saying about the "three-fold advantage," implying that unless you have three times the skill of your opponent, it is difficult to defeat a spear-wielder with a sword. That is how important having a wider attack range is.
The fact that they were currently fighting on even ground meant that Princess Stasia’s swordsmanship was far superior to Vilia’s spear technique. Vilia wasn't going all-out, but even when matching Princess Stasia’s level of physical enhancement, the difference in their training and experience was evident. Vilia had only started learning the spear since coming to Weed—two or three years at most—so it was only natural. Even so, to be able to trade blows evenly with someone like Stasia, who was raised in an environment that could be called a "cheat," showed incredible skill.
But the exchange couldn't last forever. Both looked for an opening and stopped their weapons just inches from each other's vital points. Vilia, showing her back, held her spear in a reverse grip and pressed it against Princess Stasia’s neck like a sickle, while Princess Stasia stopped her sword just before bringing it down on the head of the exposed Vilia.
Well, it was a magnificent mutual kill. They definitely planned that. If one had won, it would have caused friction, after all.
"..." "..." "..."
However, George and the envoys were staring blankly for some reason. Since they were the ones who proposed this, I couldn't really call a stop to it without getting some kind of comment from them.
As I was thinking this, Vilia and Princess Stasia seemed satisfied, withdrew their weapons, bowed, and shook hands.
"That was an incredible display of skill, Princess Stasia. To be pressed this far by a sword against a spear and fight to a draw—my complete defeat."
"Not at all. Vilia-dono did not use magic. If this were a real battle, I would have been the one to lose. Besides, Vilia-dono is still young; you will surely continue to grow. I look forward to your future."
"Thank you. As a fellow woman and knight, I am happy to hear that from you, Princess Stasia. With this, I am confident I can protect my brother."
Vilia accepted the Princess's words happily, fired up to do her best as my guard.
Hmm. I had made Vilia, Dressa, and Hiiro my guards following the recent incident, but I still feel conflicted about it. I mean, they’re like children I’ve taken in, and there’s the teacher-student dynamic as well. If I were back on Earth, wouldn't I be condemned as a total pervert?
They were brought into the fold after learning our secrets during the previous incident with Nogosh, and I immediately appointed them as my close aides afterward. They lacked sufficient experience, and while it would be one thing if they had come to me after serving as royal guards like Quar, they were dragged into my affairs and I had no choice but to make them my guards. It was a matter of being short-handed, but I still can't shake this awkward feeling.
If we're talking about children in danger, Aslin and Firia fall into that category too, but those two had that factored in from the very beginning. My conscience pricks at me. Once this is all over, I’ll have to do something to make Vilia and the others happy.
As I was thinking this, Vilia and Princess Stasia walked over to us.
"Brother, unfortunately, it ended in a draw."
"Yuki-sama. You have a wonderful guard."
"Both of you had magnificent skill. But the envoys are still frozen solid—what should we do about them?"
"Eh?"
"I see. They must not have expected Vilia-dono to be able to move like that. Please, wait a moment."
Ah, they were surprised by Vilia’s unexpected level of skill. Well, since she can use such powerful magic, they probably assumed her job was to fire spells from the rear, not stand on the front lines.
"You lot!! You asked to see their ability, so why are you standing there like fools!! Were you dissatisfied with Vilia-dono’s skill?!"
"N-no!!"
She was really giving them a piece of her mind. In her stead, Prince George came over to me.
"My apologies. It was such an incredible exchange that we were simply stunned."
"Not at all. But Princess Stasia has trained quite extensively, hasn't she?"
"Yes. In this land, a woman becoming a knight requires immense effort. It’s not something you can get into through connections just because you’re a princess. That’s why, even with that iron-masked helmet, there are no open complaints about her."
So she’s put in that much work. Princess Stasia must be fighting hard against these patriarchal values. But I had a question.
"Prince George. I understand the helmet, but why is her armor of the male variety? It doesn't exactly make her look like a woman."
"Ah, that also happened after the incident. She claimed that because she was perceived as a woman, the enemy acted more aggressively, so she wears men's armor to appear as a man."
"I see..."
Certainly, if it were obvious she was a female knight, some would surely underestimate her. Even in the Japanese police, there are those who look down on female officers; it would be even worse here.
"However, Princess Stasia is in that attire all the time. Does she ever take the armor off?"
"I have never seen it, but apparently, she does remove it in her private quarters when maintaining the armor. It gets dirty with sweat and dust, after all. She does seem to cleanse herself."
Well, that makes sense. It’s impossible for a princess to never clean herself while wearing armor 24/7.
"She does remove the helmet during meals, at least... though since we are not among kin or within our own country this time, I honestly don't know what will happen. I apologize if that occurs."
"No, no, please don't worry about it. But, does she keep the armor on even during meals?"
"Yes, she keeps the armor on even then. She removes the gauntlets and gloves, of course."
"She is thorough."
"Yes. That incident left a deep scar on my sister."
Abandoning her younger sister to flee, and then failing to save her when she returned. It’s no wonder she ended up like this... Or perhaps, is it a mercy that she’s only this much? Well, that’s none of my business.
"In that case, Prince George, we would like to begin moving toward Weed. Could you gather the envoys?"
"Understood."
And so, thanks to Vilia’s performance, the people of Findal began to move toward Weed quietly.
"However, Vilia-dono, do those two over there have similar skill?"
"Ah, yes. Dressa uses a sword just like Princess Stasia. And Hiiro, that small wolf-beastman over there, is a bit unusual—she fights with a tower shield as her primary weapon, combined with staff techniques."
"Princess Stasia, we use the same weapon, so I’d like to spar with you if the opportunity arises."
"Hiiro too!"
"Hey! Both of you, watch your manners!"
"Haha, please don't worry about it. I’m the one who would like to request a match. But, leaving Dressa-dono aside, the spirit maiden—no, was it a wolf-beastman? Hiiro-dono, it’s impressive that someone with such a small body can handle a tower shield."