第１１７４堀：意外な悪癖とタイミング (Part2)
Well, thanks to her unexpected resilience, my anxiety has dissipated, but that has left me at a loss for what to talk about next.
Just as I was wondering how to proceed...
"Tell me, Princess Fiora, is there anything you’d like to do once you arrive in Weed?"
"Riel, she’s a princess. You must address her as Princess Fiora."
"It is quite alright. We share the same husband, after all. Besides, you two were his wives long before I was, and since this is a path I chose of my own volition, please, do not stand on ceremony. As for what I would like to do..."
I have to admit, Riel’s sudden, uninhibited communication style is truly something else. She has no hesitation, and she isn't wrong, either. We had been talking about nothing but the situation with Dafaio, so asking what she wants to do in Weed is a perfectly reasonable shift in topic.
"Let’s see... I am not entirely sure how demanding the work will be, but I have heard rumors of Weed’s strength. Your military, and you, the wives—is that not so?"
"Oh? Well, I suppose so. I don’t think we’re weak. Steve and I, for instance."
If we are defining strength simply by level, then we are overwhelmingly, absurdly powerful. However, we’ve always operated under the philosophy that there is a way to fight any battle, making those levels little more than a bonus. I was curious what this princess would desire once she grasped the nature of that strength, but then she said...
"In that case, I would very much like to cross blades with you. Queen Seraria was once a general known as a Valkyrie, was she not? If it is permitted, I would love to test my mettle against a fellow princess."
"..."
I see. Yes, "like a more serious version of Seraria" is an apt description indeed. Is Princess Fiora actually a battle-junkie? Or does she just want to test herself against strong opponents? Ah, I suppose those are just two ways of saying the same thing.
"Er, well, Seraria does keep up with her 'exercise' daily, so I’m sure she’d be happy to spar with you."
"Is that so? I look forward to it. Perhaps I should properly retrain myself; lately, I’ve been so occupied with command that I’ve rarely had the chance to stand on the front lines."
She seems positively brimming with motivation. ...Hmm. Are "princesses" usually like this? No, no, Shera is a perfectly normal princess, and Taiki’s wife, Airi, is quite ordinary as well. Still, it is true that we have many martial-minded princesses like Seraria and Riel. I suppose everyone is different.
As I was mulling this over, Princess Fiora looked up as if something had just occurred to her.
"Come to think of it, I often hear that the people of Weed are 'strong,' but for some reason, I have never heard a name mentioned as the single most powerful among you. Who, then, is the strongest in Weed?"
"..."
Haha... there isn't a soul among us who can answer that. It’s an unspoken taboo. Because our power levels are so astronomical, a proper duel is impossible to sustain. Especially when it comes to Yuki. That’s the sort of contest that would be lost the moment it began.
Well, if we wives fought amongst ourselves, we could probably establish a ranking, but that would lead to all sorts of complications. It could create unnecessary hierarchies, and Yuki hates that sort of thing—plus, we’d all be sensitive about it. Losing is, after all, a bit frustrating. Not that our bond is so fragile that it would break over something like that.
Besides, when it comes to combat, we have clear roles: powerhouses like Deryu, Seraria, and Jessica; the tactical minds like Eris, Milly, and Ratz; and the magic-users like Cleena, Samantha, and Kagura. It’s all a matter of compatibility and matchups. It’s a rock-paper-scissors situation; there’s no way to say who is truly the "best."
Just as I was thinking this, a voice cut in.
*“Oh, that sounds lovely. I’ve been thinking for a while that we need some training in that regard. One-on-one might be a bit much, but perhaps we could try forming teams of three. It might be time to decide who is the most skilled in battle.”*
Huh? It seems the Queen was listening in, and she sent that message via a telepathic call that only we could hear.
*“It seems to be Princess Fiora’s wish, after all. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to gauge the strength of Wazuphi and Nairua. And the newcomers we’ve brought along, too.”*
Ah, I see. A recreational activity to deepen our bonds, then?
Hmm, though I have a sinking feeling that this is going to turn into a life-or-death affair...
There are women in this world who truly love to fight. That said, let’s try to make sure we don’t cause too much trouble for those around us.