3
Leaning against the commander’s mech, we slowly rolled the machine toward the school building.
There, excited students waved their arms, and at the stairs, our unit’s people had come out to greet us, eyes on our machine.
When I stepped down from the cockpit, Ange was the first to rush at me.
“Eld-kun, you did it!”
“Yeah, sorry. I lost.”
“No way, you looked amazing!”
“Huh, losing doesn’t look good.”
From behind her, Carine let out a groan.
“Losing? That’s not something to brag about!”
“Nah, nah—just surviving the Commander’s sword ballet? That’s pretty damn impressive.”
“Truth be told. Even we couldn’t block that properly. If he gets that stance on you, you’re just running in circles, poking him from a distance like a nervous sparrow.”
“Blocking like that… and still managing to strike back? Honestly, I can’t even believe that’s human.”
The ones defending me were the captains of the First Division. Apparently, that triple-sword, one-shield barrage goes by the name of Sword Ballet Chaos.
But if even the captains couldn’t handle it… am I really allowed to boast? Still, in the end, I lost to it anyway.
Carine, not convinced by the captains’ words, argues back.
“Winning’s the only thing that matters! I get it’s impressive—but it’s not a story worth bragging about! What I want is something I can toss off at a host club!”
Well, in the end, I lost. Sorry about that!
The squad leaders just shook their heads, chuckling. True, fighting a host club’s got no real thrill if you’re dodging a move like that.
Then the overall commander stepped down from the machine.
“Good work. Thank you for the mock battle.”
“Pilot Eld—good technique. I haven’t had a real match in ages. Let’s fight again when we can.”
“Yes, please. But next time, I won’t lose.”
“I’m not handing over the kingdom’s strongest title so easily, either.”
I gripped the commander’s outstretched hand—firm, solid—and suddenly, something warm sparked between us. Like friendship, maybe.
“With this damage, repairs will be tough. I’ll send a few of our mechanics over to help.”
“That’s kind of you, but… are you sure?”
“Ah, we’ll need you to prep for movement anyway.”
Oh yeah—next week we’re supposed to move to the capital. If Orell and the others handle the repairs alone, we might not finish the preparations in time.
We could just take what we need to the capital, come back later once things settle down… but who knows what’ll happen after that.
“Then we’ll take you up on that offer.”
“Right then, we’ll get started on the repairs straight away.”
“Please do.”
At Orell’s signal, the mechanics—Ritz, Karine, and the rest who’d been waiting—rushed all at once toward the Armunale.
This time, one leg’s missing, so hauling it to the hangar’ll need the big carry cart.
It came from a corner of the schoolhouse, lifted my machine onto the crane’s platform, then set off slowly toward the hangar. The commander’s unit seems to be moving under normal piloting, straight to the hangar.
“Now, I’m heading back to headquarters to report. What about you?”
“Is today’s work done, then?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll be going back. It’s too much to keep the second prince’s guard duties on the deputy commander forever.”
“Is that so.”
“Then I’ll head back too.”
Jan and Remy are going back to the capital. But what kind of hardship is it to be assigned guard duty? Was it really that tough?
“What about Edgar?”
“I’ll be returning too—but I plan to stop by the hangar first, so I’ll be going my own way.”
“Seems like it did you some good.”
“Yeah.”
The squad leaders were all headed back to the capital. It took two days by carriage, but a magic cart could do it in a single day—should be back by dusk, if we push it.
“Same here—we’re heading home. What about you, Bodwan?”
“I’m going back to the hospital. Next time we meet’ll be in the capital.”
“Understood. Take care of yourself.”
“Then I’ll see you.”
“Excuse me.”
“Alright, I’ll help out too. See you later.”
Bodwan was wheeled away by Mirajou, walking with Bnois back to the hospital.
Watching them go, I called out to Ange, who’d been clinging to my arm.
“Alright, let’s head back.”
“Yeah!”
We waved at the students still loitering after the match, not even thinking of going back to class. Then we turned and walked home, just the two of us.
A week later, I’d already arrived in the capital ahead of the rest of the unit—right after the overall commander.
Today’s what you’d call a proper meet-and-greet. Even the Second Princess’d be flustered if she were just told out of nowhere she’s gotta make this guy her personal guard at the award ceremony, so we’re doing a little hello in advance. Greetings matter, don’t they?
I follow behind the overall commander, walking down the castle’s corridor.
The floor—so soft you couldn’t even imagine how it’d feel barefoot—was dotted here and there with lavish paintings and rows of vases.
Every window pane sparkled—cleaned to a fault.
Servants and soldiers passing by—nobles working in the castle—bowed low at the sight of the Grand Commander, retreating into the corners of the hall. Even in noble circles, treating someone other than the king with such respect? That’s rare, isn’t it? At best, a polite nod, maybe.
Seems like Armunale’s presence here means more than just a few blades and banners. Military backbone, yeah.
“Here it is.”
The Grand Commander stops before a single door.
I stand beside him, throat tight—swallow hard.
Beyond that door, the royal family. What kind of people are they? Rumors say the princesses are all quiet and pure, like snow on a winter morning.
“Ready?”
I don’t ask what kind of readiness. Just nod.
The Grand Commander sees it, lets out a quiet chuckle, and knocks on the door.
“Commander Moris Luvoff of the Armunale Corps. I’ve brought Eld from the Thirty-First Armunale Company.”
The door creaks open just a sliver. A maid steps out, glances at Moris and me, then says, “Please come in,” and pushes the door wide.
“Excuse us.”
“Excuse us.”
Inside, the first thing that hits me is the grand chandelier.
And then, standing by the far window, a single girl.
Her silver hair, long as her waist, glows under the light. She wears a slender white dress so pure it needs no jewels to shine—its simplicity only heightens her beauty.
She’s been facing away. Now, slowly, she turns.
One look—yes, beautiful.
Perfect features. Pale skin. Her large, calm blue eyes fit her quiet, gentle presence perfectly.
I’d thought I’d seen enough beauty among Ange and the other support maids, but royalty was in a league of its own.
The moment the girl turned, General Maurice spoke up.
"Milady Ines, allow me to introduce you. This is Eld, the pilot assigned to the First Guard Armunale Battalion’s Second Princess Escort Unit, effective at this ceremony."
Ines Noorval Fatal. So she was apparently the one I was supposed to guard.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Eld."
"I’m a little bird."
"Huh?"
I couldn’t help but let out a startled noise at the Second Princess’s words.
"I’m a bird in a cage—raised carefully, kept small, nearly forgotten how to fly. A pitiful little bird."
"Huh..."
On the outside, I played along, looking suitably bewildered. But inside, alarm bells were ringing loud and clear.
This one’s trouble, huh… Was that the kind of resolve the Commander meant?!
I glanced sideways, quietly. The Commander’s face stayed blank—but his mouth twitched, just slightly.
“But I know the sky. I’m not just some flower-loving butterfly to be admired here, am I?”
“Is that so.”
My answer was pure nonsense. Hell, what was I supposed to say? There’s no right answer to a question like that, is there?
“So then,”
With that, Princess Ines slowly opened the window she’d been staring at a moment ago.
Hot summer air rushed in.
Come to think of it, this room was unusually cool… Did they have some kind of air-cooling contraption? I was half-distracted, lost in idle thoughts, watching the princess as she settled slowly onto the windowsill.
"If you're my guard, then catch me—this little bird trying to fly out of her cage before she learns what frightens her outside."
Ines, a faint smile playing on her lips, sprang from the windowsill with a ripple of motion.
I stood there, stunned—what kind of nonsense was that?—and my eyes darted around the room, lost.
Then, from near the wall, one of the maids stepped forward.
"Eld-sama, this way."
"This...?"
"Rough rope."
"No, I know what it is—just, what do you want me to do with it?"
She handed me a plain, unremarkable rope. Well, not quite—old, worn thin, frayed from use.
"Simple enough. Eld, bring Ines back. Tie her up if you must. That’s the task you’ve been given."
"Uh... well..."
I get the confusion. But that’s just how it is.
What else can you do when someone says that…?
I let out a single sigh, then checked with the Grand Commander.
“How far can I go?”
“Don’t leave marks. Other than that—anything goes.”
“Understood. Then I’ll do my best to live up to the Second Princess’s expectations.”
I grabbed the rough rope, and leapt from the same window Ines had vanished through.
And so began our brutal game of tag—me and the Second Princess.
No sooner had I cleared the sill than a fireball slammed toward me.
“Whoa—!?”
I barely had time to react—twisted my body with Active Wing, just barely dodging the blast.
The fireball exploded against the castle wall, vanishing in a puff of smoke. The stone where it hit was blackened, scorched. That thing had real power…
I looked to the source—there she was, standing in the courtyard, the Second Princess.
“Caught you well enough. But now comes the real part.”
She said it and took off running.
What a rascal she is. No, that’s not even the word for it… Is this what royalty’s like? Is this what a royal’s supposed to be? Where’s the purity and poise I heard about? Well, sure, her words still sound royal enough…
“Fufu, come catch me if you can!”
That cheerful grin as she streaked across the garden—suddenly, I felt a surge of murderous intent.
But that rage was quickly smothered by something else.
“Fast!?”
Her speed was unreal. She cut through the air like a breeze, her dress flaring behind her as she raced at the pace of a galloping horse. At that moment, I stopped hesitating. That wasn’t just play—she’d have to mean it to be caught.
“Active Wing, Sextuple Installation. Engaging.”
Deployed the auxiliary wings to full extent instantly, fired up the aeroslaster at maximum power, and chased after Princess Ines.
At the same time, I started probing into the princess’s magic. That speed—there was no doubt she was using magic. And judging by the power of that initial fireball, her affinity was clearly fire-based. So that must’ve been an internal flame-type auxiliary spell—just like the strength enhancement Ange used.
Which meant her burst speed and endurance had to be top-notch.
But still—I’ve never lost a chase to Ange!
Straight-line speed’s on my side, apparently. The princess must’ve figured that out fast, because she changed course and darted back into the castle.
True, narrow corridors with lots of turns wouldn’t let speed shine, and a burst-type strength enhancement would have the edge. But—
“Too easy!”
I dive into the castle, chasing the princess’s back.
She cuts straight down hallways now and then, trying to throw me off— but compared to dodging branches and uneven ground in the woods, these halls are too tidy.
I hook my foot into the narrow gap between wall and window, fire up the aeroslasher, and twist hard. There she is— right ahead.
“Got you.”
“You’re fast, that’s for sure! And such clever moves!”
“Wild thing, you know. I’m sorry if it’s awkward— please forgive me.”
“Huh-huh. So it’s like hunting a tame bird with a wild cat, is it?”
“Stop with the fairy tales already! Just grab me already!”
“No way!”
She twists again— this time, she leaps into a room and slams the door shut.
I twist the doorknob right away—but the door won’t budge. Locked, probably.
“Tch.”
One click of the tongue. I’m already moving, slipping into the next room, peering out the window. There she is, of course, vanishing down the hall.
Guess persuasion’s out of the question. Now I get it—why they even bother with rope and chains.
“Is that right? You really want to be tied up, huh!”
I leap from the window, ringing the gong of round two in my head.
Falling through the air, I unleash magic at her back.
“Aero Blast!”
Minimum power—just enough to knock her off balance, really.
The blast misses her, gouges the ground instead.
She glances back, grinning wider at the tiny dent in the stone.
“You’re serious, aren’t you! You’re really serious about eating me!”
“Damn it, don’t talk like that! I’ve already got a wife!”
“Oh? Three… (beep)?”
“Sound effects—get to work, you lazy lump!!”
I can’t let that princess keep yammering.
I unleash a barrage of air blasts, blocking her from slipping into the castle. If she gets inside, she’ll just vanish into another room again. Not doing that endless waltz of mine, no way.
“Hmm… impressive. Calm, even while furious.”
The princess finally notices she’s being cleverly cornered, grimaces, and bolts for an open gap—exactly the one I left open on purpose. Beyond it lies a vast flower field.
She moves through the blooms, scanning the area like she’s hunting for a hiding spot. But I’m not letting her slip away twice.
You’d think the Second Princess could keep her little games going forever, but the training of the Armunale squad’s still pretty low!
I’m running, still gripping the paperweight I snagged when I dashed through the room, tying it to the end of the rough rope.
A makeshift noose.
A regular rope won’t catch a magic-wielding princess, that’s for sure. But I’ve got wind magic on my side.
I unleash another Aero Blast, forcing her legs to stop dead in their tracks, then instantly trigger a pinpoint cyclone centered right on her.
She’s stuck now. And with that, the moment’s ripe for the rope.
I toss it, letting the spinning wind carry it just right.
Like a whirlpool drawing things in, the rope spirals neatly around her, wrapping tight.
“Got you.”
“Ah, caught so neatly, aren’t we?”
The pinpoint cyclone released, and there she lay—sprawled across the flowerbed, tangled up in rough rope like a bundle of firewood.
“Still, the Armunale crew’s good at their job. A regular soldier’d’ve been gone in half a day.”
“Special forces, after all.”
“Hmph. Protecting royalty doesn’t protect the nation, now does it?”
I frowned at that.
Sure, I’d have liked to be on the front lines, fighting the Empire. But guarding royalty—wasn’t that a proper kind of service too?
“Isn’t protecting royalty just as much protecting the nation?”
“Hmm… who knows?”
She just tilted her head and gave me that knowing little smile, no real answer in sight.
I gave up pressing it.
“Sigh. Well, whatever. I’ve caught the Second Princess. So, can I say I passed my test now?”
"Ah, what on earth are you saying? You heard from the maid, didn’t you? The test’s not over until you’ve brought her back to her room."
"Then stand up. Here I go."
"No matter if my body’s bound, my heart remains free—ahh…!"
Before she could finish spouting nonsense, I shoved the pin into her mouth to shut her up.
Then I grabbed the rough rope and hoisted the princess onto my shoulder.
"Um, was it Eld-sama…?"
"What is it?"
"Isn’t this the part where you carry the princess in your arms?"
"What are you talking about? The real princess is being carried, so no matter how it looks, it’s princess carry, right?"
"I-I don’t think that’s how it works!"
I ignored her protest entirely and carried the princess back to the castle on my shoulder.
Of course, I passed the test. And I think I’ve got a rough idea of how to handle royal ladies. The rest of the squad’s gonna have a real time with this one…
Princess arrives. Before you start getting any ideas—no harem here!