Battle Race in the Fantasy World

EP.134 Why Are You All Like This? Calm Down

“Your Majesty. The 5th Imperial Princess has just entered the palace.”

“Summon her here immediately.”

Normally, it would be appropriate to give her some time to rest from her journey.

If it were someone other than the 5th Imperial Princess, Yurika, the Emperor would have done so.

But she, always so direct, would consider such time a waste.

Knowing this well, the Emperor ordered her to come immediately upon entering the palace.

Shortly after, Yurika, having carried out the imperial command, made her appearance.

“I have returned, Your Majesty.”

“Did you have a good journey?”

The Emperor gives a slight smile as he looks at his daughter kneeling before him.

Lest the courtiers misunderstand, he maintained a slight distance from his children, except for the Crown Prince.

He rarely smiled at them easily or showed any initiative in approaching them.

Yet today, this Emperor gazes at his daughter with a subtle smile.

“Yes. I heard that your mission went well.”

“Shall we send the hardliners of the Alliance received from Kyle directly to the dungeon for interrogation?”

“Didn’t you say that young man from Jonathan Family had already extracted all the information?”

“That is correct.”

“Then that will do. If what he extracted is everything, then it’s everything.”

This was the Emperor who had doubted and repeatedly reinvestigated even reports from the Grand Duke’s family.

For him to say “that will do” – if the ministers had been present, they would have been greatly surprised.

‘I said trusting the son-in-law is also trusting the daughter.’

While Kyle himself had no such thoughts, it seems the Emperor has already marked him as a potential son-in-law.

Yurika also smiles, seeing the Emperor show trust in Kyle.

“Do you know that Pardal Island has expressed its intention to submit?”

“Yes. I heard it from Kyle.”

“The defeat of that so-called Wave Tamer must be the main reason. They must have felt the urgency after seeing such a trusted figure defeated.”

The largest single power among those with tense relations with the Empire in the southern seas.

A place that, although unable to win a war against the Empire, could turn the southern sea routes into a wasteland.

That was Pardal Island, and that island has now voluntarily bowed its head to the Empire.

This was something that had never happened even during the era of conquest wars.

Initially due to insufficient naval power, later due to fierce resistance.

And in the late period, because both sides had too much to lose, they had settled for an uneasy truce.

‘According to the War Ministry, it would have taken the entire 1st Fleet and one of the Ten Strongest to forcibly subjugate Pardal Island. The expected casualties were enormous.’

Naval battles are completely different from ordinary combat.

When a ship sinks, everyone on board is drowned.

From a common sailor to the Empire’s strongest, the Ten Strongest, there are no exceptions.

But Kyle, they say, swam there. He actually made it and simply turned everything upside down.

He accomplished something so outrageous that even the Ten Strongest couldn’t have dreamed of it.

“Ah. And he mentioned Your Majesty’s mercy while sparing the Wave Tamer. He added that he hoped you would understand.”

Such thoughtfulness, to even consider the Emperor’s reputation amidst all this.

Rather than just gaining notoriety, it becomes a matter of the Emperor’s word preventing harm.

This way, both the lord of Pardal Island and the Emperor himself will find it easier to manage public sentiment.

“There’s nothing to be concerned about. Rather, this is very welcome news.”

The Emperor nodded and quietly waited for the next words.

Even if this was the end of the official report, it felt like there should be more.

There must be something else. Yes. There must be.

Wasn’t that why he had specifically sent Yurika to the south?

Though it was disguised as the Empire’s apology for missing the hardliners of the Alliance.

In truth, the real intention was to push Yurika closer to Kyle’s side.

If she could become closer to Jonathan, it would be an unparalleled fortune for the Empire.

“Do you have anything more to say?”

Of course, Yurika didn’t quickly catch on to what he meant.

In the end, the Emperor decided to swallow his embarrassment and inquire about his youngest daughter’s love life.

“Was that all? I mean, when you went south.”

“I met Kyle, promised help, and brought back results.”

“And after that? You didn’t return right away, did you?”

“…Ah.”

It seems she’s finally caught on to what the Emperor is trying to ask.

Yurika lets out a light exclamation. And the Emperor harbors hope at this positive reaction.

“We fought.”

“…?”

However, the answer that came back was the opposite of what he had been thinking.

“W-What did you just say?”

“I said we fought. We had a really enjoyable battle.”

“…”

Looking at Yurika speaking in such a calm tone, the Emperor rubbed his forehead.

And with a deep sigh, he thought. He really couldn’t understand what his youngest was thinking at all.

Just how on earth did such a child suddenly pop up, he wondered.

“I see. You must be tired. You may go now.”

The Emperor waved his hand dismissively, as if to say that was enough.

To this, Yurika replied that she understood and turned to leave without any lingering attachment.

The Emperor let out another sigh as he watched his daughter leave.

That girl, that girl, will she ever be able to get married? My chest feels tight. So tight.

*

‘Ah, right. Come to think of it, I didn’t mention that to him.’

On her way out of the palace, Yurika let out an “Ah” of realization.

She hadn’t told the Emperor about what happened before fighting with Kyle.

She considered going back to tell him, but decided against it.

The way he had gestured for her to leave quickly seemed to indicate he was quite tired.

If the Emperor was tired, it was only right for a subject to withdraw promptly.

In reality, it wasn’t physical fatigue but mental exhaustion that plagued the Emperor.

And needless to say, the reason for that was none other than Yurika herself.

Yurika, the only one unaware of this fact, fell into thought for a moment.

‘There’s nothing to do in the palace… Maybe I’ll go see the Saintess.’

Unlike others, she had nothing to do once she entered the palace.

At best, the only thing she did was spar with the Ten Strongest who stayed nearby.

Even that wasn’t possible lately due to the recent incident in the west that had them all away.

From what she heard, it wasn’t people that were the problem, but monsters.

She couldn’t understand why they were making such a fuss over things that were only slightly stronger than beasts.

She even considered going west herself to check it out.

‘Come to think of it, the Saintess did ask me to tell her about the south when I returned.’

It would serve both to fulfill the Saintess’s request and to alleviate her own boredom.

Thinking this would kill two birds with one stone, Yurika immediately set off for the Academy.

Of course, without informing anyone at the Academy, as usual.

*

“With our benevolent hearts, may Your will be widely beneficial…”

She recites the prayer, conveying her gratitude to the deity.

As the prayer finally ends, the Saintess slowly rises from her seat.

Normally, after finishing her prayers, she would take a short walk, have a meal,

Then purify her body and prepare for bed.

But recently, something else had become as important as prayer in between these activities.

– How to do a lunge pose –

An exercise booklet filled with someone’s meticulous care.

It was written in great detail, with even the postures drawn very precisely.

It was of much better quality than what was available in the indoor training grounds.

This was Kyle’s gift, meant solely for one person – the Saintess herself.

“Hehe.”

The Saintess smiles happily.

It was always a good thing to know that someone was thinking of her and doing things for her.

She keeps smiling, feeling grateful and touched by that sentiment.

“Saintess.”

Just as she was about to open the booklet and take the pose as Kyle had taught,

The voice of a Holy Knight from the church is heard from outside the chapel door.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest? Who is it?”

“It’s Her Highness, the 5th Imperial Princess.”

“Ah…! Please show her in right away.”

She would have to apologize to Kyle, but it seemed she’d have to cut her exercise time short.

He would probably understand. After all, she was the one who wanted to hear news about Kyle from the Princess.

The door opens and Yurika enters.

While others would offer a brief prayer or make the sign of the cross when entering,

Yurika didn’t care about such things and simply approached the Saintess directly.

“Saintess. It’s been a while.”

“Has it been? We met just a few days ago, didn’t we?”

“Really? It feels like I haven’t seen you for weeks.”

Saying this, Yurika sat down and immediately began to recount her story.

“As I mentioned before, in the south… I met Kyle… The Empire’s support… What Kyle did was…”

It was always like this. Yurika would talk, and the Saintess would listen.

Occasionally the Saintess would speak up, but it was mostly just to agree or acknowledge.

“…So, the lord of Pardal Island finally surrendered.”

“Then, you’ve captured all the hardliners who fled from the alliance?”

“That’s right. Kyle took charge of all of them. He’s completed the investigation too.”

“That’s impressive. Brother Kyle, I mean. To think he did all that alone…”

“Of course. You think a man who can fight the Ten Strongest with a smile couldn’t handle that much?”

The Saintess shakes her head at Yurika’s words.

“No, even the Ten Strongest, or those comparable to them, can get hurt or feel pain. They’re all human in the end.”

“Think what you like.”

Shrugging her shoulders once, Yurika continued her story.

“And I showed Kyle my feelings once again.”

“Your feelings… You don’t mean that, do you? About becoming Brother Kyle’s possession?”

“Yes.”

“I told you before, Princess. That’s putting Brother Kyle in an awkward position.”

“Is that so? But I was completely sincere. I even undressed in front of him.”

“No matter how much you… W-wait, what? J-just a moment. What did you just say?”

“I said I was sincere.”

“No, no! Not that! What you said after that!!”

At the Saintess’s urgent cry, Yurika tilted her head but answered.

“I undressed.”

“…Princess!!”

The Saintess jumps to her feet, shouting in a way very unlike her usual self.

Her face turns bright red, looking as if it might burst at any moment.

“What’s wrong?”

“T-that’s such an outrageous thing to do! How embarrassed Brother Kyle must have been!”

“He didn’t seem embarrassed though?”

“That’s just what you want to think, Princess! Why on earth would you do such a thing?”

“I told you. I want to be that man’s possession.”

This is no joke. This is sincere. These are words coming straight from her heart.

That’s why the Saintess was even more worried about Kyle. She couldn’t help but worry.

If she approaches him so forcefully, where could true feelings possibly exist?

“Why are you doing this to Brother Kyle?”

“Why, you ask. There’s no woman by that man’s side. I’m going to make that position mine.”

The Saintess lets out a deep sigh.

Isn’t Kyle finding the Princess more and more burdensome because of this behavior?

Now she feels sorry for Kyle. She can’t stop thinking about him.

‘…Maybe it’s only natural. Brother Kyle is such a wonderful person after all.’

Suddenly, a thought quietly emerges in the Saintess’s mind.

What if she were the one by Kyle’s side? That kind of thought.