25

Magisa, the Second Princess, had been thinking about equality ever since Arc pointed out her flaws.

That led her to the idea of noblesse oblige.

However, ever since then, she'd been feeling lost.

Even if she wanted to fulfill her duties, Magisa had no idea what she should actually do.

Time passed, and Magisa took part in the training exercise.

During this exercise, she wouldn't have her usual guards.

Instead, her classmates stood around her, ready to protect her.

They kept praising her, showering her with compliments whenever she used magic or defeated a golem:

"You're amazing, Your Highness."

"As expected of someone with divine blood."

Magisa hated that sort of praise.

She wanted people to treat her as an equal.

That was why she'd hoped for equality in the first place.

But she only wanted equality to ease her own loneliness.

Arc had shown her how shallow that thinking was.

Even though she'd changed how she saw things, reality stayed the same.

And then—

"Kyahhhh!"

A black golem appeared during the exercise.

These black golems were fixated on attacking Magisa.

Her classmates acted as decoys so she could escape.

In the end, even though she said she wanted equality, all Magisa could do was run away, leaving her classmates to face the danger.

—How pathetic I am.

Magisa ended up alone.

She kept running…

Until a gigantic black golem appeared right in front of her.

She looked up at the huge black golem, frozen in shock.

She had run away, only to bump into the biggest threat of all.

"―――"

Magisa could also use the magic that controls golems—"puppet magic (Auto-Magic)."

When she was little, she really wanted a friend.

She started by carving dolls from driftwood.

Then she learned to move those dolls with her magic.

Auto-Magic is a type of control magic.

As the name "Auto" suggests, it makes objects move based on the caster's commands.

It's said that the ultimate form of Auto-Magic can create living creatures.

But that was far beyond Magisa's current abilities.

Compared to the gigantic black golem, her Auto-Magic was child's play.

She had no chance of winning as she was.

"It's all because of you."

Suddenly, the black golem spoke.

Its voice was strangely familiar, though Magisa couldn't place it.

"W-what are you talking about?"

"You don't need to know. Just die without ever finding out."

The giant black golem's huge hand crashed down toward Magisa.

"Ah…"

She could only let out a faint sound.

She was too terrified to move as the massive hand came closer and closer.

But at that moment—

—"Absolute Zero."

◇　◇　◇

Up close, the black golem looked enormous.

But come on, it's just a big dumb puppet.

I unleashed "Absolute Zero."

Yet…

"Gi…gigi…gya…"

The black golem made creepy, broken noises like a busted machine.

"So it's not just big. But don't get cocky, you blockhead."

The black golem was looking down on me.

I really hate being looked down on.

I love looking down on other people, though.

"――――"

The black golem moved in.

"Time for some bourgeois magic."

I took a light-blue magic stone from my pocket.

It was one I'd taken from my own magic mine.

I tossed the stone at the black golem.

"Freeze, you walking junk pile."

The stone gave off a bluish glow.

In the next instant…

"―――――"

The black golem turned into solid ice in the blink of an eye.

Hahaha!

That's bourgeois magic for you!

I used a valuable magic stone in a totally over-the-top way!

Now for the finishing blow.

"Shatter."

—Crack.

The ice shattered.

The black golem fell to pieces, frozen bits scattering everywhere.

But even then, I heard its voice:

"One day… you will regret this choice…"

Ha.

Regret?

Not a chance.

I live the way I want so I never regret a thing.

I'll never regret anything—it's impossible.

"Keep your opinions to yourself, you idiot. A hunk of rock has no right to judge me."

I heard a soft thud behind me.

Turning around, I saw the Second Princess sitting on the ground.

Oh, she was here?

Great. More trouble.

She's the last person I want to deal with at this academy.

We made eye contact.

Sigh.

It's annoying, but I can't just ignore her.

I walked over and offered her my hand.

"Are you all right?"

She stared at me blankly.

What's her deal?

Do I have something on my face?

"What's wrong?"

"I… couldn't do anything… I can't face the people who protected me. I ran away and left them…"

"They're fine. Nobody died."

Camilla had let me know while I was on my way.

Apparently, not a single student was killed or injured.

I don't really care, though.

I only told Camilla to help me out.

Why she helped the others, I have no idea.

Anyway.

"I… I see… That's good. Truly…"

She said it was good news, but she didn't look happy.

"Then what's with that face?"

"…Because I still ran away."

"You regret running away?"

"…Yes."

What's there to regret?

Royalty and nobles survive thanks to everyone else's sacrifices.

That's how I live, too.

"If you're that ashamed of your choice, then how do you think your classmates feel about what they did for you?"

Using others as shields or sacrifices is perfectly normal for those on top.

It's a privilege—and a duty—for people like us.

They're probably glad they could act as decoys.

"…"

She just looked miserable.

"If you have authority, rights, and power, be proud of the decisions you make."

"Noblesse oblige, you mean?"

"It's not that grand. Just have some pride."

I held out my hand.

Her hand felt soft.

A hand that has never done any real work.

Elisabeth's hands used to be like this, too.

"Thank you."

She took my hand and tried to stand.

But—

—plop.

She fell back down.

What is she doing?

Is this a new game?

Her face turned red.

No idea why.

"Can't stand up?"

"N-no! I mean… yes…"

Which is it?

Ugh.

What a pain.

If it were anyone else, I'd leave, but she's the princess. I can't just walk away.

Fine.

"Excuse me."

I lifted her in a princess carry.

A real princess carry with an actual princess.

She's heavier than I thought.

Ugh.

I want to put her down already.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

"You can't walk, right? It's dangerous for you to stay here, so I'll carry you back to base."

It's really just a school exercise, so there shouldn't be any real danger now.

That black golem I beat was probably the main threat.

But if I left the princess out here alone, I'd get in trouble later.

"...!"

She was blushing, and her face changed expressions over and over.

Is she practicing for some comedy routine?

Whatever. I just wish she'd stop trying to entertain me.