Chapter 22 – To Earn a Princess: The Worthy Test of Love

"Are you seriously just going to use that?" Zastin asked, eyeing Haruno with a mixture of skepticism and restraint as he powered up his laser sword, the humming blade casting a faint glow around them.

Haruno, in contrast, looked utterly relaxed. He wore a sleek, high-tech bodysuit—augmented clothing similar to those suits provided by Ryouko, though this particular version had been provided by Lala, or more likely, one of Zastin's own subordinates. It hugged his form like a second skin, flexible yet surprisingly durable. He casually stretched his limbs, testing the range of motion.

"Well, yeah. This is the armor I'm most comfortable with," Haruno replied, rolling his shoulders as if he were preparing for gym class rather than an alien duel.

Yui, standing off to the side, couldn't hide her concern. Her eyes flicked from the crackling beam of Zastin's sword to Haruno's unarmed figure in the fitted suit. "Are you really going through with this?" she asked, her voice laced with worry—and something else. Her gaze lingered longer than she meant on Haruno's lean, toned figure. He wasn't bulky or overly muscular, but his athletic build was clear now more than ever. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she found herself stealing glances despite the situation.

"I have to," Haruno said with quiet resolve. "Lala's gotten involved. She's important to me, so I can't just stand by." His words were honest and calm, but they struck Yui like a lightning bolt. Her heart twinged with a hint of jealousy—yet also admiration. He looked genuinely cool at that moment.

"But… what if something happens?" she murmured, still clearly uneasy.

"I'll be fine," Haruno said with a faint grin. "Besides, I don't know how to use any weapons anyway. This is all I've got—but it's enough." 

"Do your best, Haruno-kun!" Lala cheered, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she watched Haruno beam back at her.

Haruno gave her a soft, meaningful smile. He had been thinking about the strange but undeniable source of his strength—the affection and bonds he shared with the heroines around him. Embarrassing as it was, this so-called "power of love" seemed to be his trump card. So, if that was the case, then he might as well go all in.

With a deep breath, he walked up to Lala, lowered himself onto one knee like a gallant knight from a storybook, and gently took her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he placed a light kiss on the back of her palm. His actions were graceful, almost theatrical, yet filled with genuine emotion.

"I can't forget to receive your blessing before heading into battle, can I… Princess Lala?" he said with a charming wink.

"Hau… Y-Yes! I know you'll do a great job, Haruno-kun," Lala stammered, her heart thudding wildly. Her face was as pink as her hair, and her fingers trembled slightly in his grasp.

"And of course," Haruno added smoothly, "there should be a reward for my efforts, right?"

"R-Reward?"

"A kiss sounds fair, don't you think?"

Lala blinked rapidly. "K-Kiss? I can give you one now if you want—"

"Tsk tsk. Lala, you don't understand a man's heart," Haruno said, shaking his head dramatically. "It's so much sweeter to get the kiss after winning, don't you think?"

"Haruno-kun!!" Lala nearly pounced on him in excitement but held herself back at the last second. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek. 'Chup.'

"Consider that your blessing," she whispered, beaming.

"Perfect," Haruno said, smiling back with warmth.

Their eyes locked, a passionate moment suspended in time. On the sidelines, Yui watched in silence, her expression conflicted. Haruno looked so cool, so devoted… and Lala, so happy.

'I want that too…' the thought escaped her before she could stop it.

Zastin saw the attitude of the two couples who seemed to like each other very much and he could see that Lala was very serious. Then the boy from Earth named Haruno didn't look scared and was ready to face the challenge, a great attitude to be the successor of the Devil King. 

"Even so, I must obey the command of Gid-sama. Are you ready, Haruno-kun?" Zastin asked, tightening his grip on the hilt of his laser sword. "You don't have to defeat me. As long as I can acknowledge your abilities, I'll report your worthiness as Lala-sama's husband's candidacy to her father."

Haruno nodded. Zastin's words sounded reassuring, but he knew better. In the manga, Rito barely avoided getting sliced thanks to plot armor and slapstick comedy. But Zastin was no joke—he was known as the best swordsman on Deviluke. If this was real, Haruno couldn't count on comedic timing or banana peels to save him. He had to be sharp.

"Oh, well… I'll show you how capable I can be." Haruno said, stepping forward with a confidence fueled by the kiss on his cheek and the hope of another on the lips. That warmth—that love—was more than emotional. He could feel it pulsing through his body like energy. The augmented clothing he wore responded to it, tightening slightly, adapting, empowering him.

"This is incredible… Lala, I can feel your love…" he whispered, his voice low as he walked forward. The more steps he took, the more the energy surged through him.

"Zastin… I'm coming."

"Show me your best," Zastin replied, calm and focused.

As soon as Zastin gave the signal, Haruno sprang into action. He knew he wasn't some martial arts expert, and dodging laser swords wasn't in his resume. So instead of waiting to be tested, he chose to take the initiative. If he couldn't counter, he'd strike first.

Zastin's eyes narrowed as Haruno blurred forward. Despite the expected boost from augmented gear, he didn't anticipate such speed. Haruno darted in close, aiming a powerful blow straight toward Zastin's sword arm.

'He's aiming to disarm me… Not bad,' Zastin thought, moving to evade. But just as he shifted, Haruno's fist halted mid-air. In the blink of an eye, the attack transformed—a sudden pivot, and a swift kick targeted Zastin's leg instead.

'A feint?' Zastin's eyes widened slightly. This boy wasn't all flash—he had real instinct.

The test had just begun, and already it was getting interesting. 

'Damn, he can evade that so effortlessly…' Haruno thought, teeth clenched as he slid back across the floor. Every move he'd made so far—each punch, dodge, and kick—was pulled straight from hours of watching TV, anime fights, and shounen manga panels. He didn't know if any of it would actually work in a real fight, and he wasn't exactly trained for this. But the augmented suit he wore somehow made those clumsy imitations fluid and sharp, lending his amateur moves the polish of real combat techniques.

Still, something in the air felt wrong.

'Wait—something's coming!' he realized, and without hesitation, he threw himself backward just in time.

Zastin's blade cut through the air where Haruno had been standing. The hum of the weapon vibrated through the room, and the impact as it struck the floor left a long, jagged crack that split the tiles beneath it.

'That's terrifying…' Haruno thought, cold sweat forming on his brow. In the manga, Zastin's attacks were flashy and dramatic, sure—but they didn't carry this overwhelming weight. Here, now, they were deadly.

In the same motion, Haruno twisted his body midair and launched a spinning somersault kick aimed straight at Zastin's head, fueled by the burst of adrenaline and power he still felt flowing through him.

'Not bad,' Zastin mused silently, momentarily impressed. He didn't expect such agility. Curious to test Haruno's strength further, he raised an armored forearm to block.

Haruno's kick connected with a solid thud—surprisingly strong—but the Devilukean swordsman caught his leg with ease. Without missing a beat, Zastin hurled him across the room like a doll caught in a windstorm.

"Wahh—!" Haruno shouted as he flipped through the air, but using the suit's assistance and a bit of dumb luck, he twisted and landed in a crouch, skidding but upright.

Zastin's expression shifted into one of approval. "Good. Show me more."

His aura flared around him, stronger and more intimidating than before. This was no longer a warm-up. The real trial… was just beginning.

Sorry for the late update. I ended up going on a 6-hour hike up a 2,300-meter mountain as a replacement for my sibling, who couldn't make it. It was something I've never done before… and now my whole body is aching like crazy.

Author Note :

You can read 10 chapter at patr*on.com/Iam_HaremLover123