Chapter 94: Chapter 94

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Jealousy

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jealousy is an emotion inherent to human nature.

Jealousy isn't only directed at loved ones.

For example, a child might feel jealous of their younger sibling receiving parental affection and even try to harm them.

Even in typical friendships, one might feel jealous if another friend grows closer to someone else than they are.

At its core, jealousy stems from a desire for possession.

Iris Heysirion is the Third Imperial Princess.

As an Imperial Princess, her life has been one of constant struggle to claim everything.

Once something was claimed, it could not be taken away.

The moment something claimed was lost, so too were all the reputation and gains derived from it.

It was only natural, therefore, for Iris's possessiveness to grow strong.

Six months ago, Isabel Luna lost her most cherished childhood friend.

It is a natural human tendency to crave possession.

However, she had lost the most significant possession in her heart.

Afterward, she couldn't find anything to replace that desire for possession.

But through a series of events, Isabel finally met someone who could satisfy her possessive urges.

Even if it was a love-hate relationship, it was an object for her shattered possessiveness.

What did this imply?

Iris and Isabel are both types with an exceptionally strong desire for possession compared to others.

Love-hate and a comfort doll.

The two possessive desires, which had been somewhat controlled, now faced rivals.

Soon, they revealed their struggle to prevent their possessions from being taken.

The primary reason for their conflict was precisely this underlying possessiveness.

Because of them, my recent situation had grown increasingly difficult.

That's why I had warned them and made them restrain themselves.

Fortunately, their possessiveness hadn't yet reached its peak.

After hearing my warning, both of them restrained themselves in front of me.

'So I was feeling a bit relieved.'

Yet another person appeared, ready to stir their possessiveness.

The Indomitable Azure Flame.

Eve.

The girl who had abruptly spoken to me at the party, where key figures from each academy had gathered.

I was certainly not an object of love for Isabel and Iris.

However, as long as these two women felt possessiveness towards me, a man...

A potential partner who could fulfill the ultimate form of possessiveness: romance.

If such a woman appeared, their possessiveness would inevitably reach a fever pitch.

Especially the emergence of an attractive member of the opposite sex, possessing the superiority for a romantic relationship, would only intensify it further.

'Damn it.'

I hated myself for seeing right through human nature.

I had lost the love that usually clouded rational judgment.

Thanks to that, I had recently become adept at seeing through people's psychology.

So I instinctively realized how urgent this situation was.

'I'd rather just giggle with a bunch of girls like a harem protagonist from a game or novel.'

I couldn't possibly ignore a crisis that was so clearly visible.

My back felt incredibly hot.

Iris and Isabel's gazes felt like they could pierce right through my back at any moment.

It hurt.

It hurt like hell.

"Hanon Airey, that's your name, right?"

But unaware of my predicament, Eve spoke to me again.

My lips wouldn't part easily.

It was because their gazes were too scorching.

"Yes, how did you know to find me?"

However, I couldn't keep silent forever.

I forced a smile, trying my best to ignore the gazes behind me.

"I asked around and heard."

My shoulder twitched at that moment.

I quickly scanned the party hall.

Then, I heard whispers as people looked at me.

'I asked around and heard.'

That meant she had asked people at this party about me.

Eve, who usually didn't engage in much conversation with others.

What did it mean that she had sought me out among the people?

'As if they weren't already at an age where romantic relationships were a hot topic.'

Among these distinguished individuals, none lacking in any aspect, the topic of conversation was already set.

"It seems the Azure Flame is interested."

"I'm surprised. To think the Azure Flame would have someone she's interested in."

Sure enough, a few comments reached my ears.

If I could hear them, then the two behind me could hear them too.

"Eve, shall we step outside for a moment and talk?"

It wasn't good to continue talking to Eve here.

What isn't seen usually causes less worry.

I decided to move locations first.

As I turned first, Eve followed me without a word.

I fled, escaping the concentrated gazes.

A moment later, as I stepped out onto the party terrace, I felt the cool air.

My stifled feelings eased considerably, and I could breathe.

I dreaded what would come later.

But for now, I decided to deal with this first.

"Snooping around is troublesome. How much did you hear?"

"That you're the Third Princess's cousin, and that recently at the academy, the Third Princess was targeted in an assassination attempt involving ancient dragon magic."

She'd heard a lot in that short time.

It was clear that once Eve started asking questions, those interested in her had told her all sorts of things.

"You've heard a lot. But I wasn't the one who tried to assassinate Princess Iris that day."

It would be troublesome if she misunderstood.

"I know. It was someone named Nikita Cynthia. And..."

Eve raised her head and looked directly into my eyes.

"I even heard that the type of ancient dragon magic she wielded was ice dragon magic."

She had felt the chill emanating from me.

Eve's blue eyes quietly blazed.

"Are you planning to assassinate the Third Princess?"

So she misunderstood it that way.

The starting point of the misunderstanding was different, but it was similar to the one with Isabel.

I chewed over everything she said and naturally smiled.

"No? Why would I ever do that?"

Would Eve truly believe my honest denial?

"..."

The answer was no.

"I don't know what circumstances you're in."

Just as she said, Eve knew nothing of my situation.

That's why she'd misunderstood and spoken to me directly at the party.

"But I know that what you're trying to do is wrong."

Assassinating a princess.

If I committed such an act, it would not only cause widespread repercussions within the nation but also spell the end of my own life.

Eve stared at me with pure, unblemished eyes.

"Stop it. You can't fix anything by doing something like that."

The misunderstanding was escalating.

The misunderstanding she had already started couldn't be redirected, no matter what I said.

Rather, it was what I had hoped for.

"What do you know to speak so presumptuously?"

I feigned indignation.

It was a question of what she, who I had only met for barely a day, could possibly know.

"...It might certainly be my misunderstanding. But if it's not a misunderstanding, it could turn out to be the worst possible outcome."

Of course, it was a misunderstanding.

I had no intention of harming Iris whatsoever.

Rather, I wished for her to live peacefully, free from nightmares.

"Then what will you do? Are you going to eliminate me?"

No way she would...

"Yes."

What?

She lifted the hem of her dress.

And then she drew a dagger strapped to her long leg.

*Clang!*

The drawn dagger elongated, instantly transforming into the shape of a sword.

That too was a type of Divine Armament.

*Whoosh-!*

At the same time, blue flames erupted from her sword.

The Indomitable Azure Flame.

It was a flame with power most similar to the Flame of Valor.

"I'll burn that ancient dragon magic to ashes."

Eve's eyes were serious.

Rather than let me mess around with ancient dragon magic, she'd destroy it.

That resolve was palpable in her eyes.

Agh, this crazy woman!

"Wait! At least give me an even playing field! I'm unarmed!"

"There's no reason for me to consider that."

Damn it.

Even so, I hadn't expected her to be this reckless.

The moment I subtly moved towards the terrace door.

*Whoosh!*

Flames extending from her sword directly blocked my path.

Eerie blue flames blazed along the floor.

"Give up. I'll just cleanly erase that ancient dragon magic."

"I've grown quite fond of the ancient dragon magic, you see. Parting ways like this would be too sad."

"Get over it."

What a wicked woman.

Not even a shred of mercy.

Eve stomped on the ground.

'She's coming.'

As it came to this, there was no other way.

Simultaneously with my intuition, Eve's figure vanished.

The instant my dynamic vision barely caught Eve.

*Chingggg!*

My outstretched hand-edge and Eve's sword clashed, letting out a resounding clang.

Eve's eyebrow twitched.

It was a reaction of disbelief that I would actually meet her unarmed.

It was a situation where it wouldn't be strange for an arm to be severed.

"I'll ask the Saintess to reattach it for you."

What a chilling thing to say.

She seemed to have already judged that my arm would be cut off or shattered.

It actually worked out well.

Now was the opening.

I spread my palm.

At the same time, I tightly gripped Eve's sword.

As the Azure Flame burned my hand, an intense heat was felt.

But the flame resistance I had cultivated over time allowed me to endure it.

"Huh?"

A bewildered sound escaped Eve's lips.

She hadn't expected anyone to be able to grasp her sword, which was imbued with the Azure Flame.

This surprise was the only opening.

Steel overlaid my heated skin.

*Crrrack!*

At that moment, my fingers pierced through Eve's blade and protruded from the other side.

In the brief moment Eve was too bewildered to grasp the situation.

My eyes flashed.

Sword Breaker.

*Shatter!*

Eve's sword instantly shattered into pieces.

My hand swung directly towards Eve's stunned face.

Just before my hand touched her face.

Eve tilted her head back and simultaneously twisted my arm around in reverse.

It was a counterattack utterly devoid of wasted motion, despite her surprise.

It was proof of the countless hours of training she had undergone.

*Whoosh!*

I was instantly lifted into the air and slammed down.

But I had no intention of taking it.

Just before hitting the ground, I activated a magic imprint in my palm mid-air.

*Boom!*

With a loud explosion erupting from my body, I abruptly halted in mid-air due to the impact of the blast.

Using the arm Eve had gripped as a pivot, I slammed my fist down at her.

The magic imprint carved into my elbow activated.

Accordingly, speed and power were imbued into my punch.

*CRASH!*

The terrace floor where my fist landed shattered.

I had missed Eve.

I quickly raised my head through the smoke.

And there, I saw Eve, who had retreated some distance.

That had been a pretty serious blow.

Typical of an extra story protagonist.

'The intensity of her training must be on a different level.'

I, too, had trained considerably until now.

However, Eve was the protagonist of an episode, even if it was a side story.

Her fundamental power level was simply in a different league.

"What in the world have you done to your body?"

Eve looked at me with an utterly disbelieving expression.

Just as she said, I had indeed worked various tricks into different parts of my body.

This was something even Eve found bizarre.

"It's all for a purpose."

I dusted off my palms and stood up.

My sleeves had burned away completely without me noticing.

It was a shame, as Iris had given me this outfit.

*Clang!*

At that moment, Eve restored her shattered blade.

Divine Armament.

Infinite Sword.

It was a sword that could manifest in any sword form and would restore itself even if shattered.

Its ability to withstand the heat of Eve's Indomitable Azure Flame was entirely due to these characteristics.

"Though I was surprised, give up. You can't defeat me."

'From now on, I'll fight seriously.'

Eve declared as much.

"That's right."

Just as she said, in my current state, I couldn't possibly contend with Eve, an already perfected protagonist.

"But I'm not the only one here."

*Creeaaak-*

At that moment, the terrace door opened.

The party hall inside the terrace had grown quiet.

Eve belatedly realized that they had caused too much of a ruckus.

The moment she looked at the open door.

A woman slowly walked out from there.

The woman, with her jet-black hair flowing, her ruby eyes gleamed ferociously.

Accordingly, shadows rippled and followed behind her.

"What in the world is going on here?"

The murderous intent in her voice resonated palpably through the air.

Pitch-black malevolence began to swirl around her.

The Final Villainess.

Iris Heysirion.

With her appearance, the surrounding atmosphere changed in an instant.

And it wasn't just her.

A girl in a school uniform slowly descended from the sky.

A pure white incandescent light gathered in the staff she held.

That intense light, strong enough to warp space, was chilling even to Eve.

"Oh, you're doing something quite interesting."

The Blue Archmage's Daughter.

Sharin Sazaris.

Finally.

A woman with honey-blonde hair, who had appeared beside me without me noticing, wrapped her hand around my burned wrist.

Her face wasn't turned towards Eve.

But her face, as she looked down at my hand, revealed a quiet fury.

It was a level of anger unimaginable for the usual brightness she displayed.

Isabel Luna.

With the appearance of the main heroine of the Flame Butterfly Arc, the situation was resolved in an instant.

Even Eve couldn't possibly take on this many people.

She bit her lip tightly and glared at me.

I nonchalantly shrugged my shoulders.

If you don't like it, call your friends too.