Chapter 243: Someone That Can Only Be Protected

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I was kind of tired.

I went on a rampage in the Heavenly World, fought the Prince and the King of the Heavens, battled Paripi, and outwitted my parents.

Then, we all made a pledge with Amae to work harder and become stronger.

I was at my limit.

I myself lost the thread of tension and my consciousness――――

“Hmm~…… Hmm…”

“Fufufu, still sleepy, Boy?”

“…… Hmm?”

That? I…… I was sleeping!?

“Huh!?”

“Hey, hey, that’s dangerous. Any sudden movements, and thou might fall off?”

If I’m not mistaken, I should have been riding behind Jamdi’el with Amae in my arms.

But, what I heard now was the voice of the prince.

And it’s a little chilly and the wind cuts through my skin. Are we still in the sky?

What’s going on…

“Prince…?”

“Hey, good morning.”

“…… wh, wha… de?”

“Fufufu, Jamdi’el didn’t want thee leaning on her… that’s why I supported thee as thou slept.”

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the Prince’s smiling face as he looked down at me.

“Huh!? Nuo!? Oh, I’m in what position… Huh!?”

“Oh, hey, thou struggle is unsafe――――”

Still the sky? On horseback? Am I being princess carried by the Prince?

I don’t understand the situation yet, but at any rate, I felt like I was in an embarrassing position, and I twisted around in a panic.

But, because of the position I was in, I soon lost my balance, slipped out of the prince’s arms, and almost fell off the horse.

“Nuo, not there!”

I hurriedly reached out my hands and grabbed the prince’s body.

But……

“Hyauuun!”

“Ueh!?”

“Oh… b, boy, uh, huh, th, that’s a no-go area!?”

I quickly grabbed the Prince’s body, but my right hand slipped between the buttons of the Prince’s jacket… oh? Somehow, something firm or soft or subtle… ah? My left hand stuck inside the Prince’s trousers and …… hmm? Huh? Nothing…… is there?

“Mmm, Boy… I’m used to interacting with girls, but… this is the first time I’ve been touched by a boy…”

“Ah, eh, ah… Prince…”

And, come to think of it… aside from that, I can feel the Prince in both my hands…

“Oh? Earth, aren’t you touching the Prince too much?”

“Older brother, what are you doing?”

“Nu? Hey, Earth Lagann, what art thy hands doing at such a time! If it’s such intimacy thou desires, Lady Kron is here!”

Kron and Amae had scowling faces, and Jamdi’el a jittery look.

Huh? When did Amae end up in Kron’s lap and on Hilua’s back?

I mean, I should have been riding behind Jamdi’el, but now I’m with the Prince? Why?

No…… I don’t care about that, to be clear.

The important thing is that now, the handsome Prince who was now smiling bitterly with red cheeks as he made eye contact with me… no…… the handsome…… p, princess…

“Don’t tell my lovely flowers about this. If they find out that I was touched by a boy, they will be livid.”

“…… s…… sorry…”

What a shocking revelation at a time like this! I apologize for the time being.

『Did you not notice?』

「Huh!?」

Then Tre’ainar let out a sigh of exasperation.

「Tre’ainar, d, did you know?」

『You are not observant enough. Tis why women complain about you being insensitive.』

「No, no, b, because…」

Then I remembered something.

It was the Prince’s cheeks, which still had a slight bruise.

I hit it…

“Prince…”

“Hmm?”

“Erm… your cheek is…”

I hit him as hard as I could. Moreover, it was a twisting punch called a corkscrew.

Right on the face…

“Korra”

“Ouch.”

But, when I looked apologetic, the Prince smiled and gave me a finger flick to the forehead.

“Understand that there are people in this world who don’t want to be treated as princesses, no matter their biological gender.”

“…… nuh…”

“This was a worthy blow as I faced thee head-on and thou made me realize my immaturity. Should thou apologize, I would feel miserable, so please don’t.”

Far from caring that I hit him at all, the Prince proudly said that it would be an insult to apologize to him.

“The Goddess… and your cute little sister are not the only one… I too will grow in strength and power… I will continue to improve myself. So…… apologize, and I would not forgive thee, so please keep that in mind♪.”

What a surprise…

“Heh… you don’t like being treated like a princess… but…… all the women I’ve met so far are just like that.”

The actual princess, Phianse, and Sadiz, who has been with me all this time, and even Shinobu and Kron don’t just want to be protected and cherished.

Rather, they are willing to take the initiative to join the battle and fight side by side without regard to men’s feelings.

That’s why I easily understood the Prince’s words.

Then, Kron went along with the conversation between me and the Prince.

“I understand how the Prince feels. When I met Earth… I realized that I want to fight together with him… rather than just being protected by him.”

At Kron’s strong words, Amae, who was being held in Kron’s lap, also raised her hand.

“Older brother”

“Hmm?”

“Older brother… Amae too…”

“…………”

“…… I’ll work hard…”

“Oh!”

“If I do my best… will everyone be together again? Forever together?”

Amae has seriously considered the words of Jamdi’el and us in her own way.

Until just a little while ago, she was crying in vain over our parting, and even now she probably doesn’t want to say goodbye to us.

But even though she was on the verge of tears, Amae still said that.

“Yeah, let’s do our best! With a stronger Amae by our side, we’re invincible. There’s nothing to be afraid of!”

“Un!”

Hearing those words, I felt so refreshed that I could move on with peace of mind.

But, in the midst of all this…

“Hmph… Earth Lagann…… Amae is fine, but… I at least wanted Lady Kron to be the exception, the only one to be protected above all else…”

Jamdi’el, who was looking forward with a sour expression, muttered with resentment.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard those words.

“Kuhaha, well, it can’t be helped, right? Because what Kron wants to protect the most is… you.”

“Nuh!?”

“You’ve lost your power and become nothing more than a winged woman… with a bounty on your head and resented all over the world… but Kron said she would protect you.”

“That’s why she need not bother! If only Lady Kron is safe and has your protection, that’s all that matters… I have lost my strength and become nothing but a burden, so if Lady Kron protects me as much as I fear…”

Yes, just like the Prince said, men and women alike, everyone is trying to be strong, but there is one exception.

Because she lost her power, she will now be protected like a princess.

That is the current Jamdi’el.

But that can’t be helped.

In exchange for that, Jamdi’el was released.

Well, maybe, but even though her magic power and magic eye were sealed, I think that even if you fight with her bare body, Jamdi’el can easily beat most opponents…

“Well, Jamdi’el. Due to circumstances, you’re the only one in the position of being protected from now on. But it’s not that you’re a hindrance or a nuisance. Kron wants to protect you, so for the time being, please just obediently be protected.”

“But! Thou should at least act together! Lady Kron alone is——”

“No, Kron isn’t alone.”

“…… What?”

Yes, if it were Jamdi’el and Kron traveling alone, I would be worried too.

But that’s not the case.

“I’m here as well!”

Sure, there’s Hilua too.

Hilua signed a contract with both me and Kron, but from now on, he will go along with Kron and Jamdi’el.

But I’m not talking about Hilua…

“Oh, and I’ll have Hilua follow Kron too… but that’s not all. From now on, it looks like there’s a man by your side who really wants to help you.”

“…………?”

I don’t like the fact that the person who gave that information and proposal was Paripi…

“Boy. I can see it now.”

Then, in our field of vision, which until now had only the entire ocean, we finally saw the continent.

Although it is on the edge of the continent, it’s still part of the Empire’s territory.

In what appeared to be a small port town, we could see several ships docked there.

That is the “rendezvous point”.

And there, each of us will make a new start.

Author’s Note

Finally, the goal of the long arc is in sight. Oh~, I want to write “The Master and Student Duo’s Journey” as soon as possible.

The world is in a situation where various declarations are made and everyone has to feel a sense of crisis, but I will do my best as long as I am still allowed to write stories like this. My ass is getting used to it, and I’m sure you’re getting tired of all the flirting with women by now, and we’ve finally reached a milestone.

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