Chapter 93
Jealousy is an emotion that naturally follows for anyone.
Jealousy doesn’t only arise from love for someone.
First, it can come from a parent’s love being directed towards a sibling, leading to jealousy or even harm towards that sibling.
In ordinary friendships, it’s also common to feel jealousy if a friend gets closer to someone else than to you.
The root of jealousy fundamentally stems from a desire for possession.
Iris Haishirion is the 3rd Princess.
She lived a life where she had to seize everything as she grew up as a princess.
Once something is seized, it shouldn’t be taken away.
The moment you lose what you’ve seized, you’ll lose all the fame and fortune you’ve gained.
Thus, it was only natural for Iris’s desire for possession to grow strong.
Isabel Luna lost her most precious childhood friend six months ago.
It’s only natural for someone to crave possession.
However, she lost the one thing she held most dearly in her heart.
Since then, she hasn’t been able to find anything to replace that desire.
But through a series of events, Isabel finally met someone who could fulfill her desire for possession.
Even if it’s someone she has a complicated relationship with, it was an object of her fractured desire.
What does this imply?
Both Iris and Isabel are types who have a very strong desire for possession compared to others.
Love and hate.
Their desires, which were somewhat controlled, faced a worthy rival.
Eventually, they revealed their struggle to not lose what belonged to them.
The main reason the two fought was based on this desire for possession.
I found myself in an increasingly difficult situation because of them recently.
That’s why I had warned them to restrain themselves.
Fortunately, their desire hadn’t peaked yet.
Both listened to my warning and restrained themselves in front of me.
“So, I was a bit relieved.”
But then a person showed up who would once again provoke their desires.
The unyielding Blue Flame.
Eve.
She was the girl who suddenly approached me at the party where key personnel from each academy gathered.
I knew I was definitely not the object of love for Isabel and Iris.
However, as two women, it was inevitable for them to feel a desire for possession towards me, a man.
A partner with whom they could realize a relationship that reaches the peak of possession.
When a woman appears, it’s only natural for their desires to become intense.
Especially with the introduction of a handsome opposite sex possessing superior qualities in romance, the intensity only deepens.
“Damn.”
I hated myself for piercing through human nature.
Having lost the kind of love that confuses rational judgment, I found myself adept at understanding human psychology recently.
Thus, I instinctively realized how dire the situation was.
“I’d rather want to be like a harem protagonist in a game or novel and be surrounded by women, goofing around.”
I couldn’t ignore the crisis that was blatantly visible before my eyes.
My back felt incredibly hot.
It felt as though Iris and Isabel’s gazes could penetrate right through me.
It hurt.
I was in so much pain.
“Hanon Irey, that’s your name, right?”
But entirely unaware of my crisis, Eve spoke to me again.
My lips felt glued shut because their gazes were too intense.
“Yes, how did you know?”
But I couldn’t keep my mouth shut forever.
I tried to smile as best I could, ignoring the gazes behind me.
“I asked around and found out.”
In an instant, my shoulders jerked.
I hurriedly scanned the party area.
Then I heard whispers directed my way.
What that meant was that she had asked people at this party about me.
Eve, who usually hardly talked to anyone, asking around about me was significant.
“What with all these well-connected nobles around at the prime age full of romantic fervor?”
It was only natural for such conversations to have already been determined.
“It seems Blue Flame is interested.”
“I’m surprised. I never thought Blue Flame would have feelings for someone.”
Sure enough, a few remarks came floating into my ears.
The fact that I heard them means the two behind me did too.
“Eve, shall we step outside for a quick chat?”
Continuing to converse with Eve here wasn’t a good idea.
Out of sight, out of mind, at least a bit.
I decided to change my location first.
As I turned my body, Eve followed without objection.
I made a run for it, evading the gazes that were pressing down on me.
After a while, stepping out to the terrace provided a refreshing breeze.
I felt the weight lift off my chest as I could breathe easier.
Yet, I was still fearful of the consequences to come.
But first, I had to resolve this.
“Investigating me is troublesome. What exactly did you hear?”
“That you are the cousin of the 3rd Princess and that she was recently attempted to be assassinated by dragon magic at the academy.”
She heard a lot in between.
With Eve approaching me, those eager about her must have told her a great deal.
“You definitely heard a lot. However, the person who attempted to assassinate Iris back then was not me.”
It’s important to not be misinterpreted.
“I know. There’s someone named Nikita Cynthia, and…”
Eve lifted her chin and looked directly at me.
“I also heard that the kind of dragon magic she was dealing with was frost dragon.”
She sensed the chill emanating from me.
Eve’s blue eyes glowed quietly with intensity.
“Are you planning to kill the 3rd Princess?”
Did she misunderstand me that way?
The start of this misunderstanding was different, but it was similar to what happened with Isabel.
I chewed over everything and naturally smiled.
“No? How could that possibly be?”
I wondered if Eve would believe my denial.
“…”
The answer was NO.
“I don’t know what your circumstances are.”
As she said, Eve knows nothing about my struggles.
That’s precisely why she could have this misunderstanding and confront me outright at the party.
“But I know what you’re trying to do is wrong.”
An assassination of a princess.
If I were to do such a thing, the repercussions would affect the kingdom and ruin my life along with it.
Eve gazed at me with clear, earnest eyes.
“Stop. Nothing can be fixed with that.”
The direction of the misunderstanding was becoming convoluted.
The misunderstanding she initiated couldn’t be twisted back no matter what I said.
That was, in fact, what I had hoped for.
“What do you know to speak so freely?”
I expressed my astonishment.
It was a question about how someone who had only met me for day could comprehend anything.
“…It may very well be my misunderstanding. But if it isn’t, it could be the worst.”
Of course, it was a misunderstanding.
I harbored no intentions of harming Iris whatsoever.
Instead, I’d prefer for her to live peacefully without nightmares.
“Then what will you do? Are you going to eliminate me?”
That couldn’t possibly be…
“You’re right.”
Huh?
She lifted the hem of her dress.
Then she pulled out a long dagger attached to her long legs.
Clank!
As she drew the dagger, it elongated and transformed into a sword in an instant.
That was another kind of divine artifact.
Whirr—
At the same time, blue flames erupted from her sword.
The unyielding Blue Flame.
It was a flame similar to the strongest manifestation of determination.
“I will burn the dragon’s magic to ashes.”
Eve’s eyes were full of sincerity.
She would rather destroy than let me fool around with dragon magic.
That resolve was palpably felt through her gaze.
Ah! Crazy girl!
“Wait! At least let’s make the playing field even! I’m going in bare-handed!”
“I have no reason to consider that.”
Damn it.
I never expected her to come at me so recklessly.
Just as I stealthily moved toward the terrace door…
Whoosh!
The flames extending from her sword blocked my path completely.
Chilling blue flames danced along the floor.
“Give up. I’ll erase the dragon’s magic cleanly.”
“I’m rather fond of that dragon’s magic. This parting feels too sad.”
“Get over it.”
What a ruthless woman.
She showed no ounce of mercy.
Eve stomped on the ground.
‘Here she comes.’
With this development, there was no way out.
My instincts kicked in, and Eve vanished from sight.
Just as my dynamic visual acuity barely locked onto her…
Clang!
My hand struck against Eve’s sword with a thundering noise.
Eve’s eyebrows twitched.
She clearly didn’t expect me to extend my bare hands.
This was a situation where it wouldn’t be surprising if one of my arms was severed.
“I’ll ask the Saintess to reattach it.”
What a savage thing to say.
She seemed to have already judged my arm was either cut off or destroyed.
That turned out to be fine.
It was a good opportunity.
I opened my palm.
Simultaneously, I gripped Eve’s sword tightly.
As Blue Flame engulfed my hand, an intense heat surged through me.
But the fire resistance I’d trained over time allowed me to endure it.
“Eek?”
A voice of confusion slipped from Eve’s lips.
She hadn’t anticipated she’d be able to catch her own flaming sword.
This confusion was the only opening I needed.
With the red-hot sensation on my flesh, steel enveloped it.
Crunch!
In that moment, my fingers pierced through the blade of Eve’s sword and shot out.
Eve was momentarily startled, unable to accept the situation.
My eyes lit up.
Sword Breaker!
Clang!
Eve’s sword shattered into pieces in an instant.
My hand swung towards the dazed expression on Eve’s face.
Just before my hand touched her face…
Eve tilted her head back and seized my arm, twisting it in a reverse grip.
Even in her surprise, her response was seamless.
It was proof she had trained tirelessly until now.
Whoosh!
I was launched upward in an instant.
But I had no intention of just taking it.
Just before hitting the ground, I activated the Magic Seal on my elbow in midair.
Boom!
With an explosion, my body was propelled upwards, briefly suspended in the air.
Using the arm Eve was grasping as a pivot, I brought my fist crashing down onto her.
The magic seal inscribed on my elbow activated.
Consequently, my fist was imbued with speed and power.
Crash!
The terrace floor where my fist landed was obliterated.
I lost my grip on Eve.
Hastily, I raised my head through the smoke.
At that moment, I saw Eve, retreating to a distance.
Despite being a pretty serious strike.
As expected of a side character.
‘The intensity of her training was on another level.’
I had also trained hard so far.
However, Eve was an episode’s main character.
From the start, our levels were different.
“What did you do to your body?”
Eve stared at me in disbelief.
As she said, I had placed a few spells on my body.
To Eve, it was nothing short of bizarre.
“It’s all purposeful.”
I brushed off my hands and stood up.
Before I knew it, my sleeves had burned away completely.
I felt sorry as it was the dress Iris had given me.
Clink!
Just then, Eve restored her broken sword.
A divine artifact.
Infinite Sword.
It could take any form as a sword, and even if broken, it would restore itself.
The fact she could withstand the heat of the unyielding Blue Flame was thanks to this very trait.
“I was a bit taken aback, but give up. You can’t defeat me.”
From now on, I will fight seriously.
Eve declared so.
“Right.”
As she said, with my current self, I had no way against Eve, who was already a complete protagonist.
“But it’s not just me here.”
Screech!
At that moment, the terrace door swung open.
The inside party area grew completely quiet.
Eve belatedly noticed we had caused quite the commotion.
The instant she caught sight of the opened door…
A woman with pitch-black hair strode out decisively.
Her ruby red eyes gleamed ominously.
As darkness rippled, it chased after her.
“What is this nonsense?”
The murderous intent contained in her voice weighed heavily in the air.
A pitch-black evil began swirling around her.
The ultimate villainess.
Iris Haishirion.
As she appeared, the atmosphere immediately changed.
Not just her.
A girl in a school uniform descended from the sky.
A staff in her hand glimmered with pure white incandescent light.
That blinding light was so intense it even sent shivers down Eve’s spine.
“Wow, you’re putting on quite a show.”
Daughter of the Blue Magic Tower Lord.
Sharine Sazarith.
Lastly, a woman with honey-blond hair had appeared by my side, wrapping my burned wrist.
Her face did not look towards Eve.
But as she gazed down at my hand, a quiet rage was evident.
The brightness she usually displayed was unimaginable.
Isabel Luna.
With the main heroine of the Fire Butterfly Squad now appearing, the situation was suddenly organized.
No matter how formidable Eve was, she couldn’t take on such a group of people.
She bit her lip and glowered at me.
I shrugged nonchalantly.
“If you dislike it so much, summon your friends too.”