NOVGO.NET Chapter 1198: Did They Just Scheme Everything?
Chapter 1198: Did They Just Scheme Everything?
Prince Hisami definitely didn’t look satisfied with our fight and he definitely wanted to go another round.
But Queen Asami definitely seemed against him sparring with me again.
Still… I kind of feel a little bad for him because I technically won through underhanded means and he had to rely only on his sword skills.
I turned to my girls, “Umm… Would any of you also like to spar with him? I think it might be a good experience?”
The prince immediately perked up and looked at Minnera and Katsuki hopefully, clearly anticipating their response.
Katsuki shook her head, “My apologies, your Highness, but I am not interested.”
Oh geez, Katsuki… Why did you make it sound like he was trying to ask you out? He was just asking for a spar…
Wait, Prince Hisami… Please also don’t look like you just got rejected after a confession… This is just a spar request, ok?
Thankfully, my saviour came in the form of Minnera who shrugged, “I don’t mind going a round against the prince. If he doesn’t mind having a spar with me of course, since I am not as strong as Aster is.”
He grinned, “Are you strong?”
“I would say I am strong to a certain degree but definitely not the strongest.”
“Then I don’t mind! Let’s have a good match!”
Err… As much as I am happy that you agreed to this, last I remembered, you’re not actually a swordswoman are you? How are you going to fight him?
She answered my question by materialising her two pistols before nodding at the prince.
He frowned at the guns, “What weapons are those? I’ve never seen them before.”
“It’s my personal weapon. Don’t worry about it.”
Really? Are you really going to do what I think you’re going to do, Minnera?
I think this would actually be worse than just letting me fight him again…
I guess it’s too late to regret now because Prince Hisami seemed to be set on sparring with her already.
“Hahaha! Don’t go easy on me then, Miss… Ermm… I’m sorry…”
Minnera waved her hand, “You do not need to remember my name. Just know me as Aster’s dedicated painter will do.”
Oh come on, Minnera… I know it’s his mistake for forgetting your name but at least give him a little respect since he’s the prince after all…
Then again… Is a Comissar of a higher position than a prince of a country?
Well whatever, at least neither the prince nor the queen looked offended by her words so I guess this is fine.
Minnera took her position inside the training hall and Prince Hisami went to the other side, holding his sword the same way as he did when fighting me.
Oh dear… I can already see how this ends…
Minnera turned to me, “Aster? Could you do us the honours of starting the fight?”
“Eh? Oh, of course,” I accepted.
Are you sure you’re not just asking me to give you the signal to shoot the prince?
The prince, who had no idea what was coming, grinned at her, “No need to hold back, painter of Lady Aster! Give me your best!”
I’m going to refrain from commenting about that…
I raised my hand, “Both sides ready?”
They nodded, eyes staring at each other.
“Begin!”
As I thought would happen, Minnera raised one of her pistols and fired a single shot at the prince.
I was already prepared to see the prince appear outside the training area only to hear a resounding ’clang’ coming from his direction.
Wait… Did he actually manage to block the bullet with his sword?!
The prince grinned, “As I thought, those were ranged weapons… This speed… Hmm… This would be troublesome, but I’ve fought a monster that could shoot projectiles at around these speeds too!”
Wait, seriously? You’re telling me there’s monsters out there who are able to shoot projectiles at the speed of bullets? Aren’t they pretty dangerous then?
Then again… I know some people who are fast enough to be able to avoid Minnera’s shots as well… Myself included…
Minnera didn’t even look surprised that he managed to deflect it and proceeded to point both pistols at him and started firing.
Prince Hisami calmly swung his sword in front of him, deflecting away the bullets that he could not avoid while avoiding the bullets that he could not deflect.
It was a surreal sight to see the prince swinging that giant nodachi around so effortlessly while Minnera was just standing still and shooting at him from a distance.
But with the hail of bullets coming from Minnera, it looks like it would be difficult for Prince Hisami to get close to her as he was just doing everything he could to protect himself from the bullets.
Then as if he read my mind, he suddenly lowered himself and swung his nodachi with more force than before.
There was a resounding clang as sparks flew from where he had deflected a bullet, only for Minnera to suddenly shift herself away as the deflected bullet had been sent flying back towards her.
Prince Hisami did not waste that opportunity as he leapt in to close the distance.
Minnera quickly recovered and fired another shot at him which he casually smacked back towards her once more.
She was forced to make another side step to avoid it and that gave the prince all the time he needed to reach her.
He slashed his sword towards her neck but she spun away to avoid it while shooting her pistol at the same time to send a bullet flying towards his face.
He showed surprising dexterity as he managed to lean his head back just enough to avoid it even in the awkward position of swinging his giant sword.
Minnera did not let that opportunity go as she fired another round from her second gun, this time aimed at his chest.
The prince shifted his blade in the bullet’s path and sparks flew from the tip of his blade as the projectile was deflected to the side, leaving him unscathed.
Minnera tried to shoot at him once more but just as she raised one of her pistols, the prince suddenly kicked at the ground and his figure vanished from my vision for just a quick moment before reappearing behind her, almost like he had teleported.
“Valour skill… [Blind Step],” The prince muttered right as he raised his sword.
Oh damn, I’m surprised he didn’t use that skill against me. Though I guess I didn’t exactly give him a chance to do so either.
The sword came down on top of Minnera and it looked like she was about to be cleaved into two, only for another gunshot to be heard which sounded even louder than the previous ones.
Minnera had fired the pistol that she was holding below her chest upwards, the bullet clashing against the nodachi and changing its path to the side, just enough to miss her.
She then spun around and shoved the other pistol underneath the prince’s chin before she pulled the trigger without a second’s hesitation.
The prince then reappeared outside the training area, thankfully without his head blown out.
Minnera spun her pistols before making the action of holstering her pistols which caused them to dematerialise.
The prince grinned and allowed his own sword to disappear as well, “Hahaha! As expected of Lady Aster’s party members! You are also really strong!”
Minnera didn’t say anything and simply returned to my side, not even giving the prince a second glance.
Queen Asami nodded at me, “Thank you for indulging in my selfish child’s request, Lady Aster. I must say though, you definitely do have interesting companions.”
“Well… I guess? They are interesting to me at least~”
The prince puffed up his chest, “It was a very educational spar session, Lady Aster! I do hope that we can do this again whenever you feel like doing it again!”
Oh, please don’t… Not because I don’t think you’re worth my time sparring with but I don’t really want to show all my cards to someone outside of my lovers…
He then smiled at me, “As thanks for going along with my request, Lady Aster… Please allow me to serve as your guide for your tour of the city tomorrow!”
…
Wait… No way, don’t tell me this was also something that he planned for? Was he also acting like his father to pretend to be a battle junkie but he’s actually planning to do this from the very beginning?!
And seeing that the queen surprisingly did not try to stop him from sparring with my companions… Could she have also been in on the plan as well?!
Did I get played?!
Ugghh… I think now I finally realised… This family is not a bunch of battle junkies, they are a bunch of schemers…
Well whatever, at least I also stand to gain from him being our guide anyway… And it’s just one day so that should be fine…