I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game-Chapter 160: About Daily (1)

The past fifteen days.

During the time Yuda was absent, the children spent their days in their own way.

Perhaps it was the sight of the boy in a wheelchair that left a deep impression.

They continued their intense training, repeating their daily routines.

The purpose of their training was entirely focused on their individual skills.

The desire to become even a little more useful.

The girls' efforts were especially touching.

"Efri! Good job today."

"Let’s start increasing our firepower starting tomorrow!"

Rezia focused on her connection with her summoned beast.

It was a process to fully control the power derived from the dragon, which had been difficult to manage before.

Her growing presence proved that she was the protagonist in this endeavor.

The handler was close to the original.

"Ha... as expected, it’s difficult."

"He would’ve been much sharper at this."

"I just don’t feel like I can reach it."

Emilia dedicated herself to mastering her unique magic.

She worked to refine the properties of ice.

Just like the time she borrowed power from Yuda, she was attempting to combine winter and shadow.

Of course, "changing properties" was a process that elevated a magician's rank, so it wasn’t easy.

But the villainess steadily added more effort and time.

Her unique perseverance shone brightly.

"This place really is endless."

"It might be dangerous, but... it’s a request from my only student."

"When I return, I should ask them to hold me all day."

Selena explored the labyrinth under the academy.

She was fulfilling a request from her student.

The vast scale was nearly impossible to measure. During the last attack, it had been used as an entrance for the cult.

Because of this, the staff had deemed it essential to fully understand the labyrinth.

However, being an ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) ancient structure, it was hard to breach.

Many professors had teamed up, but no results had come out so far.

Some had even voiced concerns about safety.

"We must think about the safety of the students."

"There’s still an uncertain danger present."

"Shouldn’t we temporarily close the academy? At least until we can clear the labyrinth?"

"Unrestful forces might be targeting the academy even as we speak."

The structure of the labyrinth, which was only half understood, was a highly reasonable point.

But rushing to decide on a closure was blocked by practical issues.

Adult concerns, perhaps.

"Closing the academy is too extreme."

"We must consider the losses that could follow."

Automatically, the costs and benefits were calculated.

Of course, these trivial matters were secondary.

The real issue was...

"Our decision is not limited to just profits."

"Only six years ago, we were victorious over the wicked cult, and the academy, together with the cathedral, became a symbol of peace."

"What would happen if such a prominent symbol showed signs of hesitation?"

"It would only serve to acknowledge the influence of the cult."

"This could cause unrest across the entire continent!"

The faculty members split into opposing opinions.

It was a dilemma where no solution seemed clearly right.

Conflicts become clearer the more unclear the right or wrong is.

The disorganized atmosphere didn’t settle easily.

"Such logic is just an exaggeration!"

"Shouldn’t we prioritize the students' safety?"

"If we just ignore it and let things escalate, it’ll be too late to turn back!"

"As educators, we must fulfill our duties!"

"We can’t just keep advocating for idealism!"

"Though we bear the title of educators, we are also those who protect the Empire."

"The influence of the cult is not what it was six years ago."

"The academy’s defenses are tighter than ever. They don’t have the ability to break through."

"If we back down now, the cult’s influence will only grow."

"Did you all forget that the source of such evil power is 'fear'?"

"We might create a wave if we do nothing!"

The voices clashed, disorganized.

In the end, the closure decision was abandoned.

The headmaster didn’t give direct approval.

The elderly man remained silent once again.

Selena, caught between the faculty, continued to send letters and materials to her student.

Even while he was away from the academy, she made sure to keep him informed of the overall situation.

Everyone did their best in their respective positions.

“Ha, ha...”

Meanwhile.

Irene was not at the academy, but at Astro's headquarters.

She had come to find the Sword Saint for further instruction.

The fox raised her sword with a deep breath.

Swish!

Before she could even finish exhaling, a silver arc fell from above her head.

The girl tilted her sword to block the attack.

The two blades clashed.

A loud, metallic sound filled the air.

Clang!

“Ugh...!”

A simple strike.

Yet, the fox’s stance faltered.

Right after, her unstable balance broke.

The girl tried to regain her footing too late, but her opponent didn’t miss the fleeting opening.

A sparkling line of steel brushed her cheek.

The cold steel’s temperature chilled the sweat on her skin.

“...I lost.”

Clang-.

Irene finally dropped her sword.

It was a simple sign of surrender.

In response, her opponent also withdrew the blade he had been aiming at her.

The girl finally collapsed to the floor.

She panted to catch her breath.

“Ha... this is so damn hard.”

“Hahaha! But you lasted quite a while this time, didn’t you?”

A hearty laugh erupted.

The man holding the sword in front of the fox was a middle-aged man with silver hair flying around.

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Despite having trained with swords for six hours, he didn’t show a single sign of fatigue.

Irene frowned, as if disgusted.

“You look too calm, it’s irritating.”

“Blame your own weakness.”

The Red Sword Saint, Kyle Stroban.

One of the brightest figures in history.

He laughed with a casual demeanor.

“This is why you’re so far behind.”

“It doesn’t matter how strong you are, you still need to be able to win.”

“You’ve faded a lot compared to your prime.”

“That’s quite the motivational statement.”

“Getting stomped by a retired chef must be a blow to your pride.”

“You don’t have to point it out...”

The girl muttered quietly.

The two who had just finished their sparring began tidying up the space.

Broken blades lay scattered on the floor.

It was the mark of the intense training they’d been through.

Irene squinted with a sigh and asked.

“How was the spar today?”

“Excellent! Your growth has been steep. At this rate, you might be on par with me when I was sixteen.”

“Aren’t you exaggerating? Just a few months ago, you said you were thirteen.”

“I’ve been saying it! This growth rate is insane! You might be the most amazing gem I’ve ever seen.”

“...And yet, you couldn’t beat a retired chef.”

“Well, that’s not my fault! He’s the one who’s strong!”

“You really are something else.”

“Hahaha!”

His boisterous laughter nearly deafened her.

The fox furrowed her brow.

“How strong are you, really?”

“Well... if I were to go by my prime, I’d be at least in the top three.”

“In the Empire?”

“No.”

“On the continent?”

“Not even close.”

“Then where do you rank in the top three?”

“You need to look beyond the continent.”

A faint tremor coursed through Kyle’s sword.

In response, a shimmering radiance flickered along its form.

Then, an enchanting wave of starlight spread, illuminating the dark space with a deep blue glow.

Across the night sky, embroidered constellations twinkled, their points connecting in delicate patterns.

It was nothing other than the stars themselves.

Only then did the man finally answer.

"From history."

"······."

A brief yet weighty resonance.

It was a declaration that could easily be dismissed as arrogance, yet the sight before them gave it undeniable credibility.

For it was a beauty unlike any that had ever been witnessed in a sword before.

Irene couldn’t help but sigh.

"Haah... I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up to you."

"Not a chance! You may have improved, but you’re still nowhere near my level. No mere sapling could ever break me."

"Yeah, yeah, you’re amazing, I get it."

"But."

Thud—.

The man lightly tapped the fox’s shoulder.

A smile played at his lips.

"You’ll catch up eventually."

"······."

"Perhaps... you might even surpass me at my peak."

"That’s hard to believe."

"If you can’t believe in yourself, then trust in the Commander’s judgment."

"Him...?"

"He was certain that you would surpass me."

"Well... if you put it that way, I guess that’s a bit motivating."

Yuda.

At the mere mention of his name, the atmosphere instantly softened.

The sharp glint in the girl’s eyes quietly faded, and the faintest blush tinged her cheeks.

Kyle chuckled, amused.

"Hmm! The Commander must be delighted."

"Why would you say that?"

"He’s got no shortage of girls utterly devoted to him! Our Vice-Commander is a prime example!"

"Stop talking nonsense..."

She sounded irritated, but notably, she didn’t deny it.

Having finished tidying up her surroundings, Irene rose to her feet.

It was time to leave.

Because today was the day Yuda would return.

The day he would be coming back to the academy.

"I should get going."

"I already asked Rena to prepare things. If you take the portal, you’ll arrive just in time."

"Tell everyone I appreciate it. And take care of my little siblings."

"Don’t worry. This chef will keep the young foxes safe."

"That’s reassuring."

Their farewell was lighthearted, almost casual.

As Irene was about to step out of the training hall, Kyle called out to her one last time.

His tone, however, had lost its previous levity.

It was heavier now, tinged with quiet solemnity.

A star that had long since dimmed opened its mouth to speak.

"One last warning."

"·····?"

"You’re on the verge of transcendence. If you progress slowly, it’ll take three years. If you move quickly, one year."

"That doesn’t sound like a warning. It sounds more like a compliment."

"This is where it begins."

The star met the fox’s gaze.

His signature crimson eyes gleamed, yet beneath their glow, there was a loneliness, a deep concern for what lay ahead.

As though he was dreading a future he already knew.

"When is a sword at its most perilous?"

"Just before reaching the realm of the stars. Everyone knows that."

"Exactly... When the wall of mana collapses, when new concepts are redefined. Many swordsmen have reached that wall, only to meet a miserable end. They failed to ascend to transcendence and were instead devoured by starlight."

"······So what exactly are you trying to say?"

Irene’s posture stiffened slightly.

Kyle’s expression remained unnervingly serious.

"Never go against the flow."

"······."

"Natural order is absolute. If a mere mortal dares to defy the stars, they will pay a price worse than death."

"And what exactly is that price?"

"I don’t know. I’ve never experienced it myself."

"Judging by what you’re saying, plenty of people have been consumed in the process."

"More than you could ever count."

Never resist the stars.

This was not merely a lesson from master to student.

It was a warning from one comrade to another.

Because Kyle did not wish to see their commander grieve.

Irene, though unsettled, gave her word.

At the very least, she would not act recklessly when it came to the stars.

"That’s enough to put me at ease."

"Good... If we’re done, I’ll be off."

"Hmm! Send my regards to the Commander!"

And with that, the girl set off toward the academy.

***

Irene was in high spirits.

The boy she hadn’t seen in nearly half a month.

At long last, today was the day they would be reunited.

Even as she arrived at the academy and made her way toward their dormitory, the fox continued to smile.

To others, she was sharp and irritable, but in front of one particular person, she was simply... warm.

She walked down the corridor with a faint smile playing on her lips.

Even as she did, her heart pounded wildly.

Thump-thump—.

‘I want to see him soon.’

What should she say when they meet?

First, she would act spoiled.

He had practically abandoned her all this time, so she was going to demand his attention.

He would probably let out an exasperated sigh but indulge her anyway.

Because he was always too soft when it came to her.

‘First of all.’

She would lie down on his bed.

Curl up in his arms, nestle into his warmth.

Breathe in his intoxicating scent, confirming that he was real.

She would clasp his hands tightly, as if she never wanted to let go.

Then, once she had fully basked in the reality of being together again, she would slowly surrender herself.

From the tips of her ears to the end of her tail, she would offer everything.

She would whisper for him to stroke her, leaving not a single part untouched.

His rough hands would unravel her, turning even her steady breaths into quiet whimpers.

And she would press herself against him, as close as possible.

‘If you want...’

She wanted him to notice her.

She would wrap his arms around her full chest, rest her plush tail across his thigh, and watch for his flustered expression.

And in that fleeting moment of hesitation, she would slip in, becoming everything to him.

Of course, it was a childish fantasy.

Knowing him, he would only chuckle and brush it off.

Yet even these fleeting daydreams had become a cherished part of her everyday life.

The path leading to him shimmered.

Like a spring breeze weaving through blooming flowers.

‘This is nice.’

A season of gentle warmth.

It felt as though she was becoming part of it.

However—.

"······."

It didn’t take long for that feeling to shatter.

The moment the fox reunited with the boy, her eyes turned ice-cold.

Her gaze, once filled with anticipation, was now dark and dead.

"Who is that?"

Irene asked.

Her eyes locked onto the mark on the boy’s neck.

A single crimson bloom, like a flower in full bloom.

Just like the descriptions in certain books.

An unmistakable trace of physical intimacy.

And.

"Oh my."

Unwanted guests clung to both of his arms.

One with fiery red hair, the other with platinum blonde.

The Imperial Princesses were pressed closely against him.

When their eyes met, they both smiled and greeted her.

Particularly the younger one—her gaze was sinister.

As if she were taunting the fox for arriving too late.

"This man is destined to be the future Grand Duke. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t address him so casually."

"Yes. We’re engaged. His Majesty has already given his decree."

The Imperial Princesses.

These vulgar wenches had clearly lost their minds.