Estimated reading time: 9–11 minutes
Chapter 27
「How noisy.」
「Milady.」
The one called “Milady” was Claire Grandrose. With her pink hair curled up into vertical rolls, she looked just like a princess.
Mirei explained the situation to Claire. Something about me being suspected of doing something to the level measuring device to make it show level 9999 or something like that.
「I see, level 9999 does seem mysterious indeed. There’s a good chance he committed fraud and tarnished the academy’s reputation.」
「That’s right!」
Damn, even the princess suspects me? Could it be that only the game characters have their affection towards me negatively adjusted?
Instead of a protagonist bonus, it’s like I’m getting an antagonist penalty. No matter how I turn, I keep getting blamed and made out to be the bad guy.
「Then, how about settling this like students of the Heinrich Noble Academy should, with a duel? Mirei and that Eld over there can duel, and whoever wins will be proven right. If he really is level 9999, there’s no way he could lose after all.」
That’s what the princess arbitrarily suggested. Mirei jumped on it and said,
「Oh! As expected of the princess. That’s exactly right. Alright, you! We duel right now! Let’s head to the dueling grounds!」
「Eh…」
And so, I ended up having to duel with Mirei.
Luckily? Alto doesn’t seem to be in the classroom, so he didn’t get involved in this mess. If he showed up here too, it would just get even more troublesome…
But a duel with Mirei huh. I’m pretty sure her level wasn’t that high. In that case, I’ll have to hold back quite a bit or else…
I think most of the new students were around level 1 to 100.
But still, I guess I should at least win here to prove my innocence… Or rather, if we could just pass this off as my level being a mistake, I could avoid the hassle… Yeah, I’ll try to lose on purpose.
As I was thinking that, Domingo and Arde cheered me on passionately.
「Master Eld! Beat that guy up! It’ll be easy for you, Master Eld!」
I was planning to deliberately lose by not doing anything.
Mirei took a sword stance and came at me.
「Here I come! I’ll expose your fraud! You wretched fool!」
I held up my sword to block Mirei’s sword.
Mirei’s sword hit my sword…!
――CLANK!
But at that moment, Mirei let out a loud scream.
「Guh…! Guaaaaaaah!」
「What’s wrong…!?」
「M-My haaand…!」
Looks like my sword was too hard and dealt heavy damage to Mirei’s hand. Huh. But I didn’t do anything…
Could the difference between level 7 and level 9999 really be that extreme…?
I wouldn’t know since I’ve never fought anyone before.
「Kuhh… It does seem you truly are a considerably high level… But as a noble, I cannot lose a duel once commenced…」
But Mirei still seemed eager to fight, and fearlessly came at me again.
No good, at this rate I’ll just win normally.
If I block with my sword, Mirei’s arm would likely snap this time.
I decided to purposefully discard my sword.
Right before Mirei’s sword hit mine, I let go of my sword and pretended to drop it on the ground.
Phew, this makes it my loss, and settles things. I’ll take a bit of a reputation hit, but can get by unnoticed. If the rumor spreads that level 9999 was some kind of mistake, everyone will have forgotten about me by the second term.
That’s what I thought, but―
「Whoa…! I dropped it…!」
（monotone）
I drop my sword to the ground.
And then, Mirei’s sword stabs into my arm.
Oh well, I’ll bear some pain. I can just heal it later anyway…
――SLASH!!!!
However, the one actually slashed and bleeding was Mirei’s arm.
「Gyaaaaaaah!」
「Huh…?」
Incredibly, the sword that hit my arm snapped cleanly in two right there.
And the broken sword tip bounced back, stabbing into Mirei’s arm.
Right there, my victory was declared by the referee.
「That’s it! Winner, Eld Schmerzen!!!!」
Somehow I ended up winning even though I intended to lose normally…
But I didn’t do anything?
I can’t believe the difference in levels would affect combat this much…
But with just healing magic, I’ve become this strong huh.
Maybe with my current level, I could use all kinds of magic besides healing now?
As I was thinking that,
「Ugh… You’ve got some nerve… It does seem you really are level 9999… I admit it」
Mirei said begrudgingly.
She was holding her bleeding arm and looked to be in pain.
Oh crap… Looks like the wound goes pretty deep. If I’m not careful, she might not be able to grip a sword ever again.
I immediately rushed over to the injured Mirei.
「Hey, you alright? Did I hurt you? My bad, let me fix it now.」
「Wha… Huh…?」
I put my hand on Mirei’s arm and cast a healing magic. Having treated those slave nobodies all this time, a wound like this is nothing for me to heal in an instant.
When I did that, Mirei looked surprised.
「W-What are you…?」
「What do you mean? I just healed your wound. Like Arde said, healing magic is my specialty.」
「I-I see… Sorry, and thank you…」
「Nah, don’t worry about it. This is the least I can do for a wound I caused.」
「Um… Sorry for doubting your level… I didn’t know you were such a kind person… Really, thank you. This arm is important to me, I can’t afford to lose it. Now I can grip a sword again.」
Mirei’s face reddened slightly as she thanked me. Why’s she blushing there?
The important thing she mentioned is probably her sister.
In the game, Mirei fights with a sword for her sister, if I remember right.
That was part of the storyline where she and the protagonist Alto defeat the Demon King together, I think.
The one who came running up to us was Claire, the princess who had egged us into the duel earlier.
When she got to us, Claire praised the duel.
「That was a splendid fight. Eld, I’m sorry for doubting you even a little. You really are strong.」
「Ah, yeah… Well, as long as you understand now.」
Since I ended up winning, let’s just go with admitting I’m level 9999.
「To tell the truth, I tested you a little, Eld.」
「Huh…?」
I’m getting a bad feeling about this. The princess tested me…?
「I wanted to confirm if you really were strong… And I’m glad I did. Eld, with your level 9999…」
「What do you mean…?」
「Won’t you join the hero party to defeat the Demon King for the sake of this country?」
「Wha, what…????」
I don’t get it. Why’s it turning out like this?
「You see, the Demon King is set to revive again soon… It’s still a secret known only to the royal family and a select few but… With your power, Eld, with your level 9999…!」
「W-Wait a minute…」
Hey hey, what’s going on here? Rather than averting a bad end, I’m being told to defeat the Demon King as the hero…?
Does that mean I’m the protagonist?
In an Egoistic Fantasy world, defeating the Demon King is obviously the protagonist Alto’s role.
That should be the same in this world too.
Because Alto is the Hero of Light after all.
Alright, hang on.
I recalled the story from the distant memories of Egoistic Fantasy.
Come to think of it, there was a trigger for Alto being recognized as the Hero of Light…
I think Claire was involved, right…?
As I gradually remembered, my stomach gradually started hurting.
I feel like puking.
Ah, that’s right, Claire.
The one who appointed Hero Alto was none other than this princess.
What does that mean for the current situation? Is she trying to make me the hero?
Alright, hang on. I don’t intend to replace Alto whatsoever, got it?
If this keeps up, the story’s going to get really messy.
Isn’t there some way to avoid this?
I try to remember back further.
Come to think of it, there was an event where Claire and Alto got real close all of a sudden.
I think that happened right after the entrance ceremony.
Yeah, at a timing just like now―
That’s when it happened.
Claire suddenly started coughing violently.
Then she vomited blood and collapsed right there.
「Cough cough… choke…!」
「Claire…!?」
I hurriedly went to support Claire. Damn… Why now of all times.
I remembered completely. Yes, this event.
Right after the entrance ceremony, Claire collapses like this. Claire was born with a weak constitution and would frequently collapse like this.
Her condition suddenly worsens and she collapses at the academy. And then Alto just happened to heal her with his power of light or something like that.
That brought the two of them close together instantly.
And so Alto awakened more and more to his power of light, while Claire became more and more attracted to him.
But now, Alto isn’t here and I’m the one holding Claire instead… What a mysterious situation.
Damn, could the timing of events have gone weird because I intervened in the beginning of the story?
And it’s all because Mirei started saying weird stuff.
Or rather, it originates from me spouting the nonsense level of 9999.
No, going further back, I ended up at level 9999 because I trained so hard in healing magic as a child.
Huh…? Doesn’t this lead to a contradiction?
I trained in healing magic to avoid a bad end, but now that’s resulted in this situation…
So what should I have done instead…?
「Uuu… uuu…」
While I was lost in thought, Claire kept groaning painfully in my arms.
Crap, I can’t just leave her like this.
It’d be great if Alto showed up right about now…
As much as I didn’t want anything to do with him, Alto’s the one I want to see most right now…
「Master Eld! Princess Claire looks to be in pain…! You should somehow help with your powers…!」
Arde looked at me full of expectation.
Yeah, you’re right. The flow here makes it seem like I should heal her huh.
Damn, is it really okay for me to treat her…?
But leaving her like this would mean letting the princess die.
They’d probably execute me for letting her die right in front of me.
Oh well.
I cast my most amazing healing magic on Claire.
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