TWEM Vol. 6 Chapter 16 Part 2
When we moved to the guest room and showed the rewards we had chosen to Oskar, who seemed to have finished his work, he nodded in agreement.
“Hmm. Suzuno’s and Kuzel’s choices are good. But…”
After saying that, Oskar looked at the jewel I had chosen.
“Haruto, is this okay? It’s a jewel that has no special use.”
“Yes, but where did you get it?”
“It’s something that has existed in the Empire for a long time. It’s been said that it’s been slumbering in the treasure vault for a long time… so, what are you going to use it for?”
Oskar asked me about the use of the jewel.
“Nothing, I thought it would be useful for something.”
“Hmm. So you’re saying you haven’t come up with a use for it yet?”
“That’s about it. Well, I’m going to research new ways to use it in my spare time.”
“I see. That’s something we couldn’t handle. Make it work for you.”
We talked about our travels for a while, but then Oskar’s face suddenly tightened.
“Haruto.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“How many fiancées do you have now?”
“Bhwa! Gehogeho!”
At the unexpected question, I coughed as the drink entered my windpipe.
While I couldn’t speak, everyone but me answered the question.
“I’m Haruto-san’s fiancée.”
“I’m also Haruto’s fiancée.”
“Me too!”
“Likewise.”
In order, they were Finne, Iris, Suzuno, and Ephyr.
Oskar looked at the four of them, and his eyes widened.
“I see, four of you?”
“No, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“Hmm?”
It was Asha who denied Oskar’s words.
“In addition to these four people, Haruto-sama is currently engaged to Ilmina Heilig, the saintess from the Holy State of Belifaire.”
“Uh, hmm. There’s one more, huh…? And even the Saintess of Belifaire…”
Hearing this, Oskar put his hand on his head.
No, I’m aware that there are many of them, but why are you reacting like that?
Finne and the others seemed to sense something and said, “Maybe…”.
Am I the only one who didn’t understand?
Then, there was a knock at the door.
“Father, I’m here.”
“Hmm. Come in.”
Oskar told her to enter, and a beautiful girl with waist-length golden hair and strong eyes entered the room.
I looked at her and then at Oskar.
“Maybe…”
“That’s right. She’s my daughter. Please introduce yourself.”
The beautiful girl nodded and bowed her head slightly towards me.
“It is my pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Charlotte von Galzio, second princess of the Galzio Empire.”
“Char, these people are—”
“I know. They are the people who saved the Empire from the hands of the demon, right? When I returned to the Imperial City from the exercise this morning, I found the arena in a horrifying sight, so I asked for the details of what had happened. Mr. Haruto, was it? Thank you for saving the Imperial City… Iris, it’s been a long time.”
Charlotte bowed her head politely to me, and she smiled at Iris.
“Long time no see, Char.”
“Iris, it looks like you’ve gotten a lot stronger.”
“Huh? Yeah! Of course!”
Iris puffed out her chest with a smug look on her face.
I knew it, but you two know each other, don’t you? You two seemed to get along pretty well.
While I was thinking about that, Oskar started to say something outrageous.
“So, Char. This Haruto, I’m wondering if he should be your fiancé. You’re probably at the age where you have to decide on a fiancé.”
The room was silent.
Then, our surprised shouts of “Haaaaaaaaa!?” echoed throughout the room.
Charlotte asked Oskar, unable to comprehend the situation.
“Father, what does that mean…?”
“You will only accept someone stronger than you as your marriage partner, right? Then wouldn’t Haruto be perfect for you?”
“That’s true, but…”
Charlotte glanced at me.
It’s probably just my imagination that her cheeks were a little red. I mean…
“Um…”
“Hmm? What is it, Haruto?”
When I called out to him, Oskar looked puzzled.
“In my opinion…”
“Are you dissatisfied with my daughter?”
“No, it’s not like that, is it? First of all, what do Finne and the others have to say…”
After saying that, I looked at Finne and the others, but they didn’t seem angry or opposed, just stunned.
Oskar looked at them and nodded.
“Well, that doesn’t seem to be a problem.”
No, that’s why my opinion…
As I was thinking that, Charlotte looked at me and opened her mouth.
“Mr. Haruto, I challenge you to a duel.”
“… Huh? What? Why?”
I am confused by the sudden statement.
“If you can defeat me, I will marry you. Is that okay with you, father?”
“Yes, I guess that’s okay with you too, Char?”
“Yes.”
“…Eh, are you ignoring my opinion?”
“Now, let’s go to the knights’ training ground.”
With that, Oskar left the room.
I’m being completely ignored, this…even though I’m the party involved. I’m feeling a little sad.
While we were moving, Finne asked me.
“Haruto-san.”
“What’s going on?”
“Well, are you going to marry Miss Charlotte?”
“Hmm, it’s because they started talking on their own before I could do anything about it.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Finne looked slightly unconvinced.
“Here.”
When we arrived at the training ground, the knights were training.
I couldn’t find Reid or any of the “Seven Royal Guards”. They probably had another job.
The knights who were training under Oskar’s instruction were temporarily interrupted and informed that a duel was to be held between me and Charlotte.
Then, for some reason, the knights started to get excited.
“It’s a duel between the Hero and the Warrior Princess!”
“Who will win this!?”
“Oh, I’ll bet on the Warrior Princess!”
“What! Then I’ll bet on the Hero Haruto!”
And the betting started everywhere.
There was one keyword in the conversation that caught my attention.
I asked Iris about it.
“Iris, what’s ‘Warrior Princess’?”
“Ah, Haruto doesn’t know. It’s a title that was given to Char after her first battle.”
“Is that so?”
She must have been outstanding since she got a title.
Charlotte and I went to the center of the training ground.
“Mr. Haruto.”
“What’s up?”
“You are strong.”
I didn’t reply.
Charlotte and I faced each other in the center with a little distance between us.
“That’s why I will use all my power to defeat you!”
Charlotte declared, pulling out the weapon at her waist and taking a ready stance.
The sword she was holding shone with a golden light.
It was probably, or perhaps almost certainly, a magic sword.
“—That’s what I want.”
I also pulled out my black sword Benizakura and prepared myself.
Then, the match started with Oskar’s signal.