Chapter 12: A Seat Beside You

“If you join our club…”

“You won’t have to worry after graduation.”

“Let me tell you about our club’s history…”

“Do you know who my father is? The crown prince’s most trusted…”

Countless club invitations poured in.

Second-years, third-years, even fourth-year graduating students swarmed Bisus, urging him to join their clubs.

Some made sweet offers, others veiled threats using their status.

But each time, Artoria and Sofia, glaring from his side, sent them scurrying away.

Bisus realized he’d been underestimating himself.

This much attention?

Even defeating Naber shouldn’t warrant this frenzy, especially for a mere baron’s son.

This level of interest from upperclassmen was unexpected.

It’s probably not just because of the spar.

“Bisus-nim, are you okay?”

“Those imperial nobles are so crass. Don’t worry, Bisus. I’ll make sure no harm comes to you.”

Bisus looked at Artoria and Sofia, who were watching him closely.

It’s because of them.

Artoria, second only to the Holy Kingdom’s leader.

Sofia, the only daughter of the republic’s president.

They’re probably the most prominent figures in the academy right now.

Their reactions to me are what’s drawing all this attention.

Clubs at the academy are like factions.

With talents from across the continent, various groups compete for influence:

The imperial crown prince’s faction, the princess’s faction.

The republic’s presidential faction, the anti-presidential faction.

The kingdom’s royalists, the noble faction, and so on.

These factions are further divided into countless clubs.

They’re trying to recruit influential yet neutral figures to bolster their power.

Artoria and Sofia are too prominent to be swayed into joining clubs, so they’re left alone.

But I, with no backing yet seemingly close to both, must look like an easy target.

That’s why Robina came to me.

It’d be stranger if she hadn’t.

Classes began, but other students kept glancing his way.

Or rather, at Sofia and Artoria sitting on either side of him.

It was a tough day to focus on lessons.

At lunch, Bisus went to a nearby restaurant with the two women trailing him.

“Is it really okay for a saintess to eat at a place like this?”

Sofia opened her mouth, clearly displeased with Artoria’s presence.

“Oh? Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

Artoria replied with a smile.

“Priests usually avoid worldly meals and live ascetically.”

“Purity is one form of devotion to Deus. I, too, am a servant who has dedicated myself to Him. But meals aren’t restricted. More importantly, since my lord husband serves Deus with me, I must always dine with him.”

“Hmph. Sophistry.”

“And you, Sofia-nim, why not eat with the republic folks over there? Your presence is drawing some unfriendly looks toward my lord husband.”

“…I don’t care about those nobodies. If they try to harm Bisus, I’ll crush them myself.”

Glare

Their gazes clashed fiercely in the air.

Please, just stop…

Bisus trembled at their constant bickering.

He’d renewed his resolve this morning, but their conflict was overwhelming him.

They sat down, and the ordered food arrived.

Sofia handled her utensils elegantly.

Artoria moved hers with a holy grace.

Both were clearly trying to appear refined for Bisus.

“I have something to say,” Bisus said, breaking the silence mid-meal.

“Something to say?”

“Speak freely.”

“As I mentioned yesterday, I had a dream. Probably related to the future Sofia talked about. After that dream, I could use swordsmanship I didn’t know before.”

Bisus looked at his hand, continuing.

Artoria and Sofia have only known me for a few days.

Yet, because of their dreams, they treat me like we’ve known each other forever.

I, too, know them from the novel, so I’m more at ease with them than I should be.

Our relationship is… peculiar, to say the least.

“Sofia’s claim that we defeated the Demon King together. Artoria’s claim that we were angels serving Deus. I believe both. One is my future, the other my past.”

Not really.

I know what happens in the future from Eclipse.

There’s no demon invasion.

So the events in the dream can’t happen.

It’s something else entirely.

“Exactly. Your dreams are probably fragments of your future memories returning.”

“I wish you’d dream of me too, though.”

“So I thought about it. I can’t stay like this. If those dreams are real, it means dangerous things are coming, right?”

The crisis in Eclipse was different from Sofia’s dream of a demon invasion.

But it was a catastrophic threat to the world’s existence.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. This time, things will be different.”

“I’m here too! I’ll keep you safe, my lord husband!”

“I don’t just want to be protected. I want to stand as your equal.”

No, honestly, I don’t want to fight at all.

If I could just survive, I’d be fine letting them protect me.

Who cares about being their equal?

But I know their strength alone won’t be enough to overcome the coming crisis.

I need to grow stronger.

To survive.

“Hah. Right, you’re that kind of guy. I underestimated you by saying I’d protect you.”

“I’m sorry, my lord husband… I didn’t consider your feelings…”

I think I caused a misunderstanding, but… whatever.

“I’m going to a dungeon today,” Bisus continued.

“A dungeon?”

“What do you mean, a dungeon?”

This is the moment.

A hidden dungeon with a hidden piece awaits.

I can’t clear it alone, so I need their help.

This is the critical juncture to secure their aid.

Honestly, one of them would be enough, but I have a bad feeling that bringing just one would cause trouble.

“I found a dungeon in the city. A hidden one, to be exact. I want to explore it and test the new powers I gained from the dream.”

“Bisus, dungeons are dangerous.”

“Yes, my lord husband. Unexplored dungeons are full of unknown perils. You could get hurt!”

“I know. But I can’t move forward like this. I can’t stand side by side with you two otherwise.”

It’s mostly nonsense, but my desire to get stronger is genuine.

“Then I’ll go with you. I’ll help you get accustomed to your new swordsmanship.”

“Me too! I’ll make sure nothing dangerous happens!”

Just as planned!

“Thanks, both of you.”

Perfect.

With this, I can conquer that dungeon.

Imperial Capital
The Palace

In a basement, a man sat bound to a chair.

Creak

Thud

“You! You!”

As the door opened and the princess entered, the crown prince began to thrash wildly.

“What are you doing?! Father forbade us from directly harming each other! Are you defying the rules of succession he set?!”

Step step

The princess slowly approached the prince.

“Father won’t stand for this! You’ll be completely disqualified from the succession!”

“No.”

Snap

“He won’t. Because Father’s will shall soon be my own.”

“What? You’re planning treason…!”

“Fair competition is fine. I would’ve won eventually anyway.”

As in the previous life, taking the empire was no issue.
But…

“I don’t have time. There are vixens eyeing my precious one.”

“What are you talking about…?”

The prince was baffled by her words.

Thud

The princess placed her hand above his head.

“You… You wouldn’t!”

“Quietly relinquish your claim to the throne.”

For me and Bisus.

“Arghhh!”

Her hand glowed, casting a powerful binding spell on the prince’s mind.

As the light flickered, he lost consciousness, slumping in the chair.

“Next is the emperor.”

Confirming the binding spell on the prince, the princess muttered with an expressionless face.

Though he was her father, to her now, the emperor was merely an obstacle keeping her from Bisus.

“Just wait a little longer, my beloved Bisus. I’ll finish my tasks and come for you soon.”