Labyrinth: Chapter 64: Mitsurugi Kyouya’s Dream

On the Other Side

Iris gently tugged the corner of Claire’s clothes.

“Claire, can I join the game over there?”

She pointed her small hand toward Megumin.

Claire leaned over, touched Iris’s forehead, and spoke softly.

“Your Highness Iris, as a member of the royal family, you must maintain a noble image in public.”

“There are many people watching. Some things just aren’t appropriate for you.”

Iris slowly withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and whispered, “I know…”

Claire felt a pang in her heart at that response.

If we’re going by the rules…

There was nothing wrong with what she said.

But…

Claire looked up at the stage.

The girls there were all smiling.

Especially Megumin—hands on hips, nose in the air, laughing the loudest…

They’re clearly all the same age…

Come to think of it…

Princess Iris doesn’t really have any friends her own age, does she…?

Wait, no…

Claire looked at Iris with a deeper ache in her chest.

…She might not have any friends at all.

As royalty, you’re not allowed to live freely…

Maybe she didn’t even want to play that game.

She probably just wanted to make friends. Kids her age to sit with, laugh with—even just to play a game of chess.

…Because who knows when she’ll get a chance like this again.

But even then, if Claire told her no, Iris would suppress her feelings.

Her Highness Iris is just… way too mature.

Too mature for her own good.

It was heartbreaking.

Claire took a deep breath, smiled, and looked at her.

“But right now, you're not Princess Iris. You’re just Miss Iris.”

“So forget the rules for now.”

“Miss Iris, go do whatever it is you want to do.”

“And if there’s danger, you’ve got a knight like me to protect you.”

Iris blinked, stunned, then slowly lifted her head. The light began returning to her eyes.

“Really?!” she asked, her voice full of hope.

Claire smiled. “Really.”

The moment those words left her mouth—

Iris threw her arms around Claire, grabbed her face, and kissed her gently on the cheek.

“Claire, you’re the best!”

A sweet, innocent smile lit up her face.

Claire: !!!

She stood frozen for a long time.

I’m not washing this side of my face tomorrow…

No… I'm never washing it again…

At That Moment

Iris patted Claire on the shoulder. “Claire, look!”

“Isn’t that Mitsurugi-sama?”

Claire snapped back to reality and turned her head automatically.

Sure enough, a blonde-haired boy was walking out from the crowd.

Two girls followed behind him.

But the most eye-catching thing was the massive sword strapped to his back.

Claire blinked.

“Mitsurugi-sama? Why’s he here too?”

“Don’t tell me… he came to check out Chishiya-sama?”


---

On Stage

“Excuse me, may I join the game?”

Mitsurugi Kyouya stopped in front of Chishiya Shuntaro and extended his hand politely.

Chishiya gave him a once-over, eyes briefly scanning the massive sword on his back.

Mitsurugi Kyouya, huh…?

What’s this guy doing here?

Chishiya shook his hand calmly. “Of course.”

As they shook hands, Mitsurugi instinctively applied a bit of strength.

After all, he was a genuine hero.

Testing the strength of a fellow hero candidate wasn’t unreasonable.

But…

Hm?

Mitsurugi’s eyes narrowed.

His strength just… vanished? Like a drop in the ocean?

It was like he was shaking hands with a bronze statue.

Mitsurugi let go.

…So I lost the first exchange, huh?

But—he smirked slightly.

That’s what makes it fun.

“Thank you.”

He turned, preparing to step onto the stage.

But Chishiya stopped him.

“Hey. Registration fee, please.”

“…Right… yeah…”

Even as Mitsurugi stepped on stage, he instantly drew attention.

Even with a bit of a disguise (new outfit), that ridiculous sword behind him was too obvious.

You couldn’t not suspect who he was.

“Hey, doesn’t that guy look familiar? That sword…”

“Wait, you think that’s the Cursed Sword Hero?”

“Wasn’t the Cursed Sword Hero in the capital? What’s he doing here?”

“Recon on the hero candidate, maybe?!”

“Crap, that’s totally possible!”

“It has to be him! He looks exactly like the real deal!”

Amid the crowd, several reporters already had their pens out.

Eyes fixed on the blond boy.

That sword, that aura… It had to be the Cursed Sword Hero himself!

Two heroes facing off?

That’s front-page material!


---

On Stage

Mitsurugi smiled as he sat across from Milim.

“Sorry, but I’d like to end this little farce quickly.”

“So I’ll be using a bit more power this round.”

“But if I win, I’ll return your clothes.”

“Please don’t blame me.”

He spoke gently, afraid this overconfident little girl would burst into tears when she lost.

“Don’t cry if you lose.”

“…Hah? What are you even saying?”

Milim’s eye twitched.

This guy…

So full of himself—does he want to die?

Mitsurugi didn’t reply. He just smiled, full of confidence.

“It’s fine. I’m very strong. Losing’s no big deal.”

He thought to himself, She’ll be shocked once she finds out I’m the Cursed Sword Hero.

Milim exhaled deeply.

Calm down… Calm down…

If I get mad, Chishiya won’t let me eat dinner again…

She reined in her temper.

Forcing a tight smile onto her face, she said, “Let’s start already.”

Mitsurugi rested his elbows on the table.

Using 10% of his power should be enough.

He didn’t want to accidentally hurt someone.

The two girls behind him looked excited.

With Mitsurugi here, they were guaranteed to win!

And the opponent was just a little girl.

That 40-million-Eris dress was practically theirs.

Now they just had to figure out how to split the reward.

They exchanged a knowing glance.

Also thinking about how to cozy up to Mitsurugi afterward.

“I’ll count to three,” Mitsurugi said. “And then we’ll begin.”

“Be careful not to hurt yourself.”

That classic sunny-boy smile was plastered on his face.

Milim: What’s with this guy…? You’re not cool, you’re just annoying.

“Hurry up already.”

Mitsurugi started the countdown.

“Then let’s begin…”

“Three…”

“Two…”

“One—Huh?!!!”

BOOM—!!!

Before the final word left his lips, a tsunami-like force crashed into his wrist.

Milim moved so fast she left an afterimage.

With a loud bang, Mitsurugi’s right hand slammed into the table!

And then—

His body flipped in midair like a ragdoll.

He spun 360 degrees.

Then crashed hard into the ground!

THUD!

A huge cloud of dust erupted.

Cracks spread across the table’s once-sturdy surface.

It completely collapsed.

Milim stood up, arms crossed, looking down at him with cold disdain.

Still feel like showing off?

Mitsurugi: “?????”

He lay on the ground, totally dumbfounded, his brain a blank mess of question marks.

…Huh????

Eh? Eh, eh, eh?!!?!?!

What just happened??

How did I get thrown like that???

And that sensation…

It felt like I just got hit by a truck!?!

(To be continued.)