The satisfaction of smacking Lili’s rear was swiftly followed by my mind cooling down at an alarming rate.

What the hell am I doing? More importantly, didn’t Lili almost say “Blythe” just now? This might be really bad. No matter how I look at it, this isn’t Eremia or Eremi’s doing. It’s Blythe himself.

I gripped the hilt of my Gladius tightly, lost in thought.

After a brief pause, I lifted my gaze.

“Can we just pretend that never happened?”

“……”

Lili had her back turned to me, pressing her hand against her rear while still holding her longsword.

She gave me no response.

“Ah, um… sorry.”

Lili spun around.

Shame? Anger? Either way, her face was flushed bright red—redder than Oujin when he’s surrounded by women and looks like a boiled shrimp. And her eyes were brimming with tears, narrowing into a dangerous glare.

A chill ran down my spine.

“E-re-mi-a~……?”

“Ah. I am Eremia.”

I am not Blythe. I am not Eremi.

She’s furious. And not just a little.

But just as Lili opened her mouth to speak, the door to the chairman’s office swung open.

Seeing Lili clutching her rear, face still burning red, Kilpus first glanced at her, then at the girl who had just tried to kill him, and finally at me, standing with my Gladius drawn.

“So this is why it was so lively in here… Looks like you’ve finally found her, Neu.”

Lili quickly leaped forward, standing protectively in front of Kilpus.

“Your Majesty, please step back.”

Of course, she wasn’t protecting him from me.

She was protecting him from Riona.

But Riona—

She unfastened the belt at her waist and let her rapier drop to the floor. Then, she reached beneath her skirt and let her main-gauche fall along with her leg garter.

To further show her lack of resistance, she removed her uniform blazer.

Then, she deeply bowed her head.

“I’m sorry…”

Kilpus and Lili both looked utterly confused.

Seizing the moment, I turned to Lili and declared:

“See?! I told you from the start to listen to me! I personally brought her here. That should have been enough to tell you there was no danger! Do I really have that little trust?! Huh?! Besides, I even got Kilpus’s approval for this!”

“……”

Lili stood there, dumbfounded. Kilpus gave a nod.

Finally, my dear father seemed to grasp the situation.

“Hey, Kilpus! Why didn’t you at least give Lili a heads-up?! I nearly died because of that!”

“Leaking information increases the risk of failure. Do you really think I could risk General Ituka leaving my side to chase after you?”

“Ugh…”

If this had happened outside the dungeon, Lili, as a swordswoman, would have surely taken Riona down. But inside the dimly lit dungeon, it would have been a fairly even match. Still, I doubted Riona’s assassination techniques would have worked against Lili in her current state. Crossing blades with her for even a short time had solidified that belief.

As my disciple, she was becoming quite formidable. If anything, even Blythe in his prime might have struggled against her. I was proud.

Lili strode up to me and smacked my head.

“Ow! What was that for—”

“Eremia. Address His Majesty properly. And you should be calling me Instructor Ituka, shouldn’t you? …My apologies, Your Majesty. Neu is still just a ten-year-old child. Please forgive him.”

She pushed my head down, forcing me to bow along with her.

Damn it, there she goes acting like my mother again.

Kilpus looked bewildered.

“Huh? Ah. Oh, right. Still, Neu… what do you mean by calling me ‘Kilpus’?”

Did he almost just say “my son”?

“S-Sorry.”

“Eremia! Say ‘I apologize’ properly!”

Another smack to the head.

Ouch! Stop hitting me! You’re gonna make me stupid!

“Ugh… I apologize…”

At this point, does it even matter what I call him?!

Not that I can say this aloud, but Kilpus is both my friend and my father! And for that matter, Lili, you’re hitting me, the prince of this country and your own master, right now!

Her sword was already sheathed. It seemed she finally understood that Riona posed no threat.

Kilpus nodded once and gestured for only Riona and me to enter the chairman’s office. Lili quickly intervened.

“Your Majesty, it’s dangerous. I should go in as well—”

“No need. There’s no problem. Neu is an exceptional swordsman, even from the perspective of a former War Maiden like yourself. I’ll have him protect me.”

The detailed report of the battle with the homunculi had already reached Kilpus through Seneca via Lili.

Lili looked down at me, somewhat conflicted. Her expression was that of a mother again.

“That… may be true, but… he is still inexperienced—”

I cut her off.

And I made sure to say it with just a bit of malice.

“No need to worry, Instructor Ituka. I’m capable enough to spank your rear, at least. I just proved that, didn’t I?”

Kilpus placed a hand on his chin and let out a thoughtful “Oh?”

“You spanked the War Maiden’s rear? That’s quite something. Is that true, Instructor Ituka?”

Lili’s face turned red once more—this time a blend of rage and humiliation.

She whispered in an almost inaudible voice, filled with embarrassment.

“…I… was caught off guard… I succumbed to the moment’s force…”

“Hahaha! That’s hilarious!”

I had the distinct feeling I was being glared at.

I was too scared to meet her eyes, but I could feel a chill running down my back.

Of course, if we had faced each other head-on, I wouldn’t have stood a chance. The only reason I had kept up was because I predicted she’d bypass me and go straight for Riona. The only reason I managed to spank her was sheer willpower and momentum.

Hah, still too green, my dear disciple.

“…Just you wait, Eremia…”

“…Ugh.”

Shudder.

Looks like I’m in for a long lecture when I get back to my room tonight.

Well, whatever. If that’s all it costs to save another unfortunate girl unloved by the world…

Then it’s a price I’m more than willing to pay.