Fantasy Library, Ch 441-445

Chapter 441 – Are You a Problem Child?

Before anyone realized it, several days had passed.

In that time, Itogami Island remained as it had been—no major changes, no upheavals.

The artificial angel incident was no small matter, but unlike the last time, it hadn’t exploded into a public spectacle. Apart from the initial fierce battle in the skies above the island’s West District—where Kanon Kanase, leading two imitation angels, clashed and caused considerable damage—everything else had taken place on that uninhabited island owned by Magus Industries. Hardly anyone knew what had actually happened there.

As a result, once Kensei Kanase had been arrested and two members of Magus Industries had been personally crushed to death by Kaiser, the matter quickly died down.

In the aftermath, Magus Industries came under intense investigation by both Itogami Island and the Japanese mainland on charges of suspected illegal operations and human experimentation. The company’s crimes quickly came to light. Aldegyr publicly disclosed the full list of their offenses on the international stage, and the once moderately well-known, though failing, corporation collapsed entirely—vanishing from the global market without a trace.

La Folia, upon returning to Itogami, made a single public appearance to announce her safe return. Those who had known she was making an unofficial visit and had heard rumors of her misfortune breathed a sigh of relief.

The girls, led by Kanon Kanase, were each sent to hospitals for examination and treatment. As they were victims, the authorities chose not to press charges against them, even though their earlier battle in the West District had caused serious property damage.

As for Kaiser—he had vanished from the picture entirely. No one knew he had even left Itogami Island, much less that he had taken part in the incident.

Of course, that didn’t include the major international powers and organizations.

“Even the so-called angels couldn’t match him?”

“They were only incomplete artificial angels, but it still proves his power.”

“Higher-dimensional beings and forces can’t touch him. I’d say we should raise our assessment.”

“Keep watching. The true ancestors already have their eyes on him—once those three take action, we’ll see what happens.”

So murmured heads of state who had once sat at the table in the Garden of Whispers.

Even the Three Saints of the Lion King Agency discussed it when they received the report.

“Who would have thought Her Highness the Princess of Aldegyr would get caught up in an artificial angel case?”

“Unexpected indeed—and more surprising that he resolved it so easily.”

“In any case, our objective is met. We got him involved with Kanon Kanase and the Silver Princess, adding another bond that can help us guide his future actions.”

Yes—the “Lion King Matchmaking Service” was operating as intended.

Their thinking was simple: strengthen Kaiser’s interpersonal ties as much as possible.

This ancient pillar—suspected to have been created before the birth of the Devas, meant to command the mythic era’s beasts—had far too few personal attachments in this era. No parents, no siblings, no family at all. That was dangerous.

A man with the power to change, rule, or even destroy the world, yet with no one to care for? What he might do was anyone’s guess.

So, they needed a collar on him. If the hard way wouldn’t work, they’d use the soft way. Surround him with people he cared deeply about—people they could influence, or who would stand on their side or the side of the public. Those influences would eventually reach him as well.

The agency had already been doing this deliberately—why else place him in a school full of girls? Now they were simply being more thorough about it.

From that perspective, the Three Saints were more than happy to see Kaiser entangled with charming women, even lending a hand when the opportunity arose. La Folia, though not “one of theirs,” was actually more useful because of her position. Being a princess meant she couldn’t easily refuse diplomatic dialogue, trade, or cooperation.

In short, the Three Saints were playing a very large game of chess. And every move made the nickname “Lion King Matchmaking Service” that much more fitting.

…Not that Kaiser had any idea.

North District, Itogami Island – A general hospital

This district was full of research institutes and contained numerous general and affiliated hospitals run by major corporations, as well as many medical research facilities.

Most of the imitation angel girls altered by Kensei Kanase had been sent to such research facilities for treatment and examination—after all, they were the product of human experimentation.

Kanon Kanase, however, was not sent to any research lab. Instead, she was taken to a general hospital operated by a foreign enterprise.

This hospital was, in fact, run by a company under the Aldegyr royal family. While called a “hospital,” it primarily specialized in studying demonkind to develop new magic technology. Officially it was not labeled a research institute because its main role was to collect data and biological samples from demon patients, then send them to dedicated research facilities.

Kanon was admitted here, and that same day, many of Aldegyr’s own elite medical personnel arrived.

The reason was simple—royal daughters of Aldegyr were all natural spirit mediums, attracting all kinds of unsavory attention. And now, Kanon had just been caught up in a human modification case. Whether or not others trusted the Demon District, La Folia certainly wasn’t about to let strangers prod and test the aunt she had finally found.

So, after Kanon was hospitalized, La Folia stayed on Itogami for the time being, brushing off questions about her reasons.

At least for now, she had no intention of revealing Kanon’s royal blood to the public. That would only invite trouble.

Some sharp-eyed individuals would figure it out, but keeping it from the masses was enough.

For example—right now, a self-proclaimed “ordinary citizen” strolled right into the hospital, acting like a regular visitor, despite the place being firmly under the quiet control of Aldegyr’s Holy Ring Knights.

“I didn’t even know this hospital existed.”

Holding a bouquet of flowers, Nagisa Akatsuki looked around with open curiosity, chattering away as she walked under the watchful eyes of “medical staff” who were anything but ordinary.

“There are so many hospitals and research facilities in the North District. How could you know them all?”

Kaiser walked beside her, glancing at the surroundings without drawing attention.

“That’s true. I mean, I was hospitalized a lot before, but it was always at one of the hospitals affiliated with the company where Deep Forest Mama works. I never stayed anywhere else.”

Her cheerful tone belied the weight of the subject.

Four years ago on Gozo Island, after being possessed by the First Primogenitor’s fragment, Nagisa’s health had deteriorated sharply. Until recently, she had been practically living in hospitals. Only after the Feast of Flames did her condition improve enough to leave, join clubs, and live more normally.

Hearing her speak so lightly about her past, you’d never guess how much time she’d spent in a hospital bed.

“Speaking of which, how did Kanon suddenly end up hospitalized? They say it’s due to some family trouble… What kind of trouble? A gas explosion? Food poisoning? D-Don’t tell me it was… a ghost?”

Her voice turned timid at the end.

“You’re a spirit medium, and you’re afraid of ghosts?” Kaiser asked, half-amused.

“I’m not a spirit medium anymore!” she puffed her cheeks. “Besides, even spirit mediums can be afraid of ghosts! I’m sure lots of them are!”

Uh-huh. That’s how most people justify it to themselves.

Still, this was a good opening.

“Whatever family trouble Kanon’s dealing with, it’s best we don’t pry. No point poking at someone’s scars, right?”

“I know how to mind my own business!” Nagisa huffed. “You think I’m a big mouth and you’re just warning me so I don’t blab, huh?”

“…Of course not.”

“Look me in the eye and say that, Kai-kun.”

“… …”

“Aha! You looked away! Too mean!”

They bickered all the way down the hall.

Though it was a hospital, no one told them to keep quiet. This was the top floor’s private ward—only one room, only one patient. Other than running into the “medical staff,” they saw no one else.

Finally, they stopped in front of Kanon’s room.

“Excuse us.”

Kaiser stepped in first, holding the door for Nagisa.

Inside was a bright, spacious, warmly decorated room, free of any antiseptic smell. It looked more like a luxurious bedroom than a hospital ward.

“Ah…”

In the center, a silver-haired girl in a hospital gown sat on a snow-white bed. Seeing them, her face lit with a shy, happy smile.

“Kai-senpai… and Nagisa. What brings you here?”

Kanon Kanase had woken up—and looked to be recovering well. Her complexion was healthy, though she carried a fragile, delicate air that made her all the more endearing.

“Welcome. You’re here to see Kanon, right?”

Standing at her bedside, smiling as if she belonged there, was none other than La Folia.

“So you’re here too?” Kaiser raised a brow.

“Shouldn’t I be?” La Folia said sweetly. “My family is hospitalized. As her only blood relative on this island, of course I’m here to watch over her.”

She said it openly, in front of Kanon, who only looked a little embarrassed.

Clearly, La Folia had told her everything—and Kanon had accepted it. Understandable. The two looked so alike it was proof enough.

For a girl who had grown up alone, learning she had family left in the world must have been a joy.

…But some outsiders still had no clue.

“Hey, Kai-kun, what’s going on here?”

Nagisa gawked between the two silver-haired beauties, then tugged on Kaiser’s sleeve, eyes sparkling.

“Who is she? She looks just like Kanon! She’s a foreigner, right? So pretty! She’s like a real princess!”

Not like—is.

“You’re adorable too, Nagisa,” La Folia said warmly, turning her gaze on the girl. “Like a sleeping beauty who hasn’t woken yet.”

Kaiser was the only one who caught the double meaning. Nagisa, having forgotten her “sleeping beauty” situation entirely, just waved her hands.

“No way I could compare to you two.” She shook her head eagerly. “So, are you Kanon’s sister or something? Or maybe her mo—mmph!”

Her stream of questions was abruptly cut off when Kaiser covered her mouth.

“Are you a problem child? That’s way too many questions!”

Nagisa squirmed in his grip, muffled protests spilling out.

Watching their easy closeness, Kanon’s eyes showed a hint of envy.

La Folia, on the other hand, only looked more intrigued.

“The Beast King and the Fourth Primogenitor… The more I see, the more interesting you two become.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 442 – Like I’d Believe That

The playful banter wrapped up quickly, and naturally, it was time for the more proper “visiting the patient” part.

The moment Nagisa Akatsuki handed over the bouquet and began chattering endlessly with Kanon Kanase, the girl’s serene, gentle smile never left her face. It wasn’t a lively or dazzling smile, but it bloomed like an icy flower—so beautiful it made even Kaiser momentarily lose focus.

“I say, Kaiser, could you please not stare at my aunt with such a lecherous look?” La Folia, for once, voiced her dissatisfaction in rather blunt terms. “Don’t tell me you’re into the ‘younger aunt’ type?”

“Who said that?” Kaiser blinked, coming back to his senses. Without thinking, he replied, “I like the well-endowed type.”

It was only after the words left his mouth that he realized he might’ve revealed a little too much.

Not that La Folia seemed entirely convinced.

“If that’s the case, why don’t you ever look at me with such fascination?” she asked petulantly. “I’d say I count as well-endowed and curvy, wouldn’t you?”

As she spoke, she subtly lifted her chest, and Kaiser’s gaze inevitably shifted downward.

And he had to admit—this woman was indeed exceptionally well-proportioned. You’d never guess she was only seventeen. Among the girls he knew in the same age bracket, only a few—Claudia, Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, Kuroka—could compare.

As for Kirin Toudou… well, give her a few more years and she might match them too.

And with La Folia’s face being essentially a mature version of Kanon’s, she was, objectively speaking, perfectly within Kaiser’s strike zone.

Still…

“Knowing you’re rotten black inside from the core, my heart just refuses to budge,” Kaiser said flatly.

A scheming princess? The very thought was exhausting. On the other hand, the pure, untainted little saint’s occasional flashes of gentle divinity—that was the real killer move.

Naturally, Kaiser’s jab didn’t just deepen La Folia’s dissatisfaction—it earned him a swift counterattack.

“But when I’m naked, you seem pretty fascinated,” she said with a smile that was anything but innocent.

The remark made Kaiser’s mouth twitch—and also drew the attention of a certain sharp-eared girl.

“What’s so fascinating? The scenery? Oh, the view here is really nice!” Nagisa said brightly, completely missing the point.

“…The scenery is nice, yeah,” Kaiser replied vaguely, trying to steer the conversation away.

“And which scenery do you mean, oh great Beast King?” La Folia pressed, her tone dripping with implication.

“Cut the crap.” Kaiser shot her a glare. “Kanon’s health isn’t an issue, is it?”

“Fortunately, no. She’s been thoroughly checked, and all her readings are perfectly normal,” La Folia replied, clearly aware he was changing the subject but letting him. “I’m guessing it’s because you removed both the backlash and the side effects? Or did you secretly treat her beforehand?”

“As long as she’s fine, that’s all that matters,” Kaiser said, ignoring her question. “So she’ll be discharged soon?”

“Yes. One more day for observation, and she can leave the day after tomorrow.” La Folia sighed. “But there’s another problem, and it’s a tricky one.”

Kaiser already knew what it was.

“She doesn’t want to go back with you, right?”

La Folia paused. “…You already knew?”

“Guessed,” Kaiser said, folding his arms. “I haven’t known her for long, but I think I understand her enough to know she wouldn’t want a royal life, even if she longs for family.”

Though hailed as the ‘Saint of the Middle School Division,’ Kanon Kanase’s life was simple.

Before being adopted by Kensei Kanase, she was just an orphan in a convent, used to a life of poverty. Afterward, she was the kind of kindhearted girl who’d take in abandoned kittens, nurse them back to health, and keep them hidden in the back hills.

Not yet fifteen, when most kids her age still begged their moms to cook for them, she was raising over a dozen kittens all by herself. A girl like that had no interest in royal palaces.

And since in the original story she made that exact choice, Kaiser was certain La Folia’s “problem” was that Kanon wouldn’t return to Aldegyr.

“Yeah… I didn’t expect it either.” La Folia gave a helpless smile. “I thought this trip would just be a simple family reunion. Instead, we got wrapped up in another incident—and now she won’t leave. Feels like I came here for nothing.”

“What’s your family say? You must have reported it.”

“Of course.” She nodded. “My father strongly disagrees. My mother thinks we should respect Kanon’s wishes. My grandfather—well, his opinion doesn’t matter. My grandmother’s disappointed, though. She was looking forward to meeting Kanon and asked me to try persuading her again.”

“Your grandmother?” Kaiser raised a brow. “She actually wants to meet her husband’s illegitimate daughter?”

Yeah, right.

If she were really that forgiving, would the former king have had to abdicate and flee?

“Kanon’s mother was actually my grandmother’s friend,” La Folia explained. “They were very close. So while she blames my grandfather, she doesn’t resent Kanon or her mother. She’s been worried about her ever since learning of her situation.”

…Huh. That was new.

“So what now? You’re not going to force her, are you?”

“Of course not. We want to respect her choice,” La Folia said with a wry smile. “But Kensei’s been arrested. Kanon’s alone again. She says she can manage, but whether officially or personally, we can’t let that happen.”

Officially—she was a princess of Aldegyr, with an exceptional spiritual medium physique. That made her a target for all kinds of shady figures. Privately—she was family. None of them were comfortable leaving a girl under fifteen to live alone overseas.

“Unless there’s someone trustworthy to act as her guardian, we can’t leave her here,” La Folia concluded.

By now, she was smiling at him sweetly.

Oh, for—this woman’s been acting the whole time.

“…You mean me, don’t you?” Kaiser’s eye twitched.

“Isn’t it perfect?” she said brightly. “If the so-called Beast King is nearby to protect her, she’ll be perfectly safe.”

“I think whoever came up with that idea is an idiot,” Kaiser said bluntly. “I’m a high school boy. She’s a junior high girl—a pretty one, at that. Living together? You call that safe? By the time she’s your age, she could be bringing two kids back to Aldegyr!”

To his surprise, La Folia didn’t bristle—she just smiled even wider.

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing? For Aldegyr, having the Beast King’s children would be a win-win. Our royal line’s thinning out—two kids in three years would be wonderful. My mother and grandmother wouldn’t object. My father… well, you could probably handle his axe, right?”

…So the doting father would try to chop me up for messing with his little sister? And you say it so casually?

“You’re not serious, are you?”

“Half and half,” she said with a shrug. “After what happened with the artificial angels, my family isn’t thrilled about us staying here. But Kanon’s wishes matter, and my escort knights suffered heavy losses. The airship’s basically scrap. Unless the local government offers extra security, I could be attacked on the way back.

“So, the royal family’s letting me stay here for now. In a while, they’ll send someone to fetch me—and probably talk to Kanon then.”

That was unexpected… yet also logical.

In the original timeline, Natsuki Minamiya became Kanon’s guardian, so Aldegyr had no need to send anyone important. But this time, Natsuki had barely been involved. La Folia, not trusting strangers to touch Kanon, had placed her in an Aldegyr-run hospital. With no reason for Natsuki to get involved, Aldegyr had to send someone significant.

“…When you say ‘family,’ you don’t mean your father, do you?” Kaiser asked warily.

“I don’t know,” she said innocently. “Probably not. A king’s busy, after all!”

Yeah, sure.

The look on her face screamed something’s up. She was way too amused for this to be nothing.

“…What exactly did you tell your father?” Kaiser asked slowly.

“Oh, nothing much. Just the truth,” La Folia said cheerfully. “Like how we first met when I was completely naked, and how Kanon’s artificial angel and Spirit Rank Evolution spells were broken—oh, and how she was also naked when you brought her back. You know, just little details like that.”

I’m screwed.

Kaiser could almost see a sharp axe swinging toward his head.

“…And what did your father say?”

“He told me to give you a message.”

“What message?”

“‘You little punk, just you wait.’ That’s all.”

I’m double-screwed.

Now he could picture the entire Aldegyr military standing at his door.

“…If I kill someone while defending myself, will it be a problem?” he asked dryly.

La Folia’s smile faltered. “…Then I’d really have to make sure to give you two kids within three years—so I could bring them along when I plead guilty as an unfilial daughter.”

Kaiser could only stare at the ceiling, speechless.

And so, just like that, he somehow became the potential enemy of Aldegyr—or rather, its king.

Meanwhile, La Folia happily moved in with Kanon after her discharge—at his house.

Officially: “temporary lodging.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 443 – Raising a Weapon’s Rank

Because La Folia and Kanon Kanase had moved in, Kaiser ultimately gave up his own bedroom for the two girls, who looked more like sisters than anything else.

There was no helping it—there were only three rooms in total. Other than Kaiser’s bedroom, the other two had already been converted into a cat room and a computer room. Letting the two girls stay in either of those would’ve been… less than ideal.

Kanon had said she was fine sharing with the cats, but there was no way Kaiser was going to let the junior high saint live in the cat room.

So, he surrendered his bedroom, bought a bed to stick in the computer room, and moved in there himself for the time being.

Of course, Kaiser wasn’t about to let La Folia and Kanon stay for free.

“Letting you stay for a while isn’t out of the question—but there has to be proper compensation,” Kaiser said.

What he wanted in return was knowledge of Aldegyr’s Völundr System and Forged Holy Sword.

It was a tactical support system that could temporarily raise a weapon’s spirit rank by infusing it with massive amounts of mana—strong enough to elevate even an ordinary weapon to holy sword level. Kaiser was more than a little interested.

If he could learn it and improve upon it, then in a pinch he could pour mana into his own personal weapons and drastically boost their power.

Since Kaiser’s greatest reliance was his vast arsenal, a technique that could effectively raise a weapon’s rank and class was extremely appealing to him.

That was why he didn’t refuse their stay outright—and instead made such a request.

“…The Völundr System and Forged Holy Sword are the newest knightly equipment developed by Aldegyr—our most advanced and most powerful magic technology. And you want that just for letting us crash at your place for a while?” La Folia’s gaze carried just the right mix of reproach to make even Kaiser feel a little sheepish.

It was true—asking for national-level classified tech in exchange for letting them use a bedroom was… excessive.

But Kaiser also knew that if La Folia simply needed a place to stay, she could find one without trouble. The fact that she, a princess, chose to crowd into his apartment meant she valued him for some reason—whether for political gain, recruiting him, or simply to have him nearby for protection.

And considering how curious she seemed about him, Kaiser knew exactly what was going on.

With that in mind, his conscience stayed clear.

“You don’t have to give me every detail—just the method for raising a weapon’s spirit rank. If you feel that’s unfair, I can share some technology you might find useful,” he said.

He then revealed part of his knowledge on artificial divine weapon crafting, which genuinely surprised La Folia.

“So you’ve been hiding this level of tech? You really are a treasure trove,” she said, clearly intrigued.

While the data he gave wasn’t overly complex, the concepts and techniques were fresh to Aldegyr—enough to potentially improve several types of magic-tech equipment and generate significant profits.

With that in mind, La Folia readily agreed, explaining in detail the principles and applications of the Völundr System and Forged Holy Sword.

Afterward, she added, “Basically, unless you’re a daughter of the royal family, you need a spirit furnace to channel massive mana into the weapon. But you… I doubt that’s a problem.”

Her instincts were sharp—she’d already sensed the sheer immensity of Kaiser’s mana.

It was a power surpassing even that of a God-Slayer by a hundredfold, and God-Slayers themselves were hundreds of times stronger than ordinary mages or sorcerers. In other words, Kaiser’s spiritual power was tens of thousands of times greater than normal.

The mana of the Fourth Primogenitor was said to rival the dragon lines flowing through the earth—the vast ley lines themselves. And Kaiser’s magic wasn’t a whit weaker; if anything, it might be greater.

Which meant that even without borrowing power from spirits or a spirit furnace, he could meet the system’s requirements with his own mana alone.

Still…

“I only want the technique for boosting a weapon’s rank—not turning it into a holy sword,” Kaiser said.

Aldegyr’s Völundr System was paired with the Forged Holy Sword technique to raise their knights’ weapons to holy sword level—granting them powerful weapons effective against demons, invaluable in their long wars with the Warlord’s Domain.

But Kaiser didn’t need that. If he wanted anti-demon capability, he could just pull out the True Longinus—holier and sharper than any legendary holy sword. A clean hit would drop even a Primogenitor on the spot.

What he needed was a pure rank-boosting method, which would be far more useful for someone with as many weapons as he did.

To master it, Kaiser inscribed the Forged Holy Sword spell formula into his spellbook—then began working with the Hōgyoku.

The Hōgyoku could absorb and manifest the will in its surroundings, shaping reality to match the heart’s desire—so long as the wielder had the power to realize it.

Kaiser had systematically studied Kidō, understood magical theory from both divine weapon crafting and various other systems, and possessed the Dragon Head Jewel that boosted charm and luck, along with the spellbook from the god Ea, patron of wisdom and magic.

With all that, plus the Völundr System and Forged Holy Sword techniques, how could he not distill a pure weapon-rank enhancement spell?

The Hōgyoku simply sped up the process.

As a result, on the very day Kanon was discharged and moved in with La Folia, Kaiser succeeded in creating the technique.

To keep things simple, he still called it the Völundr System, but instead of producing forged holy swords, it purely boosted a weapon’s rank.

He inscribed it into the spellbook, enhancing its potency and removing the restriction to mana—it could now be powered by any kind of energy.

Testing it brought satisfying results:

Orga Lux Weapons: up to double their power.

Longinus-type Sacred Gears: up to 30% increase.

Zanpakutō: up to 50% increase.

Divine Weapons: 40–70% increase depending on the item.

Weapons like the Ruyi Jingu Bang, Aymur & Yagrush, and the Trident could all gain over 50% more power. The Gungnir, Golden Sword, and Divine Sword of Salvation—likely due to their higher rank—maxed at 40%. The Ame no Murakumo was right at 50%.

The Type-100 Heavy-Weapon Demon-Slaying Blade “Silver Radiance Qilin” he’d obtained in this world was like a Orga Lux—able to double its power.

“Shame it only works on combat weapons,” Kaiser noted.

Support-type gear like the Hōgyoku, Circle of Usurpation, Gorgon Stone, SpellBook, and the Bamboo Cutter set saw no benefit, nor could it be applied to biological weapons like Leviathan.

Still, as long as it was a weapon—even Longinus-type Sacred Gears like the Red Dragon Emperor’s Gauntlet or White Dragon Emperor’s Light Wings—it could be enhanced.

“Must be a conceptual technique—that would explain the rules,” Kaiser mused.

He wasn’t disappointed; boosting weapon power alone was enough.

With the Völundr System in his arsenal, his strength had taken another significant leap—though at this point, there wasn’t anyone in this world worth going all-out against anyway.

“Still, a decent gain,” he said, satisfied.

That night, in Room 705, a small celebration was underway.

“I don’t know why Kanon and her family are living at your place, Kai-kun—but who cares! She’s out of the hospital, so we’re celebrating!” Nagisa Akatsuki declared, having shown up as if led by her nose, and single-handedly prepared a lavish spread to mark Kanon’s discharge.

“…Why am I here again?” Kojou Akatsuki grumbled, clearly dragged over by his sister. But if he didn’t come, he’d probably go hungry—so despite his sulking, he came. And the moment he saw La Folia, he froze.

“S-So pretty…” he muttered without thinking—only to get smacked by Nagisa on the spot.

“Don’t ogle Kanon-chan’s family, Kojou-kun. If you embarrass the Akatsuki name, I’ll make sure everyone at Saikai Academy laughs you out of the building!”

Given her infamous big mouth, the threat carried weight—and Kojou immediately went ramrod straight, focusing solely on his food, not daring even a stray glance.

What he didn’t know was that the moment he’d entered Kaiser’s apartment, the Holy Ring Knights guarding La Folia and Kanon had run a complete background check on him—including the type of “hobby magazines” he kept. Had he actually offended the princess, he’d be famous across Saikai Academy—and all of Itogami Island—by tomorrow.

So Nagisa’s warning had, ironically, saved him.

The little party went on until past midnight, finally winding down when the Akatsuki siblings left and the lively mood faded.

Kaiser set his cats to cleaning up, while La Folia and Kanon went to bathe.

“…How am I supposed to have any privacy like this?” Kaiser muttered in the living room, feeling that familiar prickle of being watched.

It wasn’t an enemy—it was the Holy Ring Knights, either hidden inside the apartment or in nearby buildings, keeping constant watch. It was understandable—they were protecting two princesses—but it was still irritating.

If he hadn’t already struck a deal with La Folia and collected payment, he’d have complained by now.

“Forget it. Out of sight, out of mind.”

He left the living room, returning to the computer room where his bed was set up, and lay down to sleep.

The windows were shut, so no one could spy from outside. Feeling secure, Kaiser was just about to close his eyes when a soft, hesitant knock sounded at the door.

“Who?” he called warily.

Could it be that scheming princess up to something again?

But then, an unexpected voice answered.

“It’s me—Kanon.” Her gentle, shy tone came through the door. “Senpai… are you asleep?”

“Kanon?” Kaiser blinked. “Come in—it’s not locked.”

The door opened quietly, revealing a silver-haired figure.

“Sorry to bother you, Senpai,” Kanon said with a polite bow.

She’d changed out of her uniform into a knee-length nightdress of soft blue fabric, matching the icy blue of her eyes. A faint mist still clung to her skin, and her hair was damp—clear signs she’d just stepped out of the bath.

Looking at her, Kaiser frowned slightly.

…What’s this girl up to?

Chapter 444 – You Deserve to Be Saved

Since he’d been about to go to sleep, the lights in the room were already off, and with the window shut, the entire space was shrouded in darkness.

Even so, Kanon Kanase’s silver hair still gleamed like moonlight flickering in the night sky—soft and radiant.

Her glacial-blue eyes were even more striking in the dark, like flawless sapphires.

Looking at her, Kaiser couldn’t help but marvel again: the royal bloodline of the Aldegyr Kingdom really was on another level. Whether it was Kanon or La Folia, both were beautiful enough to be called living goddesses—breathtaking in a way that stirred genuine awe.

Kaiser was hardly a stranger to beauty. He’d met actual goddesses before—Athena herself, the former queen who once ruled the entire Mediterranean, sky, land, and sea, was still residing inside him. Luo Hao’s beauty was no less than a goddess’s, and he had even slain Princess Kaguya, famed for her peerless looks. Yet, even compared to such divine beings, Kanon and La Folia were in no way inferior. They were miracles in human form.

And as someone who had once lived in the real world, Kaiser didn’t have much resistance to this kind of beauty that had previously existed only in fiction. Seeing the shy and lovely Kanon instantly lightened his mood. Without thinking, he said:

“Come on in.”

At his invitation, Kanon stepped inside.

“Sorry for disturbing you so late.”

As she spoke, she gave her habitual bow of apology, gently closed the door behind her, then walked over and sat down—right on the edge of his bed, next to him.

Kaiser was momentarily at a loss for words.

He wanted to ask: Why close the door?

He wanted to ask: Why not turn on the light?

Most of all, he wanted to ask: Why sit on my bed when there’s a perfectly good chair right there?

In the end, he swallowed all of it. He trusted that Kanon wasn’t doing this on purpose—she probably hadn’t even realized.

If it had been La Folia, though, he’d already be on guard. That princess would definitely be doing it on purpose.

“Something on your mind?” Kaiser asked gently, his tone almost like he was reassuring her. “Something you needed to say to me?”

“Yes.” Kanon still seemed a little self-conscious, but she didn’t shy away from his question. She nodded, looking him squarely in the eyes. “I never had the chance before, so… I wanted to thank you now.”

Thank him?

For what?

The answer wasn’t exactly hard to guess.

“You mean the matter with the imitation-angel?” Kaiser smiled. “You still remember what happened when you were one?”

Angels were beings without will or consciousness. An incomplete imitation—a pseudo-angel—might retain scraps of awareness, but with a thought-restricting device in place, the chance of remembering was slim.

According to Natsuki Minamiya, most girls who had been turned into pseudo-angels lost all memory of that time upon waking. They didn’t remember the modifications done to them, nor that they had become pseudo-angels.

By all logic, Kanon should’ve been the same. But she was different from ordinary pseudo-angels to begin with, so exceptions were possible.

Sure enough…

“Not all of it,” Kanon admitted, her voice low, “but I still remember fighting you… and you saving me.”

Her tone trembled slightly, as if recalling the memory made her shiver.

Kaiser frowned at first, then understood. During their fight, she had gone out of control, drawing so much higher-dimensional divine energy that her body had nearly collapsed—melting apart on the spot. That experience was nothing short of nightmarish.

Forget watching your own body disintegrate—just the pain in that moment would leave anyone shaken if they remembered it.

So he reached out and gently patted her head.

“Ah…”

Kanon blinked in surprise, looking up at him with a mixture of shock and embarrassment in her glacier-blue eyes.

Kaiser, as if not noticing her reaction, continued to ruffle her hair, channeling a trace of the sacred power from the Buddha’s Stone Bowl within him into her.

The Stone Bowl, a symbol of purity and transcendence, could repel evil and purify not only the body, but also the mind and heart—calming the spirit.

Under its influence, the surprise and shyness in Kanon’s gaze slowly melted into peace and contentment. Her eyes grew softer, tinged with a faint dependence.

“It’s all in the past now,” Kaiser said at last. “Whether it’s the kittens or you, you’ve all found a place to belong.”

“Those painful days, that feeling of being abandoned—let it all fade away.”

“What you should do now isn’t dwell on the pain, but look forward to the future. Understand?”

His voice wasn’t exactly gentle, yet it gave Kanon the strange feeling of being a little girl again—like hearing her late mother comfort her. It made her feel… saved.

“Senpai, you always help me when I need it,” she murmured. “Whether it was when I didn’t know how to save the kitten in the tree, when it suddenly went missing, or when I was struggling to find those children a home… you were there for me.”

“And this time, too. When I was in the most pain, you saved me again.”

“Why?” she asked—maybe to him, maybe to herself. “Why would someone as good as you save someone like me?”

She was still the same as before—prone to self-doubt afterward.

But this time, Kaiser simply said:

“You’re a princess of the Aldegyr Kingdom, La Folia’s aunt—a real princess. And from ancient times to now, whenever a princess is in trouble, someone will always appear to save her, won’t they?”

Kanon’s head snapped up, eyes wide.

“So… Senpai, you’re the one meant to save me? My prince? My knight?” she asked dreamily, as if lost in a fantasy.

“I’m not that noble or selfless,” Kaiser chuckled, shaking his head. “I saved you because I felt you deserved to be saved—and because you needed saving. That’s all.”

A prince? A knight? Kaiser was hardly such a shining figure.

In the Asterisk War world, he was a Genestella—a fighter—a glorified showpiece for the Festas, shunned by ordinary people.

In the High School DxD world, he’d been part of a terrorist group—the Khaos Brigade—a bona fide villain.

In the Bleach world, he was an executioner for the decaying Soul Society, cutting down Hollows and sending souls on.

In the Campione world, he was a devil, a demon lord, a god-slayer—a beast with nothing in common with knights.

From the moment he began traveling worlds, he had never been a purely righteous man. To many, he was an outsider, even a villain.

He wasn’t like those main characters with saintly hearts who saved everyone and the world without question.

The only reason he’d cared about Kanon was because of the way she’d looked that day—standing under a tree, eyes full of concern for the kitten above, pure and gentle like a saint. It had struck him deeply.

Coupled with his knowledge of her from the original story—her history and circumstances—it was natural he’d feel a touch of pity. That was what led him to the deserted island to save her.

Rescuing La Folia afterward had been more of a bonus.

Besides…

“Didn’t you call for help?” Kaiser asked, referring to the moment when, as a pseudo-angel, she had hovered briefly above his apartment.

“Once you’ve sent me a signal like that, how could I just ignore it?”

Those words—lighthearted as they were—hit Kanon hard.

Overcome, she threw her arms around him.

“Thank you… so much, Senpai.”

Eyes closed, she leaned into his chest, her voice soft and heartbreakingly sweet.

Almost automatically, Kaiser hugged her back—then froze.

That feeling…

“…Wait, don’t tell me—you’re not wearing anything under that?”

“Huh?” Kanon blinked up at him in confusion, clearly not understanding.

“…No, never mind.” He gave a sheepish laugh, thought about saying more, then decided against it.

If it had been La Folia, she’d have done it on purpose, no question.

But since it was Kanon… well, he could let it slide.

She had just gotten out of the bath, after all.

That was enough to convince him.

Chapter 445 – How Could She Possibly Not Show Up?

Kaiser kept his silence, tacitly playing along, and Kanon never noticed anything amiss about herself. Instead, she stayed nestled against him, chatting quietly.

The girl spoke of her childhood in the convent, of her time after being adopted by Kensei Kanase, and of the shock she’d felt upon learning the truth of her lineage. It was as if she wanted to confide everything in one go. She wasn’t as chirpy as Nagisa Akatsuki, but even so, she was uncharacteristically talkative.

Kaiser knew she just needed someone to listen, so he didn’t show any impatience, letting her speak her mind.

Of course, the process was… trying. The way this defenseless girl rested against him, the faint fragrance that lingered in the air, the warmth and softness of her body—everything was a constant test of a man’s self-control. He nearly lost to the demon in his heart more than once.

If not for Kanon’s sheer innocence, her untainted purity that brought a wave of guilt the moment any indecent thought crossed his mind, Kaiser—given his increasingly unrestrained nature—would have long since given in to temptation.

“What a sin…” Kaiser could only lament inwardly, suppressing the urge and keeping her company.

Somewhere along the way, Kanon simply… fell asleep.

“...Haa…”

Still curled up against him, her eyes closed, her breath light and sweet—she was out cold.

“…Talk about having no guard at all.” Kaiser muttered.

And then, a soft laugh broke the quiet.

“This just means she trusts you. Honestly, I’m a little jealous.”

The voice came from the only other person still in the apartment.

There she was—dressed in equally elegant sleepwear, La Folia had at some point opened Kaiser’s door, standing there with a knowing smile.

Unlike Kanon’s modest pajamas, La Folia’s were thin and silky, obviously of the finest and most expensive make… and far too provocative. Her bare arms, slender neck, smooth collarbone, thighs, and even the deep valley of her cleavage were all left entirely exposed to the cool air.

“You’ve been eavesdropping this whole time, haven’t you?” Kaiser narrowed his eyes at her.

“I couldn’t help it. Kanon and I bathed together, came out together, and we share a room. She was gone so long, I had to check. I’m not quite ready to be the ‘older sister’ to my younger aunt, so I keep an eye on her.” La Folia spoke with perfect composure. “Of course, if you’d taken proper precautions, I would’ve pretended not to see.”

“So don’t act like I interrupted your fun, okay?”

Kaiser rolled his eyes hard enough to strain something.

“You’re a princess—one they call the reincarnation of the beauty goddess Freya. Could you try to show a little restraint instead of driving straight into the gutter every other sentence?”

“Driving?” She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean?”

She clearly wasn’t faking it this time; the reference went straight over her head.

“Never mind. Doesn’t matter.” Kaiser carefully lifted Kanon from his lap. “I’m taking her back to her room.”

He stepped into the hall, heading toward the bedroom the two girls shared.

La Folia followed with a teasing smile.

“I can understand how she feels. Every princess has a prince or a knight in her heart.”

That told Kaiser she’d been listening for quite some time.

“Too bad I’m not one of them. I’m the Beast King, ruler of all manner of mythical creatures.”

“But in her heart, you’re more a prince or a knight than anyone else. From the moment you rescued her—or rather, from the moment you got her cat out of that tree—you already held that place.” La Folia’s tone was confident.

Kaiser gave her a sidelong glance. “You think you know her that well?”

“She’s not hard to read, is she?” she countered.

Kaiser didn’t answer, simply laid Kanon gently on her bed.

“She’s your responsibility now,” he said at the door. “Get some rest.”

La Folia nodded, smiling as she watched him leave.

Just as he was about to close the door, she spoke again.

“When you wear that white armor, you look more like the prince and knight we princesses dream of than anyone else.”

Kaiser’s hand paused for only a moment before he shut the door without comment.

A few minutes later, he heard rustling inside, likely La Folia settling into bed.

“I’ve no interest in being anyone’s prince or knight…” he murmured, before heading back to his own room.

The air was still scented from the recent presence of two Aldegyr princesses—like soap, shampoo… and perhaps a hint of their natural fragrance.

As he climbed back into bed, the lingering trace of Kanon’s scent in the covers made him chuckle wryly.

“Anyone walking in would think a girl was just here.”

Good thing no one at Saikai Academy knew. If they found out the Saint of the Middle School division lived under the same roof as him—accompanied by a world-famous princess—he’d be shot dead by a barrage of envious stares on the spot.

Knock, knock, knock…

A light tapping at the window drew a frown.

“Seriously? How lively can one night get?”

Still grumbling, Kaiser got up and opened the window—

“…You weren’t doing anything weird, were you?”

Backed by the dark night and carrying her black music case, a girl in a local school uniform stared at him warily.

“Didn’t see anything weird. I did see someone weird, though.”

Sayaka Kirasaka's brows shot up. “Who are you calling weird? There’s nothing stranger in this world than men, you know!”

“I’d say you’re on the strange side even for women, pervert-girl.” Kaiser wasn’t in the mood to spar with her. “Say what you came to say and let me sleep.”

She opened her mouth, but stopped short when he quietly pulled out a coil of rope.

“…Ahem. Anyway, I’m not here because I want to be. The Lion King Agency asked me to tell you something.”

“Yes, yes, thank you for your tsundere announcement,” Kaiser said, his tone far less patient than when speaking with Kanon. “Spit it out and go.”

“Ugh… Fine. The higher-ups want to remind you—your main surveillance and protection target is still Nagisa Akatsuki. Don’t forget that. As for Princess La Folia and Kanon Kanase, HQ’s decided to send a new watcher and caretaker for them.”

Kaiser raised an eyebrow. “A new watcher and caretaker? Who?”

“No idea. Didn’t ask. Don’t care,” she rattled off, then added with a huff, “I just told them to hurry up and send someone before you can’t control yourself and make a move on Princess La Folia. That’d be a full-blown diplomatic incident.”

…This woman really was asking for it.

Still, the fact the Agency was sending someone new made him wonder—

“Don’t tell me… it’s Himeragi?”

He hadn’t spoken loudly, more to himself than to her.

But the keyword in that mutter instantly tripped some kind of radar in the pervert-girl.

“It’s not Yukina!” she barked. “By my count, she’s still got 105 days of training left at the Sanctuary of the High God Forest before she graduates, so there’s no way it’s her!”

“…You’ve been counting?” Kaiser’s mouth twitched.

“Of course. I’ve been looking forward to working with her,” she said proudly, puffing out her chest. “So give it up. It’s not going to be her.”

She gave a sharp huff, turned on her heel, and strode off, leaving him with a long-legged silhouette.

Kaiser chuckled. “Not possible… huh?”

He thought the opposite.

He had a feeling the one being sent over would indeed be that unforgettable underclassman—because she was the heroine of this world, the undisputed main heroine.

And someone that important… there’s no way she wouldn’t make an appearance.

“I can’t wait to see your face when that day comes, pervert-girl.”

In a strangely good mood, Kaiser whistled as he shut the window, blocking out the moonlight and returning to his dimly lit room.

(End of Chapter)