Chapter 18: Sherry-sensei's Verbal Prowess

"Nu. Have you made any progress with the Reaper Squad member that Lord Shadow captured? Has he said anything?" Asked Alpha.

"I was unable to extract much useful information out of him. The Reaper Squad seem to intentionally withhold sensitive information from their lower ranked members and even if they know anything, they won't say anything even under a pain of death. That's how much they feared their leader. However…."

"However?"

"He seems to accuse us of stealing something from them."

"What is it?"

"He only referred to it as their lord's belonging."

"Hm… So he's going after the Artifacts we took from his tombs. Took him long enough. Continue the interrogation. Make sure you get him to spill all of Necromancer's secrets."

"Yes, Lady Alpha!" Confirming her orders, Nu opened the door to the interrogation room where the prisoner is bound to a chair…. Only to find him already zombified.

"Graaahhhh!" Roared the zombie as it tried to break free from its bonds to bite them.

"It seems we're too late." Muttered Alpha.

"Yes. It would seem so." Replied Nu.

"Dispose of him."

"Yes."

It is time for the Bushin Festival Preliminary Tournament in the school, an event to determine which student will participate in this year's Bushin Festival to represent our school. You'd think I would participate in it but I was excused from participating in it due to a few reasons.

Firstly, as a prodigy who had constant winning streak in any match since attending school, I was given a VIP treatment and already have a slot in the Bushin Festival and thus didn't have to join the preliminaries.

Secondly, I'm a member of the Crimson Order and am currently on full time job to guard Princess Alexia, who's sitting beside me in the VIP seat right now, watching the preliminaries. I'm in my Crimson Order uniform now, with the red cloak and all. I even have to skip some classes to guard her. She still acts coldly towards me, unappreciative of how much I've sacrificed for her. Heh. How cruel. At least the salary's not bad. More funds for my evil schemes! And to pay my minion's salaries.

Thirdly, some students say that if I were to enter the preliminaries, I wouldn't give the other students a chance to show off their skills. Though there are also voices saying I shouldn't be given preferential treatment but they are a minority.

Anyway, due to me being busy with my job as Alexia's guard (Sometimes even at night, which angered my sister), I'm still unable to contact my subordinates. I don't even know where they are in the city and I haven't got the chance to teleport to my base in Everick. The proper sleep schedule that my sister forced upon me also contributed to it as I still slept full 8 hours nearly every night even when she's not around. It's a habit at this point. A healthy one, but one that made me have less time for evil stuff. I've grown a bit lazy since she made me sleep properly. But I guess it's fine for now.

Now we are currently watching the match between Cid and Rose Oriana, the Princess of Oriana Kingdom and Student Council President. Alexia seem to be more interested in this match than any other matches so far, even Claire's match, where she performed excellently.

"Still interested in your boy toy, Princess? Afraid he's gonna be taken by another princess?" I teased.

"You shut your mouth, bodyguard."

"Yes yes, your highness." She was angrier than I thought she would be in reaction to my teasing. Is she really…?

Cid was promptly thrown away, spinning in the air while his blood made circular patterns. He immediately stood up and tried again though. Hm. That's quite the warrior spirit right there. Never noticed him having the potential of a main character. Is this his character arc now? But what's more amusing to watch than him falling down over and over again is Alexia's reaction.

"That idiot!" Shouted Alexia, concerned as Cid kept losing more blood with each strike.

"Ho… You're showing a lot of concern for your ex-boyfriend." I got a hit in the head.

"I told you to shut up, didn't I?"

"Heh. I can't help it. Your concern for your ex is amusing. You're just so cute."

"I hate you!" She shouted while blushing before turning her attention back to the match. Eventually the referee declared Rose's victory in order to prevent a fatality happening. A group of medics soon carried him to the infirmary.

"Not gonna visit him, Princess?" I teased once again.

She just scowled and ignored me as we continue to watch the next matches, which proceeds uneventfully.

One afternoon I was standing guard in front of Alexia's room as usual and saw Sherry approaching nervously. Once she saw me though, she began smiling.

"M-Mr. Normann! I made a friend!"

"Oh, Miss Barnett. Congratulations!"

"I-I managed to befriend Cid and gave him my homemade cookies! It's all thanks to your suggestions!"

"You're welcome."

"And umm…. C-Can we be friends too?"

"Sure. I'll call you Miss Sherry then."

"Just Sherry is f-fine!"

"Then call me Claude too."

"Thank you!" She smiled brightly. Such a cute introvert.

"So, what are you doing here, Sherry?"

"Oh! That's right! I-I want to speak with umm… Princess Alexia… It's fine if I'm not allowed…"

"Sure. Let me notify the princess." With that I knocked the door to her room and then she opened the door slightly.

"What do you want?" She asked while scowling.

"Princess. You have a guest." I called out.

"Who is it?" She asked from within the room.

"It's Sherry Barnett."

"Let her in."

"You heard the lady. Go right in."

"Thank you, Claude!" With that she entered the room and I closed the door. Being curious about what they're talking about, I enhanced my hearing with magic to eavesdrop on them.

"I can already guess what you're gonna ask. Is it about the Artifacts?" I hear Alexia's voice.

"No, that's not it." Sherry answered.

"Is it about the election schedule of the Student Council?"

"The Science Academy had different schedules than the Spellsword Academy."

"Is that so? Then what is it?" Alexia asked.

A brief pause before Sherry eventually answered. "A-Actually… There's something I want to ask you, Miss Alexia."

"Okay…?"

"U-Umm…. Miss Alexia… Have you ever dated someone?" Another brief pause. Ho hoo…. This is interesting. I can see where this is going.

"What?" Alexia said confusedly.

"I-I heard you dated Cid Kagenou! A-Are you still dating him…?"

"We already broke up." Alexia answered calmly.

"Huh?"

"We never really dated. We just pretended to date each other because of stuff-"

"Really!?" Exclaimed Sherry happily.

"Huh?"

"Thank goodness! Actually I've recently befriended Cid Kagenou!"

"I-Is that so?" Alexia. Your voice is faltering. Heh heh heh.

"We also like each other! He even gave me chocolates!" Good for you Cid. Good for you. "Because I was so nervous, sometimes I can't focus on the research. But now, I'm relieved! Thank goodness that you're not dating him anymore!" Ouch! The constant barrage of verbal attacks! Alexia has no chance to fight back! Sherry. Are you better at Verbal Fencing than me? How did you so effortlessly defeat my dreaded enemy Alexia?

"I-Is that so? That's nice!" Agh! Even I haven't managed to make her voice shake like that! Sherry-sensei! Please teach me your ways!

"Yes! Thank you for your time! The coffee was delicious!" After saying that, Sherry left the room so full of smile while humming happily. Few seconds after the door is closed, I heard a crashing sound, the sound of a cup being thrown violently to the floor.

I knocked on the door. "Is everything okay. Princess?" I asked in my usual teasing tone.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, BODYGUARD!" Shouted Alexia from inside her room.

Heh heh heh. Sherry. Just for this amusement alone, I've decided I would reward you with something that even you didn't know you wanted.

Huh. I've been feeling so generous lately. Have I enjoyed my days as Claude more than as Necromancer? Hmm… Well, that's okay. A storm is definitely brewing and I'll soon don the mask of the Necromancer once again. I'll enjoy these peaceful days as long as it lasts.

Speaking of my peaceful days, here comes the culprit who caused my peaceful days.

"Hello, Charl. What are you doing here?"

"Brother. How long are you gonna guard this bitch?" Oof. Such word is unbecoming of a duke's daughter like you, sis.

"Language." I scolded.

"I believe someone like Claire is a better match for you."

"Oh? I thought you want to marry me." I said teasingly.

"I've grown past that, brother. I'm not a child anymore."

"But I thought she's not interested in anyone that isn't her brother." The 'just like you' part went unsaid.

"I'm sure you can make her love you in no time! So tomorrow you better make some time to meet her!"

"That's if I'm not busy with Crimson Order business."

"Oh don't worry. I've got that arranged. Heh heh heh." She smiled sinisterly. Um… Sis? Could it be that you're secretly a villain like me? Ha! Interesting! I'll play along with your schemes!

The next day I was off duty. Normally I barely have free time but… My sister's influence is frightening. Even Iris was forced to grant her request to give me some free time. Iris, not wanting to offend our family, granted me one day off. I applaud you, sis. To think you could manipulate even royalty. You have a potential as a villainess after all. And what do I do with this free time? Having a chat with Claire Kagenou in a café. My treat obviously. My sister insisted on it as she has arranged this whole thing. Because it's a request from her friend, Claire tolerated me. We both sipped our coffee before Claire broke the silence.

"I heard you met my brother while in the Knight Order's custody." Of course to speak about her brother.

"Yeah. He's pretty chill." I answered nonchalantly.

"Chill? You're saying he's calm after all the torture he went through?"

"He seems to be very durable."

"I'm glad you can see that! Perhaps I was wrong about you after all!" Claire said, for the first time smiling in front of me... though the smile is not for me.

"I mean, few days ago when he faced Rose Oriana, he never gave up despite being knocked out multiple times by her." He was like a shounen protagonist back there.

"Yes yes! My brother was so brave that I let the fact that he lost slide! Though he shouldn't be so reckless and get hurt so much!"

"Indeed."

"I trained my brother quite harshly since childhood and despite not improving much, he endured everything I threw at him. If only he can get more motivated! He has great potential as a Spellsword! Everyone said we're mismatched pair of siblings and that he's a disgrace as my brother. Screw those people! My brother is awesome! My brother is-" Bla bla bla my brother this, my brother that.

I can only smile and nod and sometimes say yes to whatever she says. This is no different from dealing with my sister after all.

Author's Note:

Plenty of character interactions in this chapter. Some Alexia bullying. I enjoyed writing this chapter so much. Also Claude didn't notice Cid's act in the match against Rose Oriana because he was too busy observing Alexia's reaction, although he noted that Cid behaved more like a main character than a mob. He has let his guard down a lot because of his sister making him unable to don the mask. When will the Necromancer returns… with VENGEANCE?

Soulbow109: Lol seems Claude has an interesting reputation among the maids. Too bad he caused that misunderstanding with Yukime otherwise he could have had more fun when visiting the lawless city. Oh well I guess the comedy moments from it will make it up to us readers lol.

Considering her obsession with Shadow as shown in the anime I wonder if it is possible for Claude to recruit Sherry? Her emotions may just have her be unstable enough to join for revenge. May make some interesting events. The once sweet innocent girl twisted into a mad evil scientist.

Answer: Yeah. I almost written him to be nonchalant towards Yukime's advances but that's too much like Shadow and because I need to increase the amount of comedy, I end up making him be affected by boobies. And the fact that Yukime misunderstood him is just another joke I came up with after I decided I would make him react to boobs.

Oh I certainly have plans for Sherry. Her angsty story is something I wanted to write.