"The Shadow Eminence has spoken his judgment!"

"G-Go… Go ahead!"
"I-If y-you want, take any seat you like!"

Without hesitation, Hyoro and Jaga offered their seats upon seeing Alexia. Trembling like frightened animals, their perfect synchronization caught the attention of a few onlookers—though none dared to linger. Those who noticed quickly pretended to mind their own business, stifling their curiosity. The presence of a VIP in such a common place only spelled trouble and extra stress for the academy's lower ranks.

Cid groaned inwardly,"Seriously? These are the same guys who were spouting such arrogant crap earlier? But… Aah, nowtheseare genuine mob characters."

Meanwhile, Hachiman frowned at the sudden appearance of the silver-haired princess. Even if he looked different now, there was no guarantee she wouldn't recognize him.No—in this situation, nothing was worse than a jealous sister.

"Sit if you want,"Cid finally replied to Alexia, who had been waiting for his response. To Hachiman's relief, she didn't even glance at the others.

"Excuse me," she said, taking the seat to Cid's left.

"Nice weather today, huh?"

For now, Cid tried steering the conversation toward something meaningless.

"I suppose so,"Alexia replied, playing along. At the same time, she clapped her hands, summoning several maids who brought out trays of lavish, varied dishes.

"I just remembered I need a bit more salad."

This exact sentence was echoed simultaneously by Jaga and Hyoro—right before they bolted away like startled rabbits.

Then, Alexia began eating her luxurious lunch, prepared with gleaming, high-quality ingredients. As expected of a princess, her manners were refined, and her appetite modest. Compared to her, the lower-class nobles in this sector were barely a step above commoners—especially when judging their manners against the price of their meals.

"The nobles' premium lunch sure has a lot of ingredients," Cid remarked with genuine interest.

"Yes, though I never actually finish it all," Alexia admitted.

"What a waste." After a brief silence following the arrival of an unexpected acquaintance, Hachiman delivered his signature critical comment.

True. I'd prefer something cheaper, but if I don't order this, no one else in the academy will."

At that moment, Cid Kagenou activated 100% of his brainpower to seize an unshakable profit.

"Aaah, I see. Since you can't finish it… mind if I take some?"

"Sure, go ahead..."

"I give thanks to the divine being beyond my comprehension. Today is a blessed day." Alexia stared at Cid, slightly bewildered, as he effortlessly vanished the main dish's premium meat with practiced ease.

"Naive little princess."

Hachiman's muttered remark tore down the mental curtain between them—yet Alexia chose to ignore it, refocusing on her primary culinary threat.

"Huh?"

While Alexia struggled to process Hachiman's comment (and belatedly recognized him), Cid wasted no time savoring the high-grade meat and spices like a man tasting water in a desert of monotony.

"Ah..."

"I'll take some fish too."

"W-Wait...!"

Ooooh, blessed luck of the mobs—this was the mantra chanted by that shadowy performer lurking behind the scenes. Thanks to some innocent manipulation, Cid was now thoroughly satisfied. His attitude toward Alexia had done a complete 180—no, not even a 180, more like a light-speed reversal. After all, the path was clear: Strike while the iron is hot!

Now, he had entered the "Finish me off nowaaaaa!" strategy. Either way, it was a win-win. Even under the most absurd constraints, he'd always walk away with a superior benefit—his trademark move. That is, he'd be remembered, but not in a way that scaled with the plot. At best, his "mob" title might become a running joke among the student body...

"Haaa... Whatever."

Alexia, resigned, simply chose to drop the matter.

"That was delicious. Well, see you around."

"Hey, wait a second!"

It seemed Cid's plan of eat-and-leave-like-nothing-happened almost worked. With nothing else to do, he tried to sit back down—only to see his reincarnated "savior" calmly enjoying his meal, completely indifferent to his plight. He decided to approach, but instead of sitting, he positioned himself behind him. Alexia's brow furrowed slightly.

"For this afternoon's practical class, you chose the Capital's Bushin style, right?"

"Nope, sure didn't~"

This academy had two types of classes: morning lectures and afternoon practicals. Both had their own subjects and grades. While the afternoon sessions were optional, students could enroll in whichever weapon style suited them best.

"I also practice the Bushin style. Now, as my dear boyfriend, we can take the class together."

"Impossible. You're in Class 1, right? I'm in Class 9… oh no."

Cid's response earned him a disappointed glare from Hikigaya—whether for his quick (and wrong) answer or for lying about his class placement.

"Seriously, Cid?"

The Bushin style was wildly popular, so each class had around 50 students, divided across nine skill-based tiers. Cid, under pressure, had initially joined Class 7 to observe others but somehow wound up in Class 9 for a while. Ideally, he planned to settle in Class 5 to avoid plot complications.

"Don't worry. I'll make a spot open in Class 1."

"That doesn't sound very legal... What would our most excellent Princess Iris say about that?"

Cid tried deflecting to a more pressing issue—why wasn't Hachiman helping him maintain his mob act? The question gnawed at him. Alexia, meanwhile, twitched at the comparison but turned her attention to the other person at the table.

"You just picked the worst possible example to mention right now—especially in front of her sister."

A triumphant smirk played on Alexia's lips. Step by step, she was cornering her prey. No, today might even be a two-for-one deal.

"In that case, would you prefer I move to Class 9?"

"No, anything but that."

Hachiman, in his infinite mercy, placed a hand on Cid's shoulder.

"No matter what you do, Cid... you had a happy life. It's time to change the script."

"I'm only seventeen! I haven't even finished Act 1 yet!"

"I said happy, not long. Besides, there are better plots to follow than whatever you've planned, you know?"

Cid's frozen stare was pure poetry to Hachiman.

"Come on, there are only two options here. Pick one, Cid-kun."

"No. Hachiman, for the love of all that is holy, help me."

For a brief moment, the desperation in Cid's eyes mirrored Komachi's when she begged for help with her homework. So, naturally, Hachiman responded with an understanding smile... and a slow, deliberate shake of his head.

"Your princess commands it."

"Class 1, here I come~"

Cid's voice cracked slightly.

"You're coming too. Hurry up."

Without bothering to look up, Hachiman let out an almost imperceptible sigh before replying with his trademark lethargy.

Cid's resigned demeanor shattered at Alexia's declaration. His mind raced, scrambling to fill in the gaps of this unforeseen plot twist. He wanted to slump back into his chair, but instead, he shuffled awkwardly to the side—like a background character forcibly dragged into the spotlight.

"...What makes you say that?"

Across from Hachiman, Alexia Midgar fixed him with a gaze caught between irritation and outright disdain. Her flawless silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her crossed arms made it clear she wasn't here to negotiate. This was her domain—every eye in the room on their table, the weight of social expectation crushing.

And yet, for better or worse, Hachiman remained utterly unfazed. Indifference was his armor.

"You're face-to-face with your future sister-in-law and can't even greet me properly? Honestly, I don't understand what Iris sees in you."

"You're absolutely right. With my full support, please talk her out of this ridiculous idea."

Alexia frowned, clearly expecting a different response. It had been some time since she'd last seen him, yet he remained as stubbornly indifferent as ever. Normally she wouldn't care, but her sister had been acting strangely lately - wearing makeup, expensive clothes, jewelry... Was this even the same sister she knew? (No, of course she was still her beloved older sister.) Which meant she needed answers from the alleged source of this change.

"So you're just giving up? No resistance at all?"

"I never forced anything. We're just friends."

Alexia clicked her tongue in annoyance and took the seat beside him, propping her elbow on the table while staring him down intensely, as if trying to peel away his mask of indifference through sheer willpower.

Meanwhile, Cid was having a revelation. This wasn't in the script he remembered. Since when did Hachiman's character archetype include royalty as a romantic interest? Oh wait - now he recalled that time Hachiman had "gifted" (more accurately, lent and never reclaimed) an ornate necklace to someone, claiming he wanted to "keep it safe" or some equally flimsy excuse. Cid had nearly dismissed this insignificant detail when a sudden realization struck: Unless Hachiman was planning to install himself as future king, he'd never associate with royalty without an ulterior motive...

"Wait... COULD HE BE HIDING HIS SCHEMING SIDE FROM ME RIGHT NOW?! Of course! With Mount Divine's full resources, his world domination would be inevitable! And if I interfere, the Cult would ruin his plans. Hah! So THAT'S why he wouldn't let me join from the start! Unlike Alpha's amateur theatrics, Hachiman actually knows how to run a proper shadow organization!"

After a moment of intense reflection, Cid resolved to take immediate action. A true shadow mastermind always stayed three steps ahead, no matter what obstacles appeared.

"Still... it's irritating he didn't consult me. No one could blame me if I 'accidentally' misplace a few of his precious books as compensation... They must be worth a fortune. Maybe I'll take three. Or five. How tragic. I suppose I should 'inform' his Mount Divine associates at that little church four blocks from campus about this development. And while I'm at it... perhaps I'll inspect a REAL professional organization. Maybe they'll accept me if I make them an offer they can't refuse... Hmm."

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to Cid's spiraling mental theatrics, Hachiman continued weathering Alexia's increasingly irritated interrogation.

"See? This is exactly what I mean. You're utterly spineless. I know my sister has strange tastes, but this is concerning."

"So what's your plan then? To keep throwing tantrums because your sister didn't fall for some fairytale prince? Trust me, the issue lies with her, not me."

"I can't believe your audacity! The rumors must be true... What exactly did you do to my sister?"

"Me? A mere spell researcher? Please, spare yourself the embarrassment... And 'rumors'? By that logic, you'd be some empty-headed succubus preying on upperclassmen."

"You...!"

Alexia's eyes flashed dangerously for a moment, her smile twisting into an indignant grimace. Rumors about royalty were common, but she'd never heard so many about a single individual - let alone about her own sister.

Ever since entering the academy, the whispers had followed her relentlessly, growing louder whenever she spotted him from afar at the castle. Some claimed the magic scholar had bewitched Iris with his intellect (impossible, Alexia thought - her sister was far too busy). Others insisted Iris had found in him a rival in strategy and logic (highly unlikely given his lazy demeanor). And the most absurd ones... suggested that the fearsome captain of the Crimson Knight Order might be secretly engaged to him.

That day, she'd nearly stormed into the royal chambers to confront their father about this supposed secret, until a simple denial from the king dispelled the rumor. But now, freshly scrawled poems appeared on park walls, claiming the "foreign scholar" was toying with the Crimson Queen. With Iris absent from the academy, Alexia became convinced Hachiman was fueling these rumors - whether through his behavior or others' perceptions. From their very first meeting, this man had been nothing but trouble. She should have set him straight right then and there.

"If you've got nothing else to say, I'm leaving."

"Ah, Princess Alexia," Cid interjected with feline nonchalance, his slanted cartoonish eyes locking onto Hachiman's suddenly frozen expression as an icy gust swept through the cafeteria,

"If you want Hachiman to stay away from your sister, why not challenge him to a friendly duel? You're one of the academy's top duelists. An easy victory - and Hachiman-san here never breaks his promises. A true win-win scenario."

The careless tilt of Cid's head burned into Hachiman's shocked consciousness like a brand.

Alexia considered the proposal carefully. It seemed her recent captive possessed some cunning after all, to suggest such a stratagem. His idea perfectly facilitated her next move - what better opportunity to vent her frustrations without repercussions?

Deep down, Alexia still felt uneasy about not understanding someone so close to her sister. Since childhood, she'd known Iris lacked subtlety in her actions. While adept at formal protocols, her sister remained painfully naive in matters of the heart and friendship. Alexia feared Iris's recent nighttime excursions and missed important events might stem from this man's negative influence. Though the idea of her "proud and strong" sister being corrupted by a nobody seemed impossible, that nagging suspicion never quite left her.

"Oh, thank you, Cid-kun."

"Don't mention it, Alexia-sama."

"This is completely unfair. I'm not even in your combat division. My specialty is magical research."

"Iris told me you're actually quite skilled with a sword," Alexia countered, "You just hide it because you're obsessed with your studies."

Of course, this was a complete fabrication - one Hikigaya had no way of knowing. But for Alexia, the deduction came easily. After all, how could Iris possibly be interested in someone who couldn't even defend himself?

"That woman... Fine, whatever."

And so the lunch period ended with the audience buzzing over these shocking revelations. Hyoro and Jaga never returned from their eternal shopping trip - or perhaps they couldn't push through the wall of eager students straining to hear every word between two of the academy's most notable figures.


The castle's dining hall was bathed in the dim glow of a cloudy midday. Stained glass windows cast shifting patterns of blue and gold across the marble table, while the heavy aroma of spices and red wine lingered in the air. Olba, seated at the head, set down his half-finished goblet as the echoing footsteps of Ua and Senu announced their arrival - evidently having just concluded their meeting with his right-hand man from their small feudal organization.

Ua-san crossed the chamber with purposeful strides, her elongated shadow grazing the ancient battle tapestries lining the walls. Senu-san followed, idly twirling a rolled map between her fingers. Their silhouettes seemed to melt into the gathering twilight, the grand chandelier's light failing to fully illuminate their forms.

Olba raised his gaze, voice steady yet laced with tension. Even after agreeing to work with Hachiman, he still struggled to accept taking orders from those so young in his eyes. "What brings you, Ua-san?"

Ua-san stopped before the table as Senu-san handed Olba a capital city map marked with crimson-inked locations. "We've discovered your second daughter's whereabouts."

A silence split the air. Olba's goblet trembled slightly as he set it on the embroidered tablecloth.

For a moment, Olba didn't respond. The grinding of his teeth, the whitening knuckles gripping his chair's armrest - the master fencer's emotions threatened to erupt that very instant. "How...? No, what do you know of her condition?"

Senu-san glided forward, her voice smooth as silk. "No need for such tension, Olba-san. Psedeyu-chan's report confirms she's alive... though we still need to secure the intelligence."

Senu-san's smile, warm as hearthfire, soothed Olba's rising anxiety like a balm. Much to his consternation, the young woman possessed this uncanny ability to disarm tension effortlessly.

"Then what would you have me do?"

Ua-san leaned forward slightly, her grin sharp enough to cut glass—stretching ear to ear with predatory delight.

"We need your help inspecting some... highly suspicious warehouses."

The air crackled with palpable energy. In one fluid motion, Olba rose to his feet, his clenched fist unleashing an invisible gust that shattered the candelabras behind him. The flames flickered wildly, casting jagged, dancing shadows across his face—now twisted into a ravenous smile.

"It will be my pleasure, Mount Divine."

Ua-san let out a low chuckle, her eyes glinting with understanding—like sunlight glancing off a blade's edge, as if recalling a familiar script from times long past.

"The pleasure is all ours, Viscount Olba."

Senu-san, stroking the map with theatrical flair, bounced excitedly in place.

"Yes! At last, my little helpers will shake off their fears... completely safe and sound."

With that, Ua-san turned toward the door—her duty fulfilled. Together, the two women withdrew from the hall.

"Senu-san," Ua-san called over her shoulder, "inform Shadow Garden about the territory allocations. It's time for large-scale operations to begin."

Outside, distant thunder rumbled—as if the world itself echoed the unspoken oath of vengeance, both ancient and newly awakened.


Extra Scene: A Not-So-Distant Past...

After an intense training session beneath the shade of a tree, Hachiman gulped down water while Iris meticulously cleaned her sword. The setting sun painted the sky in vivid orange as the two young warriors caught their breath in the royal training grounds. Night would soon fall, and with it, their patrol through the capital's streets would begin. For now, they sat leaning against one of the many trees in their makeshift practice arena—far from the prying eyes that always watched them in the royal training hall. The royal garden's forest provided better cover, after all.

"Hachiman, I've been thinking about something."

"Isn't thinking my full-time job? Are you trying to steal my one redeeming quality as a human?"

Iris ignored his sarcastic jab, though a small laugh nearly escaped her. For some reason, she'd always had a soft spot for his dry, self-deprecating humor.

"I want to develop a new sword style. Something... more defensive than Bushin Royal."

Hachiman's eyebrow arched. He couldn't fathom what had led her to that conclusion. In all the time they'd spent training, Iris had never once doubted her swordsmanship or shown interest in a more conservative approach.

"Defensive? I thought your whole thing was skewering enemies before they could even breathe."

Iris lowered her gaze, fingers brushing slowly through the grass.

"That works against predictable opponents. But against chaotic, explosive attacks... I feel my current style isn't enough. Even if I've surpassed every challenger so far, facing someone truly superior would mean absolute defeat."

Hachiman took another swig of water. Apparently, her time as a night vigilante had exposed gaps even her overwhelming martial prowess couldn't cover.

And she wasn't wrong. Purely offensive skills left her struggling to protect civilians caught in crossfire or endure outnumbered battles. Despite refining her techniques, recent clashes with the Cult and mercenaries from the Lawless City had etched this limitation into her bones.

"Makes sense, Ojou-sama. Desperation attacks don't care about elegance or tradition... sometimes you survive just by shielding yourself before getting torn apart. And we've no idea what monsters lurk beneath our feet."

Iris nodded rapidly, hopeful eyes locking onto him.

"Exactly! I want to craft a countermeasure—maybe redirecting their force against them, or buying time to escape certain defeat. What do you think?"

Hachiman pondered for a moment. Would it be wise to teach her the basics of aikido? Would it even be useful long-term? A mental image of Iris in a school P.E. uniform briefly flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Meeting Iris's expectant gaze, he answered half-jokingly

"So you're planning to become a beautiful wall that'll protect me from all harm? Do you always take your grand speeches this seriously?"

Iris blinked in confusion at his response. The backhanded compliment caught her off-guard, even coming from his usual sarcasm.

"A... beautiful wall?"

"Yeah. Imposing, reliable... and slightly intimidating, though with some rather steep curves."

Iris averted her gaze, cheeks tinged pink without fully understanding why.

"Being reliable isn't a bad thing... Nor imposing... Wait, are you making fun of me?!"

Hachiman simply shrugged. As long as nothing was explicitly admitted, it was all up to interpretation - though his smirk betrayed him.

"Not at all. Anyway, it's a good idea. Besides, someone needs to protect idiots like us who charge headfirst into danger."

An awkward silence settled between them. Iris tightened her grip on the sword's hilt, still avoiding his gaze. Apparently, she'd been expecting a different response, yet Hachiman's words held undeniable truth. Like her father before her, she would one day need to safeguard their nation's citizens. More than a sword, she had to become an impenetrable shield for her people.

"I see... Then that's my answer," Iris finally said, voice steady with resolve. "I'll protect what matters to me. No matter what comes."

Hachiman tilted his head slightly. Maybe he'd pushed the teasing too far. Regardless, he chose to offer encouragement - after all, she remained a princess whose life was bound by duty and restrictions. At the very least, he hoped these rare moments of calm, where she could simply be a teenager trapped in an adult's responsibilities, might ease the weight of her position. As long as she didn't let her guard down completely.

"That's the spirit, Iris-sama."

"Then..." She finally met his eyes, the fading sunlight catching in her determined gaze. "Will you help me test it? I want your guidance in developing this style."

Hachiman heaved an exaggerated sigh before pushing to his feet. He stretched out a hand to his training partner-student hybrid with mock resignation.

"I suppose giving free fencing advice is somehow part of my unsigned contract with you."

Iris smiled ever so slightly, almost unconsciously. It wasn't a broad or mocking smile, but a small, fragile gesture brimming with sincerity. The corners of her lips barely curved, yet in her large, clear eyes flickered a soft light - as if for just this moment, the entire world seemed simple and good.

Hachiman, normally immune to anything "cute," caught it from the corner of his eye... and for a split second, a treacherous thought crossed his mind: "dangerously adorable." As if that tiny smile could disarm him more effectively than any sword thrust.

He qickly looked away, unsettled, as though he'd glimpsed something forbidden, mentally chastising himself for such foolish thoughts during training. After all, regardless of his teenage body, he was mentally an adult... or so he desperately told himself.

"I'll pay you back with results," Iris responded immediately, oblivious to Hachiman's flustered state, wrapped in her own bubble of happiness.

Finally, Hachiman declared, "As long as your father stops keeping tabs on me, it's fine."

The development of Defensive Bushin Royal, later renamed "Bushin Mamoru," would become a complete revelation at the national festival. Its fame would explode after a certain one-sided duel, but its first glimpse would be seen in the battle between the princess's younger sister and a certain research scientist.


Responding to the comments!

Faff (Oct 1, 2023 c2): Thank you very much for your appreciation. I hope these latest chapters have shown continuous improvement. :)

Mr.N0Name (Oct 1, 2023 c3): I appreciate your comments about the story. I'm going to consider writing a short summary in the upcoming chapters and then for the previous ones. Thanks for the idea!

Noz7(Oct 2, 2023 c3): Yes, there are still immutable facts that I haven't touched yet: like Shadow being a shadow, one of Olba's daughters being a prisoner, and the cult being wiped out twice. On the other hand, I'm already being more precise with the dialogues and who each one belongs to. See you soon!

SubaruGigaChad (Nov 23, 2023 c4): "Oh, it's a concept I had in the initial drafts; it might also appear with a similar name (still, I appreciate the name suggestion). However, its first appearance will be to 'nullify' a certain magical situation. So... guess, guesser: what's the name of the attack that will be shouted chuunibyou-style by a fish-eyed NPC?

Bruh man I'm schewpid (Dec 28, 2023 c1): Very soon, the great demon general YOSHI... I mean, Zaimokuza, will make his appearance. Possibly in the next omake. However, I'll be dropping hints about how things are going back in the original land.

Terracotta Tortilla (Aug 20, 2024 c1): Yeah, English isn't my first language, it's my second one — but I think I'm getting better at it. :) Thanks a lot for the kind words!

RANGER1863 (Nov 25, 2024 c6): Funny, right? Originally, I had planned for both characters to have different love interests (Hachiman all about getting back to his world, and Cid as a matchmaker trying to set him up with some girl from Mount Divine), but I don't think it'd move the story along that fast. Actually, I might make a whole different story focused on that, since it'd be mostly just dialogues. Thanks for your comment!

0x66 0x6f 0x63 0x6b 0x65 0x72 (Nov 25, 2024 c6): Cid definitely didn't do it, as weird as that sounds. The chuunibyou title was actually claimed by a certain teenager. Later on, after all three gained experience, he managed to live up to the name and became as good as Cid in close combat. As for the name, he picked it himself. After the accident on the way to Tokyo, his soul was transferred into the dying body of another guy. Back then, Cid was already dealing with his first fights against bandits (like I mentioned later, only Hachiman's soul went to the other world; his body is still in a coma in a hospital). So, even though he ended up in a new body, that of an aristocrat from a made-up, decaying empire, Hachiman's soul helped shape his growth to resemble his anime version. Also, when he was adopted by Nu's family (and in this version, Nu was rescued by Mount Divine), he chose the name Hachiman Hikigaya to keep his identity and the idea of getting back to his world alive. Thanks for the comment!

Dredgon (Dec 29, 2024 c7): An interesting question. Let's say that Lazzygaya's favorite imouto was not happy to learn about the Tokyo Accident because, if Hachiman hadn't been trying to help the two of them, he would still be alive (although, for plot reasons and his friendship with Cid, he would still be transported to another world). And yes, along with Akane, they are the ones who have awakened a terrifying potential due to external circumstances. (Zaimokuza will be in trouble if Hachiman finds out about the special chuunibyou training he gave his little sister).

Dman4869 (Mar 19,2025 c7): Thank you so much for commenting! I'll try to maintain this posting pace to bring the next battle between Alexia and Hachiman.


PD: Good afternoon!

Thank you so much for your comments and feedback. I'm really excited to read them not only here but also in any other story. Lately, the ALP and other volunteer activities with the university have been taking up a lot of my time, but I'm still working on keeping the story alive. So don't worry. On another note, I propose something: if the number of comments increases (like 20 more comments), I'll release the next chapter immediately after noticing it. But if not, I'll still aim to publish it as soon as possible. Thank you so much. Until next time.

PD2: "Huge thanks to 'Hachiman fan' and 'Dman4869' for catching the mistake. I've added a bit more interaction between Hachiman and Iris. Congrats!"

Sincerely, your favorite procrastinator writer since 2022.