I Became a Retired War Hero the Heroines Are Obsessed With – Chapter 35

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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At that time, Amy and Ariana were fiercely sparring in the academy’s training grounds.

“Here I come!”

Ariana’s wooden sword aimed for Amy’s torso.

Amy chose to evade rather than block with a shield, conjuring a small flame aimed at Ariana’s head.

“Damn it…!”

Ariana ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the flame.

Pressing her advantage, she closed the distance between them.

For a mage to allow a swordsman into close range was a sure path to defeat.

Confident in her victory, Ariana swung her sword.

But this was exactly what Amy had intended.

“Gotcha.”

The moment Ariana’s wooden sword struck Amy’s shield, red flames erupted from the ground beneath her feet.

It was a pre-placed trap spell.

“Aaack…!”

Ariana collapsed to her knees.

Unfazed, Amy retrieved a pre-prepared potion and sprayed it on Ariana’s burns.

The burns were minor, easily healed with a high-quality potion, a luxury afforded by her noble status.

“That puts me in the lead.”

“Damn it… when did you learn to set traps?”

The trap Amy had used was a simplified magic circle, significantly weaker than conventional magic, but with the advantage of being pre-placed.

Its complexity made it difficult for anyone but a specialized mage to utilize.

“Did you think I was just twiddling my thumbs?”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re so great. I was worried when you said you weren’t eating, you sneaky little…”

Amy simply shrugged at Ariana’s venomous glare.

“If it worked on you, it’ll be useful in actual combat.”

“It won’t work next time. If this were a real sword, I could have ended you in one strike.”

Ariana hadn’t used her family’s signature swordsmanship.

Its lethal nature was too difficult for her to control, unsuitable for sparring.

“We’ll see about that. I haven’t used my Flame Eye yet. If I did, you wouldn’t even have a chance to swing your sword.”

“Oh really? Try it then. You think I’m scared?”

Sparks flew as their gazes locked.

They were the same age, born mere days apart.

Both possessed exceptional talent, hailed as prodigies in their respective fields.

Both were daughters of dukes.

They were rivals by fate, clashing frequently since childhood.

Perhaps it was the difference in their chosen paths, sword and magic, that allowed them to become friends.

With their shared confidence, they would have been constantly at odds had they chosen the same field.

“That’s enough, you two.”

A clear voice echoed through the training grounds.

It was Lux, drawn outside by the surge of mana.

“Unless you intend to demolish the training grounds, save it for the competition.”

“Since when did Her Highness become so concerned with others?”

Ariana, still riled up from their spar, spoke sharply.

Lux’s eyebrow twitched at the pointed remark.

“……”

A tense silence filled the air.

Just then—

“Hey guys! I have a scoop! A scoop!”

Sena burst onto the scene, her voice ringing with excitement.

Her loud announcement, meant for the entire dormitory, drew everyone’s attention.

Another kind of silence followed.

“Uh… why are you all staring at me? I have a scoop! Aren’t you curious?”

Amy chuckled at Sena’s bewildered expression.

The mood had shifted, the intensity of their earlier confrontation dissipated.

It was no longer conducive to resuming their spar.

Amy whispered to Ariana,

“You messed up.”

“…Sigh~”

Realizing she had gone too far, Ariana ran a hand through her hair and apologized.

“I’m sorry. I was out of line. My nerves were frayed.”

“Don’t worry about it. It happens.”

Lux readily accepted her apology, leaving Ariana feeling slightly bewildered.

Had Lux always been so forgiving?

She had been unusually proactive in class today as well…

“Are you two just going to ignore me? I have a scoop!”

Sena puffed out her cheeks, feeling left out.

Lux calmly addressed her,

“Let’s talk in my room. I’ll invite you over.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

Sena, despite having “conquered” countless friends’ rooms, had never been inside Lux’s.

She was surprised by the unexpected invitation.

Lux hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes, follow me.”

“Yay! All clear!”

“What’s all clear…?”

Ariana blinked, watching Sena skip happily behind Lux.

“Is that really Lux…? Was she always so… friendly?”

“Something’s different.”

“Right? Maybe she’s a doppelganger?”

Lux’s current behavior was so unlike her usual demeanor that Ariana wondered if she was a monster capable of perfectly mimicking another person’s appearance.

Amy, observing Lux quietly, spoke softly,

“This won’t be easy.”

“Huh? What won’t?”

“Hurry up! Lux won’t open the door if we’re late!”

At Sena’s cheerful call, Amy nodded and followed.

Ariana, still unanswered, walked beside her, asking again,

“What won’t be easy?”

“The competition… it won’t be easy.”

Amy could clearly see it.

Lux’s mana, now flowing freely, was more active than before.

The problem was, it was more vast than any mage she had ever encountered.

Had she simply been unable to perceive it before due to her own lack of skill, or had it been suppressed for some reason?

Whatever the cause, Lux was undeniably stronger than she had been when she consistently held the top rank.

“That much stronger?”

Ariana’s eyes widened.

Amy alone was a formidable mage; the thought of Lux becoming even stronger was daunting.

‘I’ll have to ask the Professor for some tips.’

As Ariana planned to seek Allen’s help, Amy felt a surge of competitive spirit towards the newly empowered Lux.

“This time, I’ll win decisively.”

Amy’s top rank wasn’t due to her surpassing Lux, but because Lux’s grades had declined.

The thought of finally settling the score filled her with anticipation.

As they walked towards Lux’s room, various thoughts swirled in their minds.

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Lux’s room wasn’t particularly special.

It was a spacious single room, a perk exclusive to the Royal Class.

While other students might envy such accommodations, everyone here was in the Royal Class.

Books, evidence of her recent studies, lay scattered on the desk, but that was hardly surprising. More importantly, there was Sena’s scoop.

“A woman?!”

“…Really?”

“…!”

Sena beamed, basking in her friends’ shocked reactions.

This was the thrill of uncovering a scoop!

“It’s true! I saw them enter the dormitory together!”

“The faculty dormitory is also separated by gender, right?”

“That’s a violation of the rules! We should report it!”

Amy responded to Ariana’s playful suggestion.

“What if he leaves? Are you confident we can win the competition without Professor Allen?”

“Of course. We won last year, didn’t we?”

Minerva’s prestige wasn’t dependent on Allen.

The Royal Class students were talented enough to compete for top positions in other academies, even if they were at the bottom of their class here.

Even without Allen, they were confident in their ability to win.

Amy couldn’t argue with that.

“B-but… we’re getting stronger, aren’t we? We won’t be able to take Professor Allen’s classes anywhere else.”

“That’s true… I suppose we’ll have to turn a blind eye.”

While Allen had become a professor due to a mission and couldn’t easily leave, they were unaware of this fact.

Lost in thought, Ariana turned to Sena.

“Was she pretty?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Sena tilted her head, confused by the question.

“Was she pretty? It’s not often you see a woman prettier than us. Maybe we can identify her that way.”

“…Do people usually talk about themselves like that?”

Amy rolled her eyes.

“What’s the big deal? Especially Lux, you’re practically the most beautiful in the Empire. Don’t you think most women look like squid compared to us?”

“Love isn’t based on looks alone.”

“That’s what people with good looks say. Amy, men only feel attracted to women with good looks or a good figure.”

“…Sigh…”

Amy shook her head at Ariana, who was explaining as if to a child.

“So, was she pretty? Pretty enough to catch the Professor’s eye?”

At Ariana’s question, Sena blinked.

“Um… well, she was tall.”

“What? You didn’t even see her face properly?”

“She was wearing a robe.”

“Are you sure it was a woman?”

“Yes! I’m sure of that!”

“What’s your proof?”

“A woman’s intuition!”

Ariana frowned at Sena’s declaration.

She wanted to argue, but Sena’s unwavering confidence, which had never been wrong before, stopped her.

Lux, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

“We can just ask him tomorrow in class. That’s the fastest way, isn’t it?”

“That’s true. Besides, what does it matter who the Professor sees?”

“R-right…”

“Huh? But I don’t like it! He’ll neglect us!”

Unlike Amy, who awkwardly agreed, Sena pouted.

Ariana stared at her, dumbfounded.

How could a professor neglect his students just because he was dating someone?

“Are you his girlfriend? Why would he neglect you?”

“But he’s so young! Doesn’t he feel like an older brother?”

“If he were my older brother, I’d never say that…”

Only an only child like Sena could say such a thing.

Ariana shook her head, launching into a lengthy explanation of how terrible siblings could be.

Despite her passionate speech, Sena remained unconvinced.

“Anyway! I won’t approve of anyone I haven’t personally vetted!”

“…Fine, whatever.”

Ariana sighed, deciding to respect her friend’s delusion.

“I’ll definitely ask him tomorrow in class!”

Amy and Lux, secretly curious themselves, tacitly supported Sena’s plan.

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Meanwhile, Allen was having a heated debate with Black Wolf in his room.

The topic of their argument… was showering.

“Go wash up.”

“No.”

“Aren’t you sticky?”

“No.”

“You smell, so go wash up.”

“I don’t.”

“Just go wash up. Or leave.”

“I don’t want to do either.”

“It’s an order.”

“I refuse.”

Allen sighed at Black Wolf’s stubborn refusal.

“Why won’t you wash up?”

“Why should I do something I don’t want to do?”

Did he really have to explain basic hygiene to her like a child?

Allen felt a wave of frustration wash over him.

He covered his face with his hands.

“You washed up just fine in the hot springs.”

“The warm water felt nice.”

Come to think of it, she had only used water back then.

Did she dislike washing up because she was part beastkin, or did she just dislike it in general?

Allen, a firm believer in cleanliness, couldn’t leave her be.

“Just go to sleep. I’ll leave.”

At his final declaration, Black Wolf finally offered a compromise.

“I’ll wash up if you come with me, like last time.”

“…What?”

What was she talking about?

Allen blinked, confused.

“You can wash me. Or give up.”

“……”

Allen stared at Black Wolf, speechless.

She had presented him with a strange ultimatum.

After a moment’s hesitation, Allen nodded.

“…Fine.”

And so, the two headed towards the bathroom.

“……”

Allen, walking ahead, didn’t notice Black Wolf’s tail wagging slightly.

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