Re: Turning
Enemies Within

Despite training for nearly four hours, Shinnichi still has not stopped. Although there was no progress, he did not give up. Although in the end, he trained his white magic first.

His training was not in vain.

Shinnichi could already throw a Mana ball 9 meters away. For some reason, seeing the Mana ball circling and then hitting the tree, made him remember a certain ninja jutsu. He even had to remind himself not to shout "R◯by!" every time he throws it.

In addition, he also trained in time activation. Time activation does not mean time magic or anything like that. But, a way to pause the activation of a magic.

The way is quite easy to make Shinnichi can do it with several experiments. Although to master it, it takes greater effort.

First one needs to envelop their magic with Mana — instead of adding Mana into the magic but enveloping it. Make sure Mana doesn't join. Next, imagine a burning sulut. When the embroidery reaches the end, the magic will activate.

In other words, the way Shinnichi did it was to imagine the activation of his time as a sulut bomb. Someone from Zelfria definitely could not understand his way of thinking.

However, little by little, Shinnichi finds himself becoming more useful.

For the last time that morning, Shinnichi raised his hand. He closed his eyes, — a habit he needs to forget. He gathered Mana in his right hand. Imagine it as a ball going round and round.

His hands feel heavy. It's succeeding.

Shinnichi opened his eyes. In his hand, a faint blue-colored Mana sphere swirled around. Just like his shadow.

He directs it forward. An old tree became his target. Below it are dozens of holes. His unsuccessful Mana ball ex hit his target. But, not a few traces of Mana balls in the trunk of the tree.

It's already evolved.

Thinking about that sentimental thing, Shinnichi twitched his hand.

That Mana Ball was thrown from his hand. It flew forward like it was fired from a cannon. Then, hit that tree. Wood chips flew everywhere. Created a hole in the tree trunk.

Shinnichi smiles. Although not much, it is growing.

✾✾✾✾

Finished with his training, Shinnichi prepares to serve the Princess. Breakfast was also eaten. Now, just wake him up.

Normally, Fiona was still asleep even though the time had already shown at seven in the morning. While the time needed to prepare itself takes 2 hours. Meanwhile, the activity starts at 9. Anyone can conclude that the timing is barely enough.

Fortunately, Shinnichi is an insomniac. He could wake up in the morning, have time to practice, have breakfast, and wake up the Princess.

Thinking of such a thing, Shinnichi kept going. Climbing the stairs, he turned to the right. The Princess's room is located at the end of the corridor. However, his steps immediately stopped.

In front of the door of Fiona's room, a golden-haired youth stood up. Jinba Samejima is seen in front of Fiona's room.

Shinnichi's brain froze. Don't know what's going on. Why is he here?

Samejima realizes Shinnichi. He glanced at her and then smiled a little.

That harmless move made Shinnichi's hair stand up. Fear like that night came back to haunt him. However, Shinnichi did not escape.

He strengthened his mentality and walked over to him. Stopping right behind him, Shinnichi tries to stop his trembling.

"Why... Y-you're here?"

Shinnichi wanted to curse his trembling voice. He cursed himself who was a coward.

A few seconds passed. Silent. Too quiet. Shinnichi's hunch is not good.

"Oh, I'm here for the Princess of course."

Those words struck him like lightning in broad daylight.

Shinnichi knows the rumors. Rumor has it that Samejima fucked almost all the women in the castle. Nobles, waiters. Adolescents and adults. Single or married.

Even so, no one dared to oppose him. Samejima is a Hero. His will almost matched that of the King.

Shinnichi was afraid that this time would come. The moment Samejima was after Fiona.

"Pardon me, Fiona-sama told me to pick her up, so ka—"

"Then? You can what?"

Shinnichi's attempt to protect the Princess was destroyed so easily. Shinnichi couldn't say anything.

Samejima turned towards Shinnichi. In Shinnichi's eyes, his body was seen looming over him. He felt small under the look of his eyes.

"Listen, I'll say this one more time. You're weak." Samejima's voice was hot. "You think you're a good fit for the princess? Remember your place."

Samejima pushes Shinnichi's chest. It made the young man fall. He brushed his golden hair back.

"You think someone like you deserves to walk side by side with him?" Samejima asked again. His words pierced like his sword. "You go to the library, you practice every day. Wh-wh-what for? A weak man like you will not change."

"You have a brain, right? A hero like me or a servant like you. Which is more worthy?"

Shinnichi. Can't argue. Samejima's words began to enter the recesses of his soul. His frustration and despair returned.

Samejima. He's just a waiter. Shinnichi had long accepted that fact.

Without thinking for a long time, anyone can know. Samejima is more worthy.

If it's a romance novel, Shinnichi might say something cheap to say. However, he did not have any words. Shinnichi could only stand still and look down.

"Which is more worthy? Than a rotten hearted Hero? Of course the noble-hearted servant."

That familiar voice made Shinnichi raise his head and Samejima look back. A long blue haired girl. Wearing a snow-themed white-blue dress.

The fourth princess of the Victorian kingdom, Fiona Throst Victoria Ainsworth stood at the door, staring intently at Samejima.

"Who-fi-hime? Since when?" Samejima sounded surprised. Didn't expect the princess to hear it. "It's not like you ki—"

Fiona walks past Samejima. Ignoring his eyes. He walked up to Shinnichi and sat down next to him.

"Are you okay, Kurobane-sama?" Fiona touches Shinnichi's back. Checking it.

"I-I'm fine." Shinnichi. He shook his head. "Fi-Fiona-sama, your dress can get dirty!"

Fiona smiled gently. "Why even worry about that?"

"May I know something?" ask Samejima. Voice's clear. Like change. "Why did you choose someone like him? What did you see of him?"

Fiona did not answer. He helps Shinnichi wake up. Holding Shinnichi's hand, he looked at Samejima.

"He was honest and always tried his hardest" said Fiona briefly and steadily. Make the young man blush.

"That's it."

"And remember this." The voice of the princess became cold. The temperature around also dropped by several degrees. "If you dare to hurt Kurobane-sama again, I will freeze and smash you to pieces."

Samejima said nothing more. Even when Fiona and Shinnichi walk past him. Holding hands.

However, his lips curved. Form a smile that can make someone shudder.

"Well, we'll see."

❂❂❂❂❂❂

Shinnichi was speechless. Letting Fiona pull her hand, she did not expect that Fiona could talk like that. For Shinnichi, the other side of Fiona is really scary.

Besides, their roles were also reversed, shouldn't he be the one protecting the Princess? He doesn't know what to feel. However, Shinnichi certainly felt a little happy. She was ashamed to admit it.

After walking down the stairs, Fiona stopped. He hugged Shinnichi.

"—!?"

Shinnichi did not expect that sudden hug. He was embarrassed and nervous again.

"F-Teen-sama?"

"... Just for a second."

The words from Fiona made Shinnichi calm. It seemed that the Princess wanted to calm down. Shinnichi decides to return his embrace. This time, he did not think about the consequences.

Actually, just like Shinnichi, Fiona was also embarrassed. Saying such bold things. Threatened even a Hero. Fiona couldn't believe herself.

Not wanting to be seen by Shinnichi, he grabbed him. His heartbeat, his smell, his body's warmth. It all calms him down.

Although only for a moment. Fiona hugs Shinnichi. He enjoys moments like this.

Being in each other's arms, they felt calm.

✾✾✾✾

In the palace grounds.

"Izumi-kun, what do you think of them?"

Coming out of the throne room, Yonaka asked Izumi. They are now sitting in the palace grounds. More precisely, Yonaka was sitting down. Izumi was practicing as usual. Hit a hung log.

After gaining his strength, Izumi did not laze around. Unlike Samejima, whenever he got free time, Izumi would move to the palace grounds and start practicing.

The nickname "The strongest hero" deserves to stick to him.

"They're strong." Izumi wasted no time in answering. He kicked the wooden stick. Wood chips flew and a loud sound followed. "Otherwise the white hair. From the body and the way it moves, it looks just like me."

"A fighter with empty hands?"

"Like that, yes." Izumi nodded.

He threw a hard blow. The log was instantly cut off from its chain and flew away because of it.

Izumi shook her hand. Not to relieve pain, just reflexes. His fist was more than enough to bend steel. Something like wood was not enough to hurt him.

"Great!" Yonaka clapped his hands. Always amazed by the power of Izumi. "Izumi-kun is really strong."

"Ahaha, thank you." Izumi felt ashamed of being praised by Yonaka.

It was clear that he had put his heart on him. Yonaka is the same. Actually, they both realized it.

They were not the type that was so thick that they were unaware of such a thing. They are not manga protagonists or romance light novels.

But they both know. If they express feelings, they will cross a line. Their status as "good friends," will end if it crosses that line. The status quo will not return after that.

They've seen it happen to both of their friends. And although they can be friends again, Yonaka and Izumi are not sure they can do the same. They don't want that to happen. So, right now the two of them are quite satisfied with being "good friends".

Although a certain black-haired youth was often annoyed by it.

"Then? What do you think, Yonaka?" Izumi was now sitting on the bench beside Yonaka. Receiving a bag of water-filled skin from Yonaka, he thanked her.

"Hmm, I'm not too sure. But, I felt a strong magic power from the black haired girl." Yonaka replied, not too sure. "Erina probably understood better."

"Is that so?" reply Izumi short. He swallowed the skin bag. "I'm curious about their power."

"Wanna try?"

An unidentified voice from above made Yonaka and Izumi instantly jump on guard. They looked up. A white-haired young man with brown skin. On his head, a pair of sheep horns were sticking out.

Perched on a lion statue, of the Devil race, Endel Baskar smiled.