Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Seeing Natsuki swiftly deal with the three thugs, Adam couldn't help but applaud.
"Good, very good!" This kid had given him quite a surprise.
He had thought Natsuki might have grown lazy after he left, but instead, his strength had improved dramatically!
The sudden applause drew the attention of both the man and woman in the alley.
Natsuki was about to check on the beautiful girl's safety when the applause made him freeze, his hand instinctively gripping the sword at his waist.
"No need to be tense, Subaru-kun, it's me."
"Oh—! It's Carter!" Natsuki's face lit up with joy as Adam jumped down from the rooftop.
"Yo, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Carter! I've missed you so much! Without you, I couldn't sleep at night!"
Uh... Was that statement a bit too ambiguous?
Dude, stop trying to cross the line, okay? That time with Elsa was just a joke, don't make it into an issue!
Well, perhaps along with his increased strength, this kid's bold and unrestrained personality had also grown.
"Seeing you so energetic is better than anything else."
"Yeah, I've been working hard for Emilia-tan's sake. I really wanted you to praise me."
"Mm, you've done very well Subaru-kun, you deserve praise."
The two chatted away as if they were alone, completely forgetting about the beautiful girl beside them.
This behavior was utterly discourteous in her eyes.
"Hey, you two discourteous fellows! How dare you ignore me — are you deliberately trying to make a fool of me?" Sure enough, the beautiful girl was furious.
She berated her savior arbitrarily, showing no gratitude to Natsuki for rescuing her. Instead, she acted as if his intervention was merely expected, radiating an overwhelming sense of self-importance.
This attitude made Adam raise his eyebrows.
His eyes were drawn to her striking blood-red elaborate dress.
The girl before him was stunning. Her vibrant orange hair reflected the sun's radiance, complementing her fair skin, light peach-colored lips, and provocative upturned eyes that blazed with red pupils.
Her curvaceous figure and ample chest strained against her elaborate dress as she crossed her arms, the fabric pulled so tight it seemed ready to burst.
Precious jewelry adorned her head, neck, and hands, while she held an ornate folding fan inlaid with gems.
—No wonder she had attracted the thugs' attention.
Draped in gold and silver, her wealth was unmistakable.
This was Priscilla Barielle, one of the Royal Selection candidates, known as the "Bloody Bride".
She possessed the〘Divine Protection of the Sun〙, which enhanced her abilities during daylight hours.
This powerful Divine Protection, combined with her magical attributes and exceptional talent in〘Yang Magic〙, gave her combat prowess equal to Crusch Karsten's!
Now she glared at the two with displeasure, clearly irritated at being ignored.
"If it isn't, if it isn't Royal Selection candidate Lady Priscilla Barielle!" Adam exclaimed with exaggerated surprise as he bowed, "A pleasure to meet you, my name is Adam Carter, currently serving as knight protector to Lady Emilia, the 'Silver-Haired Half-Elf'. Please forgive my discourtesy."
Seeing through his theatrical display of false courtesy, Priscilla's eyes flashed dangerously.
"You, are you doing this on purpose?"
"You were watching from above this whole time, and since you know who I am, how could you possibly not have seen me?" She knew full well how striking her presence was, her tone sharp with reproach.
"You misunderstand, I was simply too focused on our butler, and accidentally overlooked you. Please forgive me."
"Butler? Ah, him~" She gestured dismissively at Natsuki with her fan, "This fellow dared to disturb my entertainment, he deserves death."
At these words, Natsuki could no longer contain himself.
"Hey, you woman! I just saved you, didn't I?! Don't you realize what would have happened if I hadn't shown up?!"
"Saved me? Hmm... sorry, I didn't notice." Priscilla tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
"Didn't notice—?!" Natsuki felt his earlier heroic rescue crumbling to nothing.
The beautiful girl simply didn't care!
"Damn it. This goes beyond mere ingratitude." He grumbled resentfully.
It wasn't that he had any particular feelings for the beautiful girl before him — he had simply wanted to play the hero saving the damsel in distress.
Yet this heroic rescue had turned sour. His pleasant fantasy shattered instantly.
"Don't misunderstand! Even if you hadn't come, I wouldn't have been harmed — after all, I am supremely powerful! No, it's even simpler than that! This entire world revolves around me; nothing harmful could possibly happen to me! My rescue was entirely my own achievement! Yet you claim this as your accomplishment — isn't it shameful to steal credit like that!" Priscilla proclaimed her absolute nature with complete confidence.
She asserted her own "absoluteness" as if it were the most natural thing in the world!
If the Sin Archbishop of Sloth were here, he would surely suspect this girl of being Pride incarnate. Though in fact, Priscilla had indeed encountered the Sin Archbishop of Pride before.
"Oh, I see... Sorry for doing something unnecessary. In that case, we'll be leaving now." Natsuki said coldly, realizing this girl was too unreasonable to be reasoned with and knowing there would be no gratitude.
The two immediately turned to leave.
"Stop right there, I'm not finished speaking!" Priscilla called out angrily as they tried to leave on their own terms.
"Let's continue our previous topic!" Pointing her folding fan at Adam who was walking ahead, Priscilla accused, "You, knowing full well who I am yet treating me with such attitude — are you trying to provoke me on behalf of that half-demon elf?!"
She absolutely despised those lacking dignity.
Adam's earlier affected manner had struck a nerve. Had it been his genuine nature, she might have accepted it — but his obvious pretense was deplorable and infuriating.
"No, I didn't. Don't make things up." Adam waved his hands dismissively, shaking his head.
His casual brush-off only proved her point further. Wasn't this just more evidence of his act?
"You bastard... How dare you mock me!" Priscilla jabbed her fan at him, "You discourteous wretch, as a Royal Selection candidate, I demand you kneel and apologize!"
"I refuse." Adam's response came without hesitation.
"How dare you suddenly show dignity now!"
"Kneeling is impossible. I will never kneel in this life — a man's knees are worth their weight in gold. I'm worried about knee pain."
"Then simply apologize!"
"You discourteous wretch! You truly are mocking me!"
The two began their war of words.
Though they traded verbal jabs, they hadn't come to blows, and both seemed to be enjoying the exchange.
As their argument dragged on, Natsuki, worried about Emilia, couldn't stand watching anymore. He immediately stepped between them.
"Listen here, what's your problem? We saved you, you know!"
"Hmph! I didn't need your saving — I could have saved myself!"
To outsiders, Priscilla's attitude would seem unreasonable.
But Adam knew her words were true. With her abilities, she naturally had nothing to fear.
And this was exactly why he had provoked her !
〘Divine Protection of the Sun〙, come to me, baby!
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