And we finish the prologue!
We'll take a break from these chapters, until our pal can catch up with his proofreading!
Enjoy!
[How mortifying, losing to these guys!]
Nanael bit her lips. She still had strength to fight. She had just broken the condition from Heaven that she couldn't spill the Holy Milk. It wasn’t like she had used up all her stamina fighting!
However… the Head Angel would never allow her to continue.
(Nanael… you spilled it all.)
As she lay on the floor, covered with milk, a divine message from the Head Angel sounded in her mind.
[Speak of the devil, huh.]
The divine message had perfect timing, and Nanael hurried to straighten up.
*Gon!*
As she straightened from her lying down position, she hit her head against a pillar from the temple.
“Hawah! H-Head Angel.”
Nanael rolled on the floor holding her head, fighting back tears.
(If you had fought with elegance, grace and dignity, it shouldn’t have spilt.)
“Y-You’re right. Yes! Forgive me!”
(I will hear your report back in Heaven. Please let me hear then about the unsightly way you lost, straight from your lips, alright?)
[Boo-hoo, the Head Angel is a sadiiist!]
Holding back her scream, Nanael staggered up.
***
“Winner, Ancient Princess Menace!”
With that declaration, the crystal ball returned to the princess’ hands. At the same time, thunderous cheers echoed from outside the temple.
“Hurray, Lady Menace!”
“May the goddess’ eternal blessing be with you!”
“Menace! Menace!”
The inhabitants’ voices shook the temple, the oasis, even the entire desert!
“By the way…”
Setra’s gaze fixed on Nanael. The girl was answering the Head Angel, but to the casual observer, it seemed like she was talking to herself - swinging from joy to sorrow once and again.
“...Wouldn’t you say the gal turned a bit weird after losing?”
“Is it because of the royal family’s curse?”
“Wrong!”
She must have finished with the heavenly instructions, for Nanael finally came to her senses, put the bottle back in her belt and fixed her clothes. With just a snap of her fingers, the torn, tattered clothes went back to being as good as new.
“Whoa~, that is convenient.”
Menace voiced her admiration, seeing how fast the ange had changed clothes.
“Hmph. A miracle of this caliber is easy.”
“Coming from you, it must be really easy.”
“Grr~, I’ll remember this~! Don’t think you’ll be so lucky next time!“
As she said so, Nanael turned on her heels, and ran off the temple as fast as she could.
“You know, the fellas who say that are the ones who keep losing.”
Setra briefly commented, looking at the polka dot pattern flickering every time the skirt’s hem fluttered.
“This Queen’s Blade thing is exhausting, isn’t it? Can’t I get someone to fight in my behalf?“
Menace slowly headed for the temple’s balcony, as she wiped the sweat off her brow.
“Hurray, Princess Menace!”
“Congratulations on your victory!”
As she stood on the balcony, the people cheered clamorously at her. The princess answered back with a smile.
“See, Milady? Ain’t it an impossible wish, getting someone to fight in your stead?”
“Why?”
“Try to take a goo~d look below you.”
After taking a step into the balcony, the people who had heard about Menace’s victory were all under her eyes. There was not a single woman among all those oasis inhabitants wearing the snake crowns on their foreheads.
“There are only men here, and you can’t participate in The Queen’s Blade if you’re not a woman.”
“Well then, we should call one female warrior who can fight in my behalf. That was easy.”
Menace pointed out, like she had come up with a good idea, and ordered Setra:
“Please bring me a female warrior tonight.”
***
Queen’s Blade.
A huge competition held once every 4 years to choose the Continent’s Queen.
Anyone over 12 years could participate, which is why many women were intent on participating and fighting their way through.
Was a glorious victory waiting for them? Or maybe a defeat to the point where they’d lose their lives?
They won’t know that unless they fight!
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