I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Deserters (4)

"Ehehehehehe...."

Inside a grand castle, a young girl was giggling to herself.

Though an undignified smile was on her face, the room she resided in was the most opulent in the entire castle.

"Hehehehehehehehehe...."

The girl who laughed like a lunatic was none other than Estelle, a Princess of this Imperial Court.

There was a reason why she looked as if she had thrown away all sense of dignity as a royal along with her fur.

"Hehehehehehe.... With this... with this...!"

With this, she believed she could satisfy her desires.

Estelle gripped a recording magitech device in her hand, letting her imagination run wild.

'Just how cute will it be.'

On this magitech device was a recording of Rio acting spoiled.

She had received it from Silia in exchange for handing over a novel she had cherished.

The books had some value to her, but compared to this magitech device, they were nothing.

It wasn't just any ordinary magitech device—it was one containing a record of Rio.

No ancient artifact or even a top-rank weapon was anything in front of this magitech device.

'Of course, that's only how it is from my perspective.'

The affection Estelle had for Rio was extraordinary.

After all, Estelle, born as a Princess of the Imperial Court, had experienced a most unfortunate childhood.

She had an older brother.

In the beginning, she and her Crown Prince older brother were just an ordinary brother and sister.

Back then, there hadn't been any significant issues, but the trouble started once a certain defect was discovered in her older brother.

'Suddenly, that magic power cripple comes to mind.'

The Crown Prince had been unable to possess any sort of strength from birth.

He didn't even inherit the traditional supernatural powers passed down through the royal family.

Stuck with a birth lower than even a slow-witted person, he cursed everything.

He resented not only the Emperor but also his little sister, Estelle.

It was because she possessed everything he did not.

'From then on, it was hell.'

But then, did he perhaps make a contract with a devil?

Suddenly, the Crown Prince gained magic power.

Of course, it was the result of a pact with a great devil, though at the time, no one knew the truth.

With his newfound power, the Crown Prince began to seize control of the Imperial Court.

And young Estelle had no power to stop her triumphant orabeoni.

Since the Crown Prince still resented Estelle, he constantly tormented her.

Even the usually polite courtiers suddenly became cold only to her,

Or she would be locked up in her room and not allowed outside.

'That bastard.'

He even brought their father to his side, it seemed.

Their father always sided with the Crown Prince.

Even when it wasn't Estelle's blunder, anything the Crown Prince messed up would be pinned on her instead.

Of course, it was because their father had been brainwashed by the Crown Prince, but Estelle couldn't have known that at the time.

Because she didn't understand, she grew afraid of even her father.

That's right. There were truly no allies for her in the Imperial Court.

It didn't take long for her to come to that conclusion.

While this hellish routine dragged on,

Finally, the accursed orabeoni's true nature was revealed, and she thought peace would finally return.

'But guess what.'

A curse the Crown Prince had set lingered on Estelle.

Because of it, her life was threatened by the demonkin who had taken over the Imperial Castle.

Was he truly so resentful of her to leave such a curse?

'No, more importantly... was there really no one to help me?'

Neither father nor any of the courtiers helped her.

Now unable to even trust her family, Estelle resolved to abandon all faith in others.

'But....'

That was only until the one who slew the demonkin appeared.

Yes, it was the very girl, Rio, whose visage was now recorded in this magitech device.

The first person she came to trust.

That meaning was profound, so Estelle poured an exceptional affection onto her.

To the extent that even the Emperor had felt a pang of jealousy watching her.

However, the Emperor, not being in a rightful position himself, did not want to hinder his daughter's happiness and stayed silent.

Thanks to that, there was no one in the castle to stop Estelle.

Eventually, that love reached the point of bursting.

'Yes, that's right. Miss Rio is more precious than anyone.'

More precious even than family.

As a royal, she shouldn't think this way, but... what could she do? It was instinct.

'Wait a second. Is it okay that Miss Rio is the Demon King?'

Of course, she didn't only have pleasant thoughts.

For days on end she dreamed of Rio, yet there was always one thing that snagged at her mind.

Was it really alright for a Princess of the Imperial Court to show affection toward the Demon King?

Wouldn't it make her a worshipper of the Demon King?

'Still, even so....'

It wouldn't matter.

No matter if she was the Demon King, miss Rio was still on the Empire's side.

And more importantly....

'She's so cute—there's no way she'd do something as absurd as destroying the world!'

Estelle again slipped into fantasy, flushed with excitement.

To be honest, the first time she saw her with the Mind's Eye, it was an immense shock.

That such a young girl could be the Demon King.

But because she was the Demon King, she somehow seemed all the more fascinating.

'Now that I think about it, there was a pink novel about a Demon King and a king falling in love.'

She had long since passed it on to Silia, but she still remembered the story.

If, like in that novel, a hero and a Demon King were to fall in love across their difference in status?

"Kyaahahahahaha!!"

Eventually, Estelle couldn't help but burst into manic laughter.

Just as she prepared to operate the recording magitech device with a crazed expression—

"Princess."

"Hiiiaaaaack!!"

Suddenly, Rio's voice rang out, and Estelle dropped the magitech device onto the ground.

Since it was orb-shaped, it rolled away into the corner as soon as it hit the floor.

"R-Rio? Why are you here...."

"You told me to come to your room tonight, Princess."

"Ah...."

Come to think of it, she really had invited Rio over to play.

She had called her here only to forget. Was she that out of her mind?

"You told me, if I met any knights wandering the castle, to show them this so I could come find you, Princess."

Rio displayed the ring Estelle had handed over during the last banquet.

Yes, that's right. She had given her that and invited her to her room.

Estelle sighed at her own forgetfulness.

"By the way, do I have to sleep here tonight?"

"Is that... not okay?"

Seeing Estelle's troubled face, Rio asked in return.

Seeing that look, Rio sensed that something bad might happen if she were turned away.

"It's not impossible."

"Really? Then, I'll sleep with you tonight!"

"Mm...."

Was it really alright for a Princess of the Imperial Court to be this defenseless?

Rio worried, but it wasn't something she needed to fret much over.

Estelle's Mind's Eye allowed her to tell if someone was safe or not.

"But Princess, your face is scary."

"Mine?"

"Yeah. Like a ghost."

"...."

The strange smile on Estelle's face sent a chill down Rio's spine.

It was unmistakably the look of someone harboring mischievous thoughts.

"Well, anyway... Miss Rio, was there anything difficult during your time with the special task force?"

With that, Estelle lay down on the bed and asked.

"Something difficult...."

Rio lay down as well and muttered thoughtfully.

She pondered what had been difficult.

But asking someone who was used to life in the demon realm about hardship—

To someone for whom difficulties were the norm, being asked such a question just proved the Princess was still a Princess at heart.

Still, Rio picked out one thing in particular.

"There aren't many strong opponents."

"Pardon?"

"I want to face stronger guys. But lately, no worthy opponents have shown up."

That was Rio's main concern.

Recently, three deserters she'd fought while guarding the royal family hadn't even been a challenge.

The only decent fight she'd had was with that hero, Bellain, but maybe because he hadn't fought with his full strength, the battle ended far too quickly.

"I need someone strong."

"If you're looking for a strong person... it should be someone close to you, right? The young master you always call..."

That boy who was the squad leader among the special task force.

Estelle had also observed him with her Mind's Eye.

From what she saw, he was an existence even greater and more powerful than the Demon King.

"If it's him, he should meet your criteria."

"I've already fought the young master over and over. I'm sick of it now."

Being in a superior and subordinate relationship, they obviously trained together countless times.

Once training ended, the next step would be real combat.

What Rio wanted now was the real thing.

"Now that you mention it, you really do just need a strong opponent right now, don't you?"

Estelle considered the environment Rio lived in.

The demon realm, where vicious monsters roamed.

The fortress, filled with trash-like criminals.

To survive in a place like that, strength was essential.

"Princess, are there any knights strong enough to be a challenge?"

"...."

Estelle exhaled sharply at that question.

"Miss Rio. Listen carefully."

And she said:

"There is no one in this Empire stronger than you, miss Rio."

"What?"

"Of course, that's only as far as I know... but I've been observing the most notable figures of the Empire with my Mind's Eye. To be blunt..."

After recalling her memories, Estelle declared:

"All of them don't measure up to you as you are now."

"...."

"If there are any exceptions, it would be a few others from the special task force, or the three people who were the Empire's only swordmasters."

Hearing this, Rio's face drooped with disappointment.

Seeing Rio like that, Estelle felt worried.

"Is it really such a serious issue?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Why was she so obsessed with strength?

It was beyond what Estelle could fix, so she felt a deep sense of frustration inside.

"It's for the young master."

"Huh?"

"I don't want to fall behind him."

Louis Seifert.

She meant that boy.

"Do you... like him?"

At Estelle's question, Rio leaned in close to her ear.

"Yeah. I really like him."

"What?"

"I'm only saying this because there's nobody else around."

With that, Rio cast aside her shyness and continued.

"The person I like most is the young master. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be who I am now. Of course, if not for that, I wouldn't have been able to save you, either, Princess."

"...."

Hearing that, Estelle fell into a deep contemplation.

Louis Seifert.

It was galling that he had claimed more of Rio's affection than herself, but she had no right to resent him.

If not for Louis, the Rio she liked would not exist.

"How much do you like him?"

"So much that I never want anyone else to have him."

Now that she thought about it, that recording magitech device—

Though it contained cute footage of Rio acting spoiled, it was obvious to whom she was displaying that childishness.

It was Louis Seifert.

"Could you say it to him directly?"

"What?"

At Estelle's question, Rio's face flushed red.

"N-no... that's...."

Seeing Rio embarrassed, Estelle's face broke into a radiant smile.

'Yes... this is it.'

So cute.

She wanted to hug her like crazy.

Her barely restrained possessiveness was about to explode again.

"I—I'll go to the bathroom for a bit."

But knowing she needed to regain her composure, Estelle stepped out of the room for a moment.

With Estelle gone, Rio was left alone and instinctively looked toward where Estelle had been lying.

"Hmm?"

Something caught her eye over there.

It was the round magitech device tucked in the corner.

"Why is that here?"

It looked familiar, so Rio approached and picked it up.

Upon closer inspection—just as she thought.

It was identical to the recording magitech devices the young master, Louis, had owned in large quantities.

'Only the bald old man (Headmaster Ferus) and the young master should have this, right?'

With that in mind, Rio activated the magitech device, just in case.

And at that moment....

.

.

.

"Miss Rio, you didn't wait too long, did you?"

Estelle returned to the room, her face bright and calm again.

But then...

["Waaaaaah!! Older Brother!! Please don't abandon me!! I promise I'll be good!!"]

A video was being projected out of thin air in the room.

"Hey, Princess."

And Rio, with an ominous look, asked her,

"Who did you get this from?"

Her expression was as if she would kill someone on the spot.

****

"So, why did I come find you, in the middle of the night?"

Rio had gone to wake Louis in his assigned room inside the castle.

With a face full of venom, she said:

"I have someone I want to take revenge on."

"Revenge for what?"

Louis looked at her quizzically. Rio held out the recording magitech device she had confiscated from Estelle.

"Hahaha...."

Seeing that, Louis let out a hollow laugh.

"I need your help, young master."

Louis readily agreed.

"Alright. But you'll take responsibility for any consequences."

"Okay."

Seeming satisfied, Rio smiled mischievously.