With the tension cranked up this far and both sides having said their piece, Reinhard really had no choice but to fight Hayashi Maki.
Facing Hayashi Maki's punch—so strong it shattered the air with a sonic boom—Reinhard hurriedly drew his spare sword to block.
The next second:
Crack.
The blade snapped in half. Reinhard's face changed; he was sent flying, flipped once midair, then skidded more than ten meters across the floor before he finally came to a stop.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and one side of his face was swollen. He looked surprisingly battered.
"I underestimated you, kid," Reinhard said, wiping the blood away and looking up with a burning gaze.
Reid, the Dragon Sword, was already trembling at his hip—proof that he'd encountered someone who could genuinely threaten his life.
"You really shouldn't have underestimated me. I thought a Sword Saint would at least be able to dodge one punch. I assume you'll be drawing that sword next, right?" Hayashi Maki replied, eyes sparkling with interest.
Ever since obtaining this absurd level of power, he'd mostly been spending his days dating cute girls and enjoying a comfy life.
Either making out with Mahiru, playing with Yukino's long legs, or teasing Mori-sama and Miura Yumiko—sharing warm, quiet moments with the girls he'd contracted as dependents.
He had never had a proper all-out fight with a strong opponent, so he desperately wanted to know where his combat power actually stood.
And since he couldn't really die here—what with Aqua's power and his contract letting him revive—he could cut loose against this world's golden child.
Reinhard clearly felt the fighting spirit aimed his way. For a moment, he seemed tempted.
But then he exhaled, gave a wry smile… and sheathed his sword.
He bowed deeply to Hayashi Maki and the others.
"I apologize. I was out of line."
"Eh?" Hayashi Maki froze. "What's that supposed to mean? You're not going to fight?"
Reinhard shook his head with a small smile.
"Much as I'd like to cross blades with someone this strong, now is not the time. I have something far more important to do—and that is to save Lugnica."
As he spoke, the injuries on his face rapidly healed over.
As this world's chosen child, blessed by countless Authorities, Reinhard could simply have whatever blessing he needed. Restoring his body was trivial.
Seeing how serious he was, Hayashi Maki clicked his tongue and lost interest.
If the guy didn't want to fight, he couldn't exactly force him. Reinhard was a straight-laced good guy, after all, the kind who put nation and duty first.
The pity was that, despite wielding one of the strongest powers in the world, even he couldn't truly change this kingdom's rotten state.
Noticing that Hayashi Maki wasn't going to attack again, Reinhard let out a quiet breath of relief.
He steadied himself, stepped forward, and addressed the group:
"Emilia-sama, and you as well, young man. I want to take Felt back to confirm her royal status. This is for the good of the kingdom."
"Royal…?" Felt pointed to herself, completely lost.
"Hey, hey, what are you talking about? I'm just a commoner scraping by in the slums as a thief so I can eat. How could I be royalty?"
Old Man Rom's expression, however, had turned oddly troubled.
Reinhard caught it, and his certainty only grew. He continued, more gently:
"I believe this gentleman here might know something. But I won't mistake it—Felt, your golden hair and red eyes are exactly the same as the previous king of Lugnica. Those are the marks of the royal line."
"And more importantly, when Emilia-sama's insignia was in your hand, it glowed. Only those recognized by the Dragon, the Dragon Priestesses, can make the royal stone respond."
Felt stared, stunned, then slowly turned to look at Rom.
"So it's… true? I'm royalty? A princess of the kingdom? You've gotta be kidding…"
Rom sighed heavily.
"Back then… yeah. A blond man with red eyes handed you to me to raise."
Emilia was just as shocked.
"So, Reinhard, you never meant to hurt Felt, did you? Because I'm one of the Dragon Priestesses too, you couldn't tell me the truth?"
Reinhard smiled apologetically. "Forgive me. Given that you and Felt would be rivals in the royal selection, I thought it best not to speak of it yet. For the selection to proceed smoothly—for the kingdom's sake—I must bring her back to be sure."
"That's why, young man," he turned back to Hayashi Maki, "Felt cannot be your maid. She's of the royal line—she may become this kingdom's queen."
Hayashi Maki's lips curled. "I don't mind. Having a princess as a maid would be quite the flex, don't you think?"
Reinhard's face went dark. "This is no laughing matter. I can't allow that."
"You may not understand this country's current situation, but I must take Felt with me," he insisted.
Hayashi Maki ruffled Felt's hair lightly and asked, soft but serious:
"Felt, what do you think? If you don't want to go, then even if this guy really is the legendary Sword Saint, I won't just let him drag you off."
"And as for being my maid—I won't force you. It's your choice."
"Eh? You're asking me?" Felt's head was spinning.
Just a slum rat who'd scraped by for ten years, suddenly being told she was some lost princess—how was she supposed to process that?
"What is there to think about? Of course you go," Aqua cut in bluntly. "What's better, staying a broke street kid or becoming a princess? That's not exactly a hard question."
Reinhard seized the moment, dropping to one knee with knightly formality and holding out his hand to Felt.
"Felt-sama. My name is Reinhard van Astrea, called the Sword Saint. If you will come with me and join the royal selection, I swear on my life I will protect you. The House of Astrea will be your greatest ally."
His sincerity only made Felt more conflicted.
She looked to Rom, then to Hayashi Maki and Emilia, eyes searching.
She wasn't stupid.
Compared to being a so-called princess, someone who'd already seen how ugly the world could be would always value freedom more.
Emilia smiled gently. "I think… you should go. Sir Reinhard is a good man. And if you don't join, I doubt the selection can even proceed."
Even as a rival, Emilia wouldn't stoop to underhanded tactics—or let a fellow candidate be killed before things even began.
"What do you think, Rom-san?" she asked.
Felt gave Emilia a grateful look, then turned to the man who'd raised her.
The old giant let out another long sigh. "I'm already half a foot in the grave. What I think hardly matters. But I don't want to see you stuck in this slum forever."
"If this kid really turns out to be reliable, it might not be a bad place for you to end up…"
As for Hayashi Maki? Best not.
Given the choice between becoming a maid and becoming a queen, anyone with half a brain knew which one made more sense.