The Reincarnated Martial God Brings Down the Heavens

Chapter 150 – The Ball (1)

“……”

A heavy silence descended. There was no response at all.

“What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Especially Harun, whose mouth was hung open in a big ‘O’.

“Have you…… Looked in a mirror?”

At that moment, Jan swallowed hard and asked hesitantly.

“Mirror?”

I tilted my head in confusion at the question. Then, my expression hardened.

“Milon.”

“……It might be better if you didn’t.”

“Now.”

“Alright.”

Hummm!

A low hum resonated briefly. Before long, an image began forming in front of Milon.

Mirror image.

A second-circle spell that perfectly replicates and reflects the current appearance of its target.

“……”

I stood staring blankly at the illusion. Soon, I was looking directly into the eyes of an identical copy of me.

Hair darker and deeper than Erina’s, which had been dyed with hydra’s blood. Spotless black eyes contrasted starkly with skin as white as snow.

Yet, the delicate features made it clear that, if slightly older, the figure might be more fittingly called a beauty than a handsome man.

“……Why’s there a girl here?”

“Pfft!”

At my reaction, Kirian couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. My gaze turned sharply toward the culprit.

“……May.”

“Yes?”

“What’s the meaning of this?”

May avoided my piercing stare, her eyes darting everywhere.

“Was this why you were so eager to help with makeup?”

“No! I just got so into it while doing it that…… Hehe.”

May chuckled awkwardly before quickly hiding behind Milon. Her limping steps as she ran made it hard for me to stay angry at her.

“You’d better recover fully. Because I’ll definitely make you pay for this.”

“How can you talk about hitting a lady like it’s nothing?”

Winley, who had been quietly observing, stepped in between us.

“Big Sis, he’ll even hit a princess.”

“……”

May froze on the spot like a statue. Thinking it must have been a joke, she gave a cheeky smile.

“If you’re going to hit me anyway, want to try on a dress, too? Then I’ll really have no regrets. The makeup came out so well!”

“No, no. Big Sis, don’t. That wasn’t a joke. Calm down.”

The importance of experience shone through. Winley desperately tried to restrain May. Sensing that things were spiraling, she swiftly changed the topic.

“Marquis Laksir’s ball starts tonight. Typically, it lasts anywhere from three days to a week. Barring any special circumstances, it’s best to attend the first or last day.”

“Why’s that?”

“That’s when the largest number of guests will be in attendance. If you’re going, you might as well make connections, right?”

That made sense.

“Today is the first day, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s leave immediately.”

“……!”

Winley stammered, clearly flustered.

“Y-You’ll wipe off the makeup before going, right? Even without it, I think you’d cause a commotion.”

I understood Winley’s concern. After all, my standards for beauty weren’t much different from others’.

“It’s fine. If any weirdos come after me, I’ll beat them all up.”

“……”

“Come to think of it, that might actually work in my favor. If they give me an excuse, I’ll finally have a legitimate reason to show my skills……”

Before I could finish my sentence, Winley, who had been watching, smiled faintly. Then, turning to the others, she made an announcement.

“Get ready.”

“……Excuse me?”

She deliberately lowered her voice, and whispered her next few words.

“We’re going as that mad dog’s muzzle.”

I can hear you, Winley.

Actually, this wasn’t my first ball.

If I think back, my first experience was probably with ‘him’. It was around the time I rose from being a slave soldier to a knight.

“Raven, let’s go to the ball together.”

I even dressed up and visited his house.

Thanks to the mana pill Raven created, I had grown much stronger in a short time, and wanted to repay him for it.

“A ball? They’re just complicated and annoying. Why would I go somewhere like that?”

“Are you planning to live your life alone?”

“I’m fine. You go and enjoy yourself. I’m comfortable being alone.”

“You’re not comfortable being alone, you’re just used to it.”

“……?”

Raven tilted his head slightly, even though he didn’t even look up from his book.

“There’s a difference?”

“Of course. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Fooled by familiarity, never lose something precious’?”

“……Isn’t that advice about relationships?”

“It applies to you too. I’ve seen plenty of people who thought they were fine being alone when they were young, only to regret it later.”

Raven frowned, clearly puzzled.

“I think I’d actually prefer this. No responsibilities, just enjoyment. Besides, everyone around me says marriage is hell and warns me to never do it.”

“Cut ties with those people. They say that because they’ve already done it themselves. Do you want to grow old and die alone?”

“……”

Raven seemed to ponder this for a moment before waving his hand dismissively.

“Still, it’s a hassle. Go to the ball on your own.”

“I guess I’ll have to drag you there, then.”

Without hesitation, I walked over, lifted Raven’s small frame, and hoisted him up.

“Wh-What are you doing!? Put me down!”

“They say marriage is hell, right? Let’s go to the gates of hell together, my friend. At least with the two of us, it’ll be bearable.”

“You lunatic! Why are you meddling in my life!?”

“Meddling, my foot. I want to hang out with a friend. What’s wrong with that?”

“You’re an actual lunatic!”

And so, Raven was dragged by me to the ball. Several times, in fact.

He fell head over heels for a noblewoman at such a ball and even started dating her. Fortunately, she didn’t judge him for the curse he was suffering from.

Had a war not broken out shortly afterward, they might have even gotten married.

“Hey! What’s a guy who used to brew potions at home doing on the battlefield!?”

When the Continental Unification War began, Raven insisted on following me, carrying his things in a bundle.

Knowing how stubborn he was, I was completely exasperated.

“Do you actually want to die!?”

At that, Raven responded calmly to my outburst,

“I want to hang out with a friend. What’s wrong with that?”

“……!”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

With a mischievous grin I’d never seen before, he smirked, as if he finally had his revenge.

“……Lot!”

“……”

“Ancelot!”

I opened my eyes quietly.

“Were you dozing?”

The kids, dressed in their best attire, were looking at me from across the carriage.

“We’re here. It’s time to get out.”

Indeed, the rattling had stopped. We were currently sitting in a carriage.

“……It’s ridiculous. Why do we need a carriage for a trip that’s just a few steps?”

“Now that you’re a noble, you need to understand the importance of appearances. Is it a two-horse or four-horse carriage? Is it rimmed with gold or merely gold-plated? Are the wheels made of expensive wood or cheap wood? All these details are scrutinized the moment you step into high society.”

“What bullshit.”

I voiced my thoughts openly at Jan’s explanation.

“I knew you’d say that.”

Winley stifled a laugh as she replied.

“The moment this door opens, it’s a battlefield. Is everyone ready?”

Her gaze settled on Erina and me.

“Especially you two. Don’t cause any trouble. Please”

Wearing a pristine white dress, Winley repeated her plea, clearly foreseeing disaster.

“Your Highness, come on. He’s a noble now. Surely the honored guest wouldn’t cause trouble.”

“Right. I doubt he’d ruin the party of someone who extended us such a kind invitation.”

“That’s precisely why we came. To prevent it.”

Kirian, Harun, and Jan each responded in turn.

“Enough worrying! Just open the door already. It’s stifling here.”

“……!”

Bang!

Before anyone could stop me, I kicked the carriage door open.

“W-Wait!”

Winley’s words were cut off mid-sentence.

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

Immediately, I made eye contact with a group of overly suave men who reminded me of butter.

This was the garden of Marquis Laksir’s estate, a place where nobles mingled and found partners before entering the ballroom.

In other words, we had just locked eyes with a pack of wolves.

“P-P-Princess Winley?!”

One man’s face contorted in disbelief, as though he had seen the impossible.

The mysterious allure of the second princess of the Hart Kingdom was legendary, after all. His exclamation drew everyone’s attention toward us.

“Gasp!”

Soft gasps echoed from various directions.

“G-Goodness……”

“B-Brother! Look! Over there!”

“I-I’m already looking. Were there such beauties in our kingdom?”

“All three of them are stunningly gorgeous.”

Crack.

I heard that, of course.

For the record, only two women were in this carriage: Winley and Erina. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who the mysterious ‘third’ was referring to.

“How could anyone be so beautiful? I feel like my eyes have been opened to a new world today!”

Right then, the butter-like man closest to the carriage grabbed my hand.

“Please, step down slowly. Ah, I am Raphael of the Perry Viscounty. If you grant me the honor of escorting such a lovely lady tonight, it would be the pride of my family……”

“Pfft.”

Unable to hold back, Kirian let out a laugh. At that moment, my patience snapped.

“……Are your eyes just for decoration?”

“Excuse me?”

“Can’t you see I’m wearing men’s clothes?”

“……Huh……?”

“Take this!”

Whack!

I kicked him square in his greasy face immediately.

“Ugh!”

Butter Guy collapsed, clutching his nose.

“……!”

Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, I heard the sound of someone slapping their forehead.

Smack!

Winley jumped out of the carriage.

“O-Oh my, I’m so sorry! It seems he lost his footing while getting off.”

She awkwardly tried to explain, her face drenched in cold sweat. Meanwhile, Butter Guy rolled on the ground before springing to his feet.

“Ah, ahahaha! Not at all! I’m not hurt one bit. Mistakes happen!”

“You’re not hurt?”

At my mutter, Butter Guy flinched. His trembling betrayed his true feelings. Should I hit him again while I’m at it?

‘You stay put! I told you not to cause trouble! Please, I’m begging you! Ah, damn it! Just kill me, instead!’

Winley’s frantic gaze darted around as if she were performing a tap routine.

Even though she hadn’t opened her mouth or used mana to convey her thoughts, I heard them crystal clear.

* * *