[ Author's Note: Sorry for the delay and short chapter, sh*t went down in my life for the past week or so, and I wasn't in the mood to write anything, I'll try to churn out extra chapters to make up for it. Please enjoy.]
Charles POV:
*Metallic Boots Marching On Marble Floor SFX*
Alright, take a left up these stairs, past the long, wide fancy hallways lined with precious and expensive art and decor.
After walking past the second intersection, take a right past the statues of several unusual figures, all with different individual designs that stood lined up in between the gaps of the large arched windows that lit up the hallways from both sides.
Then, after reaching the end of the hallway, go up a simple set of spiralling wooden stairs that keep going on without end.
I honestly thought those stairs would never have ended if there weren't small, thin vertical window slits that lit up the path every so often and allowed me to view the faculties and amenities of Babylonia Academy from above.
The further up I went, the greater the distance I could see.
Oh, boy. Let me tell you. This place is literally in the middle of nowhere.
I'm serious, outside of the Academy walls, which covered several thousand square kilometres (which is quite impressive). There was literally nothing else except for unending fields of grass and flowers as far as I could see the further up the staircase I climbed.
By Ishta's name! How long must I climb these stairs for!? Fifteen minutes have passed, yet I see no signs of these stairs ending anytime soon!
Although this may sound like I'm being narcissistic, I can confidently say that I'm incredibly well-built to the point if young girls were to catch a glimpse of my skin showing, they would fall over on the floor with fountains of blood gushing out of their noses.
I vividly remember a scene where I was taking a pleasant hot bath after one of my first victories against Notoros' army alongside the Saints and my other comrades.
Basically, the younger me was exhausted, being on the cusp of death after fending off an army of five hundred thousand or so of Notoros' goons.
I forgot the exact number that I fought. I think it was higher than five hundred thousand, but you aren't here to listen to me brag, are you?
Well, here's what happened.
After an exhausting day of slaying monsters, I went to the Royal Palace's bath.
Unlike what most of you might think, this isn't the classic novel trope where the main character walks into the beautiful heavenly scene of various maidens of all ages, sizes, maturity and adorableness gathering together in their birthday attires for the protagonist to behold while. Once he has memorized the fantastic sight of the unveiled secrets women hide behind clothes, the women realize they were peeped on and yell pervert before beating the living daylights out of him.
Nope, it was the opposite that occurred.
That's right. It is a reverse bathroom scene.
Actually, it was more like a massacre scene from all the blood-spurting.
Back to the story, I was minding my business and chilling in the Royal Palace's hot tub.
I sat in the hot baths for ten to fifteen minutes when I heard something drop.
My battle instincts indoctrinated into me from childhood kicked in, and I unsheathed my black greatsword. It was a fantastic sword. I should tell you about how I got it sometimes.
Anyways, back to the bathroom scene.
With my greatsword in hand, I leaped out of the hot bath and dashed to where the sound came from.
*WHOOSH!*
Sensing the individuals that intruded on the Royal Baths, I swung my sword and was about to decapitate them.
Before that could happen, the steam that filled the baths parted away from the sheer force I put behind the blow. Seeing who it was, I immediately stopped my sword millimetres away from the intruder's neck.
My mouth was slightly open in shock at who I was seeing.
It was...
Drum rolls, please!
[Drum rolling SFX]
It was none other than my trusted second-in-command (and the woman I wish to be with), Izelia.
[Author's Note: Vote in the comments on which character you like best. I might do a special chapter featuring them and reveal some of their past! This is a limited-time offer! If I don't see any votes by the time the next chapter comes out, I'll keep posting chapters focusing on the main storyline until I decide to post a holiday/seasonal special.]
We stared at each other for a few moments before Izelia's face became redder than a tomato, and then she collapsed on the ground, nose bleeding.
*SPLURT!*
*SPLURT!*
*SPLURT!*
Strange, I could have sworn that I heard multiple sounds of blood gushing, but I only see Izelia lying on the ground in front of me, but she didn't make a sound, and the amount of blood leaking from her nose was only a little trickle that was barely noticeable.
I peeked behind Izelia and found various girls, ranging from cute and petite to mature and endowed, who were all bleeding non-stop from their noses to the point some had fainted, much like Izelia.
The only one who wasn't flustered was a crimson-haired, gold-eyed woman in her early twenties with an above-average height and chiselled flat body who gave a wide Cheshire cat smile and a teasing look in her eyes.
"My, my, my! It looks like the Captain's Dragon has already party-wiped us before it could spread its wings and unleash its breath!"
Gosh, how I hated that woman! She'd always make the most inappropriate remarks!
What's worse is that her jokes are actually pretty funny!
*Sigh!*
Despite not holding her in the highest of regards, she is still a friend. I wonder what she's doing, probably retired in her hometown and wasting her pension on booze and gambling.
Although that's none of my concern as her younger sister usually sets her straight every time she's about to go overboard.
Hah, I really miss my friends and comrades, not just the ones I defeated Notoros alongside, but my oldest friends, who were with me from the start.
The pervert-mouthed Phoenix Knight of Flames, Ceria, always finding a way to lighten up the mood with her wacky and inappropriate antics.
The wise blind Sage of a Thousand Spells who always offered me counsel during my more youthful and rash years, Merlocke.
The Wandering Blade, Serina, whose brilliant sword skills are on par with mine and has equally good leadership but a terrible memory that would even forget some of her friends' names.
The old paladin Corvarus, a man without any exceptional legends about himself, but if you were in the top brass, you would know how terrifying he is. He also just so happened to be my mentor.
By now, they were all dead, retired, or missing and then replaced by members of a younger generation whom I shared equally good bonds with.
However, there's just something special about the first friends you make that makes you remember them more than the others you make along the way.
I'm probably being biased here since I haven't visited my old retired comrades for several years while I just died yesterday after having a small drinking party with my current crew and beating Notoros.
Beating Notoros.
Now that I think about it, I can remember beating Notoros, but I can't remember how me and my comrades beat him.
Hmm, I doubt that's important, but I'll keep a mental note of that if my brain hasn't been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's already.
Alright, enough nostalgia. Back to the bathroom scene you all want.
"My, my, my! It looks like the Captain's Dragon has already party-wiped us before it could spread its wings and unleash its breath!"
Oh! By the way, did I forget to mention that I held the rank of Captain during my early-
You know what? Forget it. You can listen to my stories some other time if you happen to vote for me to be featured in the next special chapter.
Ignoring that minor fourth wall break, let's move on.
"My, my, my! It looks like the Captain's Dragon has already party-wiped us before it could spread its wings and unleash its breath!"
Having experienced what it's like to fall for her taunts, I ignored Ceria and checked on the condition of the other girls behind Izelia.
I won't bore you with their names and appearances since I've prattled on for long enough already. To cut it short, their situation was just like Izelia's. Lying unconscious on the ground with blood spurting out their noses like a fountain.
Once I checked their conditions to see if they would be alright, I left them in the care of Ceria, who kept eyeing my lower body with a disturbing look in her eyes and her wider-than-usual Chesire grin.
This prompted me to wrap a towel around my waist before I bid Seria farewell and left the baths.
End of story.
Were you disappointed that I didn't describe what their bodies looked like?
I'm sorry to say this, but a gentleman never spreads a lady's secret.
If they were clothed, I might have teased you with their appearance and let your imagination run wild. Unfortunately, the majority of them weren't, so I must keep their three sizes a secret lest I be hunted down and sent to the Underworld.
Oh, finally! I've reached the top of the stairs!
Awaiting me at the top was a short undecorated wood hallway with double oak doors with the sign, "Headmaster's Office'' hanging above.
Alright! Time for me to get a job!
[After The Match Will likely be continued, the next chapter has a different title.]