--You can live your life doing what you want.

　That's what his father told him when he was twelve years old.

　Unlike his older siblings, Barrier Reef, who had always had an uninhibited personality, grew up in a strict household and did as he pleased.

　He absorbed both academics and martial arts with overwhelming talent, and class time was boring for him. Hear one, know ten. That's why his childish mind comes out.

　Whenever he had a chance, he would escape from the castle to play, and before he knew it, he had become the leader of the bad boys.

　He took to the seas, toyed with the guards, and above all, loved to wield his sword.

"The prince is really amazing.
"You're a genius!
You're a genius." "You're a genius at everything you do.

　That's what the bad boys in town say.
　Barrier Reef always tried his best to live up to their expectations.

　He honed his surfing skills, learned swordsmanship, and learned how to win people's hearts.

　The untouchable fifth prince. That was the rumor in the capital, but no one in the service of the castle had a bad word to say about him.

　Charismatic by nature, they said.

　In any case, at the age of twelve, he was able to control the hearts and minds of the capital.

　That's why, when he was allowed to leave his official duties and live freely, Barrier Reef thought.

　He wondered if he had gotten in the way.

　"Barrier Reef knew that such emotions could occur in humans.
　He also understood his profession.

　So it's not surprising that his father and relatives find Barrier Reef disturbing.

　So...

　--You can do whatever you want.

　When Barrier Reef was told that, the emotion that arose in his heart was not joy.

　On the contrary, he was told to stay out of politics.
　That's how the young Barrier Reef interpreted his father's words, and it spurred him on to play more and more with his peers in the city.

　It was around this time that Ruri's mother, Princess Azalea, looked at him with amusement.

　Azalea, whom Barrier Reef called "big sister," adored him. Although they were half-siblings, the sickly sister and the uninhibited brother were a good match, and their lack of political ambition made them easy to get along with.

　What should I do?

　Barrier Reef once asked Azalea for such advice.

"Well, you should start by finding out what you like to do.

　Barrier Reef nodded strongly at her smiling sister.

　What I like to do.
　Playing in the ocean, playing with friends, wielding a sword.

　She liked them all, but they didn't feel right.

　But the turning point came soon enough.

"You know the Colosseum, if Barrier Reef went there, they'd win in a heartbeat.

　That's what one of my bad boy friends said, and the Colosseum became a rolling topic of conversation.
　The Colosseum is a place where people compete in sword strength contests.

　Barrier Reef was strongly attracted to it.

　Not that he liked wielding a sword, no.

　Words of expectation were spoken to Barrier Reef.

　It was his strong desire to live up to them that drove him.

　With the support of his friends in town, he left home.

　It was just around the time Azalea's engagement was set.








　--a few years ago. Colosseum.


　The match between Ichinotachi and Ninotachi was so heated that it was considered a virtual final.

　In total, the two fighters had a winning ratio of 6:4.

　The turnout on the final day of the season, when the right to challenge for the championship was on the line, was tremendous.

　NINOTACHI. The name is Ocean Big Wave.
　A genius with a sword who appeared like a comet.
　His exotic appearance, and his soft but neat appearance. He has established his position as the Colosseum's most popular swordsman, with a strong charisma that attracts people to him.

　His battle style is a self-directed swordplay that plays with the opponent.
　His movements are wasteful, and the way he wields his sword like a playful man, disrupts the pace of his opponents.

　Some people criticized his lack of basic skills.
　It is true that his behavior lacked the physical strength of a warrior, and it was said that this was the reason why he could not beat Ichinotachi.

　Because he was a very popular fighter, the outside world wanted him to win, so they shouted misguided meddling.

　Nevertheless, Ocean Big Wave responded to them with a smile, and without changing his battle style, wielded his sword to become the champion.

　--It was a hard road.

　He spent his days swinging his sword as people cheered him on.
　On his days off, he would go out into the streets and interact with his fans.
　On match days, he would get everyone excited and show off his talents with stunts.

　The genius swordsman Ocean Big Wave knew how to fight and live up to expectations.

　It was the same thing he had been doing since he was a child.

　Sell your genius, make friends with your fans, and...

　Never work hard. Never train.

　That's why you're a genius swordsman.

　But...



"Winner!　Champion Hooter!



　Champion is out of reach. On the contrary, even winning the right to challenge him required a fierce struggle.

　Today, the match with Futa was taken by Ichinotachi.
　The same Ichinotachi also lost.



　The Barrier Reef stops the Champion as he trudges back from the Colosseum with a disappointment that can hardly be called a cheer.

"Yes?

　Barrier Reef was annoyed.
　It was in his nature to overlook those who were not doing well.

　Champion Huta was a perfect example.

　So he decided to give him a little advice.

"Why don't you give yourself a makeover?
"A makeover?
I don't know much about it. Well...

　I cross my arms and think about it.
　After all, this unfriendly, boring, and unpredictable fighting style must be what made the champion unpopular.
　I knew that.

　So I said.

"Well, why don't you just stop trying like me?
"......?

　A genius swordsman who always plays with his fans.
　I'm popular, so I'm sure if I do the same he will be too.

　I'm sure he'll be able to do the same.

　He said.

"You're working hard, aren't you?

　I immediately knew what he meant by that.
　I didn't know what kind of power Futa had, but still.
　I didn't know what kind of power Futa had, but still... I didn't mean that he was working hard on fan service or self-production or anything like that.

　Just. It's just that behind the scenes, people noticed the sword I'm wielding desperately to become a champion.

　--Trying to live up to expectations is just lame if you show it.

　Futa tilted his head and walked away without any effort.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

I'm so lame.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

　No matter how hard I try, if he sees through my efforts, I'll have nothing left to look forward to.

　That's it. That was the only thing that Ocean Big Wave and Barrier Reef F. Christ could not tolerate.


　So...


"Hey Huta!

　With a pointing finger and a drawn bow gesture.

"I'll get your hopes up. I'm going to beat you, so look forward to it, okay?

　I'm going to turn those eyes that don't expect anything from the challenger into fighting spirit.

　There was a day when I swore that.




　It wasn't long after that that Futa was expelled.



　I hate being lame.

　I can't stand to be lame.

　It's my job to make everyone in the world have high expectations.

　So I'm sure one day... I'll put a light in the champion's eyes with my own hands.


　So I waited in the Colosseum.
　I used people to find him.


　--Until I heard the news of my father's death and the turmoil in my homeland.
















"Is it really Ocean?

　I asked with almost certainty.

　Futa had never met a prince by the name of Barrier Reef F. Christ.

　But his appearance, his tone of voice.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.

"Hmmm... ....... I'm so lame. Lila, when did you find out?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that.

　It's not often that you can connect a man named Ocean Big Wave to Barrier Reef F. Christ.

　Barrier Reef, on the other hand, did not look like a warrior.
　Because of his battle style, his body does not allow warriors to recognize him as a warrior.

　And yet, her brain was able to determine that it was the second sword of the Eight Flashes of Heaven.

　And Barrier Reef wanted a reason why she dared to reveal it in front of Futa.

There are several reasons. Of course there's the appearance information, but the coincidence between Ocean Big Wave and your "profession" is a big one, isn't it? And the fact that you deliberately kept your five years of debauchery a secret. --It's hard to imagine you going out of the country to fight swords. I needed some time to think about that.
Wouldn't ...... say that's wrong?
Yes, it does. I would have thought so, too, if it hadn't been for that ...... thing.
"That?

　Yes," Lilac nodded.

　I'm not sure if I'd have been able to do that if I hadn't had the chance.


"You have other, stronger goals.

I'm sure. I'm sure ...... you've got one?



You can't have that. That purpose is.



"Shouldn't there be ......?

Yeah. I am Barrier Reef F. Christ. I'm Barrier Reef F. Christ. I'm the fifth prince of the empire, and I came to this kingdom for filial piety.



　Lilac gave Barrier Reef a broken smile that seemed somewhat naive.
　That's because he sees through her true nature.

　--Aside from the fact that there was one unemployed person who was surprised by Lilac's expression.

　Lilac laughed as she compared herself as a warrior to Barrier Reef.

For example, if that sword is cursed to be drawn only once more...

　Barrier Reef's weapon was only allowed to be wielded once more by the "contract".
　He must have decided not to get involved in the imperial upheaval. He would not fight with his family. He would fulfill his father's dying wish. That's why he set himself a warning.

　Lilac knew this.

　Oh, she realized.

"I want to make out with a very pretty girl.
"Other?　Oh, you mean the purpose. I don't know. What, like an event?　I'd love to do that. Like an event barrier reef?
"Yeah, I want to make a pool out of ...... other ...... kingdom liquor ...... and .......

　A purpose so strong that it makes all of that unimportant.

　But a goal that I know is only selfishness.

　--After making a contract with the first prince, I couldn't give up and kept looking, and so I arrived. I've arrived.

　I've found out that there's a man in King's Landing that I've been looking for.

"I would. I'll take the summit.
"Lila-chan......

　I'm sure you've heard of it.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

"What?

　Lilac gulped.

　The eyes were strong and supple, as if to fulfill the mission of an imperial prince. No, no.
　The lively, lethargic eyes that revealed her usual flirtatious nature. No!

　The eyes of a swordsman I've never seen before, filled with a sharp fighting spirit.

　They're not looking at Lilac anymore.

　Everyone in this room is out of sight.

　Only one.

　There's only one person in sight.

I can't do it. Once I see that, I don't care about any other purpose. I'm seriously unfit to be a prince. No matter how old I get.

　I'm sorry I'm such a bad son.

"Want to make out with girls. "I want to make out with girls. Or even drink pool. --Filial piety...

　Ocean Big Wave grasps his sword and stares only at the peak standing before him.

"I don't need anything. As long as I get to fight you one more time.

　Futa.

"Fight me, please. --So that I can become a prince again.



　--The curtain rises and the swordsman comes to challenge the peak.