Chapter 3

I Took a Princess' First!?

Part 1

In the dark of the night, terror lurked.

As soon as the door of her room softly creaked, Fräulein opened her eyes while pretending to sleep. She knew it was dangerous to do any sudden movements. As for who it could be... there were two such candidates.

There was her twin sister, Fraulein. Two years ago, on the first few days of their cohabitation, she would suddenly sneak inside Fräulein's room and stare at her all night long. After a few discussions about privacy, Fraulein conceded, granted that she allowed her to sleep on the same bed from time to time. Nah, Fraulein would've used some looking spell that she wouldn't notice instead. That cheat.

There was also Princess Clementine. Maybe she realized that Fräulein used sneaky methods to defeat her, instead of going at it fair and square? Nah, Princess Clementine was, well, she was too proud (noisy) to do a night ambush.

The footsteps were barely audible. Breathing was almost non-existent. Whoever this was, he or she was good. It was probably a she. A male wouldn't be shameless enough to enter the female dormitory, right? Right?

Fräulein promptly swung herself out of the bed, avoiding the knife aimed for her neck within a hair's breadth. After soundlessly landing on the floor, she drew the knife hidden under her skirt in a flash and focused on the unwelcomed assailant.

Silver hair reminiscent of the moon. A dark robe that hid her clothes well. Soulless black eyes. She was just a kid, maybe thirteen, but Fräulein knew better than to underestimate the enemy. She instinctively knew that if she wanted to live, she had to fight to kill.

Fräulein took a deep breath. Her mind sharpened to its utmost limits, and her eyes became the eyes of a predator. This was the mindset she had when she took a job, no matter what world she was in.

No words were needed between them. The silver-haired girl flung seven knives from under her cloak her way. Fräulein sidestepped to avoid them, and parried the ones that changed direction halfway with her knife. She was composed.

And before she knew it, Fräulein was surrounded by all kinds of knives floating in midair. There were kitchen knives, butcher's knives, scalpels and even razors. It was a surreal sight to behold.

"... What's with this freak show?"

They all drew close at once. The flying knives' assault were relentless. It felt like each one of them had lives on their own. They hacked, they slashed, and they thrust— all to bury themselves under her skin.

But to the silver-haired girl's surprise, her knives were no match to Fräulein's inhuman instincts. She gracefully danced along with them, parrying and avoiding those silver blurs with ease. Fräulein led the knives to an otherworldly waltz, captivating even the silver-haired girl. After catching a small opening between the attacks, Fräulein flung three poison darts aimed at her chest.

The darts froze still in midair.

The silver-haired girl's eyebrow twitched from that sudden attack. Of course, Fräulein didn't miss that girl's lapse in concentration and took a bold step forward, slipping through the floating knives around. She thrust her knife and aimed for her throat. The young girl hurriedly parried the attack with the knife on her hand, staggering backwards. Fräulein didn't stop there and pursued.

Sparks and the sound of blades colliding filled the room. The silver-haired girl—Alice—knew she would die if she showed even a sliver of an opening. She desperately countered the mad woman's attacks. Some attacks slipped through Alice's defense and grazed her cheeks, her hands and her torso. She was wounded all over. Alice purposely showed openings in an attempt to turn the situation around, but the blonde beast took none of them.

Fräulein was a grim reaper, a girl who knew no other way of living. A defective person.

No matter how strong, no matter how weak,

for her, all were equal in the eyes of death.

The moment Alice met those sapphire blue eyes, she faltered. It was back, that emotion she thought was long gone: fear.

Fear for her life. Fear from this monster who unrelentingly barraged her with knife techniques she has never seen before.

That fear gave birth to hesitation. Her stance broke and her grip loosened. Fräulein didn't miss that moment of opportunity. She hurled a kick to her wrist that flung her knife away. Before she could recover from the shock, Fräulein connected a heavy uppercut straight to her jaw.

Alice wasn't even able to have any final thoughts.

Part 2

Morning.

Soft sunlight filtering from the window roused Alice from her unconsciousness. Her head was throbbing in pain and she was desperately holding back the urge to vomit. She tried to move, but noticed her wrists were firmly tied behind her back. She was gagged. She was also buck naked with only a thin blanket to cover her body.

But all of that paled to the silver glint of the knife that was dangerously close to her neck.

"Morning, sleepyhead. Just a reminder, if I see something move by itself here in this room, I'll make sure it never moves again. Along with you."

Fräulein pushed the knife closer to her carotid artery, and a slow trickle of blood began. She was serious, and Alice got the message. She desperately nodded, clinging for her dear life.

"But really, you're good. And that telekinesis power, it's the first time I've seen it. Your freaky knives were zigzagging through the air! Was that a circus performance? Also, what's with your godly knife skills? I was scared for a second there, you know? ... Anyways, on to the questions! Nod your head for yes, shake for no. If you don't know or want to answer, just say so. That is, if you can."

Alice couldn't stop her shaking. She knew her death would come once after she spilled everything. She knew, because she would do so if their roles were reversed. And the freak in front of her was anything but merciful.

"Y—you're crying!? You still look cute, though... Crap, I hope I haven't awakened some weird fetish. First question, do you know magic?"

Alice meekly shook her head.

"Ho? Second question, were you ordered to kill me?"

She shook her head again.

"Oh my! Then, did I do something to earn your grudge?"

She frantically shook her head.

"The horror! You infiltrated the Magical Academy and sneaked inside the dorms just to kill me for no reason?"

She shook her head like there was no tomorrow.

"Electrifying! I'm getting confused here... Okay, let's do it like this. I'll take off your gag, but you can't speak unless I tell you so. Okay?"

Alice nodded. She couldn't oppose, nor would she want too.

"Good! Now don't suddenly shout and alert my peacefully sleeping dorm mates."

Fräulein took away her gag with vigilance. It was set on her mind that once the girl did something suspicious, she would cut her neck. But surprisingly, she was cooperative, and desperately held back her cries.

"Now, introductions! I—I'm not copying that twin tail princess, am I? You first, maus."

"A... *hic*, A—lice... Frey... *hic*"

"That sounds awfully familiar... I'm Fräulein Floret, and welcome to my room. Now for the main question: Why kill me?"

"I *hic* I thought... I thought you would be a bother... *hic*"

"Ha? What? I'm getting more confused."

"I'll be living here, so, I want to be alone..."

"You'll be living here.... here... here... Y—you're my roommate!?"

"Hiii! Y—yes..."

"Why didn't you say so?"

Fräulein pulled away the knife she held at Alice's neck and returned it to its rightful place under her skirt.

Alice was bewildered. Not only was the dangerous atmosphere around Fräulein gone, she even untied the binds on her wrists and returned the clothes she hid under the bed. Fräulein was completely defenseless now. But attacking her never entered Alice's mind. Rather, she wondered why she hasn't been killed yet.

"... You won't kill me?"

"What purpose would that serve? Anyways, quick, wear your clothes! Right, I'm sure I had a first-aid kit here somewhere under the bed..."

Alice quietly wore her clothes and cloak. She could feel the weight of her knives under it, but for the first time in her life, she held no desire to use them.

"You're clothed? Good. Now stay still as I apply antiseptic. It'll hurt a bit, but endure! Finally, I feel like an older sister again! Take that, Fraulein!"

Fräulein happily hummed while tending to Alice's wound.

"... Why won't you kill me?"

Alice could not think of any reason not to. She tried to kill her. Alice remembered the looks of disgust people held at the sight of her blood-stained knives. She was evil, or so the people around her proclaimed. She was evil because she killed in cold blood. She was evil because they never understood her or her actions. She was evil because she never understood normality.

The right to declare evil belonged to the strong. Because she was strong, she had the right to declare normality as evil. Now that she was defeated, she became the evil. And evil must be killed.

So why was this person acting amiably all of a sudden?

"Like I said, what purpose would that serve? I'm a professional, not a kill-happy freak. I'm pretty normal, you know? And I so want a little sister! My idiot of a twin sister is too capable, it makes me feel like I'm useless! That cheat!"

"... *hic* *hic*"

"H—hey, you're crying again!? Sheesh, calm down, calm down. What a troublesome roommate."

Fräulein gently patted Alice's back, like a mother would to calm her child.

Alice realized her grave mistake. In her mind, she thought of Fräulein as part of the 'others' who declared her as evil. It was her against the world, after all.

But Fräulein was an existence even further to normality than herself.

For the first time in her life, Alice felt a sense of connection with another person. She did not wish to be understood. All she wanted was someone who could hold her madness.

"Have you finally calmed down? Really, I don't want to awaken my sadistic urges like this."

"... Am I evil?"

"Of course you are, you knife freak! You tried to kill me without reason. That's not normal, you know? But it's okay, because I didn't die. So all's fine! As long as I'm alive, I'll forgive you!"

"... he he."

"Finally, you laughed! We're roommates! But, you placed last in the examination, so I'm superior. But don't worry, I'll teach you! And from now on, you are an honorary member of the Floret Family!"

"... I'm family?"

"Well, we're roommates, and we shared a night of passion together, so of course we are. A—am I being too forceful? I just wanted a little sister... Sorry."

"N—no! Family is good! Family~"

"Really? Great! Sorry I tried to kill you back then. Good thing I just punched you, huh?"

"It's fine. I'm not dead. Like you~"

"We're both still alive, right?"

"Right~"

For the first time in her life, Alice had someone she could call family. She has experienced many firsts today, but this was the greatest yet. She would greatly treasure the only connection she had. Finally, Alice had something to work for.

She wished that one day, she would be a person strong enough hold Fräulein's madness.

And thus, Fräulein earned another sister.

Part 3

"I—it's Santa! You were the headmaster of this school? Is this what Santa does when he's not giving me presents?"

"Ho ho ho, it's the bastard. You're still in one piece, so she hasn't arrived yet, huh? What a lucky bastard, ho ho ho!

While she was playing knife darts with Alice, a letter suddenly materialize in front of her, asking for her presence in the headmaster's office. Of course she ignored it and continued the game, but when the next letter that came said that her life may be in danger, she complied. If it was nothing, she could always make Fraulein deal with the troublesome things.

After following the map included in the letter, Fräulein found herself in a large gaudy room filled with trophies and certificates of all kind. In the middle of the room was a huge mahogany table. Seated behind that was a jolly old man with a white beard and a red cloak. Fräulein knew this man. Of course, there was the fact that he looked exactly like Santa Claus. But not only that.

He was a client who has ordered Fräulein's services many times in these past two years. She never bothered to know his name and just called him Santa.

"So what's this about my life being in danger, Santa? Did you mess up and gave someone my identity?"

"I'm not that careless, no no no. I just have a new job for you, ho ho ho!"

"... That laugh's getting annoying. And a new job? Coming from you, it must be someone absurd again. What a cruel thing to ask from a super cute girl like me."

"Unlike your genius and upright twin sister, you're just a bastard who'll die a lonely death. And this job's a bit different. I know you have dealt with a lot of dangerous people, but this is on a whole new level. Ho ho ho!"

"That sounds scary, both your request and your laugh. I hope it's not someone who can fly again. Please be someone who can't fly!"

"What an unlucky bastard, she can fly! But worry not, this headmaster is kind. All you have to do is to watch her! Ho ho ho!

"Watch her? Do you mean 'watch' watch, or the normal watch? And when will you ever stop that annoying laugh of yours, Santa?"

"The normal watch. More specifically, I need you to observe her actions and report to me if she does anything detrimental to the Academy. And I'm laughing to annoy a bastard, ho ho ho!"

"Are you serious? I'm a professional, not a daycare center! ... is what I want to say, but I'll need the money. I wanna show off to my newest family member after all! But if you laugh like an idiot again, I'll change my mind."

"Ho ho... hokay, I'll stop. Like I mentioned earlier, this target is dangerous. Crazy dangerous. That's why I'm not asking for her elimination."

"Someone so dangerous that I can't possibly kill? I'm starting to regret this decision. Tell me a bit more about her without revealing her identity. At least give me a lifeline so I can reject.

"Fine, fine. I can't blame you for being careful. To make it short, she's a psychopath even I couldn't handle."

"H—hey, aren't you, like, the most powerful guy here in this academy?"

"I told you this job's dangerous."

"C—continue. I can do this, for my cute little sister!"

"Her first kills were her family. Heard that she killed them because they served her vegetables. Since then, she became deranged and went on a killing spree. Young or old, she would cut them up for the pettiest of reasons. The pile of requests to subjugate her shot up. The problem is, all the elite soldiers we sent were chopped to pieces. Even our best assassins were useless. All these in the young age of twelve"

"W—w—what's with that freak? Are you even sure it's human?"

"I don't see it as one. The moment I met that monster's eyes, I knew it wasn't human. Those cold soulless eyes... they won't go away from my mind."

"W—why didn't you send me back then?"

"I'm not senile enough to send a young girl to her death. Even if she is an idiot."

"So you're senile enough now?"

"No I am not! Continuing. You see, that calamity had a rare and troublesome ability. Ever heard of telekinesis?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty familiar with it."

"Ho? That's good, then. We thought it was her ability of telekinesis that made her into that powerful killing machine. So we High Magicians gathered around and thought of a way to seal it. We're geniuses, so we found a way. We made a spell that disrupted telekinesis for a minute. Know what she did?"

"W—what?"

"Killed all the magicians and elite soldiers we sent under that minute using nothing but a knife. That monster. We were mistaken. She was a natural-born prodigy when it came to handling knives, telekinesis or not. Ever since, she got the title of 'Princess of Knives'. The country's already considering sending in an army to stop her."

"Princess of Knives!? What the heck is that? You want ME to go on a suicide mission? I kill people, not freaks of nature that needs an army just to be stopped!"

"Calm down. I'm not done yet. Here's the thing. We got that monster to attend the Magical Academy."

"... Ha? How?"

"She somehow picked up a pamphlet of the academy on the ground, and she thought it was interesting."

"... I don't even know what to say anymore."

"We couldn't reject her. If we dealt with her wrongly, she may vent her anger on the academy itself. We don't want that. And that leads us back here."

"Let me get this straight. You want me to... watch over that freak?"

"Exactly. The faster we know of her actions, the better countermeasures we can make. Simple enough?"

"And you chose me for this job because...?"

"You're the only one available I know who has the ability to run away safely from her. I believe you're an expert when it comes to running, right, bastard? Plus you're a girl, so she may be a lot more comfortable with you around."

"Hmmm... I'm conflicted. How much for this job?"

"Ten thousand gold."

"... Come again?"

"Ten thousand gold."

"Deal! So all I have to do it watch out for this freak, right? Then report if something happens, right?"

"Even after all that I've said, you'll still accept it, huh?"

"Shut it, I'll show my new little sister just how dependable her big sister is. How long will I be doing it?"

"We want to observe her for a month."

"Yeah! Thanks for the early present, Santa! Ten thousand gold! I'm filthy rich! Hahaha!"

"*Sigh* It's like you've forgotten about the danger level of this job."

"No, no, I'm a professional. I do my job earnestly. It's just that... TEN. THOUSAND. GOLD. I can buy my own land with that! This may even the last job I'll ever take!"

"You know that means more than one way, right? Well, I already knew you'd accept the job once I mentioned the pay, so I've already made various arrangements ahead of time."

"... Do I really look like a moneygrubbing idiot?"

"You aren't?"

"Can't deny that. If it's for the sake of my sisters, I'll be a moneygrubbing idiot!"

"Ho ho ho! The bastard knows her place! Anyways, since you have officially accepted this job, I take it that it's safe to divulge her identity?"

"Yep, hit me with any name you've got. I'll be sure to do a perfect job worthy of my record!"

"I expect many great things from you. Her name is Alice Fray, the Princess of Knives. She's got silver hair, and her looks are deceivingly cute. She's thirteen this year. I've already arranged the both of you to live in the same room. If it's you, you should be able to escape if she starts being dangerous. Good luck then, and don't be killed! Ho ho ho!"

"..."

"Ho? What's wrong? You can't back down like a coward now, you know?"

"... Hey, Santa, when I asked you to hit me with any name you've got, I didn't mean that literally, you know?"

Alice vs. Fraulein: A battle between two sisters!

The end of the Opening Arc! The conclusion chapter is actually another arc ;)

And a new enemy!?