“Karina! You’re coming to our café again today, right?”
“Of course.”
“We have a special menu today, so you can look forward to it!”
Special menu? I glanced at Millia, who was chirping like a songbird at that remark while I was busy dipping bread into soup.
What could the special menu be? My curiosity piqued.
I could ask directly, but given that she called it a special menu, it seemed like she wouldn’t just spill the beans easily. Anyway, since I would visit at least once, I figured I could see for myself then. I decided to look forward to Millia’s surprise.
“I hope nothing unusual happens today…”
“If something does happen, it’s likely tomorrow.”
The last day could make one a bit too relaxed with the atmosphere, so you couldn’t let your guard down thinking it was over. We weren’t here to enjoy a festival; we were here to protect Karina.
And that made me even more anxious.
When would those little assassins show up? Today? Or tomorrow?
Even though an assassination attempt couldn’t come from all departments, the fact that there hadn’t been any attempts since the martial arts tournament was making me uneasy. I had no idea what they were plotting.
Honestly, I’d feel more at ease if they just made a blatant assassination attempt.
Nothing is as reassuring as the guards being upfront about their attempts. They could just strengthen their guard and deal with it. But this pathetic show of indecision was gnawing at my nerves.
“Renny, hasn’t the security force said anything?”
“They said they haven’t seen any suspicious people.”
What a useless bunch of security forces. I really messed up trusting them. Why are the knights and security forces here so incompetent? Is incompetence a requirement to get in?
If it were me, I’d have already found the assassins.
I set down my dishes and stood up.
“I’m going to prepare for the escort.”
I intended to wrap things up quietly, but I felt the need to be cautious and prepare just in case.
Philias’s keepsake.
—————–
The start of the second day’s schedule was the martial arts tournament.
Yesterday had been the preliminaries, and today was the main event. While I was observing the participants lined up in front of the VIP section of the arena, I compared the current contestants to those from the original story. I couldn’t recall all of them, but it seemed a few had changed.
…Is it the aftermath of Elina’s death?
“Lewis has progressed to the finals.”
“He’s actually quite skilled. It seems he made it through without too much trouble.”
“What do you think, Johann? Who’s going to win?”
“Lewis.”
“You sound pretty sure?”
“It’s a gut feeling.”
In the original, this event wasn’t that hard, and due to my hard practice during the break, Lewis’s skills had improved immensely.
Directly comparing the original protagonist raised by a player with him is difficult, but the tournament would surely treat him as a promising candidate. In other words, it’s likely Lewis will take out everyone.
But there was something I just recalled.
One of the original finalists was…
…Elina.
The dead heroine.
I had completely forgotten, but originally, she was supposed to be a rival from the Knight Department, building a connection that turned into a romantic relationship, now she’s a ghost.
I could see with my own eyes how that variable affected things.
An unknown contestant.
Is he an extra, or a named character?
At least he wasn’t in my memory. He looked way too conspicuous to be an extra.
“Renny, do you know anything about that guy?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
I could vaguely remember the others, but the guy I had no memory of was worrying me.
For now, let’s keep an eye on him.
I subtly adjusted my position to get a better view of the guy.
“Rue, can you sense that guy’s mana?”
[Too far away.]
I see.
That means I have to get close at least once.
“Now, we will start the main event of the martial arts tournament!”
With the host’s shout, the cheers of the crowd filled the coliseum. By now, they must be discussing who would win. I wonder if they’re betting like Toto here too. I watched the contestants as they scattered to prepare for the finals.
Maybe due to their personalities before the event, the participants weren’t resting in a separate waiting room. They were relaxing inside a tent set up in the middle of the coliseum near the non-combat area.
I wanted to go down and check right away, but…I guess I can’t. For now, I decided to observe the finals and reconsider later. Watching the actual fighting might give me some insight.
“Then, for the first match! The promising genius of the swordsmanship department! Second-year Theo Grass, aiming for victory this time! And his opponent, last year’s runner-up from the third year, Dennis! Who will emerge victorious? Let’s get started!”
“Waaaah!”
Are they putting the spotlight on these players for this match?
I watched the two with their swords drawn in different stances. After all, isn’t it true that men are drawn to sword fighting? It had been a while since I planned to enjoy the eye candy.
“Karina, who do you think will win?”
“I’m not sure, but I think the third-year Dennis might have the advantage?”
“I think Theo has a good chance too. It’s hard to maintain such stability at that age.”
Both were talented guys, huh.
I began observing the movements of the two as they started to clash their swords.
Unlike my haphazard and instinctual moves, their actions were systematic. Each movement had a graceful precision that even someone like me, who knew little about swords, could tell they were both competent fighters.
“And the winner is! Theo Grass!”
“See? I told you!”
I alternated my gaze between Theo, exiting to the cheers of the crowd, and Dennis, who exited slumped in defeat.
Winners and losers, such a sad story.
…But that’s not the important part; I want to quickly see that guy’s battle process.
After a few more matches, the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived.
“Now, we will begin the final match of the martial arts tournament! The rising saint of the first year! Lewis Selman from the Knight Department! And his opponent! The sole survivor among the external participants! The mercenary from the South, Stork!”
…That’s definitely a name I haven’t heard before.
Wait, it sounds like a pseudonym. It seems a bit odd for a person’s name.
“I heard he wasn’t that noticeable in the prelims…I wonder how he’ll do now.”
“Still, I think Lewis will win, right?”
…Hearing the original protagonist’s name from Karina feels a bit strange.
“I want to place my bet on Lewis too.”
After all, he’s the one I raised, and it makes more sense to root for the original protagonist than some mysterious guy. We started to watch the match, predicting Lewis’s win.
The first move went to Lewis. He boldly aimed for Stork’s neck with his sword. The horizontally swung blade was easily blocked by Stork’s sword. Even such a swift attack was effortlessly defended against, indicating Stork was no slouch.
One hit. Two hits. Three hits. Four hits. Five hits.
The clash of swords created a sharp sound as sparks flew in the air. As Lewis pressed his attacks, his expression didn’t change yet, but he might be feeling bewildered at this point.
Every attack had been blocked by that guy with subtle changes in his sword positioning.
It was a sight that should be impossible unless there was a significant skill gap.
It’s reality, so I did think there would be variables stronger than Lewis, but to toy with him like this?
And Lewis already looked tired while Stork appeared perfectly fine?
He shouldn’t be someone to just toy with here.
Right now, Lewis should have the skill to easily defeat a freshly promoted knight chick. How can that guy be playing with him like this? Is he experienced enough to be considered a veteran knight? He doesn’t seem to be that much older than Lewis.
What’s he doing here, overpowering him like that?
Does he have some kind of purpose?
No way?
Naturally, my gaze shifted to Karina. The saint watching the martial arts tournament from her wheelchair, cutely clenching her fists. I was fixated on that sight, but anyway, I had to do my job.
“Renny, I’m going to check something out, so I’ll step out for a bit.”
“Huh? Out of the blue?”
“I find it a bit suspicious.”
“Got it. Hurry back!”
I quickly stepped back and caught a guard to ask for information on Stork. The guard listened to my request and immediately left the coliseum.
He was probably off to find the captain of the security force. Since it pertained to Karina’s escort, he would come back with information soon.
I turned back to watch the arena.
Then it happened.
“The winner of the final match is! Stork! He maintained a defensive strategy and seized victory with a surprise counterattack! Let’s give a round of applause for the winner!”
The sound of countless applause filled my ears. But I didn’t have the luxury to care about that.
Lewis’s defeat.
A scenario I hadn’t considered at all.
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