Chapter 78: Upset
The second match of the team competition begins.
Apart from the fact that the previous champion team is finally making its appearance, the venue is filled with a strange atmosphere. The attention of many spectators was focused on the opposing team, Ren.
The first match ended with an indescribable victory by mere foul play after an insane attempt to summon the undead. This time, their opponent was a team led by the overwhelmingly powerful Yuya. What kind of fight is he going to put up against such a strong opponent?
The crowd's mixed feelings of anticipation of an upset and denial of such an outcome created a complicated atmosphere in the area.
And Yuya can't stand such an atmosphere.
"Undead are no good to us! We'll obliterate them with our light magic!"
He knew that all the attention was focused on Ren and immediately spoke these words as soon as they confronted each other. Ren, for his part, confirmed the arrangements with the members and got into position without dealing with Yuya.
Same as the first match. Only Ren is a little ahead of the others.
Seeing this, a feeling of disappointment spread through the venue. It was obvious that the undead would not work due to Yuya's words. For the undead, recovery magic of the light attribute is a weak point. With Yuya and Shizuru, two users of light-attribute magic, it should not be a problem.
Nevertheless, with the announcement, Ren started chanting as in the first match.
"Shizuru! As soon as the undead appear, use magic!"
"Yeah!"
In response to Yuya's words, Shizuru entered a chanting stance.
"Spirits of the dead, summon!"
With the end of Ren's chanting, a black stain spread across the ground. Soon, as in the first match, or perhaps far more, the undead appeared.
"More isn't always better, you know! Now! Shizuru!"
Yuya's voice urged the activation of light-attribute magic. But Shizuru did not react immediately.
"Shizuru! What's wrong!?"
"Wait a minute!"
"What!? Hurry up and cast your magic! It's coming!"
"I said wait!"
"Forget it, I'll do it!"
The undead hordes are slowly but surely approaching. Unable to bear the pressure, Yuya stopped waiting for Shizuru and began chanting himself.
"High Heal!"
Along with Yuya's chant, the skeleton that was leading the way was lit up with light. The skeleton that was bathed in that light shattered like sand and crumbled.
"Nice! OK, keep going!"
The undead disappear one after another with Yuya's magic.
"Yuya! Wait!"
"It's not a matter of waiting! Shizuru, do your magic quickly too!"
"No, that's not it! Those undead are fake!"
"Eh!?"
"Illusion! It's illusion! They don't really exist!"
"You're lying!?"
"It's true! Trust me!"
"……Alright, I understand! I'll step forward!"
Even though he was a little worried, Yuya believed Shizuru's words, stopped the magic, and decided to approach the swarm of undead.
"Don't let your guard down!"
"Yeah!"
With Yuya in the center, swordsmen Kenji Shimizu and Takeru Mizushima advanced forward on either side of him.
Yuya was the first to swing his sword. With a flash of his sharp sword, the figures of several skeletons blotted out and disappeared.
"They are really fake? Okay, everyone...... eh?"
The eyes of the two who were advancing on both sides were focused on Yuya. It was Yuya who tried to instruct the two to move forward.
"It's effective! Two of you, move out!"
A long stick protruding from the illusion of the undead stuck in their chests.
"That's cowardly!"
"It's their fault for looking away while we're having a match! Now you are the only one in the vanguard!"
Yuya's shouts are answered by Ren's voice from within the illusion of the undead.
"I alone am enough! Oooohhh!!"
Yuya screams and swings his sword. The sword is swung away, causing the undead illusions around him to disappear one after another.
"Do you enjoy fighting against illusions!?"
"I got you! There!"
Yuya jumps in the direction of Ren's voice and closes the gap. Its appearance is hidden in the illusions and cannot be seen clearly.
"Uwaa!"
"Surround him! Don't try to beat him!"
Yuya's shouts are followed by Ren's words of instruction to the others. There is no doubt that something is being done in the illusion, but no one can see what it is except for a few people.
Soon, Ren's figure emerges from the horde of undead. He is followed by Kai and Mai. The only two people in front of the target pole were Shizuru and mage Yuki Shiraishi. It was at that moment that many spectators thought that an upset had occurred.
"Moon rising in the sky! Please hear my wish!"
The voice of Shizuru's chanting echoed around.
"The power of the fragrant moon! Grant me the power of mercy!"
A magic chant no one has ever heard. A bitter expression appears on Ren's face when he hears that.
"The power to protect everything! Wings of compassion!"
Magical light extends from Shizuru's arms. Almost at the same time, Ren's sword was swung down over Shizuru's head, but it did not reach her and was repelled by the band of light.
"...Is this just defensive magic?"
"I can't compare its defensive power, but it does have healing powers."
"The power of the fragrant moon... huh."
"I need power. Even with borrowed power, I need the power to fight."
"Borrow... no, now is not the time to think about it!"
In an instant, Ren swung his sword around as he closed the gap with Shizuru. The magic anticipates and blocks the trajectory of the sword.
"Then!"
After taking a pause from Shizuru, Ren's sword then headed towards the pole standing behind Shizuru. However, the magic wings also block Ren's sword when he tries to brush off the pole.
"...This might be bad"
"Ren, I'm sorry! But I want to prove my power!"
"Excellent!"
A sword that can be completely blocked. However, Ren continues to swing his sword without worrying about such things.
"Break!"
"I won't let you!"
Ren continued to swing the sword, aiming to destroy the defensive magic itself, but the sword reached its limit before the magic did. The sword's tip flutters in the air with a high-pitched sound.
"...This is how it's going to be, huh. It can't be helped. I'll do it."
After moving a large distance from Shizuru, Ren shifted his sword to his left hand. Ren tried to take a stance from there, but a voice interrupted him.
"Ren-nii! No good! Run!"
"Wha!?"
A voice came from behind. Ren immediately understood what that meant.
"Not good"
"Ren-nii, leave this to me."
It was Mai who responded to Ren's muttering.
"...Then, I'll leave it to you. Sai! Don't think anything! Unleash your defensive magic with all your might!"
While shouting so, Ren rushed towards his own camp.
The illusion is already gone. Ahead of Ren is a cylinder made of earthen walls. The cylinder already has several cracks.
"Uoooohh!!"
The yell coming from inside is Yuya's. The tip of a sword appeared, cracking the earthen wall. Yuya jumped out at once from inside the cracked earthen wall.
Yuya checked the pole on Ren's side and tried to jump toward it.
"What!?"
A sword was swung down in front of him. Yuya immediately held his sword over his head to block it.
"Bind"
"Eh!?"
Furthermore, Yuya blocked the sword that was swung from the side.
"Tch, is complete restraint impossible?"
"You! What did you do!?"
Even though he blocked Ren's sword, Yuya couldn't move from where he was.
"As if I would tell you. Sai, now! Enclose him!"
The wall of earth rises up from the ground at about the same time as Ren takes a distance from Yuya. The soil surrounding Yuya has formed again.
"For the time being, it will be able to buy time. All that's left..."
Ahead of Ren's gaze was Mai's back facing Shizuru.
Mai, who is facing Shizuru, is looking at her with a complicated expression without holding up her sword.
"You are doing your best."
"Yes. I want to be as good as everyone else."
"I see. Then you should have worked harder sooner."
"That's right..."
Even Shizuru knows. how lazy she was
"If you had done that, we could have been together forever."
"Mai-chan?"
Shizuru is bewildered by Mai's gentle words, which she has never heard before.
"I was lonely. I wanted us to be together. But to suddenly run away..."
Mai appealed to Shizuru with a face that looked like she was going to cry at any moment.
"I'm sorry. It's because I wasn't prepared enough."
"What about now?"
"Now?"
"Are you prepared?"
"...Yes. I am."
"Then we can stay together, right?"
Mai's expression when she said that had changed into something that contained childish sweetness.
"If Ren will allow it..."
"It's okay. I'm sure Ren-nii will forgive you."
"Is that so?"
"I'll ask him to let me stay with Shizuru-nee too."
"Mai-chan. Thank you."
"Shizuru-nee. You won't leave anymore, right?"
"Yes, I won't leave"
"Shizuru-nee"
"Mai-chan"
Shizuru gently embraced Mai who jumped into her chest.
Mai is burying her face in Shizuru's chest. Shizuru cannot see it. There was a smile on her face, a smile that wasn't very childlike.
"Ei."
"Ouch!"
Mai thrusts an imitation sword into Shizuru's side with all her might.
"Yes. You died."
"Mai-chan?"
A completely different tone. Shizuru is puzzled by this, but this is Mai's usual attitude towards Shizuru.
"It's cheeky of you to interfere with Ren-nii's business when you're his plaything. Hora, hora."
Mai pressed the tip of her sword against Shizuru's belly many times without hesitation.
"I-it hurts, Mai-chan, it hurts."
"I'm going to punish you. This is not enough. I'll strip you naked right here."
"Y-you're lying, right?"
"What? Are you going against me?"
"The place, it's a bit..."
The fact that it wasn't a matter of location had already disappeared from Shizuru's mind.
"Phew. You're disobeying me."
"No, but..."
Even so, the character that can't go against Mai's merciless words appears. It was Kai who saved Shizuru from the situation. Only as a result.
"Mai, we don’t have time. Take down the pole quickly."
"Ah, I forgot. Um, do you want to be punished too?"
The cold look in Mai's eyes made Shiraishi move away from the pole.
"Okay, then, fall down~"
When Mai pushed it with her arm, the pole slowly fell backward.
"Winner! Western Army! Pack of Wolves!"
"…………"
Ren and his team quickly left the arena amidst the silence of the crowd, who had no idea what had happened. There was a reason for their haste.
"This is absurd! This result is ridiculous! It's foul play!"
They knew Yuya would make a fuss. With Ren and the others gone, Yuya's point of view would be directed at the referee. The complaints, which could end at any time, were to continue endlessly after the match.
In the guest seat, which had to keep watching the situation, there was an atmosphere of disgust at Yuya's excessive persistence. The one who opened his mouth in such a situation was Elected King Selim.
"Shouldn't His Eminence be able to settle this?"
"Whoever the other party is, it doesn't matter to Yuya-kun. He'll just repeat his words."
Pope Mikhail knows that even if he goes there, He will only be targeted by Yuya. There is no need to go out of his way to damage his appearance as Pope.
"However, if things continue as they are..."
"When things have calmed down a little more, I will tell him that we will discuss it at a later date. Until then, please be patient."
"Even if you know the outcome of the deliberations?"
There is no need to redo the match. Anyone can figure it out with a little thought.
"Yes. That should settle it."
"Why?"
"Because he's not defeated by the sword. He'll notice it soon."
"What do you mean?"
"He couldn't fight. That's why they lost. He will realize that excuse."
Yuya also wants to protect his face. For Yuya, who had already decided to become the hero of the strongest country in this world, it was fine as long as it didn't bring down his own worth.
"I see. Is that his character?"
"It seems so."
"Even if it's an excuse, it's a fact. If they fought properly, it is obvious who wins."
"The one who isn't fighting, it is the same with Ren Takashiro."
A voice suddenly cut in. Elected King Selim turned back in the direction of the voice.
"...His Highness Prince Albert"
Prince Albert, who had been silently watching the match for a long time, turned his gaze.
"Do I bother you by interrupting without permission?"
"No, I don't mind. Ren Takashiro didn't fight?"
"Can you say that he fought?"
Ren swung his sword only to attack Shizuru's defensive magic and stop Yuya's movements. That is not something that can be called a fight, according to Prince Albert.
"All attacks were repelled by Shizuru Tojo's defensive magic. Ah, yes. Is that the rumored [Wings of Compassion]? She used it, right?"
"This is the first time I know of it."
"Oya? Didn't the Luine Kingdom, who was holding her, know?"
"At least I didn't know about it."
"But I learned about it today. It is a very good magic."
"Is it?"
"...Do you not believe my words?"
Prince Albert's words were unexpected for Elected King Selim. A slightly dubious expression appeared on Elected King Selim's face.
"No. Those are the words of Elected King Selim, the greatest mage. It's just."
"Just?"
"Ren Takashiro looked like he was intending to break it."
Prince Albert turned the topic back to Ren. It was obvious that Elected King Selim had diverted the conversation from Ren.
"Wasn't that because he couldn't discern the magic?"
"I see. Can you say so?"
"I think so"
"I wonder if Elected King Selim has a low opinion of Ren Takashiro."
He said this in words, but in his mind, it was the exact opposite. Prince Albert suspects that Elected King Selim holds Ren in high esteem, and that is why he does not want other nations, including himself, to hear what he has to say.
"No, I learned that he has a lot more power than I thought."
"What magic did he use?"
"I am certain it is not the magic of the four magic attributes."
"Nor is it light magic. Then what is it?"
"If it's not an attribute magic, it's either a unique magic or a spirit magic."
Just a process of elimination. You don't have to be a great mage to understand it. However, this answer does not convince Prince Albert.
"Which one do you think it is?"
"......And you want me to tell you?"
"I won't force you. I have an idea."
"Then why don't you tell us, Prince Albert?"
He thought he was bluffing, but this was a mistake.
"I don't mind. I think it's spirit magic."
"……Reason?"
"Scope of effect. There is only one way to affect this many spectators at the same time. Use magic tools to create a barrier across the entire arena. But this is unlikely."
"Why?"
"I heard that a man named Ren Takashiro values rules. Even if he takes advantage of loopholes in the rules, he wouldn't break them."
Even though he had no intention of making him the hero of his own country, Crown Prince Albert had his mind firmly made up about Ren.
"I see. It's not a magic tool. Then why is it a spirit magic?"
"There is a magic similar to spirit magic. It's a barrier for elves to hide their homes. They show hallucinations to make them lose their way and never reach their homes. Come to think of it, there is a rumor that elves can also be found in the depths of the forest near the church capital."
"Then he's making a contract with a spirit."
"I guess he did."
"There is no record of it in the church."
Elected King Selim knows that the records on the church's status board are meaningless. He still had to say this.
"But I do know someone who might."
"What?"
"Isn't that right? Heinz Ruben-dono."
"...What do you mean?"
Completely caught off guard, Heinz cannot hide his turmoil.
"Don't play dumb. You looked strangely convinced when the spirit was mentioned. You must have sensed the presence of the spirit on Ren Takashiro's side, right."
"It's just my imagination. I don't know what kind of existence spirits are. That's why I don't notice if there are spirits on Ren's side. Besides, Izrim Magic Kingdom should have more information about it than I do."
Even so, Heinz did not say anything himself.
"Fumu. Well, there's no point in pursuing it."
"I have nothing to say about it."
"This topic is good. More than that, what do you think?"
Prince Albert changed the subject. He decided that he would not be able to extract any information about Ren except by magic.
"What do I think?"
"He's been trying to hide his powers so far. Is that true?"
"Yeah. No doubt."
"That guy came out to the front stage this time. He didn't seem to be serious, but he showed off a part of his ability."
"I see. Does His Highness the Crown Prince see that he's not serious?"
Heinz came to know Prince Albert's ability to see through it at first glance. It is not bad to know who your would-be enemies are.
"Is it wrong?"
"I don't know"
"You're playing dumb here too?"
"That's not true. My evaluation of him is directed at his brains, not his strength as a hero."
Heinz is honest about this. Heinz doesn't know Ren's sword or magic ability. Still, he appreciates Ren.
"So"
"As long as we don't know his purpose, we can't deny the possibility that he's making us think he's not serious."
"I see. If you don't know what his purpose is, you can take his actions in many ways... so what is his purpose..."
After a short pause for thought, Prince Albert opened his mouth again.
"The only possible purpose is to improve his reputation."
The reason that came out was quite obvious.
"What for?"
Thinking that it was for exploration, Heinz also returned the obvious question.
"Seeking better treatment"
"Even though he doesn't want to become a hero?"
"He changed his mind"
"That's funny."
"What?"
"...Well, that's fine. Our country has already invited Ren Takashiro to join us. If he still needs to show his ability, it will not be to our country, but to the Izrim Magic Kingdom, where His Majesty the Elected King himself is present, or to the Luine Kingdom, which has not actively invited him."
"I see."
"But that's not it either."
"……Why?"
Prince Albert does not know why Heinz flatly denies it. It's not just Ren's convenience, but also the reason why Heinz bothers to deny it.
From Heinz's point of view, the conversation should end with [Ren is interested in the Izrim Magic Kingdom or the Luine Kingdom].
"He knows what a hero is, and there is no way he would be a hero."
"That's too much demeaning of the hero. They serve their lord at the risk of their own lives, and so do knights"
"Is he loyal? That is impossible."
"Are you saying that Father is unworthy of his loyalty?"
"You seem to want to say he will?"
"...Either way."
"It's not because of who he is. I don't think Ren Takashiro will give his loyalty to anyone."
In this respect, Heinz understands Ren well. He can't possibly feel loyalty to Ren, who doesn't trust living people.
"Then he won’t even serve His Majesty Emperor Lemberg?"
"You can serve without loyalty. You just have to have something worth serving. And Ren Takashiro always keeps his side of the bargain. I trust him more for that than for half-hearted loyalty."
"...Then, even in my country."
Prince Albert speaks slowly as if exploring. Prince Albert thought hard about what Heinz had said so far.
"What about it? Can your kingdom, or rather you, recognize a subject who is not loyal to you?"
"Do I seem so narrow-minded?"
"I just asked. An extremely talented but disloyal retainer. Do you want such a retainer?"
"There have been many such vassals in the past."
"That's right. It's fine as long as there's a relationship of trust, but history has proven what happens when that relationship breaks down. And a person named Ren Takashiro is a man who does not care if people suspect him. That makes it hard to trust him."
"I see. Is that what you meant to say?"
A vassal who is excellent but lacks loyalty. Such a person often leads to usurpation, rebellion, or, conversely, purge.
Those who stand above the country will hate it. Prince Albert and Elected King Selim are truly the people who stand above the country. Heinz's words were a restraint on the two.
"I also want to know why the Lemberg Empire is an exception."
At this point, Elected King Selim returned to the conversation.
"...I didn't ask him to serve the empire."
Heinz said this after some hesitation.
"Do you want him to serve you?"
"Well, that's how it is."
"Will it work?"
"I don't know. I haven't found what he wants."
"Then he's not going anywhere after all."
It's not just his imagination that Elected King Selim's face looks relieved. But Heinz's next words immediately changed that expression.
"I wonder? I've been thinking about one possibility recently."
"What possibility?"
"...At this time, let's hear it from His Holiness Pope Mikhail."
"Me?"
"Yeah. I would like to confirm it. The Church does not intend to make Ren Takashiro the hero of the Church, does it?"
Heinz's words made the surrounding people gasp. It's a possibility that they've never imagined before, but it's quite possible.
"...That kind of thing is impossible. Are you saying that Ren-kun will work for me?"
"I beg your pardon, but we have been hearing some disturbing rumors as well. If that is true."
Ren led the coup d'état at the church. What Heinz thought was not to serve the Pope, but for the church to serve Ren.
"I don't know the contents of the rumor, but neither the church nor the church country needs a hero. I don't think I'm that stupid."
"But"
"The third match ended while we were talking about such useless things. Are you sure you didn't want to watch the match?"
Jin's team's first round. It ended without attracting the attention of the guests.
"It's a match where we know the outcome."
"Even so, it's better than idle talk."
"…Is it a waste of time?"
"I seem to understand him a little better. When he makes a move publicly, it's when things are already over, or nearly over. After the competition, it is futile to imagine what will happen next."
"Then do you understand Ren's purpose?"
"I vaguely understand one thing."
"One thing?"
"There's more than one objective, isn't there?"
"......I see. And what is that one thing?"
"Not something I'm going to talk about right now. If it is as I think it is, we'll know when we see the next match."
So there was nothing more to say, and Pope Mikhail stopped moving with his gaze turned toward the arena. The others also stopped talking, each sinking into thought, waiting for the next match.
The winner of the third match is, of course, Jin's team. The final match will be a battle between Jin's team and Ren's team.
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