Chapter 74: Participation in the Swordsmanship Tournament
The guild leader's back office. There, Ren was seen facing the head of the guild. This is a rare sight these days. Ren is often taking care of orphans who have become adventurers, and he has not been taking on many special assignments recently. The reason for Ren's visit was not about the request.
"Participating in the academy's swordsmanship tournament? What kind of change is that?"
"Slight change of mind"
"Hoh. What's that?"
Hearing that Ren, who had been trying to hide his ability for a long time, decided to participate in the swordsmanship tournament, the guild leader is very interested.
"The adventurer's guild is not the organization I thought it would be."
"Oi?"
"I thought I would have more freedom, but I didn't."
"Well. As long as you belong to an organization, I can't say that everything is free."
An adventurer's guild with various people joining. There are many who are like criminals. That's why the rules are so strict. That is why discipline is strict. But only if a certain line is crossed.
"That makes the adventurer business less attractive."
"......Another way to live?"
The guild leader mentioned it with a probing look in his eyes.
"I think I should consider that possibility."
"...No way, as a hero?"
He went deeper.
"That's one of the possibilities."
Compared to the guild leader's cautiousness, Ren simply affirmed.
"I see……"
"But being a hero isn't something you can become if you want to."
Only when there is a country that seeks it can you become the hero of that country. It's exactly what Ren said, but he didn't say that there is definitely a country that he wants.
"That's why the swordsmanship tournament is an opportunity to show off your skills."
"That's what I meant."
"......I wonder if that's the case?"
The guild leader questions Ren's ideas.
"What's the problem?"
"Then you don't know where the bid will go, do you?"
"In my case, the problem is whether there are countries that will bid before that."
"Maybe so."
The guild leader knows that will not happen. Also, if Ren gets serious, it won't be one or two.
"I'll wait and see how they react. If I don't like the country, I'll continue to maintain the attitude that I'm not a hero candidate. Even if I don't get a bid, I can't be bothered to make a living just doing church work."
"I see. So you are thinking about it."
"Yeah."
"But why are you saying it to me?"
The swordsmanship tournament is a school event and has nothing to do with the adventurer's guild. Even so, the guild leader doesn't know why he came all the way to announce his participation.
"I'm going out as an adventurer. The team competition."
"I see... but why the team competition?"
As an adventurer, you need to apply from the guild. He understood why Ren came to talk to him, but he doesn't know why he chose the team competition this time.
"The individual competitions are not good enough to make an impression if the combination is not right. But that won't happen in the team competition."
"I'm sure you'll stand out enough in the individual competition"
"Because I'm Class C. I think I'll be paired with the hero from the first match."
"...As expected, that's impossible."
Even the guild master knows Yuya's overwhelming strength in the last tournament. As expected, it was unthinkable that Ren could win against Yuya.
"So the team competition."
"But is general participation allowed in team competitions?"
"It's fine. I already confirmed it."
He wouldn't come here otherwise. Ren's plan couldn't have been that simple.
"...Alright. But what about the members?"
"I already decided."
"Who?"
"They're already in my party though?"
"With the children? What's the point?"
Ren's party members are orphans. The guild leader doesn't think he can win with them. If he doesn't win, he won't stand out, and he won't be recognized for his abilities.
"It's fine. I've thought about the plan properly, including that area."
"...I hope that's the case."
The guild leader thinks that if Ren is like that, there must be a way. He's curious as to what it would be like, but he knows from their relationship so far that Ren probably won't talk about it.
"Then it's decided. I'll submit the application form for the academy here, so please contact me if you have any inquiries."
"Yeah"
"Okay. Then, I'll leave it at that."
As soon as he had finished talking with the guild leader, Ren got up from his seat and headed for the exit.
When he opened the door and went out into the corridor, he found a guild soldier escorting him there. He was dressed in black and the only thing showing was his eyes. Even so, Ren could tell who it was.
"It's okay. No crime will be committed against you."
Ren told the guild soldier who was staring at him with frightened eyes.
"I keep my promises"
With these words, Ren left the place. The guild soldier who saw him off let out a big sigh of relief.
◇◇◇
There were indeed many hero candidate students in the classrooms at the academy. It was the first time since the last time that so many hero candidates had come to school.
The reason for this is due to the announcement of the schedule for the swordsmanship tournament. Unlike the last time, the hero candidates did not form a group. The team competition, which will be held again this year, is limited to five students per team, and Yuya's group is the only one with that number of students.
The four mages, including Manami, whom Mei had taken in, would not participate, and one Class A mage also announced that she would not participate. The remaining members would form three teams.
"You're completely late."
"Yes"
Jin's team was only supposed to fill in for Manami, but Kou also decided to withdraw from the competition, so they had to recruit others.
Jin's team needed two people. The number was just right, since there were three teams of fifteen people. He wanted to recruit swordsmen who would be useful in the tournament, but the other teams were thinking the same thing.
When they arrived at the school, they found that the Class B swordsmen had already joined other teams. Riko and the others did not back down and recruited, but the other two teams consisted of one Class A student and the rest of the Class B students. It was difficult to pull them out of the group.
They persisted until the very last minute, but in the end, there were five students on his team, including two mages who were not recruited by the other team. So Jin's team decided to apply to participate in the swordsmanship tournament.
As a result, Jin's team was the last to apply. The deadline for the application was set to expire at the end of the day. Once the participating teams were confirmed, the next step was the drawing of lots for the pairings. The lottery was held at the same time for the individual competition. The individual competitions are open to all participants, not just the hero candidates, so the lottery was quite crowded.
"It's kind of exciting."
Riko spoke to Jin as she looked at the bustling crowd at the venue.
"We participated in the lottery last year, didn't we?"
"Was it like this last year?"
"Well... But the number of participants in the tournament is increasing."
"Why?"
"First of all, there are a lot of first-year students participating. Most of the first-year students are general students, so they seem to participate in the tournament normally."
"The other grades were different, weren't they?"
"A lot of it is for evaluation and solicitation. They didn't need to participate to test their skills."
"That's right."
In order to recruit the hero candidates, each country enrolled a person in charge of the same generation, as well as his or her escort and caretaker. Rather than participating in the tournament, they chose to watch the candidates as spectators to see how they performed.
"And general participation. Adventurers have participated."
"Yes. Are you looking forward to it?"
"I don't think there is anyone who can surpass Yuya. Even so, I have to try not to lose in the middle."
"It's fine. Jin has worked hard."
"Yeah. My strength has definitely increased. The gap with Yuya should definitely be closed."
"Are you going to overtake him?"
"...I hope so."
Jin's ability has certainly improved as he speaks of his confidence. Jin's title is Holy Knight. He is neither an egg nor an apprentice, but an official holy knight. He has improved in both correction and resistance. That alone makes him different from last year.
"I'm looking forward to it."
A voice suddenly interrupted the conversation between Jin and Riko.
"Yuya..."
They didn't need to confirm it. It was Yuya's voice. Yuya sat down next to Jin and the others without any hesitation. It was not only Yuya. Shizuru and the other members sat down as well.
"Don't let it end like last year."
"Yeah. It's not going to happen."
"I see... that's fine. We're going to play in the finals. I'm the first, and Jin is the second. This year there are a lot of general participants.
Last year's champion and runner-up, Yuya and Jin. Even if the lottery wasn't over, they knew that they would have to go to the finals to win.
"Before that, there will be a team competition."
"We will also in the finals of the team match. It seems to be an irregular seed."
"Irregular seed?"
"It seems that there will be one team from the guild. There will be five teams in total, so only two teams will play in the tournament three times before winning. Well, we won't have to fight. The winner of that match will be me."
"Are you saying my team is on the other side?"
Considering the combination from Yuya's story, that's what it means. Jin wondered why Yuya knew so much information, but he didn't need to think about it. If the Luine Kingdom moves, it should be easy to obtain.
"Yes. If you win once, you're in the finals."
"Then there is no need for a lottery, right?"
"Yes"
"Knowing that, why the lottery?"
"Somehow. Because it's exciting."
"……I see"
Jin took Yuya's words as composure. If Jin knew that he didn't have to participate in the lottery, he should have been training by now.
"And I have to see the disappointing face when it was decided that I would win in the lottery."
"That's in poor taste."
"It's not necessary, but you have to win before you fight."
Before fighting, let the opponent know the difference in rank and lose the will to fight. It is a teaching for the strong, which eliminates the possibility of upsets.
"You remember what you learned, don't you?"
This is what they were taught in school. Jin also knew the concept.
"Huh? Jin too?"
"Basic rules, right? All swordsmen and knights must have learned it."
"I see……"
Yuya is a little embarrassed when it is known that he borrowed words he learned from others.
"Looks like the lottery is about to begin."
The person in charge of the academy is calling the representatives of the teams participating in the team competition. They are the representatives of the three teams except for Yuya and Jin's team.
"……You're kidding, right?"
Jin let out a groan when he realized that Ren was among the representatives.
"He's going out?"
Yuya is also surprised by the unexpected situation.
"How could Ren participate? How did he gather five people?"
Riko complains.
"As an adventurer"
"Eh?"
Shizuru answered Riko's question.
"Ren is a participant from the Adventurer's Guild, so all the members are adventurers."
"...Why is he participating?"
"I don't know. I was just told he was going to be there."
"I see……"
Riko doesn't know Ren's ability. However, Riko has the idea that when Ren moves, it is always when he is plotting something. She can't help but wonder what it is.
And it's not just Riko.
"What do you mean!? Why is that man participating!?"
It was Heinz who rushed over while throwing that question.
"I have no idea"
"What about Jin?"
"I don't know"
"...Did I ask the wrong people? Is Hyde not here?"
"I haven't seen him today"
"...Okay. I'll look for him myself."
As soon as Heinz realized that he could not get any information, he left the place.He wanted to talk to Princess Milianea, not to Hyde, because he thought that Lang, who was under Princess Milianea's command, might know something about it.
"It looks like it's decided."
Meanwhile, the draw for the tournament was underway, and the names of the teams were being written on the tournament board. The first team name written down was [Pack of Wolves]. No need to check. It was Ren's team, whose alias is Silver Wolf.
"It's under me."
"Yes"
A feeling of relief spreads through Jin's heart. Fear of confronting Ren. Jin felt fear even though he had never faced him before.
"That person……"
"What's up?"
"He smiled."
"What?"
"Looking at my face, he was smiling"
"I see……"
Gradually, fear spreads again in Jin's heart. There is no way he can do it. Ren would have to beat Yuya to come to the final.
Even though he told himself that, the feeling didn't go away.
◇◇◇
"I thought we would never meet like this again."
Smiling at Heinz who visited, Princess Milianea said.
"I have something I really want to talk to you."
Heinz told the reason for his visit without putting any thoughts into her words.
"You're talking about Ren Takashiro."
Princess Milianea immediately gets to the point. The reunion of the two after a long time is trying to proceed without any luscious signs.
"As expected, you knew."
"Which story? That the Lemberg Empire is reaching out to recruit? That it's not going well? Is he inspired by that and reaching out to the Luine Kingdom? Or?"
With a smile on her face, Princess Milianea speaks about things related to Ren one after another. Heinz knows it's her demeanor with her sarcasm. And even if he knows, he has nothing to say about it.
"It's about the swordsmanship tournament."
"Ah, sorry. We don't have much information about that."
"Isn’t that person able to find out?"
Most of the information that Princess Milianea has was collected by Lang. Due to Lang's existence, the Izrim Magic Kingdom has more information about Ren than any other country. There's no way that Lang wasn't investigating anything. Heinz came here because he thinks so.
"She's done a lot of research. Thanks to that, she's a little confused."
"What did you say?"
"There really isn’t much information about the swordsmanship tournament. He's on the Guild. We can't really get involved."
Even Lang can't reach out to the guild. Doing so puts her life at risk.
"That's right. It's tough when you go through the guild."
That's true of anyone, not just Lang. Even big countries can't get their hands on it easily. That's why the Guild can stay like that.
"I can't even grasp the reason. But why?"
"Why what?"
"Why aren't you gathering information about the person you're trying to solicit?"
Right now, anyone can find out about the information that Princess Milianea has. Princess Milianea was surprised that Heinz didn't know that obvious information.
"We haven't received official permission. There's no point in hiding it, so I'm going to say that our country will create a group of mages. The hero we're bringing is a mage who should be the core of it. He doesn't fit that category."
"That's why you can't move people. I understand that. Lang is just moving on her own."
"Why did that person go to such lengths?"
Lang's actions ignored the intentions of the country. It's an action that deserves to be punished.
"I hear it's interesting."
"...What is interesting?"
"Do you think I'll tell you that?"
"I know it's important enough that you can't talk about it."
"I'm not going to be provoked."
They have had this conversation over and over again. They already know each other's moves.
"I'll ask straight ahead, then."
"Go ahead"
"Are you going to recruit Ren Takashiro?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Are you thinking about it?"
"...That's right. I'll stop hiding things here."
After thinking for a moment, Princess Milianea said she would tell the truth.
"Really?"
"In return, you owe me this."
"...Yeah, I understand. I owe you one."
Heinz also took some time to think about whether he should owe a debt, but he immediately accepted it as it was. There was no deep meaning. He just thought it would be a good idea.
"Lang has been insisting that we should bring Ren Takashiro to our country."
"I see"
"She has gathered enough information to say that. I can't say what it is."
"Yeah. It can't be helped."
It means that there is something in Ren that Princess Milianea just wants to hide. That's enough for Heinz.
"But it's not enough. It's intriguing, but there's no proof. And perhaps it's not available."
"……Fumu."
That's also Ren's ability. Heinz understood that even if the Izrim Magic Kingdom embarked on an investigation, it would not provide any confirmation. He knew about this.
"And our country will not make a decision under such circumstances. You know why, don't you?"
"Is it because of the royal authority?"
"Yes. Even though the Izrim Magic Kingdom has a monarchy, the royal authority is not strong."
"Though only the formality remains, one is an elected king chosen by his subjects."
The throne of the Izrim Magic Kingdom is not hereditary. The person chosen by the people becomes king. In reality, the king is not elected by the people, but by a consensus of the most influential people, so it is only a formality, but that's the way it is.
"When it comes to a council of vassals, you can't come to a conclusion with half-baked content. This is also a well-known shortcoming of our country."
"So Ren Takashiro is not possible."
"Even so, it's possible. It's Father's responsibility to include him as a candidate. Even if the royal authority isn't strong, there are few who can oppose it with Father."
Just because you don't like the king's decision doesn't mean you can deny anything. Even to deny something, you need a consensus, and if you are in the minority, the only thing that will remain is the fact that you have defied the king. They cannot oppose it lightly.
But in order to put Princess Milianea's ideas into practice, the king must first be willing to do so.
"You invited him?"
"Yes. I can't make the decision myself. So I will let Father make the decision. It is the quickest and surest way."
"...I see. It's not a secret. If the king of the Izrim Magic Kingdom were to come in person, he would immediately investigate to see what was going on."
"That's right. It's going to be known anyway."
Ren will be the center of attention at once. It was not just shared by a few people, as it had been in the past, but by all the countries considering bidding. There is no other hero candidate who has yet to make their move, and no other hero candidate who is capable of doing so.
"This one doesn't come when we call it. We don't have that much information."
"And we don't have the time. Even if we make arrangements now, the competition will be over by the time we get there."
"......This is not good. Is it just our country?"
"Eh?"
Princess Milianea was surprised by Heinz's words. The Lemberg Empire is not the only one where the king has not come to the church country at this point.
"The Luine Kingdom is expecting the crown prince."
"Why?"
He was not the king. Still, it was a surprise that the crown prince of the Luine Kingdom would visit.
"It seems like that was the plan from the beginning. I knew Princess Grace was here to blind us."
"...Speaking of the crown prince of the Luine Kingdom."
"I've never met him, but he seems to be a popular crown prince in the country. Princess Grace said the same thing."
"Yes"
A hero who is also rumored in other countries. Such an existence is nothing but harm to other countries. The crown prince is coming on board.
"I think you should tell the King. Tell him not to be defeated by the crown prince of another country, who is said to be a man of great wisdom."
"Yes..."
"And you owe me this information."
"...Then we'll call it an offset."
"That's right... we owe each other nothing."
Heinz regretted his words a little. But that's fine. No more debts. And any feelings of regret must be erased. The time remaining is not that much.
◇◇◇
Shizuru couldn't leave Ren alone at the academy. Seeing Ren about to leave the lottery venue, Shizuru used a suitable pretext to slip out of the venue and chase after Ren.
After that, it's the usual course.
"...That's it. Contraceptive methods are a kind of magic tool and can't be obtained easily."
While arranging her clothes, Shizuru apologized to Ren. After she finds out that Ren is holding back, she can't help but feel inferior.
"Yeah, I hear you."
"Yes. But I will definitely get it."
"You don't have to overdo it"
"But Ren is holding back."
"Recently, the maids have been dealing with me."
"I don't like that."
"Isn't that unavoidable?"
When Shizuru shows her jealousy, Ren says these words without hesitation.
"I wonder if Ren is quite the cheater?"
"I wonder? I honestly don't know if I'm serious or cheating."
"I see..."
There is no point in accusing Ren of cheating because he lacks romantic feelings. Ren is not serious about it. Shizuru thinks that he is like that.
"Is it possible that you're jealous just now?"
"Of course it is. But why?"
Ren cared about her feelings. She thought so and she was a little happy.
"I was told by a maid"
"What?"
It soon turned into a bad mood.
"I was asked if one would get jealous for continuing to have a relationship with her."
"And what did Ren say?"
"I replied that she wouldn't."
"...Why did you think that?"
Why did Ren think that about her? It is really interesting for Shizuru to know what Ren thinks about her. She felt she might be a start to find out what Ren thinks of her.
"Because… then, let me ask you, do you like me?"
"Eh!? Isn't that too late!?"
Unexpected question. Shizuru didn't expect Ren to be this insensitive.
"Huh? Did you even say you liked me?"
"...I may not have said I like you. But can't you tell from my attitude?"
"I don't know"
"……Like"
"I see"
This is the result of Ren's reaction to her courageous attempt to put her feelings into words.
"Aren't you glad...... that's the case?"
She doesn't even think she should be happy that she wasn't rejected, it's a more hurtful reaction than that. The opposite of like is not dislike but indifference. Shizuru thinks this too.
"I have Rin."
"So?"
Shizuru's expression becomes grim. Ren really cares about Rin. That's how she understood Ren's words.
"Normally, you wouldn’t like a man who has multiple women by his side, right? I don’t deserve to be liked by you."
"......Why, do you think I'm being normal there?"
Ren, who she had just suspected of being a cheater, utters these words. She knows it's not normal, but this just confuses Shizuru.
"You sound as if it's bad to be normal."
"That's the only part that's wrong. I know that, and that's why you're having relations with me and the maid."
"That's because it pleases you, isn't it?"
"I don't deny that. But what about the maid?"
"She's not like you. She pretends to be a maid, but she's a professional."
"Professional?"
Shizuru didn't realize that the maid was a hired prostitute. Yuya is also deceived. The Luine Kingdom cannot reveal the truth.
"A prostitute. I heard that she is hired for money."
"Are you paying?"
"No. I can't understand that person's feelings, so I'll explain as I was told."
"Yes"
"Her job is sex. That is why she doesn't want to forget the sex that is not her job. If she forgets that, she will no longer be a woman. If she loses the time to become a woman again, she will no longer be a person but just a tool."
Ren just said what the maid had said.
"...I feel like I understand. Ren is the person that is making her that way."
After hearing Ren's words, Shizuru's antipathy towards the maid fades away.
"It seems so."
"Hey, what do you think of that person who is back to being a woman?"
"What do I think... it's not bad. I can't answer if you ask me what, but it's not bad."
"That's……"
The reason why Ren recognizes women as women. Shizuru considered that possibility based on Ren's reply.
"What?"
"It's nothing. Hey, are you going to have a long-term relationship with that maid?"
"No."
"But the other person may fall in love with Ren. If that happens, what will Ren do?"
Even if the antipathy is fading, the sense of crisis is increasing. The most dangerous person to threaten Shizuru's position right now is the maid.
"That person is a professional. When she's with me, it's not work, but she separates it. She doesn't have feelings for anyone in particular. That's why I didn't even ask her name, and I even change what I call her from time to time."
"I see……"
Still, the anxiety in Shizuru does not disappear. Even if the maid is gone, another woman may appear. Shizuru realized that her position was just that.
"Hey, Ren."
"What?"
"Can I do my best in the competition?"
"Suddenly talking about that?"
"So?"
"Isn't it natural to do your best?"
"I'm going to fight Ren."
If Ren's team wins the first round, Yuya's team, which she's on, will be next. And Shizuru thinks that Ren will definitely win the first round.
"Even so, it's only natural to do your best, right? You've trained hard too, right?"
"Yes. I've been taking it seriously ever since Ren taught me."
"Then why don't you put it to the test?"
"Even if it interferes with Ren?"
"You. I don't want to take it easy on you. And no matter how hard you try, I will crush it without reservation. So you go all out."
"I understand. Then I'll do my best, so please watch carefully."
"Yeah"
"...Well, it's about time"
"Yeah, see you later."
"See you later……"
After exchanging the promised greetings at the end, Shizuru left the library.
"...Fight, how is she going to fight? Well, okay, I hope for the unexpected."
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