“What? Cat got your tongue? Spineless punk.” Quinton looks down at me and grins.
I look up at him and return the smile. “My fists are too valuable to waste on you.”
“Looks like someone hasn’t learned his manners yet!”
“That’s quite enough!!” Annerose stops Quinton’s brandished fist with her comment. “You’re taking this too far. If you want to keep having a go, you’ll have to do it with me.”
She looks up at him and glares.
“Hey, yo, that chick just said she’d ‘have a go’ with you!!”
“‘Have a go’ with me, too, lady!!”
Contrary to everyone around him, though, Quinton’s expression is grave. He clicks his tongue and turns around.
“What’s wrong, Quinton? Gotta take a piss or something?”
“What? It’s over already? Boo!”
Quinton leaves, and the crowd dissipates.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it would get that bad.”
Annerose offers me her hand.
I ignore it and stand up on my own.
“If you were gonna stop him, you could have done it from the start. Am I wrong?”
When she hears my question, Annerose flinches. “I figured it would be better for you to take some licks here than suffer something irreparable at the Bushin Festival proper, but he took it too far. How badly are you injured?”
Annerose reaches out to touch me, but I hold up a hand and stop her.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you… What?”
It looks like she noticed. Despite the fact that I got beaten up six ways to Sunday, I haven’t sustained any notable damage.
My only wound is a small cut on my mouth.
I use my thumb to wipe away the blood, then turn my back on her.
“Been a while…since the last time I tasted my own blood…,” I murmur loud enough for Annerose to hear.
“…! Wait! What’s your name?!”
I can feel Annerose’s gaze burning into my back.
“…Mundane.”
With that, I vanish into the crowd…
…and pump my fist.
Hell yeah!
Nailed it.
“Everyone looks down on him, but a select few notice there’s something strange about him…!”
I love that trope.
If you ask me, people who show off their true strength before a tournament are third-rate.
After all, how are you supposed to enjoy yourself? What’s the point if you’re just gonna reveal your true power in the most boring way and place imaginable?
It’s better if everyone thinks you’re a chump until the actual battles start. Then, once you actually get into the rounds, you can make them think, Wait, he’s kind of strong! And then, at the climax, that transitions into No… He’s got a lot of power! Now that’s some first-rate stuff.
Controlling the audience’s expectations right up until that decisive moment is my mission during this Bushin Festival.
For a little while, I lurk behind cover while reflecting on what I just pulled off.
Then, once I see that Annerose and the others are gone, I sneak back into line and finish registering.
The Bushin Festival prelims start next week. I go back to looking like Cid, spend some time gazing down from the top of the arena and envisioning various outcomes for the tournament, then buy two sandwiches from Tuna King and eat them on my way back to the dorm.
As I walk a path lit by the setting sun, I suddenly remember I promised to treat Alpha to Tuna King at some point.
Alpha seems like she’s always busy, so we never actually got around to it. Oh well. I’m sure I’ll end up buying her that sandwich one of these days. She’s an elf, so she can easily live to three hundred, and I’m planning on using magic to break two hundred. As long as I get to it before we die, it’s fine. No need to rush.
The closer I get to campus, the louder the cicadas get. Summer evenings are their domain, after all. At least, that’s how I like to conceptualize it.
The academy glows in the evening light, and I can tell the restoration work from the fire is progressing smoothly. At this rate, it’ll finish up right on schedule just as summer break ends. Once, Skel got riled up and said, “I wish the whole damn thing had burned down,” and I couldn’t help but agree with him. Heck, the whole student body was hoping summer vacation would get extended, so I bet they felt the same way.
I pass alongside the schoolhouse and head down the path to the dorms.
There’s no one around.
Most of the students went back to their homes. Actually, now that I think about it, my sister got all pissed and told me to come home with her, too. I ignored her and headed for the Sacred Land, of course, but I wonder what became of her after that. She’ll probably be back around when the primary rounds of the festival start.
As those thoughts float through my mind, I shove the last bite of my first sandwich into my mouth.
Then, I’m shaken from my reverie.
“Carelessness is the greatest of all foes, you know.”
I feel a practice rapier’s sheath tap on my shoulder. I don’t feel any murderous intent, so I don’t bother responding.
The wielder of the sheath lets out a small chuckle and stows her sword. She’s an attractive young woman with honey locks and gentle looks—Rose.
“Hey. Training?”
“Mm-hmm. I had some free time, so I came to get some swings in. I see you went to Tuna King?”
“Yeah, I’m friends with the owner of one of the stores near it. I only found that out recently, though.”
“The three of us went there ourselves the other day. It was really quite tasty.”
“The three of you?”
“Yes. Me, Miss Natsume, and Alexia.”
I’m still not sure what the three of them have in common, but now that I think about it, I saw them together in the Sacred Land, too.
“Are you guys friends?”
“Miss Natsume and I get along wonderfully. And Alexia is a good person, so I’m sure she’ll come around.”
I doubt she’ll ever be able to befriend Alexia as long as Rose still thinks of her as a decent person.
“Unfortunately, though, Alexia and Miss Natsume seem to be on poor terms,” she remarks sadly.
It’s not hard to imagine Beta and Alexia in the same group. I feel like they’re cut from the same cloth. “I’m sure they’ll get over it eventually.”
“I certainly hope so… If I ever have to leave, I’m concerned about how they’d get along. We all have to work together. I don’t know if we’ll be able to accomplish anything, but I do hope we’re able to change the world for the better.”
“World peace is important, after all.”
“Uh-huh.” Rose smiles happily. “Oh, forgive me. It’s getting late, and I really have to go.”
Little by little, our surroundings have grown darker.
“Cool. Catch you later.”
“Um…”
Even though she just claimed she had to go, Rose looks like she wants to say something.
“What’s up?”
Rose hesitates for a moment. “I’m heading to see my father. He’s introducing me to my fiancé.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Well, congrats…or not, I guess.”
It’s written all over Rose’s face that this isn’t what she wants.
“I’m a princess of the Oriana Kingdom. As such, I’ve lived my life carrying the weight of various expectations, but out of selfishness, I betrayed them.”
“Uh-huh.”
“After this, I may go on to betray them even further.” Rose smiles sadly. “This time, though, it won’t be out of selfishness. I hope these fears of mine don’t come to pass, but…if something happens…will you believe in me?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“All I ask is that you believe in me, Cid, nothing more. I pray we’ll have another chance to
talk like this.”
Rose hangs her head, concealing her face, and turns to try and leave.
“Hey.”
I call out to stop her, then hand her my other Tuna King sandwich.
“Here. You should try and relax a bit.”
“Thank you.”
Rose flashes me a gentle smile.
The next day, I’m woken up by Skel shouting.
“Rose, the student council president, stabbed her fiancé and ran off!!”
Still lying in bed, I tilt my head. I wonder what made her want to go and do that.
“What does that girl think she’s doing…?” Alexia clicks her tongue.
Natsume makes a practical remark from the couch in Alexia’s room. “It appears Princess Rose fled to the north side of the capital. She’s probably still in the city.”
Alexia casts an annoyed look at Natsume, then clicks her tongue again.
It’s thanks to Natsume that she’s heard the particulars of Rose’s attempt on her fiancé’s life. As inscrutable as Natsume is, her information network is useful. She’s even been able to dredge up a number of rumors regarding the Cult of Diablos.
“King Oriana likely wants to deal with this matter internally. He’s asked the Midgar Kingdom not to get involved.”
“That’s suspicious.”
“Very. Rose’s actions fall under the jurisdiction of Midgar’s laws, but prosecuting her would have a pronounced effect on the relationship between the two countries. Midgar will probably refrain from intervening.”
“True. My father will probably wait and see how things play out.”
Alexia’s father is a man who believes strongly in not rocking the boat, and as his face floats to the front of her mind, she clicks her tongue yet again.
“Rose’s fiancé is Perv Asshat, the second son of one of the Oriana Kingdom’s dukes. If she’s caught, I imagine her punishment won’t be light.”
“She’s royalty, so she won’t get the death penalty, but she’ll either be imprisoned or exiled… Anyway, we should find Rose before the Oriana Kingdom does so we can ask her what’s up.”
“Well, let’s think about this. Princess Rose didn’t discuss any of this with us. It’s possible she was trying to avoid getting us involved and making this an international incident.”
“So what?”
Natsume stares into Alexia’s eyes. “I think we should avoid doing anything reckless.”
“You’re saying we should abandon her?”
“I never said that. I just think we should consider our next move before we act.”
“What, so you’re trying to say I’m not thinking?”
“I never said that. I just think we should take a little more time weighing our options.”
“What, so you think I’m a dumbass?”
“I never said that. I just think we each have our strengths and weaknesses.”
“What? If you’ve got something to say, just come out and say it already!”
“Oh, I could never be so rude…,” says Natsume. Her eyes dart anxiously.
Alexia strides briskly toward her, then hoists Natsume up by the collar. The two mounds on Natsume’s exposed chest jiggle.
Alexia glares at her. “Don’t go playing all innocent with me.”
“Eek! P-please don’t kill me…!”
Natsume squirms to try and get free, making her chest wobble even more. Alexia notices there’s a mole on one of those blobs, and it pisses her off even more.
“See? You’re doing this all on purpose.”
“Eeeep…”
“I’ll beat your ass.”
“W-w-w-w…”
Natsume looks up with tears in her eyes, and Alexia clicks her tongue and lets her go.
The author collapses onto the sofa.
“Rose must have had some reason for what she did, and I know she was trying to keep us from getting wrapped up in it. That’s what pisses me off.”
“Wh-what?” Natsume asks.
“When someone tells me not to do something, it makes me want to do it even more, and when someone says they don’t want me getting involved in something, it makes me want to get in up to my neck.”
“Um…” Natsume looks up at Alexia, unsure how to respond.
“We’re allies. None of us really knows what lies in the others’ hearts, but we agreed we’d act as a team. Didn’t we?”
“R-right.”
“Since that’s the case, I’m not going to abandon a teammate. That means I’m not abandoning you, either. Got it?”
“…Yes.” Natsume stands with her head downcast. “Then I’m going to go collect information on Princess Rose. I’ve heard some unsavory rumors about her fiancé, so I’ll try digging there, too.”
“Look who’s cooperative. I’ll start by consulting with my sister.”
“Let’s meet back up tonight to exchange intel.”
“Wow, you get back on your feet quick.”
“Until then.”
“Oh, and stay safe out there.”
“You, too, Princess Alexia.”
Natsume bows, then takes her leave.
Alexia watches her go, then heaves a heavy sigh.
“Well, looks like I’ve got work to do…”
She smooths out her wrinkled clothes, then heads out after her.
Chapter 5
A Battle to Attract Only MVPs!
The week ends, and the preliminaries for the Bushin Festival begin.
I’m currently watching the fights from the arena stands with Skel. The sun is high in the sky, and attendance is sparse. Well, that’s just how these rounds are. In fact, the turnout is usually worse.
Yesterday, I had my second round of prelims. They weren’t held in the arena, though, but in a nearby meadow. You heard that right—the first and second prelim rounds take place in a grassy field outside the capital. There aren’t any spectators, and the quality of competition is abysmal. I knock both of my opponents out with lariats, but it doesn’t bring me a shred of joy.
The third round is when we finally get to fight in the actual arena. By this point, the quality of the fights is starting to barely approach respectability. There aren’t many people watching, but honestly, it’s a surprise that there are even as many as there are. The Bushin Festival’s main attraction isn’t the primary rounds, after all.
“By the way, what happened to Po?” I ask Skel. He seems to be jotting down notes of some sort.
“He had to plow the fields back at his parents’ place.”
“Ah.”
Skel continues fervently scribbling as he watches the fights. I spot a necklace in the shape of a holy sword draped around his neck. It’s the souvenir I bought him back in the Sacred Land. I’m glad he’s actually wearing it, but it also makes me question his taste in fashion.
“What do you have going on there?”
“Collecting data on the battles. Noobs gamble on the fights with just their gut, but I’m different. I make my bets based on stats, probabilities, and hard data.”
“Huh.”
I glance at Skel’s notepad.
The first few entries I spot read “seems strong,” “seems weak,” and “hell if I know.”
“You know, the trick to gambling is ending in the black,” says Skel boastfully. He keeps writing as he speaks.
“Who’da thunk?”
“See, when noobs gamble, they go ride or die on single fights. But not me. I don’t get attached to any one outcome. I count my fights by the dozen—the more often I bet, the sooner the odds converge.”
“Uh-huh.”
“After all, I’m a man who always ends in the black…”
I yawn. “That’s crazy, dude.”
“It sounds like you’re talking about something interesting.”
Suddenly, another man appears behind me.
“We are?” I ask.
“It certainly sounded that way.” The man, a showy blond hunk, grins.
“W-wait! I know you…!�
��
“You know this guy, Skel?”
“You’re Goldy Gilded the Unbeaten Legend, right?!”
Goldy responds to Skel’s glistening gaze by combing up his hair. “That nickname is a little embarrassing. Call me Goldy Gilded the Victorious Golden Dragon.”
“O-of course! Goldy the Victorious Golden Dragon!”
I think Unbeaten Legend sounds cooler myself.
“So I see you’re summing up data on the battles?”
“That’s right!”
“That’s some good thinking. I always make sure to do the same.”
“R-really?!”
“Of course. To make sure I always win.”
“That’s so badass! Do you have any cool stories you could tell me?”
“Oh, one or two, I suppose.”
I suspect it isn’t gonna stop at just two.
My fight’s coming up soon, so the timing is perfect.
“I gotta go take a dump.”
“Hurry back so you don’t miss anything.”
I go to the toilet and don my disguise before heading to the entrants’ waiting room.
Skel is listening to Goldy Gilded the Victorious Golden Dragon’s theory on victory with rapt attention.
“For instance, I’ll use this next fight as an example.”
“Got it!”
The next challengers are being called to the arena.
“Round three, match twelve! Gonzales versus Mundane Mann!”
The two dark knights square off against each other.
“My theory holds that it’s possible to figure out roughly how strong each side is before the fight even starts. Let’s start with Gonzales. We can figure out his physical prowess by analyzing how balanced his muscles are. Also, based on the glint in his eyes and his arrogant disposition, he gives off an aura of a tough, experienced fighter. His power level looks like it’s around 1,364.”
“P-power level?! What’s that?!”
“By analyzing the battle data, it’s possible to quantify someone’s combat capabilities—1,364 isn’t bad.”
“That’s awesome!”
“As for his opponent, Mundane Mann…hmm.”
Goldy Gilded the Victorious Golden Dragon casts a sharp stare Mundane’s way, then sinks into silence.
The Eminence in Shadow, Vol. 2 (Light Novel) Page 12