Ch.48048. Competitive Match

After the competition’s opening ceremony concluded successfully, they immediately proceeded to the group draw. Gilbert’s group was assigned to Group 3, scheduled to compete in the Third Training Ground.

The start time was set for one hour later, a consideration to allow conversation time between the guests and cadets who participated in the opening ceremony. It was a courtesy for the Academy’s visitors who had traveled far to observe the competition.

Gilbert also met with the representative from House Hart, who had come as the Earl’s proxy.

While Gilbert had unlocked his custom character as the eldest son of House Hart, the original Hart family had one son and one daughter. The first child was Glinda Oz Hart, who was now his younger brother, and the second was Dorothy Flamma Hart.

And the one who came as the Earl’s representative was Dorothy Flamma Hart, who was elegantly sipping tea before him.

She was a companion character who boasted high performance even in tactical combat. Since she had aspired to become a knight, she had been training since childhood, making her initial stats impressive enough to rank among the top.

Her appearance was also renowned for its beauty within the Empire—the distinctive blonde hair of House Hart, bright red eyes, and her straightforward personality were charming. As a character with an available romance route, many users targeted her as their conquest.

Especially if the protagonist Ian’s personality was set to righteous and just, it was easy to gain her favor because she aimed to become a knight who understood honor. Conversely, if set to be despicable, her favor would hit rock bottom, making not only the romance route but even recruitment as a companion absolutely impossible.

In other words, Dorothy was likely to despise Gilbert, who was known to be vile and dishonorable.

Gilbert remained silent in front of Dorothy as she drank her tea, hesitant to speak first. Even though she was his sister, this was his first time seeing her in person, so he was cautious.

Since waking up in the Lithuania territory, all he had done, apart from meeting the Earl of Lithuania, was stay confined to his room figuring out how to survive in this world. He had never seen his siblings Glinda or Dorothy.

How much time had passed?

After enough time to finish a cup of tea, Dorothy finally broke the silence.

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed.”

Her speech was quite informal for addressing an older brother, but that was her characteristic way of speaking. Of course, she could distinguish between public and private matters, but she consistently used such speech with her brother Glinda, her personal maid Anna, and Ian when his favor was high.

She was a companion character with good performance when recruited, and if her romance route was opened, she was quite passionate, making her a fairly popular character. But Gilbert wondered how it would be now that he had become her brother. After all, she deeply despised dishonorable people.

“You still seem strange.”

“Strange?”

“Yes, you’re not acting like my eldest brother. You’re not being arrogant as usual.”

So that was the reason.

He had a vague idea why Dorothy, not Glinda, had come as the Earl’s representative. She was curious because the behavior of her despised eldest brother differed from before.

Thinking further, Dorothy had aspired to become a knight since childhood. Initially, it was simply because she thought it was cool, but after meeting Briana, she sincerely wanted to become a knight out of admiration for her.

But now her incompetent eldest brother had risen to the position of cadet for the knight position she desired, and had become the exclusive disciple of Briana whom she deeply admired. It would be strange if she hadn’t come to see him.

“So you came instead of Glinda. To check.”

“Among other things. And what’s with that way of speaking? You used to be really frivolous. Do you realize how strange that is?”

“Would you prefer me to be frivolous?”

“No. If I had to choose, I prefer this. But it’s creepy that the person speaking like this is my brother.”

Though she said it with a smile as if it were nothing, her true meaning was different. Her undisguised contempt made him want to sigh.

“Is there a need to drink tea with someone you find creepy?”

“Of course. I came as Father’s representative, so I have to do it even if I don’t want to. And I wanted this representative role, so I can endure that much discomfort.”

“Then that should be sufficient.”

“Not at all. I have many questions for you, brother.”

She took another sip of tea. When her cup was empty, her personal maid Anna naturally refilled it.

“Brother, how did you become a knight?”

“Don’t you already know?”

“That you single-handedly dealt with seven Resistance God-Machines? How could I believe that? Even though an imperial decree came down, don’t I know you?”

Dorothy’s previously smiling expression hardened. Her lips turned downward and her eyes narrowed sharply as she glared at Gilbert, as if determined to reveal everything hidden inside.

“Brother, let’s be honest. What did you do? How could someone who had never even moved a God-Machine while in the territory suddenly win the Demeia Academy entrance mock battle and face seven God-Machines alone? I can’t understand it.”

“I did it because I could.”

“My eldest brother has developed quite a sense of humor while I wasn’t looking. ‘I did it because I could’… Fine, let’s say that’s true. Then I have one more question. How did you become Professor Briana’s exclusive disciple? Someone as worthless as you.”

For a moment, hostility surged. Gilbert could almost see the jealousy and animosity pouring from Dorothy.

This seemed to be the main reason she had come as the Earl’s representative. She was envious that he had become one of only two disciples of Professor Briana, her object of admiration.

If it had been anyone but Gilbert, she would have been envious but wouldn’t have shown such hostility. Even if jealous, she would have immediately thought it was because of her own shortcomings—that was the kind of person Dorothy was.

But since it was Gilbert, things were different. Considering Dorothy’s nature of despising scoundrels like Gilbert, she couldn’t help but find it extremely unpleasant that he had become Professor Briana’s exclusive disciple.

It might have seemed to her like a criminal stepping into a sacred realm where he didn’t belong.

But.

“Dorothy Flamma Hart.”

His Authority and Command stats had risen above 130 through the recent subjugation battle. This meant he could use the limited passive skill Presence that Seraphina had demonstrated the day he sought permission to become Professor Briana’s exclusive disciple.

He pressed down on Dorothy with his Presence skill, just enough not to cause physical harm.

“I already know that you despise me. I have no intention of saying anything about that. Because it’s all true. However.”

“Hng…?!”

As he emphasized the last word and increased his Presence skill, Dorothy, who had been barely holding back, involuntarily let out a sound.

Anna, who had been watching silently, finally noticed something was wrong and tried to move, but when Gilbert’s bright red eyes turned toward her, she couldn’t act rashly.

“Do not cross the line. That’s all I have to say.”

Gilbert released his Presence skill, stood up, and left the room. He had now made enemies with Dorothy after Lily, but they had negative feelings toward him even before meeting. Thinking it was better for his mental health to give up on what should be given up, he headed toward the Third Training Ground where Group 3’s preliminary match would take place.

But on his way to the training ground, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Do not cross the line”? No matter how much his speech had changed due to the original Gilbert’s influence, the fact that he could say such words gave him chills.

He shuddered at the realization that he had spoken like someone with chuunibyou. He made a mental note to be careful not to say such things again.

***

Dorothy, who had been staring at the door Gilbert had exited, could only breathe comfortably after it closed. The pressure that had felt like it was gripping her throat had disappeared, but the sensation of having her breath constricted remained.

“My lady! Are you alright?!”

“Yes. Don’t worry. Calm down, Anna.”

She smiled at Anna, who had admirably tried to protect her, and picked up her teacup.

Though she had hidden it from Anna, her hands were trembling slightly. Even though the tea was already cold, taking a sip filled her mouth with its aroma, making her feel a bit better.

Is that really my eldest brother? Not someone else?

Though she had seen him with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it.

She had observed Gilbert all her life and, despite being family, had judged him as worthless. He had no dignity, and his behavior was no different from that of a wastrel. All he knew how to do was harass women and torment the people of the territory—a complete waste.

There were many rumors, but since he hadn’t crossed any decisive lines, she had endured it out of family ties. But today, that perception was shattered.

From his recitation of the oath to their current meeting, the Gilbert she had known was gone. It was as if someone else had taken over Gilbert’s body—his words and actions were filled with dignity and composure.

Wondering if it was an act, she had questioned him persistently. In the end, she showed her hostility but was overwhelmed instead. All she could do was receive Gilbert’s cold gaze, unable to speak, feeling as if her breath was being constricted.

Dorothy was furious about this. It was utterly humiliating to be overwhelmed by her eldest brother, whom she had always considered a worthless fool.

But what was done was done. After drinking the cold tea in one go, she shook off her lingering emotions. At least through this conversation, she had learned that Gilbert was not incompetent.

Now she needed to see how skilled he was with God-Machines. That supposedly impressive skill that had allowed him to quickly dispatch seven God-Machines.

“Let’s go, Anna. We should watch my brother’s match.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

Let’s see just how good he really is.

Dorothy, accompanied by Anna, made her way to the Third Training Ground where Gilbert had headed. The reception room they left behind contained only two empty teacups.