Ch.51051. Competitive Match

“Anna.”

“Yes, Miss. Please speak.”

“That person. He’s not my eldest brother, is he?”

“Miss. That’s the hundredth time you’ve asked. It’s definitely Young Master Gilbert.”

Dorothy asked Anna this question for the hundredth time in their lodgings after watching all thirty-two tournament matches. Normally, she wouldn’t engage in such frivolous behavior, but this time was different.

That’s how shocking her brother’s first match in the round of 32 had been.

The giant mech piloting skills displayed by her first brother, whom she had never considered particularly talented, were astonishing enough to take her breath away. The way the mech moved as fluidly as if it were his own body, and the swordsmanship he demonstrated through it, could only be described as artistic mastery.

Gilbert’s opponent also possessed high-level piloting skills, but they paled in comparison. Rather, the opponent merely served as a measuring stick to show just how advanced Gilbert’s abilities were.

Dorothy took a long sip of the tea Anna had served her and sighed deeply. Until now, she had questioned how he could receive a knighthood or whether he was worthy of such a title, but this was beyond her ability to judge.

Without a doubt, he possessed skills befitting a knighthood.

“Anna. Have I been wrong all along? It was my arrogance to evaluate my eldest brother’s abilities. His skills are beyond my capacity to judge.”

“Miss…”

“I just don’t understand how this happened. He never once mounted a giant mech while at our estate. How could he pilot one so skillfully? No, no. I shouldn’t diminish my brother’s abilities. Especially not me, who aspires to become a knight…”

Setting aside everything she had previously thought about Gilbert, judging solely by his mech piloting skills, he was worthy of knighthood. He had protected the students against terrorists who invaded the academy without hesitation, using his exceptional piloting skills to defend the academy’s honor.

For her, doubting such a person was absolutely unacceptable. He was too brilliant a talent to question based on his previous behavior.

While the Gilbert of before had been associated with scandalous rumors and lacked any notable abilities, the person she saw today was absolutely not that same man.

A genius of giant mech piloting beyond compare.

Dorothy couldn’t help but think of her eldest brother in these terms now.

“Sigh. I don’t know what’s real anymore. I always thought I believed only what I saw with my own eyes, but apparently not. Even with the results right in front of me, I can’t accept them.”

“Anyone would feel the same way, Miss.”

Anna felt sorry for Dorothy as she watched her drink her tea with a confused expression. Her mistress had always been spirited and lively. The intelligent young woman who never blindly believed rumors and always verified things with her own eyes was now unable to believe what she had witnessed firsthand.

Anna understood her feelings. Having served the Hart family for many years, she too was astounded by the piloting skills demonstrated by the family’s eldest son.

Having attended to Dorothy since childhood and observed Gilbert closely, Anna remembered him as a tyrannical figure. He had always been selfish, insisting on having his way.

He had been overconfident in his abilities, full of pretense, and solely interested in women—that was the eldest son of the Hart earldom.

But that person had changed.

His actions began to show dignity, his words carried weight. Not only that, but he had been awarded a knighthood, the most honorable position, and his mech piloting skills far exceeded the level of a freshman student, even to her eyes.

Who could believe such a transformation had occurred in less than a few months?

Anna shook her head.

“Alright. I finally understand.”

“Miss?”

“My brother has changed. Without accepting this premise, nothing makes sense.”

“The young master has… changed?”

“Yes. Actually, I thought his new behavior was just a disgusting act. I’m still suspicious about that part… but let’s set that aside. Anyway, if he truly has changed, then I can accept that he might display such piloting skills.”

“Did the young master… always have such talent?”

“What are you saying, Anna? Originally, my eldest brother was a completely incompetent person without any abilities. Have you forgotten already?”

Dorothy’s eyebrows furrowed as she raised her teacup, as if she’d heard something strange.

Anna merely smiled silently at Dorothy’s reaction. She had just been testing the waters, already understanding why Dorothy had spoken that way.

“You think something is strange about the young master.”

“More precisely, I think he’s not really my eldest brother.”

Dorothy nodded as she savored her fragrant tea. Having known Gilbert for her entire life, she could make such a claim. Her earlier statement about understanding was meant in this context.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain what she had witnessed in the competition.

When Dorothy said he had “changed,” she literally meant that he was not the original Gilbert but someone else entirely.

“I think he might be a doppelganger or a homunculus. I suspect the switch happened on the way to Demeia Academy. Of course, this is just a hunch, so I’ll need to investigate further.”

“So that’s the conclusion you’ve reached, Miss.”

“Don’t you think it’s a rational and logical judgment? You seem to have different thoughts, Anna.”

“What does my opinion matter? Your thoughts are what’s important, Miss.”

“There you go again. I told you not to talk like that. I have absolutely no desire to become a tyrant who dismisses the opinions of those beneath me. I’ve seen enough of that.”

Dorothy set down her empty teacup. She could never become like Gilbert, whom she so despised. That had been her determination since childhood.

“Anyway, it seems you don’t want to share your thoughts. That’s fine. This is something I need to figure out myself. I’ll investigate until the end of the competition.”

“Good luck, Miss.”

“Don’t just cheer me on—help me.”

“I’m afraid I can’t this time.”

Seeing Anna’s gentle smile, Dorothy felt there was something more to it. Could her suspicions be wrong?

But if so, that would mean Gilbert actually possessed such formidable talent—could she really be expected to believe that?

Unfortunately, Dorothy wasn’t the type to readily accept such things. She needed to confirm uncertainties with her own eyes before she could be satisfied.

Dorothy’s eyes blazed with determination.

***

The competition proceeded without major upsets.

Gilbert, the tournament favorite, along with Ian, Lily, Angelina, and Hans, all easily advanced to the round of 16. The audience cheered at the bracket arrangement that kept them from facing each other too early, as if it had been deliberately planned. They were delighted to be able to watch more matches featuring their favorite students.

But the round of 16 matches were different. Ian, who competed first, secured his spot in the quarterfinals by defeating a fairly skilled student, though not one of the remaining four contenders.

The next match, interestingly, was between Angelina and Hans, and their battle was as fierce as a final match. Hans had a slight edge in mech handling skills, but Angelina was overwhelmingly superior in reading tactical situations.

She seemed to know Hans’s movements before he made them, reading and constricting his actions masterfully. Compared to Ian’s flashy techniques, her style might have seemed plain, but the audience felt as if their own throats were being squeezed.

If the audience felt that way, Hans, who was directly facing her, was truly suffering. When a fireball trapped his foot, it was a heart-stopping moment.

But in the end, Hans’s superior mech piloting skills secured his place in the quarterfinals.

Exploiting a tiny gap between Angelina’s magical defenses, Hans, whose skills had improved tremendously through his association with Gilbert, seized the opportunity and rendered Angelina’s mech lost in their close battle.

Angelina had given her all in the match, and though the result was defeat, she gracefully accepted it. The audience gave generous applause for the spectacular match they had created.

After their match, the other round of 16 matches proceeded in order. While none had the impact of Hans and Angelina’s battle, the competitors all demonstrated excellent skills befitting those who had reached the main tournament of Demeia Academy.

The audience enjoyed this rare spectacle and cheered enthusiastically, as did the students of Demeia Academy. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, was enjoying the round of 16.

But there was one match the audience was especially waiting for.

– Gilbert! Gilbert!

The match featuring Gilbert, the tournament favorite.

That was the one.

Gilbert quietly listened to the cheers calling his name throughout the arena. It was quite different from the reception he had received when he first arrived.

Of course, this didn’t mean that Gilbert’s past actions had been forgotten. He had gained limited popularity due to the special nature of the competition, which was like a festival for Demeia Academy.

And gaining popularity this way wouldn’t completely reverse Gilbert’s accumulated reputation in one go. Fortunately, the fame he had earned by eliminating the Resistance had gradually changed some perspectives, but he couldn’t hide the feeling that there was still a long way to go.

Crucially, it was impossible to repair relationships that had already soured. That was simply the nature of human hearts.

Gilbert took a deep breath at the attendant’s signal to prepare and mounted his giant mech. He briefly wondered if this should be considered a persistent ill fate.

It was accurate, strictly speaking.

Gilbert sighed once more.

Soon, the announcement for the match preparation was broadcast.

[Student Gilbert and Student Lily, please enter the arena when you are ready.]

The final match of the round of 16 and the highlight of the day—the curtain was rising on the battle between Gilbert and Lily.