chapter_0207
by adminMesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
207
Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
207
When I nodded, Jeff explained
the upcoming schedule to me.
A few more people would enter,
and finally, the First Prince and the Third Prince would come in
together. After that, the party would be officially opened, and I
would be called to the front.
At that point, I just needed
to express my thoughts on participating in the festival and say the
prepared words.
“It’s okay to cause some
trouble, but please make sure it’s something we can handle.”
His tone, assuming that I
would cause trouble, was annoying.
If you know that’s going to
happen, then exempt me from this speech! Why are you forcing me to go
up there?!
Because it’s the Duke
Partan’s order and it can’t be helped?!
…Well, I guess there’s no
way around it.
After Jeff left, a lot of
people continued to enter the Party Hall.
Among them were many faces I
knew.
Villains. Heroes. Briefly
appearing NPCs. Those who gave touching side stories. And even some I
wanted to meet personally.
It wasn’t really strange.
If they were invited by the
Partan Duke’s Family, they must have something exceptional.
Whether it’s authority,
honour, skill, or bloodline, it means they are recognized by the
Partan Duke’s Family.
These people naturally have a
significant influence on the continent, and large influence means
they are prominent figures; thus, it’s no wonder their faces are
familiar to me.
As I recalled the characters
from the game while seeing the faces of those entering, I felt my
anxiety calming down a bit.
Escaping reality, am I?
Yes, I am.
But what else can I do?!
If I don’t escape reality, I
feel like my heart will break!
I’m standing in the centre
of a party hall full of people who hate me, feeling like a sloppy
knocked-out adult failure ♡ human failure ♡, so I need to escape
reality somehow!
‘What is it?!’
After hearing Grandpa’s words,
I lifted my head and spotted a man glaring at me.
If he had been a stranger, I
would have just dismissed him as a creepy old man. But this time, it
was different.
I knew him.
Despite his face being a bit
more vicious than I remembered, that was the only change. How could I
mistake someone who appeared as one of the kingdom’s storyline
bosses?
In the game, he was known as
the strongest knight in the kingdom.
He died a disgraceful death
with endless pride in his strength.
Tavol Demesil.
He’s the… Kingdom’s
Knight Commander.’
Given that Benedict is here,
he probably didn’t gain the title of the strongest in the kingdom,
but he wouldn’t have lost his position as Knight Commander either.
‘Why do you ask?’
Indeed, Tavol’s eyes are
fierce, as if he’s glaring at something he utterly despises.
…Lucy. What did you do this
time? Did you provoke this scary man?!
I don’t even need to see her
to know. She probably said something like; It’s hilarious that such
a sloppy weakling who got thrashed by our Papa is the Knight
Commander.
The kid who calls the king a
pig wouldn’t have kept quiet just because it’s the Knight Commander.
By now, I’ve grown used to
such situations and resignedly ignored his gaze.
He’s someone I’ll have to
deal with later anyway. What’s the harm in being hated a little now?
Not long after that, the guest
who would mark the end of this grand party appeared.
First, the Third Prince,
Arthur Soladin, entered.
As he stepped in, the crowd
applauded, but their gazes were mostly lukewarm.
Arthur, being more accustomed
to such events than me, would have noticed this, but he simply walked
up to the Duke with a calm expression and finished his greeting.
Then the highlight of the
party made his entrance.
The First Prince, Rene
Soladin.
The welcome he received upon
his entrance was on a completely different level compared to Arthur.
The sound of applause filled
the party hall. Eyes brimming with enthusiasm. Cheers.
Everyone was doing their best
to leave an impression on the person who was almost certain to
inherit the throne someday.
Of course, there were some who
were clapping reluctantly, either because they had no interest in
power or because they hoped the Second Prince would become king.
“Thank you for inviting me,
Duke Partan. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a good
time.”
“It is an honour to hear
that you enjoyed yourself, Your Highness.”
After the formal greetings
were exchanged, the First Prince stepped aside, and Duke Partan moved
to the centre of the stage, lightly waving his hand.
As soon as his brief gesture
ended, a magic circle appeared before him.
Voice amplification magic.
The same spell Joy had used
during the field trip.
Back then, Joy struggled for
several tens of minutes to create that. But Duke Partan just produced
it with a simple flick of his hand.
As expected, he is one of the
kingdom’s greatest assets.
“Hmm.”
With a short clearing of his
throat, the duke drew everyone’s attention toward him.
Not a single person looked
away.
“Good evening, everyone. I
am Duke Partan, the host of this party.”
He also drew my attention in a
different way from the rest.
Because the Duke starting his
opening speech meant he was about to put me on the spot.
Watching the Duke express his
gratitude to those who attended the party, I swallowed hard as his
gaze landed on me.
“Before I officially
declare the party open, there is someone I need to introduce first.
This person has earned an honourable title at our Partan Territory
Festival. I’m sure everyone here knows the winner.”
The moment I had never wished
for finally arrived in front of me.
Taking a deep breath.
Adjusting my outfit. Rising from my seat.
As I stood up, murmurs began
to spread around me.
The voices filled with
contempt couldn’t be called friendly even in jest, but I never
expected goodwill from the start, so it didn’t bother me much.
Instead of wasting my thoughts
on them, I focused on the voice Grandpa had given me.
Oh no.
I’m so nervous.
It feels like I can’t
breathe from the tension. Even when I went to meet Karia, it wasn’t
this bad.
Hey, Armadi! If you’re going
to make it this tough for me, could you at least give me something
difficult and dangerous?
I’m really not cut out for
this!
If you’re going to test me,
choose something I can overcome with my veteran knowledge! Please!
“Duke Partan, could you hold
on a moment?”
As I fantasised about where I
could possibly find some calming pills, a voice emerged from the
crowd.
A voice both deep and
resonant, naturally drawing everyone’s attention.
Following the others’ gazes,
it wasn’t hard to find the source due to his towering stature.
“I have a question before we
proceed.”
Tavol.
The man who had been glaring
at me with such hatred just moments before.
“What is it, Knight
Commander?”
“The purpose of the Partan
Festival is to prove one’s strength by winning multiple games,
correct?”
“Yes, indeed. As someone who
once held the title of Slayer, you would certainly know.”
“Then any participation
through dishonest means cannot be acknowledged.”
Even though I’m clumsy with
politics, it was clear by now what he was insinuating. His hostility
was evident – how could I not understand?
“What exactly are you trying
to say?”
The Duke’s voice grew cold.
With that voice alone, it felt like he could crush someone’s
shoulders.
However, Tavol merely shrugged
his shoulders at that voice.
“I understand that the
title of Slaughterer of the Partan Festival, being so honourable,
must be decided in fairness and integrity.”
“Knight Commander.”
Even someone like me, who’s
inept at politics, understood the situation. There’s no way those
who frequent social circles and have encountered such atmospheres
countless times wouldn’t understand me.
Despite the Duke’s voice,
which was filled with warning, silence did not settle in the party
hall.
Instead, it was filled with
murmurs.
Murmurs filled with animosity
and sarcasm, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
“In other words, if
fairness and integrity were compromised, not only should the title be
denied, but the person should also face appropriate punishment.”
“Tavol.”
Bad rumours are like a plague.
They spread quickly and taint
people’s hearts.
The plague that began with
Tavol swiftly spread throughout the party hall.
Soon, riding the wave of
murmurs, it drowned out all other voices.
“I raise a suspicion
here. I propose that Lucy Allen, who has been selected as the
Slaughterer of this festival, did not win the title through
legitimate means.”
Tavol claimed to be speaking
out for the sake of fairness and innocence, but anyone could tell his
intention wasn’t genuine.
Because his gaze was fixated
on one person.
Not Duke Partan.
Not even me.
But Benedict Allen.
Lucy’s father.
The person who should
rightfully hold the title of the strongest in the kingdom.
Tavol looked at him and
smiled. Only then did I fully understand this man’s intentions.
At first, I tilted my head in
confusion.
Why was he attacking me, I
wondered.
No matter how much he despised
me, this was excessively blatant.
Trying to insult me in front
of everyone.
Wasn’t it practically picking
a fight with my family, with Benedict?
Even the First Prince was wary
of Benedict, but Tavol didn’t seem afraid of him at all.
However, now I understand.
He didn’t hate me.
He hated Benedict.
He loathed the warrior with
greater talent than himself.
That’s why he didn’t care
who stood behind me.
Because he had been staring at
that person all along.
“Is this a legitimate
suspicion?”
“Of course.”
“Are you prepared to take
responsibility if your suspicion is wrong?”
“My answer remains the same
as before.”
“Can you prove it?”
“That is something the young
lady should do.”
As Tavol closed his mouth and
turned his gaze, the Duke’s head turned, and so did the eyes of the
crowd.
All those eyes.
The sharp, needle-like gazes.
The stern, rebuking looks.
They pressed down on me,
trying to crush me.
He said that the very fact
that a suspicion was raised was the problem.
Whether I denied it or not,
the crowd had already labelled me as a dishonest person.
Why? Because my reputation was
already ruined.
They thought I was capable of
such deceit.
‘Yes, Grandpa?’
Grandpa. You really are
perceptive.
You might think it’s a forced
smile due to the [Mesugaki] skill, but he realised I was genuinely
smiling.
Well, it’s not something I
need to hide. If he’s curious, I should answer him.
‘This way, I don’t have to
stand up on the podium!’
Who cares if they give or take
away the title of Slaughterer of the Festival!
Anyway, I’ve already
finished Armadi’s Quest.
Whether I take it or not,
there’s no Penalty for me.
Of course, I’m innocent! I
didn’t use any dishonest means!
But with so many people giving
me these cold stares, what can I do?
I have no choice but to refuse
the award, fully acknowledging the responsibility for my past karma.
Nice! Tavol!
Not only did you give me great
items in the game, but you’re also helping me in real life!
You really are the best boss!
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