episode_0019

It was the night before the final evaluation tournament.

Rendler, who was still reeling from the unexpected withdrawal declaration by the honored Gongja, returned with a shocking sight of him packing his bags. He had received a task and made his way to the study.

“Here it is. But why all of a sudden…?”

What Rendler handed over was none other than the [Concordance Tournament Participation Regulations].

It was a document signed by the Chief Secretary of the Royal Court and the participants themselves, outlining the rules and laws that the participants of the Concordance Tournament had to abide by.

A vast set of rules totaling 100 items, covering the ethical principles participants must adhere to and the laws they must not break while participating in the tournament.

Of course, it was rare for anyone to meticulously check all 100 items, as most of them were things that humans should ‘naturally’ not do or ‘naturally’ follow in their daily lives.

For important items, the stewards would usually summarize and inform the participants.

Anyway, it was not the time for the one who had declared withdrawal to come looking for anything.

“Oh, I need to check something.”

Elden picked up a pen and began reading through the regulations, one by one.

And at one point, the pen stopped.

Swiftly, Elden underlined twice and put a star next to it.

It was Regulation Chapter 12.

After finishing the check, Elden put down the regulations and leaned back in his chair.

It was up to the Royal Court to decide on the withdrawal. If there was a section in the regulations regarding withdrawal, they would either reject it based on that or approve it taking it into account.

It was better to prepare for the worst rather than be bound by a single choice.

That was Regulation Chapter 12.

And one more thing was needed.

“Rendler.”

“Yes, Gongja.”

“I need you to go to 25th Street.”

“But… isn’t it forbidden to go out after dinner?”

“I know. ‘Candidates’ are not allowed to go out.”

“…What?”

At Rendler’s question, Elden stood up and approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“You can go out, right?”

“What?”

“I need something from 25th Street. It’s essential for me.”

“But… it’s a dangerous place.”

25th Street was a slum area with weak security measures.

It was where the black market operated at night, attracting a shady crowd.

It was a dangerous place for an old steward to venture alone.

Of course, it would be different if he had a reliable protector.

“Take a guard with you.”

In the end, the old steward had no choice but to comply with the Gongja’s request.

“Understood. But what do you need from there…?”

Something essential.

A item that could only be obtained at the black market, the item that Deron Kellid had been secretly carrying around.

Humans had to prepare for the worst, and to become better humans, they had to find a way to turn the worst into the best.

Moreover, when dealing with villains, ethics were unnecessary.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

If they were going to resort to cowardly acts, they should be met with cowardly measures.

For that, they needed what Deron Kellid had been carrying.

“I need the Mana Record.”

“Why…?”

Chuckling, Elden smiled.

“I’m done with just being on the receiving end.”

**

Deron Kellid was skilled in manipulating people.

He knew how to use carrots and sticks effectively, and had a remarkable talent for cunningly deceiving villains.

And he was skilled at extracting the unique malice that villains possessed and adept at combining and utilizing it effectively.

Of course, it was a capability that could be exerted in a thorough class society.

The Duke’s son was allowed to do so.

The reason he was able to reign as the hidden tyrant of the Royal Academy was all thanks to his capabilities.

Kyle, adept at schemes based on gossip.

Blund, a flatterer who served as a swift informant.

And Elden, a combat enthusiast who would shed blood in exchange for a sword.

Each with different temperaments, they were all under the rule of the hidden tyrant, Deron Kellid.

“If you follow me, I will bestow upon you the honor of graduating at the top.”

A villain must have an outlet to relieve their villainy.

And Erinshia Velloc was the prey that caught his eye.

Unaccustomed to socializing with people, wanting to keep to himself more than anyone else, and not yielding to any adversity due to his high academic fervor, she was an outstanding prey who would graduate from the academy.

He captured the scion of an unknown family from the borderlands and threw her into the fence that confined the villains.

The worst of the worst villains.

The waste ruling over the heads of the trash was none other than Deron Kellid.

That’s why.

“Right.”

A smile formed involuntarily when he took the lead.

A human who willingly stepped forward to grasp the reins of power.

A human who schemed to prevent other races from doing futile things.

In the original Elden’s memories, Deron was such a human.

And Deron often wielded a whip rather than a carrot to prevent the mindless combat enthusiast Elden from biting him.

He knew how to efficiently tame beasts.

Hwung!

That must be why.

He raised his fist to participate in the sacred battle of the mating season, unable to forget that habit.

In response to the insult conveyed by the pecking beast, he trembled with anger.

Of course, all the plans were for that purpose, a great detonator to turn the worst into the best.

Puh-uck!

He caught the slow-looking fist.

The reason why combat enthusiast Elden Raphelion endured being whipped by the vulnerable him was simply for the honor of graduating at the top.

It was only for the sake of receiving scraps from the cowardly tyrant’s shadow, and there was no reason, no justification for him to endure the slow, slow fist any longer.

He drew a sinister smile.

“Did you know that you will obediently take the hits like before?”

Deron’s pupils shook greatly.

The tyrant who tried to control the behavior of the other races by taking Elden as an example must have experienced cognitive dissonance.

“W-what… what did you say?”

He completely let go of the fist he had clenched.

Kyle and Blund, who were burning with the will to fight, quickly approached and stood by his side.

Indeed, they were loyal subjects.

I don’t know how long their meager loyalty will last.

“D-Deron, are you okay?”

“Elden, are you out of your mind?”

In response to Blund’s question, he answered as if asking if it was obvious.

“It’s a difficult world to live in without going crazy. By the way… are you worried that your dream will be taken away by the pecking beast?”

Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a round, flat object.

“Don’t worry. Even if I tell you dozens of times, you may not believe it, but even if by some slim chance I win the favor of the Grand Princess, I will never take away your dreams.”

Although he had already mentioned it several times, it was necessary to repeat it dozens of times to those who had closed their ears.

The declaration of withdrawal is not a strategy, and even if it is postponed, the outcome will not change.

For a modern person who has transmigrated into a medieval fantasy world, being a nobleman’s son-in-law is more fitting for a wanderer seeking romance and adventure than being bound by chains.

Deron, who was insulted by the beast he was handling, couldn’t speak up, so Kyle took over for him.

“How, how can you expect us to believe that? Your actions don’t match your words.”

“I think this might be the answer, don’t you think so, Master Deron?”

He called out to Deron.

And then, he showed them a round and flat object.

With a shining black color, he shook the object as if unfolding a fan, which could record the user’s surroundings just once, and the faces of the three members of the Regretful Trio turned pale.

“Did you say that disgusting food was delicious?”

“It would be wise to prepare yourself. Here, there are no watching eyes or listening ears.”

“It seems like you have completely forgotten your memories from the academy.”

“Ugh! Bleh!”

Furthermore.

It was only natural for Kyle and Blund, who were sticking close to the leader, to distance themselves.

The meager loyalty of villains is like a sandcastle crumbling with one wave.

Putting the mana record back into his pocket, he said, “If the withdrawal was a strategy, I would rush to the Chief of Staff with this and reveal your true identities, but I will simply keep it safe.”

“What? W-what is this all about?”

“If we don’t provide a way for the withdrawers who want to enjoy peace and romance away from the world to have a chance, this record will never see the light, so please cooperate.”

As long as the withdrawal declaration is not officially approved, they could only stay in the Grand Castle.

If a participant in the audition finals suddenly declares withdrawal and disappears, they will be expelled from the industry.

Especially in this world, which is a strict class society, the ‘Winterfell Ducal Family’, which is no different from the king of the Northern Territory, is a family with the power to make even the most powerful aristocrats tremble.

The Ducal Family receives full support from the king.

Having already marked a stain with the first withdrawal declaration in the history of the Covenant Tournament, it was only natural to look for an opportunity to escape while keeping a low profile.

There were only 13 days left.

If they endure for 13 days, the healing journey will begin in earnest, so patience is better than disappearing.

Moreover, the female lead is rejecting the change.

Fleeing now would give strength to denial, and it could cause discomfort in the culinary journey that should be enjoyed freely.

He did not declare withdrawal to commit such a foolish act.

Now he simply hopes for the approval of the withdrawal, or for this Covenant Tournament to end, in order to create the best environment for healing and rest.

His determination to leave will never waver.

Deron, who had been firm, finally understood the situation and spoke up.

“…So all of this was according to your plan.”

“Haha. I just wanted to let you know that you don’t need to exert yourself in a strict place.”

“You seem arrogant. Have you not considered the consequences?”

Of course, he had also thought about the consequences.

In response to the ignorance and threats of those who had not properly read the Covenant Tournament regulations, he smiled and replied.

“Oh, it seems that Master Deron did not thoroughly read the tournament regulations.”

“What?”

On the first day of transmigration, he had underlined and starred the legal regulation Article 12.

“During the Covenant Tournament period, anyone who seeks revenge on their opponent for events that occurred during the tournament will be considered to have retaliated against the ‘Winterfell Ducal Family’ regardless of the reason.”

He will no longer kneel to injustice.

He will no longer shed tears of helplessness.

“Have you not read the contents of Article 12 of the legal regulations?”

It was a comforting message to the past Junwoo, who had to kneel in unfairness to keep those promises, and spent countless nights in sorrow.

Now, shall we enjoy it comfortably?