episode_0051

“Anna.”

“Yes. miss. Please tell me.”

“That person. Aren’t you the first brother?”

“Lady. This is already the 100th time you’ve asked this question. It is clearly Master Gilbert.”

Dorothy asked Anna the 100th question at her dorm after returning from watching the round of 32 games. Normally, I wouldn’t have done such a foolish thing, but this time it was different.

That’s how shocking her brother’s first game of the round of 32 was.

Her first brother, who had never once thought of him as having great abilities, was at a level that was mind-blowing when it came to manipulating the Giant God Soldier. It was no exaggeration to say that the movements of the Giant God Soldiers, which moved fluidly as if they were moving their own bodies, or the swordsmanship performed using the Giant God Soldiers, were the state of art.

Gilbert’s opponent also had a high level of manipulation skills, but it was nothing compared to him. Rather, it was merely an object of comparison that showed the level of level Gilbert had reached.

Dorothy drank the tea Anna served her and let out a long sigh. Until now, she had been thinking about how he could receive a knighthood or whether he was a suitable person for knighthood, but this was not a skill she could evaluate.

To put it bluntly, he had skills worthy of knighthood.

“Anna. Did I think wrong? It was arrogant of me to judge my first brother’s skills. My brother’s skills are beyond my ability to judge.”

“Lady…”

“I don’t know what happened in English. He was a person who had never once ridden a giant god soldier while in the territory. How could they manipulate it like that? No no. I shouldn’t belittle my brother’s skills. I, who aim to become a knight rather than anyone else…”

Putting aside all thoughts about Gilbert that I had seen so far, looking solely at his skill in piloting the Giant God Soldier, he was a man worthy of the title of knight. He protected the cadets and the honor of the academy with his excellent piloting skills without backing down even an inch against the terrorists who invaded the academy.

Seeing a person like that and being suspicious was something she could never do. He was too talented a person to let his previous actions stumble.

Of course, the Gilbert before was an idiot with dirty scandals and no ability, but the person I saw today was absolutely not that kind of person.

An unrivaled genius in controlling giant soldiers.

Dorothy couldn’t help but think that way about her eldest brother.

“Phew. I don’t know which one is real. I thought I only believed what I saw with my eyes, but it seems that wasn’t the case. I can’t accept the results when they’re thrust before my eyes.”

“Anyone would do that. Miss.”

Anna felt sorry for Dorothy as she watched her drink tea with a confused expression. Her owner was always bold and active. She was an intelligent woman who did not blindly believe in rumors and always double-checked them with her own eyes, but today she could not believe what she saw with her own eyes for the first time.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand her feelings. Anna, who had served the Hart family for a long time, was equally fascinated by the manipulation skills shown by the Hart family’s eldest son.

Anna, who had been helping Dorothy since childhood and had also watched Gilbert closely, remembered that Gilbert was like a tyrant. He was a selfish person who always had to do as he pleased.

He was the eldest son of the Count Hart family, who was overconfident in his abilities, full of bravado, and only revealed his feminine side.

But then he changed.

His actions began to show elegance, and his words began to carry weight. Not only that, she was awarded the title of knight, which was the most honorable position, and her skill in piloting a giant god soldier was, in her opinion, far beyond that of a freshman.

Who can believe it if it happened in just a few months?

Anna shook her head.

“Good. I finally understand it.”

“Lady?”

“Brother has changed. Because if you don’t assume this, everything doesn’t make sense.”

“Master has changed… . Is it?”

“Yes. Actually, I thought it was a disgusting act for my eldest brother to act like that. I’m still in doubt about this, but… let’s skip this. Anyway, if it is true that my brother has truly changed, I think he may use such manipulation techniques.”

“Master… . Did you have that kind of talent?”

“What are you talking about? Anna. Originally, my eldest brother was a terrible person with no abilities at all. Have you already forgotten?”

Dorothy’s eyebrows gathered in the center as she lifted her teacup, as if she had heard something strange.

Anna just smiled silently at Dorothy’s appearance. She had already realized why Dorothy had said that, even though it was just something she had said.

“You think it’s strange.”

“To be precise, I thought that he was not really my first brother.”

Dorothy nodded, savoring the fragrant black tea. This was something Dorothy could say because she had seen Gilbert as much as she had lived. What I said earlier about being convinced was in that sense.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain what he showed in the competitive game.

The meaning of changed that Dorothy spoke of was literally used to mean that he was someone other than the original Gilbert.

“I think it might be a doppelganger or a homunculus. I’m guessing that the starting point is the road leading to Demeia Academy. Of course, since I only have a heart condition, I’ll have to find out gradually.”

“That’s the conclusion you came to.”

“Do you think it is a reasonable and rational decision? Anna seems to have different thoughts.”

“How important is my opinion? What you think is important.”

“It happens again. I told you not to say that. I have absolutely no intention of becoming a tyrant who ignores the opinions of those under him. Because I’ve seen that a lot.”

Dorothy put down her finished teacup. I couldn’t be like Gilbert, whom I loathed so much. It was her heart that she had promised since childhood.

“Anyway, I don’t think I have any intention of telling you what I think. What do you like? This is a matter for me to find out. I’ll have to find out until the moment the competition ends.”

“Cheer up. Miss.”

“Don’t just support me, help me.”

“I don’t think it will work this time.”

Dorothy felt like there was something to Anna’s bright smile. Could it be that you made a wrong guess?

But if that means that Gilbert had such incredible talent, do you really believe that?

Unfortunately, Dorothy wasn’t the type to believe such things. Uncertain things can be resolved only when you see them with your own eyes.

Dorothy’s eyes were bright with enthusiasm.

***

The competitive match proceeded without any major upsets.

Starting with Gilbert, who was considered the favorite to win, Ian, Lily, Angelina, and Hans all easily reached the round of 16. The audience cheered as they watched the brackets slip away from each other as if they had been planned. This was because it gave him the pleasure of watching the games of the cadets he was rooting for more.

However, the next round of 16 match was different. Ian, who played first, was not among the other four, but he was the first to advance to the quarterfinals against a fairly capable cadet.

Interestingly enough, the next match was between Angelina and Hans, and the battle between the two was so intense that it was reminiscent of the finals. Although Hans had a slight advantage in handling giant soldiers, Angelina had an overwhelming advantage in reading the battle.

It was excellent to read Hans’ actions and tighten his grip, as if he knew where he was going to move. Although it may look a bit plain compared to Lee An’s relatively spectacular skills, the audience felt as if they were suffocating.

However, Hans, who the audience was dealing with in person, was literally dying. It was dizzying when one firebolt tied my foot.

However, in the end, Hans’ skill in controlling the Giant God Soldier allowed him to advance to the quarterfinals.

Hans dug into the tiny gap between the magic weapons and roasted Angelina’s giant soldier who was engaged in close combat. It was only a momentary gap, but she grabbed the opportunity by becoming involved with Gilbert and using her masterful manipulative skills.

Angelina competed with all her skills, and although the result resulted in defeat, she accepted the result neatly. The audience gave generous applause to the famous match created by the two.

After the two’s match, other round of 16 matches also took place one after another. Although there was no game that had as much impact as the two, their skills were outstanding enough to advance to the finals of the Demeia Academy competition.

The audience cheered as they enjoyed this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, and the same was true for the cadets attending Demeia Academy. Everyone, regardless of gender or age, enjoyed the competitive round of 16.

However, there was a different game that the audience was waiting for.

– Gilbert! Gilbert!

Gilbert’s match, the favorite to win.

That was the game.

Before he knew it, Gilbert was quietly listening to the stadium cheering for him. It was a very different reaction from when I first opened my eyes here.

Of course, even so, Gilbert’s actions in the past did not disappear anywhere. It only gained limited popularity due to the unique nature of competitive matches such as the festival at Demeia Academy.

And gaining popularity in this way did not immediately reverse Gilbert’s accumulated reputation. Fortunately, with the fame gained by eliminating the Resistance, people gradually began to see things differently, but I could not hide the feeling that there was still a long way to go.

Crucially, it was impossible to turn around a relationship that had already become sour. Because the human mind was originally like that.

Gilbert took a deep breath as the servant announced preparations, and climbed aboard the Giant God Soldier. For a moment, I wondered if I should call this a bitter affair.

If you really ask me, it’s true.

Gilbert sighed again.

Soon, a broadcast announcing preparations for the game followed.

[Cadets Gilbert and Lily, please enter the stadium as soon as you are ready.]

The final and highlight of the round of 16 match.

It was the moment when the curtain rose on the match between Gilbert and Lily.