Chapter 120 - Episode 8: "It's Been a While Since My Last Hunt"
Good day! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have messed up the Martial Arts Tournament with Pink Slimes, and now I am making a profit by selling weapons!
"Man, this is profitable. This kind of easy business is fun."
"I'm glad you're having fun."
Giovan is happy with the big profit following last night. I intend to take half of the profit too, so I wonder if I should donate it again under the name of 'Violia Nico Fortesia.'
"How much equipment did you sell?"
"Hmm? Starting from the expensive-looking ones, almost all the expensive stock. The cheaper ones were bought by adventurers, and the middle-of-the-road ones sold the least. Well, even if I say they didn't sell, since almost all the stock is gone, it doesn't really count as not selling."
Oh my. It seems we can expect a lot from the sales. While we're at it, I'm also curious about the movements of the noble brats who will be participating the day after tomorrow with unfamiliar equipment.
The items Giovan sold are, of course, reasonably good, but they aren't full custom-made. The combat power of the noble brats who rely on equipment will be halved, or rather quartered. Ohohoho.
"Your first tournament match is around noon the day after tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. Since Keeb is first thing in the morning, I'll be the last, I suppose."
The name of the opponent was that of a noble I vaguely remember. Well, I shall finish them off in an instant.
"...Assuming you advance smoothly, when will you hit Keeb?"
"Let's see... around the third match, I think. Well, all of us are scheduled to be in the best 16. It's highly likely we'll clash with each other around there..."
...Well, since the opponent would also rather pit royal nobles against each other than pit them against some adventurer or Holy Knight, it's unlikely we'll clash with each other, just as the enemies don't clash with each other.
While helping Giovan pack up the stall, I think about the battles from the day after tomorrow onward.
The enemy I'm most likely to hit first is Dactor-sama.
Chris Bay Clarino is the seed for the first half. And Prince Dactor Fila Orchesta-sama is the seed for the second half. There should have been one more appropriate seed slot in the second half. I think it was someone related to House Clarino.
Since 61 people passed the first round this time, three seed spots have been created. The fact that those seed spots were decided without any relation to the number of medals obtained in the first round is just like the nobles...
"...Was Chris Bay Clarino the seed for the first half?"
"If so, that means he'll clash with Doran."
"That's right. ...Well, I think the chances of winning are fifty-fifty. Doran has that brute strength, but Chris Bay Clarino is also quite a veteran."
"Oh, is that so. Hmm... personally, I want Doran to win."
"I feel the same way. Well, I also have a strong desire to beat him down with my own hands."
After finishing loading the empty wooden boxes into the carriage, I climbed into the carriage bed and Giovan into the driver's seat, and we began to rattle toward the warehouse on the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
"...By the way, Doran will probably hit that young master before Chris Bay Clarino, but do you have anything to say about the fact that Doran will likely beat that young master down?"
"Young master? Oh, you mean Lital? Yes, by all means, please beat him down, is how I feel."
While leaning my elbows on the backrest of the driver's seat, I answer without much hesitation.
"Eh, is that okay? Since that boy is supposed to clear your name and all that."
"I can do that much with my own hands. I have no particular intention of borrowing that young master's help."
"Oh, is that so. I'm a bit relieved to hear that."
Even if Lital has trained, it would be difficult for him to defeat Doran. It might be possible if he skillfully utilizes the difference in fighting styles between a mage and a warrior... but there's no doubt it's a disadvantageous battle for Lital.
"But still, that kid is unrewarded. He's so devoted to you and yet he gets rejected."
...Regarding this, my conscience hurts just a little bit!
That's right... I don't know where things went wrong, but Lital is really into me...
No matter how you think about it, isn't this strange? Or rather, is there any advantage for me in this situation? I feel like my conscience just hurts and there's no particular advantage! In other words, I scattered the bait wrong!
"I should have avoided scattering bait so strangely..."
"...Well, it can't be helped. You're the type who scatters bait all over the place immediately."
Considering the possibility of it becoming something somewhere, I can't deny that I tend to scatter bait rather than cutting it off! Because of that, I'm now being followed by Lital for no particular reason!
"Should I consider utilizing Lital even now..."
"Well, isn't that fine for later? When you really need it."
...I wonder when I would need Lital? I can't imagine it at all...
Bu-but, that's right. Yes. Since I don't know what use he might be, I can't easily throw away the insurance.
For the time being, I'll continue with Lital as he is. As originally planned.
"...By the way, Milady. What was that about you hitting on Keeb in the spectator seats this afternoon?"
Just as the carriage was about to arrive at the warehouse, Giovan suddenly asked that. Come to think of it, he was in the spectator seats too.
"Oh... that thing with Keeb is probably because the habits from when he was a slave haven't completely left him. Or it's that thing where a chick thinks the first thing it sees when it's born is its parent."
"Oh, that kind of..."
That's somehow the impression I have of Keeb. Yes. Ever since I took off the Slave Collar, I think that boy has been thinking of me as his parent.
...I feel a bit sorry for him. There must be plenty of better parents out there.
The fact that he was picked up by a villain was probably... not a very happy thing for Keeb. But well, I'm a villain? Even while thinking that, I have no intention of returning Keeb to the wild now, though?
"Hah, he really is unrewarded. Well, it's not like I'm sad if he's unrewarded. It's fine."
"Oh. I have no intention of letting go of Keeb's hand. The time I let go of Keeb's hand is when that boy properly leaves the nest."
"You should tell him that if you and Keeb clash in a match. He'll beat you to a pulp for his honor as a man."
"Oh, I'm looking forward to that. I've wanted to fight him seriously once."
Whether it's Keeb or Doran, or even Chesta or Onii-sama, I've never fought them seriously. Since I know well that they are strong, well... my blood boils a little! Yes!
"The final match will be against Chris or Doran. I'm looking forward to it already..."
"Yeah, looking forward to it. Truly a sinful person."
"Is there something wrong with a great sinner?"
Keeb told me I wasn't 'suited to being a villain,' but as I thought, I'm suited for this. I truly think so myself.
I put the extra luggage in the warehouse and spent the next day relaxing at the inn.
The venue must be busy with cleaning right now. Since this is an inn on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, I don't know what's happening at the Colosseum, but well, I can see a bit of the heavy flow of people.
...Conversely, that's about all I can see, so I'm a bit bored!
To pass the time, I prepare for the battles from tomorrow onward.
Chris and Lital seem likely to hit Doran before me, and Dactor-sama will hit Keeb first. Therefore, to be honest, I expect almost all the highlights to be taken away.
But I'll probably be able to fight someone strong, and preparing my weapons in anticipation of that is the proper attitude for a daughter of House Fortesia.
...This time, I hesitated a bit, but I've decided to seal my own blood.
If I use a sword smeared with blood, I can win just by inflicting a scratch, but conversely, that kind of victory is too plain. If I'm going to win, I want to brilliantly deflect the opponent's weapon, or point my sword at the opponent's throat, or place my sword against their neck... Well, I want to have that kind of flashy ending.
My goal isn't just a simple victory.
I must prove on the stage that I am stronger and more beautiful than anyone else.
I want to make it clear that the daughter of House Fortesia is superior to the next head of House Clarino.
...The royal family wants to win over the people right now. Then I should interfere with that, shouldn't I?
Therefore, from here on, there are no tricks.
I shall achieve a perfect victory that neither the royal family, House Clarino, nor any other nobles can complain about. If it were known that I used some boring trick, it would tarnish my victory.
...Therefore, even if there is foul play, it will be on the opponent's side, not mine. Surely.
The next day, the Colosseum was clean. Good job on the cleaning, I suppose.
The Pink Slime mucus was gone without a trace, and the venue was completely clean.
Now, neither Keeb nor I have matches against anyone but small fry today, so there's no need to be so braced... but still, I want to achieve a brilliant victory with my full power.
While waiting in the players' waiting room, Keeb was called and went out. Keeb's turn was before mine.
...Looking out the window of the waiting room, the stage is close by. It's too close to see the whole picture, but it's enough to confirm Keeb's heroic figure.
As I watched quietly, someone who looked like a noble brat stood opposite Keeb... and the moment the signal to start the match was given.
The floorboards of the stage bulged up as if they were bouncing, and Keeb's opponent was sent flying.
While the audience was also stunned, the referee's 'Out of bounds' judgment was finally given, and Keeb's victory was announced.
...It must be an application of earth magic, but Keeb has truly become impressive...
As I watched with half-amazement and half-admiration, Keeb glanced toward me and grinned. That boy, really! I'll praise him a lot later!
Now then, after a while, it was finally my turn.
The surname of the opponent was 'Alprun.' It should be a branch of House Clarino. And as if to prove it, the opponent was a handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes. For the characteristics of the appearance to appear so strongly even in a branch family, the blood of House Clarino is truly strong...
During the handshake between the players, the opponent looked down at me and smirked.
"My opponent is a woman? Don't think badly of me, okay? I'm not good at holding back."
Oh, this guy has an arrogance that doesn't lose to the main house. Isn't he worth crushing?
"Please, don't mind me. By all means, come at me with your full power. Oh, I'll hold back for you, so it's okay."
A word for a word. In addition, if I grip with enough force to crush the opponent's hand bones during the handshake and smile brightly under the mask, the opponent naturally flinched. Personally, I would have preferred him to maintain his bravado for more fun.
"Now, both sides, take your stances..."
...Even so, it's been a while since a martial arts tournament.
This quiet space before the start. The tension.
And above all! This excitement of hunting the prey in front of me!
Especially this exhilaration of kicking around someone who thinks 'there's no way I can lose' from now on!
Truly! I can't get enough of it!
"Start!"
The moment the referee's voice was heard, I joyfully charged toward the enemy!