Chapter 43

Claude, her face flushed red to her ears,

"Don't, don't look!,"

she shouted, covering her chest with both hands.

"I-I'm sorry...!"

Realizing my mistake, I immediately turned away.

At the same time, she ran into the bathroom and roughly pulled the curtain shut.

(Claude... is a woman...?)

I had mistakenly assumed she was a man based on her demeanor and way of speaking.

As my heart, which was pounding fiercely, began to calm down, I heard her trembling voice from behind the curtain.

"Y-You! Why are you in my room!? Could it be... a night raid!?! So, that's how you seduced Lady Reia!?"

"That's not true! There's no way that could be the case!"

This misunderstanding is really bad.

I hurriedly denied it immediately.

"Then why were you in my room!? Depending on your reason, I'll turn you over to the Holy Knights!"

"I was going to say hello to Claude before heading out for practice! But when I knocked, there was no answer, and the door wasn't locked, so I—"

"—So you entered a woman's room without permission?"

...It's terribly rude to tell a woman, "I thought you were a man."

Even I know that much.

"That's... I'm sorry."

To avoid hurting her, I silently apologized.

"..."

"..."

Claude fell silent, and an awkward silence fell between us.

The sound of water dripping from the bathroom seemed unusually loud.

After a while, she slowly spoke.

"Take responsibility."

"Responsibility...?"

"You saw a woman naked... As a man, there's only one way to take responsibility..."

"Y-You mean...!?"

"Yes, if you're a man, you should have the resolve...!"

Claude said this and threw something from behind the curtain.

It hit the floor with a clattering sound.

"W-What's this...?"

"It's a short dagger for self-defense. Now, hurry up and commit seppuku."

"Seppuku...!?"

I truly feel sorry for seeing her—her as a woman—naked.

But seppuku is going too far, isn't it?

"You saw a virgin's naked body! It's only natural! Now, repay with your life! If you do, I'll forgive everything!"

"N-No, I can't... give up my life..."

"No excuses! Hurry up and cut your stomach! I might catch a cold!"

She shouted in a high-pitched voice.

(...This is all my fault for mistaking Claude as a man.)

I am entirely to blame for the situation.

But I can't die here.

"...I-I'm sorry! I'm leaving!"

I said this and fled from the room.

"Wh-What!? Hey, wait!"

After that, I returned to my own room and barricaded the door with chairs and a chest.

Tomorrow, Allen and Reia have a very important duel.

I can't face it without any sleep.

"Alright... If I secure the door like this, Claude won't be able to enter silently..."

If she tries to force the door open, it will make a loud noise, and I'll wake up immediately.

In other words, it's almost impossible for her to sneak in.

(With this, I should be able to sleep a little more calmly.)

I lay down on the bed, focusing my attention on the door.

The next morning.

"Good morning, Allen. ...Are you okay? You have dark circles under your eyes."

Reia, who had come to wake me up, looked at my face and said this.

"Yeah. Good morning, Reia. ...I couldn't fall asleep last night."

In the end, I couldn't sleep at all, worried about Claude's potential night raid.

"But, staying up all night isn't a big deal. Don't worry."

My record for consecutive all-nighters is thirty-five days.

It was achieved during the last week in the Time Prison, where I practiced sword swings non-stop to prepare for the final battle in that world.

So, in reality, one all-nighter isn't a big deal.

"Is that so? That's good... But don't overdo it, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

As we were talking in the hallway, the door opposite us slowly opened, and Claude appeared.

"Good morning, Lady Reia."

"Good morning, Claude. ...Hey? Did you have trouble sleeping too?"

Looking at her, I noticed she had dark circles under her eyes.

"Yes. I was a bit too excited to fall asleep."

...Probably, she couldn't sleep because she was trembling with anger.

"Anyway, Lady Reia, it's almost time for breakfast. Please, this way. —And you, pervert cockroach, follow me."

Saying this, Claude glared at me and started walking.

(Pervert cockroach...)

It seems that due to yesterday's incident, I've been downgraded from "cockroach" to "pervert cockroach."

■

After that, we went to the dining room, had breakfast, and then took a carriage to the Grand Colosseum.

"Wow, this is amazing..."

During the carriage ride, Reia had told me a little about the Grand Colosseum, one of the tourist attractions of Vesteria.

It was a huge circular arena made of stone.

Although it showed some signs of deterioration due to the elements, it was a building that exuded history and strength.

"There's not much time left before the duel starts. Hurry up and follow me."

Following Claude, who was walking quickly, we arrived at the waiting room.

Inside the room, various weapons were displayed—swords, hand axes, spears, and maces.

"According to the rules, bringing your own weapons is prohibited. Therefore, you'll have to use the weapons provided by the arena."

"Understood."

It seems they are careful to ensure that the quality of the weapons doesn't affect the outcome of the duel.

"Alright! Let's find a weapon that suits Allen!"

Saying this, Reia went to the section where swords were displayed.

(...If I'm far enough away, she won't hear me.)

I took this opportunity to speak to Claude in a low voice.

"Um, Claude... About what happened yesterday..."

"...What is it, pervert cockroach?"

Her cold gaze pierced me like she was looking at an insect.

"Um, I really—"

"—Don't think you can get away with just seeing me naked."

She said this and turned her head away.

Even my apology wasn't accepted... It seems the relationship is irreparable.

(And... the way she spoke...)

It seems she plans to launch some kind of attack later.

(Sigh... Why do I always end up in such situations...)

As I sighed and hung my head,

"Hey, Allen! How about this one?"

Reia, holding a sword, ran over to me.

"This... It's a good sword, indeed."

It has a beautiful blade pattern and the right length.

The grip also feels good.

"Thanks, Reia. I'll use this one."

"Okay! I'll be cheering for you, so do your best!"

Just as I received the sword from her, the announcer's voice echoed.

"—Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience! The Grand Colosseum is now open! Today, all scheduled duels are canceled in favor of a special match!"

At that moment, the audience erupted in cheers.

Although I couldn't see the stands from here, it seemed that a large number of spectators had gathered.

"First, from the West Gate! The worst and most despicable fraudster who ensnared Lady Reia! Allen Roadl!"

As the announcer's harsh words rang out, I stepped onto the stage from the waiting room,

"Get out of here! You trash!"

"Trying to lay a hand on Lady Reia? You've got some nerve! Huh!?"

"You fraudster! Don't think you'll make it back home safely!"

A torrent of insults and jeers rained down on me.

Looking closely, most of the audience were the guards from Vesteria Castle—essentially, the "family" of King Gris.

(This feeling... it's so familiar...)

When I was at the Gran Sword Academy, it was always like this.

Everyone hated me.

Everyone hoped for my defeat.

Everyone laughed at my failures.

Those were my daily struggles.

But—now it's different.

"Go, Allen!"

Reia's voice reached my ears clearly.

I am no longer alone.

"And from the East Gate! The man for any heavy lifting! Vesteria's strongest arm—Garius Lambarduck!"

As the announcer finished,

"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

A man over two meters tall with a shaved head ran onto the stage.

His unshaven jaw, a sword scar on his right cheek, and his muscular build.

In his right hand, he held a massive golden club about a meter long.

(He doesn't look like he's the same age as me...)

Then,

"Wait a minute! He doesn't look the same age at all!"

Reia, who had jumped onto the stage, shouted loudly and glared at King Gris, who was sitting in the VIP seats.

It seemed he had heard her.

"Hehe, I turn twenty tomorrow... But I'm still in my teens, Lady Reia?"

Garius said this with a sinister smile.

That's apparently true, though it's a close call.

"That's just a technicality! It's cheating!"

"Sorry, Lady Reia. The king said it's fine—so it's happening!"

Saying this, he shouldered the massive golden club.

"Such... a..."

To reassure the anxious Reia, I smiled gently at her.

"Don't worry, Reia. I won't lose."

"Allen... I believe you."

As Reia left the stage and I faced Garius, the announcer spoke.

"Are both sides ready? Then, the first match—begin!"

As soon as the match started, Garius, surprisingly agile for his size, closed the distance between us quickly.

"First move, victory! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

He swung his already raised massive golden club with all his might.

It was a powerful strike, combining speed and weight.

"Allen, dodge!"

Reia's voice, which sounded like a scream, seemed distant.

(...I love the days I spend with Reia.)

I love the daily life I share with her at the Thousand Blades Academy.

I don't want it to end here.

So, today—on this day, I absolutely cannot lose.

(No matter how strong the opponent is—I will win!)

At that moment, a mysterious power surged from deep within me.

And,

"—Haahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

My horizontal slash easily cut through Garius's golden club.

"What!? Gah...!?"

The powerful horizontal strike hit his torso, causing him to crash into the arena wall and collapse, unconscious.

The Grand Colosseum, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, fell silent.

After a few moments, the announcer declared the winner.

"Garius Lambarduck is unable to fight! The winner is Allen Roadl!"

At that moment, the entire arena erupted in murmurs.

"That move was invisible!?"

"W-What's going on!? The king said he was just a fraud...!"

"Hey, what's with this guy...? He's incredibly strong, isn't he!?"

Looking up, I met the eyes of King Gris, who was gritting his teeth in the VIP seats.

"Grr... Allen Roadl...!"

"...I'm sorry. I'm a bit stronger today."

Having defeated Garius with one strike, I felt the power surging from deep within me and prepared for the second match.