Chapter 90

◆4-02 Patrick and the Level 99 Romance

Eleanor and I walked around the mansion, not to find the blue bird of happiness... but Patrick.

He wasn't in his private room, and only Damon was in the study. I wondered where else he could be when I heard a voice from the entrance. It seemed he had just returned.

"Welcome back. Do you want to have dinner? Or take a bath? Or—"

"Welcome back, Master Patrick. Please, place your hand on this crystal."

Eleanor had interrupted the important part.

Well, it's fine. Since it was after the 'welcome back,' he probably just said it out of obligation.

Eleanor, holding the crystal with both hands, was beaming. She's so cute. Patrick, who was being pushed the crystal, looked a bit reluctant. Unbelievable.

"I'm back. Ah, let's do that later. There's something I need to do now—"

"Patrick, if you don't do it first, it won't be my turn, right?"

I could tell from his expression that he didn't like it, so I moved quickly.

I firmly grabbed Patrick's wrist with both hands and brought it close to the crystal. He tried to resist and pull his hand back, but it was futile.

Eleanor raised the crystal she was holding and pressed it into Patrick's palm.

It was our combined technique. I'll call this "Forced Level Measurement." It's a technique to force a level measurement.

"Great! As expected, Lady Eleanor! Look at the number!"

"Um... 99! 99! Master Patrick is amazing!"

Eleanor, seeing the number displayed on the magical device, jumped up and down happily. Don't drop it, okay? It would be terrible if the crystal broke when it hit the floor.

However, I understand Eleanor's joy. I'm just as happy as if it were my own. Oh, Patrick, you've grown so much...

"It's like a mother's feeling when her son grows up."

"I don't remember being raised by you."

Is he in his rebellious phase? Mom, if you're going to ride a motorcycle, I want you to ride a CBX.

I was about to mimic the sound of a straight-six engine, but decided to celebrate honestly instead. I'll save the motorcycle impersonation for another time.

"Congratulations, Patrick."

"...Thank you."

Even though his level had maxed out, he didn't look very happy. Including his reluctance to be measured, I wonder why. Come to think of it, Patrick hasn't talked much about his level recently.

Why? He's level 99, probably the second in the world.

And yet, Patrick and I are the strongest in the world... Wait? The strongest doesn't need two. Until yesterday, I was the number one in the world, but now we're tied for first.

We need to hold a World's Strongest Determination Battle. The fight has already begun.

I gauge the distance between Patrick and me and say:

"It's time to decide who is the strongest in the world."

"Ha... I knew it would come to this. Yumiera, it's fine if you're the strongest, so please stop being so competitive."

"Ah! You're saying something like a self-proclaimed weakest protagonist! No matter what, Patrick is the strongest in the end! I'm just a decoy as the strongest!"

In stories, the one who insists on determining who is stronger is usually the weaker one. The peaceful one who says there's no need to fight is actually the stronger one.

No, I'm the stronger one.

I'm fully ready to fight, but it seems Patrick isn't. I can see the pity in his eyes.

"...Wasn't the Yumiera I met more rational? Haven't you become more aggressive recently?"

"I don't think I've changed that much."

I've always been like this. Maybe it's just that we've been together for a long time, and more aspects of me have become visible. I don't think I'm aggressive. ...I almost got sidetracked. We're in the middle of a World's Strongest Determination Battle.

I slowly approach Patrick, closing the distance to a favorable range, and say:

"It's the result of logical thinking. Generally, the higher the level, the stronger. If the levels are the same, we need to fight to determine who is stronger. ...See, it's logical, right?"

"Logical?"

Patrick looks as if he doesn't understand the meaning of "logical."

With two level 99s, the only way to determine who is stronger is to fight. The one with superior innate potential, or talent, might win. The precision of swordsmanship or magic, or other factors outside of level, might determine the winner.

Since it's just the two of us, there won't be a three-way deadlock, so it's safe to let them fight.

Let's start the world's strongest lovers' quarrel.

Just as I'm getting pumped up, Eleanor speaks up from the side.

"Yumiera, didn't you say your level exceeded 99?"

"Ah."

"So you were trying to use this crystal, right? You forgot, didn't you?"

"That's right."

I see. I wasn't level 99. I didn't realize it until Eleanor pointed it out. I was so eager to hold the World's Strongest Determination Battle when Patrick reached a high level that I got ahead of myself.

Sometimes, even when the situation changes and the plan is no longer necessary, you still stick to the original plan. It happens.

When I was a college student in my previous life, I once bought a mobile battery for a trip that was canceled. I went to the electronics store for no reason, bought the battery, and when I opened the box at home, I realized I didn't need it.

I was blind to it. So, I can continue to be the strongest, right? Should I still hold the World's Strongest Determination Battle just to be safe?

As I'm debating whether to stand down, Patrick takes the opportunity to persuade me. How much does he not want to fight?

"Right! Yumiera has exceeded the level cap. That means Yumiera is stronger than me, who is level 99. Got it? So there's no need to fight, right?"

"Me, number one in the world?"

"Yes, Yumiera is number one in the world."

"What if I was number two in the world?"

"...Then, you would be number two, wouldn't you?"

Number two is number two. Even if number two is number two, number one is still number one, and since I'm not number two but number one, I'm number one.

So, I don't need to determine who is stronger with Patrick.

As I stand down, he sighs deeply and says:

"Thank goodness. Thank you, Miss Eleanor."

"Did Master Patrick also forget about Yumiera's level?"

"I was always worried about a situation like this... I didn't realize the premise had changed."

Oh, Patrick has his "it happens" moments too.

He probably didn't want to be measured because he expected me to want a fight. I still don't quite get it. Is there really a boy who isn't interested in being the strongest in the world?

Well, it's fine. Patrick, who has maxed out his level, doesn't need the crystal anymore. I can destroy it without any problem.

"Then, it's my turn."

"Why were you waiting for me to come back? Yumiera would have measured herself right away, wouldn't she?"

I guess that's the image I have.

I explain to Patrick in a simplified way what I told Eleanor. I mention the possibility that the crystal might break due to my power.

"So, the crystal will break."

"Even though there are some on the market, it's still a valuable item. Don't break it."

"That's why it will break due to irresistible force!"

"Don't do it on purpose, okay?"

I wouldn't do that. The crystal will either break physically, show an error, or display a number over three digits. I wouldn't intentionally break an important magical device.

Patrick's gaze, which seems to say "This guy might break it on purpose," is painful, so I'll measure quickly.

"Then, let's measure."

"Sure, go ahead!"

Eleanor, with a smile, hands me the crystal.

If the crystal explodes in this state, her hands will be covered in blood. If the fragments hit her face, it could be dangerous.

I move a vase from a nearby table.

"It will explode, so put it here."

Eleanor, looking a bit dissatisfied, places the crystal in the designated spot and then takes a few steps back, probably out of fear of the explosion.

On the contrary, Patrick steps forward, probably out of caution. It's okay. I'll handle all the damage from the explosion.

Let's count down to the explosion: 3, 2, 1, 0! 0! 0!

"Huh?"

I lightly touch the crystal, but nothing happens.

There's no sign of an explosion at all.

Why? Was it supposed to show an error?

As I look around in a daze, I meet Patrick's relieved gaze. He really didn't want it to explode.

Well, I'll try to stay calm and check if it's an error or a number over three digits.

As I try to look at the crystal again, Eleanor quickly slips past Patrick.

Judging that there's no danger, she approaches without anyone stopping her and stands directly opposite me, with the crystal between us.

Then, Eleanor crouches down and peers at the crystal.

"13! ...That's it!"

"Huh? 13?"

What's with 13? My level can't be that low.

Oh, maybe it's not "13" but "13!"? 13 factorial. 13 × 12 × 11 × 10... and so on, which is... about 6 billion?

A level of 6 billion is impressive. It seems the overflow from when I maxed out has accumulated to this point.

As I'm overwhelmed with emotion, Patrick also approaches and peers at the crystal.

"Ah, it really is 13. What does this mean...?"

"It's fine. 13! ...Right?"

"Why did you raise your voice?"

The way Patrick says it, it sounds like just 13.

Hmm? What does the crystal actually display?

It's unlikely that the level is displayed as a factorial, and if it shows a number around 6 billion, why did Eleanor change it?

I remember. Eleanor is the type who would say 100 - 77 is 33. If she saw a number over a billion, she would freeze and count the digits carefully.

I have a bad feeling. Sweat runs down my back, even though it's not hot.

Ignoring the discomfort, I peer at the crystal. I lean over it, keeping my hand on it, and see the result.

"Thir... teen...?"

The number I see is 13. A natural number greater than 12 and less than 14. Thirteen in English. There are no other markings, just the number 13 floating in the crystal.

I tried measuring again after letting go, but the result was the same.

Considering the possibility that my eyes might be playing tricks on me, I ask Patrick.

"13, right?"

"13."

"13."

The world seems to warp. As my vision spins, I remain the calmest.

The Japanese text I don't want to read out loud: "Even if number two is number two, number one is still number one, and since I'm not number two but number one, I'm number one."