Chapter 42

And twenty days later.

I boarded the magnificent carriage provided by the academy and headed for the imperial capital to participate in the martial arts tournament.

Or rather, I was heading there...

“...Why are you guys here?”

Inside the carriage, Iifa and Amu were present.

“I’m Seika-kun’s attendant, so I can’t just not come!”

“Well, Iifa is fine, but...”

“What’s wrong with that? Got a problem?”

Amu said with a sour face.

“It’s fine. I’ve never been to the capital before. I probably wouldn’t have a chance to go otherwise.”

While saying that, her purpose was probably to watch the martial arts tournament.

She seemed to be quite concerned about the performance of the opponents she had lost to. She’s quite a sore loser.

“But is it okay? You’ll be absent from the academy.”

“Not more than half a month, right? It’s fine.”

“What about accommodation?”

“I’ll stay in Iifa’s room.”

Indeed, the academy had prepared a room for the attendant as well.

I don’t know if there are two beds, though.

“By the way, Seika-kun, are you okay with the carriage?”

Iifa asked worriedly, and I answered honestly.

“I feel pretty bad.”

“Why are you so calm... Are you okay?”

“I’m not okay at all. So... Mabel, can we switch seats?”

The girl with rust-colored hair glanced at me with her blue eyes and turned away, muttering.

“No.”

Indeed, Mabel was also on this carriage.

It’s only natural, since we have the same destination and there’s no point in having two carriages.

“Huh? For a year younger, you’re quite cheeky, aren’t you?”

Amu, being a former adventurer, seemed to be strict about hierarchy and confronted Mabel.

Mabel responded in a voice that sounded like she was talking to herself.

“The academy is all about strength. I heard that. And I’m the same age as you.”

Amu said, surprised.

“Wow, that’s rare. A noble entering a year late. So, everyone is the same age?”

“Um...”

Iifa raised her hand timidly.

“I’m also a year late, so I’m a year older than everyone else.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“Didn’t you say anything, Iifa?”

“I never had the right moment.”

“Hmm... You’re older. No wonder...”

“...What are you looking at, Amu?”

Iifa hugged herself and kept her distance from Amu.

“...Shut up.”

Mabel muttered in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.

Noticing my gaze, she sighed and said,

“The academy is full of people like this.”

“People like this?”

“Carefree, children.”

“Well, we are children. Is there something wrong with that?”

Mabel paused before saying,

“Thinking it’s not strange is strange.”

“What you’re saying...”

“...?”

“...No, never mind.”

I decided not to say anything unnecessary.

Mabel is right.

If a poor harvest occurs, people starve to death. If a plague spreads, people die from it.

That’s the norm for humans. There aren’t many children who can live carefree.

Even in this empire, which is far more prosperous than Japan, it’s not uncommon for people to become beggars or sell themselves into slavery due to poverty.

Children who can attend the academy are already privileged.

However... I don’t want to say that it’s a bad thing.

I’d rather see at least the people within my reach live happily, rather than everyone being unhappy. That’s one of the reasons I picked up orphans and took them as disciples in my previous life.

“Just so you know,”

Mabel said, glancing at me sideways.

“You’re one of the carefree ones.”

“...Maybe you’re right.”

In this life, I’ve been born into a privileged situation.

To the point where it’s unimaginable from my previous life.

And.

I don’t know what kind of past she has... but I’m sure Mabel hasn’t had it easy either.

****

The imperial capital, Rodnea, is located to the west, not too far away.

After a two-day carriage ride on the road, we finally arrived at our destination.

Uldwight, the capital of the Uldwight Empire.

The largest city in the empire. Rodnea was also a city, but the scale of the capital was incomparable.

“Wow... There are so many people.”

Iifa sighed in amazement.

The streets were lined with tall buildings, and as Iifa said, there were many people coming and going. The noise seemed somehow refined.

Compared to the territory, Rodnea was a city, but it couldn’t compare to the capital.

“But there are fewer carriages than in Rodnea.”

“Carriages from outside are not allowed to enter during the day. It’s too dangerous because of the heavy traffic.”

“Oh, so that’s why we were dropped off outside the city walls.”

I listened to Iifa and Amu’s conversation with interest.

I remember that in ancient Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, there was a similar law.

Then they turned to me.

“Are you okay?”

“Should we rest at the inn today?”

“I... I’m fine.”

I answered... leaning against the wall of a building, breathing heavily.

I’m already battered and bruised before the tournament. I feel like I’m going to vomit.

Being dropped off just before the city walls helped, but the nausea hasn’t gone away.

Damn... Should I just ride a wyvern back?

“You don’t have to push yourself today...”

“No... I want to see the match-ups first.”

We were heading to the arena where the tournament would take place.

The names of the participants, their match-ups, and the dates of the matches were supposed to be posted on a bulletin board there.

By the way, Mabel disappeared as soon as we got off the carriage.

She seems to be staying at a different inn, so we’ll probably meet again at the venue.

In the end, I still don’t understand her very well.

I sent a letter to Luft to ask about the Crane family, but I didn’t get much information.

Amu said,

“It’s fine to go see it, but it’s still a bit of a walk. What do you want to do? Should we catch a carriage?”

“...Are you trying to kill me?”

****

The arena where the tournament would take place was surrounded by large spectator stands, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.

But what we needed was the huge bulletin board set up outside.

“Let’s see, my name is...”

The tournament was to be held in a knockout format, with lines branching from top to bottom, and names written at the ends.

There were thirty-two participants in total.

I quickly found my name and Mabel’s.

We weren’t in completely different blocks. If we both advanced, we would meet in the semi-finals, a somewhat awkward position.

Surprising.

I thought the tournament brackets would be made arbitrarily, but it’s strange that academy students would meet before the final.

Or is this part of the plan...?

“Amu, do you recognize any names?”

“No, famous adventurers rarely participate in such tournaments.”

I didn’t recognize any names either.

I don’t know most of the names of martial artists in this world anyway.

I memorized them all and turned away from the bulletin board.

“I’ve seen what I wanted to see. I’ll go rest at the inn first.”

“Okay? Then I’ll...”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just be lying down anyway. Why don’t you two go sightseeing until evening?”

“But...”

“Iifa, men sometimes want to be alone. It’s still light out, you know.”

“E, eeeeh...”

“Hey, don’t put weird ideas in her head. I just feel bad and want to sleep.”

It’s a lie, though.

“Just kidding. Since you’ve been so nice, let’s go, Iifa. If Seika and the new student lose in the first round, we’ll have to go back immediately.”

“U, um... Okay, Seika-kun. I’ll buy something when I come back.”

“Sure.”

I parted ways with the two and walked alone through the city.

Now then.

How many rats, crows, and owls do I need?

Investigating the intentions behind this strange tournament will be a bit challenging.