The Mad Dog of the Empire Has Returned

Chapter 86 Spectating.

"Cadet Maxim wins!"

Exhaling a short breath, I looked at the fainted Jacques Dan.

'Seems he's not associated with Dwight.'

Because he used paralysis poison, I thought Dwight had ordered him. But he was just a despicable guy. Well, if Dwight is drawing a big picture, there's no reason to eliminate me here.

"Maxim won?"

"The rumors were true?"

"They said he changed, it wasn't a lie."

The spectator seats buzzed. Even amidst that, there was no applause or cheering. My victory seems to appear not as a miracle but as a bizarre phenomenon to them.

"Not surprising either."

"Thought it would take some time, but he cleaned up in an instant."

"A, amazing."

The humans accompanying me welcomed me in their own language.

"Good. Very good. You can praise me more. I'll gladly accept it."

"A bit annoying."

"Not a bit, completely."

"I, I don't think this is it."

"……."

Little punks... not being honest. If it's cool, you can say it's cool, what's so embarrassing.

Anyway, the first day of the martial arts tournament came to a close.

***

On a terribly clear moonlit night without a single cloud, someone I didn't want to exchange words with for long came to find me.

"Heard you won overwhelmingly?"

A hearty laugh that didn't match her cold appearance at all poked at my ears. The owner of the laugh is Professor Olivier.

"Because I didn't want to waste time on a half-baked human."

"Who was the opponent?"

"Jakdu... what was it again?"

"Jacques Dan, that half-wit. Being a 2nd Circle and having made each circle quite well, it wouldn't have been easy... No. Maybe for someone else, but for you."

Olivier frowned as if tired of it. What on earth is she thinking? After picking a fight herself.

"Why did you ask to see me? You couldn't have come just to ask about my win."

"I'm not that leisurely of a person. Look at this."

I examined the note Olivier held out. The crest of Homilia Sotolts was embossed on it.

<That Person desires it. Everything according to That Person's will.>

Does 'That Person' mean the Emperor of Uresra? Or the head of Homilia Sotolts? Or maybe Dwight? Well, it doesn't matter much whoever it is. Still, if I had to pick one, Dwight would be good.

"Where did you get this?"

"From a certain human's safe."

"Which human?"

"Hmm... I'll tell you when it becomes a bit clearer. Just that one is a bit weak, isn't it? They could have kept what they received from others as evidence. Or use that as an excuse."

Uncharacteristic of Olivier, she's cautious. Seems she feels quite a burden. Even so, it's obvious anyway.

"It must be the Vice Principal or the Principal."

"Uh?"

Olivier's eyes became as big as lanterns.

"Vice Principal?"

"H, how did you know?"

"I didn't. Just threw it out there."

"Ah, I see. But can you handle it?"

"I'm not the type to care about such things. Even if treated like an outcast, I am a Prince.

Though that doesn't seem to mean much."

Olivier's stiff face relaxed. She shook her head saying, 'Where did something like this appear?'

"Appeared from the past."

"Past? Sounds like a dog chewing a bone. Are you saying you changed after reading a book?"

"……Let's say so."

Since a book was written about me, even if I say so, it's not a lie.

"Find more evidence so they can't escape. Hmm……."

Did the Vice Principal do it alone? Thinking about the Amirios Clan case, at least one more person is involved.

"Investigate Professor Lucian Keller together too."

"Why Professor Keller?"

"Because he's the one who gave me the opening exam. I feel something will come out."

Olivier nodded while making an 'Aha.' sound. It seems something came to her mind too.

"And there's someone you need to meet."

"For what?"

"Because it helps with finding things."

Olivier's eyes narrowed. She hummed 'Hmm.' and stared at me intently.

"Why?"

"Thinking why I'm telling you to meet the high and mighty Margrave, right?"

Quite sharp? No, is it obvious?

"Correct."

"Not surprised?"

"I can guess. Since the person I'd meet would be obvious. Everyone who knows, knows he came to Saint-Denis recently."

"Boring fellow."

"I'll write you a note, so go visit him. He'll make impossible things possible."

Olivier frowned saying 'Impossible things too?'. It was a look asking if I had some strange scheme.

I lightly passed over it. Because making things happen is what's important.

"No other business now, right?"

"Seems so."

"Understood. Then I'll be going. I'm tired after having a go today."

"Making a fuss after doing just that. Listening to the kids, they said not even dust rose."

"Watching others' things is also tiring."

"You have to watch others' duels to imp... No. Not you. Yeah. You just... go easy a bit. If kids get hurt, the country can't use them."

"If they're going to get hurt to that extent, it's right not to use them."

If they go to the battlefield in that state, they'll run to the afterlife without enduring a single battle. It won't help in the numbers game, and only chip away at soldiers' morale.

I clicked my tongue and headed to the dormitory. The moon is full and the day is cold. I should sleep before tomorrow comes.

***

The second day of the martial arts tournament arrived. Perhaps because the players were reduced by half, two stadiums were used.

"We're all stuck together this time too."

Adellian looked at us with eyes asking if it wasn't fascinating.

Everyone nodded. Because we were herded into one place as if manipulated.

'It probably is manipulation.'

Dwight looked at me with cold eyes and spat out a snort. It seemed like he was saying, play as much as you want, I'll devour you soon!

'Do as you please.'

I'm very curious who will be the one getting eaten.

"I, I'll be back."

Starting with Odekerkh, Michelle, Piontek, and Adellian fought their matches one by one. And the result was.......

"They said they were nothing special getting special treatment? Which bastard said that?"

"No, fuck. They're damn good."

"It's not just one bastard who's good, but all the guys flocking together are good, what happened? Someone explain."

"I should have hung out with them too."

"If the rumors are true, he picked only the limbs?"

"Eyy, would that be true?"

"Saying that even after seeing?"

Not only the spectator seats, but even the cadets preparing for and watching the matches moved their mouths ceaselessly.

"Feel good?"

I asked Adellian. She was trying hard to hide her twitching mouth corners somehow.

"Hmph! Wh, what's good. This much is natural. Him. Ask him."

Piontek, pointed out by Adellian, said 'I feel good.' as if it was nothing special.

At this, Odekerkh nodded. Michelle is eating something diligently without any particular reaction.

"Next turn is Cadet Maxim!"

According to the call, I went up to the stadium. The spectator seats buzzed. Cheers, applause, support, such things couldn't be found. Fine, let's say the audience can be like that, because they're wary of Dwight. Then shouldn't the guys I hung out with cheer?

"He'll win. Well."

"How long will it take?"

"5, 5 minutes?"

Excessively indifferent. They are even talking about the time taken as if betting.

'Just wait and see.'

The opponent standing on the stadium glared at me. By the way, what was that guy's name.......

"You've been acting up a bit lately?"

I didn't even ask for his name, yet he's picking a fight. I intended to ask for his name out of courtesy, but I should stop.

"Shut up and start."

"Wow. Arrogance piercing the sky. A bastard who was wetting his pants just a few months ago."

"Talks too much. If you don't want to go first, can't be helped."

Bang!

Along with the ground being gouged, the whole world was dyed in silence.

A moment later.

"Uh?"

"What?"

"......Just what happened? Why is that bastard Torin lying down?"

What do you mean what? Jaw spun around by a fist loaded with mana.

"Kyaah! Tooooriiin!"

Seems the guy's mom came. Must have called her to boast, but ended up showing only the son collapsing. Unfilial. Unfilial.

"Uh, um. This......"

The professor in charge of refereeing checked the condition of the guy named Torin. And looked at me with a troubled face.

"Why? He wouldn't have died?"

"No, I mean...... one hit...... Okay. Maxim wins!"

It seems he couldn't believe it. But that doesn't change the result.

"Wow...... It didn't even take 1 minute?"

"Then who won?"

"Uh......."

Piontek, Adellian, and Odekerkh spoke in turn and scratched their heads. And looked at Michelle.

Michelle shrugged her shoulders as if it was nothing special.

This entire process happened naturally like flowing water before my eyes. These punks.......

"So how much did you earn?"

Since I let you win money, dividing it 50:50 is desirable.

***

Dwight let out a long sigh looking at the bracket.

"Unexpected advancement. Day 2 and Day 3 too."

Adellian, Piontek, Odekerkh, Michelle, and Maxim. The five that caught his eye were considerably unpleasant to Dwight.

"Why are so many left?"

Only one day left for the martial arts tournament. Remaining participants are 8. Among them, 5 are humans accompanying Maxim.

"Didn't I say unexpected advancement?"

"Are you playing with words with me?"

"How would I play with words with Your Highness? I am merely conveying the facts as they are."

Dwight crumpled his expression fiercely.

"Did I say it before? That your tone and expression are annoying."

"You haven't said it, but I will mind it."

Dwight stared at Gabriel who was smiling slyly.

"Ha, right. Useful ones from our side...... Egbaldo, this bastard doesn't listen. Then is there only one?"

Gabriel looked at the name Dwight pointed to, Bartea.

"That friend is greedy, so if pushed a little, she will follow well."

"Ah, now?"

Gabriel raised his head to check Dwight's expression. It was a face containing displeasure and sarcasm.

"I told you to drop them one by one from Day 2 to leave only Maxim, and now push her?"

"There seems to be some misunderstanding. I pushed enough."

"But this many remain?"

"Work always leaves regrets."

Dwight clenched his fist. He wanted to punch Gabriel's face which didn't lose its smile in front of him. But he swallowed it because he had to deliver the final blow.

"I hope there are no regrets this time."

"Of course. I should prepare to satisfy the greed."

Having finished speaking, Gabriel nodded as if there was no need to worry.

At this, Dwight waved his hand issuing an eviction order. About 5 minutes passed after being left alone like that.

"I see Your Highness."

Vice Principal Potecus came to find Dwight.

Dwight approached Potecus, who was kneeling and bowing his head before him, and patted his shoulder.

"How is the plan going? Are you assembling well?"

"There are no big problems. Only, there is a point that concerns me."

"What is it?"

"Keller concerns me. I don't know whether it's right to tie him up and organize him together, or go together."

Dwight spat out a smirk.

"Since when did you think about others?"

"It's not that, but the time we've spent together......."

"Does Viscount Potecus mistake himself for becoming a real teacher?"

Potecus swallowed a hot breath and looked at Dwight.

"Keller, that guy only repeats illegal experiments. Doing it even now. Make it so he can be used moderately. That's why I'm turning a blind eye."

"......Understood."

"Right, do well this time to shed the Viscount title and go up. What must you do for that?"

"......."

"Assemble well. Only then will the Duke seat become empty."

Potecus nodded with a resolute expression.

"Good. Be careful of Gabriel. Uresra bastards are insidious."

"I will keep it in mind."

Dwight drew a proud smile and hugged Potecus tightly.

"Right. I trust our Vice Principal. Looking forward to the finals."

Potecus's mouth corners went up.

On the other hand, Dwight's eyes were cold beyond measure.