Chapter 87 : Chapter 87
Chapter 87 Last Day of the Martial Arts Tournament.
"Let's open it once!"
Since we survived until the last day, everyone must have earned some money. Looking at Olivier's expression tells it.
"More lucrative than thought. Right, Odekerkh?"
At Piontek's question, Odekerkh looked around and nodded.
"How much did you earn?"
"Ten, ten million gold."
Piontek's eyes became huge.
"Wow, damn. I did my best with 5 million gold."
Olivier, listening to the two's conversation, clicked her tongue.
"If you're going to do it, pull a loan and bet refreshingly. What's 5 million gold, stingily? For a man."
"Where do I get a loan? Not old enough. Even betting status, cadets aren't accepted by banks."
"No, that is...... somehow under parents' name......."
A human called a professor teaching kids good things.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Perhaps realizing it was strange herself, she attempted to refresh the atmosphere.
Then Adellian met eyes with Olivier.
"How much did you earn?"
"......Ah, that is......."
Adellian also examined the glances of me, Piontek, and Odekerkh.
'Said she wouldn't do it, but she did. Did. And a lot at that.'
Various lights were swirling in Adellian's eyes. There was joy, embarrassment, and confusion.
"What? Did you really not do it?"
"No, that is...... I did do it but......."
"H, how much did you earn?"
Adellian carefully raised one finger.
"1 million gold?"
"No, rather than that......."
At Adellian's answer containing embarrassment, Piontek's pupils shook frantically.
"T, then ten, ten million gold?"
"Rather than that too......."
This time Odekerkh's pupils shook.
"Phew, what's with you kids? Not playing twenty questions. Say it refreshingly. Refreshingly.
So how much did you earn?"
"One...... hundred million gold."
The smile blooming on Olivier's face turned into surprise.
Others were similar. Michelle remained indifferent. And I.......
'Only I am a beggar. Only I am a beggar.'
Selling everything that could become money, the money earned is less than 1 million gold. I asked Chris for help a little, but he cut it off sharply saying 'Have you forgotten you are a Prince? Cannot be done.' Rodrigo and Elliot also refused saying they had no money. I said I'd win and give it back, said I'd give interest too! No one trusted me.
'Bad guys.'
Living trusting each other a bit, earning money and laughing, that's how it is.
"No need to ask her."
Olivier, that human is quick-witted.
"Our silent glutton king. How much did you earn?"
Michelle, who was chewing something diligently, looked around at us with cloudy eyes. And spread five fingers.
"500 million."
As the exact amount was mentioned, everyone shut their mouths. An amount not even thought of. But where did Michelle get the money?
"Asked to lend, they gave well."
As if someone asked the question I harbored, Michelle unraveled it as if it was nothing special.
Obvious. Went to guys with blank eyes and said 'Can you lend some money?'. Because if she stays still looking with a blank expression, it feels enchanting. They must have lent it out of their minds. Since her appearance is also handsome.
"Qu, quite impressive?"
Looking at Olivier's face, seems Michelle earned more than her.
"Confirmation of how much each earned is done, is preparation for wrapping up going well?"
"What is there to prepare? Just go and do it."
Guys who have to prepare separately are usually lazy ones.
"You would be like that. You. Not them."
At Olivier's words, I scanned the other guys. Asking each other who they bet on to earn, it's chaotic.
"State looks similar."
Olivier grabbed the noisy atmosphere saying 'Hey! Focus!'. Proving the time lived as a professor.
"Egbaldo, Bartea, Dwight. You must have seen these three's matches, but you wouldn't think that's all, right?"
Adellian, Piontek, Odekerkh, and Michelle sitting modestly looked at Olivier with unfocused eyes. The atmosphere of not knowing what she's talking about is thick like fog.
"Sigh comes out automatically. Automatically. Anyone saw what power Dwight uses?"
"......."
No one. Indeed Dwight didn't use magic. He subdued opponents only with a basic sword mixed with a little mana. Among participating cadets, his skill was on the most outstanding side.
"Knew it."
Olivier pointed at Odekerkh.
"......M, me?"
"Uses same power as him. But the nature is different."
Dwight swore to Terion. thought he would use fire or wind, but unexpected.
"S, same power but h, how is the nature different?"
"You use it for defense. But Dwight doesn't."
That means he uses wood as the core rather than stone or earth.
"Uh......."
Of course, Odekerkh with little experience is making a face not understanding what it means.
"You'll know better when you two meet. Anyway, don't face him head-on, the guy is much stronger than you."
At Olivier's words, Piontek raised his hand.
"Why?"
"We also made the 2nd Circle solid. Yet is Dwight much stronger?"
"Strong. The guy received separate training. Lots of combat experience too."
Lots? Olivier would know better than me. First of all, it's a fact that Dwight is stronger than a 2nd Circle nobody.
"If you think it's dangerous, don't fight and forfeit. You could get hurt seriously for nothing. The purpose of the martial arts tournament isn't to hurt others. It's to show how much skill I possess. Understood?"
Our idiots nodded and answered 'Yes!'.
Olivier looked at me. She shot a gaze asking 'Why only one person has no answer?'.
"Because I don't think I'll lose."
"Still...... No. exchanging words with you is somehow tiring. Do as you please."
Wise.
"Secondly, Egbaldo. This guy uses Benetuo's power."
"Huh? Didn't see it."
"Right. Just punching......."
Like Piontek and Adellian's words, Egbaldo utilized only hands and feet, two things. Don't know if it was out of consideration for the opponent, but he restrained using power. When using Benetuo's power, he'd likely use the gloves and shoes he uses.
"How are these guys alive until the last day?"
At Olivier's question, I shrugged my shoulders.
"Done. Because others were terrible. Then lastly! Bartea......."
Swallowing her words, a shadow brushed Olivier's face.
Tension dwelt on the faces of kids watching Olivier.
"That....... No. Weaker than the previous two guys, but most dangerous. A kid using Aquoris's power."
"What is the reason for being most dangerous?"
"As expected of the top seat, asking the appropriate question. Other bastards should reflect."
Adellian lifted her chin and the remaining guys lowered their heads. And I shook my head.
"Loses reason when excited. The other two stop when told not to, but she isn't like that. So be careful."
Losing reason while fighting is nothing, but being careful of that means not to hit?
"Means to subdue quickly. Before she loses reason and goes wild."
Quick-witted, good.
"B, by the way. Professor."
"What? Cadet Odekerkh."
"I, is it o, okay to give us such information? Like c, cheating......."
"Professors are supposed to visit each and explain. I said I'd take charge of you guys. Easy to call together right? Since you flock around."
Means to unfold all abilities unsparingly. Seeming to examine what strategic moves are taken when knowing the opponent's hand.
"Intention is to show practical officials what level the most excellent cadets are at. Understood?"
Odekerkh nodded.
'Decent method?'
Hearing with ears, seeing with eyes rather than seeing with documents can reduce judgment errors.
"Now! Did everything needed. Now I'll say the most important thing."
"Important thing?"
"What is important?"
"D, do we have to f, forfeit or something?"
"......?"
Olivier's mouth corners went up very wickedly.
"Guessing the winner. How much will you bet?"
At Olivier's words, everyone looked at me. Their expressions contained the thought 'Is there a need to?'.
"Wonder if I can bet on myself?"
Let me touch some money too.
***
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Red, blue, and white smoke stood side by side in the stadium sky.
Knights in silver armor came up to the stadium. They stood among the waiting final 8.
A blue carpet was laid in the middle of the stadium. An iris is drawn on the carpet.
"The lamp of this country! Parent of the people! Inheriting Poinus's past, leading the present, and heading to the future! His Majesty the King enters! Everyone pay respect!"
Tooot!
Matching the trumpet sound, all spectators stood up from their seats.
Louis I revealed his appearance on the stadium. Sickly face, the clothes worn looked looser than before.
'Sickness of mind, or body not good.'
Maybe both.
"Proud."
Louis I shook hands with the remaining participants one by one. And stood before me.
"......."
Tightly closed lips, eyes full of complexity.
I too didn't say anything special. Not being your son, had nothing to say either.
A deep sigh came from Louis I. Seemed to wish there was nothing this conspicuous. After today passes, I should at least ask once. What on earth is the problem.
"Hmm."
He passed me and moved to another. Offered a formal greeting of 'Proud.' there.
Louis I brought up new words in front of Dwight.
"Excellent."
Though didn't seem much different from previous words.
"You are Poinus's future. So I hope you unfold your abilities to your heart's content and give joy to us all."
Having finished speaking, Louis I headed to his seat.
All professors took seats in front of Louis I.
Kaboom!
Fireworks shaping an iris bloomed hotly high in the sky. Spectators' cheers shook the venue.
More intense than any other day.
"Noisy."
But the truly noisy thing hasn't even started yet.
***
Odekerkh has a stiff face.
"Huu."
He is raising his body using the sword.
"Don't overexert. I am not a generous person."
Odekerkh's opponent is 'Egbaldo', a descendant of the Fist King.
"Still, I acknowledge you. Because you used mana for the first time in the tournament."
"N, not thankful. Being acknowledged by the o, opponent is said to be humiliation."
Odekerkh, raising his body, circulated the Mana Circle. Dark green energy emitted a faint light and wrapped Odekerkh's body.
Bang!
The stone wall that popped up in front of Odekerkh literally exploded.
Odekerkh turned the sword upside down and made a wooden shield.
Thud!
Odekerkh's body shook severely.
"Keuk!"
Blood flowed from the mouth of Odekerkh pushed back.
Egbaldo stood blankly and looked at Odekerkh.
"Flow cut, momentum died. Or not? Momentum died so flow collapsed?"
Egbaldo lightly shook two fists and walked towards Odekerkh thud thud.
"N, not yet. Haven't shown e, everything yet!"
Odekerkh fixed his stance. The dust covering his body flew away at his shout.
"Good persistence. Have an attitude capable of development. So give up around here. If something breaks, only training time is wasted."
"M, Maxim said. There is n, no training b, better than practical battle!"
Crunch.
The floor Odekerkh stepped on broke. Tree roots wrapped the sword and greatly enlarged the blade.
Clang!
Odekerkh's sword was blocked by Egbaldo's hand.
Egbaldo looked at Odekerkh with cold eyes.
"Attacks become increasingly monotonous. Block, hide, find gap, cut. Used to do this, but now only blocking and cutting. In current state, nothing works whatever you do. Give up."
"C, can't do. W, won't do!"
Egbaldo sighed. He grabbed Odekerkh's neck and lifted him high in the sky.
Thud.
Odekerkh slammed into the ground vomited blood. Amidst that, he looked straight at Egbaldo.
"N, not yet."
Odekerkh's two hands grabbed Egbaldo's arm.