Chapter 35: Towards the 'Inter-School Match'

The cafeteria Keel recommended had the distinct feel of a popular diner and was not a stylish establishment by any stretch of the imagination. It was in a slightly aged, well-worn building, seemingly run by just an old man and an old lady. I was so hungry I couldn’t help it, so thinking the shop’s appearance didn’t matter, I ordered a Katsudon, and Carrol ordered a Karaage Set Meal. What came out immediately after ordering was a heaping portion suitable for the roughnecks of the town factory. My Katsudon was overflowing from the bowl, and Carrol’s karaage was piled up like a mountain. I was surprised by this volume, but anyway, upon trying it, it was delicious too. Flavor overflowed from inside the cutlet, firmly supported by the onions and egg. The rice, soaked with plenty of broth, was irresistibly delicious, and my chopsticks wouldn’t stop. Carrol was also eating her karaage silently. It looked so delicious that I exchanged a piece of my cutlet for one. The karaage is delicious too! This shop is a winner. The downside is that with this volume, I might get fat.

“Thanks for the meal! It was delicious!”

“Thank you. Come again.”

Man, satisfied, satisfied. Seen off by the old lady, as we left the shop, I saw an idiot sprinting towards us at full speed from the town factory in front where we were just a moment ago. Ugh, looks troublesome. The pale gourd is running towards us. Hey, stop. Don’t come over here while panting haa haa.

“[Shield].”

“Gafuh?!”

Hitting the invisible shield I created, the pale gourd flipped over. I just protected myself. It’s self-defense.

“Y-you…!”

“You’re the one in the wrong for trying to jump on a girl.”

“I wasn’t trying to jump on you!”

As I looked down at the flipped-over pale gourd, Keel and the playboy came running from the other side.

“Nero-kun, sorry! Alcu, you lost the match, so admit it gracefully!”

“Senpai! I haven’t lost! I just let my guard down a little! If we do it one more time…!”

“Would you say that on a battlefield or in a real match too? ‘I just let my guard down, so let me do it one more time’?”

“Gu…!”

At those words, the pale gourd fell silent. Oh, at least he has enough sense to feel ashamed about that.

“Besides, Nero-kun there is the ‘little sister’ of the [Sword Empress], having formed a Sisters’ Vow with her. The current you is no match for her.”

“Wha…?! The [Sword Empress]’s little sister?!”

“Seriously?!”

Not just the pale gourd, but even the playboy was surprised by Keel’s unnecessary comment. Mmm… Isn’t this becoming ‘the little sister borrowing the authority of the Onee-sama’ instead of ‘the fox borrowing the authority of the tiger’?

“Onee-sama has nothing to do with it. Anyway, that match was my win. Just so you know, I won’t do it with you again.”

“Kuh…! Taking the win and running?!”

“Wrong. You’re weak, so I don’t feel like doing it.”

When I declared that, the pale gourd glared at me with a bright red face. In fact, even with just that battle, I understood this guy’s strength. Basically, his reactions are slow. He moves after thinking about every single move. That’s out of the question. You train repeatedly so that your body moves naturally in response to the opponent’s movements. He hasn’t mastered that basic thing. He can probably only swing that greatsword around with all his might. I guess that was enough for fights against amateurs, but…

“Alcu, this time is your loss. If you want revenge, do it at the ‘Inter-School Match’.”

The pale gourd gasped at Keel’s words. ‘Inter-School Match’. A large-scale exchange battle between the ‘School’ and the ‘Academy’ held in summer. From first-years to fifth-years, nine selected members and three reserves from each grade, totaling twelve members each, sixty vs sixty. It’s a scaled-down version of the [Magical Great War: Ragnarok]. Indeed, if it’s the ‘Inter-School Match’, I might fight this guy again. If we both get chosen as selected members, that is.

“Understood… I’ll let it be my loss for today. But I will definitely pay back this debt at the ‘Inter-School Match’! Wash your face and wait!”

“Neck.”

“Ah?”

Not understanding the meaning of my words, the pale gourd touched his own neck.

“If you’re going to say that, it’s ‘Wash your neck and wait’. Don’t use idioms of the Duchy ostentatiously if you don’t remember them properly.”

“────Tch…! Remember this!”

Spitting out a parting shot, the pale gourd ran away at full speed. Hmph, coward. Watching his back, the playboy smiled wryly, “Tahahaha.”

“My, my, you’re merciless, aren’t you…”

“Is there a reason to be merciful to a rich kid raised spoiled just because he’s royalty?”

“Oh my… I’m technically royalty too, so that hurts my ears.”

Eh, you too? This flashy guy is royalty? I thought he was just a prodigal son of some noble, though…

“From where?”

“Kingdom of Egret. It’s an island nation neighboring Helgaia, and since the shapes are identical, they’re called brother kingdoms.”

“Egret… Ah, that resort kingdom…”

“That Egret.”

The Kingdom of Egret is an island nation in the south. It’s a famous tourist spot with scenic beauty, also called a resort kingdom. It has monopolized the top spot of ‘Countries Nobles Want to Go for Honeymoon’ for decades now. A prince from there? This flashy man?

“Are you the spoiled type too?”

“Nah, my family was pretty strict. I ran away from my parents and played around all the time, and ended up like this.”

Not a prodigal son, but a prodigal prince, huh. He might know the harshness of the world better than a spoiled rich kid. Both are hopeless as princes, though.

“Man, I’m looking forward to the ‘Inter-School Match’ now. I won’t lose, you know?”

“Hmph, I’ll turn the tables on you.”

No matter who the opponent is, I don’t intend to lose. The ‘Inter-School Match’ has grade-level battles and all-out battles, but if it’s an all-out battle, we have the Rank 1 [Sword Empress Onee-sama] on our side. Huh? The ‘Academy’s’ Rank 1 is Zelda Onee-sama, but who is the ‘School’s’ Rank 1?

“Hey, Carrol. Do you know who the ‘School’s’ Rank 1 is?”

“You’re kidding, Nero… Why don’t you know… No matter what… let’s look at net info a bit more…”

Carrol looked exasperated, while the playboy and Keel widened their eyes in surprise. Even if you say that, I don’t get it. Do you research rankings other than your own school?

“If you say the ‘School’s’ Rank 1, it’s decided to be Kou Shirogane, known as [Platinum], right?”

“No, even if you say ‘it’s decided’, I don’t know… hmm?”

I was making a face saying I didn’t get it, but tilted my head at the familiar name. Kou Shirogane…? Hmm? Feel like I’ve heard it somewhere…? Ah?! Is that the black-haired guy I met at the part-time job?! Snap, looking towards Keel, he was smiling wryly.

“Don’t know him… but looks like I’ve met him…”

“Hah?”

This time Carrol made a face saying ‘I don’t get it’. I don’t get it either. I see, so that guy is the ‘School’s’ Rank 1. He’s a fourth-year, so if we clash, it would be in the ‘Comprehensive Battle’. The ‘Comprehensive Battle’ is a simulated war fought by all representatives of the ‘School’ and ‘Academy’ from first to fifth years. Just like a real war, using any means is allowed. As long as rules are followed and permission is obtained from the referee teachers, original weapons and armaments are also permitted. Even if he’s Rank 1, if we divide the forces and attack with multiple skilled people, defeating him isn’t difficult. However, this isn’t an individual battle; it’s a team battle, so to speak. Even if we defeat the Rank 1, it’s meaningless if we lose the battle. That said, the ‘Inter-School Match’ also has the purpose of appealing one’s ability to the knight orders of each country. If one were to defeat the Rank 1 in such a place, they would undoubtedly be in high demand from various countries after graduation. After obtaining the [Trooper] qualification and graduating, I have thoughts of joining the knight order of my homeland, Elfrau, but I have no family left in that country, and I’m not particularly attached to it. I feel like if I’m needed and the treatment is good, another country would be fine too. Saying this, some might opine that it’s ungrateful after taking one of the five slots for precious new students of the country, but please don’t mistake it: I didn’t get in by recommendation from the country. It just means I passed the entrance exam held in that country, and the ‘School’ and ‘Academy’ recognized that person’s ability. Therefore, enrolled students have the freedom to wish for employment wherever they want. Conversely, this is why there are many nobles among the students… As long as the parents are nobles, it’s normal for the child to serve the country. Carrol will probably join the Regulus Knight Order after graduation, and Sherry too. Lirisha will probably join the Elfrau Knight Order, and Onee-sama is decided to go to the Lestia Knight Order. However, for noble ladies, there’s also transfer by marriage… For example, if Carrol gets engaged to a noble son from another country while in school, she will likely serve the partner’s country. According to Sherry, because that would be troubling, they sometimes force a fiance from their own country onto them. That’s the worst… Though I can understand the feeling of not wanting to let a rare Trooper escape.

Idle talk aside.

“How should I put it, I understand now that Nero’s social circle is a bit weird…”

“It’s not my fault, though.”

The people I meet are a bit weird, and those weird people bring even weirder people. Well, compared to Master, it’s much better. That person has acquaintances among Dragons and Spirits… I wonder if Master will come to watch the ‘Inter-School Match’. Even if I wanted to contact her, her smartphone is turned off. Even when we were living together, there were many times she would wander off somewhere a few times a year. She did buy me souvenirs, though. Things with unclear uses. Technically she’s my guardian, so I want her to at least check up on me, but Master coming seems likely to cause some kind of trouble, so I also think maybe it’s better if she doesn’t come. It’s nothing but a disaster for those getting involved…