Chapter 325 Part 2
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
The 1st Royal Capital Tournament ③ : Unexpected Response
Translator : PolterGlast
After the meeting
among the kings ended, we headed straight to the stadium located at the Royal
Capital Knights' garrison. Like the one in Est, this stadium was a
semi-underground structure dug down in tiers.
All of it consisted
of seated areas, with no standing room. Every seat was reserved and required payment, and it seemed
there were over ten thousand seats.
However, if all
seats are reserved and paid for, the territory residents wouldn't be able to
afford them. In the first place, it's located in the second district of Kylar,
where no one other than nobles and their servants can enter.
But the organizers
seemed to have made a thoughtful arrangement.
·
Champions
of past tournaments held in Kylar.
·
Everyone who volunteered as archers in the
previous war (4 shifts:
individual preliminaries, finals, team preliminaries, finals).
·
Lottery winners for free pair invitations among
the territory residents (Capacity 250 pairs × 4 shifts of preliminaries and
finals, a total of 2,000 people).
·
Families of volunteer soldiers who died in
battle.
These people were
given the right to spectate. And the members of the Royal Capital Knights also
formed human walls under the pretext of security, effectively participating as
standing spectators.
「Yuka,
this is quite an interesting system. Maybe an example we should reference in Kusanagi
too.」
「Indeed.
Until now, the population of our own people was limited, but now just our own
people amount to an incredible number. Distributing them for free to children
in orphanages and schools might also be good.」
「Right.
That's also a possibility... Ah! I forgot. We didn't have much time this time,
but were you okay?」
Of course, she doesn't
ask boorish questions like 'What are you talking about?' When I checked,
she smiled happily.
「I
aligned my schedule with Lady Flora and Lady Chrisia, and we have
already finished voting.」
「...」
As I thought. 'The soul of a three-year-old lasts until a hundred' (What is
learned in the cradle is carried to the grave) is a very apt saying.
「Which
counter?」
「The
special counter, of course.」
I figured... Even
though I knew...
「The
problem is how to bet the other way... right?」
「Fufufu,
exactly as Takuhir-sama says. So the three of us racked our
brains and placed spread bets. Fortunately, we could share information on the
Royal Capital Knights, Her Highness's Royal Guard, one Frontier Duke, and two
Marquis houses... We panicked because the hero's reputation is high even in the
Royal Capital, but we were saved because the popularity split in the latter
half.」
「Hahaha...
where did you bet?」
「Fufufu,
it's a secret. Because I've been strictly admonished by Lady Chrisia
saying, 'You mustn't give Brother any distracting thoughts.'」
This is bad... this
smile of hers. She's absolutely going for the win.
Moreover,
mercilessly buying multiple tickets at the maximum limit of 100 gold coins...
no, there's a possibility she bought as many as she could. Especially since Yuka
and Chrisia obtained 600 gold coins (budget) from the rewards for
merits, and there's probably the accumulated money from before too...
I mean, as usual, is
information from everywhere other than me (Father, Father-in-law, Brother,
Royal Capital Knights, Her Highness's Royal Guard) leaking completely to
them... This is unacceptable.
「The
easiest one to figure out was Takuhir-sama, you know.」
「Eh?」
「When Takuhir-sama secretly showed me the list of participants from the
Dukedom, somehow... I thought you had prepared a new military force.」
I couldn't laugh at
other people anymore. Carelessly? I had voluntarily shown the list of
participating players to Yuka. Indeed, to Yuka and Chrisia,
who know my military force up to now well, one glance would show it to be a
list full of suspicious points.
「Even
so... I wonder just how many gold coins will move? To be frank, there probably
isn't any know-how or personnel to operate it... Can they really do it
overnight?」
「Ah,
regarding that point, probably... it's fine. Because the Academy Principal
visited Lady Chrisia and me many times, and consulted with us each
time...」
「Ah...」
So there was that
method. Especially Chrisia, since before I became independent and left
the operation of tournaments in the Solis house (Father) territory, she
had taken over helping with regular tournaments and managing the reception
desks in the Viscounty territory...
「Besides,
at the Academy Principal's proposal, the personnel are coming from the Academy.
I heard students swarmed because not only can they receive credits as a special
assignment, but they also get a temporary allowance and spectator seats for
free.」
No, Old Raccoon!
That's a perfect example of abusing one's authority! With this, even paying
compensation, it will become a considerable profit as the bookmaker.
「Apparently,
the profits are meant to be funds for training archers in the future, and
everyone was enthusiastic, saying it's an opportunity to learn internal affairs
practically for those aspiring to be civil officials, an opportunity to
spectate and learn for those in the knight course, and that everyone can
contribute to the Kingdom taking this opportunity.」
Yes... it seems
there's no oversight in motivating them to work either... I had no choice but
to be speechless.
※
At the venue, Yuka
and I were invited to the VIP seats. My brother and his wife similarly, and
furthermore Chrisia as Her Highness's attendant... I mean, the three
gambler girls are all present for the first time in a while!
My head is starting
to hurt a little.
「This
time we will achieve revenge for last time, Gouras was boasting like
that, but how is the Archduke's confidence?」
「Yes,
Your Majesty, the depth of human resources in the Royal Capital cannot be
underestimated. Normally speaking.」
「Normally
speaking?」
「Yes,
if it's the depth of human resources who have experienced military service, it
means we don't fall behind either.」
「Oh, I
see. So that's how it is. You have already grasped them...」
Yes, the names of
the participating players will be announced from here, but the participants in
the individual match, whom Yuka said were suspicious at a glance, are
all names that anyone knowing past participants would tilt their heads at.
·
Serena (From former Demon Territory
Count's domain: Non-Mage)
·
Spica (From former Demon Territory
Count's domain: Non-Mage)
·
Almis (From Istoria Imperial Kingdom:
Wind Mage)
·
Yorm (Former longbow soldier from Istoria
Imperial Kingdom: Wind Mage)
·
Isaac (Former Iron Cavalry of Imperial
Army: Non-Mage)
They aren't the top
of the Demon Territory Dukedom, but all are top-class.
Serena and Spica
are those whose talent in archery was recorded in the history books, and whom
we secured at the same time as Altena. Initially, Altena stood
head and shoulders above the rest, but now they have grown considerably.
Almis is one
of the three in the front row introduced by Christoph. Just as he
predicted, she had the aptitude for a Wind Mage, and distinguished
herself in the blink of an eye.
Yorm was also
one of those in the middle row, and as a result of the aptitude confirmation,
she became a Wind Mage. If her weapon were a longbow instead of a
crossbow, she would be
overwhelmingly strong and probably unrivaled by anyone else. To be frank,
actually, after that we conducted aptitude confirmations for everyone, and 3
were certified. They will all belong to the Special Fire Corps from now on.
And Isaac, he
was an Iron Cavalry but had an outstanding sense for shooting. Of course, he
cannot match the other 4, but he still possesses enough ability to win if it
were a regular tournament.
※
And finally, the
first Royal Capital Tournament began.
After greetings from
His Majesty the King and the guest representative, His Majesty Krieger,
the 50 individual match participating players lined up at the venue were
introduced sequentially. Of course, the Old Raccoon shrewdly deployed Sound
Mages to amplify the sound.
And when the
introduction of the players from the Archduke's Direct Territory of the Westlights
Demon Territory Dukedom took place, the expected ripples occurred.
「Hahaha!
I see, this is delightful.」 「What!」 「I see...」 「S-Such
a thing! Impossible!」 「Guh!
You did it now.」 「...」 「You've
done it, haven't you! As expected, you cannot be underestimated.」
The one who let out
a laugh of understanding was His Majesty the King, with whom I was conversing
just prior.
The ones who raised
voices of surprise were the distinguished individuals who knew past
tournaments, such as Frontier Duke Hamish, Frontier Duke Model,
and Minister of Military Affairs Clay. Of course, they also have
information on my past tournaments, where I am considered the favorite, in
their heads.
And the voice of
surprise trying to stifle itself was my father-in-law, Marquis Gorman.
The ones who let out
voices close to screams were Knight Commander Gouras, burning with a
desire for revenge, and his two legion commanders. It seems their expectations
missed the mark completely; my condolences.
Although he probably
anticipated it, the one who was surprised beyond expectations was my brother.
Especially since he had just leapt forward as a candidate for victory, having
obtained the strongmen trained by Frontier Count Hastburg...
The one silently
opening and closing his mouth was my father. It seems he was secretly burning with
a desire for revenge for last time, but it seems to have already turned to ash
before the matches even started.
And the final voice
was Her Highness Clarice. She also seems to be coming to understand my
personality.
Seeing these
reactions, I floated a smile of satisfaction. ‘It's still just the
beginning, though.’ And secretly, I muttered so in my heart.
「Takuhir,
you have a sinister face again. Really, always... scheming various things. With
this, I have no face to show as a brother. Please, hold back just a little. So,
how is it? Is this your full power?」
My brother came to
my side and spoke to me in a small voice.
「Probably...
About so-so, I
Suppose...」」
I dared to suppress
my emotions and answered my brother. The results are something to look forward
to seeing, and I also don't know any information about other territories at
all.
Well, it's true that
it's not my full power, but I am executing a certain scheme in this battle.
While they were surprised, the preliminaries began solemnly, divided into 10 groups respectively, and the tournament to select the 10 people advancing to the finals commenced... After this, they would be astounded once again by the results of the preliminaries.
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