[First Year Sword Emperor’s Cup 4]
The battle between Rivera and Lyncean was displayed on the monitors. The people watching were livened up.
Rivera displayed a remarkable mastery of magic. However, with her outstanding bravery, Lyncean came out as the victor.
The match between the two kicked off the Sword Emperor’s Cup to an exciting start.
“It is a pity Lady Rivera Glico lost,” Tashte remarked as he stood beside me, waiting on me like a butler.
Err, Tashte? Weren’t you a noble, too? Why were you acting like a butler?
“Even so, Rivera accepts her defeat.”
“Does she, really?”
“Yeah, I can tell from her expression.”
“That is an impressive observation skill.”
Uhh… Tashte was really giving off a butler vibe now.
He replied to me with a calm and pleasant smile.
“If I dare ask, what kind of goal would you like to achieve in this tournament, Lord Luc?”
“Hmm, nothing, really. I’m not interested in getting the championship, so I’ll just get in the way of someone I don’t like, I guess.”
“Someone you don’t like, is it? Might it be Dan?”
“Nah, I like Dan. He’s interesting. The one I have in mind is AcGee, who tried to use you.”
“I see, you don’t like someone trying to overreach you… I will keep it in mind.”
Tashte nodded with satisfaction.
“What about you, Tashte? Got any goal in mind?”
At my question, Tashte smiled. “I would like to fight someone, if only once.”
“Hmm~, who is it?”
“It’s Dan, Lady Lyncean Sword Marshall’s personal knight.”
“Hmm~.”
That was quite unexpected. He had mentioned Dan’s name earlier, too. Why was he so interested in him? A grudge, perhaps?
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I have no personal grudge against him. It isn’t because he was once disrespectful to you, either… It’s just he has been training under Lord Arthur, the Sword Emperor for the past six months, so I wish to see how I would compare to him.”
I was surprised by his serious reason.
“I’ve no idea how strong you are, but good luck.”
“Thank you. I will show a fight worthy of one serving under you, Lord Luc.”
With that, Tashte left.
As I continued to watch the festive Sword Emperor Cup, riding on Bal, Rivera showed up after pushing through the bustling crowd.
“Welcome back,” I called out to Rivera, who was looking down, not showing her face to me.
“I… lost,” she raised her face and tried her best to smile.
It was painful looking at her.
“Even though Lord Luc taught me mana absorption… I couldn’t make full use of it.”
Was she unable to forgive herself because of that? It wasn’t a big deal, though.
“But I think you did well.”
Not much of an expert at comforting someone else, those were the only words I could come up with.
“Lord Luc… do you remember about your promise? You said you will grant me a wish.”
Yeah, I did tell her and the other girls I would do anything they wanted to thank them for helping me create Bal’s body.
“I remember, yeah.”
“You refused before, but I would like to ask the same thing once again… Can we ride Bal together?”
“Together?”
That would make Karin jealous… but if I could make up to her with it, I’d make a special exception just this once.
“Okay. Hop on.”
“…Thank you.”
After I made some space for her, Rivera sat on Bal.
“It’s a little cold, so come closer.”
“Yes.”
I ordered Bal to take us to the sky, and it began to rise gently.
It was dusk. The sun began to set, and the day and night interwove with each other… The setting sun cast a shadow on Rivera’s face.
“Sob.”
…I kept my silence.
“I’m sorry. I’m finally getting to ride Bal with you, but I…” Rivera tried to put on a brave front still… She really was a strong girl.
“It doesn’t bother me. And you did a good job.”
“Did I? I really thought I could win. Lyncean Sword Marshall… After studying magic by your side… I thought I had gotten stronger… I thought I could defeat her.”
I silently listened as she began to cry.
“I tried to overwhelm her with a mass of spells, I tried to surprise attack her, yet neither worked… I lost… to her feelings.”
She said while wiping her tears.
“I told you I would do my best… but… but I…”
Karin… I had to do it to comfort a crying girl, so please forgive me. I’d give you a formal apology later.
“Come here.”
I gently pulled Rivera toward me.
I let her spill out all her tears in my embrace.
“Rivera.”
“Yes.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m wrong?”
“Yeah, I don’t care about winning or losing. Have I ever said that fighting is important?”
“You’ve never, no.”
I had always refused to fight.
I had refused when Dan had challenged me. I had refused when Lyncean had challenged me. And I had refused when the dungeon boss had spawned.
It wasn’t because I was too lazy to fight, but because I thought there was no bigger pain than fighting.
“A person who thinks they’re great just because they’ve won a fight is nothing but a barbarian.
“The winner may feel good about themselves.
“But it hurts when you get beaten. Your family will feel sad when you get killed.
“There’s no win in a fight. Fighting makes you no different than monsters.
“People have intelligence, so we use our intelligence to make our lives more comfortable.
“We use our intelligence to get a better future.
“You love magic, don’t you? You’re so fascinated with magic, in fact, you dedicate yourself to developing magic. I think that’s way more incredible than if you win some fight.
“People who improve other people’s lives, people who develop medical care, farmers, cooks, entertainers… they are much more awesome than fighters and weapon makers.
“So, it is not a shame to lose a fight. It just makes the winner happy.
“But outside of fighting, you can make a lot of people happy.
“You’re much better than them.”
Ah~ I didn’t mean to say such sappy lines, but I got a bit carried away…
“U-um, Lord Luc. T-thank you.”
Rivera’s tears had stopped as she was in my arms, leaning her face against my chest.
“Your thoughts… they’re wonderful. In this conflict-filled world… you hold on to your own beliefs…”
Nah, it was just I could only laze around when there was peace.
As long as there was peace around me, I could lay back and spend my time without worry.
“The sun has completely set.”
“Lord Luc.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re warm.”
I was hugging Rivera.
Reminded of that fact, I felt guilty toward Karin.
But since this was Rivera’s wish, I’d just apologize lots to Karin later.
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damn he really broke Karin’s promise major L right there
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