SLO Chapter 63

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[First Year Sword Emperor’s Cup End]

Ahh, what a pain.

Why was this world full of troublesome things? Wasn’t everyone working too hard? Wish they could learn to take it easy and enjoy the little things in life.

For instance, sleeping, lazing around, going to hot springs… ah, I wanna go to a hot spring with Karin.

“Luc.”

Lyncean came to my waiting room.

Her body was pristine with no scars left by Caligula Gouf AcGee remaining.

Her eyes were full of vigor like what she had gone through never happened.

“You need something?”

“Why… did you stop him?”

At that time, no sooner had Lyncean said “Kh, kill me,” to someone that wasn’t me than fury consumed me… That’s mine—echoed in my mind… Haa~ I had no idea what was wrong with me then.

“A good question. I was wondering the same actually.”

“…I see. Can you defeat AcGee?”

“You won.”

“Huh?”

“If you had been on the battlefield, you would have decapitated him, right? If it had been a fight to the death, he would have died.”

Yet he hadn’t accepted defeat and had gone on to spout some self-righteous nonsense… what a shameless loser. In my eyes, Lyncean had won that fight.

“…Hehe.”

In response to my answer, Lyncean smiled gently at me for the first time ever.

“I won, huh… Thank you. Your words comfort me, Luc.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“I know. Our families are at odds with each other… We mustn’t get along.”

“Haa~, don’t get me wrong. Our families got nothing to do with it. I said that because that was what I honestly thought. Why don’t you forget your family and do what you actually want for once? You are free, aren’t you?”

I got up and headed to the stage.

I didn’t give a damn about Lyncean.

“I will be watching from here. I’m not going to ask you to win. Just come back safely,” Lyncean said behind me.

I waved my hand without turning around.

Now, how should I deal with Caligula, I wonder…

Live: “The time has finally come. On one corner, we have Lord Caligula Gouf AcGee, the Rogue. Everyone should have already seen how strong he is. On the opposite corner, we have Lord Luc Hugaro Deskustos the Dream Devil who has won so far without fighting. His true strength is clad in a veil of mystery. Which one of them will advance to the final and face Lady Iris? No one can tell yet!”

Commentary: “Unparalleled strength and unparalleled intelligence… this match will decide which is superior.”

Unparalleled intelligence? It was Tashte that did all the work, though.

To top it off, he had acted on his own accord without asking me. Not that I unwelcomed this fight.

“Luc Hugaro Deskustos.”

Could you stop smiling so ferociously at me?

It was disgusting.

“Quit looking at me with your ugly face. You’re dirtying my eyes.”

“What did you say?!”

What a quick temper. Maybe I hit a nerve?

“I believe getting angry is a pain. You’re the first to have ever made me angry. That’s quite an achievement”

“A spoiled kid who grew up in a greenhouse like you has never been mad before? Don’t make me laugh. I know guys like you. All someone like you know is to give orders. You never do anything yourself. If you have real strength, show it to me.”

Even someone like Caligula had his own opinions and feelings, I suppose.

“I refuse. I hate fighting.”

“Huh?! Are you fucking kidding me?! You’re just powerless, so you’re afraid to fight, ain’t you?!”

“I’m not surprised you think that way. In these ages, strength tends to be used as the standard for everything, but I’ll prove that’s wrong. Not a bad scenario development, even if I do say so myself.”

“Huh? What’re you talkin’ about?”

I had my own principles.

I wouldn’t show mercy to anyone I loathed… or anyone who hurt someone precious to me…

“I’ve only ever used it once, so I can’t really control it that well yet.”

“Whatever you’re tryin’ to do, I’ll beat you before you do it!”

At almost the same time as the referee gave the signal to begin, Caligula used his attribute magic to break through the sound barrier.

“Good. You’re quite adept at using your attribute magic. If this was a battlefield or other open place where you could choose to run away, you might have been able to escape from me.”

Caligula appeared behind me.

Deadly Sin Magic [Sloth].

Only I knew the true nature of this attribute magic of mine.

Being a Deadly Sin Magic… it was so terrifyingly powerful I normally forbid myself from using it.

“Ah? Ahh?”

Caligula opened his mouth wide and drooled.

Live: “Ohh!!! What is going on with Lord Caligula?! After getting behind Lord Luc at a speed that’s barely perceptible to the eye, he suddenly fell to his rear in a stupor and started drooling!”

Commentary: “Was it the effect of Lord Luc’s magic? But he didn’t seem to have done anything!!!”

“Welcome, to the world of [Sloth].”

Caligula didn’t respond to my words and just blankly stared into space.

I had thought about tormenting him with unimaginable pain, but decided against it because I didn’t want to make Bal dirty with his blood.

“You were full of ambitions and desires, weren’t you? I took them all away from you. But rest assured, I’m not a fan of life-or-death battles you love so much, so I’ll let you keep your life.”

“Ah… ahhh.”

He showed a slight reaction when I mentioned life-or-death battles. In groans, that is.

“Deadly Sin Magic [Sloth]. It has various meanings. Among them, I gave you two sorts of [Sloth]. They’re really special, so be grateful, okay? What I gifted you was Lethargy and Apathy. Now you will never be affected by pain and your spirit will never break. Because you, who used to burst with energy and be filled with desires, are now lethargic and apathetic to everything.”

AcGee looked up at me with blank eyes.

“I wonder, now that you will be living with neither desire nor interest to do anything, can you still be counted as living? Hehe, I’m so jealous of you. You are a true sloth.

“Your family always go on and on about strength being above everything. What will they do when they see you now? Will they force you to fight? If they do… I’m guessing you will be eaten by monsters and die a miserable death. You will just watch as your limbs are eaten, as your life is being reaped, as you are consumed by pain, and won’t offer any resistance.”

AcGee began to tremble after hearing my foretelling.

He was still drooling without uttering a word.

Losing interest in him, I called the referee.

Now I could finally declare it.

“I surrender.”

Live: “L-Lord Luc surrendered! But looking at the state of Lord Caligula, I don’t think he can fight anymore, so why would Lord Luc surrender?”

Commentary: “He might have achieved his goal in this tournament.”

Live: “Oh, can you elaborate?”

Commentary: “I caught a rumor that Lord Luc and Lord Caligula have had some conflict. So I’m thinking that maybe he entered the tournament to somehow deal with Lord Caligula.”

Live: “I see. I didn’t know there was bad blood between them. So, Lord Luc surrendered because he has achieved his purpose?”

Commentary: “Probably. Now the final round will be a showdown between second-years, but will Lord Caligula be able to fight?”

After declaring my surrender, I returned to the waiting room.

There, I found a stunned Lyncean.

“I lost. Even though you beat him. Guess this makes you stronger than me, huh? I don’t care, though.”

Having said what I wanted to say, I left the waiting room.

“Lord Luc. Thank you for your hard work.”

Rivera and Tashte were outside, waiting for me.

“Are you sure about this?”

I spread my hands and shrugged at Rivera’s question.

“Not like I ever intend to become the champion.”

“Lady Rivera. Lord Luc has achieved his goal, that’s why he chose to withdraw.”

Oh, Tashte. You got me.

“You’re right. Anyway, now that I was finally able to lose, I’m going home. You guys are going back to your homes too, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Ah, I am, yes. But aren’t you going to watch the final?!”

“It’s okay, Sister Iris will definitely win, anyway.”

Because I surrendered, the final match would be Sister Iris VS Caligula. But Caligula was taken to the hospital after the semi-final match and never showed up for the final.

After that… no one ever saw Caligula Gouf AcGee at Alecidus Royal Academy again… According to the rumors Tashte picked up, he was sent to a battlefield and… never came back…

And so, Iris Hugaro Deskustos won the first year Sword Emperor’s Cup.

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