Chapter 54 - 54 Battle with a Knight
The physical relationship between Kate and I had come to an end.
"B-But look! Since you have your period and all, I'll extend it!"
It was decided that it would be extended by ten days, but once those ten days passed...
"I-I've already gotten used to calling you Master... It would be weird to suddenly act all distant now, wouldn't it?" she said, extending it indefinitely.
One Day,
I was summoned by the Principal.
"What did you do?"
The male students asked out of curiosity, but I had no idea what they were talking about. Lately, I had been attending classes moderately. I knocked on the Principal's office door, thinking that he was likely investigating something on the orders of His Majesty or Klaus.
"Is that you, Shivans? Come in!"
Summer vacation was approaching soon, and when asked if I planned to do anything, I told him I would return to my territory to work, which earned me a wry smile.
"It is just as Excellency Klaus says. There is likely no other noble as busy as you, is there? The matter is nothing else but..."
Apparently, it had been decided that the day after tomorrow, I would go to the Knight Academy to fight the representative of the first-year students. For that, of course, His Majesty and Klaus would be there, but it seemed that nobles, knights, and students from the Academy were also decided to go and spectate.
"If you win against a first-year, you face the second-year representative. If you win against them, you face the third-year representative. How about it?"
Don't "how about it" me.
"If I say I refuse because it's too hot, will you forgive me?" I asked, only to be met with a smirk and a "Do you want to know?" It seemed I had no choice but to give in.
Setting aside active-duty knights, I couldn't afford to lose to mere students. Consequently, the news spread to the entire student body immediately, and it became a topic in the next morning's newspaper.
"That's amazing! I'm rooting for you! Do your best!"
I was greeted by a hardcore female fan who claimed to be attracted to my face. When I went to the Student Council Room, Aria and Kate were talking.
"The Knight Academy has lots of good men, Aria!"
"Don't say such things! Don't go getting caught by another loser, Kate!"
Since the dungeon incident, Aria, Kate, and I had become close enough to call each other by name.
"The Imperial Academy has an overwhelming number of female students, but the Knight Academy has an overwhelming number of men. I just hope the girls don't fall into their predatory fangs."
Aristo said, sounding somewhat lonely.
Nobody is worried about me...
"N-No, that's not it, Shivans! I don't think you'll lose!"
"T-That's right! It's just as Aristo says!"
The sight of Aristo and Aria frantically making excuses was so funny I laughed, but when I said with a smile, "I have no intention of losing," they looked relieved.
That Night
I was embracing Kate, as I always did. Then, suddenly, Kate asked, "Did you feel a little jealous hearing the talk from earlier?" and I honestly shook my head.
"Well, it would be a problem if you were jealous. In the future, I'll likely return to the Margrave's territory and be forced to take an Adopted Son-in-Law, right? Master, you'll go to your own territory. Our relationship is only for now. I received a letter saying Mother is pregnant. She said it's Father's child! If it's a boy, I might be able to avoid taking an Adopted Son-in-Law..."
That means... since it's Levy's child, I wondered if it wasn't mine, but there was no need to bring it up.
"I see. I hope you can marry whoever you like freely, okay?"
Kate nodded and was embraced by me once more.
The Next Morning
We, the students of the Imperial Academy, headed toward the Knight Academy.
Kate and Aria's skirts were originally short, but today, many female students were wearing short ones. It seemed they were aiming to appeal to the students of the Knight Academy. Apparently, they were also going to serve tea.
On the school grounds, preparations for the confrontation were already complete, and it seemed an Instant Death Prevention barrier had been deployed. The surroundings were set up to accommodate a large number of spectators. While I was watching and thinking it looked a bit like a colosseum, my subordinates, Indigo and Frank, came running up, calling me "Master" and "Lord."
"Master, do you know that betting is taking place?"
"It's frustrating because Lord isn't being bought at all!"
There, I handed over 10 million G and gave instructions: "Buy 100,000 G worth each. I want you to stop once it exceeds half. And if it falls below half, buy even more."
The two subordinates said, "Understood!" and hurried off to buy.
Looking around, the people from the Knight Academy were already wooing women. With hands around shoulders and waists, the women seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere.
Aria was running away, but Kate was surrounded by six men and looked like she was having fun.
The man wooing Kate was a bulky, muscular type, a thug-like man who seemed to be acting like a bad boy.
(Young ladies are weak to that kind of thing, aren't they? He's a bit like David...)
Just then, His Majesty, Klaus, and the nobles began to occupy the VIP Seats. Everyone bowed, but His Majesty signaled them with his hand, saying, "Make yourselves comfortable," and then everyone began to move again.
People were surprised to see that the betting, which was initially 10:0, had become 5:5 before they knew it.
"Hahaha! There's a fool among us! Betting on a sixteen-year-old brat!"
"For real! We gotta buy more!"
Surely, Indigo and Frank would be buying more right about now.
It was briefly pushed to 6:4, but it seemed that as soon as it hit 4:6, people were buying again. It seemed a ticket was 100 G, and students, common people, and nobles alike were rushing to buy.
(10 million should be enough... but I wonder...)
Since it wouldn't be exciting if I won too easily, I decided to struggle a bit and fight through the second and third years. If I did that, it should result in considerable profit! Because it was the Knight Academy, the sense of being in an away venue was overwhelming. My only second was Aristo, but the enemies were very numerous.
"Hey, Shivans? Where do you think Aria has gone? Don't tell me even Aria is being wooed by the Knight Academy students? Just now, Kate-senpai was surrounded by men, and a muscular man had his hand around her waist and she looked happy. Is that okay?"
My second was worrying about that rather than my fight. Well, that much actually helps me not feel so nervous. When I had a bird monitoring Kate search for Aria, it seemed she was having tea, surrounded by women, very close by. I had the bird resume monitoring Kate.
"It's fine, Aristo-sama. Kate-senpai probably wants to fall in love, right? Why don't you try trusting Aria-sama a little more?"
Aria appeared there.
"Hmph. You're happy being surrounded by so many women yourself. Yet you complain just because I talked to another man for a little bit? How narrow-minded."
Aristo spent the whole time making excuses, saying it wasn't like that. I prepared to change into my Black Knight armor, and as I heard the announcement that there were five minutes left until the end of betting, it seemed people were flocking even more.
It seems it's almost time for my turn.
The Knight Academy student and I bowed toward His Majesty and headed to the starting line. There, the referee gave the explanation of the rules.
"It is either one of you says 'I surrender' or one of you dies. If you die, you will be ejected outside the barrier. Understood?"
I nodded, and it finally began.
"That's quite the armor! But battles aren't fought with armor, you know?"
"I'll take your advice gratefully. Let's have a good match!"
He attacked immediately. Even if it was a wooden sword, it was bound to hurt if I were struck. When I reflexively shouted, "Ugh!", the muscle-bound first-year attacked even more with a joyful expression.
It should look like a development where I am purely on the defensive, as if I am struggling.
"That's it! Don't lose to a first-year from the Academy!"
"Kyaa! Don't lose, Shivans-kun!"
"Oi, oi! You're just a pretty-faced noble boy! You're being pushed back constantly! At this rate, there won't even need to be a second year!"
It seemed cheers were being directed at me from the female students of the Knight Academy. Speaking of which, I thought about how Teacher Mayura was also from here, when someone shouted a complaint at me.
"Thinking about things during a match? I'll kill you!"
It seemed he was irritated because his attacks, which were meant to deal fatal damage, weren't hitting me. I could understand his frustration at not being able to catch me since I was using the four corners to escape efficiently. I had decided to play around moderately so that I could counter when the enemy attempted a large technique.
The moment the enemy swung wide, I thrust into his throat, and the match was decided.
"That's it!"
With the first-year's defeat, a large sigh could be heard from the venue. They must have thought the Academy would win 8 or 9 out of 10 times.
"You idiot! You were sloppy at the very end!"
"After cornering him that much... damn it!"
Everyone said I had won by luck. The development I wanted was coming along. Because of that, the betting would grow, with people thinking that if a second-year appeared, they would surely win. The losers would get heated and keep betting more and more!
"Master! We won 5 million G just this once!"
"Lord's money! I'll protect it so it isn't stolen!"
It seemed Limone was also acting as a guard for the money. Since I had become friendly with the Captain of the Military Police in charge of security, I asked him to have the three of them guard it.
"Leave it to me, Shivans!"
"We're counting on you, Captain!"
In this way, I was able to fight on the edge with peace of mind.
When I returned to the waiting room, I heard Aristo's voice saying, "Isn't it fine, Aria?"
"No... not here. Besides, what if Shivans comes back! Ann... honestly..."
But he has already returned. Truly, I have no second... nobody is worried about my fight. Kate, as usual, seemed to be enjoying being pampered.
An announcement played, and as I stood up from my chair, Aristo peeked his face in, perhaps noticing the sound.
"Second round... do your best, Shivans!"
You're planning to enter the second round too, aren't you, Aristo? Aria's voice was leaking out.
I bowed to His Majesty again and headed to the starting line. This time, a second-year came at me with [Skill: Body Enhancement] active from the start.
"Surprised, brat? I can use magic!"
He relies too much on magic.
I wanted to tell him that's too naive, but I also showed a moderate amount of struggle this time.
"You stubborn brat!"
"Wasn't the first-year from before stronger?"
When I said that, I could tell he lost his temper. He charged at me with blood rushing to his head. I tripped him, struck the back of his head hard, and had him ejected from the field.
"That's it!"
Once again, a large sigh leaked from the venue. And then, the heated people would surely rush to bet even more. When I returned to the waiting room, Aria was fixing herself up behind me, saying, "O-Oh, Shivans! That was good!" I held back from retorting, asking what exactly was good.
Next was the match against a third-year. However, everyone believed that I was tired. Moreover, this time it was the strongest, the third-years. Everyone believed the third-year would win. His Majesty and Klaus were watching with smiles. Then, His Majesty asked Klaus how he saw the next match.
"Shivans-kun will likely win! He seems to be concerned about the betting. Besides, I cannot believe that he, who led us to victory in that great war, would lose to a student. That is why this battle was held, is it not?"
"Indeed! That fellow Shivans! To think of making money, what an impudent fellow! Fufufu. Well, very well. Even Shivans himself likely hasn't realized the aim of this occasion."
His Majesty and Klaus were talking while laughing.
And finally, the match against the third-year. This would be the end. I had decided not to hold back anymore. From the venue, deep voices cheering for the third-years could be heard from over 90 percent of the crowd.
"Kill him this time!"
"Change that face that looks like a young lady!"
"Don't lose to that gorilla man! Do your best, Shivans-kun!"
It was a complete away game, but I can do my best with just a portion of the cheers. I bowed to His Majesty once more and headed to the starting line.
"Begin!"
The moment that was said, along with a "KABOOM" sound, the third-year was blown away, and it was over. It was at a level that could be called an instant kill. Everyone went silent, stunned. I bowed to His Majesty and called out to the referee, who said, "T-That's it!" and it ended.
Indigo and Frank came running up.
"As expected of Master! I couldn't even see the end!"
"The total dividend is 21.18 million G!"
I had the original 10 million returned and received the 21 million in dividends. When I told them to split the remaining 180,000 between the two of them, they said they would split it three ways, including Limone.
One of them counted on their fingers to see how much it would be, and when I told them, "It's 60,000," they were overjoyed.
Since they said we could eat lunch at the university's school cafeteria, I went there, and it seemed Kate and the men had already arrived. They seemed to have noticed me as well, but apparently, they hadn't watched the match.
"Who cares about a match against a brat? Kate, playing with us is more fun, right?"
They were being told they were beautiful and lovely, and more than anything, they seemed happy.
The food wasn't particularly delicious, but it was edible enough. Just as I was thinking of heading back, I was told there would be an exhibition in the afternoon. While I was wondering who would fight whom, the teacher said to me with exasperation, "Have you heard nothing? It's you against a knight!"
"I haven't heard..."
"Even so, it's already been decided! Hurry!"
Being made to say a phrase like some comedian, and to top it off, having to fight a knight. It was the worst kind of penalty game... I put my armor back on and headed to the match venue, where a single knight was waiting happily.
"Fufufu. It's no wonder the Principal took a liking to you! I've taken a liking to you too!"
"It would be a problem if you took a liking to me. I like women, so I cannot respond to those feelings. Therefore, may I go home?"
It didn't look like he would let me go home for something like that.
"You're interesting. But you don't think you can go home with words like that, do you? Tea won't be served, but feel free to relax!"
He released killing intent and told me to relax, but it felt like I would be killed if I actually relaxed. Left with no choice, I took my sword and applied [Skill: Body Enhancement], to which he said happily, "I'm glad you've finally found the will to fight!"
"If tea isn't being served, I just want to take my leave quickly..."
"Ho! Then next time, I shall have tea sweets prepared!"
This person... he isn't just a knight. He's quite high-level. His killing intent just now was also intense. It was enough to repel even when I applied [Skill: Intimidation].
"You... despite being young, you're quite skilled, aren't you?"
"There is an old proverb that says skill helps one's position, isn't there?"
He said I had a silver tongue and unleashed a spirited strike. It was a fast and heavy sword. However, it wasn't as strong as Butler.
"I'd like to use 'I surrender' here, but...?"
"My apologies. Your expiration date has passed. You have no choice but to die, you know?"
In the end, I was made to fight seriously. However, he wasn't as strong as Butler. I didn't feel like I particularly wanted to win, but I didn't want to lose either. Perhaps because I fought with such feelings, time ran out.
"Let's do this again!"
"No. I'm fine!"
We shook hands and parted, but it felt like he still had a trump card up his sleeve... For me, the 21 million profit was the most appreciated part.
When I returned to the Academy, Kate was boasting that she had found a lover. She apparently introduced him as Fanati, the third son of the Marquis Naar family. The other men following him were the children of the Naar family's vassal nobles and seemed to be Fanati's subordinates. They weren't students of the Knight Academy, but they seemed to be coming and going using the Naar family name. The security is loose. Is this university okay?
Hearing that, Aristo and Aria worried, "Fanati is twenty-five and unemployed? And his five followers don't have jobs either? Is it okay?"
"I'll try to look into it on my end as well."
It was Aristo's way of being kind, but it seemed to dissatisfy Kate.
That Night
"Just because I failed with David... everyone is making too much of a joke out of how I like losers!"
I thought it couldn't be helped since the failure was large, and when I said that it meant they were worrying because they considered her a friend, she stripped naked and said, "I want to be left alone."
"Even if you get a lover, will you still have sex with me?"
"Is that alright? The only one I want to have sex with is Master! I won't sleep with him, okay?"
It seemed she didn't feel that way about Fanati.
Then, two days later, Aristo told her what he had found out.
"The women who dated them have not followed good fates."
What does that mean? Kate and Aria asked.
He said there was a past where a Viscount's daughter who dated Fanati remained missing, and a Baron's daughter was found as a strangely dead body. Apparently, both were released due to insufficient evidence. Then Aria started saying, "I knew it!"
"I don't like losers! It's true I failed with David in the past, but that was just a coincidence! Do you see me that way too, Shivans-kun?"
When I shook my head and said, "Either way is fine," the three of them said I was cold.
"I am saying that a grown adult should be allowed to date whoever they want. Whether they succeed or fail, it is a matter between the parties involved, is it not? I also understand not wanting others to meddle in one's own romance."
When I said that, Kate's expression became one of relief.
However, when I mentioned that women being attracted to losers is not particularly rare in this world, Aria said, "That's a lie!"
Then, I told Aria this kind of story.
"Why do you think women sell their bodies? Behind that, there are usually women who contribute to men who don't work and love gambling, or women who say they love men even though they hit and kick them without hesitation. Women who fall for such slovenly or trashy men are not particularly rare."
When told that, the three of them were convinced, thinking it might be so.
I prefaced it by saying it was an extreme example.
"Worthless nobles are similar, are they not? They neglect His Majesty, treat the people poorly by making them work, and wish to earn money while taking it easy. There are many women who want to marry such men, right?"
Kate said, "If you're going to say that much, I'll go and confirm it with him!" and walked out.
"Shivans! You're going to confirm it with the man himself? There's no way he'll tell the truth..."
Aristo said, sounding exasperated.
"There is a saying that love is blind, is there not?"
"Is that okay with you, Shivans? Aren't you worried?"
Aria said angrily, but I thought there was nothing to be done even if I worried.
In the evening, Kate came rushing into the Student Council, panting heavily.
"As I thought, he was crying, saying that the matter of the Viscount's daughter and the Baron's daughter was being made a public sensation and was actually a nuisance to him! I wonder which of us has no eye for character?"
Aristo and Aria pushed back. The atmosphere felt like it was about to turn into a huge fight.
"Wake up, Kate!"
"I am awake! Rather, I despise you all for looking at me with prejudiced eyes!"
It turned into a fight of words, and finally, Kate said, "I'm breaking off ties with you all! Don't ever involve yourselves with me again! I'm quitting the Student Council too!" and walked out.
"H-Hey, Shivans... is it okay?"
"She has broken off ties with us. You cannot make a person who is being emotional listen to anything you say. Besides, it was her own decision."
Even saying that, I was properly monitoring her with birds. Lately, various birds have been active day and night, so it should be fine.
(If it looks like it's going to turn into rape or murder, I can ask the Military Police to raid the place! I wonder how effective the Truth Serum will be during an interrogation? It's a chance to test it!)
I went to the Military Police feeling excited and made arrangements with the Captain. The Captain, knowing that I was liked by His Majesty and Excellency Klaus, not only readily accepted my request but also told me, "There is a possibility those guys are also touching other dangerous drugs."
"If things go well, old corpses might even turn up, you know? If that happens, you might even receive words of praise from His Majesty."
The Captain gave a grin and said he would wait for my contact.
Just then, I received a contact from a Slave Trader. When I asked what it was about, I was asked, "Are you aware of Disposed Slaves, Shivans-sama?" and I understood intuitively.
"You want me to take them in?"
"Yes. It would be a pity to kill them, wouldn't it?"
They were all women and were originally sex slaves.
The youngest was 15, and the oldest was 20. All eight had deep scars on their faces or tattoos on their bodies.
Having lost fingers, arms, legs, or eyes, they had no plans to be sold and were saying, "Please kill me..." Some were educated, having originally been nobles or maids. However, after being treated terribly by worthless men and being sold, it seemed they had also been assaulted by the ones who bought them.
"You can do something about it, can't you, Shivans-sama?"
"I understand. I will take them in."
Despite saying they wanted to be killed, they were terrified, so I applied [Skill: Fear Resistance] to make them relax. Being former sex slaves, all eight were beauties. I provided medical treatment and entrusted them to Harrier.
"Finish them so they can do anything."
"Understood."
Having obtained beautiful faces and bodies, they became my loyal subordinates.