The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 16

“Next. The opponent of room 13 is…”

A room-to-room battle over Eliza’s birthday banquet.

The opponent of room 13 was about to be decided.

While Thomas was talking, I engaged in a staring contest with the members of room 15.

They were the ones who gossiped about me during the last hunt.

They were also the ones who fell victim to my poisonous mushroom smoke.

“It’s room 8.”

Room 8, room 8. Dylan repeated the same words from the front.

Hmph. The guy who was staring at me turned his head as if disappointed.

“Why is that big guy acting so disgustingly?”

Richard came over and asked, looking at the members of room 15.

“Why are they here?”

I explained what happened during the last hunting competition.

I omitted the part about them gossiping about me.

They seemed like the type to pick fights for no reason.

“So, in the end, it’s not that they did something stupid, right? You didn’t light a bonfire to target them.”

“That’s correct.”

“What a funny guy.”

“But, who is that tall guy?”

“Tsk….”

Richard clicked his tongue and said, sticking out his tongue.

“He’s a guy who made it through the 6th test. He’s relatively new but he’s way ahead. I think he was in the 10th batch. He said he received training from his family when he was young.”

“I see. He’s much older than a teenager, and he’s strong from years of training….”

“Huh? He’s not an adult.”

“What?”

“Isn’t he 16? Well, he’s more of an adult than us, but he’s not an adult yet.”

“……..”

That face is 16 years old?

In middle school?

‘I should avoid him when time comes, he’s quite….’

Pitiful.

But he’s not the guy who was looking down on me.

I won’t be pitiful now.

“I heard he started practicing magic recently and has shown results. That’s why it’s good to be born in a good family.”

He’s right.

Although I haven’t fully grasped all the members of this training camp, the candidates in the top ranks generally have good backgrounds.

In that respect, Richard is also a special case.

He doesn’t have a good background, he’s young, but he’s in the middle to upper ranks.

Moreover, in the future, he will be called ‘the Lion’s Knight.’

Looking at him now, he’s a person out of the ordinary even from a young age.

‘By the way, magic training…’

Thanks to the moon deer, I’ve opened up my magic stats, but I don’t know how to use it.

Of course, I don’t know how to practice either.

“Does that magic training have conditions to be taught?”

“Shouldn’t they teach it separately to those who pass the 6th test?”

The 6th test.

I don’t want to pass the test.

Don’t get too close to Eliza.

‘Because someday I’ll run away from here.’

However, life after fleeing is also important.

To survive in this harsh world, strength is needed.

At least the strength to keep one’s body safe.

It is essential to train in magic to gain strength.

With magic, you can also enhance your physical abilities.

When skilled, you can even shape magic into the form of swords or armor.

‘There must be other ways to practice magic besides training here. Let’s not be greedy.’

Thomas told us who would be fighting in room 13 and the events.

Everything was chosen randomly, and the events were diverse.

Free-for-all with all weapons.

Swordsmanship duels using only swords, barehanded duels, and so on.

“Luckily, if it’s room 8, it should be doable.”

If you fight someone strong in the room you’re in, you’re likely to be eliminated early.

Our room was fortunate in the draw.

After the morning training, we checked the match schedule and found that all the strong opponents, including the likely winners, were on the opposite side.

To meet them, we have to win at least twice.

In other words, until we win twice, we fight relatively weaker opponents in the room.

The afternoon training was changed to a ship battle challenge for Eliza’s birthday party.

All the candidates gathered.

The usual training grounds were too small, so we conducted the battles in a large indoor arena big enough to accommodate everyone.

It felt even bigger now that I was here.

I didn’t know such a place existed.

Although the battle and watching were part of the training, everyone was excited.

Rather than boring theory or repetitive training, it was an open battle contest.

Eliza didn’t come today, but it was still an opportunity to make a direct impression on her.

It was enough to make the young men’s blood boil in many ways.

‘By the way, isn’t Eliza coming to watch?’

She was the one who greeted me every morning.

It feels awkward and unfamiliar without seeing her.

‘…No, what’s this? Am I going crazy?’

Does this mean I miss Eliza?

There’s no way.

I mean, this is…

It’s a large-scale tournament held because of her, but it’s ridiculous that the main person isn’t here.

“Let’s begin the first room match!”

Gawain’s booming voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Hundreds of people were gathered.

Even just the sound of breathing was loud, but his voice was unaffected by the noise.

“Did he strengthen his vocal cords with magic too?”

It seems likely.

It’s impossible for an ordinary person to make such a sound with their normal voice.

“Room 15 and Room 2.”

Room 15 was chosen for the first match.

The first opponent of Room 15 was Gulliat.

Certainly, he had a good physique and a different posture among all the candidates.

“Oh… he’s up against Room 2.”

“Does that mean we’ll get to see him fight Boros?”

“Between Gulliat and Boros…”

Boros. A name I don’t know.

From the context, he seems to be a candidate strong enough to be compared to Giriot.

Dylan seemed to understand my question and explained,

“He’s a fourth-year student who passed the seventh exam. He had a minor clash with Gulliat before.”

Then cheers erupted around us.

“It’s Boros!”

A man named Boros walked out as Gulliat’s opponent.

Like Gulliat, he had a good physique.

His appearance was even more fierce than Boros’s.

“That guy has also faced the years head-on.”

Before the match began, Gulliat raised his hand and asked Gawain,

“Can I use magic?”

Boros’s expression twisted at that question.

Gawain stroked his chin thoughtfully and nodded.

“It’s not allowed normally, but if both are magic users, we can add a rule to allow it. Using magic in a real fight can be a big help.”

Boros smirked.

His smile looked a bit grim.

“Should’ve asked to use real weapons instead. I would’ve gladly split your head open with my axe.”

“I’m sorry. In a duel like this, I have no desire to commit murder.”

“………”

While Boros’s face stiffened, the people cheered.

I started to doubt if this was part of the training.

Everyone just seemed to be here for the arena.

Even Richard sitting next to me.

Like me, there’s only one person who seems to have an academic attitude… Dylan.

“Well, I guess I’m looking forward to it. Watching a fight is actually fun.”

The clash of sword and shield.

Boros wielded the axe that can kill anyone. It was practically a hammer.

As Gawain dropped his gloves, Boros charged.

The axe flew fiercely towards Gawain’s head.

Bang! The blocking shield warped.

At the same time, a wave spread through the audience like the wind.

At that moment, I felt a strange sensation.

‘…What was that?’

My heart tickles inexplicably.

No, is my whole body itching?

It’s not severe, just uncomfortably strange.

I don’t know exactly, but I think I know by intuition.

‘…Is it magic?’

Their confrontation was quite intense.

Amidst the wind that broke swords and axes, they even fought barehanded.

Every time they used their intense strength, a corner of my heart continued to tingle.

I became more and more convinced.

‘This is magic.’

I’m feeling the magic emitted by someone else.

But I’m still confused about how to use it.

The battle ended narrowly.

With Gulliat’s victory.

As Gawain declared the victory, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the audience.

Standing in the center of the arena, Gulliat looked directly at me.

‘Here we go again.’

“What, is that guy looking over here?”

Richard asked beside me.

“It seems like he’s looking at me.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Richard leaned towards me.

He showed his face to Gulliat.

Then, he boldly raised his middle finger towards Gulliat.

“Close your eyes”

It’s not something you could hear.

Gulliat just lowered his head and turned away.

The higher the nose, the stronger it is.

In reality, Gilreath might be stronger, but seeing him back down.

“He’s a weirdo. Is this really something to be so pissed about?”

“I’m curious too. Why does he hate me so much?”

I did stand out.

I admit that.

It could be annoying.

I’m not sure if I did something wrong, but people don’t necessarily dislike something just because it’s complicated.

Still, isn’t this a bit too much?

I’m younger than him and have a lower rank, and I haven’t even passed a single exam.

“What’s wrong with that guy? How low is his self-esteem?”

I honestly wouldn’t know unless I met him. Whether he dislikes it or not.

I also hope not to meet him.

But, I probably will. Somehow.

It feels like it.

Just like my life has been.

***

A few days passed.

I still haven’t left Eliza’s mansion.

The safety verification of the yellow umbrella mushrooms at Eliza’s mansion took longer than expected.

In the end, I had no choice but to go back and forth between Eliza’s mansion and the training ground.

Eliza and the Moon Deer became somewhat close, little by little.

The Moon Deer hoped that Eliza would serve her soon, before the verification results were out.

Trying to get out of here.

There has been no sign of that yet.

It wasn’t bad, though.

Every time I touched the Moon Deer’s antlers, magic flowed in.

A coldness filling my veins.

It felt good, like the coolness of a rainy summer night.

However, I still don’t know how to use that magic.

It’s vague, like I know and I don’t.

So, the day of the tournament finals arrived.

“Oh God… please grant us daily bread and heavenly taste…”

Room 13.

Richard bowed towards the altar.

Following him, Lindel, Aragon, and other members also kneeled and bowed their heads.

Each making a wish.

“For the butter cookies we had last time….”

“I want chocolate….”

And I was sitting on that altar.

I ate all the cookies and chocolates I got from Eliza.

And it’s been like this since then.

Everyone is out of their minds.

In a world where Polytheisn teachings are the foundation, we won’t be executed as heretics.

“Please, grant us the taste of heaven again…”

Even if I’m the king, I couldn’t ask for some cookies unless it was not impolite to Eliza.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not something I can decide on my own.”

“Ah! The Lord has fallen!”

Someone shouted as if screaming in agony.

I looked at him and solemnly said,

“…Capture the lost lamb who has committed blasphemy.”

“Sacrifice! Sacrifice!”

“The Lord demands a sacrifice!”

“The sacrifice is fleeing! Offer blood and flesh!”

The chaos that ensued subsided as the door opened roughly.

“What’s going on here?”

It was Dylan, the most rational one among us.

“To cause such a commotion over something trivial, on a day like this…!”

Richard immediately retorted,

“Trivial? Did you just call this trivial? Are you mocking the dessert god, Judas? Unable to even fetch a piece of cookie.”

“That’s right! A captain more incompetent than Judas!”

Lindel and Argon jeered from the side, thumbs down.

“But today is an important final match!”

Indeed.

Today is the final match of the tournament.

And our team has made it to the finals.

It was a stroke of luck, reaching the finals with a combination of luck in the draw and a bye.

“Moreover, our opponent is Room 15.”

Room 15, where Gulliat is.

It’s now common knowledge that Gulliat and the occupants of that room were talking behind my back.

“We know, but can we do anything about it? We don’t even get to choose the event or the participants.”

“But still, tension…!”

“Hey, relax. We can’t do anything about it.”

Richard was right.

The order, the event, the participants.

All randomly determined.

There was nothing we could do even if we worried.

I have never competed in a match before.

In a way, it’s fortunate.

I defeated Lindel, but overall, I belong to the weaker group.

“The final match is especially important, so I hope I’m not chosen today.”

***

…Did I just jinx it?

Ignoring the anxiety, I headed to the arena.

“I will announce the opponents for Room 13. Esme, Dyke, Pelen, Dylan, Juda.”

…Ah.

“Next, the opponents for Room 15.”

‘Don’t raise the flag.’

Later, with regret, I heard the name of Room 15.

Then, finally. A familiar name stuck in my ears.

“…Gulliat.”

I lifted my head without realizing it.

I met eyes with Gulliat, sitting in the stands of Room 15.

“Ten left, below.”

Richard nudged Dylan and me on the shoulders.

“Go kill and come back.”

Dylan said with a sigh.

“Intentional murder is prohibited by the rules….”

“Just shut up and go quickly.”

Dylan grumbled as he went down, and I replied with a smirk.

“I’ll win.”

“Just try to survive. You know Argon can write, right? He’ll write up the documents and make a religion.”

“…I’ll definitely win.”

I have to win, even if it’s burdensome.

I descended into the spacious training ground.

The smell of dry sand. The hard floor.

The cheers of the stands surrounding the circular arena like stairs pierced my ears.

As it’s the finals, even Eliza came to watch.

The highest seat with the best view of the arena.

I met eyes with Eliza.

She smiled brightly and waved her hand.

I just nodded my head in greeting and looked ahead.

I met eyes with five people.

Room 13 and Room 15.

In front of me, Gulliat stood, about three heads taller.

The rule is that the winner stays to fight.

I’ll have to fight Gulliat .

Can I win?

‘I don’t know.’

Different people might not know, but I caught it.

Even among all the candidates, he was someone who belonged in the top ranks.

More so than Richard.

“But still, I will win.”

He erased his distractions.

He filled his body with the determination to win.

Even focusing only on that wasn’t enough.

“First opponent, step forward. The rest will return to the waiting seats.”

Even as Gulliat turned away, he didn’t take his eyes off me.

I was the same.

We stared at each other until we sat in the waiting seats.

As Gawain dropped his glove, the audience’s cheers erupted like fireworks.

The final match had begun.