Chapter 25: Prince Kurobuta Decides on a Policy

According to “World Genesis Alchemist”, Parallel Seth and “Great Sage” Merlin in their joint book, "An Introduction to Advanced Alchemy," the Philosopher's Stone is made of a powdered form of energy, which is then transformed into a miraculous elixir by mixing it with certain magical substances.

--A lecture room at the Royal Academy of Magic in Windstar—

Alchemy lectures usually take place here and the voice of an old male professor echoed from the stage like a sleep spell, mercilessly slamming students into the world of dreams.

In the front row of the lecture room, there was Brad, looking like he was about to fall asleep.

(...... Thinking about the future...)

For the past one month, I've been so busy with what's in front of me that I haven't had time to think. So why not make the most of this sleepy lecture time as thinking time?

Instead of listening to the lecture, Brad ran his quill across the parchment and began to assess his current situation and plan for the future.

(The first priority is to win the Sword Dance Festival.)

That was definitely the top priority.

After all, she was about to break off the engagement.

I don't know why Marie had suddenly said such a thing a month ago.

But when she told him she was breaking off the engagement, Brad simply didn't like it. Even if his relationship with her had nothing to do with his death, he still wanted to prevent her from breaking off the engagement.

(... But winning seems pretty likely)

According to my level scout, the level of the students around me who would be participating in the Sword Dance Festival tournament is generally in the 10-15 range. That's probably the average.

On the other hand, Brat's current level is 56.

That’s a level that’s comparable to the strongest class of human heroes and SS rank adventurers. The students of the academy are indeed no match for him.

Even Albert, a candidate for the festival, is at level 30. In the history of "Final Quest," Albert is not the winner of this tournament, but his opponent in the finals will probably be of a similar level, so there's no reason to doubt Brad's victory.

(At this rate, the four monster generals won't be a problem.)

Brad smiles with satisfaction.

If he continues to level and prepare himself well, he should be more than ready for the attack by the four monster generals that will be waiting for him in a few years.

(...but I’m worried about being alone?)

If I play your cards right, I may be able to defeat the four monster generals themselves even today. However, no matter how strong you become, the possibility of failure is not zero.

For example, if you’re blocked by an abnormal effect such as paralysis, it will be difficult to break it by yourself. At that point, it's game over.

Of course, I'm not going to neglect vigilance and countermeasures, but there’s a limit to what I can do alone.

(If that's the case, ...... what I need are friends.)

If I have a friend who’s durable enough to keep me from falling with a single blow even if i’m attacked by the strongest people in this world - the monster generals and heroes - I’ll be able to expand the scope of my strategy and feel much more secure.

(But it's not that easy to make reliable and powerful friends .......)

Brad's life is as you can see… He has no friends at all.

And his previous life was similar.

It's not that he didn't have any friends, because his job was to direct and connect people with each other, and he was outgoing and affable. However, it was only a superficial relationship, and I didn't have many friends that I went out of my way to drink or play with in private.

(If I had to guess, I'd say ... games are my friends.)

It makes me kind of sad.

Why is it that when you say "ball is my friend," you get the impression that you are a yang (outgoing) character, but when you say "game is my friend," you get the impression that you are a yin (reclusive) character?

Anyway, I almost think it would be impossible for me to make friends.

(......No wait, I have friends!!!)

Suddenly, my own hand comes into view and I remember.

In his hand was the rare item, the "Ring of the Monster tamer," glowing with a mysterious magic power.

With the power of this ring, I had tamed the monsters the other day.

There's no need to build a relationship with them like with humans and no need to worry about them betraying me. In addition, they have a wide variety of magic and skills, and if you train them, they will grow. They’re the perfect companions.

(When I think about it calmly, I can make the strongest army by using this ......?)

There’s no limit to the number of monsters you can tame, which means that the number of monsters that you tame can be increased and expanded to the size of an army. And if you teach these countless monsters how to level and strengthen each one of them, you can eventually build the strongest army that even surpasses the demon Lord's army.

After all, even goblins can evolve into goblin kings and become a force to be reckoned with. If you evolve a dragon or undead monster to the highest level, you can make each and every one of them as powerful as the four demon generals.

If he could create such a monster-like army of the strongest, he would no longer have to fear any death flags. Before Brad even makes a move, the monsters will smash the death flag that stands in front of him.

(Isn't that ... awesome?)

The more he thought about it, the more it tickled the middle-aged man in Brad. A legion of disaster-grade monsters, each one powerful enough to bring down a country. And then there's himself, who can overcome them with his overwhelming power and charisma. It's an exciting story, isn't it?

"I've decided. I'm going to do it!"

Brad made a clenched fist and stood up with a vigorous voice.

But at that moment, his expression tensed.

He realized that all the attention in the lecture room was on him at once.

(...... oops)

I had completely forgotten that I was in the middle of a lecture.

And I was being watched.

I hadn't been to school in a long time, and my appearance and bearing had changed so much that I was the center of attention.

While the classroom was silent with an awkward atmosphere,

"Oh… what is it Your Highness? Are you going to answer?”

The professor asks after a moment sounding as if he was unsure of how to treat Brad, whose air had changed.

“Eh… ah… ah, that’s right. Leave it to me.”

"Then… I’m sorry, let’s have you answer for us. Please briefly describe the simple process by which Parallel Seth created the original material for the Philosopher's Stone in the beginning and the fatal flaw in the method that was later discovered.”

Brad had already said to leave it to him, but the professor gave him a purely difficult problem straight away, and his mind went blank.

I wonder if there is anyone who can answer this kind of question easily in the first place. If you're the most gifted student in the school or the top student, you may be able to answer this question, but Brad is not that kind of person, so there is no way he can answer it.

(Hey, ......, do you know, me?)

No, he didn't.

But when I calmed down and digested the question, I found that the question sounded familiar.

Then I realized that the answer to the question came out of my throat surprisingly easily.

"… The creation of the Philosopher's Stone requires two processes known as the 'Great Work'. The first is the extraction of the magical minerals Tectosial and Jugendite, which are rarely found in mines with high concentrations of magical power, and the second is the fusion of the extracted minerals. In both processes, Parallel Seth used Alkahest, a deleterious drug that dissolves all substances. That's why, although it succeeded in creating a material of the same quality as the Philosopher's Stone, it could not be made into a solid ... or in other words, a complete stone. That is its fatal flaw.”

Brad finished at once and took a breath.

Although there are some ambiguities, but I think that was the general idea.

The professor and the students all opened their mouths in disbelief when they heard Brad's unhurried answer. They looked incredulous.

"Oh… what a surprise! That's wonderful, just as you said! As expected of His Highness… the Prince of Pistel!”

“Let's all give him a round of applause!”

Perhaps it was because Brad had been so pathetic up until now. The professor was so moved by this gap that he even had tears in his eyes.

“I'm sure only an expert in the field could answer that in an instant…”

“I can't believe it! This is that black pig? What the hell is going on?”

Applause echoed throughout the lecture hall, and the students shouted one after another in astonishment.

It was understandable that they were astonished.

Up until now, Brad had been at the bottom of the class not only in magic and swordsmanship but also in academics. In spite of this, he was able to answer the questions that everyone else in the class couldn’t”

(I'm glad I got it. ......)

Brad, on the other hand, settled back in his seat and just let his mind wander.

Why was Brad able to answer the difficult question?

The reason is actually quite simple.

In Final Quest, there was a character known as "Uncle Know-It-All" who would give out trivia quizzes and if you answered them correctly, you would get a rare item, so in a previous life, Brad had desperately memorized the questions and answers. The answer to this question just happened to be among the miscellaneous knowledge he had memorized.

Unbelievably, there was an item that could only be obtained by answering a total of 300 questions in a row without making a single mistake, and by the time he had completed it, he had even memorized the question.

Brad was uncomfortable with the respectful glances from teachers and students, but he didn't feel bad as his efforts were recognized.

(I feel like I'm being misunderstood even more, but… I guess it's okay to make a good impression. It's time to think more about the legion now.)

The class resumed, and Brad returned to his thoughts.

(Anyway… the plan is to make the strongest legion with monsters, lead it and annihilate the demon king army… get completely freed from the death flag and live freely. That’s the ideal scenario for now…)

That’s my policy for the future

And for that to happen, it will be necessary to keep close contact with sky mountain monsters which are the core of the Brad Army(Temporary name).

It’s possible to communicate telepathically through the "monster tamer's ring", but that method of communication is not so good. If possible, I'd like to have a solid means of communication, such as a monster with communication skills like the Evil Eye or a magic tool. I'll have to prepare for that as well.

When I was thinking about setting up an army,

"......!

Boom!　

There was an explosive sound.

The students in the lecture room were suddenly buzzing, and they all looked out of the lighted windows to look at the magic training ground, with a cloud of dust in the center of it.

But it didn't look like an incident had occurred. There was no sign of panic among the students in the exercise hall. A professor or a student should have just used flashy magic as part of the lecture.

The students in the classroom seemed to understand that.

As often is the case. Everyone immediately lost interest in the scene outside and turned back to the professor who continued the lecture indifferently as if he did not hear the sound in the first place.

However, Brad did not avert his eyes from the training ground.

(Eh… is that?)

When the dust was almost clearing out…

I felt like I saw the gray cloaked figure I noticed at the square during the werewolf lord attack the previous day in the clearing dust.

And eventually, when the dust cleared out—

(----on second thought)

It’s not a mistake

There was certainly the figure wearing a gray cloak.

Immediately, I used the sight enhancement spell to get a clear view of the person.

It was a girl who was unnaturally beautiful.

Brad was familiar with this dignified appearance, her swaying long hair tied together behind her. No, it’s a face I’ve seen many times.

“… Carol, right?”

There was no doubt about it.

It was Carol Trafford, a female knight of the destroyed country. A child of one of the “Seven Heroes”, Cascade. She was a member of the hero’s party who became a companion at the end of “Final Quest”.

Chapter 26: Prince Kurobuta Peeks at the Dressing Room

--Companion characters in RPGs--

There are so many different patterns to how they become the hero's companions.

Some characters are childhood friends who have been with the protagonist from the beginning, others are rescued by the protagonist during their quests and become friends, and some are enemies with the protagonist at first, but eventually become friends after reconciliation.

Among them, the female knight of the ruined country, Carol Dora Trafford, was a character who was initially hostile to the protagonist, but reconciled with him and became his friend.

Here's how it happened.

Before the start of Final Quest, Carol's homeland of Dastoria was destroyed in a war with the neighboring country of Ernade. Carol's family, including her father, Emperor Cascade, were all killed in the war and she was the only one who survived, thanks to the fact that she was staying in another country.

As a result, Carol hated Ernade and the nations that sided with them.

Therefore, it was one of the four demon generals, Beelzebub, who approached her to help her take revenge.

Carol took Beelzebub's hand and became a dark knight under the Demon King's army, often clashing with the hero party.

However, in the midst of the frequent clashes with the hero party, a shocking fact is revealed.

It was actually Beelzebub who arranged the war between Dastoria and Ernade and caused the destruction of the country.

Knowing that Beelzebub, whom she thought was her benefactor, was her enemy, Carol fights together with the heroes. The plot of “Final Quest” is that she joins the party of heroes.

When I thought about it again, there was only one possible conclusion.

In the past two months, when Brad was absent from school, Carol suddenly came to the Kingdom of Pistel to study.

During the war between Dastoria and Ernade, Carol was staying in another country. That other country was probably Pistel. Perhaps the emperor, anticipating the war, decided to evacuate Carol.

At any rate, if that’s the case, the story adds up.

The gray cloak that I saw in the square must have been Carol. Even though Dastoria hasn’t yet been destroyed, it’s rare to see a Dastorian in Pistel. I don't know why she was there, but I'm sure she was the one.

I also wondered who had won the Sword Dance Festival before Albert, but it was probably Carol. Carol was a character who joined the team later than Albert and was naturally stronger than Albert as well. 

(It's good that things have been clarified but if the battle with Ernade was to happen during Carol's stay at Pistel, it looks like the date of Dastoria's destruction is much closer than I thought.)

Then, the schedule will be disrupted.

Before the main storyline of the heroes defeating the Demon King and saving the world, the people of the world were suffering at the hands of the Demon King at the start of the main story in "Final Quest".

So, after making arrangements to avoid his own death, Brad wanted to do everything he could to save the suffering people.

He was reluctant to do so because he could easily imagine the problems that would arise if he changed historical facts, but he changed his mind after what happened to the cat people, Cait Sith. He felt that he couldn't leave people suffering like that alone.

And as for Dastoria, I knew I had to move quickly because the whole country could be destroyed. I thought I had a little more time, but it looks like I don't have much time after all. The war could happen at any moment. {TN; The author keeps mixing perspective all over the place so please be understanding}

(I don't know if Carol will believe me, but I guess I'll have to talk to her.)

This leaves me with no choice.

I should tell Carol everything about the danger that’s coming to Dastoria. I heard that there’s already an uneasy atmosphere between Dastoria and Ernade. 

If Brad, as a prince, were to speak seriously under such circumstances, he wouldn’t be completely ignored.

If Carol can work well with that information, then there’s a possibility that the crisis of Dastoria's destruction can be averted without Brad having to do anything unnecessary.

Brad took full advantage of his lecture time to think about such things.

***

(I heard you were here. ......)

--After school.

I had come to the fifth magic training ground on the academy grounds. After asking the students, I heard that Carol was working out here every day after school.

Carol had only been here for two months, but she was already popular with the students for her overwhelming ability and good looks. In particular, her dignified face and gentlemanly demeanor made her very popular with the girls.

It may seem unusual for a girl to be popular with other girls, but since she is a female knight and a beautiful woman dressed as a man, it makes sense if you think of her as being like a cast member of the Takarazuka Revue in my previous life. {TN: The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka

(I'm a guy, but she's still cool.)

Carol's gender was not revealed until the end of the game, and there was a lot of debate about her gender when the game was released. In the end, she was a woman, but there are still some extremists who still insist that she is a man, defying the official setting.

In any case, because of her popularity with the students, it was very convenient to find out where she was by just asking around.

(Did I come too early?)

Brad looked around the exercise area again, but there was no sign of Carol.

(Did I come to early) 

I guess she's not here yet, since I came as fast as I could after the lecture.

(It doesn't matter, I'll just wait and ask the undead Lord what's going on using the ring.)

I sat down on a bench in the corner of the training ground and poured magic power into the Demon Master's Ring. {TN: Previously translated as Monster tamer’s ring}

And among the monsters of sky mountain I tamed, I called out to the undead lord in my mind. 

"Brad-sama, are you ...... calling me?

A few moments later, the Lord's consciousness entered my mind.

(Oh, can you hear me?)

“Yes Brad-sama.”

It's the first time I've actually used it, but apparently it's fine for communication.”

“How's it going over there?”

"Yes, we are all doing well with the training method that Brad-sama taught us. The fastest-growing races, such as the goblins, have already evolved into higher-ranking species such as hobgoblins, and are especially full of motivation. Once everyone has evolved to the next level, we will place the seven monsters named by Brad-sama at the head of the group and begin to lead the monsters in the area.”

The undead Lord said happily.

I'm glad to hear that things are going better than planned. I was underestimating them because they’re monsters, but they seem to be more capable than I expected.

(It’s true that once they evolve, controlling the area won’t be a problem… but)

“We’re not in a hurry, so don’t overdo it. You can't afford any casualties. I'm going to teach you some simple strategic fighting techniques, so you can use them to your advantage and move when you're sure you can win. Do you understand?”

"Oh, how kind of you, my Lord! Thank you for your concern for us!”

The Undead Lord said in an impressed voice, and I could also hear the other demons' tremendous joy through the ring.

Their loyalty is incredible and I'm grateful for it.

Then Brad gave Lord some general combat tips that any “Final Quest” player should know. Just knowing these tips should reduce the risk of casualties and increase the efficiency of leveling.

(Also, Undead Lord, don't be so humble. You’re a core member of our honorable army. You need to have some dignity.)

"Are we an army…?”

The Undead Lord said in a puzzled tone.

(Oh, I haven't told you guys that yet. I've decided to organize an army with you guys and I want it to be the strongest army that can surpass even the Demon King's army. I won’t be able to do that without you guys)

 “The strongest army… that surpasses the Demon King’s army?”

The Undead Lord screams in astonishment as Brad speaks in a playful tone. And he felt the hearts of the other monsters buzzing at once.

It’s cool, but the truth is that I don’t like living in fear of my programmed death, so I just want to gather strong allies who will protect me and enjoy life freely.

“That's a great idea! It’s true that the current demon king's army is gutless, and this Undead Lord has always thought that Brad-sama is the true demon king of monsters… worthy of being the great Demon king! We are still too weak to be Brad-sama’s right hand, or even his fingers, but we will do our best to train ...... and grow into the strongest army that Brad-sama desires! Let's destroy the Demon King's army and rule this world!”

The Lord said in an excited voice and snorted - I'm not sure how he’s able to snort when he looks like a skeleton.　

I feel the story has been greatly exaggerated, is it really okay to leave it like this?

(Uh, no, ......, it's not that I want to rule this world)

“Oh! I see… You’re right! Brad-sama is the one who will eventually rule all the dimensional worlds such as the Demon world and the Fairy world! Only this world is not enough for Brad-sama to rule. I was being very rude!”

(Eh… Uh… Eh?)

"I can't believe you had such a grand idea, Brad-sama. I'm going to try to master the methods you taught me and train with all my might! So, if you'll excuse me!”

(huh… Undead Lord, We're still talking......!)

Brad hurriedly called out but the communication with the Undead lord had already been lost.

(I feel like that conversation went in the wrong direction, but if it will motivate them, then it’s okay. I don't think they'll betray me.)

In the silence of the training ground, Brad took a deep breath, feeling like he had finished a workout.

But then....

"What?”

From the equipment room, he felt the presence of someone.

Brad had come in through the main entrance, but there must have been a small doorway in the storeroom from which people could also enter and exit the exercise area. Maybe that was where Carol had come in from.

Brad slowly walked up to the equipment room.

Then, without hesitation, he opened the door.

"….?”

And then he sees it.

Changing her clothes cheerfully in the shadows, was the half-naked form of the female knight, Carol Dora Trafford. 

Chapter 27: Prince Kurobuta Talks to the Female Knight

--Lucky pervert.

An erotic situation that happens to a male character in an entertainment work such as anime or manga.

Every man yearns for a lucky pervert situation at least once, and this was the case for Kurokawa Yuto in his previous life as an Arasa otaku. {TN: A slang for a Japanese man or woman in their 30s}

But of course, kissing a beautiful girl at the first meeting or touching her breasts when she falls down doesn't happen very often in real life and that's why it's a situation you long for.

But after 14 years of reincarnation, and more than 40 years including his last life, such a situation has finally come to Brad.

In this lucky situation where he ran into a beautiful, half-naked girl who was changing her clothes,

"......”

The first thing Brad did was to get down on his knees.

He got down on his hands and knees on the floor, bowed deeply, and rubbed his forehead against the floor.

He remembered how men are usually treated in these lucky encounters.

For example, if the heroine's liking is at its maximum, it would be a different story, but in most cases, after such a lucky pervert situation, the heroine gets angry and attacks the man, which has become part of its charm.

Thinking back to various works, some heroes have been slapped in the face, their noses bleeding and their faces swollen like buns, while others have been blown away by magic and turned into one of the stars in the sky.

As soon as he imagined himself facing such a tragic end, Brad's body moved in a surprisingly natural way. The company spirit from his previous life as a businessman kicked in.” If you do something wrong, apologize immediately!”

Carol looked at Brad as he got down on his knees in a perfect gesture of apology for peeking into her dressing room. She looks at her change of clothes for a moment in astonishment.

"...... Um, what do you mean by this?"

She answered calmly.

The voice was so calm that he felt his head which was previously smoldering because of the lucky pervert moment quickly cool down.

(Indeed......)

The girl definitely didn’t know the meaning of the gesture Brad was displaying.

When Brad calmed down and raised his head 

"No way ... do you want me to step on your head !?"

Carol, who was still naked, was covering her mouth as if she had just seen something terrible.

"...... No, no. That’s definitely not what I meant."

Brad immediately denied it.

I don't have that kind of fetish.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be stepped on by a beautiful girl. Most things will only be taken as a plus from a beautiful girl. But I had no desire to be stepped on.

But Carol didn't listen to me.

"I've heard rumors that there are some people who are unusually sexually aroused by being hit or stepped on by a woman, but I never thought that anyone would want me to step on them. Indeed my appearance is definitely more beautiful than anything on earth. It won’t be a surprise if an unscrupulous man appears… No, as expected, this is… too much” 

 "No… that's not what I meant! Don’t mistake my gesture for something so vulgar!"

Carol seems to have misunderstood turning her eyes to me as if she were looking at a maggot.

"If that's the case, why are you bowing your head?

"To apologize, of course. I peeped at you while you were changing your clothes just now, even if it wasn't intentional.”

“I see." Carol nodded.

"I'm glad you agree with me, but why don't you cover… yourself?

Carol didn’t even pretend to hide her body even though she was in a situation where she’s being seen naked.

The fact that she’s so brazen about it makes me think that in this world, people don't feel shame when they are seen naked by the opposite sex.

"Why is there any reason to hide? Dastoria is a land where the weak are food and the strong are righteous. I'm proud of my body and I'm not ashamed of it. Be grateful that you were able to see my beautiful body. Shouldn’t you thank me for that?"

Carol asserted confidently.

I've certainly heard of such stories, but she's too eager to show them off. She seems to have a narcissistic streak, which I didn't really notice in “Final Quest”.

"You do have a beautiful body, but I'm sorry, that's not what I came here to talk about today.”

Brad coughed to recover.

"It's nice to meet you. As you may know, my name is Prince Brad von Pistel of this country. Princess Carol, Princess of Dastoria, it is an honor to meet you again."

Brad bowed gracefully, took Carol's hand and kissed the back of it.

"I know who you are of course, because it's only natural that I would remember the names and faces of the royal family of the country where I study. But I thought you used to have a bulkier figure?

"I've been through a lot, don't ask."

When Brad shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile, Carol looked at him curiously, then shrugged her shoulders as well, "Oh well.”

"But stop with this princess thing. It's not my style and I'm not good at formalities. Just call me Carol.”

Dastoria is a new country, and a land of many wicked and violent people, so I guess such formalities don’t exist.

"I see. Carol, please call me as you like."

"I will."

Carol nodded humbly.

"So what does the prince want with me?"

 "Before that… why don't you put some clothes on? I'm having trouble deciding where to keep my eyes."

When Brad pointed this out, Carol glanced at her own reflection, her eyes widening as if she had just realized that she was half-naked.

“I don't mind if I stay like this though," she said and began to put on her clothes nonchalantly, without even turning her head.

_________________________________

"Dastoria will be destroyed?"

Carol's eyes narrowed in a grim face as Brad told her the story.

The location for their discussion is still the same, in the equipment room of the fifth magic training ground. Since he didn't want anyone to hear the story, he decided to tell it here.

There were two things that Brad told Carol.

That there would soon be an all-out war between Dastoria and Ernade, and that this would lead to the destruction of Dastoria.

"It can't be. There’s definitely an uneasy atmosphere between us and Ernade, but that is due to coincidental skirmishes between the people. My father is now working to resolve it through diplomatic talks. There won't even be a war in the first place.”

"If it really was an accidental skirmish that is, It may not be settled by talking.”

Brad shrugged and Carol frowned.

"You don't ...... think they were accidents?"

Brad nodded with a mysterious look.

"It's not a coincidence, it was planned. The chief strategist of the demon king's army, one of the four demon generals Beelzebub, is behind the scene. It's all part of their plan to create an all-out war between Dastoria and Ernade.

And when I told her that fact,

Carol's eyes widened in disbelief, but she quickly shook her head.

“Certainly, the incidents overlapped too much at the same time for it to have happened by chance, but... is there a basis for your claim that the Demon king army is pulling the strings behind the scenes?”

Unfortunately, if Brad tells her that he got the information from a game “Final Quest”, she wouldn’t believe him and will think he’s nuts.

Brad hesitated for a moment and then decided to give a fake good reason.

"Don’t worry, this is accurate information. It was obtained by my spies who I’ve placed around. You'll just have to trust them."

"Your spies? Where did they hear that? The Demon king’s base is in the phantom world and there’s currently no way to get there. Since that’s the case, where did they get this information.”

Although I responded confidently, Carol nonchalantly poked holes in my logic.

It seems she’s being suspicious.

"In the first place… You said that the coming battle will destroy Dastoria? Why is that? In terms of strength, Dastoria is currently superior. If anyone is to be destroyed in the war, it will be Ernade.”

When pressed further, Brad clammed up.

This is because other countries have sided with Ernade based on the false information that Beelzebub has spread about Dastoria's alliance with an evil entity, but telling them now will only make them more suspicious of how he came to have that information.

"......"

I was troubled.

The fact that I hadn't thought of a detailed excuse for the things I had to say but just felt the need to tell her as soon as possible, had proved to be my undoing.

"… Anyway what I’m trying to say is that if we let this go, there will be a war. I'm sure it will bring great disaster to Dastoria. So in order to avoid that, I need your help."

Brad tells her that, but Carol's well-formed face twists even more in suspicion.

"We can't talk about anything if you can't provide any evidence or your sources. And as I said before, there will be no war. I'm sure my father is already on the move and by now he should be meeting with the King of Ernade to discuss a peaceful solution.”

"The Parley is going… on now? You're telling me that the Perles parley is already taking place?”

The information that Carol had mentioned seemed trivial to her, but it was important information that he needed to hear.

“How did you know the meeting would be held in Perles? Isn't that supposed to be classified information?"　

"That doesn't matter now… is the Parley really taking place now?"

"It's getting late. ...... Not only is it taking place, it’s probably over.”

“What the hell…”

Brad’s thoughts stalled.

The all-out war between Dastoria and Ernade. The incident that started it all was the Perles Conference.

At first, the talks at the Perles Conference seemed to be going smoothly. However, just before the peace was to be concluded, the news came in that the Dastorian queen had been assassinated by someone. The emperor is enraged, and the negotiations quickly broke down due to his suspicion that it was the work of the Ernades.

(...... No, it's too early to give up hope.)

Shaking his head, he turned to Carol.

"Your mother… Where is the Queen?"

"I'm sure she's in Perles with my father, she and my younger brother  accompanied him, why?”

"Is there any way you can contact your people right now? I want to know about the outcome of the meeting, but I also want you to make sure they're safe.”

"Why are would you do that…?”

"Please, their lives are at stake."

Brad appealed with a sincere look on his face.

Carol had a lot to say, but the fact that her family's lives were at stake must have resonated with her. She immediately took out a magic stone for communication and started to contact someone.

"Jasper… can you hear me?”

Carol called and soon a young man’s voice answered through the magic stone.

“What’s the matter Carol.”

“I want to hear about the meeting. Can you tell me the outcome of today’s meeting and what you, mother and Karl are doing now.”

When asked, Jasper said.

“Hmm… please wait a moment.”

“The talks have ended without a hitch, although there are still some issues between the two countries. I think there will be improvements soon. Also your mother and younger brother are doing well. Don’t worry.”

“Is that the only thing you wanted?” Jasper asks at the other end and not long after, he takes a deep breath.

“Yes, that’s fine. That’s it. That’s what I wanted to know.”

“Huh!”

When the communication is interrupted, Carol glares at Brad sharply.

“The meeting ended safely. It seems there was nothing for my mother and younger brother to do. Did the Prince of Pistel deceive me? You even brought up the life of my family. You should be sorry for such a joke.”

While saying this, she thrusts her sword at his throat.

It was the most beautiful sword draw he’d ever seen.

Brad shook his head in panic.

“No… of course I didn’t mean it like that. I had information about the crises in Dastoria, so I thought you should know about it. Apparently, the information was incorrect.”

“Did you tell me this without confirming if it was accurate?”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

Brad apologizes humbly, thinking that excuses will not be enough to make up for this.

“Hmm… I was wondering if you’ve actually changed. But it seems that rumors of you being a stupid black pig is still true.”

Carol clicked her tongue and turned around.

“This is very unpleasant. You disturbed my heart with unreliable information and my heart got shaken to an extent.”

“Wait Carol, I’m not done talking yet…!” 

Brad calls out to Carol who is already walking away in a hurry and doesn’t stop.

“I don’t have anything more to say to you. I completely lost the mood to train. It seems that the next king will be decided at the Sword dance festival. But if someone like you becomes king, the world will definitely come to an end. I’ll knock you down that day, so be prepared.”

She seemed to be completely angry and walked out of the equipment room.

(What does this mean?)

While Brad Is left alone, he starts thinking on the spot.

In the history of Final quest, the Peles meeting was undoubtedly the beginning of the war between Dastoria and Ernade. But according to Jasper, a young man of Dastoria, the negotiations went well.

(I hope the historical facts changed.)

It would be good if Brad’s sudden change affected the facts of history and the war was avoided in advance. But there’s no connection between Brad and Dastoria in the first place, so that couldn’t be the case.

Brad stood there for a while and activated the Demon master’s ring.

“Undead lord, can you hear me?”

“Yes, what do you want me to do my Lord?”

The response came so quickly it was like he was waiting.

“I’m sorry, I know I just contacted you earlier, but I’d like you to take a look at the state of Dastoria. Is there any chance you’re good at covert actions?”

“It is our supreme joy to be of help to Brad-sama. When it comes to covert works, there’s shadow. He has just evolved into a shadow knight and is just right for the job.”

“Oh… he’s already a shadow knight!”

Shadow is one of the seven sky mountain monsters that Brad tamed and gave a special name to.

The seven monsters that were named are monsters that become the strongest class monsters in the “Final Quest” if they evolved and were specially allowed to have rare items that helped them gain experience points, so its quick evolution may be thanks to that.

The shadow knight is a race inferior to the cyclops and werewolf lord, but it will have the power to repel most monsters.

“Then I’ll leave this to Shadow. I’ll relay the details to him, so keep training the rest of the group.”

“Everything is at your will, Great demon king.”

The communication ends and he takes a deep breath.

(It seems I’ve become a great demon king to them completely. But it’s fine. I’m more worried about Dastoria now. I really wish the meeting ended successfully.)

But the voice of the one called Jasper that Carol contacted had the breathing pattern of someone that was lying.

Even if the war had begun, one country would not be destroyed immediately, but I wanted to know the truth as soon as possible.

And as such—

It was on the day of the sword dance festival that the results of the investigation done by Shadow who was dispatched, arrived.

Volume 4: Sword Dance Festival

Chapter 28: After School for the Contestants

<Albert’s POV>

--One day, after school.

In the third training ground of the Windstar Academy of Magic, the largest of all the training grounds, many students were working hard on their swordplay and magic, as the Sword Dance Festival was coming up.

Among them was Brad's younger brother, Albert von Pistel.

He and his companion, Dino, were clashing swords and making final adjustments in a match-style practice.

"Aha!"

Albert's spirited voice echoed through the training ground.

Albert pushed Dino's sword back with his might and at the same time, Dino staggered backward, losing his balance.

Alberto did not miss the opportunity.

The next moment, the tip of Alberto's sword was at Dino's throat.

The match was over.

“"Amazing..."”

When Alberto came down and made a gesture to remove the blood from his sword, the students around him cheered and applauded.

The crowd was made up of participants of the Sword Dance Festival, who had come to observe a  potential winner, as well as Albert's fans.

"That will be all for today."

Albert glanced sideways at the spectators and told Dino.

"Um ......the  Sword Dance Festival is coming up, do you really want to stop practicing already?"

"It's over, don't make me say it again."

Albert narrowed his eyes sharply, and Dino took a frightened step back.

"I'm so sorry!"

He glanced at Dino and turned around, making his way towards the exit of the training ground.

But on the way...

"Albert-sama looks dignified today. It seems that his swordplay is quite sharp and polished. I wonder if Albert-sama will win the sword dance festival."

"But Brad-sama has been stepping up lately. He even defeated a monster that Albert-sama couldn't defeat."

"It’s true that Brad-sama is doing his best as well. I'm also in the Brad faction. The brown skin similar to that of his majesty is truly mysterious and his face is just beautiful. I support him because he’s such a gentleman."

"I get it. Brad-sama is kind to everyone, even "reforming himself" so he can be a better person to the poor and commoners. Speaking of which, I heard that he formed a guard unit from the people he saved in the square."

"Oh my! I'd love to be a part of that." 

The students' conversation reached Albert's ears.

Albert smiled nobly at the students, but inwardly he grit his teeth.

Because the sword festival was close by, he was planning to train hard for a long time just as Dino suggested, but he had to interrupt his training because he was disturbed by the conversations of the spectators that he occasionally heard.

(Why is my brother  being praised......?)

Albert shouted inwardly.

Until recently, his brother Brad had been ridiculed as a "black pig" and had only been his foil but before he knew it, people started recognizing him, comparing Brad to himself, and even appreciating his older brother more.

And I'm not just talking about a few people.

Not only the students of the academy, but also the people of the court and even the people of the country are beginning to reevaluate Brad.

I wanted to know why this happened.

Brad had always been a proud man. He's been acting like he's changed a little bit in the last few months, and people are getting won over by his act.

(...... I have to admit, he’s quite skilled.)

Albert shook his head and leaned on the wall after he left the training grounds.

In just three months or so, Brad has made a dramatic change from the bottom of the ladder, where he was mocked and called a "black pig," to the top of the ladder, where he has gained control of the masses.

In the beginning, when he had started to attract the attention of the people as a "self-sacrificing reform" by investing his personal fortune in education and medical projects, Albert had thought it was too late to flatter the people like that.

However, the people are cash cows.

As Brad continued to invest more and more of the huge amount of money he had collected from somewhere, the people's skepticism began to loosen, and finally some of them began to express their support for Brad. As a result, in this short period of time, Brad was able to win the hearts of many people.

Not only the people, but also the nobles.

Nobles are above the people in terms of status, but their stance and behavior is greatly influenced by the people's mindset.

In other words, when Brad won the hearts of the people, the nobles were forced to reevaluate Brad when considering their course of action.

And after seeing what Brat had been doing recently, many of the nobles judged that Brad's popularity was not just something on the surface, but something with substance. As a result, not only the people, but also the hearts of the nobility were moving in favor of Brad.

The same goes for the students of the academy.

Most of the students at the academy were favorably impressed by the change in Brad, as their parents, the nobles, were beginning to appreciate it. The ones who used to mock him, calling him a "black pig," seem uncomfortable, but many of them are changing their attitudes.

(I guess this is all part of his plan.......)

He remembered the match in the courtyard

Even though Albert surpassed Brad in ability, it still wasn't enough to defeat him. And that's not all, Albert was almost defeated when he had mistakenly created an opening for Brad to strike.

Looking at his unfathomable intelligence, it seemed that everything was going according to Brad's plan up to this point. What Albert had built up over the years, his brother was gaining in an instant with his brilliant mind. It was tremendous skill.

(And above all, that power ......)

The other day, a werewolf lord appeared in the square.

It was incredibly strong.

The skilled knights were defeated in a single blow and even himself was defeated by the incredibly strong monster. But Brad came along and defeated the monster in one blow.

The reason why the monster was defeated in a single blow might have been the fact that He and the knights weakened it a little bit, but there's no doubt that he's no longer the Brad of a few months ago.

(...... just like the older brother he used to know.)

Albert remembers his brother from childhood.

In fact, as a child, Brad was better than Albert. As a matter of fact,  Albert was said to be worse.

Ever since he could remember, Albert had had a strong admiration for his older brother, and had followed him around like a chick following its parent.

In order to catch up with his older brother, he had been making desperate efforts in both swordsmanship and magic.

(Brother ...... why have you changed?)

However, it would have been nice if the two brothers could have grown up together in friendly rivalry, but reality did not work out that way.

One day, Brad suddenly stopped trying.

It was probably before he entered the academy. Suddenly, he started skipping swordplay, magic, and schoolwork, and refused to work hard.

I don't know what the cause was.

Albert and the people around him repeatedly asked him about the cause, but he just replied that it became too much trouble.

As a result, except for going to school, Brad became a recluse in his room, and before long, he took on the appearance of that "black pig".

Albert was shocked.

He was shocked to see his brother, whom he admired so much, become so ugly and fallen, but most of all, he was shocked to see that his brother had so easily thrown away the position and honor that Albert had so desperately sought, just like a piece of trash.

It was as if he had been denied everything he had worked for, everything he was.

At first, Albert had tried to persuade Brad somehow. However, Brad never regained his motivation.

Albert gradually became disillusioned with his brother's decline, and they eventually began to fight every time they saw each other.

The brother he used to know no longer returned. The brother he had longed for was gone.

That's what I thought, but now...

(Why now, ......)

Why is he now regaining his motivation and showing signs of the brother I used to admire?

Whenever he thought about Brad, various emotions ran rampant in Albert's mind, and his mind was severely disturbed.

(......)

No, the reason is no longer important. If my brother is going to stand in my way, I'm going to crush him with everything I've got.

(I'll teach you at the sword dance festival)

It's too late to get motivated now. He knew that while his brother was slacking off, he was several steps ahead of him.

But just when he had made up his mind...

"Can you really win?

I heard a voice.

It was the voice of a somewhat mysterious woman.

It was a quiet voice, but one that I could not help but listen to.

"......?"

Albert looked around.

But there was no sign of the woman.

He frowned, wondering if it was an auditory hallucination, but as if reading his mind, the woman spoke in a lustrous voice.

"Did you see how he fought the monster in the square? Your brother has become incomparably stronger than before. It seems that the last time you fought, it was a draw, but now that he's all matured, do you think you can beat him?"

She spoke to Albert as if whispering in his ear.

He looked around again, but there was no sign of the woman.

Albert's eyes narrowed.

"Shut up, who are you?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. More importantly, you really think you can't beat your brother, don't you?

Albert clicks his tongue viciously.

I'm not sure if she's using some sort of magic tool or magic that speaks directly to the mind, or if one of Brad's followers is playing a joke on me.

He said, " Screw that! I know I can win. It's true that my brother has become stronger, but his strength is only the result of a few months of training. The gods of war are on my side. Just watch, I’ll make my brother lick the ground."

"Oh... then why is your mind so disturbed? You know the truth, don't you? You know that you’re no match for your brother."

The woman's tone was filled with mockery.

"I said, shut up!"

Alberto finally raised his voice.

Along with the scream, magic power overflowed from Albert's body. a strong wave of magic power shook the air.

The woman does not stop smiling even after the display of intimidation that would make an ordinary person tremble.

"You are just like a strong and intimidating puppy. I don't want to fight with you. I just thought I could help you if you want to beat your brother."

"Help me?"　Albert furrows his brow.

"Yes... power. You have as much talent as your brother. It's just that you don't know how to use it. So I'll help you."

"Stop it. I can't borrow power from someone or something I don't know. In the first place, I can never lose to my brother. You must be one of those in my brother's faction. Say one more trash word to me and I'll make you regret getting on my bad side with your life."

The woman laughed happily as Albert barked with intimidation.

"Oh... That's scary. You seem to be very stubborn. I wonder if I should pull back for today. There are other things I need to do to get the show going. But if you need my help, just reach out to me, I'm always watching you."

As soon as she said that, her presence vanished immediately as if she were a ghost.

I waited for a while, but I didn't hear her voice again.

"I see..."

Albert took a deep breath as though he just finished an intense workout.

His mental strength had been drained greatly.

(What on earth was that?...)

Albert, who had survived a lot of hardships, should not have gotten tired as easily as he did now.

I thought that maybe one of Brad's followers was playing a trick on me but that didn't seem to be the case.

(I'll defeat my brother without anyone's help and maybe then, this uneasiness in my mind will disappear.)

Albert clenched his fist and made up his mind to do so.

*****

<Dino’s POV>

In the third training ground after Albert left, his companion Dino Schwazer was still there.

However he wasn't enthusiastic about training anymore. He was already out of his training clothes and was putting on normal ones and was already leaving the training ground.

(Albert-sama isn’t doing it, so I don't see any reason why I should either. I guess it won't be a problem if I go home.)

Dino snorted at the students who were training hard and left the training ground.

I don't think I'll do very well anyway.

Training hard won't change my ability in a day or two and even if it does change, I can't beat someone who’s naturally talented.

(Oops... Before I go back, I have to do my daily routine)

Dino suddenly thinks, and runs up the stairs of the school building with bouncy footsteps.

He came to the rooftop

From its spacious location, which was also treated as a ball room during the most recent night of Alyar, Dino looked down on the outdoor training ground no.1.

It was crowded with many students.

While other training grounds are basically not available without permission and reservation, the first training ground is always open to all students, so the threshold is low.

(Uhyo! Jessica-chan still has a pretty body! No, Mira-chan's ass is irresistible!?)

Dino's line of sight wasn't the tough boys who were likely to be rivals at the sword dance festival, but the pretty girls.

After school, Dino made it a daily routine to watch pretty girls who sweat while training from the rooftop.

What's more, he wasn't satisfied with just looking at them and even used a spell to strengthen his eyesight, and stretch down his nose towards the girls who are struggling to train.

"Ah ... If I win the sword dance festival, I wonder if I'll be able to get a good woman! But I can't win the championship, even by mistake!"

I muttered such a stupid thing and clicked my tongue.

"Are you going to participate in the sword dance festival?"

Suddenly, a voice called from the side.

Dino quivered and hurriedly turned his gaze toward the voice.

There was a male student there.

He was a boy of medium height with no distinguishing features.

If I had to put it in another way, I'd say he was ordinary in every way.

Dino was a member of nobility, so he would know.

"Hmmm... That's right and you’re talking to Dino Schwazer, I've never seen you before, so I don't know if you’re new or not, but you should watch how you speak."

"If you’re going to participate at the sword dance festival, then you’re in luck."

Dino makes a threat but the boy ignores it as if he didn't hear it and approaches him with an eerie smile.

"Wha- what are you?"

Dino was shaken by the boy's strange atmosphere and took a step backwards.

It was at this point that he finally discovered some features on the boy's body that seemed ordinary in every way at first, but were far from ordinary.

First, the ears.

The ears on his head were clearly not those of a normal human. They were those of an animal.

Next are the teeth and eyes.

The canine teeth peeking out of his mouth were unusually sharp, and the eyes, with their amber color and black pupils, were sharper than those of the human race.

　Looking at those characteristics, Dino guesses the identity of the male student.

"You... You're a beastman? But a while ago..."

The moment Dino raised his voice in confusion.

The end of the male student's mouth spread eerily as if it were torn, and immediately after that, a tremendous shock came to his abdomen, and Dino's consciousness was blown away in an instant.

Chapter 29: Prince Kurobuta Goes to the Opening Ceremony

　--The Sword Dance Festival (Kenbu Matsuri)

It is a festival in honor of Nerfa, the "Sword Saint" who founded Pistel.

During the three main days of the festival, people from all over the country, as well as tourists from other countries, gather in the royal capital, Fall Flat, and the city becomes a scene of festivities.

One of the special events of the Sword Dance Festival is the battle tournament between the students of the Royal Windstar Academy of Magic.

The Royal Windstar Academy of Magic is one of the most prestigious schools in the Kingdom of Pistel, and has a reputation for attracting high-level students. A battle tournament between the students of Windstar would naturally be a battle to determine the strongest warrior of that generation in the country, and it’s popular both inside and outside the country, as it allows ordinary people to see high-level sword and magic exchanges that they wouldn’t normally have the chance to see.

The opening ceremony of the battle tournament was currently being held in the central arena.

The central arena was huge.　

Without any exaggeration at all, it was the same size as the huge sports stadiums of Brad's Previous life, with a capacity of up to ten thousand people.　

The battle stage is located in the center of the lowest level, and is surrounded by five levels of spectators' seats all around it.

And now, the countless spectator seats were filled with people. I wondered where in this country were so many people.

And at the lowest level of the arena, overlooked by the countless spectators with tremendous enthusiasm, a total of more than 200 students of the academy, the participants of this battle tournament, were lined up in a row, looking up at the seats of honor.

Brad was among them.

(Opening ceremonies are boring in every world, aren't they?)

Brad yawned while listening to the host, a nobleman.　

The moderator's voice echoed in the arena with a loud voice due to the magic item with loudspeaker magic, but the speech was boring enough as it is.

Well, it was the opening ceremony, so there was no need for an interesting speech. It was inevitable.

What was a blessing in disguise was the presence of my fiancée, Marie, in the dignitaries’ seat. It was nice to know that she was here to watch the show, and seeing her beauty for which she was called the "fairy princess" distracted me from the boring speech.

(But they’re too close to me, so I can't distract myself)

Anyway, when Brad glanced around, he felt a stinging gaze from both sides filled with a great thirst for blood.

Since the start of the opening ceremony - or even before it started, he has been stared at from the right by Albert and from the left by Carol.

The other day, he seemed to have earned Carol’s complete dislike and there were talks about he and Albert beginning a battle for the throne, so it's not hard to understand why they’re staring, but it's really uncomfortable when it's so obvious. I'm not interested in the throne, though.

(We used to be good friends...)

He gazed at his scowling brother and took a deep breath.

Originally, Albert was a straightforward and cute guy. He was always following me around like a chick following a hen. Why did he become so touchy and twisted? No, it's not for me to say that when I myself turned into a bum.

(......?)　

Suddenly, I felt eyes on me again.　

And it wasn't from the left or right, it was from someone behind me.

(Did I do something to make so many people hate me?)

Yes, I did. I mean, at least I was fat and hard to be around.

I turned my head 90 degrees and glanced behind me, pretending to look to my right so that the person I was looking at wouldn’t notice.

Then, I check the owner of the gaze and understood.

It was Dino Schwarzer, Albert's companion, the second son of the count's family, and a huge student who had been bullying Brad.

The other day, when he came to school for the first time in a long time, he had angered him badly, and if it was Dino, it was understandable that he would give me a stinging look.

(......)

But when Brad tried to avert his gaze, in panic Dino averted his gaze to cover it up.

(he’s quieter than I thought he'd be.)

I was surprised because I was expecting him to start a fight right away. Dino has always been rough and quick to fight, and behaves in a very coercive manner towards those who are weaker than him. It’s rude to him, but I felt rather uncomfortable that he didn't pick a fight with me here.

　So he wasn't insane enough to start a fight during the ceremony.

However, even though it was during the opening ceremony, the crowd was in a festive mood and it's so noisy that it almost drowned out the MC.

As I was thinking about this, the voice of an austere and dignified man, different from the nobleman who had been presiding until then, echoed in the arena.　

I looked at the nobleman's seat and saw a man with an imposing appearance standing there.

The man was the father of Brad and the current king, Castral von Pistel, a fearless, mature man with trimmed silver hair similar to Brad's.

(I haven't seen him in a long time. ......)

When was the last time I had a real conversation with my father? Ever since I became a "black pig," I hadn't talked to him.

In the first place, we rarely see each other, and even when we do see each other at some events, he basically ignores me, or we only have the minimum conversation necessary. Even those minimal conversations seem to be very troublesome, so I guess he treats me as a nuisance.

(I wonder what he thinks of me now. ......)　

I'm wondering what he's thinking when he sees the sudden change in me, but the day will come when we'll have to talk openly anyway.

I don't need to force myself to talk now.

"And with this, I hereby declare the opening of the... Sword Dance Festival Battle Tournament!"

When Castral announced this, the crowd erupted in a wave of excitement.

Normally, it would be considered disrespectful to shout such cheers when the king is speaking, but this is a once-in-a-year festival and it was a special day when such things were allowed and it would have been rude not to cheer.

(...... Festivals should be a lot of fun.)

Brad nodded his head in satisfaction at the crowd's excitement.

In his previous life, he had been reluctant to participate in events called "festivals" because his former self was a loner, and in this life, he was not very good with them either, but this was a festival in his own country that he was familiar with and he was genuinely enjoying the excitement of the event.

"The tournament will begin with the preliminary rounds, but before that... I must introduce our guests."

Castral said and set his gaze on two people who walk up to stand side to side with him.

The fact that they were standing in the same line as him meant that their positions and status were equal to his.

(Who the heck are those?)

As if In response to Brad's question, Castral speaks.

"As we all know Lord Glace, who has a place in our country as an honorary knight, but today two of his friends who are members of the "Seven Heroes", came all the way to visit the royal capital! No further explanation is needed. It's Merlin the Great Sage and Celie, Saintess of Salvation!"

"......?"

Brad's eyes widen.

Although Glace is friendly to him for personal reasons, the "Seven Heroes" are legendary figures in this world, most of whom are leaders of countries and cities and important figures with core positions.

To be honest, it was impossible for three of them to gather in the kingdom of Pistel.

(looks real... doesn't it?)

However, when I looked closely at the dignitaries’ seats, I recognized the two people there.

The first thing I saw was a beautiful elven boy.

The skin is clear and human-like, the ears are pointed, and above all, his magic power like the deep sea is a sign of the Ancient Elves, a higher species of elves.

When I look closely, I can see that he’s sitting on his haunches, floating in the air with magic power. The only person who can use magic like that at will is Merlin, who is known as the greatest wizard of all time.

"......"

The next thing I saw was an immensely beautiful woman.

Her beautiful, wavy hair that reached down to her waist, her slender yet feminine body with a roundness that could only be described as the golden ratio, her white skin full of life force that was different from Merlin's, and her magic power that seemed to envelop her like the soft morning sun reminded me of Astellas, the goddess of light.

This one had already passed away in "Final Quest", so I've only seen her in paintings, but her gentle, droopy eyes and characteristic birthmark that gave off an air of sexiness, she must be the "Saintess of Salvation" Celie herself.

"Oh, there are three out of the "Seven Heroes"?"

"I've heard rumors that she's an absolute beauty, but ... Celie is the exact replica of the goddess Astellas. Incredible."

"But Merlin is much smaller than I imagined."

When the contestant by Brad's side murmured something like that.

"Who are you calling small? I can hear you all the way here!"

Right after that. A loud voice echoed through the arena.

The voice was, of course, Merlin himself, sitting in the noble seat.

He had a scary hearing ability.

The voice was several times louder than the voices of the MC and King Castral, which made Brad cover his ears in panic. Merlin's voice didn't match his small physique at all

Merlin also has the nickname "The Lost Boy of Eternity," and just like in Final Quest, he seems to have a complex about his short stature.

"Hey! Marin-chan, you haven't even said hello yet. If you’re going to display such an attitude you’ll create a bad impression of the Magic city, Endymion, making people hate them in general."

"Don't treat me like a child! And I'm not Marin, I'm Merlin!"

The dignity of the "Seven Heroes" was thrown out the window.

Merlin seems to have been completely shaken up as he pouts his lips in the other direction.

Celie shrugs

"Marin-chan is a strange one as you can see. I was looking forward to the festival, same as everyone here. Especially Bra-chan, I'm looking forward to watching His Highness Brad's fight in person~ ♡.”

"What ......?"

When his name was called out of nowhere, Brad was stunned.

I never thought my name would come out of the mouth of one of the "Seven Heroes". No, Glace has mentioned my name many times, but he’s an exception.

Like Brad, the crowd was surprised and a buzz was spreading.

"What does this mean? Celie and his highness are familiar with each other?"

"I thought Brad-sama's success was mind-blowing but who knew that the "seven heroes" were paying attention to him."

"As expected of Brad-sama"

From all around him, he got gazes of astonishment, respect, and envy.

(No... Why me?)

Brad frowns.

Even in this country, the reputation of the reformed Brad is not widespread. In other countries, his younger brother Albert is even better known, and it is said that Brad is a boy who’s unfit for anything. So why did Celie call out his name instead of his younger brother’s?

(“And I'm looking forward to seeing you in person” ...  The way she said it, it's like she’s seen me fight somewhere or through something, right?)

While I was wondering about it, Celie noticed me and waved with a big smile. Rather than an acquaintance, it's more like a fan who’s encountered a celebrity. I don't feel bothered because she’s a transcendental beauty, but I don't understand the meaning.

(What’s with the Bra-chan?)

I'm pretty sure that's how she called me.

There's nothing in being called by a nickname, but isn't that an abbreviation for that underwear that’s usually worn on the chest. No it’s unthinkable that a transcendental beauty like herself will say something so vulgar as the name of underwear. What am I thinking?

Soon after Celie is seated, his father Castral clears his throat. Then, he directs a sharp gaze at Brad.

"It seems that you will have to give a performance that won’t shame the expectations of the Seven Heroes. You will deliver, isn’t that right? Brad"

When Castral called out his name in a somewhat intimidating manner, Brad felt slightly tense, but quickly responded with a smile.

He then stepped forward to the dignitary's seat and made a graceful nobleman's bow.

"I understand. I am sure that I will win this tournament and receive the honorable title of "Swordsman", and I would like to present my victory to the three legendary "Seven Heroes" ...... and my beloved fiancée, Miss Marie Elle Folktas."

Brad declares so and turns his smile to Marie, the guest of honor.

At the Moment, From all over the arena, pink screams are heard, and a lot of whistling sounds as if to tease Brad and Marie.

Marie's eyes widened, and when she finally understood the situation after a while,  her cheeks were slightly crimson.

Then she turned to the side as if to hide her embarrassment.

(My Fiancee is too cute...)

It was so cute that it made me wonder if this is what it’s like to be in a light novel or a romantic comedy manga.

I’m unbeatable

I've shown Marie a bad version of myself so far. She must have been disillusioned. I can't show her anything uncool, and above all, I have to show her I can win this tournament and become a good prince and have her reconsider the engagement cancellation.

(There won’t be any cutting corners in any match. I’ll end it immediately)

Brad decided.

And so---

The tournament began, and Brad was in the arena right from the start, crossing swords with Albert's aide Dino Schwarzer.