Chapter 3: The Strongest Onmyoji, Departs for the Imperial Capital

　Twenty days later.

　In order to participate in the martial arts tournament, I boarded a splendid carriage prepared by the academy and headed for the imperial capital.

　I was on my way, but…

“… why are you guys here?”

　Inside the carriage were Ifa and Amiyu.

“I-I’m Seika-kun’s squire. I can’t help but follow you!”

“Well, I don’t care about Ifa. ……”

“What? Do you have any complaints?”

　Amiyu said with a straight face.

“It’s fine. I’ve never been to the Imperial City before. If it weren’t for this opportunity, I wouldn’t go.”

　Well, I guess the purpose is to watch the martial arts competition.

　She seems to be concerned about how her rival fared in the fight. She hates to lose.

“But is it okay? You’re going to have to take a leave of absence from the academy.”

“It’ll be half a month at the most, right? I’ll be fine.”

“What about lodging?”

“I’m going to be in Ifa’s room.”

　The academy did indeed provide a room for the squire.

　I don’t know if there are two beds.

“Besides, Seika-kun, are you okay with the carriage?”

　I answer honestly to Ifa, who looks worried.

“I don’t feel well anymore.”

“Yeah, why are you so proud… are you okay?”

“I’m not okay at all. So …… Mabel. I’d like you to switch windows if you can.”

　The girl with rust-colored hair took one look at me with her blue eyes then turned her head away and muttered.

“I don’t like it”

　yes.

　As a matter of fact, Mabel was also in this carriage.

　No, it’s not a matter of course. Our destination is the same, and there’s no point in splitting the carriage into two.

“Huh? Even though you’re one year younger, you’re a junior, but you’re so cocky.”

　Amiyu poked at her, as a former adventurer and she was fussy about hierarchical relationships.

　Mabel replied with a voice that sounded like she was talking to herself.

“The school is all about competence. That’s what I heard. Besides, I’m the same age as you.”

　Amiyu says surprisingly.

“Heh, it’s unusual for a noble to enter school a year late. So we are all the same age.”

“Excuse me……”

Ifa raises her hand timidly.

“I’m a year late, too, so I’m one step higher than everyone else.”

“Eh, is that so?”

“Didn’t you tell him? Ifa”

“I just didn’t have the time”

“Hmm… you are older than me. No wonder…”

“…… where are you looking and saying that, Amiyu-chan?”

　Ifa hugs her chest and distances herself from Amiyu.

“…… shut up.”

　Mabel muttered in a voice that was barely audible.

　When she noticed my gaze, she said with a sigh.

“The academy is full of these things.”

“Like what?

“Cheerful children.”

“In fact, we are children. Is there something wrong with that?”

　Mabel takes a deep breath and says.

“It’s funny when you don’t think it’s funny”

“What you’re saying is…”

“…?”

“… no, it’s nothing.”

　Let’s not say anything unnecessary.

　Mabel is right.

　If there is a crop failure, we starve to death. If there is an epidemic, we will get sick and die.

　That is normal for human beings. Not many children can live a happy life.

　Even in this empire, which was far richer than Japan’s, it was not uncommon for poverty to drive people into begging or to sell themselves into slavery.

　A child who can attend school is a blessing in itself.

　I just didn’t want …… to make it sound like that was a bad thing.

　Rather than everyone being unhappy, I want at least the people I can see to live happily. That was one of the reasons why I picked up orphans and took them as my apprentices in my previous life.

“I’ll tell you,”

　Mabel looks at me sideways and says.

“You are also one of the cheerful children”

“…… Sure, that could be true.”

　In this life, I have been blessed from birth.

　That is, to the extent that I can not think of from my previous life.

　And.

　I don’t know what kind of past she has… Maybe Mabel didn’t have that either.

****

　The imperial capital is located to the west of Rodnea, not far from the city.

　After two days of riding in a horse-drawn carriage along the road

　We arrived at our destination safely

　Urdnesk, the capital of the Urdhwaite Empire.

　The largest city in the empire. Rodnea was also a city, but …. its scale was unmatched.

“Wow… the people are amazing.”

　Ifa let out a sigh of admiration.

　The streets were lined with tall buildings, and as Ifa said, many people were coming and going. Even the hustle and bustle seemed somewhat sophisticated.

　Compared to this territory, Rodnea was also a city, but as expected, it can’t be compared to the Imperial City.

“But there are fewer carriages here than Rodnea.”

“The horse-drawn carriages coming from outside are not allowed in during the daytime. It’s dangerous because the traffic gets too heavy.”

“Oh. So that’s why we were let down outside the castle walls.”

　I Listen with admiration to Ifa and Amiyu’s conversation.

　Come to think of it, I heard that Rome, once the capital of the Roman Empire, had a similar law.

　Then they both look back at me.

“More importantly, are you okay?”

“Are you resting at the inn today?”

“It’s …… okay.”

　I replied, leaning my back against the exterior wall of the …… building and breathing heavily.

　I’m full of wounds even before the tournament. I feel like throwing up.

　It helped that they dropped us off before the castle walls, but I still don’t feel well.

　Damn…should I fly back home on a demon ayakashi already?

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard today…”

“No… I want to see the pairing first.”

　We were headed for the arena where the event was to be held.

　The names of the participants, their pairings, and the dates and times of the matches will be posted on the bulletin board there.

　Incidentally, Mabel disappeared as soon as the carriage was dismounted.

　It seems we have separate lodgings, and the next time we meet will be at the venue.

　In the end, I don’t know much about her.

　I sent a letter to Luft and asked him about the Baron Crane family, but I didn’t get much information.

　Amiyu says.

“We can go look, but we still have a bit of a walk to do. What should we do? Do you want to pick up a street carriage?”

“… Do you want to kill me?”

****

　The arena where the event was to be held was surrounded by a large spectator area in an oval shape, making it impossible to see the inside from outside.

　The only thing I need right now is the huge bulletin board set up outside.

“Um, my name is…”

　The matches appear to be played in a winner-take-all tournament format, with a branching line drawn from top to bottom, with names marked at the end of the line.

　There were 32 contestants in all.

　My and Mabel’s names were soon found.

　It is not a completely separate block. If we were to win, we would meet in the semifinals, a halfway point.

　Surprising.

I thought the tournament table would first of all be made arbitrarily, and then the students from the academy would meet each other before the final.

　Or is this part of their intention ……?

“Amiyu-chan, do you know anyone’s name?”

“No, no famous adventurer will ever participate in a tournament like this.”

　I don’t see any familiar names either.

　Well, in the first place, I hardly know the names of martial artists in this world.

　For the time being, after memorizing everything, I turn my back on the bulletin board.

“I was able to see what I wanted to see, I’m going to rest at the inn first.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll go to …… too.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m just lying down anyway. Why don’t you two go sightseeing for the rest of the evening?”

“But……”

“Ifa. There are times when a man needs to be alone. It’s still a little bright.”

“Whaaaaaaaat……”

“Hey, don’t say anything weird. I’m still sick, so I’m just going to sleep.”

　It’s a lie.

“I’m just kidding. Since you said so, let’s go, Ifa. If Seika-kun and the freshmen lose in the first round, we’ll be going home soon.”

“Uh-huh… then Seika-kun. I’ll buy you something when you get home.”

“Oh”

　I parted ways with the two of them and went to town alone.

　Well then.

　How many mice and crows and owls would I need?

　Exploring the motives of this strange tournament seems a bit daunting.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter