Chapter 144: An Argument During the Game
The children immersed themselves in the Acorn Feather Drop, surrounded by cheerful laughter. Teams of three gathered around a game box.
“Seven points!”
“Oh, not bad.”
“I’m next!”
They cheered. Several adults came over to watch with fond smiles, and even the Margrave folded his arms and observed with interest. The magic stones prepared as prizes were lined up in a small wooden box.
“Next team.”
Once the previous group finished, the next players readied their acorns.
Lewis spun the box, and Royce dropped an acorn from above it.
“One point.”
“…Hmm…”
The acorn pointed to the number one. Royce shrugged unhappily.
“Yuan, we’re counting on you next.”
“Okay!”
At Lewis’s words, Yuan nodded, stretched up, raised his arm high, and dropped the feathered acorn.
“Whoa!”
It struck the cloth, bounced, and rolled completely out of the box.
“Ah…”
Those watching laughed awkwardly. Yuan bit his lip in frustration.
Royce spoke sharply. “What are you doing? Drop it properly in the middle.”
Yuan frowned.
“You only got one point, Royce-niisan.”
“At least mine stayed inside.”
“Mine only bounced out!”
“Outside the box is zero points.”
“If it had stayed in, I’d have scored more than you!”
Royce snorted.
“Don’t just make things up.”
“I’m not!”
Their voices grew louder. People nearby began glancing over.
Lewis stepped between them with a troubled look.
“Come on, don’t fight.”
“But—”
“Royce-niisan started it!”
Neither would back down. Ren watched from a short distance away.
“Honestly, those two…”
Liese sighed and walked over.
“Both of you.”
Her voice had the firmness of an elder sister. Royce and Yuan turned together.
“What are you doing in front of our guests?”
They both fell silent.
“Don’t get worked up over a game. It’s meant to be fun.”
Royce pursed his lips unhappily. Yuan looked away. After a short silence, Royce spoke.
“…Sorry.”
Yuan mumbled, “Me too. Sorry.”
Liese nodded.
“Good.”
After thinking briefly, she pointed towards Ren and Yona.
“Yuan, let’s switch. Join Ren and Yona.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll join Lewis and Royce.”
Royce looked confused, but when Yona waved, Yuan joined her and Ren.
The teams became Ren, Yona, and Yuan, and Liese, Lewis, and Royce.
Even beside Ren, Yuan still looked dejected. Yona peered at him with concern.
“What’s wrong? Was something making you irritated?”
Yuan was silent for a while, then murmured, “…I couldn’t touch him with my sword at all.”
Ren knew he meant Patrick.
“Even though I have the Swordsmanship skill…”
His voice was tiny.
Ren thought for a moment. “It’s only been about a month since you received your skill.”
“But…”
“Patrick has probably trained for years.”
Yuan pouted, unconvinced.
Yona leaned closer and spoke gently. “Then become strong enough to beat him the next time you meet.”
Yuan didn’t answer. He gave a small nod, but still seemed gloomy.
Ren offered him an acorn with blue feathers.
“We’re still in a contest now. Let’s work hard and win this game.”
“…Is there some trick to winning?”
“No.”
“There isn’t!”
“Because there isn’t, you have a chance to win. Years of training create a gap in swordsmanship, but there’s no way to train for this.”
“…Maybe you’re right…”
Yuan nodded and accepted the acorn, looking at its soft blue feathers.
“But Yuan, it won’t score unless you keep it inside the box. Do your best, all right?”
“I-I know!”
At Yona’s teasing, Yuan answered with a smile.