Bet (2)
The first spar and the second, both resulted in victory for the Paruzan unit.
The first one from Kaliion did manage to force a draw, but in reality, it was no different from a defeat for them.
'I never heard anything like this.'
Contrary to the reports that Paruzan Fortress had regressed in strength due to the stampede, there were soldiers with impossible strength remaining there.
Who could have predicted that these were kids, not even adults yet?
'This is a total disaster.'
It was ridiculous.
After all, weren't they the ones whose fortress had been half-destroyed during the chaos of the stampede?
Aiden had been elated by the news that even the troubleso Kadim was dead.
It was the perfect mont to attack, with their strength diminished.
'That's why His Highness the Crown Prince also aid for this timing.'
Aiden—he was a fervent follower of the Imperial Court.
He had originally been a knight belonging directly to the Imperial Court, but had joined the rebellion.
He was a spy personally placed by the emperor to monitor the officer assigned to the 7th Legion.
That rebel was Kelian, who had joined the 7th Legion on the sa day.
Aiden had strived to beco a high-ranking officer in order to better keep him under surveillance, but was overtaken by Kelian in the end.
Ultimately, Kelian rose to the position of commander and, noticing that Aiden was a spy, tried to eliminate him.
If the Crown Prince had not promptly transferred Aiden to Kaliion Fortress, his corpse would have been found in Paruzan.
Thanks to that, Aiden had beco the commander in Kaliion and continued his surveillance to this day.
Of course, he still felt indebted to His Highness the Crown Prince, who had spared his life then.
But now his plans were being shaken.
"Why are your soldiers such a ss?"
Kelian asked Aiden nonchalantly.
The provocation raised Aiden's blood pressure, but he maintained his composure.
"Is there so problem?"
"Well, it's strange. For a force that ca to trample us, you seem to have mostly brought weaklings."
The third spar, currently in progress, also looked to be leaning in Paruzan's favor.
Honestly, Kaliion's soldiers were far from incompetent; the sharpness of their swords proved they had slain many monsters.
Their movents were precise, but surpassing Paruzan's soldiers was impossible.
It wasn't just the sa with Paruzan's soldiers—their killing intent was even fiercer and rougher.
"Or maybe we've just beco too strong? After all, we did survive that stampede."
During a stampede, monsters of all kinds erge.
It's inevitable that you have to face opponents stronger than yourself.
If you survive that, it ans you've overco soone—or sothing—stronger than you.
In other words, the Paruzan soldiers had already surpassed their limits.
"Still, it's hard to understand why your side is being pushed around so much. I thought you'd brought your best and was on edge, but..."
As Kelian said, the very best were not with them this ti.
If they'd brought those n too, who would be left to defend Kaliion Fortress, especially with him, the commander, gone?
"Or maybe your lot never had the chance to go through that ordeal? Since the Imperial Court always gave you the best supplies, fighting monsters must have been much easier."
Whenever good supplies or weapons arrived, Kaliion always got them first.
Since Aiden was a follower of the Imperial Court, it was only natural they'd be favored.
"And there's another strange rumor about your side. They say that mages and scholars join Kaliion Fortress on a regular basis."
Not every soldier relies solely on the sword.
Since cris arise in various fields, their original occupations also vary widely.
A fortress without any mages can't even function, so there's nothing suspicious about mages joining up.
"Sure, you need mages and the like. But the problem is you're supposedly conducting so sort of rituals with them. You're busy enough fighting monsters—what's with all these rituals?"
At those words, Aiden frowned and replied.
"They're all on the Crown Prince's orders. You don't need to know."
Noting Aiden's evasive answer, Kelian realized he was hiding sothing.
"You're not summoning a demon or anything, are you?"
"...."
Aiden clamped his mouth shut for a mont, his eyes sharpening.
"Don't say any more."
"Did the summoned demon hand you a reward or sothing?"
"I said shut up!"
Aiden tried to threaten him to avoid the topic, but Kelian kept his composure.
"You didn't think you were the only one watching , did you? I've kept track of your movents. And I also know you didn't co here just to collect so monster carcasses."
In reality, the ritual was still underway.
It was being conducted through a single piece of paper hidden in Aiden's pocket.
"And the reason you demanded higher-rank monsters isn't just to ss with us or rob us. You wanted to see how that paper would react to higher monsters' corpses, didn't you?"
Regular monsters were everywhere, but high-rank ones were much harder to find.
That's why Aiden had co all the way here with that paper—to see if it would react to a higher-rank monster.
"So, here's my proposal. I want that thing as the prize for winning the arena. Is that possible?"
"Try and take it, if you can."
Aiden only chuckled at Kelian's attitude—he'd already taken asures on his side.
At the mont, the third arena match seed to favor Paruzan, but the tables would soon turn.
He had secretly given orders to the newly recruited dark mage.
"You'll regret this later."
With an air of triumph, Aiden watched the duel unfold.
And then... his expression soured.
The Paruzan soldier had taken down the Kaliion soldier without any sign of being cursed.
"So we have a winner."
"... What?"
"By the way, what was it you said just now?"
Did he threaten them not to regret it later?
"Huh?"
Sothing impossible had happened—three tis in a row.
Unable to accept the result, Aiden looked around.
What in the world had that dark mage done?
"Big Bro~ What are we going to play next?"
Aiden's eyes went wide as he saw a scene unfold.
The dark mage was on all fours, giving a ride to a young boy.
"Giddyap~ Giddyap~"
The dark mage, drenched in sweat, finally collapsed after giving Louis a ride.
"Already done?"
"...."
No reply—he must have passed out.
As Louis looked disappointed, Aiden charged over with a furious expression.
"You little bastard!!!"
Aiden stomped the dark mage rcilessly in a fit of rage.
"What the hell were you doing? You ruined everything!!"
He'd stomped so hard, the floor cracked. Blood spurted from the dark mage's mouth.
"Ah, he died."
Listening to the dark mage's heartbeat, Louis muttered quietly.
He must've been so angry he'd killed the man by stomping him.
Suddenly, Aiden looked at Louis and questioned him.
"You... what were you doing with him?"
"What do you an?"
"Why was he goofing off here with you!!?"
"Is that really important?"
"... What?"
Who does this brat think he's talking back to?
A re soldier, and he thinks I'll go easy on him just because he's young?
"Listen, kid. Shouldn't you know how to behave? Do you even know who's standing in front of you?"
As a re soldier, he shouldn't even dare make a peep in front of an officer.
Is his courage just reckless? Or is he just too young to know any better?
Aiden briefly wondered.
"Who else? My big bro is here."
"...."
"Isn't that right, big bro?"
Now that he thought about it, he rembered. Young kids get dragged into the 7th Legion all the ti.
You might ask what they're doing to innocent children, but the truth is, they're not innocent—that's why they're brought here.
In other words, the soldiers here aren't humans—they're monsters. Age doesn't matter.
"Just die."
Aiden activated a spell to exterminate the monster.
"Die!!"
"Kiiiiiiiieeek!!!"
Hit by the spell, Louis rolled on the floor, howling in pain.
"Kiiieeeeeek!!"
"Just die already!!"
Reacting to the spell, Louis thrashed around on the floor.
It looked like he was doing a breakdance—flailing in every way possible in that state.
"Biig broooootherrrrr! I'm dyinggggg!"
After a while, Aiden grabbed him by the scruff.
His rage was so extre, it felt like his brain would burst.
But it was too soon to indulge in that rage.
"Shouldn't we get to the main point now?"
"... What?"
"We won in the arena. The rule is that the loser has to grant the winner's request, isn't it?"
At Kelian's statent, Aiden almost blacked out.
The reason the 7th Legion resolves disputes through the arena instead of open war is because of this rule.
Denying it would only put them at a disadvantage.
"Commander... there's a strange sll...from that guy's pocket...."
Louis, still acting pained from the torture, suddenly sensed a suspicious sll from Aiden.
Hearing this, Kelian's eyes flashed—his prediction had been correct.
"You know what happens if a 7th Legion tries to cause trouble outside the arena, right, Aiden?"
Cutting off the supplies sent to a fortress—at worst, imdiate execution.
"I don't think this is sothing we can just let go."
With Kelian's hand on his shoulder, Aiden turned around, trembling.
Kelian's lips curled into a smile full of sches.
****
[Is that really what happened?]
In the end, the soldiers from Kaliion Fortress had been chased out of Paruzan and returned to their ho base.
As Aiden walked, a bird landed on his shoulder.
From the mouth of the bird, wreathed in magic power, ca a man's voice.
[It makes no sense that you lost under those circumstances.]
"I feel the sa, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
[In the end, you gained nothing and only racked up disadvantages.]
The Crown Prince, conveying this ssage to Aiden, was deeply troubled.
Because of this event, those Paruzan bastards had learned about that paper—the contract with the demon.
[This blunder is your fault.]
"I am deeply sorry."
[At the sa ti, it's an act of rebellion against
by those dogs.]
Aiden had told Kelian that he was only acting on the Crown Prince's orders.
Kelian's disregard for that was sothing the Crown Prince could not overlook.
[This is a blatant insult to the Imperial Court. I cannot let this pass unpunished.]
"But they are already suicide soldiers in the 7th Legion. What greater punishnt could you give?"
They were already as good as condemned prisoners. Even if he declared them dead, what would change?
At that question, the Crown Prince replied.
[If you can't give a greater punishnt—then make one.]
****
anwhile, back at Paruzan Fortress.
The soldiers who had led them to victory in the arena were specially called to the officers' lounge.
Not only the soldier who'd fought in the third match, but also Silia's squad, who had been responsible for the others.
They dug into the food the commander had set out on the table without hesitation.
"Move! That's my at!"
"What are you talking about, Victor? You didn't even fight."
"Look who's talking. What makes you so great—you only managed a draw."
"You shouldn't talk like that to soone who almost died, you know?"
Victor and Simon bickered over who would eat first.
Since it was just talk, Louis didn't bother getting involved.
"Thank you very much."
Sitting as well, Rio was the picture of politeness.
"I was watching the arena too."
Ferus Maclean. He too had been invited to this gathering.
Having coincidentally watched the arena while doing repair work, Ferus addressed Rio.
"That was an impressive display of skill."
"Thank you, bald— I an, grandpa."
"Address
as Dean Ferus."
"... Okay."
Rio shuddered at Ferus's cold stare, realizing she'd almost called him "bald grandpa".
"Your red aura—a bit like the enemies I fought during the demonkin war. Are you, by any chance, special in terms of constitution?"
"Probably."
"...."
At Rio's calm reply, Ferus seed lost in thought.
anwhile, as Rio nibbled on so candy, Silia asked from across the table,
"What did you think of that White Knight we fought today?"
"He wasn't much. Nowhere near as tough as our deputy-commander when I sparred with her."
Silia had once sparred with Rio instead of Louis.
Rio put her all into every match, but never won against Silia.
In Rio's mory, no "knight" stronger than her had yet appeared.
"Well, of course. That White Knight wasn't even the best, strictly speaking."
"You never know what'll happen next ti. They might bring officers for revenge."
Kelian and Klein spoke, half in jest.
They weren't entirely wrong, so the squad mbers hesitated in the middle of eating their candy.
"By the way, what's this scrap of paper?"
"Isn't it so kind of docunt?"
Kelian and Silia put the paper they'd won from Aiden onto the table.
At a glance, it looked like a contract, or possibly so complicated blueprint.
"This is..."
At that mont, Ferus's eyes sharpened as he gazed at the paper.
"It's similar to a spell I created."
He spoke, showing the spell engraved on the back of his hand.
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