Trial of Heroes (2)
'Pairs of two?'
For a mont, I wondered if I had misheard, but judging by the uncomfortable atmosphere around , I realized I'd heard right.
'Wait, do we get to pick our partners?'
I quickly scanned the remaining people.
Four had been eliminated, leaving eight of us.
And looking at those who were left...
'At the very least, I need to avoid two of them.'
The Inquisitor and Teo.
If I got tangled up with those two, it would no doubt get exhausting.
But with eight people, two out of eight, the odds weren't exactly comforting.
'Co on, there's got to be so choice in this, right?'
I gazed quietly at Marvin.
He was watching our reactions, and then he spoke slowly.
"We'll decide the pairs by a simple drawing."
That's not good...
If partners were decided by chance, the elent of unpredictability would rise sharply.
"Then, I'll call your nas—please co up one at a ti."
I'd expected there'd be so kind of device or ceremony fitting for the Seven Heroes Convocation, not sothing as mundane as a drawing.
But as the door opened, what ca in was a huge box. It looked pretty shabby, as if soone with zero dexterity had slapped it together.
"For reference, restia made this box herself while you all were taking the trial."
"Marvin! You didn't have to say that!"
At Marvin's calm words, restia, who'd carried in the box, blushed fiercely.
Even among the Seven Heroes, there are clearly things they can't do.
"First, Ian Sylvest. Please co forward."
Just as he'd said, Marvin summoned one person at a ti.
Each person called went up, reached into the box, and pulled out a small slip of paper.
'Seems like whatever's written on those slips decides the pairs...'
I watched closely as Ian returned with his slip.
Gazing at the paper intently suddenly triggered a mory from the profile. The detail written was the number '3'.
'That's it!'
With this, I could pick the partner I wanted.
I watched keenly as each person returned with a slip in hand.
Of course, even if I could see the profiles, there was still a gamble to it. The slips I could pick from would depend on when I was called.
If I were called last, I'd have no choice at all.
"Clay Vanhart, please co forward."
Lucky ?
Marvin called my na fifth.
I walked toward the box, checking what slips the others were holding.
'Of all possibilities, Ian has already tead up with soone else.'
He was both skilled and familiar, so I'd hoped to pair with him, but it looked like that was out.
The remaining unpaired people didn't make ideal prospects either.
It would have been nice to go with Rascal, but he hadn't drawn his slip yet.
But if I aid for an undrawn slip in hopes of pairing with him, Teo—of all people—was still remaining.
With three people left, as long as I avoided Teo, but with just a one-in-three chance, it felt too risky.
'In that case...'
I reached out, recalling the location of the desired slip I'd seen in the profile.
"You're not hesitating at all."
As I drew the slip I'd planned for, Marvin comnted curtly.
'... Did he notice I knew which slip was which?'
Surely not, but the superhuman abilities of the Seven Heroes made
uneasy for a mont.
But Marvin just looked at
with interest and nothing more.
"Do you have confidence you can win regardless of your partner?"
Thankfully, that wasn't it.
Relieved, I quickly ca up with an excuse.
"It's not that. I just figured hesitation doesn't really change anything."
"Excellent."
Marvin nodded with admiration in his eyes.
He didn't seem to regard my answer as an excuse, accepting it readily.
As I returned to my seat, Kisea quietly approached.
"Which number did you get?"
"Secret."
"Cheater!"
Still, maybe because we'd spent ti together, Kisea spoke to
like an old friend.
Sotis she could be awkward, but monts like this weren't so bad.
"Now, since everyone's drawn... please sit next to the person with the matching number."
With that, the contestants' eyes glinted with sharp interest.
"Ugh, of all people—"
"Of all? You beastkin brat!"
Already, there was arguing among so of the numbered pairs.
Teo was a pri example.
'So Rascal and the Inquisitor are on the sa team.'
Luckily, Ian ended up with a manageable partner.
"Wow! Clay, we're in the sa group!"
"Yeah. We must really be tied by fate."
"Right! I kind of felt it would be that way from the beginning!"
It turned out Kisea was my partner.
Upon realizing we'd be tead up, she brightened with a big smile.
For soone not very social, pairing up with soone she thought of as a friend was surely a relief.
[But if you're uncomfortable with her, why pick her as your partner?]
'Uncomfortable or not, she's a heroine—she can't be that bad, right?'
[... Not that bad? Her morality seems a little questionable, in my opinion.]
'Well, everyone's ambushing each other anyway, so it's not like she's the only one.'
If anything, I'd call her clever.
She could be a little unnerving at tis, but her thods were always efficient.
'Most importantly, with her as my partner, this trial is basically a free pass.'
As long as I was careful around Rascal, I figured nothing major would get in my way.
"The next trial is tomorrow, so get to know your partners well until then."
With that, Marvin left the room with Restia.
A strange awkwardness settled over the group.
'Looks like this will be easy to get through.'
If the first trial had been any indication, I started thinking maybe this so-called Hero's Trial wasn't so tough after all.
That's what I thought—up until then.
* * *
After the pairings concluded, so headed to the dining hall to stave off their hunger.
That included Kisea and .
"By the way... there's only one mage left this ti."
"Looks that way."
I saw the mage eating together with Ian a little ways off.
He looked uncomfortable—and probably because his partner was Ian.
It looked like they were trying to bond over a al, but Ian's short responses made it difficult to read him.
'To be honest, it looks like he's going to get knocked out next.'
His skills were decent—7th class—but, unfortunately for him, the weakest one here.
Ian was excellent too, but compared to Rascal or Kisea, he was lacking.
[But Ian's a monster in his own right. Wasn't he supposed to be Fabian's rival?]
'Maybe that didn't count the heroine.'
I didn't know the details.
"Greetings, sir Clay."
At that mont, soone ca over and took a seat next to .
Here, people didn't talk about nobility, so it sounded almost familiar.
Of course, I couldn't return the warmth.
"What business does the Holy Knight of Setram have with ...?"
The Inquisitor, the man who had watched
intently all this ti, was the one speaking.
"Haha, you're very cautious. I simply want to be on friendly terms with you, sir Clay. Ah! By the way, my na is Jerta."
Jerta.
That was the guy's na.
Full na: Jerta Akern. The second-ranked Inquisitor of the Kingdom of Setram.
He was an advanced-rank Swordmaster, ard with powerful holy magic.
I'd checked his profile several tis, but having him actually speak to
was deeply unpleasant.
"Ah, yes. Sir Jerta."
"Hmm, you seem very wary of . May I ask why?"
Grancesia responded quickly in my head to his words.
[Watch every word you say.]
'I know.'
He wasn't an Inquisitor for nothing.
He was clearly trying to get sothing out of .
"I'm just a bit shy around new people."
"I don't really think that's all there is to it..."
"I don't easily strike up conversation with others, for that reason."
In fact, since coming here, I hadn't approached anyone unprompted.
Perhaps a few tis—the rest were mostly interactions with Kisea.
"Hm, I see. In any case, I've wanted to et you. You're the hero who repelled the demonkin in the war, and the renowned wielder of the Divine Sword—your reputation is known across the continent."
"That's all exaggerated."
"I hear there's even a popular novel about the Divine Sword these days."
He was clearly referring to the novel I'd written, starring Fabian.
I asked Jerta nonchalantly.
"Have you read it?"
"M-? Ah, I have, but... it's just so silly fantasy. The Divine Sword, fine—but a calamity? Ridiculous. If there really was a calamity, god Altair would have issued an oracle."
Just as I expected.
Sure, I'd expected that reaction, but...
'Excuse ? Silly fantasy?'
Hearing my own novel dismissed to my face was infuriating.
[Since when are you a creator, anyway?]
'Guess I got attached to it without realizing.'
At Grancesia's amused words, I suppressed my irritation.
"I've also heard you're the one claiming to have defeated a so-called calamity. Is that true?"
It sounded like he wanted
to agree with him.
Honestly, I wanted to—but since I didn't know what his handler wanted, I simply shook my head.
"I'm not sure."
"I was told it was Sir Clay who first spread the rumor of a calamity?"
"I only said so because His Majesty of the great empire said so first."
Setram Kingdom, where the main base of the Altair Order was located.
Setram wielded considerable physical and political strength across the continent, owing to the power of the Order.
But no matter how powerful, they still couldn't compare to the true hegemon of the continent: the Asktalin Empire.
Setram, for now, would want to avoid a conflict with the Empire.
As expected, when I ntioned the imperial emperor, jerta's deanor shifted ever so slightly.
"... I see. Understood."
"Yes. Well, it's getting late, so I'll take my leave."
"Ah, sir Clay. You're familiar with Priest Michelle, aren't you?"
I froze as I started to rise.
"He's the benefactor who healed ."
"Recently, priest Michelle was placed under house arrest at the Atell Family's residence after repeated petitions. Sothing to do with the Saintess's remains... Do you have any idea what that could be about?"
I almost reacted, but managed to answer calmly thanks to my now well-practiced poker face.
"No, I have no idea."
With not a hint of agitation, I replied, and Jerta's eyes narrowed.
Sensing his gaze, I slowly turned my back on him.
Kisea, as if feeling the chill, quietly followed after .
'Sothing to do with the Saintess's remains?'
And Michelle, placed under house arrest.
This was not sothing to be taken lightly.
[To dare touch the Atell Family! Is the pontiff's power really that great now?]
'In Setram, the pontiff is treated as a living god.'
[A living god? The pontiff? Hah!]
Grancesia spat her disapproval, voice trembling with anger.
Of course—her descendant was being treated unjustly.
'Setram, huh...'
Grancesia had once advised not to reveal anything to the Order if possible.
She'd seed oddly uneasy at the ti, but now, seeing what had happened with the Inquisitor and Michelle, it was clear her caution had been right.
'Looks like I've been underestimated.'
Jerta's words and deanor made
chuckle.
His confidence that he could eliminate
at any ti, should I beco inconvenient, shone through.
'I wonder how long you'll be able to say that.'
At least for now, I had no plans to deal with him.
Yes, for now, that is.
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