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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Lewis lost?
The very notion was shocking.
I hadn’t neglected his training. I had him fighting monsters well above his level during his second and third years, ensuring he gained plenty of experience.
And he still lost? He had gained more experience than even the protagonist in the original story.
It was baffling.
He had even been completely dominated. This was a significant deviation.
With Lewis’s defeat, the victory was practically guaranteed for that man. I wanted to halt the tournament and interrogate him, but I couldn’t act without evidence.
Unfortunately, I was just a knight escort. I didn’t have the authority to detain and question people on a whim.
“Renny. Don’t you find that Stoke fellow…suspicious?”
“Suspicious? Why?”
Renny didn’t seem to share my concerns about Stoke.
It was understandable.
I had the advantage of knowing the original story, so I could sense the discrepancy. To someone living in this world, he was just an unknown, powerful individual.
I needed to find a way to convey my unease to Renny.
Simply stating he was suspicious wouldn’t be convincing, as I had just learned.
I needed a different approach.
“Renny. Think about it. Why would an unknown, highly skilled individual participate in a student tournament?”
“To…make a name for themselves?”
“Lewis, though I hate to admit it, is strong enough to hold his own against most knights. And this Stoke person completely outclassed him? Someone that skilled would likely be able to use Aura.”
“Now that you mention it, it is a bit strange… But if he’s participating in the tournament, doesn’t that mean his identity has been verified? The guards would have thoroughly investigated him…”
Renny was still hesitant.
This was all the fault of those incompetent guards. Her misplaced trust in them was making her doubt my judgment.
I wanted to scream, “They’re utterly useless!” but I restrained myself and countered her argument.
“Identities can be forged. And…why would someone that powerful participate in a tournament held by the academy? The prize isn’t that enticing.”
The prize was a small sum of money and the Saintess’s blessing.
If he was an assassin, he would undoubtedly use that opportunity to strike. Even with our precautions, a close-range attack would be difficult to defend against.
Not even Renny could easily block an attack from less than 50 centimeters away.
“…Are you suggesting he’s targeting Karina?”
“It’s a possibility.”
“Hmm… You’ve never been wrong before. We should be cautious.”
Fortunately, Renny was easily convinced.
Now that I had planted the seed of suspicion, I needed to confirm whether he was indeed an assassin.
I couldn’t just accuse him without proof. If I was wrong, I would be labeled as a paranoid knight escort abusing his authority. I needed to be cautious, despite my suspicions.
He might be innocent.
I needed to see the information the guards had gathered.
“Karina. Would you mind waiting here for a moment? There’s something I need to check.”
“Something you need to check?”
“Yes. It concerns your safety.”
Karina’s expression darkened. She was probably remembering the incident at Lorelei. I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of any threats before they reach you.”
“Indeed. We won’t let that happen again.”
“…Thank you both.”
We waited in the gradually emptying coliseum for the guard to return. He finally appeared, sweating profusely, after most of the spectators had left.
“Here…here it is.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Just doing my job.”
I opened the notebook the guard had handed me. It contained brief profiles of the tournament participants.
I flipped through the pages, searching for information on the man named Stoke. I found his profile about two-thirds of the way through.
Age: 27
Occupation: Mercenary
Notes: Possesses exceptional swordsmanship. Known as the “Unbeaten Stoke” in the south. Past before becoming a mercenary is unknown.
…That wasn’t very informative.
Typical.
“Renny. You’re a former mercenary. You would know. Have you ever operated in the south?”
“I’m from the north.”
That was news to me.
“Is there some kind of…identification ritual among mercenaries? I heard they confirm each other’s identities on the battlefield and avoid fighting unnecessarily.”
“Usually, they exchange mercenary tags. But even without them, you can usually tell who’s a mercenary. They have a certain…look. And they’re very superstitious.”
Renny frowned, as if recalling an unpleasant memory. I wondered what it was.
“Superstitious…that’s…concerning. So if he’s a mercenary, he would be familiar with these customs?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…but wouldn’t most mercenaries know about these things? Would that be enough to confirm his identity?”
“It’s just one possibility.”
Using mercenary superstitions was just one option. There were other ways to verify his identity. I had three potential methods in mind.
But I needed a legitimate reason to approach him.
Perhaps I could present the award if he won, or find some other way to interact with him.
There were many possibilities.
But regardless of the method, I needed to discuss it with the organizers. Principal Merlin’s approval was crucial. If he agreed, everything else would fall into place.
“…I need to speak with the organizers.”
“The organizers?”
“It’s the only way.”
Rushing in blindly was foolish. Such a risky move could endanger Karina.
If I lost the fight, things could get complicated.
“Renny. Would you mind if I left for a moment?”
“This feels like I’m escorting you… Hurry back. I’ll be waiting at the General Studies cafe.”
Renny, sensing my resolve, agreed to let me go.
I quickly left the coliseum.
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“…This is quite an interesting development.”
“What do you think?”
“Two hundred years ago, a Saintess’s knight escort did something similar.”
Someone had tried this before?
I listened intently as Principal Merlin continued, his expression serious.
“However, that knight escort was disgraced and dismissed.”
“I see.”
So someone had tried this and failed spectacularly. I chuckled. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t consider such a plan.
But there was no other way.
It was better to confront the problem directly than to beat around the bush, especially when we had the advantage.
“Don’t underestimate the situation. No matter how successful you are, a fall from grace can be swift.”
“…This is something I have to do.”
“A stubborn one, aren’t you… I was the same at your age…”
Don’t go into reminiscence mode, old man.
I interrupted Principal Merlin before he could get lost in his memories.
“You can arrange this, can’t you? Let me participate.”
“…Alright, alright. I’ll do it. Calm down.”
“Thank you.”
“…You’ll be responsible for the consequences. Understood?”
“I’m prepared.”
“…I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you.”
My request was met with a slightly concerned look. It seemed my act as a devoted knight escort was working. I felt a sense of relief as I stood up.
“I’ll return to my escort duties.”
“…I know you’re dedicated to protecting the Saintess, but don’t overdo it. I wouldn’t want to lose a valuable asset like you.”
“…Thank you.”
…I hadn’t expected him to be so concerned.
I left the principal’s office and headed towards the General Studies building. They would probably be enjoying tea at the cafe.
I hoped nothing had happened while I was gone and quickened my pace.
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