Chapter 111

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 111

Chapter Title: Duke Ballua's Side

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Duke Ballua.

Duke Ballua irritably drummed his fingers on the armrest of his chair.

Four days had passed since the virtual battle preliminaries. He'd contacted the Papal Office repeatedly but couldn't secure a meeting with the cardinal.

The virtual battle, bolstered by the holy knights he'd secretly nurtured, hadn't even passed the prelims. His son, Hayton, had been utterly humiliated.

At this rate, any hope of support from the temple was as good as gone.

He ground his teeth and pressed a hand to his forehead.

The failure of the mid-range teleportation circle he'd poured his heart into had already cost the family several key pillars.

In a desperate bid to cover it up, he'd exploited his territory's people, sparking frequent uprisings.

'Without the temple's help, the family is finished.'

If the temple turned its back, the Marquis March family—their biggest investor—would pull out too.

March was already hunting for Duke Ballua's hidden assets to reclaim his money.

But those hidden funds were long spent.

He'd pulled in massive sums from his wife's family, and now even his father-in-law was showing up at the estate, begging for repayment.

If not for the funds from that artist woman his wife had brought in—some painter named Lane—he wouldn't have made it through the next month.

"Damn it all!"

As he slammed down his brandy glass,

"My lord!"

His adjutant burst in with a frantic shout.

"What is it?"

"Duvered has inquired at the palace about replacing a soldier. Captain Zachary, specifically!"

Duke Ballua furrowed his brow.

"Why him, after his prelim performance..."

"It seems he manifested aura during the prelims."

"Aura?"

Duke Ballua clicked his tongue.

If it'd happened just a bit sooner, that Duvered wench wouldn't have wrecked their virtual battle.

Since he'd passed pre-fight verification, manifesting aura mid-match wasn't an issue.

The problem was the finals.

Aura checks happened before the finals. Aura users were immediately disqualified, so in the worst case, only nineteen might compete.

Better to swap Zachary out quickly.

'Either way, it's good for Ballua.'

"Contact the Marquis Shuheil house. Tell them I need to meet the marquis and his son urgently."

"Yes, sir."

The temple wanted the virtual battle prize. Hand that over, and they'd have no complaints, even after the prelim flop.

A cold smile crept across Duke Ballua's lips as he spotted his breakthrough.

A week before the finals, the capital was abuzz.

Rumors had spread that I'd be fielding a knight other than Zachary in the virtual battle.

I headed to Lady Camilla. The virtual battle was one thing, but today was my social training session with her.

"My lady, chin up!"

"Yes, even if it's not a win, you gave it your all...!"

The kind young ladies visiting Lady Camilla cheered me on. Lately, everyone I met reacted the same way.

I nodded with an awkward smile.

"Thank you for your concern."

She chuckled softly at my composed reply.

"Now that you've exchanged greetings, off you go, dears. I have prior plans with this child today."

"Yes, Lady Camilla."

The noblewomen curtsied, their daughters bowing politely to her as well.

I saw them off with Lady Camilla. But one young lady who'd left the estate hurried back.

'Lady Isabella Hadelloro.'

She was the one I'd met at Countess Wiltro's tea party, where she'd exposed Nils Ballua for smuggling a scripture commentary.

"Um..."

Lady Hadelloro glanced nervously at Lady Camilla, fidgeting.

Lady Camilla tactfully excused herself, and only then did Lady Hadelloro speak.

"Lady Duvered, do you know what the finals event is?"

"No."

"I do. It's flag pulling."

What?

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected answer.

'No way!'

Everyone expected a joust in the finals. And it was supposed to be a joust.

I'd seen it myself in my past life. Multiple times. The finals that year had been a joust.

"Flag pulling means... you capture the designated flag person from the enemy camp to win."

"I know. It's that kind of game."

"Right, exactly."

"But how did you find out?"

"I'm in talks to marry Young Master Shuheil. I overheard him talking to a soldier at dinner last night."

Ah, right.

I nodded inwardly.

I'd heard about it in my previous life.

Marquise Shuheil had taken a liking to Isabella and proposed the match.

Count Hadelloro, Isabella's father, owed the Shuheil family big and couldn't refuse. Soon, Isabella and Young Master Shuheil would be engaged.

'But why tell me?'

Like most capital nobles, Lady Hadelloro was pragmatic. She didn't move without gain.

I knew because, in my first life, she'd been at odds with Mina.

'Young Master Shuheil winning would be great for her future fiance.'

As I tilted my head,

"Leblain."

I whipped around at the voice behind me.

"Henri!"

"Why are you out here instead of going in?"

He smiled warmly, fastening my coat.

"It's getting chilly."

"Yeah, I had something to discuss with Lady Hadelloro..."

She suddenly squeaked,

"Ah-ah-ah, h-hello, Y-Young M-Master!"

Her cheeks flushed pink, her face dreamy and dazed.

Henri glanced at her.

A calculating glint flickered briefly across his face, but he flashed his usual gentle smile.

"It's been a while."

"Y-Yes! Two hundred eighty-one days...!"

"What brings you to my sister?"

"I-I told her s-something helpful!"

Her tense voice came out almost as a shriek.

"Something helpful..."

Henri narrowed his eyes, and Lady Hadelloro quickly explained.

"The finals event is flag pulling!"

Henri regarded her with his signature disarming smile.

"Thank you for sharing. It'll help my sister."

Lady Hadelloro clasped her hands at her chest, gazing at him dreamily.

"N-No problem..."

"You're truly kind."

"D-Do you like kind people?"

"I like helpful people."

"...!"

Her eyes widened.

"Young Master Shuheil's been training for four days. The likely flag is a fast-footed knight named Telbern. And Young Master Shuheil's weakness is...!!"

—and so his would-be fiancee unleashed a torrent of "helpful" intel like a machine gun.

After shaking Henri's hand, Lady Hadelloro boarded her carriage, face beet red, stumbling unsteadily.

Once the Hadelloro carriage departed, I said to Henri,

"Looks like the lady has a crush on you, big brother."

"For about three years now."

"You knew?"

"Can't miss eyes that intense."

"So do you like Lady Hadelloro too?"

"I do."

I drew in a sharp breath.

'Whoa, whoa!'

Family romance! My heart was pounding.

'Makes sense. Time for Henri to get engaged.'

Could Lady Hadelloro become my new sister-in-law?

As I grinned excitedly, Henri's smile turned even sweeter than it'd been for her.

"She's a pretty useful informant."

"That's what it is..."

I deflated with a pout.

Still, he'd extracted heaps of priceless info with just a few smiles and words.

'Beauty is a weapon, huh.'

Recalling what I'd heard in my past life, I nodded to myself in agreement.

"Decided on the new soldier for the finals?"

"Mm..." I grinned. "Picked one ages ago."

"Can't wait."

That afternoon, word came that Young Master Shuheil had won.

Finals day.

I stared tensely at the floating image stones. There were more than in the prelims.

The finals pitted me—the prelim standout—against last year's champ, Young Master Shuheil.

The empire buzzed with anticipation. The palace and plazas with magic screens hosted the largest virtual battle crowd ever.

The referee blew the whistle.

Young Master Shuheil and I approached center back-to-back with our allies and shook hands.

"Will you go for my throat right at the start again, like in the prelims?"

"Would that be okay?"

He chuckled at my innocent tone.

"Go easy on me. My heart's weak."

"Same here. You're friends with Ishak, right?"

"I'm older, though. Kinda resent Ishak for keeping up."

"Aw. No grudge against me, so spare me."

We chatted and laughed while sharply probing each other, our skin prickling.

'Sly fox.'

He eyed me the same way—a gaze for a formidable foe.

We bowed to each other, then returned to our lines.

Both Young Master Edgar Shuheil and I had our soldiers don robes and deep hoods hiding their faces.

To conceal the flag bearer's expression.

"Don't forget to go easy!"

The sly fox Edgar Shuheil shouted.

I masked my intentions perfectly and climbed the tallest building in the market district, bellowing back,

"Got it!"

The moment I yelled, my soldiers hurled oil bottles at his side. Then I cast a genuinely mild flame spell.

Boom-rumble-crash!!!

Flames erupted with a roar, crumpling Edgar Shuheil's face. His soldiers recoiled in shock, retreating fast.

A few hoods slipped off in the chaos.

I didn't miss it.

'Shuheil glanced at the redhead.'

In crisis, people seek what's precious first.

'That's the flag.'

I grinned. Shuheil shot me a stiff glare.

'Going easy, my ass!' his face screamed, so I kindly replied,

"I threw the fire nice and gently?"

I beamed, and his face crumpled again.