Free Web Novel"Inside the carriage returning to the academy after dinner."
"You all know by now what my real personality and way of speaking are like, right? So I was thinking of speaking and acting more casually when we're alone like this. What do you think?"
As she said that, Helga looked at Vigdís.
Although she had used the word 'everyone' at first, she was actually speaking to Vigdís alone.
Since she already spoke informally with me, asking for permission now would be redundant, and she probably didn't think there was any need to mind Ríolíkin.
Or─
"I'd love that...!"
"Aren't you angry?"
"Should I be angry with Helga...?"
"Well, you said I was your first friend ever, but I've been pretending in front of you this whole time."
─She felt especially sorry for having kept up an act around Vigdís.
"Even so... although your attitude may have been fake, I believe your feelings were genuine." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"......!"
"I-isn't that right...?"
"It's not not true! I thought of you as a real friend too, Unni! And today, because you were with us too, Unni, it was really fun and enjoyable─!"
The two looked at each other and smiled warmly.
It was a very heartwarming and pleasant scene, but I didn't watch them for long and instead turned my gaze toward the window.
Because even at a moment like this, the word 'death' surfaced in my mind.
'On the day of the graduation ceremony. If I succeed in saving Helga, will she be able to live on safely until the end of her natural lifespan? Or will another death crisis come for her?'
Helga still seemed determined to study hard and maintain her position as top student.
Even though Reisir was no longer being bullied.
The lesson that power was necessary to protect precious people had been engraved into her heart and hadn't faded.
So even if Reisir withdraws, I suspect she will remain at the academy.
'Then if another death crisis comes, would it happen after graduation? No, there's also the possibility that she might go see Reisir during vacation...'
Once my thoughts reached that point, I suddenly realized I needed to pull myself together.
If my complexion worsened again like this, the others in the carriage would worry about me.
And if I became aware of their kindness through that, my psychological barrier would weaken.
"If everyone isn't busy... I hope we can hang out like this again next week. And... I want to treat you all to a meal then...!"
While I was hardening my resolve, I heard a voice delivering an unwelcome suggestion.
When I turned my head, I saw Vigdís nervously darting her eyes around while clenching both fists tightly.
Just from her appearance alone, I could tell how much courage it had taken for her to say that.
But unfortunately, I was in a position where I had to crush that courage.
Fortunately, Vigdís had started with the word 'everyone', which included me.
Without being restricted by Clause 4 of the broken engagement contract, I spoke directly to Vigdís.
"You won't have time for that, will you?"
"Huh? Why wouldn't I have time...?"
I imagine not only Vigdís but also the readers of this narration would be puzzled by my words.
Since I haven't explained Valhalla Academy's academic schedule yet, it couldn't be helped.
"Isn't the martial arts tournament coming up soon?"
At Valhalla Academy, one major event was held each semester.
The Cultural Festival in the first semester, and the Martial Arts Tournament in the second semester.
'Originally, I intended to mention this once the registration period began, but if possible, it's better to say it a day earlier.'
In 《NaSE》, Reisir couldn't enjoy the first semester Cultural Festival at all because of Karvaldr's bullying.
But he did participate in the second semester Martial Arts Tournament.
Even then, Karvaldr tried to interfere with him, but Reisir, like a true protagonist, ended up winning first place among the first years.
And Vigdís...
"So what...?"
"You should participate."
"Me?"
As shown by her reaction, she hadn't participated in the tournament in the original story.
Since it hadn't even been a year since she started learning swordsmanship, I suspected she had judged her own skills insufficient.
Or perhaps, in the original work, Vigdís had merely been a plot device meant to highlight Karvaldr's inability to love.
Therefore, she had no connection to Reisir either.
Simply for the sake of pacing, Author Senna might have written it so that Vigdís didn't participate in the tournament.
"Isn't it a good opportunity to gain experience? If you want to achieve great success with swordsmanship, then you should participate."
"Ah... I suppose so... But I've only just mastered the basics. Will I really be able to do well...?"
"Why are you lacking confidence? You were overflowing with confidence when you said you would teach me swordsmanship."
"How is one-on-one tutoring the same as fighting in a tournament in front of a huge crowd?"
"It's completely different. Because you have far more talent for wielding a sword yourself than for teaching others through words."
"Th-but don't I explain things pretty well now?"
"......"
It seemed Vigdís truly had no conscience.
I almost snapped back with, 'The reason swordsmanship lessons started going smoothly wasn't because your explanations improved, but because my comprehension improved,' but I held myself back.
Because Reisir looked intrigued, as if he were listening to an amusing story.
"Anyway, didn't you vow in front of me that you would succeed through swordsmanship and escape your family's constraints? Then participate for now and do your best. It will definitely help you."
To be precise, it was a 'contract,' not a 'vow,' and the condition 'through swordsmanship' had only been verbally added by me.
But instead of arguing over such details, Vigdís answered with a determined expression that she would give it a try.
Seeing how easily she reacted to a small push, I suspected she had wanted to participate in the tournament all along.
Because of that, Vigdís would now be busy preparing for the tournament for quite some time, which meant she wouldn't be able to suggest hanging out together.
Satisfied by that fact, I glanced at the person I truly wanted to send into the martial arts tournament.
"And... Ríolíkin?"
"Y-yes...?!"
"You will participate in the tournament too."
"W-what terrifying w-words...! I-I c-can't do it...!"
Ríolíkin turned pale and pressed himself against the carriage window in fear.
Was being told to participate in the martial arts tournament really that frightening? He looked as though he wanted to flee immediately.
Well, since he was originally a cowardly character, it was understandable that he would react that way to being told to enter a tournament.
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of taking back my words, so I spoke again.
"Do you remember me saying that instead of giving you a chance, I would set conditions?"
"Is that c-condition... participating in the martial arts tournament...?"
"What meaning would there be in merely participating?"
When I added further requirements, Ríolíkin couldn't even answer and merely swallowed nervously.
Participating in the tournament alone was already a burden to him, so hearing there were additional conditions must have made his vision go dark.
"Go defeat at least three people."
"S-something like that is impossible...!!"
Ríolíkin really ought to apologize to his own muscles.
No matter how little battles in fantasy novels rely on muscle alone, there was no way someone who built a physique like that had trained only briefly, and yet he lacked courage to this extent.
The sound of my tongue clicking escaped automatically.
"It doesn't apply only to the main tournament. Three people including the preliminary rounds. Are you saying you can't even do that much?"
This was already the lowest possible hurdle I could set.
Even so, Ríolíkin lowered his head and hesitated without answering.
I expected this, but I truly couldn't use him like this.
Since I had already set participation in the martial arts tournament as a condition, I had no intention of making concessions.
"You're following me because you want to use me, aren't you? Then why should I allow myself to be used so one-sidedly?"
"......"
"I can cast you aside whenever I want. You know [N O V E L I G H T] that too, which is why you've been anxious deep down all this time. Isn't that right?"
"Th-that's true, but..."
"If that's the case, then wouldn't it be better to create a reason for me to keep you by my side by proving your usefulness?"
"......"
Even after I tried motivating him, Ríolíkin still couldn't answer easily.
I wondered how the original Karvaldr managed to place a guy like this on the front lines and use him as a tanker.
That was after graduation, more than four years from now.
Perhaps it wasn't that the original Karvaldr did something special, but simply that a sculptor called Time gradually carved away Ríolíkin's cowardice.
But I couldn't wait that long.
Because I needed to use Ríolíkin on the day of the graduation ceremony, only a few months away.
If he couldn't even meet this minimum condition, then it would be better to get rid of him.
If he blocked my view with that huge body only to run away the moment an enemy attacked, he would be nothing but a burden.
"I have no intention of forcing you. If you don't want to do it, then quit."
"I-is that okay?!"
"Of course. However, today will be the last time I ever see you."
"...Huh?"
"Make sure never to show your face before me again. If you do, I will personally clear you away."
A method to remove Ríolíkin from in front of my eyes?
I knew no such thing. I had never even thought about it.
But merely saying this would be enough to stop a coward like Ríolíkin from approaching me.
He would probably do everything he could to avoid such a situation in the first place.
"I... I will participate... in the martial arts tournament..."
Ríolíkin practically choked on his words as he answered.
He should have just said that from the beginning. It was inevitable anyway, so I had no idea why he wasted so many words hesitating.
"Good. Since you've decided to participate, work hard to fulfill the condition I've set."
"Y-yes...! I-I'll work hard...! So, um... from now on too..."
I had merely said something because silence felt awkward, but did he mistake it for encouragement?
Ríolíkin clenched both fists tightly, showing his determination.
Well, good was good, so I decided to leave him alone.
If I grunted that I wasn't encouraging him, I would probably just get called a tsundere again.
As I thought this and kept my mouth shut, something happened that forced me to speak again.
Reisir addressed me.
"Karvaldr, what about you? Are you planning to participate in the martial arts tournament too?"
"I'm not participating."
"Why? You practically live in the personal training grounds! Since you've trained so hard, don't you want to see what level your skills are at?"
"If it's about checking my skills, I already did that the day before yesterday during martial arts class."
It had already been mentioned several times before, so those with good memories would recall it.
Starting after the midterms, martial arts classes proceeded through sparring practice.
Because of that, I ended up sparring with Vigdís the day before yesterday, and the result was utterly disastrous.
Even though she had gone easy on me.
Since it was class, we didn't use weapons or ether attribute abilities, but that applied equally to Vigdís.
'I never expected to spar evenly with Vigdís in the first place. But to think I wouldn't even be able to touch the hem of her clothes...'
Participating in a tournament at my current level would gain me nothing.
It was obvious that I would be eliminated disgracefully before gaining any useful experience.
So why on earth should I participate in the tournament?
