Chapter 220

Poisoned Chalice (1)

TL: TangSanFan

ED/PR: Tanthus

It required more effort than I had anticipated.

Knowing full well the extent of Tyke Elfellan's strength, I already had an estimate that, considering my current specs, I was bound to succeed without fail.

Furthermore, to make my situation more certain, I had perfectly mastered high-level magic through Lucy. I considered even the most improbable possibilities just in case.

Theoretical knowledge, magical sensitivity, elemental application methods - I went over and memorized these necessary components until I achieved a sense of real combat. After raising my practical skills, it didn't take long to acquire high-level magic.

Saying I "acquired it quickly" seems light, considering that I had had several brushes with death during my duels with Lucy... But well, it was a necessary process.

- Wow!

I returned to the waiting room amidst the cheers. After passing through the bars and entering the quiet interior, the unchanged scenery of the waiting room unfolded before me.

Throwing off my shirt, which had become no better than a rag due to rolling and thrashing on the dirt ground, I opened the storage container that was prepared in advance. In my shirtless state, I shook off my clothes and quietly returned to the central table in the waiting room with a spare uniform in hand.

Even if I said I was fine multiple times, the uniform had nevertheless been washed by Belle Mayar.

It seemed like only yesterday when I'd stay up all night to mend the slightest tear in my sleeve, and now, to have spare uniforms at my disposal...

These small things made me feel how much change there had been since before. It could be an endless topic of sentimental value.

"Why did you hold back?"

A familiar voice came out of nowhere.

I wasn't surprised since I immediately knew who it was from the powerlessly drowsy tone.

Upon closer inspection, Lucy was lying on the opposite side of the waiting room sofa. I couldn't see across because of the backrest; I wondered how long she had been there.

Whether she was worried about the sudden increase in my workload or just wanted to see the duel...

Lucy turned her head abruptly and sat on the cushy opposite side, muttering blankly as she did.

Though I had sustained minor cuts and bruises from fighting back and forth with Tyke, there was nothing that could be considered a fatal wound.

Honestly, his punches, with their outrageous power, were truly threatening, but they were never at a level where I'd allow a direct hit.

The absence of crucial battle sense. Not congenitally possessing such instincts, every strike of Tyke was without the flexibility that matched his destructive power.

While his power might be considered the best in terms of destruction within the combat department, that was all there was to it.

If considered the peak of growth, natural-born warriors like Zix and Clevius would be insurmountable.

By the third year, those two would become much stronger than Tyke. It was only that they hadn't fully absorbed the systematic teaching of the combat department professors and the efficient training methods.

"I didn't hold back."

"If you intended, you could have finished it from the beginning."

"..."

Tyke Elfellan could not break through the high wind spirit, Merilda.

If I had gone out with my staff from the start, summoned Merilda, and formed a front around that wolf, and only engaged in long-range combat using Leyshia and Muk, Tyke would have been utterly helpless.

However, I allowed close combat.

To the unaware spectators, it might have seemed as though Tyke had pushed through everyone with willpower and tenaciously clung to me continuing the fight...

But to Lucy, who knew all my specs in detail, it must have looked unnatural.

As if the intense and persistent battle was orchestrated.

"I don't know what you are thinking, but if you made a mistake and took even one hit..."

Saying so, Lucy, who had sat up and grabbed her hat, suddenly sank back onto the opposite sofa upon our eyes meeting, as if rewinding a video naturally.

"... Why are you undressed?"

"I need to change clothes. I can't go watch the festival like this."

"You should have said something."

"What?"

"You should have mentioned you were changing."

"What... it's not like it's..."

Considering Lucy's past behavior, it was odd for her to be bothered by me being undressed.

The image of Lucy washing herself nonchalantly by the river next to a cabin or while mending clothes basking on a flat rock comes to mind.

With all the times she's been so carefree, she had no reason to fuss about me taking off a shirt, and it wasn't like her to do so... Nonetheless, Lucy dug herself into the opposite sofa, pressing down her hat.

"Well, it was necessary. Though I had no intention of losing even slightly, I still wanted to show the audience just who Tyke Elfellan is."

"Why?"

"That way, I won't be placed in an awkward position within the clan. At least, I have shown my willpower before the crowd."

In reality, amongst the festival audience, the opinion about Tyke Elfellan was that he 'fought well even though he lost', 'showed a worthy fight', 'his willpower and fighting spirit were outstanding'.

Had he been helplessly beaten and then left the stage, Tyke would have had no grounds to stand on, bearing the expectations of his clan.

"Besides, it was also necessary politically."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

As I finished buttoning my shirt and flung my robe on, Lucy finally got up from her tiny form and waved the loose end of her sleeves.

"Well, let's see how the situation unfolds. But why are you here?"

"You were a worry to me, so I came to see. You weren't in normal condition with all that magic training."

"Weren't you supposed to be attending the music concert with Vice-Principal Rachel at Ophelius Hall right now? According to what I heard from Belle, you had arranged to sit in the primary seats at the front as part of the school's top-ranking student and enjoy the conversation..."

"..."

As I said that, Lucy began to sweat profusely without any effort to hide it.

"... Did you run away?"

"I don't really get music."

"Vice-Principal Rachel isn't attending because she understands music; it's just a ceremonial event."

"I don't do ceremonial acts like that..."

I could almost see Belle Mayar searching frantically all over the school with fiery eyes.

With sweat dripping, Lucy glanced toward my shoes, almost pleading to not be reported.

"Phew... Lucy, I have no intention of preaching at you, but you should fulfill the duties you've been given, right?"

"..."

"Of course, it's something you never wanted, but with great power, comes great responsibility."

I finished securing the buttons on my sleeve cuffs, straightened my shoes with a few taps, and checked my attire for any disarray before proceeding towards the cabinet with my old clothes.

Belle Mayar, being technically a servant, couldn't lecture Lucy.

So even though it might not be pleasant, I had to say something. After all, there was almost no one in this academy that Lucy would listen to.

"People in powerful positions or with great power carry responsibilities. Once you've risen to that level, you don't just run away from dislikeable duties... It's unavoidable."

As I spoke what seemed almost like a sermon and opened the door, Tanya Rothtaylor was curled up inside the cabinet.

"Ah, hello, brother. With 191 items brought to the festival committee, I was... overwhelmed..."

Her natural greeting left me covering my eyes with my palms.

* * *

People passing through the corridors of the dueling hall were all murmuring and looking this way.

Unable to believe the sight of three people sitting side by side on a bench in the hallway, I emerged from the waiting room: Lucy Mayrill, the top-ranking student of the Sylvania Academy, and Tanya Rothtaylor, the student council president.

These individuals could take the main stage at any student gathering. Their shared presence made passersby feel an aura of unapproachability.

People recognized the faces but couldn't muster the courage to greet them. The mere fact that the three of us, including me, were gathered seemed reason enough not to disturb.

From afar, bystanders chose what appeared to be the right action, keeping watch from a distance in this strange and unnerving atmosphere.

All I was doing was sitting still, waiting for the last of the events to wrap up so I could have an audience with the emperor.

However, why were Lucy Mayrill and Tanya Rothtaylor here?

Sitting in the middle of the bench, holding my head in my hands and sighing deeply, the two girls sitting awkwardly on either side of me glanced around cautiously.

Lucy Mayrill had escaped from the music concert event.

Tanya Lostealer had fled from the festival committee duties.

... They were both escapees.

The only thing in common was the place they found themselves in. Both had the peculiar habit of fleeing and hiding close to me whenever they ran away.

For the chasers, Zix Epeleshtain and Belle Mayar, it was a fortunate matter. Once their targets had vanished, they simply had to search around Ed Rothtaylor's vicinity.

Sooner or later, these two would be caught.

"It's... been a while... Senior Lucy..."

"..."

Lucy lifted her head briefly, locked eyes with Tanya, and then lay her small body back against the bench's backrest.

Recently, Lucy seemed to speak more often than usual, but typically, the girl showed little interest in whomever she met.

From the perspective of someone who had managed to become acquainted with Lucy, one couldn't help but wonder how she communicated with others in her daily life.

Furthermore, the relationship between Lucy and Tanya was quite odd.

Once an ardent supporter of Tanya, Lucy had even tried to erase her at one point, but after apologizing and resolving their conflicts, their relationship now held no lingering animosity.

While they hadn't always maintained the best relationship, Lucy and Tanya had faced each other for quite a long time.

Even though Lucy could have been more friendly, she still seemed somewhat detached, as if she slipped closer to me and stealthily hid.

"Did you manage to slip away from Zix again...?"

"I know that I shouldn't do this... but when I see the ceiling-high piles of documents, I instinctively backpedal and find myself running away..."

"..."

"It's almost like a phobia. Suddenly I can't breathe, and I feel like I have to leave immediately; before I know it, I'm running across the school square..."

"I'm practically about to cry here..."

"Even if I run away, eventually I'll still have to sort it all out... Yet there's this relief after I escape... it's... addictive..."

"Wasn't Anis's joining the student council supposed to improve work efficiency?"

"Of course, that's true, but, you know... it's festival season..."

Ah, that made sense.

This was the time when the student council was burdened with incredible amounts of work.

"Escaping... unexpectedly provides a strange thrill to the heart..."

"..."

I didn't really know how to respond, so I stayed quiet while Lucy, hidden behind me, vigorously nodded in agreement.

It seemed as though a peculiar solidarity had formed between them.

"... I'm not sure forming a sense of camaraderie over this matter is the best idea."

"Lucy Senior, did you also manage to escape?"

"She's basically always on the run unless she's in class for a graduation requirement."

A moment of silence for the chaser Belle Mayar.

"Despite that, you maintain top grades?"

"Her practical skills are off the charts. You must be aware of her scores."

"That's true, but I've heard she's accumulated a mountain of demerits in Ophelius Hall..."

"Her practical grades are high enough to offset those demerits by far..."

Lucy Mayrill was the only sorceress capable of casting the highest-level magic at a student level.

Less than five individuals throughout the empire could handle such magic, and apart from Lucy, the rest were wrinkled elders.

She far exceeded the standard of a student—it was a wonder why she attended Sylvania Academy at all, given her skills. Common people are unaware of the truth behind Gluckt's will.

"That being said... I watched your duel, brother. It's honestly a little scary to see you getting exponentially stronger every time we meet."

"Feigning shock doesn't seem so genuine."

"Is that so? Maybe I've become numb to admiration ever since becoming student council president..."

Tanya shrugged while bemoaning her fate, but then she spoke in a subdued voice.

"Was it Princess Pheonia's idea to credit all achievements to Princess Sella?"

"Didn't I give you an inkling?"

"Well... I don't get to visit the royal residence too often. I knew some action would be taken, but I didn't expect this."

Honestly, Tanya's response was unexpected.

She had thought Tanya might blame her for openly bowing to her former foe, Princess Sella, and seek an explanation for such behavior.

However, much had changed within Tanya since assuming the presidency. More than anything, it seemed that Tanya, now influenced by Lortelle, was making rational decisions even under surprising circumstances.

Always whining and complaining, she clearly grew sharper in her judgments when the situation demanded.

"If you want to divide the enemy's forces, pushing for conflict and allure will only take you so far. After all, house Elfellan has had a symbiotic relationship with Princess Sella for an extended period."

House Elfellan and Princess Sella's influence have a longstanding history of interaction.

Valberon Elfellan, the current head of House Elfellan, had formed a deep trust with Sella, aware of many of her secrets.

To destabilize that trust, forcing discord and temptation would be futile.

House Elfellan must grow discontent with Princess Sella on their own, but the bonds formed through time-forged trust aren't easily broken.

Thus, an attack on those bonds needs to be slow and gradual.

House Elfellan follows Princess Sella, certain that her ascension to empress would elevate them to even higher positions and titles.

That certainty needs to be undermined.

A rival house, more distinguished and capable, with previous control over power making them adept at governance, perhaps even a ducal house with a stronger and more capable heir, might... step in under Princess Sella's wing obligingly.

This alone might unsettle House Elfellan's status.

From Elfellan's viewpoint, favoring House Rothtaylor over them would seem a far more practical choice.

It's a small seed of doubt.

A seed of anxiety that one may just be a pawn to be discarded in the pursuit of power... subtly yet surely planted among the enemies.

That would be the trigger that eventually causes the loyal Elfellan House, closest to Princess Sella, to lay down their allegiance.

- 'Princess Sella will surely want to possess you. You're from a prestigious ducal family, strong, influential.' Princess Pheonia had whispered from the royal residence's terrace.

- 'Although we've been absolute enemies, if you were to bow first, acknowledge her authority, and cautiously approach... she won't be able to resist a person like you. You, Ed Rothtaylor, embody all the traits she adores.'

- 'Won't rushing in to be friendly make them more guarded?'

- 'At first, yes. However, Princess Sella... will not be able to pass up this bait.'

The platinum-haired girl speaking with distant eyes descended from royal lineage, gazed at the blue sky after setting down her teacup.

- 'If the opportunity to capture Ed Rothtaylor presents itself, she will grasp at any means necessary. Yet, for her, Ed Rothtaylor is poison itself.'

On the way to the briefing room, the large doors at the other end of the corridor opened, and soldiers bearing the imperial crest entered.

There seemed to be time left before an audience with the emperor, yet the imperial guards made their move.

It wasn't an official duty—it appeared that Princess Sella had brought her guards to act on her own accord. The duels had not yet concluded.

Before the final act, before facing the emperor, she sought to meet with me first.

Not anyone else, but Princess Sella herself, in person, seeking a private word with me.

Between the soldiers, the princess emerged, her enchanting features contrasted by sharp eyes.

Princess Sella, the Frost Princess, began to reveal her real intentions.

As always, Lucy, with her blank expression, nestled her face against my shoulder and breathed softly. Tanya silently gulped down her dryness, unnoticed by others.

For one born to royalty to seek someone out was rare; usually, they would summon individuals to a reception room within their residence.

Yet she, in person, had come all the way to the waiting room's corridor to meet me directly.

Still, her revealed expression was filled with wariness.