520 – You’re Not Good at It – 5

It is a time when the anti-anti-Korean war is reaching its end.

“Hmm.”

I touched my chin while looking at the scoreboard located in the main stadium.

Ainter’s class is still in first place, and Laterer’s class and I are tied for second place. From the horse racing match that marked the beginning of the anti-rivalry war until now, this boring and fierce three-way match has not changed.

‘If I win twice in a row, I think everything will work out.’

His head rolled as he looked at Inter’s class, which was ahead by a very small margin. If you win one game, you can take first place, and if you win one more game, you can start solidifying.

But in theory, anyone can become a winner. Unfortunately, reality was different from theory, and although he beat Laterer and took second place, he could not even rise to first place. If I win, he wins, and if he wins, the other guy wins, so why two in a row.

‘Terrible guys.’

When I glanced back, I saw a group of Imperial students standing shoulder to shoulder and shouting cheering songs.

Because the numbers are large and the abilities are high, there is no gap. Rather, isn’t it enough to do well by maintaining a situation where the overwhelming minority of Armenian students are slightly inferior?

That’s why it’s even more disappointing. Just a little more, just a little more, and I think we’ll reach the end. I felt like I would get a chance if I didn’t give up.

And indeed, the first and last opportunity has come.

‘Erich left.’

The main culprit who created this hellish three-way battle, the black man who instigated Ainter and the empire’s vanguard who is always present in any game that requires physical exertion. Erich completely withdrew from the war against the opposition.

The reason is nothing special. He was caught by his advisor while grabbing students from another country. According to rumors, he was strangled by an indignant torturer and passed out. It’s a shame I couldn’t see it in person.

In any case, due to the torturer’s hard-line suppression, Erich was relegated to a mere spectator and patient, and the cheers of the imperial students, who were not afraid of anything, softened. No matter how energetic a student is, he would not want to be beaten by his advisor

‘With this, the probability of winning in a four-player match has increased.’

I turned my gaze to the road scoreboard and organized my thoughts.

The empire’s vanguard leader, Erich, has deserted, and Ainter’s skills are still below mine. Even the cheering of the imperial students, which puts mental pressure on the players, has become a little softer—Armain’s chances of winning the four-man match, the last match of the anti-class competition, have increased.

Okay, that’s enough. If it is difficult to secure first place with two consecutive wins, just win at the end is enough. Once the competition itself is over, there is no need to make efforts to maintain first place.

‘The final victory is the final victory.’

A smile was naturally drawn. There is no picture as wonderful as that.

The brave Armain knight endured without succumbing to the tyranny of the empire. At the end of that grueling perseverance, an opportunity arose to achieve proud and noble victory. After all, blessings come to those who do not give up.

“Ryutis.”

“Huh?”

While I was contemplating whether to practice with my classmates who were planning to participate in the four-person competition, I heard Later’s voice right next to me.

“Ah, later. When did you come?”

“It was there a while ago.”

I was a little embarrassed by the firm answer. I can’t believe I didn’t even feel like I was popular when a wizard who wasn’t even a knight approached me. Were you too preoccupied with winning?

Eventually, a small laugh came out. Who would have known that there would be so much enthusiasm for an Academy event? I tried to win the year before and last year, but this is the first time I tried so sincerely. Anyway, Erich gave us a wonderful graduation gift.

“We have the next game, so let’s just talk about business. Have you heard the news about Erich?”

“Haha, even though I didn’t want to hear it, I had no choice but to listen! “I heard you were lying on the bed in the nurse’s office?”

Although the person who gave the gift felt like he had fulfilled his role, it was pleasant to be far away.

Still, she won’t be upset since she is receiving careful care from Sarah. To be honest, the fact that Erich was subdued by force by his torturer was also an outcome he brought upon himself.

‘A younger brother stabbing his older brother in the solar plexus.’

I laughed again. If the Crasius family had been a royal family, she would have even said that Erich was aiming for the crown prince position. That’s why Erich’s unexpected behavior was a fatal blow to the advisor.

Of course, we skipped it because it was fun. I feel sorry for the advisor, but as an academy student, it’s not wrong to enjoy academy events.

“Objectively, Ainter’s current skills are not at a level that can compare to ours. If Erich is missing, it will be a battle between me and you.”

“Well, I guess so.”

I thought so too, so I calmly nodded at her. Maybe after another year or two, Ainter, who has just started learning the sword, will not be able to deal with us.

I am not ignoring Ainter. This is a time issue that no human being can overcome.

“And the score in the four-player match is higher than that of other games. Instead of wasting energy in other games, why not finish it in the four-player match?”

“Oh.”

An exclamation came out because it was something I had never imagined.

I wasn’t surprised to hear that Laterr would appear in a four-person show. It goes without saying that La Terre will participate in the four-person competition, so I would have been surprised if he had announced that he would not participate.

Nevertheless, the reason for the admiration is simple.

“What are you going to do if you declare war so proudly and then lose?”

The later approached me and formally challenged me. Beyond the level of challenging chess in the club room, ‘Let’s decide who wins or loses in a four-player match’ in front of the students. It was a declaration of war.

Although it is an uncharacteristic way of pursuing reason and dignity,

‘I like it.’

As a knight, this is a declaration that I am more than happy to make. Nothing gets the blood boiling like an open declaration of war by an old enemy.

“Is there a general who goes into battle thinking he will lose?”

“Ha ha!”

A word I liked even more came out.

“Okay. Let’s say the winner of the four-person match takes everything.”

Honor, glory, cheers, everything.

─It seemed like it was only recently that I broke up with Laterer in such a wonderful manner.

‘Is it a dream?’

I laughed out loud as I saw half of Ainter coming onto the stadium.

To be exact, I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw one of the participants coming up with Ainter.

‘Why are you an advisor?’

A black-haired man steps into the stadium with an annoyed face.

The year before last, the winner who finished the four-person competition with flying colors got involved in the student fight again.

‘…Damn Erich.’

Was this your plan? Self-sacrifice to include your older brother, the advisor, in exchange for you, your younger brother?

If that’s really the case, then Erich is pretty crazy. Or maybe the torturer accidentally touched Erich’s head while strangling her.

***

The rumor that the anti-Academy competition had become a fight between kids over national pride spread quickly.

In fact, the children who are active as players and spectators on the field are children of noble families, and if those children contact the family, rumors will spread quickly.

In this way, the news of the counterinsurgency spread not only throughout the empire but also to other countries, and disaster began.

– Hey, I heard the academy is going crazy these days.

“You talk as if you were quiet at some point.”

The beginning was spectacular. That night, when I was seriously choking Erich, wondering where and what I had heard, I received a mocking call from the minister to say hello.

– Well, everyone I meet only talks about the academy, so what can I do? The future leaders of the empire are showing off the empire’s prowess by cultivating friendships with students from other countries, so there are high expectations that it will remain as a beautiful example.

And the minister’s subsequent comments made me feel like my blood was drying up. The people the minister meets are either ministers or high-ranking nobles who are at least a count or higher. People who can be said to be the leaders of the empire are talking about counter-war, and they are hoping for a beautiful precedent.

Of course, it goes without saying what a beautiful precedent it is. Of course it would be the victory of the empire.

It was truly a difficult matter. Simple children’s fights have become something that even adults pay attention to and shrug their shoulders.

“It’s the students’ job, so they’ll take care of it. We just have to support them.”

– That’s true, but reason and heart are always different.

After saying those words, the minister only exchanged a few greetings and then hung up. As if to inform me of the public opinion of the empire.

From that day on, his head started pounding. If the eyes and ears of the head of the empire are focused on the academy, this is not a matter that simply ends with ‘ensuring the safety of distinguished guests from other countries.’ It is a big event that must lead the empire to victory for the sake of the empire’s pride.

‘What do you know?’

Still, I held on as best as I could, ignoring other people’s secret expectations.

The leader of the empire wants victory? I don’t think I’m at the bottom. After all, the only b*stard on top is the emperor, so he rolls around like a dog, and I am also a powerful person and a big man who whines wherever I go. Even if you intervene for no reason, ‘a grown adult intervenes in a children’s fight.’ There is no reason to listen to what others want.

If winning the war against the opposition would lead to national interest or be related to the honor of other people, I would have considered it. But it’s not like that. Even if you win, it’s just a matter of pride, and even if you lose, no one is harmed. It’s just a pity.

– Minister.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

– Situation His Majesty is starting to take interest. He said it was nice to see young people working hard for the honor of the empire.

“…”

However, I gave up everything when I heard that even the situation where I was enjoying the peaceful Dudeokri online was showing interest.

If the situation demands it, you have to do whatever it is. Although he abdicated and lost all official power, his authority and honor he did not return to zero. No one can ignore the Ming army that revived the failing empire.

‘Fucked.’

The problem was that I forced Erich, who was the main force of the empire, to leave.

Based on my experience so far, it seems that the winner of the final four-player match will be the final winner, but the Empire camp, which only has Ainter without Erich, will have a hard time dealing with Lyutis or Laterer. I tore apart the empire’s chance of victory with my own hands.

A subject of the empire interfered with the empire’s victory, and he expresses regret upon hearing the news? It’s a terrible future that I don’t even want to imagine. If that future can be avoided, there is nothing wrong with becoming an adult who gets involved in children’s fights.

“Teacher advisor… Why on earth…”

“I had a situation too.”

The result is this. Just as I participated in the four-person competition the year before last, I ended up participating in the four-person competition this year as well.

I’m sorry, Ryutis.

‘This is the situation of civil servants.’

It’s a cold reality that royals like you won’t understand even if they die and wake up.

Fuck.

***

The final battle, with everything at stake, was the victory of the empire thanks to the invasion of a monster named Mr. Torture.

The sudden intrusion of outsiders could have raised uproar or objections, but the majority of the Empire students applauded and cheered loudly, as if they were just happy for the Empire’s victory.

Moreover, even students from other countries who were supposed to protest were busy applauding and admiring the teacher’s brilliant swordsmanship. Perhaps the advisor also played the role of a clown to prevent her opposition.

‘It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do.’

I went down to the stadium, shaking the dust off my body. Although he failed to achieve victory at the end, it was a successful result for someone who walks the path of the sword, as he received lessons from Mr. Gowon, a distant expert.

However, I think it would be difficult for Laterer, who is a wizard and not a swordsman like me, to accept it─

“Third place. Where are we going?”

My steps stopped when I heard Laterer’s voice coming from behind.

“…What?”

“They said it was 3rd place.”

When he finally turned his head and looked at La Terre, he saw him smiling and pointing at the scoreboard with his chin.

As Later said, my class was in 3rd place, and Laterer’s class was in 2nd place.

“Maybe because you fell before me, I got a higher score. I guess I won this time.”

I was at a loss for words because of the absurd logic. We are both on good terms and have lost to our advisor, so who is winning and who is losing?

“This match was ambiguous. Don’t be like that and try again next time—”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to compete with the loser again.”

…

‘That blue b*stard.’

In that moment, I learned how to truly hate someone.