Chapter Nine: The Cat and the Cornered Mouse
“A sword tournament?”
“Yes. It’s an event hosted by the academy. Most of the participants are hoping to become knights one day, but participation is open, meaning those pursuing an administrative role may also join. Royals always participate, and quite a large number of nobles also take part every year. There is always the possibility that the men will be conscripted if war comes, after all, and most have to learn a basic level of self-defense anyway.”
Though, the majority of them always lost to the people going after knighthood. There was a difference in how driven the two groups were since higher-ups from the Royal Knights came to watch the tournament. If they saw someone with potential, they might even scout them after the tournament.
Knights had a high standing in our country. Even some children of high-ranking nobles joined the Knights until they took on their parents’ titles and duties. Even after that, their status as a former knight provided a might they could wield in social interactions within high society.
I suppose it only makes sense those people would be more driven, considering that potential future.
On the other hand, the people not trying to become knights only had to do well enough so that they weren’t embarrassed. Usually, I would expect people to scream at them not to step up for this tournament with such a lack of conviction, but this country had been peaceful for far too long. Noble boys learned to handle a sword just in case war might come but seemed unable to imagine themselves on an actual battlefield. “Battle” and “death” were distant concepts. That weakened their sword arm.
“Perhaps you should join to test your skills,” I suggested to Shaghad.
He would have originally learned his sword skills from the best knights of the royal family. His foundational skills were good enough that he would rank amongst the strongest participants, even those aiming for knighthood, and I added his counter-assassin training on top of that.
I don’t know what sort of fervent warriors he’d be up against in the tournament, but, eh, he wouldn’t die, at least. Probably.
“Your combat experience against those assassins is good, of course, but you should also practice like a knight sometimes, too,” I continued.
There was no guarantee Shaghad’s enemies would use an assassin on him. His expression momentarily stiffened when I pointed that out.
“Don’t you want to know how far your sword skills will take you against knights?” I asked. A smile crept onto my face because I knew my plan was going well when I saw Shaghad’s tiny nod. “Then it’s decided. Oh, I heard your brother will be taking part as well.”
“Ismail?”
“Yes. It’s a perfect opportunity to crush him.”
Ismail was probably trying to improve his social standing by doing well in the tournament. Things didn’t seem to be going too well inside the Academy, after all. Perhaps he was just participating because he wanted something, anything, to trigger some change.
“Selena,” said Shaghad. “This is just a tournament, yes? Meaning, we’re not allowed to kill?”
“Who ordered you to kill someone? I won’t stop you if you want to, but you normally assassinate somewhere with no onlookers in a way that no one will notice. It’s not something you walk right out in front of an audience and do.”
“……”
Considering his situation, it would be safest for Shaghad to hide how strong he truly was, but I would have him show it off. It would be humiliating for Ismail to be brought down a few pegs by someone he considered weak. I was happy to put Shaghad in some minor danger for that.
“You don’t have to hold back, Shaghad. Beat Ismail with all your might,” I said.
“…Because I won’t kill him.”
“……”
He keeps going on about killing this, killing that. It seems he really wants to kill Ismail that badly. Well, I guess I can understand that. His resentment towards Ismail would’ve just been growing this whole time.
But my plan would fall apart if Shaghad killed Ismail during the tournament. Shaghad would be guilty of a crime, and I would have failed the mission Rick gave me. I needed Shaghad to hold back his blood lust, at least while he was in Astra. He could kill as much as he wanted once he got back to Rienbul.
I’ll just have to casually stop him if he goes to kill him. I don’t give a crap what happens to Ismail, but I cannot fail my mission.