Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Aonia (4)
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Thud!
The man, who had passed out cold, toppled backward.
This guy... was presumed to be the leader of the Ryu Sei Sect here.
Truth be told, I had no idea who he really was. I hadn't asked for his name or position before jumping straight into the fight.
"Hmph."
I extinguished the mana that had formed into light and caught my breath with a sigh.
He was a bit strong, but taking him down hadn't been much of a problem.
No, actually, he wasn't just a bit strong.
If it had been any other commoner aiming for that special pass, they probably would've gotten smashed flat.
It's not like they handed those passes only to nobles for no reason.
They had a powerhouse on standby who could crush all the countless commoners who came challenging the dojo.
I was just the irregular one here.
"Kline. You done?"
Yoru approached from behind, having finished off the other martial artists.
There wasn't a trace of fatigue as she clapped her hands clean.
As expected. She really had top-tier talent among our peers, didn't she?
"Yeah. Looks like you've wrapped yours up too."
"Of course. I deliberately left that guy for you. Remember? It was a bet—whoever took down more wins."
"Oh. Right."
"What? Why are you so laid-back? Don't tell me you're scheming something weird again."
Yoru's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Sharp as ever. She'd already picked up that I had no intention of handing her the victory easily.
"Can't be helped. I went easy on you and took on the toughest-looking one out of consideration. You gotta give me credit for that much."
"What? No way. One person, one point. That's the rule."
"That's harsh. I stepped up to keep my friend out of danger, and this is the thanks I get? Ouch, that hurts."
"...You're the worst. Seriously."
She shot me a glare, then let out a sigh.
It meant she'd heard me out.
"Fine, fine. I'll acknowledge it. You took down the strongest one, so you deserve extra points. Happy now? Does that mean you win?"
"Nah. Let's call it a tie. We can cook together."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, huh? Did you think I'd bully you into cooking just because I won?"
"Well... no, not exactly."
Yoru averted her gaze slyly.
This girl... what kind of scumbag did she think I was?
I'd planned a heartwarming tie where we'd cook together, of course.
"Anyway!"
And for some reason, her cheeks were flushing.
"Let's grab the special pass and get out. Others might hear the rumors and come looking."
"Okay."
We stepped over the unconscious martial artists and headed inside.
A quick rummage through the place turned up the special pass in the most valuable-looking drawer.
"Here."
"Whoa. Looks fancier than I thought."
"It's meant for nobles, after all. Gotta keep up appearances."
The special pass was carved from jade in the shape of an azure dragon.
We tucked one into each of our pockets and left.
Outside the building, a bunch of fallen martial artists littered the ground.
Hmm.
We'd caused quite the commotion. Felt a bit weird.
We were about to slip away before they woke up when the sect leader groaned and struggled to his feet.
"Wait... You bastards, where do you think you're going...?"
"Can't you tell? To enter the Azure Dragon Tournament."
"You fools... The Hiiragi family is looking for you. And you still pull this stunt, daring to join the Azure Dragon Tournament...? You think you'll get out alive?"
"Oh."
This guy was spilling some interesting info.
Hiiragi, huh.
Had that family extended their influence even to this dojo?
"Did the Hiiragi family give the Ryu Sei Sect some kind of heads-up?"
"Heh... Of course. You have no idea how persistent the Hiiragi are... They'll track you down and sabotage you. If you're still set on entering after that, I won't stop you... Heh heh."
"Got it. I've heard all the useful stuff. Sweet dreams."
"Guh."
I formed a ball of light and chucked it at the sect leader's face.
He passed out again, blinded by the direct flash.
I followed Yoru out of the dojo.
'One more to add.'
The memory scroll my master had given me.
The Hiiragi family's dirty deeds—number three was now recorded.
**
"Take it. Masato."
Thump!
Something landed in front of Masato's eyes.
He knelt before his father and glanced down.
There lay the special pass.
Jade engraved with an azure dragon.
The exclusive privilege of Aonia's nobles for entering the Azure Dragon Tournament.
"Why, Father?"
Masato looked up immediately.
He met his father's stern gaze.
He couldn't accept it.
Why did he, renowned as a prodigy unmatched among his peers,
have to take a measly special pass like this?
Why start from the round of 16?
"Don't you trust me? I told you—I don't mind starting from the round of 128. I promised I'd rise through the brackets on merit alone."
"I don't care about that."
A curt dismissal.
Masato's earnest plea fell on deaf ears.
As if his father had iron walls plugged in them.
The Hiiragi family head stared at Masato with unyielding eyes.
"No matter how highly you rate yourself, you are the Hiiragi heir. Do you have any idea what a disgrace it is to start in the same bracket as common rabble?"
"Kuh...!"
Masato ground his teeth.
Again. His father said it again.
Masato didn't particularly disregard commoners or obsess over status.
He just hated how that line always emphasized he was a "Hiiragi."
'Am I doomed to live in the family's shadow?'
He bit down hard and schooled his expression.
He couldn't show ugliness before his father.
The man despised anything unbefitting a noble.
To smooth things over, he had to relax his face.
"I want guaranteed results. My son winning the Azure Dragon Tournament. I'm just paving the way to ensure it. You're not calling that cheating, are you, son?"
"...No, it's not cheating."
"Then shut up and pocket the pass. Go to the tournament and bring glory to the Hiiragi name. That's all I ask of you."
"..."
Masato silently took the special pass.
A brief silence.
Broken by a retainer sliding open the sliding door and kneeling.
"Family Head. Urgent news."
"What is it?"
"The Ryu Sei Sect was raided by some teenagers. They stole their special pass."
"Hmm. Did they get a description?"
"Yes. A boy in an oni mask seemed to be the ringleader, with an eyepatch girl as his accomplice."
"By just two kids?"
"They're no ordinary foes, they say."
"..."
Tap, tap.
The family head drummed his finger on the table.
A sign of his displeasure.
"We've scouted all of Aonia's talented teens. Must be an outsider."
"Yes. And they used Imperial swordsmanship."
"High chance it's the same guy with the conical hat and blond hair, then. Hmph... Slippery one. I tried to nip him in the bud beforehand."
Masato listened silently to the exchange.
He didn't know the full context.
Ryu Sei Sect. Dojo raid. Special pass. Oni-masked boy. Outsider. Imperial swordsmanship. Conical hat, blond hair.
He pieced together the jumbled info.
What was his father aiming for with this conversation?
As he tried to connect the dots, the family head nodded at him.
"You're dismissed, Masato. Nothing for you to hear."
"Yes, Father."
Masato cut his thoughts short, slid open the door, and left.
Right. It wasn't his problem anyway.
All Hiiragi Masato had to do was move as his family wished.
Even if he himself didn't want to.
"..."
But the spark of doubt sprouting in his chest wouldn't die.
What exactly was his father up to?
What schemes did the Hiiragi family harbor?
The thoughts chained endlessly.
**
And finally.
After snagging the special pass.
We crossed mountain after mountain after mountain.
And arrived at the city hosting the Azure Dragon Tournament.
-Folks here to watch the Azure Dragon Tournament! Delicious apple candy over here!
-No rooms left. Want one? Pay double.
-Who do you think'll win this year? Heard the entrants are on another level...
"Wow, tons of people."
This city, called Aosen, was Aonia's central hub.
Already bustling with foot traffic, it was packed even more for the Azure Dragon Tournament.
The tournament grounds were far off, but crowds had already spread out around it.
Pushing through was no joke.
'Well, nothing compared to the Cluster of Stars.'
Back then, at least I could leverage my noble status.
Now, disguised as commoners, it was a real slog.
"Yeah. Definitely too crowded."
Yoru, standing beside me, agreed.
She glanced around, then leaned in close.
"Kline. Mind lending me a bit of money?"
"Huh?"
Money? Out of nowhere?
I gave her a puzzled look, and she cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Normally, you'd think no rooms in a crowd like this... But if you pay enough, they'll make space."
"And?"
"Any room would do, but I prefer somewhere quiet. So I wanna pay premium for a day-use spot... Thing is, I'm a free spirit with a light wallet."
"So?"
"I'll cover most of it, but I'm short a little. Could my friend Kline spot me...? Oh, no, it's not just borrowing. I'll pay you back, obviously."
Yoru mumbled excuses, embarrassed on her own.
I rummaged in my pocket and shoved a coin pouch in her face.
"This enough?"
"Eh?"
Yoru's eyes went wide.
She checked around, then pressed close again.
The soft feel of her bandaged chest pressed right against me.
"Hey. Hey. What're you doing?"
"Kline, what are you doing...! Pull out a coin pouch in a crowd like this, and you'll get targeted!"
"Even if we do, we'll win."
"True, but... Ugh. Anyway, why do you have so much? You haven't even worked."
"Forgot my family name? We've got plenty."
"Sigh. Figures, noble sir."
"You hate it?"
"No, not hating it, but..."
Only then did she realize how close we'd been and pulled back.
She cleared her throat again.
"Why're you lending it so readily? It's just my stubborn whim. You'll get scammed like that."
"What're you talking about? Remember when I gave you candy? I trust you."
"Argh... Fine, let's go! You said it!"
Her cheeks burned red at my words.
As if she'd made up her mind, she grabbed my hand tight.
Probably to not get separated in the throng.
As we pushed through the crowd hand in hand,
for some reason, thump thump,
I could've sworn I felt Yoru's heartbeat travel through our joined hands to my ear.