The 131st Elian Cup

I might have talked a big game, but wanting to found an alliance doesn't mean it just springs into existence overnight. Handshakes between kingdoms sound simple enough in theory, but in reality, there's a mountain of details to iron out. A single clause in a treaty, a minor sub-condition—in the real world of diplomacy, these things take days, sometimes weeks. And until those negotiations are wrapped up, there's no reason for me to get personally involved.

So, what am I doing right now? Having a teatime. Quite literally, drinking tea and cooling my head.

...Of course, I don't mean I'm only drinking tea. It's more of a brief pit stop after running at full sprint. Sometimes, staying still is the most effective move you can make. Right now is exactly one of those times.

I sat basking in the warm sunlight, feeling a bit like a sea sponge.

"Ughhhhh, save meeee—! I-I didn't study administration for thiiis—!"

The actual grunt work was left entirely to the officials and my subordinates: Blue, Justice, and Pax. The trio I affectionately dubbed "Blu-Just-Pax." Meanwhile, I spent my time with Jiri, occasionally writing the next chapter of Arthur Pendragon. My brain always worked best during times like this.

Just as I was thoroughly enjoying my leisure, a cute visitor arrived. Yerin burst into my office, her eyes wide.

"Prophet! They're holding a festival in the Zenith Kingdom!"

"Really?"

Her face lit up instantly. I could practically see her feet itching to go. Well, as a modern person, a fantasy festival wasn't exactly groundbreaking. But it was the perfect time to catch my breath anyway. Besides, thanks to the recent trade agreements, travel between kingdoms had become much easier. There was no reason to refuse.

"Then let's go."

For their achievements against the Karis Empire, the temporary promotions of the Blu-Just-Pax trio had been made permanent. Blue and Justice were now official Priests, while Pax, having contributed the most, was promoted to Senior Priest.

"While I'm away... I'll need someone to watch over things in my stead—"

"Me!"

"Me!"

Snap!

Pax and Anna raised their hands almost simultaneously. Their gazes locked instantly.

'How were you faster than me?'

'Why are you sticking your nose in this?'

Tension crackled through the air like static electricity. Then, in unison:

"Pfft."

"Fufu."

They were smiling outwardly, but their eyes looked ready for a duel to the death.

"Shouldn't you be busy with your journalism, Lady Anna? I hear the Daily Newspaper is quite popular lately," Pax said, the corners of her mouth curling upward.

"Thank you for your concern," Anna replied with a gentle, sweet smile. "But I finish all my article writing in the morning these days. I suppose that's what you call 'competence.' Fufu. More importantly, what about you, Lady Pax?"

"Me? What about me?" Pax blinked.

"I heard you've been conducting experiments lately. People say they keep hearing loud explosions. Shouldn't you be monitoring those all day? To help you focus on your research, I thought I, your much younger sister, should show some consideration—"

"...It's not an issue. I finish all of that at dawn. I happen to be quite competent myself, older sister."

"...Ah. Ha. Ha. Older sister?"

"Yes. Older sister."

"How delightful to be called 'older sister' by someone who is so much older than me."

"No, I call you that because you are, in fact, older."

"And I am simply stating the absolute truth that I am much, much younger."

Both maintained their smiles, but those were no longer smiles—they were merely masks. There wasn't a shred of warmth in their eyes. Their words were polite, but they were trading invisible sword strikes. One more word, and a desk was bound to go flying. Behind them, Blue and Justice cast desperate, pleading looks in my direction...

Sorry, guys. If you two leave as well, who's going to plow the fields and do the work? Someone has to stay behind to handle the backlog of paperwork.

"You two figure it out between yourselves," I said with utter irresponsibility, grabbing Yerin's hand and quickly slipping out of the office.

...And out in the hallway.

"I'm coming too."

A sudden voice. Sarne, the ambassador of the Franz Kingdom, had materialized right beside us.

"Why you?"

I wondered what had gotten into her, considering she usually had zero interest in things like festivals.

"They're holding a Baduk tournament there."

...Ah. Right.

That single sentence cleared up all my questions. The fact that it made perfect sense was the funniest part.

Upon arriving in the Zenith Kingdom, we found the streets buzzing with festive energy. Bright lanterns hung in the center of the plaza, and food stalls and magic performances lined the streets. Military bands marched, and children ran around clutching colorful balloons. Today was Zenith's Foundation Day, after all.

"Wow... there are so many people!" Yerin's eyes sparkled like stars as she held a food skewer in each hand. Watching her, I felt glad we had come.

As we were enjoying the festivities, Yerin suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her gaze drifted toward a nearby alleyway.

"Um... Prophet, look at that person..."

I turned my head. In a narrow alley untouched by the festival's noise and lights, someone was huddled in a corner, wearing a tattered hood.

Seeing Yerin's eyes fixed on the crouching figure, I nodded and spoke softly.

"Here, take this. Give it to them."

I pressed a few coins into her hand, and she scurried over. Cupping the coins in both hands, she carefully held them out to the figure.

"Here... please take this."

The person silently reached out to accept them, head bowed. In that brief moment, a small horn peeked out from beneath the hood.

...A demon?

And the silhouette visible inside the hood, even for just a split second, looked incredibly familiar. I walked over and spoke.

"...Rachel?"

At the sound of my voice, the hood flinched, and the head slowly lifted. Beneath it was a familiar face with glowing golden eyes.

A familiar face, but in a shocking state.

Rachel Auf Krin. Once the most prominent chief strategist of the Zenith Kingdom's Magic Department.

"What... are you doing here? Is this some kind of cosplay?"

The cold, confident expression she always wore was completely gone. Now, she was just huddled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the cold alley floor in a tattered hood.

Her lips trembled at my voice, and then she burst out. Her voice was thick with emotion—not so much accusation, but a mixture of sheer ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠disbelief and resentment.

"It's all because of you!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you jerk!"

I didn't think losing a single war would reduce her to this. Usually, if you just stay quiet, people like her will spill their guts on their own. She was no exception.

"...Normally, I should have transferred to the Empire by now."

"And?"

"Because the Kingdom changed its stance, the Karis Empire completely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blocked all foreign entry."

"Then you can just come back to the Kingdom and work here."

"...I wanted to. But my record of losing the recent war, combined with my attempt to defect to the Empire... I'm completely blacklisted."

Rachel closed her eyes slightly.

"I thought I was going to the Empire... so my house, my assets, my bank accounts—they're all tied up over there..."

Uh, well.

This wasn't like Rachel at all. She was supposed to be the haughty, cold-eyed woman who looked down on everyone. Now, she was slumped there like a crumpled piece of paper.

I was about to offer her some dry consolation and say, 'Well, see ya,' before leaving. Her problems weren't my problems, after all.

...But on second thought.

She might be a nuisance to the Kingdom, but to me? It didn't matter. I'd employ anyone as long as they had the skills. And I already knew her abilities were top-tier. Who knew when I'd get another chance to recruit such high-level talent?

"So, you're saying you're basically a beggar with nothing to do right now?"

"Who are you calling a beggar?!"

"..."

When I stared at her coldly, she immediately backed down.

"...Sorry."

"If you don't have a job, do you want to work for our kingdom? The salary..."

How much would be appropriate? Five gold? Usually, that was a pretty decent offer...

...But considering her current situation, couldn't I slash it in half?

"Let's make it one gold."

"...Really...?"

Her acceptance was too fast. A pang of regret hit me. I should have lowballed her at fifty silver.

"Yeah. Well, it's not a difficult job. But we can't start right this second..."

I called out to Yerin.

"Yerin?"

"Huh?"

Yerin, who was busy munching on some potato tots, looked at me with startled eyes. "Mee?"

"Yes."

I handed her some money and said, "Take this money and... buy this beggar—I mean, Rachel, some food and let her wash up. Book another room at the inn, too."

"Okie-dokie!"

Yerin smiled brightly, her face smeared with sauce, and grabbed Rachel's hand. Rachel hesitated for a moment before quietly standing up and following her without a word.

As I watched the two of them disappear down the alley, the dwarf standing next to me muttered to herself.

"Tsk, tsk. Is that the fate of a defeated general?"

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Hearing you say 'defeated general' just reminded me of someone else."

"Hmm...? Well, I have no idea who you're talking about."

Classic dwarf. Thick-skinned to the bone. No wonder dwarfs are synonymous with poker faces.

"Anyway, let's get going, Doyunes!"

Of course, sightseeing during a festival was nice, but I had a very specific purpose for coming here.

Elian Theodore I. The founding king of the Zenith Kingdom.

A traditional tournament named after the genius of Baduk and strategy himself:

The 131st Elian Cup Kingdom Anniversary Baduk Tournament

With over a century of history, countless eccentrics and geniuses gathered just to participate in this single event. It was a stage where all sorts of oddballs and prodigies competed. If even Sarne, renowned as a Grandmaster in the Franz Kingdom, hadn't managed to win this tournament yet, that said it all. After all, dwarf elders far older than her participated as well.

To be honest, I had plenty of money flowing in these days, so I didn't really have a reason to join... but if the grand prize was Adamantium, that changed everything.

I stared at the tournament venue set up in the central plaza, steeling myself for the battle ahead. I cast a self-confidence spell on myself.

You ready, Jiri?