Chapter 93 - Forest Clearing. Hunting Tournament Awards Ceremony
The forest clearing, where the hunting tournament's awards ceremony was about to begin, buzzed with excitement.
"I was so shocked when Sir Ainheart carried in the Second Prince, poisoned and all... I hope His Highness is alright?"
"The Pope himself treated him, so he should be fine. But... what on earth happened to Lady Crisis...?"
"Right? She survived alone against a giant magic beast—and killed it, no less! I've heard rumors she wields a sword, but taking down a colossal beast? Unbelievable. What really happened out there?"
"With the high nobles' council suddenly convening here, something big must've gone down..."
The noisy murmurs filled the air, endless speculation and guesses swirling. Amid it all, one topic dominated: What the hell was Kashmir Crisis?
The protagonist who turned the absurd invasion of a giant magic beast into the forest during the imperial hunt into something even more outrageous. The sole survivor of the Basilisk. The clearing echoed with the mystery of it all.
"Ahem. The hunting tournament awards ceremony will now commence!"
A nervous attendant, glancing at the crowd, bellowed at the emperor's signal. The buzz quieted for a moment.
"Fifth place: two foxes, one wolf, and one badger, hunted by Count Pontenon Chapelton!"
Polite applause followed. The count strode confidently to the podium, his gaze fixed on one spot.
"I dedicate my hunt to Lady Llewellyn Decardo."
Everyone in high society knew the count had his eye on Llewellyn, so no one batted an eye. Llewellyn, seated with a fan covering her mouth, gave a faint smile and a brief nod—elegant, impeccable at a glance.
But up close, her hand gripping the fan trembled.
Shh... Her emerald eyes swirled with worry. Leaving her concerned friend behind, the ceremony pressed on.
"Fourth place: three wolves, one rabbit, and one deer, hunted by young lord Audi Prama!"
The name Audi Prama drew frowns from many. Especially Kal, who lounged with elbows on the armrests, chin propped on laced fingers, leg jiggling restlessly—his face twisted into something feral, ready to tear someone apart.
"Ah, thank you."
Audi swaggered up, smirking smugly. Rainer's expression hardened like stone. His hand drifted to his sword sheath, then he bit his lip and clenched his fist.
"I should've killed that bastard ages ago. Then my sister wouldn't have even joined the hunt..."
Aria, sandwiched between Kal and Kaiser, muttered in a voice chillingly cold. Murderous intent gleamed in her eyes, the skin beneath red and swollen like she'd been crying.
"Indeed. That would've been better."
A voice low as the ocean depths murmured tonelessly. So cold it burned, so numb it raged. Kaiser's blood-red eyes flashed icily.
"I should've torn that worm's limbs off without sister knowing..."
Killing intent poured from him, then reined in, only to surge again. For a Sword Master like Kaiser to lose control meant his fury had peaked. Luckily, the Crisis family occupied the isolated upper seats, away from other nobles—anyone seeing his face might've fainted in terror.
"There was a lady I wanted to dedicate to... but unfortunately, she's not here."
Audi's eyes drooped pathetically. The armrest cracked under Kaiser's grip with a crunch.
Ignoring the piercing glares, Audi beamed.
"But we'll see plenty of her from now on—no worries. We're getting close, after all. Next hunt, I'll dedicate to her."
"There won't be a next for you, you son of a—urk...!"
Audi's loaded words had Kal leaping up, mana churning wildly as if to unleash magic. Or he tried—something kicked him, and he slumped back down.
"Don't act like some emotional brat. Sit still."
Aria's icy command carried a ruler's charisma, binding him.
Grinding his teeth, Kal snapped, "You hear that crap and stay calm?!"
"Do I look calm right now?"
Her sky-blue eyes fixed on him slowly. Those eyes, praised as gentle and beautiful by many, burned with deep rage and near-mad killing intent.
"If we step in now, sister becomes the coward who used her powerful family to hurt someone without owning the win."
"That doesn't mean we let that scum walk!"
"True. We can't let him walk... So we'll plan carefully. No harm to sister. Assassination Plan Q."
Her whisper slithered eerily. While some huddled plotting murder, the ceremony continued.
"First place: four deer, two wolves, and one bear, hunted by Marquis Noah Ainheart!"
A white-haired elder with a careworn face climbed steadily. Whispers rose.
"That's odd. Not that the marquis taking first is weird, but his haul's too small for a Sword Master..."
"I hunted with the marquis and Duke Crisis, but neither cared much. The duke never even drew his sword, and the marquis just finished off what he saw."
Brushing off the murmurs, Noah's steps slowed as he neared the podium.
Just as he was about to ascend fully—
"Hold on a moment!"
A figure pushed through the nobles to the front.
"Is it too late to submit my hunt now?"
Disheveled jet-black curls from the run. Fluorescent pink eyes gleaming in the light. Unwavering gaze. The center of all controversy: Kashmir Crisis.
"Y-yes? But... the ceremony's already..."
"Wait."
A low voice halted the flustered attendant.
"Lady Crisis had her reasons. Good ones. We'll need a bit of leeway."
A golden-haired man with hair coiled like a crown winked his blue eyes playfully, grinning under the sunlight: Emperor Helios I.
"B-but the counts are already finalized!"
Audi, smugly watching, shouted wide-eyed. Panicked by the upset to his sure victory, he hadn't even registered who he was yelling at.
Helios's brow twitched at the direct challenge.
"Who are you raising your voice to, Prama?"
Noah spat curtly. A light warning, but the Sword Master's aura chilled spines.
"B-but...!"
"Seems we haven't time for young lord Prama's opinions. Marquis Ainheart—as current winner, what's your take? We should go with the champion's word."
Noah shrugged at Helios's casual query.
"An old man's funny enough winning this circus. Can't block the youth. I'm fine either way."
Kashmir smirked like a predator. Audi, pale with dread, yelled again.
"B-but! Lady Crisis has no hunt submitted! When does she plan to bring it?!"
"Oh, no issue there."
Kashmir rummaged in her pocket, pulling out a smooth stone.
"I can show you right now."
Thud.
The stone hit the ground at her gesture. A brilliant flash, and a magic circle bloomed on the earth.
"W-what the...!"
Shocked gasps filled the air. Audi's eyes shook wildly.
Noah let out a "Hoo," impressed. Helios grinned like it was the best show ever.
Kashmir swept back her bangs and smiled.
"Need we even count?"
Massive beast corpses summoned—mountainous piles. What Kashmir had hunted in three hours yesterday afternoon.
All eyes locked on. Shock, awe, disbelief. The tiny, frail-looking figure took it all in stride.
She just seemed that way.
"If you're ready, announce the winner."
"This tournament's champion is Kashmir Crisis."
She grinned, flashing white teeth—bright, bold.
"This... this can't be!"
Audi bellowed. Kashmir, hair flipped indifferently, shrugged.
"What's so impossible?"
"No lady could hunt that much alone! She must've had help or cheated!"
Her pink eyes chilled him. Audi flinched.
"I hunted with Sir Rainer Ainheart. Ask him if you doubt."
"M-maybe you coordinated with Sir Ainheart!"
"Prama."
Her flat tone pulled at primal fear. Audi shuddered. Kashmir tilted her head slowly.
"You're hilarious. Why should I prove my innocence? You're the one doubting—you bring proof of cheating. Forgot basic common sense?"
Innocence can't be proven. Only guilt can. Simple logic.
Ignoring Audi's flushed shame, she nodded to the attendant.
"Continue?"
"Ah, y-yes..."
Sweating buckets, he swallowed hard and declared gravely.
"First place... nine—no, ten deer... and the most beasts overall... Lady Kashmir Crisis..."
Heavy silence blanketed the crowd. Disbelieving glances, stunned faces. Kashmir accepted it all, ascending lightly.
"Thank you."
Her calm gaze swept the audience, but the flashing pink froze whoever it touched. Then it paused on one spot.
She smiled.
"I dedicate my entire hunt to Lady Aria Crisis."
Chaos erupted anew. Aria, eyes glued to her since she appeared, trembled wide-eyed.
"Th-then..."
The attendant, eyes darting confusedly, spoke.
"This tournament's Queen is... Lady Aria Crisis..."
Kashmir smiled satisfied. Ignoring stares, she descended slowly, stopping before frozen, jaw-dropped Audi.
"We bet you'd kiss my shoe if I won... but I've changed my mind. No need."
Audi, fists clenched and shaking, looked shocked—thinking she'd spared him.
Grinning merrily, Kashmir said, "I wouldn't honor trash like you with that privilege."
Thud.
Her shoulder—well, arm really, given the height difference—bumped him as she passed. Ignoring his foot-stomping rage, she walked on without hesitation.
She stopped at the Crisis family's seats.
"I'm back."
Kashmir Crisis smiled at her family.