One Hour to the Athletic Festival's Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Salenium Athletic Festival was now just an hour away. Everything was spinning at a frantic pace.
Knock knock.
"Senior, it's me. Mind if I come in?"
I'd come alone to the Blue Team's captain's office. Lumen Ribens, seated in the captain's chair, wore a deeply tense expression. It was understandable.
There was no time for tea or small talk. I cut straight to the point.
"Senior, have you seen it? He's here."
"Yeah, I saw. He really showed up."
The very next day after receiving the letter from the Fifth Prince, Lumen Ribens—no, Princess Lijelilias—had sent a reply expressing her refusal. Enraged, Fifth Prince Lutelus announced he would attend the opening ceremony himself to deliver a speech and, as a bonus, meet his little sister.
Meet her, my foot.
"It's no different from exposing Senior's hidden identity."
"...You're right."
It was a form of political pressure. By revealing her identity, he'd force her to either join another imperial family member's faction—even if not his—or enter the imperial throne race herself. Pick one.
"With every eye in the crowd on Lutelus, he could blurt out that you're the princess right there if things don't go his way."
"We can't avoid it. In that case, it's better to see this as an opportunity."
"...An opportunity?"
She looked at me, and I continued.
"Senior, you're already the Blue Team captain. You're the most respected figure in the Knight Department, the one everyone admires, and the strongest."
She nodded silently, her face flushing bright red.
"Isn't that all your achievement?"
"...You mean the position as Knight Department captain?"
"Exactly. We use that. On the flip side, back when Fifth Prince Lutelus was a student in the Magic Department, did he have anywhere near your level of respect?"
"No. Adrian, do you really think that man has anything resembling respect?"
...Well. From what I knew of the Fifth Prince in the game, respect was the last thing he had. He'd just have a bunch of sycophants clinging to him like barnacles.
"Then let's set your goal right here."
"My goal?"
"If everything goes according to my plan, over these three days of the Athletic Festival, you'll declare your entry into the throne race and leap straight over the Fifth Prince."
"...What?"
"But once you've surpassed Lutelus, you'll draw suspicion from the First Prince onward—all the throne successors."
"..."
"They'll offer honeyed words to your face and scheme behind your back."
Her face darkened. No wonder.
Imperial politics were a brutal tightrope walk on thin ice. Now she'd dive in, fend off attacks from her own siblings, and ultimately overcome them all.
"It's funny coming from me, the one tempting you, but Senior... are you truly prepared to throw yourself into that mud pit?"
"I am. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have fallen for your scheme in the first place."
She gripped her sword hilt with a familiar motion.
"I'm fine."
"..."
"I'm really fine. In fact, I want to do it. I want to become emperor. And I'll make sure siblings never fight over that throne again."
"A fine resolve, Senior."
Then.
For her splendid debut, there was only one thing she needed to do.
Honestly, thinking about it, this Athletic Festival was the perfect stage for her debut. The key point? During Salenium's Athletic Festival, outsiders are allowed entry.
As the empire's top academy, it drew scouts from other schools, neighboring kingdoms, the imperial family, parents visiting kids, and even tourists just here for fun. People from across the empire and nearby kingdoms flocked to this tiny island.
If she revealed her imperial blood here? The impact would be massive.
"Then, Senior, make me one promise."
"Anything. Just say the word."
"Lead the Blue Team to victory."
"...Huh?"
Just give it your all. Seriously. That's it.
"The Athletic Festival is a joint competition between the Magic and Knight Departments. There, crush the White Team completely. Don't yield a single event—dominate utterly."
"Then..."
"The Magic and Knight Department students on the Blue Team will trust and follow you, and even the White Team students, seeing the overwhelming gap, will applaud you."
That fervor would peak on the final day when the winning team was decided. And the crowds from everywhere would go wild over the emergence of a new throne contender.
"Hah, but that alone won't give us legitimacy..."
"One final, decisive piece of legitimacy for you? I'll provide that. So focus on your part, Senior."
I flashed a smile.
Creating the crucial legitimacy for her throne declaration—that was my job.
For the protagonist taking the stage, I had to build the stage itself.
"Got it. I trust you, Adrian."
"Good. Remember: your job is leading the Blue Team to victory."
"Yeah, I understand. I'll make sure the Blue Team wins without conceding a single event."
I nodded and stood.
"The opening ceremony's about to start, so I'll head out first, Senior."
As I turned to leave, a small voice called out.
"...Thank you, Adrian."
What for? This was just a vassal's gift to his lord.
"Smile a bit."
"Hm?"
"A furrowed brow doesn't suit a monarch."
With that, I closed the door behind me. Something crashed inside, but she should be fine.
Now it was my turn to move.
"Legitimacy, huh."
Alright. No more room to retreat.
Act 2 and her throne race debut—handle both without a single mistake.
Salenium's Athletic Festival had finally begun.
Boom—with a bang, fireworks exploded.
The vast athletic field teemed with students, and on the stage floated Student Council President Canaria, walking on air. Unlike the casual version I'd seen in her office, she was sharply dressed in her uniform with the council president's mantle draped over her shoulders.
"Glorious students of Salenium! I hereby declare the Salenium Athletic Festival... begun!"
Her speech was concise and to the point. Canaria spun lightly, pointing to the far side of the stage.
"And!"
All eyes turned to the far side of the stage.
"We are honored by the presence of a distinguished guest today."
First to ascend the podium were knights.
"Adrian, that's..."
"Yeah, the Imperial Knights."
"A-A member of the imperial family as a guest for this Athletic Festival?"
Even Reina hadn't known. The crowd murmured in surprise. Lutelus's visit had been top secret, it seemed.
A phalanx of knights in silvery white armor, helmets gleaming pure white, swords at their sides, marched forward in perfect formation, flags fluttering behind them. And from their midst emerged a figure.
Slicked-back white hair. A handsome face and towering stature. Eyes glowing red.
Fifth Prince Lutelus took the mic, raised one hand, and grinned.
"Ah, nice to see you all."
His greeting bordered on flippant, but no one dared object. They couldn't.
The ones who founded Salenium were their ancestors, after all. Meeting an imperial's gaze was a grave crime. That's what royalty was.
"You all know who I am, right? Lutelus. I'm here to grace this event, so look up to me and praise me, everyone. Oh, no need to bow. I'm just here to talk."
"Adrian? His speech is a bit... off."
"Don't listen, Reina. Ignore it. I'll shield you, so cover your ears."
"O-Okay. Got it."
Reina clamped her hands over her ears, and I stood in front of her, blocking the view.
"Ahaha! I appreciate the welcome. Guess I should give something back. Alright, then! I hereby declare the Athletic Festival open at my alma mater, glorious Salenium!"
At his words, the knights saluted sharply. Instead of fireworks, silver-and-red petals swirled in the air beside him.
Canaria took the mic, extending her hand forward as she shouted.
"We have heard the words of the great Prince! Now, let's kick off with the first event!"
The first event.
"The first event is..."
Whatever. I knew it anyway. I stretched as I looked up at the stage.
"The 1-Kilometer Flag Relay Race!"
Waaaaah!
From a high corner of the stage overlooking the screaming students at the opening speeches...
"I really don't like him. I just wanted to watch, so why block me?"
A woman in a black dress styled like a goryeori, shoulders bare, fanned herself open with a snap. Flanking her were two students in Salenium uniforms, bowing deeply.
"We agree, miss."
"We agree as well."
They didn't seem quite right—their eyes vacant, as if entranced.
She snapped her fan shut with smug confidence.
"Today, Salenium will see us anew. Right, Slave 1, Slave 2?"
"Yes."
"It will be so."
She sighed, crossing her arms as she gazed down at the ongoing opening ceremony on the field.
"...This is the dirty work of a third-rate villain starting too early. The real play is saving the best for when this damn heat ripens—bam."
Behind her black half-mask covering only her eyes, a single purple iris gleamed.
"Everyone remembers the name of our target, right?"
"Yes, miss. All preparations are perfect."
"The one we take is no one else—just that one person."
Her violet eye locked onto a single figure in the crowd below.
The sharp-featured man with golden hair and blue eyes, silently gazing up at the podium...
Rumored playboy, once considered a candidate to rule Darkness as one of its executives.
But he'd severed all ties with Darkness at some point. Suspicious, they'd investigated—and found him diligently staying at Salenium, more than anyone else. He was even participating in the 1-Kilometer Flag Relay Race.
"Hahaha, ahahaha! Hilarious, it's so funny my sides hurt."
Traitor. The one who betrayed us.
Her lips curved into a smile beneath the mask.
"Adrian."
The name he'd been called as a Darkness executive: Tyrant.
His abilities were the worst. All he had was his special bloodline.
That's why he'd fit right in with Darkness, eagerly leading their dirty schemes.
Monopolizing prime spots at the black market, hiking protection fees to fleece merchants. And using his title as Sub-Marquis Repelheit to lure more cash: Hand over the goods, and when I become marquis, you'll get a top spot.
If someone realized they'd been duped and complained? He'd shrug it off as not his problem and hand the stall to the next sucker who'd paid up.
He'd monopolize Darkness's interests, embezzle freely, sow discord among the seven executives who should have allied, turning them hostile.
And anyone in Darkness who opposed him? Out they went, no mercy.
Exiling those who'd clawed their way up in the shadows to the light was as good as a death sentence.
During his tenure, Darkness was in maximum chaos—and she, who thrived on chaos, had trusted and followed him.
But after the last executive meeting a few months ago, he'd stepped down and vanished.
Never to show his face in Darkness again.
Her face flushed as she extended her hand forward.
"I want to see you—the one who betrayed us—thoroughly ruined."
After he vanished, Darkness changed rapidly. Hardliners dreaming of violently overthrowing Salenium split from moderates who wanted to erode it slowly. Yesterday's allies turned enemies overnight, daily bloodbaths and iron-fisted struggles.
"He can't come back to Darkness. It needs to stay in chaos—yes, now's the perfect time."
She'd inherited the Puppet Master seat after the vanished Tyrant, becoming Darkness's new executive.
"I've always wondered what your mind tastes like. Well, I'll find out soon enough."
She turned, and their group melted into the shadows.
Thus, the signal flare for Act 2's massive twist rocketed into the sky.