Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: New Phase #8
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Mirna seemed eager to change the subject.
“All the nobles will be buzzing about the duel trial. It might even go down in history. It’s such an important moment—who’s name are you going to put forward?”
“A name, huh.”
Aira had just about finished her meal, so she elegantly dabbed the corners of her mouth with the edge of her napkin before replying lightly.
“I’m still thinking about it. But plenty of people seem eager to step up. If anyone has something to say, they shouldn’t keep me waiting.”
“Who are you talking to?”
As Mirna looked around in confusion,
Plop.
Something landed lightly on the floor from the high ceiling. It was a woman in a brown leather jacket, a leopard-print bra top, skin-tight pants, and high-heeled walkers.
Her purple bob haircut and short ears were striking. An elf. Professor Stella.
Had she just jumped down from somewhere? Was she stuck to the ceiling?
“Tarentera Queen.”
Stella Belhawk addressed Aira. Aira, of course, didn’t even glance her way as she sipped from her glass.
“As I said in my letter, neither I nor the Belhawks have anything to do with this incident. I did invite that party, it’s true. But I had no idea they’d pull something like this.”
Stella Belhawk was insisting on her innocence in the assassination attempt. Apparently, she’d already sent a letter to Aira via messenger bird or the like.
“I’ll become your champion. That’ll prove my innocence.”
“Hmm, the fairy of the plains as my champion?”
Aira sounded intrigued as she echoed the words. Was she surprised that Stella, a lady of a great house, was showing such enthusiasm for the duel?
From Stella’s perspective, though, it made perfect sense.
The queen’s assassination attempt had surely worsened her standing within her family. She must have wanted to prove her innocence and her usefulness in one fell swoop.
Winning as champion would secure her fame, honor, and a stamp of proven skill—benefits all around for Stella.
She wasn’t just some lazy dimwit, after all.
But Aira’s response was rather harsh.
“Even without you, plenty of people are lining up to fight for their queen. So what makes you the one I should choose?”
In truth, many had already volunteered to be Aira’s champion.
Even Elga seemed itching for a fight.
It was the stage of a worldwide incident—the queen’s assassination attempt. Everyone knew the glory and honor that awaited the victor.
“Stella Belhawk. What do I gain by choosing you?”
Aira’s question cut like a knife.
Why did it have to be Stella Belhawk? In other words, sell yourself—what’s your unique selling point?
Stella paused, as if caught off guard, and glanced around. She knew every ear in the room was on them.
Stella looked uneasy, but she shook it off and murmured softly.
“The support of House Belhawk.”
“Hmm, support?”
Aira scoffed.
“Stella Belhawk, I know all about you. The black sheep of Belhawk. The lazy fairy. The princess of sloth. I even know how you were all but excommunicated from your house.”
“......”
Stella shot me a startled glance. Her expression screamed, *Did you tell her?*
Honestly, even I was surprised.
I hadn’t realized Aira knew that much.
The shrewd queen pressed on.
“A girl discarded by House Belhawk doesn’t strike me as someone who can promise me their support.”
“Urgh...”
Stella seemed at a loss for words. But no doubt her mind was racing, sifting through her hand for the best card to play.
Searching her deck for the joker that would win Aira over.
But Aira played her card first.
“A champion stands in for this body—this wise and enlightened Queen Aira. They must have the stature to match. I shall entrust this matter to my most trusted Court Entertainment Officer, Theo.”
Elga furrowed her brow at that.
“Court Entertainment Officer? What’s that? Never heard of it.”
“I just made it up. Now it exists. I’m the queen, after all.”
Aira abused her power to bestow upon me a new title.
Now I was the court scribe, gardener, *and* entertainment officer. Jobs were booming. But for me, the future suddenly looked dizzying.
Entrusting the champion selection to me?
She was telling *me* to fight.
I’d half-expected it, but hearing it hit harder than I thought.
Even as Aira grew calmer and wiser bit by bit, her unpredictability hadn’t changed. It must be in her nature.
That was when Mirna asked on my behalf.
“You’re making Sir Theo the champion?”
“No, I’m delegating the appointment authority to him. Of course, if Theo himself wishes, he can step up as my champion directly.”
Got it.
She was telling *me* to pick the champion.
I’d always been like Aira’s manager—scheduling her days, planning her meals down to the last detail, even picking out the color of her stockings.
So naturally, selecting the champion fell under my purview too.
“Lady Stella. If you wish to be my champion, convince Theo. And show a little more respect to your queen.”
“......”
The haughty elf couldn’t even muster a retort. She just trembled in silence. Not long ago, she’d been ordering *me* to kneel. Karma’s a bitch.
* * *
After much deliberation, Aira spoke up.
“Very well. I’ll invade Elga’s territory of Sardena. I’ll destroy her hotels and seize the land deeds.”
Elga, who’d been staring at Aira’s lips, sighed.
“Aira, this is a game about building inns and hotels in your territory. Not invading other people’s lands.”
“Then we’ll add that rule now. I’m the queen.”
“In this game, you’re not the queen—you’re a lord. Hey, Theo, is this allowed?”
Exhausted by Aira’s stubbornness, Elga turned to me.
“Is adding rules like that okay?”
I could only shrug. I had no idea when our dice-rolling Red Marble game had turned into a territory-grabbing land grab.
“Then I’ll lead my forces into Lioness territory. I’ll plant dragon banners everywhere for you.”
“Hey, are you all even playing the same game as me? Did I misunderstand the rules?”
The first game I’d created as Court Entertainment Officer had been a hit with all the ladies.
We were all at one table, constantly bickering, so I’d whipped up something to get them bonding. Or so I told myself.
Of course, “creating” it just meant adapting 21st-century board games to this world.
Human tastes must be universal— the popular ones were hits here too.
“How do you whip up something like this in just minutes? Incredible.”
Elga marveled again as she sorted the game money, tongue clicking in awe. I felt a twinge of conscience since I’d basically plagiarized, but...
After all the lies I’d already told, guilt was a bit late to the party.
That was when Aira, having conquered all territories and won the game, declared:
“My chosen Court Entertainment Officer makes it only natural. Theo, from now on, come up with at least one new game a week. We can play them during tea time lectures with everyone.”
One new game a week?
That’s rough.
Sure, back at the orphanage, I’d played tons of board games with the kids. Recycling those could last me a few weeks at least.
It hit me then—if I’d been an ordinary reincarnate in this world, I could’ve used modern knowledge to get rich and live comfortably.
━That’s why refrigerators and computers are amazing. Air conditioners are a must. Even a fan would do.
━Fascinating! So how do you make refrigerators, computers, and this ‘electricity’?
━Beats me.
I could handle board games fine, even if I sucked at engineering talk.
In a world without computers, modern board games were stimulating and fun—no wonder they were a smash.
What a shame.
Aira continued.
“My judgment in appointing Theo as Entertainment Officer was spot on. Now, Theo, I expect a champion choice worthy of the hype.”
Rustle.
Aira rose from her chair.
“Where you off to?” Elga asked.
“Nap time.”
Aira left first, true to her word.
Elga muttered, puzzled, “How does she sleep so much?” but didn’t try to stop her.
In the end, it was just me, Mirna, and Elga at the table. Once Aira had vanished from the upscale restaurant district, Elga sidled up to me.
“Hey, shall we head out too?”
She grabbed my arm and hooked it through hers. As I’d mentioned before, Elga’s chest was quite ample, so my arm naturally sank into the valley between them.
Squish, squish.
The sensation against my arm was softer, warmer, and gentler than I’d imagined—I was genuinely startled. Mirna snapped.
“Aren’t you sticking a bit too close? Shameless!”
“What? You do it too, then.”
“You think I’d stoop to your level, Lady Lioness? You’re sorely mistaken.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Whoosh.
Elga’s lips brushed my ear. With our heads so close, her signature apple scent wafted over me.
Elga whispered right into my sensitive half-elf ear.
“Hey, who’re you picking as champion? If it’s tough, pick me. And whispering like this’ll piss Mirna off, right? Any second now. Ten seconds... nine... eight...”
Before I could respond, Mirna shrieked.
“W-what are you two whispering about? Get away from him! Eavesdropping in broad daylight—what insolence!”
Unable to take it anymore, Mirna yanked my other arm from the opposite side. Now I was being pulled in both directions, arms aching.
“Eek...!”
It reminded me of my little sisters as kids, fighting over a doll by tugging it left and right. As I pictured the stuffing ripping out, surprisingly, Elga let go first.
Sliiiide.
“Huh.”
“Kyaa—!”
Momentum sent me tumbling into Mirna’s embrace. It wasn’t as ample as Elga’s, but it was soft, warm, and smelled nice.
Had Elga planned this?
To land me in Mirna’s arms?
“Ahem, Theo Gospel. That’s enough—let go.”
Blushing furiously, Mirna shoved me away. Elga smirked. “Tch. Screaming like that. What a prude.”
Mirna shot Elga a glare, then fanned out her fan to hide her flushed face.
“Very well, let’s call it. And Lady Lioness—you come see me.”
“Got business with me?”
Elga and Mirna headed off to a corner, leaving me alone. I stepped out of the upscale restaurant to sort through the day’s events.
Someone approached me immediately.
“Theo Gospel.”
I tensed, half-expecting assassins, but then I spotted long ears peeking through purple hair.
“Professor Stella.”
“I need to talk to you about this champion business—”
Of course.
I’d figured she’d make contact first.
“You’ll pick me as champion, right? After all we’ve been through.”
Stella was already playing up our “friendship.” Her casual assumption that I’d naturally choose her was almost funny.
But for me, it was a golden opportunity.
A reversal of fortunes that had rolled in unbidden.
Was there a better chance to break this spoiled brat Stella and avenge my house?
In that light, even the hunter’s attack on the queen was a boon to me.
“Professor Stella. Let’s step over there and talk.”