Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 055
Chapter Title: Candidate Exchange Tournament
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Among Rasiel's candidates, the fastest source of information was undoubtedly one person.
"I'll tell you."
From the main family branch, Sis Demorus.
He was the guy who had more high-level intel than anyone else, thanks to his connections back at the main house.
"Right here?"
"Yeah, right here."
Sis responded to Sein's words.
"Because this involves all the candidates present."
The candidates swallowed hard at Sis's words.
If he was putting it like that, it was no ordinary matter.
"The originally selected candidates are raised by the three major organizations, where they're evaluated as vessels fit to become heirs."
"Skip what we already know and get to the point."
Sein cut Sis off.
"Sigh."
Sis let out a sigh.
"It's the Candidate Exchange Tournament."
He finally got to it.
"Candidate Exchange Tournament?"
"It's an event where candidates from the three major organizations mingle and compete."
That made sense.
"The problem is that Rasiel isn't ready for it yet."
Sis said.
"The Candidate Exchange Tournament happens near the end of the candidate competitions. It's also known as..."
"Dust-off?"
Nod.
A stage where the weaker candidates get weeded out.
"It's a slaughterfest."
That's why the timing was too early.
Sure enough, the other candidates looked terrified.
"Why is this exchange tournament happening now?"
That seemed to be the key question.
"Two reasons."
Sis explained.
"First, the last of the three major organizations besides Rasiel and Dante."
A complicated expression crossed Sis's face.
"Cain has finished its candidate competition."
"......!"
"Already?"
Unlike the shocked candidates, Sein asked calmly.
"Out of thirty candidates, only one remains, so the competition had to end."
Whether by accident or murder, only one was left.
Competing alone was impossible, so yeah, it was over.
"Oh, so that's allowed?"
Sein's casual remark.
Gulp.
The candidates swallowed hard.
"I figured it might be possible, but no sanctions either?"
"There are sanctions, but they're meaningless."
"Then maybe I should..."
Heh.
"Kidding, kidding."
The candidates sighed in relief at Sein's words.
"Anyway, that's the first reason. What's the second?"
"It's you, Sein Demorus."
"Me?"
Sein pointed at himself.
"Yeah. You. Your reputation has grown way beyond expectations. As the strongest contender..."
"They want to take you out before it's too late?"
That summed up Sis's point.
"So basically, they stirred this up just to kill me."
"They'll clean up the rest in the process too. Dante started their candidate competition much earlier than Rasiel, and their candidates are on a whole other level."
"Makes sense. Look at these guys. Total scrubs."
That explained why Dante's Master had shown up.
But there was still something unexplained.
"Why tell us this?"
Sis wasn't the type to share info without purpose; he always had his own agenda.
"Alman seems to be agonizing over whether to accept the exchange tournament or not."
Sis stated his aim without hesitation.
"And that decision hinges on you."
"......?"
"It stings my pride, but Rasiel isn't ready yet. Sein."
Sis said.
"I want you to tell Alman to refuse the exchange tournament."
*
*
*
"You've heard the story, right?"
A private meeting with Alman.
"More or less."
"So what's your point?"
Alman said, eyeing Sein on the sofa.
"If it's about backing out, I'm not sure."
Alman spoke first, before Sein could.
His deep dilemma was evident.
"Refusing the Candidate Exchange Tournament would tank Rasiel's reputation. Mine too."
No one praises a general who flees from battle.
Even if defeat was certain and it'd just be a pointless death.
"But if you ask if I want to go through with it..."
Alman said.
"I'd have to say no to that too."
"Because defeat is guaranteed?"
Defeat would also damage their prestige.
For Alman, this exchange tournament was a no-win dilemma.
"Sein Demorus."
Alman's voice grew solemn, unlike before.
"I was a candidate just like you all once."
"......"
"Even if I climb higher, it doesn't change much for me. I'm just agonizing over the hearts of the last ones standing."
Sein met Alman's gaze.
No need to draw parallels to his experiences as the Empire's crown prince—or Sanctuary.
"Some things can't be helped, but is it right to push avoidable deaths?"
Those were the eyes of a man speaking truth.
"Dante has three from the main family branch."
Alman said.
"They might be no different from the Felpero you faced."
Master-level powerhouses.
"You might survive, but the rest will die. And then you might too. That's what I'm torn about—whether to let you live or not."
"This puts me in a tough spot."
Sein said.
"Even I get startled when sincerity hits out of nowhere."
Flustered by the sudden honesty, yet...
"So."
He kept his cool and stared straight into Alman's eyes.
Don't forget.
"What's your real point?"
That no matter his past as a candidate, he now stood as Rasiel's Guild Master.
Even if Alman harbored some humanity...
"Are you confident?"
That he was a monster.
"If we do the exchange tournament, are you confident you'll win? Sein Demorus."
Alman said.
"If you win it..."
Like Sein, Alman's eyes darkened.
"Rasiel's candidate will be Sein Demorus. You. Rasiel—I, Alman Demorus—will back you fully."
There it was.
The real hook to motivate Sein and drag him into the fray.
"Why not lead with that?"
Sein grinned.
"What're you waiting for? Let's do it. I'll crush Dante and whoever else."
"Deal struck, Sein."
*
*
*
"Alright, I called you all here because there's something to announce."
The candidates nodded tensely at Sein's words.
"We're doing the Candidate Exchange Tournament."
"......Why!"
The candidates, who had expected Sein to refuse, shouted in panic.
"Why what? I decided it, that's why."
"But..."
"We'll all die!"
The candidates were already gripped by fear.
They must have looked into Dante's forces the moment they heard about the tournament.
"So?"
"Huh...?"
"What do I care if you lot die."
Sein said.
"If I just kill you all off now, I become Rasiel's candidate without any risk."
Shing.
"How about we end it here?"
"......"
Sein wasn't wrong.
"What I can't stand is them daring to provoke me."
Dante had moved for two reasons.
One was Sein.
"If they target my life and I let it slide, what then?"
"What..."
The candidates looked displeased, but it didn't matter.
"I've never let anyone who comes at me walk away alive."
"Makes sense..."
"I have to crush them thoroughly to satisfy myself."
Sein sheathed the half-drawn sword.
"That's why."
The conclusion.
"In this exchange tournament, we'll crush Dante. Not just me—you all too."
"""......!"""
One word flashed through the candidates' minds.
-Impossible.
The gap between Dante's forces and Rasiel's was huge.
They had tried their best, but even five together couldn't beat Ballak.
"You think it's impossible?"
Could he read minds now?
"It is possible, you idiots."
"......"
"Don't think what you've done counts as effort."
Sein eyed each candidate as he spoke.
"I have no intention of letting you just die. You're valuable slaves I acquired—gotta make good use of you."
Demorus survivors of the candidate competition were recognized for their worth.
Even if not heirs, they earned key positions in Demorus.
And if those loyal to him rose to key Demorus posts...
"I'll raise you myself."
Devouring Demorus wouldn't be hard then.
"Alman and Rasiel have pledged full support."
Color finally returned to the candidates' faces.
"Rasiel's backing plus my skills. Together..."
Heh.
"We win, you idiots."
There wasn't a hint of doubt in Sein's voice.
"Die cowering or die fighting. If you're gonna die, at least go down swinging like dogs. I'll even hand you swords and armor."
A strange resonance.
Sein's voice was rough as hell, but ironically, it sank deep into the candidates' hearts.
They must have realized by now.
Their fate—and that it wouldn't end well.
But in this moment.
"You gonna try?"
A ray of hope shone through.
"You gonna try, you idiots?"
"Yeah."
"I'll do it."
The answers came at last.
Not from orders, but their own will.
"Please, Sein. No..."
The candidates looked at Sein.
"Boss."
In that instant, they acknowledged him as their leader.
"Good thing."
Heh.
"If you'd refused here, I was gonna kill you all and end the candidate competition."
"......"
"So?"
Sein's gaze turned to one corner of the training ground.
"What about you two?"
Not all candidates were gathered.
Two.
Sis and Roberta.
Those who still hadn't given up competing with Sein...
"You in?"
They watched Sein from the edge of the training ground.