国产午夜亚洲精品AⅤ

Chapter 277

—“Yes, father.”

—“Why is that?”

—“Because I don’t want to learn a skill that can hurt someone, even if I don’t intend to use it that way.”

—“...”

She knew those words were meaningless.

She had already learned as much as she could and knew long ago that there was nothing more to learn, after having been told so back in the third year.

Nevertheless, Olivia Lanche was afraid of becoming more adept at violence. She was scared of how easy it was becoming for her to hurt someone. Olivia distanced herself from violence and even the potential for violence.

But now, Olivia was holding a sword.

Controlling the power flowing through her body was something she hadn’t done in a long time, but it was excessively easy.

Olivia was now about to enter a tournament. An open-level class tournament, and Miss Temple.

Neither Miss Temple nor the open class tournament interested Olivia in the first place.

She didn’t care whether that annoying first-year Ellen participated or not.

—“Miss Lanche. It’s okay if you don’t push yourself so hard anymore.”

—“... No, it’s fine. I still have some leeway.”

—“I know the situation. But no matter how tight our facility’s budget is, Miss Lanche, you’re still a student.”

Nothing else mattered.

Money... Money was needed.

There were countless war orphans caused by the Great War.

Just as even the nation couldn’t alleviate all poverty, the empire couldn’t support all those war orphans.

Everywhere, there were gaps, and children lacking clothes and food were all over the place. Olivia had been supporting them since she went on a volunteer mission after the Great Demon War.

Now that she was no longer seen as the daughter of the Commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, though, Olivia was increasingly unable to support them.

However, she couldn’t abandon them. She had abandoned her faith, but not those children.

‘If Reinhart finds out, he will scold me terribly, and tell me to stop doing such foolish things,’ Olivia thought.

She couldn’t even tell Reinhart because she knew he would harshly reprimand her for it.

The prize money on offer at the tournament and Miss Temple were substantial. With those two prizes, the facilities she supported could hold out for a while.

She also knew that the empire would soon announce official policies that provided support for war orphans. She just needed to provide them with food and clothing for a little while longer.

That was all.

That was why Olivia Lanche now held a sword.

‘Has it been about a year now...?’

She had put down the sword in her third year.

However, she’d been forced to pick it up again not long after.

She had gone to the Dark Land under the guise of volunteering, but there was no place there for just a mere volunteer.

There were times she felt both revulsion and gratitude for the power she possessed.

She had put it down again ever since.

She was confident she would win, but she didn’t think it would be easy.

She would have to put in the effort to regain her senses, to learn to calm her mind and draw upon her strength.

“It would have been better if you were born a bit later.”

Crack.

“Ugh, seriously!”

Clang!

Olivia, suddenly overwhelmed by a rising thought, threw her sword away in frustration.

‘What was that supposed to mean?’

Her face turned bright red as she fumed alone in the training grounds.

Creak.

In the midst of this, the door to the training grounds opened, and someone walked in.

“Olivia. There you are.”

The person who had apparently been looking for her approached her with a bright smile.

“Oh, hey Radia.”

Olivia’s odd behavior was limited to the first-year students; she was still kind and gentle to her juniors in their fifth and sixth years.

The person who had come was not a fifth-year student but a sixth-year student, Radia Schmidt, Number 2 from class B. She approached Olivia with a cheerful smile.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you holding a sword. Are you planning to enter the open tournament?”

“Oh, uh... yes. That’s the plan.”

“I see... That’s too bad. I was hoping to aim for the championship this time.”

“Are you participating too, Radia?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Yes, this is my last chance. Windsor is entering too.”

“Oh... I see.”

As a sixth-year, she was practically on the verge of graduation.

It was understandable that she would want to test the skills she had honed over six years in the open class tournament.

Radia Schmidt continued to smile brightly at Olivia, but Olivia felt a lump in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

“But you know, Olivia...”

“... What?”

“You can’t use Divine Power.”

“... Yes, I know.”

It didn’t matter if she could still do so or not. It would be absurd for someone who had renounced their faith to use Divine Power.

Divine Power could not be used without authorization.

In the best-case scenario, those who did so would undergo training at a temple or church and become official priests.

If they refuse, they would be subjected to an inquisition.

Since Olivia had rejected the path to priesthood, she couldn’t use Divine Power in public.

She had to enter the tournament with her Divine Power sealed away. When Olivia acknowledged this, Radia Schmidt tilted her head.

“Are you saying you can beat someone like me without using Divine Power?”

“Oh, no... that’s not what I meant...”

Radia Schmidt wasn’t being sarcastic; she was genuinely curious. However, it was a difficult question for Olivia. Seeing Olivia’s discomfort, Radia Schmidt shook her head.

“Of course, since it’s you, Olivia, I’m sure you can do it.”

Her tone was light and free of any sense of inferiority. But the words that followed were enough to send chills down Olivia’s spine.

“Olivia, don’t reject the divinity within you.”

“...”

“Return to the embrace of the gods. To where you belong.”

Olivia couldn’t properly meet Radia Schmidt’s gaze.

Her hands were clammy with sweat, and a chill ran down her spine.

Olivia faced such obsessive requests as part of her daily life.

Even members of the Grace Club would subtly suggest that she return to her faith, claiming that what she had experienced was merely a personal flaw within the Commander of the Holy Knights.

Radia Schmidt was not a member of Grace.

She was an aspiring holy knight who served the war god Alse.

Though they served different gods, Radia always emphasized the importance of unity under the teachings of the Five Great Gods.

Olivia was growing increasingly weary of such matters.

“I told you, Radia. I... have given up on everything...”

“It’s okay, Olivia. Perhaps it was just a moment of poor judgment. It’s possible to lose your way for a while.”

Radia Schmidt’s deep, dark eyes bore into Olivia’s.

“So, I’ll guide you back to the right path.”

“...”

“Because we’re friends.”

Radia Schmidt smiled brightly, and Olivia’s lips trembled.

What exactly was the right path she was supposed to take, and how exactly was Radia going to guide her?

She could sense it in herself. Fear.

At some point, Olivia had become increasingly afraid of her friends who still held onto their faith.

Maybe that was why she kept running to Reinhart.

At least, Olivia thought so.

***

With Monday’s exam over, I was once again being dragged along by Harriet and Ellen to study for the next test.

Honestly, I needed to train for the tournament more than I needed to study, especially since I wasn’t aiming for first place.

I had only come in last in the previous exam because I wanted Achievement Points, not because I was dumb.

‘I can easily beat Ludwig, even without studying! Even if I only solved half the problems, I can still manage that!’

“This will be on the test. Memorize it.”

“I’ve already memorized it.”

“Then memorize it more.”

“... Alright.”

However, since they didn’t know my situation, they stuck close to me, going over the expected questions for the common subjects.

It felt nice, but it also felt like my time was being siphoned away somehow... It was a strange situation.

I had already filled out and submitted my application for the first-year tournament.

The preliminaries were going to be held that weekend, and if I made it to the finals, my matches would start on the first day of the festival.

After spending a long time studying, Harriet stretched with a groan and then stared at me.

“Are you really going to vote for that senior for Miss Temple?” Harriet asked.

“... Huh? Miss Temple?” I replied.

Harriet said nothing, but pouted at me.

“Why are you asking about that all of a sudden?”

“Just tell me if you’re going to vote or not.”

“Whether I vote or not doesn’t matter. I don’t even plan on going to watch it.”

“Oh... really? I see.”

Harriet looked oddly satisfied.

For starters, I was pressed for time and could not afford the leisure to watch such things. I didn’t have the luxury to waste time when the Black Order could approach me at any moment and I had to tackle the Vampire Council issue soon, not to mention the issue surrounding Charlotte.

I didn’t have time to play around.

Harriet giggled for some unknown reason and then went back to her book.

“So, if you do go and watch the contest, does that mean you’ll vote?”

It was Ellen’s turn to ask the question, while Harriet remained silent.

At Ellen’s words, Harriet turned her gaze back to me.

“I said I’m not going!”

“So, if you go, you’ll vote. Is that what you’re saying?”

“How did you read that into my answer? I won’t vote, and even if I go, I won’t vote!”

‘What is she going on about?’

When I said I wouldn’t vote even if I went, Ellen just nodded and said, “Really?”

There was no way I would go and watch the Miss Temple contest. If I urgently needed Achievement Points, I might have disguised myself as a girl and entered the contest instead.

‘I have no interest in that! And since it’s impossible to disguise myself as another Temple student, I can’t even disguise myself as a girl to enter!’

[New Event Update - Miss & Mister Temple Contest]

[Vote in the Miss & Mister Temple Contest. If both the people you vote for win, you will receive a reward.]

[Reward: One talent from each winner.]

‘... Here we go again.’

This universe seemed determined to make my life difficult, and was now dragging me into another mess.

‘What should I do?’

I had just said I wouldn’t go in a million years, and immediately, an irresistible challenge had popped up. If I went to watch the contest without saying anything... ‘It won’t end well.’

The most likely candidate to win Miss Temple was Olivia Lanche, which meant that I would naturally vote for her.

I’d be getting one of Olivia’s talents as well, and so it was practically a no-brainer.

It would be weird not to participate in this.

Couldn’t the system have announced this a little earlier? Why not show it to me before I said I wouldn’t go?!

‘Wait. Now that I think about it, this is weird.

I can’t enter the Miss Temple contest, but if I enter and win the Mister Temple contest, what would the reward be? If I win, I already have all my talents, so what would I get?’

[If you win Miss Temple yourself, you will be granted a ‘Talent Selection Ticket.’]

‘Oh, for crying out loud.’

So, even if I won Mister Temple, there would be no reward.

If I became Miss Temple, however, I would get a Talent Selection Ticket.

‘... No, that’s not possible.’

There was no way I could beat Olivia Lanche, who already has a solid standing.

This was no different from offering me 4,000 points for winning a cross-dressing contest.

Since I couldn’t disguise myself, I’d have to do something ridiculous to enter Miss Temple.

The conversation would look something like this...

“I’m entering Miss Temple.”

“Do you mean Mister Temple?”

“No, Miss Temple.”

“... But you’re a man...”

“Is there a rule that says men can’t enter Miss Temple?”

“I’m sorry???”

Was I really going to do such a crazy thing?

Anyway, I wasn’t going to participate, but I did have to go to the Miss Temple contest.

There was no way I would miss out on such an easy score.

If I said I wouldn’t go and then snuck in, I’d get caught eventually. I would be utterly at Ellen’s mercy then.

If I didn’t vote for Olivia, I’ll just get asked why I went in the first place.

“Well... You know, I guess I could go and check it out...” I muttered.

Both Ellen’s and Harriet’s eyes narrowed when I suddenly changed my tune.

“No, listen! It’s a festival! And that show is part of the festival! So, we should all enjoy the festival. Right?” I said, flustered.

“...”

“...”

The atmosphere was so tense that my skin prickled.

‘I appreciate the system offering me this event, but... why does it feel so awful?’

To break the cold atmosphere, I felt compelled to say something, even if it was nonsense.

“I mean... I could be going to watch Mister Temple, not Miss Temple!”

“Yeah, right, like you’d go to watch that, you idiot!”

Whack!

Harriet smacked me on the head with her notebook, admonishing me for my nonsense.

“Why’d you hit me!?”

‘Both Mister Temple and Miss Temple are chosen together, so I’d end up watching both anyway!’

As I endured the girls’ cold stares, I fell into thought.

‘Miss Temple and Mister Temple... Wait. Does that mean I get two free talents? If I get both Miss Temple and Mister Temple correct, do I get two talents?’

But that meant I had to guess both Miss Temple and Mister Temple correctly.

Miss Temple would be Olivia Lanche... But who would be Mister Temple?

In the original story, Olivia Lanche didn’t appear. She probably wasn’t even at the Temple.

That year, the crown of Miss Temple was taken by Scarlett from Class B. The scene where Scarlett, scorned for her red eyes and red hair, won Miss Temple was as significant an episode as Ludwig’s participation in the tournament.

In the original story, the Mister Temple for this festival was Vertus.

He was a prince, after all, and handsome to boot. But would Vertus participate this time as well?

If Vertus participated and won, I would get one of his talents in Swordsmanship, Mana Reinforcement, or Mana Manipulation. Since I already had the latter two, I would receive his Swordsmanship talent.

I couldn’t predict which of Olivia Lanche’s talents I might get. It could be Divine Power, which wouldn’t be bad. Since she was as much of a monster as Ellen, it would likely be something incredible.

‘Good.’

The situation wasn’t just good; it was the best I could hope for.

At the very least, if I got Vertus’s Swordsmanship talent, I’d be better at using the sword than I was at the moment.

“I’ll be right back,” I said.

When I got up from my seat, Ellen and Harriet seemed even more annoyed.

“No, I’m not going anywhere else; I’m just going to see Vertus for a bit!”

“...”

“...”

However, their eyes did not reflect even the smallest amount of trust for someone who had just blatantly gone back on his own words.

‘Ah... If only the candy vendor had given me this event a bit earlier... No, they probably gave it late on purpose just to shove it in my face!’