The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations Chapter 100

When Idan collapsed and Ria stood alone in the arena, what fell upon her was not booing but cheers.

Under the applause of encouragement and cheers she received for the first time in her life, Ria looked down at Idan, who was sprawled miserably.

It was a futile end.

For the last moment of her hero whom she thought she could never beat in her life, or rather, whom she hadn't even thought of beating.

“Wi, Winner, Ria!!!”

At the belated shout of the referee, Ria turned around without hesitation.

What she felt in the moment she had always dreamed of was bitterness rather than joy.

***

When I opened my eyes, the competition was already over, and the people inside the venue had also all left.

It seemed so.

Seeing that the surroundings were quiet and what I saw in front of me was the tent of the player waiting room.

Damn it, how long did I sleep this time?

“You slept for about half a day.”

As I frowned and raised my body, Jing spoke as if he read my mind.

By the way, half a day.

“The temple surprisingly allowed us to rest.”

“It seems they are still discussing how to handle Ratel.”

Ria's worried voice was heard from behind.

Turning my head, Ria, who looked as messy as me, was looking down at me.

It seemed the duel with Idan wasn't easy.

“What should we do? If they intend to keep holding onto Ratel…….”

Ria muttered worriedly, looking at the temple building.

“Well, keeping him would likely not be easy for the temple either.”

At my answer, Ria smiled slightly.

“Seeing you have the leisure to joke, you really seem okay.”

“I’m serious.”

There was no way such a small temple could handle that guy’s dirty temper.

“That is true, Miss Ria. It won't be entirely comfortable for them to keep Ratel locked up either.”

When Jing's serious voice added weight to my opinion, a grave look also cast over Ria's face.

“……Then isn't it more serious? It would be a big trouble if Ratel did something inside.”

“…….”

Since that was also a valid opinion, we hastened our steps out of the tent a bit urgently.

***

Ria's first prediction was correct.

“That guy’s innocence has not been proven yet. Until then, we cannot acknowledge your victory either.”

Those guys tried to overturn the results of the competition.

“Isn't there also no way to prove his guilt? Since no evidence came out.”

“That is why I told you to wait! Everyone leave!”

Despite Jing's protest, the temple did not stop acting unreasonably.

Unable to even enter the temple building, we ended up in a situation where we were suddenly caught by knights and dragged outside.

Curses came out automatically as my arms were grabbed while all the muscles in my body were screaming.

However, until permission to enter Rimis Village was granted, we couldn't resist.

The knights dragged us out and threw us outside the temple.

I, who sacrificed one arm instead of narrowly avoiding kissing the ground, had to bury my face in my two arms for a moment and swallow a scream of pain.

What a hell of a treatment.

It was the moment I vowed never to come back to Lucha Village until I die.

“Waaaaah!!!”

Ridiculously, cheers fell over our heads.

At the sound that completely didn't match the rough treatment, I raised my head only then to check the surroundings.

People surrounding the temple fence were cheering.

Although the heat gradually subsided as more people confirmed our state sprawled on the ground, they were sending quite a long applause.

“Wh, what is it?”

As if I wasn't the only one flustered, Ria, who was similarly stuck to the ground, stammered.

“It seems to be applause for the winners.”

I answered while lightly lifting myself and Ria, who didn't know how to get up, with my arms.

It seemed Jing was right.

Seeing that there were occasionally people mixed in among the villagers shouting Ria, Jing, and my name.

Ria looked around at the people as if she couldn't believe it.

Although not a large number, they were unmistakably people gathered to send applause to the winners of Lucha.

“What is this commotion!”

The priests who came out startled by the people's cheers also flinched in surprise at the unexpected sight.

“Qui, quiet! These guys haven't won yet!”

The knights who had dragged us out shouted in embarrassment.

Thanks to that, the applause stopped completely, but what remained afterward was people's confusion.

“Not a win?”

“If it's not a win after doing all that, what on earth counts as a win?”

People started to whisper.

In a way, it was natural.

In this year's Lucha, the special treatment Idan received from the temple was too great.

Although no one opposed the temple, many expressed doubt.

As the sound of people whispering grew louder, it was the temple side that became flustered.

Those who were experiencing a situation where the temple's decision was not accepted as is for the first time could not hide their embarrassment.

“Noisy, everyone step back!”

I approached the priest who was continuously chasing people away.

“Unless you want to end the Lucha Competition with this year as the last, wouldn't it be better to moderate your stubbornness?”

“What?”

He glared at me annoyedly.

“If rumors spread that the winner of the Lucha Competition is ultimately decided according to the temple's taste, how many residents do you think will participate in the competition next year?”

“Don't say funny things. Lucha will be held safely next year too.”

He snorted as if my words were ridiculous.

That might be so.

“Then we will come back next year too. Maybe the year after that as well.”

At my answer, the priest's face turned pale white.

Because it was no different from saying we would drop by Lucha Village until he acknowledged our victory.

If this kind of thing repeated continuously, perhaps as I said, someday people willing to participate in the Lucha Competition would disappear altogether.

“What will you do? Even if you get criticized a little, it seems losing would be less if you leave the aftermath to someone else.”

At my advice, the priest glared as if to kill me, but it didn't matter.

It's not like there are only one or two people in the world who harbor murderous intent towards me.

***

Finally, the temple completely acknowledged Group 34's victory.

Since there was no reason to hold onto Ratel once the victory was confirmed in front of everyone.

“Ratel! You went through a lot!”

Ria welcomed Ratel being released from the temple gladly.

“Ria, looking just at appearances, it seems we were the ones held captive.”

I said looking alternately at Ratel, whose complexion seemed to have improved while being held, and Ria's appearance.

“You guys are in a terrible state.”

Ratel looked us up and down and said.

“Still, we kept the promise!”

Ria said excitedly without minding.

It seemed the emotion received from the villagers' cheers a while ago hadn't faded yet.

I was a little worried she might say she would stay in the village at this rate.

If she still decides to remain in the village…… then I'll have to ask her to guide us to Rimis and persuade her then.

***

The villagers tried to take us to the largest pub in the village to celebrate our victory.

They only tried.

-I'm not going. What do you intend to do dragging someone who is tired to death?

It was thanks to Ratel's words pouring cold water and his cold expression.

Everyone scattered while cursing Ratel's unlucky personality.

Thanks to that, our destination, having achieved a difficult victory, was the restaurant we took as lodging this time too.

Ria was also with us.

It was said that when Ria returned home, the door to Idan's shop was firmly closed.

It was Jing who cheered up the slightly gloomy-looking Ria.

He dragged Ratel, who claimed to be tired to death despite doing nothing, and Ria to the shopping district.

And following his theory that suffering must be rewarded, we bought a ton of food and came back.

“Aren't we buying too much? I think a lot will be left over.”

Ria, who didn't know well about Jing and Ratel's stomachs, soon had to confirm that her complacent prediction was wrong.

And following the two who were diligently stuffing food in, she started stuffing food in as well.

Everyone gathered on the lower floor and held a small but enjoyable party.

Except me.

The reason that I would rest upstairs because I wasn't feeling well was a very appropriate excuse for me, who even fainted at the competition.

Leaning against the window with the murmuring sounds coming through the cheap inn wall with no soundproofing as a lullaby, a cold wind brushed past my head.

“Weak child, are you sleeping because you are tired?”

A playful, cheeky voice tickled my face along with soft fur.

“I'm going to sleep, so go down and get some food. If you go to Ria, she will give you plenty.”

“Do you think I fear going hungry?”

“Then what are you here for? There is nothing more you can get from me now.”

“If someone heard, they'd think I only asked you for food every day.”

Isn't that right?

I think the reason he was with me was because of the prophecy and food.

“If not for food, why did you come?”

“I came because I have something to ask. And to see how much you got hurt.”

As if to prove his words, El, who went up and down my arms and legs, seemed to confirm there was nothing particularly wrong and approached my face again.

“You are better than I thought. Actually, I wasn't sure if you would be able to use it properly.”

I knew it.

Somehow he lacked sincerity when teaching me.

“It didn't go as well as I thought. It was hard to hide because my skin tried to turn into a bear. So, is that all you have to ask?”

At my question, El slowly closed and opened his eyes.

Golden pupils turned towards me.

“Reckless child, what did you intend to do if your body didn't change as you wanted in this competition?”

I didn't understand why he was asking such a thing when everything ended well, but I answered calmly.

“Naturally, I intended to run away.”

“Really?”

Ria too, to think there are so few people who trust my words.

“Although I did intend to take a little risk to achieve the first objective.”

“First objective?”

“Ria. She is a character whom there is no harm in having to accompany Ratel on the journey.”

“What is so great about a girl like that?”

El, who referred to Ria rudely, looked down at the lower floor where she would be as if he didn't understand.

Ria is the character who becomes Ratel's comrade after Jing in the novel.

There is also a role she will take on later.

“Then why didn't you say so from the beginning. Couldn't you have found a method that wasn't dangerous.”

El asked as if he didn't understand.

“Because we don't have time.”

If I honestly said let's participate in the competition here and take the long way around because we have to take one person, the argument would have probably continued much longer.

Jing's anxiety would have doubled, and he wouldn't have looked kindly upon Ria.

And Ratel wouldn't have even pretended to listen to me if Jing didn't agree.

“I chose the most efficient method.”

At my answer, El moved his mouth as if he had something to say.

“What?”

When I urged him, El opened his mouth.

“But cheeky child, this relationship won't last long with that kind of method. Surely, surely a day will come when the lies gather and explode.”

“That's fascinating. Giving advice like an elder for the first time.”

When I answered, El quietly looked into my eyes without a word.

The small squirrel's black pupils were definitely looking at me, but it seemed like the target El was speaking to wasn't me.

It also seemed like advice given to someone in his memory, not me.

“……It's just a fleeting connection anyway. When this matter is over, I will leave on my way, and the others on theirs.”

My voice came out quieter than I thought.

El didn't continue speaking and climbed up my shoulder to push his body inside my pocket.

***

“He really isn't coming. He must have been very tired today.”

Ria said without taking her eyes off the second floor where Ran's room was.

“Indeed. He should sleep very quietly today.”

Ria, who was staring blankly at Jing who laughed heartily and put a slice of cut pie into his mouth, quietly approached him and lowered her voice.

“It is strange to ask now, but are the three of you intending to work as mercenaries once you receive the blessing?”

“Well, something similar.”

When Jing equivocated, Ria looked at Jing and Ratel alternately.

“Because the combination of the three of you is so unique. Even if Jing is understandable, Ran is…… um, does he suit being a mercenary?”

Ria narrowed her eyes and recalled Ran's appearance for a moment.

Although he defeated Idan in the competition, he didn't look very accustomed to using his fists.

He didn't seem to train diligently, nor did he have a special weapon…….

Ria, whose thoughts reached this point, shook her head from side to side.

“He doesn't suit it at all. Then are you two people hired by Ran?”

At Ria's words, Ratel glared at Ria.

“This isn't it either.”

Meeting his eyes, Ria answered as if she understood.

Jing pondered for a moment how to explain this.

“Um……. Ran is someone who joined to help us. Without him, we would be in a lot of trouble.”

“You have an objective that is difficult to speak of.”

Ria picked up a well-sliced piece of lamb and put it in her mouth.

“Then until when will the three of you be together?”

Jing, who had been answering diligently, couldn't give a refreshing answer this time.

Come to think of it, is Ran staying with us until we destroy all the holy relics?