The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations Chapter 86

As soon as we entered a secluded alley, Ria bowed deeply.

“I am really, really, really sorry. I will definitely pay back the money even if it takes a few years…….”

“I am leaving in a week so I cannot wait for years.”

At my firm answer, Ria's face clouded over instantly.

“T-Then if you give me your address I will send it to your family…….”

That was more troubling.

In this world, those I could call family were at the Imperial Castle in the capital.

“Forget it. I did not pay with the expectation of getting it back anyway.”

“T-That large sum? Just why…….”

Ria tilted her head as if she couldn't understand.

“Well, think of it as an investment. If you are really grateful, just guide me.”

Thinking she could repay me with anything, Ria nodded immediately.

“Of course! You can think of me as your guide all day today!”

There was no need for that much.

“Then please take the fastest route to the temple.”

At my answer, Ria’s face darkened for a moment, but she soon composed her expression.

“Just follow me. The temple is the most beautiful building over there.”

The high tower she pointed to with her finger was indeed a building that fitted the description of beautiful, just as she said.

There was no other structure that felt so out of place in Lucha, where small buildings were clustered together like jars.

I nonchalantly followed behind Ria, who had taken the lead.

And recalling the display stand that had been smashed a little while ago, I turned my gaze to Ria’s knees that had collided with it.

Even though she had received an impact strong enough to break a display stand, she was walking as if nothing had happened.

It seemed she had even forgotten the fact that she had hit the display stand hard just moments ago.

“It wasn't a bluff that your body is sturdy.”

When I spoke to her, Ria recalled the conversation she had with Jing yesterday and nodded.

“Everyone in my family is like that. But I am nothing compared to Idan.”

“Since someone who smashed a display stand to pieces says so, I have no choice but to believe it.”

Perhaps recalling the disaster from a moment ago at my answer, she bowed her head deeply and mumbled.

“……I didn't do it on purpose.”

“I know. If it was intentional, why would you have broken the display stand.”

She would have probably broken the shop owner's legs.

At my answer, Ria stared at me intently for a moment before turning her head forward again.

“……You are a peculiar person.”

“The people I was with are even more peculiar. I am nothing compared to those people.”

Ria, who laughed softly as if her tension had been released at my answer, hesitated for a moment before looking at the approaching temple.

“Are you going to the temple because of the Lucha Competition?”

“Yes. I heard the prize money and goods are amazing.”

At my affirmation, Ria’s expression stiffened subtly.

“I saw that three of you came yesterday, you must have found a person quickly.”

“Found a person?”

Instead of saying that I was currently in the process of finding one, I chose to feign ignorance.

At my naive question, Ria’s face, which was already stiff, hardened completely.

“You didn't know? The minimum number of people is four. The three of you do not qualify to participate.”

“Ah, is that so? That could have been a big problem. We will have to visit again tomorrow.”

Ria’s steps stopped completely.

She opened and closed her mouth like a person barely holding back a scream.

“T-The application deadline is today!”

I know that too.

How hard I ran to make it in time.

“That is a big problem.”

I said with the most serious expression possible.

At my nonchalant answer, Ria stamped her feet and looked alternately between the temple and the sky.

The application deadline was before sunset.

Now there really wasn't much time left.

“T-Then hire someone right now. There might still be someone in the village who will lend their name…….”

Ria, who was shouting out of frustration, slowly stopped speaking.

She seemed to have realized where I had spent all the money I had.

That was why I said it.

That I just made an investment.

***

I slowly opened my mouth while looking at her face, which was being dyed with guilt.

“Well, it can't be helped. If we cannot apply for participation, the two left at the shop will have to wait another year, but things in the world don't always go as planned anyway.”

“E-Excuse me…….”

Flustered, she opened her mouth to apologize, but I didn't give her an opening.

“We just need one person to lend their name right now, but there is no way such a person would suddenly appear either.”

“…….”

“Let’s just go to the shop. On the way, I should think about how to make Jing and Ratel accept this situation more easily.”

“Excuse me……!”

When I turned away as if I was really going back to the shop, Ria urgently grabbed me.

When I looked at her as if asking what was the matter, Ria squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth.

“If, if it is just lending my name…… I will lend it to you.”

At her kindness born of a guilty conscience, I raised the corners of my mouth.

***

The closer we got to the shop, the slower Ria’s steps became.

Her face became pale too.

“If you don't want to go home, let's part ways here.”

When I turned back and spoke to her as she was falling behind, Ria let out a deep sigh.

“My brother must not know.”

“What? That you are not coming home today?”

“No! That I am entering the competition!”

“Everyone in the village will find out once the competition starts anyway.”

That is true. Ria, having mumbled that, held her head in her hands again.

“First, first of all, please keep it a secret today. If he finds out I am entering Lucha, it will be chaos.”

“I will explain it well to the owner. That Ria won't even have to lift a finger. Since the other two are such monsters.”

If those two fought properly, it was certain that neither of us would need to lift a finger.

Well, it also meant that if one of the two had foolish thoughts, one of us would have to fight.

Even at my words trying to reassure her, Ria’s expression showed no sign of relaxing.

“That is not the problem. My brother just doesn't really like the Lucha Competition itself.”

“Why? It seemed like there were plenty of people who wanted to enter the competition with him.”

When I asked as if I didn't know, Ria’s face hardened stiffly.

“That’s why. That’s why he hates it even more.”

“You too, Ria?”

“Pardon?”

Ria, who had been mumbling as if talking to herself, raised her head with a bewildered expression at my sudden question.

“Do you also hate the Lucha Competition, Ria? Did you not want to enter?”

Ria’s mouth twitched for a moment.

“……Yes. I also really hate the Lucha Competition.”

The answer given after a bit of hesitation didn't seem very credible, but I didn't say much.

There was no need to pry forcibly when she said so herself.

Since she would end up entering the competition with Ratel anyway.

***

As we entered the shop, Idan, who was coming out with food, put the plates down on a table and glanced at Ria.

“The bookstore mister must have been very angry.”

Ria, who had come in still clutching the book tightly, slyly hid the book behind her back.

“Huh? Oh! He told me to just take it since he couldn't sell something torn like this anyway.”

When Ria responded awkwardly, Idan let out a deep sigh.

Following that sound, Ria’s head also lowered.

“You paid for the book properly, right? It's not good to be in debt to others.”

When Idan spoke as if admonishing her, Ria quickly nodded.

“Yeah! I paid properly like you said. Sorry……. I'll definitely pay you back when I earn money.”

Idan, who was looking down at Ria mumbling without being able to lift her head, frowned slightly.

“Forget it and just help with the shop work. Since there are many customers these days.”

A clattering sound rang out as Ria, who answered briskly, went up to the second floor and tripped once after taking a wrong step in the middle.

Likewise, it was Idan who stopped me as I moved my steps to enter the room.

“Hey, you.”

When I turned my head back, Idan was glaring at me with eyes full of displeasure.

“If you are a traveler, you should stay quietly like a traveler and leave. Don't do anything useless.”

It seemed he already knew at least roughly what had happened in the village.

“Usually, isn't a thank you the first thing to say? I helped your sister who fell into a difficult situation.”

At my words, Idan’s brow furrowed.

“I will take care of my family's business. You don't need to interfere. I will pay you back for the gloves you paid for today.”

If I meekly told him the amount I paid to the shop owner here, this argument would end.

It wouldn't be peaceful, but enough to avoid conflict.

But seeing Idan’s face looking unsatisfied for some reason, I thought there was no need to do that.

“No need. Ria already paid it back.”

At my answer, one of Idan’s eyebrows went up.

“What do you mean? Where would that kid have that kind of money.”

Looking at him speaking with certainty, I tilted my head.

“Cannot an adult well over twenty earn some money on their own?”

“There is no way there is anyone in the village who would give Ria a job…….”

Idan, who was mumbling as if frustrated, became conscious of me staring at him silently and soon shut his mouth.

That sight was funny, so the corners of my mouth went up.

“I'm fine for dinner. I already ate outside.”

This time, I truly turned around and moved my steps to the second floor.

I felt a gaze attaching to the back of my head until I completely climbed the stairs, but I didn't look back.

Ratel’s words were right.

Idan was an unpleasant human.

To the extent that no further words were needed to express it.

***

Ratel, Jing, Ria, and I sat around in a corner of the smallest and shabbiest shop in the village, or to be precise, Ria’s regular bookstore.

“Damn it, it's already cramped enough, what is with these hulking figures?”

Using the shop owner’s grumbling as background noise.

“M-Mister……! We will leave soon.”

Flustered, Ria whispered desperately, but he didn't relax his fierce expression.

“You get out too!! Don't keep coming here and bringing bad luck!”

He shouted and dusted off between the bookshelves.

As Ratel, who suddenly got hit by dust wind, stared at him blankly, Jing quickly intervened between the bookstore owner and Ratel to block his view.

“I-I am sorry. Still, there is no place where the village people don't come in as much as here…….”

Ria trailed off.

From behind, a man's voice saying ‘Right! This is a shop where only flies fly!’ could be heard.

Jing tried his best to ignore his words and opened his mouth.

“Right, did you say Miss Ria? Can you tell us what you know about the Lucha Competition?”

At Jing’s polite attitude, Ria, who was restless, nodded with a slightly more composed face.

“The Lucha Competition isn't that difficult. It is held over a week, and the rules are also very simple. You just have to win no matter what.”

Simple to the point of being brutal.

“Are there no other rules?”

At Jing’s flustered question, Ria shook her head.

“No, really, you just have to win. Since it is a competition testing strength with bare bodies without weapons. It is especially so in the preliminaries held tomorrow.”

“What do you mean the preliminaries are especially so?”

It was Ratel who asked the question this time.

“The preliminaries are a bit…… it’s a bit much to say like this, but they are barbaric. Four people from each group fight, and the group that knocks down one person first wins.”

“Everyone will rush at the person who looks the weakest.”

When I spoke, Ria nodded.

“Yes. That’s why the outcome is decided in an instant. It saves time.”

Ria, having finished speaking like that, awkwardly looked at Ratel, Jing, and then me.

But I was the only one who noticed her doing that.

Because Ratel and Jing’s gazes headed straight for me.

They weren't very pleasant gazes.

Jing opened his mouth carefully.

“Lord Ran, excuse me but…… are you on the faster side?”

At Jing’s cautious question, Ratel shook his head.

“It's fine. It just means he shouldn't fall down, right? You just endure even if you get hit a few times.”

Since the guy who acted as if he didn't care whatever happened with the competition said things like that, it was somehow even hateful.

It wasn't difficult to know who the two judged as the weakest person here.

“The ones who need to be fast are you two, not me. Doesn't it mean you two just have to take down the opponent before I get attacked.”

Of course, I also agree.

Ran Abalan’s body was on the quite sturdy side, but it didn't seem like I could nonchalantly knock down several able-bodied men rushing at me either.

It was also an ambiguous age to say I was fully grown.

While Jing and Ratel were putting forth various solutions such as I need to train running, or they just need to quickly knock down other participants while I get hit, Ria approached me carefully.

“Um, Ran. I don't know how weak you are, but you don't need to worry too much. It will probably be okay. Besides, even if you lose once, there is a consolation match before the finals.”

Looking at her whispering, I meekly nodded.

Thinking of her in the original work, it seemed I might not have to worry.

***

Ria of Lucha Village.

She is the character who becomes Ratel's comrade after Jing in the original work.

Of course, the Ria in the original work is Ria from one year later.

The Ria in the original work was more confident than now, stronger than now, and more vicious than now.

Above all, to her in the original work, the family called Idan no longer exists.