The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations Chapter 97
Walking on the path from the temple to the village shopping district, Ria looked back more than dozens of times.
At this rate, she would reach a hundred times.
“Ria, they won't be able to keep holding Ratel without certain evidence. If the evidence and witnesses were certain, the temple would have blown things up much bigger. Just like what you went through 3 years ago.”
Unable to watch any longer, I turned Ria around again and said.
Then, a question floated onto Ria’s face, which had been unable to relax its expression.
“What do you mean? Are you saying that the incident 3 years ago wasn't plotted by Idan alone?”
“There is a high probability that the temple is taking Idan’s side.”
“Lord Ran……!”
At my answer, Jing quietly called my name.
It must mean that there is nothing good about speaking ill of the temple.
However, I also needed to verify a little at this point.
Whether Ria would make the same choice as the original work, or make a different choice.
“Are you saying that my living as a sinner for the past 3 years was the temple’s will?”
“Are you scared?”
At my question, Ria looked up at the high building of the temple that had grown distant with a slightly painful expression.
“……I don't really know. Whether I am afraid, or angry. But one thing is certain.”
Veins popped on the back of her hand which formed a fist.
“That I do not want to go back to the past anymore.”
***
“You stupid bastard! You trash who is all talk!”
Idan, hit on the head by the ink bottle the priest threw, bowed his head with a groan.
Blood trickled down, perhaps because the brow bone area where he was hit had torn.
But without even a moment to wipe it, the priest immediately flew his hand.
Slap!
“What are you going to do? If you hand over the championship in tomorrow's finals, we will be stuck sending an outsider to Rimis Temple. You said you would stop it by any means necessary! Is this the result!”
A few more beatings fell, but Idan endured the man’s violence with his mouth closed.
Eventually, the one who got tired and fell away first was the priest.
Exhausted by his own temper, he spat on Idan for the last time and pulled his body back.
“……I apologize. Please give me one more chance.”
Idan spoke calmly with a messed-up face.
“I can no longer trust your pathetic plans. Just be faithful to the role you originally played. If you cannot beat that weak man and Ria, you won't be safe either.”
The priest glared at Idan, who was staring at the floor without answering.
“There should be no going easy just because she is blood-related, Idan. If you want to keep living in this village.”
The blood flowing down the cheek of the nodding Idan wetted the floor.
***
Making Idan an exception to the rules was a grave mistake by the temple.
Because it was like they destroyed the justification to eliminate our group for the reason of insufficient personnel themselves.
Furthermore, by some coincidence, as two participants of Group 12 also suffered sudden injuries, the temple had no choice but to acknowledge the replenishment of personnel on both sides.
“It is truly strange that as many as two people were injured in accidents.”
“We got lucky.”
I quietly nodded at the conversation between Jing and Ria.
Yes, we were really lucky.
Not one but two, how fortunate.
Though, it wasn't easy to find village residents who would meekly lend their names to the troublemaking Group 34 in Ratel's place.
Leaving behind the temple’s threat that we could not enter the finals if we didn’t find a substitute before the sun set today, we returned to the village and walked slowly through the hopelessness.
Because no one naturally came to mind who would lend a hand to us, who had been driving incidents and accidents since the Lucha Competition started.
“Buying them off with money would be the fastest, right?”
Jing proposed the fastest, simplest, and most efficient solution.
“It would be good if it’s a matter solvable with money, but it is unknown if they would be willing to accept money from people hated by the temple.”
“……That is correct. Abalan’s faith is not something that can be shaken with money.”
Perhaps recalling the past where the Piteos family, which possessed immense wealth, was also powerless under the name of god, Jing’s face darkened a little.
“I’m sorry. Because my reputation is bad…….”
When Ria, who had no way of knowing that, blamed herself, Jing shook his head.
“No, this is not your fault. It is just something that cannot be helped.”
“Still. If I had at least one close person in the village…….”
Ria muttered, as if the sorry feeling still hadn't faded.
It seemed she regretted the past 3 years spent only going back and forth between home and the temple.
No, there was one place Ria went to other than the temple.
“Hey!”
Right, a small bookstore run by a cranky owner with exactly this kind of voice.
However, since it wasn't an option I really wanted to consider, Jing and I didn't particularly stop walking.
“Hey, Ria!”
But the opponent was persistent.
The man who popped out of the bookstore blocked our way.
Ria sighed at his tenacity.
“What is it, Mister. I haven't even entered your shop these past few days.”
At the somewhat weary voice, the bookstore owner hurriedly shook his head.
“No, it’s not that! You can come to the bookstore as much as you want now.”
Ria did not withdraw her gaze of suspicion before his sudden change.
“Why are you suddenly acting like this? You used to always yell if I even got close to the bookstore.”
A slightly awkward look crossed the bookstore owner’s face.
“Right, I did……. That is, well…….”
Picking his words several times, he finally stared straight at Ria’s face as if he had made up his mind.
“I watched the matches from the beginning, Ria. Your skills were very good. Really…… to the point where cheating or such wouldn't be needed.”
Having started with a compliment, he glanced at me once and continued speaking.
“I also heard that a scary-looking young man was dragged to the temple. There must be some misunderstanding this time too. Just like 3 years ago.”
“Mister……!”
The man raised his hand and cut off Ria who was trying to say something.
“What I mean is…….”
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he finally revealed the real purpose for stopping us.
“If you are okay with it, how about using my name? Of course, I won't be able to fight together, but if you just need a name, that is.”
We had no reason to refuse his cautious proposal containing his apology.
Having resolved the unexpected obstacle faster than expected, we were able to return to the lodging with light steps.
It was after finishing the meal that Ria, who walked like a soulless person until we returned, came to her senses.
Staring blankly out the window, she opened her mouth.
“……Jing, I want to do training.”
This time, Jing also did not refuse her request.
***
Sitting on an empty dining chair, I watched the physical struggle disguised as training between Ria and Jing visible out the first-floor window.
Both were sweating with excitement.
Good thing I said I wouldn't do it.
“Hey, child. Do you not have any thoughts of doing training like that?”
El, in the form of a squirrel, who had approached before I knew it, sat on the table and spoke to me.
“Have you decided to talk to me now?”
It had been quite a while since he spoke to me.
I think it's almost the first time since arriving at the village.
“You are the only one who knows my identity, did you think I would pretend not to know you forever?”
“Right, when are you going to reveal that damn identity?”
“At the moment deemed most necessary. If I hadn't mistaken you in the first place, things wouldn't have gotten this twisted.”
He spoke nonchalantly.
I didn't bother saying that even if I wasn't here, he wouldn't have met the protagonist.
Since they already met, it's a useless point now.
“More than that, I asked you. Do you not need to do training like that? Aren't you worried about tomorrow?”
El asked, pointing with his chin at Ria and Jing who were still sparring hard.
“I won't be able to suddenly beat Idan just by training hard for a day or two.”
“Oho, then are you going to shout forfeit right away?”
“I’ll have to do it with all my dying strength.”
As if not understanding my words, El made a puzzled expression.
“Does shouting forfeit once require such big determination? You shouted it just fine today.”
“Today I was lucky. Idan will come out to the finals full of malice, so a cheap trick like today won't work. He will prevent me from shouting forfeit by any means necessary.”
“Why?”
“Because Idan’s goal will be to ruin me to the point I can never stand up again.”
“……What?”
El asked blankly, as if it was an answer he couldn't imagine.
Did this guy really live for a thousand years?
“That way, Ria won't be able to leave the village with us out of guilt towards me. If he can't completely control his sibling, he will try to touch Ria's weakest part.”
Guilt.
The biggest shackle with which Idan can hold Ria.
El jumped up.
“No, but are you this nonchalant? You mean you could half-die tomorrow if things go wrong?!”
He squeaked while excited.
“I’m saying I’ll do my best so that doesn’t happen. First, since Ran’s body has fast legs, I should run out of the arena as soon as the match starts and shout forfeit.”
“Then what if you get caught before you even shout forfeit?”
“Then I have to create an opportunity to shout forfeit while getting hurt as little as possible. I’m good at that kind of thing.”
El stared at me.
“Are you not telling the others?”
“What?”
“That you might die tomorrow if things go wrong!”
“Might die, you’re saying something unlucky. And nothing changes even if I tell them.”
A fed-up expression appeared on El’s face, for a squirrel.
“I am me, but you are also quite…… something, child.”
“If you want to help me, teach me a way to become strong overnight. Or just stay still.”
El quietly looked out the window.
***
While a fierce fight was taking place in far-off Lucha, a new wind of turmoil was gradually growing in size in the Imperial Family.
Its beginning occurred at a family meal held despite Rasia’s death.
The 3rd Prince, who didn't even doubt the fact that he was the next Emperor candidate after Rasia died, stared blankly at the white haze touching the end of the table, then repeatedly looked at Dito who had placed his hand on the Prasa.
His confident face distorted miserably to a pitiful degree.
“How did this happen? How can power suddenly become strong?!”
The last words were almost a convulsion.
Dito turned his body and showed him his face.
Dito’s face, wearing a soft smile, had a corner that somehow made people shudder.
“Rules are rules. Go back to your seat.”
“You must have pulled some trick! Otherwise, this can't be! How can a weak guy who used to stick next to Brother Rasia and flatter him possess such power!”
The angry 3rd Prince reached out to Dito.
The wind he created formed a violent vortex to swallow and claw at Dito.
But the next moment, a small ember starting from his finger grew larger and swallowed his arm.
“Kuaaaak!”
The smell of burning flesh instantly hung inside the venue.
“From now on, you should distinguish between above and below. Since there isn't a single reason for me to tolerate you.”
The 3rd Prince struggled to extinguish the fire on his arm somehow, but Dito’s flame burned and burned his arm without going out or getting smaller.
Because of the Imperial Family's body where regeneration does not stop, he floundered in endless pain.
“Please, please stop! I was wrong, so stop!”
The 3rd Prince, who crawled to Dito’s toes, begged him.
Dito, who looked down at him blankly, gazed intently at the 3rd Prince’s remaining hand resting on the floor.
Understanding what that gaze meant, the 3rd Prince’s body jumped up.
“Please stop! I was wrong!”
“Haha, you look like a frog.”
Dito laughed lightly and lowered his hand.
The fire attached to the 3rd Prince’s arm slowly died down.
“Huk, huk, heuk…….”
Withdrawing his gaze from the 3rd Prince who was rolling on the floor drooling, Dito raised his head.
Everyone was looking at them.
“Why are you all looking like that? If you have something to say, say it as much as you want. It’s not like we were so distant with each other.”
No one opened their mouths.
There was no one who met Dito’s eyes.
Dito burst into laughter as if that sight was funny.
His laughter flowed, riding everyone’s fear amidst the silence.
Dito turned his eyes to the one watching all this without a word.
The Emperor and Dito’s eyes met.
Smiling with his eyes crinkled, he slowly bowed to the Emperor.
“I apologize for causing a disturbance.”
The Emperor looked down at him for a moment and turned his head silently.
Whether that was a silent forgiveness or the usual indifference was unknown, but one thing seemed clear.
The one who took Rasia’s place now was none other than Dito.
From a seat far away from the seat of honor, Cellos stared at the empty seat across from him with his fists clenched tight.