The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations Chapter 98

Unlike the trouble-making Group 34, it seemed Idan’s group found a substitute without difficulty.

No, rather, it seemed there was even a commotion as people lined up wanting to enter the tournament with Idan.

They went through the consolation match without difficulty, and as everyone expected, they rose to the finals.

However, it was clear that they did not wish for a dirty victory.

“Changing the rules suddenly, what kind of nonsense is that!”

Seeing that he only watched without saying anything while Jing protested fiercely.

***

On the day of the finals, the participants, now familiarly waiting in the tent, had to receive a notice that the rules of the tournament had changed overnight.

It was one hour before the start of the match.

The simple and easy-to-understand rule of best of three remained unchanged.

The problem was that a rule was added allowing a person who won once to participate in the tournament consecutively.

It was a scheme by the temple to prevent Jing from setting foot in the match arena.

This was practically no different from our defeat being decided.

Their first player would be Idan, and our first player would be me or the bookstore owner.

“This makes no sense. Let me meet the priests of the temple.”

Jing spoke with a frightening momentum to the temple worker who came to deliver the changed rules.

“It is because there have been exceptionally many dirty competitions that do not fit the purpose of Lucha in this tournament.”

As Jing looked like he would run towards the temple right away, he added an explanation as if annoyed.

“Since there are even groups where more than half the members shout forfeit without even fighting.”

Saying that, the man glared at me blatantly.

“Shouldn't we at least see everyone participate once.”

He answered as if it was bothersome.

In the end, it meant they would make all members of Group 34 fight Idan.

Well, that was at least something that raised the probability of Idan’s group winning.

Because the rest, excluding Idan, would not be able to beat Ria or Jing.

“Does everyone else agree to this?”

Thinking he wouldn't get through to him, Jing looked around and asked.

But no one from Group 12 opposed it.

Because from their perspective, it was a rule with nothing to lose.

Although sudden, it wasn't a change significant enough to choose to oppose the temple.

“Seeing that there is no one complaining except your side, it seems so.”

The man who looked around the participants with Jing said triumphantly.

“If you think you can't do it, you can just forfeit. No one is holding you back.”

The man said, not hiding the expression that he would rather be grateful if we did so.

“Jing, stop it. Nothing will change even if you do that.”

“But Lord Ran…….”

At my restraint, Jing looked back at me with a worried face.

I knew the reason he was getting this worked up was because of me, but arguing further was a waste of time.

“I will shout forfeit right away. There won't be anything dangerous. Or do I look like an idiot to you, Jing, who can't even say a word properly once I get up there?”

When I acted stubborn, Jing, having no other choice, stepped back hesitantly.

I took a seat in the widened waiting area and turned my gaze to Idan, who was staring at us in our agitated state.

His eyes were chasing me like a beast looking at prey.

***

Bbuuuu---

Amidst the stiff atmosphere, the horn sound announcing the start of the match rang out.

We had already checked the match bracket.

The first duel was naturally the fight between Idan and me.

The next was ridiculously the bookstore owner, and the last was Jing.

It was an order that made the so-called spirit of Lucha look insignificant.

I stood up from my seat and waited for the referee to call my name.

“Um, Ran?”

Ria, who had been awkwardly keeping her mouth shut, spoke to me.

“You just have to forfeit. You must. There is nothing more precious than your life.”

“Understood.”

The bookstore owner, who was trembling his legs beside Ria, answered promptly.

His face, having checked his turn, had turned pale white.

Even if Idan had no conscience, there would be no reason for him to beat an old bookstore owner to death.

“I wasn't talking to you, Mister.”

After speaking coldly, Ria looked at me again and urged for an answer.

I willingly nodded.

“I understand.”

At my unsatisfactory answer, she stared intently at me with anxious eyes.

“You’re going to forfeit today, right?”

“Of course.”

“Really, really?”

“Stop asking now.”

When I frowned, Ria shut her mouth tight, then examined my expression again.

“But really, forfeit right away. My brother is extremely strong. You might get hurt if things go wrong.”

And she eventually muttered as if to check one more time.

Actually, it might not end at getting hurt; I might lose the use of a limb or something, but I roughly responded to her words.

“I got it. I will forfeit as soon as I go up.”

Just as I was about to get annoyed, Ria fidgeted with her gloved hands and spoke cautiously.

“I’m anxious because Ran seems like he would be good at lying. Jing also seems to worry about Ran a lot, so you must forfeit.”

By now, he would be peacefully waiting for the match results inside the temple prison.

Since they would probably call me before Idan, last year's winner, I thought it would be better to go first.

I spoke to Ria as I left the room before the referee called me.

As I threw open the tent door, a roar like thunder was heard.

The atmosphere was heightened by the fact that Idan was coming out from the first duel.

Well, since we, who had come up to the finals, ended the match in 3 seconds every time until now.

It seemed they thought they could see a match worthy of being called a match for once.

Even though Idan hadn't even appeared yet, the arena was covered with shouts as if it would depart.

However, as I entered the arena before Idan, the cheers disappeared like a lie.

Instead, something else rang out.

“Coward!”

Starting with someone’s shout, booing began to ring out inside the venue.

I felt a blatant malice hoping I would be disheartened, bow my head, and get nervous.

I couldn't disappoint them, so I raised my hand to express my gratitude.

The booing directed at me, which became more intense, gradually stopped with Idan’s appearance.

When Idan appeared, the quiet venue heated up like slowly boiling water, and soon cheers like the beginning filled the inside.

I walked into the center of the arena using the cheers for Idan as a red carpet.

The closer the distance became with the guy approaching me, the better I could see his face.

The fighting spirit hidden within his expressionless face was felt from his gaze that seemed to pierce me.

He knows.

That if he beats me to death, Ria won't be able to follow us due to guilt.

Because the experience of the past 3 years would have taught him how to grasp and shake the heart of a person fallen into guilt.

The distance became close enough to say we were face to face, and the one who opened his mouth first was Idan.

“As promised, I will crush your mouth today.”

“A promise is something made mutually. What you did was a notification, or a resolution.”

At my retort, he raised the corner of his mouth.

“You sure blabber well even in this situation. Enjoy it while you can. Because from now on, you will live watching your mouth for the rest of your life.”

That guy was stepping forward saying he would do something no one had succeeded in during my 28 years of life.

“You always want to obtain things beyond your ability.”

Whether my words touched his pride, flames rose in his brown eyes.

“Try your best.”

Since a challenge is one's freedom after all.

“The match starts!”

As soon as my cheering ended, the referee announced the start of the match.

At the same time, a left fist came in aiming for my philtrum.

When I barely dodged the blow and stepped back, one of his eyebrows went up.

“Your eyes are better than I thought.”

As if the victory 3 years ago wasn't achieved just by luck, the opposite fist immediately flew in to strike my right ribs.

Ran Abalan’s body fortunately moved fast enough to guard against his fist.

However, with my center of gravity fixed due to stepping back once already, I couldn't dodge the knee flying in successively.

Thwack!

A cheerful sound of impact rang out.

***

Thwack!

“Ugh…….”

At the sight of Ran falling after being hit by Idan’s knee, Ria made a groaning sound and clenched her fists sticky with sweat.

Idan’s merciless fists were raining down on Ran, whose stance had collapsed once.

Protecting his face with barely two arms, he even looked pitiful.

Why isn't he shouting forfeit?

Ran, who guaranteed he would shout forfeit faster than anyone, was somehow continuing the fight while dodging Idan’s fists.

The audience was looking down with faces filled with delight at him collapsing at Idan’s hands.

“Just forfeit instead!”

“Haha, look at that sight!”

Scornful shouts from some of the villagers fell upon him.

Right, forfeit.

Why aren't you keeping the promise?

Ria ground her teeth and leaned her body out the waiting room window.

“Ran!! Forfeit! I said forfeit!!!”

At her scream, she saw Ran lifting his face through the gap between his two arms blocking Idan’s attack.

His black eyes looked at Ria.

And at that moment, Idan grabbed one of Ran’s arms.

Seeing Idan, heated up by Ran enduring longer than expected, spread Ran’s arms to deal a valid blow, Ria closed her two eyes.

***

Crack!

An intense sound of impact rang through the venue.

“Kuaaaak!!”

Along with someone’s scream writhing in pain.

People inside the venue watched the arena with bated breath.

Precisely, Idan rolling around clutching his fist, and the black-haired man kneeling in the stance protecting his head with his arms.

***

-If you want to help me, teach me a way to become strong overnight. Or just stay quiet.

At my unlucky answer, the guy shaking his tail on my shoulder let out a small snort as if he had made a decision.

-Do not be so discouraged. Because I will not let you die easily.

Coming down from my shoulder, he climbed onto the bed and spoke confidently with his hands on his waist.

-What do you mean?

-Didn't I tell you. That I thought you were the owner of the prophecy. That also means your ability is great enough for me to make mistakes, doesn't it?

El said boastfully.

-If you use it well, it won't be lacking to protect your body.

I couldn't understand why he was putting on airs with my ability, but it was worth listening to for now.

One thing bothering me was,

-Why are you telling me that only now?

-Ah, that is because you weren't the owner of the prophecy. It's annoying enough to take orders one by one from you, why would I…….

The guy, who was blabbering excitedly, shut his mouth tight and rolled his eyes as if he started noticing my gaze only then.

-Why didn't you just leave it until I died altogether?

Watching me burst into a scoff of disbelief, he rolled his eyes round and round.

-It means it is better to be alive and helpful than to die here. Besides, aren't you the only one who knows the contents of the Red Book now?

Right, that was much more persuasive than reasons like for my sake or because he was worried about me.

-Ah, so are you going to learn or not?!

At his appearance of getting angry to suppress his embarrassment, I nodded.

-Your ability has more useful places than you think. Didn't you see it once in the forest. That you can also transform by mixing various animals.

I nodded.

-That dirty inefficient thing.

I transformed once, collapsed, and couldn't get up.

Thanks to that, I also found out your identity.

I tried it a few times after that, but it was a technique I just abandoned because it wasted too much stamina.

-Dirty inefficient, you say! Do not speak like that just because your ability is lacking!

Perhaps my word choice wasn't to his liking, he jumped up and down in a rage again.

-Okay, okay. But does it matter if you tell me something like this? Aren't you going to vomit blood again like before?

The guy, who was calming his anger while huffing and puffing, made a subtle expression at my question.

-No……. This much is fine. Do not pretend to worry so creepily.

-Do you know how hard it is to remove bloodstains, of course I’m worried. Do you know how much I suffered cleaning up what you vomited last time so people wouldn't know.

An expression saying 'I knew he would say that' appeared on his face.

-So what is that amazing ability?

At the conversation finally returning to the first topic, El’s eyes shone.

-If you can mix various parts, wouldn't it mean you can also change just one part.

***

Idan’s pain-filled groan rang out loudly.

No, other than that sound, it seemed too quiet.

I stepped back a few steps from him and lowered my hem to cover the fur slightly sticking out between the glove and the clothes.

“You, what did you do?!”

Idan raised his body while clutching his fist swollen red.

“You’re the one who hit, why are you complaining to me?”

“Don't be funny! Are you saying your arm becomes that hard when you do nothing? You hid something inside your clothes, right?”

I did hide it.

Running lion’s muscle tissue under the skin.

It’s a bit of a struggle because the shape also deforms together as I can't control it yet.

“You finished the body search when entering. Don't nitpick strangely now.”

Strictly speaking, since I didn't possess a weapon, it wasn't a violation of rules either, so I could be more nonchalant.

The angry guy snatched my arm.

It wasn't that I couldn't dodge, but I thought it would be better to let him bark up the wrong tree like this.

It seemed good to give the impression that he was making a fuss over nothing as well.

Idan hurriedly rolled up my sleeve, but my arm had already returned to its original shape.

“Have you been doing it this way every time? Picking on the opponent during the match to get a forfeit win?”

When I sneered, he nervously let go of the hand holding my arm.

“Idan, are you going to forfeit?”

At the referee’s question, Idan ground his teeth and raised his two arms into stance again.