Chapter 77. Don’t look at me, Aidan2020.10.27.
It was when everyone’s attention was focused on the arena where Aidan and Oscar clash. I caught a fuss at the entrance to the arena and looked away to see a man being dragged in, subdued by Lisandro.
‘Got it, you bastard!’
How could it move like this? Having already heard the information through Franz that suspicious people had contacted me, I borrowed the help of the guild and tweeters to place surveillance personnel at every stadium door. Because I didn’t know where to go.
‘I didn’t know I could catch him so easily.’
At my command, Franz told me all the facts under the guise of selling information under the guise of money. The opponent was also Devlin’s, and he was planning to break into the arena of the swordsmanship competition. Franz’s job was to get him safely through the poorly guarded arena entrance.
“It is said that he approached the guild submaster, but he seems to have cut it off well.”
“And Casey?”
“yes. But don’t worry. It seems that he only took the money offered by Devlin and leaked false information.”
Although I was a little afraid of Casey’s unexpected behavior outside of my authority, I decided to trust Franz that he was fine. Devlin probably didn’t know that Franz and I had a strong bond called a slave contract. A breach of contract would at least result in crippling. It seems that Count Mytheron’s tastes were quite vicious. Because the lightest punishment for violating a slave contract is…
‘Becoming a eunuch, probably.’
Even if he didn’t like it, Franz couldn’t betray me. Haha. I smiled shyly and turned my gaze back to the arena. There was no need to worry anymore as Lisandro and the royal knights would take care of the cleanup. The game was still in full swing. As the thick dust cloud lifted slightly, I began to see Aidan and Oscar fiercely attacking and blocking opponents. Aidan didn’t move a single step during the match against Enrique, but this time it was different. It was seen that it had moved from where it was originally standing.
“Oscar…”
Sweat dripped down Oscar’s chin. It seemed as if the attack time was getting longer, his stamina was getting better. Even Oscar is still a child. On the other hand, Aidan did not show any sign of difficulty even though he must have been the same age. Perhaps because of that, people started whispering about Aidan.
“…Could the rumors that he’s not human be true?”
“It’s scary that such a young boy has monstrous powers.”
I glared at the whispering people. I didn’t like the behavior of people who arbitrarily changed their attitude toward Aidan depending on the situation.
‘Sometimes they say it’s good, but now they say it’s scary again.’
Even in my presence, the attitude towards Aidan is like that, but how much is he ignoring Aidan when he isn’t there? People who didn’t know that Oscar and Aidan fought often and that Oscar never won were watching the match with excitement. The dust cloud of the first clash had gone, and now the two men’s sparring could be seen with the naked eye. However, it moved so fast that it was difficult to see with the naked eye. The two men, who had been fiercely clashing swords for a long time, moved away one step at a time. Oscar, who frowned as if he was sensitive unlike usual, pursed his lips. Then I saw Aidan smile and answer.
‘What are they talking about?’
However, due to the distance from the stadium, I could not hear it.
***
“Don’t look Aidan.”
“I never saw you.”
“lie.”
With an interrogative voice, Oscar glared at Aidan. Aidan shrugged his shoulders, meaning to think freely.
‘I didn’t see that much.’
I dealt with it with my own sincerity. Moderately, as Oscar may disappear from this arena if he is dealt with with all his might. However, being able to drag this much time against himself was proof that Oscar’s swordsmanship skills had improved by leaps and bounds. As they crossed swords, even Aidan was surprised inside.
‘It must be Mabel that makes that guy change.’
It has always been like that since childhood. From the time he first visited Aidan, who became Mabel’s escort knight, Oscar’s number one priority was always Mabel. He trained every day to protect Mabel. As soon as training was over, of course I ran to meet Mabel, and I always stopped by Mabel’s bedroom to read a book before going to sleep. Even though he said he wanted it, it would not be easy to give up the throne, which was considered to be his own, without regret. I didn’t understand that devotion back then, but now I do.
‘Because in the eyes of others, we’ll both look like Mabel idiots.’
Years later, Aidan, like Oscar, was living a life dominated by Mabel. I couldn’t even remember how it happened.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Aidan dropped his sword and looked at Oscar. I thought for a moment that I would just lose because Mabel would be sad, but I quickly changed my mind. They said that if they won, they would grant them one wish, so it was a waste to lose that opportunity.
“Now don’t look at me, Aidan.”
“Because I didn’t see you.”
Aidan smiled and ran towards Oscar with his sword in his hand. Black hair fluttered in the wind. visor-!
“Keugh!”
Oscar, who blocked the heavy attack with speed, gritted his teeth. His entire arm vibrated and numb from the strong impact. The attack followed immediately. Oscar realized that Aidan’s momentum had changed from before. bang! clashed again Once again, sword spirit rose from the exhausted Oscar’s sword. The arm muscles that had already reached their limit swelled as if they were about to tear.
“Hey heck….”
The last confrontation came to the limit of physical strength. Oscar’s gaze turned to Aidan, who hadn’t lost his breath. The undisturbed appearance even made me fear for a moment. The thought that he was the only one who was lousy raised his head, but Oscar laughed. If you can face such a strong opponent, you can become stronger than you are now. Oscar gripped his sword tightly. Arm muscles that reached their limits screamed. I knew it instinctively. This attack will be the last. Kwaaang-! The blow with all its might exploded. The loudest roar of the match so far rang out, and for an instant, the ground in the stadium shook. Another cloud of dust rose, blinding my vision. The sound of swords clashing was no longer audible. The moment everyone held their breath, the winner of the semifinals was revealed.
“Wow!”
the one who stands to the end. It was Aidan. . . .
‘…I lost.’
Oscar smiled bitterly and closed his eyes. Seeing himself collapsed in the middle of the stadium made him laugh, even though he was pathetic. There were no regrets. Because I fought with all my heart and lost. However, it was just a pity that I couldn’t do something for Mabel this time.
“Oscar!”
I could see Mabel struggling down the high stairs with her eyes wide open. Oscar coughed and wiped his mouth. I must have suffered an internal injury, and the blood was pouring out.
“…If this is the case, our Mabel is worried.”
Aidan, who heard a small murmur, glanced down at Oscar before replying.
“I’m already worried about that kind of thing.”
“still.”
Mabel is lovable and precious, so I want to see only pretty and beautiful things.
‘Not like an older brother who lost so badly.’
He said that since it was a tournament that even commoners would look dignified, he practiced facial expressions, but he seemed to have forgotten all that, and Mabel ran away crying. It was really lovely. Oscar caught his breath and looked up. Aidan, who didn’t look happy at the subject of defeating him and winning, caught my eye.
“Aidan.”
“why.”
“You said you were writing a wish for Mabel… you have to keep it.”
All that was left was the finals. And that person was Young-sik of the Earl of Bursley, who openly talked about proposing to Mabel.
‘Where does an older human dare to go?’
Of course, he was just coming of age, but compared to Mabel, he was a lot older. Mabel was only 9 years old. Suddenly, Aidan asked.
“If you win, what did you ask for as a wish?”
“I already lost, so what?”
“I got curious.”
Oscar gave a short laugh and frowned slightly as if in pain.
“not a big deal. Just don’t get married for the rest of your life.”
“…?”
“Mabel will live happily ever after with me.”
Aidan kept his mouth shut against his older brother’s iron wall. I didn’t think it would be easy, but it really was a challenge.
***
“You fool, fool, fool, fool!”
I frowned and slapped Oscar on the arm. But the guy was just smiling, as if he wasn’t itchy.
“Do not laugh. Why are you laughing?”
“I feel good because Mabel is worried about me.”
“What?!”
I sighed and glared at Oscar. Thanks to my healing with divine power, the wound healed, but the traces of the fierce battle could not be completely erased. Traces of scratches and injuries could be seen on the clothes, and due to internal injuries, blood was stained everywhere. Seeing Oscar smiling happily even though he was injured like that made me feel weak. I’m the only one who gets a fever for no reason.
“Whew.”
I sighed and sat back down. All of a sudden, Oscar, who was sitting next to me, was fiddling with my hand, all the gazes of the aristocrats sitting below him.
“Anyway, it’s wrong to fight so recklessly.”
“okay. I’ll be careful next time.”
Does that mean you’ll just be careful?
“What is your wish, why did you fight so hard?”
“it is a secret.”
“secret…?”
What kind of contradiction is this to say that it was a secret from me anyway! No matter how much he tried, Oscar seemed unwilling to answer. I shook my head and looked at the stadium, which was being roughly settled.
‘They smashed it up very badly…’
Thanks to that, only the people who cleaned it up were dying. Oscar, the person responsible for the destruction of the stadium, just looked at me with an innocent face as if he didn’t know anything. All that remains is the finale. But what was remarkable was that no one was expecting a final.
“Is Aidan the winner anyway?”
“How could that Visil beat Aidan?”
“Well…”
I frowned as I remembered the face of a man who kept blinking his left and right eyes while looking in my direction. Maybe it’s because there are so many handsome men around me, so it’s a big deal. Anyway, the finals started after quite some time. Those who watched with bated breath during the semi-finals were now just holding their seats with no tension on their faces. The two protagonists of the finals each entered the arena. Aidan was in good shape with only a few torn and scratched spots from the previous fierce battle. On the other hand, Youngsik Bursley was shaking enough to see with his own eyes. Oscar looked at him and tilted his head.
“Isn’t it Vishly, not Bursley? It’s too cheesy.”
“Haha…”
It’s true, so I can’t tell you to be careful with your words. It’s very embarrassing. It was right after the two faced each other and expressed their courtesy before starting the match. Beep-! A deafening noise came from somewhere. I frowned and covered my ears. and the next moment.
“catch!”
“Protect Your Majesty!”
Something flew in front of me along with the shouts of the guardsmen. My body reacted first before I could even identify what it was. The wide divine curtain protected not only me but also the nobles around me. Something flew right in and hit the membrane hard. Kwaaang! People screamed and trembled in fear at the attack that took place out of nowhere. I quickly looked around to figure out what was going on.
‘…also.’
The flying object was none other than magic, and the caster was the suspicious man caught by Lisandro at the arena entrance earlier. I didn’t think it would stay still, but I didn’t expect it to attack so recklessly.
“Conquer!”
The knights split into two, one surrounded me to protect me, and the other subdued the attacker and filled the magic stone restraint. Dad hurriedly looked around me.
“Is Mabel okay?”
“Yes. are you okay. Are you okay, Oscar?”
“Of course I am fine. Mabel, as long as you’re okay, that’s fine.”
I was a little surprised, but it didn’t matter. Rather than that, would it be a problem if the large-scale barrier gnawed away more divine power than expected and the energy sucked?
‘But it doesn’t matter. Because I’m strong!’
I looked towards the stadium and for some reason, Aidan was looking at me with a surprised face.
‘are you okay.’
After he said it with his mouth, he waved his hand, and Aidan’s hard expression relaxed slightly.
“Take it!”
The case came to an end as the knights dragged away the assailant, who turned out to be a sorcerer. People seemed startled by the sudden uproar, but quickly calmed down, greatly relieved that there was no damage. Somehow, people’s eyes on me seemed to shine excessively, but it was too burdensome. The match started with the referee’s shout.
“Start the game!”
However, I don’t know if the shock from the previous attack didn’t go away or if it was because Aidan was scared, but Bisil and Youngsik’s arms trembled while holding the sword. I laughed awkwardly at Aidan’s attitude of looking at the other person as if they weren’t worth dealing with. Oscar murmured earnestly.
“I don’t think it will end easily…”
“Huh? why? Aren’t you weak?”
“It’s a problem because you’re weak. I dare not even know the subject.”
Oscar clenched his teeth. It seemed that Bisil felt great regret for Youngshik. As Oscar said, Aidan did not easily defeat Young-shik, but played with him by repeatedly tightening and loosening them. I didn’t know how pitiful the expression on Young-sik’s expression was.
“Scary Aidan…”
It was when a show that could not be seen without the man’s tears was unfolding. Aidan, who had been roughly attacking Youngsik by Bisil, shuddered and raised his head. It was none other than me that the gaze was directed to.
‘huh?’
why all of a sudden Oscar also tilted his head, as if he could not understand why. It was a time when everyone was wondering about Aidan’s eccentricity.
“…Aidan?”
Aidan rushed out of the arena without hesitation and arrived in front of me at once.
“This is an outfield match-.”
“Still.”
At the same time as I heard a low voice, Aidan’s arms wrapped around my entire body.
“…!”
An explosion erupted immediately. This was the second attack.
