Chapter 28 Tourney (4)<strong>28  Tourney (4)</strong>


    <strong>[Physis''s POV]</strong>


    The dark night enveloped all the areas and the lights on the streets also started turning off. Finally, it was time for the end of a fun-filled celebration.


    Of course, the celebration will continue throughout National Foundation Day, but it was not possible for us toe out like this every day, so I was a little disappointed.


    While I was thinking about all of today''s events, Suddenly Adilun looked at me and said.


    Todays festival is over.


    Yes.


    Honestly, it was fun. It wasnt bad to walk around wearing a mask.


    Im d.


    There was a lot of delicious street food, and there were plenty of things to see and do. Certainly, I can understand why people were looking forward to National Foundation Day. I really enjoyed it."


    After the lights of the festival were turnedoff, I could see a slight disappointment in Adilun''s eyes, unmasked, and looked up at the sky.


    That was proof of how much she seemed to have enjoyed today''s festival. Perhaps, it was her most enjoyable experience ofing to National Foundation Day.


    Seeing her like this, I was also happy and d. So I replied to her with a big smile.


    Yes. I also enjoyed it.


    Thats fortunate. Then its time to return to the pce. And you also have to prepare for tomorrow''s tournament.


    That''s right... Yes, lets go.


    We walked through festive streets with lights turned off in silence. Even though everything was silent, fragments of the festival still lingered lightly in the mind. It was a pity that it ended too soon.


    It seemed that I, too, enjoyed the festival as much as Adilun.


    How long had it been since I felt this feeling?


    The hustle and bustle disappeared, silence lingeredaround, and all sorts of thoughts rushed through my head.


    Will I be able to avoid disappointing Adilun in the future?


    Will I be able to protect her from the many threats that lie ahead of her?


    Will I be able to protect the kindness she showed?


    Since I cant always live with a strong will, I started to worry about whether I could always protect her or not.


    Perhaps because the surroundings were dark, I started having these thoughts.


    Darkness sometimes brings coziness but sometimes makes people tremble with anxiety.


    Especially thinking about the future always make me anxious.


    I knew what kind of threat loomed in this world- In the near future, the gue will spread.


    There will be war in the East.


    The war will not end easily.


    In the north, monsters will eat the negative emotions of humans and be stronger and will try toe down to the south, and in the center, Crocus Glossu aka Prime Minister will start a civil war.


    Princess Lobelia and Adilun will fight against it.


    Of course, all of that situation could change due to the intervention of my existence or actions.


    No, it will probably change for sure.


    So I''m afraid. I was afraid that I''d make her even more unhappy. Because I don''t know what changes wille in the future because of me.


    But does that mean, I should not do anything and be terribly afraid?


    No. I have to harden my heart. I have to believe that I can ovee any ordeal.


    Just like I did in my previous life.


    ...Hey, Physis.


    As I was lost in my thoughts for a long time, I heard Adiluns low voice next to me.


    Ah. Yes, Adilun.


    We have arrived at our destination.


    We have already arrived? Oh, Im sorry. I was just thinking about something.


    Are you worried about something?


    A little There is something.


    Can you tell me what your worries are? I don''t I can help or not, but I will try my best to help you.


    I was a little worried about whether I could do well in the future. Because I always had bad idents.


    Ahh!


    She seemed to be struggling with something and said to me.


    There is nothing I can say about that. I have always lived with simr concerns.


    Is that so?


    Yes. Isnt it a concern that everyone lives with? How will I live in the future? Will I be able to live happily or well? Such troublesome thoughts and everything, is the same for me too... So, your concern is probably not the one that I can provide an answer to.


    Hahaha. If I think about it, yes, you are right.


    She was right. The problems I had were the ones I have to deal with on my own.


    I don''t have to depend on anyone. I have to think about it until my head hurts and find a way, and someday the answer to my worries wille to me.


    Still I can tell you one thing. I cant read your mind, but at least the appearance of you that Ive recentlyseen has been pretty good.


    At that moment, the one fear in my head disappeared.


    The fear that I might do something bad to her again.


    If she judged me okay recently, at least I wasnt doing anything wrong.


    Thank you. Thanks for helping.


    Yes?


    At my thanks, she put on a rather puzzled expression.


    Now, go in. Arent you busy tomorrow too?


    I see. Oh, and Physis...


    Yes?


    Be careful in tomorrows tournament.


    Its okay. You dont need to worry.


    As I said before, I''m-


    -You said it because I have to go to a great duel, nothing else... I am well aware of it.


    Okay. Anyway, get some rest. You had a hard day today.


    Even though she put on a slightly dissatisfied expression because she was deprived of her words, she did not forget to tell me to be careful.


    <strong>* * *</strong>


    <strong>[Omniscient pov]</strong>


    n Aiden raised hisnceand looked at his opponent before him.


    Physis, a knight in ck armor.


    Not long ago, he was the one who made all the things he was aiming for in vain.


    n''s expression crumpled.


    Of course, he didnt like all thepliments about Physis that came out of the servants mouth, and his stomach was twisted when he saw the princesses he usually courted with reddish faces looking at Physis.


    Furthermore, Physis was the person who provided the decisive reason for the battle between Rodenov and Aiden, so n had no choice but to hate Physis from bottom of his heart.


    But In reality, it was ns own careless mouth that provided the excuse for the Battle of the Territory.


    Ignoring all of that, n stared at Physis with overflowing hatred and murderous intent, but Physis just stared at him with nonchnt eyes without any change in expression.


    However, even those nonchnt eyes felt as if they were ignoring him, so n burned with even more rage and gripped thence in his hand.


    His goal was to shove thisnce into Physis unlucky smooth face, ttening that proud nose.


    Knocking Physis off the horse? n had no intention of aiming for such trivial things.


    What motivated him to participate in this tournament in the first ce? Wasnt it to woo the princess he liked?


    However, he was greatly disgraced at the ball, and his family was in great danger, so he was ignored by other nobles. The only thing he wanted to do was to bring down the person, who made him like this, to the same level as himself.


    Today, Ill definitely put thisnce at your proud nose.


    Thinking so, n lowered the helmet to protect his face and sprinted towards Physis.


    <strong>* * *</strong>


    <strong>[Physis''s POV]</strong>


    n Aiden; It was not hard to see that the guy was full of hatred toward me.


    ''A guy who knew nothing but still treated others with contempt,'' that was the only evaluation I would give him. Even if a guy like that came running to destroy me with hatred, it just seemed ridiculous to me.


    The National Day ball, the huntingpetition, and even this tourney, in many ways, I thought it was fate that I had no choice but to collide with him.


    But today, it was rather good.


    Previously, he had plotted a rather dangerous trick in the huntingpetition, but I couldnt prove it, so I thought to pay it back before the Great duel somehow. But an opportunity to pay it back came sooner than I expected.


    However, I had no intention of being careless. Judging from the way he fought in the tourney, he must have been pretty good at Jousting.


    There was a risk of getting caught on his side if I was careless.


    I cant lose to a man like him.


    Lets go.


    I said softly to the horse. The horse stared at the front with a rough grunt, as if it understood the meaning of my words. Finally, the g was raised, and he and I started galloping at each other at the same time.


    The moment he and I finally face each other, the surroundings slow down as if time has stopped, and my eyes catch everything about him.


    Where and how to move? Where to stab thence? All of those paths began to be clear to my eyes.


    The guy was aiming for my face. Rather than thinking of winning, would he rather smash my face?


    Yes. Then I will aim at your face too.


    As soon as my horse and his horse crossed, He tried to thrust hisnce into my face.


    ''Absolutely neat technique.''


    He handled thence in the cleanest way than all the knights I had met before this match. So much so that it was understandable to remain in the final round of the tournament.


    Even though his talent for mana was low, it seemed that he had at least one talent to show off.


    But no matter how good he is  If the blow containing so much skill is seen through by my eyes, it will be nothing but a fuss in the end.


    -Whoo!


    I turned my face and avoided hisnce. -Swish!


    The heavy sound of the wind could be heard from thence that passed by the side of the helmet, near the ear.


    On the other hand


    -Bang!


    There was the sound of something breaking; mynce lodged in his teeth shattered.


    The guy was half-lying on the horse, perhaps because he had been struck in the face or because he was momentarily unconscious.


    Soon, his squire came to wake him, and then they prepared for the match again. Rather, the crowd began to cheer at the hot game aiming for each others faces.


    ''2 points for this.''


    Since he didnt fall off the horse fall, the match hadn''t been announced yet.


    ''That means I can still hit him in the face one more time.''


    I red at him with a somewhat evil smile.