Published at 9th of September 2021 12:59:19 PM
76 – To the Busy, Heartless Diamond Hero, a Black Sorcerer is… 2 (Part 2)
「Not happening.」
「The defective Black Sorcerer and Nicola’s chosen hero form that you judged as trash in the past. Together, we will excite the crowd more than anyone there and win!」
This isn’t like me, or rather, this isn’t like「Lem」.
However, if I let this chance slip by, we won’t get another chance to have a discussion.
So it’s fine if I’m a little arrogant. Anyway, I’ll let him hear the discussion and then make him decide.
「Out of the question, SIr Lem.」
「If we lose, I swear to never approach your sister again. As well as…hmm, what would you like? Please let me know if there’s anything I could do for you, like money or otherwise. I’m gonna win anyway.」
Possibly noticing my intentions, he shrugged.
「…My, my. You’re quite the instigator. Your Black Magic is good and you’re skilled at things unsuited for Adventurers. Have you thought about finding a job that makes use of those?」
「That’s not a bad idea. I’ll think about that if I lose.」
Phillip blatantly displays his disdain.
「If…if I lose, I promise I’ll never talk back to you ever again. I’ll do everything properly and won’t just walk out on my own. If there are instructions, I’ll follow them to the letter. I know that you did a lot of things for the sake of popularity, but…but I just can’t give it up. So please, let me take the challenge.」
I’m sure he senses that his sister’s enthusiasm doesn’t come from a mere suggestion or escapism.
The unmoving, purposefully ignoring attitude he had from the start till now was fading.
「…Nico. I…no, but…」
「If you’re worried, how about if we altered the appearance of Nicola’s Avatar? If you don’t know a tight-lipped dealer, I can introduce you to a Dungeon I know. We can secretly borrow their creation machine. If possible, maybe make it look like a Monster? She definitely won’t be found out that way, because even her fighting style will be different, right?」
Said Milla, who was unusually happy as I was about to object.
Philip had a worried look on his face at that comment.
「…If you take the challenge and lose, you’ll do everything I say properly?」
He’s onboard.
We managed to change his mindset from「absolutely impossible」to「considering it」.
「Y-yeah. If I find out that it’s impossible for me, then I think I can give it up.」
「I see.」
「But, I’ll win.」
For a moment, the siblings gazed at each other.
「How about you, Sir Lem? Are you OK appearing in the tournament alongside a Monster? You’re planning on going out as the Black Sorcerer Lem, right?」
「You’re able to freely pair up with anyone in the first place, right? Besides, I like the tournament’s way of thinking. Adventurers and Monsters aren’t good or evil. They are treated equally and either one can win.」
With the exception of his desire to destroy the Dungeon industry, I approve of Fellow’s ideas. I believe her Highness feels the same way.
「If I told you to quit being an Adventurer if you lose, will you still do it?」
「Absolutely, because we’ll win.」
He glared at me.
He doesn’t really mean anything he just said. I know that much.
He is asking me if I have that much confidence and if I am ready.
My expression didn’t change.
It’s not like I’m cooperating out of the goodness of my heart. I’m not entering the contest with a light heart.
「Go ahead and lay down your terms if you two win. If we’re making a wager, it’s not fair if the other side doesn’t state their terms.」
His anger over his sister’s case caused a nasty outburst but I suppose he isn’t fundamentally a bad person.
「I don’t really want anything from you except for one thing.」
「What?」
「I want you to take back what you said about Fenix being second-rate.」
He was shocked and stared in wonder. Soon after, he laughed.
「…Hmph, understood. When the time comes, I will take back what I said and apologize in front of you. But this is still uneven. There must be something else you’d want, perhaps money…ah, I know. The tournament will be aired on TV at a later date, and on the show, they will seek a comment or two from those that lost, and so it goes. If you two become the champions, you would have definitely fought me at some point, right? If I lose, I will praise you and the mysterious Monster you were with on TV.」
Once again, he assumes that he is going to win.
That’s good.
If he loses to the two people he dubbed defective and trash, he’ll put in a good word about us on TV for all the world to see.
As the brother of the Silver Prince.
He placed a bet on the other side of the scale to balance it out. He considers this as something serious.
「So how about you, Nico?」
「Eh? Eh? I can…go?」
「I was racking my brain about it. If this can get your thoughts in order without too much of a loss, then I think it’d be better to let you do it. It’s a shame that we can’t enter together but I’m sure we’ll get another chance. However, I’m entering too. Don’t think for a second that I’m gonna give you an easy win.」
「I…I, I…uhm, what should I…ah, is it alright for me to meet Lem in the future?」
「Huh?」
「We, we became friends! I promised little Cashew that I’d have a meal with her, also…well, there are a lot of things I want to talk with him about.」
「Fear not, O she of silver hair. During those times, I will be sitting with you. Nothing indecent will happen on my watch.」
Milla smiled sweetly.
「…Fine. Sir Lem seems to have magic that affects people’s recognition of him after all.」
「Later you should apologize for all the reckless remarks you made about Lem, Mr. Silver Hair.」
「Ah…that’s right. Then, if I win, maybe I’ll hit you for every bad word you said about Lem. Also, things that you discuss with me should always be discussed with everyone in the party. Whether it be making an appointment with a Dungeon or some other job. And then-」
「…I’ll hear you out later. Feel free to pile on as many demands as you like. I’ll have to follow them as an Adventurer, in order to keep the scales balanced. And so, my lady.」
He looked at Milla.
「If these two become champions, then it can be said that he isn’t incompetent in the slightest. I don’t believe I am wrong about his marketability, but I will recognize his abilities and apologize for my impoliteness. That goes without saying. Which is why even Sir Lem didn’t bother adding it to the list of conditions.」
「Is that so? If that’s the case, then I shall silently look forward to your apology.」
「I see that you have faith in Sir Lem. While I can’t say I understand…well, I suppose he did say he will prove it to me, so I, too, shall look forward to it.」
And with that, this unexpected discussion was at an end.
「Her Avatar will be readied on my end. I will allow the two of you to meet because you will need to work together, but you must do it at the time that I specify in the underground training area of the Adventurer Union in this town. I want the two of you to enter the facility separately, thirty minutes apart. I would also like Sir Lem to employ the practical magic he’s so good at using.」
Looks like he doesn’t want to take any chances with people finding out about us.
I nod.
「Uhm, I’ll do my best. My brother was a real jerk this time, so let’s beat him to a pulp!」
It seems she got as mad as Milla did about the bad things said about me.
Maybe it hit extra hard because she’s one of my followers.
「Let’s win as the form of the hero you desire.」
「…! Y-yeah!」
And that is how it was decided that we would enter the Tournament.
Chapter end
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