## Chapter 158 – Collusion (4)
Aser still looked worried after hearing Lowe’s proposal. Was she going to take No. 25 back with all sorts of excuses after finally finding him? Aser had such anxiety subtly permeating his mind. Eventually, Aser couldn’t bear his worry and cautiously asked No. 25,
“Are you really going to be okay?”
As if understanding Aser’s concern, No. 25 opened his mouth with a brighter smile than usual, as if to reassure him.
“I’m fine. I didn’t get to say goodbye, and I’d feel better if I could properly wrap things up.”
Although he kept it a secret from others, No. 25 had been bothered by the fact that he had left the academy without saying goodbye to the people he had befriended there. He would feel better if he could take this opportunity to properly say his farewells.
However, that wasn’t what Aser was worried about. Although the competition prohibited killing, it was still a place where they would be testing each other’s skills. Because of the academy’s founding purpose, there would be many skilled individuals, and there were at least three people who wouldn’t be able to maintain their composure if they witnessed No. 25 getting hurt by an opponent.
Moreover, the problem didn’t end there.
Depending on the purpose of the tournament, all the Demon Lords would be gathered there, which was Aser’s biggest concern. Even if he excluded the Demon Lord of District 1 because he was the same gender, there was Jane, who had affection for No. 25 but ended things on awkward terms, Orca, who tried to rape No. 25 at every opportunity, and there was no guarantee that the Demon Lords from other districts wouldn’t fall for No. 25 either. No. 25 was like a child left out in the open, causing him great worry.
Charlotte, noticing Aser’s anxiousness and leg shaking, spoke to him in a calm voice.
“Don’t you think it’ll be alright?”
Charlotte, who had accepted Lowe’s proposal more readily than expected, continued to speak, seeing Aser’s bewildered expression.
“For a new beginning, you need to cut off the things that have been holding you back.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Is No. 25 someone you can’t trust? He’s not so disloyal that he’d forget about us just because he goes to the academy. Well… if he falls for the temptations of other women, he’ll get what he deserves.”
Her words, spoken while looking at No. 25 at the end, contained a chilling warning. No. 25 also avoided Charlotte’s eyes, gave an awkward smile, and spent some time reflecting while looking at his own shrunken manhood for some reason. No. 25 changed the subject by speaking to Lowe.
“Are you leaving now?”
“No, I’m planning to stay here until the day of the tournament.”
“Really?”
“What!?”
Their voices overlapped.
Unlike No. 25, who was delighted with a bright expression, Aser slammed his palm on the table and raised his voice in a flustered tone. He was already uncomfortable with Lowe being here, but she was saying she would stay here until the day of the tournament? Why was a Demon Lord from another district saying she would stay here? No matter how desolate District 2 was, the leader shouldn’t be away from their post.
Aser said to Lowe in a sharp voice,
“What about District 2?”
“It’s okay to leave it empty for a while.”
“No, even so…”
Aser trailed off, unable to properly refute Lowe’s words, to the point where the sorrow of the powerless could be felt. Frankly, if Lowe were to forcibly take No. 25 away, she wouldn’t have the power to stop her right now. On the other hand, Charlotte seemed to have reached enlightenment, showing no particular reaction. Aser didn’t voice any further opinions, thinking that he was the only one who found this situation strange, and kept his mouth shut.
Judging that there was no more room for argument, Lowe spoke again.
“I have something to talk about with Ryu, is that alright?”
He couldn’t refuse. It wasn’t a request for permission in the first place, but Lowe’s own gentle notification. Aser crossed his arms, turned his head away, and replied in a curt voice.
“Do as you please.”
Lowe, grabbing No. 25’s hand, got up from his seat and headed straight to the yard without looking at anyone in the reception room. At first, No. 25 thought that Lowe was making time to be with him. But since they came to the yard instead of a private room, he couldn’t help but think that she had another purpose.
“What’s the matter…”
As No. 25 trailed off and expressed his question, Lowe didn’t lose her unique gentle tone, but spoke with subtle pressure.
“You seem to be doing well here… that’s good, but I hope your skills haven’t rusted while you’ve been playing around?”
No. 25 swallowed hard and shook his head.
No, he had no choice but to shake his head. He felt like he would be dragged back to District 2 right away if he answered that question honestly. Lowe, hearing No. 25’s words, raised the corners of her mouth and gave a soft smile, then stroked his head.
“That’s a relief then.”
Compared to when he was fighting all sorts of demonic beasts in District 2 under Lowe’s orders, his experience was naturally lacking, but he couldn’t honestly admit it. Lowe, not completely believing No. 25’s lie, gave a warning again.
“Ryu, you’re skilled enough that you don’t need to worry too much, but carelessness always leads to death in war.”
Lowe’s words, having witnessed countless deaths over a long life, had weight. Moreover, Lowe had seen her parents and his close friends lose their lives due to the aftermath of war, hadn’t she? She subtly revealed her fear of losing No. 25 in that way again.
“Oh dear, I’ve been talking too long.”
No. 25, who had been pondering after hearing Lowe’s words, cautiously asked a question.
“How much stronger do I have to become so that I don’t cause worry to the people around me?”
Lowe answered immediately without even hesitating at No. 25’s question.
“Well… at least you shouldn’t be overwhelmingly defeated by a Demon Lord.”
No. 25 was speechless at the absurd standard and blankly stared at Lowe’s face. Her eyes weren’t lying. She was seriously saying that he shouldn’t be overwhelmingly defeated by a Demon Lord who represented the power of a district? That was impossible unless they were competing on the bed. If that were possible, No. 25 would have become the Demon Lord of a district long ago. Wasn’t she asking too much of No. 25, expecting him to have the strength to treat other Demon Lords like children?
He couldn’t see a chance of victory even when thinking about any of the Demon Lords he had met so far. Even when imagining a battle against Orca, with whom he had the most conflicts, the end was always miserable.
The image of his arms and legs being twisted, his body covered in countless wounds, and being helplessly taken by Orca vividly flashed through his mind.
He hated being taken by Orca more than death, even if it was just Orca. Lowe, seeing No. 25’s eyes, quietly opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.
“There is a way to become stronger right away… but it’s quite a difficult path. Is that alright?”
“Yes, I don’t want to cause worry to the Demon Lord anymore.”
“Alright. If that’s the path you’ve chosen…”
Lowe flicked her fingers with a meaningful smile. At the same time, magical power with a jet-black light sprang from the ground and hid the figures of the two, and after that, No. 25’s figure was rarely seen in the castle except when eating or sleeping.
Aser’s heart burned black as he watched No. 25’s appearance gradually become haggard day by day, but he didn’t express his dissatisfaction, thinking that Lowe had her own reasons. No. 25 also had enough energy to force a smile and talk when he met Aser in the castle, so he couldn’t impatiently push Lowe.
In that way, the month, offered as a sacrifice to Aser’s patience, flew by in the blink of an eye, and finally, the day of the tournament arrived.
Lowe sent a satisfied smile to No. 25, who was breathing heavily, and said.
“All preparations are complete. My dear, there will be very few who can stand against you under the sky now.”
●
All the students are enthusiastic.
The heat of the tournament is bound to ignite passion even in students whose goal in life is to attend the academy without incident and live an ordinary life.
Their 모습, who finally seize victory after blood, sweat, and all kinds of patience and effort, will be an example to anyone.
The arena is filled with crowds, and the host standing at the center of the stage began to greet.
“Long time no see! I am Angela, the host of this glorious tournament!”
The host, who introduced herself as Angela, didn’t waste time with idle talk and immediately pointed to the seven best seats with a view of the entire arena, raising her voice until the veins in her neck stood out.
“I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the honorable seven Demon Lords!”
It was an event that always happened whenever the tournament came around, but it was an invaluable experience for Angela, who was hosting for the first time, and the freshmen.
“Well, the first one is this person. The Demon Lord of District 7 and a gentle charisma! Mr. Aser Olberse!”
Despite all the embarrassing titles, Aser lightly waved his hand to greet the students who welcomed him without any change in expression, then went to his seat with familiar steps.
In the past, he would have focused on watching every match to find good talent, but now No. 25 came first. Hadn’t he been spending time with Lowe for this day? He could finally confirm the answer.
“The Demon Lord of District 6, who raises men as male prostitutes and women as gangsters! An unpredictable and intense charisma, Ms. Orca Scarlett!”
Orca sat down next to Aser with a thud, grumbling as if she didn’t like the sentence introducing her.
“Couldn’t you introduce me with a little nicer words?”
“Well… is there anyone who would look kindly on you, who became a Demon Lord by breaking the rules of the district? They just don’t openly insult you because you’re in the position of Demon Lord.”
“Well, that’s fine. Is that guy coming out?”
Even a fool could tell that the guy Orca was talking about meant No. 25. Aser twitched his eyebrows and said in an annoyed tone.
“Why are you looking for him?”
“Why? Can’t I? Let’s share the good things, huh?”
“You crazy…!”
Just as Aser was about to get up from his seat at Orca’s provocation, someone gently pressed down on Aser’s shoulder and spoke in a soft voice.
“Oh my, you’re still getting along well. But shouldn’t you refrain from doing that here? There are quite a few eyes watching, aren’t there?”
Orca showed an uncomfortable reaction to the huge shadow cast over her.
She hadn’t heard properly because she was busy fighting, but Clara Bell, the Demon Lord of District 5, had already taken her seat next to them. Orca turned her eyes away, sweating even more at the gentle voice that didn’t match her huge size, which was hard to believe for a woman.
“Ugh…”
“I’m not comfortable with this guy…”
Orca, who had turned tail, crossed her arms, turned her gaze away, and abruptly ended the conversation. Clara tilted her head and asked Aser.
“Did I interfere for no reason?”
“No, thank you. I was annoyed with dealing with that guy.”
“Really? That’s a relief then. Ah! Would you like to eat this?”
Clara took out a lot of lunch boxes from her bundle as if she were a girl and handed them to Aser with a bright smile.
The amount was a bit much for Aser to eat since it was made based on Clara’s appetite, but he accepted it for now.
Angela continued the introduction without paying attention to the commotion that had occurred in the Demon Lord’s seat.
“Well, we’re finally approaching the middle. The Demon Lord of District 4! Veronica! It’s no exaggeration to say that this person made all the weapons we use.”
A blonde woman with a small build compared to Clara, but with solid muscles on her body, frowned and approached.
Veronica scratched her head, plopped down on the chair, and complained, loosening her joints such as her shoulders and neck.
“I’m busy to death, but I’m doing this useless tournament again.”
Clara handed her a drink and calmly spoke again.
“Don’t be like that too much. You say that, but you’re the one who took the most students from here, right?”
Veronica clicked her tongue at Clara’s words, turned her gaze away, and replied.
“…I’m short on manpower, and their efforts are commendable.”
“The Demon Lord of District 3, called the mecca of artists and the most free district, Jane Law!”
Jane, who was introduced, covered her face with her hands and hurriedly sat down without even greeting.
People who didn’t know her would think that she was covering her face because she was embarrassed by this kind of event, but those who knew her true nature knew that she had forgotten about the tournament and had been working all night, so she had come with bloodshot, sunken eyes and dark circles hanging down.
“Wow… this person doesn’t need any words. The idol and object of reverence for all magicians. The Demon Lord of District 2, Lowe Ripa!”
Lowe, who appeared with a flock of crows, naturally sat down with her legs crossed and put a pipe in her mouth. The other Demon Lords were chatting and joking with each other, but they only awkwardly greeted Lowe and didn’t say anything else. Her existence was that uncomfortable for the other Demon Lords as well. There was no point in getting involved when their district could be blown away right away if they offended her, that was their rational judgment.
Lowe narrowed her eyes and looked at the arena. She was the most famous for not taking talent, but this tournament was different. It was an opportunity to see the growth of her adopted son and disciple, No. 25, with her own eyes. She probably wouldn’t be spending her time catching up on sleep like before.
“Well… finally the last one.”
Angela, who had been introducing the Demon Lords one by one with a bright expression and even mixing in jokes, swallowed hard.
The arena, which had been cheering at the appearance of all the Demon Lords, also maintained silence for a moment following Angela.
“…The Demon Lord of District 1, Rahart.”
Angela introduced him in a calm voice. No special modifiers were needed. No rhetoric could express him. No, it was rude to even use words to describe his strength. He, who was more than just the strongest, finally revealed his appearance.
His neatly arranged white hair and skin as white as snow, and the mysterious blue eyes floating above it, created a mysterious atmosphere.
His build wasn’t that big. Slightly above No. 25 even if you took it big? The muscles revealed over his clothes weren’t visible either, so you might mistake him for an unremarkable man, but all the creatures in that place could instinctively know. That it was impossible to beat this man.
Rahart waved his hand to greet the people looking at him, then asked Angela.
“Am I a little late?”
“Ah, no!”
“Is that so? That’s a relief then.”
Rahart sat down in the empty seat in the center and immediately opened his mouth.
“Then let’s start right away.”
