571 - - 569. How do you feel?

After overcoming various accidents, the blacksmithing competition was successfully held. The judging proceeded smoothly. It seems that Mr. Gorden's confidence was not a conceit, and he continued to hold the first place until Mel's work at the end. Mel's sword was then unveiled to the public. The Damascus shine, albeit a degraded version, naturally prompted a comment from Mr. Gorden.

"Gina, girl. Are you all right, my dear?"

Kikka asks me a question with an anxious look on her face.

Probably the atmosphere in the hall before I was escorted out by the master. I guess she is sensitive to the suspicion and hostility, but ...... what should I say?

It's not good to say "Don't worry, the master is going to be happy to meet the Goldens.

It would be ...... wrong to use the understatement of "don't worry because he seemed to be enjoying himself.

I know he doesn't have common sense, and I'm not so sure about that either, but I can't honestly tell that to the young Kikka.

I'm not good at sensitive issues like this.

"...... Sylphy is with me, so you don't have to worry at all."

Sorry master. I couldn't think of a better follow-up.

And I'm amazed at the trustworthiness of Ms. Sylphy, who instantly put Kikka at ease.

**

Now that Gina and Bell and the others have been evacuated, it's time to get down to business.

"What do you think, the guild is going to allow this kind of arrogance!"

I'm all for it, but it seems that Mr. Gorden has no intention of confronting us directly and is now biting the blacksmith's guild official who is presiding over the tournament.

I don't know if he's afraid of me or of Yunis, who is defending Mel and threatening everyone around him, but I think it's a wise decision.

I want to see what the Blacksmith's Guild has to say about this, so let's wait and see.

"I can't make a decision myself, so please wait a moment. I'll call the guildmaster!"

The staff member who had been bitten by Mr. Gorden runs off the stage as if to escape.

It's not wrong to throw the matter that one cannot judge by oneself to one's superior, but to go straight to the guildmaster without hesitation when Mr. Tabre is present?

The blacksmith guild who saw Mel's sword was making a fuss behind the scenes, and it seems that they had anticipated this complaint and decided to respond to it.

I mean, the appearance of Damascus, even if it is a degraded version, should have been Guilmouth's presence from the very beginning.

Well, the blacksmith guild is in a state of confusion, so he couldn't participate even if he wanted to.

Well, it's no good just waiting for Guillmas to come, so I'll just mess with Mr. Gorden and the others.

"Mr. Gorden!

"Hey, hey, I've got plenty of witnesses, I'm not going to let this be a mistake now. Whoa, whoa, just wait and see what happens. It's a crime to touch them, you'll get caught!"

When I approached Mr. Gorden through the crowd of spectators, he reacted as if he thought I was about to go berserk.

I don't mean to be rude, but I envy him a little for having the mental strength to come on strong even though he was scared. A little. .......

"I'm not going to go berserk. I mean, there's no reason to."

"Well, you've got the guild on your side, but we've got such a big audience. Even if the guild were to bow down to you, the world would not approve of your methods.

Oh, Mr. Gorden, in his heroic stand against the powers that be, has nonchalantly brought the audience into the mix.

It is interesting to see the annoyed looks on the faces of the audience around him.

I mean, some people ran away from the venue after hearing Mr. Gorden's words, and my lack of trust in him was also great.

No, in a way, does it mean that he is trusted to go wild?

I'm doing a pretty good job of teaching a course on the genie arts and collecting valuable chemicals. .......

"That's why I don't get violent. But that doesn't matter, Mr. Gorden, didn't you and your friends exhibit your work?"

I'm a little depressed, but that's okay, because I'm going to take all this depression out on Mr. Gorden.

"What?　What are you talking about?"

"No, you made fun of Mel a lot, and the winner is one of us!　I thought you couldn't exhibit your work ...... because none of your works were on par with Mel's, even though you were so confident in your declaration."

Mr. Gorden's mouth is agape at my sarcasm. He seems to have lost his voice because he's been told so much. Very funny.

It's funny, but the sarcasm is a mistake. This means that I was dissing not only Mr. Gorden and the other contestants, but all the other contestants together.

There's no need to pick a fight with the other contestants except for Mr. and Mrs. Gorden, so let's be sarcastic and think of a way to diss only the three of them.

"Oh, did they take your work?　That's funny, I got the plan for the attack in advance and asked the knight to stop it, but maybe he didn't make it in time?"

He helps in the shadows and tells no one that he helped. I think that kind of style is cool.

But I can't be cool now, so I'm going to say it. I'm going to say it in a very condescending way.

"What?"

"So, I asked you to help me, but you didn't make it in time?　That's funny, the knights said it would be fine. ...... Well, I know the knights, so I'll check with them. I'll check with them and see if I can get my work back.

Hmmm. He's freaking out.

I wonder how they feel.

I'm so embarrassed that they framed the people who helped them even though they didn't know it, and now they're making it harder and harder for them. ...... If it were me, I'd want to get in a hole, cover myself with dirt, and push myself down hard.

And since the knights and I are acquaintances, it's almost certain that they'll find out later that I called them culprits, which is a pretty nice bonus.

Hey, how do you feel?　How does it feel to be indebted to someone you don't like, and then to call the person you hate a criminal?　I want to ask him.

I don't care if Sylphy looks at me like I have a bad character, Yuta. I don't care... I mean, Sylphy is an accomplice too, she seems to be having a good time...

"That's not necessary!"

Hey, man. You shouldn't have shouted so loud all of a sudden. You scared me.

"I don't need it. If they take my work away from me and I can't compete, I won't be able to convince them. What if they later say that the competition is invalid because I couldn't participate in it?

"......The knights protected me and did not take my work."

Yeah. I know.

"Oh, I see. That's good. I'll thank the knights for you too."

"Oh, thank you. ...... let us thank you too. ...... for all the help you've given the knights. Thank you very much.

He thanked me with a face that looked extremely humiliated. It is strange that I am happier than if he had thanked me in the usual way.

"So you're ....... ......."

Oh, if the words continue to flow under the circumstances, are you planning to confess to the knights that you falsely accused me?

It would have been best to apologize before I knew that the knights and I were acquaintances, but even after I knew that we were acquaintances, it is certainly better to apologize than not to apologize.

It would have made a better impression if we had confessed ourselves than if someone else had told us.

Besides, if I apologize in front of many people, it will be a stumbling block against me, and I will have a better chance to stop them from getting back at me. Not a bad idea.

I could provoke them to stop them from apologizing and then call the knights to come after them, but I'll let them apologize this time since it should be the result of the blacksmithing to break Goldens' pride.

So, come on. Hang in there. Say you're sorry for doubting me.

"When we were attacked, I misunderstood and told the knights it was you. I'm sorry!"

Mr. Gorden shouts out his resolve and bows his head. The other two bow their heads as well.

Well done. That's great. It's ...... not right to be nice to them.

Well, I'll give you a break on this one.

"Everyone has misunderstandings. I forgive Mr. Gorden and the others for apologizing properly.

He calls out from above to the three men who bow their heads.

Their shoulders are shaking slightly, but I wonder if they are shaking from the emotion of my words or from humiliation.

I have a feeling that it would be very interesting if I suddenly crouched down and looked into the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Gorden, but I have decided to forgive them for this, so I will not do anything unnecessary and just assume that they are moved to tears by my warm words.

"Huh?　So you were exhibiting your work?　Was there any work that could beat Mel's?　Did I miss it?"

The Goldens, who had been bowing their heads, looked up and glared at me. I'm sorry, I've just dissed all the blacksmiths except for Mr. Gorden and the other three.

The audience around us looked at me as if I had said something unnecessary just when we were about to come to an agreement.

I forgave him for framing me, but not for making fun of my knowledge of blacksmithing, or for causing Mel so much trouble.

"I'm sorry about the misunderstanding, but not about the work. I, for one, will never forgive your arrogance. We will expose your misdeeds and you will be held accountable!"

Mr. Gorden sounds like a brave man who stands up against evil.

Does that mean I'm the Demon King?

Hmm. I'm too small to be a demon king by myself, but if I include the power of Sylphy and other great spirits, I think I'm powerful enough to be called a great demon king.

...... All right, old men of valor. I'll show you that justice always prevails, and that it's just a convenient story.

......　But I didn't do anything wrong, did I?