CH 67

"The winner of the Match, Asuna Lanmark‼"

Elias raised his voice in a high tone, and the flower girls all praised both of them at once.

Asuna helped me, who was lying on the ground, to get up.

Then, another loud cheer echoed around the area.

I looked a little embarrassed at the sight of them and said,

"That's amazing, isn't it? I'm embarrassed."

"It had been a long time since I had had such a great match. Thank you so much, Master Rid."

After finishing her words, Asuna bowed to me.

It was as if her earlier behavior was a lie. I said to her.

"I think we will have another chance to fight or train together, but I don't want you to worry about it again. okay?"

"...... Another time? By all means, please let's do it."

She looked a little surprised at my words, but her expression was very pleased.

Listening to her voice, I was surprised to hear so many voices praising me as well as Asuna's.

"Master Rid, Asuna-dono, that was a very wonderful demonstration!"

"This performance will be passed down in the history of Renalute."

...... I could hear various other voices as well. I mean, I was desperate to do it, but it looked like a demonstration to those who were watching.

Then a soldier came running to our place.

" Master Rid, Mister Asuna, His Majesty Elias wants to see you.

"I understand. I will come immediately."

I understand. I will come immediately.

We immediately went to Elias. By the way, I left the wooden sword I was using at that time at the venue.

◇

I went to the edge bleachers, where Elias was sitting in a chair, and Farah came up to me on a small run.

Asuna, Master Rid, that was very impressive , Master Rid, well, you lost, but it was very cool of you to make Asuna fight that hard."

Fara looked a little excited and spoke with her ears raised and lowered.

I knew I wanted to touch her ears. I suppressed this impulse and answered with a bow.

"Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lady Fara. But still, Asuna-dono is too strong, isn't she? But I can't keep on losing. I'll try to win next time. ...... ."

I first spoke while looking at Fara, and then I said my last words to Asuna.

Asuna looked a little surprised, but smiled happily and then said.

" I am looking forward to your challenge. But I do not intend to lose easily either."

As Asuna finished her sentence, I started to laugh, for some strange reason.

I am not sure what kind of emotion I am feeling.

But it was something fun and I naturally burst into laughter.

Then Asuna started to laugh along with me.

Fara looked at us and tilted her head.

When we reached Elias, we kneeled down on one knee and bowed our heads.

Elias looked at us and then said in a high voice so that everyone could hear.

"Both of you, Master Rid and Asuna, did a wonderful job in your performance. I don't think any of us here have ever seen such a touching performance before. If any of you are dissatisfied with this match or with Rid's abilities, come forward now and say now".

No one came forward at his words.

Elias, who seemed satisfied with performance, gave a nasty look to Norris, who was standing nearby with a grim expression on his face, and waved him off.

:Norris has no complaints, does you?　You recognize the power of Mister Rid, don't you?"

"..... Yes."

Norris answered Elias's call with a heavy, low voice.

The face was oozing with an indescribable sense of regret.

It was a picture that seemed to show what Elias usually thought of him.

But he did not finish it easily either.

"..... Your Majesty Elias, Mister Rid seems to have a great talent. In this situation, we should also ask him to show us his talent in magic."

Elias's facial expression turned grim at Norris's words and he glared at him with sharp eyes.

Seeing this, I spoke up, raising my hand rudely and respectfully.

'May I speak, Your Majesty Elias?"

"What's wrong, Mister Rid?

I looked up after hearing Elias' words.

"I don't mind showing you the spells , but may I take a short break?　As expected, I'm a little tired from the match with Asuna-dono."

I am afraid that if I let him talk to me, he will ask me to show magic right now.

As expected, I would not say that I have no magic, but I am really tired.

Wanting to rest a little, I made the first move.

I understand If you say so, that's good. Then, after a short break, I will ask you to show me your magic. Is that all right?

"...... Yes,  sir."

Norris, who was listening to the exchange between me and Elias, nodded with a slightly bitter look on his face.

"Okay, let's take a break."

Elias stood up from the chair he was sitting in and went into the mansion.

I'm going to report the results of the match to my father and the others.

Once Elias and Rid were gone from the scene, Norris quickly started to head to a less crowd place.

No one noticed that someone was following Norris' figure with their eye

Norris was in a hurry to call " shadow" in an area that is not crowded.

(Why is it that doing so much backfires?　Was it wrong to use Lacis as a pawn ?　)

But what was fatal to Norris was the Asuna vs Rid.

Before the start of the match, Norris had told a lot of bad rumors about Rid , but that image had been wiped out by the match.

And the price for the publicity was turned on Norris, a karma .

How could such a person, who takes pleasure in hurting others, stand up to a strong man so bravely and squarely?

If the opponent really had such a temperament, Asuna would have put him to death in the course of the match.

Then, who was right, Norris or Lacis?

Which one of them is looking at the situation in a malicious way?

The nobles, who were told of the rumors , were disgusted by Norris's malicious viewpoint.

It made Norris's centripetal force almost nonexistent outside of his own faction.

'......It's often said that if you curse a man, you curse two holes."

"I did what you advised me to do in the first place."

Norris was furious at what he was told by the shadow he had summoned, and while he kept the his voice down, his tone was full of anger.

The eyes in Norris's shadow narrowed at the sight of him, and he spat out the words as if in disgust.

"You seem to have misunderstood something."

"What do you mean?"

"I said i would help you because of your influence and your ability to unite the opposition. You have lost it . I gave you advice in the first place, but your words and actions are to blame for the situation you are in now. Are you underestimating us?"

As soon as the shadow figure finished his words, he pulled his hand out of the shadow, grabbed Norris by the neck, and tightened it. Norris suffered as he rolled his eyes at the unexpected event.

"Ugh...... what are you ...... doing?"

"I'll say it again. You are mistaken. You are not manipulate me . I am using you. Do your best not to be a pawn in my game".

The physiognomy floating in Norris's shadow said in an emotionless voice with squinted eyes.

And then it watches him suffer, as if observing him closely.

Finally, just as he was about to pass out, he let go of the shadow.

Norris collapsed on the spot, coughing and gulping air.

He gulped down air as he coughed, "Gahhhh!

The shadow, which had been looking down at Norris as he gulped down air, muttered in a voice that he could not hear.

'You may as well tide yourself over here, .......'

As the shadow's physiognomy finished, a hand began to reach out from the shadow and slowly move toward him as he coughed.

Norris, however, is too busy in gulping air to notice.

Just then, the hand reaching for Norris stopped.

The shadow senses the presence of a human .

"Hmmm......... you're a bad-luck one. Remember, Norris, I am using you.　Don't forget that "

"Ggghh !"

Norris felt unspeakably humiliated as he realized that he had been used, but had only been taken advantage of.

Damn , you're just a shadow ......."

When the shadow confronted him with the truth, all he could do now was swear.

At that moment, a voice called out to him.

"You seem to be in a lot of trouble, Norris. Can I help you?"

Norris was startled by the voice, and got up to his feet and giggled as he found the owner of the voice.

(I am not finished yet. Heaven says I still have work to do ...... .)

The unexpected appearance of his collaborator convinced Norris that he have not lost yet .

T/n I  dunno if i will be able to post chapter tomorrow