Chapter 68: Southern Hunting Tournament (7)

 

This year, I felt that the number of people gathered was unusually large. Both the participants in the tournament and the spectators who came just to watch seemed to have increased substantially from previous years.

 

Upon closer inspection, many youthful faces could be seen among those attending this year’s hunting tournament. While I couldn’t remember the faces of everyone I’d met before, there were definitely new faces that I hadn’t seen in previous years. It seemed that as time passed, a new generation naturally emerged.

 

Of course, it wasn’t simply a matter of age; the news of Orcus and Noel’s participation likely had a significant influence as well.

 

Given that the royal family rarely leaves the palace, even for nobles, opportunities to meet them were scarce. Considering that most children from noble families attend Estelia Academy, there would be those hoping to catch the eyes of Orcus and Noel, who would be enrolling next year.

 

With that in mind, the children dressed in such fancy clothes almost seemed like peacocks courting their mates. Though, in the world of peacocks, it was the males who were flashy. Well, that was just an analogy.

 

Somehow, the overall atmosphere felt generally unsettled.

 

It seemed that way probably because the children filling the space were not yet accustomed to such events. With the arrival of my father and Orcus, the situation seemed to have somewhat calmed down, but I could still see children who looked a bit clumsy and awkward.

 

Experience really did matter in everything.

 

Though these children were nobles and had received systematic education, if they lacked prior experience in this rigid hierarchical society, they couldn’t help but feel tense in the presence of Orcus and Noel. I had always thought that being able to remember my previous life was a considerable advantage not only in combat but in many other areas too.

 

If I didn’t have memories of my past life, I might be as nervous as those children were now.

 

My gaze then moved to Orcus. He was something else. Regardless of his experiences in the royal palace, the fact that he could stand so calmly in front of others at the tender age of sixteen was remarkable. As for Noel, she seemed too excited to be aware of other people’s gazes.

 

As I moved, I felt the eyes on me increasing. After all, the only people with black hair in this place were my father and me. So it was only natural that their eyes would turn to me.

 

However, the emotion mixed in the eyes of those who looked at me was different than when they looked at Orcus. Although it wasn’t overwhelming, it wasn’t insignificant either. The gaze was very similar to what I had seen in Noel’s eyes just moments ago.

 

Though coated with various personal motives, once stripped away, the essence became clear.

 

It was a competitive spirit that heated the skin of the receiver; a desire to defeat me.

 

Given their age, full of youthful vigor, it was not something I couldn’t understand. Although I might sound a bit like an old man, I preferred those who burned with a desire to win over those who despair at the background and abilities of their opponent. Such individuals would become something no matter where they go.

 

Then why did they choose me as the object they want to surpass? There were many knights here with excellent skills besides me.

 

If breaking down. there were three major reasons to point, the first lies in the name I carry: Kraus. A fact that had been repeated to the point of exhaustion, the Kraus family was the most prestigious martial family in the South. My father, Arthur Kraus, was one of the few Sword Masters on the continent, ranked among the top ten strongest individuals.

 

And I was the heir to this illustrious family and an extraordinary individual.

 

This was the reason.

 

Objectively speaking, the influence of the name ‘Kraus,’ specifically from Damian Kraus, was virtually nonexistent. The indomitable fortress-like reputation that the name ‘Kraus’ carried was all thanks to the accomplishments of my forebears. While it was a bit exaggerated to say, one could argue that I had somewhat taken it for granted.

 

In this context, the Kraus name that had been bestowed upon me could appear as a sort of trophy to others. Especially if my abilities fell short of their expectations. Had someone else outperformed me in the tournament, I might have even been labeled as the South’s most overrated martial artist.

 

There was even a chance that they could capture the interest of Orcus and Noel if luck were on their side.

 

The boy standing to my left had been eyeing Noel and me just moments ago. As soon as I stepped away from her, he unabashedly sent me a glare.

 

Well, the reasons people have could differ significantly.

 

Anyway, moving on to the second reason: it was my age.

 

It was not an issue of being too young or anything. The reason simply lay in the fact that my age aligned closely with the ages of the other kids participating here. I had just turned sixteen this year. Given a slight margin, the ages of the other participants would likely not exceed a two-year gap.

 

While it varies from person to person, this was generally an emotionally sensitive period of life.

 

It was what people commonly referred to as puberty. In such a time of exceptionally high emotional ups and downs, children of that age were now gathered in one place. As the children who participated in the competition, everyone must have polished their martial arts, and they would have confidence in their skills based on their efforts so far.

 

And at such a time of stormy rage, a guy like me appeared in front of their eyes.

 

It was an opportunity for them to prove that they were superior to others.

 

If they were to lose to a renowned knight, they wouldn’t be too bothered by it. They’d know that they were merely fledglings compared to a seasoned knight. It was no more demoralizing than losing a casual game to a friend when you’ve already lost to a pro athlete in a formal match.

 

Their gaze as they looked at me was similar. They would never consider me on the same level as a knight. There was something called common sense in the world, and that common sense sets a limit on imagination.

 

Such thoughts gave rise to the possibility that they could win, which in turn fueled their ambition.

 

The issue was that I was, from the outset, an enigma that defied common sense. Measuring me through ordinary logic was tricky.

 

But common sense could also be an unbreakable barrier if it was not directly challenged. Well, even if it was not me, Noel was here. One way or another, their notion of what was possible was destined to shatter.

 

Lastly, the third reason.

 

Actually, this final reason was essentially the crux of the matter. The preceding two reasons had unfolded because of it.

 

The third and final reason lay in my own actions.

 

I had often found myself in these public situations, following my father’s lead. This started when I was very young, trailing behind my father even when others might have thought it too early for me. It might seem akin to what Orcus did, but while he took matters into his own hands, I didn’t. I never had a specific role during those times; all I did was watch my father and internalize what he was doing. That was all he ever wanted from me.

 

Back then, I had a strong tendency to fade into the background, not taking the initiative to act on my own. This inadvertently led to a situation where I wasn’t showcasing any of my abilities to the outside world. Only a handful of individuals, including the knights of our family, knew what I was capable of. As a result, my public image became that of the most unremarkable heir among the Kraus’ successors—neither flawed nor particularly impressive.

 

Had I been proactive from the start, people’s perception of me would have been quite different. They would have seen me as a genius, much like my father. Perhaps the number of those who wanted to challenge me would have diminished as well.

 

But all this was speculative. The things I had said were merely my opinions; they were not absolute truths.

 

Who was to say whether there might be some incredibly passionate friend of mine that I didn’t even know about?

 

“The goal is to win...”

 

Noel had always casually mentioned winning, but achieving victory in such a competition was a daunting task. Apart from the newcomers, skilled knights selected from various families participated in the tournament, making the prospect of winning a distant dream for rookies.

 

Had it been before, I would’ve been the same.

 

I had the skills to compete, but I would’ve settled for decent scores, not wanting to stand out. I would’ve competed in the tournament, content with being better than my peers but not the best.

 

However, things have changed now.

 

The thought of fading into the background was long gone. I had resolved to stand beside Elena, and to do so, I must act differently than before. The last thing I wanted was to be a burden to her. I must excel in all aspects, be it skill or reputation.

 

Fortunately, Damian had the environment to fulfill these criteria; what was crucial now was how I act from here on out. This spring hunting tournament was the first formal stage on which I had set foot with renewed determination. Both Noel and Orcus, my pupils in a way, were full of ambition to win, and as their mentor, I couldn’t afford to fall short.

 

‘But where is Elena…’

 

Preparations had long been completed. All that was left was to mount my horse, but I took a moment to scan the surroundings. Elena was usually easy to spot, but it seemed I was mistaken. I heard from Hailey this morning that Elena seemed to be sleeping deeply, so I came out without waiting. I should’ve waited a bit longer.

 

I had hoped to see her before entering the tournament, but today didn’t seem to be going as planned.

 

I calmed down the restless horse that seemed eager to sprint off into the distance. Everyone seemed to be preparing to leave, and it felt like it was time for me to set off as well. Though I felt reluctant, I guessed I would have to be content staying by Elena’s side when I returned from the tournament, whatever may come.

 

Just as I half-heartedly placed my foot on the stirrup, I caught sight of a pair of purple eyes in the distance.

 

Even though Elena wore an unusually wide-brimmed hat, there was no difficulty recognizing her.

 

Elena arrived before me, guided by Hailey and another knight. She must have run hard; her usually steady breaths were ragged.

 

Everyone quickly cleared a path, and I immediately stepped down from the saddle to stand before her. Elena was hiding her face under the brim of her hat. I approached her to get a better look.

 

“Wait, hold on..!”

 

Elena quickly stretched out her arm to stop me as I moved closer.

 

And so, like a statue turned to stone by some spell, I froze at her words. It was a matter of the heart. Despite outward appearances, it seemed I had been holding onto something emotionally. Seeing Elena’s appearance as if nothing had changed from yesterday, a sense of uncertainty came over me, wondering if it would have been burdensome for her to approach me like this.

 

Had my face betrayed my feelings?

 

Peering at me from under her hidden hat, Elena promptly took my hand. I couldn’t be sure what expression I had worn to make her reach out to me in such a fluster, but it didn’t matter. Once again, the distance between Elena and me had shortened. I gently pulled her toward me, exerting a bit of force on my grip to ensure she couldn’t leave. Elena showed no signs of resistance; she was effortlessly drawn to me.

 

Even as we grew closer, she didn’t remove her hand from the hat.

 

Wondering if something was the matter, I asked. After a moment’s hesitation, Elena moved her trembling lips.

 

“Um...my face is...a bit weird right now...”

 

“What? I didn’t catch that. Could you please say it again?”

 

“Ugh...Seriously!”

 

As I leaned in closer, as if teasing her, Elena pinched my hand she was holding. Yet, instead of wincing in pain, I stifled a laugh and moved even closer to her.

 

I bent down to lock eyes with Elena, who was still hiding under her hat.

 

Her face was a far cry from the usual polished look I was used to, appearing more like someone who’d just woken up from a long sleep. Elena seemed to be embarrassed by her disheveled state, but to me, she simply looked adorable.

 

On the other hand, I felt relieved.

 

Knowing that the reason Elena had asked me not to come closer was simply because she didn’t want to show her disheveled appearance put my mind at ease.

 

I wanted to stay in this moment a little longer, but unfortunately, my time was running short. Others had already started to depart, and if I were to aim for victory, now was the time to leave as well. Seeing others set off, Elena quickly placed something in my hand that she had been tightly gripping in hers.

 

It was a white crystal tied with a string.

 

It looked too crudely tied to be a valuable ornament, more like a handicraft made by someone inexperienced. I asked her with a faint smile, “What’s this?”

 

“Um, think of it as a kind of amulet?”

 

“Elena, your lips are trembling. You know using magical items is prohibited in the tournament. Do you have that little faith in me?”

 

“It’s not a magical item! If you keep saying that, I’m taking it back!”

 

“Ah, ah, I’m kidding. Just kidding.”

 

I coaxed the crystal back from Elena and hung it around my neck, tucking it beneath my clothing. It was an unexpected gift, to say the least. I had never seen her give out amulets in the original work. The thought that it might be meant solely for me made it more precious than anything else I possessed.

 

Before mounting my horse, I took Elena’s hand—still pinching mine—and gave it a brief kiss.

 

Perhaps because it wasn’t her lips I kissed, Elena seemed not much more disconcerted than before. Though her eyes quivered slightly as they looked at me, she didn’t avoid my gaze.

 

“Then, I shall be on my way.”

 

“Yes, take care.”

 

Today, the goal was victory.

 

And it didn’t seem impossible, either.

 

--- END OF CHAPTER ---

 

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