The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 9 Part 11
Upon hearing the news that Kirthalros had also been the first to raise the flag in the third trial, Rahil clicked his tongue and rose from his seat.
“There’s no need to listen any further…Anais.”
When Rahil held out his hand, she took it and stood up with him. By the time the candidates had entered the third trial’s grounds, the imperial carriage had already been prepared.
Duke Noer kept his head bowed until the Emperor and Empress departed. Once they were gone, his face brightened considerably.
“Kirthalros, you say. I’ve never heard of such a family. Where do they hail from?”
Duke Odesa asked with a displeased look. He had recommended a young man known for his exceptional martial prowess as a candidate this time, and everyone had predicted that man’s victory. Naturally, Duke Odesa was quite unhappy.
“They are from the Larka region. Three generations ago, they earned a title without lands for their service in the war. It’s only natural you wouldn’t have heard of them.”
‘Three generations ago… A house like that should’ve disappeared by now.’ Duke Odesa grumbled under his breath, but Duke Noer pretended not to notice. He leisurely headed toward his carriage with his wife, who tilted her head in his direction with a look of utter puzzlement.
“Not lacking in looks or ability… Where did you find such a young man, dear?”
“He came to us first after hearing about the festival. It worked out well, don’t you think? Our family’s reputation is in tatters because of that incident, after all.”
But the Duchess of Noer didn’t seem entirely convinced.
“He’s drawing too much attention. If his origins are uncertain, this might cause trouble down the line.”
“There will be no problems. He’s not someone aiming for advancement.”
Duke Noer answered this way but immediately flinched, glancing at his wife. It would have been better not to say that. His wife was now staring at him with a face full of suspicion.
Just then, they reached the carriage and climbed aboard. Once the chamberlain closed the door and the carriage set off at the Duke’s order, the Duchess spoke in a sharp voice.
“Then what is it he wants from participating in this contest?”
“He said…he wanted money. He claimed to need it for a sick family member back home.”
“Money?”
The Duchess glared at him as though she had just heard something unbelievable. Of course, he couldn’t tell her the truth. The fewer who knew the secret, the safer it was. The Duchess tried to press him further, but Duke Noer sealed his lips tightly and said no more.
***
‘How utterly tedious these human ploys are.’
As Duke Noer had predicted, Kirthalros didn’t know how to use human weapons such as bows or spears. Even so, he had secured first place in the trials for one reason alone: he used magic.
Until now, no one had ever cheated by using magic in these trials. The requirement that the witness must be a knight, combined with the fact that no mage had ever participated before, had prevented it. But Kirthalros, a mage, had no such constraints.
That was how he came in first in both the first and second trials. Whenever an arrow was shot or a spear thrown, he simply enchanted it to pierce straight through the target in a single try.
The third trial presented a slightly more troublesome challenge.
There, instead of hitting a stationary target, the candidates had to withstand ten attacks from an imperial knight. To get around this, Kirthalros cast an illusion spell on the knight, disorienting him completely.
Now came the final trial.
‘They said a mage is going to summon the monsters. If I use magic, he might notice.’
Still, he wasn’t too worried. After all….
GARRRR, GRRRRR….
The chimera, meeting his gaze, cowered, unable to look him in the eye. With a cold smile, Kirthalros approached it.
He currently wore the weak form of a human, but he hadn’t bothered to suppress his aura. The aura of a dragon could make those with weak wills foam at the mouth and lose consciousness. Realizing the presence of an overwhelmingly powerful being, the chimera simply trembled, too frightened even to think of resisting.
Kirthalros approached the defenseless chimera and, in one swift motion, severed its head.
Though he lacked any real technique, the sword he wielded was magically enhanced, and combined with the terrifying strength of a dragon’s body, even a clumsy slash was enough to take the chimera’s head clean off.
With Kirthalros winning first place again in the final trial, his witness wore a shocked expression. Undoubtedly, the witness now believed Kirthalros to be an incredibly powerful warrior.
‘Well, it’s not like he’s entirely wrong.’
Now, all that remained was heading to the arena to meet Anais at a closer distance.
***
“Waaaaaaah!!”
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the candidates for the Maiden of Abundance entered the arena surrounded by children dressed as autumn spirits. The singing of the leading candidate, magically amplified, reverberated through the stadium. As the first candidate’s song ended, the next began, followed by a line of farming families who paraded in turn.
Fitting the theme of autumn, their decorations featured vibrant reds and yellows. Unlike before, it was now Empress Anais who offered words of praise and announced the start of the contest.
Within the arena, cages bearing each family’s banner had already been arranged. Imperial officials wheeled in carts containing rabbit hutches, and at the signal, released the rabbits into the arena.
“Ahahaha!!”
“Wooooooaaah!!”
Rabbits darted in every direction, and the noble ladies rushed about, trying to catch them. A huge hourglass stood on one side of the arena, showing how much time remained.
The young ladies, who usually never engaged in rough activities, ran and stumbled in pursuit of the rabbits, working up a sweat in the process.
Rahil, having just heard the news that Kirthalros had taken first place again in the final trial, frowned deeply. The problem lay beyond that fact.
“But… there is something unusual about the situation.”
“What is it?”
The chamberlain relayed precisely what the official had told him: The chimera had completely wilted at the sight of Kirthalros, and that his swordsmanship appeared suspiciously inept.
