Chapter 7. The Bet

‘They say that coming back from the dead changes a person. Usually for the better. But…’

Chris was looking at the 15-year-old 5th Prince, Maxim, who was standing crookedly with a face full of dissatisfaction.

‘He’s become a delinquent.’

His heart felt heavy. He regretted not checking his head right after the accident, only his body. He thought that if he had just checked his head then, he wouldn't have lost his memory and his personality wouldn't have changed like this.

‘Everything else has changed, but why is his obsession with revenge still the same.’

The heavens were indifferent. The only saving grace was that his eyes were alive. His words and actions were rough, but his intelligence…

“Mana Circle? What? It's better than a Mana Heart?”

‘It wasn’t intelligence, it was madness.’

Chris closed his eyes. He couldn’t help but despair at that reaction even after reading the history of knights.

“Do you know a thing or two about Mana Hearts?”

Maxim asked Chris, standing with one leg bent. Chris almost let out a hollow laugh. Usually, the lord of the border was a 4-circle knight. The reason Chris himself could rise to that position was because he was one of the foremost intellectuals in Poinus. That's why Chris found Maxim's words absurd.

“I don’t know how it looks to Your Highness, but I probably know the most in this country.”

“Is that so? You know the most?”

Maxim sneered. Chris was annoyed, but he endured it by just hardening his face.

“Creating a grain-sized Mana Heart doesn't mean you've realized everything.”

“This one is a bit small. But I think I know more than someone who has never even made one.”

“Books are where the knowledge and experience of pioneers are melted. You can know enough without making a Mana Heart.”

“Pioneers, knowledge, and experience. You're kidding me. What? The knights of the Mana Circle are stronger than the knights of the Mana Heart?”

At Maxim's words, a muscle in Chris' face twitched. It went beyond annoyance to anger. But as the person who had looked after Maxim, and as an adult who had lived longer, he couldn't get angry at a child, so he let out a sigh and calmed his mind.

‘A foolish self-justification.’

And he tried to understand Maxim's reaction. He saw it as him being angry and unable to accept it because he was told that the Mana Heart he had created was weaker than the Mana Circle.

‘Yes, he’s young, so that’s understandable.’

Because the world he knew was small, because his experiences were meager, it wasn’t strange for him to be so foolishly stubborn.

“If you had read the book properly, you wouldn’t be asking such a question.”

There was a time when the knights of the Mana Circle were pushed back by the knights of the Mana Heart. The knights of the Mana Heart said that the Mana Circle was a cheap trick and not something a knight should learn. And they were thoroughly intoxicated with their own swords.

The knights of the Mana Circle were clearly aware of their weakness. So they worked tirelessly to become stronger. They created and developed swordsmanship that fit the Mana Circle. In the end, the knights of the Mana Circle surpassed the knights of the Mana Heart.

This is a clear history. No one can deny it. And yet, a rash 15-year-old prince was denying it.

“Want to make a bet? Whether the knights of the Mana Heart are stronger, or the knights of the Mana Circle are stronger.”

At Maxim's words, Chris' expression contorted greatly.

“Why? Scared?”

“Ha! Who’s scared?”

Chris, who had reacted, let out a sigh mixed with lament.

‘An adult, to a child…’

He was ashamed of himself. He thought about how to take back the words he had spoken.

‘Is there a need to take it back?’

He changed his mind. He thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to give Maxim a good scolding this time and make him come to his senses.

“How do you plan to judge?”

“We can have a match.”

“Are you going to step forward yourself?”

“Of course. Is there anyone else with a Mana Heart besides me?”

“There isn't. Then I will prepare the Mana Circle knight.”

“Alright. Do as you please.”

“What are you going to do if I bring a 3-circle knight?”

Chris pointed out Maxim's arrogance, who was acting overly confident. At that, Maxim looked at Chris with a pathetic expression.

“You're not that stupid, are you? Why? You don't want a bet, you just want to punch me?”

At Maxim's words, Chris flinched. It was only natural to proceed with reasonable conditions to make the opponent submit.

‘So there’s still some intelligence left in that madness.’

Chris erased Maxim's age from his mind. Because he thought he might go easy on him if he thought about his age.

“Alright. Then what will Your Highness bet?”

“You go first.”

“Very well. If I win, you will do as I say. If I tell you not to take revenge, you won't, and if I tell you to go to the north, you will.”

Maxim, who possessed a Mana Heart, and the old sword he had shown.

Chris judged that he could not use Maxim as his sister's sword. Because a sword that lagged behind the Mana Circle would only bring death.

“Alright? I'll do that.”

At Maxim's answer, Chris was slightly flustered.

‘He just accepted it? Without any negotiation?’

He had expected him to resist, of course. He thought he might throw a tantrum to get what he wanted. But Maxim accepted it without any hesitation. Chris felt a little uneasy.

“Then it's my turn, right? If I win, give me the information on why my mother died and the guys who tried to kill me.”

“……”

“What are you pretending not to know for? You've already investigated it all, haven't you?

Hand over all the information you have.”

Hearing the conditions, Chris contemplated what to do. He couldn’t say he didn't know. It was because of the conversation they had just had. If he said he didn't know, he would clearly be seen as a liar. Then all his future words would lose their power.

“Alright. Then let's do it in a fortnight.”

“Alright.”

And so, their bet was made. Chris wore a determined expression, and Maxim did not hide his sly smile.

* * *

“Rodrigo.”

Chris, who had found a restaurant in the city, called out to Rodrigo who was in the middle of a meal.

“Oh? Count Dorléans. How did you know I was here?”

“I had some business to attend to. And I thought you might be eating here.”

“There are many restaurants in the town, it's amazing that you found this one.”

“Mages have a good sense.”

Chris, smiling warmly, took a seat at Rodrigo's table. Rodrigo handed Chris a menu.

“How did you find His Highness?”

At Rodrigo's question, Chris crossed his arms and slowly exhaled.

‘I can't say he seems crazy, can I?’

Knowing Rodrigo's feelings for Maxim, he decided to hold his tongue.

Seeing Chris' serious expression, Rodrigo became anxious.

“Is it bad? Is it difficult for him to even use a wooden sword?”

“No. It's fine for him to use a sword. In fact, it's better for him to use a sword to build up his body.”

“I see.”

Rodrigo nodded with a calm face. Chris found Rodrigo's reaction strange.

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Rodrigo hesitated to answer. He was contemplating whether it would be better to bring out the thought he had been harboring or not.

“Good grief. You're making me frustrated. It's me, not some other person, what are you so hesitant about?”

“Um… I was just wondering if His Highness really has to use a sword.”

“Why do you think so?”

“As you know, Count, His Highness has no talent for the sword, does he? He suffered that incident because he was trying too hard to become a knight.”

Thinking of Maxim, Rodrigo wore a gloomy expression. Chris just stroked his chin without any particular reply and thought of Maxim.

‘He has no talent. But what was that sword?’

The two stances Maxim had shown with the wooden sword wouldn't leave his mind. Especially the second one, he couldn't forget it.

‘It was definitely Philip III's sword.’

It was a sword that was no longer passed down because no one used it anymore. And yet, Maxim had wielded it. Chris focused on that part. He thought it might be related to him creating a Mana Heart.

“I understand your feelings well. But let's watch a little longer regarding the sword. Isn't it what His Highness wants? Even if we tell him not to do it now, he will. So let's wait. When a suitable reason arises, His Highness will also put down the sword.”

“A reason… I understand.”

“By the way, I have a few questions.”

“Questions? A person who knows more than I do has questions?”

“That’s just how life is. Did His Highness ever ask for a book about knights? Not a recent one, but a very old one.”

“Ah… I brought him ‘The History of Knights.’”

“Not that book. I mean a book about Philip III, or the knights of that era.”

“No. He hasn't.”

Rodrigo answered immediately without any hesitation. Chris was taken aback. Because he had naturally assumed he would have read the book.

‘Did he really do it instinctively?’

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

“Then, among the books His Highness has, is there one about the Mana Heart or Philip III?”

“Um… I haven't seen one. But why are you looking for such an old book?”

“Hasn't His Highness' way of speaking become much cruder?”

“That's right. He has changed a lot. I should have served him better, but I couldn't…”

“I don’t think it has much to do with that.”

At Chris' answer, Rodrigo's dark face brightened. And a question mark appeared.

“What is the connection between His Highness' way of speaking and old books?”

“Weren't the old knights rough? So I thought he might be imitating that part.”

“Ah, that could be it.”

Chris stared blankly at Rodrigo who agreed so easily.

‘Is he naive, or a fool?’

He wondered if Rodrigo might be partly to blame for Maxim's reckless behavior.

“You son of a bitch!”

A commotion broke out in the back of the tavern. Chris stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting.

“What's going on all of a sudden?”

“Business. You don't worry about it and just eat your food.”

Chris told Rodrigo to eat and then walked over to the place of the commotion where people were gathered.

“Where do you think you're trying to pull a scam? You fucking bastard!”

“What scam? Is it a scam every time you lose money? You moron!”

“I saw it with my own two eyes! Where do you think you're lying… who are you?”

The man who was talking about the scam looked at Chris who had placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I'm someone who has business with the guy who scammed you.”

“You're his accomplice?”

Instead of answering, Chris shoved some money into the man's pocket.

“I'd appreciate it if you'd quietly step aside.”

Then he stared at the man who was being accused of being a swindler. Speaking with his eyes that it was time for a conversation.

* * *

I stood in the training ground with a wooden sword. Chris would bring a 1-circle knight. The chances of me achieving 1-star before that were not high. In that case, the 1-circle knight would have the advantage no matter how you look at it. The amount of mana they could use was on a different level. But that didn't mean I would lose.

“How long have I rolled around on the battlefield.”

You shouldn't ignore experience. But there are things that can't be done with just experience.

“I can't remember!”

I couldn't properly remember the sword Philip III had used. It was a sword I had seen in my twenties. I died well over 50, so it's not easy to clearly remember a sword I had briefly seen 30 years ago. I had been impressed, but I hadn't seen it with the intention of using it myself.

“Your Highness, please don't overdo it.”

Rodrigo, standing at the entrance of the training ground, said. He looked at me with worried eyes and brought some medicine that was good for the body.

“Even though you've gotten better, you should refrain from strenuous movements.”

“Rodrigo, you don't know much.”

“What do you mean?”

“The more you use your body, the stronger it gets.”

“What?”

Rodrigo looked at me with a nuance of ‘what kind of nonsense are you talking about.’

“You don't know much. Your shoulders, your knees, the more you use them, the stronger they get.”

Rodrigo's face contorted as if to say, ‘what kind of bullshit is he spouting so casually.’ Not only him, but the sentry guarding the front of the training ground had the same expression.

This won't do. I have to show them with actions rather than words.

“Bring a wooden sword.”

“A wooden sword? What about the wooden sword you're holding…”

“I'll use this one. What about you, Rodrigo? Are you going to try with your bare hands?”

“What? What am I doing with my bare hands?”

“Swordsmanship.”

Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. That goes for both Rodrigo and me.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and bring it.”

“No, I… what are you going to make me do with a wooden sword?”

“A light friendly match.”

“A friendly match? I am the one who serves Your Highness…”

“Hey, Sir Rodrigo. I'd like to observe your swordsmanship.”

“……”

“Ah! Why? I’m asking so politely.”

“Was that polite?”

“Then what? Do I have to swear? Or should I throw a tantrum here?”

“No. I will bring it.”

Rodrigo shook his head as if he had no choice and brought a wooden sword.

“Good. From now on, Rodrigo and I will exchange swords.”

“What?”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“No, Your Highness… this is too dangerous. I cannot do it.”

“That's why we're using wooden swords.”

“Your Highness, it is truly dangerous.”

Rodrigo said that if he, a 2-circle knight, wielded a sword, no matter how much it was a wooden sword, he could be seriously injured.

“Hey, you won't get hurt.”

“No. You will get hurt. Ask the sentry over there. He will say the same thing as me.”

“Want to make a bet?”

“How could I make a bet with Your Highness?”

“Why? Take this opportunity and tell me what you want, Rodrigo.”

Rodrigo let his sword hang low and contemplated something. It's all a lie that he doesn't want to do it.

“Um… will you grant me anything?”

“Hey, have you only been deceived in your life? Of course, I'll grant you everything.”

Hearing the answer, Rodrigo took a deep breath and his eyes became serious. He seemed to be hoping for something big. What on earth did he want?

“If I defeat Your Highness, please give up the sword.”

At Rodrigo's words, the sentry let out a 'Huck!' He seemed to think he had crossed the line.

But considering what Rodrigo had shown so far, it was understandable. Because he was a person who cherished the 5th Prince like his own child. The 5th Prince had also come back from the dead.

“Alright, let's do that.”

“Really? Will you really put down the sword if I win?”

“Yeah. Instead, if I win, get me an elixir.”

The only best medicine to instantly boost my poor physical condition is an elixir.

“How can I get an elixir…”

Of course, I had no expectations. If it had been easy to get, he would have found and fed an elixir to the 5th Prince when he collapsed.

“Get me something similarly good. If you don't want to, you can just win.”

“Yes, very well.”

Rodrigo's will burned as he readjusted his grip on the sword.

“You'll have to do your best.”

“Of course. But I will not use mana.”

“Do as you please!”

With the answer, I launched myself towards Rodrigo.