"I'll tell you the rules."
When me and the Heavenly Wings Knights are relative, Harold begins to give an overview of the battle.
"The condition of the winner is the crusade of the already existing Deep Eight Devil (Beast), the Demon-Eyed Bamboo King (Dantalion). By the way, do you know about the devil-eyed baboon king (Dantalion)?
"A demon who reads people's minds."
I answer Harold's question.
"He's about four meters long. Among the demons (beasts) belong to the medium sized. The appearance is almost monkey, and the third eye on the forehead reads a man's heart. He is also highly intelligent and understands human language. For this reason, character is cunning and brutal. In the past, there is even a record of unsuccessful Explorers (Seekers) being tortured to the brink of death for a decade. The devil (Beast) is all madness, but the brutality of the devil-eyed baboon king (Dantalion) sucks. When a crusade fails, it is recommended that you harm yourself while you have the leeway. The main way to attack..."
"Mr. Noel, that's enough. Thanks for explaining."
Harold blocks my explanation and coughs gently.
"As for the crusading demon (Beast), Noel explains it. The Heavenly Knights and the Blue Beyond will compete for this crusade."
"I'm not sure what that competition is about?
As Leon tilted his neck, Harold smiled.
"You're right, Mr. Leon. Upon arrival on the ground, I will serve as a witness. Once I give the signal to start, you will be asked to aim for the Devil's Eye Babylon King (Dantalion). And the first successful party to crusade is the winner."
"No, I know that."
It was Kym who said it with a frown.
"But when I take your word for it, I mean crusade the sky out of the sky (Blue Beyond) before the devil-eyed baboon king (Dantalion). I'm sorry, but we're not killers. Even if the opponents were bandits, they didn't kill them, they tied them up and gave them to the gendarmerie. If you're ordering us to kill each other, we'll let you down."
Leon nods at Kym's words.
"I'm sorry to take the chance, but you can't kill people. This is about our backbone."
Can't you kill someone? You seem to be saying beautiful things, but that's a belief backed up by solid strength. Not killing and capturing criminals is naturally more difficult than killing and ending them. Even if they are inferior to themselves.
For this reason, many Explorers (Explorers) organize the Bandit Crusade on the premise of killing. Except for the Heavenly Wings Knights. From what I've looked into, Kym's right, I've never killed a person before. The Bandits have crusaded eight times in total. Some of them were big bandits, but they've kept all of them alive.
Exactly, the Ten Wings Knights deserve the integrity they deserve.
"Rest assured, both of you. I didn't order you to kill anyone."
To the two of us, Harold continues to explain the rules.
"I admit to interfering with the opponent more than it is a contest. But let me stipulate that killing is a violation. The abyss (avis) space will always be monitored with my skills. Therefore, all actions are lost. It's no use trying to kill someone and push the blame on the devil (beast). At that point, the violator's party will be defeated."
"To which line is obstruction allowed?
Harold answers Leon raising his hand.
"Anything if you don't kill me, I just want to say, that's ambiguous. Okay, here's what we'll do. Any further pursuit shall be prohibited if the competitor goes down. If you pursue, you will be judged guilty of murder and disqualified."
"Are you allowed to be in captivity?
"I admit it. However, only in areas where there is no demon (beast) around. Abandoning in a danger zone is considered intentional."
"Okay. Then there's no problem."
Leon exhaled in relief, and Kym and I laughed face-to-face.
I can read what I'm thinking. At the same time that the exam started, I guess you're going to tie us up first. That way, we can focus on the Devil's Crusade.
"Oh, let me add one more thing. Interference is possible only when they enter each other's abyss (avis) space. While outside, any obstruction shall be prohibited and disqualified upon breach. If the shepherd leaves before the exam begins, it's the end of the line. I want to avoid that, too. Do you have any questions or objections?
I raised my hand as they shook their heads.
"I would like more clarity on the provisions for non-test obstructive behavior"
"What do you mean?
"You're only watching us during the exams, right? You won't even know what to do outside the exam. The other day, I was about to be assaulted by Ophelia, a member of the Heavenly Wings Knights. Dear Heavenly Wings Knights, who go by in the right direction of conduct, but their nature is no different than that of other rough men. You feel very dangerous. Maybe I'll take the darkness."
As I said with a laugh, Leon stroked his jaw like he was in trouble.
"Noel, I'm so sorry about that night. We're the bad guys. Please forgive me. I'll never bother you again."
"You think you can believe those words?
"Mmmm...... Okay, you're absolutely right. Mr. Harold, would you do what you say, Noel? We will obey it."
When Leon agrees, Harold nods.
"Now, Mr. Noel, say the provisions you want. But obviously, it can't be a rule in your favor, can it? Leon will admit that the exam will no longer make sense."
"I know. My hopes are easy. Instead of simply prohibiting pre-test obstruction, make it conditional on 'having each other's members in complete condition on the day of the test'. If one person is missing, regardless of the reason, have the exam postponed indefinitely until the members are in place. What do you say? Nobody's gonna lose anything, right?
Instead of losing money, it's a provision that ensures each other's safety. There can't be any reason to refuse. Harold looks at me when two of the Heavenly Wings knights nod.
"Certainly, you guys are a no-loss provision. But an indefinite postponement is not allowed. If the postponement overlaps, the abyss (Avis) will spread. The postponement can only be granted for three days. If you fail to perform the exam after that, you will both be disqualified."
"That's fine with me." "That's fine with us."
Harold looked over at us just as the story came together.
"Finally, this is a condition of participation, not a rule. This test involves special measures. Don't think of it as something you have many times. Therefore, to confirm your readiness, I ask that the loser undertake to dissolve the party. While we acknowledge working as Explorers (Explorers), we do not acknowledge working in the name of the Explorers (Explorers) Association (Guild). May I? If you don't mind, please sign this pledge."
Harold puts a pledge and a pen on the table. First, I signed it. Leon consults with Kym and even hesitates to write his name.
"An agreement has been reached here. The test date shall be noon three days later. Details will be sent by letter again by this evening, so please be prepared until the same day."
When Harold announces exam day, Leon stands up and comes before me.
"Noel, you'll sound arrogant, but our strength outweighs ours by a great deal. If you think about it normally, you have no chance of winning. But you seem special. They have the ability to overturn common sense. So I'll never be alarmed, and I'll do everything I can to try."
It was Leon's big right hand that was offered with the declaration of war. When I grabbed that hand and shook it, I distorted my mouth without hesitation.
"I'll tell you one good thing"
"What?
"Speakers have a high level of intellectual correction among all functions (jobs). And when I rank up as a tactician, I can predict the future with that superior ability to compute."
In fact, even when it comes to predicting the future, all you can see is about two seconds. Beyond that, it can only be a merely accurate prediction. But since I'm the only tactician in the Imperial Capital right now, it'll work well for sure.
"Don't you see. You lost, you cried like hell in front of me."
Leon was frightened for a moment by my provocation, but immediately smiled.
"Looking forward to it, Blue Beyond."
†
†
"Let me start by saying, brilliant,"
The Heavenly Wings Knights left, and it was just me and Harold left in the room. Harold sighs and continues his foolish words.
"How dare you drag a noble party like the Heavenly Wings to a place of contention. Originally, no matter how much you plotted to make it a stepping stone, you wouldn't even have been dealt with. You're losing your mind on that number of tricks. Not even this."
In Harold's hand, there was a single letter.
"I didn't know you'd even counterfeit official documents. Indeed, it could have been effective to push the back of the Heavenly Wings Knights, who were cautious in creating the clan. But it's too much."
"Too much? That's not what the guy who endorsed my plan would call a dialogue."
"I followed your script because it's profitable for both of us. I didn't even admit to deceiving the name of the Seekers Association."
Harold is strong, but he won't be able to publicly rebel any more than he is an accomplice. This is part of the plan.
In the first place, the Heavenly Wings Knights clan application was rejected because I instructed Harold to do so. In order to set the Heavenly Wings on foot, it was necessary to first drag them out into a publicly recognized battlefield. Even if I end up in darkness, it doesn't prove to be anything.
In this regard, a contest over the permission to create a clan, chaired by the inspector of the Explorer (Seeker) Association (Guild), is the perfect place to apply superiority and inferiority and, above all, topical.
Of course, Harold doesn't have to follow my instructions. But it's true that the Explorer Association (Alliance) was temporarily planning to narrow down the creation of the clan.
I don't have to let Loki look into it, it's easy to predict given the situation. Because squeezing and nurturing into promising clans is more valuable fighting power for the upcoming showdown than dispersing requests.
So the story I brought in was a boat to the Seekers Association. Because if the Heavenly Wings Knights, the strongest party in the B-rank band, were to reject the creation of the clan and take the test, the others would have to follow it in silence.
"Mr. Noel, you think I have to forgive you because I'm also an accomplice, don't you?
"I'm thinking, what?
When I answered immediately, Harold sighed deeply.
"You, you really don't have cuteness. I'd like to fry and give you a drink of the dirt from our granddaughter's nails. Then you'll learn to be cute."
"Don't talk nonsense. What are you gonna do when you're down?"
"It's all about diminishing..."
Harold looks straight at me when he changes his face.
"That's all I can do to help, Mr. Noel. From here on out, your power as a Seeker will be tested. Indeed, if we beat the Heavenly Wings Knights in a contest, we will need to significantly revamp your ratings. But can you win? Naturally, the Heavenly Wings Knights, to the Devil of Depth Eight (Beast), who are you now?
I get up off the couch and smile at Harold.
"I'll win. That's what I learned from the Undying Devil."
†
†
Kym, a subleader of the Heavenly Wings Knights. Home to Leon, the leader, and childhood friendly. As an Explorer (Explorer), he is inferior to Leon, but contributes as a spiritual pillar of the team.
But my friend is no other than a buddy, and privately, he seems to be enjoying a drink alone at the destination bar. Leon is also the only one present. Even for that Leon, he's basically alone because he's not a strong drinker.
"... what are you going to do?
When I visited the bar where Kym was going, Kym was obviously on guard. Ignore that and sit in the next seat, ask for wine.
"What are you going to do, I'm asking?
I laugh with my nose at Kym staring at me with a rugged face.
"It's no use being awesome. You remember the rules of the contest, right?
"I remember. But isn't this an obstruction? Whatever the purpose, it's insane to come to your opponent. Don't be alarmed. I can't do that."
"Oh, did you forget the non-test obstructionist provisions?" Each other's members are in full swing on the day. "In other words, contacts are allowed that do not prevent it"
"You, for this reason, demanded that provision?
Exactly. I asked for that provision in order to make sure that my contact would not constitute an obstruction, nor would it give me a pretext to get rid of it with violence on the grounds of contact.
"Hehe, you're a funnier guy than I imagined. Fine, I'll talk to you about what the purpose is. Enjoy me."
"The purpose is one. Kym, betray the Heavenly Wings Knights"
When I told her what to do, Kym raised her voice and laughed.
"Hahahahahahaha! You're gonna kill me laughing!?
"I don't mean to. First, if I kill you, the exam will flow."
"Huh, are you serious? Funny, keep talking. If I hear what you're saying, what do I get in return? Money? Status?
There is a strong willingness on the part of Kaim to tear up whatever is used as trading material. Among the Heavenly Wings Knights, the bond between Kym and Leon, a childhood familiar, is strong. No matter how much money or status you set aside, you won't be able to contact me.
But I knew what Kym wanted so badly that he could get his hands out of his throat.
"Freedom. I'll give you freedom."
"Freedom?"
To Chime leaning his neck, I go on.
"I looked into you in the paper. Every reporter praises it for being a great party. But the only name there is always Leon. You may name the other three, but you're only treating them as an accompaniment."
"... he's the leader, naturally."
"You're not. Because Leon's the only one who's special. You know that best, don't you, childhood friend?
"It's..."
"Why did you give Leon, your disciple, the seat of leader? No, I had to give in? The answer is obvious. Because Leon is far better than you."
"You... why..."
Kym lost his word to me until I knew how relevant it was.
"Kym, the Heavenly Wings Knights are warped. Even if you stay in the clan, you won't be able to keep up with Leon's talents. How much despair will await when that happens? And yet you're going to keep going? Even if you work powdered yourself, you say that only unrewarded results await you. Kym, be free. Now's your last chance."
When I speak quietly, Kym lays her eyes down.
"You're absolutely right. We're crooked. Soon, I won't be able to keep up with Leon. He's a real genius. But..."
Slowly looking up, Kym had a lonely grin.
"Still, I want to support him. I don't want to be free. The only thing that matters is that you succeed as a Seeker. It's my brother's job to support you until the end."
"Are you sure that's all right?
"It's obvious. Well, for a kid like you, I don't know."
Put the liquor bill on the table and get up Kym. Apparently, your resolve is firm. On Kym's back heading to the store's exit, he feels ready to go on hoping for a path that won't pay off.
But no matter how strong you're prepared, it's pointless in front of me.
"If you don't betray me, it's Leon who betrays me first, right?
Kym stops and looks back at me.
"... what?
Yes, the 'third man' fool hung himself in a trap.