The Hero King, Reincarnate to Master the Art of War (LN) - Volume 12 - Chapter 1.1

“H-Hey, wait! I see that look you three have!” Leone protested.

“They’re for sale! We mustn’t eat them ourselves!” Liselotte said.

The three nodded, submitting to the scolding. They would have to pay for anything they ate without permission—and they didn’t have the money for that.

“Yeah, you’re right, I guess. We’ve got to endure... Be patient, Chris!”

“Okay...but can you take over grilling for me? Doing this is making me even hungrier.”

“No way! You know I don’t want to! That’s why I’m out front! We drew straws and everything!”

“Meltina, how about—”

“I’m sorry. I hate being hungry too... And we did draw straws.”

Well, that much was true. They had drawn straws to determine jobs, and Rafinha and Meltina had won the front-of-house job.

“Ugh... I hate having delicious food in front of me that I can’t eat.” Inglis sighed.

Then Rafael appeared at the stall, a gentle smile on his face and Ripple next to him. “Hey, Rani, Chris. You were great earlier. I’m glad I got to see.”

Rafinha perked up at her brother’s presence. “Rafael!”

“And Ripple!”

“That was beautiful, guys! I never would have thought of using a Gift in that way. I just wish Eris could’ve seen it too.” Ripple was smiling, but she seemed a little disappointed.

Eris was still inside the Greyfrier sarcophagus, the device for creating hieral menaces. After examining the one that Eris was within, Ambassador Theodore had determined that her treatment could continue safely. She would emerge, as originally estimated, in around a year.

“It’d be nice if she made it out sooner,” Inglis said, and Ripple nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, it’s a lot of extra work for me when she’s not around. Though I guess she could say the same thing.”

Previously, when Ripple had fallen ill and been involuntarily summoning magicite beasts, Eris had covered her responsibilities for her. They had a long history together as Karelia’s hieral menaces. Now, it was Ripple’s turn to do her best until Eris returned.

“By the way, those snacks you’re selling look great,” Rafael said. “Can I get five of each?”

“Ha ha ha. So, just enough for yourself?” Ripple teased.

“Yeah. I don’t usually get the chance to eat Rani and Chris’s cooking.”

“And you especially want to try hers, don’t you?” Rafinha gave him a knowing smile.

“H-Hey, no, it’s not like that!”

As he protested, Inglis brought him freshly cooked skewers on a wooden tray. “Here you go. Thanks for waiting.”

“Thanks, Chris. It looks delicious.”

Rafinha whispered in Inglis’s ear. “Hey, c’mon, Chris. Why don’t you feed one to him?”

“Huh? But why?”

“Don’t worry about that! Just go ahead! Rafael, Chris is gonna feed you one!”

“Wh-What?! No, c’mon, you don’t need to make her—!”

“No, I’m fine with it. Dig in, Rafael.” Inglis smiled and lifted a kebab to his mouth. Her past life was still very much a part of her memories, so the idea of feeding another guy meat was not an exciting one, but if Rafinha wanted her to do it, then she’d do it. Plus, she’d known Rafael since he was very young, so she didn’t mind that much if it was with him.

“O-Oh! Th-Then okay!” As soon as Rafael’s teeth sunk into the skewer, his face lit up. “Wow! This is really good! I’m impressed!”

“Isn’t it! You know, we reeeally wanna try some too, but they’re for sale, so we can’t just go and eat them. We don’t have money...but we’re so hungry...” Rafinha spoke like she was trying to coax a cat out from under a chair.

Inglis realized Rafinha’s plan all along had been to use Inglis to put him in a good mood before asking him for something.

“Oh, I see. Then can I get another ten orders of each?”

“Aww, c’mon, Rafael! How about fifteen!”

“Huh? Okay, I guess. Are you really that hungry?”

“No, we’ve just got another mouth to feed!” Rafinha grinned and turned to Meltina.

Before long, there were the familiar noises of hastily chewed and slurped food. The stall’s stocks of skewers, pancakes, and soup disappeared in a flash.

“Mmm, tasty!” Rafinha beamed.

“Eating really is better than cooking,” Inglis agreed, smiling as well.

“Pardon our imposition,” Meltina said to Rafael, “but it all really is delicious.”

“I had a feeling something like this would happen...” Leone sighed.

“Don’t worry,” Liselotte said. “It was paid for, so all’s well that ends well.”

“Another healthy appetite came along, huh... I can see why Miriela suddenly had the idea of raising money...” Ripple laughed dryly.

“I’m surprised there’s someone else who eats as much as we do. And especially that—” Rafael cut off before he finished with something like, It’s a princess from Venefic. He had obviously heard of the situation and knew who she was.

Noticing his attention, Meltina lowered her eyes. “Y-Yes...”

Karelia and Venefic were enemies. Not just that, but Venefic’s raid on Chiral was still fresh in people’s memories. Some also believed that Venefic had orchestrated the rimebound Prismer’s destructive attack on the city. So the populace’s opinion of Venefic was by no means a good one. With that on her mind, Meltina was by no means at ease.

“But you can get along with her, right, Rafael?” Rafinha asked, smiling.

“Yeah. Yeah, I think so.”

“Even though I’m a princess of...you know?” Meltina asked.

“You’re a student at the knights’ academy too, though, right? That’s my own alma mater. And of course I’d feel like I have something in common with someone who eats like I do,” Rafael reassured her with a grin. “Try to teach Rani and Chris, and the others, as much as you can about where you’re from. Everything might not be sunshine and roses, but your time together will teach you to understand one another. That’s something of immense value.” Then he turned to the rest of them. “And all of you, treat Meltina well too.”

“Of course!” the Karelians answered as one.

“Thank you, everyone!” Meltina replied, smiling and bowing her head.

“Now, go ahead and eat as much as you want,” Rafael said. “Rani, Chris, that goes for both of you too.”

“Whoo! Three more of everything for me!” Rafinha cheered.

“Same here,” Inglis said. “It’s fun cooking when you know you’re gonna get to eat it right away.”

“Then, I’ll partake as well...” Meltina began.

“Okay. Nine of everything, then,” Leone said.

“Well, at least sales have been good,” Liselotte said. “However, may Rafael’s wallet rest in peace.”

A voice suddenly cut in. “No! This is not good at all!”

Ripple identified the speaker. “Oh, Miriela. What’s up?”

“Huh?! Principal, if it’s about the money, Rafael’s paying! We just want to eat a little more...” Rafinha began.

“Save it for later! It’s time to switch! Inglis, everyone, you have another stall to get to! I had to come get you because you weren’t there on time!”

“Oh, is it already that late? The next one’s where we get our share, right?” Inglis asked.

“Yes, of course. Now if you could get going...” Principal Miriela laughed ominously, and the lenses of her glasses almost seemed to gleam.

“Whoa, what’s with that evil grin?” Ripple asked.

“Er, Miriela. What exactly do you have planned?” Rafael grimaced.

“I had no choice in the matter! Managing the knights’ academy is not a game! Now let’s get going, Inglis!”

“Of course.” Inglis nodded before following Principal Miriela away.

◆◇◆

Principal Miriela stood upon the stage, which was now on ground level, having been moved from the Flygear Port. She called out to the assembled crowd.

“Now, if I may have your attention! These two beautiful young ladies are both in our squire program!”

Beside her, Inglis and Yua were seated next to each other at a long table.

“Beautiful, huh. Yay.” Yua was expressionless, yet she sounded pleased.

“Now, of course, none of our squires have Runes, but that doesn’t stop them from training night and day to protect everyone from magicite beasts! Inglis, Yua, show them your hands!”

As prompted, they showed the featureless backs of their hands to the crowd, who exclaimed in astonishment.

“She’s right, they don’t have Runes!”

“And yet they still fight magicite beasts... That’s impressive.”

“Yeah. Good for them.”

“If you didn’t know them, it might seem like this pair is selfless...” Rafinha laughed.

“Yeah,” Leone agreed. “But we know better...”

Liselotte gave a wry chuckle. “I feel like we’re playing a rather dirty trick here.”

“Quiet down over there!” Principal Miriela barked. “Ahem! These two may not have Runes, but they do have the training we offer at the academy! And today we’d like to show you all the results!”

The crowd buzzed.

“The results?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“They don’t have Runes, so they can’t use Artifacts, right?”

“It all begins with a well-trained body! Physical strength! Who’s willing to challenge one of these girls to an arm-wrestling match? Of course, there is an entry fee, but anyone who wins will claim a purse ten times as large!”

“T-Ten times?! Seriously?!”

“Without Artifacts, they’re just normal girls, right? I mean, sure they might work out, but still.”

“They don’t look all that jacked... Maybe I can take them?”

As the crowd contemplated the offer, Miriela set the hook. “All right, first come, first served! Who wants to give it a shot?”

“If no one else, then I shall!” a familiar voice rang out. Unmistakably, it was Reddas, captain of the Royal Guard.

“Reddas?” Inglis gasped. He himself should know that he hadn’t the faintest chance against her. Or was he a plant that Miriela had schemed to work up the crowd?

“Ooh! That’s Royal Guard Captain Reddas Eyren!”

“Sir Reddas is going to take that girl on?!”

“Um, is that even fair?”

“Okay! Then Reddas, captain of the Royal Guard, will be our first challenger! Hold on to your seats, folks!” Miriela worked the crowd.

“Yeah! Then, if I may!” Reddas strode toward Inglis, expectations of triumph on his face.

“Reddas, are you sure about this?” This might be something that Miriela had set up, but Inglis still felt like she needed to ask.

“Of course! No need to hold back, Lady Inglis!”

“I see.” If she didn’t hold back, she didn’t expect many more challengers, so she did think it would be better to go a little easy on him and make it seem like a close-fought matter.

“Then, reach out your hands, get ready, and... Go!” Miriela intoned.

“Hnnngh!” Reddas was putting everything he had into it—which, for Inglis, was not very much at all. She could win right away, but it would be better to play—

“Ah... Skin as smooth as the finest silk... Holding Lady Inglis’s hand like this is heaven on earth... I don’t think I’m ever going to wash my hands again...” 

Thud!

“Whuh?!”

On reflex, Inglis had slammed Reddas’s hand against the table. She could not stop him from thinking it, but hearing it out loud sent shivers down her spine.

“Ah... Sorry, are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine. I knew I couldn’t win against you, Lady Inglis! But it was worth it anyway!” Reddas laughed loudly as he rubbed his aching arm and stepped away from the table.

“I-Incredible...!”

“A big guy like the captain of the Royal Guard—taken down in an instant?!”

“She may look tiny and cute, but... C’mon, we don’t have a chance.”

Miriela, displeased, whispered in Inglis’s ear. “Come on, Inglis. You’ve gotta sell it a little bit, or no one else will want to challenge you. Just hold back a little.”

“S-Sorry, I just...”

“A-Anyway, is there anyone else who’d like to try?!” Miriela called to the crowd. “You don’t have to challenge Inglis. Yua is here as well!” She pointed to the other girl, who was visibly nodding off.

“Yawwwwwn. Mmm...”

“Come on, Yua, don’t fall asleep! Rafinha! Rafinha! Help me with this!” Miriela called Rafinha up onto the stage.

“I guess... This is kind of a mess, but does anyone else want to—”

Many people took no time at all volunteering themselves.

“Me, Lady Rafinha! Me!”

“Me too!”

“Reporting for duty!”

“Myself as well!”

“Ooh! Okay then, everyone, line up here!” Rafinha said.

The line which assembled in front of Inglis turned out to be full of knights from the Royal Guard who had accompanied Reddas today.

“Lady Inglis! If I may!”

“Even just arm wrestling, it’s an honor to spar with you!”

“Show me how it’s done!”

They all seemed extremely pleased.

“Ha ha ha, Chris, looks like you’ve got a lot of fans in the Royal Guard...”

Her commission as its acting captain had been overridden but never formally revoked, of course. And some had idolized her from when they’d seen her fight off Archlord Evel or Venefic’s raid led by Rochefort.

“Of course. Then, let’s go,” Inglis greeted them as a mellow smile rose to her face.

“Come ooon, everybody! As strong as she is, she can’t keep going foreeever!” Rafinha called out. “Who will win?! If it’s you, you get the honors of having beaten the girl even the captain of the Royal Guard couldn’t! C’mon, give it a try!”

“That’s right. If she keeps going, she’ll get tired and eventually one of us will win.”

“And get ten times our money as a prize!”

“All right, let’s give it a shot!”

Rafinha’s plan was a great success. In no time at all, the line stretched onward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Inglis was giving them a little bit of a reprieve this time around, but still working her way through Reddas’s subordinates. None of them were especially upset about losing, though. In fact, they were grinning.

“Well, we should’ve known we couldn’t beat Lady Inglis, ha ha ha!”

“But Captain Reddas was right. Her hands are so smooth and soft. They’re out of this world!”

“And just seeing my reflection in her ruby-red eyes makes me feel like I’m being taken up to heaven!”

“More than anything else, did you notice that just being around her, something smelled really nice? That alone is enough for me.”

“Yeah, I hear you there! Even the way she smells is amazing.”

“If I just had held on a little longer, I could have stayed close to her that much more...”

“Yeah, that’s my only disappointment.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Listen up, men! If you want more time with Lady Inglis, get back in line! They never said we couldn’t try again!” Reddas was already lined back up.

“Captain!”

“Don’t worry about the price! I’ve got money! So, line up!”

“Yes, sir!” The knights of the Royal Guard merrily returned to the end of the line.

Rafinha laughed awkwardly. “I think they’re kind of missing the point, but I guess it’s fine if they’re willing to pay up just to hold hands with you, Chris...”

“No, Rani, that’s not fine! Once you’ve lost, you should be out!” Inglis groaned. She’d take anyone honestly there to test their strength as many times as they’d like, but these other motivations, she wasn’t enthused about. Even if she was in full agreement that she was beautiful and that her skin was as smooth as silk. Those parts of herself were hers, for her to enjoy, not for them. Her past life had been as a man; how could the knights enjoy holding hands with a man, looking into his eyes, inhaling his scent?

“Nope!” Rafinha insisted. “We have to keep sales up! Do your best! It’s paying for our cafeteria!”

“I mean, yes, but...!”

“Look! Yua doesn’t eat like us, but she’s still trying her hardest!” Rafinha pointed over to Yua.

“’Kay.”

Thud!

Yua had just taken down a large, heavyset man.

“Gwuh?! Oww! You’re really strong! You win!”

“Good try, pops,” Yua flatly congratulated her opponent.

“That’s it, Yua! All right, next!” Miriela was handling the line for Yua, who was churning through the competition as well.

“Oh, wait,” Yua said.

“Huh?”

“Here he is.” Yua looked at a boy who Morris, still a tiny magicite beast, had pulled over by the hem of his pants. He wasn’t a knights’ academy student, but he was about her age and had an attractive, almost cute, face.

“What is this thing?! Why’s it dragging me over here?”

“Welcome,” Yua bluntly greeted him.

“Huh? To what?”

“This.” Yua extended her hand, but he didn’t understand.

“No, really, what?”

“Arm wrestling. Win and you get a prize.”

“But you do have to pay to enter,” Miriela reminded.

“Huh?! I don’t have that kind of money! I need to get back to work!”

Plenty of street vendors had shown up to Field Day. He must have been one of them.

“Work?”

“Yeah, I have to work to pay for my family’s medicine...”

“That’s a good boy.” Yua patted him on the head. For Yua to initiate physical contact, she must have taken a liking to his looks. And that must have been why she’d had him brought to her.

“C-Can I go now?”

“No. Stop him, Beanpole.” As the boy stood up, Morris latched down on the hem of his pants and pulled.

“Whoa!” The boy went tumbling to the ground, his pants falling as he did.

“Ooh!” Yua appeared pleased.

“Wh-What are you doing!” The boy angrily pulled up his pants.

“Don’t worry about that. Let’s arm wrestle. No entry fee.”

“And you’ll let me go after that?! Okay, fine!”

“Okay, then, let’s get this match started!” Miriela announced.

A battle of inches ensued.

“Ughhh...! She... She isn’t giving at all!” The boy’s face flushed bright red as he strained, but Yua’s arm remained still.

“Not shabby for a kid that scrawny.”

“Yeah, even that beefy guy from before lost.”

“I dunno what kinda training they do there, but it definitely gets results.”

But as the crowd commented, the match was decided.

Thud!

The back of Yua’s hand had slammed to the table. The crowd roared in surprise.

The boy blinked in shock. “Huh? I... I won? I didn’t think I had a chance.”

“Congratulations. Take your prize,” Yua said.

“Huh? Wait, did you—”

As the boy began to put two and two together, Yua held out her hand to him. “It hurts. Rub it.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry, yeah, that sounded painful.”

Yua giggled in satisfaction as the boy massaged her hand, and Inglis realized that this wasn’t really any different than the glee Reddas’s men had exhibited upon touching hers, but Miriela was the first to respond.

“H-Hey, Yua! Did you do that intentionally? You can’t do that! Please refrain from letting people win!”

“Our take is just gonna disappear into Boobies’s belly. It’s more worthwhile to give it to him.”

“Ugh...! Th-That’s—” Miriela had no counterargument to that.

“Well, obviously. Yua, you did the right thing!” Inglis said.

Rafinha laughed. “Yeah...maybe you did.”

“Why are you so carefree about this?! Inglis, Rafinha, if that’s how you really feel, then you can cover those costs at the cafeteria!” Miriela insisted.

“No fair!!!” the pair cried out.

“It makes sense, doesn’t it? Just like Yua said, the money from this was supposed to go toward the cafeteria budget!”

“Oh no, oh no...” Rafinha mumbled. “Ah, right, Reddas! Everyone from the Royal Guard! How about if...for an additional fee of three times the entry fee, you get permission to hug Chris before the arm-wrestling match?”

“Really, Lady Rafinha?! We’ll pay! We’ll pay no matter the cost!”

“Hold it, Rani! Don’t just make that up yourself! I don’t want to!”

“Deal with it! There’s no way we can afford covering that purse!”

“Easy for you to say when you don’t have to be the one served up!”

One of the knights then turned to Rafinha. “L-Lady Rafinha! I apologize for the impudence, but would that offer apply to you as well?!”

“What? Me?!”

“Yes! While I mean no disrespect to Lady Inglis’s strength nor her beauty, your lively demeanor simply dazzles me!” Rafinha, having served as the Royal Guard’s acting colonel alongside Inglis, was also a familiar face to the men of the unit.

“What? Really? I guess, if you insist.” Rafinha smiled, a bit pleased with herself.

“No! Rani, no! That’s a terrible idea!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Plus, it’s no good to push it all on you either, right?”

“Exactly! Neither of us should do this!”

In the end, Inglis worked hard and managed to cover the purse with nothing but arm wrestling, but the share she’d expected for herself was gone.

◆◇◆

Field Day had begun in the morning, but now, evening was drawing near.

“All right, everyone! It’s time for our final—and biggest—event of the day! Let’s all go watch the team Flygear race!” Miriela announced from the Flygear Port, grinning.

“Ooh!”

“I’ve been waiting for this!”

“That sounds fun! I’ve never watched anything like it!”

“Yes! Yes, it will be fun!” Miriela replied to the voice from the crowd. “And remember to bet on which team you think will win!”

The course over Lake Bolt was lit up with the same lights that had illuminated Inglis’s group during their aerobatics earlier.

“And now, let me introduce our teams! First up is the knights’ academy first-years!”

Inglis and friends were the first to be introduced. Their team of five was Inglis, Rafinha, Leone, Liselotte, and Meltina. They all stepped forth and faced the crowd.

“Oh, hey, it’s that strong girl from the arm wrestling!”

“And the one who sang at the beginning!”

“They seem pretty strong, but they’re only first-years—the youngest and least-trained of them all.”

“And now, the second-year team!” Miriela announced.

Inglis’s group stepped back, allowing a group of five second-years led by Yua to take their place.

“Yua! Yua! Get up, sleepyhead!”

“Mmh? But it’s almost bedtime... Gotta follow the rules and stay healthy...”

“C’mon, Yua, don’t fall asleep! Ugh, without Morris around...”

Yua was half-asleep onstage, much to the dismay of her classmates around her.

“She was a pretty good arm wrestler too. Just...”

“She’s always dozing off. It’s gonna be hard to race that way.”

“And next, the third-years!” Miriela announced.

Silva and four classmates comprised that group.

“I find the idea of taking bets on the results of our training to be a bit seedy... But if we’re going to do it, let’s do our best.” Silva pushed up his glasses as he spoke from the stage.

“Ooh, he’s got a special-class Rune! Does that mean he’s going to be a holy knight someday?”

“Wait, one of the first-year kids did too.”

“So it’s not clear which one has the advantage.”

Miriela moved on to the next group of competitors. “And this is the instructors’ team!”

“Phew. Being an instructor sure ain’t easy work if you’re even putting us up to this,” Rochefort complained.

“Oh? I’m enjoying myself,” Arles replied. “Wait, Ross, are you feeling all right? You look a little pale.”

“Hah. I’ve just been too busy to sleep. Had to get all sorts of things ready.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Everyone! Let’s show them what us instructors are made of!” Marquez announced, as another instructor waited nearby.

“Huh, only four of them?”

“Is it a handicap, maybe?”

The crowd was surprised by the number.

“And I’m the fifth!” Miriela called out. “As the principal, I’m going to show you what I’ve got!” She herself wanted to be in the race. “And next, the Royal Guard!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha! We’re at the stick of a Flygear every day as we make our rounds, and we don’t slack on the training either! We’ll hold our own this time!”

Reddas stepped forward and declared with much bravado.

“Oh, wow! Even active-duty Royal Guard members are joining in!”

“That sounds all well and good, but...”

“Didn’t they just get completely wrecked at arm wrestling by the platinum blonde first-year? I guess piloting a Flygear doesn’t have much to do with that, though.”

“And last but not least!” Miriela continued. “Rafael and Ripple, leading the Paladins!”

“Whoa!”

Cheers even louder than before filled the air.

“I can’t believe I’m going to get to see a holy knight in action!”

Especially higher-pitched cheers.

“Ahh! Sir Rafael!”

“Look over here! Eeeeee! We made eye contact!”

Rafael hesitantly waved to the crowd. “Ah ha ha. I-I’ll do my best...”

Ripple, meanwhile, seemed to be very popular with the men.

“We’ll get to see Lady Ripple in action too!”

“I can’t wait. Hieral menaces are so beautiful.”

“I wish Lady Eris could have been here too, but even this is more than we ever could have expected!”

“Lady Ripple! Do your best!” several people cheered together.

“Sure thing! I’ll try my hardest! Root for me, please!” Ripple, ever affable, responded with a smile.