[Physis's POV]
The dark night enveloped all the areas and the lights on the streets also started turning off. Finally, it was time for the end of a fun-filled celebration.
Of course, the celebration will continue throughout National Foundation Day, but it was not possible for us to come out like this every day, so I was a little disappointed.
While I was thinking about all of today's events, Suddenly Adilun looked at me and said.
"Today's festival is over."
"Yes."
"Honestly, it was fun. It wasn't bad to walk around wearing a mask."
"I'm glad."
"There was a lot of delicious street food, and there were plenty of things to see and do. Certainly, I can understand why people were looking forward to National Foundation Day. I really enjoyed it."
After the lights of the festival were turned off, I could see a slight disappointment in Adilun's eyes, unmasked, and looked up at the sky.
That was proof of how much she seemed to have enjoyed today's festival. Perhaps, it was her most enjoyable experience of coming to National Foundation Day.
Seeing her like this, I was also happy and glad. So I replied to her with a big smile.
"Yes. I also enjoyed it."
"That's fortunate. Then it's time to return to the palace. And you also have to prepare for tomorrow's tournament."
"That's right... Yes, let's go."
We walked through festive streets with lights turned off in silence. Even though everything was silent, fragments of the festival still lingered lightly in the mind. It was a pity that it ended too soon.
It seemed that I, too, enjoyed the festival as much as Adilun.
How long had it been since I felt this feeling?
The hustle and bustle disappeared, silence lingered around, and all sorts of thoughts rushed through my head.
Will I be able to avoid disappointing Adilun in the future?
Will I be able to protect her from the many threats that lie ahead of her?
Will I be able to protect the kindness she showed?
Since I can't always live with a strong will, I started to worry about whether I could always protect her or not.
Perhaps because the surroundings were dark, I started having these thoughts.
Darkness sometimes brings coziness but sometimes makes people tremble with anxiety.
Especially thinking about the future always make me anxious.
I knew what kind of threat loomed in this world- In the near future, the plague will spread.
There will be war in the East.
The war will not end easily.
In the north, monsters will eat the negative emotions of humans and become stronger and will try to come down to the south, and in the center, Crocus Glossu aka Prime Minister will start a civil war.
Princess Lobelia and Adilun will fight against it.
Of course, all of that situation could change due to the intervention of my existence or actions.
No, it will probably change for sure.
So I'm afraid. I was afraid that I'd make her even more unhappy. Because I don't know what changes will come in the future because of me.
But does that mean, I should not do anything and be terribly afraid?
No. I have to harden my heart. I have to believe that I can overcome any ordeal.
Just like I did in my previous life.
"...Hey, Physis."
As I was lost in my thoughts for a long time, I heard Adilun's low voice next to me.
"Ah. Yes, Adilun."
"We have arrived at our destination."
"We have already arrived? Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something."
"Are you worried about something?"
"A little… …There is something."
"Can you tell me what your worries are? I don't I can help or not, but I will try my best to help you."
"I was a little worried about whether I could do well in the future. Because I always had bad accidents."
"Ahh!"
She seemed to be struggling with something and said to me.
"There is nothing I can say about that. I have always lived with similar concerns."
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. Isn't it a concern that everyone lives with? How will I live in the future? Will I be able to live happily or well? …Such troublesome thoughts and everything, is the same for me too... So, your concern is probably not the one that I can provide an answer to."
"Hahaha. If I think about it, yes, you are right."
She was right. The problems I had were the ones I have to deal with on my own.
I don't have to depend on anyone. I have to think about it until my head hurts and find a way, and someday the answer to my worries will come to me.
"Still… …I can tell you one thing. I can't read your mind, but at least the appearance of you that I've recently seen has been pretty good."
At that moment, the one fear in my head disappeared.
The fear that I might do something bad to her again.
If she judged me okay recently, at least I wasn't doing anything wrong.
"Thank you. Thanks for helping."
"Yes?"
At my thanks, she put on a rather puzzled expression.
"Now, go in. Aren't you busy tomorrow too?"
"I see. Oh, and Physis..."
"Yes?"
"Be careful in tomorrow's tournament."
"It's okay. You don't need to worry."
"As I said before, I'm-"
"-You said it because I have to go to a great duel, nothing else... I am well aware of it."
"Okay. Anyway, get some rest. You had a hard day today."
Even though she put on a slightly dissatisfied expression because she was deprived of her words, she did not forget to tell me to be careful.
* * *
[Omniscient pov]
Alan Aiden raised his lance and looked at his opponent before him.
Physis, a knight in black armor.
Not long ago, he was the one who made all the things he was aiming for in vain.
Alan's expression crumpled.
Of course, he didn't like all the compliments about Physis that came out of the servant's mouth, and his stomach was twisted when he saw the princesses he usually courted with reddish faces looking at Physis.
Furthermore, Physis was the person who provided the decisive reason for the battle between Rodenov and Aiden, so Alan had no choice but to hate Physis from bottom of his heart.
But In reality, it was Alan's own careless mouth that provided the excuse for the Battle of the Territory.
Ignoring all of that, Alan stared at Physis with overflowing hatred and murderous intent, but Physis just stared at him with nonchalant eyes without any change in expression.
However, even those nonchalant eyes felt as if they were ignoring him, so Alan burned with even more rage and gripped the lance in his hand.
His goal was to shove this lance into Physis' unlucky smooth face, flattening that proud nose.
Knocking Physis off the horse? Alan had no intention of aiming for such trivial things.
What motivated him to participate in this tournament in the first place? Wasn't it to woo the princess he liked?
However, he was greatly disgraced at the ball, and his family was in great danger, so he was ignored by other nobles. The only thing he wanted to do was to bring down the person, who made him like this, to the same level as himself.
'Today, I'll definitely put this lance at your proud nose.'
Thinking so, Alan lowered the helmet to protect his face and sprinted towards Physis.
* * *
[Physis's POV]
Alan Aiden; It was not hard to see that the guy was full of hatred toward me.
'A guy who knew nothing but still treated others with contempt,' that was the only evaluation I would give him. Even if a guy like that came running to destroy me with hatred, it just seemed ridiculous to me.
The National Day ball, the hunting competition, and even this tourney, in many ways, I thought it was fate that I had no choice but to collide with him.
But today, it was rather good.
Previously, he had plotted a rather dangerous trick in the hunting competition, but I couldn't prove it, so I thought to pay it back before the Great duel somehow. But an opportunity to pay it back came sooner than I expected.
However, I had no intention of being careless. Judging from the way he fought in the tourney, he must have been pretty good at Jousting.
There was a risk of getting caught on his side if I was careless.
I can't lose to a man like him.
"Let's go."
I said softly to the horse. The horse stared at the front with a rough grunt, as if it understood the meaning of my words. Finally, the flag was raised, and he and I started galloping at each other at the same time.
The moment he and I finally face each other, the surroundings slow down as if time has stopped, and my eyes catch everything about him.
Where and how to move? Where to stab the lance? All of those paths began to become clear to my eyes.
The guy was aiming for my face. Rather than thinking of winning, would he rather smash my face?
Yes. Then I will aim at your face too.
As soon as my horse and his horse crossed, He tried to thrust his lance into my face.
'Absolutely neat technique.'
He handled the lance in the cleanest way than all the knights I had met before this match. So much so that it was understandable to remain in the final round of the tournament.
Even though his talent for mana was low, it seemed that he had at least one talent to show off.
But no matter how good he is… … If the blow containing so much skill is seen through by my eyes, it will be nothing but a fuss in the end.
-Whoo!
I turned my face and avoided his lance. -Swish!
The heavy sound of the wind could be heard from the lance that passed by the side of the helmet, near the ear.
On the other hand…
-Bang!
There was the sound of something breaking; my lance lodged in his teeth shattered.
The guy was half-lying on the horse, perhaps because he had been struck in the face or because he was momentarily unconscious.
Soon, his squire came to wake him, and then they prepared for the match again. Rather, the crowd began to cheer at the hot game aiming for each other's faces.
'2 points for this.'
Since he didn't fall off the horse fall, the match hadn't been announced yet.
'That means I can still hit him in the face one more time.'
I glared at him with a somewhat evil smile.