037 Competition

Rumors have a funny way of growing legs of their own.

If one person says a guy is trouble, the next person says he’s a total nightmare. It’s an endless cycle of escalation.

The final product built from that mountain of tall tales was me—Weiss Fancent.

Well, in my specific case, I actually was a villainous noble who lived up to every nasty word, so I couldn't exactly complain.

"Cynthia, not done yet?"

"I’m still… contemplating…"

"In that case—could I get two of these?"

"Oh, you’re a generous one, young man! I’ll give ‘em a good polish before I hand ‘em over. Just you wait a moment."

A week had passed since we first arrived in this town.

Currently, we were at a street stall where Cynthia was agonizing over which glittering accessory to pick.

Up until now, she had spent her life tucked away in a mansion, raised to be the very picture of upright conduct. And yet, here she was, spending her days with the likes of me. I couldn’t begin to imagine how much mental exhaustion she was suppressed, but if a trinket made her even a little bit happy, it was a small price to pay.

"They suit you very well."

"Fufu, thank you so much! Ah… um, I’m so happy to receive a gift, but would it be alright if I gave one of these to Lilith?"

"Yeah, of course. I’m sure Lilith will be thrilled."

"Yes!"

Cynthia was truly kind-hearted. Even now that they were in the same school year, Lilith’s official title was still 'maid,' yet Cynthia treated her without a hint of discrimination.

I feel like I’m staining the main heroine with my own brand of evil, but I don’t regret it. I’ve already decided I’m never handing her over to that protagonist, Allen.

Just then, Lilith arrived.

Her bag was stuffed with all my favorite fruits. It looked like she had made a trip to the morning market.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! I found so many good ones! Look, look at how glossy this is!"

"Yeah, looks delicious. Let's all dig in once we get back to the inn."

"Are you going to eat me too? Just kidding!"

"That might not be a bad idea."

"Eh, really!?"

As usual, Lilith was a bundle of energy. Since her presence always brought a smile to Cynthia’s face, I was personally grateful for her.

Come to think of it, whenever the three of us walked through the streets, the town seemed to get awfully noisy.

"Look at those brats, flirting since the crack of dawn. Maybe I’ll go mess with—"

"You idiot! What are you thinking?! Oh, right, you just got back yesterday, so you don’t know about Weiss?"

"Weiss?"

"Dumbass, don't look! Ever since he showed up, the Colson Family was annihilated. Same for the Euphia Group and Miston’s crew. Right now, this town is the most dangerous it's ever been. Those kids are merciless. I don't know what they’re here for, but for now, keep your head down and stay quiet. You’ll seriously die."

"No way… a kid like that?"

Every time we passed by, adults would cower or whisper behind our backs.

Well, I could hear pretty much all of it.

However, I’d come to realize that this town was far more boring than I had anticipated. The "well-known villains" here didn’t even reach Teacher Milk’s feet. Someone like Eva Avery could probably wipe them out with her pinky finger.

The problem was there was still no information on Flash Tucker.

Is he just that desperate to escape his pursuers, or is the timeline not ready for us to meet yet?

We eventually made our way back to the inn, but a familiar, obnoxious voice drifted out from the dining room on the first floor. It was a loud, boisterous voice that sounded like it was produced by a brain made entirely of muscle.

"And then, get this! The medicinal herbs were right behind me the whole time! Hey, Allen! Allen? Where are you looking? Ah, wait, Weiss!?"

Yo, Sasami-guy.

"Ah, Weiss… why are you here?"

Shari.

"I knew it."

And finally, the protagonist-bastard.

...Wait, what do you mean you "knew it"?

"What are you three idiots doing here?"

"Aah?! Who are you calling Sasami!?"

"I didn't say it out loud. Besides, do you even know what 'Sasami' means?"

"I know enough to know I’m being mocked!"

"I was praising you. In honor of that surprising spark of intellect, I’ll promote you to a vitamin—one that the human body can’t produce on its own."

Lilith let out a happy cry and ran over to Shari.

It seemed they had become quite close during that survival training. Apparently, they’d had a bit of a spat at the very end, but I suppose once the heat passes the throat, you forget the burn.

Cynthia and Allen exchanged polite greetings, but even so, they seemed to be on better terms than before.

It leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

"Allen, what did you mean by 'I knew it'? Why are you here?"

"Estarm doesn't have much to do with me right now. I was planning on training alone so I could eventually beat you, but these two decided to tag along."

"Hah, how touching. So you’re adventurers now?"

"How did you know?"

Crap. If I revealed that I’d gotten info from Cynthia, it would look like I was obsessively keeping tabs on him.

Dammit… I really don't want to show any weakness to this guy.

"…I can tell just by looking at those outfits. Shari, Vitamin, you two are nobles. Buy Allen some decent equipment for once."

"Allen said he didn't want any! But more importantly, I have something to say to you!"

Shari pointed her index finger straight at me, glaring. She’d been quite dejected a while back, but she seemed to have regained her spirit. It was much better than her moping around out of guilt.

That was more like her.

"Weiss, you are go-ing too far!"

"Huh?"

"She’s right, Weiss. Just by walking through this town, people are avoiding us like the plague. They’re all whispering, 'Is that the Weiss kid?'"

"Ah—..."

I see. From an adult's perspective, all us "brats" looked the same.

Still, I wasn't happy about the comparison. I was definitely more handsome than this protagonist-wannabe.

"This town must be rough for a trio of goodie-two-shoes. Why don't you do yourselves a favor and move to a different base?"

"Sorry to disappoint, but we aren't leaving."

As Shari spoke, Duke pulled something out from his vest.

...That’s a bounty poster.

"What, since when did you become bounty hunters?"

"It’s not really like that, but we heard a target fled to this area, so we figured we’d start looking."

Fled? Tucker?

It was too perfect to be a coincidence… but with Allen involved, it was entirely possible. I could practically feel the narrative force of the world at work, but whatever.

More importantly—.

"Flash Tucker is way out of your league. Are you all looking to get yourselves killed?"

"Weiss, do you know something?"

Allen asked, his gaze fixed straight on me. This guy was really as straightforward as they come.

"Yeah. But the news that he fled to this town is a good lead. Leave the rest to us. You guys should go back to picking herbs. Want me to recommend some F-rank requests?"

"We’re staying. There are a lot of bad people here, and that means there’s work for us to do."

"Hah, is this that 'equality' nonsense again?"

"One step at a time. You’re doing the same thing, aren't you? The villains in this town are being wiped out one after another by you."

"…I’m different. It just so happens that most of the people who piss me off are villains. Besides, isn't it the greatest feeling to kill people without it being a crime?"

"…You really are the worst."

Ah, Shari, you’re fine just the way you are. You lot should just keep following your own paths.

"By the way, Weiss, what’s in the bag?"

Duke noticed the fruit I was holding. Lilith had just given them to me.

Grapes, Melo-Melon, Bananan, Mangon—all things I had planned to stuff into my face the moment I got to our room.

...I don't want them to see this.

Actually, it wasn't a big deal if they saw, but I hated the idea of them having any kind of "leverage" over me.

"Fruit."

A perfect, minimalist answer. I didn't say anything unnecessary.

"…Oh. Okay."

Thank God this guy is an idiot. That was a close call.

I decided to disappear before they could probe any further.

"Later."

"Weiss. We’re going to find Tucker. If you learn anything, I want you to tell us. It’ll be safer if we fight him together."

"…Not a chance. I’m taking that guy’s head myself."

"Everyone just wants peace, Weiss. I think you understand that too."

Still spouting those naive platitudes, I see.

I wouldn't deny his sentiment, but I wasn't about to let him push his ideals on me.

"Fine, then it’s a competition. Let's see who kills Tucker first. The loser has to do one thing the winner says. If I win, Duke and Shari will give me a formal kowtow—and Allen, you’ll have to explain your Gift to me."

"…Fine. Then if I win, I want to know the truth about you."

Haha, so this guy has noticed something after all.

…Fine. I’ll play along.

"I’ll tell you now: if you die, you lose."

"That won't happen. Thanks for the warning."

"Hmph… Lilith, Cynthia. Let's go. Once we’ve eaten, we’re hunting Tucker for real. Let's make these guys regret ever challenging us."

Allen, there is absolutely no way you can beat Flash Tucker. That is an unshakeable fact of this world.

That’s why I’ll play the protagonist in your place.

Even if it is a massive pain in the ass.

Now then, let the match begin.