As expected, I couldn't keep this from Rose. With that in mind, I brought up the matter over dinner in the dining hall on the inn's first floor to consult with Rose and Arnold.
Given the circumstances, this was the worst possible time for Rose to risk her public reputation. Since I had brought her the headache of purchasing a slave, I was fully prepared for her to be furious, but...
"I agree with ransoming that child. In fact, the royal capital is currently in turmoil over the matter regarding Lord Fracton, and I have just received orders to remain in this city until the magistrate arrives."
Rose, a princess, had been attacked. A normal father would want to bring her back to his side immediately.
I hadn't heard any rumors about the king disliking Rose. Besides, Rose was the Saint capable of summoning the Hero. She was an indispensable asset in the war against the demons. It was unthinkable that he would abandon her.
Which meant—
"Is it to keep that idiot prince in check?"
"Yes. If I return to the royal capital, Arnold will be reassigned to my father's side. If that happens, there will be no one left to protect me. 'Wait where you are until the Gilbert faction has been sufficiently contained.' I believe that is my father's true order."
"So even the royal capital is dangerous? For a princess, you really are surrounded by enemies."
To think she risked being assassinated simply by stepping into the royal capital. I had expected as much, but she was despised to a degree that hardly seemed befitting a princess.
At my candid observation, Rose and Arnold offered wry smiles. In contrast, Anna's face flushed with rage.
"Cease this insolent attitude toward Her Royal Highness at once!"
She shot to her feet and barked at me.
"Yeah, yeah. So? Do you have any bright ideas?"
Naturally, having Rose pay the money was out of the question since she was a member of the royal family. Royalty's wealth was essentially sustained by the taxes of the people. If she used that to purchase a slave, it could easily be construed as the royal family actively endorsing slavery. It was an option Rose could not afford to take.
On the other hand, establishing a merchant company and raising the money in about twenty days was equally unrealistic. In the first place, starting a business required capital. Even if we wanted to, it was impossible for us right now.
"Of course. A splendid one, in fact."
That innocent smile of hers looked just like Lena's whenever she was plotting a prank. Honestly, it gave me nothing but chills.
"There are limits to what I can do, you know."
Rose had a tendency to overestimate me. The last thing I wanted right now was for her to propose something impossible and run out the clock.
"Yes, but it will be child's play for you."
"And what is it?"
"The Sacred Martial Arts Tournament being held in the city of Luzahal. If you can advance to the championship tournament, you will easily achieve the target sum."
If I recalled correctly, the Sacred Martial Arts Tournament was the largest martial arts competition in the Amelia Kingdom, held once every four years. The victor of this tournament was granted the right to establish a dojo, the title of Honorary Noble—a non-hereditary peerage—and the title of Knight. As such, several thousand applicants were said to enter every time.
Now that I knew my current strength ranked among the highest in this world, advancing to the championship tournament might indeed be feasible.
However, it was still the largest martial arts tournament in the Amelia Kingdom. If I advanced, I would inevitably draw unwanted attention. For someone like me who wanted to keep a low profile, it was the absolute worst option imaginable. I really wanted to avoid it.
Besides—a match was merely a game. I hadn't the slightest intention of losing in a fight to the death, but when it came to a child's game called a "match" overseen by a referee, that was another story. Depending on the rules, there was a fair chance of being eliminated, and above all, accidentally killing someone would mean immediate disqualification. In short, it lacked reliability.
"I'm bad at competitive formats. Since it's just a game, there's no guarantee I'll win, you know."
After all, I still hadn't grasped how much force it took to break an opponent. If the tournament rules forced me to take off these God-Sealing Gloves, it was unclear whether I could control my strength properly. If that happened, accidentally killing someone was a very real possibility.
"Then let me ask you: do you believe there is any other way to obtain a vast sum of money in a short period?"
"Ngh... No, there isn't."
In the first place, it was precisely because we lacked a means of making a fortune that I was racking my brain like this.
"There is no need to worry. While it is virtually impossible, should you happen to be eliminated in the qualifiers, I will sell this and turn it into money."
She placed a ring on the table.
"Mind if I take a look?"
I picked it up with my right hand and used Appraisal.
―――――――――――――――――――――
★ Ring of Resurrection: A ring that revives the wearer from even fatal wounds, up to three times.
Remaining: 3/3
Item Rank: High Grade
―――――――――――――――――――――
A Ring of Resurrection, huh. It had a limit on its uses, but this had to be an extraordinarily rare item. After all, it had the same efficacy as using three ultra-high-grade potions capable of recovering from instant death.
"That ring was a birthday present from my late uncle, who was also a hunter. Of course, since he acquired it from a labyrinth himself, it was not bought with the people's taxes."
"That's not the point. Using your late uncle's keepsake as collateral... are you out of your mind?"
Even someone as dense as me could understand the significance of giving such a precious ring to Rose. That uncle of hers must have anticipated that Rose's life would be targeted by her royal relatives. That was why he had put his life on the line to obtain this ring. What she was doing was spitting on her uncle's wishes.
"I am entirely serious. After all, you will not lose."
From that expression, Rose meant it. She was committing such an outrage based on the absolute certainty that I would win.
"Groundless trust is nothing but a nuisance, though."
As I stood up from my seat in a mix of unspeakable exasperation and anger, Rose also rose and gave orders to Anna.
"Then we shall depart for Luzahal early tomorrow morning. Anna, arrange for a carriage and rations immediately!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With a solemn expression, Anna performed a knight's salute and left the inn.
"I will accompany Kai and his group. Arnold, I leave the matter of Lord Fracton to you."
"Leave it to me!"
Arnold stood up, placed a hand over his chest, and likewise offered a knight's salute.
Does this girl always make such all-or-nothing gambles? No wonder Rose's uncle gave her something so precious.
I wasn't so far gone as to trample on the wishes of the dead. Even if I were eliminated, selling that ring was out of the question.
However, this might truly be the lowest-risk method available. After all, I only needed to advance to the championship tournament. Well, I'd manage somehow. If I got eliminated, I could just figure something else out then.
"Good grief."
Letting out a heavy sigh, I headed toward my room on the third floor of the inn to prepare dinner for Faf and Asta.