Chapter 102. The Academy Spring Festival (4)

Detestable bastard.

The 2nd Prince, Arteo Kudent Cretian, glared at Radel while lifting his teacup.

It was no use, even though he had warned his only sister so many times.

He had repeatedly told her to be wary of that crafty bastard.

Didn't they just shake hands affectionately!

In this fierce world of the Imperial Family, such a heartwarming atmosphere was an impossible thing.

He had told her not to show such an opening, so how on earth did he get on Shartea's good side for his wary younger sister to open her heart?

‘It's my turn to step up.’

Arteo resolved to find out all of that bastard's hidden, scheming intentions.

Meanwhile, notification sounds continued to ring in Radel's ear.

Ding.

[Someone's killing intent is felt.]

Ding.

[Someone's killing intent is felt.]

It was a warning that killing intent was continuously being felt.

There was no need to find out who it was.

Because the 2nd Prince sitting in front of him had been scrutinizing him with cold eyes for a while now.

‘He's quite blatant.’

It seemed he had no intention of hiding his sinister intentions.

Well, considering he had put in a request with 'Black Fang' to get rid of him.

Radel nonchalantly drank his tea and waited for his words.

Finally, the 2nd Prince's mouth opened.

"Looking at you earlier, your swordsmanship seems to be pretty good. To the extent that Shartea acknowledges it."

"You praise me too highly. I am still lacking compared to Senior Shartea."

The 2nd Prince's lips curled up at Radel's answer.

It was a clear sneer.

"Your courage is commendable, to cross swords knowing you are lacking. What is the secret to that courage?"

It was a question with many meanings implied.

The 2nd Prince's question was a way of speaking often used among nobles, and anyone familiar with Imperial Family life would have understood it immediately.

In other words, he was saying, why do you keep showing off when you should be living quietly, not knowing your place?

However, there was no way Radel would know that hidden meaning.

And even if he did, it wasn't in his personality to care.

Radel answered simply.

"As a junior, I only approached it seriously. I felt that the reason Senior Shartea opened the booth was more important than using my lack of skill as an excuse."

The 2nd Prince's brow twitched at Radel's answer.

The way he spoke was very arrogant.

The reason Shartea opened this booth?

He had never even thought of such a thing.

The 2nd Prince ground his teeth inwardly and asked Radel.

"Right. I'd like to hear what that important reason is."

"In my opinion, there is only one reason why the senior opened the booth. Since she is sincere about swordsmanship, she must have wanted to cross swords with many challengers."

The 2nd Prince sneered inwardly.

No matter what, she was the 3rd Princess of the Empire.

She couldn't be ignorant of her own position.

According to that arrogant bastard's words, was the purpose simply to hone her swordsmanship?

There was no way she would have opened it for such a frivolous purpose.

In the 2nd Prince's view, his younger sister had chosen this method to prove her qualifications as the next Emperor.

To crush those who dared to climb up after showing overwhelming strength.

The 2nd Prince couldn't even dream that she would have opened a booth for the sake of swordsmanship.

"You should know too. That swordsmanship is of a lower class compared to magic."

The 2nd Prince spat out words typical of a magician.

"Even if ten swordsmen gather, it's hard to beat one magician. That's the reason why swordsmanship is inferior to magic. Isn't that right?"

As a student attending the Imperial Magic Academy, Radel knew well how much pride magicians had in magic.

Just looking at Leon's followers, they believed without a doubt that magic was absolute power.

However, Radel's thoughts were different.

No matter how powerful magic was, there were many times when the power of swordsmanship was needed in a real battle.

"I do not think that swordsmanship is of lower value than magic. Each has its own pros and cons."

Watching Radel answer calmly, the 2nd Prince's eyebrows twitched.

Arrogant bastard.

Isn't it as if he's saying that his own value is not inferior to that of other royals?

He must be a fellow with hidden ambitions.

* * *

Radel left Shartea's booth.

The meeting with the 2nd Prince, who had been exuding killing intent at Radel until he finished his tea, was not pleasant, but it was also a time to guess his intentions.

‘That type is easier to deal with.’

People who don't reveal their inner thoughts at all are more difficult.

The 2nd Prince didn't hide that he was keeping Radel in check.

Shartea, who had noticed it, was about to say something to the 2nd Prince with a cold gaze, but Radel even had to stop her.

It seemed Shartea's gaze toward him had become much softer after her affinity had gone up.

‘Let's have a proper duel later.’

Radel promised Shartea a duel and, as he left the booth, he also greeted the 2nd Prince.

‘I will see you at the Imperial Capital next time.’

‘Right……. If you're still alive, that is.’

It was a meaningful statement.

But it didn't hit him hard.

Right now, Radel had more important things to do.

"What am I supposed to do if you come now!"

Armandy, who had been making cotton candy like crazy by himself, shouted at Radel.

"What am I supposed to do with all this cotton candy by myself?! I almost collapsed from running out of magic power while making them!"

"Seeing as you have the strength to shout, you're still full of energy."

Radel said nonchalantly and placed something in Armandy's hand.

"What is this……?"

Armandy was at a loss for words upon seeing the beginner magic power recovery potion Radel gave him.

"I prepared this in advance, knowing this would happen. Don't be shy and drink it."

Armandy knew he was suffering, but Radel couldn't help it either.

Because he had spent the entire budget on making the amusement rides, he couldn't afford an expensive cotton candy machine with a magic circuit.

Still, he couldn't give up on cotton candy.

Could a representative snack of an amusement park be missing?

Fortunately, Radel had Armandy.

Since all you needed was sugar and Armandy to get cotton candy, he also thought, why buy an expensive machine?

"Drink this and let's work a little harder. Got it? I'm going to go look around our booth a bit."

Radel smiled and waved.

Seeing that annoying sight, Armandy's insides turned over.

"Grrr……!"

Should I just run?

It was the moment Armandy was about to awaken to his crooked desires.

However, in front of him were still plenty of cotton candy sticks to be made.

"Excuse me, is the cotton candy ready yet?"

"……Coming right up."

In the end, it was Armandy who wept while drinking a magic power recovery potion.

Radel, who watched Armandy's state from afar with satisfaction, nodded.

Entrusting the cotton candy to Armandy was indeed an excellent choice.

This time, it was his turn to check on the friends who were moving the rides with wind magic behind the amusement rides.

"Heo-eok!"

"I-I'm at my limit……. If I die, tell my dog that I loved him……!"

"No, Marco! Don't say such sad things!"

It was chaos like no other.

Armandy wasn't the only one whose magic power was running out.

As they continuously used wind magic to move the amusement rides, everyone had reached their limit.

Thud!

In the midst of that, someone fell to their knees.

It seemed his stamina had also run out from working without rest.

"No way, Marco!"

It was at that moment.

Flash!

With a bright light, the body of the fallen friend was filled with divine power.

Gusto approached, cast Heal on the fallen friend, and took out a magic power recovery potion.

"Drink this. Is there anyone else who feels like they're dying?"

It was a moment where Radel's foresight shone.

Gusto recalled Radel, who had given him plenty of potions, telling him to use them when his friends were having a hard time.

He had said he would support the amusement rides with wind magic like the other friends, but Radel had said there was a separate job to entrust to him.

Gusto now understood what that meant.

"W-wait! Gusto! Ugh!"

He forced open the mouths of his friends whose magic power was running low and fed them magic power recovery potions.

"N-no. I just want to rest a little, ughaaak!"

And he generously cast Heal on his friends who seemed to be even slightly lacking in stamina.

Thanks to Gusto's efforts, his friends were forcibly recovered even if they collapsed from exhaustion and had no choice but to continue working.

"……Save me. Sob, sob."

Hot tears flowed from their eyes.

And then Gusto, who heard that sound, would quickly approach.

"Who asked to be saved? I will cast Heal immediately."

It was a moment where everyone shut their mouths and focused on wind magic.

And a pleased smile spread on Radel's lips as he watched from afar.

* * *

"Is this the place? Where Brother Gusto works?"

"I think so."

Gusto had been holding regular meetings with the apprentice priests and holy knight seniors he had met in the liberal arts lecture, 'Understanding the Supreme Deity Order'.

Upon hearing that Gusto, a member of the meeting, was running a booth with the 8th Prince, Gusto's seniors couldn't help but be curious.

"In the end, we've come here."

"The Supreme Deity must have guided us."

"That's right. Brother Gusto will be energized if he knows we came here."

However, they all knew.

That their curiosity about the rumored 8th Prince was actually greater than their concern for Gusto.

Although they attended the same academy as the 8th Prince, they had not yet seen the prince.

They knew he was called the 'Saint of the Thirsty Land', but they inwardly had doubts about whether the 8th Prince's faith was really that great.

"Wasn't 'With the Supreme Deity' so much fun just now?"

"Yeah! It was really comfortable."

What is this?

Gusto's seniors were puzzled by the words of the people passing by.

To hear talk about the Supreme Deity at a place that wasn't even a Supreme Deity Order-related booth?

Their doubts turned to shock upon entering the booth.

"What is all this?"

"The name of the Supreme Deity is attached to all the rides……!"

"Goodness, how could this be!"

People were having a lot of fun riding the amusement rides named after the Supreme Deity.

"I almost fainted on 'The Cradle of the Supreme Deity' just now!"

"Aren't you going to go directly to the Supreme Deity then?"

Gusto's seniors, who heard people's words, covered their mouths with their hands.

To faint and go to the Supreme Deity?

Just hearing such words outside the temple was moving for them.

"Is this…… a dream?"

"No, brother! This is reality."

They looked at each other and recalled Brother Gusto's words.

‘The 8th Prince is a person truly close to the Supreme Deity. I respect him from the bottom of my heart.’

It was Brother Gusto Zebro, who was famous for being uncompromising when it comes to faith.

Even those who disliked his background gave way when it came to Gusto's faith.

‘It was just as Brother Gusto said!’

The seniors were unknowingly agreeing with Gusto's words. It seemed people could get closer to the Supreme Deity through these amusement rides.

That was all thanks to the 8th Prince who had created this booth.

It was at that moment.

"Hello, brothers. Did you perhaps come to see Gusto?"

Radel approached them, greeted them, and handed out cotton candy one by one.

They were people who looked like they had 'I am an apprentice priest of the Supreme Deity Order' and 'I am an apprentice holy knight' written on their foreheads, so they were easy to recognize.

"Here is the Supreme Deity 3-ride pass. I hope the brothers will have fun in the embrace of the Supreme Deity."

How could even his way of speaking be faith itself?

It seemed as if a halo was shining behind Radel in their eyes.