158-Episode 145: Sage, Teaching Ball Game




 We turned in the comatose son of a nobleman to the guards with evidence.
 I explain what happened and we head back towards the beach.
 Everyone is already gathered there.

'Sarasa!'

 Raising his hand, Cecil welcomes his best friend.

'Was that okay?'

 Okay, okay, Cecil pats his head and encourages Sarasa.
 Apparently, all of them have already heard about the situation.

''I knew it was Lacelle who found it first.

 I'm me and Rowan strokes me.
 I wish you'd just cut me some slack....
 I'm not your kin, you know.

''That's my brother indeed. You arrested a transgressor too.

 Sheila praised me.

 To be exact, though, it was me who explained the situation to the guards and Sarasa who captured them.

 I decided that the explanation to the guards was much more convincing to me as a nobleman, not Sarasa, a commoner.
 The son of a nobleman like that, you never know what he'll do with his power.
 He could put pressure on the guards and seize control of the crime.

 Fortunately, I'm treated as a guest of honor in this country, apparently.
 I've been instructed by the king to respond to what I say.

 I wonder what he has in mind.
 That king is very shrewd, isn't he?

Now...... We're all here, so what should we do for fun?

 Cecil spun around and looked back at everyone.
 He's full of motivation.
 He's going to make up for lost time from here.

 As for me, I'd rather you go back to your room and stay quiet until dinner.

 Well, there's no way Cecil is going to ask.

'Hey, hey, guys.'
You're from Chapter 5, right?

 A voice called out.
 We turned around in unison.
 Standing there were two boys in swimsuits.
 One was blond. The other was a young man with indigo hair.
 His hair and eyebrows were trimmed and his neck and hands were shining with ornaments.
 He must be the son of a nobleman again.
 The eyes that look down on people are the same as the guy I met in the botanical garden.

''You people........''

What is it, Sheila? Do you know each other?

 Mmm.........
 I didn't know Sheila had an acquaintance of such a frivolous man.
 As an older brother, I can't just overlook that.

''He's a student from Branch 3. We competed against him in the last Kowloon Cup...''

Okay. I don't remember that.

 I seriously tried to search my memory, but I didn't remember any of it.
 I didn't even fight last time to begin with.
 I left it up to just Sheila, Cecil, Rowan, and Sarasa, and before I knew it, I had hit the highest score of all time.

'Oh, you don't remember us?
We're the Blackbirds of Chapter Three.

 I'm sorry, but I seriously don't remember it.
 Also, don't those nicknames sound lame?

Well, okay.
"We fell behind in the last Kowloon Cup but...
"I wonder if the ballet will do it!

 What I offered was a sphere about the size of a human face.
 It seemed to be made of hemp wrapped in a circle.
 It was bouncy, and when tapped lightly, it bounced.

'Valley?'

 I nod my head.

"Rube.
You don't know anything about ballet?

 'Black Feathers (Blackbird)' laughs.

''Lasell, what's a ballet?''

 Cecil told me.

 Apparently, they took turns hitting each other across the net, and when a hemp ball fell into their own territory, the opponent scored a point in the ball game.

 It's a game that didn't exist 300 years ago.
 Well, in the old days, the game was exclusively a mock battle.
 This kind of competition which is not directly related to the war is a product of the peaceful world.

When a hemp ball falls outside at the end, the opponent who touched it last gets a point, so be careful. Here are the rules, do you understand?

It's a good thing we didn't drop the hemp ball, right?

That's what I mean.

 Yeah, Cecil nodded.

 I was slightly complicated by me.
 I didn't expect Cecil to teach me things.

 And then Cecil stared at me with his zen eyes.

"You just made fun of me for sure, didn't you?

Hm? How did you know?

'We've known each other a long time, even this one. I can see it in your eyes.

How. That's quite an insight.

I don't appreciate the praise!

 Cecil sweltered.

 Then 'Black Feather (Blackbird)' called out to her.

''Since there are only two of us over here, I think we'll play beach volleyball.

 The bottom line is that it's a two-player ballet.
 They say it's slightly different from a normal ballet, but they leave out some of the details.

 First, it's Cecil and Rowan who have experience.

''Let's make up for it in the last Kowloon Cup.
Get ready, boys.

 The "Blackbird" is enthusiastic.
 It seems that she is confident in her ballet.

 The first person to win the right to serve is Kurou, the blackbird.

"It's just a greeting.

 One of the "Black Feathers (Blackbird)" - the blonde throws a hemp ball high up in the air.
 He took an assistant run, and jumped up significantly, catching the hemp ball above him.

 Shugosh!

 The hemp ball cut through the air.
 When it crossed the net, it stabbed into the corner of Cecil and the others' own camp as if it were being sucked in.

 It was quite fast.
 Neither Cecil nor Rowan was able to react.

 However, Cecil grinned.

''Heh........ That's quite something to do.''

''Cecil Ribom.... I owe you a debt of gratitude for the Kowloon Cup. I'll pay you back right here, once and for all.

I don't think you owe me any money, but...

 From there, it's three consecutive serves in a row.
 Cecil was right, he seems to do quite well.
 Perhaps he is officially experienced.

'What's the matter, you don't seem to be able to move a single step.

You're idiots, guys. I'm putting you at a disadvantage. What's the fun of being over so soon?

"What the hell?

Well..... Come again. I'll pick you up this time.

Han! If you're going to go out poorly, I'll take it easy on you... I get it. I'll twist and crush it with all my might.

Why don't you do it if you can?

Eat this!

 The blonde hit the serve again.

 It was faster than before.
 It was hit at an even sharper angle and the course was risky.

 But--.

 Poof..........

 Cecil easily went around the landing spot and picked up the hemp ball.

'Rowan!

Yes!

 Fluffy hemp ball up high.
 Cecil kicked the sandy beach and went into an assisted run.
 He jumped up in a big way, just past the net.

'You'll let me!

 The man with the indigo hair reached out his hand.
 He was going to block the hemp ball that Cecil was hitting.
 But a moment faster, Cecil was reacting.

 He swung out with all his might.

 Goss!

 A sound that could not be thought to be made by a soft linen ball echoed through the enemy camp.

 The blackbird looked behind them all together.
 You'll be able to see that they are not the same.

''Nah!
What a force to be reckoned with!

 They all turned blue in the face.
 The "Blackbird" had become the "Bluebird".

 If I had picked it up properly, my wrist would have been broken.
 Well, I wouldn't have even been able to touch it before that.

''You can use it if you want to use enhancement-type magic. Or do you want me to go easy on you? Before you get hurt.

 The [Demon Sword Master (Swordmaster)] of Chapter 5 smiled like a demon.