Chapter 108. It Doesn't Sound Right Coming From Me (1)

Patrick thought.

‘Seriously, no matter where you go, people are the same everywhere.’

The Venator Empire, the Saint Louis Holy Theocracy, and the Tower of Truth.

Their backgrounds were impeccable.

The strongest nation on the continent, the spiritual pillar and headquarters of all religious people, and the Tower of Truth, which monopolized the production of magical tools that had become an essential element of civilization in this world.

They were truly remarkable places. However…

‘Look at how stiff-necked those young ones are. They must have steel rods in them.’

The glory and achievements built by the three great powers were not made by those brats.

Their ancestors made them, and they were just brats in the position of having to inherit it.

They were just kids who should be striving and working hard every day.

But these brats often deluded themselves.

They mistook their background for their own skill, got hot air in their lungs, and nonchalantly displayed an arrogance they mistook for confidence.

‘In my past life, treating guys like that was my specialty.’

[How dare you interfere with the affairs of the great Wudang Sect?]

[In the name of the great Shaolin, I will no longer tolerate your wickedness. Willingly receive this monk’s guidance.]

[In the name of the great Beggar's Gang, I will punish you. Prepare yourself.]

They were kids who really loved the word ‘great.’

What should be done with kids like that?

It’s simple.

Most problems in the world can indeed be solved by beating them up.

Hot air in the lungs?

A single stab with a knife, and it’s bound to leak out.

A steel rod in the neck?

If you tenderize their whole body until it’s soft, it’s bound to become pliable on its own.

‘Come to think of it, the Nine Sects One Gang should be grateful to me. Thanks to me instilling the virtue of humility in them, they were able to act a liiiiittle bit like humans later on, weren’t they?’

It was nonsense that would make them vomit blood and fall into Qi Deviation if the Nine Sects One Gang heard it.

In any case, the war of nerves among the three great powers, which everyone in the banquet hall was watching with bated breath, looked like mere child’s play to Patrick.

So he paid it no mind and was just devouring the food and drinks of the banquet hall.

‘Haaah… indeed, when you come to a feast, eating is what you gain.’

Patrick, who had a belief from his past life to never refuse free food and free drinks, was diligently enjoying the dishes.

And the representatives of the same Atronia Kingdom were keeping a slight distance, embarrassed by such a Patrick.

In the midst of that…

“Hahaha. Is our country’s food to your liking?”

Someone spoke to him.

To the voice of someone who clearly didn’t know the martial world’s saying, ‘You can bother a dog that’s eating, but don’t bother a madman who’s eating,’ Patrick turned around and responded sharply.

“Whu? Yuh? (What? You punk?)”

Without even swallowing the food he was eating.

At that sight, the other person was quite flustered.

‘What is this? A beggar? A thug?’

Judging by the attire and crest, the affiliation was undoubtedly the Kingdom of Atronia.

It meant that this person had come to participate in this glorious tournament as a representative of a nation.

What is a representative of a nation?

Of course, the Atronia Kingdom was a country ranked as the weakest among the four eastern kingdoms, but still, it was a country’s representative.

But for a representative of a nation to covet food with an attitude completely devoid of dignity like this?

For Jayton, who was born and raised as royalty, it was completely incomprehensible.

And while he was standing there blankly, Patrick swallowed the food in his mouth and said.

“What are you looking at?”

“Ahem… ahem…”

“And why did you call me? If you call someone, you should state your business, shouldn’t you?”

“Ahem… that is, you see… hmm…”

Only dry coughs kept coming out.

Jayton Rude Magellan.

Born as a prince of the Magellan Kingdom, he had met quite a variety of people.

He had dealt with those who approached with cunning intentions behind a smile, and he had dealt with those who came on rough and violent.

But no matter what, there are limits for royalty, aren’t there?

He had no idea how to deal with such a raw thug.

Fortunately, someone approached to save him from that situation.

“It is an honor to meet you, Prince Jayton. I am Alex Rowensky of the Kingdom of Atronia.”

“Hmm, I am Jayton Rude Magellan.”

Fortunately, a person who seemed normal appeared before Jayton.

And that normal person said what Magellan most wanted to hear.

“I apologize for my junior’s rudeness. His intentions are not so bad… I think.”

What is this? This hesitation as if enduring the pain of a heart being torn to pieces…

In any case, Alex continued to speak with an iron will.

“It is his first time in a distant foreign country, so he has failed to show proper etiquette. I ask for your broad generosity and forgiveness.”

Although there was a slight stutter in the middle, it was an appropriate apology that could smoothly resolve the situation.

Jayton also nodded his head and was about to accept this apology.

“I understand completely.”

Just as the situation was about to be smoothly resolved by the two sensible people…

“What kind of nonsense are you two spouting.”

A madman threw a wrench in the works.

At Patrick’s blunt remark, Alex put a hand to his forehead, and Jayton’s face completely crumpled.

‘This guy, I let him be and he…’

Jayton looked at Patrick coldly and said.

“Do you not know the honor and etiquette of a noble?”

“Honor? Etiquette? Aah… so that’s why those brats were acting all high and mighty while flinging killing intent at each other earlier?”

The brats Patrick pointed his finger at.

At that, the representatives of the three great powers’ jaws dropped.

My goodness…

You’re the first one to say something like this to me.

Patrick’s unrestrained mouth did not stop there.

“We have to swing swords and fight each other tomorrow anyway, so what’s with all this etiquette? Tsk, tsk, tsk, this is why those who are raised gently…”

“How dare you…”

“What? You salty? Wanna go now?”

“……”

Jayton’s face was filled with shame and anger.

In the first place, his plan to create a benevolent prince atmosphere by taking care of the representative of a marginalized weak nation was shattered.

Who would have known the other party was such a madman?

If he had his way, he really wanted to draw his sword right here and chop off his head, but…

‘Damn it…’

He was a prince of the Magellan Kingdom.

And this was the official banquet to welcome the representatives of Arcana, the most prestigious festival on the continent.

If he drew his sword here according to his temper, he had too much to lose.

As he hesitated, unable to do either, he heard a burst of laughter.

“Hahahahahahahaha.”

Who was the owner of that laughter full of catharsis?

When he turned his head, there was Prince Cierion of the Yusef Kingdom.

He laughed as if it were truly cathartic and then looked at where Patrick was and said.

“He’s right. It’s ridiculous to gather for friendship or whatever when we have to fight with swords from tomorrow.”

“Prince Cierion, your remark is too extreme.”

When a representative from another country spoke to him with displeasure, Cierion smirked and said.

“Is being extreme the problem? And you are?”

“I am Andros Gregory of the Harbor Kingdom.”

“Ah, the Harbor Kingdom… I’ve heard it’s a good place. A prosperous country that has accumulated vast wealth by monopolizing the distribution of food from its wide granaries and the iron products and jewels produced by the dwarves of the Iron Mountains.”

As the prince of another country praised his own, the man named Andros looked pleased.

Cierion’s words continued to him.

“Growing up in such a peaceful country, it seems you have to speak the truth carefully and not extremely. I’m sorry, but in our East, we don’t obsess over such useless etiquette.”

Andros' face crumpled.

No swordsman would be happy to be treated like a gently raised young master.

Especially not one who had trained enough to become the representative of his nation.

He was about to say something more, but Cierion spoke first.

“Then this country bumpkin from the East who knows no etiquette will take his leave. I hope the rest of you enjoy this banquet to the fullest.”

Leaving behind words that treated everyone else in the banquet hall as if they were greenhouse flowers, he left.

Many flushed at the blatant ridicule, but they couldn’t hold on to him any longer.

And not missing this opportunity, Alex also took action.

“Let’s go too.”

“There’s still food and drinks left.”

“If you tell the attendant, they will bring it separately.”

“Really? If not, I’m gonna cry. I’m really going to cry.”

“……”

Seeing Patrick’s very serious expression, Alex thought.

‘I want to cry right now, you bastard.’

After leaving the banquet hall, Alex showed the textbook definition of being furious.

“Do you have a brain or not?”

“I do.”

“And a guy with a brain does that.”

“Yes. A guy with a brain does that.”

“Kaaargh… Keok…”

Alex realized that even at this young and vigorous age, one could have problems with blood pressure.

As he was about to collapse, clutching the back of his neck, the others came and supported him.

“Alex! Get a hold of yourself.”

“Senior, you can’t die.”

Seeing such overflowing camaraderie between seniors and juniors, Patrick smirked and said.

“Senior Alex, let me ask you one thing.”

“Just don’t ask. You go home, you punk!”

“Hey, don’t be like that, just listen.”

And Patrick looked at Alex and said.

“Why are we here?”

“Umm…”

Alex’s mouth closed.

Why are we here? That’s obviously…

As there was no answer, Patrick continued.

“A martial arts tournament… no, that’s not it. Anyway, didn’t we come here to win this Arcana?”

“We did.”

To Alex, who readily admitted it, Patrick said.

“Then shouldn’t we focus on that one thing? Huh? What’s with a bunch of greenhorn kids gathering and playing politics?”

“No, that’s about showing minimum etiquette at the banquet…”

“Etiquette my ass. It was obvious they were just sizing each other up, trading verbal jabs, and having a war of nerves.”

“Umm…”

The expression was a bit blunt, but it wasn’t wrong.

And Patrick clicked his tongue and lamented.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, young ones learning only useless things… They should be swinging a sword one more time in that time. Every single one of them has learned wrong.”

What is this? Am I being lectured like an old man by a greenhorn junior right now?

“The ways of the martial world have fallen to the ground. The ways of the martial world!”

“Where on earth is this martial world you speak of?”

“It exists. A place with lots of kids like me.”

“The demon world?”

“This senior bastard wants to die?”

Seeing Patrick glaring with genuine anger, Alex let out a deep sigh.

‘Right, trying to find a valid reason from this madman was my mistake from the start.’

Having meekly cleared his mind, he spoke to Patrick again.

“Anyway, the real tournament starts tomorrow. Are you fully prepared?”

“I can win without any preparation. What about you seniors?”

“We are…”

“From what I saw today, there were quite a few kids who are definitely stronger than you seniors. If the matchups are bad, everyone except me will probably be eliminated in the first round.”

At Patrick’s words, the seniors’ expressions turned gloomy. But among them, Alex’s expression did not change.

He answered with a calm face.

“If that happens, it can’t be helped.”

“Huh? Giving up so quickly?”

“It’s not like that…”

Alex sighed and said.

“I’ve done as much as I could. I’ve had this thought before, but this time, I can truly answer with sincerity that I’ve really done as much as I could, no matter who asks.”

“Well, that’s true. I rolled you myself, after all.”

“Thank you, you son of a XXbitch.”

“Ahem!”

“Don’t be proud of it!”

Even seeing his senior gritting his teeth, Patrick proudly puffed out his chest.

How can he be so confident and annoying?

‘Just one punch to the face… just one…’

‘Just one hit to the head with a wooden sword…’

‘I don’t care if I can’t win Arcana, just one hit…’

Whether he knew of his seniors’ longing or not, Patrick said.

“In short, you’ve done your best to the point where you won’t have regrets even if you lose. That’s it.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Then that’s enough.”

“Huh?”

Unexpected words came from Patrick’s mouth.

The answer Alex had originally expected was…

[Best? Don’t make me laugh. Losers are always talking about doing their best. If you did your best, you should have won, shouldn’t you? The ‘best’ that losers talk about is just an excuse they spout to get less criticism.]

He had thought he would say something like that.

But he hadn’t expected Patrick to agree so readily.

To the puzzled Alex, Patrick said.

“Seniors, how old are you?”

“Huh? I’m 21 now.”

“I’m 20.”

“I’m 22.”

“18.”

Looking at his seniors, Patrick said.

“Whether you achieve results here or not, your lives will go on. So don’t be too happy or too disappointed by the results of Arcana. When this passes, it will just be one part of a long, long process.”

Somehow… it seemed right.

It even sounded like advice from a seasoned adult.

‘Why is that coming out of this bastard’s mouth?’

‘Did he eat something bad?’

‘A trap?’

‘He’s finally gone mad… ah, he was already mad.’

At the seniors’ suspicious expressions, Patrick smirked and got up from his seat.

“Well then, go to bed early and see you tomorrow.”

And after returning to his room, Patrick smirked and thought.

[Don’t feel pressured. What does victory or defeat matter? In the end, this moment is also just a part of a passing process.]

‘Master, it doesn’t have the same vibe when I say it.’

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