I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 22

Chapter 12.1

After tightly shutting my eyes, I quickly glanced around when I opened them. Fortunately, the destination of the torn scroll this time seemed to be the Central Square of Erhel, the Capital.

As I checked the fountain in the square across the alley, my exhausted legs gave way, and I collapsed to the ground. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized that I had come perilously close to being caught by the men. I brushed my disheveled hair aside and furrowed my brow. Along with the unexpected encounter, a question resurfaced in my mind again.

‘That man saw the child, too.’

Until recently, I had even considered that the child might have been nothing more than a delusion created by my obsession with repeated deaths. Otherwise, no one could know my secret that nobody else should know.

However.

“I did catch a glimpse of him, but it seemed like his pupils were fixed on the World Tree in Neichia.”

〈 Even though I only got a glimpse, their pupils seemed as if they were holding the World Tree of Neitzia within them. 〉

Listening to the words of the man that perfectly matched the eye color I had seen, I came to realize that the child could be seen by others as well. I was unsure whether I should be thankful that at least I wasn’t crazy, or if I should be afraid of the existence of an unknown child?

I chewed my lip as I looked at the lapis lazuli brooch that I still held in my hand. And as soon as I looked away, the system window appeared in front of me once again.

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

A male brooch with a world tree pattern encrusted with lapis lazuli.

Function: ???
Owner: ??? ]

‘…By owner, is it referring to that child?’

Even though I thought so, I wasn’t certain. First of all, this brooch, as the system mentioned, was a man’s brooch, and that child was undoubtedly a girl.

Frustrated, I stared at the system window with lingering question marks when I heard Marie’s voice calling me from a distance.

“Young Lady! Where on earth are you?!”

“Oh, Marie.”

I rose hastily from my seat, thinking of Marie, who must be frantically searching for me while lost in contemplation. Despite the fact that my legs were still shaking precariously from the unbelievable experience, there was no other choice. At least for now, I had to return home to avoid eroding what little trust my father had in me.

˚ ･: * ✧ * :･ ˚

Elle Stadium.

It was a place dedicated to commemorating Elle, the hero who had saved Arbonis from being devoured by monsters alongside the dragon Elbora.

The imperial family organized an annual fighting competition here to showcase Elle’s strength and Arbonis’s resilience against the threat of monsters. Since anyone, regardless of their social status, could participate, the competition attracted a wide range of participants, including those skilled in the use of weapons.

The competition consisted of two days of preliminary rounds among commoner participants and one day of finals between those who advanced from there and the noble participants.

Of course, those who didn’t participate in this event enjoyed a grand festival held in Erhel to commemorate the three-day fighting competition.

And today was the morning of the third day since the competition had started.

I had come to the stadium early in the morning with my father to support Heron, who was participating in the competition. In reality, I didn’t have the slightest desire to cheer for Heron after he threw the tart to the ground. Still, I decided to look on the bright side, considering that simply attending the competition had increased my father’s trust.

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

Baltanium Aidelis’s trust increases by 2%.

Baltanium Aidelis’s current trust: 13% -〉15% ]

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

The maximum holding amount is increased. (Maximum fifteen gold)

Ardi’s current possession: Seven gold ]

“The seat for the Marquis Aidelis is here.”

My father and I took the guidance of the knight and found our seats with a clear view of the stage. My father, who stood near the railing, turned to Darren, the butler, and asked.

“Is there anyone among this year’s competition participants who might be a suitable opponent for Heron?”

After pausing for a moment to contemplate my father’s question, Darren shook his head and replied.

“As per the information I obtained at the reception desk, there doesn’t seem to be anyone.”

Darren’s response brought a satisfied smile to my father’s lips.

“In that case, Heron will likely win again this year.”

“Yes. It seems like everyone who came to watch the competition is also betting on Master Heron’s victory.”

As I listened to their conversation, I glanced down at the stage where no one had appeared yet. Fortunately or unfortunately, as Darren had mentioned, it was Heron who was destined to win this year’s competition.

‘No matter how many times we start over, Heron has always been the winner of the competition, so I don’t think that’s going to change now.’

After briefly staring at the empty stadium, I rose from my seat and then spoke to my father.

“I’m going to go to the powder room for a moment.”

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