Hentai King System

"Th-that can't be! I… um… That's right, I have to go to my Health Committee work soon! That's what I said!"

Her voice cracked, and the end of her words trembled. Her eyes swam, and she couldn't even look Rigel in the face properly. The air of the place had taken on an unusually hot quality. Her gaze wandered seeking an escape, and then suddenly she turned on her heel.

"Ah, wait!"

Rigel's voice chased from behind, but Evelyn broke into a run as if shaking it off. Her movements were awkward, as if her feet were unsteady. That retreating figure eloquently told of her inner state that had lost its composure. While gazing at that retreating figure, Rigel muttered.

"Kukuku. Looks like the habit of cumming has been thoroughly imprinted. I'll be able to enjoy this regularly from now on too."

It was a sadistic smile. Now that the prey had left, there was no need to hide his true nature.

"…Well, putting that aside, I have to start thinking about the next target."

That mutter disappeared without being heard by anyone—.

"Hoh… Once it's the second round, the level seems pretty high."

Rigel was watching the stage with a composed gaze. Sitting in the contestant viewing seats illuminated by sunlight, he remained motionless with his arms crossed. A faint smile floated on his lips. Below, the sounds of intense blade-clashing and the stir of the audience echoed. Since he had already broken through the second round on the first day of the tournament, he was in a state of watching from on high.

From morning today, the remaining second-round matches were progressing one after another. The winners would go to the next stage, the losers would have their dreams cut off on the spot. Even though nearly seventy percent of the whole would disappear at this stage, heat filled the audience seats, and everyone was excited about the birth of the next hero.

Those listed here were, even among the gathering of prodigies that was the Royal Academy, those who further excelled in martial arts and burned with competitive spirit. It wasn't just ability. Without the strength of spirit, reading of the battle situation, and even luck as an ally, one couldn't survive on this stage.

"There are a few here and there who look like they'd be a pain to deal with without standing out. And then there are ones who look weak but would be convenient as subordinates… Hm?"

"U-um! Rigel-san!!"

A high-pitched voice rang out. When Rigel turned his eyes, a familiar small girl came running up, panting.

"O-oh? You're… Char!"

Her vividly colored hair softly swayed receiving the sunlight. The girl's cheeks were red, and while holding her chest, her eyes sparkled.

"Yes! It's been a little while, hasn't it!!"

"…Yeah, that's right."

In Rigel's voice was mixed somewhere nostalgia and affection. The one who had called out to him was Char, a girl from Class E first-year. She was a girl who had once been mocked as a dropout and huddled in the corners of the classroom and courtyard. Rigel was of higher rank as S-class, but he had encouraged her by half-forcing the excuse "I'm also at the bottom of the ranking even in S-class, so we're dropout comrades," and they had been close since then.

"Come to think of it, Char was also participating in the tournament. And being in these contestant viewing seats means…"

When Rigel leaned forward a little and asked, Char puffed out her chest proudly.

"Yes! Just like Rigel-san, I was able to break through the second round!!"

At those words, Rigel's eyes widened. For just a moment he showed a look of surprise at the unexpected answer, but immediately broke into a smile and reached out his hand.

"Oh, that's amazing! Congratulations!!"

Saying that, Rigel gently stroked Char's head. She laughed as if ticklish and raised her face as if wanting more praise.

In fact, Rigel was impressed.

Char was of commoner birth, and her grades were even lower among Class E. Knowing her situation of being bullied, he had approached her. But that wasn't sympathy or kindness. Rather the opposite. He had contacted her thinking that if he used the bullying from others toward Char, he could prepare a fresh rape situation.

In fact, his scheme had succeeded. He had played the part of a different person, "Rigel von Michael, son of a knight family," humiliated the blindfolded Char without letting her realize his true identity, and as "Rave von Gousel, son of a marquis family" creampied her and formed a mistress contract. After that as well, by taking Rigel von Michael as a hostage and such, he had grasped her weakness, blocked her escape routes, and continued binding her heart. It was all play. Nothing more than part of mere entertainment on the side of raising his skill level. He had only seen Char as an interesting toy.

Even so—.

The first "participation in the Academy Martial Arts Tournament from Class E first-year" in the history of the Royal Academy. Pulling that off, and furthermore winning through the first and second rounds to advance to the third round—who would have imagined it? Without even realizing it himself, Rigel had begun recognizing Char somewhere in his heart as more than "just a rape target." Like a single flower blooming in the desert, her existence had gradually become something he couldn't take his eyes off.

"Ehehe…"

Char laughed innocently and pressed her cheek as if regretting the warmth of Rigel's hand. In that figure with narrowed eyes, there was a clear will.

She had a dream. To produce results in this martial arts tournament and escape from Class E. And then further raise her grades in a mid-to-upper class, advance to second year, third year, and graduate. With achievements at the Royal Academy, even a commoner could obtain influence that connected to noble society. If that happened, even against a marquis family, she might be able to smash the current unjust mistress contract.

And—the future beyond that. What she envisioned was days walking together with her beloved Rigel. Believing in his name, making his existence the support of her heart, she had crawled up this far. Without knowing she was being deceived. Even so, the dream continued supporting her feet.

"If both Char and I broke through the second round, we might face each other in the third round."

"That's right… It would be sad if that happened, but I'll give it my all as I am now."

Char quietly narrowed her eyes. Her expression was soft, but the will dwelling in its depths was dignified and unwavering. There was gentleness in her words, but in the depths of her eyes dwelled the nobility and resolve of a warrior. The possibility of fighting Rigel. It wasn't something she wished for, but at the same time it wasn't something she would flee from.

"Yeah. Well, let's both do our best!"

"Yes!"

The words exchanged with smiles left a warm resonance as if stopping time for just a moment. The air flowing between the two was somehow refreshing like an early summer breeze, and a little bittersweet.

While that was happening, the remaining second-round matches progressed. The audience held their breath, and the students clashed putting everything on each and every match. Sharp flash-like magic, sword techniques that split the wind, the back-and-forth of offense and defense unfolding—every one of them was enough to make the hearts of those watching tremble.

And then all the second-round matches ended.

A quiet heat remained in the venue. As the closing of today, the drawing of lots for the third-round matchups was to be held. Stir rose from here and there in the audience seats. Tension and expectation, schemes and speculation. Those overlapping made the air slightly heavy.

"Then, we will hold the drawing of lots for the third-round matchups! The first match of the third round is—"

The female emcee who appeared on the stage put her hand into a box covered with crimson cloth. On each and every one of those gestures, gazes concentrated. Every time a name was read, cheers rose somewhere, sighs rose somewhere.

"Next is the third match of the third round! The matchup is Char versus—"

Char's name was called before Rigel's. Her opponent wasn't Rigel.

"An unfamiliar name. From the sound of the name, a guy?"

Rigel muttered quietly. Even girl students were suspicious, so there was no way Rigel would remember a male student's name.

"I believe he was from Class B third-year. It's good that I didn't face Rigel-san, but he's undoubtedly a strong opponent as well. I'll do my best in my own way!"

Char lightly clenched her fist and held it in front of her chest. That gesture symbolized the strength of her core.

"Yeah, do your best. …Oh, my name was called too. The opponent is…"

Rigel turned his gaze toward the stage. Somehow, a sharpness greater than usual dwelled in those eyes. As if holding their breath, the audience also waited for that moment.

"The fourth match of the third round has become Rigel versus Aria!"

""Oooooooh!!""

The instant the female emcee who drew the lot announced the names, the venue stirred. As if a wave of emotion had washed over all at once, that voice echoed all the way to the ceiling. The expectation value toward Rigel, who was thought to have lucky wins in the first and second rounds, was not high. That being the case, this stir indicated that the attention on the opponent Aria was considerably high.

"Hehe! Looks like that lucky bastard has finally been abandoned by luck too!"

"It's a pity, but he won't be able to lose easily. Kuku, this time he should suffer an unsightly defeat. I'll recover the money I've lost so far."

That voice shook the air together with a dry laugh. Mocking close to whispers spread small ripples in a corner of the venue. Everyone floated a smile of contempt on their lips, shrugged their shoulders, and met each other's eyes as if showing agreement. Like a crowd waiting for someone to fall—ugly curiosity and calculating gazes swirling, concentrated on a single point.

But the Rigel in question didn't particularly mind.

"My opponent is a guy named Aria. …Do you know him? Char."

At the question suddenly uttered, Char instantly reacted. Her eyes suddenly opened wide, and her back straightened with a ping like a small animal the moment its name was called.

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