The sound of a trumpet, signaling the start of the Inter-Class Tournament, echoed through the forest. As per the pre-arranged plan, Lecty and a minimal defense force remained at the base, while the rest of the classmates advanced towards the center of the field.
“Please take care of Lecty, Hugh.”
“Yeah, leave it to me. Idiot, I’m counting on you to protect Lily.”
“Understood. In the name of my Skill, «Chevalier», I shall protect her without fail.”
After seeing Lily and Idiot off, who were part of the group advancing to the center, four people remained at the base. It was me, Rouge, Lecty, and a male student named Traitor Inform.
He was one of the students who belonged to Prince Slay’s faction, and according to Lily, he was the heir to the Inform Baronial House. He was close to House Hortness and seemed to be one of Idiot’s old cronies.
During the strategy meeting in the classroom, he volunteered to defend the base. He said that he wasn’t feeling well since morning and might not be able to keep up with the attack team.
“P-Please take care of me, Traitor-san!”
“Tch. Don’t get cocky, you commoner.”
Traitor clicked his tongue at Lecty’s greeting, not even trying to hide his discriminatory attitude.
While the classmates were united around Lecty, Traitor always watched them from the outside with a contemptuous gaze. I had even seen him clash with other classmates from Prince Slay’s faction.
He probably couldn’t fit in with the class atmosphere. I’m more of an observer myself, so I can understand how he feels.
But that doesn’t mean I can overlook his involvement in the Lecty Kidnapping Plan.
“Hyu, Hugh-san!? What are you doing!?”
Lecty asked me with a flustered expression. The reason being, I had used my «Ninja» Skill to approach Traitor from behind, grabbed his arm, and pushed him down.
“Gah!? W-What are you—”
“Don’t make a fuss, Traitor. Stay still unless you want your arm broken.”
I’d rather not have the experience of breaking someone’s arm, but a half-hearted threat won’t work. Traitor, who was trying to resist, grimaced in pain as I gradually increased the pressure and became quiet.
“Rouge, I’m counting on you. Probably on the left side.”
“Okay!”
Rouge, who had been briefed beforehand, began searching Traitor’s uniform at my instruction. Then, hidden under his blazer and tucked into his trousers, a dagger was found.
When Rouge pulled it out of its sheath, it was clear that the blade was not dulled. The weapons used in the Inter-Class Tournament were limited to non-lethal wooden weapons. Bringing in other weapons, especially undulled swords, was strictly prohibited.
I could immediately see that he was hiding something with my «Ninja» Skill, but I didn’t expect him to bring a dagger…
“Traitor, what is this?”
“I-It’s a dagger for self-defense…! My father told me to always carry it because things have been dangerous lately…”
“Even during the Inter-Class Tournament? We were just told that bringing weapons was prohibited.”
“I-I didn’t have time to put it away! So I had no choice…!”
“We had free time for lunch before leaving the academy, didn’t we? Or did you go back to the Dormitory at that time to hide the dagger?”
“—!”
I hit the bullseye. I thought it was suspicious when Traitor volunteered to stay at the base. I noticed a slight shift in Traitor’s center of gravity when he was walking, thanks to my «Ninja» Skill, when we were moving from the classroom to the carriage.
“Answer me. You were instructed by your father to participate in the Lecty Kidnapping Plan, weren’t you?”
“Eh!?”
Lecty, who had been watching the situation, widened her eyes at my words. After consulting with Lily and Prince Lucas, I hadn’t told Lecty about the Kidnapping Plan beforehand.
I’ll apologize properly for that later, but for now.
“I-I had no choice…! If House Hortness falls, our house won’t be spared! Prince Slay has to win!”
“So, you were willing to sacrifice yourself? If it’s discovered that you participated in the Kidnapping, you’ll be imprisoned, you know?”
“I’m aware of that…! Prince Slay said he would grant me a pardon if he becomes king! And he even promised to appoint me as a minister in the future! I was chosen by His Highness! Don’t think you can get away with this, you country bumpkin!”
“……What an idiot.”
He’s the type to spill the beans so easily. There’s no reason for Prince Slay to keep Traitor alive if he knows about the plan.
He’ll either have him killed by mercenaries disguised as bandits, or he’ll get rid of the mercenaries along with him. Even if he’s imprisoned alive, he’ll likely be left to rot in jail without a pardon.
For now, I had Rouge help me gag Traitor with a cloth and then tie him up with rope.
Traitor’s Skill is «High-Speed Movement», which makes him fast, so if I tie up his legs, there shouldn’t be any problems.
After that, I can just leave him lying around, and Alissa-san or the Royal Knights Order should pick him up.
“Um, Hugh-san. What exactly is going on…?”
“Well, let’s see… Where should I start explaining…”
Lecty probably doesn’t know much about the Succession War. She might be shocked to learn about the incident that has escalated into a Kidnapping Plan without her knowledge.
However, I can’t avoid explaining it…
But we don’t have the luxury of explaining things leisurely here. If the plan goes as expected, mercenaries disguised as bandits should be approaching to kidnap Lecty. It’s only a matter of time before they clash with Alissa-san and the Royal Knights Order, who are waiting nearby.
It would be better to move before this place becomes a battlefield.
“Sorry, Lecty. I’ll explain everything in detail later, but for now, can you trust us and come with us? We’re going to join up with Lily and Idiot.”
“O-Okay…!”
Lecty nodded in agreement. I think she’s confused by the sudden turn of events, but I feel her trust in me for being so obedient. I have to respond to that, too…!
“Hugh, look!”
Just as I was getting my act together, Rouge pointed to the sky and shouted. When I looked in the direction she was pointing, a thin purple smoke was rising into the sky.
That is… !
It’s the smoke signal we decided on beforehand in class. For example, red meant the central force was at a disadvantage, and blue meant they were at an advantage, with each color having a different meaning.
Purple was the signal for an emergency.
It was for emergency communication in case of a natural disaster that was beyond the Inter-Class Tournament, or something that involved a life-threatening situation. Moreover, we had decided that this smoke signal would only be used if something happened to Lily and the others who had advanced to the center of the field.
“What on earth…”
“Hugh, let’s hurry to Lily’s place!”
“I’m worried about Lily-chan, Hugh-san!”
“That’s right… Let’s hurry, you two!”
I don’t know the situation, but we decided to head to the center of the field.
Please be safe, Lily…!