Chapter 233: The List of Stupid Deaths!
"You caused quite a commotion back there... Are you really sure it'll be alright?"
As they walked down the corridor toward the waiting room, Reinhard asked Shiro with obvious concern.
"It's fine."
"I think Miklotov and Bordeaux genuinely accepted Emilia's right to participate in the Royal Selection."
Shiro interlaced his fingers behind his head and answered casually.
"People might become more stubborn as they age, but strangely enough, they can also become more open-minded about certain things."
Just moments earlier, Shiro had given everyone in the hall a long speech.
He had never expected many people to actually listen.
If even one or two understood what he was trying to say, he would have considered it a success.
What Shiro had not expected was for Bordeaux to be the first to step forward afterward.
The old man had said something along the lines of—Shiro could easily have killed him for opposing Emilia, yet Emilia had never ordered Shiro to do so.
He looked genuinely moved.
Then Miklotov followed shortly afterward and became the first to formally acknowledge Emilia's position.
The speed of their change in attitude had honestly surprised Shiro.
Even more absurdly—Both men seemed completely sincere.
They did not appear to be pretending merely because Shiro had threatened them with overwhelming strength.
After that, the candidates remained behind to hear Miklotov explain the detailed rules of the Royal Selection.
Considering the enormous disturbance Shiro had already caused, staying there any longer seemed inappropriate.
So he simply left first and went to wait in the reception room until the explanation ended.
As for Reinhard—The nobles themselves had requested that he guide Shiro there.
Their intentions were painfully obvious.
They were afraid Shiro might cause another incident the moment nobody was watching.
So naturally, they assigned Reinhard—A man with flawless conduct and the greatest combat strength in Lugunica—To keep an eye on him.
"That isn't what I meant."
Reinhard gave Shiro an apologetic smile.
"After what happened today, most nobles will probably remember you very clearly."
"It'll become much harder to obtain their assistance if you ever need it."
"Are you sure that won't cause problems?"
If Reinhard were being fair, he had not handled today's events particularly well either.
There had been political considerations involving Emilia, of course.
Still—When the nobles caused trouble for Felt, Shiro had actively stepped in to help Reinhard.
Yet when Emilia became the target—Reinhard had done little beyond choosing not to stop Shiro from holding the nobles hostage.
"Forget help from those nobles."
Shiro shuddered just thinking about it.
"They might reach out a hand to help and conveniently take something important from me at the same time."
"I once heard that nobles in some place used to pile their hair ridiculously high to show off their status."
"A bunch of them apparently made their hairstyles so tall that they caught on chandeliers and burned to death."
"That already ranks pretty high on my list of stupid deaths."
The mere idea that he might someday need to ask those nobles for help made goosebumps rise across Shiro's skin.
"Your... list of stupid deaths?"
"Yeah."
"I look them up when I'm bored."
Shiro nodded.
"One of the more famous ones is about some famous person traveling outside when a turtle shell suddenly fell out of the sky and killed him."
"The theory is that an eagle mistook his bald head for a rock and tried to smash the turtle shell open on it."
"I've actually wanted to recreate that scene someday if I ever get the chance."
"Haha... Please don't."
Reinhard gave an awkward laugh and desperately tried to prevent Shiro from recreating what would undoubtedly become an eternal humiliation for knights everywhere.
Shiro continued—
"Besides, I've already accomplished part of what I wanted from joining the Royal Selection."
"Anything I gain from here onward can probably be counted as a bonus."
"Would you mind telling me what you're looking for?"
Reinhard asked.
"Perhaps there's something I can help with."
"Consider it repayment for helping Lady Felt earlier."
"The main reason I joined was to meet people knowledgeable about spirits."
Shiro thought for a moment.
"Now that I've met Julius, I'd say that goal is already mostly accomplished."
"If I had to name something else... finding someone talented in research would probably count too."
Shiro did not mention that he was also investigating the Witch Cult.
An outsider suddenly appearing in Lugunica and joining the Royal Selection as Emilia's knight was already suspicious enough.
If Shiro then told Reinhard he was investigating the Witch Cult as well—Even if Reinhard's personality prevented him from immediately suspecting Shiro of plotting against Lugunica, he would probably start asking endless questions out of concern for a friend.
"Unfortunately, I probably can't help you much with that either."
Reinhard sighed regretfully.
"My constitution is somewhat unusual."
"I cannot actively use magic, and I have almost no affinity with spirits."
"But I can speak to Julius for you."
"With his personality, I doubt he would refuse."
Although Reinhard had used the surrounding magical energy to unleash terrifying sword strikes during his battle with Shiro—He himself was fundamentally incompatible with magic.
Because of his unusual constitution, all of the magic within his body was instead converted into physical enhancement.
The terrifying slashes he had used before were only possible because the surrounding spirits had been influenced by his constitution and voluntarily assisted him.
When it came to actual knowledge of spirits—Reinhard was indeed inferior to Julius, who had contracted six quasi-spirits corresponding to all six attributes.
"Oh, right."
"There's one more thing I wanted to ask you."
As they continued walking, Shiro suddenly stopped.
He stared directly into Reinhard's deep-blue eyes.
For some reason—Reinhard felt that Shiro's expression had become unusually serious.
"During the Royal Selection meeting earlier..."
"Did you feel anything strange?"
"Strange?"
Reinhard looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"For example, your body suddenly becoming stiff."
"Or maybe you blanked out for a moment for no apparent reason."
Shiro recalled Reinhard's expression from earlier.
"It would've been around the time I attacked that noble."
"That period..."
Reinhard thought carefully.
"I don't believe so."
"Did something happen?"
Hearing that answer, Shiro's expression relaxed slightly.
He smiled and shook his head.
"No."
"It's nothing."
"I probably remembered it wrong."
"That's good."
Reinhard smiled warmly.
"If anything truly does happen, come find me at the Astrea estate anytime."
"I'll make sure to properly receive you."
"My friend."
With that, Reinhard resumed walking toward the reception room within the royal castle.
Shiro remained behind for a moment.
Watching Reinhard's retreating back, his brows slowly furrowed.
Then, in a voice too quiet for Reinhard to hear, he murmured—
"Even Reinhard himself didn't notice it..."
"That makes this troublesome."
…
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