Chapter 16
“Well, who would want to participate in that?”
Sue glanced around the meeting room, which had fallen silent in an instant, and chuckled wryly.
The Ribbon Race was a race where you rode a creature called a ‘Cribon’ and flew through the sky. It looked similar to horseback riding, but the way a Cribon moved was fundamentally different from a horse, right down to its skeletal structure.
Cribons were hybrids born from ancient dragons and horses, a result of research conducted by the Imperial Magic Division a long time ago.
As a result, Cribons had a rather peculiar appearance. Their entire bodies were covered in black scales, they had dragon wings on their backs, and horse legs underneath.
The research had been initiated as a way to tame dragons more easily, but it had been discontinued due to its inefficiency, considering the budget that had been poured into it.
Cribons, inheriting the blood of dragons, could fly. However, in order to fly, they needed a certain amount of magic power and the ability to control it. Also, while they were fast fliers, they tired easily. This was the reason why the Magic Division had deemed Cribon research ‘inefficient’ and halted it.
However, thanks to the Cribons’ ability to reproduce through mating, this new species, born from human selfishness, had managed to survive.
It was ironic that a research subject that should have been disposed of was still thriving today.
Cribons had gained immense popularity as a sport due to their unique origin, peculiar appearance, and the fact that their speed varied greatly depending on the rider’s skill.
It was a sport mainly enjoyed by nobles, so the Ribbon Race was also a regular class at the academy.
However, for nobles, the Ribbon Race was a spectator sport. Since even handling a Cribon normally required above-average athletic ability and magic control, they generally considered riding one to be too difficult.
For the sole reason that it was more entertaining to ‘watch’ than any other sport, it had become a strange, permanent fixture in the Sports Festival.
“Are there any volunteers?”
Ains’s voice echoed through the silent meeting room, her words falling on deaf ears.
It wasn’t a competition like swordsmanship where you could gain honor, and from the nobles’ perspective, it was like choosing a clown to entertain them, so it was understandable that no one wanted to volunteer.
This happened every year during the athlete selection for the Ribbon Race, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
“Ains, hold on a moment.”
Just then, Fritz, who had been observing the meeting from the back of the room, stepped forward.
The moment the prominent figure spoke, a tense silence fell over the meeting room.
Fritz, standing at the front of the platform, scanned the faces of his teammates, who were sitting in neat rows. His characteristically indifferent gaze seemed to be testing how far he could look down on others.
Then, he said something rather interesting.
“As you all must be thinking, I intend to win.”
Haha.
Sue laughed silently.
He’s saying the exact same things he said in the book.
“So, all of you here must help me achieve victory.”
He made a rather childish declaration in a firm, commanding voice. It was just a one-day Sports Festival. No one was taking it seriously. Except for one person – Shina Fritz.
He’s so psychotically hilarious.
He was an infinitely aristocratic, indifferent, and competitive child.
Sue felt a surge of amusement, finally witnessing firsthand the side of Fritz she had only read about in the book.
“I doubt anyone will volunteer for the Ribbon Race if we wait any longer. It’s a waste of time, so I’ll take over the meeting from now on. First, the men’s Ribbon Race…”
Fritz began to select students, one by one, including himself. The students he chose were those who had no connection to the Knights or magic. And they weren’t connected to Fritz in any way either.
He was simply choosing athletes randomly. To him, the other students were nothing more than stepping stones, tools he needed to climb higher.
But this wasn’t something she had read about in the book. In the book, he had been more forceful, coercing students into volunteering.
Random selection… Nah, there’s no way I’ll be chosen, right?
Just as this complacent thought began to creep into Sue’s mind…
“Sue.”
Melaine nudged Sue’s shoulder. Sue, startled, turned to her, trying to appear nonchalant.
“Aren’t you going to volunteer?”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
What is she talking about?
They both tilted their heads, their eyes filled with confusion, unable to understand each other. It was Melaine who broke the awkward silence.
“If you participate in the Ribbon Race, you’ll be able to practice with Master Fritz.”
“Ah.”
Sue finally understood what Melaine was thinking.
Melaine was continuing their earlier conversation. About how Sue wasn’t acting like her ‘usual’ self.
If it were the original ‘Sue’, she would have definitely volunteered for the Ribbon Race to try and get Fritz’s attention. No, she probably would have tried to participate in almost every event.
“You know how bad I am at handling Cribons, Lady Melaine.”
“Well, that’s…”
Sue smiled sweetly. But the doubt in Melaine’s eyes hadn’t disappeared. What does being bad at handling Cribons matter to you? Sue Byron is the type to recklessly try and get Fritz’s attention, regardless. Sue rubbed the back of her neck, reading her thoughts.
“I’m not feeling well this year, and I want to cheer for the team.”
“Cheer for the team? You?”
Melaine’s eyes narrowed, as if she had just seen a strange creature.
‘Sue’ never cheered for the team, did she?
Sue, at a loss for words, could only chuckle awkwardly.
“Lady Vava.”
Just then, a voice called out to them. It was Fritz. His black eyes were fixed on Melaine. He spoke respectfully to Melaine, the younger sister of the First Knight Commander.
“If you don’t mind, I would like you to participate in the Ribbon Race, Lady Vava. We need someone to lead the female students.”
“Master Fritz…”
Melaine blinked her sparkling eyes repeatedly. Even though she was the First Knight Commander’s sister, she had never even spoken to Fritz before, so she was surprised that he remembered her.
“Yes, I will participate in the Ribbon Race and lead the female students.”
Melaine, touched by his request, smiled and readily accepted.
“And…”
“…!”
Fritz gently shifted his gaze. His indifferent black eyes met Sue’s for the first time.
Those eyes are so psychotically indifferent.
And instinctively, Sue realized what Fritz was about to say. The apprehensive feeling that had been gnawing at her suddenly rose to her throat.
“The redhead next to her.”
“…Yes.”
“You can participate as well.”
Who said this guy was psychotically hilarious? When you’re on the receiving end, he’s just psychotic.
But Sue smiled brightly at the psychotic boy. She couldn’t disobey the orders of Young Master Fritz. Ains’s wrist, writing her name down on the list, looks so thin. That was all she could think about.
Fritz continued to select the female athletes, one by one.
“Master Fritz! I want to participate in the Ribbon Race too!”
One of the girls volunteered. It was Lady Vercia, Sue’s classmate. With Vercia’s participation, the athlete selection for the Ribbon Race was complete. Fritz looked at Ains with a satisfied expression.
“That concludes the athlete selection. We’ll practice once a day, without fail, so please coordinate accordingly, Ains.”
“…Sigh.”
Ains sighed inaudibly, a weary expression on her face. She had been dealing with this for six years. Perhaps that was why she was one of the rare individuals who didn’t idolize the Grand Duke family.
He’s really just a psycho when you experience him firsthand. I can understand Halo’s feelings a little now.
The amusement she had felt earlier had long since disappeared. Looking at the exhausted Ains, Sue was reminded once again.
“I’ll say it again, I intend to win. And I’ll make sure this team wins.”
Even though he had simply said, ‘Let’s win the Sports Festival!’, the look in the students’ eyes changed at Fritz’s words. No one in this meeting room dismissed his words as arrogance or childish stubbornness.
Fritz lifted his chin slightly and assessed how he could utilize the nameless students he had just selected.
Shina Fritz was a very competitive boy. He had never hidden his desire to always be first, to be at the top. But it wasn’t a political ambition, it was more of a sportsman’s spirit.
Sue found it strange that Fritz, who had been born with everything, had such a personality.
After all, Fritz had never lost in his life. Perhaps he had felt a sense of humiliation when he was forced to accept his engagement to Enzhe.
But Fritz had always won, and he would continue to win. Just like last year, and the year before that, he would win this year, and next year, and no one would find it strange. He would once again seize victory. That was what it meant to be the protagonist chosen by fate.
****
Practice began the very next day.
Sue changed into her sportswear and went to the racetrack located at the far end of the academy. The sportswear she was wearing was made of linen, a modified version of the Knights’ training uniform for academy use.
The loose-fitting pants and sleeves were comfortable to move in, but it wasn’t exactly something a noble lady would wear, so it wasn’t a popular choice among the students.
The Ribbon Race was held in the sky, so the racetrack was covered in soft grass. Knights and mages dispatched by the academy were lined up around the field. Next to them were handlers holding the reins of the Cribons. All these measures were in place for the safety of the students.
Sue was assigned a Cribon, and a mage cast a protective spell on her and the Cribon in case they fell.
Sue stretched her neck, looking up at the sky. Practice was already underway. She could see a flash of golden hair, so Melaine must be up there as well.
A wave of anxiety washed over her, wondering if she would even be able to get off the ground. Her sigh, heavy with worry, dissipated into the air.
How did things end up like this?
As the question crossed her mind, she suddenly recalled Fritz’s green eyes from yesterday.
“…There’s no point in thinking about it.”
Thinking about yesterday’s events only gave her a headache. This wasn’t the time to dwell on things she couldn’t change.