19. 武闘会の参加権
学園に来てから一月が経ち、その間、俺はナタリーと行動していた。
クラスメートからは遠巻きにされている。
悪名高いペッパー家の跡取り息子だから仕方ない。
唯一接してくれるナタリーに感謝だ。
ただ、ナタリーの評価が下がるのは良くないと考え、
「俺とばっかり、一緒にいてもいいのか?」
と聞いてみた。
「全然構わないわ」
「でも、ナタリーまで悪い噂が立つのは......」
「言いたい人には言わせておけばいいのよ」
と言ってくれた。
優しい子だ。
ナタリー、ありがとう。
彼女のおかげで学園生活に特に不満はない。
もし、一つ不満を上げるとすれば、ご飯が美味しくないことだ。
料理長の美味しいご飯に慣れてしまったせいで、舌が肥えてしまっている。
貴族が多く通うということで、それなりの料理人が作っているとのことだが、料理長には敵わないな。
やはり、料理長は存在が惜しい。
なんとしてでも連れてくるべきだった。
そうして、学園生活にも慣れた頃だ。
「来週から武闘会がある」
クリス先生が俺たちに向かって言った。
武闘会は学園における一大イベントだ。
サンザール学園の生徒同士で試合を行い、優劣を争う大会だ。
普段は立ち入りが制限されている学園も、武闘会期間中は一般の人でも入れるようになる。
毎年、多くの人で賑わう。
初等部、中等部、高等部で試合の形式が異なり、初等部の場合、3人1組でチーム戦を行う。
ちなみに中等部や高等部は個人戦だ。
これは伝統的にそう決められているというもので、明確な理由はわからない。
1年生から1組、2年生から2組、3年生から5組の計8組によるトーナメント形式だ。
初等部の学生が勝ち進むことはめったにないため、ここで一勝でもすると大きな盛り上がりを見せる。
だが、あくまでも3年生同士の戦いがメインとなる。
「毎年、1年生はAクラスから1組出すことになるのだが、今回は私の独断で決めさせてもらった」
クリス先生がそう言うと、教室が緊張感に包まれる。
前世でいう小学校の運動会とはわけが違う。
武闘会は、生徒が実力を示す絶好の機会だ。
なにより、武闘会に出場することが誉れとなる。
そこに出たいと思うのは当然のことだろう。
まあ、初等部の試合は、そこまで注目を浴びていないが。
特に1年生は実力だめしのところが大きく、一回戦でも勝てればよいと見られている。
クリス先生は教室全体を見渡す。
そして、一呼吸おいてから参加者を発表した。
「ベルク、ナタリー、オーウェンの3人だ」
と、クリス先生の言葉に一瞬、俺はキョトンとする。
俺が選ばれたのか?
ベルクとナタリーが選ばれる理由はわかる。
彼らは家柄も実力も申し分ない。
それに対し、俺は選ばれるだけの理由がない気がする。
「クリス先生! 納得できません! なぜ、オーウェンなのですか!?」
そう言ったのは、ドミニクだった。
他の生徒も俺が選ばれたことに、疑問を抱いているのが伝わってくる。
「ほう? 私の目が節穴だと言いたいのか?」
「そういうわけでは! ただ......納得できない!」
「オーウェンが選ばれて、自分が選ばれないのが納得できない。そういうことだな?」
「......そうです」
クリス先生が「うむ」と満足そうに頷く。
「まあ、お前の主張もわかる。それなら、こうしよう。オーウェンとドミニクで模擬戦をする。その結果、勝った方を武闘会に参加させよう」
確かに、戦った結果ならお互い納得できる。
俺とドミニクは同時に頷いた。
クリス先生がどういう意図で俺を選んだかはわからない。
Ch 19
It's been a month since I arrived at the school, and during that time I've been spending a lot of time with Natalie.
I've been kept at a distance from my classmates.
I can't help it since I'm the heir to the infamous Pepper family.
I was grateful to Natalie for being the only one who treated me well.
However, I didn't want Natalie's reputation to suffer.
"Are you sure you want to spend all your time with me?
I asked her.
"I don't mind at all."
"But I don't want Natalie to get a bad reputation."
"Let them say what they want to say."
She told me.
She was a sweet girl.
Thank you, Natalie.
Thanks to her, I had no complaints about my school life.
If I had one complaint, it would be that the food was not very good.
As I was used to the chef's delicious food, my palate had become a bit picky.
I had heard that the food here was all prepared by a good chef, since many noblemen went to his restaurant, but it was not as good as the chef.
After all, the chef's absence was unfortunate.
I should have brought him with me at all costs.
Anyway, I was getting used to the school life.
"We have a martial arts competition next week."
Chris-sensei said to us.
The martial arts tournament was a major event at the school.
It was a tournament where the students of Sanzar Academy competed against each other for supremacy.
The school was usually closed to the public, but during the tournament, it would open up to the general public.
Every year during that time, the school would get crowded with people.
The format of the tournament differed among the elementary, middle, and high school divisions, as the elementary division competed in teams of three.
In the case of the elementary school, teams competed against each other, while the middle school and high school students competed as individuals.
I didn't know the exact reason for this, but it was a traditional thing.
The tournament format consisted of eight groups: one group from the first year, two groups from the second year, and five groups from the third year.
It was rare for students from the elementary school to win the tournament, so winning even one game here would have been a big deal.
However, the main competition was between third-year students.
"Every year, the first-years from Class A chooses a team to participate, but this time I've made the decision on my own."
When Chris-sensei said this, the classroom was filled with tension.
It was different from the field day from the elementary school in my previous life.
A martial arts competition was a great opportunity for students to show their abilities.
Above all, participating in a martial arts competition was an honor.
It was only natural that everyone would want to participate in it.
Well, the elementary school's games didn't get that much attention.
Especially for the first-year students, since it was largely a matter of merit, it was considered good enough to win even the first round.
Chris-sensei looked around the entire classroom.
After a pause, she announced the participants.
"It's Berg, Natalie, and Owen."
I was momentarily taken aback by Chris-sensei's words.
Did really she pick me?
I could see why Berg and Natalie were chosen.
They had the perfect family background and skills.
On the other hand, I didn't feel like I had any reason to be chosen.
"Chris-sensei! I'm not convinced! Why Owen?"
It was Dominic who said that.
I could tell that the other students were also wondering why I was chosen.
"Huh? Are you trying to tell me that my opinion isn't valid?"
"That's not what I'm saying! I just don't agree with......!"
"So, "I don't understand why Owen was chosen and not me.". Is that what you're saying?"
"... Yes."
Chris-sensei nodded her head in satisfaction.
"Well, I can see your point. Then here's what we'll do. We'll have a mock battle between Owen and Dominic, and the winner will be allowed to participate in the tournament."
Surely, the results of the fight would be mutually satisfactory."
Hearing that, Dominic and I nodded at the same time.
I didn't know what Chris-sensei's intentions were then, but if we were going to do this, I should do everything to win the right to participate.
Reincarnated as the Son of a Vicious Lord! ~When I Was Having Fun Learning Magic, I Had to Get Rid of My Stigma~!
悪徳領主の息子に転生！？～楽しく魔法を学んでいたら、汚名を返上してました～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/reincarnated-as-the-son-of-a-vicious-lord-when-i-was-having-fun-learning-magic-i-had-to-get-rid-of-my-stigma/
Adventure Fantasy Romance School Life Shounen
Academy Adapted to Manga Age Progression Battle Competition Character Growth Cheats Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Depictions of Cruelty Elemental Magic Fat to Fit Female Master Friendship Harem-seeking Protagonist Harsh Training Hated Protagonist Late Romance Loyal Subordinates Male Protagonist Modern Knowledge Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in Another World Saints Strength-based Social Hierarchy Sword And Magic Underestimated Protagonist
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6812gh/
米津