The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

36 – 36. Martial Arts Competition (2)

“Gongja, isn’t your robe too worn out?”

As we exited the colosseum, Ashella started nagging again about something that caught her eye.

“Why do you care about my robe?”

“It’s all wrinkled here. This is where the Emperor himself will be present. We should dress neatly.”

“It can’t be helped. My work hours always seem to be long.”

“Then should I be undressing at night?”

Well, Asella always maintains an unruffled appearance.

“The princess has a curfew.”

“Hmm… that’s true. Lucy.”

Even though Asella didn’t give any specific orders, the maids immediately gathered around me and adjusted my attire.

They worked efficiently and in no time, my gown became clean and crisp.

Do they have some sort of ironing artifact? How convenient.

“Thank you, Head Maid.”

“Thank the princess, please.”

The Head Maid replied sternly. She never drops her business-like tone even during work.

“Much better. I was practically dying from a hangover earlier.”

Seems like she’s finally satisfied.

I blew a strand of hair up with the wind.

“I may be an inconspicuous royal physician, but well, as long as the princess is perfect, it’s fine.”

“The prince is my soulmate.”

“Well… that’s a fitting statement.”

I’m sure I stand out more than the other physicians.

Indeed, it’s difficult to surpass Asella with words alone.

“Princess, His Majesty will be arriving soon.”

The Head Maid informed Asella.

While other noble families have separate secretaries, in the Moonlight Palace, the Head Maid also takes on that role.

In front of the teleportation gate, hundreds of knights line up to create a path.

They’re running around with flags, quite disorderly.

Asella stands neatly positioned at the end of the path created by the knights, where the entire royal family has gathered. I can see Rauha beside her.

I stand a little further away with the other physicians, the escort knights, the butler, and the Head Maids.

“Outdoor activities are always physically draining, aren’t they? Don’t you agree, Professor Goldberg?”

“Hello, Sir Falkenheim.”

Georg, the royal physician of Prince Georg II, pretended to know me, so I casually played along.

“hahahaha, even though we’re in the same department, it’s hard to see each other’s faces. But I’m well-informed. I knew you would be active like this since I started serving you.”

“I am flattered. I am just diligently carrying out my duties.”

Formal conversations consume more energy.

Since Falkenhein also helped me get picked, it would be a bit awkward to pretend not to know.

“His Majesty approves!”

Fortunately, the Emperor’s secretary shouted just when I was about to yawn due to boredom.

The bustling atmosphere that filled the space disappeared, and a solemn mood settled in.

―Paaa!

As light radiated from the teleport gate, the imperial first-grade royal guards took the lead.

And behind them, an elderly figure with a majestic appearance reveals himself.

Although a strong aura is felt, it seems that his physical strength has bottomed out as he walks slowly while supported by the physicians.

―Puooo!

The sound of trumpets spread with the force to tear through the clear sky’s clouds.

The orchestra plays a welcoming melody while the members of the royal family pay their respects one by one.

Even for a child who carries their legacy through blood, it’s impossible to easily acknowledge this formidable figure.

We can’t possibly know how much preparation they made in just a momentary impression.

The Emperor smiles warmly at them and waves his hand adorned with many rings to greet them.

“On this clear morning, I greet the benevolent eyes of the wise Ava Mama at the Square of Divinations.”

“You’ve grown a lot, Asella.”

The meeting between Asella and the Emperor, which took a month to prepare, ended in an instant.

***

The Emperor shot flower petals in all directions in a scenic area where they fluttered abundantly.

He mainly chatted with his siblings, and the topics were more ordinary than expected.

He talked about hunting and capturing a pompous giant boar or obtaining the latest fishing pole from the Kingdom’s production line, among other things.

It seemed that unless it was a time like this, when reservations to meet the Emperor were months behind, the noble figures who would receive an audience with him had no chance to have leisurely conversations among family members.

Among the three Empresses, only the First Empress was participating in the conversation.

It was easy to see that the weak Crown Prince, who seemed to get along well with the Emperor, was practically designated as the next Emperor.

Even the nobles living above the clouds seem ordinary on occasions like this since they are ultimately human.

Of course, there are many aspects that cannot be understood through common sense.

“Teacher, please pay attention to the sound of footsteps,” whispered a court lady, as if it would reach my ears.

The problem is that we have to remain tense and hold our breath in order not to disturb their conversation. The members of the royal family follow one emperor walking, and hundreds of knights and servants assisting them move all at once. Of course, I, the chief physician, have also become a crumpled sandwich thrown in my bag. We must not even be in his line of sight or make any noise. At the same time, we must be within a certain radius to prepare for emergencies. If so, cast an invisibility spell. I was sweating profusely on my forehead as I was sandwiched between the escort knights. When families gather for holidays, children often get bored listening to adults’ stories. The princes and princesses, including Acella, even the emperor’s nieces and nephews, sit quietly without opening their mouths. Only after the emperor’s enjoyable banquet ended did he walk to the tournament arena. The guest seats for the emperor and his brothers are on the top floor, and the children are on the middle floor. Acella could finally leave the crowd and move for the martial arts tournament preparations. “Are there any changes to the schedule?” “No. The first match is a representative knight individual battle as scheduled.” Acella called the Moon Palace Knight Order when she heard the reply from the tournament manager. “Are you ready?” The knight leader bowed his head. Wait. Is Acella planning to send him out? I check my status window. [No. 012: 52% destruction of the empire] The probability of a bad ending is increasing. The destruction of the empire. This ending occurs when rebellion first breaks out within the royal family, and an angry Acella destroys the palace. Not a metaphor, but a literal hole is punched in the palace grounds. The empire practically disintegrates with this incident. The demon king’s subjugation army lost its power, and the hero party, isolated and unsupported, withered and died. “If Acella creates an opportunity to attack the palace today at the martial arts tournament-” It means Acella had a reason to hold great hatred against the royal family at the tournament. Perhaps all the hard work she prepared would be in vain, and she would end up being laughed at for coming in last place.

“Let’s achieve the goal of winning first.”

There’s nothing bad for me.

In order to win, our Wolgwang Palace faction must achieve top records in all competitions.

“I am lacking in skill as the captain of the Wolgwang Palace knights in individual matches.”

I proposed to Asella.

“Your Highness, it may be impertinent to say so.”

“Why?”

“May I suggest entrusting the participation in individual matches to my chief bodyguard, Tanya?”

“The bodyguard of Confucius?”

Asella glanced briefly at Tanya.

When Tanya heard her name, she calmly stepped forward without any sign of tension.

“Changing the participating player suddenly is troublesome. The captain has been training for the individual matches.”

“It’s not that I doubt the captain’s skills, but Chief Tanya is also excellent. She has reached the level of a Sword Expert.”

“Is that true?”

Asella showed interest at the mention of Sword Expert.

“Chief Tanya.”

“Yes.”

She took a step back and demonstrated.

She drew her sword and focused her mind.

Then, energy emanated from her body, and heat began to radiate from the sword like a flame.

It was a sword technique that a swordsman who had reached the level of Sword Expert could use.

Asella, who was looking at Tanya, seemed to be quite satisfied already. She asked the captain of Wolgwang Palace.

“What is your opinion?”

The captain immediately replied.

“I have sparred with Chief Tanya several times.”

“And the results?”

“I have been completely defeated every time. I am confident that Chief Tanya is the highest level in the entire imperial knights.”

The captain of Wolgwang Palace calmly stated the truth.

This allows Asella to make a correct judgment by completely removing personal bias and emotions.

Her loyalty is truly admirable.

After some hesitation, Asella made her decision.

“Tanja, the escort of Gottberg, will participate in the individual competition.”

“As you command,” replied Tanja coolly, as befitting her background from the north, and immediately began to prepare for the competition by donning her armor.

I spoke to Tanja as she prepared her sword.

“As the representative of Wolgwang Palace, you must come back as a winner no matter what. Are you confident?”

“To whom are you speaking, my lord?”

“I like your confidence. But we must keep in mind that the Royal Knights have advanced in real battle tactics more than we have.”

“You mean tactics?”

“Yes. Our feudal lordship has not spread far but it is common sense in the system that ‘results are everything’.”

“For example?”

“Right now, you think it is natural to win with swordsmanship since it is a duel between knights, right?”

“Well, yes.”

“Go with that attitude then. Pick up the sand and throw it in your opponent’s eyes if the field doesn’t have any. It means that if there is no rule that says we can’t, then we can do it.”

Tanja nodded her head after listening to my advice.

“I see. In the individual competition, the rules are to drop your sword or the knight who falls first loses. There were only two rules.”

“And you are free to do whatever you want with your other hand.”

I had seen enough of the imperial army’s fighting style during the demon king’s subjugation.

Although the imperial army risked their lives for honor, their tactics were quite cunning.

It wasn’t a bad way of fighting, though.

For example, it was very helpful when I fought with the dragon Bilhelm, one of the four heavenly kings.

His armor covered in adamantium couldn’t be removed if it weren’t for the illegal mana bombs that the imperial army had prepared.

“Don’t worry. I will show them my sword will defeat any dirty tricks.”

“Of course, but it’s better to have tools, isn’t it?”

I took out something from my royal duffel bag.

“Take these with you. I’ll explain each one’s use so remember it well.”

I handed it to Tanja.

There were glass bottles that made clanking noises.

They were flasks filled with various types of potions.