TOOCM 101

Chapter 101

“You run a game that drives people to their deaths, and you claim you’re not a malicious boss?” Reina made no effort to hide her displeasure at Simon’s hypocritical attitude.

“This is a game the fighters willingly participate in. If they win, they accumulate immense wealth, so there’s no reason for them to refuse. Fighters can leave the arena whenever they wish, but those who choose to leave are extremely rare.”

It sounded like he was looking out for them, but Reina could see it clearly: Simon’s ugly and avaricious desire.

Reina’s voice was icy as she retorted, “They must be rare because they are all dead.”

“Well, that’s generally the case.”

“You treat people who have been pushed to the brink as consumables and still act proudly.”

Despite Reina’s repeated criticisms, Simon merely remained indifferent. He set down his teacup and said, “If Black wishes to leave the arena, I will let him go. However, if he chooses to stay, I cannot allow you to take him.”

“Are you planning to imprison a Royal?”

“Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say we are allowing him to reside here?”

A tense war of nerves continued between Simon and Reina.

Just then, a knock sounded, and Black entered the room.

Black’s gaze went to Reina and Kaiden. Simon spoke. “Perfect timing. Let’s ask Black directly.”

He rose from his seat and placed a hand on Black’s shoulder. “These esteemed people here wish to take you away. What do you think?”

“…”

“If you wish to leave, I will let you, but you will incur a hefty penalty fee. Of course, the condition is settled if you hand over all the prize money you’ve won so far.”

At Simon’s words, Reina’s face crumpled. It was no wonder so few people chose to terminate their contracts and leave, given how he handled things.

Simon smirked vulgarly. “Go on, make your choice. I respect the fighters’ decisions.”

His attitude was arrogant, as if he already knew what Black would choose.

However, Black’s answer made Simon’s face fall.

“I will go.”

“…You’re going?” Simon blinked, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Yes.” Black answered briefly and handed the mask he was wearing to Simon. “Thank you for your time here.”

His resolute demeanor surprised not only Simon but Reina and Kaiden as well.

Simon, who had been alternating his gaze between the mask and Black, frantically exclaimed, “Wait, wait! You’re leaving just like that? Leaving all that money behind?”

Black’s face had just been revealed, and he was gaining fame. Had Simon known he was hiding such a handsome face, he would have made him remove the mask sooner.

“I’ll pay you better than I currently am! You’ve won so many times, so more sponsorships will come in, and you’ll become rich! What do you say? Do you still intend to give up everything and leave?”

Simon grabbed his hand, attempting to persuade him. He naturally assumed Black was making a power play for negotiation.

But Black did not budge.

“I merely enjoyed the game; money was not important.”

“You—!” Simon looked at Black, genuinely unable to comprehend. Fighters who came here usually did so out of desperation for money. He had assumed the same of Black and was clearly taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.

Leaving the stunned Simon behind, Black approached Reina. However, he only looked at her, unable to speak for a while, before finally managing a few words.

“You called me Jeffrey earlier, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Do you know me?”

At Jeffrey’s question, Reina’s eyes grew redder. Her brother didn’t remember her at all. Her brother, who had been separated from her for so long, manipulated by the enemy’s hand, and who might even be the enemy’s spy.

Reina knew his sudden revelation of his identity was no coincidence.

Yet, just the fact that he was alive.

Just the fact that she no longer had to worry about his whereabouts.

Reina was prepared to face all those risks.

“Yes, I do.”

“…”

“If you come with me, I will slowly tell you who you are.”

Reina held out her hand. Black stared quietly at her fair, delicate hand.

After a moment, he slowly took her hand.

At that instant, a tear rolled down Reina’s cheek. The smile she wore, even with the tears, felt infinitely radiant.

“Welcome home, Brother.”

Chapter 11. The Banquet

Simon could not stop Jeffrey. He had already declared that fighters could leave whenever they wished.

Jeffrey ended up residing at the Crensia mansion starting that day. He should have returned to the Prince’s Palace where he originally resided, but they used the excuse of his incomplete memory to postpone it. In truth, knowing he had been the Emperor’s shadow, they mainly wanted to avoid sending him to the Imperial Palace. They decided to determine his residence only after they checked the room Michael had mentioned.

“While I’m away in the Holy Kingdom, if an emergency arises, contact me here. It’s a secure route, so don’t worry.”

Michael informed her of the contact location and left the capital. The fact that he willingly shared the separate guild he was moving through suggested he had completely turned to her side.

While waiting for Michael’s return, Reina spent her days busy. The Emperor’s banquet was scheduled to take place on the New Moon (Wolsak), the first day of the lunar month.

Reina visited Jeffrey every day, spending time telling him stories from their childhood. Naturally, Jeffrey remembered nothing.

However, Reina read the genuine fragments of her brother’s memory from his habits: his tenderness in sitting toward the sunlight to shield her from the glare, or his habit of always adding exactly two sugar cubes to his tea. These were his long-held customs.

While she was tending to Jeffrey, Kaiden visited the young Duke Helio and returned with information about the recent attack. Since the young Duke was an academy alumnus, Kaiden heard the full details of the incident that the Imperial Family had concluded.

“He said it was a monster that couldn’t be wounded. It was as if the wound was being transferred back to the attacker.”

Upon hearing this, Reina no longer doubted Jeffrey. She remembered the words he spoke to reassure her before he left for the subjugation in the past.

“I won’t be wounded, Reina.”

Reina realized this was his newly manifested Divine Power, and she had confidently sent him off. But while he wasn’t wounded, he was unable to immediately return to Reina.

Reina collapsed into Kaiden’s arms, mumbling.

“It’s really my brother. That is my brother’s power.”

Kaiden comforted the sniffling Reina for a long time.

“Reina, I will absolutely retrieve Jeffrey’s memories.”

Recalling his firm gaze, a smile formed on Reina’s lips. Even though she was clearly walking on thin ice, she felt no fear of the current reality when she was with Kaiden.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey observed Reina closely. It had been a week since he arrived at the Crensia mansion. Reina’s actions, desperately trying to trace his memories, clearly stemmed from affection.

Because of this, his heart felt increasingly uncomfortable as time went on. It was kindness offered because she believed he was her family. It was affection he shouldn’t be receiving. This peaceful daily life felt confining and oppressive to him.

‘You must make Princess Reina believe you are her older brother. Then wait at the Crensia mansion. When the time is right, I will give you further orders.’

His initial purpose was merely to successfully infiltrate the Crensia mansion. He hadn’t expected to get in so easily, given that the Crensia family rarely allowed outsiders.

Yet, she let him, a spy, into her quarters with alarming ease. And that vulnerability bothered him.