Chapter 33: Mundane Mann

Summer starts, and with it, the Bushin Festival is about to begin. Many warriors from around the world gathered in Midgar Royal Capital to prove their worth. I, as the famed prodigy of Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy and a member of Iris' Crimson Order, was granted a slot to represent the academy in the Bushin Festival. The victor of the academy's premilinary rounds, Rose Oriana, also have a slot. Her father, King Raphael Oriana, will come to watch, accompanied by Duke… Ahem…. Perv Asshat… Cough cough… Seriously who named these people!?

P-Perv Asshat was my rival in the Cult aiming for the 12th Seat. He is Mordred's pawn, a better politician than a fighter. He has poisoned King Raphael with some thought inhibition drug to turn him into an obedient puppet (a lame way to control someone in my opinion) and they are looking to use Rose Oriana as well for some scheme to take over the Kingdom of Oriana. I will watch what fate has in store for the poor princess.

To attend the Bushin Festival, I was finally allowed to leave Everick and returned to the capital city. I wanted to spread some chaos in the Bushin Festival but senseless attacks without a plan or objective in mind is not my style. Especially since P-Perv Asshat… cough… seems to have a plan of his own and I need to watch and admire as it unfolds. For now I'll just participate as Claude Normann.

Sherry stayed in Everick to continue her magic training before resuming her studies in Laugus after summer vacation is over but I occasionally teleported back to Everick in order to train her.

I met up with the rest of Alexia's allies, Rose and Natsume, in McRonald and we chatted for a bit. I definitely didn't stare at Natsume's boobies and definitely didn't get hit by Alexia in the head for it! Definitely not! I-I did stare at Rose's chest though… and not for the reason you're thinking! I noticed the Demonic Possession that's currently growing on her chest but I decided to say nothing. This is a trial that she must overcome as it is definitely her character arc now.

"Tee hee hee. You two are so close. I'm so envious!" Rose remarked while smiling after seeing Alexia DID NOT hit me in the head.

""No, we're not!"" We replied in perfect sync.

"Wow. It's like you two are meant for each other." Natsume added while grinning.

""I'm telling you! It's not like that! And you! Stop copying me!"" We both exclaimed in perfect unison again.

Alexia told them our theory that the Necromancer has likely been promoted into the Rounds and Natsume, through her mysterious source, confirmed that was the case. How curious. A mere writer having access to such classified information.

We parted ways afterwards.

Now I am walking around the streets in my Crimson Order uniform to observe the warriors gathering around for the Bushin Festival, to see if there are any interesting characters. I saw Annerose, a former member of the Seven Blades of Velgalta, walking around. She had a scuffle with Sergey Gorman years ago after she succeeded Karen von Herzog. I heard she managed to kill him. She's a talented swordswoman from what I heard and she quit her position to go on a training journey.

I see Quinton, a frequent participant of the Bushin Festival. He's currently bullying a weakling.

Quinton punched the weakling and he fell to the ground. Oh well. I need to break this commotion as a member of the Crimson Order.

"Alright, you guys. Stop that. Show's over. You guys should move on." I intercepted before Quinton starts punching him again, trying to disperse the crowd as well.

"Huh? Who do you think you are, punk?" Quinton threatened, not recognizing my uniform.

"If you want a fight, then you should wait until-"

"Bah! I was being kind to this scrub! I was teaching him the cruel reality of the world so he would give up and leave before he humiliates himself!"

"And I said stop."

"And I asked who do you think you are!" He glared at me.

I punched him in the nose for that. "Owww! Now you've done it!" He raised his fist but I was faster and punched him in the face again. "Uooghhh…!"

"Whoever I am, doesn't matter. Now, scram!"

"Tch! Fine. I don't want any trouble with this country's knights anyway." So he finally noticed my knightly uniform. He left afterwards with his goons.

Annerose gave some advice to the weakling but he stood up without much injury despite taking a direct punch to the face. I was… flabbergasted when I saw his face.

"It's been a while since I tasted blood." The weakling muttered lazily before walking away.

"Wait!" Annerose called out to him and he stopped.

"My name is Annerose Nichtsehen. What's yours?"

"Mundane… Mundane Mann." He answered before continuing on his way.

That name… that face… No mistake… This is going to be interesting.

"What do you think of him, Mr. Normann?" Annerose asked me, recognizing who I am unlike that Quinton.

"He's… certainly not what he seems to be. Interesting."

"So you see it too."

"Indeed. I believe this is the first time we met, Miss Nichtsehen?"

"Annerose is fine."

"Then you can call me Claude. I look forward to meeting you in the Bushin Festival." I held out my hand.

"So you're participating as well. Stories of your prodigious talent with the sword have reached even Velgalta. I also look forward to clashing blades with you." She replied while shaking my hand.

We parted ways after that. Still Nichtsehen, huh? This is the first time I heard German being used as a name in this world. Kinda funny though. Is she as blind as her name implies?

The reaction of the ikemen Claude and that Annerose is perfect! Now they are definitely interested in Mundane Mann! Who is this mysterious man? Where did he come from? How strong is he? They must be asking those questions right now! As I thought. The Bushin Festival is the best stage for a Shadowbroker like me! I wonder if the Necromancer will show up again. Maybe as a fellow Shadowbroker he would participate under an alter ego as well? I'm so excited to see it!

I ignored my mob friend Skel who's trying to scam me into giving him gambling money and left him in McRonald carrying a bag of burgers. On the way to my apartment I met Rose. She told me that she's been meeting with Alexia, Beta and Claude recently and she comments that Alexia and Beta often had quarrels and that Claude and Alexia have such close relationship that she got jealous when Claude looked at another woman. Heeeh? So she liked him that much? Then why did she bother with me though?

"They look so close that… I'm almost envious."

"Is that so?"

"I may present myself as a strong leader at school but I'm still a girl… I too want some fairy tale like romance like in Natsume's books. Is that too childish of me, Cid?"

"Nah. You do you, Rose."

"I've done many childish things and disappointed many people. I'm a princess of a kingdom that looks down on swordsmanship. I chose the path of the sword despite objections from everyone in Oriana. I wanted to once again… witness that beautiful swordsmanship from that night… I longed to reach his level and… above all… I want happiness."

"I see."

"Even if… as a princess… I've been betrothed to a man I barely know… and have no feelings for… I want happiness. I envy Alexia because she gets along with Claude… who will likely be betrothed to her. I want… something like that too. But… I…" Alright. I've heard enough.

"So you're just gonna give up on your dream, then?"

"Huh?"

"Rose-senpai. If you have a dream, then you must seize it with your own hands, no matter what."

"Senpai?"

"I'm the same, you know. I have a dream that I must achieve no matter what people around me say. Even if it's childish, foolish or even impossible, I never gave up. And you shouldn't too. Or you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"Cid…" She regained some smile after my speech.

"May I ask… what your dream is?" She asked.

"It's a secret. All I can say is that I won't give up on it no matter what. That's why I did everything I did. For that dream, I would even give up my life." I answered while trying to be mysterious. Can't exactly tell her I wanna be an Eminence in Shadow after all. Though I did died once to reach this dream of mine.

"Huh…? So… you… tried to save me… back in the classroom because…?" She's muttering something incoherently while covering her mouth with both hands and looking like she's holding back her tears.

"I see. Thank you Cid." She smiled as she pulled me into a hug. Huh?

"You never cease to amaze me with your unwavering courage and determination. You've given me purpose. From now on, I may… have to walk through a hard and dangerous path. No matter what I choose… will you still believe in me?"

"Sure. I will."

"Thank you, Cid." She let go of me with a smile. Before she left though,

"Here!" I gave her one of the burgers I have in my bag.

"You must be hungry. A warrior can't fight with an empty stomach after all. Good luck on your endeavours."

She accepted the burger with an… uneasy smile. "Thank you, Cid. Goodbye." With that she left.

Author's Note:

And so Rose fell in love with Cid and thought Cid loved her like in canon, but at the same time she felt so many regrets because at this time she's already suffering from Possession. Cid rizzed her by being genuine and spoke not as a mob Cid Kagenou but as the Real Cid. I hope I conveyed her emotions well enough.