After hearing Rey's words coming out of Pesche's mouth, Dusker breathes a sigh of relief inside.
　Of course, I half expected Ray to be admitted to the competition from the beginning.
　The nickname crimson, for better or worse, is very famous in the Westian Empire.
　The crimson will naturally stand out and gain prestige if it participates in a competition.
　In the event of a competition, it is certain that it will be in the interest of the Vestian Empire.
　Dasker was honest that Pesche probably wanted to get Ray into the competition even if he asked him to.
　The crimson name value will certainly raise the profile of the competition more than ever before. He said other simultaneous bets would also become more active, resulting in more money coming into the empire.

"And about the final tournament..."

　Dusker opens his mouth, interrupting Pesche's prompt explanation.

"No, it's Ray's wish to participate in the preliminary round if possible. Is it possible?"
"...from the preliminary round?"

　Paesse is speechless when she hears those words.
　The prime minister of this country wants to announce Ray's participation in the more high-profile final tournament.
　However, when asked to play in the qualifying round, they can't answer immediately.
　This is partly to make crimson stand out as I thought earlier, but the most important issue was the format of the preliminary rounds.
　a battle royal This means that dozens of people will be put into the arena, and the three winners will qualify for the final tournament.
　In other words, a one-to-many situation can easily occur.
　Ray's qualifying block will undoubtedly be rough, especially if he finds out that there is a crimson in the qualifying round.
　Ray is inflicting so much damage on the Westian Empire.
　Of course, the place where the competition is held is not basically a place where the legacy of ancient magical civilization dies.
　However, this is basically true, and death cannot be reversed even if it is the legacy of ancient magical civilization.
　And when crimson is the other party, there are certain people who want to die instantly.
　In that case, Ray would naturally challenge himself with a proper attitude...

(Well, what shall I do? It is true that the risk is great, but the profit is also great.)

　In Pesche's mind, the gains and losses are quickly calculated... and then he nods with his plump, fleshy face.

"All right. I'll allow you to participate in the preliminary round."

　Ultimately, that would outweigh the danger and allow Ray to participate in the preliminary round.
　If anything happens, it's a competition and there are many talented people. There are also some who belong to the Empire, and above all...

(Even if there is someone who has been aiming for crimson, or if crimson himself goes wild... even if the axe of the god of thunder is joined together, he will be able to cope with it at all costs.) He's a hard-to-use man, but he's useful in times like this.)

　Passing past Pesche's mind is the image of a man in his thirties.
　There were only three men in the world, including this empire.
　As Pesche passes through his mind, the contradiction of bitterness and reliability comes back to him in Dusker's voice.

"Well, that's very helpful," ...Ray,"

　Dasker looks at Ray with a sigh of relief.
　Understanding the meaning of the gaze, Ray bowed to Peche.

"Thank you very much. I am very happy to be at the top of all the competitions held in the Empire of Bestia. I'll repay you for your kindness by participating in the competition. ...and,"
"Huh?"

　It was Dusker who answered Pesche's gaze that way.

"Yes. Actually, I'm sorry to ask you just now, but the son of Elk, the axe of the god of thunder, here, like Ray, wants to take part in the competition."

　Rodos steps forward and bows his head in exchange for Ray's descent.

"…I see. I don't care."

　Rodos bit his back teeth slightly as Peche nodded lightly compared to Ray.
　I understood that the difference in attitude between myself and Ray was the difference in the impact of participating in a competition.
　But it's not that Rodos doesn't understand his position enough to say it here. return to one's original position satisfied with one's permission to participate

"But the son of crimson and the axe of God Thunder." It's an interesting combination, but what do you think? Even the axe of the god of thunder will go to the competition. It wasn't until this year that your crimson name became famous. Compared to that, many people are interested in the name and axe of the god of thunder because they have heard it for a long time."
"Well, that sounds interesting," But then my bodyguard will be gone."
"Oh? I don't care about that. We can send guards from the Vestian Empire in case of emergency."
"No, sir, I can't rely on you for your own bodyguard."
"Not only those two, but also the knights of the bodyguard?"
"There are, indeed, but they are no match for the Elks."

　While they both smiled and exchanged words, Dusker should have avoided taking Elk and Min off his guard.
　If even the Elks were removed from the bodyguard and accepted the bodyguard from the Empire of Westia, they would have left their right to take their own lives to the Empire of Westia.
　It is all right to intentionally overlook the assassin who sent him as a bodyguard, or, even if he did not reach that point, to obstruct the actions of the bodyguard knight. That alone would kill Dusker, and the neutrals, one of the three major factions of the kingdom of Milliana, would greatly diminish their power.
　Of course, it is a very bad news to have nobles of other countries killed even though they are in charge of guarding themselves.
　But if you insist that you stopped Dusker from attempting to do something about it, the kingdom of Milliana has no choice but to withdraw as long as it is suspicious and unable to give evidence.
　But if Dusker died within the Vestian Empire, any amount of evidence could be fabricated.
　Naturally, the confrontation between the two countries will deepen, but given their longtime adversary, that would be too late.
　You don't have to worry about it because an adventurer nicknamed Elk is on Dusker's side as a bodyguard.
　There is no way that Dusker would sign his own death penalty.

"Well, I see. 儂I wanted to see the power of the rumored axe of the god of thunder, and I wanted the spectators who came to see the competition to see it."
"I'm sorry, but I'd like to ask for another chance. In the next tournament, Elk will surely be able to exercise his skills. Elk's son will participate in this competition, so it's worth noting."
"...I see. I'm afraid I can't help it. Well, that crimson is going to take part in the competition this time. It was a happy miscalculation for me, too.

　Pesche probably only wanted to pull the Elk away from the Dusker.
　If you're attracted to it, you change the subject without strongly recommending it.

"Now that you mention it, I think there was a stranger on the way to the imperial capital."
"You're a crook?"

　Dusker was momentarily confused by the sudden change in the subject, but soon realized what was going on.

"Oh, come to think of it, on the way to the imperial capital..."

　Dusker pauses halfway and glances towards Ray.
　The direct victim in the matter was Ray. 　
　Don't miss Dusker's move, and Pache's gaze turns to Ray.

"That's an inconvenience to the people of the Westian Empire. Those who have committed such foolish acts are now under close investigation. With so many other crimes emerging, it is likely that they will no longer appear in the outside world. It's like a good criminal slave, or a bad mine slave."Most of the people present frowned slightly at what Pesche said.
　It wasn't just because I felt uncomfortable with Pesche's words. Perhaps it was because he had something in mind about Dune, the man who had committed so many crimes.
　Incidentally, in the mining-rich Vestian Empire, criminal slaves were still superior to mine slaves.
　Mine slaves are forced to work hard all day and whipped if anything goes wrong.
　"Regardless of the amount of food, the taste is not something that ordinary people can eat."
　It is easy to supply mine slaves because there are many criminals in the vast Westian Empire. Therefore, they are forced to do hard physical labor until they die, and when they die, they are replenished.
　Death is the only way to salvage, a mechanism designed to serve the interests of the nation as little as possible, rather than merely capitalizing criminals.
　Moreover, those who know important national secrets are often killed and made mine slaves.
　Crime slaves are also treated harshly, but they are still better than mine slaves.
　...however, in the event of a war, they are placed at the forefront of the line and thrown away.
　Recalling the information, Ray recalls the backstop Dune was talking about.

"Is that all right? He has the second prince behind him.
"Hey!"

　Dusker's sharp reprimand echoes through the room, interrupting Ray's words.
　For a moment the room was filled with silence, but immediately Pesche's laughter echoed as if to break it.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
"…is that so?" He spoke impertinently."

　bow one's head and shut one's mouth
　But for a moment... yes, for a moment, I can't forget Pesche's keen gaze at me.

(What is the point of that sharp glance? If the backing of the second prince was absurd, as the man Dune said, there should be no need for him to give me such a sharp glance...?) Then...)

　Suddenly a bad hunch runs over my mind.
　Wasn't it the man in front of Dune who was right in front of course.
　I think that's why they made mine slaves, including the meaning of silence.

(But is the prime minister and the second prince opposed to each other?)

　Given that Dune had named his second prince, it would be natural to think so.
　After thinking that far, Pesche asks Ray with a soft smile.

"What's the matter with you? If you're curious about something, please tell me. for adventurers like you can sometimes think from a completely different perspective than those in positions like ."

　Rey shook her head almost reflexively to such a question.
　I don't know why I did it myself. But it was almost an instinctive choice.

"No, especially..."

　I'll tell you that much and decide that's no good.
　It is impossible to mislead the eyes of the prime minister in front of us by simply denying it.
　Therefore, I will continue with a word that is almost interrupted.

"But I heard that he had the backing of the second prince."
"... well, when I think of his words, is it true that I care about them?"

　The words must have given him some relief. Feeling the eerie in his gaze fading, Ray breathes a sigh of relief.

(I don't feel any direct fighting power with regard to this man himself.) But that kind of weird feeling of oppression makes me think it doesn've anything to do with it. and I suppose he is the prime minister of the Empire of Bestia."

　If anything, is the difference between a tactician and a strategist?
　Ray would definitely win if he fought directly, but he had the ability to keep him out of direct competition.

"I'm sorry, but how young are you said. Contrary to my ability, sometimes I don't understand the subtleties of that area."

　It was Dusker who momentarily broke the strange air that had spread through the room.
　Even Dusker doesn't think it's just a person in front of him. He is a high‐ranking prime minister in this Westian Empire.
　Fortunately, when Pesche hears Dusker's words, he immediately quits the atmosphere of his own voice with a smile and shakes his head.

"No, no, it's good to be young. Well, I have many thoughts about him, but I'll tell you that there's nothing that you care about."

　It was declared that there was no need to meddle, and of course even Ray could not have said anything more, so this topic ended with an unspoken understanding.
　The talks will then end, with Dusker and Pesche fighting for a lot of food.