RLPE Chapter 33

The match had ended—far sooner than anyone had expected.

Watching the final round made it abundantly clear just how effortlessly Armin had approached his previous matches. The moment he drew his sword, a few swift exchanges followed, barely enough for the audience to register what had happened. In the blink of an eye, his opponent’s weapon slipped from his grasp, spinning through the air before landing with a heavy thud in the sand.

“Waaahhh!” Cheers erupted from the crowd, throwing the entire arena into chaos. I, too, couldn’t contain my excitement and leapt up, hugging Sasha tightly as we bounced in sheer joy.

The muscle-bound man had won the championship three times before, while Armin—though rumored to be an exceptional swordsman—had never been tested in an official competition. Almost everyone had bet their money on the seasoned champion.

‘How much was it again? How much did I bet?’

I vaguely recalled the odds being 20 to 1, and the realization hit me like a lightning bolt. My arms squeezed Sasha even tighter. For the foreseeable future, I was filthy rich!

After witnessing Armin receive his champion’s medal from His Majesty the Emperor, I wasted no time and bolted down to the first floor—straight to claim my winnings.

“Miss, that was incredible! How did you even think to make such a bold bet?”

My handbag was now bursting at the seams. Watching me, the seasoned gamblers murmured in envy.

“Oh, I just had a lucky dream.”

“A dream?”

“You don’t know? If you dream of a pig, it means fortune is coming your way.”

Last night, I had dreamed of a golden pig visiting me. I wasn’t sure if such a superstition held any meaning in this world, but in my past life, my brain had been wired to immediately buy a lottery ticket whenever I had a pig dream. So, on my way back from the restroom, I couldn’t resist testing fate.

“Really? I didn’t know pig dreams had such a meaning.”

Even now, I could still feel the warm, soft sensation of hugging that adorable golden pig in my sleep.

With a satisfied smile, I firmly clasped my bag shut.

* * *

The awards ceremony had ended, and we waited for Armin.

The final match had ended so quickly that he hardly seemed to have broken a sweat. Spotting us, Armin approached, his appearance as fresh and crisp as if he hadn’t just been in a fight. As soon as he reached us, Lewin and Abyss enthusiastically showered him with dramatic and overly detailed praise about how moved they had been by his performance.

“Are we all heading home now?”

Standing around in the stadium hallway and chatting didn’t seem like the best idea, so I was suggesting we either head home or move elsewhere.

Lewin and Abyss both nodded.

“Great. Armin hasn’t eaten anything yet, so why don’t we go for lunch?”

“I actually know a great place! I even made a reservation. It’s a newly opened restaurant, and I booked a private space so we can eat comfortably. It’s really—”

Sasha abruptly cut off Abyss’s excited explanation.

“Sorry, but I need to return to the Academy.”

“What?”

Lewin frowned, clearly displeased that he had work to do even on a day like this. Sasha, unfazed, turned his gaze to him.

“Lewin, don’t you also have something due today? And Abyss, have you finished your simulation report for the new flight route?”

“Ah… well, that’s not due until next week…”

“And if you take a break today, do you think you’ll actually finish it in time?”

Abyss hesitated.

“But what about my reservation?”

“Just cancel it. You said it’s a popular place, right? I’m sure someone else will take the spot.”

Sasha then asked me to arrange for someone to cancel the reservation on their behalf. Since all three of them were heading straight back to the Academy, it would be difficult for them to handle it themselves. I nodded in agreement.

Lewin and Abyss looked disappointed, which made me feel a little guilty. But before I could suggest at least grabbing a quick meal, Sasha spoke again.

“We’ll eat later when we’re done. But now I have a problem… I need to get home, and I’m in a hurry.”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Armin.

“Lord Armin, would you mind escorting Vivian home?”

I frowned. I wasn’t a child—why was he asking someone to escort me?

Armin gave a small nod, and with that, Sasha disappeared, dragging Lewin and Abyss with him.

“What should we do? Should I call for a carriage now?”

Honestly, I didn’t need Armin to take me home. All I had to do was flag down a public carriage, which worked just like a taxi. This area was too crowded to have my family’s carriage waiting in advance, but there were always plenty of rides available.

“You must be exhausted from the match.”

“Did you watch?”

“Of course. But it was so fast, I barely saw anything. It was almost disappointing, actually.”

As we talked, we naturally made our way out of the stadium. People passing by glanced at us with strange expressions. It was understandable—there was no reason for the two of us to be together, so it must have looked odd.

The designated carriage stop was to the left of the stadium entrance. But the moment we stepped outside, Armin abruptly turned right.

‘Huh?’

Confused, I quickly followed him in small, hurried steps.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Huh? You’re hungry?”

Armin nodded stubbornly. If he was hungry, he could just eat at home—why was he heading somewhere else? Before I could ask, he spoke again.

“I won the tournament.”

“And?”

“You’re not seriously suggesting I just go home and eat like it’s any other day, are you?”

“Uh… well.”

Technically, that was exactly what I was suggesting, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it outright. Instead, I tried a more indirect approach.

“There aren’t many chefs better than the ones at the Duke’s estate.”

“That’s fine.”

“Uh… I’m not really hungry, though.”

Even if I was hungry, the idea of dining out with Armin made me uneasy. Cafés were one thing, but restaurants were often filled with nobles. If we were seen eating together, rumors would inevitably spread throughout the social circles.

Still, telling him to just go home and eat felt a bit too cold.

‘Well… I did make quite a bit thanks to him. It’d feel a little wrong not to treat him at all.’

I made up my mind. Not that I had much confidence in changing his mind anyway. And with my now very full purse, I was feeling a lot more generous.

I declared boldly, “Then let’s go to that place Abyss was talking about!”

It was already reserved, and it had private dining spaces. If we were going to eat out, there really wasn’t a better option.

* * *

“Young Lady, may I have the name of the reservation holder?”

“It should be under Abyss Basilius.”

The restaurant was packed. A busy-looking staff member checked the reservation list, then tilted his head in confusion.

“Yes, there is a reservation under Abyss Basilius… but is this gentleman Abyss?”

“Yes, of course. Is there a problem?” I quickly nodded.

“The reservation is for five people…”

“Our companions will be arriving soon. Could you lead us to our room first?”

“Ah! I see. Right this way…”

It seemed the newly opened restaurant was still working out its procedures. After thoroughly confirming the reservation, the staff guided us to our private room. As we followed, Armin leaned in and whispered.

“Why do I have to be Abyss?”

“If you want to eat right now, this is the best option, Lord Abyss.”

I giggled as I answered.

Once inside, I turned to the staff member just as he was about to leave.

“Actually…there’s a bit of a problem. It looks like our companions won’t be able to make it.”

“Pardon?”

The young staffer’s face fell, clearly troubled. Informing them of a last-minute change after the reservation time had passed was definitely an inconvenience for him.

I quickly reassured him.

“Don’t worry, we’ll still pay for everything. I just don’t want food to go to waste, so could you prepare two portions that feel like five?”

“That won’t be an issue.”

As long as they were getting paid, there was no reason for the restaurant to refuse—plus, they’d be saving ingredients. As soon as I said that, the staffer’s expression brightened, and he nodded eagerly before leaving.

Since the reservation was for five, the room was spacious—so much so that Armin, seated across from me, felt oddly far away.

Then, as soon as the waiter stepped out, Armin called my name.

“Vivian Roha.”

As our eyes met, he held out his hand.

“Give me your hand.”

…Huh? I hesitated but did as he asked.

A moment later, I felt a solid, cool weight placed onto my palm.

“This is…”

“The champion’s medal.”

Of course, I recognized it immediately. It was the same medal I’d seen just moments ago, awarded to the winner of the swordsmanship tournament.

I stared at it in confusion, unsure what Armin’s intentions were. Why was he giving this to me?

“Only one person can receive it.”

He sounded almost nervous.

And suddenly, I understood.

I had suspected it before, but now I was sure.

“Wow, I’m so jealous. A high-class medal that only one person can receive per year!”

Armin Grey… was he a past life reincarnation of Jeom Suni*?

[*T/N: Jeom Suni is a character in a Korean novel called The Camellias by Kim Yu Jeong who is known for being strong-willed and spirited.]

I nearly burst out laughing as the iconic phrase popped into my head: “Your family doesn’t have potatoes, does it?”

He just wanted to brag, didn’t he?*

[*T/N: In the novel, the phrase “Your family doesn’t have potatoes, does it?”  is said by Jeom Suni in a straightforward manner. By attributing the straightforward manner to Armin, she’s saying he’s being very straightforward with his bragging.]

Well, it was an achievement worth boasting about. And considering his hard work in the tournament had earned me a small fortune, indulging him a little was the least I could do.