[STT] Chapter 84: Trap (Patreon)

AN: Apparently I scheduled this for the wrong date, sorry for the delay guys! I just noticed it hadn't been posted.

"What's happening?" Ben asked Alice. "Why're so many people here?"

Alice frowned, but Ethan shrugged.

"This is where we have our duels."

"I know this is an arena, Ethan. Making a makeshift arena was the first thing the nobles did when they arrived, but this is a lot more spacious and a lot more people."

"Well, yes. It's bigger. Sometimes, when things get heated, people want to fight. And if we fight inside the camp, it causes problems, so we come out here and do it in the open. It's a good spot for duels. And since we're free now after the rift... Most of the nobles want to prove they're worth something."

Ah. That made sense.

Ben nodded, eyeing the three idiots who were talking and laughing.

"Is something wrong, Ben?" Alice asked, concern lacing her voice as she noticed his expression.

"Huh, yes. Everything's okay. I'm just curious about this place."

There was not an actual ring or fighting ground per se, but there was a sort of demarcation. It wasn't visible, but Ben could tell the people here were standing away from a specific area. That was probably the fighting ground. 

"Yeah, so we're here to have some fun watching and maybe participating if someone strong enough walks forward." Ethan smiled, then that smile fell off his face. "Well, I am, at least." He gave Alice a look. "She's just here 'cause she's bored. She has nothing to gain from this."

She huffed. "There's nothing wrong with having a little fun."

Ben shook his head. "Well, anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Yeah, I noticed." Ethan smiled.

Ben was confused. "Noticed what—Oh. How did you know? Can anyone know?"

"Well, no, I just have a special skill. Most people won't know unless you show prowess capable of it. Unless they have a strong enough mana sensing skill. You're a beacon. Your mana density is pretty high."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, not at all. Just thought you should know." Ethan gave him a suspicious look. "It's concerningly high for someone of your tier."

"Okay." Ben didn't shy away from Ethan's eyes. "Anyway, I have some questions about skills again."

Ethan blinked, and so did Alice. 

"This is really not the place Ben," Alice sighed.

"It's okay." Ethan pulled out a talisman and threw it on the ground. "Go ahead."

He told them about his skill evolution and the options he had, and they listened intently. And then, once he was done, they thought for a while before they answered him.

"Did you not choose any of them yet?"

Ben gave Alice a dry stare. "Yes, Alice, I chose one. That's why I came here to ask you for advice."

Alice's lips twitched, but she ignored the sarcasm. "Well—"

She was about to say something but someone interrupted them.

"That's him! That's the commoner!" Ben heard a voice scream, and then everyone quietened, and when he turned around, he saw one of the three idiots standing there, pointing right at Ben. "He's the one who robbed us! He took our coin! And he ambushed and hurt us!"

Ethan and Alice went rigid, looking between Ben and the idiots. Ben, on the other hand, just sighed.

Ben was about to deny the accusation, but the noble who'd tried to recruit him spoke up.

"That is quite a bold accusation. You better have proof. I'm sure nobody here would believe that a Tier 1 like you was beaten by another Tier 1. Or maybe you were the ones to rob him?"

Ben almost smiled. The nobles were so predictable.

Well, this at least confirms he really was the one behind it.

The other nobles also nodded, as if they thought the idea of three nobles losing to a Tier 1 commoner was ridiculous.

The idiot who'd spoken up reddened in the face, but his friend spoke up. "He was hiding in the woods! We didn't want to approach him, but he was the one who came to us! And then he started hitting us with fireballs and the like, and we didn't stand a chance!"

The other nobles frowned, not knowing what to believe.

The leader of the trio of idiots spoke up, his voice soft. "I see. My apologies, Ben, but I cannot ignore my people's words. I have to protect them, even if they were the ones to be at fault."

Ben raised an eyebrow at that, while the noble continued.

"I, Martin of House Rayne, challenge you to a duel."

There were some gasps, and a few whispers as people talked in hushed voices. People were surprised. After all, to them, the commoner was just a Tier 1. He wasn't a threat. Why was Martin challenging him? They knew it was bullying, but no one knew Ben or cared enough to intervene.

They just wanted a good show.

"This is ludicrous!" Alice exploded. "You think you can challenge a Tier 1 to a duel, Martin? Shame on you! Are you really that insecure?"

Other than his friends, obviously.

"Yes, this is a bit too shameless even for you, Martin." Ethan joined in, shaking his head. "Pick on someone your own tier."

Martin sighed, looking like he was the one who was being wronged. "I am well within my rights to challenge anyone I wish. I have no reason to be ashamed. This is my right as a noble. If he doesn't want to accept, he can always apologize for his crimes and return the money he stole."

Alice and Ethan looked at Ben, expecting a reply. Ben was quiet.

He did technically steal from them.

But they were the ones who attacked him in the first place.

"I—"

Martin cut Ben off. "Of course, apologizing and returning the money isn't enough. He must also prostrate and give up either one of his legs or arms. That is a fair trade for the disrespect he has shown me."

Alice looked outraged. "This is ridiculous! You're going too far!"

The crowd, however, did not care. They only knew a few things, and coupled with the fact that Martin was willing to go so far to humiliate a commoner, they started to doubt Ben's innocence.

"Does this commoner even have arms or legs worth taking?"

"He's just a Tier 1. He's going to be crippled his whole life."

"How did he even manage to beat those three?"

"He probably has a strong skill."

"Or maybe he got lucky."

The crowd's chatter started to get louder and louder.

Crowds, or people in general, never really care about rumors or accusations, they're pretty indifferent, even. But throw in a small truth with the lie, make it about a group they care about, or in this case a noble, and they will suddenly start to care. And that care quickly turns into anger, if only for the sake of performance and fitting in.

It wasn't like they cared what happened to Ben or wished him ill will. They just wanted to have fun and participate in the crowd, especially if it meant getting on a noble's good side. Who knew, maybe they'd get rewarded.

Ben watched all this with cold eyes. He'd always wondered how the crowd turned on people so quickly. But this was a good lesson in just that. It was eye opening. He wasn't sure what he should feel.

Was he angry? Disappointed? He wasn't sure.

He wasn't in a position to really deny the accusation, was he?

Technically, he'd beaten them and taken their money.

But he hadn't been the one to attack them, they had. And if they hadn't, he wouldn't have touched them at all.

But he was a commoner, and they were nobles. His words against theirs, who would the crowd believe?

They'd just believe whichever side they felt like believing.

And right now, that was Martin's side.

So he sighed. "Fine. I accept your challenge."

Ethan's eyes widened. "Ben, what are you doing?"

Alice grabbed his hand. "What—Ben, no!"

Ethan stared at Ben in disbelief.

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