Chapter 24: Last Man Standing (2)

Though Allen himself was unaware, Leon classified Allen’s states into three categories:

Good Allen Mode, Serious Allen Mode, and Crazy Allen Mode.

Good Allen was basically polite, kind, and didn’t cross the line.

Of course, he would sometimes exhibit odd behavior, but it could be excused as being unable to contain his overflowing playful spirit.

Most of the time, Allen operated in this state.

Serious Allen could mainly be seen when he was about to engage in combat or undertake a mission.

Examples included dueling with knights in the palace, guarding Leon, or needing to showcase an impressive demeanor to his juniors.

In those moments, Allen acted without any playfulness and moved with maximum efficiency.

Moreover, the level of his jokes took on a slightly cynical direction during this mode.

While it could be a bit chilling, it was just a matter of being thorough in work and duties.

The problem lay in the last category: Crazy Allen Mode.

In this state, even Leon couldn’t predict when Allen would pop up.

If one were to explain this with the regularities observed so far and using Allen’s usual words, it could be said that he would create a reason for someone who behaved like a prick for no reason.

Allen in this state was uncontrollable and unpredictable.

This could be seen in the incident where he buried a rude noble scion in the palace garden on the day of Phia’s 15th birthday, or during the infamous pen magic incident at the entrance ceremony.

However, there was one rule even in Allen’s Crazy mode.

That was the doctrine of the Rictus Church.

According to the doctrine of the God of fun and games, Crazy Allen would always end the theatrical performance neatly by forgiving the opponent.

Of course, since the opponent would never have consented to that performance, to everyone else, it would merely look like a teabagging incident.

Thus, the nickname “the Price family’s rogue” stuck to Allen.

It was certainly a case of justice being served, but the flamboyance and madness of the act were enough to warrant that name.

Coincidentally, this duel with the Student Council also met the conditions for Crazy Allen Mode.

Leon concentrated on Allen’s duel, curious about what kind of antics he would show this time, thinking that nothing could revive his waning humanity like his friend’s work.

The stadium, set up to mediate duels among students, buzzed with energy.

The announcer’s booming voice resonated through the air.

[Let me introduce today’s competitors. First, the blue team, the Student Council, will enter!]

Amid the cheers of the students, the first-year members of the Student Council entered the arena.

You might wonder why the students were so enthusiastic about the Student Council, but the Heitaero Academy’s Student Council was not merely an organization that managed discipline.

They handled the overall safety and order of Heitaero Academy, including rescue operations, which made them akin to the police and fire brigade of Heitaero Island.

Their arrest rates were fairly impressive, and due to their willingness to jump into action when issues arose, the Student Council had a relatively good reputation.

Naturally, first-year students who admired such figures would have a negative view of my behavior.

After all, their seniors sacrificed themselves daily to protect the island, so how could they forgive someone who portrayed them as incompetent?

That must have been their thinking.

I could understand that.

If I were to see a movie portraying soldiers as trash while I was on the battlefield in a previous life, I wouldn’t be able to let it slide even if my comrades said to move on.

So I fully comprehended their complaints.

But the reason I fell into the rogue state after a long time was that those kids demanded I take down my work.

If they had asked me to do some image laundering in another episode, I would have gladly complied.

But to demand that I take down a piece just because it made them uncomfortable?

I wasn’t a saint who would just let those types of discomfort slide.

Uncertain about what other complainers might appear in the future, I had the mindset to go all out this time.

[Next, the red team. Entering, Allen Price!]

The mixed welcome I received as I stepped out from the waiting room was met with cheers and boos in a roughly 2-to-8 ratio.

While I could tolerate the cheers, the boos were an issue.

The reason for the boos was my nickname and image.

The term “rogue of the Price family” itself wasn’t necessarily negative.

However, the word “rogue” has negative connotations, so people who heard the nickname before meeting me often assumed I must be a scoundrel.

The rumors about my actions circulating in the academy didn’t help either.

After all, Allen Price had become known within Heitaero Academy for showcasing pen magic at the entrance ceremony and for being taken away by the Student Council less than a month after enrolling for stealing materials from the faculty room, making me quite the infamous figure.

At least the students from the Warrior Department who often met with me had cleared up their misunderstandings, but I didn’t need to ask how many people in this vast academy had seen me with their own eyes or heard about me through others.

That kind of guy is coming out to duel with the Student Council this time?

In such a situation, it was unlikely I would be seen in a positive light.

But since I had business with the Student Council, I decided not to care about public opinion.

I gazed over at the faces standing on the opposite side of the arena.

Seven first-year students and one second-year student.

I tilted my head in thought and then focused my glare at where the Student Council president would be.

—

Hey. It’s the first-year students’ rebellion, isn’t it?

I’m sorry. I’ll compensate later.

The Student Council president nodded in response to my gaze.

Well, if they were going to offer a sweeter quest reward, I’d let it slide this time.

After all, the participation of a second-year wouldn’t impact my show.

I briefly examined the weapons of the Student Council members and formulated a plan.

And the conclusion I reached was: “Today will be professional wrestling.”

After all, the magical girl show they were complaining about featured a lot of professional wrestling.

So, it was a great opportunity to spread the excellence of professional wrestling to them.

Big Evil Wolf howled aww!

Only in my heart, though.

Before the match began, the referee confirmed the conditions for both sides.

First, if the Student Council won, Magical Mari would be subject to the Council’s censorship and might face broadcasting suspension.

Conversely, if I won, I would get a formal apology from the Student Council members and obtain a written agreement that they wouldn’t interfere with future broadcasts.

After confirming the conditions, the referee created distance between us.

“Are both sides ready?”

The Student Council nodded.

In contrast, I asked the referee for a time-out.

I needed to slightly change public opinion before we started the show.

“I’ll demonstrate Big Wolf’s promotional skills, having garnered cheers and boos against King Lion.”

I showcased a bit of showmanship by waving my arms toward the audience, then stepped forward in front of the Student Council.

Until that moment, the audience’s reaction had been lukewarm.

But right afterward, I pointed an accusing finger at the Student Council, then raised my fist with my thumb facing downwards.

This was what people commonly referred to as a reverse thumbs down.

In this world, Big Evil Wolf used this signature pose to insult opponents.

Some among the audience, who understood the meaning, cheered at my performance.

The Student Council members, perhaps having watched Wrestling Kingdom, made faces as if they had bitten into something foul.

It seemed the provocation had worked well, as other members were stopping a council member who looked like he wanted to rush out immediately.

[Ohhh! Allen Price, capturing the atmosphere of the arena as soon as he enters! Can we expect something from this duel? I had so many comments I couldn’t use in the last duel!]

Now that I think about it, that person was the announcer during my duel with Ayleen… no, Aily.

It must have been disappointing for him back then.

I gave a thumbs up as a gesture to apologize for the last duel and to indicate that it would be okay to look forward to this one.

This was King Lion’s signature move.

[What? Are you talking to me?]

I nodded.

[Oh! What a fantastic showmanship! Everyone! You can look forward to today! It seems an exciting battle is about to unfold after a long time since the academy reopened this year!]

Thanks to the announcer’s commentary, the audience’s cheers and boos toward me shifted to a more favorable 5-to-5 ratio.

With the atmosphere heating up, it was time to start the match.

As I sent the signal that I was ready along with the Student Council, the referee lowered the flag.

“Begin the duel!”

The first member of the Student Council, who had just been stopped by his peers, was the first to rush in.

His weapon was a great sword.

As he closed the distance, he raised his great sword.

‘Impulsive, aren’t you?’

The great sword had a long reach and considerable power.

However, for those who weren’t exceptionally skilled, the great sword inherently created a significant opening after a single attack.

Thus, contrary to the image of a ‘real man,’ the great sword was not a weapon meant to be charged with; rather, it was ideally used to poke at the opponent from a distance, finishing decisively when the moment was right.

If one attempted to charge in while wielding a great sword, it was foolish unless they were a monstrous level of expertise capable of swinging it like a dagger.

And the Student Council member charging at me was a fool who let himself be carried away by his bloodlust.

Bang!

With just a punch to the blade of the great sword, the edge of it narrowly missed my body.

I dove into the rigid stance of the student, known as Gareth, and delivered a solid strike to the nape of his neck with my forearm.

[Allen’s Lariat! Gareth loses grip on the great sword!]

Oh, that announcer guy seems to know a thing or two about wrestling.

This makes it more exciting for me to fight.

Meanwhile, Gareth, the Student Council member, managed to get back up.

His determination to not show me his back, even while standing, was commendable, but at least for now, it was the wrong answer.

Look, thanks to that, a perfect stepping stone has appeared.

I wasted no time and charged at him.

Without stopping, I stepped on his right knee and delivered a knee strike to his temple.

[Shining Wizard! I never dreamed I’d see a student able to use that in an actual fight!]

The practicality of professional wrestling?

That’s something you can manage one way or another.

With that single blow, Gareth rolled his eyes back and retired.

Turning my back to the Student Council, I raised both arms in a Y-shape towards the audience, and they cheered.

“Allen! Allen!”

“You little…”

Even amidst the noisy stage, my keen hearing caught the mutterings of the Student Council.

At the same time, bolts of crossbow fire rained down on the back of my head.

“Woo!!”

How dare you attack while I’m promoting to the audience?

You’re the villain from now on.

I didn’t even look back as I performed a tumble to dodge the arrows, then charged toward the one who fired the crossbow.

Before I took off, I even pointed my finger at him as a gesture to show that I was coming for him.