The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 77: Let the Coup Happen

The tournament featuring me, Cornelia, Sheila, and Lucia successfully ended.

All matches concluded, and many participants left the colosseum.

Naturally, we were among them. The award ceremony finished smoothly too, and after receiving the victory prize, we quickly returned to the academy dormitories.

What I obtained this time was a ring set with an emerald green gemstone.

Apparently, it was a relic once owned by a princess from a destroyed kingdom, a masterpiece made from precious ore that was now impossible to mine.

I wanted to point out that such a thing shouldn’t be a colosseum prize, but the gemstone was slightly dirty with a chipped section. That’s why it supposedly had no value.

But I knew this ring was more valuable than any other gemstone. After all, this ring had special protection that enhanced the abilities of whoever wore it.

I didn’t care why it had such power. What mattered was that in the game, it provided positive bonuses to all ability stats.

In other words, wearing this ring would boost aura, magic, prayer, curses, and even summoning arts by one level.

I understood the moment I put it on. This ring was real.

“Kukuku… now I can perform that next.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Luka? You look happy.”

“Yeah. I’m extremely pleased. I can move up all my future plans.”

“Hmm? I don’t really get it, but if Luka’s happy then I’m happy too.”

Cornelia smiled genuinely despite not understanding.

She didn’t look like the same person who’d been beaten by me and dejected just earlier.

However, if she could switch her mindset like this, she could become even stronger. What’s important is reflection, not dwelling. People actually grow more by only looking forward.

“I’m more curious about what Luka said earlier though.”

“What do you mean, Lucia?”

Lucia Morgan, walking beside Cornelia, muttered while looking up at the sky.

“The Zora Federation in the west, right? Isn’t that the dangerous territory where demi-humans live?”

“What’s dangerous about demi-humans? They’re operating as a nation, after all.”

“Only on the surface. In reality, isn’t it famous for being a country with severe human discrimination?”

“That can’t be helped. They’re just returning what was done to them.”

“Hmm. Are you taking the demi-humans’ side, Luka?”

“Not exactly. Just as you don’t have a very good impression of demi-humans, Lucia, I don’t have that much attachment to them either.”

Even in the game, the demi-human crowd annoyed me many times. They had big attitudes and loose mouths. Really, most of them were worthless.

“But my goal is specifically the Zora Federation. I’m interested in the event the demi-humans will cause.”

“There it is again. Why does Luka, who’s never even been to another country, know about something happening in the Zora Federation? It’s definitely going to be trouble.”

“Pretty much.”

I grinned.

I couldn’t possibly tell them about my past life’s knowledge. Even if I did, no one should be able to believe it.

I couldn’t create unnecessary friction, so I hadn’t told even them my story.

While they vaguely realized I was hiding something, Cornelia and the others didn’t try to probe deeply. They were mature people.

“I can’t say for certain, but a coup should definitely occur in the Zora Federation soon. A faction that wants to eliminate the conservatives and take revenge on humans.”

“Why specifically target humans? Do they think they can win?”

“They probably think so.”

This world had many races besides humans.

Elves who excelled at magic.

Dwarves who excelled at smithing.

Beastmen with superior physical abilities and senses.

Mermaids who could move freely underwater.

Oni who lived in the far east and excelled at curses.

There were also giants, dark elves, and so many diverse races that listing them all would be endless.

But standing at the top of all races were humans with their overwhelming reproductive capacity.

Ordinary humans were inferior to demi-humans. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t win.

But it was different when they could use aura and such. Since aura bridged the gaps between races, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that more numerous humans dominated the world.

That’s why demi-humans hated humans. They considered them unbeatable evil and actually had a past of being oppressed.

However, there were some exceptional fools among them. Stupid demi-humans who were convinced that they were superior—and believed it…

Because of them, it should almost certainly happen. The coup in the Zora Federation.

Some fool who would eliminate the pacifists and try to exterminate humans with himself as the leader should definitely appear.

Including a certain race pulling strings behind the scenes, I’d steal massive experience and items.

I also planned to level up Cornelia and the others.

If they performed life-or-death battles with large numbers of demi-humans, Cornelia and the others’ skills should improve considerably.

Furthermore, regarding summoning arts that I still hadn’t mastered… actually, there was a big clue in the Zora Federation.

I would summon a certain existence that was impossible in the game. For that too—let the coup happen.

I couldn’t help but wish for it internally.