482 Chapter 482: The Weekend (1/2)
”Aw…I can't believe we lost!”
Adrian, understandably, was frustrated. Even though he took down two members of the opposing team with his Treeants, they had failed because they weren't able to protect their flag. Beside him, Melina looked just as unhappy. Her swordsmanship had improved, and she subdued two of her opponents, but both Adrian and Melina were too distracted by their opponents that they failed to realize the opposing team's strategy until it was too late.
While I had emphasized to them the importance of knowing the enemy and developing the appropriate countermeasures, it appeared that the other team did exactly just that. Realizing that they were no match for Adrian and Melina in terms of combat, they reconsidered their strategy. The victory condition, after all, was not just to defeat all the enemies on the battlefield, but to capture the flag by the end of fifteen minutes.
To that end, they played toward the mission objective and made use of their superior numbers to buy as much time as possible, sacrificing the majority of the team just so their final member could seize the flag.
With just two members in their team, Adrian and Melina was facing insurmountable odds. For them to progress this far despite such an overwhelming disadvantage that would have crippled any other pair against numerically superior teams was already a miracle in itself.
”You guys did a great job,” I assured the both of them. ”It doesn't matter even if you aren't the champions. You've done more than enough to make me proud. Excellent work, guys!”
”Ugh…”
”Geez…”
Neither of them looked convinced. I understood their frustration somewhat. For them to get so close, yet lose…yeah, it was a feeling that nobody wanted to experience. Especially since they knew that in terms of combat, they were more skilled than the other team. To lose on a technicality rather than because they were outmatched in battle was just…unsettling.
I knew how they felt and I empathized. After all, my team lost in the semifinals of the national tournament. Of course, my personal experience was slightly different because I had been compeltly outclassed and defeated by a superior foe. Charles Lacroix was the strongest opponent I had ever faced in my generation, and I accepted my defeat with good grace.
What, were you expecting me to be the typical Chinese cultivation story protagonist who was god mode and never lost a single battle? You're reading the wrong story, bro.
”You guys did well.” I ruffled their hair again, grinning proudly. ”Come on, let's go celebrate. Dinner is on me.”
”About that…Amelia already has something arranged tonight.” Melina was checking a holographic window. She glanced up, somewhat forlornly. ”She wants us to return home early today. Tells us not to eat anything before then.”
”Got it.” Oh, that saved me money then. I didn't mind – Amelia and the maids working in Melina's manor were great cooks. I was actually looking forward to eating their stuff. Speaking of which, I still had the arrangement with Nan Gong Zhao Yan – if I remembered correctly, she planned to treat me to a homecooked meal on Sunday.
For now, we should just go home. Pushing my charges gently, I shepherded them toward the direction of Melina's manor. While we walked, I received a call.
”Dad?” I swiped the green button the moment I saw who was calling. Dad's grizzled face appeared in the window and he grinned before waving.
”Richie! Oh, I just watched the Saint Teresa Academy middle school tournament. You were teaching a couple of kids there, weren't you? I remember Adrian, and…”
”Melina.” I waved them over. The two kids peered curiously at my dad, and Adrian waved when he recognized him.
”Sir.”
”Hey, Adrian. And…uh, Melina, right? Congratulations to you two for making this far! I watched your matches, you guys put on an excellent display!”
”Thank you, sir.”
”T…thank you.”
Adrian beamed in delight while Melina lowered her head shyly.
Dad then turned to me, grinning. He looked like he wanted to smack my shoulder, but unfortunately he was physically not present. He could only curl his fingers into a fist and resist the temptation of fatherly intimacy, but I knew he was on the verge of leaping out of the video screen and wrapping me in a bear hug.
”You did the Miyamoto dojo proud, son,” he declared. ”Now everyone will recognize what sort of disciples we are training.”
He then turned to grin at Adrian and Melina, placing his hands on his hips and puffing his chest out proudly.
”The both of you too…you helped us make a name for our Miyamoto dojo! I don't care what families or clans you're from – the moment you stepped through our doors and trained here under one of our people, you've become a member of the Miyamoto dojo. And with your performance, you have increased our reputation. Good work!”
”We should return to Jing Tian City and have dinner together sometime, to celebrate as the Miyamoto dojo,” I suggested with a smile. Dad nodded excitedly.
”I'll be waiting!”
And with that, I said my goodbyes and hung up, promising to keep in touch. I usually called my dad about once or twice a week, so it wasn't too bad. Turning back to Adrian and Melina, who looked a little better than before, I gestured.
”All right, let's go home! Amelia is waiting for us…as is the food.”
Adrian almost fell over at that. ”That's what you're looking forward to?!”
”Hey, all men need to eat. Good food is what I live for.”
*
The weekend finally arrived, and as usual I spent the Saturday with Adrian, playing Warhammer 40,000 at Dreamers. Let's pretend the whole Corvid19 didn't happen, we weren't in lockdown, and life was continuing as usual. Hopefully by the time this chapter was published, the worst of the pandemic would be over. Funny how things in the present could affect things 1,000 years into the future.
Anyway, Sunday came and I was practically shooed out of the house by Adrian and Melina, who somehow caught wind of the information that I was supposed to ”have a date with” Zhao Yan. Inwardly, I suspected they were taking revenge on me for this morning's brutal training, and wanted to escape any extra training I could get, but…whatever.