Chapter 107
Chapter 107
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Flag Tournament
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#Capital Aslan, Roa Duel Arena.
The red flag preliminaries were far more entertaining and thrilling than the green flag ones. Count Jenner hadn’t been bragging for nothing. Their duels didn’t stop at simply subduing the opponent—the goal was to force a declaration of defeat.
Even when sparks flew from clashing swords, they didn’t flinch. Even when blades sliced through armor and flesh, spraying blood, they showed no fear. Not everyone was like that, but most were.
The reason they could fight so fearlessly, like berserkers, was simple: the duel arena was equipped with priests, doctors, and alchemists’ potions prepared for emergencies.
As long as it wasn’t a fatal wound like a severed head or a pierced heart, they could be healed good as new in short order and ready for the next match. There was a reason the admission and entry fees were so high.
Thanks to that, it was pretty enjoyable to watch. Watching their duels even gave me quite a few insights, and I started thinking it might not be bad to participate myself sometime. After all, every participant in the red flag had won the green and blue flags.
With each step up the flag stages, you’d face stronger opponents, so with enough skill and luck, I figured you could awaken to Spirit Sword through this tournament.
Waaaaah!
Just as that thought crossed my mind, cheers erupted across the arena. This was a sound you’d never hear in the green flag—the red flag preliminaries were alive with it. A winner had emerged. It had been a fierce match, leaving the arena floor soaked in blood. The loser, with a sword to his throat, declared defeat and was promptly carried off on a stretcher. On one side of the arena, priests and doctors were swiftly treating the winner and loser. The sacred light flashed, and you could see wounds closing rapidly from here.
“Fun, isn’t it? Nothing like the green flag.”
“Yes, definitely. The green flag was so boring I wondered why anyone bothered coming. But the red flag is truly exciting.”
“I’m a magic swordsman, so I wouldn’t know, but I hear that swordsmen and spearmen—anyone handling close-range weapons—gain a lot from watching these matches.”
Judah nodded instinctively. The count was right. At this level, it was worth whatever the tickets cost. I could see why Aslan’s martial tournament had such fame across the continent and become a world-class festival. The morning sessions flew by, and around 1 p.m., the matches paused for lunch and a short break. People rose from their seats, heading to nearby restaurants around the arena.
“Let’s grab something to eat too. I had a light breakfast, and now I’m starving.”
“Sure, let’s go.”
“No, we can eat here. Even in a country that prizes honor, money buys almost anything—as long as it’s legal.”
With that, he rang the bell on the table, and a server entered. When we said we wanted to order, he handed over the menu. As expected, the prices weren’t cheap.
“Expensive.”
“It is. But considering you can’t even order food from the other spectator seats, it’s not a bad deal. Order what you want.”
At his offer to cover it, Arhil quickly sidled up to Judah, pressing close. Startled by the sudden soft sensation, Judah flinched. Arhil scanned the menu and pointed to one item with her finger.
“I’ll have this! What about you, Jeanne?”
“Hehe. Yes, pick whatever you want. Don’t worry about the price.”
“Thank you. In that case, I’ll have… this one.”
These were prices that would normally be hard to choose lightly, but refusing a noble’s kindness seemed rude, so Judah picked something he wanted to try. The count selected his own meal too. Soon, cream bread and soup arrived first, steaming hot, followed by the rest of the food in turn.
“Daddy! I want food too!”
Just then, the door burst open, and a girl rushed in. With brown hair and a petite build, she was clearly destined to be a beauty. She was the count’s daughter from the green flag duel earlier. Bursting in with vibrant energy, she froze as Judah, Jeanne, and Arhil’s gazes turned to her all at once. She smoothed her clothes, brushed off imaginary dust, lifted the hem of her dress slightly, and greeted them gracefully.
“Hello? I didn’t realize you had guests.”
“Pretending to be prim and proper won’t help. I’ve already seen everything.”
The count spoke bluntly and rose, walking toward his daughter. At his frank admission, her eye twitched. She clenched her fist and punched his arm. It must have hurt, as he grunted “Ugh” and stepped back, rubbing it.
“Daddy! Why’d you say that? I told you not to!”
“Haha, as a father, I had to boast about my daughter. I said plenty of nice things too.”
“One bad word hurts more than ten good ones!”
Their father-daughter bond was clearly strong; they showed their familial side without reserve. Unable to say more with onlookers present, the girl strode past the count and sat in an empty chair. Spotting the item Arhil had ordered on the cart as the server transferred food, she pointed to it familiarly.
“One more of this, please. …Huh? Why? You’ve heard all about me from Daddy, so no need to act ladylike, right? Isn’t it better to chat casually like this than stiff formalities and fake laughs?”
“I like it. I’m Arhil. Nice to meet you, Sara!”
“Oh, you heard my name from Daddy? Just call me ‘Sara’ casually. I prefer that!”
Arhil greeted her first with her bold words, followed by Jeanne and Judah introducing themselves slowly. The count sat beside his daughter, glancing at her warily.
“You said you’d eat outside.”
“This is outside. And if Daddy pays, I save money. Win-win.”
Shrugging, she speared some food from the count’s plate with her fork. “Tasty,” she muttered, but didn’t take more, as if just sampling.
“But Daddy said you didn’t know anyone in Aslan. How come you’re with guests?”
“They’re helping me out. And keeping me company.”
“You?”
Sara looked puzzled. Her father had wealth, power, everything—needing help from others was utterly foreign. Still, she didn’t pry. Aside from the VIP seats, the arena had emptied for meals, leaving it eerily quiet.
“You’re the Blue Spear Knight, right? Lady Jeanne. Or should I say Lady Jeanne?”
“Yes, feel free to call me whatever’s comfortable.”
“If it’s not rude, may I ask Lady Jeanne’s age?”
“I’m nineteen this year.”
“Wow. Not doing the green flag tournament?”
Jeanne gave a wry smile and glanced at Judah.
“I’d love to. But… circumstances prevented it this time. I plan to join the next one or next year for sure.”
“Too bad. I wanted to spar if you entered. I hear the Blue Spear Knight and her warrior are insanely strong! Weirdly, people from the two empires don’t join much.”
The two carried on a smooth conversation over lunch. They clicked surprisingly well, sharing small laughs, while Judah shared food with Arhil. He made sure to talk to the count too, so he wouldn’t feel left out as he ate silently. Then, the count set down his utensils with a clink and wiped his mouth with the napkin on his lap.
“Daddy, you’re done already? You’ve got so much left.”
“No, we have an uninvited guest. They say don’t disturb a dog while it eats, but…”
“What do you mean?”
No one understood the count’s words—except Judah. He sensed an ominous aura, a malevolent mana unlike anything normal. It grew stronger, the opposite of the holy power Arhil used.
‘A demon?’
Hard to believe, but only denizens of the demon realm wielded such evil mana. As Judah opened his subspace and drew his bastard sword, the count looked impressed.
“From your expression, you sensed it too. Sara, get ready.”
“Huh? For what?”
“To greet our uninvited guest.”
The warm mealtime atmosphere turned hostile in an instant. Jeanne still looked confused but summoned her gear following Judah’s lead. At that moment, Arhil began trembling.
“Th-this aura is a d-demon! A demon…! No, a demon beast? How?!”
“Wait! Am I the only one who doesn’t get it? What are you talking about? Demons?!”
You could tell just by looking. Judah raised his head. Through the wide-open window overlooking the arena, something plummeted from the sky like a meteor. The count flicked his hand, activating a magic barrier, and a boulder-like object crashed into it.
Kwaaaang!
But it wasn’t just one or two from the sky. A massive impact shook the building, dust raining from the ceiling. Regrettably, half the food went uneaten. Screams echoed from the few still in the arena.
“Sh-shouldn’t we run, Daddy?”
“We’re much safer here.”
No worries even if the building collapses, he said reassuringly, eyeing the boulder that had bounced off his barrier into the arena. The evil mana emanated from it. Looking closer, it wasn’t a mere rock—it resembled a crouched statue. And indeed, the statue’s eyes snapped open. It rose, staring right at the count.
-Greetings, owner of the fifth fragment!
What? Why’s a gargoyle here?
Gargoyles, only seen in labyrinths or past the 2nd continent, appearing in peaceful Philoria’s capital Aslan? Judah let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. He’d never made an event like this or heard of one. Was Cyan behind it, or had his mere intervention twisted fate like a butterfly effect? He couldn’t say which. It felt so massively altered that predicting the story ahead seemed impossible. All his memorized notes felt useless as Judah eyed the gargoyle warily. It flapped its back wings and took flight—not just one or two.
They numbered a full fifty, swarming like bats.
Rough count, but at least that many.
-Count. Hand over the fragment. Then we’ll leave without harm.
“Thieves these days sure are bold. Coveting things beyond their station.”
The count snorted and stepped forward. Mana surged wildly from him, forming massive fireballs in his hands. Judah grabbed Sara’s wrist as she tried to approach, pulling her back.
“L-let go! Daddy!”
“You’d only get in the way. Stay with us.”
Sara tried to shake off Judah’s hand, but the strength gap was too wide. She glared sharply, but he wasn’t naive enough to release her over a look.
========== Author's Note ==========
Hahaha
Why do so many people want the seal release? Hahaha