Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Martial Arts Tournament (5)
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There were two things that bothered me.
The dinner banquet, and the bestowment of a title—at least a baron—and a fief.
To be honest, the dinner banquet was just a meal with the emperor, which was a bit daunting, but the real issue was the third reward: the title and the fief...
Normally, one could become a noble after the 60th floor by giving up on conquering the Labyrinth.
But if I accepted that, could I still explore the Labyrinth?
Or could I refuse it?
If I had to give up on the Labyrinth, then I absolutely could not win.
“Hyeon-ung?”
“I’ll have to ask Lord Almondeu when he gets back.”
After dinner, I took a walk around the estate with my companions to aid our digestion.
A biting wind was blowing, making it hardly the weather for a stroll, but the estate had a glass greenhouse.
It wasn't just glass; the temperature seemed to be managed by some kind of artifact, making it incredibly warm.
It looked quite large from the outside, but it felt even bigger once we were in.
“Wow! Hyeon-ung, there are so many flowers.”
“It’s amazing. To see flowers like these in the middle of winter.”
“Nobles really are different.”
The sight of all sorts of flowers blooming profusely, emitting a symphony of scents, was truly spectacular.
“Yeah. There really are a lot.”
“You sound completely uninspired, Hyeon-ung...”
“Perhaps it's because there are so many flowers beside him, not just in here?”
Hearing a familiar voice, I turned to see the duke grinning.
“You’re back.”
His comment was so cheesy I felt like the dinner I’d just eaten might come back up.
“Oh, my lord, you flatter us.”
“Flowers? But Elaine is a demon.”
“He’s complimenting us, saying we’re as pretty as flowers, you idiot.”
Unlike me, my companions seemed quite pleased with his cheesy line.
Even Milli, who was usually quiet and didn't show much emotion, had the corners of her lips slightly turned up.
I should remember that line for later.
“I’m a bit late, had to stay for the banquet. You must have many questions, so let’s talk over there.”
The lord pointed to a bench in the corner.
“Yes, sir.”
“Hyeon-ung, we’ll look around a bit more.”
I let my companions admire the flowers and sat down on the bench with the lord.
“I heard you’ve eaten. Was the food to your liking?”
“Of course. It was the most delicious food I’ve ever had.”
The salad was incredibly fresh, there were many fruits I’d never seen before, and the steaks and other meats were beyond compare.
I especially enjoyed the fresh seafood, like the lobster-like crustaceans, which are rare in Kramis.
“The chef told me he put in some extra effort. Ah, and did you get the martial arts tournament materials from the butler?”
“Yes. Since the tournament is tomorrow, I felt I had too little information.”
“Then this will be quick. I was late today not just because of the emperor’s banquet, but also because we were setting up the tournament brackets.”
The materials the butler brought didn't mention how the brackets were decided. It seems the nobles are the ones who determine them.
“First off, you only have one match tomorrow.”
“Pardon?”
“Those with seeds don’t participate in the round of 128.”
Oh, so a seed doesn't just get you into the main tournament.
I was confident no matter who I faced, but I can't deny that advancing without a fight is even better.
“So my opponent is still undecided, then.”
“That's right, but it will be one of two people. The bracket is already set.”
As he spoke, the lord pulled a piece of parchment from his coat.
Just as the lord said, Misha's name was written in the bottom section for the round of 128, but my name was absent. Instead, it was written one level up, in the round of 64.
The spot next to it was still empty, and below that, I spotted a familiar name.
[Kang Ji-seon vs. Endrif Cloud]
“The winner of that match will be your opponent. It’s the seventh match, so it should be around 2 PM.”
“Judging by the name Endrif Cloud, he doesn't seem to be a Summoner.”
“Correct. He’s from the Viscounty of Etlay in the empire’s southernmost region.”
I'm curious to see how strong the non-Summoner participants are.
“I saw Ji-seon on the way here, but do you know anything about this man?”
“I hear he was skilled enough to place in the top ten in the tournament four years ago. He was eighteen then, and he’s twenty-two now.”
Wow, top ten at eighteen?
“He won’t be a pushover, then. It should be an interesting watch.”
Still, I think Ji-seon, being a Summoner, might have a slight edge.
“You seem confident. Well, the bracket isn’t too bad. You and Misha are also placed far apart.”
Looking at Misha's name again, I saw it was near the very end.
Her name is in the 126th spot, so we probably wouldn't meet until the quarterfinals—no, the semifinals.
“Are you suggesting I would lose to Misha? I’m a little hurt.”
“Not at all, but isn’t it better to avoid fighting amongst ourselves?”
I suppose that’s true.
After all, Misha is also representing Kramis.
Ah, I should ask about what I was wondering earlier.
“Um, my lord... about the winner’s rewards, the noble title and the fief... if I were to receive those, would I be unable to enter the Labyrinth anymore?”
“I was concerned about that as well, so I looked into it.”
Fortunately, the lord shook his head.
“When a Summoner wins, the third reward can be suspended, like a system feature. As long as you don't give up on conquering the Labyrinth, the Tower, or the Sea of Trees, an administrator sent from the Imperial Palace will manage your fief.”
“What?”
“They will deliver the profits to you, minus taxes. And if you wish, you can give up at any point and take over the management yourself.”
Oh, that's quite reasonable.
No, wait a minute...
“I can give up at any point and take over myself? Even if I stop on the 65th or 55th floor...”
The system for quitting the Labyrinth only allows you to do so in ten-floor increments.
Almondeu, who stopped on the 80th floor, became a duke, but Misha, on the 81st, barely managed to get out through negotiations.
“That’s right. You can give up at any point, not just in ten-floor increments. Because you have a fief and a title.”
“But the contract...”
Misha gave up midway, but her contract wasn't erased, so she can't leave Kramis.
“It seems the emperor can nullify the contract as well.”
That’s a significant benefit.
Of course, the lord has already freed me from my contract, and I intend to see the top of the Tower no matter what.
But you never know what the future holds.
If Misha hears about this, she’ll be very tempted.
“That’s great.”
“What I’m worried about is the banquet with the emperor.”
“Isn’t it just having a meal together? I’m curious what palace cuisine is like.”
“The food is decent, but it’s a one-on-one dinner. Do you think you’ll have an appetite?”
A one-on-one dinner?
I had no idea.
It didn't say it was a private meeting.
“So it’s a private audience. I thought it was more like being given the right to attend a party...”
“There’s a party, too.”
“There is?”
After the second day's events, those who advance to the round of 16 are invited to the Imperial Palace.
“I don’t know anything about etiquette or dancing.”
“I’ll be there with you, so you don’t need to worry too much. And it won’t be a very festive party, since it’s held during the tournament.”
Now that I think about it, that makes sense.
It seems like a good opportunity to talk with the Summoners from the Tower of Kersher region.
After hearing the rest of the rules and explanations, I returned to the annex with my companions.
The lord went to brief Misha as well.
“So, Hyeon-ung, you only have to fight once tomorrow.”
“We’ll cheer you on with all our might.”
“Ppoyo!”
“Thanks. Let’s go see the capital after it’s over.”
They say it’s also a festival period, along with the tournament.
It’ll be hard to hang out with my companions on the second day because of the palace party.
Tomorrow is the only day we can properly enjoy the capital.
When I told the lord I was thinking of touring the capital after my match tomorrow, he offered to provide a guide.
Of course, I declined, since it would be more comfortable for us to go on our own.
“Great! We didn’t get to see the festival, after all.”
“Rina will be so jealous when we tell her.”
Come to think of it, this wasn't the group I was with during the Kramis festival.
Still, I should buy some clothes or something for the other companions.
“Alright, alright, we have to leave early tomorrow, so let’s all get to bed.”
It was getting late, so I sent my companions to their rooms, lay down on my bed, and closed my eyes.
****
After an early breakfast, we boarded the carriage the lord had prepared.
I thought we had left quite early, but the carriage couldn't pick up any speed.
“It feels like walking would be faster.”
“Kasim?”
The lord knocked on the coachman's box and called for Kasim, and the window slid open.
“There’s too much carriage traffic ahead of us.”
“It seems we should have left earlier.”
Even the crowd I could see out the window was enormous.
“There are so many people.”
“Are they all coming to see the martial arts tournament?”
“Not all of them, I’d imagine.”
I think the colosseum where the tournament is held can seat 100,000 people.
Of course, some people are probably just here for the festival, but I never expected to experience a rush hour in Elsia.
What should have been a twenty-minute ride took twice as long, but we finally arrived.
I'd never been there myself, but it looked remarkably similar to the Colosseum in Rome that I'd seen online.
“Ketten, you will escort Misha to the waiting room.”
The butler took Misha to the contestant's entrance, while we followed the lord through the VIP entrance.
Since I wasn't fighting in the morning.
After a quick identity check by knights in armor, we passed through a corridor into an area with well-appointed tables and chairs.
Overall, it had the feel of a World Cup stadium or a baseball park.
And in the center of the VIP section, there was a dais that was noticeably higher than the rest.
Looking up, I saw an ornate golden chair; that must be where the emperor sits.
Since the lord was a duke, I expected our seats to be near the emperor’s, but they were surprisingly far away.
I actually preferred it this way, but it felt a little strange.
Isn't a duke a very high rank?
When I asked the lord, he told me there are over twenty dukes in the Cartea Empire.
Of course, not all the dukes were attending today.
It wasn't a problem, though. We weren't in a corner, and we had a good view of the arena.
“Duke Almondeu? You’ve brought quite the entourage.”
A woman in a splendid silk dress approached and spoke to us.
She looked to be in her mid-to-late thirties, with an impressive head of hair that was a much deeper blood-red than our lord's.
“There’s one more. They said up to five was fine.”
“Hmm, that may be, but isn’t the man next to you a Summoner?”
As the only one with black hair and Asian features, I suppose I stood out.
“He only has a match this afternoon, so I brought him along. Is there a problem?”
“Oh, a seed holder? Then this must be the Pioneer of Kramis.”
Her gaze shifted to me, sizing me up from head to toe. It was unsettling, like facing a snake.
“He doesn’t look very strong.”
“Appearances can be deceiving.”
She's openly picking a fight.
Is she a noble on bad terms with the lord?
“No matter how I look at him, he seems rather frail.”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
“Yes. I’ll be watching closely.”
Seeing her move further in and take a seat, I guessed she was also a high-ranking noble.
“Who is that woman?”
“Rachel Marte, the lord of the Schuten region, where the Tower of Kersher is located.”
“She’s kind of obnoxious.”
“Right? It’s not like she’s ever met Hyeon-ung.”
“That’s just her personality, so try to understand. She’s a woman who lives on her own self-importance.”
Even back when they were Summoners, she was from the Tower of Kersher, and he said they didn't have much contact.
First Epeli, now her. Our lord really seems to be the best of the bunch.
“Don’t just stand there. You all sit down as well.”
I sat next to the lord, and we waited as the empty seats began to fill.
An announcer—or perhaps a referee—in the center of the arena called for everyone to rise, and the emperor made his appearance.
His hair was white with age, but his frame was remarkably robust.
On the way here, I'd asked the lord if the emperor was also from his generation of Summoners, but he said the emperor was not.
He was presumed to be from two generations prior, but I wondered if he might not be a Summoner at all, but a confidant planted by the angels, or even an angel himself.
“It’s dangerous to stare at the emperor so intently.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
No need to attract unnecessary attention.
“Hyeon-ung, I think it’s starting.”
People emerged from tunnels on either side of the arena.
They bowed deeply toward the emperor before stepping onto the stage one by one.
On the left was a male swordsman in armor.
“Karlstein, Knight-Captain of the Epern territory!”
The roar of cheers and applause that erupted suggested he was quite famous.
The one on the right seemed to be a Summoner. They were too far away for me to see their face clearly, but they had black hair.
“The Summoner from Schuten, Kim Yoon-jeong!”
My guess was right.
And if she's from Schuten...
She's a Summoner from the Tower of Kersher.