Martial Arts Tournament (3)
“We will now begin the knights' individual tournament! Please give a warm round of applause to welcome the finest knights from the Imperial Knight Order!”
The imperial citizens filling the Colosseum stands erupted in cheers, heating up the atmosphere. Knights and attendants from the palace, along with some external nobles, had gathered. Asella sat in the mid-level VIP stands with the other princes and princesses. I positioned myself a bit behind her, like a shadow.
Lifting my gaze to the upper tiers, I saw the Emperor watching the arena with keen interest.
Representatives from the eight factions stepped forward, engaging in one-on-one duels across the vast arena. It was a delightful spectacle for the Emperor's eyes and ears, but for the succession candidates who were participants, it was a blood-curdling battle.
“The first opponent is from the First Prince's faction, from the First Star Palace. A Sword Expert, famous as a young prodigy.”
The head maid explained it to me. With the toll of the gong, the match began.
Tanya clashed swords with her opponent, unleashing sword auras. The vivid pressure reached even the stands, captivating the audience—they couldn't tear their eyes away. No matter how many knights there were, skilled swordsmen were rare. With only two Swordmasters in the entire Empire, a duel between Experts was truly a rare sight.
“Ooh…!”
The Emperor's eyes widened at the unexpectedly brilliant match. Swords grazed perilously close to flesh, attacks and defenses syncing in perfect rhythm.
Clang!
Tanya's sword aura sliced sharply, dominating and striking her opponent. The knight, who had expected an easy win over Tanya, found himself falling behind and clicked his tongue in frustration.
Time for a trick. He pulled something from his pocket and smashed it on the ground.
Boom!
Artificially created black smoke enveloped the two fighters. A smoke bomb.
Items and artifacts usable beyond swords were all permitted in these duels—the Empire's way of combat.
Silhouettes darted busily in the smoke. The enemy knight circled behind Tanya while her vision was obscured, aiming for her back.
“Tch…!”
I could even hear Asella clicking her tongue from my spot. She must have thought Tanya was cornered.
Clang!
The fierce clash of swords rang out, followed by a whoosh as the smoke cleared.
“The result!”
“What happened?!”
The audience's eyes focused intently.
Tanya stood tall, having felled her opponent, her sword at his throat.
“Ooooh! Moonlight Palace defeats First Star Palace!”
“Who the hell is that knight?!”
“How did she react in the dark?!”
The crowd buzzed in admiration, turning their attention to Tanya. Even the Emperor stroked his bearded chin with interest.
Smoke bombs are the most basic Imperial Army tactic.
Of course, I'd prepared countermeasures. I pulled a small glass vial filled with an orange potion from my pocket.
[Double Enhanced]
A potion born from vitamin experiments.
Effect:Improves night vision. See clearly even in darkness!
Grinding two hundred high-quality carrots from the palace for vitamin A extraction left this potion with its peculiar effect.
Asella glanced back at me.
“Hmph.”
I translated her sniff as praise on my own.
Tanya easily dispatched her semifinal opponent and advanced to the finals. Stamina was part of combat prowess, after all. The individual tournament proceeded continuously without breaks.
“The finals opponent is from Earth Palace.”
“Yes. A knight from Prince Georg's faction, the Second Prince. Also an Expert.”
Even in the Imperial Knights, Experts typically led divisions or served as the Emperor's direct guards. Yet every participant here was an Expert—it showed how seriously the faction leaders took this tournament.
“Haha, so Asella's knight is the opponent. How odd. Asella, since when did you have a Sword Expert?”
The light tone came from a man in his mid-twenties, skin tanned, adorned with flashy accessories. Georg, the Second Prince.
Asella shot back at him like swatting an annoying fly, without even glancing from the arena.
“None of your business, Georg.”
“Aigoo, scary. Don't be so cold. Call me big brother.”
Asella didn't reply, merely flashing a rotten expression you'd see at an execution.
Whoa, that's kinda terrifying. I swallowed involuntarily.
Georg had no idea how his provocations would bite back later. He just laughed boisterously, enjoying her reaction.
Enjoy it while you can.
The Second Princess, Rauga, tapped Georg's shoulder reproachfully.
“Brother, why kill Asella's vibe like that?”
“It's because our Asella is so admirable. Working so cutely as a member of the imperial family.”
“Don't use insulting terms.”
Asella, who had been staying quiet, fired back at Georg.
Treated like a cutesy little kid instead of a succession contender—it had touched her reverse scale.
“Insulting? Asella.”
Whoosh. Georg straightened up, leaning his massive frame toward her. Playful as he was, he was still the Emperor's blood—born with the aura of a ruler.
“The most important thing is knowing your place. Know your limits.”
Even Rauga, just above Asella in age, was only twenty. To them, Asella must seem like she was playing house.
“In a place like this, act like the baby sister and stay quiet. If you don't make a fuss, I'll pat your head and call you a good girl.”
“Georg.”
Asella picked up the golden goblet in front of her.
“Flame.”
Whoosh!
A magic circle etched itself in an instant, engulfing the goblet in flames. Drip, drip. The ornate golden artifact melted, losing its shape and pooling on the floor.
Asella warned the now-stern Georg flatly.
“Touch my head, and you'll end up like this.”
“Tch, what a pain—magical weaponry with nothing but pride.”
Georg shook his head and leaned back in his chair, forcing a relaxed smile again.
“Looks like our Asella prepared well. Haha, can't let my guard down. That knight seems pretty skilled. Right, big brother?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.”
The slight man who answered quietly when called by Georg was Kwunter, the First Prince—who Tanya had crushed in the first round. Hardly fitting for the current succession frontrunner.
“Even among Sword Experts, there's a weight class. Losing to Asella's knight would be so embarrassing.”
Georg raised his voice mockingly. With Asella ignoring him, he switched targets to the First Prince for psychological warfare.
“Haha, our Huuk is famed as the next Swordmaster. Watch closely, brother. If you're the Emperor's child, you should know how to handle knights of this level.”
Georg tensed his shoulders and grinned leisurely. Rauga patted them.
“Brother, your knight just went down.”
“What?!”
Georg shot up in shock. A sandstorm from the finals raged in the arena. Amid it, his knight lay sprawled with his butt in the air, while Tanya stood proudly.
“Wha-what the…!”
Georg gaped in disbelief, but what could he do? The result was set. Whether he underestimated Tanya or overestimated his own knight.
“Huuk couldn't lose that easily. What trick did you pull, Asella?!”
Asella ignored his question, just shooting him a glare with a smirk.
Damn, she's annoying.
“So this is the caliber of knight you handle, brother? Nice show.”
Rauga giggled, stoking Georg's rage.
“What an incident in His Majesty's presence! Palkenhain! Was there any issue with the knight's condition?!”
Georg's physician, Palkenhain—near me—stepped forward.
“Your Highness, Knight Huuk's health was flawless. The Inner Medical Office completed treatment for any infections…”
“Then why?!”
Georg looked up. The Emperor, pleased with the finals, chuckled deeply and leaned back.
The announcer approached Tanya.
"We'd like a word from our champion knight. Please introduce yourself."
Amplified by magic, her voice echoed through the Colosseum.
Tanya cleared her throat a few times, then spoke in a low, gravelly tone.
"Knight of Moonlight Palace, Tanya."
Why's her speech like that? Stage fright?
"You seem to have flown under the radar until now. When did you join the Imperial Knights?"
"A month ago. I serve as guard to Gotberg, personal physician to Princess Asella."
"Ah, the guard knight to the new physician. From the north with Gotberg, correct?"
"Yes."
"The north! Did your honed northern swordsmanship win the day?"
Tanya shook her head.
"My sword stood straight, but without the master's support, it would have been impossible. He prepared tactics against the knights and medical potions."
"The one behind the popular palace masks. Well-known. So you originally served the physician?"
A slightly probing question. What was this announcer thinking? Definitely from another faction.
But Tanya, politically naive, answered calmly without catching the intent.
"I am loyal to the physician, but Princess Asella selected him. We both received her grace. I represent Moonlight Palace."
"Indeed. A big round of applause for our champion, Moonlight Palace's Sword Expert Knight Tanya!"
Cheers and applause echoed off the Colosseum walls.
A perfect response.
“Heh heh, Asella's knight takes the win.”
The Emperor laughed delightedly, as if his children's rivalry were fine sake.
“Kuh…!”
Georg slammed the armrest, grinding his teeth.
“Luck happens once. The overall win is by total score, so second place is fine. No such misfortune next time.”
Georg glanced at Asella. She ignored him and turned to me.
“Physician Gotberg.”
Why me all of a sudden? The other princes and princesses looked my way at my name.
“Gotberg, hello!”
Rauga greeted me casually, so I bowed politely.
“That guy? Physician Gotberg.”
Georg eyed me, twitching his brow.
I slipped from the attendants and stood before Asella.
“What brings you to summon me, Princess?”
“Tell me the next event.”
Asella should know the tournament schedule best. Maybe she wanted to show me off to the other contenders.
“Next will be the knights' team mock battle.”
Asella's mood lifted; she smirked just enough for me to see.