Gerard's Tournament (3)

Hmm.

Only one out of five. Even worse, he had no clue which was which. That meant he'd just have to pick based on gut feeling…

This one.

Even if he brought Yoo Seon-ah along, she wouldn't be able to tell either. They'd tested it before at the Magic Guild—skill books obtained here couldn't be used or read by any awakened hunter other than Seo Hwarang.

Ugh, forget it.

He'd just pick one and be done with it.

"I'll take that one."

"The one on top?"

"That's the one."

It was right there in the quest. Count Adrian Lowell would grant a wish within reasonable bounds. Apparently, the current Count Lowell had judged that Seo Hwarang's worth as Brandel's representative was equal to a single skill book.

So what then? He simply needed to raise that value a little. In other words—win the whole thing.

Old memories came flooding back. The quests had always changed dramatically depending on how you handled conversations with the people in this place.

"My lord."

"Speak."

"As I understand it, Brandel has never won the tournament."

"Hmhm?"

Sensing the Count's displeasure, Seo Hwarang pressed on quickly.

"But suppose I were to take second place—no, even first place in this tournament. Brandel's name would ring out across not just the duchy, but the entire Etherion Continent. Yours along with it, of course, my lord."

"And your point is?"

"I'd like to make a proposal."

Seo Hwarang spoke with confidence.

"If I take second place, give me two of the books. If I win it all, hand over all five."

"You want compensation befitting your ability, is that it?"

The Count narrowed his eyes, appearing to deliberate.

"I simply wish to be rewarded for results. Forgive my presumption, but surely your ancestors would understand. After all, it would be raising Brandel's name to new heights."

There was only one reason he could speak so boldly to a noble:

Because the Count's the one in a hurry, not me.

If Seo Hwarang didn't feel like competing, he simply wouldn't. Get his one book, show his face at the Round of 16, then skip town. Why bust his gut for someone who wouldn't even pay a performance bonus? Or alternatively… he could always move to another city.

"Ahem."

Perhaps he'd read the expression on Seo Hwarang's face, because the Count coughed dryly and let out a sigh.

"Fine. If you truly believe you can win and make the name shine, that's a reasonable request. But handing over the family's secret texts for a second-place finish would strain even my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coffers… So how about this instead?"

"Please, go on."

"Win, and all five are yours. But place below second, and you won't take home a single one."

Ah. So he wouldn't even give the one book that was already promised?

That suited Seo Hwarang just fine. Five books sitting there and he'd only get one? That was like reading only the first volume of a five-volume novel. Seo Hwarang was the type who'd rather not read at all than have the flow cut off mid-story.

Skill books were no different.

"Agreed. Let's do it that way."

"Heh, what remarkable confidence."

"I merely thought it was the reasonable option."

And so, the moment Seo Hwarang was selected as Brandel's representative—

Ohh. His first Grade B quest.

"Here, the green armband."

Count Lowell held out an armband engraved with Brandel's crest.

"Wear it and come to the citadel on the day the tournament begins."

The preparation period for the tournament was one week. Not that Seo Hwarang paid it any particular mind. He worked on his proficiency as usual and—ah, right. He'd found Wind Falcon feathers at the general goods store.

The price here was ten silver coins apiece as well. There happened to be a fair quantity in stock ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this time, so he simply handed over ten gold coins and bought a hundred feathers. They were, after all, the signature item of their brand—Seona No. 1. He'd need to make plenty to sell.

Which was how he ended up crafting one Wind Silk Robe a day. Since he'd agreed to sell more to the White Tiger Guild, he worked them in a sky-blue color with that in mind.

Eat, sleep, fight, train, craft. As the routine repeated itself, the days slipped by in no time.

Gerard's Tournament was held in the central city of Waldheim—the largest of the five cities that made up the duchy. And since Waldheim was home to one of the continent's Three Great Dukes, the city itself boasted a staggering scale and prestige to match.

Yet that enormous city was now packed shoulder to shoulder with people, with barely room to set a foot down.

"Hey, stop shoving!"

"I wasn't the one pushing! The fellow behind me—!"

"Oof, forget Gerard's Tournament, just let me through!"

The entire floating population of four cities had converged on a single one. Naturally, the merchants from each city had laid out their mats and staked their spots well in advance.

"Wow…"

Bella spun around, eyes wide as saucers.

"All these people just to watch sixteen people compete? As expected of the duchy!"

That said, their own group moved along with relative ease, undisturbed. Whenever Count Lowell and his soldiers passed, the crowds scrambled out of the way in terror.

"Eh, eek!"

"It's the Count! Everyone, make way!"

"Uwaaagh!"

As they drew closer to the heart of the citadel, a massive arena spread across the plaza came into view.

"Enter in an orderly fashion!"

"Kalos to the east, Elderwin to the west, Brandel to the south, and Gravis to the north! Present your tickets and take your assigned sections!"

Wow. The scale was truly something else.

"WAAAAAAH!"

"UWOOOOOOH!"

The grand cheers erupting from inside the arena sent prickling waves of awe through him—the sheer force of them was overwhelming.

"Eeee, this is insane."

Bella kept up her fussing without pause.

"This much noise before things have even properly begun…!"

There were four Brandel representatives.

Every representative except Seo Hwarang wore a tense expression on their face. Only Seo Hwarang looked completely at ease.

Same as always.

He simply couldn't work up any tension. It felt like adults crashing a children's game for a moment, purely for the sake of his objective.

At any rate, their group entered the interior of the arena, and thanks to Count Lowell's consideration, Yoo Seon-ah and Bella were seated in the VIP stands.

Some time passed. The arena filled to the brim with spectators, and—

"Ah, look over there!"

Bella pointed at the stage. Following her gaze, he spotted a man of imposing build and a charisma-rich beard. As he arrived and raised his right hand high, the once-raucous hall fell silent in an instant.

"I extend my gratitude to the spectators and participants who have taken precious time to attend this tournament. I am Leon Waldheim."

Leon. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠At that name, the hall stirred once more.

"Sir Leon!"

"The true heir of Waldheim!"

The eldest son of the current Duke Grayden Waldheim and the most likely candidate to be the next Duke—that was the man before them. According to rumor, he had already reached high-tier Sword Expert…

Leon paused for a moment and swept his gaze across the entire arena. As his piercing eyes swept over the crowd, the murmurings died away. Then he continued.

"This tournament is not a mere contest of victory and defeat. Every soul standing here has staked their honor and their pride upon it. For the honor of each city, for the pride of Waldheim, and above all for the chance to glorify the name of the Etherion Continent—we have gathered in this place."

Ohh. He seemed young for it, yet there was something extraordinary about a voice that filled the entire arena.

Leon preached at length about honor in his charismatic voice, then closed his speech by expressing his hope that today would reveal who among them was the true victor.

"Then we shall proceed with the duels at once. Those called shall step forward one at a time! Each duel continues until your opponent yields—and killing is strictly forbidden."

And then, the first name to be called—

"Paige of Kalos!"

"WAAAAAAAH!"

"PAIGE! PAIGE!"

Cheers poured down from the eastern section. A woman emerged wearing a red armband. One look at her staff said she was a magician.

"A famous 4th Circle battle mage."

The woman beside him—Rian Failin—gave a rough explanation.

"She mostly handles water-attribute magic. A skilled contender who's made the top eight every year."

Ohh, is that so. Thank you kindly.

He gave a slight nod, and—

"Next, Seo Hwarang of Brandel!"

Leon called the next name.

"WAAAAAAAH!"

This time a tremendous roar erupted from their own section.

Huh. I'm up first?

Well, the order didn't really matter.

Stride. He mounted the stage and took his position.

Seo Hwarang's opponent—the woman called Paige—was indeed wearing a nervous expression, just as he'd expected. She kept taking deep breaths, which made him wonder: had she heard something too? Stories like how he'd split a block of Iron Wood in a single strike, perhaps.

"You're not using a staff?"

That was when she asked, a bit hesitantly.

"Ah."

Seo Hwarang nodded.

"I don't use those. Never have."

Swoosh. He raised his hand and lifted into the air every spell he knew, casting them all at once.

"Shall we begin, then?"

He could feel Paige gritting her teeth slightly. Apparently she felt she was being mocked. But hey. It was simply true that he didn't use a staff—what was he supposed to do about that?

"Then."

Leon raised his hand.

"Begin the duel!"

The instant his arm came down, Seo Hwarang's skills were already in motion.

A 4th Circle mage would be C-rank.

It was obvious she'd be a fairly easy opponent, but he still resolved not to get careless. Her Circle was higher than mine, after all.

First. Shall we try the opening combo?

Vmmm! First, he wrapped himself safely in Magic Shield.

2nd Circle — Wind Blast.

Wind Blast to lightly knock the opponent off balance. And at the same time—Dark Cloud to block her vision, then a carefully mixed barrage of Wind Cutter and Arcane Missile.

I could fire everything simultaneously, of course.

But that would be far too cruel. He couldn't unleash on that frail mage the kind of destructive power that had left a dummy made of Iron Wood without even dust behind, could he?

Skwaaaag!

Ten Arcane Missiles slammed into Paige's airborne body all at once. And then—

"KYAAAAAAAAH!"

Paige let out a scream of pure agony and was launched in a straight line off the stage. As if that weren't enough, she tumbled head over heels before crashing flat on the ground below, limbs splayed in a starfish.

She twitched intermittently but didn't get up. She seemed to have fainted.

"……"

"……"

A momentary stillness settled over the stage. Every spectator stared at Paige with dazed eyes.

"Hmm."

Seo Hwarang furrowed his brow too. That was a light combo—she took that and ended up like this? Had she sunk too much into Intelligence or something?

Anyway.

"I won, right?"

When he asked, Leon gave a nod.

"The victor of the first match of the Round of 16—Seo Hwarang of Brandel!"

The moment those words landed, a colossal roar exploded across the arena that had been frozen in silence ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just a heartbeat before.

"UWAAAAAAH!"

"What was that! Did you see that?"

"One hit? He took out Paige in one hit?"

"UWOOOOOAH! BRANDEL!"

Bathing in the torrential cheers, Seo Hwarang descended from the stage to where the Count sat. Count Lowell, apparently deeply moved, clapped his hands—clap clap clap—with his mouth hanging open.

My lord. You saw that, didn't you? Have those five books ready, won't you? I'll be coming to collect them very soon.