Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Tournament Begins
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Khehehet! How did you all know the great Oson Ironhammer was coming?"
Upon entering the castle gates, a spectacular festival unfolded before them.
Gray Elf children played in the streets, and Gray Elf merchants hawked their wares from small stalls.
The city was bustling with the festival.
"Oson! Don't be so embarrassing, get over here… Besides, you're… never mind."
As Oson boomed from the middle of the road, Sari covered her face with both hands.
The two had grown quite close over the past few days.
"Sari, thanks to you, we got in easily."
"That's right. Elf lass, I thought you were just a frail elf, but I guess not?"
"Hmph! What did you take me for? I'm the chief of the Night-Warbler Forest! A mere kingdom gatekeeper can't stop me! Huhu!"
For reference, Oson was twenty-nine years old.
Younger than Do-jae.
Nevertheless, he spoke casually with Sari, who was well over 200 years old.
Of course, Do-jae did the same, but since Sari didn't mind, he went along with it.
Besides, a heavily bearded man speaking formally to a young girl would look strange in its own way, so speaking informally was better.
"What kind of festival is this, with so many elves?"
"There's a tournament being held in the kingdom right now, I think? The warriors from our village left to participate."
"A tournament..."
Do-jae sensed something.
If he were Actria and had intentionally sent the leaf here, it was highly likely to be related to the arena.
"Sari, take Oson and get some rest. There's somewhere I need to go."
"Oh? Really? Wooo! Alright, Do-jae! Then let's meet here in the central plaza around sunset!"
Sari, delighted, pulled out her pouch and counted her gold coins.
Do-jae gave her another 100 gold and sent them on their way.
Then, he took out the branch to check the direction and began searching for the tournament venue.
***
He pushed his way through the countless elves.
Normally, they would have found the robed Do-jae suspicious, but thankfully, perhaps because it was a festival, no one paid him any mind.
After walking for some time, he arrived at a massive, circular structure.
‘I think I'm really close now.’
The branch was shaking so violently that Do-jae had to put it away in his subspace.
The leaf was definitely just ahead.
Do-jae entered the building.
"Alright, 10 minutes left! Any warriors who haven't registered yet, please do so now! All registered warriors, please proceed inside!"
Upon entering the lobby, he found the interior in a complete uproar.
Warriors waiting to enter the tournament, their comrades and families who had come to cheer them on.
Do-jae doubted he could really find Actria's leaf in such a chaotic place.
However, surprisingly, the leaf was easy to spot.
‘On that man's head ornament!’
A Gray Elf who was so exceptionally tall he was clearly visible even from a distance.
Not only was he tall, but his build also seemed twice as large as anyone else's.
And there, stuck right on that Gray Elf's head ornament, was Actria's leaf.
"Hey, what's with this little runt?"
"Hey, did you just bump into me?"
Do-jae pushed past the Gray Elves, chasing after the one with the leaf.
But before Do-jae could reach him, he vanished through a door at the back of the lobby.
Do-jae was stopped by the Gray Elf soldiers guarding the entrance.
"Hey, if you want to participate in the tournament, you have to register first."
"Are you a woman? It won't be easy for a woman to compete. Khuhu, I'd bet my entire fortune you'll be eliminated in the preliminaries."
Ignoring the provocative soldiers, Do-jae headed to the counter to register for the tournament.
"Here to register? You have 5 minutes left. Fill out the application and give it to me."
Do-jae took the application form.
But then a problem arose.
He didn't know a single character of the Gray Elves' script.
Just then, a Gray Elf whispered to Do-jae.
"From a country village? Can't even read."
Do-jae looked at the Gray Elf who had spoken to him.
She was about his height, with a delicate voice.
Even though her helmet was pulled down low and she was wrapped in a thick cloak, he could tell she was a female Gray Elf.
"I need a favor."
The female Gray Elf was surprised when Do-jae spoke.
"A man? You're so short I thought you were a woman. Whatever. Name?"
"Lee Do-jae."
"Lee Do-jae? Funny name. Or is it an alias?"
Instead of answering, Do-jae simply nodded.
"Fine, if it's an alias, the rest doesn't matter. I'll just fill it out for you."
She quickly filled out both her own and Do-jae's application forms.
Then she went to the counter, submitted the forms, and returned with badges proving their participation.
They were numbered badges.
"Here, you're number 294. I'm 295."
"Thanks. You saved me."
"Don't mention it. I like strong people. I can feel a powerful aura from you. See you in the main tournament!"
With that, the female Gray Elf disappeared through the door at the back of the lobby.
As he was thinking he should have at least asked for her name, a shout came from the entrance.
"Come on! One minute left! Any warriors who haven't entered yet, please do so quickly!"
Do-jae hurried towards the door.
***
Meanwhile, Sari and Oson.
The two were strolling through the market district.
"Oson, there's something I need to say..."
"I know. That dwarves are used as slaves in the east."
"Huh? You knew?"
"Tch, damn elves. A race that lives thinking they're all that. Ah, I'm not talking about you. You never looked at me like that from the start."
"That's what my grandmother taught me. It seems like people don't care as much because it's a festival, but still..."
"I get it. I have that much sense, so don't worry."
Oson looked up at Sari with his lips pressed tight.
Oson had said it for Sari's sake, but she was still worried.
‘I have to be extra careful to make sure he doesn't cause any trouble.’
Sari clenched her fist, making a resolution.
"She said her grandmother's old friend is at the very end of that alley. A general store that sells everything, its name is… Ah! Daffodil's Dew. Let's go, to Daffodil's Dew."
Sari led Oson down the alley.
*Tinkle-.*
A sign with a painting of a daffodil.
Sari and Oson slowly entered the shop.
"Anyone here?"
When Sari called out cautiously, a white-haired Gray Elf emerged from the back.
"Lady Akela!"
Seeing her, Sari jumped and hugged her.
Akela also held Sari tightly in her arms.
"Who is this? Is it Sari?"
"It's the first time I've seen you since I was a child."
"Yes, yes, it's been almost 200 years. But what brings you to the kingdom?"
"My grandmother gave me permission to travel."
"Salireuna did? That must have been a big decision. For now, have a seat. Let's have some tea. You too, dwarf, have a seat. I'll bring some tea."
Sari and Akela slowly chatted about their village.
Meanwhile, Oson, who had downed his tea in one gulp and grown bored, was scolded by Akela for touching the items in the shop.
"So, Sari. Is there something you need?"
"Lady Akela, do you happen to have a potion that can change one's skin color or appearance?"
"There's no such potion. Why? Trying to change that dwarf's appearance? Even if you change his skin color, dwarves are so short he won't look like one of us."
"Is that so? Yes… I understand."
"But I do have this."
Akela disappeared into the back for a moment and returned with a ring.
The ring itself was of a simple design, but the inside and outside were densely covered in runes, giving it a mystical feel.
"It's a magic ring made by a human 300 years ago. A ring that can change you into the form of an elf. But your ears will become long, like a High Elf's, not one of us."
"Oh? If that's okay, can I buy it?"
"How could I take money from you? Consider it a gift for your first journey."
"Thank you, Lady Akela!"
"If there's anything else you need, just say the word. Or should I bring out something that would suit our Sari?"
"It's alright."
"I owed Salireuna a great deal when I was young. Don't worry about it and pick something."
Sari stood up and looked around the shop.
It was filled with fantastical things, from a giant fork with an unknown purpose to an ornament that exuded a sinister aura.
After pondering for a long time, Sari stopped in front of a shelf as if mesmerized.
"Then this..."
She chose a dagger inlaid with a beautiful gem.
Akela nodded at Sari, who had picked up the dagger.
***
‘Where did he disappear to?’
Having entered, Do-jae looked around, searching for the man with the leaf.
It wasn't easy to find a man he had already lost sight of among the countless Gray Elves.
Do-jae tried to weave through the Gray Elves to find the man, but each time he had to endure the taunts of the on-edge elves.
"This bastard? You want to go a round before we even start?"
"You wanna die? Huh? Piss off if you don't want to get killed."
It was the result of Do-jae repeatedly pushing through a crowd where everyone was on edge because of the tournament.
Just then, a Gray Elf's voice echoed from somewhere.
It was loud, as if spoken through a megaphone.
- Now, the first preliminary round will begin.
Immediately, a bright light appeared at Do-jae's feet.
It was a circular, magic-circle-like thing.
No, it *was* a magic circle.
And in that instant, Do-jae was falling somewhere.
‘Where am I?’
Having no information, Do-jae was slightly bewildered.
He had been dropped alone into a square room.
Tense from the sudden situation, he drew his sword.
He soon realized what the first preliminary round was about.
"Kuuuooo!"
"Grrrrrr!"
"Kuaaak!"
Just as Do-jae had appeared, light flashed from a magic circle and monsters burst out.
The moment they saw Do-jae, they let out shrieks loud enough to tear the space apart.
However, upon seeing them, Do-jae's enthusiasm immediately deflated.
‘What, they're just wolf pups.’
That's right.
They were ‘Black Wolves’.
They were the regular monsters from the dungeon where Cerberus had appeared—the same dungeon where he first met Young-jin and made a lot of money.
‘Cute. Back then, I struggled with just three of them.’
Do-jae smiled as he looked at the Black Wolves.
Before, even one Black Wolf would make him break a sweat, but now, three of them seemed like child's play.
"Grrrr!"
The Black Wolves began to charge.
Do-jae struck the snout of the first wolf with the pommel of Black Scale.
"Yelp!"
One of them shrieked and fell back.
The others followed suit.
*Thwack-!*
*Thwack-!*
He landed a solid blow on the snout of each charging wolf.
‘I've really gotten stronger.’
He could now toy with the same monsters he fought just a few months ago.
The Black Wolves charged again and again, snapping their massive jaws, but he effortlessly dodged and plunged his sword into their necks.
*Thud-.*
The last one fell.
Once the battle was over, the ground beneath Do-jae's feet flashed again.
‘It feels a bit empty without the system messages.’
Do-jae vanished from the space in a shower of light particles.