Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Festival Arm-Wrestling
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Was it time to already tangle with the Hael tribe issue she was scheming about?
That's what he thought, but the letter contained something unexpected.
"You should head straight to the Bernier County in the Empire as soon as you receive this letter. The Saintess has received a revelation. The choice is yours, Young Master... but the Saintess's revelations are undoubtedly that important."
Even if it was phrased as the Saintess receiving it, she couldn't openly admit it was her own revelation, so that's how she worded it.
As he stared at the letter, Luna quietly slipped up behind his chair and peered at the contents.
"Hmm... A revelation, huh?"
"Could be good news or bad. But if it's Bernier, that's where Melissa is."
"Gotta go check it out, like it or not."
If Melissa weren't there, he might have just ignored the revelation.
"How accurate are the Saintess's revelations?"
"They always come true. The scale just varies."
No need to agonize over it, then.
He stood up, packed lightly, and left the mansion.
There were no urgent matters in the territory right now, so a quick trip was fine.
"Young Master! Were you planning to sell this in other kingdoms besides the Empire...? Where are you off to?"
Aurora, who had come to see him just as he stepped out, tilted her head.
"I've got to make a quick trip to the Empire. I'll bring Melissa back on the way."
"Oh my, and I was going to give you this as a gift."
She handed him a small box.
Inside was something quite valuable.
"Thank you. I was just thinking of something I needed, so this works out perfectly."
"Scoring points is basic merchant etiquette."
The spirit grass wasn't free, so Melissa would cover its value.
"My god, this is a pretty rare herb."
The teleport gate in Bernier County activated.
The people on the receiving end were a bit startled by the unfamiliar route, but even if something went wrong, it would happen on this side. They just needed to clear the gate area, so no real issue.
"Spirit grass?"
"You know it?"
At his question, she rummaged through her subspace and pulled out an identical spirit grass.
"Got a bit left. Can give if you need."
"You have everything. Still, save it. You'll need it someday."
Even Luna, with her vast wealth, only had a few, underscoring its rarity.
Leaves blending red and blue, roots glowing green. It looked like poison weed or trash at a glance, but a single root was worth tens of millions of cel.
Aurora's spirit grass wasn't fully mature, so less valuable than prime stock, but still incredibly hard to obtain.
Handing over something worth tens of millions per root meant Planetaria Merchant Guild had made a killing this time.
"Welcome to Bernier County. From Cascadia?"
"Yes."
The Bernier mages didn't know the details, so they just assumed Cascadia had linked a new teleport gate.
Not all gates on the continent were interconnected.
Bernier County was in full festival mode.
The count's precious daughter was marrying the prince tomorrow, after all.
The count and his wife were apparently absent from the mansion, but they'd show up for the day.
As the count's house's biggest event, the whole county buzzed with festival prep.
The Saintess Nadia's revelation hadn't specifically named Melissa, so no need to meet her.
In the end, he and Luna wandered around alone.
"Leon, this tasty."
Somehow, Luna was munching on festival food held in both hands.
Without her robe, she might have drawn a lot of stares.
"So, what's the plan?"
"Let's just enjoy for now."
It was a revelation, but he knew nothing else, so hanging around might reveal something.
Nothing he could do until then.
"Might as well take Melissa once she's done and go."
As visitors welcoming the count, it made a decent excuse.
He'd just sold the Paradise artifacts for a windfall, yet his territory always had endless tasks. He needed some fun.
"Leon, over here."
Luna, watching some spectacle, tugged his sleeve.
"What is it?"
"Something fun over there."
She led him to a crowd.
"Uracha cha cha!!"
"Ugh!"
Bam!!
A massive barbarian man arm-wrestled a decently built guy amid heavy thuds.
The giant poured on power, and his opponent lost instantly.
The size difference was huge.
"Damn! Thought I had it."
"Whew. Close call."
He got the picture.
"Ah, a betting game."
"What doing?"
"Simple: winner of arm-wrestle gets a prize. Money or goods."
"Guh... Damn. You're filthy strong."
"Kuhahaha! Good, good! Next!"
"Anyone else wanna challenge?! Barnes has done many matches, might be tired?"
He said it, but didn't look worried about losing.
"One rule! Pure strength, no aura or magic! Winner over Barnes gets this!"
He showed a pricey-looking gem.
"Sell it or gift to the wife! Dwarf-crafted!"
High value to lure the rich.
Barnes feigned fatigue, but it was fake.
Pretend to tire, or no challengers.
Barnes. Mercenary vibe, heavily trained physique.
No aura or magic allowed, pure size contest.
No cheats visible. Relied on trust in Barnes.
Some might use aura or mana anyway...
The artifact beside Barnes detected aura or mana use. Expensive too.
Big-money operators.
Irrelevant to him anyway.
Then...
Luna shoved through the crowd and plopped into the chair.
"Me too."
"Huh?"
The petite Luna, even taller now, puzzled the crowd.
The area went dead quiet for a moment.
She had jewels galore in her subspace, yet interested in this?
"Hey, miss. You sure?"
"If say do, do."
"Wha... You a mage? Sorry, but pure strength, no mana or aura..."
"No use. In strength fight, aura and mana just weakling shields."
She lightly flexed her small white hand and placed it down.
Size gap huge—his hand could swallow hers.
Previous challengers had some bulk.
"Heh... No mercy for being a lady."
Luna's eye twitched.
"No aura, no mana, pure strength. Why tongue so long? Water muscles?"
Barnes's forehead vein bulged at her taunt.
"Fine. Let's go."
Crowd snickered at the new challenger type.
"Got pride, miss. I'll use two fingers. Beat that."
Barbarian Barnes extended two fingers.
Luna sighed, tapped the table.
"Hate losers babbling."
Another vein on Barnes's forehead.
The hype man whispered to Barnes.
"Barnes, go easy. Looks like a noble festival-goer."
"Tch."
Barnes, pride stung, used all fingers.
They gripped tight.
Without robe hiding her looks, she'd get beauty bonus, but festival mask and robe concealed her.
"One, two, three to start. No complaints if arm hurts—we won't compensate."
Luna nodded; hype man counted.
3, 2, 1.
"Start!!"
Signal given, but arms static.
"Miss, you pushing?"
Barnes sneered; Luna calmly replied.
"Real water muscles?"
Grind!
Teeth gnash, his arm tendons popped.
But arm unmoved.
"Huh?"
Barnes startled post-push, panicked at no give.
"Saw your level."
Luna calmly said, gripped harder.
"Bored to death."
Bam!!
Instant. Barnes's arm smashed through the table, splintering it.
She wielded immense power purely from physique.
Aura? Mana? Her slender frame housed physics-defying strength.
Even he, enhancing body beyond norms with vast aura, dreaded a strength contest with her.
She wasn't even fully recovered.
All angels superhumanly strong?
Impossible.
"Gah!?"
Stunned by the brute force, he toppled.
Crowd stared, dumbfounded by the upset.
"Wha... what was that."
A mutter amid the instant end.
"Whoa! Insane!"
"What the hell!"
"Giant goes down in one."
Cheers for the spectacle; hype man and defeated Barnes dazed.
Cheers didn't last.
"Th-this can't be? No aura or mana detected?!"
A frail girl of 150cm overpowering a giant barbarian with raw strength? Impossible.
Must be a trick.
But no reactions.
"Hey, this make sense...?"
"This mine now?"
"W-wait! This doesn't make sense!"