Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Tendar, Land of the Crows
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Tendar, the land of the crows.
In truth, it was simply that the Tendar tribe was the representative race.
These days, a multitude of races coexisted in Tendar.
Just a few hundred years ago, each race had established its own separate nations.
But the Tendar had united early into the form of a kingdom.
The strength and civilization of the Tendar tribe grew at an astonishing pace, beyond imagination.
In the end, they absorbed all the nations of the other races.
"They say there was discrimination between races in the early days."
Elasia, walking beside Havel, chattered away as she read from her booklet.
Havel ignored her and gazed indifferently at the bustling square.
As the booklet described, throngs of various races crowded the square.
Even humans sometimes discriminated based on skin color.
Yet these folk seemed to have no issues mingling with other races.
"These days, anyone discriminating against other races gets backlash instead."
"Better than humans."
Elasia scratched her cheek at Havel's blunt words.
"True enough. Tendar only has a nominal class system left.
Aside from the royal family, everyone is equal in status."
"Doesn't that chafe as a noble enjoying a noble's life?"
"Ever since entering the Tower, that stuff's become meaningless. Thanks to it, I'm gaining all sorts of insights."
Like how the mind grows alongside the body.
Havel eyed Elasia with genuine surprise.
She puffed up proudly, nose in the air.
"Ugh, this feels so uncomfortable."
At that moment, the Tendar following Havel grumbled while fussing with his clothes.
More precisely, he was grooming the fur poking out from between the fabric.
He now resembled a pitch-black monkey.
Even in monkey form, bull tattoos remained scattered across his body.
But that alone didn't hint at his original human nature.
The reason for his transformation was simple.
To hide his identity for the martial tournament.
And Havel was no different.
Golden horns protruded from his original face, paired with cat-like whiskers.
A white mane spilled from his neck downward.
His hair had grown much longer, just barely not dragging on the ground.
No one would mistake him for human now.
"Why am I a monkey, and you get something cool, Havel?"
"Because it suits you."
Elasia declared flatly as Paiod complained.
Paiod glared at her, and she scurried behind Havel.
She had changed too.
Scales dotted her body, her eyes had turned reptilian.
A snake-like tail had sprouted from her waist.
"Acts like a snake too. Why bother disguising? You're already snakelike."
"Nyah nyah."
Havel, as always, ignored the bickering pair and kept walking.
Elasia hurried to catch up.
"Sir Havel, this regular martial tournament is a celebration of racial harmony."
In the past, when disputes between races couldn't be resolved otherwise,
the winners' demands would be accepted after combat.
But such barbaric customs were relics of old.
Now, it lingered merely as tradition.
"And the prize lets you draw the Star Sword."
"It's just a special bonus at best."
The Star Sword reward was pure hype.
"It pops up as a tournament prize now and then.
'Draw it for a Star Sword!' Like that."
"A gimmick, plain and simple."
Try your luck since you won't get it anyway.
'More importantly, what's the deal with the Star Sword? Wonder if it's still stuck in the ground after all this time.'
A thousand years had passed.
Something must have happened.
So for Tendar, this tournament was just an event.
But not for climbers.
The other Five Great Families are surely making moves too.
Havel recalled Kabala's advice.
Perhaps wary of exposing Havel's identity,
Atabala had reverted to his usual speech after relaying the message.
By now, the other Five Great Families would have confirmed his description via crow messengers.
Soon, they'd learn of Memento Mori's withdrawal too.
And they'd realize.
The one ascending the Tower now wasn't Memento Mori.
It was Havel Banpellyon.
The climber who cleared the 7th Hierarchy.
Naturally, the Five Great Families couldn't sit idle.
If Havel cleared the 7th Hierarchy floor too,
his influence would shake even them.
The Five Great Families already know the Star Sword's importance.
The paths Havel took climbing the 7th Hierarchy floors
had been relayed straight to the Five Great Families.
They wouldn't miss info even Memento Mori had grasped.
Besides, they'd lingered on the 76th floor five months ahead of him.
Of course they knew the Star Sword's value.
So they know you'll definitely enter this tournament, Havel.
They'd target him.
They couldn't let another climber outside their families unlock the Tower.
I'll persuade Graiza somehow to keep them off you.
Baria vowed to block Graiza from interfering with Havel.
She planned to convince her brother, who led Graiza in the Tower.
Sis hates taking losses. Remind her of your strength, nudge her to watch and wait—should work.
Baria spoke confidently.
Clashing with Havel would cost Graiza dearly.
Baria didn't want Graiza ruined.
She'd leverage that to persuade them.
Kain will support you instead. He even helped with the disguises.
Kain's side was a given ally.
This very transformation owed much to his power.
'Glassis already halted their ascent after I crushed their second-in-line, Arteyn.'
Havel recalled smashing Glasis's direct descendant.
Excluding those three families,
the remaining two would obstruct him.
Ignor and August.
'Azaris, Penbola.'
Ignor's youngest direct, Azaris Ignor.
August's youngest direct, Penbola.
According to Baria, both had been summoned back by their families.
'They might enter the tournament too.'
They weren't bad seeds.
Havel pocketed the forged ID Kabala had given him as he headed to registration.
Apparently essential for tournament entry.
It held all personal details.
'Impressive. Civilization has advanced.'
The visible buildings were styles Havel had never seen.
A round dome shape.
"Wow, it's huge."
Elasia gasped briefly at the building's scale.
Paiod stared in equal awe.
Watching them, they seemed like country bumpkins.
Perhaps because he'd seen this world a century on,
Havel strode on more calmly than them.
At the registration desk, Havel joined the line.
Dozens of races jostled there.
Maybe because the prizes—minus the Star Sword—were stellar this time.
Tendar's power players had flocked en masse.
After a long wait,
Havel's turn finally came.
'Takes forever.'
Still, he'd waited patiently.
"Next."
His turn at last.
Havel stepped forward with his ID.
Suddenly, a man cut in front.
A massive, bear-like brute with thick fur.
Havel blinked up at him, then seized his collar in a vice grip.
"Huh."
The line-cutter was yanked back, halted.
Only then did he notice Havel gripping him.
"What the hell? Let go."
His face twisted in fury.
"Hey, wizard."
"Oh."
Elasia and Paiod, still bickering behind, caught on late.
They instinctively backed away.
They knew trouble was brewing.
"Don't know lines?"
"Hah."
The bear-man scoffed at Havel's question.
"In the martial tournament, the strong make the rules. Don't like cutting? Get stronger."
He brazenly justified himself.
His gall made nearby folk grimace.
"Hey, check it out. Fight's starting."
"Ugh, it's Marcon."
"Same crap every year. Still, he placed 6th last tournament."
"Don't get involved. Eyes down."
Those who knew him recoiled, distancing themselves.
His bulk wasn't for show.
He was a tournament heavyweight and celebrity.
As everyone kept clear,
"Hm, fair point."
Havel surprisingly agreed.
Then he grinned slowly.
"Then stand behind me."
"What?"
Before Marcon could react,
Crack!
A sharp impact echoed.
All heads turned at the sound.
Screech—thud!
Marcon collapsed to the ground.
His huge frame crashing stirred instant chaos.
He lay motionless, out cold.
Havel glanced at him and cracked his knuckles.
"Anyone else wanna cut?"
The square fell silent.
* * *
Recently, a rumor spread through the martial tournament circles.
Marcon, last tournament's 6th place and a top contender,
had been felled in one blow by a super rookie.
The buzz spread like wildfire, reaching other favorites' ears.
"Marcon's down?"
Among them, a strong contender—a Tendar crow knight—
Arseonna Parsis showed interest.
Parsis was an old house that had long guarded Tendar's kings.
Though class held less sway in modern times,
no need to cling to family,
he took pride in his lineage.
This new rookie's tale caught his ear.
He'd competed yearly, so naturally curious.
And it wasn't just him.
Marcon had rotten personality but solid skill.
Other top contenders, familiar with him, took note too.
In a chamber of Tendar's royal palace,
a girl with delicate features and black feather ornaments looked up.
"Havel, you say?"
Tendar's legitimate blood—and currently the sole heir.
Princess Balea Tendar.
The political core of Tendar.
Her face hardened at the name.
She shot to her feet.
"Someone using that name now? This must be the Lion of the Night's will!"
"Princess, calm down."
"How can I? He shows up at this exact timing!"
"Coincidence. Havel's not that rare a name. Besides, the Lion of the Night was human."
"Who knows? Humans only reemerged recently."
Her eyes blazed fiercely.
"And now, someone with the Lion's name stirs trouble at this juncture. Pure chance?"
She believed in fate more fiercely than most.
"The Lion of the Night returns to save Tendar from this crisis."
Stars flickered briefly in her eyes.
Her butler froze at the sight.
He knew the meaning of stars in Tendar direct descendants' eyes.
From some point, they each bore the Night Lion's mark.
As if chosen solely by the Night God.
Miraculously, it began after the Star Sword sealed itself in the earth.
Stars in Balea's eyes always heralded events.
Her butler gazed worriedly out the window.
Perhaps not mere coincidence, after all.