Hmm, maybe I can win it for Lady Cassandra, his thoughts whirled as warmth rose in his chest. Perhaps she would give the chance to court her if I succeed, and we can beco a couple.
Then reality washed over him.
Mother would not like it. He sighed.
"Besides," Cassandra continued, "I'm interested in the competition, even if I'm unable to participate."
"And it will give her a good opportunity to scout helpers for our job," Pierce transmitted into his mind, using his ability. "Co on, let's go join her. I think it will be worthwhile." Pierce didn't have to tell him that because he was intent on joining, even if the Master Runesmith didn't let them participate.
Cassandra asked the soldiers to lead the way, and how could they deny her? While it wasn't difficult for Marcus to figure out the way, as it wasn't the first ti he was there, he let the woman take the lead, watching her move with her entourage of lovely won.
It didn't take long to reach the destination, and as they had assud, there was already a crowd of people clamouring. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be much organization to the whole thing. Other than the participants standing stoically in a row, the rest were clamouring as if they were on an outing.
So of the fellows really did look like they were on an outing, chilling and dining with all the stuff they brought in. The aromatic fragrance coming from their al reminded Marcus of his hunger.
"As I ntioned, anyone below Gold rank is welco to participate," said the soldier who introduced himself as Bern. He had tried to show off to Lady Cassandra, ntioning how he almost made it, but sadly, only getting the tip of his sword wasn't enough. He had to make enough damage that the alarm ring.
He tried twice, and failed both tis, and Marcus was sure they weren't as glorious as Bern made it sound. But Marcus was thankful to him for explaining the rules of the ga... It was surprisingly simple for the grand prize of High-runic equipnt.
What delighted him more was that there wasn't a limit to the number of high-runic equipnt. Anyone can get it as long as they make it.
"But just in case," the soldier said, "I think we should ask one of the adepts for confirmation."
Saying that, he called up a sour-looking woman in her early twenties. Well, she was probably older, considering it takes over a decade even for a gifted ranker to reach Adept rank in runesmithing.
"Do all of you want to participate?" she asked, her eyes lingering a mont longer on Cassandra. Lady Cassandra nodded softly. "If it's all right with the Master Runesmith, we don't want to be presumptuous in our behaviour and—"
"Bah!" the adept runesmith woman waved off her palm to silence Cassandra. "He doesn't deserve your consideration. Just don't make a fuss and stand in line. Or just smile a little at these hapless fools, and they would gladly give you their spot."
"Is it really, right?" Marcus asked. As far as he could tell, the task was to impair the barrier. The woman shrugged. "Seven people already won the high prize, and he didn't seem to care. Besides, most of the winners are Silver rankers. From what I'm seeing, all of you are Iron rank, elite you may be, the best you get is the low prize."
"Which is to get your best equipnt repaired by the Master Runesmith," soldier Bern added.
"He can do that while taking a piss," snorted the Adept Runesmith woman and walked away.
"Her view of the Master Runesmith doesn't seem that great," May observed. Lady Cassandra seed to agree as she turned towards Bern for him to shed so light on the matter.
"Um, that was Lady Jenni," Bern said, swallowing a breath. "She's the first winner of the high prize, but she got into a fight with the Master Runesmith over her prize... I'm not sure."
"He didn't accept her request?" Marcus asked. If so, perhaps it would be better if they didn't participate.
"No, the reward she asked for isn't equipnt," Bern said with a weird look. "Um, Lady Jenni is very... willful at tis."
"Well, even if we can't get a high runic equipnt, I can't wait to see you try, Young Lord Valerius," Cassandra said, beaming a winning smile at him.
Marcus's throat dried up. "Just to be clear, all we have to do is damage the barrier and force our way to the other side, for the high prize right?"
With the confirmation, she joined the fray. Unlike how Adept Jenni ntioned a smile from her would pave the way for her to participate, Cassandra actually crept towards where the sour-looking Jenni stood with the others. Now, the Adept runesmith had a skewer in hand and was devouring the roasted at without batting an eye at the gorgeous woman who ca to stand next to her.
"You want so?" she asked. Cassandra shook her head.
"Good," she said with a burp, "he's very stinky with the al."
"Um, can I get sothing?" Marcus asked, swallowing a breath. He couldn't tell why, but this woman overwheld him, and not in a good way. Adept Jenni shot him a look, gazing up and down as he stood straighter. "No." Marcus gritted his teeth but said nothing.
"Don't worry, the rejection of the girls will only make you more resistant to it," May offered, clasping his shoulder. "I promise it won't hurt after a dozen more tis."
"Darren is still at it, huh?" Jenni snickered in amusent, leaning on the broad man next to him, who simply forced her back.
"Well, he says four hours is his limit, but for today perhaps he'll put so more effort," said the other man, who was probably a runesmith like her.
"This is what a poor foundation does to a mother— gyukkk! I need a drink." Adept Jenni blew air and spit from her mouth without a care in the world. She turned to the stand where people were eating and drinking. "Aki, be a good friend and get a bottle of wine."
"No, I'll be a good friend and stop you from doing anything more stupid today," Aki snorted. As Jenni leaned on him again, he pushed her back.
"Are all runesmiths like this?" Marcus muttered.
'Pretty much,' Pierce said in their telepathic link. 'They are either the polite Stoic like this Aki and our Cole, or laid back and careless like this woman.'
"Hey, look, we're about to get our eighth winner!" soone shouted as everyone's eyes moved towards the front barrier, and the runic pattern lit up in deep blue, as a woman blasted a huge deluge of ice attack to make a deep hole in them.
"She seems familiar," Marcus muttered, unable to call up from his mory. But looking at her proud and domineering figure as she cast a deluge of ice spells, he was sure she was a prominent figure.
He turned to Pierce for the answer.
"That is the elder daughter of Lord Forger, Jessica Forger," Pierce said. "I didn't think she would be participating in it as well."
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