Chapter 81
Irene ca to find early in the morning.
“Looks like there’s a martial arts tournant today.”
“A martial arts tournant? Didn’t they say that no such barbaric events were held during the Festival of Haken? I rember soone scolding when I asked why they didn’t just hold a duel during the festival.”
“Ah, that’s true. Although I don’t think I put it quite like that.”
“No, you did. It hurt my feelings more than you think.”
“You’re a bit petty for your size, Lord Iron.”
I chuckled with Irene as we exchanged jokes.
Still, this was how close Irene and I had beco.
– You sound like a loser bragging just because you talked to a girl once.
‘…Damn rabbit brat.’
That rabbit was annoyingly sharp.
‘But still, a martial arts tournant?’
They originally said such a thing didn’t exist here.
Until now, Haken had never once held a martial arts tournant, but for so reason, they decided to host one this ti.
They asked to attend as well, since it was apparently a rather important event.
However, this event seed a little different from what I usually thought of as a martial arts tournant.
Normally, such tournants were a way to draw in outside talents to the territory, but this one didn’t give off that feeling.
“The purpose of this tournant isn’t to select knights. It’s more about testing the performance of a new invention.”
“A new invention?”
“Yes, a video storage device. It seems they just invented it.”
“What’s that supposed to be?”
“Well, it’s like a type of recording device. It records images through a crystal sphere, then projects them through another crystal, so you can watch a scene live from far away.”
“That’s impressive.”
“The finals of this martial arts tournant will be broadcast to all the people of the territory using the video storage device. They’re even setting up a space in the central plaza to show it.”
“Oh, like that?”
“Yes. For now, its range is limited to within the territory, but if it develops further, it could be used for many things.”
A kind of magical cara?
Anyway, Haken’s Item Makers (magical engineers dedicated to inventing new tools) always seed to create fascinating things.
This must have developed from their research into the Mana Communicator.
‘The people will love this.’
If they were setting up a place in the plaza to broadcast the finals, then the townspeople’s interest would definitely be high.
It felt like the highlight of this year’s festival.
And of course, Irene’s attendance would make the event shine even brighter.
“You’ll be attending too, won’t you?”
“Yes. Father said he’d prepare a seat for . Naturally, there’ll also be seats for Lord Iron and your companions. You saw earlier, right? The training ground where the Battle Ball match was held? The tournant will be there, so we can go together.”
“Wasn’t that just the sports festival arena a mont ago?”
“Yes, which is why they’re still frantically preparing it right now. My brothers were probably sent to help as well.”
“Sounds chaotic.”
“Well, it’s an important event. If sothing were to go wrong at a martial arts tournant that everyone in the territory was watching, who would take responsibility?”
“True enough. For the two aiming for the lordship, that’s sothing they absolutely want to avoid.”
Irene’s brothers were apparently running around busily—likely because they were in charge of the martial arts tournant.
Bringing this event to a successful conclusion had beco a much bigger responsibility than expected, so it looked like I didn’t need to worry about them for now.
Since they were competing against each other in organizing the event, they wouldn’t be turning their eyes toward Irene anyway.
Still, the martial arts tournant of Haken piqued my curiosity.
The participants were mostly Soldiers and the squires of knights.
It was a bit disappointing that full-fledged knights weren’t allowed to enter, but the participants were still the future knights of Haken.
By seeing their performance, I could roughly gauge the skill level of the knights here.
My head had been heavy lately, so this might serve as a good distraction.
“Don’t expect too much. It’ll unfold a bit differently than the sparring matches in Johnson Territory.”
“Differently, how?”
“Lord Iron, you’re probably expecting a bloody, savage fight like a real battle, aren’t you?”
“Isn’t that only natural? What’s the point of a martial arts tournant if it isn’t like that?”
“Think about it. It’s being broadcast live to all the townspeople. They can’t show brutal scenes. So, the tournant will use specially prepared weapons that only test weapon handling skills. People might still get hurt, but there won’t be any bloody scenes of limbs being cut off.”
“…Really?”
“You sound disappointed.”
I had been expecting sothing more practical, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
Since they weren’t even using real blades but wooden swords, the duels would be forced into contests of technique. Still, that might make it entertaining in its own way.
Especially for residents unaccustod to the cruelty of real combat.
‘Still, it’s interesting.’
Through this tournant, they were selecting talents, testing new inventions, and entertaining the people with the broadcast.
A lot of things were riding on this martial arts tournant.
It was easy to understand why the First Young Lord and the Second Young Lord were completely absorbed in it.
In that case, all I had to do was relax and watch Haken’s swordsmanship—while keeping an eye on anyone who tried to approach Irene.
Led by Irene, I arrived at the great training ground where the martial arts tournant was being held.
Just yesterday, it had been the site of the sports festival, but overnight it had been transford into a proper arena.
No doubt the result of Builders pouring mana crystals into their work.
Only Builders could create such an arena in such a short ti.
“Seems like there are more spectators than I expected. With this many, it might be hard to see the matches clearly.”
“The duels will be projected large up there. One here, and another in the central plaza. Two in total.”
“Oh, that’s how?”
“Yes. I don’t really understand the principles, but apparently they’re using illusion magic.”
“Amazing.”
As I listened to Irene’s explanation, I glanced around and easily spotted the participants.
First were the Soldiers of Haken.
They wore matching uniforms, making it obvious to anyone that they belonged here.
Since the tournant would be broadcast—even if only within Haken—they had standardized their attire.
anwhile, the squires of the knights bore large emblems on their backs, representing their masters.
Apparently, that detail had been decided in advance as well.
This ant that the achievents of a squire would also extend to the glory of their knight master. Since pride was at stake, I figured the psychological warfare between them must have been pretty intense.
Knights couldn’t stand losing in matters like this.
At first, I thought the tournant might be boring to since it was only a contest of swordsmanship skills. But seeing how things were shaping up, maybe I could look forward to it a little.
“If your squire were to participate in the tournant, what emblem would they wear?”
“? Hmm… in my case, it would be a Phoenix. A blazing red bird emblem.”
“Ah, is that the sa crest the Crimson Cot bears?”
“Yes, that’s my emblem.”
“If you had remained in Haken, I could’ve seen that emblem as well.”
“Crimson Cot doesn’t take squires. So it wouldn’t have been possible anyway. This tournant is only for squires who haven’t yet been knighted.”
“Sha that active knights can’t participate.”
Although most of the participants were from Haken, I also noticed so people wearing completely different outfits.
Unlike the Soldiers, who wore fixed uniforms, these others were all dressed differently. Still, each of them bore the emblem of their choice on their backs.
They didn’t seem to be knight squires. I wondered who they were.
“But those guys over there don’t look like Haken’s Soldiers. And they don’t look like squires either.”
“Those are rcenaries, sir.”
“rcenaries?”
“Yes, those emblems you see are marks of rcenary bands. That nine-tailed fox emblem is the famous ‘Ninetale’ from Levelium. The crossed axes belong to ‘Double X’ from New Level. The black circle is ‘Dark Circle.’ And then…”
“That’s enough. I get the idea. So rcenaries are participating in the tournant as well.”
“I suspect the prize must be sothing extraordinary, sir. rcenaries like them don’t move unless there’s great incentive.”
“Is that so? Are they strong?”
“The ones from large rcenary bands who carry weight on their shoulders are usually at least mid-level knight class, sir. Most of the work rcenaries do is escorting rchant groups, and that’s no easy job.”
“Is that so?”
I asked Irene, but the reply ca from Dr. Nickel instead.
Dr. Nickel, who had wandered here and there, knew more than I expected.
He had morized all those rcenary emblems.
Though he wasn’t very reliable, I had to admit Dr. Nickel was useful in his own way.
‘rcenaries, huh.’
The only rcenaries I’d encountered so far were those during the mass escape of the Rabbit Tribe, and they had been pitifully weak.
But apparently, mbers of large, well-known rcenary bands were on another level. I found myself sowhat excited to see them fight.
Since they had entered the tournant under the na of their rcenary bands, they certainly wouldn’t take it lightly.
For rcenaries, reputation was directly tied to their pay.
Their nas ant everything.
“It seems rcenaries joined because of the winner’s prize.”
“The prize?”
“Yes, the winner gains the right to make a request of my father.”
“Really? That’s a bit vague. Does that an any request will be granted?”
“Well, I suppose that depends on Father.”
“Hmm, sounds a bit…”
So essentially, it was like a wish token. Having such a prize for the tournant gave a strange feeling.
It sounded grand, but it didn’t seem very practical.
‘Wait, could soone use that to ask for Irene?’
– Do you really think that’ll happen?
‘Yeah, you’re right. That’s too much.’
Even if soone did make such a request, it wouldn’t matter. There was no chance it would succeed.
Irene wasn’t that kind of woman.
If she were, the Lord of Haken would’ve already married her off.
“If the winner requested you from the Lord of Haken, what would you do?”
“? Hmm… I’d just tell them to get lost.”
“Really? Wouldn’t that hurt the Lord of Haken’s dignity?”
“If they’re making a wish, they should make it to Father, not . Why ask ? I don’t belong to him.”
“True enough.”
Yes, that was how it was.
Irene despised being dragged into things against her will. There was no way sothing like a wish token could be used to control her.
It was safe to dismiss any concerns about that.
‘Still, this should be entertaining.’
– The best fun always cos from underdog fights.
‘Nah, not this ti. The rcenaries are involved.’
If the participants were only Soldiers and squires, there wouldn’t be many knight-level fighters.
But with rcenary bands taking it seriously, they must have sent in knight-class warriors.
That ant this tournant could easily turn into a festival of rcenaries.
Was the Lord of Haken considering all this when planning the tournant?
If not, his dignity might take a blow.
“Still, all I have to do is sit back and watch who wins.”
From my perspective, whoever won, it would be in my favor.
“Co on, this way. Seats have been prepared for us.”
Irene led us to a pri location where the entire arena was in view.
It was near the area where the Lord of Haken and his family sat—essentially the VIP section.
The Lord of Haken and his family were all gathered there, waiting for the tournant to begin.
Since the Lord’s family was present, the heirs—the First Young Lord and the Second Young Lord—were there as well, along with their younger siblings.
Thanks to this, I was able to see the two successors for the first ti.
The First Young Lord was the spitting image of the Lord of Haken, every bit a knight.
He had a friendly face and a solid, impressive build.
The Second Young Lord, however, was different.
He looked sharp and stern, with a snake-like aura about him.
– Looks like a male snake.
‘Yeah, I thought the sa.’
Perhaps he resembled his mother’s side?
It was striking how little he resembled the Lord of Haken.
The two successors were speaking with the Lord of Haken in a serious atmosphere.
I had no intention of getting involved, so I quietly took a seat in the corner with Irene.
When we sat down, the people’s gazes briefly turned our way. The Lord of Haken also looked over, but since he had nothing to say at the mont, he only exchanged a glance with before returning to his conversation.
It seed like they had their own problems to deal with.
“Well then, let’s see how this goes.”
I didn’t know what the issue was, but whatever it was, it probably wasn’t important.
The real highlight of the tournant was the chance to test out the newly invented magical device.
That much was working fine—the image of the arena was already projected in the sky.
They had said it was tied to illusion magic, and it looked as though the arena had been enlarged and suspended in the air.
Spectators seated far away could watch as if the matches were happening right before their eyes.
“Oh, looks like it’s starting.”
“Indeed.”
While I marveled at the new magical device, the tournant was about to begin.
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