Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 30
The next day, we headed to the arena bright and early.
Nothing significant had happened after yesterday’s events. Naturally, I was concerned about the young Momental and Marquis Fulcrum. If they were indeed connected to the Candlestick of the Netherworld, it was highly likely they would make some move during this tournament.
Of course, His Imperial Majesty would be on high alert, with knights and guards stationed throughout the arena. There were probably even more hidden in places we couldn’t see.
Despite her usual enthusiasm, Larni seemed a bit tense this morning. Although she was already an A-Rank adventurer with unwavering skill, she was still just a fifteen-year-old girl.
As we disembarked from the carriage in front of the arena, I remarked, “So, even Larni gets nervous sometimes.”
Larni leaned closer, her expression sulking. “What do you mean by that?”
“I always thought you were so positive and fearless.”
“Well, that’s true. But this is my first time at a martial arts tournament, so it’s normal to feel nervous. Karma seemed a bit anxious before stepping onto the stage too, right?”
“Well, that’s understandable. I don’t feel nervous at all in front of monsters, but fighting in front of an audience is a different story.”
Karma scratched her cheek, looking a bit embarrassed, and Larni puffed out her chest at the sight.
“See? It’s strange for you not to feel nervous, Soushi. You should realize that.”
“I apologize for that. But honestly, if Larni is feeling nervous, it gives me a sense of relief. If you stop feeling that way, you might recklessly put yourself in danger.”
“Ah, well, that might be true. But conversely, it means we worry about you, so keep that in mind too.”
Larni pressed her finger against my chest as she spoke.
That was indeed a sharp observation. Freinir and Shizuna nodded in agreement.
“I’ll be more careful from now on. Anyway, just do your best today. But please remember, the most important thing is for you not to get hurt.”
I said this with a serious expression, and for a moment, Larni’s eyes widened before she blushed slightly and looked away.
“I understand, but it might be hard to come out completely unscathed. If I do get hurt, make sure to take care of me gently, okay?”
“I believe the staff will take care of any injuries… but I’ll be gentle, I promise.”
With that, Larni laughed and said, “It’s a promise!” as she dashed ahead.
Afterward, Sfenia and Shizuna chimed in, expressing things like, “I wish I could have participated in the tournament too,” while Karma asked, “Will you take care of me if I get hurt?” It became a bit lively until we reached the VIP seats.
What caught my attention the most was when Freinir said, “I will heal everyone, so Soushi-sama will not need to be taken care of.” Her true intentions were unclear, so I just patted her head to deflect the conversation, but I found myself pondering how I should have responded for a while.
Today, the first round would feature matches from the 9th to the 16th.
Larni was set to compete in the 10th match, making it the second match of the day.
The venue was still enveloped in an incredible atmosphere. This was only natural, as the final match of the day would feature the Empire’s hero, Marishielle.
“The main event of the martial arts tournament, first round, match 10! In the direction of the Rainbow Dragon, we have Larni of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ making her debut in the main event! In the direction of the Dawn Tiger, we have Ren of ‘Battlefield Fairy,’ with one previous main event appearance and a best performance of reaching the third round!”
On stage, Larni appeared to shake off her nerves and seemed to be back to her usual self. In fact, she was raising her sword and waving her hand, fully embracing the festive atmosphere.
Her opponent was also a young-looking woman. With a short staff at her waist and a short bow in hand, she bore a striking resemblance to Sfenia. Given her record of one previous main event appearance and reaching the third round, she must be quite skilled as well.
“It’s rare to see someone with the same equipment as me. I think it’s quite difficult to excel in both magic and archery,” Larni remarked.
Sfenia’s comment about “normally” likely referred to the fact that members of ‘Soul’s Guidance’ were blessed with exceptional skills. Indeed, acquiring good skills in both magic and archery would require a fair amount of luck.
“Begin!”
As soon as the match started, Ren unleashed her magic. She seemed to possess both First Strike and Range Expansion, along with Dual Magic. Over fifty fiery arrows surged toward Larni, spreading out as they approached.
Larni dodged the magic with Swift Run, her movements showcasing an incredible speed even from above.
Once she was out of the magic’s range, a barrage of arrows targeted her again. If she had Sure Hit, her aim was terrifyingly accurate, and even with Swift Run, arrows seemed to be waiting for her ahead.
Larni sliced through all the arrows with her longsword, the Purple Wolf. While Karma’s Dynamic Vision was remarkable, Larni’s was no less impressive.
Ren swung her staff again, this time unleashing a fan-shaped barrage of stone projectiles.
Even with Swift Run, it was impossible to escape this area attack. However, Larni kicked off the ground and leaped into the air. Her high-level Jump skill propelled her over ten meters into the sky.
“That’s a trap,” Sfenia pointed out.
As she had predicted, Ren had already drawn her bow, aiming for the airborne Larni.
But by that time, Larni had already swung the Purple Wolf three times in mid-air.
Ren twisted her body to evade the sharply flying Flying Blades. Quickly regaining her stance, she prepared to shoot again—
At that moment, Larni was right in front of Ren. She executed a super-fast aerial maneuver by combining Space Kick with Swift Run.
In an instant, Larni mounted Ren and pressed the Purple Wolf against her neck.
“I give up, I surrender.”
With her hands raised, Ren called out, “Match over! The winner is Larni of ‘Soul’s Guidance!'”
Larni stood up and offered her hand to help Ren rise. They exchanged a few words before Ren exited the stage. Larni waved enthusiastically in our direction, and I returned the gesture with a wave of my own.
“Looks like the dark horse Ren from last time lost in the first round. This year’s tournament is bound to be chaotic.”
“That was already clear yesterday. ‘Soul’s Guidance’ is the real deal. That fight was no joke.”
“The speed of her movements was extraordinary. Plus, pulling off a triple Flying Blade followed by a Space Kick requires some serious physical strength.”
“I’m really glad I managed to get tickets.”
The audience seemed to be enjoying the show as well. It appeared that the residents of the Imperial Capital were accustomed to such displays, accurately assessing the fighters’ skills.
As the leader of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ I couldn’t afford to show any lackluster performance in the upcoming matches. Given the excellence of my team, it was a luxurious dilemma to have.