Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 38
“Jaze lost, huh? I felt like he was winning in swordsmanship, but that little lady’s strategy won the day.”
“Well, that’s all part of skill, after all. Plus, it was precisely because he was pushed to his limits that her strategy worked. The ‘Soul’s Guidance’ really does have some power behind it.”
“But with this, three newcomers have made it to the semifinals. Even if Her Highness Marishielle wins from here on out, I doubt we’ll see such a chaotic tournament again.”
“Right? Phew, I’m so glad I got tickets.”
As I listened to the voices of the audience, Larni returned to the VIP seats with a beaming smile.
Receiving congratulations from everyone, Larni finally approached me after embracing Karma.
“Congratulations! That was a great fight. I couldn’t see your last move for a moment. Had you been thinking about it for a while?”
“Well, yeah. I knew my opponent was stronger with the sword, so I tried to make the most of my skills.”
“Even if you thought of it, pulling off that move isn’t something you can do overnight. It’s the result of your daily training.”
“Hehe, right? You can praise me more, you know!”
As she said this, Larni rubbed her head against my chest. My hand instinctively reached out toward her wolf ears that swayed before my eyes, but I held back, noticing Karma’s smirk.
While we were enjoying our lighthearted moment, the announcement for the final match of the day, featuring Her Highness Marishielle, finally came.
Standing on stage, Marishielle held her longsword, ‘Fate Whisperer,’ with her usual calm demeanor.
Her opponent appeared to be a veteran adventurer wielding dual short swords.
I believe this was the match the audience had been most excited about, but the outcome was decided rather swiftly.
The opponent’s dual-wielding, dance-like flurry of attacks was like a torrent of silver light, yet every blade was deflected by ‘Fate Whisperer,’ unable to even graze a single strand of Marishielle’s silver hair.
Seizing a moment that was barely perceptible even from the outside, Marishielle’s body twisted, and before anyone realized it, the point of ‘Fate Whisperer’ was at her opponent’s neck.
“I concede.”
After shaking hands with her opponent, who raised both hands in surrender, Marishielle waved to the crowd as she left the stage.
Of course, the thunderous applause marked the end of today’s tournament.
Having witnessed the entire event, Larni could only let out a sigh.
“I still can’t understand Her Highness Marishielle’s swordplay no matter how many times I see it. Do you think all my attacks would be deflected like that?”
“From the aura of the Grand Master, it seemed like that was related to her skill. If we could clearly understand what that skill is, we might be able to devise a countermeasure.”
“I asked some of the other competitors, but it seems no one knows the exact details. They just said it felt like the opponent’s attacks were being deflected.”
“Hmm…”
I was a bit surprised that Larni had been gathering information diligently, but perhaps I had underestimated her. She certainly has a greedy desire for victory, something I should learn from.
However, more than that, Marishielle’s skill seemed mysterious from an outsider’s perspective. It was clear that it wasn’t simply a defensive skill that prevented attacks; how it caused the phenomenon of ‘deflection’ was still a complete mystery. I had my own suspicions, but…
“…Anyway, tomorrow is what matters.”
What I needed to focus on now was my opponent for tomorrow, the young man Momental. Depending on his true identity, the very foundation of this tournament could be shaken.
It was a heavy burden to bear, but I knew I could no longer avoid such matters.
That night, after dinner, I was lounging on the living room sofa when Freinir came over and sat beside me.
Freinir often sat next to me when we were at home, and the other members seemed to look at us with warm eyes. Being the youngest in the party, and knowing she held strong feelings for me—more akin to faith than dependency—no one teased her about it.
I had grown accustomed to her presence beside me, but today she seemed anxious, which caught my attention.
“Frei, are you enjoying the martial arts tournament?”
“Well… Before watching, I felt more inclined not to see it, but now I find it wonderful to watch you, Larni, and Karma fighting.”
“There’s a preference for these kinds of things. The atmosphere in the venue is unique; I was surprised at first too.”
“I was amazed by the intense energy. It was the first time I saw so many people gathered like that.”
“Just that alone shows the might of this empire. Compared to the kingdom, it feels a bit rough around the edges.”
“The adventurers here seem rather hot-blooded, too.”
“Since many from the ‘Kin of Twilight’ appear, they might have a strong sense of battle. Personally, I might prefer the kingdom’s atmosphere. The one I feel most at home with is Oz, though…”
“I also feel more at ease in the kingdom. But being next to you, Soushi, is what matters most, so I’m fine anywhere.”
I’ve grown used to her occasionally saying heavy things. I lightly patted Freinir’s head, and she squinted her eyes like a puppy or kitten.
“So, Soushi, about tomorrow’s opponent…”
“Momental, right? Is there something bothering you?”
“Yes. When I was fighting Karma today, I felt an unpleasant sensation intensify for a brief moment at the end.”
“Hmm… Does it feel similar to the priest who transformed with the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’?”
“Yes, I believe it was definitely the same.”
“In that case, we can confirm that the strange mud figure is indeed related to Momental. I considered the possibility of him being controlled, but Karma mentioned it felt odd when she struck it with her sword.”
“If that’s the case, where could he be?”
Freinir tilted her head casually, but the implications of that question were quite grim.
“I don’t want to think about it, but the chances of him being safe might be low. If Marquis Fulcrum is involved as well, it could spell a major crisis for the empire.”
“That’s… If it’s true, how wicked those people are… They must not be forgiven.”
“Indeed. However, it’s unsettling that even with the royal family and imperial court investigating, they can’t grasp their identities. That means your skill, Frei, which can detect them, may become even more crucial moving forward.”
“If I can be of help, I will do my utmost.”
Looking up at me, Freinir’s eyes held a strong light, different from mere dependency. Since the incident in the royal capital, she seemed to have grown mentally, but it was clear she was still on the path of change.
Feeling a sense of reassurance in the growth of the youth, I was reminded that as an elder, I too had responsibilities to fulfill.