Chapter: 38
Originally, I had planned to check my opponent once the bracket was announced and prepare my strategy accordingly.
Without any special techniques, it was simply a standard approach that everyone would follow.
However, due to my overly cunning behavior, is this my punishment? The difficulty level for me alone has suddenly skyrocketed.
‘Active S-Class adventurer… Branch Chief Sovereign.’
Even among S-Class, the difference in skill between the top and the bottom is starkly apparent. The consensus is that the gap is even greater than the one between A-Class adventurers.
Although he has been wobbling lately and falling behind the Knights Templar, here I am, forced to have a match against a man recognized as the best in this era.
No matter how brilliant and meticulous the plan is, it’s useless in the face of overwhelming power.
Had I prepared thoroughly knowing this would happen before the preliminaries, I might have had a decent chance at victory. But as it stands, today is the only day I have.
‘This is troublesome.’
Honestly, if my only goal was to achieve S-Class, I don’t necessarily have to win.
Given who my opponent is and the multiple demonstrations we’ve already seen, it’s almost a certainty that all three of us will rank up.
But…
‘If I lose at the last minute, it’ll be embarrassing.’
I’d rather envision winning everything and failing to rank up than imagine a future where I rank up but still end up defeated.
The spectators watching must have been exceptionally excited, as the unprecedented spectacle of the Adventurers’ Guild branch chief personally participating contributed to the anticipation.
In such a setting, if I end up losing without being able to do anything or withdraw from the match, all my previous actions will be forgotten, leaving behind only a sour feeling of regret—for them and me.
In the worst-case scenario, suspicions might arise that I cheated.
So, I have to win. Even if I end up losing, I must at least put up a good fight.
‘So… what was that all about?’
When Sovereign made that explosive announcement, the look directed at me.
I concluded that the emotion contained there was expectation.
It’s strange. I did some flashy things, but does that really warrant, “It’s been a while since I felt fired up. I should confront this directly”?
I simply shattered a notorious fortress that had terrorized for decades, capturing the public’s attention once again, only to get tangled up in an unprecedented event.
‘Is that really justified…?’
Anyway, he’s the odd one here. No matter how fresh the shock was, what good is a Tyrannosaurus in a fighting cock playground?
Even Maria, who caused ecological disruption, at least met the qualifications to participate.
“Phew…”
I flopped onto the sofa to sort out my thoughts.
Maria climbed on top of me, and I started poking her cheeks alternately with my fingers.
“Maria, what’s the profession of the branch chief?”
“Battle Mage.”
A melee combat magician, huh? With that physique, I’d have thought he’d be a fighter or a greatsword or axe user.
But at least he’s running around on his own two feet out of decency(?).
“What are his main abilities?”
“Ummm… he breaks the opponent’s skills with his fists.”
‘Are you saying he’s the type that charges straight through attacks?’
It’s straightforward and uncomplicated, making it easy for the opponent to grasp, yet that’s precisely why it’s so overwhelmingly powerful.
Especially those who are good with control manage to evade just about anything and even deflect those that do hit. Truly a nightmare for mages.
‘Battle mages also branch out in various ways.’
Even Maria didn’t know the finer details beyond that. As expected, there’s a clear limit to what you can pick up through ears and eyes.
So I attempted to get insights from Sally, but both Maria and Astrea strongly dissuaded me. It’s rare for those two to be in sync like this, so I was a bit taken aback.
Well, I get that Sally’s off on a mission, but why am I being told not to even approach the Adventurers’ Guild until things settle down?
“Hey, wouldn’t it be a big issue if every person I meet insists on holding you back and wasting time?”
“Uh, yeah. Oppa, you’re super popular right now.”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
I don’t think there’s been a clear explanation for their excitement. It didn’t seem courteous to nitpick over such trivialities, so I just let it slide.
More importantly, that was one of the key factors adding to my worries.
The recently acquired passive ability from my weapon combination, Peasant Uprising. While the effect itself is outstanding, my reputation has skyrocketed so quickly that my standing has become rather ambiguous.
In a situation where I have to employ every means at my disposal, even existing capabilities are essentially sealed off.
Other options were far from stellar either. There’s no way the tutorial zone or PVP applications would accept my pleas under these conditions.
The only thing that could still function was ally compensation, but the weight difference is usually drastic. Even if the damage is reduced by 90%, every punch will still pack a decisive blow.
‘Even I, the sword magician, took down a regular dragon using only my fists…’
I desperately need to carve a new path.
‘…? Dormant account?’
As I mucked around poking Maria’s cheeks without any fruitful ideas, a status window with a slightly different background and font format appeared before me.
What is this? Am I going to fall into eternal slumber after 3 days? A dormant account means no access for three months…
‘Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, it’s been about three months since I came to this world?’
If that’s the case, it seems reasonable to assume that the dormant account conversion signaled by this status window applies to the sword magician’s account, not mine.
I’ve been here for over a hundred years, yet they still calculate based on me. It’s curious how consistently diligent it can get in such strange circumstances.
I stared at the status window. Maria and Astrea stared at me as well, each puzzled by my sudden silence.
‘…Could this work?’
Perhaps it could lead to a grand climax far surpassing my previous two efforts.
Overcome with excitement, I sprang up from the sofa, causing Maria to tumble dramatically.
“Oooooooh…! Did you forget about Maria…!!”
“No, Maria! There’s a reason for that…”
I had to deal out some soft punches as punishment.
*
S-Class promotion exam. The day of the main round, the second round of the individual martial arts match.
On this day, which recently attracted the most attention, the event ironically drew a rather lukewarm response.
Whether Astrea was performing a strength show or Maria was binding opponents for an impromptu puppet theater, everyone seemed to be waiting eagerly for something.
scritch-scritch
Gaaaaah
The stands were filled to capacity. The cheers burst forth with the vigor of trying to fill the very air.
It felt like everyone had saved their energy just for this moment.
“You made it.”
As soon as I stepped into the arena, Sovereign, who had already been waiting, greeted me lightly.
The fifth individual martial arts match—the first of its kind since the implementation of the advancement examination system. The greats had finally taken their places.
“Isn’t it blatant racial discrimination to make us adventurers take on field bosses and charge through?”
“Wouldn’t that imply you had overwhelming superiority?”
We exchanged light banter, brushing off the incident during the raid as a mere formality, acknowledging what he’d accomplished without dwelling on it.
Well, in hindsight, I’m somewhat grateful for it. After all, he’s the one who created this splendid stage.
“So, are you going to fight at full power?”
“I am indeed thinking of that. Players don’t hold back.”
Did he think my abilities required some form of conditioning or warm-up? For now, that wasn’t necessarily a wrong assumption.
After a brief pause, amidst the tense anticipation, the signal sounded to announce the beginning of the battle.
BEEP!
As promised, I took Sovereign’s understanding without hesitation, standing there with arms crossed.
I pulled up the login window and entered my ID and password.
Pwaaah!
Enveloped in light, I felt my body being reconstructed.
Straw transforms into hair, iron into bones and muscle, fabric into skin.
Soon enough, the hazy equipment started settling over me.
Ssssss-…
Sovereign’s eyes widened. Silence enveloped the audience.
“I knew it! My kid…!”
Among them was a woman cheering, her hunch confirmed.
“That’s it, oppa…”
A little girl blushed with genuine admiration.
“Oh….”
There was a celestial being who resolved to have a match against me later on.
“…I see. Is that your true form?”
“Well, should I accept this?”
Now, after casually responding to Sovereign’s questions, who paused for other reasons, I observed the alien body feeling out of place as if roles had been reversed.
I thought I might struggle to adapt, but as soon as I gripped the sword, my senses sharpened like never before.
A bitter smile crept across my face. This was expected.
I’m unsure if this should simply be considered foreign… but one thing is for sure: it’s definitely not a domestic IP.
This leaves me unable to avoid the dormant account conversion.
“You clearly stated this.”
“…”
I lifted my sword and infused it with mana.
“I’ll go all out.”
This would be the final spark that the sword magician holds onto.
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