The next day. Yustania Kingdom’s arena.
The priest of Antaine, whom they had seen before, was shouting passionately while holding magical tools.
[Thank you for waiting, everyone!! Finally, the Hero Selection Tournament’s finals are starting!!]
“Whoaahhh-!!”
“Wheeew-!!”
As the priest shouted, cheers and whistles erupted from the audience seating…
“Ugh… I’m feeling nervous for no reason.”
“What’s this, you actually know how to get nervous?”
Ludel chuckled at Leje’s unexpected reaction, normally she wouldn’t show such a sentiment.
Even for her, it was no wonder she’d be nervous considering this was the event selecting the hero.
With a rarely seen anxious expression, Ludel smiled back at her.
“I’m human too, feeling nervous in a place like this is normal.”
In response to Ludel’s comment, Leje retorted…
“And the first match~!!! The fiery candidate! Leje El Lagrind! And the wandering swordsman, Smilson!!”
“I’ll be back!”
“Finish it quickly!”
After being called, Leje slapped her cheek hard enough to make a slap! sound, said that, and made her way to the arena, while on the opposite side, a man climbed up to the arena.
A man with messy hair and a beard.
He looked quite weathered, donning worn-out equipment that made him look almost like a beggar if it weren’t for the massive sword he carried on his back.
“Doesn’t look too impressive.”
“Well… maybe you’re right by your standards.”
Kurt muttered, observing the man, and Ludel replied.
Kurt’s growth rate was much faster than the original work.
While not as strong as Leje, there were only a handful of people in the kingdom who could match him.
In his eyes, how could anyone appear impressive?
“But you know, there’s an old saying. Beware of old people and those who look unremarkable.”
“Why’s that?”
“If they weren’t strong, they wouldn’t have survived till now.”
In response to Kurt’s question, Ludel explained.
There’s that saying, right?
Beware of those in only their underwear.
In a world filled with monsters and rampant thieves, surviving tells you all about strength.
“Hmm. That does make sense.”
“Right?”
Kurt nodded at those words, and just then:
[The adjustments to the arena are complete! We’ll be starting right away! Is everyone ready!?]
“Look over there! It seems like it’s about to start!!”
At the priest’s shout, Silphier exclaimed, and Ludel and Kurt turned their heads.
It seemed the barrier around the arena was set, priests came down from the arena, and Leje and the swordsman named Smilson greeted each other in the center of the stage.
At the same time, a bright curtain of light began to form around the arena, enveloping it.
[Thank you for waiting! Now, are you all ready to enjoy it!?]
[Yeahhh-!!]
[I can’t hear you!!]
[Yeahhhhh-!!!]
At the priest’s questions, an overwhelming cheer filled the arena, and the priest from Antaine began to hype up the atmosphere with exaggerated gestures.
Amidst that, the competitors were finishing their preparations…
“Then, with everyone’s support for this historic moment, the Hero Selection Tournament’s finals first match…!!”
As the priest from Antaine raised his hand, the audience fell silent as if nothing had happened.
Only murmurs could be heard, and then a large bell tolled to signal the start…
-Dengeeeeeennn!!
“I’ll begin!!”
With that resounding sound, the final round of the Hero Selection Tournament kicked off.
*
Of course, there were no surprises.
“Would you like to proceed further?”
“I-I lost…”
In just three exchanges, Leje’s sword split Smilson’s broadsword in half.
Looking at his beloved sword now split in two, Smilson knelt down with a face of despair.
[Uhh… What just happened?]
It had happened so fast that not only Antaine’s priest but also the audience looked confused.
Meanwhile, only Jade, seated in the VIP section, smiled and watched Leje.
“Winner! Leje El Lagrind!!”
“Whoaahhh-!!”
“Wheeew-!!”
However, that was short-lived.
Once the confused Antaine’s priest regained composure and declared the winner, a roar so loud it could lift the arena echoed throughout.
Leje sheathed her sword and walked over to the kneeling Smilson to offer a nod, and he too bowed his head towards her.
No matter the outcome, one must show respect to the opponent.
Thus, amidst applause from the audience, Leje returned through the players’ tunnel…
“Good job.”
“Good job? This is nothing to stress over.”
In response to Ludel’s comment, Leje cheekily flashed a peace sign.
Perhaps thanks to winning the first match, a smile graced her lips.
“I guess I should never fight you from now on.”
At her current skill level, she could easily overpower Ludel…
“Heehee, you better do well.”
Leje smirked confidently in response to his words.
“So? Who’s next?”
“Let’s see… It’s some guy named Remus and another named Carlson.”
“Mm… I don’t really know them.”
Due to Eleor’s disappearance, Ludel had almost completely neglected the Hero Selection Tournament.
Given that, it was understandable that he wasn’t familiar with the participants.
“Well, they probably aren’t very important.”
“Yeah, probably?”
[The next match features Remus Valten, a swordsman from the Empire! And his opponent is Carlson, a mercenary from the Principality!!]
“What will you do? Are you going to spectate?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check out the skills of potential future opponents.”
Just then, as Antaine’s priest announced the next match, Leje asked while Ludel nodded.
They made their way to the audience section to watch the ongoing matches.
And how much time passed…
“Haaah…”
Due to the unexpectedly low skill level of the participants, Ludel and his party couldn’t hide their boredom.
It wasn’t strange if you thought about it.
Though Ludel was merely a minor character mentioned briefly in the original work, Leje, Kurt, and Silphier could easily be considered exceptional in their respective fields.
Given that, it was no surprise the ongoing battles in the arena weren’t captivating for them.
As more time passed and it was nearing his turn, Ludel headed to the contestants’ waiting room with Leje.
“This is nerve-wracking…”
“You finally get it? How I felt earlier?”
Seeing Ludel clearly anxious, Leje giggled.
In the meantime, they heard cheers from outside, indicating a match had finished.
[Next up is a wizard from the kingdom! Rudellheit Weinstein from the Weinstein County!!]
“It’s your turn, hurry up and go.”
As the priest called Ludel’s name, Leje said that and gave him a push.
“Uh, good luck…!!”
“You’ll finish it in no time.”
“See you soon.”
With his companions cheering him on, Ludel wore a faint smile as he moved down the hallway.
Reaching the end of the hallway, bright light flooded his view, and when it cleared, it revealed audiences filled to the brim along with deafening cheers.
Feeling buoyed by that sight, Ludel walked towards the arena.
Awaiting him were Antaine’s priest and his opponent.
A bulky man with a menacing expression and a massive club that matched his size made him closer to an ogre than a human.
“Ha! Is that my opponent!?”
“Looks that way.”
Ludel smiled lightly at the intimidating gesture his opponent struck.
It felt merely amusing to him, probably a failed attempt at intimidation.
[It’s amazing to have a wizard competing in the Hero Selection Tournament, and even making it to the finals! Let’s give him a big cheer!!]
“Ha ha!! You’re unlucky, kid! With me as your opponent, you won’t last long!!”
“Only time will tell how short or long that will be.”
One can’t lose in a war of words.
Responding to his rival’s provocation, Ludel shot him a glare.
[Now, both sides! Please prepare…]
At the same time, Antaine’s priest signaled to the bell-ringer, who nodded and lifted the bell high.
The next moment…
[Match start!!]
With the tolling bell signaling the beginning, Ludel summoned his magic power.
