“Next. The opponent of the 13th Room is…”
A competition for the invitation to Eliya’s birthday banquet.
The opponent for the 13th Room was about to be decided.
While Thomas was speaking, I engaged in a staring contest with the members of the 15th Room.
These were the guys who talked behind my back during the last hunt.
They were also the ones who got caught in my smoke using poisonous mushrooms while chasing the Moon Deer.
“It’s the 8th Room.”
The 8th Room, the 8th Room. Dylan kept repeating the same thing from the front.
Hmph. The big guy looking at me scoffed in disappointment and turned away.
“What’s the problem with a guy that big, acting all weird?”
Before I knew it, Richard approached and asked about the members of the 15th Room.
“Why are they so mad?”
I explained what had happened during the last hunting competition, leaving out the part about them gossiping about me.
Something about it felt like snitching.
“…So, doesn’t that basically mean they did something stupid? You weren’t trying to roast marshmallows to lure them in, were you?”
“Exactly.”
“What a funny guy.”
“But who is that tall person over there?”
“Tsk….”
Richard clicked his tongue and sighed.
“That’s Galliot, he passed all the way up to the 6th test. He joined relatively recently but he’s way ahead of everyone. Was it the 10th batch? He trained in his family since he was a kid.”
“I see. So he’s old enough to be an adult and has trained for a long time, so he’s strong…”
“Huh? He’s not an adult.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s about 16 or so. Well, he is older than us, but still not an adult.”
“….”
That face is 16 years old?
Middle schooler?
“Seriously, should’ve dodged a little, come on, what a pitiful sight…”
I felt a bit sorry for him. But wait, wasn’t he one of those who talked behind my back?
Not feeling sorry anymore.
“Apparently he just started practicing magic recently, and I heard he’s making progress. Guess being born into a well-off family has its benefits.”
He was right.
Although I haven’t figured out all the candidates in this training facility yet, those in the top tier generally had a good background.
In that sense, Richard is also an exceptional case.
He doesn’t have a good background and is younger, but somehow he ranks in the middle upper tier.
In the future, he will even be called ‘the Knight of the Lion’.
Looking at him now, he’s definitely a standout character since he was a sprout.
“By the way, practicing magic…”
Thanks to the Moon Deer, I unlocked my magic, but I have no clue how to use it.
Naturally, I have no idea how to practice either.
“Is there a condition for that magic training to be taught?”
“I think they start a special class for those who pass the 6th test?”
The 6th test, huh.
I don’t want to pass the tests.
I shouldn’t get too close to Eliya.
“I’ll be escaping from here someday.”
However, life after fleeing is also important.
To survive in this harsh world, I need strength.
At the very least, I need enough power to defend my own body.
Training skills to gain strength is essential.
Magic can also be used to enhance the body.
And eventually, if I get skillful enough, I might be able to shape my magic into swords or armor.
“There should be other ways to practice magic besides just training here. No need to be greedy.”
Thomas told me about the members from the 13th Room who would fight.
Everyone was matched randomly, and the events were varied.
Free-for-all battle using all weapons.
Swordsmanship battle using only swords, unarmed combat, and so on.
“Thankfully, the 8th Room seems manageable.”
It’s highly likely to get eliminated early if we end up fighting a strong room.
Our 13th Room had a good draw.
After the morning training ended, I checked the matches, and it seemed that all the strong contenders, including Galliot, were on the opposite side.
To meet them, we have to win at least twice.
In other words, it means we’ll be fighting against considerably weaker participants until we win twice.
The afternoon training was changed entirely to the contest for participation in Eliya’s birthday banquet.
All candidates gathered.
Since the usual training ground was too small to hold everyone, the matches were held in a huge indoor arena that could accommodate everyone.
It made me realize how spacious this training facility truly is.
I hadn’t thought such a place existed.
Even though battles and spectating were part of the training, everyone was in an excited mood.
It was an open competition instead of boring theories or repetitive drills.
Eliya wasn’t here today, but still, it was a chance to make a good impression on her directly.
It was certainly enough to get the young boys all riled up.
“By the way, has Eliya not come to watch?”
She had been showing up every morning for the past few days.
Now that she wasn’t here, it felt strangely awkward and unfamiliar.
“…Wait, what’s happening? Am I going crazy?”
Does this mean I actually miss seeing Eliya?
No way.
This is just…
It’s just absurd that a massive tournament is happening because of her, and the person in question isn’t even here.
“I will now start the first room challenge!”
Gawain’s booming voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
We were in a gathering of hundreds.
With the commotion echoing around, his voice cut through the noise without a hitch.
“Is that magically enhanced shouting?”
That seems likely.
It’s impossible for an ordinary person’s voice to carry like that.
“15th Room versus 2nd Room.”
The very first match featured the 15th Room.
The first contender from the 15th Room was Galliot.
He was definitely among the biggest and had a posture that was different from the rest.
“Ooh… he’s facing the 2nd Room.”
“Does that mean we’ll get to see him fight Boros?”
“Galliot against Boros…”
Boros. That’s an unfamiliar name.
From the context, he seems to be a strong candidate to rival Galliot.
As if he read my mind, Dillon explained.
“He’s a member of the 4th batch and has passed all the way to the 7th test. There was a minor clash between him and Galliot in the past.”
At that moment, the crowd erupted.
“Boros!”
The man named Boros walked out as Galliot’s opponent.
Like Galliot, he also had a muscular build.
His expression was even more menacing than Galliot’s.
“That guy has certainly aged well.”
Before the match commenced, Galliot raised his hand to ask Gawain.
“Can I use magic?”
At that question, Boros’s expression twisted.
Gawain stroked his chin pensively before nodding.
“Normally, that’s not allowed. But since both of you are magic users, let’s add a rule that allows it. Using magic in real combat should prove very beneficial.”
Boros grinned.
That grin looked a bit terrifying.
“Why didn’t you just ask to use real swords? I would gladly smash your head in with my axe.”
“I’m sorry, but I have no desire to kill over a simple match.”
“…….”
Unlike Boros, whose expression had hardened, the spectators were thrilled.
I began to doubt if this was really part of training.
Everyone felt like they just came to watch some arena sport.
Even Richard, who sat next to me, was caught up in it.
People with academic mindsets like me… well, I could only see Dillon.
“Still, I have to admit, I’m kind of excited. Watching fights can be fun.”
Galliot had a sword and a shield.
Boros wielded a ferocious-looking axe, almost resembling a hammer.
As soon as Gawain dropped the gauntlet, Boros charged in.
The axe hurtled towards Galliot’s head.
Bam! The shield blocked it, and it bent under the impact.
At that moment, a wave of air surged towards the spectators.
I felt a strange sensation.
“…What was that?”
My heart started to tingle for some reason.
No, was my whole body itching?
Not excessively, just an oddly uncomfortable level.
I wasn’t exactly sure, but I felt it instinctively.
“…Is this magic?”
The duel between the two was quite fierce.
As the axe and sword clashed, both ended up grappling with their bare hands.
Every time they exerted their intense strength, my heart kept tingling.
I grew more convinced.
“This must be magic.”
I was feeling the magic being emitted by another person.
But I still had no idea how to use it myself.
The battle reached a tense conclusion.
With Galliot emerging as the victor.
As Gawain declared his victory and the crowd erupted into applause, Galliot stood in the center of the arena and looked directly at me.
After a fierce duel, he caught his breath but still stared me down.
“Here we go again.”
“What the hell, is that guy looking at you?” Richard asked beside me.
“Seems like it.”
“You’re kidding me.”
Richard leaned towards me, showing his face to Galliot.
Then he boldly raised his hand and gestured at Galliot.
“Look down.”
He probably couldn’t hear me, but the shape of my lips should’ve made it clear.
Galliot simply lowered his head and turned away.
Being a higher-ranked candidate does have its benefits.
Even though Galliot is likely stronger, he bends a bit when it comes to this.
“What a strange fellow. Is this really worth getting this worked up about for you?”
“I’m also a little curious. Why does he dislike me so much?”
I did stand out, I admit.
That could definitely cause some resentment.
I don’t know if I did something wrong, but it’s not only those who have done bad things that experience dislike.
Still, isn’t this a bit excessive?
I’m even much younger than Galliot, have a lower ranking, and haven’t passed a single test.
“What the heck is his problem? What is he so insecure about?”
Honestly, I wouldn’t care if I never crossed paths with him again. Whether he hated me or not.
But I probably will cross paths with him. In some way, shape, or form.
I have that feeling.
Just like my life has always been.
*
Days passed.
I still couldn’t leave Eliya’s Mansion.
The verification of the safety of the yellow umbrella mushrooms was taking longer than expected.
Eventually, I had no choice but to travel between Eliya’s Mansion and the training facility.
I gradually became closer to Eliya and the Moon Deer.
I hoped the Moon Deer would hasten to serve Eliya before the verification results came out.
I wanted to get out of here.
So far, there had been no signs of that.
It’s a pity, but it wasn’t all bad.
Every time I touched the Moon Deer’s antlers, magic flowed into me.
Coldness filling my veins.
It felt nice, like the chill of a rainy summer night.
However, I still didn’t know how to use that magic.
It was an unclear feeling.
And so the day of the finals of the duel competition arrived.
“O God… Please grant us daily bread and divine flavors…”
In the 13th Room.
Richard bowed before the altar.
Following him were Lindell, Argon, and other members, who also knelt and bowed their heads.
Each made a wish.
“I want the butter cookies we had last time…”
“I want chocolate…”
And there I sat on the altar.
Having eaten all the cookies and chocolates Eliya gave me.
Ever since, this has been the situation.
Everyone seems to have lost their minds.
In a polytheistic world, I wouldn’t be executed as a heretic.
“Please grant us the divine taste again…”
Even I, no matter how I am, couldn’t just casually ask Eliya for cookies.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not something I can decide on my own.”
“Ughh! The divine has fallen!”
Someone cried out in despair.
I looked at him and pretended to be serious.
“…Send that lost sheep who committed blasphemy back.”
“Offerings! Offerings!”
“The divine wants offerings!”
“The offering is fleeing! Offer blood and flesh!”
The sudden commotion settled as the door burst open.
“What the hell is going on here!”
It was Dillon, the only rational one left.
“How can you cause a ruckus over something so trivial, especially today of all days…!”
Richard immediately countered him.
“Trivial? Did you just call the dessert god, Judas, trivial? You can’t even bring back a single piece of cookie.”
“True! A room master inferior to Judas!”
Lindell and Argon jeered from the side, giving him thumbs down.
“But today’s the crucial final match, isn’t it!”
And he was right.
Today was the finals of the duel competition.
And our room had made it to the finals.
It was pure luck, relying on a good draw and even an unopposed win.
“Plus, our opponent is the 15th Room.”
Meaning Galliot’s room.
It was now common knowledge that Galliot and his team members had talked behind my back.
“Yeah, we know that much, but what can we do about it? The events and participants are not up to us.”
“Still, we should at least feel a bit of nerves…”
“Hey, relax. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
Richard’s words were on point.
Order, events, participants.
Everything is randomly assigned.
No matter how much I think about it, there’s nothing actionable.
I hadn’t fought even once up until now.
In a way, that’s a blessing.
I beat Lindell, but overall, I belong to the weak tier.
“The finals are particularly important, so I hope I won’t be picked today.”
…Did I just jinx it?
I tried hard to ignore my anxiety and made my way to the duel site.
*
“I will now announce the contenders of the 13th Room. Esmo, Dyke, Perlyn, Dillon, Judas.”
…Oh.
“Next, the contenders of the 15th Room.”
Why did I have to jinx it?
Regretting the moment I heard the name of the 15th Room.
Then came the last name. A name I was all too familiar with.
“…Galliot.”
I subconsciously lifted my head.
I locked eyes with Galliot sitting in the stands of the 15th Room.
“That’s 10 people in total, move downwards.”
Richard gave Dillon and me a light shove on our shoulders.
“Go down and end it.”
Dillon sighed.
“Intentional murder is prohibited by the rules…”
“Shut up and go fast.”
Dillon grumbled and went down while I chuckled and replied,
“I’ll win.”
“Just be sure to lose. Argon can write, right? He’ll draft up a whole new religion.”
“…I’ll definitely win.”
And now, I have to win out of sheer pressure.
I stepped into the spacious dueling ground.
The dry smell of sand. The hard floor beneath my feet.
The roar of the spectators echoed in the circular arena, wrapping around like staircases.
Since it was the finals, Eliya even came to watch.
High up in the seats where the view was best.
I locked eyes with Eliya.
She smiled and waved at me.
I just bowed my head in greeting and then looked forward.
Before me stood five opponents from the 13th and 15th Rooms.
In front of me was Galliot, who was at least three heads taller than I was.
We both stood as fifth contenders.
The rule is that the winner remains to fight again.
Galliot and I would have to battle.
Could I win?
I have no idea.
At least in terms of ranking, Galliot was among the elites devoid of any doubt.
Even more so than Richard.
“Still, I will win.”
I cleared my mind of distractions.
Filled my body with the drive to win.
I need to focus only on that.
“First contender, step forward. The rest return to the waiting area.”
Galliot didn’t take his eyes off me as he turned around.
I did the same.
We glared at each other until we took our seats in the waiting area.
As soon as Gawain dropped the gauntlet, the crowd erupted like fireworks.
The finals had officially begun.
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