The crowd went wild at the governor’s announcement.
The enormous stage built in front of Riverhold’s City Hall shone brightly beneath the golden lights of the fireworks, while hundreds of people filled the streets along the Lovrelis River.
The sound of the river blended with the excited cheers of the crowd.
At the center of the grand platform.
Barsel Aimada raised his cane before the people.
Dressed in elegant burgundy and gold ceremonial attire, the elderly governor radiated authority simply by standing there.
Beside him…
Sarina Aimada.
Elegant.
Refined.
Smiling like a true noblewoman.
Completely different from the girl who, only hours earlier, had called Hitori a worm while chasing him across the city’s rooftops.
Hitori stared at the scene in complete confusion.
Hitori:
“How can someone change that much…?”
Meanwhile.
The governor’s voice echoed throughout the city through the magical amplifiers installed along the streets.
Barsel:
“The tournament will begin tomorrow at three in the afternoon, together with the festival!”
The crowd erupted in even louder cheers.
Barsel:
“All guilds may register until noon tomorrow at the Riverhold Royal Knights’ Garrison!”
The excitement shining in the adventurers’ eyes was impossible to hide.
For many of them…
That tournament was more than entertainment.
It meant fame.
Money.
Recognition.
Barsel gently raised one hand.
Barsel:
“And now I bid you farewell…”
Barsel:
“Until we meet again!”
The crowd answered in unison.
Crowd:
“YEAHHHHHHHH!!”
Shortly afterward.
Another man stepped onto the stage.
A tall knight clad in crimson armor adorned with golden details.
His gaze was unwavering.
His posture flawless.
???:
“Good evening, everyone.”
Rumel:
“I am Royal Knight Rumel Grow.”
He placed a hand over his chest.
Rumel Grow, a Royal Knight of Liogres, wore armor bearing the kingdom’s emblem—a two-headed lion.
He possessed a sturdy build, appeared to be around forty years old, had gray hair, fair skin, and served as Barsel’s right-hand man, acting as the king’s eyes within the city.
Rumel:
“I will be responsible for this event over the next five days.”
The knight’s firm voice naturally carried across the plaza.
Rumel:
“Guilds interested in participating may report to the garrison for further information.”
Rumel:
“May the Pride of the Lion be with you.”
The knight gave a slight bow before leaving the stage.
Hitori watched silently.
“Pride of the Lion…”
It was the first time since arriving in that world that he had heard someone mention it.
Until now…
Everything had felt like a giant MMORPG.
But moments like this made the world feel far too real.
Kamero folded his arms while watching the stage.
Kamero:
“Looks like we’ve found our next objective.”
Yashina nodded immediately.
Yashina:
“Yes.”
Yashina:
“Let’s register.”
Aysa smiled excitedly.
Aysa:
“A tournament full of muscular men beating each other up…”
Aysa:
“How wonderful.”
Hitori immediately replied.
Hitori:
“Calm down, woman.”
Yashina couldn’t help letting out a small laugh as she noticed the group acting normally again.
After everything that had happened at the harbor…
It made her feel strangely relieved.
Kamero then turned toward the group.
Kamero:
“Well.”
Kamero:
“Let’s have lunch, then we’ll head to the garrison.”
Everyone nodded.
As they began walking back through the festival-decorated streets…
Several figures watched them from the shadows of the rooftops.
But vanished moments later.
Inside the enormous Aimada family mansion…
Sarina stood silently before the office window, watching the distant lights of the festival.
Her fingers gently gripped the fabric of her green dress.
Her gaze seemed distant.
Behind her.
Barsel remained seated beside the lit fireplace.
Silence weighed heavily over the room.
Then—
Sarina:
“Why, Father?”
Her voice came out quietly.
Almost frustrated.
Barsel let out a slow sigh before answering.
Barsel:
“I’ve already told you.”
Barsel:
“It’s far too dangerous.”
Sarina immediately turned around.
Sarina:
“But—”
Barsel slightly raised his voice.
Barsel:
“No more.”
The old man rested both hands upon his cane.
Barsel:
“You will not participate in the tournament.”
Sarina’s expression trembled.
Barsel:
“Besides…”
Barsel:
“You’re not officially a warrior.”
Barsel:
“Much less a member of a guild.”
Sarina immediately protested.
Sarina:
“But I can enter as the Noble Rogue!”
Barsel slowly closed his eyes.
Sarina:
“No one will recognize me!”
Sarina:
“I can ask a few guards to enter with me!”
She clenched her fists.
Sarina:
“I can do it!”
Sarina:
“You’ll see!”
But Barsel merely looked away.
Barsel:
“My decision has already been made.”
Silence filled the office for several seconds.
Then he continued.
“Forget this foolish dream of becoming an adventurer.”
Barsel:
“Your mother would never have wanted—”
Sarina:
“DON’T SPEAK FOR HER!”
Her voice echoed throughout the room.
Tears immediately welled in her eyes.
Sarina:
“You…”
Her breathing became uneven.
Sarina:
“Huur…”
Barsel’s eyes widened slightly.
Barsel:
“Sarina…”
The old man slowly stood.
Barsel:
“My daughter…”
Barsel:
“I’m doing this for your own good.”
He closed his eyes.
Barsel:
“It was a promise I made at your mother’s deathbed.”
His voice faltered slightly.
Barsel:
“That I would protect you.”
Tears silently streamed down Sarina’s face.
But her eyes…
Were filled with resentment.
Sarina:
“If you truly wanted what was best for me…”
She forcefully wiped away her tears.
Sarina:
“You would let me be free.”
Then she ran out of the office.
The door slammed shut.
Silence once again dominated the room.
Barsel remained motionless for several seconds, staring into the fireplace.
Then he murmured.
Barsel:
“Every day she looks more like her…”
A voice came from behind him.
Henry:
“Indeed, sir.”
The butler stood quietly beside the door like a silent shadow.
Barsel let out a deep sigh.
Barsel:
“Henry…”
Henry:
“Sir?”
Barsel’s expression suddenly grew serious.
A heavy atmosphere filled the room.
Barsel:
“There will be people from all four kingdoms at this tournament.”
Barsel:
“Make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Henry’s eyes glinted faintly behind his glasses.
Henry:
“Yes, sir.”
He placed a hand over his chest.
Henry:
“I will protect Miss Sarina at any cost.”
For a brief moment…
The atmosphere between the two men became strangely oppressive.
As though something far greater lay hidden behind that seemingly ordinary tournament.
At the inn…
Hitori and the others had just finished dinner.
Hitori leaned back in his chair and let out a long belch.
Hitori:
“I’m stuffed…”
Aysa immediately closed her eyes in annoyance.
Aysa:
“Mind your manners, Hitori.”
Hitori rolled his eyes.
Hitori:
“Here we go again…”
Aysa immediately pointed at Kamero.
Aysa:
“Look at how Kamero behaves.”
Aysa:
“He actually looks like a knight.”
Hitori pointed at Kamero.
Hitori:
“He doesn’t count. He’s too refined.”
Kamero calmly adjusted his posture.
Kamero:
“I fail to see how you arrived at such an absurd conclusion, my dear fellow.”
Hitori:
“See?!”
Hitori:
“Who talks like that?!”
Kamero rested his face against one hand.
Kamero:
“So the normal way would be to speak like you?”
Hitori:
“Exactly.”
Kamero:
“Like a caveman?”
Hitori immediately jumped to his feet.
Hitori:
“WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!”
Kamero smiled faintly.
Kamero:
“I didn’t say anything.”
Kamero:
“But if the shoe fits…”
Hitori:
“You—”
Aysa quickly grabbed both of them.
Aysa:
“Boys, boys…”
Aysa:
“Oh, honestly…”
Hitori crossed his arms.
Hitori:
“Now you’re acting like my mom.”
Kamero answered immediately.
Kamero:
“Considering her age, she could be.”
Aysa froze.
Slowly.
She turned toward Kamero.
Aysa:
“What exactly are you implying?”
Kamero immediately looked away.
Kamero:
“Nothing.”
Kamero:
“Forget I said anything.”
Hitori’s face twisted into a wicked grin.
Hitori:
“He just called you old.”
Silence.
Aysa’s entire aura changed instantly.
She grabbed Hitori by the collar.
Aysa:
“TAKE THAT BACK.”
She began shaking him violently.
Hitori:
“BUT IT WASN’T MEEEEEE!”
Yashina suddenly noticed the time. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
Yashina:
“We should get going.”
Yashina:
“It’s getting late.”
The four of them headed once again toward the garrison.
But this time…
The place was far more crowded.
Guilds from all over the world filled almost the entire main hall.
Some adventurers wore enormous suits of armor.
Others carried elaborately decorated staffs.
Many different races wandered through the building.
Hitori stared around in amazement.
Hitori:
“Wow…”
Hitori:
“There’s so many people.”
Aysa folded her arms.
Aysa:
“Looks like this tournament really is important.”
Kamero carefully observed the adventurers around them.
Kamero:
“Opponents of every kind…”
Yashina watched the unusual guild names floating above the players.
Yashina:
“There are guilds here from all over the world…”
Kamero nodded.
Kamero:
“Indeed.”
Yashina took a deep breath.
Yashina:
“I’ll go register us.”
Kamero:
“Alright.”
Kamero:
“We’ll wait outside.”
She nodded and joined the enormous line.
Meanwhile…
The other three walked toward the circular staircase outside the garrison.
Hitori flopped down onto the steps.
Hitori:
“What a pain…”
Aysa elegantly crossed her legs.
Aysa:
“Patience is a virtue.”
Hitori:
“Maybe.”
Hitori:
“But I hate waiting.”
Kamero simply smiled.
Kamero:
“Relax, my dear fellow.”
Then—
Guma:
“Well, well…”
Guma:
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Hitori slowly looked up.
And immediately recognized the people climbing the staircase.
Hitori:
“Guma…”
Beside him were Mimi and Nicelle.
Mimi smiled immediately.
Mimi:
“Hi, everyone.”
Kamero calmly stood up.
Kamero:
“Good to see you all.”
Nicelle looked toward Aysa.
Nicelle:
“What’s with that face, my friend?”
Aysa answered with a fake smile.
Aysa:
“I could ask you the exact same thing.”
Kamero then noticed something in Guma’s hand.
A registration form.
Kamero:
“So you’re entering the tournament.”
Guma flashed a confident grin.
Guma:
“That’s right.”
Guma:
“And we’re going to win.”
Hitori immediately shot back.
Hitori:
“I seriously doubt that.”
Mimi lightly smacked Guma’s arm.
Mimi:
“Stop provoking them.”
Then she discreetly looked toward Hitori.
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
Mimi:
“H-Hi, Hitori…”
Hitori:
“Oh…”
Hitori:
“Hey.”
Kamero folded his arms.
Kamero:
“Looks like all that’s left is our registration.”
But then…
Guma spoke again.
Guma:
“There’s one problem.”
Everyone looked at him.
Guma:
“There are only four of you.”
Silence fell over the group.
Nicelle nodded immediately.
Nicelle:
“You need five members to enter the tournament.”
Hitori’s eyes widened.
Hitori:
“What?!”
Kamero’s expression instantly turned serious.
Kamero:
“That’s a problem.”
Aysa put a hand to her forehead.
Aysa:
“You’ve got to be kidding…”
At that moment—
Yashina returned from the registration line.
And confirmed it.
Yashina:
“It’s true.”
The mood instantly became heavy.
Kamero ran a hand through his hair.
Kamero:
“Where are we supposed to find someone now?”
Then—
A woman’s voice echoed from behind them.
???:
“Right here.”
Everyone turned around at once.
And as they saw who was slowly climbing the staircase…
A flood of emotions washed over them all at once.
Surprise.
Confusion.
Tension.
Yashina’s eyes widened.
Yashina:
“You…?”