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Chapter 327: Bracket Stage. [Release Version]
🕑 Added 2022-06-21 02:51:20 +0000 UTCEdit: Made a mistake with the tournament's scheduling. Should be fixed now
Edit 2: A bit more talk about Caedhul culture and the nature of merfolks, nagas, and levianewts when it comes to faith.
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“Okay, honest opinion…” Neill stared at with me a serious look. Tension was rising as she kept her silence. “I need you to be honest about it, okay, Sis?”
“…” I kept my silence.
“Hmmmm… Ahhhhhhh.” Neill took in a deep breath before letting it all out, shaking her head a few times to show me how urgent and important my answer would be. With how the mood was set, it had to be something serious…
“Which of these look better on me?”
“STOP GOING NAKED IN FRONT OF ME!”
… She was deciding on what to wear for our matches today.
“Sheesh, don’t shout!” Neill glared at me as if I was the irrational one, thinking being an exhibitionist was okay! “We are dragonkins, you know. What are you so unhappy about? Don’t tell me you actually have something for your own sister?”
“NO!” I shouted vehemently to deny her allegations. “I am okay with you being naked when we go into the hot spring or shower together. No problem. Just stop undressing randomly, especially when I’M EATING BREAKFAST!”
I pointed at Tasianna, Svena, Haati, and Rajah, the only other people inside the dining room of our subspace, making Neill aware there were also others around. Exposing yourself to others was just plain out rude and awkward! They were all averting their gazes, understandably so!
“And? Not like this is my actual body, anyways. Besides, my clothes are made from my scales. In that sense, I am walking around naked, for a humanoid’s common sense.” Neill shook her head in exasperation as she created her scaled yukata, again. As reluctant as she was, she still acquiesced to my wish. “Jeez, you honestly act more like Renee. Act more like your mother, Sis. She is technically walking around naked, as well.”
“That’s not the point, haaaaa. Whatever, just sit down and eat. We need some calories for later.”
The weekend has passed and today was the first day of the bracket stage of the tournament of Yeostar. The moment we returned to Elyonda yesterday, our tournament bracelet shone, displaying information on the first 16 matches.
Looking at the schedule, the matches would be spread throughout the week, with the first eight fights happening on FireDay and the rest tomorrow, EarthDay. After the first round was done, the second round would pit each winner against the other in their bracket, leading to another eight matches on WaterDay. Which would lead to us having four matches on WindDay, where the quarter matches would start.
LightDay, so Friday, would be a showcasing match for the five champions of the five ruling princes of the Divide. In other words, it was an extended weekend for us fighters and the semis and final would be held next week.
And, coincidentally, Neill and I would be fighting our matches today, but on the complete opposite ends of our 16-man bracket. Meaning, if we were to win all our fights, we would meet during our semi-finals.
I honestly had a feeling some “personal touches” were made during the scheduling. It didn’t really seem fair, especially if you knew the rest of the matches. It didn’t feel random. Very tailored towards making it the best show for the audience.
In any case, our matches were today, and we needed to eat before it began during the lunch bell. I was happy to see Neill this morning, but the moment she began talking about what clothes she should wear for her match today, I honestly felt something bad would happen. And lo and behold, my sister exposed herself.
Was this how siblings behaved with each other? I honestly did not know as a single child for my entire Earth life. Maybe this was just a dragon thing.
“So…” I began after the two of us finished our first breakfast course. My belly was full and my early morning grouchiness was gone. “Why are you coming in here and talking about clothes for no apparent reason?”
“Hmm? Shouldn’t that be obvious? Why would I wear the same clothes I wore in one match for another,” Neill said as that was obvious to her. “In fact, I should be asking you why you’re wearing the same clothes! I mean, it’s cute and fits you well, but you wear that red jacket and skirt all the time! Don’t you have any other combat clothes, like when we wandered around the city on LightDay?”
I looked down, feeling a bit self-conscious about what she said. “… Well, I have spares of the same ones. It’s not the same…”
“That’s even worse!”
Saori said the same thing to me before she made a bunch of spares of my usual clothes. A red jacket, a frilled skirt, and a vest with a T-Shirt. Sometimes I would wear my white mage robe, sometimes I would wear it like a cape. Sometimes not at all. These were my adventurer clothes, and I got so used to them, that they became kinda normal to me.
Still, I did wear different clothes when I tour the city, though! I wasn’t that boring, but I guess my lazy fashion sense was making me less excited about wearing other clothes. As if Neill could read my thoughts, she was frowning deeply at me.
“You’ve been a human for longer than me, so I thought you knew about it. However, tell me, what makes being a humanoid so good?”
I thought about it for a second, but I couldn’t exactly tell what was so good about being a human compared to a dragon. “Uhm, being smaller so fit everywhere?”
Considering my sister’s unimpressed face, I probably answered incorrectly. “No, it's clothes and fashion!”
“Seriously?” I felt unconvinced.
“Of course! By my tail, you really have no idea, huh? A dragon’s main way to attract mates is their strength and the glistening of their scales, earned by scheduled shedding sessions and cultivating a den filled with mana,” Neill repeated what Mother had already told me. “However, unless you're a master of scale manipulation and know exactly what you are doing, the fashion sense of most dragons is pretty abysmal. I mean, if you take care of your shedding schedule, you have the intimidation and beauty aspect down, but I feel like you can do so much more.”
“My mother does it well enough,” I replied, remembering how fancy Mother was with her scale usage, both in her original and elven form. You couldn’t describe her without mentioning how dazzling she was.
“Well, of course, she’s an ancient scale. Our elders know how to use their scales, but most are pretty old-fashioned, you know. Take my mother, for example. Unlike Melloxtressa, doesn’t experiment with her clothes and how to present herself. She’s too used to her own style, like you!” She pointed at me. “However, you mother? Fashion empress! Her dresses are amazing and the way she uses her ice abilities in combination with her scales to make them look like gemstones is jaw-dropping.”
Neill then slammed the table, pushing herself onto her feet. “Which is why hearing you care so little about your own clothes is beyond infuriating, Sis! Look at us! We are currently dragonewts, but you don’t even try to bring out the best part about our current forms. The flexibility to bring out different types of looks! Here! Look!”
“Ark!” I groaned as I saw her yukata starting to break down. “Stop going naked!”
I sent my own scales out to hide her body like a curtain, shaking my head in astonishment at how she was so casual with exposing herself. In any case, after a few seconds, she called me out and I let the scale curtain down, only to see Neill wearing a ballroom dress with her hair tied up and combed, showing off her three horns as they glowed an iridescent blue, probably created from her mana.
“… Wow, that is a real change.”
The wild nature of her mane-like hair and skin-showing yukata was completely gone, replaced by an exotic beauty and refinement I would have never expected from my battle junkie sister. She could use some makeup to elevate her charm even further, going for the mature vibe I would expect from an older sister.
“Mhmm, right? I hate those balls. Too stuffy, but I’ve watched some human nobles dance in these to make my own using my scales. I really look good, right?” Neill’s eyes gaze down her dress, enchanted by her own beauty and even began to adjust things about her appearance while she did it.
“… Is that why you took that curvy body as your human form?” Transforming from a monster to a human allowed you to customize your look however you wanted upon your first transformation, although it was hard to impossible to change that appearance afterward.
“Mhmm, I asked around what would be the best-looking form I could take. Elves and dragonewts were my own reference point, though, but I learned from men how they like curvy women, so I took this form to look the best!”
At least, you didn’t go too wild on the front part… Yeah, she’s a bit needy for attention, huh?
Then again, people had the right to look however they wanted. If Neill liked that body of hers, then what could I say about it. Which made me curious about what Neill said about dragon fashion. However, when I asked her if she could show me how to make my dragon form look prettier, and less scary, Neill just flat out told me to ask Mother about it.
“I’m not a good role model if you want to know how to make your dragon form look better…” Neill contorted her mouth, looking like she didn’t want to continue talking. This was the second time Neill declined showing me her dragonkin form.
Weird. Here I thought I could get an idea… guess I have to ask Mother about it.
Neill then asked me about modern Earth fashion, remembering I was an otherworlder. Saori was the expert on this topic, but if Neill liked talking about fashion, then I could indulge her with what I used to wear. It gave us something to talk about while we ate.
After our breakfast was done, Neill told me to put up my scale curtain again so she could do what she came here for: to ask me what she should wear for today’s match. Considering how fascinated she was with modern Japan’s styling, I wasn’t really surprised what her outfit was.
Ripped black jeans with a purple tank top and her usual black-purple jacket. Trendy, stylish, and still fitting for the summer temperature although I thought hot pants might have elevated her tomboy look. With her wild hair down and a lack of shoes, Neill really looked like a delinquent at this point.
After I gave my approval of her look, Neill smirked as she looked at me, making it obvious what she was thinking.
“H-Hey, I just got [Scale Manipulation]. It’s not that good yet to create clothes!” I protested, but Neill didn’t let me continue. Understanding what my sister wanted, Tasianna’s and Svena’s eyes sparkled for a moment as they jumped onto the bandwagon.
“Lady Hestia, your honorable sister is correct! Today you must present yourself. Do not forget what Lady Amelia told you about how you needed to advertise for your concert today.” Tasianna smiled deviously.
“I concur. Princess Fargryneill’s wisdom is something you must accept, my lady. Our hair is a woman’s pride, but wearing the correct and appropriate clothes depending on the situation is our talent! You must agree how dull it must be to wear the same thing over and over again.” On the other hand, Svena looked like she wouldn’t accept a no from me. Considering the number of times I denied her a chance to try out new clothes, using “I am busy” as an excuse, I couldn’t fault her for hopping onto this chance.
After all, this time, my attendants had my sister as their supporter. They could put their self-interest over their duty.
“… Okay.” In the end, I accepted. I couldn’t argue against the fact I have been using the same clothes for a while now.
However, unlike what Neill wanted, I still wasn’t good enough with my scale manipulation to properly create details like fabric. Everything I created still had a clear scaly theme. In addition, since my scales were crimson red, everything I made was crimson red. Not very appealing as it made me monotone.
So, it was decided I chose from the closet-sized cloth collection in my storage, all made by Saori. Tasianna and Svena were going about it madly, using me like a dress-up doll. The fact they haven’t been able to do this in months really made them go into a clothing frenzy.
As usual, Tasianna and Svena had a more time-appropriate fashion sense. It contrasted Neill’s quick interest in modern Japanese fashion, to the point she was arguing with the others to dress me in such a style. “As sisters, we should match!” she argued, which convinced my two attendants.
However, as you would expect from my attendants, even outside their comfort zone, they still picked something decent for me. A green blouse with a white skirt. Simple but elegant, which my attendants wanted me to look. With my white mage robe on as a jacket, I did look pretty decent.
To be honest, Neill and I didn’t look like two fighters who were about to enter an arena, but what could I do, we were dragons. We didn’t need armor with our scales and carapace. I was 100% sure my skin was tougher than conventional steel armor, anyways. You could stab me with a normal iron knife, and it would break without even leaving a mark on my body.
Not to mention, this was without accounting [Draconic Barrier] into the deal.
With both of us looking good, we departed the subspace with Tasianna and Rajah back to our room in that inn we rented. We left the inn and went to the market of the port, wanting to find Mother who was most likely enjoying her time with the ongoing festival. On our way, we caught quite a few eyes due to our clothes, but that was to be expected.
“Hey, it’s the two dragonewt sisters from the tournament, right? Sheesh, I heard from one of the merfolk the two manabloods amongst their community.”
“Ooh, the two dragonewts! Hey, hey, you two, show those humans what scale-kins can do, yeah? The whole crew will be rooting for you!”
The humans and beastmen amongst the crowd showed some slight trepidation as they saw us, noting not only our clothes but also how we were tournament participants. On the other hand, the merfolks and nagas around us, who were all sailors, cheered us on for the upcoming matches. I did hear quite a few of them having bet on us, but I guess the fanfare was still the same.
I wanted to start getting noticed by people, especially since I was planning the concert, so this helped me out by being a known face. The humans still had some fear of beastmen, reminding me what Alistar and Renee told me, while the general beastmen probably were spooked by my status. With the Caedhulens knowing what a Kargryxmor dragonkin was, they were for sure spreading rumors around for us.
“Found her,” I told Neill as my nose caught onto Mother’s scent. Mother and daughter, easy to do now that we knew each other well.
When we arrived at the location, I saw Mother with the twins enjoying some fish balls, onions, tomatoes, and greens inside a loaf of bread with a yellow sauce, reminding me how it looked like gyros. Sitting with her on a table was Adhi and his crew, Master Kush and the Saurians, and also Rita, who was slurping on some seaweed salad — the flat, kelp-like ones, not the noodle-like ones.
“Hestia! Neill! Tasianna! Rajah! Over here!” Similar to me, Mother had probably detected my scent, as she was shouting at us through the giant crowd of the port market.
“Oi, when did your Mother start calling me by my nickname?” Neill was flabbergasted by what she heard. “Melloxtressa, I told you only Hestia may call me like that!”
Neill stormed away from us, rushing towards the others, almost gliding through the crowd without any problems, despite her unicorn horn almost shanking somebody. Once she made it, Master Kush quickly intervened with a hearty laugh and a plate of fish with white sauce.
“Ha ha ha! Lady Fargryneill, it’s too early for fighting. Here, we ordered some food for the four of you. The sailor who cooked it just got back from a four-week voyage to catch some good ingredients for the festival! It sends a shiver down my tail!”
“Mhmm? Is that so? Well, don’t mind if you do! Pay you back later!” And just like that, Neill’s hostility disappeared with the wind. “Mhmm! You’re right, it’s good!”
Ahahaha…
“Good morning, Master. Blessed FireDay to you,” I greeted Master after arriving. “Hmm, Tehmrayn still isn’t accompanying you, huh?”
“Duty calls, sadly. Champion Tehmrayn is like a charging tiger shark, unwavering as he keeps moving forward. To him, his Divine Quest and his devotion to the gods are his main objectives. You cannot fault him for being dutiful,” Master replied, nodding. “In any case, come! Food before our duty begins! Tasianna, Rajah, come!”
We had just eaten breakfast, but a dragon like me had enough room for a second breakfast. And, considering this was a festival, it wasn’t something I should miss. The celebration was everywhere, especially here at the port since foreigners, even some Empire merchants, were around to sell things.
Compared to the city’s main market festival, the port was loose and had more people inside it. Although there was some animosity between the humans and beastmen, it wasn’t enough to stifle the fact we had a harvest and god-worshiping festival. With how there weren’t just Yeosians around, but humans from other countries, it made it far more exciting to be within.
“Hello, hello, honored ladies and gentlemen! Would you be so keen to buy some of this extraordinary oil? Extracted from C rank [Wrulf-Toothed Land-Bats]! Very good for your skin and also quite a good coating for your armor!”
“Hear ye, hear ye! The finest silk imported directly from the Empire to Yeos! Spider silk, moth silk, and even slime silk! Elegant and strong, great as a present for your wife or fiance!”
“O-Oi, fuck! Ya rat! Get him! Thief!”
Snake oil salesmen, foreign merchants, and pocket thieves were all within this mess of a crowd. It was loud and obtuse, but oh boy, did it bring in the festival atmosphere. In addition, the fact we could taste all the food in this place was amazing. Whether I liked them or not, it was still a great memory to make with my friends and family.
As I was ordering and eating my second breakfast, I suddenly noticed a tall person in a set of marine black armor. It looked familiar to me, helping me recognize the person from the design of it alone — Chahayat, the merfolk pirate hunter I met during the rumble round. Following him were a few other merfolks and also nagas, but all of them looked like normal citizens.
Adhi noticed me looking in that direction, prompting him to look over, too. “Hmm? Oh, isn’t that Sir Chahayat? Hahaha, I’m not a gambler, but if I were, I would bet my coins on that Tide Watcher to win his match today!”
“Tide Watcher?” I recognized that name.
“Oooh, so that merfolk is a fellow colleagues, huh? I would never have expected another of our kind here, right, Krim? Ha ha ha ha, we oughta introduce myself then,” Master laughed before downing some kelp juice, which I honestly couldn’t understand why he would like that slimy stuff.
“Hmm? Yeah, that guy. I heard a bit from speaking with the folks at the pier. Heard he’s a pirate hunter, and a pretty notoriously good one, too,” Krim-Slak replied while tearing off some grilled fish from a stick. “Surprised he can join a tournament, honestly, especially since I heard the amount of pirates have been increasing lately.”
“Aye, that I have heard, too.” Adhi nodded his head. “The scalekins at the docks have complained how the human sailors were complaining about them. Have made it hard to come and go from the Empire through the shortest path. Ha, but a Caedhulen vessel can outsail any human ship easily.”
“Hmph. Not like there aren’t merfolk, nagas, or levianewt pirates, Adhi,” Grazlatha corrected him. “Maybe those scalekins following Chahayat around belong to a newly founded tribe. If he hunts pirates in front of Elyonda’s coast, he probably knows a few newly formed tribes nearby.”
“Tribes? Do you mean underwater tribes? Tehmrayn mentioned something about there being villages and cities underwater,” I asked, remembering the discussion Mother and Tehmrayn had about how long he has been active as a Champion.
“Most likely, yes,” Mother answered in their stead. “Similar to how humans would expand to different parts of the land, the ocean dwellers scour new places for homes. Due to how the ocean works, if you can defend your home, you own it. There are no real governing body or rulers, outside of Caedhulen influences.”
No taxes, in other words.
“Yes, that is correct!” Adhi confirmed what Mother told me. “Caedhul and its colonies are perfect for pious followers to live your lives without fearing for dangers, however, although a republic, Lecullius is ruled mostly by the Church of Plesia and its archbishop. Some call this too restricted to perform their faith. After all, we all pray to Plesia for her protection, but there are countless Subordinate Gods in the Pantheon of Water.”
I looked over at Master. Since he was a priest of Plesia’s church, he should be able to confirm this. Which he did, with a nod.
“I for example, pray to the Depth Goddess but my primary god is Xohulotel. It is the same with Yeos and Goddess Aurena and God Yeostar. Caedhul’s church focuses mostly on the primary subordinate Gods of Plesia, the strongest. As a pseudo-Theocracy, you could probably imagine the restriction in faith for the lesser gods.” Master made it easy for me to understand. “As such, some wander off, making a place for themselves to pray. Therefore, there are other merfolk, naga, and levianewt societies outside of Caedhul’s control. However, at the end of the day, Caedhul — mostly Lecullius — remains the seat of faith for the Depth Goddess.”
I “Ooooh”-ed my interest at how this sounded quite similar to how on Earth there were many different branches of the Christian faith. I guess it is quite hard for people to have a similar faith or opinion on the same matter. Even in a world where the gods’ influence can be seen so easily.
“Mhmm! Ahhh, I’m full, ahahaha!” Krim-Slak caressed his belly, looking completely content before straightening his posture. “Alright, time to get to work then.”
He smacked Grazlatha on his back, prompting the other saurian to stand up with him. “Mhmm. Good time, too, with the tournament almost starting. Kush?”
Guess we have to shelf this discussion.
“Aye, ready.” Master and Akast stood up also, looking like he and the saurians were about to disembark somewhere. “Mhmm, once again, I apologize for not being able to watch your match today, my apprentice.”
“Don’t worry about it. I was the one who asked you to help me, so don’t feel bad. Just make sure to stay safe, alright? Who knows what's lurking around.”
As planned, I had asked Master and the saurians to help me out with the search for any demonkin or their sympathizers. With the information we got on that grimgarian group, Master instantly became anxious about the current state of the city. He mentioned how Plesia and Xohulotel wouldn’t send him and Tehmrayn to this city without a real conflict brooding, so he accepted this being his time to get to work.
Tehmrayn would stay at the island to guard the seal keeping the S rank leviathan from opening, while Master and the saurians would look around. As mentioned before, some Empire ships had arrived, which Adhi told me all came yesterday. Meaning, some of them could be our enemies.
“Thanks for helping, Adhi. I’ll pay you back for this so make sure to stay safe,” I told Adhi as he was also starting to get ready to accompany Master. Seeing as he has been working at the port ever since we arrived in Elyonda with him, he knew the most about the port and what was going on here. Also, he had some connections with the other Caedhulen around, so having him would make Master’s job easier.
“Hahaha, don’t worry about it, Lady Hestia. I told you could rely on me, right? With a saint and his knight around, I don’t think I have much to worry about it! A promise is a promise, and I shall do my best to see it finished!” Adhi slapped his tail on the ground proudly, looking extremely reliable.
“Captain, I know this is for the princess, but still…” His crewmates, on the other hand, were more worried about him, not sharing his fervor.
“Quiet! Do not embrasse me! Hahahaha!”
The news of me being Kargryxmor was so widespread amongst the scalekin community of the port that it wasn’t needed to keep it a secret anymore. It was surprising, honestly, but at the same time it shouldn’t have been. If you came from Caedhul, you would know about the culture of your neighbor, Loatryx. Or, at least, know who Kargryxmor was.
It felt like Artorias, again, where my actual status was known to people. Well, they didn’t know I was a dragon yet, but still.
Regardless, with that said, Master, the saurians, and Adhi left to do some sleuthing around the area. As bounty hunters, Master’s group did this for a living before he became a Saint. With their captain also going, the levianewts in his crew told me they would be watching our matches and had bets placed on Neill’s and my match, so we oughta win it for them.
“Oh, before you guys leave, here!” I gave them a piece of parchment with some words on it and a small sketch of a cute dragon girl in my image. “Draconic Concert! Similar to the one I gave in Estralia. Could you do me a favor and hand this out to people? I’ll pay you, of course!”
“““Yes, my lady!”””
Advertising, check!
And with that, our group finished our food and then went into Elyonda, on our way to the arena. Once there, I could hear the same cheers as I heard from the market. Mostly cheers concerning their bet and how I should win it. People really loved betting, huh?
“Okay, see you guys later!” I saw everybody off as I went over to the registration, smirking as I saw the same receptionist who registered me for my tournament. “Yoooooo~ Goooood morning, Mr. Receptionist! Hope you had a good FireDay.”
“…” He forced a smile, twitching and shivering as he tried to talk with me, only to stumble on every word. “Y-Yes, good FireDay, ahahah… Y-You’re here to register, yes?”
“Mhm. Say, you seem tense today, did something happen?” I gloated at him before I tilted my head to the person standing behind him. “Or, did somebody scold you?”
“Huek!”
“Hahaha! Nothing to worry about, Cris.” The middle-aged man tapped the receptionist’s shoulder before gesturing for him to leave. “You earned yourself a rest, how about you go?”
“Y-Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!” Like a cornered rat, the guy just dashed away.
“Sooooo, who am I speaking to now? The tournament officials? Or the royal palace?” My smile turned serious, glaring at the person with mild annoyance.
The man looked well-groomed, almost looking like a butler, but from the way he dressed, he seemed more like an administrator. He didn’t seem slimy, but I didn’t get a good vibe from him. Almost like he was judging me.
“Both, my lady, however for today, I am here as Duke Alberstien’s messenger, which also includes the noble faction. I am one of the board members controlling the operations of the Arena of Yeostar, Count Bertlez.” He bowed low. I didn’t see this guy when I met Yeos’s prince, but from the way he acted, he knew who I was.
Knew it.
“Board member, huh? So, Count Bertlez, do tell me something. Were you the one who did the bracket placement? I apologize if I am too paranoid, but looking at everything, it seems too convenient. Almost like a show?” My eyes narrowed. My annoyance had changed to irritation.
“… My lady, you should have known from Sir Jethro’s explanation that this tournament is made for us to find our next Champion of Yeostar. If you are asking if it is rigged, then no. Fairness, at least, in honor of God Yeostar.”
I didn’t need to ask Yeostar to know if that was a lie or not.
“Don’t try to trick me with wordings or something. Did you choose the participants randomly or did you place them deliberately?”
“We chose the best and most fitting people to face each other, if that is what you are asking.”
Tch, in other words, yes.
“After all, we never mentioned the bracket stage would be chosen by random. No, there was nothing like that stated in the rules, only that we will create a bracket stage.”
I knew the rules, of course, but what I was annoyed about was the fact how they placed everybody. On our side, so Neill’s and my side of the bracket, all the beastmen and foreign adventurers were placed there to duke it out, while the other side was majority from Yeos.
Strangely, if I were to beat today’s match, I would have to fight against Chahayat, while Neill would need to fight Ghorush, before we met in the semis. On the other hand, Larent, Alistar, and Renee were on the other side. It was clear what they were doing here. Setting up narratives to talk about.
This was more a show, than a noble ceremony to find a new Champion. It felt like I was a spectacle as I would have to fight my sister, while Larent, the Empire’s Ex-Hand of Heaven, would fight against Yeos’s knight commander. All to see who would win in the finals.
“So, what do you want from me? You wouldn’t appear here for no apparent reason.” I gave him my ID, allowing him to register me for my match, as I was hurrying him along for his explanation.
“As a representative of the noble faction, I thank you for your service, Lady Hestia. Please, smite today’s villain,” he started and bowed dramatically. He clearly had showmanship experience. “But, I would like to inform you that the entourages of the other five princes have arrived in the city. Meaning, our esteemed guests would be watching us from today onwards.”
Friday would be a showcase match between Yeos and the other principalities of the Divide. Most likely, this was a way to strengthen the bonds between the five princes. From what I heard, the five princes currently didn’t get along, so I had no idea how this would proceed.
“As such, as our first match of the day, I would like you to formally announce yourself to everybody. Let the world know what you are doing here, my lady. I am sure, with you around, the other princes would be more appreciative of our young Prince Markval. I ask of you to aid him, would you please?”
“Political tool?”
“Haha, I wouldn’t word it like that. You are an important personage, my lady. Not only your lineage, but also your piety. With the times so dark due to the wars, one would need security. With your support, Yeos may find itself in a better position to continue honoring our role as God Yeostar’s followers. Not to mention, I am sure the Empire would appreciate our returned assistance and our ability to bring back stability in the Divide.”
Tsk, and then let everybody know this was all Duke Alberstien’s idea. Nice plot. Bring the Prince to your side to stifle out the other factions. All because of me. Just to wage more war.
“If you word it like that, Lod Bertlez, that does sound like a fantastic plan!” I faked my enthusiasm, causing the Count to glow up with a wide smile.
“You have my deepest thanks, my lady! Goddess’s blessing to you! Although I don’t think you will need help with that lowlife mercenary, I still wish you good luck! May the Goddess guide your path with brilliant light!”
I am not your pawn. Deal with the dragon, then prepare to pay handsomely.
But, of course, I could only do that if I won today. Which meant, if I wanted to pay them back for thinking of me, a Champion of Aurena and also a Dragon Princess, as lowly as an advertisement tool, then they better think again. I can afford to hear insults, but trying to use me? No, no, I was below that crap.
“Oh, but if you could do me a favor,” I took the set of parchment out from my storage, hiding the action by making him think I took it from underneath my robe. “Could you hand this out to the audience? It’s one of my projects to help with bringing out any enemies, you see. I just need some advertisement help.”
“Oh, naturally! We have a debt to repay!” He took the stack of parchment and began to read them. “Hmm, ‘Draconic Concert?’ You are putting on a concert, my lady? Also, is this a sketch of you?”
“Yes, I am an enthusiast of good music. A festival requires events, no? So, considering how many people are in the city and arriving, I thought it would be a great time to support cultural and economic growth. After all, Yeos and the royal family have my thanks for creating an… interesting experience in Elyonda.”
“Magnificient, my lady! Your ingenuity astounds me! I shall do it right away! Although, ahem, if I may give my opinion. To our cultured guests from the Empire, they might enjoy this, but our commoners? Such music would be wasted on their uneducated ears, ahahahaha!”
I just smiled. I said nothing.
“I shall also make sure our nobles know of it!”
“Please, do, but please keep the surprise for after the match ends. Thank you.”
With that settled, I went over to the waiting room until somebody came to guide me to the arena. Unlike during the battle royale, I went into the arena through the normal gate.
“Noble ladies and gentlemen! Blood enjoyers! I welcome everybody to the first match of the day! The bracket stage has begun!”
The moment I entered the arena, the wild cheers of the audience and the loud, but hype, shoutcasting of the announcer drummed into my ears. I could hear it all. The excitement of the crowd was absolutely enthralling.
However, sadly, ‘cause of what happened before, I wasn’t really in the mood to bask in the mood. As such, I concentrated more on the environment I was sent into. It didn’t look like the flat ground arena during my winner’s ceremony, no, it was a plain grassland. The sky was also the usual dome showing the people in the audience in a panorama-like style.
“To start it all off, and I know all of you are excited for this, we have the tournament’s dark horse! The flaming dragonewt with the abilities of a priestess on the right side! ‘Crimson hair’ Hestia Atsuko Kaaaargryxmor!”
“Idol! Idol! Stop using a moniker that only describes my hair!” I was outraged! Stupid announcer!
However, I was ignored.
“And to the left! We have the malignant manipulator of the venomous depths! The elder, and currently only, brother of the ‘Acid Killers!’ Well, as I said, it probably should be only ‘Acid Killer’ now! Give him a pity cheer, everybody, for he has just lost his younger brother! Greisha!”
Jeez, bad taste! Bad taste!
But the crowd cheered anyway. However, from the look of it, it felt more like jeering caused by the announcer.
On the other hand, the person walking up to me didn’t look too good. In fact, his eyes had been aimed at me the moment I entered the arena, where I could feel the intense thirst for blood from that guy. Poison dude was not happy that I killed his brother, and while I could understand it, his brother shouldn’t have attempted to kill so many people.
It was his fault.
“…” He raised his arms silently, holding up two catalysts. It seemed like the elder brother got the catalyst for his younger brother. “Acid Hydra!”
And it seemed like he wasn’t about to wait for the announcer to finish.
The first match — Hestia versus Greisha…
… Start!
Comments
Oliver Wolfe
Well now. Funny how he got that second catalyst.
Diego Rossi
However, you mother? -> your
