"Ladies and Gentlemen! Today is the day! The final of the close-range division of the Six Academies Annual Tournament! Are you ready?!"
The announcer's voice booming in the distance. I could hear it even where I sat, in the special waiting room prepared for the participants. It was in the form of a small booth with a rather thin wall inside the arena dressing room.
"Let me read the rules of this close-range division final."
I listened quietly as I wore my black training clothes, fitting them so I could move easily. My training a few hours ago surely bore fruit.
"First of all, the use of defensive magic items is banned! And so is a magic item in the form of a weapon. Something like a necklace or earrings to increase one's status and skill Lv is allowed!" The announcer's voice echoed loudly.
Sitting down, I tied the shoelace and scoffed.
"I bet the pig or someone else complained yesterday."
Eliza's win was purely based on skill. However, they didn't want to admit that and blamed it on magic items.
I wouldn't deny that she was equipped with the best equipment at her Level, thanks to me and Alesia. It was like the highest Leveled player using full cash items to bully a newbie, just as I said yesterday.
"The final will be 1 vs 1. Both students will fight until one of them can't continue anymore or surrender. They aren't allowed to kill the opponent intentionally. Accidental death will not be punished, and the student will revive in 3 hours in the special revival chamber near the arena!"
"No kill, eh?" I muttered, standing up and stretching my arms.
That would be hard for me. But… If my opponent died, I wouldn't be able to be held responsible. They were just too weak to handle me and couldn't survive long enough. It was accidental and their own fault.
If they were smart, then they would surrender before I delivered a killing blow.
"I already have a list for the tournament in my hand!" The announcer continued, "The winners will advance to the top 10. Then they will become the top 5! At that moment, our special participant, Sir Paladin Arthur Vainglory, will advance to the top 1! Whoever wins the top 2 will face Sir Arthur directly!"
When I heard that, my body froze a little.
'What the hell?'
I wanted to fight, you crazy bastard! Why would I advance to the final fight after just fighting two times?
Heightening my senses, I also found that almost every participant sighed in relief for hearing that. Some were nervous that they would meet me in the top 20 and top 10 fights.
Also, the crowd in the arena cheered loudly when they heard that.
'This…'
Why would they just recognize my strength at this moment? Please, just underestimate me, like when I just became a Paladin. Fight me!
'My training has gone to waste if it goes like this!'
However, I wasn't such a petty person. I just sighed and let things go just as the headmasters arranged.
It couldn't be helped. I hoped my second opponents were from the Patientia Academy. I just held a little bit of enmity against them because they put Alesia in a little bad mood.
'Might as well show that pig his place and make him curry my favor. I will welcome him with open arms.'
As my mood was lifted from my thoughts, my lips curled up into a grin.
"It's time."
Muttering, I stepped out of the booth and went to the arena. There were five similar booths in this changing room, and no one knew who was inside.
The truth was, I had been told by Alesia when I stopped by to greet her earlier about my first opponent. It seemed like she held a little grudge against the pig Earl too, so she tweaked the board slightly and made my first opponent a student from Patientia Academy called Jill.
Walking through the narrow and dark corridor, I saw the light from the exit. The weapon that could be used in this tournament was hung over the wall near the exit, and I took a long sword without glancing at the other weapons.
This was the best one I could use, even though I was also skilled in other swords, such as short swords, great swords, sabers, katana, and even snake swords that could extend a long distance.
After swinging it twice to get the balance right, I put it on the belt connected to my short pants and walked out.
As I was walking, the announcer's voice rang once again.
"Now, without further ado, let's start the close-range division tournament! The first fight is between Jill Hambers from Patientia Academy! He specialized in spears, and he wore 2 magic items that he got from his adventure! Those magic items slightly raised his AGI and STR by 1 point and <Spearmanship> to Lv 3!"
'Trash.' I thought as I heard the way the announcer introduced Jill.
Magic items that could only raise 1 point were trash. Of course, that was for my standard. Even the [Troll Gloves] I gave Lea increased her status by at least 10 points, and it was only a Level 25 item.
'I don't need any magic items in this tournament. Only two [Earring of Communication] for emergencies were enough.'
They were only a communication item and didn't raise any of my stats. They were still magic items, so maybe the announcer would announce what I wore too?
"Now, on the other side is someone who everyone knows very well!" The announcer's voice was louder because he was excited. "This person didn't need to enter the preliminary because the headmasters were afraid the close-range tournament would end at that point if he participated!"
The introduction was over the top, but the crowd seemed to like it. They shouted louder, and I turned my senses to return to normal because it was too much for my heightened one.
And so, when I stepped into the arena, the shout became louder.
"Unlike the others, he didn't wear any magic items! His weapon is standard, and according to the Headmistress Alesia, he also won't use any skill or his left hand! In other words, he will give the 'normal' students a handicap!"
"…" I stopped at the side of the arena and looked at the announcer, who had a wide smile on his face.
Then my gaze went to the VIP balcony, and I noticed Alesia's smirk.
'I didn't hear anything about this.' I complained with my gaze.
Instead of moving her mouth, Alesia generated some writing in midair using her Mana which said, 'Hold back.'
Using this chance, I looked around. The arena was… different from yesterday. There were three balconies on two sides of the arena, which belonged to the headmasters and headmistresses.
Then on the other two sides were extravagant balconies with high chairs. Those two were still empty, and one was smaller than the other, with only 1 chair with gold color as a base.
'That's where the Pope will sit, I guess. So the other 3 chairs are for the King, Queen, and Duke Blacktomb?' I thought. 'The Princes and Naya Blacktomb don't tag along, huh? A shame. I want to meet them.'
At this time, the announcer noticed the words written by Alesia.
"Oh? Hold back? Is she talking about the second contestant? Interesting!" He became more hyped and spread his arms. With his hand, he pointed at me. "Give applause to His Holiness Sir Paladin, Arthur Vainglory!"
The crowd cheered loudly.
I pulled my sword and raised it with my right hand, giving them some service and flashing a smile. Then, I pointed it at my enemy, whose body was trembling in fear, just as I released my bloodlust.
"Let's do it," I said, giving him a friendly smile.
The other people couldn't feel my bloodlust as I only focused it on him. On the spectators' seat, I noticed Tristan facepalmed while muttering, 'How childish.' Beside her was Eliza, cheering innocently. Vivian and Cecil sat beside them, watching me.
'Everyone is coming.' I thought, glancing at the announcer.
This person, who was dressed rather ridiculously in a red suit with a red bow, noticed my gaze and jumped to the small platform near the spectator seat.
Raising his hand, he shouted energetically.
"First battle, begin!"
