Tournament Arc - Start

[1]

"Master—" Imeki suddenly got on guard as she felt the same as me. Someone was watching us, and it didn't feel normal. It was bloodlust that sent shivers down our spines, a bloodlust that made us feel the pressure. We could sense that this tournament wasn't going to be easy.
Not that easy to hide my real strength.

"Sigh, I hate holding back."

"Master, we've already become a target. Don't underestimate the opponent." Imeki grinned, but I could see her sweat dripping. She was under pressure, but she was enjoying it.

I smiled. "Underestimate my opponent? Hah, Imeki, I guess you are the one underestimating me. There's no way in hell I am losing, and I am definitely going to find the cursed user like myself, who is participating in this tournament."

"Also, Master, what's with your baggage? It actually looks heavy." Imeki pointed towards my backpack. It was indeed heavy, but it wasn't a big deal.

"Well, it's a gift for Kerf."

"Gift?" Imeki tilted her head slightly.

"You will see during their match."

Yes, indeed it is a present for Kerf, and I picked it up because it is suitable for his magic attribute. Kerfern Karshatsuha doesn't have any weapon and uses long-ranged attacks naturally with his magic. Using a weapon would make his attacks five times stronger. But it's not like I am rich enough to buy a mercenary weapon like this so I stole it up from the assassin who tried to attack me after defeating her... well, I don't even remember her name, but sorry for stealing.

"Tsuki, I wish you weren't my duo. You had me waiting for your childish tantrums."

I heard Kerfern's voice from the crowd. Kerfern and Tsuki were back from wherever they were after getting parted from the carriage.

"Kerf... please, I really had to buy a hairclip."

"Hairclip? I had to run around behind you, losing track of you every time from one store to another, wasting time around. You spent all our money on food and these bags full of clothes. There's no excuse for such a thing as a mere hairclip... Oh, Arnes, Imeki, you both were waiting for us."

"H-haha... yeah... are you both alright?"

"Yeah, I am. Also, I am quite nervous since our battle is the 6th one...preety soon than I expected." Kerfern frowned, sweating.

"Don't worry, those are just bugs. I can just make them not exist with my explosion magic." Tsuki puffed her chest as she spoke about her almighty strength.

"Well, either way, good luck. We will be watching your battle." I gave my regards to Kerfern and Tsuki for their battle after some chit-chat, and we went to the audience seats since our battle number was 14th.


[2]


Arnes and Imeki went to the audience seats, having a full view of the colosseum with the ring in the middle. The crowd cheered, academies holding kingdom flags, showing it was a big deal with the final outcomes of which academy students would win.

"Yo, Iris, you are here?"

"A-Arnes?" Iris stuttered with our unexpected appearance in the audience seat.

"Master, you scared her. Uwah, delinquent." Imeki showed a disgusted face towards me as a joke, but it still hurt me.

"Imeki, I guess you were better when you were expressionless."

"Expressionless?" Iris looked at me in confusion on hearing my words.

"No, nothing, haha, don't mind us... Also, aren't you participating too?"

Shit, I was slipping my tongue, losing my composure over little stuff.

"Well, most students fear to approach me since I am a princess. I try to live as much as normal people do, but yet my name just hinders my plan, and like always, I couldn't find a duo. People would think it would impact their life if they became the main reason for losing the match with a princess."

"I see, it's complicated." I nodded in consideration.

"Urazaken Academy, I have some information about a new student who joined recently. Rumors say he is a hero who was summoned to this world."

Iris changed the topic instantly as if to warn Arnes to stay on his guard.

"Summon? I have heard that summons are only done during tough times, and summoning a hero requires sacrifices of humans. I don't think it's all true, or people would start protesting in that country, and it would lead to war just to kill the hero since it doesn't belong to our world, a completely alien humanoid."

People would go nuts if they heard about doing something sacred like a ritual to summon a hero from a different world. In this era, it's supposed to be illegal and a crime.

"Exactly, that's the more reason that even with those rumors of the summonings, people don't believe it, so they make it look like it's not a big deal and tend to ignore it. Even I am not sure if it's true, but still, I got a bad feeling about it." Iris put her thumb on her chin, thinking commenting further.

"Hmm, well, maybe those rumors are indeed true now that I look at it." I looked at Imeki after mumbling those words.

"Arnes?" Iris looked at me with a sharp glare.

"N-no, it's nothing."

Well, it might be true that the person who was observing us was the hero earlier, and we felt the bloodlust.

"Master, the hero guy might be able to sense the curse. Wouldn't that create a problem? Otherwise, why would he target us in the first place?" Imeki whispered in my ear, blowing her breath, which tickled me slightly.

I nodded.

"Anyways, Iris, look, the first round is going to start. Let's enjoy it without thinking about complicated stuff, haha." I changed the topic so we could have a refreshing mind.

"Great idea. Also, Imeki, why are you standing? Here, come take a seat."

"Your majesty, sorry, I got used to standing beside Master... by the way, where is Vikasha-sama?"Poke, poke. Someone poked Imeki from behind. "U-uwah, she scared me." Imeki, who got chills down her spine, turned around to see Vikasha was sitting right behind her. She had been using stealth magic on herself this whole time, and none of us even felt her presence.

Time passed by, and it was time for the 6th match. Kerfern Karshatsuha and Tsuki Ernie stepped towards the magic ring.

"K-Kerfern Karshatsuha!!" Iris squeaked at his presence and suddenly frowned, pouting looking disappointed. "Oi Arnes, who is that woman beside him?
""Don't worry, she is just a friend." Imeki nodded to my answer.

"B-but—"

*CHEERS*

Iris's voice became inaudible as the crowd's cheer echoed throughout the colosseum. Kerfern Karshatsuha and Tsuki Ernie entered the ring for their first match as a duo from Seiren Academy.

"And on the other hand, we have Manaki Shinabe and Cinro Urbel from Godswell Academy!" The referee made his commentary for their entrance, and like always, the audience made huge cheers for their entrance too.

"And now, let the battle begin!!!!"

Show me how you can utilize the gift from me, Kerf, and also Tsuki. Good luck.Arnes smirked as he looked forward to their battle. He knew both of his friends were powerful and capable of defeating their opponents easily.


But little did he know, nothing ever goes as planned, and they would...



To Be Continued...