It was the first day of the Fighting Tournament Main Tournament.
Compared to the qualifying rounds, an even larger crowd had converged on the arena. Naturally, the Emperor of the Bestia Empire was in attendance, along with the princes, princesses, and a great many nobles. Even those who cared nothing for the competition had made the trip to the arena, viewing it as a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Imperial Family.
The streets of the Imperial Capital, which had been overflowing with people until just the other day, were now eerily sparse. This was to be expected, as the vast majority of visitors currently in the capital had come specifically for the fighting tournament.
While there were exceptions, few could remain indifferent to the greatest annual event held within the Bestia Empire.
"Whoa... where did all these people come from?"
Standing near the arena, a man muttered to himself in shock at the sheer scale of the crowd. He had traveled all the way from a remote village in the Bestia Empire just to see the tournament for the first time, but a series of complications had delayed his arrival until yesterday.
He was an unlucky soul who had missed not only the qualifying rounds but even the opening ceremony held several days prior. Of course, given the difficulties of traveling from the countryside to the Imperial Capital, it wasn't unusual for arrivals to be off by a week or two. Between the weather, accidents, and the threat of bandit attacks, the fact that he had arrived safely at all—even by hitching a ride on a merchant's carriage—was a feat worthy of praise.
Nonetheless, he couldn't help but cry out at the sight of the massive throng surrounding the arena.
"What’s the matter, kid? Is today your first time seeing the fighting tournament?"
A man in his 40s standing nearby called out, perhaps taking pity on the traveler's bewilderment or simply looking for a way to kill time while waiting in line.
"Hm? Oh, yeah. It’s my first time. Is... is the Imperial Capital always like this?"
"No, no, not usually. It’s never this crowded, not even for the main tournament. I don't know if you’re lucky or unlucky, kid..."
"How so?"
The man from the countryside tilted his head, confused by the older man's words.
The middle-aged man offered a faint smile. "This year’s tournament is special for a lot of reasons. But I guess if this is your first time in the capital, you wouldn't know."
"...Special?"
"That’s right. For starters, Crimson is competing."
The traveler blinked, processing the name. He certainly recognized it. Crimson was the adventurer from the Kingdom of Mireana who had dealt devastating damage to the Bestia Empire during the Spring War.
"Why would someone like that come all the way to the Bestia Empire? Did he come here to pick a fight?"
The middle-aged man shook his head at the traveler's muttered question.
"Rumor has it that one of the guests invited from the Kingdom of Mireana brought Crimson along. Then Crimson supposedly took an interest in the tournament and decided to join. I don't know the full story, but it’s a fact that he’s in the bracket. I saw him myself during the qualifying rounds."
"Wait, he went through the qualifiers? Don't special participants usually get seeded directly into the main tournament?"
"Usually, yeah. But I suppose Crimson has his own way of doing things. Anyway, he entered the qualifiers and tore through them to reach the main tournament."
"I bet he did," the traveler nodded.
Fortunately, his village was remote, and only a few residents had been drafted for the Spring War—none of whom he had been particularly close to. Still, losing fellow villagers didn't sit well with him, and it was impossible to imagine an opponent of that caliber losing in a preliminary round. To him, it was only natural that Crimson had advanced.
"So, is everyone here just to see him out of some morbid curiosity?"
The traveler looked back. Although he had only just joined the rearmost position of the line, dozens of people had already queued up behind him.
The middle-aged man shook his head again. "No. The people in this line aren't really here for Crimson. I mean, don't get me wrong—his fighting style is flashy and worth the price of admission."
"Then why the crowd?"
"It’s because of who else is competing. Lord Noise, the S-Rank adventurer known by the alias of 'Immovable'."
"..................What?"
The traveler fell silent for a long moment. It took a full minute for him to find his voice. It was only natural; an S-Rank adventurer was a legendary rarity, and the idea of one appearing in a public venue like a tournament was staggering.
Everyone knew the name of Noise the Immovable. He was one of only three S-Rank adventurers in the entire world, and the only one belonging to the Bestia Empire. While rumors of his heroic exploits were legendary, he had never once participated in the fighting tournament before.
The middle-aged man seemed to expect the traveler's shock. He nodded and continued.
"And that brings us back to Crimson. Word on the street is that Crimson was such a favorite to win that the Empire brought in Noise as a trump card to stop him."
"Oh, I see."
That explanation made perfect sense. To the Bestia Empire, Crimson was a sworn enemy. If he were to win the nation's most prestigious tournament on their home soil, it wouldn't just be an embarrassment; it would be as if their national honor had been trampled underfoot. Furthermore, with dignitaries from neighboring countries watching, the Empire couldn't afford a humiliating defeat. Even to a commoner, the political stakes were easy to grasp.
"So, between Crimson and the Immovable, this tournament has plenty of draws. There are several other Alias Holders in the mix, too."
"I guess I should be glad I made it in time for the main tournament... but now I feel like I missed out by not seeing the qualifiers," the traveler mused.
"Don't let it get to you. You made it for the main event, and that’s what matters. This is going to be a tournament people talk about for generations. Oh, look—they’re starting to let people in."
The middle-aged man smiled as the line began to move forward. The traveler followed suit, focusing his attention on securing a good seat.
Rei, knowing absolutely nothing of the conversations taking place outside, was currently scanning the waiting room.
The room was packed, but everyone was focused on their own mental preparations. Rei considered himself lucky that, unlike during the qualifiers, no one was trying to provoke him.
Then again, his identity as Crimson had already been revealed. No one was reckless enough to pick a fight with him here—or at least, no one in this particular room.
(So today it’s just me, Rhodos, and Veikyul. I wish I was in the same room as one of them.)
It was tedious to sit in silence by himself until his match began. On the other hand, he didn't want to wander the massive arena alone and risk a default loss because he couldn't get back to the ring in time. He looked around again, hoping to see a familiar face.
Some participants were practicing forms with their weapons; others sat with their eyes closed in deep concentration. A few were chatting with acquaintances. Whenever Rei’s gaze drifted toward those talking, they flinched visibly. It wasn't necessarily raw fear, but rather the realization that interacting with Rei would likely lead to complications.
In fact, several participants were directing stares at him that were thick with murderous intent.
(They’re likely veterans from the war... but could it be something else?)
Rei sighed and looked back at those glaring at him. Taking it as a provocation, some of them tightened their grips on their weapons. However, this was the main tournament. If participants engaged in a private duel anywhere outside the ring, they would be disqualified immediately—and potentially face criminal charges. While Rei had initially thought the rules were a bit draconian, it made sense given that the Imperial Family and high-ranking nobles were in the audience.
"Participant Cleo, it is time for your match. Please head to the arena."
A management committee member poked his head into the room. A man carrying a spear stood up and followed the official out.
Left with nothing else to do, Rei began a series of flexibility exercises to kill time. Thanks to the body created by Zephyle, he was remarkably limber. He stood up and reached for the floor while keeping his knees locked; his palms pressed flat against the stone without the slightest hint of strain.
A few nearby participants watched him with looks of surprise, but Rei ignored them and continued his stretches. He finished about ten minutes later, having limbered up to his satisfaction.
(I wish I had a magazine or something...)
Leaning back in his chair, he thought of the manga magazines he used to read back in Japan. They were perfect for killing time. A handheld game console would have been even better.
(Actually, a game console would stand out way too much in Elgin.)
The stares of murderous intent were starting to get annoying, so he stood up. He didn't intend to confront anyone; it was simply that staying in the room was making everyone uncomfortable, and he genuinely needed something to do.
(Maybe I’ll go take a peek at the matches. I might end up fighting some of these people if I keep winning.)
Being careful to keep track of his own slot in the schedule, he stepped out of the waiting room. Many others seemed to have the same idea, as the room had emptied out considerably. Those still inside were mostly those whose matches were scheduled immediately after the current one.
Subjected to a mix of murderous glares, curious stares, looks of annoyance, and eyes trying to gauge his strength, Rei made his exit.
"...Phew."
He finally felt like he could breathe. Exhaling a sigh, he looked around. The roar of the crowd echoed through the hallways, suggesting the battles were reaching a fever pitch.
He had things to do, but he knew doing them might cause trouble. With that thought, he began walking through the arena as if he were a tourist. There were people scattered about, but far fewer than in the waiting room. Even so, most people wore expressions of shock when they saw him.
The fact that he could move through the halls relatively easily was largely because he didn't have the Death Scythe in his hand. Even though Rei didn't feel the weight, to anyone else, the scythe remained a massive, heavy weapon. If he were to accidentally bump into someone while walking, it could result in a serious injury. Thanks to the Misty Ring, he could stow the oversized weapon and bring it out only when needed, keeping it from becoming a literal obstacle.
(Well, I guess that’s just how it goes.)
He ignored the looks of awe from those passing him in the corridor. Under normal circumstances, his presence here was an anomaly—after all, to the Bestia Empire, he was a sworn enemy.
(I wonder if Elk actually placed that bet on me. Well, Min is with him, so it should be fine.)
As he explored the perimeter, he reminded himself that he had entrusted Elk with betting on his victory for this round as well.
The only disappointment Rei found during his tour was the lack of food stalls catering to the spectators.