What happened? Why?
Those were likely the questions plaguing the minds of most who had witnessed the match.
The crowd watched Anacel as he was carried off the stage, their confusion palpable. Fortunately, he hadn't sustained any visible injuries, yet even after leaving the stage, he showed no signs of waking.
Had it been a physical wound, the magic protecting the arena would have closed it instantly. Had he been put to sleep by magic, the effect would have dissipated upon leaving the stage, and he would have regained consciousness.
However, Anacel had simply fainted in the most literal sense, and so his eyes remained shut.
Most of the audience failed to comprehend how the match had ended this way as they watched the Management Committee Members carry the man off. They began exchanging frantic whispers with those around them.
"H-Hey. Why is Anacel unconscious? He was attacking so one-sidedly just a moment ago!"
"I mean, he took a hit to the torso, didn't he?"
"Not that! I mean, yeah, he did, but how did a guy with such an advantage go down so easily?"
"Maybe Crimson was just enduring it while looking for an opening?"
"Still, that's just..."
Despite the general confusion, there were those among the spectators—men who had spent years watching fighting tournaments, former adventurers, mercenaries, soldiers, or knights—who had seen through Rei’s actions.
"No way... He was timing his parries to put stress on the opponent's wrists with every clash? Doing that once or twice is easy enough, but..."
"Yeah. He did it for the entire sequence. No... saying he did it against every single strike is probably more accurate."
"I suppose so. I guess that’s exactly what you’d expect from Crimson... but is he really human like us?"
Perhaps those words were the closest anyone came to the truth about Rei.
The spectators listening to the veterans nearby finally began to grasp the sequence of events. They didn't understand it perfectly, of course; anyone capable of truly comprehending such a feat would have to be an expert in their own right. Even so, the crowd realized that what Rei had done was impossible for anyone with mere half-hearted technique. A wave of astonishment rippled through the stands.
The shock wasn't limited to the common seats. If anything, the nobles in the VIP Spectator Seats were even more stunned.
Many of the nobles were more skilled than the average viewer, and those who weren't had personal guards to explain exactly what Rei had been doing.
"You mean... everything went according to Crimson’s plan from the very beginning?"
One noble, who only minutes ago had been in high spirits thinking Crimson was nothing special, spoke with a look of profound displeasure. He was irritated because he had effectively broadcasted his own lack of insight to everyone around him, but more than that, he was bothered by the fact that Crimson—the man who had become the sworn enemy of the Bestia Empire—was every bit as powerful as the rumors suggested.
Close combat and magic. If he were weak in either, they could still find a way to deal with him. In fact, few people excelled in both, and the noble had hoped Crimson was one of them. That hope had proven to be catastrophically optimistic.
"Didn't the reports say Crimson engaged in close combat with that Great Scythe during the Spring War? This is what happens to people who mistake their wishes for reality..."
"Don't be so harsh. It’s one thing for those of us who know our way around a fight, but it’s honestly hard for a layman to see through his strength. Just getting the court sycophants to understand the danger he poses is a win in my book."
A few nobles, sitting slightly apart from the disgruntled group, exchanged these words in calm but contemptuous tones. To them, those who didn't know the reality of the battlefield were free to remain lighthearted, and they were satisfied if those fools understood even a fraction of the threat Crimson represented.
While they talked, preparations for the next match began. As the Live Commentator’s voice echoed across the arena, the attention of everyone present shifted back to the stage.
"...Good."
Rei, who had finished his match and was walking through the arena’s corridors, muttered to himself after ensuring no one was nearby. His tone was thick with satisfaction. He didn't care in the least that the audience thought he had struggled, nor did he mind that his reputation might take a slight hit.
In truth, Rei didn't care what the people of the Bestia Empire thought of him. If it involved people he knew, like Vihera, it might be a different story, but he couldn't care less about the opinions of the rabble. If anything, he felt that if his reputation dropped, the payouts for betting on his victory would only increase.
Rei’s primary focus was on sharpening his skills, even if only by a fraction. Looking at the Tournament Bracket, he wouldn't clash with Noise until the finals. With 128 people in the main tournament, he would have to win five more times to reach the final stage.
(Actually, it’s more accurate to say I only have five fights left.)
He hadn't been neglecting his daily training, but training and actual combat provided vastly different levels of experience. Though, given this was a tournament, it wasn't exactly a life-or-death struggle. The danger was kept extremely low by the Legacy of the Ancient Magic Civilization, meaning it didn't truly qualify as "real" combat.
(Still... I need to build up as much strength as possible before I hit Noise. To do that, I’ll have the others become my nourishment, just like Anacel did. Don’t take it personally, Rhodos, Veikyul.)
Rei mused to himself. If things proceeded according to the bracket, he would likely face Rhodos in the third round and Veikyul after that—assuming they both advanced that far.
(Rhodos should be fine, but it might be tough for Veikyul.)
Veikyul was originally a thief, and her pure combat power wasn't particularly high. While her rapid dagger strikes—fueled by a thief’s characteristic agility—were a threat, they felt lacking compared to the sword dance Rei had just witnessed from Anacel.
As he reached this conclusion, he realized it wouldn't be long before Rhodos's match began.
"Yeah, I should go watch. I need to collect my winnings from the bet, too."
Naturally, Rei had asked Elk to bet on him again. Unlike the qualifying rounds, his identity as Crimson was now public knowledge, so the odds were much lower. However, because he was the sworn enemy of the Bestia Empire, quite a few people were betting on his opponents out of spite or patriotic support. As a result, the bets were still viable enough to be worthwhile.
"Though I doubt anyone will be able to place a bet against Noise."
He was one of only three S-Rank adventurers in the world. Even if a bookmaker opened a bet, everyone would put their money on Noise, and the house wouldn't be able to cover it. With these thoughts in mind, Rei headed toward the VIP Room where Daskar and the others were waiting.
The moment Rei stepped into the room, every eye turned toward him. Most of the gazes were filled with astonishment, though some naturally contained traces of hostility.
While this was the VIP spectator area, multiple countries were represented. During the qualifying rounds, the number of visiting nobles was small enough that they could be kept separate. However, for the main tournament, the Emperor and the Imperial Family observed in person. Bestia nobles were socially obligated to attend unless they had a catastrophic excuse, which meant the VIP seating was filled to capacity.
As a result, guests from other countries and Bestia nobles ended up sharing the same space, and many of the local aristocrats had complicated feelings about Rei’s presence. Those with high enough titles could use private rooms, but the rest were stuck together.
(Well, same as always.)
Ignoring the stares, Rei made his way toward the section occupied by Daskar, Elk, and Min. He expected them to be alone as usual, but to his surprise, an unfamiliar man was standing near Daskar. He was dressed in high-quality attire that suggested he was a noble himself, rather than a mere messenger.
"Hm? Oh, Rei. You're back. Thanks to you, I turned a tidy profit today. Though I must say, that was quite a match for the experts."
Daskar noticed Rei’s approach and raised a hand with a satisfied smile.
"I’m glad to hear it. And this person is...?" Rei asked, shifting his gaze to the unfamiliar noble.
The man returned Rei’s look with a pleasant smile. "A pleasure to meet you. I've heard the rumors about you for some time. I am Tang Authos. I hold the title of Baron, for what it’s worth."
"Baron Authos. Nice to meet you, I'm Rei."
Rei gave a small bow as he introduced himself. He took a moment to size Tang up; the man looked to be in his early to mid-twenties. Holding a title of nobility, even as a Baron, at that age was proof enough that Tang Authos was a capable man.
"Baron Authos came here specifically to see you," Daskar said. "You aren't officially in my employ right now, so why don't you have a chat with him?"
Rei felt a flicker of annoyance at Daskar’s suggestion. The name "Crimson" carried a lot of weight, and ever since the qualifying rounds ended, people had been hounding Daskar for introductions. Rei had made it a point to refuse, as he found such social obligations a nuisance. However, he was indebted to Daskar in many ways, and he knew Daskar wouldn't suggest this unless there were special circumstances.
"Fine. Fortunately, it looks like Rhodos's match hasn't started yet," Rei said, glancing toward the stage.
Currently, a man using gauntlets was fighting a woman with a spear. The spearwoman seemed to have the upper hand, utilizing her superior reach to keep the martial artist at bay.
"Splendid. Since it’s a bit crowded here, shall we move to another room? I've already had a private space prepared."
"A room? ...Alright. Let's do that."
Once Rei agreed, Tang began to lead the way out of the VIP Room. Rei was surprised to notice that the Bestia nobles who had been glaring at him with pure hatred were giving Tang respectful, shallow bows as he passed.
(So, Baron or not, this guy is a noble of the Bestia Empire?)
Or perhaps he was a heavyweight from another country, like Daskar. He considered the possibility, but since most of the guests were from neighboring nations, it was far more likely he was a local.
They walked through the corridors in silence until a sudden roar of cheers erupted from the arena. There had likely been a major development in the fight, but Rei couldn't turn back now. Tang, however, seemed just as curious. He glanced toward the sound for a brief second before speaking.
"My apologies. You're interested in the match too, aren't you?"
"I am. I have acquaintances fighting today."
Based on the skill levels he had seen in the main tournament so far, Rei didn't think Rhodos or Veikyul would have an easy time. After fighting Anacel, Rei suspected Rhodos would be fifty-fifty at best against someone of that caliber, and Veikyul’s chances were even lower.
Unless they could somehow evolve their strength during the heat of battle... As Rei pondered this, Tang came to a stop in front of a door.
"Here we are. Please, come in. You can still see the stage from here, for the most part."
With that, Tang opened the door.