"Silence!"
The shout thundered through the arena.
Projected with overwhelming force, the voice resonated in every corner of the stadium, despite not utilizing a magic item like the live commentator’s. The common spectators and the invited guests in the VIP seating gradually regained their composure.
Daskar, observing the scene from his own VIP box, let out a sigh of genuine admiration. "As expected of the Emperor of the Bestia Empire. His presence is in a league of its own."
True to his words, the one who had spoken was Trajist Gnose Bestia, the Emperor himself. He had been watching the final match from the imperial family’s VIP room. His voice, accompanied by a toss of his lion-like mane of hair, possessed a raw power that quelled the brewing panic.
"People of the Bestia Empire, do not show such unsightly agitation over a mere disturbance! The explosion you heard came from afar. No one here is in danger! Even if a threat did loom, we are graced with the presence of Noise the Immovable—the S-Rank adventurer who was just crowned champion of this fighting tournament."
Upon hearing this, the crowd’s agitation finally vanished. An S-Rank adventurer commanded that much respect, and the crowd had just witnessed his power with their own eyes. To be precise, almost no one had actually been able to track his movements through the Overlord’s Armor, but the outcome of the battle was convincing enough to settle any doubts.
"Furthermore, while he fell to Noise the Immovable, Crimson Rei fought him as an equal! Many of you in the Bestia Empire are already familiar with his name. Therefore, there is no cause for concern!"
Daskar felt a sharp sting of being outplayed. The Emperor’s speech was a masterful tapestry of truth and fabrication. By framing it that way, he had created the public impression that Reiji Saiki was an ally ready to defend the capital. Having been proclaimed a hero before such a massive crowd, Reiji could hardly refuse now without inviting significant political trouble.
"Equal, huh? I wonder if he genuinely believes that... No, he’s definitely saying it with full awareness of the lie," Elk muttered. He was scoffing at the claim that Reiji had fought Noise as an equal. While Noise had exerted himself more than in previous matches, he had been nowhere near his full strength. The idea that they were peers was an absurdity.
The Emperor is shrewd, Daskar thought. He doesn't hesitate to press any available strength into his service.
"It is currently too dangerous to venture outside," Trajist continued. "I ask that you all remain here until this disturbance has been quelled. I shall stay here with you, so you have nothing to fear. Fortunately, the award ceremony hasn't even begun. We can hardly abandon the tournament's conclusion now, can we?"
The stands buzzed again at his bold declaration. Even the VIP boxes were no exception. Only those well-acquainted with the Emperor’s character remained unphased; guests from neighboring nations simply stared, dumbfounded by his audacity.
"So that’s the Emperor of the Bestia Empire. I didn't expect him to volunteer to stay," Elk remarked.
Daskar gave a small shrug. "Honestly, staying here is probably safer than trying to reach the castle through city streets in the middle of a riot. From a pragmatic standpoint, it’s the right call."
"However, unlike the castle, this arena lacks proper fortifications," Min pointed out. "Is it really secure enough?"
"I take your point, Min," Daskar replied. "But what it lacks in walls, it makes up for with Noise. And now that the Emperor has effectively cornered Reiji into acting, he’s here too. With those two on-site, this place is arguably more secure than the castle."
Daskar lowered his voice, waiting until the surrounding nobles were sufficiently distracted by their own chatter. "So, what do you think? Is it finally happening?"
"Yes," Min whispered. "I have no doubt this is the work of the Third Prince Faction. They likely intended to extract the prince from house arrest in secret, but..."
"But they were spotted and things turned violent," Daskar finished with a nod. "Which means we’re about to get very busy. We should prepare to vacate the Eternal Sky Inn the moment we can. Knowing Reiji, he’ll likely throw his lot in with Theoreme once the dust from this particular commotion settles."
"My, is this all according to your design, Lord Daskar?" Min asked with a teasing glint in her eye.
Daskar offered a dry smile. "Hardly. If I had that kind of reach, my life would be much easier. This is entirely out of my hands. My only concern now is how long we’re expected to sit in these seats."
"We’ll be here for a while," Min said. "Reiji is part of the ceremony, after all. As his patrons and associates, we can’t exactly slip out early. Not while Emperor Trajist himself is still in the building."
As if on cue, shimmering bubbles began to drift from the players' entrance—a fantastical sight they had seen several times during the tournament, but one that never failed to captivate. The iridescent spheres gleamed brilliantly under the harsh summer sun. Two figures emerged through the haze.
The first was the champion and the hero of the empire, the S-Rank adventurer Noise the Immovable. He wore the same gear he’d used in the finals, and his equipment remained pristine—a silent testament to the fact that he had triumphed over Reiji with virtually no injuries. A thunderous roar of approval erupted the moment he stepped into view.
Reiji Saiki followed close behind. While the cheers for him were not as deafening as those for Noise, they were still surprisingly loud. Daskar noted this with interest. Reiji had certainly gained supporters as he climbed the brackets, but this level of reception was new. It seemed the Emperor’s public endorsement had already begun to work its magic.
Both men ascended the stage, still carrying their weapons. Under normal circumstances, appearing armed before the Emperor was strictly forbidden, but given the festive nature of the tournament, an exception had been made. From Trajist’s perspective, he had no reason to fear his friend Noise, and even if Reiji intended harm, Noise was there to neutralize him. It was a calculated display of imperial trust toward the champion and runner-up.
"Champion of the fighting tournament, S-Rank adventurer Noise the Immovable, step forward!" a noble official announced, taking over for the commentator. Noise stepped toward the center of the stage, where the high-ranking members of the Management Committee were gathered. He stood there, motionless and silent. The crowd began to murmur. Normally, a subject would kneel and bow toward the imperial box, but Noise merely stood his ground, his eyes fixed on Trajist.
"Noise, you are in the Emperor's presence. Kneel," the official hissed. Noise ignored him, maintaining eye contact with his old friend. A heavy silence descended over the arena for a full minute before it was broken by Trajist’s booming, jovial laughter.
"Your Majesty!?" the official stammered.
"Peace," Trajist said, his amusement clear. "This man is one of only three S-Rank adventurers in existence. He is a being who has transcended humanity. As such, he has no need to bow his head even to me."
It was a half-truth; Trajist simply had no desire to see his friend act like a servant. Regardless, with the Emperor’s blessing, the official had no choice but to proceed. "Noise, champion of the tournament. What is your heart's desire as your victory prize?"
The arena fell still. What could a man like Noise possibly want? Fame? He already had it. Wealth? He was already rich. A position in the government? Unlikely for a man of his temperament. Most guessed he would ask for a powerful magic item. If it were Reiji, that might have been the case, but Noise had something else in mind.
Noise continued to stare at Trajist, a silent message passing between them. The Emperor knew exactly what his friend craved: stimulation—the kind of life-or-death stimulation that was impossible to find in civilized lands. For Noise, the battle with Reiji had been the only real reward of the tournament. Now, he wanted more.
"I request permission to explore the Mountain of Magic," Noise declared.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The Mountain of Magic was a treacherous frontier on the edge of the empire, home to Rank A and B monsters—and rumored S-Rank dragons. It was a place much like the Forest of Magic where Reiji had first appeared. Reiji, watching from the wings, understood immediately. To a man like Noise, nothing less than a death-trap would suffice. Trajist met his friend's gaze and gave a slow, solemn nod of approval.