Chapter 161

Chapter 162. Can You Feel the Difference in Power? (1)

The second match of the Southern Sword Tournament, the team tournament, has begun.

While the first match, the Battle Royale, had the arena and spectator seats separated, the team tournament was structured to be more intuitive. Ordinary citizens and nobles watched the matches in the same space. Of course, the nobles’ spectator seats were much more spacious and comfortable.

The anticipation and excitement of the citizens, who had waited for a week, pierced through the ceiling. They clamored, wanting to watch the match as soon as possible, down to the very second.

However, the atmosphere among the nobles was quite different.

“……”

It wasn’t just one or two nobles; the attitude of all the nobles was strange.

Their eyes weren’t filled with anticipation for the match. Instead, they kept glancing around with eyes mixed with discomfort and unease, sitting on the edge of their seats as if ready to stand up at any moment. It was a reaction akin to a child being forced to go somewhere they didn’t want to be.

“Brother, the atmosphere feels off.”

In the spectator seats reserved for Sephira, Mail, Taragon, and Catherine were seated.

At Taragon’s words, Mail spoke without turning his gaze.

“Pretend you don’t notice for now. Lady Catherine.”

“Yes.”

“Find out why the nobles are so restless.”

“Yes.”

Mail and his brothers had spent the entire week solely preparing for the tournament. Thus, they had no idea what was happening outside.

Mail bit his nails.

‘What’s going on? Why can’t they focus on the tournament and are acting like this? Did something happen?’

If only a few nobles were acting this way, Mail wouldn’t feel uneasy. But almost all the nobles were showing the same behavior.

Mail suddenly recalled the soldiers stationed outside the arena. At the time, he had dismissed them as simply being there for security, but seeing the nobles’ attitudes, he realized.

‘No. They’re not the security forces. They’re private soldiers. The nobles’ private soldiers.’

Looking back, their uniforms were all different.

Therefore, they weren’t the city’s security forces. The nobles had called their own guard forces to this direct jurisdiction, and to the arena closest to them.

‘Why? Why suddenly? It can’t be because of us…’

Mail glanced at the nobles.

Few. Few nobles who were concerned about Sephira.

Of course, there were nobles who had been glancing at Sephira all along, but there was no particular sense of ‘hostility’ from them.

This was clearly a good thing, but Mail felt a sense of foreboding.

‘Something is happening, and we’re the only ones who don’t know. Damn it. My brothers are focused on the tournament, so it’s natural, but I should have been more alert.’

The easiest way was to ask the other nobles. Why are they acting like this?

But would any noble actually tell if asked?

‘Calm down. If I act impatient here, I’ll only look more foolish. Trust Catherine and wait. Above all, at least nothing will happen during the tournament.’

Knowing that the more impatient you are, the more likely you are to mess things up, Mail took a deep breath.

At that moment, the teams and matchups for the team tournament were announced.

The team tournament was divided into Group A and Group B, with four members per team.

Keter and Anis’s team in Group A was below average. The officials had clearly stated that the teams were randomly drawn, but…

‘How is it that only Keter and Anis’s team ended up with 2-Star Knights?’

But it was strange. If it were truly a deliberate manipulation, Taragon’s team should have been a mess too, but it wasn’t.

Taragon’s team was strong, with two 3-Star Knights and one 4-Star Knight.

‘Was I being too sensitive? No, it was a reasonable suspicion.’

Mail didn’t let go of his tension. After all, hadn’t they suddenly added rules unfavorable to archers during the Battle Royale?

After examining the entire match schedule, Mail tilted his head.

“The match schedule itself… seems fine. The rules haven’t changed either.”

He had worried that strong players might have been deliberately concentrated in one team or that the schedule might have been unfairly set against Sephira.

But, as if to make such worries meaningless, the composition of the other teams seemed truly random, and the schedule had no particular peculiarities.

“In Group A, Sir Rajis and Lady Henya are the biggest threats.”

The threats in Group B were the Red Wolf Pasian, the Dragon Spear Jordic, and the newly rising Norman of the Shadabon family.

While Mail was calmly analyzing the strengths, the citizens were only focused on who was fighting whom.

“The Sword Dragon and the Sword Witch are facing off!”

“What will happen to Keter’s team? Can he single-handedly win and advance?”

“If that happens, the final will be between the Sword Dragon or the Sword Witch!”

“The Sword Witch lost to Keter once. I hope the Sword Dragon faces Keter in the final.”

Then, the long-awaited announcer appeared and announced the start of the team tournament.

The excitement grew even hotter. It was an intense heat that could push away the chilly autumn wind.

* * *

The matches began quickly. The two groups of four-member teams fiercely clashed.

Unlike the Battle Royale, there was nowhere to run, and the match only ended when all opponents were defeated or surrendered.

A thrilling battle that started and ended with the fights the audience wanted.

This was being broadcast in real-time not only to the citizens and nobles in the spectator seats but also to the players in the waiting rooms via screens.

In the team tournament, each team gathered in one waiting room, but it wasn’t impossible to have a personal waiting room if desired.

Thus, Keter had applied for a personal waiting room and was now resting alone, leaving his team behind.

“Phew……”

In front of Keter’s waiting room, a man let out a deep sigh. His uniquely ugly appearance made it very easy to recognize who he was.

The Sword Dragon Rajis.

With a determined face, he took another deep breath and grabbed the doorknob.

“Excuse me.”

“……!”

At the sudden voice from behind, Rajis instinctively drew his sword and swung it.

It was a lightning-fast draw, but-

“Whoa, that was close.”

A man who dodged it with a relaxed tone.

Rajis was tense.

‘I was caught from behind? And he dodged my draw?’

Rajis had drawn his sword but didn’t follow up with an attack. The moment he realized he was caught from behind, his sword had instinctively moved, but the voice from behind was familiar.

Turning around, Rajis confirmed that the person standing there was indeed who he expected.

“Sir Norman……!”

“The Sword Dragon remembers my name. It’s an honor.”

The man who playfully bowed in greeting was Norman of the Shadabon family.

In the Battle Royale, he had followed Keter, provoked him, and shown ruthless skill and personality, making him a rising powerhouse.

“What brings you to me?”

“Ah, I have no particular business with you, Sir Rajis. I’m just here to see Keter.”

“Keter…?”

“Yes. So, would you mind stepping aside?”

“…I also have something to say to Sir Keter. So, it would be best for you to wait your turn.”

“I’m not that idle of a person.”

“…….”

Rajis glared at Norman.

Norman didn’t avert his gaze.

It was clear that neither would back down. Then, there was only one thing to do. Settle the hierarchy by force.

Rajis had already drawn his sword and loosely held it.

Norman wasn’t even carrying a sword, but that didn’t mean he could be careless. The divine power he had shown was enough to draw an Aura Sword.

Tension filled the air. The kind of tension where even the slightest trigger could lead to a sword fight at any moment-

“Keter is very popular.”

At the voice of a third party, Rajis and Norman were startled and turned their heads.

Then, their expressions immediately twisted.

‘I was definitely on high alert this time… How did I not sense his presence?’

‘What is this guy? I didn’t even know he was there until he spoke…’

A man in a white suit, Kai, looked at Rajis and Norman alternately and spoke.

“Don’t block the way, would you mind stepping aside? I have business with the person in that room.”

“…Who are you?”

Rajis half-turned his body, taking a stance to guard against both Kai and Norman. Norman did the same.

“I’m Hansen, the owner of a small trading company. I know both of your names, so no need to introduce yourselves.”

Whoosh!

An Aura Sword emerged from Norman’s right hand, pointing at Hansen.

“How does a mere trading company owner possess power surpassing a Master?”

“Put away your Aura Sword, Sir Norman!”

Rajis warned by pointing his sword at Norman’s neck, but Norman ignored him.

Kai shook his head.

“Is there a need for such meaningless threats? I find your existence interesting, but I’m not curious. I’m not curious about your motives either. But if you block my way, I’ll have no choice but to take an interest.”

“…….”

At this, Norman put away his Aura Sword. However, he didn’t step aside.

Rajis was the same, not budging from in front of Keter’s waiting room door.

“Gentlemen, I’ll make one last proposal. I have urgent business with Prince Keter, so would you mind… stepping aside?”

His tone was polite, but the intangible killing intent emanating from his entire body pressured Rajis and Norman.

“……!”

“…….”

Others might not, but both of them had lived lives without backing down. They would accept a concession if given, but if it came to a fight, they would fight, never yielding to force.

But Kai, who had issued the final ultimatum, also didn’t have time to waste here.

Swish.

Kai’s hand rose.

Naturally, Rajis and Norman also took their stances.

At that moment-

Creak.

“What’s going on, you guys?”

Keter, who had been in the waiting room, opened the door and looked at the three of them.

* * *

“You’re all lucky. How did you know I was drinking this?”

Glug glug glug.

Wine from a crystal bottle that looked expensive was poured into wooden cups. There were three cups in total.

“……”

Three people sat side by side on the sofa.

Kai, Rajis, Norman.

The sight of these three, each with different backgrounds, personalities, and circumstances, sitting together was chaos itself.

But not as chaotic as the scene in this waiting room.

“Ughhh……”

The chair Keter was sitting on spoke.

Naturally. It wasn’t a chair, but a person.

Even the table was a person. A man in black clothes, his face tightly wrapped in a mask. His face was swollen like a steamed bun from how much he had been beaten.

“What on earth happened, Sir Keter.”

There were also men in black clothes scattered around the waiting room. All of them were battered.

Keter, gulping down the wine straight from the bottle, answered nonchalantly.

“Huh? Never seen assassins before?”

“…Well, that’s not it.”

There were four assassins.

The surprising thing was, no one had died.

‘It would have been better if they had died.’

Their bodies were twisted in such grotesque ways that it was a miracle they were still alive. Writhing like worms, they didn’t even look human.

But they were assassins targeting a noble’s life. Keter’s actions didn’t seem cruel.

‘That’s not the problem.’

Though momentarily distracted by the assassins, the important matter was something else.

“Why did you call all of us here?”

At Rajis’s words, Kai and Norman on either side also nodded.

Keter, absurdly, had invited all three who were at the door.

Of course, at first, they had all stubbornly refused. They had come for the most important matter. So, they should talk to him first.

“If you don’t like it, leave.”

But at Keter’s words, no one left. In the end, all three joined him in the waiting room.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?”

“……?”

“You came because you have business with me, right? Go ahead. Whatever it is.”

“Prince Keter. Are you saying to discuss private matters in front of these two?”

Kai spoke to Keter. Outwardly, he was a trading company owner, but his true identity was the Empire’s Special Operations Unit. Naturally, he hadn’t come to chat about trivial matters with Keter. He had important business.

Coincidentally, Rajis was the same.

“I feel the same. This is a matter that others shouldn’t hear.”

Norman wasn’t in such a situation. He had simply come to ask Keter something, so he was more at ease than the other two.

“I don’t mind, so I’ll speak first.”

Norman stood up without seeking agreement.

Kai and Rajis didn’t like Norman taking the lead, but with Keter gesturing for him to go ahead, they had no choice.

Instead, since it had come to this, they watched Norman with curiosity.

What was Norman’s purpose in seeking out Keter? Why was he so fixated on Keter? Perhaps they could find out the reason here.

“Prince Keter. Why are you ignoring me?”

Norman’s question was quite strange.

Rajis and Kai naturally didn’t understand.

Of course, neither did Keter.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You clearly had time. During the long week, why didn’t you investigate me?”

“So, you’re throwing a tantrum because you wanted attention but didn’t get it.”

“……”

“Ah, it’s all about the mood. Do you want to know why I’m not interested in you? If you want to hear it, drink first.”

Keter handed over a wooden cup filled with wine. Norman took it and downed it in one go.

Keter, grinning, continued.

“There’s someone who knows you very well. That person will tell you.”

“No such person exists.”

“Why not? He’s right here. The person who knows you best.”

Keter pointed at Norman with the wine bottle.

Understanding the implication, Norman’s face twisted fiercely.