Chapter 100

“Hey, sister.”

The Dwarf Representative may or may not have been shedding tears of gratitude as the Hero approached me and whispered something into my ear with a tiny voice, completely ignoring their emotional display.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“The reward you mentioned earlier will indeed be glorious for our race, but it seems inadequate as a personal reward for the victors.”

“Hm… Is that so?”

I questioned, and the Hero gave a slight nod.

“Yes. Since they’re the ones who directly claimed victory, I believe there should also be rewards tailored specifically for them.”

“Hm… That’s troublesome. Can’t they just take whatever they want and call it a day?”

“It would be better to have an official reward.”

Sighing softly at the Hero’s words, I had to admit they were right. There really should be some form of reward for those who fought hard and emerged victorious in the blood battle.

So…

“Stop your blubbering and get a grip.”

“Kyaa!”

I shoved the weeping Dwarf Representative back, causing them to tumble like a turtle flipped on its shell.

“What kind of gift do you think would be appropriate for the representatives of the victorious races?”

“Me? Me?”

“Don’t you think there should be something special for the winners? After all, you’ve achieved victory.”

Trying to brush it off as too much effort, I couldn’t ignore the Hero’s insistence. Hmm…

“R-rewards? We already have more than enough! Truly, it’s plenty!”

Their tone was uncertain—was it genuine humility or mere pretense? Either way, they insisted no further rewards were necessary.

But that wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear.

“When you decide to accept it, consult with the others quickly. This decision will set a precedent not just for ten years, but beyond.”

I didn’t want to repeatedly ask each champion what they desired. A one-time deal would be far simpler.

“Y-yes, I’ll go discuss this with the others.”

“And remember, the Elves might win next time, so don’t choose something that only benefits your Dwarves. It wouldn’t hurt to consult with them either.”

If only these former adversaries could now collaborate amicably!

Though laced with a bit of spite, my suggestion seemed well-received.

“Longevity isn’t bad, but it holds little meaning for Elves like us.”

“Youngness doesn’t make much difference for us either. Neither for Dwarves. Hm… Would be strange if beards disappeared upon rejuvenation, wouldn’t it? They aren’t born without beards, after all.”

“That’s unacceptable! How about… something more neutral, like a general blessing?”

“A blessing, huh. Not just for us, but for our descendants too. We must be cautious.”

Why are they getting along so well all of a sudden?

Shouldn’t they be taunting each other over victories or arguing about future competitions? Why such camaraderie?

After consulting amicably…

“May the Goddess of Life bless us generously.”

“Blessing?”

Hmm, they picked something surprisingly generic.

Blessings are rather vague as rewards. It’d be better if they specified what exactly they wanted—like immunity from diseases, extended lifespans, etc. Just saying “bless us” leaves me clueless on what to grant.

“Any specific requests?”

“Just… something that makes our bodies feel amazing, perhaps?”

“Too vague…”

I sighed again at the slumped-over Dwarf Representative.

“In that case, how about enhancing vitality? With a 10-year limit.”

“Enhanced vitality… What benefits does it provide?”

“It extends lifespan, quickens healing, boosts disease resistance, and improves physical capabilities. A reliable, all-around beneficial blessing. Though nothing extraordinary.”

It’s a safe choice, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s truly satisfactory.

“Even this much is sufficient. We’ve already obtained honor and glory; desiring more would be greedy.”

The Dwarf Representative’s statement received nods of agreement from the others.

“Well then… I shall enchant this Trophy of Glory. When the champions lift it together, they’ll receive the blessing.”

“But if someone unworthy attempts to lift it, the blessing will turn into a curse.”

And as a bonus, any thief attempting to steal it will get a nasty surprise.

“Thus, the potential war between Elves and Dwarves transformed into a contest of racial pride.”

“By the way, the Elves won last time. Heheh.”

“Not this year! This year will be different!!”

The Dwarf girl added to the Elf girl’s comment, prompting the latter to shout excitedly.

“Even amidst chaos caused by the Demon King, you’re still holding inter-racial competitions?”

“This situation demands even more unity.”

A deep voice from the side explained to the boy.

“We must show the world that despite the Demon King’s disruption, our races remain strong.”

“That’s just boasting.”

The horned silver-haired girl chimed in, earning a silent pat on the head from the Lizardman, who then handed her a candy from his pocket.

“Such talk isn’t good. Don’t say it.”

“Yes.”

The silver-haired girl accepted the candy, peeled the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth with practiced ease.

“Initially, it was supposed to be a war between Elves and Dwarves. Why did everyone else join in?”

“That’s because there’s profit involved in controlling this city.”

The boy tilted his head at the Dwarf girl’s explanation.

“Profit?”

“Yes. Temporary control over this massive city. In ancient times, prepared by the gods—a city of arenas. The city of Betelgeuse, where blood flows but lives aren’t lost.”

In ancient days, the Dragon Priestess and the Goddess of Life stopped the Elf-Dwarf war through duels, creating a non-lethal arena.

No matter the weapon or magic used, participants wouldn’t suffer fatal injuries in these intense duels.

Such spectacles became grand festivals in an entertainment-starved era, naturally drawing crowds and wealth.

From those gatherings grew villages, then cities, eventually forming a colossal metropolis with multiple arenas.

This divine arena city came to be known as Betelgeuse.

“If you could temporarily rule such a vast city, race or no race, it wouldn’t matter. But with so many skilled duelists, Elves, and Dwarves watching closely, no nation could easily claim it. Thus, the idea of winning it through competition arose.”

“Then humans complained that the 10-year interval was too long due to their shorter lifespans. After several days of meetings involving all races and the Church of Life’s higher-ups, the frequency changed to every four years. Honestly, it feels too frequent now.”

“Our Lizardmen aren’t very interested in city control. Our annual martial arts tournaments are more important. Still, facing strong opponents from other races is stimulating, so we participate.”

“By the way, Beastmen opinions vary widely, so humans forcibly grouped them together for participation. Hence, Elves, Dwarves, Lizardmen, Humans, and Beastmen compete in four teams.”

“By the way, last tournament, I almost got dragged into participating too.”

The fox-eared girl glanced down at the bustling city with mixed feelings.

“Humans. Cheaters.”

“Yeah, humans cheat. That’s just how they are.”

The Elf and Dwarf girls soothingly patted the disgruntled horned girl’s head while glaring at the human boy.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Explain it! Explain!”

“Even if I did, you wouldn’t understand. Humans cheat, period.”

Little did they know…

They would soon be embroiled in an incident where the Trophy of Glory mysteriously vanished.

– From the adventure records of a certain Hero party.