Somehow, we managed to secure victory in the opening match.
Our main party and the gentlemen were sprawled out in the seats, watching the games that followed.
"Ah~ If only our opponent hadn't been the lord's forces, we might have climbed higher..."
Chain muttered under his breath, rolling an egg over his bruised eye, while Junior fidgeted, not knowing what to do next.
It seems Chain took a hefty blow from Junior's magic as they bickered.
"Still, to have been defeated by this group of five, known as the strongest frontline force, we can consider it an honorable defeat."
"Yeah, right. Just one round and I'm sore all over. Better to be knocked out in the first round and watch the games in peace."
Though Torkel and Zenis spoke lightly, Dearmudin and Nobody wore sullen expressions.
"It felt like a match worth attempting... The talent of the youth is terrifying..."
"The audacity of the youth is just as frightening. Did you see Prince Ash swinging that flagpole, trying to beat me to death? Seems like he had quite a bit of pent-up resentment against me..."
Dearmudin sent a sharp glance, to which I waved my hands dismissively.
"No, that couldn't be helped! We had to win! It's a martial arts tournament, after all!"
"Fine, fine. I understand now. You always wanted to swat me away with that flagpole, huh? Sigh, they say you should die before you get old..."
"Argh! This won't do, kids! Go grab some street food and drinks! We need to treat the Ivory Tower lord!"
As we were appeasing the sulking Dearmudin and the gentlemen who were downcast from their loss, by offering them drinks and food.
The next match started. Evangeline gasped at the sight.
"Whoa, that party is...?"
Looking at the bracket, the participating party name was... 'Terrifying Sisters'.
The members entering the arena lived up to their party name, indeed terrifying.
The Funeral Swordsman, known more famously by her epithet than her SSR rank, a maid with gunmetal blue hair carrying a Sword Coffin. Elize.
The leader of the Holy Knight Division, a SSR rank healer in light blond hair and black priestly robes, Rosetta.
And...
"No, I never intended to join something like the dragon-slaying quest!"
Violet, a SR rank illusionist affiliated with the Gambler's Club, dressed in a summer suit with a top hat and lavender hair, was being dragged along by the other two, seemingly against her will.
"I don't want to participate in this! I prefer the safety of the backlines! Let go of me, let go!"
Violet genuinely seemed reluctant, flailing her limbs in resistance, but as soon as Elize and Rosetta glared at her menacingly, she shut up and stopped resisting.
"Miss Violet. Did we ask for something difficult? Eh? Is that all our relationship amounts to?"
Elize uttered menacingly, followed by Rosetta with a deceivingly kind smile.
"There's no need for you to be at the forefront. Just timely deploy your illusionary domain from the back. We kindly asked you, yet you persist, then we have no choice but to settle your accumulated heresy points..."
"Aaaaah! Fine, fine! I get it, just please, not the heresy points settlement!"
Violet cried out. When did you even accumulate so much heresy points?
Following them was SR rank psychokinesis user, Bodybag, entering with an awkward smile.
Thanks to mingling with the Terrifying Sisters, her demeanor seemed much brighter.
And then... at the back of this party.
Step by step.
A woman with long white hair tied back into a ponytail followed with light footsteps - Nameless was seen.
"...?"
Huh?
My mouth hung open, and, a beat later, the other heroes did the same. Why are you here again?!
Nameless had been forced into a rest period at Crossroad after the battle against the King of Flies.
She, who claimed to not sleep well in the Lake Kingdom, strangely found peace in Crossroad, perhaps due to Aider's presence and some trickery on his part.
Anyway, I had desperately pleaded with her to stay until the festival, concocting some reason about needing help with reconstruction efforts.
So I knew she had been mingling here and there around Crossroad...
'But to actually participate in a martial arts tournament?!'
You're a character that breaks the balance! Hey! Take it easy!
Nameless faced the stirring heroes with an innocent—and somewhat shy—demeanor, unlike her usual scruffy robe, now clad in ordinary light leather armor, looking not like the last watcher of a cursed kingdom, but just another adventurer.
Anyway, as the Terrifying Sisters made their entrance to the arena and spotted us, they dangerously leaned towards the stands.
We instinctively gasped and recoiled.
"Oh, you're here, President."
Rosetta spoke menacingly, and Elize followed with a dangerous chuckle. Bodybag and Nameless smiled awkwardly.
The 'President' they referred to was undoubtedly Evangeline.
Evangeline screamed, attempting to flee, but Rosetta and Elize quickly reached out, firmly grabbing her shoulders.
"When you called the party together for this martial arts tournament, you said..."
"You sneakily slipped away and joined Prince Ash's party, huh? Keke..."
Evangeline avoided their gazes with her trembling emerald eyes, sweating profusely.
I too broke out in a cold sweat. So there was this backstory?
"Ah, no! I, for the sake of our group's future! As the president, I aimed for victory here, while the group could aim for victory separately! If one of the two teams wins, it increases our chances of winning..."
Elize suddenly leaned in and blew a gust of air into Evangeline's ear, interrupting her rambling.
"Eeek?!"
Evangeline shivered as Rosetta whispered ominously.
"Since you've moved to a different party, make sure you win, President. If you don't win..."
"What if I don't?"
"Well, who knows what the future holds. Just know that there are many members eyeing the 'President' title like hungry tigers. Hehe."
After leaving those meaningful words behind, the Terrifying Sisters headed towards the arena...
Evangeline, her complexion pallid and trembling, cried out in desperation.
"Don't joke around! Do you have any idea how hard I worked for this position as president...! How bitter the struggle has been! You think I'd just hand it over?"
Evangeline's fighting spirit flared noticeably at the thought of the presidency she was so earnestly devoted to. Well, motivation is good, I suppose.
"Anyway, it seems we suddenly have championship-level strength on our side..."
Elize, Rosetta, and Bodybag alone constitute a formidable elite force.
Not to mention Violet, a non-combatant always prone to complaints yet undeniably talented as an illusionist, and even Nameless.
As expected, these five swiftly dominated their first match, leaving the arena with triumphant expressions. The Terrifying Sisters, indeed a terrifying combination...
Following that, a series of interesting parties with unique compositions emerged.
Heroes executed matches with unprecedented combinations, tactics, and strategies, displaying their creativity and competitive spirit.
From the start, some teams didn't even glance at their opponents, rushing straight for the Fake Dragon, or coordinating in advance to join forces with another team to seek out its weak point, or digging into the arena's dirt to hastily construct fortifications, or even offering bribes(!) to Lily, who was controlling the Fake Dragon...
Such inventive matches unfolded, showcasing our heroes' creativity. It's unsettling how they all seem to be taking after my knack for finding loopholes.
As someone tasked with tactical assessment, I watched every match closely, noting the participating heroes' skill levels, potential, and performance.
Among them, one particularly striking party stood out.
"The 'Outsiders', newly formed."
King Poseidon of the Merfolk introduced themselves.
Originally, the 'Outsiders' was a meeting group for the four major non-human races to discuss their affairs.
The party members participating in the martial arts tournament included King Poseidon, Kuilan, Kellibey, and Verdandi.
Kellison and Queen Skuld were replaced by Kellibey and Verdandi.
And the last member was...
"Why, why am I here...?"
Hannibal, an N-rank spirit magician and enchanter, shuffled nervously, his presence all the more conspicuous among the imposing figures representing the four major non-human races. He wriggled and hid behind Kellibey.
Then King Poseidon laughed heartily, stroking his blue beard.
"You're an outsider too, aren't you?"
Hannibal, representing the 'Halfblood' community of hybrids, certainly qualified.
A representative of the four major non-human races and the hybrid community. They truly fit the name 'Outsiders'...
"Wooo! Go, my son, Hannibal! Fight on!"
Zenis, who had been trembling just moments before Rosetta approached, now boisterously cheered for Hannibal as he entered the arena, even waving cheerleaders' pom-poms.
Hannibal blushed deeply and curled up even more. Ah, I know that feeling. Embarrassed by your dad making a scene at the sports day but also kinda not hating it...
In any case, the 'Outsiders', fittingly a party of five kings, quickly dominated their first match and won, flaunting their championship-level strength and receiving overwhelming support from various races as they proudly exited. Why are there so many strong teams?
And then, the next championship-contending team to enter was.
"Hahaha! Has my turn finally come?"
Dusk Bringar.
And her command, the Dragonblood Knights.
Dusk Bringar entered the arena in full armor.
Though she typically eschewed armor, this time she was fully clad in crimson armor, matching her knights.
Her usually disheveled long black hair was neatly braided and wrapped around her neck, presenting a more splendid and valiant appearance than ever.
"The champion of last autumn's festival martial arts tournament, Dusk Bringar herself, has arrived to claim victory once again!"
Since there was no festival last autumn, she is indeed the champion from two years ago.
The audience erupted in cheers at the champion's entrance.
Closing her eyes, Dusk Bringar savored the cheers and then shot me a sly smile. I smiled back wryly.
Dusk Bringar, more serious and ready for battle than ever.
I noticed the crown on her head.
The silver crown, a symbol of sovereignty over the Bringar Duchy, had been dented by a dragon's assault but had since been skillfully restored by Kellibey.
Though restored, upon closer inspection, the cracks, fissures, and deformed shape remained, scars of the past.
A precarious Dragon Lady.
I quietly observed as the Dragonblood Knights swiftly won their first match and Dusk Bringar laughed brightly amidst the applause and cheers.
Yet, my mind was not truly in the arena. Unbeknownst to me, I was envisioning the dragon-slaying quest.
"Sigh."
And I made a new resolve.
In this martial arts tournament, no matter what, our main party must defeat the Dragonblood Knights.
Only then can I maintain command over the dragon-slaying quest, and only then...
...can I ensure Dusk Bringar is excluded from the dragon-slaying quest.
***
The martial arts tournament continued, reaching early afternoon past lunchtime.
Finally, the last championship-contending team entered the arena.
"The sunlight is quite intense."
A woman in a white dress, holding a white parasol and with beige hair flowing down her back.
SSR-rank swordsman, Hecate.
Following her, four knights clad in pitch-black armor.
The Imperial Guards, the Glory Knights, made their first appearance on the battlefield.
Adjusting her wide-brimmed hat, Hecate murmured in a voice as if about to extinguish.
"Too bright a time for specters to dance..."