I woke up and repeated my daily routine, locked the apartment, and headed towards the Hunters Association. Since I was participating on their behalf, they had already inserted my name into the tournament, so I didn't need to go early to enroll.
"Associations sure are convenient."
Since I was in a good mood, I decided to take a stroll instead of rushing. As I walked through the streets, I noticed the crowd was thicker than usual. It was easy to guess why—everyone seemed excited about the tournament.
I tried weaving my way through the bustling streets, but it was taking too long. Frustrated, I quickened my pace. Some people started recognizing me, their murmurs growing louder. In the end, I activated [Flight].
I soared into the sky, feeling the sun's warmth as I flew above the clouds. The noise and chaos below faded into peaceful silence.
As I enjoyed the serenity, a buzz came from my pocket. I pulled out my vibrating phone and saw an incoming call from an unknown number. I answered it, only to hear the violent voice of a teenager shouting on the other end.
"Hey, where the hell are you!? Look at the time!" Eirin's voice thundered through the phone, nearly tearing my eardrums.
"Calm down, you moron. And by the way, I'm older than you, so show some respect."
"Just get here early," Eirin snapped, completely ignoring my comment before abruptly hanging up.
As the call ended, I increased my speed and flew directly to the Hunters Association. Upon arrival, I headed straight to the chairman's office.
Pushing the door open, I found three people sitting inside. The chairman, however, was absent.
The moment Eirin saw me, he lunged forward with a punch. I caught his fist effortlessly, making sure to avoid any unnecessary damage to the surroundings.
"You're in high spirits today, aren't you?" I remarked with a smirk.
"Well, today's the day I'm going to beat you! Just so you know, I was holding back quite a bit last time," Eirin retorted, pulling back his fist.
"I'll be waiting, then," I replied calmly.
I then greeted Ethan and Mr. Miller. This tournament allowed anyone to participate, even those above fifty, as long as they were hunters.
"Good morning, Mr. Miller," I said politely.
"Good morning, Mr. Zephyr," he replied with a warm smile.
"That day, we didn't get the chance to spar. In this tournament, please teach this young one," I said with a small nod.
"At this point, I'm just praying I don't face you," Mr. Miller responded, forcing a smile. There was something off about him—like he was hiding something, perhaps burdened with guilt.
Shortly after, Eirin and I departed for the stadium in a sleek black car. Eirin was practically buzzing with excitement, unable to sit still.
When we arrived at the stadium, a massive crowd had gathered at the entrance. Reporters swarmed the area, eager for a scoop.
"Hey, look! Two geniuses in one car!" a man in shady clothes yelled, drawing the attention of the crowd.
As soon as the reporters heard the shout, a swarm of them rushed toward us, their questions flying in from every direction. Finding the situation unbearable, I decided to vanish from the spot, leaving the chaos behind.
"Hey, wait for me! Where are you going?" Eirin called out, visibly annoyed at being left alone to face the reporters.
"Sorry, but I'll have to go," he muttered before vanishing as well, using the same method to escape.
I entered the stadium, with Eirin following closely behind. The platform for the actual battles was positioned at the center, an impressive arena surrounded by roaring crowds.
Looking around, I noticed the chairman seated opposite me, inside an elevated glass-protected room that offered a clear view of everything happening in the stadium.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen! As the emcee of this tournament, I welcome you all!" The emcee announced enthusiastically, his voice booming through the mic and igniting cheers from the crowd.
"I assumed there would be quite a bit of audience, but I didn't imagine it would be this massive," I said to Eirin, feeling a flicker of excitement.
"That's the influence of the Hunters Association for you," Eirin replied with a smirk. "I'll get going now since the first match is mine."
With that, Eirin left, heading toward the preparation area. I took a seat among the crowd, blending in effortlessly. The spectators were too engrossed in the event to notice me.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is finally over! Let the tournament begin with our first match!" the emcee declared, sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers and applause.
"On the left, we have Corban Drell, a hunter hailing from Cobalt City! And on the right, we have the renowned hunter, Eirin Laufey, son of none other than the Unyielding Shield, also from Cobalt City!"
The crowd's energy surged as they roared in excitement, eager for the match to start.
The crowd cheered wildly, their voices growing louder as both hunters stepped onto the stage from opposite entrances. On the left, Corban Drell wielded a short sword, his stance firm and ready. Opposite him, Eirin stood barehanded, exuding confidence.
The results were predictable. Eirin overwhelmed his opponent with sheer speed, moving too fast for Corban to react. Within moments, the referee raised his hand and declared Eirin the winner, securing his place in the next round.
"What a stunning display of power! Yet again, the Laufey family proves that their bloodline is nothing short of monstrous!" the emcee exclaimed, his words amplifying the crowd's enthusiasm.
The stadium erupted into another wave of cheers. Girls in the audience fawned over Eirin, with one even shouting that she was his forgotten wife.
The emcee's statement highlighted the Laufey family's carefully crafted public image. They were portrayed as noble and untouchable, a reputation meticulously manipulated by the media over the years.
"Now, let's move on to the next match of the day! On one side, we have Ogyxen Noze, and on the other...we have Lyra Elowen!" the emcee announced with enthusiasm, though the crowd's cheers weren't as loud as before.
From one entrance, a middle-aged male hunter stepped onto the stage, his demeanor calm but focused. From the other side, near where I was sitting, a tall, stunning teenage girl appeared. Her graceful stride and captivating presence drew every eye in the stadium.
Her hair was styled elegantly, pinned up with a chopstick, and she wore a casual top paired with fitting trousers. A mask concealed the lower half of her face, adding an air of mystery to her beauty.
The murmurs among the men grew louder as they were clearly captivated by her appearance. As she made her way toward the fighting platform, she paused and turned her head in my direction. Her gaze swept the crowd as though searching for something—or someone.
Our eyes locked. Her expression was fierce, while mine remained calm and amused. Despite the distance, I felt the fiery intensity radiating from her.
Our constant state remained, until the referee's call broke her focus. She turned back, stepping onto the fighting platform to begin the match.
"Interesting. Very interesting," I muttered to myself, my curiosity piqued.
The match began, and my guess about her opponent being a C-rank proved correct. However, she completely obliterated him with a single punch, sending him flying out of the arena. One of the tournament's knockout rules was clear—leaving the fighting ground meant an automatic loss.
"It seems this lady is not someone to mess with, boys," the emcee announced, his tone laced with humor.
At his words, she turned her gaze toward the crowd. Many of the men began sweating under her intense glare, creating a comical scene that even drew a few chuckles from me.
"Now, moving on to the third round! On one side, we have the mysterious rookie rumored to be a potential S-rank hunter, Zephyr Aetheris! And on the other side, we have another hunter from the E-rank city! Sit tight, ladies and gentlemen, because this match is going to be breathtaking!"
As the emcee hyped up the crowd, I stood from my seat and activated [Flight], effortlessly landing at the center of the fighting ground. From the opposite side, a man about the same age as Mr.Miller—around thirty-two—walked in. He was clad in golden, shining armor that caught the light, giving him an imposing presence.
"Looks like he's from a large guild," I muttered preparing to charge.
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Enjoy...