Luo Qing's spear struck true, and Jeros collapsed on the spot, knocked out cold. The medical team rushed in to carry him off the stage.
"Round One is over! The winner is Luo Qing!" the referee shouted, raising Luo Qing's hand high.
Even if the referee felt Luo Qing's victory was somewhat dishonorable, once a duel begins, there's no turning back. Jeros would have to remember in the future not to start laughing until the fight was over.
"Thank you for your support, everyone! Mwah~"
Returning the spear to its rack, Luo Qing blew a kiss to the audience below, causing a wave of disgusted expressions.
[Frustration Value from Childe +1]
[Frustration Value from Pierro +1]
[Frustration Value from Dottore +1]
[Frustration Value from Jeros +1]
[Frustration Value from Vozige +1]
[Total collected: 130 Frustration Points]
"This shameless guy got lucky! No honor in his combat."
"Yeah, yeah, what was Jeros even thinking? What could've been so funny?"
"Maybe... his wife gave birth today?"
The audience below clearly wasn't satisfied with the outcome. In their minds, Luo Qing's victory was merely luck — he took advantage of Jeros's sudden episode, which didn't seem like a fair win.
But Luo Qing didn't care. A duel is a duel, and the rules state that the match must have a winner. He had earned his victory fair and square.
Stepping down from the stage, Belov looked at him with a slightly uneasy expression.
"Hey, Luo Qing, you didn't use some kind of potion, did you? You know Childe has no tolerance for underhanded tricks."
"No way. He laughed all on his own. What does that have to do with me?" Luo Qing replied without a hint of guilt, sitting in the rest area to wait for the next round.
The tournament continued, and one by one, the competitors were called to the stage.
Soon, the first round of selections concluded.
All of Childe's trusted inner circle, except for the unlucky Jeros, easily won their matches. Their combat skills far outstripped the other candidates, leaving a noticeable gap.
After a brief rest, the second round of matches began. Apart from Luo Qing and Childe's inner circle, all other participants had sustained varying degrees of injuries, and fighting again so soon would definitely be a challenge.
"Round Two, Match One: Avtof versus Luo Qing!"
Both combatants stepped onto the stage. Avtof sneered at Luo Qing.
"Luo Qing, your luck runs out here!"
To him, Luo Qing was nothing more than a lucky fool.
Only someone like Jeros would disappoint Lord Childe at such a crucial moment. Now that it was Avtof's turn, he was determined to win within ten rounds, proving he was worthy of Childe's guidance.
"Ah... Why make this hard on yourself?"
Seeing Avtof's confidence, Luo Qing sighed. He picked up another spear from the weapons rack, then turned to Avtof with a look of feigned sorrow.
"Avtof, have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Hah! I'm a proud warrior. I don't have any sad stories. But you... you're about to get one!"
Avtof tapped his fists together, the wind-element gloves crackling, as he settled into his combat stance.
The referee's signal echoed through the arena, and Avtof charged forward like the wind, his fist aiming for Luo Qing's chest.
[Ding! Painful Crying Item Card activated: Forces the target to weep uncontrollably for five minutes (Note: Effect varies based on the target's mental strength).]
The spectators leaned forward, expecting Avtof to deliver a brutal beatdown.
But instead, the next moment, Avtof slid to his knees right before Luo Qing, yanked off his gloves, and started sobbing uncontrollably.
"Your Majesty... I have sinned! I confess! I shouldn't have spied on the luminescent witches bathing, but they were just so beautiful, sob... sob..."
The crowd was utterly stunned, and even Childe, watching from the central platform, looked bewildered.
Confess your sins at church, not on the dueling stage! What on earth are you doing?!
Is this what I trained you for?!
"Mercy, mercy. Amen, and may the gods forgive you," Luo Qing muttered as he slowly approached the weeping Avtof, patting his shoulder with a sympathetic look.
Then, he grabbed his spear, raised it high, and shouted,
"One night of longing, the weight of a thousand woes! The end of the world is not the end! Second Strike, Heartbreak!"
Avtof fell, defeated.
Among the audience, a significant number were luminescent witches, and hearing Avtof's confession made them furious.
Seeing Luo Qing's decisive victory over Avtof only earned him more quiet applause from them.
The referee cast a complicated glance at the central platform, but Childe merely locked eyes with him for a brief moment without saying a word.
"Round Two, Match One: Luo Qing wins!"
"Thank you, everyone, for your support! I'll keep doing my best! Mwah-mwah~" Luo Qing blew more kisses to the audience.
Aside from a few appreciative luminescent witches, most of the crowd reacted with boos, unimpressed with Luo Qing's luck.
Seeing him so shameless only soured their mood further.
[Frustration Value from Pierro +1]
[Frustration Value from Columbina +1]
[Frustration Value from Childe +1]
[Frustration Value from Belov +1]
[Total collected: 145 Frustration Points]
Luo Qing was delighted to realize that he had earned as many Frustration Points in a single match as he usually did in a week of training recruits.
Excited, he wondered if he should blow even more kisses to the audience in the next round.
Belov, who had failed to advance past the first round of eliminations, watched as Luo Qing walked down from the stage, humming happily after two consecutive wins. Belov's mood worsened.
Was it possible that Luo Qing would actually make it all the way to becoming a Trainee Harbinger?!
No way, no way. It had to be luck.
"Hey, Belov, don't forget Lady Arlecchino's black stockings. I want the real thing~"
"..."
For some reason, Belov had a very bad feeling about all this.
"Round Three, Match One: Luo Qing versus Daikard."
[Ding! Dizziness Item Card activated: Causes dizziness for five minutes (Note: Effect varies based on the target's mental strength).]
"What's with Daikard? Why's he staggering around like that?"
"Yeah, yeah, did he drink some bad booze?"
"Seeing is deceiving, and the truth lies in the heart! Third Strike, Blind Dragon!"
"Round Three, Match One: Luo Qing wins!"
"Round Four, Match One: Luo Qing versus Kafka."
[Ding! Nausea and Vomiting Item Card activated: Causes the target to experience severe nausea for five minutes (Note: Effect varies based on the target's mental strength).]
"What the heck is Kafka doing, giving a speech on the stage?!"
"Holy crap, he's puking and having diarrhea at the same time?!"
"The world drifts as it spins, beneath the crescent moon — a plea for love denied! Fourth Strike, Romantic Breeze!"
"Round Four, Match One: Luo Qing wins!"
"Final Round: Luo Qing versus Yekaven!"
As the referee's shout echoed, Luo Qing and Yekaven stepped onto the stage together.
Unlike Luo Qing's casual and carefree demeanor, Yekaven was an elite from the Mirror Maidens, one of Childe's meticulously trained subordinates.
Having fought four matches already, she bore multiple injuries. Her figure, usually elegant and graceful, now looked slightly disheveled, and her tight-fitting, gradient leggings showed a few tears, revealing pale skin beneath.
Yet, despite the injuries, Yekaven was determined. She would do anything to become a Trainee Harbinger, to get closer to Lord Childe.
Meanwhile, after four unexpected victories, Luo Qing had silenced the audience. Even Childe, from the central platform, watched with a furrowed brow.
However, Pierro, hidden among the spectators, looked intrigued by Luo Qing.
One time might be luck. Two, an accident. Three, fortune. But four?
He didn't believe Luo Qing's success was mere coincidence.
"Luo Qing, I know you've been playing tricks, but you'll see I'm not like Jeros and the others. Your little ploys won't work on me!"
Yekaven summoned deep blue prisms with a flick of her hands, poised for the referee's signal.
"A lady shouldn't be so competitive. It won't look pretty on you."
"Hmph! I'll worry about that after I've flattened you!"
The moment the referee gave the start signal, Yekaven's hands blurred, summoning prisms around Luo Qing.
Light shimmered from the prisms, hinting at the construction of a powerful illusion.
The audience, who had long been waiting for someone to challenge Luo Qing without incident, were thrilled.
Finally, someone who might put Luo Qing in his place!
But their anticipation was short-lived.
Yekaven remained frozen in place, her eyes locked on Luo Qing's, her body tense as if enduring some invisible force.
"So... a mental attack! I knew it... Jeros and the others wouldn't have lost for no reason... Meow... What did you do... meow..."
"Don't hold back. Singing it out will make you feel better."
Luo Qing didn't even bother raising his spear, leisurely walking towards Yekaven.
[Ding! Let's Learn to Meow Item Card activated: Forces the target to sing the song "Let's Learn to Meow" for five minutes (Note: Effect varies based on the target's mental strength).]
To his surprise, Yekaven's mental resilience allowed her to resist for a moment, but it wasn't enough.
"You..."
Yekaven had a thousand curses for Luo Qing, but as he approached, she could no longer contain herself.
The audience grew impatient, wondering why Yekaven remained still.
Suddenly, her expression shifted, and despite the blindfold she wore, everyone could sense her forced smile.
"Let's learn to meow together~ meow meow meow meow meow~ Being all cute in front of you~ oh meow meow meow meow meow~"
Yekaven began singing, playfully mimicking cat paws with her hands.
The crowd was once again left in utter confusion.
Isn't this supposed to be a battle? Why is she singing and acting all cutesy?!
Although... she did sound pretty cute...
Since Yekaven was a woman, Luo Qing decided not to use the same aggressive tactics he employed earlier.
He admired her adorable performance while casually walking over.
He gently wrapped an arm around her slim waist, guiding her off the stage with surprising gentleness.
According to the tournament rules, leaving the stage meant forfeiting.
And that gesture sent the audience into an uproar once more.
"That bastard touched her!"
"How dare he! No respect at all!"
"She's the beauty of the Mirror Maidens! How could he even dare?!"
---
T/N: K-K-Kafka!?!? Oh and congrats to him for winning fairly!