Test Your Skills, Glory Awaits the Victor – Part 08
When he saw the person who appeared in the arena, Ryver couldn’t believe his eyes.
“What?! I’m sure I hit her near the heart with a poisoned arrow. How is she still alive?!”
The reserved seating area was barely filled. No one could hear his words.
“You failed to kill your target? That’s unusual.”
“You suck.”
“Hahaha. Lucky girl. Fighting her would be fun. I wish I could join the tournament.”
The first person was a young man with curly blond hair and blue eyes. He had a refreshing smile, but there was something off about him. It was hard to tell what went on in his mind. He was talking about Jillarte, but his gaze was directed towards Selyse, who was in the adjacent ring. He was licking his lips.
Snuggled next to him was a petite girl holding a staff longer than her own height with both hands. Her hooded robe, woven with multiple layers, was a very expensive magic item that amplified the wearer’s magical power. She was grumbling about Ryver under her breath, but fortunately, he couldn’t hear her. Under the hood was a gaunt face with dark circles under the eyes, giving her a gloomy look.
The one roaring with laughter was a man with a body more than twice the size of the girl. In fact, he stood over two meters tall and was almost as tall as Gerhardt. His face was covered with brown scruffy hair. A huge shield, big enough to completely conceal him, sat next to him. He was nicknamed the Mobile Fortress because of how he could move around with it easily during combat.
These three people were members of the same party as Ryver, the Rising Falls. Except for the Mobile Fortress, they were all Rank A adventurers.
“Whenever I say I finished the job, it means I finished the job. This has never happened before,” Ryver said. “Besides, it was Caddie who blundered with the Stone Golem.”
“So this is a first,” the blond-haired, blue-eyed young man replied. “Also, I’m not criticizing you or Caddie for your failures. Relax.”
“But…”
“Ryver. Rising Falls did not take this job. It’s your own personal sideline. As the party leader, I want this to go off without a hitch. That’s why I told Caddie to assist you. A Stone Golem leaves no trace of the user—unlike a bow and arrow.”
“I know that, Igru. I won’t cause you any trouble.”
“That’s good to hear.” The young man, Igru Fullblood, never took his eyes off Selyse. “She’s too beautiful to be an adventurer.”
“Brother…”
“I know, Caddie, I know. I’m just curious. I’m not gonna fool around. Well, I have other things to do, so I’m heading back first. Good luck with the rest.”
Igru waved and left alone.
“…”
Ryver did not once look in Igler’s direction. His eyes were on Jillarte, standing in the arena, ready to fight a knight.
Her movements were flawless. In fact, she seemed even more lively than yesterday. Jillarte overpowered the knight with her swordsmanship and eventually defeated him.
She’s much stronger than I imagined. But not invincible.
Ryver was certain he didn’t miss. The masked man’s panicked reaction was proof of that. But someone healed her after.
Next time, I won’t give her time to heal. I’ll kill her instantly. Huh?!
Ryver sensed a gaze on him, and a chill ran down his spine.
Standing in the reserved seating area on the opposite side of the arena was a masked man.
“Silver Face.”
He was wearing a mask, and his hood was pulled low, but Ryver knew he was staring at him.
“I see. You healed Jillarte.”
The corner of Ryver’s mouth lifted up.
“Silver Face! I won against East!”
Hikaru chuckled at the sight of Jillarte skipping toward him. He also won his match today without much problem. His opponent was not as strong as the Lycanthrope from yesterday, and he was able to win with just a throwing knife.
“That knight who lost to me was stunned,” Jillarted said. “So I told him: ‘You actually thought about fighting Silver Face when that’s all you’ve got? At least defeat me first before challenging him.’”
“He must’ve been dejected.”
East looked crestfallen as he exited the arena. He could not restore the honor of his esteemed commander, nor carry out his mission.
“Jillarte, let’s hold hands,” Hikaru said as they were leaving the arena.
“What?! Hold hands?!”
“What’s wrong? We need to hide. You just showed that you’re alive and kicking. We don’t want Ryver targeting you again.”
“R-Right. I understand.”
Jillarte was restless, blushing and somewhat disappointed. Hikaru took her hand; she was a little stiff.
Why? We held hands when I broke her out of prison.
The two exited the arena. The candidates who won today were surrounded by countless people cheering.
The number of participants had been narrowed down to eight, including Hikaru, Jillarte, Selyse, and Ryver.
And then there was also Gerhardt.
“Whooo! Our leader!”
“Lord Gerhardt!”
“He’s just too strong!”
Gerhardt had just come out, too, riding in an open carriage. People crowded around the vehicle.
The other three participants left in Gerhardt’s bracket are Beastmen. He’s pretty much guaranteed to advance to the finals.
Gerhardt could relax for tomorrow’s quarterfinals and the semifinals the day after.
Hikaru’s bracket was tough. Jillarte was up against Selyse, and Hikaru against Ryver.
In terms of pure ability, Jillarte is inferior to Selyse.
Hikaru wondered if Jillarte was aware of this. She was a Rank C adventurer. Maybe she was aware of it, but was acting as if she wasn’t.
Well, that applies to Gerhardt as well. What are the odds that Jillarte can beat him? She should be well aware that she has zero chances, no matter how hard she tries. Yet she still wants to fight.
People were expecting her to win. That was all.
She’s carrying too heavy a burden.
Hikaru’s grip on her hand tightened. Jillarte flinched, then squeezed his hand back.
They left the arena and passed through a deserted alley.
“Um, Silver Face? This isn’t the way to the inn.”
“We’re staying in a different place today. I haven’t told Utekko or Garan to prevent any intel leak.”
“What?!”
“The only people who know about this are me and you. It’s better if we keep it secret from the others.”
“What? Huh?”
I get it. I’d be rattled too if I knew someone was after my life, Hikaru thought. If we keep the location secret, she can sleep peacefully. A splendid idea, if I do say so myself.
Hikaru was singing his own praises, while Jillarte was flustered for a whole different reason.
Sleepover alone with Silver Face? I’ve never spent a night alone with a man in my entire life, even when doing commissions! H-He doesn’t have any ulterior motives, does he? I’m sure he doesn’t.
“We’re here.”
Hikaru had led Jillarte to a rundown house in a back alley. It was an old building in a neglected corner of the town. Hikaru quickly unlocked the door and entered, with Jillarte following timidly. The windows were closed, and the inside was lit by magic lamps.
“Uh… whose house is this?” Jillarte asked.
“I borrowed it through a contact from the Adventurers’ Guild. They also bought the foodstuff I asked for.”
The first floor had only a kitchen and a table for meals, and the bedrooms were located on the second floor, up a narrow staircase.
On the table was a basket, containing meat and vegetables wrapped in leaves.
“I thought you said it was your first time in Einbiest.”
“It is.”
“Then how do you have a contact?”
“Well, you know, I just do.”
Upon completing a delivery commission from the Adventurers’ Guild, which was one of his reasons for coming to Hopestadt, Hikaru received a letter from the receptionist.
The letter said that Kelbeck had told the sender a bit about Hikaru, and that if he needed anything, just contact them and they would handle it. In short, the letter came from the Thieves’ Guild’s Hopestadt branch.
I didn’t expect to ask them for something right away.
Late last night after Jillarte was shot, Hikaru visited the Thieves’ Guild and asked for a house to stay in.
The leader of the branch was not a rugged man like Kelbeck, but a beautiful woman of unknown age. She asked Hikaru if he wanted to stay at the guild, to which he politely refused. He didn’t know what she would do to him if he said yes.
“I doubt Ryver would think that we rented a house,” Hikaru said.
“That’s a good point,” Jillarte replied. “You’re really incredible, you know that?”
“What? How so?”
“I thought I would be safe in Hopestadt, and if I won a few matches in the tournament, everything would be fine. In fact, Gerhardt’s men are no longer after me. But it wasn’t that easy. Without you, I would be dead by now. And now you even got us a house so quickly. So yeah, you’re incredible.”
Hikaru thought Jillarte was more incredible. The unimaginable weight she was carrying on her shoulders was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It must be a different kind of pressure than fighting the Sword Saint Lawrence or the Black Dragon.
But he doubted she would agree.
“Jillarte.”
“Yes?”
“Can you cook?”
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
Rule Breaker (Light Novel)
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 70 hours
… why Hikaru is dense? That’s a kinda annoying