After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 69

“Even so, for him to be so aggressive means he’s confident.” Whether it’s in strength or skill.”

Before his words finished, a giant man who had reached the center of the arena lifted one man and slammed him onto the ground.

CRASH! The spectators cheered at the sound that seemed to tear the air.

Aila instinctively flinched.

“It’s because they’ve installed magic tools that amplify sound. There’s no need to be scared.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“They usually install them. The effect is doubled when sight and hearing are combined.”

Thanks to Leo’s timely explanation, Aila was able to watch the match without too much trouble. However, there was one thing she found difficult to understand.

“Why are people so enthusiastic about this? Someone is getting hurt, falling down.”

Leo looked at the arena and smiled quietly.

“Because strength is primal power.”

His gaze was directed far away, towards the men continuing their fight in the dust.

“The victor gains honor, and the defeated disappear without a trace. It’s simple, but it’s the basic principle of living in the world.”

“It’s not wrong, but it’s not a good thing, is it? The world can’t be lived by victors alone.”

“You are right. But people instinctively know.”

Leo turned his gaze to Aila.

“That no one can escape from that principle.”

His faint smile felt painful.

It felt like it meant he himself was included in the fact that no one could escape.

So, towards Aila, who couldn’t say anything, Leo added with a light laugh.

“It’s not a fight to the death anyway. Enjoy this with a light heart. You participated by your own choice, after all?”

“That’s true!”

“They are the ones who gambled on honor, accepting the price. If the price of honor is just injury, it’s actually a bargain.”

Through his words, she felt like she glimpsed the kind of life he had lived.

Turning her gaze back, the arena was already a scene of chaos.

Those with remaining strength fought in various places to reduce their competitors, and dust rose incessantly from the sandy floor.

On one side, a fallen man groaned and curled up, while on another, three people cornered one person, engaging in a fierce close-quarters battle.

One minute, two minutes. As time passed, the number of eliminated participants increased.

And finally.

WHOOOOSH!

The referee’s whistle, signaling the end of the match, blew long and loud.

The moment she thought the sound of swallowing saliva was particularly loud, the dust in the now-quiet arena scattered.

And.

“Woooooooooo!.”

A roar of cheers poured towards the ten victors standing on both feet in the arena.

They stood firmly on the ground, breathing heavily.

Some wiped their blood-stained lips, others blinked their swollen eyes, and one clutched his broken ribs with one hand.

All stood firm with the sole will to endure, receiving the cheers of the crowd.

“All ten have passed the preliminary round! Ten people! Out of a total of seventy-nine participants, ten will advance to the main tournament. The next match will resume in 10 minutes. Participants, please return to the waiting area to prepare for the main tournament!”

The announcer declared the end of the preliminary round.

Aila let out a sigh of relief, realizing how long and fierce those 10 minutes had been.

As Leo smiled at Aila as if she were cute, she asked the question she had been wondering about.

“But the reason this martial arts tournament is popular is because anyone can participate and win, regardless of status, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But in the end, isn’t it a match that’s more advantageous to nobles?”

“Why do you think so?”

Leo looked at her with interest.

“Knights raised in noble families can use something called ‘Aura,’ right? Of course, ordinary knights can also learn Aura, but I heard it’s much more advantageous for knights of noble birth. I don’t know if it’s because of their bloodline or some other reason.”

Leo nodded with a slight smile.

“To be precise, it’s due to talent, time, and experience.”

“Ah, so it doesn’t matter if they are nobles or commoners?”

Aila asked again, and Leo slowly shook his head.

“Half right, half wrong.”

His gaze fell upon the victors heading to the waiting room.

In Leo’s view, seven out of the ten were knights of noble birth.

“There’s nothing special about being a noble. However, most Sword Masters in history stood at the forefront of wars, and their talents were passed down to later generations. Experience is passed down as the family’s ‘secret techniques,’ and those who contributed to the founding of the nation are treated as high nobles.”

His voice was low and firm.

“On the other hand, commoners don’t have it easy investing in such experience and time. Making a living comes first.”

“So, it’s a match that’s advantageous to nobles, who are more likely to use Aura.”

“In conclusion, yes, but externally, it’s a bit different.”

Leo continued his explanation.

“The use of Aura is restricted in this match.”

“Ah but if they use it secretly.”

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

“They are given potions that temporarily suppress Aura manifestation.”

Aila’s eyes widened.

“Are there really such potions?”

“Yes. They are astronomically expensive because the ingredients are so rare and the success rate of making them is low.”

“Ah, I’ve heard of them too. I heard they’re almost impossible to obtain.”

“They are not obtainable under normal circumstances. But since the organizer is the Imperial family? They likely receive a certain amount from the Magic Tower every year for the martial arts tournament.”

“I see.”

Aila, nodding, suddenly muttered with concern.

“It’s a little scary. That such things exist.”

“What’s scary?”

“What if someone tries to kill their political rivals using such a potion.”

As he said, strength is primal power, and to wield power, one must become strong.

In the end, there were always those who used despicable means to become strong.

“What if someone gave Your Highness such a potion.”

Leo smiled wryly at Aila’s concern.

“You’re the only one who worries about me like that, Aila.”

“I’m serious, why are you smiling?”

“I’m smiling because there’s reason to. The potion tastes terrible in the first place. It’s impossible to make someone drink it without them knowing, and even if they drank it, it wouldn’t be a problem. I’m not strong because of Aura, Aila.”

“Can I believe you?”

“Believe me. Even if I didn’t have Aura.”

He gently tucked Aila’s stray hair behind her ear.

“I wouldn’t forget how to swing a sword.”

The main tournament then began.

Participants who had recovered from their preliminary injuries and fatigue with healing potions stepped onto the arena.

The main tournament proceeded as a tournament bracket determined by lottery.

They drew colored balls from an opaque container, and participants who drew the same color ball would face each other in one-on-one duels to advance towards the finals.

The arena was filled with heavy breaths and the sounds of clashes that shook the ground. The ten warriors fought without holding back to defeat each other.

“To the right! That’s it!”

“Well done! Good! Aaaargh, dodge!”

“Who is that guy? He’s fighting well!”

The spectators cheered and became enthusiastic according to the flow of the match, and Emperor Friedrich watched with interest.

And one more person.

Empress Tatiana watched the arena silently.

Her gaze was fixed solely on one person.

Towards a man who appeared a bit older compared to the young participants, most of whom were in their twenties and thirties.

His name was Logan, and he fought concisely, without unnecessary movements.

‘Logan.’

Tatiana’s fingertips trembled slightly.

In the main tournament, there was no waiting time, so injuries and fatigue could not be eliminated with potions.

After fierce battles, victors were decided one by one, and finally, the final match approached.

There, Logan, showing clear signs of exhaustion, faced a man who had also endured.

The two men, as if trying to shake off even a little of their accumulated fatigue, took deep breaths before the final match.

BEEP!.

As the referee’s whistle signaling the final match blew, the two men simultaneously kicked off the ground.

Unable to bear watching, Tatiana tightly closed her eyes.

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