“This name…” Rosario looked back and forth between his pamphlet and the contestants. “It belongs to a prince of the desert kingdom if I recall correctly.”
The smaller man was a Prince of Sard. This desert nation was Bragioga’s neighboring kingdom opposite Gandolfin. Could he have been studying abroad here, perhaps? The prince seemed to be at a severe disadvantage, judging from his size. His opponent was the very definition of a giant. Furthermore, he wielded a rather large—though not quite oversized—sword.
“There might be a huge size difference, but I bet that prince is strong,” Oreste said.
Sure enough, the Prince of Sard turned out to be a powerhouse. Their differences in speed were obvious. Consequently, the prince kept the giant at his mercy for the entire duel.
“Sure, he might be fast, but he’s still slower than Ally,” Oreste said while observing the match enviously. “Even I could win against him.”
Not being able to participate must have been frustrating for him. I patted Oreste’s shoulder consolingly. “Just register for the next tournament and go bananas,” I replied in a half-joking tone. “I can’t compete in a sword fighting tournament, no matter how much I might want to. Still, if the contestants could use martial arts rather than just swords, I’d love to join in.”
Cita smirked. “Keep talking like that, and you’ll wind up inside a birdcage.”
“That’s right,” Cia agreed. “Prince Embert might be eavesdropping on this conversation.”
Panicked, I checked my smartphone. Fortunately, it wasn’t active, so I had nothing to worry about. Yet, just in case, I glanced around. Yep, nothing to worry about. I didn’t see anyone resembling Severin in our vicinity.
“Enough with the scary jokes,” I said with a soft laugh, placing my smartphone back in my pocket.
When I glanced at the box where Embert sat, a chill ran down my spine. He was clearly looking at me. Did my eyes deceive me, or had his expression taken on a sinister cast? No, I had to be misreading things. I shook my head to dispel the chill and Embert’s ominous gaze.
“It’s almost time,” Lauris said.
In the center of the arena, the Prince of Sard faced down a man dressed like an adventurer. The final match was about to begin. When the duel ended, Giusto would be introduced as the new Crown Prince of Bragioga. He would give the victor a trophy, prize money, and an invitation to the upcoming ball. Speaking of which, the top three contestants would all receive invitations to the ball.
Lauris spoke to everyone in a low voice. “I know we’re all interested in the match, but don’t forget to keep an eye on Prince Giusto’s surroundings.”
Everyone nodded. However, as one might expect of the final match, it didn’t reach an early conclusion. Apparently, the adventurer had attained B-rank, just like Embert and Janus. He moved with impressive agility and excelled at dodging attacks. Those who lived under the constant threat of danger were strong indeed. On the other hand, the Prince of Sard’s agility hadn’t diminished either. In fact, he seemed to be gaining speed. The audience watched the fierce battle unfold with bated breath. Finally, the duel concluded when a blade soared through the air.
“The winner is… Prince Fred Gibramil of Sard!” the announcer boomed.
The crowd erupted in cheers. The Prince of Sard waved to the spectators with a joyful expression. Meanwhile, Custode scrutinized our surroundings. I focused as well, trying to detect any hostility. My three guy friends were already descending towards the arena.
“The award ceremony is about to begin!” the announcer boomed. “Before that, however, His Majesty the King has an important announcement to make!”
As the crowd fell silent, the king rose to his feet.
“Congratulations on your victory, Prince Fred Gibramil,” he said in a kind yet dignified voice. “Your performance was a fitting climax to our Founding Festival. Before we proceed to the award ceremony, I have an important announcement to make. Today, I declare my son—Giusto Cotarini—the Crown Prince of Bragioga.”
The audience, which had been listening to the king silently, broke into applause. Cheers of “Congratulations!” and “Long live Prince Giusto!” could be heard from all around the stadium.
“Now then,” the king continued while surveying the crowd. “For his first duty as crown prince, I would like Giusto to preside over the award ceremony. Is that acceptable to everyone, even though we haven’t performed the ascension ceremony yet?”
Thunderous applause and cheers rose from the audience.
“Thank you,” the king said. “Well then, Giusto will now perform his first duty as crown prince. Pay close attention, everyone.”
At His Majesty’s cue, Giusto entered the arena. Tumultuous applause, shrill cries, and enthusiastic cheers greeted him. He strode towards the central winner’s podium, his expression peaceful as he waved to the crowd. As soon as he reached the podium, however, I felt hostility radiating from every direction.
“They’re coming!” I called out to everyone through my smartphone.
My mana instantly enveloped Giusto. Numerous arrows whizzed through the air, heading straight towards him. Not a single one reached him. My three guy friends had already sprinted to Giusto’s side and formed a protective barrier around him. While Lauris and Oreste cut down the continuous stream of arrows with their swords, Rosario burned them with magic.
“More incoming!” I cried.
Arrows whizzed through the air again. At the same time, multiple people with knives leapt from the stadium into the arena. The guys would have a tough time deflecting the next volley of arrows with them around.
“I’m going out!” I shouted.
Cia grabbed my shoulder in an attempt to stop me. “Ally! Weren’t you told to stay put and locate the enemy?”
Despite her words, I couldn’t sit here and do nothing. Our enemies were attacking in full force. Worse, their numbers were far greater than anticipated.