Chapter 56

"..."

"Um, Master Vendelin?"

"Looking forward to today's lunch, I am."

Finally, the first day of the martial arts tournament began.

Today, most of the preliminary matches were scheduled to take place.

After all, there were many participants, and with categories like spear, archery, and martial arts, it was impossible to finish everything in one day.

The main matches would be held at the Royal Colosseum, where I previously dueled with Duke Helter.

Since these were the main matches, they would be held over two days, taking their time.

Therefore, only the main match participants could compete here.

The rest would be held at designated dojos and training grounds throughout the capital.

"Pay more attention to the matches than the lunch."

"I have no intention of worrying about a match I'm almost certain to lose!"

"To say that much, huh..."

El was flabbergasted, but in the morning, El and I left the mansion for the swordsmanship preliminaries, while Iina went for the spear preliminaries, and Louise for the martial arts preliminaries.

While there were differences in the number of participants in each category, those who lost early were expected to return to this colosseum.

Today, the first round of the martial arts category, which had the fewest participants, was scheduled to be held at the colosseum.

Then, about two hours later.

"Boy, did you lose in the first round?"

"Yes..."

As a baron, I had purchased box seats for the three-day tournament so that we could sit down immediately.

These box seats could comfortably accommodate a dozen or so people in the best seats.

Drinks and meals could also be ordered from vendors, but we had Elise, who was a professional at preparing meals and tea.

She had been up early in the morning, preparing a large number of bentos and snacks.

"I heard. You were up against Sir Warren..."

"An army captain and a tournament favorite, and Vel's mentor..."

In the swordsmanship category, where over ten thousand people participated, El ended up facing his swordsmanship teacher, Warren, in the first round.

Could such misfortune really be allowed?

Even Paul and Helmut were speechless at my extreme misfortune.

Being unable to use magic put me at a disadvantage against Warren, who was a magic sword user.

However, the conditions were equal, as I also couldn't use magic.

The difference in sword skills was just too great from the start.

It seemed that Warren wasn't recommended to the Royal Guard for nothing.

A few seconds after the match started, I found myself with a sword tip at my throat, forced to surrender.

If I could use magic, I could have defended with a magic barrier...

This is what people call sour grapes in the world.

"Well, I can only say I'm sorry..."

"Haha, I have magic, you know."

"That's because he's capable of slaying dragons."

The conversation with Warren after the match was rather empty.

The audience was also stunned by the hero who had slain a dragon losing so unexpectedly in the first round.

But, my sword skills are only this much.

The early morning training I did at home was probably just basic physical training.

"Anyway, no one expected much from the boy. How about you, El?"

As harsh as Bluntark's words were, they were true, and I couldn't deny them.

"I won the first round easily."

Explaining El's current situation to Bluntark, who was sitting in the same box seat, it seemed he was in a holiday mood.

He was drinking the alcohol I had made, feeling slightly tipsy, while eating the side dishes from the bento Elise had prepared.

"I see."

"A complete drunk..."

"Today, the boy won't get into any trouble, so we'll just relax."

"What if something happens?"

"Don't know. The mentor is here, so it should be fine, right?"

Being challenged to a duel by a strange duke, being asked to purify things by a suspicious real estate agent, or being asked to protect a strange hippo.

Really, when you're in the capital, you get involved in all sorts of unpleasant things.

As for the mentor, he was also in the same box seat, drinking mate tea and eating the sweets Elise had made.

When the mentor drank, even the best tea tasted like well water.

He was also eating the sweets one after another, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable just watching.

"At least, the boy should have made it to the first round, right?"

"Elvin has been working hard! The results will surely follow!"

I thought El would struggle against a mid-level veteran adventurer in the first round, but he easily knocked the opponent's sword away in a few minutes.

I hadn't seen El's daily training, so I was surprised at how strong he had become.

"First, a steady win, I guess."

There was also a reason due to the request from His Majesty, but according to Warren, El has talent in swordsmanship.

It was understandable that in just over a year since coming to the capital, he had reached a level where he could no longer be my opponent.

His teacher was excellent, and the fact that I wasn't much of a swordsman also played a big role.

"No one except the boy has returned yet."

"Don't say that."

However, as the time passed three in the afternoon, Louise was the first to return.

She sat on my lap with an unwilling expression.

She looked like a kitten seeking comfort.

"Without using magic, it's a disadvantage for those who have learned the magic martial arts..."

Louise had fought using only the forms of the magic martial arts she had learned.

Being small and lacking strength, she used speed to manipulate her opponent and utilized their power.

Thanks to this, she made it to the fourth round of the preliminaries but lost to a veteran from the same school in the fifth round, she said regretfully.

"At thirteen, and in her first appearance, making it to the fourth round is impressive. Four times better than the boy."

If you can make it that far, you're at a level where people who want to hire knights or minor nobles to be their vassals would put you on their list.

Young and talented, they would buy you like a green field and spend time cultivating you to fit their family's style.

It seems that in this world, there are nobles who do something similar to hiring new graduates or inexperienced people.

Even if you're strong, if you're an older veteran, you often have habits that make you difficult to use.

"But I thought you would say that. However, you're covered in bruises."

In the martial arts category, it's inevitable that the opponent's attacks will graze you.

Louise's arms and face had thin bruises and cuts.

"Vel, heal me."

"You should have had the priests at the venue heal you."

Since many people get injured during matches, there are multiple healing mages from the church on standby at the venue.

I had assumed she had been healed by one of those mages.

"At least, I want you to say you want to heal your cute fiancée."

"Alright, I'll heal you. Miss."

"There are also injuries inside the gi. Do you want to see?"

"Tell me where they are."

"But, in all honesty?"

"I want to see!"

I healed all of Louise's injuries at once with water-based healing magic.

"Vel's healing magic is as effective as Elise's."

"Master Vendelin has strong magic."

It's also a matter of efficiency, but using fifty magic points should be more effective than using ten.

Since Louise's injuries were only minor, I healed all of them without any trouble.

"Have you made progress in conserving magic? You need to continue practicing, though."

"I'm aware of that."

"Hey, Iina's back."

Considering the time she returned, Iina must have done quite well, but for some reason, she had a dissatisfied look on her face.

"Iina?"

"Lost in the sixth round of the preliminaries, just one win away from the main tournament."

It was partly due to the tournament draw, but Iina had also improved significantly over the past year.

"Maybe you're not satisfied, but isn't that a good result for your first appearance?"

"That's true, but..."

"Then, what's the problem?"

"Not dissatisfaction, but rather, I can't accept it..."

Iina's sixth-round opponent was none other than the 'Spear Wheel' man who had been persistently asking to be hired in front of our mansion for a while.

Moreover, he was very strong.

"I think he's as strong as my spear teacher, maybe even stronger..."

"He was that strong..."

Because of his performance, he wasn't chosen for the lords' army formation, and he continued to ask to be hired in front of the mansion, which we ignored.

"He should just apply normally instead of doing that performance..."

There are people like that.

They have high specs but have made a mistake somewhere and can't achieve their goal.

"So, I talked to him after the match..."

The 'Spear Wheel' man's name is Roderich.

Surprisingly, he is related to someone unexpected.

"Finance Minister Luchner's?"

"His brother's child, born to a merchant's daughter."

He's a nephew, but his mother wasn't a formal concubine, and while he has noble blood, he doesn't have a noble title.

"Talking to him, he turned out to be quite talented..."

First, he was raised in his mother's family's merchant business, so he can read, write, and do all the basic merchant tasks.

He can keep accounts, handle settlements, and calculate various taxes.

He's also knowledgeable about commercial law and laws related to business.

"In a way, he's Finance Minister Luchner's nephew. But why the spear?"

"He was weak as a child, so it was for training."

"Huh?"

Also, why is he aiming to become an officer?

His uncle, who is the head of the merchant house, wants his own child to succeed him, not his nephew.

So, he was treated as a nuisance.

It didn't help that Roderich was too capable.

His uncle probably thought that if he made Roderich his son's subordinate, he might cause an upset.

Additionally, support from Finance Minister Luchner is difficult.

Apparently, due to disputes over title succession and inheritance, the relationship between Finance Minister Luchner and his brother is well-known in the court as being bad.

That's why he doesn't even have a letter of recommendation.

"The business world is tough... But, using the spear for training to make it to the main tournament?"

From the perspective of someone who has dedicated their life to the spear, he might seem a bit unpleasant.

Even if he has no ill intentions.

"Vel, I lost to him, you know."

"Well, he was unexpectedly talented, so it couldn't be helped..."

"But he's a strange person..."

Indeed, I had only seen him from a distance, but he was a strange person who did the 'Spear Wheel' for no apparent reason.

He looked like a well-built, medium-height man with green hair, which is rare in this world.

He seemed to be quite energetic, judging from his 'Spear Wheel' performance.

"Should we keep him in mind as a potential hire?"

"I thought you might say that, so I got his contact information."

Since I was planning to become an adventurer when I came of age and was looking for someone to manage the capital mansion, it would be good to consider him as a candidate.

He can handle finances and is physically strong.

"Also, maybe he could teach you some spear techniques?"

"He's strong, but..."

During the match, he did the 'Spear Wheel,' and if a normal person tried to imitate it, it would create openings.

Iina couldn't identify his school, so it was probably mostly original.

"Normal people can't imitate it... But you did well to get that far."

"That's true."

"I don't know if there will be a next time."

At least, there won't be a next time for me.

Actually, there was no need for one.

"By the way, how did Vel do?"

"Heh, I'm glad you asked!"

My opponent was Sir Warren, a master of magic swords and a captain in the Royal Guard.

He wielded his sword flawlessly, even without magic, and attacked sharply from the moment the match started.

Despite his incredible speed, I had been practicing sword basics at home since I was six...

I occasionally took breaks, but I had been doing it every day.

"You lost, didn't you?"

"I lost so easily and unexpectedly."

To Iina's calm question, I replied calmly.

"In the first round?"

"It was a given."

"You didn't have to answer so proudly!"

Thinking about it, there weren't many skilled swordsmen in my family, except for my second brother, Hermann, who was a bit strong.

The self-training method passed down in the Baumgartner family was just an hour of basic training in the morning.

In the strict world of swordsmanship, that wasn't enough.

It was probably on the level of Tai Chi in the morning in China or radio calisthenics in Japan.

To learn anything, effort is required.

With magic, I practiced every day until sunset.

But with swordsmanship, it was a different story.

"Putting me in the swordsmanship category was a mistake."

"Indeed, it might be. But I've never heard of a magic category."

"There's a reason for that!"

To Iina's question, Mentor Armstrong immediately answered.

He was holding a large teacup and a scone made by Elise.

"Because there are few magic users, not many can gather in the capital!"

There are many tasks that require magic users, so it's a waste of time and magic to compete in a tournament.

Additionally, there's a possibility of fatalities.

While fatalities can occur in sword matches, they are much less common compared to magic.

Moreover, strong magic barriers need to be set up in the venue to prevent powerful magic from being used.

It's a high hurdle to hold a tournament.

"I understand, but what about El?"

"He should still be in the tournament..."

While Iina was answering, the first round of the martial arts main tournament had started.

To avoid complaints from the audience, some matches are held at the colosseum on the first day.

The matches were intense, far surpassing those in the martial arts of my previous life, but since I didn't know anyone, I just watched them passively.

"There are a lot of older people, aren't there?"

"It's because they compete in techniques."

According to Louise, the tournament emphasizes technique, so relatively more veterans tend to remain.

This is especially true in the martial arts category, where there are many martial arts instructors.

"But, isn't real strength different?"

"I don't think I would lose to most of the main tournament participants. Me."

With intermediate to advanced magic and the ability to use it in magic martial arts, it's understandable.

"Then, why is there this tournament?"

"I think it's to prove, 'My overall combat ability may not be great, but I train diligently every day and have excellent technique!'"

"That's right! If we fight with all our might, there's no one we can't beat."

Additionally, being skilled means that if you hire or ask for a job, you can teach others.

It's a way for wandering warriors to promote themselves and pass on their skills to the next generation.

These seem to be the main purposes of the participants.

"Hearing that, it seems a bit boring."

Usually, such martial arts tournaments should be exciting, but hearing the details makes them suddenly uninteresting.

I started to pay more attention to the bento Elise had made.

The grilled wild boar marinated in miso was particularly delicious with the rice.

Incidentally, I taught her the cooking method.

"Is it because the boy lost in the first round?"

"That's not it."

"I'm having a good time."

In Bluntark's case, as long as he has delicious snacks and alcohol, anything is fun, so he wasn't a reliable source.

"Is El the only one left?"

"Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt, but..."

"El, you're back."

El had returned at some point and looked a bit apologetic.

"Did you lose?"

"In the sixth round, I faced Mr. Warren."

"Even you!"

Naturally, he couldn't beat his sword teacher, Warren, due to the difference in experience.

As for me, I was at a level where I couldn't even imagine how to win.

"I feel like it's all over."

In my previous life, it felt like when my high school baseball team lost in the regional tournament.

"If you made it to the sixth round, isn't that fine? But why is everyone so cheerful?"

In the fantasy novels and manga I read in my previous life, martial arts tournaments were always very exciting.

But in this world, a tournament without magic is somehow boring.

Yet, the audience was holding their breath, waiting for the results.

I found it a bit strange.

"In this martial arts tournament, the kingdom organizes a big betting event. The revenue is used for charitable activities, apparently."

"I wish I hadn't heard that..."

The martial arts tournament ended as scheduled over the remaining two days.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm, Louise was jumping for joy.

"Yay! I won the bet on the martial arts category! 23 times the odds!"

"You bet on it..."

The matches over the next two days also ended without any particular trouble.

What we did was sit in the box seats at the venue with the people who came, enjoy the bento and tea made by Elise, and the alcohol I prepared.

The matches became just part of the scenery.

"But, the participants keep looking at us strangely."

"They want the boy to hire them."

"I don't need so many muscleheads."

What I need is someone to maintain the capital mansion and manage the servants.

No matter how skilled they are with swords, it would be a mismatch to hire them.

"What about the 'Spear Wheel'?"

Bluntark had also seen the 'Spear Wheel' man who was swinging a spear in front of the mansion.

He looked surprised when I mentioned hiring him to manage the capital mansion.

"He can also keep accounts."

"You can't judge a book by its cover..."

The only things I gained from the three-day martial arts tournament were a manager for the capital mansion and the practical experience of the saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover."