Chapter 64
The Fire Cat Clan were naturally heat-resistant, so she was mostly unharmed, but the fish beside her had already been charred and dropped to the ground, releasing waves of roasted fragrance.
"Ah...! Xia, look! She really brought fish! I told you, there's no way a Fire Cat Clan member would go out without bringing fish! They love eating fish the most!"
"Is this really the time to be verifying racial dietary preferences?!"
Xiarette pulled back the hand that had been about to draw the Holy Sword to destroy the Dragonburst Purgatory, her brow twitching as she glanced at the small hand Sheffy had just raised and now lowered.
"Hey Sheffy... that was your doing just now, wasn't it?"
"Ahaha... was it me? Probably not?" Miss Shaya withdrew her finger with an innocent expression and averted her gaze. "Let me be clear first... I didn't do anything that would disrupt public order."
"I'm not blaming you... What you did just now was right, or else there definitely would’ve been a riot. No, I’m just curious—what did you do just now? That ninth-rank spell disappeared just like that?"
"You're not blaming me? Oh, oh! Then I’ll say it! Xia, your memory’s awful, huh? Did you forget the 'Modified Storage Magic'? I’ve said it—this spell is clean and efficient, absolutely convenient! Hmph, as expected of my improved magic!"
"You stored a ninth-rank spell... away?"
"Yup."
Alright then.
Xiarette sighed, pressing her forehead in exasperation and shook her head.
But faintly, she seemed to realize a problem.
"Still... storage magic has limited space, right? Absorbing something as massive as Dragonburst Purgatory—wasn’t there anything flammable in your warehouse?"
"!"
It was over...
Our Sheffy slightly opened her small mouth, her face visibly turning pale at a speed the naked eye could see.
Sheffy quickly closed her eyes and searched her mind.
As the confirmation went on, her expression grew increasingly sorrowful!
"This is bad! The gold coins inside are still intact!"
"If the gold coins are intact, what are you grieving about?!"
"But a few big fish in there got completely burned... roasted into charcoal! I was saving those to eat slowly later!"
"Don't tell me..."
Xiarette turned to glance at the Fire Cat Clan girl being taken away by the infirmary staff, then at the still-steaming, unattended charcoal-grilled fish nearby.
Xiarette was gradually piecing it all together.
"So in the end, the Fire Cat Clan wasn’t carrying fish around after all. That big fish fell out from your storage magic, Sheffy."
Sheffy looked at the big fish she had been mocking just moments ago...
Now she was filled with despair, on the verge of tears.
Sob... So that was my big fish!
Damn Fire Dragon Clan...! If you're entering a match, just fight properly—what’s the point of setting the arena on fire for no reason?!
Miss Shaya clenched her little fists and glared indignantly toward the tall red-haired Fire Dragon Clan member’s direction.
——Only to find that those golden-red pupils, emblematic of the Dragon Clan, were glaring right back at her.
Oh ho, this one’s pretty sharp. She realized the person who cast the spell just now was from our side?
Xiarette wasn’t afraid of being glared at. She shielded Sheffy and returned the gaze with equal force. Their combined stare instantly put the dragon girl at a disadvantage.
The red-haired Fire Dragon Clan girl named Timani clicked her tongue, muttered something under her breath, then turned and walked away in heavy yet graceful steps toward the exit of the passage.
The distance was too far, so her exact words couldn’t be heard clearly.
But judging by her lip movements, she most likely said—
——"Mind your own business."
Damn fire lizard! You’re the one who started the mess by setting fires, and now you're acting like the victim? Do you even understand reason?
If Miss Shaya weren’t just a spectator today, she’d definitely have gone up there and kicked that tail of hers hard!
With Timani walking away without looking back, the host, who had been completely bewildered, hurriedly picked up the amplification crystal and announced the results after a reminder from the referee.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s Knight Order, drawn by the disturbance, had already surrounded the outer area of the arena.
"It... it’s Miss Timani of the Fire Dragon Clan who wins! But unfortunately, this friend from the Fire Dragon Clan is a special guest and will only participate in this one match. Our... our tournament will resume shortly, please take a brief rest!"
With that announcement, the host quickly stepped down to report the situation to the knight in charge from the Kingdom’s Knight Order. Thus, the match entered a brief pause.
Because that fire dragon girl had glared at Sheffy earlier, Xiarette didn’t have a good impression of her.
"Seriously... Sheffy, you really shouldn’t have helped her. You helped her out of trouble and she didn’t even appreciate it. That kind of personality is just too much."
"I helped her out of trouble...?"
"Yeah, I think her magic power was strong, but her control over it was too poor. That fire spell earlier—she probably couldn’t retract it herself. You helped her absorb the magic and prevented any real damage. Because of that, the Kingdom’s Knight Order can’t hold her accountable. Isn’t that basically saving her from consequences?"
"Hmph... Now I’m even more pissed. I better not run into her again! Otherwise... hmph, no fish for me, no peace for her!"
"Probably won’t see her again..."
Didn’t the referee just say it?
She would only participate in one round—that was likely a decision made on the spot.
Having seen how dangerous the Fire Dragon Clan’s participation could be, there’s no way the organizers would let her advance to the next round. That last spell nearly caused casualties. If that had happened, the cost of compensation alone would’ve been unacceptable for the organizers.
Still, the Fire Dragon Clan wouldn’t be troubled over it. Since no real harm was done, and considering the dignity of a higher race, the Kingdom’s Knight Order would have to show some respect. After all, the kingdom’s long-term stability relied on higher races acting as a counterbalance to the Demon Clan.
Sheffy looked at the feast in front of her.
Well... as for the part where she subconsciously absorbed that flame spell just to protect the food from being burned to ash... maybe that was best left unsaid.
Alright, better not say anything.
Otherwise, it’ll just make me look gluttonous.
The audience was abuzz with chatter, and the tournament schedule had already fallen into complete disarray.
The semifinals were originally supposed to have their top four decided by now, but aside from Second Prince Milh Aurus, who was still waiting in the contestant area, the rest of the participants’ spots had become uncertain.
The Fire Dragon Clan girl had won, but she had left, leaving a vacant semifinal slot.
As for the contestant originally set to face the Second Prince, they had simply chosen to forfeit—after all, it was more practical to take the payout and leave than to go on stage just to act out a play with the prince.
The final spot in the top four, following the kingdom’s customary rules, would go directly to the previous champion of the Royal Capital Arena tournament.
If no one had forgotten, last year’s champion was a mysterious seventh-rank kingdom mage, a remarkably powerful figure.
With two contestants gone, the semifinals could easily be turned into the final match. After all, the organizers knew full well that the victory would ultimately go to the prince.
But... starting the finals now would be too early.
It didn’t match the timing indicated on the tickets, and without various scheduled events, the organizers wouldn’t be able to recoup the gold coins they’d already invested.
So, during the pause in the tournament, the organizers came up with an emergency plan and urged the host to announce it.
The host, already drenched in cold sweat after the chaos of today, still summoned his professional spirit and stepped back into the center of the arena.
He recited what he considered a completely unreasonable proposal.
But what could he do...
The organizers were the ones paying the gold coins—whatever they said had to be followed!
"Hahaha... Dear audience members, we have a special arrangement in this year’s tournament! Since Miss Timani of the Fire Dragon Clan, despite winning, has left the arena, a spot has opened up! Friends in the audience, if anyone wishes to participate, you are welcome to sign up enthusiastically! Who wouldn’t want a chance to step directly onto the Royal Capital’s highest martial stage? No need to qualify—gain a top-four position instantly! This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
As expected, the entire arena erupted into a peak of astonishment and discussion.
And the host? He was now just wishing he could clock out and go home.
Sigh... just look at those already-eliminated contestants, wearing expressions like they were ready to tear him apart.
They had fought match after match, got knocked out, even got beaten half to death—and now any random spectator could sign up and enter the semifinals?
If they had known it would end up like this, they could’ve just waited in the stands to register instead of going through all the rounds!
Especially that Lizardfolk contestant who had nearly been roasted alive—he was practically in tears!
That’s how the strong felt—but that didn’t mean the audience and nobles saw it the same way.
The common folk had no real power to speak of. Even if they signed up for the semifinals, they’d just go up, get beaten up, and come right back down.
And the nobles? Even more so.
Knowing they had no hope of winning, why would they bother to go up and embarrass themselves?
The host stood there, visibly uncomfortable. Even with all his professionalism, he now had no idea how to manage the situation.
The organizers had insisted—someone had to step up and compete... anyone at all.
But the problem was, anyone with even a shred of sense would know that stepping up now was a terrible idea!
Just as the host glanced around in confusion...
In the VIP section closest to the arena...
A small hand slowly rose.
Ah... someone really was foolish enough to volunteer!
The host looked as if he had just seen his savior! He was nearly in tears!
A fool... no, a hero! A true hero!
Under the host’s urgent signal, the staff responsible for contestant registration rushed from the other side of the arena toward Earl Shaya’s section.
During this process, Xiarette was desperately trying to push down that small hand—but to no avail!
“Sheffy...?! Didn’t you say you wouldn’t draw attention to yourself?! What do you mean by signing up for a match! There’ll definitely be magic in a fight, and using magic could risk revealing your identity! Remember? Stealth, remember?!”
“Ah?” Sheffy blinked, and the words ‘bad idea’ were practically written across her face. “Xia, not taking free gold is what a real fool would do. Look, the gold is right there—it’s practically calling out to us. If we don’t take it, we’d be betraying our souls.”
“But...!”
“Relax~ I never said I was the one entering.”
“I can’t enter either, can I? I’m the Hero...”
“I know. I didn’t mean you either. But among us, isn’t there someone even better and more suited for this? Haven’t you noticed?”
“?”
....................................
From the western passage, the newest semifinalist stepped onto the stage.
She merely stood there without moving, and already the arena was filled with eyes flashing between pity and heartbreak. Some audience members even stood up to denounce the organizers for their shamelessness!
Ugh... had the organizers gone mad chasing after money?
How could they send such a small girl into such a brutal fighting tournament...!
Yes.
The one standing there dumbfounded was none other than the little Holy Sword, Sylatrella.
“Eh...? Where is this? So strange.”
She wore a cute dark-blue dress, her softly curled blue hair cascading down her shoulders. She looked every bit like a fragile little girl whose delicate hands might break just from lifting a rock.
“Let us welcome contestant Syla, recommended by the esteemed Earl Shaya! Don’t be fooled by her young age—rumor has it she does possess some combat ability! Let’s look forward to... well, let’s just hope for the best!”
It was clear from that sigh—the host held zero expectations.
Sylatrella turned to look at the VIP section.
Lady Sheffy was up there, waving her arms enthusiastically to cheer her on.
At the same time, Sheffy pointed toward the winner’s podium, signaling for Sylatrella to go and take it!
Sylatrella looked in that direction.
There, atop the winner’s podium—stood a massive, gleaming, golden trophy!
Sylatrella froze for a moment.