「The winner is, Noiz!」

『WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!』

As he heard the referee’s voice announcing his victory and the overwhelming cheers echoing throughout the stadium, Noiz looked towards Rei, who was lying on the arena.

Looking at Rei, he felt amazement and excitement. His ears didn’t hear any of the cheers coming from outside the arena.

(He was able to master Overlord’s Armour in such a short amount of time, even if it was a very basic level. In terms of just talent, he’s better than me.)

Noiz had completely mastered the skill he called Overlord’s Armour, which compressed magic power into a dense layer that could be visually seen. However, he hadn’t always been able to use it at this level.

No, in fact, it had taken him hours, days, and months just to compress his magic power to the point it could be seen.

In comparison, Rei, who was currently unconscious, had been able to mimic it just after seeing Noiz use it, albeit clumsily.

Furthermore, he hadn’t just worn it, he had even used the advanced technique of shifting the Overlord’s Armour around his body, allowing him to move at speeds invisible to the naked eye.

Of course, Rei hadn’t mastered the technique either, his ability to use the Overlord’s Armour was completely dependent on the sheer amount of magic power he was putting into it..

It was only possible due to the amount of magic power Rei had compared to an ordinary person. But, to think about it a different way, it could be said that Rei was making full use of his extraordinary magic power.

(Should I call him a genius? From the perspective of the Bestir Empire though, it might be better to call him a natural disaster.)

Right now, Noiz was still stronger, due to his better use of Overlord’s Armour, the experience he had accumulated, and other skills he knew.

That was right now, but what if the days continued to pass and Rei gained more combat experience? What if he mastered Overlord’s Armour?

Just considering Overlord’s Armour, if their level of proficiency was the same, the amount of magic power put into it would naturally affect its performance.

At that time……Noiz couldn’t say for sure he could defeat Rei.

Of course, he had no intention of losing either.

(And, most of all……)

With a quick glance, he looked away from Rei and towards the magic sword he was holding.

The word『Corrosion』had come from Rei’s mouth as they fought.

The moment he heard that, something like a sense of urgency ran down Noiz’s spine, a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time.

It was probably a skill, not magic, similar to his Overlord’s Armour.

And, considering the word said when the skill was used, it probably either caused the target’s weapon or body to ‘corrode’.

In reality, the skill was only effective against metal weapons, but Noiz, who didn’t know the details, had no idea.

Either way, if the Death Scythe came in contact with his sword, his sword would probably corrode away. Because of his guess, he hadn’t made any direct clashes with the Death Scythe, instead only attacking with his fists.

Even if it affected his body, he calculated that he would be able to deal with it with the Overlord’s Armour.

While it was possible to cover his body with it, that no longer stayed true if it was too far from his body. It was impossible to wrap his sword in it, at most he could probably only cover the hilt.

Noiz had misunderstood various things, or rather overthought it, but in the end, his judgement wasn’t wrong. On the contrary, it was the perfect choice to deal with Rei’s Corrosion.

If Noiz had taken the skill lightly, his magic sword might have been on the verge of falling apart after clashing with the corrosion empowered Death Scythe multiple times.

Of course, it was a magic sword used by Noiz. There was no doubt it was a high quality item and there was a chance the blade wouldn’t have been affected. However, Noiz didn’t want to take that gamble against Rei.

……No, rather it would be correct to say he couldn’t take that gamble.

Looking at Rei right now, lying on the ground, and considering the results of the match, you might see it as a one sideded beating from beginning to end with Rei unable to do much.

However……

(What do they think they’re saying, never having experienced it?)

Noiz clicked his tongue as he heard many words enter his ears.

Words like how Crimson wasn’t a big deal, that no one could defeat Immovable, and many other things that would make the person who said them feel better.

Naturally, there were other voice that praised Rei’s good fight, but even so, Noiz grew tired of the audience saying such irresponsible and insulting words about Rei……to someone he recognised.

It wasn’t funny to hear people talk like that about someone who had experienced the same sense of time he had and had placed one foot on the level he was at.

「P-Participant Noiz.」

That was why it was probably fortunate that the referee called out to him before the positive emotions he had felt gained from his fight against Rei were overshadowed by negative emotions.

「What is it?」

Noiz’s response was short, but the aura he had from a battle he hadn’t felt in a long time was still around. The referee who called out him gave a small gasp.

That said, as the referee in charge of the tournament finals, he was only momentarily frightened.

There were many referees who were part of the management committee and the rotated day to day for the various matches. The fact that he was appointed to as the referee for the finals meant that he was an excellent person.

「So, the awards ceremony will be held half an hour from now. I would like you to be ready for it.」

「……Is that so.」

Now that he thought about it, there was something like that. Noiz’s gaze didn’t show any emotion as he muttered out loud.

Having seen Noiz laugh in a way that couldn’t really be called a laugh during his match against Rei earlier……this all gave the referee a sense of discomfort.

However, Noiz ignored the referee as he went over to Rei, gently carrying him on his shoulders as he picked up the Death Scythe with his other hand.

Only a S rank adventurer would have been able to pick up the heavy Death Scythe so easily.

「P-Participant Noiz?」

「I know. I’ll make it in time for the award ceremony. I can’t just leave Rei like this, right? So, will Rei also be joining the award ceremony?」

「Yes, both of you will be recognised as the winner and runner-up. However, if he doesn’t regain consciousness in time, he won’t be forced to attend.」

「Okay then. I’ll take Rei to the waiting room.」

With those words, Noiz left the arena with the Death Scythe in one hand and Rei over his other shoulder.

『Amazing, amazing, amazing! It couldn’t have been more amazing. I couldn’t even tell the fight was going on for the most part. They seemed to disappear, reappear, then disappear again. I usually do live commentary in other matches, but I’ve never seen a fight of this level. Everyone, please give a round of applause!』

A storm of applause erupted from the audience at the commentator’s words.

Even with that kind of applause, Noiz didn’t seem to notice it as he left through the participant entrance.

 

 

「……Noiz. If he had just killed him, it would have saved us a lot of trouble.」

A man muttered disgustingly at the sound of applause that echoed from the audience.

The men around him nodded in agreement.

「Seriously. If we don’t kill him here, it will definitely harm the Bestir Empire.」

「Yes, yes. It was such a great opportunity……」

「Count Schwindel, what happened to Requiem’s Toll?」

The nobles around him asked, but Count Schwindel shook his head in displeasure.

「They tried to kill him……but they failed.」

「What!? After collecting all the information they did, after delaying their attack, after all the preparations they made?」

「They are lowly people after all.」

「Seriously. It was a mistake to rely on people like that from the beginning.」

All of them voiced their dissatisfaction with Requiem’s Toll, but Count Schwindel’s faction also had no choice but to rely on them.

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t defeat Rei with the strength they had on their own. The fact that Rei had made it all the way to the finals of the fighting tournament proved that he had that level of skill.

Above all……although they couldn’t say he was on par with a S rank adventurer, he had still been able to fight against one.

Since the main tournament had started, Noiz had been going easy on his opponents. The only time he had fought properly had been against Rei.

(That’s why, myself included, have no choice but to rely on Requiem’s Toll……it’s pathetic. I, who hold the position of Count in the glorious Bestir Empire. But……even so, I can’t let go of this grudge. I will……I will definitely make him pay. Even if it is by underhanded means.)

Although he felt that the flames of revenge burning within him were dangerous, he still chose to surrender himself to those dangerous feelings.

 

 

「Rei……he, lost?」

That murmur came from within a guest room.

Rhodes couldn’t believe what he had seen.

The people around him, those from the First Prince’s faction, turned their attention to him.

Pity, ridicule, sympathy, and disgust. Some even looked contemplative, but Rhodes didn’t notice any of it.

All he could do was stare dumbfoundedly as Rei was carried off the arena by Noiz.

Bratta called out to Rhodes.

「No, no, what are you surprised by? Did you really think that Crimson could defeat Immovable?」

「That’s……」

Normally, you would be crazy to even think that a B rank adventurer could defeat a S rank adventurer.

Of course, Rhodes knew that, but if it was Rei……that was what he had thought.

Rei could even defeat his own father, an A rank adventurer with the title Axe of the Thunder God.

Although she had no intention of comforting Rhodes, Pelfiel spoke up.

「However, out of all the participants in the tournament, he was the only one that Noiz showed some level of seriousness while fighting. I had only heard rumours about the Overlord’s Armour, I never though I’d be able to see it with my own eyes.」

There was admiration for Rei in her voice.

Even if he had lost, she felt that Rei shouldn’t be laughed at for losing to Noiz, a S rank adventurer.

In fact, for Pelfiel, if anyone here were to laugh at Rei right now, would they be able to defeat Noiz themselves? Or rather, would they even be able to put up as much of a fight as Rei had?

Looking around with that emaning, several people in the room looked awa with expressions of irritation or shame while others nodded in agreement.

「Well, there was no doubt the finals was worth watching. ……No, really. As expected of someone worthy of the title of Crimson.」

Someone said that, as if they were trying to change the atmosphere in the room.

Everyone nodded slightly in agreement.

In reality, if you were to ask if anyone here could do anything against Rei, none of them would be able to say yes with any confidence.

Even Bratta and Pelfiel, who were confident in their own strength, were unable to say they would win for sure after remembering the fight they had just seen.

「From here on, when His Highness Kabajid ascends to the throne of Emperor……that man may be the one standing in his way.」

The words that came out of Pelfiel’s mouth made the people around her imagine a future where they faced Rei on the battlefield, causing a chill down their spines.

Even so, there was no one who said they wouldn’t fight, perhaps because they had sworn allegience to their master.

「I’ve told you, I have no intention of giving up fighting Rei. That was my condition for me to cooperate with you.」

As Rhodes’ voice echoed through the room, those who heard it nodded with varying expressions.

If Rhodes wanted to fight Crimson in their place, they more than welcomed it. If he could exhaust Rei’s stamina by even a little, that was fine. If Rhodes wanted to go kill himself, he was free to do that, but everyone was still amazed that he hadn’t lost his will to fight even after seeing Rei’s strength.

That said, very few people here really thought that Rhodes could defeate Rei……well, rather, no one did.

After the level of strength Rei had displayed, it was only natural.

「Then, I guess I’ll have to give the magic item that was promised to Rhodes soon.」

Rhodes nodded at Bratta’s words.

For some reason, the magic item that was meant to be given to him had yet to be handed over.

He would soon obtain the power that would allow him to carve his name against Rei.

(That said, it will probably take some time to master the magic item.)

Rhodes muttered to himself as he watched the tournament management committee prepare for the award ceremony.

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