## Chapter 776 – Kingdom Martial Arts Tournament

“That’s true. But since I’m participating, I might as well win.”

Yesterday, I abstained from sex and focused on getting intensive training from Karin and Liz, my two older sisters, all day long.

It’s a martial arts tournament, of course. Mages aren’t allowed to participate, and the use of artifacts that activate special effects is also prohibited.

It’s literally a competition where magical elements are excluded, and only pure warriors participate to compete their skills. That’s why Karin and Liz’s guidance is so good. I can just train without thinking about magical elements.

First of all, I’m starting with a huge advantage from my instructors. Moreover, doping with drugs or elixirs is allowed, so I have no worries. I’m just worried about Ari’s breasts, which will be working hard to make milk from now on.

“I will definitely win.”

ㅡRustle.

I glanced over the recommendation letter I received, folded it neatly, and put it in my pocket. There’s no other option but to win.

“Of course, you have to win.”

The Holy Woman patted my shoulder, then gently stroked it as she continued.

“But, you’re so confident in your victory… Is there anything you want after winning?”
“Huh? You mean something I want?”
“For a Paladin to win the Kingdom Martial Arts Tournament is a great benefit to the Order. It’s such a big event, and the world’s attention is focused on it. It can give the impression that Lord Verde’s protection is strong, as well as promote us.”

That’s obvious.

The `young` Paladin directly under the Holy Woman of the Brass Celestial Angel Order is that strong?

That alone will attract everyone’s attention.

The nobles who worship Verde or donate to the Order will have their shoulders heaving with joy and pride, and the general public will also feel the power of the Order.

That will eventually lead to an increase in followers, resulting in a surge in various offerings and donations. In any world’s religion, a good `image` is essential. In this era of violence, the image of a `strong religion` will work well.

Because that’s what the general public wants.

They want strong gods and warriors to protect them. In other words, Verde Entertainer Kim Kat should create that illusion very well.

And well, incidentally, the inhumane view towards barbarians might disappear a little. There’s still a habit of discriminating against barbarians in the capital. You can see that just by looking at Karin’s classmate I saw in the dungeon last time.

It’s true that prejudice is widespread, even though I’m so strong now that it’s not obvious. I’ll also make a name for myself. Winning has a lot of advantages besides the prize.

“So, it’s only right to give you a reward commensurate with that.”
“Could it be… Am I going to receive a double prize, including the tournament prize?!”

Oh!

The Holy Woman is giving me a separate reward! Yes! This is what a job is all about! The Holy Woman’s character, trying to give something in return if you do well!

As expected, not just anyone can be a Holy Woman!
Literally a true Holy Woman!

“You could say that.”
“Oh…! Thank you!!!”

Inhumane gratitude!!!

“So, Paladin, is there anything else you want?”

The Holy Woman stroked my shoulder and asked what I wanted. There’s only one thing I want. Something material and monetary.

That’s exactly what I really need.

“Asking for something monetary as usual is too common, I think.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t you have any other good ideas? Try to say something.”
“Hmm…”

A reward other than money?
Meal tickets or gift certificates are all monetary.

What else is there?

“Well… It’s a bit hard to think of something. I don’t really want anything other than money.”
“Heh, you’re as consistent as ever, Paladin. The reason I said this is because I think it’s a bit ambiguous to convert this kind of thing into money.”
“Well… I guess it feels like that when I think about it.”

It would be a bit strange for the church to give a prize for winning the tournament. It also seems a bit ambiguous to receive equipment.

“Then please take care of it, Holy Woman.”
“Hooh, can I leave it to me?”
“I don’t need anything too great. Just give me as much as I’ve helped the Order. Then I’ll be inhumanely grateful.”
“Alright, then I’ll keep that in mind.”

If you buy me a good meal like two days ago, that’s fine too. The food there was quite delicious. Originally, buying something to eat, especially something expensive, is one of the best rewards.

If you’re going to feed me, you should feed me something expensive.

The Holy Woman is thorough in that regard.

“Hehehe, but isn’t it right for the giver to think about it?”
“That’s true.”
“Then I’ll see you next time. I have to go register right away today.”
“Let’s see each other again in two days.”

I greeted the Holy Woman like that and came out of the Great Temple.

Today, before coming out, I brought the flyer I picked up last time. The location of the registration office was written on it. But as I walked down the street, there were flyers everywhere.

This is something you don’t usually know or see, but after you become interested, you see it rapidly.

I wondered if they were all the same flyers, so I checked a few and headed towards the martial arts tournament registration office. It’s a bit far, but let’s walk slowly.

* * *

The place I arrived at was a fairly neat-looking six-story building. The exterior walls were made of white bricks, and the roof was covered with sky-blue tiles, giving it a refreshing feel.

As expected of the capital?
The window design and the atmosphere are sophisticated.

ㅡBustling.

The building was quite crowded.

That’s because the sign right in front said that martial arts tournament participation applications were being accepted here.

As expected of the biggest event in the kingdom, a lot of participants are flocking to it.

ㅡGlance.

Anyway, as I tried to stand in line to enter the entrance, various gazes were fixed on me. Looking at them, they were all young men with swords at their waists.

There aren’t any who look strong…
They’re just glancing at each other.

I’m in that gaze.

There are some who seem strangely excited, but they just can’t control their feelings because they think the guys around here will be their opponents.

Anyway, are all these guys participating?

No, but… If you filter out the qualifications, most of them will be eliminated, but this is…

“…”

All I see are noobs or complete noobs. Unless they’re hiding their strength, the guys here won’t be my opponents. Did all these guys come with recommendation letters?

Well, it could be because I’ve become so strong that I feel this way.

Above all, the guys standing here are mostly fresh young men in their early twenties or teenagers in their late teens.

It would be strange if they were strong at that age… Well, the strong ones may have already registered, or they may simply not be visible now.

And it’s not like I can figure out their level as soon as I see them.

Whatever the case, my opponents aren’t these guys, but probably guys who have received professional assassination training and inhumane education from noble families since they were young, like assassin dreamers.

If not, it could be the grown-up form of a chimera child secretly created in the basement of a crazy mage. Beings who have undergone various enhancement procedures and personality erasure modifications, and have been reborn as congenital human weapons injected with efficient serial massacre techniques.

Next, it could be a kid who was secretly kidnapped by reclusive crime geniuses or hidden masters of assassination who wiped out a village for the purpose of passing on their skills, and who grew up, finally received all the teachings, killed his master who killed his parents in the past, stole his identity, and attended the tournament to prove himself.

ㅡThump, thump.

“Hehehe, ah. Fucking hell.”

After roughly narrowing it down to these three, my heart started to beat and laughter started to flow out.

How strong will the guys I can meet be?

There might be guys who are so ridiculously cruel and strong that those three serial killers I just mentioned might look like kind and good-natured neighborhood fools.

Perhaps the rumored experiment of the Royal Knights will participate.

There’s a chance that my opponent will be the next-generation commander who was created by culturing the genes of the current Sword Master in the form of a clone-like little kid, and then pouring all kinds of elixirs, education, and training into him.

“Get out of here!! We don’t accept that kind of recklessness!!!”

As I was doing simulations in my head while having such shitty imaginations, I heard a shout from the front.

“Read the rules and come back!!!”
“Damn it!! My skills are enough!! Look!! I’ll show you!!”

Looking at him, a middle-aged man with a chubby impression who looked like a royal civil servant was scolding a young man.

“If you see my skills, you’ll be convinced too!!!”

The young man was about to draw his sword, saying he would show his skills right now. That guy looks like he came to register without a recommendation letter.

“Oh, look at that.”
“It seems like there’s always someone like that.”
“There was one last year, I think.”
“That’s why country bumpkins are a problem.”
“Hehehe.”

Oh dear.

It seems like my thoughts were right. The people who were waiting in line started to point fingers at the young man, whispering.

“It won’t be fun if you draw that sword! And don’t show me your skills, just bring a recommendation letter!!!! Don’t be frustrating!!!”
“You’ll know once you see it!!!”

ㅡSreung!

The young man, ignoring the warning, drew his sword and started to perform something similar to a sword dance.

ㅡSwaaek!
ㅡWhoosh! Whoosh!

“Hooh, his skills are… better than I thought?”
“It seems like he’s a master.”
“He’s pretty good.”

Then the people standing in front admired him and touched their chins. Unless my eyes have gone bad, the young man performing the sword dance wasn’t even a D-rank based on Isvant Adventurer standards.

It seems like he doesn’t know much about the world.

“Guards!! I think you should catch this crazy guy!!”
“Ah, no, why!! You just saw my skills?!”
“Skills or whatever, you don’t have a recommendation letter!!!”

As the commotion arose, the guards approached, and they mercilessly took out their clubs and turned the young man into a pulp in an instant, then dragged him away like a pig being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

“…”

Then a moment of silence fell in the hall.

The man they had evaluated as a master was beaten to a pulp by the guards and dragged away. Looking at them, they were all looking at the sky with their eyes closed.

These stupid bastards…!

Anyway, I took out the recommendation letter and read it while waiting in line. It was just a letter in the name of the Holy Woman of Kadia guaranteeing my identity, affiliation, and eligibility to participate. It also had a seal on it.

This is more than enough.

Soon it was my turn.

“Next.”

The chubby middle-aged civil servant who had scolded the young man earlier said “next” in a dry voice without even looking at me.

“Kim Kat, Paladin directly under the Holy Woman of the Brass Celestial Angel Order.”

I immediately put the recommendation letter on the desk and called out my name.

“Wh, what? Pa, Paladin?”

He stuttered, looking up at me, as if he was flustered. As expected, a Paladin is a Paladin. It’s a job that’s surprising to others.

“To be exact, I’m a Paladin directly under the Holy Woman. You can see it if you read it there.”
“Ah. Yes, yes… I understand.”

He became polite, put on the monocle that was on the desk, and stared at my recommendation letter. He mumbled something as if he was reading it carefully, then picked up a seal and asked me.

“Are you… registering, Paladin-nim?”
“Surely I can’t participate?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s just that it’s the first time a religious person has participated…”
“There’s a first time for everything. If there’s no problem, please register me.”
“…I understand. But what’s your age?”
“As it says there, I’m in my mid-twenties.”
“…Yes.”

He nodded, scribbled something diligently, took out a document, and stamped it. Then he told me to sign, so I signed all sorts of documents.

“Here, the application is complete… The tournament schedule is like this, so please be aware of it. If you have any questions, please come back here and ask. Ah. Except on weekends.”

He handed me a few documents.

Looking at them, they were documents stating that I was proving my eligibility to participate, the tournament schedule, and instructions on what tournament participants should do.

“I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”

I took the paper and came outside.