## Chapter 789 – Kingdom Martial Arts Tournament

At first listen, it’s just an ordinary voice.

But an ordinary voice couldn’t be heard so clearly in such a noisy setting. Is this the Great General’s vocal projection technique? A voice filled with the charisma to command knights and soldiers with mere words.

—Strong.

A genius who excels at everything, a Swordmaster.

“…”

Seeing as she directly called it an excellent match, she seems to have seen it properly in her own way.

Frankly, I can’t deny that I turned the martial arts tournament into a complete shitshow. But I’m not ashamed of it at all.

After all, dance is a martial art and a fight.

All martial artists have their own unique enlightenment and philosophy about martial arts. That’s why the world of martial arts is endless. The noobs get angry, saying, “What kind of clown act is this?” but that’s just a statement that clearly reveals their own limitations.

A Swordmaster would understand that fact better than anyone.

So, is it time for the award ceremony now?
A good opportunity to see the Swordmaster up close.

The prize is also tempting as hell, but the best thing is being able to see the Swordmaster right in front of me. That will definitely be a big help.

This is what I’m most looking forward to.

“Then, let’s hear the winner’s speech.”

—Whoosh!

Having said that, the Swordmaster threw the microphone she was holding at me.

—Whirr!

The microphone flew spinning fiercely. If she were to throw anything, it would turn into a deadly weapon, but I caught it accurately.

—Snatch!

It’s just handing over the microphone.

Wow, she even threw her own microphone; I’m honored. She’s currently in the royal box, so I think she’ll come down soon to present the award.

“Ahhh!!!! Yes!!! That’s right!!! Now, let’s hear from the winner of the martial arts tournament!!! Paladin Kim Kat’s speech!!!”

The host, who had rushed over, shouted while jumping up and down. Yes, more than anything else, this is the most important.

I immediately spread my legs shoulder-width apart and struck a confident pose.

Then.

“This victory—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I brought the microphone to my lips and shouted.

“I dedicate it to Verde-nim!!!!!!!!!! And to all the audience members who watched this martial arts tournament until the end—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

This is what you call a thoughtful greeting.

—Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
—Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!!!
—Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

The audience cheers and goes wild. No one is screaming because of me anymore. The technique I showed when I subdued Harun just now was `real.` Now, all the audience members acknowledge my true power.

“Therefore.”

I have to show them something more.

—Senses pushed to the limit.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, used shoes with special devices when performing his legendary dance, the anti-gravity lean.

“But Heavenly Demon Kim Kat doesn’t need that.”

An emperor needs shoes befitting his dignity.
But a superhuman Heavenly Demon doesn’t need that.

—Keeping the soles of my feet on the ground.
Keeping my upper body upright.

“I will show my gratitude from this very spot!!”

—Sssst.

Just moving my ankles as is, I.

「Tilt.」

“Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Simultaneously, I explode with gratitude.

An inhuman dance of tilting the body while keeping the soles of the feet firmly on the ground. Ordinary humans can never perform this move without special shoes.

But as a superhuman, I can.

—O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh!!!!
—Wh-wh-wh-wh-what on earth is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!
—Mom!!!! Mom!!!! Where’s Mommmmmmm!!!!
—He’s not human!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A human would have lost their balance and fallen over by now!!!
—He’s a wizard!!! He’s a wizard!!!!!! This is magic!!! Mysterious magiiiiic!!!!
—How can he do such a thing so nonchalantly!!!!!!!!!
—Help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please save me!!!!!

That’s why the audience is once again swept up in a frenzy.

—Flex!

Superhuman strength dwells in my ankles and toes. Each time I lower the angle little by little, a louder shout erupts. It might be nice to kiss the ground like this, but unfortunately, I can’t tilt my body that far because of my ankle joints.

And by that point, even I wouldn’t be able to.

“…”

Eventually, when the tilt of my body reached its limit.

I had this thought.

—Is this all there is?

No.

“I can do more!!! I can show them more!!!!”

—Whoosh!

In that state, I give an accent to my body!! Moving my tilted body in a fan shape, I bow my head to more audience members!!!!!

The superhuman body that doesn’t fall over even then!

Keeping the soles of my feet firmly on the ground is the key!

“H-how can he even move in that state!!!”
“I can’t understand what’s happening!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
“Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!”
“Kkeuoooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

It’s not just a fan shape!!!

—Rotation!!!

As is, to the right!
From the right to the back!
From the back to the left!
And restoring the posture to its original state!

Wildly spinning around and sweeping in all directions, like a balloon doll, while keeping only the soles of my feet firmly on the ground!!!!

“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!”

Knees and upper body that don’t bend at all!! Even I didn’t think such a movement would be possible!!

If there’s a store having a grand opening, call me…! I will gladly become a balloon doll and attract people!!

—Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!
—That’s impossibleeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—His joint structure is medically wrong!!! If not, he must have tremendous ankle strength and toe muscles!!!!
—Even other knights who have transcended the physical realm wouldn’t be able to do that!!!
—I’ve decided to doubt my eyes now!!!! These eyes that deserve to be doubted! Ah! My fate of being born with these is cursed! I wish I didn’t have eyes!
—It’s a crazy rotationnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!

After finishing the mana-consuming performance, I stand straight in place and bow.

“Long live Verdeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!”
“I-I’ve never seen such an inhuman greeting before!!! How can a person tilt their body like that… Kyaaak!”

The host, who tried to imitate me, fell forward as is.

This is going to be a trend for a while, and the number of people breaking their noses will skyrocket. There’s an American study that shows that the number of such patients skyrocketed after Michael Jackson showed this dance.

“How did he do that!! It seems to be a technique that only those who have extremely trained the art of strengthening the body with mana can perform!! Anyway, now!!!! The princess and the Swordmaster will come down and proceed with the award ceremony!!!”

Finally, the award ceremony.

I immediately go down to the arena and walk towards the luxurious awards platform located over there. The princess and the Swordmaster were already standing there, having come down.

—Crouch.

As soon as I arrive, I immediately kneel on one knee and lower my head.

The princess and the Swordmaster.

If you were to count the highest people in the country, they’re definitely in the top ten. In that case, bowing your head first is the thoughtful way to live in society.

“Kim Kat, a paladin directly under the Saintess of the Brass Celestial Angel Society, greets the noble and honorable princess and the world’s greatest Swordmaster!!! I am grateful for this honor!!!”

I don’t know what noble or whatever is, but you have to say this no matter what in situations like this. But it’s true that the Swordmaster is the best in the world.

“Please raise your head and stand up.”

As I was doing that, I heard that voice right in front of me. How should I put it? It’s a very indifferent yet gentle voice. I slightly raise my head, and I can see her ankles.

—The princess’s voice.

The princess just told me to stand up.
Then I have to stand up.

—Crouch!

“Yes, ma’am!!”

I immediately stand up and take a sharp attention stance.

—…

Just like that, I greet the princess and the Swordmaster right in front of me.

—The princess was beautiful.

Objectively speaking, she had an outstanding appearance that could almost be compared to Cloudi.

Cloudi’s beauty comes from being a half-elf who inherently inherited the blood of beautiful elves, and being exceptionally beautiful even among them. Can a human even possess such beauty? That’s what I think.

It feels different from what I saw with the hologram magic.

—Her decadent eyes are emotionless.

But because her skin is pure white, I get the feeling that it’s floating apart from the background. Her height is probably a little over 170cm. She’s currently wearing a dress that exposes her upper chest, and even the glimpse of her breasts is quite large.

“I congratulate you in my name for winning the Kingdom Martial Arts Tournament.”

As expected, a gentle but emotionless voice.

“I watched the Paladin’s amazing martial prowess from beginning to end. It was such a wonderful match that even I, who has almost no knowledge of martial arts, was impressed.”

Should I say thank you here?
Is it okay to speak to royalty without permission?

I can’t make a proper judgment.

Ah, shit. This hasn’t happened in a while, but suddenly, sweat is pouring down my back. Unlike when I stood before Duke Isvant, this feels completely different.

I don’t know if she knows my feelings, but the princess continued.

“It’s so reassuring and reliable that the Paladin of the Brass Celestial Angel Society, which has a close cooperative relationship with the royal family, is so strong and brave.”

As expected of a princess, her words flow like a clear stream. At the same time, hot sweat is gushing out of my back as if an oil field has exploded. Damn it, it’s the return of Souvide Kim Kat.

I didn’t know when we were fighting, but how should I react to real royalty?

“I attend the tournament every year… but I think this is the first time that the match has been so amazing and enjoyable.”

At that moment, a small smile appeared on her emotionless face.

Enjoyable.
Enjoyable… Yeah, it was a decent dance.

“That unique dance… Ah, I feel like I’m talking too much by myself. I will allow you to answer freely, so don’t worry and answer.”
“Yes! I understand! I am honored as a citizen of the kingdom that the noble and honorable princess has praised me like this!!”
“I am also honored that the Paladin says so.”

I think it’s going well.
Let’s go with this feeling.

More than that, she said she would allow me to answer, so she seems to be a kind person who knows how to be considerate of others. Thinking that way, I start to feel a little relieved.

“That unique dance was quite enjoyable. Even I, who has seen a lot, had never seen anything like that before…”

Then of course it’s the first time.
Michael Jackson-nim is a unique being.

“I would like to see it again someday.”
“You praised my dance…! It’s an honor to my family!! If the princess orders, I will gladly perform the dance with a happy heart!!”
“I’m glad you said that. Now, your head.”

Having said that, the princess held up the gold medal and spread out the necklace part. Then, she held it out as if she would put it around my neck herself.

As expected, if you’re the winner of the martial arts tournament, the princess will personally put the gold medal on you.

It can be said to be a very great honor.

—Crouch.

As soon as I bow my waist at a 45-degree angle, the princess personally puts the gold medal over my head.

—Swish.

Her fingers brush against my face, neck, and collarbone… At the same time, the princess takes a step forward.

“…!”

Because of that, we got closer, and a scene was created where the princess’s voluptuous cleavage was right in front of my eyes. No, damn it, what kind of crazy thing is this! If this happens, no matter what I do, wouldn’t there be a misunderstanding that I’m burying my nose in the princess’s cleavage!

At that moment.

“Oh my… You’re being naughty?”

That voice rang in my ear, and goosebumps rose all over my body.
…Where is Cloudi Mama?

“…!!!!”
“I’m just kidding. Congratulations again on winning the final. Unlike the other tournaments until now, this one was a ‘very enjoyable’ one, so I’m in a very good mood.”
“…Thank you.”

What is this?

“And to think you’re a Paladin from Mirkesha, that’s quite interesting too.”

…After putting the gold medal on me, the princess left those words and retreated two steps.

And the Swordmaster stood in front of me.