She isn’t

When I talk to Kiara about the tournament, she tells me she has no interest in participating.

“Once, I participated in that tournament.” She explains. “In one of the battles, my opponent managed to pull my hood off my head. With so many people looking at me, my anxiety made it impossible for me to continue fighting and I lost.”

That’s right. I had forgotten about that. If only Kiara didn’t have that issue. I’m certain she would be in the running for B rank champion. I mean, using shadows as her weapons, teleporting out of danger and then also her glamer.

“But I think it would be a great opportunity for you, Darx.” Kiara then continues. “You would face a lot of good opponents. All of them at your rank. You would learn a lot from something like that.”

I agree with Kiara. It would be a great way for me to see how far I’ve come and maybe even use the tournament to further develop my fighting skills. But It’ll have to wait for tomorrow. It is much too late and I am quite tired now.

That night I felt lonely, for it is one night after many in which Kiara is not sleeping next to me. I do end up masturbating while thinking of her. I am hoping that in her room, she is doing the same.

That evening I dream of Ophelia again. She too felt it was a good idea for me to test my strengths in the tournament and helped me train throughout the night.

The next morning, I gear up and head out to get registered for the tournament. Ari has decided to try it out as well and joins me to the registration offices. They are in the center of the city, close to the castle. The area controlled by the crown. Despite there already having been several weeks for adventurers to sign up, there are still many who apply. Looks like a good number of them is waiting until the last minute.

The tournament is organized by the queen. That means there are a lot of royal guards around to guard the clerks who accept the participants. It also means that, when it is time for the finals, the queen herself will witness the final duels and congratulate the champions. Yes, multiple champions. Each division, from E to S will duel each other until 6 champions emerge. One for each rank. The E rank champion will win 50 silver coins. Due to the low pay E ranks often have receive this is a lot of money for them. The D rank champion will receive a reward of 1 golden coin. The C rank champion will get 3 golden coins instead. The B rank champion gets 5 golden coins and for the A rank champion the reward is 7 golden coins. The S rank champion doesn’t get a monetary reward. S ranks already get so many well-paying quests that they are assumed to not need the prize money. Instead, they get to spend a day with the royal family. And of course, all of Riledo will talk about the S rank champion and how amazing a person he is for winning the tournament. Gosh, I hope it isn’t Kase. I would hate to hear everyone sing his praises.

In order to get registered, Ari and I, both B ranks, need to check in with the clerk in charge of registering all the B rank adventurers. Ari first needs to show her ranking on her adventurer card. She doesn’t show her skills though. We both heard rumors about these clerks sometimes selling the information on someone’s adventurer card. I’m not sure whether those rumors are true, but Ari clearly prefers not to take the risk. After that, Ari needs to prove which guild she is with. Which she easily does by showing her Dark Dragon necklace. Finally, she needs to pay 2 silver coins. After having been registered, Ari receives a leaflet which has all the rules explained, a map to the B rank arena, as well as the dates when all the fights take place.

After Ari was registered, it is my turn. The woman who just checked in Ari gives me a weird look, probably because of my eyes. After I tell her my name is Darx, she asks me how long I have been an adventurer. A little odd, since she didn’t ask this question to Ari. When I tell her, I got my awakening about 2 months ago she says, “I’m sorry, but you cannot register for the tournament.”

“Excuse me?” I ask the clerk.

“You have not been an adventurer for long enough.” She replies.

I glance at the woman and say, “We were told the tournament is open for all adventurers.”

“It is a recent change.” The clerk says. “Adventurers now have to have had their awakening more than 6 months ago.”

I start getting frustrated with the woman and point at Ari saying, “She got her awakening the same day as me. We’re both trained in the castle. Yet you let her register?”

Even though Ari gives the clerk a nod of approval to show she agrees with me, the clerk still tells me, “Please, sir. There is no reason to become violent.”

“Violent!? I’m not being violent! I’m being kept out of the tournament with fake laws that apply only to me!” I yell at the woman. But she just calls security and orders them to escort me outside.

I can’t believe it. This is really happening? All other people who got their awakening 2 months ago can totally participate in the tournament, but I can’t? What is up with that? I’m going to have to tell Aelbrecht about this.

But as I and Ari were being escorted to the exit, I see Wendy at the A rank registration. That’s right, Wendy has been with the royal guard all of last month. Maybe she can help. I quickly tell Ari where to find Wendy and ask her if she could it go tell Wendy about what happened. Without saying anything, Ari nods and leaves for Wendy. After all, it is me being escorted, not her. She’s just tagging along.

After the guards kicked me out, I need to wait but 5 minutes and Wendy and Ari both exit the building and find me.

“Darx.” Wendy says and quickly gives me a hug. “Ari told me all about what happened. I don’t know what’s up with that clerk, but she is a total liar. There is no such rule like she pretended there was. Come with me, I’ll make sure you’re signed up.”

When I first heard Wendy picking the royal guard over the Dark Dragons, I was saddened. But now, I am quite grateful. Having her here now really works a lot in my favor.

Wendy takes us away from the public rooms and takes us backstage. I see a lot of people arranging stacks of paper and also a few at some blackboards, writing down how many E and D ranks have applied for the tournament. Wendy takes us straight to the lead organizer and explains my case to him and as she tells him he pulls a face like he couldn’t believe what he heard.

“She did what?” The lead organizer asked. “I’m going to have to have a talk with her. But let’s get you fixed first.”

He then finds a blank form and asks me for my name, the guild I’m in and my rank. I give him all the information he needs, including showing my adventurer card while holding my hand over my skills like Ari did. I also pay him the 2 silver participation fee. Thank Imris that Wendy was here to help me out. I thank the organizer for helping me out and also Wendy. After that, Ari and I head back to our guild.

I guess all that’s left now is to train. But for my first preparation, I want to upgrade my armor. I made a detour together with Ari and return to the shop where I bought my brigandine. It is more than a month ago since I was last here and fortunately, they still have the other armor pieces in the same leather. I buy the spaulders to protect my shoulders. Also, the gloves, I will likely have to protect my hands more than ever this time. I would love to get the bracers but that’s going to make me a little tight on cash. Then again, since my quest has kept me away from the guild for a whole month, the guild didn’t charge me the usual monthly payment. I am also quite sure that in the next two weeks, I should be able to easily do a quest or two to get me a few silver coins. Alright then, I’ll buy the bracers too.

I take my new gear to the shopkeeper and just when I am about to finish paying, I get an idea.

“Excuse me, but would it be possible for me to make a small request?” I ask.

“What is it you like, sir?” The shopkeeper asks.

“I was wondering. Do you think it would be possible for you to add the Dark Dragon emblem on the left spaulder?” I ask.

“Sure thing. We can add it on there no problem. Though you will have to pay a few coppers for the service.”

That is an amount of money I am fine with. Now I just have to remember to come pick it up before the tournament starts. I leave that one spaulder behind and take Ari back to the guild hall. I can’t wait to try out my new armor.

I usually don’t mind leaving the Oblivion guildhall. I generally always get praises everywhere I go, do some quest, get glorified as an outright savior. You know, normal hero stuff. But this time I need to do maintenance on a special operative. I’ve given her a mission a couple weeks ago and so far, there have been no results. She first even didn’t want to do it, but a little help from a certain skill quickly helped change her mind. Of course, I have to meet her incognito, so I am **** to wear rags and keep my immaculate face hidden.

When I get to the safe house, she is already there, pacing back and forth. As soon as I reveal my face, she calls my name and runs up to me to plant a kiss on my lips.

“I am so glad you are here, my love.” The woman says, “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you to, darling.” I lie. “Tell me, did he finally show up.”

The woman, still hugging me and kissing my cheek answers, “He did. I am surprised it took so long. But he had red eyes, just like you said. And I totally denied him the chance to register. Just like you wanted.”

Perfect. I figured he would try to use the tournament to get fame and glory for himself. If I were in his place, I totally would do that myself.

“But, after that, something went wrong.” The woman continues. “He somehow got into contact with the lead organizer. I don’t know how, I had the guards escort him out, I didn’t think he would be able to find a way back in.”

I don’t like the way this is going. I grope her butt and ask, “Please, tell me what happened.”

“Apparently, the lead organizer went out of his way to sign him up himself. There is nothing I could do to undo it.” The registration clerk tightens her grip and me and her voice starts to waver. After taking a deep breath she continues, “He even had me replaced with someone else. I’m sorry, Kase. I failed you.”

Indeed, you have. So, Darx is going to fight in the tournament. Actually, I can make use of this. What better way to humiliate him than to do it in front of thousands of people? He could become the laughing stock of Riledo. I can already imagine him begging his opponent for mercy while crying out for his mother. This may actually be the better outcome.

The tool of a woman in my arms interrupts my thoughts by caressing my chest. “Please, Kase. Make love to me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I need you so badly.”

“I wish I could, Darling. But since Darx is now registered for the tournament, I need to make preparations. But fear not, tomorrow I shall give you a wild ride.” I tell her.

She reluctantly lets go of me and I leave the building. I do so without recasting the spell gifted to me by the goddess Imris, even though the spell on her will end in a few hours. I no longer have any need of her. The sex she gave was only mediocre and it’s not like there is anything left for her to help me screw over Darx. It’s time to cut her loose and start thinking about who I can send into the tournament to give Darx the most humiliating defeat possible.