Chapter 348 - The King Has Arrived

The first match of the second day ended well. Everyone accepted the two new addition to the tournament, namely Steven and Dwight. And people already used to the TV at the square and in the Arena. The number of street vendors stopping by increased a lot, but Oleg's men made sure that it won't be too crowded. Luckily, everyone is disciplined and there are no troublemakers.

Oleg told me that most of the troublemakers stopped causing trouble after the Stampede. They don't want people to think that they are from the cult.

As for Steven and Dwight, they are happily enjoyed the audiences' praises for them. Not just that they are funny, they are also pretty knowledgeable about magic as well. Though the only one who doesn't like them is Kron. But not to the point where he would hate them.

Though I don't know if Kron will still be able to get a girlfriend or not.

It's lunch break, and people should be resting and waiting for the next match, but the officials are gathering together including Albert.

During the first match, he was with Marie and the others in normal audience seats, and not in the VIP seat prepared for him for the final. Though he said that he, Marie, and Alan will watch from there during the second match where his sister will fight.

And I was forced to be in the meeting as well. Don't they know that it's lunchtime? I'm starving.

I fill my stomach with the snacks sold in the Arena while listening to the meeting. While next to me are Steven and Dwight who were called here. They seem nervous unlike the time they are commentating.

"Steven and Dwight, right?" one of the officials asked.

"Yes!" Dwight replied.

"We're thinking of having three matches in one day starting tomorrow. Do you think that you can talk that long? Even the first match, I heard you two talking for almost two hours straight. I think you can do well for the second match later, but what if we add another one? People reacted to the tournament positively. Even more after you two came today. If you can do it, we will do one match in the morning, and two more after lunch," the official asked.

"We can! We even capable of talking nonsense for ten hours straight in the past!" Steven replied loudly.

Ten hours straight!? Just what kind of nonsense need that long? Anyway, that plan is impossible.

"I disagree with that plan. Just one match took almost two hours. If we add another match, it might not over yet even after it's dark. It also depends on the strength of the two teams. Like before, the winning team only need to send three participants. If the two teams are evenly matched, both sides might send all five participants and the tournament will be longer," I said.

Everyone agrees with me, so the schedule will stay with two matches in one day.

After that, I received a real and had a lunch with Albert's family as well in the hotel we stayed.

After lunch, we chatted for a while and returned to the Arena. Now I need to look around for suspicious person again. Though I haven't found any, which is suspicious as well.

How come a big event where even the king is watching and the cult doesn't even think of causing trouble? Or maybe because of the Stampede, they started to think that Melk is a dangerous city for cult members. If it's the latter, then I can rest easy.

"Alright, everyone! Thank you for waiting! It's me again, Steven, with my partner which is unfortunately my twin brother, Dwight! We meet again!" Steven said.

"What do you mean by unfortunately!?" Dwight protested.

"It is what it is. Do you think our parents wanted to have a twin? All twin babies are all accidentally born. The mother gets pregnant, and BOOM! Twins! Do you really think that just because they are twins, they will get along?" Steven said.

"If you hate me that much, we can settle it later privately. More importantly, we have a special guest starting today," Dwight said.

Albert is staring at the twins from his seat. He doesn't like it when people are making fun of twins. He had twin children after all. Though he kept it as secret from the world.

Steven and Dwight were lucky to be born normally. As for Alan and Lana, they needed my help with my knowledge of the future. Though I'm glad that I can start spreading the knowledge I have to other doctors in Cassau, and also to old man Henry whom I still meet regularly.

"Okay then, everyone, please welcome our special guest! His majesty, King Albert!" Steven introduced the special guest to the audiences.

Albert stand from his seat and greeted everyone with a smile.

Everyone looked at him with respect. And since there's no one reacting otherwise, I can conclude that there are no cult members here. Even those in the square are looking at the screen the same way.

"It was also thanks to the invention of the Queen herself that we can see the king clearly and so close. She was the inventor of the… Telelevision Screen where you can watch the Arena. We have an amazing couple as our country leader." Steven said.

"Yeah! It would be better if you said it correctly. It's Television. Or TV for short. You put an extra le there." Dwight complained.

"Who cares! Anyway, this is the first match that his majesty will watch, and it's also the team where his sister, Princess Shirley, will fight! Will we be able to witness how strong her highness is?"

"Though we already did. For most of us here, people of Melk, myself included, we have witnessed Princess Shirley fighting to protect us in the Stampede. Though at the time, she kept her identity as secret and only reveal it after the Stampede. Anyway, let's introduce both teams first! The first team is from the Capital University! It's the team with her highness in it. And… oh! Look at that girl! She's Angela! She's someone from Melk! Those from Melk must have known that she's a genius. Alongside another girl, Kayla, they made a great hunter party. And they both fight for the city as well during the Stampede! Despite they were still 15 or 16 at the time, Angela and Kayla are the most important members during the Stampede!"

…I guess they are popular in their own hometown. But…

"But what about me!? I'm the leader of said party, and no one remembers me!" I said. Though it's not loud enough for other people to hear since they are excited to watch their heroes fight.

"Because you are not famous. And you kept your identity as secret. That's why no one knows you."

Suddenly, the empty seat next to me was taken. It was by none other than Wendy who know the truth.

"But that doesn't change the fact that I'm sad. Anyway, why are you here? You can watch the match closer in the private rooms for the team, right?" I asked.

"I just wanted to feel the excitement here. I'm not from Melk originally, but during the Stampede, I was here. And they are also my student. I want to watch them from here. It's just by chance that my seat is next to you," Wendy said.

"Well, that's fine then."

"Do you know the other team? They are all exceptional mages and all of them are those who participated in the training camp. I told you this because you might have forgotten about them," Wendy said.

I look closer to the other team, and there is indeed someone I recognize. He's one of the summoners I taught. His summon was… I think it was Orc Wizard. Fighting him is the same as fighting two mages at once. And that was before his summoning element leveled up to intermediate level. Has he increased his level and get another summon? Even if he does, I don't think he will summon all his monsters.

After listening to the introduction of the two teams, there is a huge difference between the two teams' reception.

Most of the audiences cheered for Angela's team. Because they are considered as heroes during the Stampede. As for the other teams, there are some supporters who came from their city. But their voices can't be heard because not only the audience in the Arena, but also those who are watching in the square are shouting for Shirley and Angela to win.

"…I feel sorry for the other team. Though I think the result will be obvious," I said.

"You really want Kayla and Angela to fight?" Wendy asked.

"Yes. Angela is overpowered with her talent, but Kayla is smart in her own way. Kayla might have some strategies for when she fights Angela later. But… the weak point of Kayla's team is that rich man's son who is currently trying to flirt with Kayla. Oh! He now knows about Kayla's nickname, the 'Nutcracker'."

I can see that the man is crouching down in pain.

Back to the Arena, Steven and Dwight finished the introduction of the two teams.

"And now, we will begin the match!" Dwight said.

"No, we won't. For today, and later in the final, there's one person who will start the match. It has been arranged previously. If you will, your majesty," Steven said.

Albert stood up from his seat and everyone is silent.

"I may have been late for the previous three matches, but from what I heard, all the participants have fought well. I'm proud to be your king. And now, we will witness another two teams who are aiming to win this tournament. Just because one side is more well-known than the others, doesn't mean that the other team is weak. All of you, fight to your heart content! Now, the first fighters, please step forward into the stage."

One person from each team entered the stage. From the capital team, it's Fred. A noble's son who seems much better than any other nobles.

"Now…FIGHT!"