=====Chapter 27=====

Reaching the arena, I entered the lobby, and I was met with a full line at a window.

Not knowing what this was about, I asked the one of the people standing there.

“We are betting, ya’know?”

He said, with a confident tone.

There were other windows, yet they were incredibly free.

I went and asked one of the receptionists about it.

“In the busy window, they could bet for the dual-wielding scimitar man, Bamus, here you bet for Bob, and the nex-”

“A thousand golds on Bob.”

I hand him a large bag filled with gold.

With a dubious expression, he looked at me and asked.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

He hesitantly grabbed the bag and gave me a ticket that was written on with a special tool.

“What is your name, sir?”

“Archillies Duane.”

“Alright, hold on a second.”

Writing my name on it, the ink shined bright red then settled on black.

On it was my name on the top, then the number 1000G below it.

“I want to bet to!”

Said Rain, with an enthusiastic tone.

Taking out a pile of gold from her own stash, she handed him a thousand, just like I did.

In the same manner, he took the gold, then fiddled with some tools while writing Rain’s name.

Rain Blue on the top, a thousand on the bottom.

To be honest, I question this world’s safety, since they consider people adults at the age of 12.

Yet, I have never seen any, none at all, in fact.

The reason is either, they went to a school or an academy, or they do not act until they grow up.

Anyhow, this system only works for Sefai Lopie, however, Rezal Kingdom (north) is different.

Beastmen supposedly mature at 18, or so their ancestor’s laws say.

The difference between humans and beastmen is apparent in their physical abilities, whereas the latter being stronger, at the cost of low chance of being a mage, and harder to gain magic abilities.

However, with enough numbers and tactics, beastmen would surely conquer the continent, unless they meet an SSS or someone like me, but that won’t happen… right?

Anyhow, while I was in deep thought, Rain had pulled me to the spectators seats, and we sat on the 3rd row.

Not too close, yet not too far, the best seats are usually the in the middle.

Looking inside, the smooth sandstone terrain covered the battlegrounds, which seems to be altered after each battle by an Earth manipulator.

Finally, the commentator, Fiona, came out and triggered the start of their entrance.

With calm, yet strong steps, a man clad in desert-like clothes entered the arena, wearing a muffler.

On the opposite side, Bob was wearing a full chainmail set with a black cloak draping it, with a greataxe in his right hand being dragged behind him.

Recently, their bodies have started looking more human-like, and less ghostly blue, thus explaining why no one has found out that he is a Phantasmal Body.

With a devilish grin, he stared at the dual-scimitar wielding man, before adopting a stance.

Bob, I’m proud of you for not looking down on your opponent.

Fiona started counting down, and just as she said “Start”, the combatants gathered power in their feet and dashed at each other.

With great speed, Bob made a side-swipe with his axe, to be dodged by a jump in the air.

Making use of this chance, Bob stopped midway and thrusted upwards with the flat surface of the axe, plunging the fighter higher in the air.

Due to the unexpected attack, he had a dumbfounded expression, nevertheless, he utilized his position in the air and started chanting magic.

“Spirits of fire, with thy power and strength, light up my road and clear my path! ‘Flare’!”

A concentrated ball of fire was emitted from his palms, and soon sent towards Bob at bullet speed.

With a calm expression, he raised his axe at the ball in a tilted angle, and stood steady.

Just as it touched the axe, he started rotating it with smooth movements, then hauling it back towards the caster.

With a click of his tongue, he tried to protect himself from the attack, with dampened some of the damage, but he couldn’t see the next attack coming.

After sending the ‘Flare’, Bob made use of my skill ‘No Chant’ to cast a water ball in the size of a baseball, then hurled it right behind the flaming ball.

Desert warriors are known for their high affinity to fire, and high resistance as well, however, water is their counterpart.

Being hit by an unexpected attack straight in his face, the warrior faltered, which allowed Bob to continue his onslaught.

Using ‘Auto Cast’, Bob made 10 water balls, and hurled them twice per attack.

The poor man was unable to fall, as Bob never let him do so, the water balls pushed the man up in the air again and again, until Bob got bored.

Putting strength in his legs, Bob crouched, then jumped up high just next to the warrior.

His eyes widened in surprise, but Bob didn’t give him any chance to retaliate, and bashed the warrior into the ground.

A sonic boom was formed, with the warrior falling at high speed and crashing into the ground, while Bob descended like an angel.

Unknowingly, the crowd was cheering loudly, yet my mind blocked their voices.

Taking a glance at Rain, her eyes sparkled, her mouth twitched in anticipation as she shaked in her seat.

Unconsciously, it seems that I as well was doing the same thing, until I ‘woke up’.

Looking back at the battleground, it seems that the dust from the crash has finally settled.

Oh.. the warrior is standing up.

Using my supreme hearing, I heard him chant for a ‘Flame Heal’, which covered his body for a few seconds until it dissipated.

Some of the injuries were treated, while others were not, but that didn’t matter for the warrior.

His face had a smile from ear to ear, while he readied his stance.

Bob still had his grin, and taunted the warrior with his hands, urging to ‘Come at me’.

In a moment, the warrior reached Bob, and swiftly swung his dual scimitars in succession.

Bob parried each attack, however, it seemed that both of them were ‘Dancing with each other.’

A sword dance, except the extra axe in the mix, but that didn’t matter.

The crowd was heated up, yet silent, sucked in by the beautiful performance with the blades.

Metals clashed and slid over each other, creating music for the dance.

They kept at it for a couple of minutes, until both of them backed off.

Both of them gathered their all to this one last attack, then dashed at each other in sync.

-Woosh!

In moments where anime characters both attack and pass by each other with their attacking stance was enacted in front of me, and all ended with the desert warrior falling on his knees, with a satisfied smile plastered on his face.

The crowd cheers were as loud as can be, then I saw a visible change to Bob.

His body vibrated mildly for a moment before returning to what it was, then he walked towards the warrior whose face is planted on the ground.

Taking his arm and putting it around his neck, he supported him and walked inside the lobby.

I stared aimlessly at the battleground for a while, but then was woken up by Rain’s shaking.

“Come on, let us claim our bets and unite with Bob.”

“Mhm.”

Standing up, I didn’t notice Inka who was standing on my laps and staring at the battleground.

I chuckled quietly as I took it in my hands, to then meet Rain’s eyes.

“Err.. Yes?”

“Could I carry her?”

I looked at Inka to see its reaction, but it didn’t budge.

“Sorry, doesn’t seem like she wants to be carried by you .”

Pouting, Rain looked away from me with a ‘Hmph!’ before walking towards the exit.

I stared at her for a moment before shaking my head and following her, nevertheless, it seemed that she was exaggerating her reaction, since she giggled along the way.

Reaching the betting window, we gave the man our tickets before his face drained of colour.

With a huff, he took out 20 bags each with 1000 golds.

So our bet caused us to win 9000 golds in one go, and I wouldn’t doubt that Bob didn’t bet as well.

Entering the fighters’ lounge, I saw Bob standing next to a backless couch with the desert warrior on it.

“Good job Bob, never thought you’d get this good at fighting so early.”

“It is all thanks to you, master.”

“No of cou-”

With a surprised face, I stared at him.

“You could speak!?”

….

=====Chapter 27 end=====