Chapter 8: The Final Match and the Foal Kingdom

“The championship match begins!”

“Limit Break Alteration!”

With the referee’s signal, I didn’t hesitate to use my skill.

Keith, who had always been on the defensive at the start of previous matches, kicked off the ground and came towards me.

The spear glowing red in his hand must be made of Adamantine.

As Keith approached me, he wielded his spear skillfully with both hands, launching consecutive thrusts. The speed was such that even Eleanor wouldn’t be able to dodge it. However, I calmly avoided them.

As I continued to evade, the speed increased even further.

It wouldn’t be entertaining to just dodge with body movements, so this time, I used the Orihalcon greatsword that I had become completely familiar with to block. The incessant high-pitched metallic sounds emanating from our weapons indicated how fast the current exchange was.

Keith seemed unable to tolerate that his attacks weren’t reaching me, furrowing his brow as he continued to move his hands. He’s quite persistent. Though there are occasional “Martial Arts” mixed in with his attacks, I managed to handle them as well.

As the exchange of blows between our weapons continued, there was a complete absence of cheers since earlier. They must be watching with bated breath, recognizing it as a fitting battle for the championship match.

Perhaps due to frustration, Keith’s attacks were noticeably more exaggerated than before, but I rotated on my right foot axis to evade.

Finally understanding that his attacks weren’t getting through to me, Keith took a step back to create some distance.

“Heh, hmmm, impressive, as expected. You’re the first one to evade my spear like this. You can feel honored. But… if you think you’ve won at this point, you’ll be in for a surprise. From now on, I’ll allow the use of magic. Get ready to regret it thoroughly!!”

Even as he grimaced and uttered those words, I could feel his magical power surging significantly.

“【Burning Javelin】! 【Hell Burning】!”

Keith’s magic, cast using “Chant Annulment,” came rushing towards me. A spear-shaped flame and a giant swirling pillar of fire loomed before my eyes.

“【Diamond Dust】!”

With a level of magical power even surpassing Keith’s, I activated Level 9 Water Magic. Instantly, a chill spread out to envelop the magic he had unleashed.

“Hmph! This level of magic won’t work on me!”

“Why not try using your maximum firepower magic instead of ‘Chant Annulment’? I’ll be waiting here properly.”

“Don’t underestimate me! You’ll regret this!”

With that disdainful remark as a signal, I could sense an unprecedented surge of magic coursing through Keith’s body, gathering and converging.

However, it seems his “Mana Control” is still lacking for activating super high-level magic, as it’s taking longer than expected.

While I could prolong the battle a bit longer, there’s no point in dragging it out too much, and besides, the audience seems quite satisfied with the close combat already.

What kind of magic will Keith unleash as his final move in this life? I’ll find out soon enough.

It’s about time I prepare to use magic too. I concentrated on my own magical power little by little.

“Crimson flames! Azure flames! Manifest here and incinerate the enemy with the flames of destruction! 【Astral Burst】!”

Hmm, Level 9 Fire Magic, 【Astral Burst】.

It seems to have consumed a considerable amount of MP, compressing a significant amount of magic in the released spell. It seems he meticulously utilized “Mana Control” over a period of time.

Well, I could make it even bigger, but judging from the current situation—this should do.

Manipulating the magic I had been controlling slowly, I manipulated it all at once. Amidst this process, crimson and azure flames intertwined between Keith and me, creating a beautiful flame.

Against the magic rushing towards me at high speed, I used the advantageous attribute of Water Magic again without canceling the chant.

“I am the ruler of the atmosphere! I halt all movements in the air and rob all temperatures! Freeze the time of those who oppose me! 【Absolute Zero】!”

What I unleashed was Level 10 Water Magic, 【Absolute Zero】.

In the blink of an eye, the temperature within the radius of 20 meters around Keith approached absolute zero, generating a white world where the movement of all things was halted by the chill.

And the flames adorned with crimson and azure, which had been coming towards me, were swiftly engulfed and scattered by my magic.

Keith started freezing from his feet. Perhaps out of fear, his face rapidly paled, and his upper body trembled uncontrollably.

“S-st-stop it!”

“H-help meee! L-l-l-like th-this—”

He’s screaming now, but… the magic won’t stop.

“P-pleeease! St-sto—”

Before the words that likely wanted to convey “surrender” could be uttered from his lips, the absolute chill completely consumed Keith’s entire body. It seems I ran out of time a bit.

Sure, I won quite easily, thanks to the effects of “Limit Break Enhanced.” My current magical power exceeds 7300, and I even used 【Absolute Zero】.

Keith’s magic had quite the potency. Judging from that, his magical power must have been around 3500 to 4000, perhaps?

Well, enough with the analysis. More importantly—

The white mist generated by 【Absolute Zero】 dissipated from the surroundings.

Then, Keith appeared, completely frozen, still frozen in the posture of casting his magic.

His face is pale, and judging by how his rear is sticking out prominently, it’s safe to assume he lost control at the very end. His appearance is devoid of dignity, like a child crying in fear. Frankly, it ruins his handsome image.

While I entertained such thoughts, it seems Keith’s life has completely extinguished— I sensed something entering me.

I swiftly appraised myself using “Appraisal.” As a result, “Ancestral Return” was added to my skill list, but beside it, there was also the phrase “Sealed.”

As I moved my head to observe the surroundings, the arena fell into complete silence. However, after a while, faint sobbing could be heard from the audience stands. Keith had many fans, after all.

There’s still no sign indicating the end of the match. To make the outcome clearer, I could smash the frozen Keith into pieces… but I can’t bring myself to be that ruthless.

Besides, being frozen in that posture is somewhat comical, and it’s a fitting punishment for the royal family who unjustly monopolized “Ancestral Return.”

With that conclusion in mind, I prompted the referee for a decision.

“I think the match is already over, but what’s the situation?”

“Uh… Umm… What’s happening here?”

It seems the referee hasn’t noticed that Keith is dead.

“Sorry, but Keith is already dead. His magic had considerable power, so I retaliated with appropriate magic. If the fight still needs to continue, I can toss him out of the ring. Well, if that happens, his body will shatter.”

“I-Is that so…”

“Also, regarding our wager, since he’s already dead, there’s no need to take anything from him. The most precious thing to Keith was his own life. With his death, the contract on the contract paper is complete.”

It’s necessary to touch upon the Contract Paper as well. I need to make sure the completion of the contract is publicized.

“Understood. In that case, the winner of the final match is Rui!”

In theory, it’s still possible to thaw Keith’s body, which was affected by 【Absolute Zero】. Someone with magical power exceeding mine could use a Level 9 Light Magic, 【Perfect Heal】. But even then, he’ll remain deceased.

Additionally, my magical power exceeded 7300 when I used magic. Whether there’s someone with even higher magical power who can use 【Perfect Heal】 remains to be seen.

Keith’s current appearance might seem cowardly to the onlookers. While many members of the Beastman race admire and respect strength, how will they perceive him after his demise?

Moreover, what will become of Keith’s body? Will it be displayed as an ice statue somewhere, hidden and stored away, or perhaps shattered due to embarrassment and disgrace?

Contemplating such matters while gazing at the pitiable Keith, the announcer’s voice reached my ears.

“We were momentarily struck silent by the shocking outcome of the match, and for that, I apologize. With this, the Millarion Martial Arts Tournament has come to an end! Rui is the champion!! Additionally, since Keith has died, in addition to the championship prize, the runner-up prize will also be awarded to Rui!”

The audience remained quiet. They likely can’t come to terms with the reality that their nation’s strongest knight, whom they held in high regard, has passed away.

There might be Keith’s father, the king, somewhere in the venue, but given this turn of events, he probably can’t overtly take action against me.

An attendant unraveled a cloth draped over a pedestal situated opposite the entrance. On it lie the prizes: Orichalcum and Adamantite.

Following the attendant’s instructions, I accepted both the championship and runner-up prizes, received my commendation, and headed straight for the exit.

As I was leaving, the closing ceremony began. It’s evident from the attendants’ demeanor that they’d prefer I stay a bit longer, but I’m not being restrained in any way.

While walking toward the rendezvous point with everyone else, I contemplated what lies ahead.

Should I head for the Getomiya Kingdom next? I would’ve liked to explore more cities since I’m already here in the Fermilan Kingdom, but there’s no helping it.

Outside the arena, the atmosphere was still lively, and it seemed like there were people unaware of what had transpired inside. I made my way through the bustling crowd to reunite with everyone.

Upon meeting my comrades after several hours, they genuinely rejoiced in my victory. It seems that witnessing the actual triumph brought them joy, despite already knowing the outcome.

No one mentioned anything about me killing Keith, and no one showed any signs of concern. Perhaps it’s because I had already informed them beforehand, and also because life holds little value in this world. Ayaka, Kaede, and Ishidou should understand this by now.

As we moved away from the arena, I noticed spectators exiting from multiple exits, their shoulders slumped, clearly disheartened. Keith, with his personality, was popular in this kingdom and symbolized strength.

The fact that the royal family of the Fermilan Kingdom is usurping the power of 【Ancestral Return】 is unknown to the citizens…

Upon reaching a wide, sparsely populated street, we boarded a carriage to begin our journey. I immediately used 【Skill Transfer】 to transfer 【Ancestral Return】 to Eleanor.

When I tried to use 【Appraisal】, I confirmed that the skill had indeed transferred from me to Eleanor. However, she fell ill as a result and remained unconscious for about five hours.

The effect of the skill 【Ancestral Return】 is, to be honest, tremendous.

+++

【Ancestral Return】

– This skill only affects the Beastman race.

– Holders of the 【Ancestral Return】 skill gain the ability to use magic.

– When acquiring this skill, the innate qualities of the soul are rewritten.

– Although the level is forcibly reset to 1, there are no changes to the abilities or possessed skills.

– If a holder of the 【Ancestral Return】 skill is killed by another, the skill will transfer to the killer.

– This skill does not have levels.

+++

I had never heard of the term “innate qualities of the soul” before, so I researched it with 【Akashic Records】, and it seems to refer to the base values of the stats that increase when leveling up.

Considering the progression of my stats so far, it’s likely that all my innate qualities are evenly distributed. Eleanor’s magic and mental stats are low, so it’s probable that those two innate qualities were also low.

By having these qualities rewritten, could they potentially increase from now on? Since these are invisible numerical values, all I can do is speculate.

And so, we departed from the Fermilan Kingdom and headed towards the Getomiya Kingdom.

◆ ◆ ◆

Inside the palace of the Foal Kingdom, the voice of Randolph von Foal, the king of this country, echoed through his private chambers.

“Enough! Have they still not found Maria?! Expand the search area!”

The king’s roar sent shivers down the spines of his elven subordinates. Randolph’s expression was filled with impatience, and he had no room to consider their feelings.

“It’s been four months since Taira and the others returned, and there hasn’t been any new information since then!”

“I apologize. We’ve dispatched skilled individuals to various places, but…”

One of the sweating elves responded to Randolph’s words, and his first wife, Saria, spoke up.

“I never imagined my concerns would come true. That they would return home manipulated…”

Following Saria’s words, the second wife, Eira, chimed in.

“Your face was punched multiple times by them when they returned, wasn’t it, Randolph-sama?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me of that! Eira, you shouldn’t say such things!”

Upon Randolph’s rebuke, Eira looked apologetic.

“My apologies, Randolph-sama. But remember, your nose and swollen face were magically healed quickly, weren’t they?”

“Right… I was scolded by Saria too… I was reckless back then. We did wrong to them, and wasting such formidable assets was regrettable.”

“That’s true. Losing the three spies, who were directly under your command, was a blow.”

As Saria mentioned, Taira, Ryu, and Cornelia, who were controlled by Rui’s magic, couldn’t be freed and were ultimately executed.

“Fortunately, we still have the Knight Commander of the Royal Knights, Sword Saint Kessler, in our kingdom. He’s reliable, and we shouldn’t worry too much about the decrease in military strength.”

After a brief silence, Randolph commanded his subordinates again.

“Regardless, bring me information! Go!”

Randolph watched as his subordinates promptly left the room, deep in thought. Now was not the time to discuss military strength… He needed to find Maria as soon as possible. At this point, whether Maria had become involved with Rui was trivial to Randolph.

He recalled the message left by Maria and Rui, which said, “I’ll live just as Maria! Maria von Foal can be considered dead!” If she had just run away, it wouldn’t have been such a big issue, and if she only used the name Maria, that would be fine too. The real problem lay in her declaration to “discard her name as a royal.”

This was something only a few knew, but if it was based on her firm will, it symbolized a complete break from the Elven royal family.

Randolph’s concern was about Maria’s title: whether it included the phrase “one fallen from the Elven royal family.”

“Have I made a mistake…”

No matter how hard he looked, there was no information about Maria. Randolph regretted giving Tyra and the others such an easy order.

“I understand your worries, but if you get too worked up, you’ll collapse,” Saria said, moving from her luxurious chair to sit next to Randolph, wrapping her arms around him and speaking with genuine concern.

Present in the room were Randolph, Saria, Eira, the first prince of the Foal Kingdom, Kreis, and the first princess, Yuri.

Kreis was highly regarded by the citizens, both in appearance and ability. On the other hand, Yuri bore a striking resemblance to Maria but seemed slightly more mature.

Moving to Randolph’s left side, Eira gently spoke to him. “Randolph-sama, you’ve been eating less and sleeping less lately. Please take care of yourself a bit more.”

Randolph nodded weakly in response to her words. Kreis, with a determined voice, addressed his father, who seemed lacking in vigor. “Father! How long do you intend to keep this up?! You are the king!”

“Yes! Father, please cheer up. We understand that you won’t feel better right away. But, here… there are so many of us—your family—worried about you!”

Following Kreis’s lead, Yuri also expressed her concerns.

Hearing the voice of his beloved eldest daughter, Randolph finally raised his head.

“Father! It’s too early to assume that Maria has been branded ‘one fallen from the Elven royal family’! Bu…,”

Randolph shot Kreis a stern look, indicating that his slip of the tongue was not appreciated.

“Father, what do you mean by ‘one fallen from the Elven royal family’?”

The only ones privy to this title, or those allowed to know, were the successive kings and queens of the Fall Kingdom, as well as the first crown prince in line for the throne. This had been a tradition in the Fall royal family for generations.

In this room, only Randolph, Saria, Eira, and Kreis were aware of it, while Yuri was not.

With a bitter expression, Randolph met Yuri’s gaze and spoke.

“This is something that you have no right to know, Yuri. It is not permitted. I’m sorry.”

“I see…”

Yuri’s expression betrayed her dissatisfaction as she lowered her head, biting her lip in frustration.

“I know there’s a lot you want to say, but unfortunately, this is how it is.”

Randolph’s words hung in the air, dissipating into the somber atmosphere of the room, filled with family members.