Not a barbarian warrior.

“Look. The size seems about right, is there anything uncomfortable?”

Eugene moved around wearing the brigandine, a vest-like armor. The iron plates lined like scales inside the thick cloth made a clattering sound.

“It doesn’t seem to be tight anywhere. However, there’s a bit of restriction when bending at the waist.”

As Eugene spoke with a slightly regretful tone, the shop owner wiped the sweat from his forehead and explained:

“That can’t be helped… It’s an issue that arises from the structure of overlapping iron plates inside…”

“Hmm, I see.”

Eugene tapped his chest. This level of hardness would only result in scratches from most weapons. However, the restriction on movement was a bit concerning. It was also unfamiliar.

“Then that’s fine. Now, let’s go to another shop. We need to look at a helmet to protect your head.”

“Wa-Wait a moment…!”

“Ah…! Don’t worry, we’ll use it carefully and return it as is!”

Clea shook off the shop owner’s hand trying to hold her back and came outside. Eugene pretended not to see the man on the verge of tears. He simply followed her silently to the next shop.

In this way, Clea took Eugene and raided five more shops. As they left the last shop, Eugene was covered in iron plates from head to toe. Clea looked him over and patted him with a satisfied face.

“Now you look like a proper tournament participant. How is it? Do you like it? I like it too.”

Eugene lifted the visor that was covering his face. His exposed expression looked somewhat worried. And for good reason – how many gold coins would all these protective gears add up to? If they were to lose, how would they deal with the aftermath…

Of course, Clea didn’t care about such things at all. She was only thinking about extorting a hefty ransom after winning the tournament.

“As I said before, winning is all that matters. Those cunning Steel bastards… This time, I’ll strip them of everything but their underwear.”

“…”

“You’ll need to return everything after the tournament, so don’t lose anything and keep them safe. Now that we’ve borrowed all the armor, I’ll be going.”

With those words, Clea disappeared like the wind. Eugene, who had been staring blankly at her departure, lowered his visor to cover his face again and headed towards the square.

The sunset had almost faded, and the sky was gradually darkening. Eugene arrived at Lorena’s stall with quick steps. She didn’t seem to recognize Eugene covered in iron plates from head to toe, mistaking him for a city guard.

“Uh, um… Th-These are all legal items…! I’m, I’m definitely not selling anything strange…”

She hurriedly explained the products displayed on her stall. Eugene, his face hidden behind the visor, felt mischievous and spoke in a lower voice than usual, even changing his manner of speech.

“Ahem. What is this ominous-colored potion? And what’s this book? A Night in… a Brothel?”

“Th-This is an aphrodisiac, used for livestock… Ah…! Read the book after you buy it! Do-Don’t open it here…!”

Although Lorena had her face covered with her robe as much as possible, Eugene knew well. How flustered she was. After teasing her for a while by flipping through the pages, he opened his visor at an appropriate moment.

“Huh…? Ah…!”

As Eugene’s face emerged from inside the helmet, Lorena’s eyes widened, and she realized she had been tricked. Unable to contain her anger for a moment, she reflexively hit his arm.

Clang-!

“Ugh…!”

“…?”

She, who had hit the iron plate with her bare hand, grabbed her reddened hand and scrunched up her face.

“Lorena, are you okay?”

“This is all be-because of you, Eugene…”

Lorena, whose hand hurt so much from hitting with all her strength, ended up shedding a few tears. Eugene was at a loss for what to do seeing her like this.

Time flew by quickly as Eugene trained with his sword brothers during the day and learned new magic from Lorena at night. Before they knew it, the day of the tournament had arrived.

The vast square of the fortress city Carlisle was usually full of people setting up stalls and selling goods, but today was different. A circular arena made of wooden planks had been set up in the square.

From early morning, spectators flocked outside the arena to secure good spots. The tournament was more than just a competition for the city people; it was a festival and a rare spectacle. They spread out their seats and waited, sticking as close as possible to the ropes set up at a slight distance outside the arena.

The merchants who usually set up stalls and sold goods walked among the spectators who had come to watch the competition, selling food. Among them was the maid from the inn where Eugene had once stayed. She sold snacks of boiled corn sprinkled with an unidentified sauce, but everyone was busy spitting it out urgently after just one bite.

“Ptooey! What kind of food is this? Are you joking?”

“Hic…”

With a tearful face, she ended up having to sell corn without the sauce. As a bit more time passed and the sun rose high in the sky, Count Leopold, who was hosting the tournament, finally made his appearance. The soldiers guarding the Count’s surroundings cleared the way in front, and the crowd miraculously split in two.

Behind the Count followed the lord of Carlisle and his vassals, as well as a priest from the church. They climbed up and sat on the viewing stand that had been specially installed by workers the day before. It was at a certain height, providing a view of the entire tournament arena at a glance.

“I’m really looking forward to today. I wonder if the Brotherhood of the Sword, who lost last time, will be able to get their revenge in today’s match.”

One of the vassals seated next to the Count spoke with shining eyes. He acted like someone desperate to see this match. The Count smirked, took a sip of the drink poured in his glass, and nodded.

The Count looked at the players from both sides entering the tournament arena. As the last match had been a close one, it was very difficult to predict the outcome of this match.

Although Count Leopold had to maintain neutrality as the host of this competition, his gaze was somehow directed towards Sir Bernard, who was encouraging his guild members. There was a certain expectation in his eyes.

“Both teams are entering! On the left is Carlisle’s Brotherhood of the Sword! And on the right is Glamis’s Cunning… no, Shadow of Steel!”

As the Count’s vassal in charge of the proceedings shouted, the spectators outside the arena cheered in response. Matching this, prepared minstrels picked up their instruments and played a tension-filled tune.

After introducing the participants, the game master explained the rules to the players. During this time, the tournament’s weapon inspectors examined the players’ weapons. This was to ensure that no one would fight with sharpened weapons.

When the announcer finished reciting all the game rules and stepped down from the platform, the Count and the church priest sitting in the middle of the spectator seats climbed up.

Everyone inside and outside the tournament arena focused on the two. As the boisterous atmosphere settled down, the priest spoke first.

“Oh Lord. Grant wisdom and courage to the brave players participating in today’s tournament, and add justice to their hands. Make them instruments for justice and let all who watch this follow the virtues of chivalry…”

The atmosphere momentarily became solemn during the priest’s blessing-filled prayer. Eugene, who was listening to the priest’s prayer in the arena, suddenly raised his head at the familiar voice.

The moment he confirmed the priest’s face, Eugene’s eyes, hidden behind the visor, widened. Why is that woman there? The woman who had deliberately allowed herself to be pickpocketed for the street children in the market was now reciting prayers with an expressionless face on the platform.

“…Thus, I pray that the players finish the competition safely without injury under God’s care. May the victor have mercy, the loser humility, and may God’s blessing be with all.”

She looked at Eugene, who was the only one with his head raised while everyone else was bowing their heads in prayer, but she couldn’t recognize him because he was wearing a helmet.

When the priest’s prayer ended, it was the Count’s turn to speak. Unlike the priest, his speech was extremely concise.

“You who have taken up the sword for honor! Prove the nobility contained in your souls! There is only one way to prove it! Show the skills you have honed through this occasion today! Blow the trumpets! Let the games begin!”

As soon as the Count finished speaking, the sound of trumpets echoed throughout Carlisle Square. When the first trumpet sounded, the players standing in the arena formed their formations.

Eugene, heavily armored with iron plates all over his body, stood in the very center of the line formation. Clea stood right next to him. She drew her sword from her waist and let out a small breath mixed with tension and excitement.

“Alright… I’ve been waiting for this day. I’m going to crush them all…!”

Eugene spoke to her in a calm voice.

“Clea, calm down. We’re going according to the plan. Remember?”

“…Do you think I’m some kind of troll? That I can’t even remember that? By the way, do you really think it’s possible?”

“We’ll have to try to know, but if it succeeds, the tide of battle will turn in our favor at once.”

“…Okay, I’ll believe you.”

She spoke in a very small voice, but Eugene, who somehow heard it, nodded and replied.

“Yes. Just trust me.”

The corners of her mouth, hidden inside the helmet, quietly lifted.

As the players on both sides fully formed their ranks and took their stances with swords drawn, the second trumpet sounded. It was the signal for the start of the match.

“Waaah-!”

“Kill them! Kill!”

Amidst the spectators cheering and shouting along with the trumpet sound, Lorena was quietly watching Eugene from outside the arena. She looked at him with eyes full of worry and prayed inwardly. She prayed that he would win this tournament, that he would win safely and return.

Meanwhile, Eugene immediately rushed towards the opposing formation with the trumpet sound. As his heart contracted strongly and the blood flowing through his veins rushed to the muscles throughout his body, the latent power exploded in an instant.

At the same time, Eugene quietly muttered the magic spell he had learned from Lorena. As the ring of mana lingering around his heart suddenly unraveled, an enormous energy circulated through Eugene’s body along with his blood. The red blood gradually turned blue, and his pitch-black eyes emitted a faint blue light. However, these changes in him were wrapped in thick armor, so no one knew.

Eugene, who charged forward shattering the paving stones on the ground with a bang, instantly closed in on the opponent. The player on the opposite side was a much larger man than Eugene. Moreover, the armor covering his entire body also looked thick and sturdy. He swung a sword that looked several times heavier than a regular longsword and shouted.

“Die-!”

Seeing the opponent’s sword falling with fierce momentum, Eugene lowered his body and increased his speed once more. At that moment, the paving stone Eugene was stepping on shattered and flew in all directions. Eugene raised his sword to gently push aside the opponent’s sword, deflecting the attack, and then rammed his body into him.

Boom-!!

When the two who clashed first collided, a tremendous impact sound rang out. At the same time, something soared high into the air.

The spectators watching the match all raised their heads to look at the sky. What had soared into the air was the body of the opposing player who had collided with Eugene.

“…!!”

The large player flying through the air drew an arc and then tumbled to the ground. The spectators who witnessed this scene couldn’t close their gaping mouths, their eyes wide open.

Even the Count and his vassals, who had seen countless tournaments, couldn’t hide their surprise. Some even dropped the glasses they were holding and muttered softly.

“Oh… My God… Lord almighty…”