Vol 4 Chapter 13

The rules for the free-for-all tournament were simple. All means were tacitly allowed under the single rule that the match ended when a declaration of defeat was obtained or when someone was killed.

"Usually, they end it by killing, and all sorts of skills come out. Sometimes, when a group is pushed into a corner, they suddenly jump in and beat them up two against one."

Despite having decided to participate, Kran's expression as he said this didn't look very good. But Un-o's face actually brightened at those words.

"That's good. After all, it would be a bit much if we were to die in a place like this, wouldn't it?"

Then he even made a request, looking at Kapros.

"Hyung. If I happen to be in danger, please pull me up with magic from above."

"What kind of cowardly act is that!"

Despite Kran's horrified cry, Un-o didn't even blink.

'Pull him up with magic,' huh... Kapros thought he could just cast Strength, throw a spell to obscure the opponent's vision, then go down with Fly, grab the back of Un-o's neck, and fly away. As he quietly nodded, Un-o smiled brightly and pointed ahead.

"Well then, it looks like the registration in front is finished, so shall we go?"

"Oh, yeah."

"He's deciding everything on his own, that guy!"

Although Kran held his forehead as if dumbfounded, Kapros and Un-o paid no attention and approached the registration desk.

"Welcome... Oh? Such precious people have come to a place like this."

The woman who had quickly greeted them as if used to it, picked up a pen and looked up, glancing back and forth between Kran and Un-o standing on either side of Kapros, and immediately gave a bright smile.

"That's too much praise. I'll return those words right back to you."

"What do we need to register?"

As Kran's greasy response to that smile and Un-o's businesslike question came out simultaneously, the woman blinked and then burst into a pleasant laugh.

"To register for the tournament, you just need to give your name and the weapon you'll be using. Let's start with the blonde handsome one over there."

"Ah, I'm Kr..."

Kran, who was about to say his name comfortably, suddenly stopped. Then, as he turned to look at Kapros, his eyes were filled with something flustered, as if he had just realized something.

'...Why?'

While Kapros blinked, not understanding that look, Kran seemed to have come to his own conclusion and shook his head vigorously before opening his mouth wide.

"No, no. My name is M.K. And I use a sword."

"Ah...!"

Beside Kapros, who couldn't understand why Kran had suddenly changed his name, Un-o let out a small exclamation as if he had immediately realized why Kran had done so, and bowed his head to mutter quietly as if teaching.

"It's an alias. He seems to have thought an alias was necessary. That's certainly better."

'Ah... so that's what it was.'

Kran's name was already quite well-known from when they stayed in Torelit before, and with his face already quite exposed due to videos, revealing his real name in a place like a tournament could be dangerous. This method was possible because there were no restrictions on using aliases within MIST.

'Then I should use an alias too.'

Although the name Kapros itself could be considered an alias, the thought of using an alias for an alias seemed a bit funny. After Un-o revealed his alias as 'Finder', it was Kapros's turn.

"And your name, sir?"

"Kar."

Kapros decided to thank Kion-hyung who had first given him this name.

"And what weapon will you be using?"

Kapros quietly smiled. In fact, when he decided to participate, he had made up his mind to try a different approach. Mages were still not a very common job in MIST. If he participated as is, he would undoubtedly stand out even if he covered his face and used an alias.

"The weapon I'll use... is a sword."

"Ah, yes. A sword. I understand."

"...Pardon?"

"Whaaat?! What did you just say?"

Un-o and Kran's shocked voices could be heard, but Kapros pretended not to hear them.

"The first round is tomorrow already... We must have applied just in time."

After a while, Kran, who had finally recovered from the shock at the registration desk, spoke quite cheerfully.

"But really... will you be alright?"

As Un-o asked with his brow slightly furrowed, Kapros nodded slightly in response. He thought it might be good to have a chance to challenge himself with a sword, even if he didn't know how far it would go, but Kran and Un-o seemed to have not expected this at all.

Even though they had seen him trying to use the sword more often since last time, they didn't seem to think he was so seriously devoted to it...

'That's a bit disappointing. I should go practice more.'

Although he didn't like this lawless city much, there was something about being able to compete in a public place that aroused his competitive spirit. Now that he had stepped up, he wanted to judge how far he could win with his current sword skills.

The sword he had instinctively grasped was firmly announcing its presence. Gripping it tightly, Kapros thought about tomorrow's tournament, for which the opponents had not yet been announced.

***

[ It's been a while since I called, and this is how you act? You're a coward! ]

Jeong Seung-jo was pouring water into a cup with his back turned, as if he hadn't heard the person shouting in the hologram screen.

[ Don't you think so? I don't think I've ever seen anyone more cowardly than you. ]

The person speaking in the hologram was ranting in English, but he seemed to know well that the reason Jeong Seung-jo wasn't answering wasn't because he couldn't understand the language.

[ You used to cry and whine every night, and after finally returning to Korea, this is what you're doing? Now is not the time to be playing such trash games. Where did all that determination you had when you packed your bags and left go? ]

"Shut up."

When Jeong Seung-jo finally retorted sharply while still turned away, the man in the hologram instead raised his voice with fire in his eyes.

[ Go find him right now! How long are you going to cower there? You're the one who said you'd even dig up a grave to see his bones if you had to! Do you even know how much the dojo is struggling without you? ]

"Shut up, Ben. Be quiet."