Chapter 53 – Start with the Blond One
[Hexagram Plaza]
Since the founding of Strahl, the Holy City, this plaza had always stood at the heart of the bustling city.
Today, under General Theodore's personal orders—
the plaza had been emptied of vendors and transformed into a massive recruitment site for her beloved daughter's personal guards.
Six small beginner arenas had been erected around a large central stage.
Iron barriers surrounded the entire setup to prevent chaos.
But the public's enthusiasm far exceeded expectations.
By the time Elias and his group arrived at eight in the morning, crowds had packed every inch outside the barricades.
Boisterous voices filled the air—
"Did you hear? Anyone chosen as the Lady's personal guard earns ten Strahl gold coins a month!"
"Tch, gold coins are nothing! Put in a little effort, build some muscle—and who knows? Becoming the Lady's husband isn't impossible~"
"You're right… Lady Leia is elegant, beautiful, practically a flower in bloom. I wonder which lucky bastard she'll end up favoring."
Frieren tugged mischievously at Elias's sleeve from behind.
"Did you hear that, Elias~?"
"If you manage to win over Lady Leia, we'll be set for life!"
"—Pointless."
Elias scoffed.
"Such purely transactional relationships… laughable."
"In the scraps of memory I retain from my previous life, relationships between men and women were utterly bizarre."
"The man was expected to give selflessly, pay for everything, provide a house, and sometimes even hand over wealth."
"It was so absurd that even three thousand years later, I still remember it clearly."
Flamme stroked her chin, visibly puzzled.
"A world like that actually existed…?"
"It sounds cruel just imagining it."
"Elias… you're not just making things up about humans again, are you?"
"Heh."
Elias let out a cold chuckle, arching his brow in disdain.
"At least for this topic, I have no reason to lie."
"In fact—sometimes I'm grateful. Grateful that I escaped that twisted system, to become a demon with no emotional burdens."
Flamme quietly observed him, her heart swirling with complicated feelings she couldn't put into words.
Compared to Flamme's solemn expression, Frieren was all smiles.
She even hopped once and slapped Elias on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Elias!
When I get married someday, I definitely won't make the man pay for everything!"
Elias: (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)
"…What does that have to do with me?"
"Besides, at the rate you're going, that's a thousand years in the future."
"Wait—no, even if you did get married, what does that have to do with me?"
"No. Everything is wrong. Why am I standing here discussing human romance nonsense with you two?!"
"My goal today is only one—Arisols."
Snapping back to focus, Elias cut through the crowd and headed straight for the competitors' entrance.
Flamme exhaled softly.
So the man's previous life hadn't been peaceful either…
---
Competition Rules Were Posted at the Entrance:
• Begin on one of six preliminary stages.
• One–on–one duels.
• Win three matches in a row to reach the central arena.
• Defeat the final opponent to pass.
• Note: Killing is prohibited.
Elias didn't bother reading.
Rules were irrelevant.
The only thing he needed to do was win.
Five minutes before his match, Flamme suddenly tugged his sleeve.
"Um… Elias…"
"If you're here to cheer for me," he said calmly, "there's no need."
"No, that's not it…"
Her brows tightened; her eyes shifted anxiously.
"To you, these contestants might seem as weak as ants…
But I don't want to see the arena soaking in blood."
"Heh… Flamme."
Elias turned his face, eyes closed, lips curving into a meaningful smile.
"Has fighting demons for so long made you underestimate what humans truly are?"
"Your master once said it herself—humans are simply short-lived demons."
"With greed alone, humans can become frenzied, cruel, ruthless…"
"People say demons disguise themselves as humans.
But aren't humans disguising themselves too?"
His eyes opened slowly—calm on the surface, but sharp underneath.
"I only remember one saying: Do unto others as they do unto you."
"At the very least… that's fair."
Leaving those words behind, Elias walked toward the stage, his black robe trailing behind him like a shadow.
Flamme stood frozen.
The demon who couldn't understand human emotions…
understood human darkness far too well.
And she had no rebuttal.
Perhaps her master was right—
In some ways, the nature of humans and demons overlaps frighteningly well.
The demon disguises himself as human…
But humans disguise their humanity, too.
A chill ran through Flamme's spine.
Creatures who lived a thousand years—Elias and Serie alike—were terrifying beyond measure.
Staring at the lone black silhouette on the ring, Flamme could only pray:
Please, Goddess… let no fool challenge a demon from the mythic age…
---
But of course—
"Elias? What backwater wannabe mage is that? Standing there looking stupid—never even heard of him!"
A blond punk marched onto the stage, spitting insults from the first second.
Flamme below the stage: (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)
…
Goddess…
Did you hear my prayer… and decide to reverse it?
Elias remained motionless, completely ignoring the blond's barking.
If he followed the principle "do unto others as they do unto you"…
He wouldn't strike first—
but he would never allow a second strike.
"Oh, silent now, huh?"
The blond scoffed confidently.
"Think not talking makes you look strong?"
Dark light wrapped around his right arm.
"Try my Iron Fist Magic then!!!"
As the boy lunged forward, Elias blinked, puzzled.
A low-tier reinforcement spell that coats the arm in a metallic attribute…?
Why is he that confident?
Well… in that case—
Steel Fist Magic.
---
—BOOM!!!
With a perfect, graceful arc, the blond kid was launched off the stage—
crashing into three unlucky spectators.
Instantly, every eye turned to the black-robed figure on the arena.
"Did the match already start?! When did he even move? I didn't see it!"
"I only saw something yellow fly out!"
"Who is that guy? That all-black outfit… definitely not local…"
Before the crowd's chatter settled, a tall soldier—armor gleaming, medals on his chest—stepped onto the ring.
Elias looked up.
A soldier?
Was this his next opponent?
But the man spoke:
"I am the referee for this stage.
You may begin."
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)…(≖_≖'')
"…So where's the other contestant?"
"Did he arrive late?"
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)…(≖_≖'')
"In that case—"
"Congratulations to this contestant on his first victory!"
---