บท 49: We are Rich
As Alex stepped out of the arena, he entered the participants' area, where a familiar figure stood waiting for him. It was Oswin, his mentor, wearing his usual composed expression. Alex couldn't help but feel surprised and blurted out, "What are you doing here?"
Oswin smiled warmly and replied, "I saw that your blade was fake, and I thought you might need some assistance. But it seems I was mistaken." His eyes gleamed with pride, indicating that he had been watching the match closely.
Alex couldn't resist a mischievous grin and responded, "Ah, how sweet of you to come and protect me. Too bad I was too good and defeated him with a fake sword."
Without missing a beat, Oswin swiftly knocked the back of Alex's head and scolded him, "Enough with the jokes. Yes, you're a genius for winning, but now you had the audacity to point your sword at Max. Everyone will be talking about the match between you two."
Confusion washed over Alex's face as he tried to comprehend Oswin's words. "What do you mean? I pointed it at Olana to dedicate this victory to her," he explained, referring to the person he had spotted in the crowd.
Oswin let out a small sigh and replied, "Well, unfortunately for you, right beside Olana was Max..." He paused briefly before continuing, "By the way, why Olana? She didn't teach you anything about sword qi."
As Alex processed Oswin's revelation, a smile played at the corners of his lips. Just as he was about to make a lighthearted joke about Oswin being jealous, Oswin swiftly knocked the back of his head once again, causing Alex to wince and rub his sore spot.
Turning to leave, Oswin delivered a final message, "Oh, and Alex, congratulations for successfully utilizing sword qi. Remember, there's still much to learn."
Alex watched Oswin's retreating figure, a mix of emotions swirling within him. Despite the playful banter, he couldn't help but appreciate the guidance and wisdom Oswin had imparted to him. With a renewed sense of purpose, Alex resolved to continue his journey, knowing that there were still challenges and knowledge awaiting him on the path of the sword.
After that, Alex made his way to Emily and Jiten, who were waiting for him outside the participants' area. Once again, he put on his enchanted glasses, transforming his appearance, and seamlessly merged into the crowd. Spotting Jiten with a girl wearing glasses, he ran towards them with excitement. "Guys, it's me! We did it!" he exclaimed.
Seeing that it was indeed Alex, both Jiten and the girl jumped in joy, celebrating their victory together. Jiten turned to Alex and said, "Congratulations, Fire Boy! You did it!"
Emily hugged Alex tightly and exclaimed, "Congratulations! You were awesome! Defeating your opponent even without the sword, it's incredible!"
Jiten nodded in agreement and added with a smirk, "A bit of a show-off, but in my opinion, the best part was when you pointed the sword at Max. What a savage move!"
However, Alex let out a sigh and corrected them, "No, guys. I defeated him with the hilt of the sword because my sword was fake and about to break. And I didn't point it at Max, but at Olana..."
Jiten and Emily were shocked, their expressions turning serious. Emily, with an angry tone, said, "How could they give you a fake sword? You must report this to the organizers!"
Placing his hand on Emily's shoulder, Alex calmed her down and said, "Forget about it. I think it was Lewis who gave me the fake sword, and I taught him a lesson." Emily, now more composed, agreed to let go of the matter but made Alex promise to never risk his life again.
Still looking puzzled, Jiten turned to Alex and asked, "But why did you want to fight Olana, though?"
Both Alex and Emily burst into laughter, finding Jiten's confusion amusing. Alex chuckled and replied, "I wasn't challenging anyone. I was dedicating my victory to her as a gesture of gratitude."
Jiten's face lit up with understanding, and he joined in the laughter "of couse, I didn't remember you could do that next time dedicate to me!" Alex laugh and nodded.
After that, they went to the bookkeeper's office, but this time it was to receive the money from the bets they had placed. The bookkeeper, seeing Jiten, smiled and said, "Congratulations! I was waiting for you to show up."
Jiten smiled back and handed the man the tickets, saying, "How kind of you. Here are the tickets." He handed over all of the tickets they had collected. The bookkeeper carefully checked everything and then handed Jiten a pouch.
"Here you go. If you wish to place another bet, just talk to me," the bookkeeper said. Jiten glanced at the odds, and they showed that Alex's next match was against the same type of opponent as last time. However, this time, the novice-ranked Alex had the lowest bet.
Realizing it wasn't worth it, Jiten thanked the man and walked a little distance away. He then showed Alex and Emily the pouch and opened it, revealing numerous shining gold coins. Alex couldn't believe his eyes and asked, "How much is this?"
With a wide smile, Jiten replied, "We are rich, guys! This is 1100 gold!" The realization of their unexpected wealth washed over them, filling their hearts with excitement and possibilities.
Alex, Emily, and Jiten stood there, basking in the newfound fortune, feeling the weight of the coins in their hands. It was a tangible reward for their perseverance, teamwork, and the risks they had taken.
Seeing their newfound fortune, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility. He knew it wouldn't be fair to divide the money equally among the three of them since Jiten had bet a larger amount. "How are we going to divide it? It's not fair to divide it by three since Emily and I didn't contribute half of what you bet," Alex voiced his concern.
Jiten, understanding Alex's point, contemplated for a moment and replied, "Okay, let's do this. I'll take 100 gold for what I initially bet, and then we can divide the remaining 1000 gold." Jiten's decision showed his fairness and willingness to compromise.
Emily, though she tried to negotiate for a more even split, because she was the one who bet the less, realized it was futile. Reluctantly, she accepted the arrangement. After dividing the money as agreed, each of them ended up 333 gold richer, except for Jiten, who received 434 gold.
With their individual shares in hand, they made their way back to the arena. Alex continued his winning streak, defeating two more opponents with his newfound confidence and skill. The crowd was in awe of his performance, and anticipation grew for the upcoming finals.
Feeling both physically and mentally exhausted from the intense matches, they decided to take a break and enjoy the fair that had coincided with the tournament. They indulged in delicious food and participated in various games, immersing themselves in the festivities of the outside world.
As the evening wore on, Alex's fatigue became more evident. They all knew that tomorrow marked the beginning of the finals, where the toughest opponents awaited, including Max, who harbored anger towards Alex for pointing his sword at him. The anticipation of a possible future fight between them sparked rumors and speculations among the spectators, with some even suggesting that they hated each other.
Aware of the challenges that lay ahead, they returned home, knowing the importance of resting and preparing for the intense battles that awaited them in the finals. With a mix of excitement, determination, and a touch of apprehension, they settled in for the night, ready to face whatever the future held.
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