บท 57: Chapter 57: Semi-Finals

I did not expect this.

"Our beloved patriarch has decided to join me as one of the proctors commenting on every disciple's moves! Now, would you like to add some words, Patriarch Yule?" The proctor said as they sat in a small room attached to the ceilings of the covered stadium.

I really, really did not expect this.

Yule smiled, looking directly at the recording talisman in front of him, and since he's incredibly handsome, he entranced every female and some male audiences in the other stadium with just a look, and said, "Yes, I accepted a disciple a month ago, and he is currently participating in the tournament. I have not said anything to others for the fear that the fame might go to his brain but I guess it is the right time to introduce him to the sect."

I sat on the sides of the stadium, wearing a blank face. Inside, I was fuming, I should've said that he should never introduce me until I'm ready! Now, he is going to announce my name and these people are going to either flock around me or try to kill me in the tournament out of jealousy.

"Oh! You heard that, folks!? Our patriarch has accepted a disciple of his own!! Please, patriarch Yule, can I ask who the lucky disciple is?" The proctor said, enthusiastic.

"Hmm, on second thought, let's add a little bit of fun. Whoever wins the rank battles is one-hundred percent, my disciple. After all, I trained him myself," My master said, taking amusement at my suffering.

"Look at that, our patriarch is such a tease! Aren't I right, audience?"

*Loud Shouting*

"YES!!"

"TELL US ALREADY!"

"PATRIARCH YULE IS SUCH A TEASE!"

My master smiled, and said, "Hmm, if anyone of you guesses who my disciple is out of the 200 disciples present in this covered stadium, I'll be giving out free magical weapons to the person who figures it out!"

Oh for fu—why!? Why are you doing this!? Can't you just stay in your nice and cozy mansion, instead of going to this loud and noisy stadium!? You're giving me stress and anxiety!

""WOOOOHH!!!""

They all cheered, shouting out names and such.

"But how do we decide who can guess your disciple, patriarch Yule?" The proctor asked.

"Don't worry, I already have everything figured out. Order some disciples to spread out the lists of the 200 disciples participating here and give them ballots to vote who my disciple is. Some will likely be able to find him since there are thousands of people in the audience, but if, somehow, no one guesses who my disciple Is before the end of the rank battles, then I will not be giving out free magical weapons," My master said, further increasing the excitement of the audience.

"Are you okay, Auguste? You look quite tired," Scarlet asked, a bit curious.

I just waved it off, and said, "It's nothing."

Alice grew increasingly uncomfortable because she is the only one besides me, my master, and Frostine, who knows that I am the disciple of the patriarch.

I raised my hand, and held her hand, then gestured for her to lend me her ear.

She leaned down, and I whispered, "Don't worry about it, it's okay even if I'm figured out. Just don't fidget around, it will affect your performance later."

She nodded, and replied with a mutter, "O-Okay."

I smiled and kissed her on her left cheek in a brotherly way.

And then I put my attention to the large stage, unbeknownst of the blushing Alice, and Scarlet, who had a very dark look in her eyes.

I turned to Randy as I noticed him fidgeting, and said, "Why are you fidgeting? Do you want me to say 'Don't Worry' and kiss you too?"

He shook his head, and forced a smile, "N-Nothing, I am just feeling a little bit cold."

Ignoring him, I heard the proctor say, "I have chosen the bracket for the first five teams that will fight. And since the patriarch is feeling generous today, he will let us use his dimensional box for our arena!"

We all saw a dark door appear in the middle of the stage, with each of us having transparent screens in our seats. In there, we saw a white room, and then it turned into many things. Forests, towns, and even caves! It turned to every natural arena there is!

My master is certainly treating me more special than the others.

This dimensional box is only used for the upper-ranked disciples whenever they have rank battles, unlike us, the D-Class disciples, who have to use real mountains and city environments under the underground city.

I heard the disciples mutter, murmuring with each other as they stared at the erected door in the middle of the stage.

Master took the time to speak, saying, "Since every disciple in the sect is precious to me, I also decided to up the rewards a bit! I will be giving out 1 Regeneration Pill, 1 Strength Pill, 1 Elite-Class Weapon, and 20 Platinum Notes to the top ten! For the first place… I will keep it a secret. But I can assure you that the first place rewards are ten times greater than the ones I've just mentioned!"

And then, he looked directly at the recording talisman, and smiled a bit sinisterly, "And, my disciple, if you do not reach the first place, you will be replaced by the team who wins first place instead. So, I wish you, the very best of luck!"

F*ck! Are you seriously putting this much stress on me?

I sighed.

Now I'll have to get a bit serious without showing much of my ability.

"You all heard that! So now, all of you will have to reach the first place if you want to be the patriarch's disciple! And if the original disciple fails, well, it's going to be your fault for losing!" The proctor, Arsus, said.

Now I get why your name is "Arsus", it's because you're a pain in the arse.

"Mhm, I'm rather fine with just reaching the top ten. Ain't that right, Auguste?" Randy said a bit carefree.

"NO!" I reacted almost immediately, "I-I mean, shouldn't we at least dream of succeeding at least once in our lifetime? You don't know, we might win first place!" I need to encourage my team to have the motivation to win first place because I cannot lose! My pride and future are on the line!

And I can see every team here so fired up that I actually felt afraid that I will have to quit being the patriarch's disciple and give it 4 different people since he said, "You will be replaced by the team who wins first place instead," That means, he plans to have 3 or 4 disciples at the very least.

Hm, hm, hm, now I get it; my master is testing me.