Match.

Lena and Kouko are enjoying quite the exquisite meal in quite the exquisite restaurant.

Lena doesn't feel well eating food that clean and well done which also makes her feel a bit awkward as they both aren't saying anything. Lena is used to talking to others or listening to others while she eats so this setting is off-putting for her.

"So ummm, you didn't tell me why you were here kouko, nor did you tell me about how you even knew I was in the police station in the first place." Lena asked as she awkwardly worked the knife and fork in her hands.

Kouko looked at Lena first without saying anything then sighed.

"I will make an exception this time since it's you." Kouko said.

"My husband is a huge part of his city, He has been investing his time and resources here ever since it was but a village. He has been helping Lord torik with a lot of his crazy idea ever since the lord was but a humble villager. They have been building up this city for 15 years and every time Lord torik would not disappoint as his ideas just got crazier and crazier. Some even say he is stealing them from elsewhere, but I doubt anyone can think up of the crazy things he does and actually get them to exist in the real world. The city is even built under his direct guidance, This "restaurant" is one of his first business, and the police are something he started himself, the idea of the "car" was also something he came up himself. This whole city is built upon his vision of civilization and my husband is the one who turns it all real. Although these days they are a bit more ever since my husband got married to... me.... While Lord torik is still an absolute workaholic, my husband has turned into a more of a family man... It does make me feel bad as if I'm halting this country's progress." Kouko said with a hint of guilt in her voice.

Lena keeps silent and tries to eat some of the food in front of her.

"Anyway, After the "incident". As I told you before I had taken all of his savings with me... Lena can you guess how much was there?" Kouko asked with a serious look.

"I don't know, but if I'm right it was just the reward for helping that noble which was indeed a lot." Lena said.

"I do not know how much that noble paid you two, but I can confirm that there is no way the amount I found was from a single payment. There was just... too much." Kouko said thinking back to the pit filled with gold, gems, artifacts, Monster parts, and all that has incredible value.

"Lena The amount in there was enough to build a kingdom from scratch. The most worthy parts were only monster parts, But they were that off legendary or mystic creatures, those that are incredibly hard to come by let alone slay. For whatever reason He would collect them all in the same pit somewhere within the ruin of what used to be a kingdom." Kouko said.

"After I took you while you stayed home, I would spend the whole day thinking about how or what I can do with that much money. I felt that leaving it as it is and just using it to continue living would be wronging it's value so I did some research around the market and stuff. Eventually one day while withdrawing some of it from the bank in nikolovia where I had run into my now husband. At first it was just a little bump that he helped up after, but I guess he could immediately tell how lost and confused I was. He asked me a couple of questions which I replied to honestly at the time not seeing much of a problem, We would then spend more and more time together as he decided It would be nice to get off work a bit." Kouko said a smile slowly forming on her face.

"Was this before or after I left?" Lena asked.

"Oh it was before... The reason we even got engaged was because after you had Left I was in a deep depressive mood that he helped me out of which after he proposed to me..." Kouko said turning red thinking back to it.

Lena thought of something as she heard the story, if it was anyone else she wouldn't have said anything, but since it's kouko she had to.

"Kouko... you don't think h--" Lena was not allowed to continue.

"Don't you dare say it." Kouko said in a slightly scary tone.

"I wouldn't even forgive you if you did. So let's not go there. He didn't even know how much I had when we got engaged. He knew I had money, but not how much. he even told me that I should not spend any of it on anyone but myself as he already makes enough to support us, It was only after what 4 months of our marriage that I finally decided on telling him. Even then he insisted that I shouldn't spend any of it on his crazy gambles, but I refused." Kouko said.

"Does he know..." Lena had to ask.

"..." Kouko stayed silent.

"...No..." Kouko said quietly.

Lena heard kouko's answer and went back to finishing her meal. Kouko followed her example.

After they had finished as they left the restaurant Lena heard someone calling her name getting closer.

Before she could turn to see who the owner of the sound is she is immediately crashed into.

"Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!" A woman cried.

"Wheeeeeeeerrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wwwweeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeee youuuuuuuuuuu..." The woman kept crying.

"Oh my... is this your friend Lena?" Kouko asked as she looked down towards the Lena on her back and the woman hugging her intestines out.

"... Yes..." Lena hesitated to tell the truth.

The woman on top of Lena then immediately stopped her crying as she noticed the fine lady looking down at them and quickly stood straight to greet her.

"Mrs. Please forgive me for that terrible first impression." The woman said with a perfect posture and almost saluting.

"Don't worry about it, a friend of Lena is a friend of mine!" Kouko said offering a hand shake to the woman.

The woman hesitated to shake such a fine lady's hand but did it nonetheless.

Lena slowly picker herself up and got up with the two bags still on her.

"Oh god you are actually still carrying them..." The woman said not knowing how to feel about it.

"You would be surprised at how much she likes carrying stuff." Kouko said looking at Lena.

Lena gives a sigh and then introduces the two.

"Kouko this is Trestina, Trestina this is Kouko" Lena said in a bored tone.

"Nice to meet you Trestina." Kouko said offering another handshake with a smile.

"Sorry, but I don't think my heart can take another one." Trestina said bowing to the fine lady.

"Anyway Trestina, kouko here said that she will get us a place to stay at for the couple of days we are here." Lena said looking at Trestina.

"Really?! In A crowded place city like this?!" Trestina said unbelieving.

"Yes the mansion should be done by now. So you two can go there and enjoy your time." Kouko said with a smile.

"And I made sure that the kitchen is ready!" Kouko added which confused the two.

"Thank you very much! Thank you!" Trestina said bowing to the woman.

"Please now, didn't I say a friend of Lena is a friend of my own?" Kouko said with a giggle.

"So how do we get there?" Lena asked unfazed.

"Here he will get you there." Kouko said as she turns her head towards a wagon.

"What about you?" Lena asked.

"There is another one on the way for me, so for now just go and enjoy yourselves." kouko said with a smile.

"Alright, I will get to see you later I guess?" Lena asked before heading towards the wagon waiting for the both of them.

"Yeah, definitely!" Kouko said waving them goodbye.

As they got into the wagon's back Trestina immediately started questioning Lena.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew someone like this!?" Trestina almost screamed.

"I didn't know where she was myself..." Lena said.

"You didn't know where she was?" Trestina calmed a bit at the weird answer she got.

"Well we parted at some point and we didn't really get in touch ever since." Lena said.

"Oh..." Trestina said.

"Wait how long ago was that?" Trestina had to ask.

"Well it was basically right before I became an adventurer." Lena said.

"WHAT?! You are trying to say she got filthy rich in a year?!" Tresitna questioned the logic.

"I... guess...?" Lena answered hiding the truth.

"Man... Dreams really can come true..." Trestina felt some none-existent hope.

After a moment of silence Trestina immediately started shouting again.

"OH RIGHT WHERE WERE YOU?! WHY DID YOU JUST LEAVE ME LIKE THAT?! AND YOU EVEN TOOK ALL MY STUFF WITH YOU!!!" Trestina screamed.

"C-calm down..." Lena slowly realized her mistake.

"Someone stole my money pouch so I ran after them, and I honestly forgot I was even carrying your stuff." Lena told her story.

"Oh... Did you get it back?" Trestina asked.

"Yeah." Lena said with a nod.

Then the wagon comes to a sudden stop.

The driver then peaked his head through the little curtain between him and the passengers and said.

"We're here." The old looking man said.

"Thank you." Trestina said giving the old man a tip.

Trestina then slowly got out while Lena remembered kouko's words as she looked outside towards 3story mansion that looks as if that of a count's manor.

'This isn't just a "little" too big...' Lena thought before hearing the panicking Trestina immediately peak her head inside to Lena.

"T-t-t-t-t-t-t-this is too much...." Trestina said almost fainting.

Lena sighed and decided to pick her up alongside her luggage into the manor.

The entrance had a huge golden gate that welcomed them as it was already open, After that they had to walk a 5 minute brick bath as it lead to the manor's main entrance. 2 Guards were standing at the manor's main door whom welcomed Lena and the barely conscious trestina.

"Welcome Miss Trestina, and Miss Lena." The 2 guards bowed as Lena entered while holding two bags and an unconscious Trestina.

Lena did question at why they started with Trestina but payed it no attention and continued inside.

Despite the hall being enormous it was quite empty. It was lacking in furniture, but not in architecture as one look inside and Lena started questioning the value of such a thing.

A Maid then walked out of one of the multiple doors and guided her towards their 2 rooms. The Manor was completely empty not of service until Kouko's orders around an hour ago. They had moved in enough furniture for 2 rooms and the living room, while also preparing the kitchen. The maid told them that they are free to explore the manor as they wish, but that they will find nothing but endless empty rooms.

Their rooms had been right next to each other and also close to the manor's entrance so that they wouldn't be inconvenient by it's size.

As Lena entered the first room she couldn't stop questioning the prize of everything inside. From the bed, to the cupboard, to the mirror, to the what seemed useless sofa. She told the maid that this was more than enough and that she would be doing the rest on her own, the maid then gave a quick bow and left.

Lena placed the two bags on the ground next to the door, and threw the unconscious girl on her onto the bed so that she could relax on the sofa.

She couldn't relax at all.

after laying down on the sofa for a while, The other person in the room finally lets out a sound.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screams as she finds her self in a not fitting environment.

Then falls unconscious again.

Lena didn't pay her much attention as she was half expecting this outcome.

The maid barged in worried from the sudden scream with the 2 guard following her Which did surprise Lena, She quickly explained what happened and they left feeling with looks of pity and disappointment.

At some point Lena had decided to just walk around the manor as she was unable to relax at all. While Trestina finally woke up and slowly took everything in.

The day passed without much happening and the next day came as Lena mostly spent the night either walking around or day dreaming.

The next day they woke up to find the maid had already made them breakfast, which Lena couldn't enjoy that much while Trestina devoured without much of a thought.

They were then told by the maid that a Wagon was waiting outside that would take them straight to the Match's arena.

In the wagon on their way Trestina explained how she was unable to sleep as everything felt uncomfortable as she kept thinking that breaking anything would cost her her life.

As they reached the arena all they could see was people on people on people. A crowd so full They questioned where all of them even came from.

After struggling through the crowd for what felt like hours and even almost getting lost again they finally reach their assigned seats and wait for the awaited match.

Trestina started giving quick info to Lena as in who the adventurers are and how they fight.

"The one fighting for the title is the octopus adventurer, The reason he is called that is because his custom carving was that of an octopus for whatever reason. His fighting style is Swordsman He has made a name for himself all around the world as a definite contender for the top 10 ever since he became a golden circle. He has helped in taking down one of the demon lord's army's platoons He even was the one to take down its commander. He has also played a huge role in conquering the most dangerous dungeon found in the last year, So people are expecting quite the fight out of him." Trestina said as the sleepy look she had slowly disappeared.

"But you see, even with all of that the odds are quite against him!" Trestina said getting excited.

"He is fighting against the 10th place! The Rigid Champion! You see for the last 10 Years the 10th place adventurer has not been defeated once despite the numerous challenges against him, and even then he doesn't aim for a higher placement on the leaderboard keeping the 10th place for himself and himself only. The adventurer's guild even made a rule only for him where even the 9th or above place are to be defeated while those below would go down a step it would mean his fall out of the leaderboard, But because of the Adventurer's guild rule it made it so that He is to stay there until defeated or he himself decides to climb up. So in reality the 9th place is the one to fall off of the leaderboard. Many have complained saying it's unfair, But this has made them quite the Large sum of money as people keep coming back to see the undefeated champion either hold or leave his title. Some even say that He is probably THE strongest adventurer, but refuses to climb up for whatever reason." Trestina said Fully awake.

"His way of fighting is weird, Sometimes he holds a sword, while other times he uses magic, but if one thing is for sure he is always fully clad in armor." Trestina said as her eyes started to shine.

"There! There he is!" Trestia said pointing Towards the entering participant.

Fully clad in armor holding a sword with his right hand, A man that looks around the height of Lena enters the arena.

While on the other side a man in a bit more casual wear only a sword in his hand walks in.

"That is The octopus adventurer. It is said that he has never been seen with armor on so this is to be expected." Trestina said explaining to Lena.

The two stand opposite to each other with equal distance in between them and the walls behind them.

A loud bell can be heard in the distance.

*ring*

"THE FIRST RING!" trestina screams.

*ring*

"THE SECOND RING! ONE MORE!" trestina continues screaming with the crowd.

*ring*

"TH---" Trestina is quickly shut up by the fast wind blown from the middle of the arena.

The octopus had immediately attacked 10th as soon as the third ring was heard without a second's delay.

Crowd's scream is deafening.

Then a quick succession of attacks can be seen given by the octopus of which none hit the 10th directly as he quickly either blocks are counters them with his own sword.

"I CANT EVEN SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING!" trestina words barely reach Lena's ears under the sea of screams.

The octopus then jumps back and lifts his empty left hand.

'magic.' Lena quickly thought as a gust of wind can be seen forming around the mans left hand as he again approaches 10th.

10th replies by getting into an attacking posture.

As soon as the octopus is within attack range he quickly jumps up while using the wind in his left hand to push himself behind the 10th.

The 10th unexpecting of that move turns behind in a panic but is then stabbed right throw the little opening in the knee part of his armor.

The octopus Tries to escape as he pulls out his sword, but is then quickly caught by the 10th who is unfazed by the attacks.

The 10th Grabs him by the head and throws him away.

He then pulls out the octopus's sword and places one of his hands over his knee.

'healing magic? no even then there is no doctor helping him unless he himself...' Lena tried to make sense of the situation.

After finishing up The 10th throws the octopus his sword and says some words Lena couldn't hear.

The octopus stands up and picks it up as he and the 10th slowly get their forms corrected.

Lena understanding what is about to happen without realizing it a grin forms on her face as she exhales from her nose excited.

The 10th for the first time innates the attack swinging his sword at the octopus head on as they both clash blades.

The clashing is so fast the only reason the audience can tell it's even happening is because of the sound iron clashing makes.

They both are moving all around the arena swinging their swords at each other.

"LENA DO YOU SEE THIS!" Trestina screams excited.

"YES I DO!" Lena screams back.

Watching 2 people who have reached what felt like the peak of humanity was more exciting than whatever Lena thought.

The both of them keep exchanging blade until finally the first blood is shed since 10th got real.

The octopus is starting to slow down while 10th shows no sigh of slowing down at all.

Visible frustration can be seen on the octopus's face as they both stop for a second before clashing again.

Is it because he is losing? Is it because he underestimated his opponent? No. It's because he is being toyed with, or that's what he thinks at least.

Lena quickly remembered Trestina's briefing of the 10th. 'Sometimes he holds a sword, while other times he uses magic.' Which had Lena thinking.

'to what scale does his magic reach if it can be seen as a whole different thing from his swordsmanship?'

Which only made her herself get a bit mad watching as he only used one half of his arsenal as his opponent used it all.

The octopus getting desperate started using magic alongside his clashes which 10th took straight on without much of a flinch as he kept focusing on the octopus's sword.

Then the octopus screamed as he jumped away from the 10th which the 10th did himself repeating the octopus's moves.

Then with a quick swing at the air in front of him the octopus's sword started glowing.

'that!'

"HE IS GONNA USE HIS MAGIC SWORD!" Trestina screamed almost in sync with someone else sitting next to them.

This was the first time Lena had seen an actual magic sword and not a bootleg version like the one she uses. To her the idea of him using one didn't even cross her mind since his sword looked sharp enough to cut through iron.

This got Lena even more excited as an unexpected twist had unraveled itself.

"WOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!" Lena screamed getting even trestina surprised.

The octopus's sword slowly started glowing brighter of which 10th replied back to with his left hand aimed at the octopus.

The audience's roars only got louder as the end of the fight was approaching.

A black orb started forming in front of the 10th's left hand which he had aimed at The octopus.

While the octopus's glowing sword slowly started burning itself and the ground around him.

The black orb forming alongside the 10th's left hand slowly grew larger as he made his left hand into a finger gun shape aimed at the octopus to take more control of the attack he is about to send.

The black orb was simply... horrifying. It was as if Life itself was condensed into nothingness. It made Lena question if such a thing is even possible and whether such a thing can even be stopped.

The octopus's back is what's visible to Lena from her viewpoint so she couldn't she his face at that moment, but she knew that it was one of worry. Such thing shouldn't be able to exist in the first place nor should it be under a humans control.

The octopus screams as he launches forward towards 10th while slowly burning the ground under him almost turning it into magma.

The 10th keeps charging up that black orb until finally it shoots forward like a beam.

The octopus in a desperate attempts to dodge it which surprisingly he succeeds in.

A laugh can be heard from him as he then continues towards 10th.

10th then with his right hand still holding his sword clashes with the octopus's sword, but this time isn't like before.

As soon as they clash the 10th sword quickly starts melting under the intense heat of the octopus's sword, yet 10th acts completely unfazed.

10th then raises his about the melt sword and flicks it away alongside the octopus's sword.

The octopus then acts fast where with a quick jump he kicks 10th in the face which sent the 10th's helmet flying and quickly goes after his sword.

His sword which started melting the ground under it is quickly lifted back up by the desperate Octopus.

As he turns around to face the 10th again He can feel only one thing.

Fear. Complete and utter fear.

The 10th which has lost his helmet looks down at the octopus who is a few steps away.

Even though nothing has changed other than his face now being fully visible The octopus understood that this was the end.

he stared at 10th as he picked up the handle of his now melted sword and then threw it away.

The octopus then stood his ground and understood that this will be his last chance.

Now without a sword the 10th has one and only one way to fight, and that is using his magic.

The 10th places gives a quick clap and then aims a single finger at the octopus.

With a quick shot no one can see a condensed water bullet pierces the man.

The Man in a shot of pain tries to move, but is to no avail.

With another clap another bullet is shot.

Then another one, and another one.

He keeps attacking the octopus as he slowly approaches him, some missing some not.

It had confused Lena as to why the man Kept clapping since water magic is enough using fingers only.

Then when he had finally reached The octopus, in a desperate attempt the octopus swings an undodgeable swing at the 10th. A swing so fast and sudden That it would definitely cut through 10th if it makes contact, but yet it didn't.

The 10th had caught the sword with his hand straight on. The sword had merely cut through his gauntlet but not even scratched his skin.

The 10th had been supporting his hands with magic so that he could stop even that magma burning weapon.

The octopus knowing he has lost swings desperately, but all his swings are quickly denied with the 10th's hand stopping them in their tracks.

Then after what felt like 100 swings the 10th finally raises his right arm and punches the octopus head on not holding back the least bit sending him flying backwards until he had hit the wall behind him and fell unconscious.

The crowd roared for another win joins the champions record.

As Lena screamed alongside them she noticed something.

The tenth was moving his iris at the air in front of him as if reading something before turning around and leaving.