Chapter XLIX - Arena (part 1)

After arriving at the restaurant, I noticed that the entire team was already here.

"How... are you guys here already?

I walked to their table, which is right at the end of the room. The only empty seat is the one next to Valey, so I sat right next to her.

"Well, Cony did ask everyone to come earlier, but you didn't reply."

Hod lifted the crystal to show me, and everyone else nodded. I shrugged the back of my head in confusion.

"Well, I was busy. Why else would I suggest for the time to be so late?"

"R-Right... I guess you were the one who suggested the time..."

Hod chuckles while the others all glared at each other, but then decided to just brush it off and laugh. I turned my gaze to the table in front of us, and it seemed quite empty.

"Everyone has eaten already?"

"Well, I don't usually eat this early."

"Same here."

Barett said, and was agreed to by Hod. The two don't eat breakfasts, but they're not the only people in the world who don't.

"Well, if you want to eat, I'll eat with you."

Valey said from my right. I nodded at her and glared at the ordering desk.

"Let's eat. I don't want to fight with an empty stomach."

We both went to the front desk where Hod's mother is sitting and reading the newspaper. She stood up when she saw us walking to the counter.

"Greetings, ladies! What are we eating today?"

"Hello, Miss Vesny."

I greeted, while Valey proceeds with ordering her meal before I ordered mine. Hod's mother then headed to the back to do the cooking, while we went back to the table.

And by the time I'm about to sit, I can see Hod's face filled with confusion. He seemed to be quite concerned about something while the others are talking about other things, and I decided to confront him about it.

"What's wrong?"

I asked him, and he was quite startled that I noticed.

"I'm... fine. It's just, I'm concerned. Do you know how powerful Jonus is?"

"Not... exactly. All I've known so far was the fact that he has King tier fire magic."

He facepalmed to my answer, as if it was so horrible. Well, what am I supposed to answer? That guy was the one making the battle request. I was just agreeing.

"Rize. Right now, he is the most powerful adventurer in the kingdom."

Hod said to me firmly as if to make sure that I understood, but I only folded my arms as I listened... barely.

"MmHmm... And?"

I answered so gently and calmly that Hod let out a sigh from hearing it.

"And somehow, I have a hunch that you are going to win."

"Is that so? Glad to hear that you have confidence in me."

I said happily to him, and Hod laughs at himself for ever doubting me for a second. Everyone else seemed to be confused because they didn't quite get the conversation. They all thought that this battle was one sided, but Hod thinks I can win.

"In terms of rank, he tops you, of course. But in an actual battle, I'm not sure anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Next to him, Barett asked from confusion, and it's probably because he hasn't seen me using my all to fight. He has seen me fight the blue mutant mantis, but he hasn't seen me fight Galar.

If I do go all out... I can beat simply anyone.

"In the first place, Rize just has so many weapons within her arsenal. Just her pure strength and movement capabilities already made her no less than a Blue ranked. And to count her sword arts, she's already as good as a Yellow ranked."

Hod tried arguing, and everyone seemed to understand. Me, however, decided to use this chance to let him talk highly of me. Just to fill my ego.

"And?"

I said so that he could continue, but the guy only let out a sigh.

"And with your Intermediate tier fire magic, what am I supposed to answer?"

Everyone else seemed shocked by that realization, but they had to accept that it's true. Intermediate magic is very different from Beginner magic. The way the flames output, and the amount of magic energy to conjure it. That alone should already put me into a rank of at least the Yellow rank.

"And we haven't even gone to your Knight tier healing magic."

Hod mentioned again, and everyone gasped upon hearing that. They all stared at me, while I just lifted both my hands to signal that I gave up.

"I give up. I'm a false ranker."

I said jokingly to them, but they don't seem like the type to joke about these things.

"With your Knight tier healing magic, you can keep on healing yourself every time you get wounded... And should we talk about your abnormal magic points?"

"I think you can stop now, Hod. Everyone get it, already."

I said because he seemed particularly annoyed about it, and the guy fixed his sitting position to be more straight.

"You know what? I'd like to see it. You, a false ranker, facing against that egotistical White ranked Jonus. It will be a battle of prides for sure."

Hod said with a hint of annoyance, and I can tell he is already getting used to my personality.

"Glad you're excited! At least you know who to root for, right?"

"For sure... Jonus."

Hod's answer surprised everyone, even me. I thought his answer would be supporting me, but apparently he is taking this a lot more seriously than I thought.

"Hmm? Why so?"

"If you win, Rize... it will damage his reputation."

"... Huh?"

That's what he is most worried about?

"His reputation? Not mine?"

"Well, for sure, you will most likely get tons of problems after that."

Haha. Yeah, that's what I'm so afraid of, as well.

A White ranked adventurer is very famous, even to the other kingdom. And for a White ranked adventurer to lose to some underdog, that's huge. Not only does that White ranked adventurer be questioned by everyone, the underdog will certainly get more face in the news.

Just thinking about it makes me shiver. However, I already knew this was a problem since last night. 

"You are right. But, I still won't back down and still beat him up. Hopefully, there is a way to avoid this from happening. I'll lose on purpose if I have to."

I said confidently, and everyone grinned hearing my answer. I'm not backing out, nor am I afraid of him. If anything, I wanted the fight to happen, and I'd still do anything to keep the public's eyes away from me.

To get both results. That will be my goal today.

Hod knows that I would never want attention to myself. That's why I kept everything silence until I am strong enough. Even now, when I already have all of these things in my arsenal, I am still not strong enough.

Not enough. Not enough to beat Galar, at least. I have to be at the level where I'm confident no one in this world is strong enough to be a problem for me. When the world is but a playground for me, or if I have to take an action that will for sure save a lot of people.

Once a moment like that comes... then I'll reveal myself to the world.

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