Chapter 26: I Tried to Cancel the Tournament, and Now Even the Audience is Competing for My Hand?!
Haruto was trapped.
He had tried to escape.
He had tried to sabotage the tournament.
He had tried to refuse every marriage proposal.
And now?
Now he was standing in a massive arena, watching as women from all across the kingdom prepared to fight for his hand in marriage.
The crowd roared in excitement.
Banners with his face were waving in the wind.
The royal announcer stood proudly on a grand stage.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE GREATEST TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY!"
Haruto stared blankly at the sky.
"I hate everything."
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Haruto's Final Attempt to Stop This Madness (Fails Instantly, Again)
"LISTEN UP!" Haruto shouted, stepping forward. "I REFUSE TO BE THE GRAND PRIZE OF A TOURNAMENT!"
The crowd gasped.
Lilia giggled. "Oh my, my husband is quite dramatic today~."
"I AM NOT YOUR HUSBAND!"
Sylphiel smiled serenely. "Yet here we are."
Haruto twitched violently.
"STOP SAYING THAT!"
Princess Emilia raised her sword. "If you don't wish to be won so easily, then we must prove ourselves even harder!"
"NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
The announcer chuckled. "Oh, Your Majesty, such humility! Let us begin the tournament!"
Haruto internally screamed.
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The Contestants (Haruto's Nightmare Expands)
One by one, the competitors entered the arena.
Haruto felt his stomach drop.
First—Princess Emilia, standing tall in her royal armor.
"I will not lose!" she declared.
Then—Lilia, smirking with excitement.
"Oh, how thrilling~."
Then—Sylphiel, radiating elegance.
"I shall claim what is rightfully mine."
Then—Emberis, cracking her knuckles.
"Let's get this over with. I plan to win quickly."
Then—Fel, yawning.
"I don't even need to fight, boss. I already live with you~."
Haruto whimpered.
And then—
MORE women entered the arena.
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Even More Challengers Appear (Haruto's Sanity Shatters)
Haruto blinked in horror as even more contestants stepped forward.
Duchess Rosaria of the Northern Empire.
"A king should wed a noblewoman. I shall claim him."
Lady Carmilla, a vampire noble.
"A Demon King must have a Queen of the Night."
The Masked Swordswoman.
"I have no reason to be here."
"THEN LEAVE!" Haruto screamed.
The crowd cheered louder.
Haruto grabbed his own face, shaking.
"HOW IS THIS EVEN HAPPENING?!"
---
And Then the Audience Started Competing Too
Just when Haruto thought things couldn't get worse—
A random woman in the audience jumped over the barrier.
"I SHALL COMPETE TOO!"
Then—
More women poured into the arena.
"FORGET THE RULES! LET US PROVE OUR LOVE!"
"THE STRONGEST WOMAN SHALL HAVE HIM!"
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU PEOPLE!" Haruto screamed.
The royal guards struggled to hold them back.
The announcer laughed.
"TRULY, OUR KING IS BELOVED BY ALL!"
Haruto internally sobbed.
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Haruto's Last Attempt to Escape (Fails Instantly, Again)
"Alright. Nope. I'm done."
Haruto turned around and walked away.
Then—
A wall of magic erupted around the arena, sealing the exits.
Haruto froze mid-step.
"...What."
Lilia giggled from the balcony.
"Oh dear, did I forget to mention? I enchanted the arena so you wouldn't try to escape~."
Haruto's soul left his body.
"I swear to the gods, I will throw myself into the void."
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The Tournament Begins (Haruto's Absolute Despair)
The announcer raised his hand.
"LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"
The contestants charged.
The arena shook.
Magic exploded in all directions.
And Haruto?
Haruto curled into a ball on the ground.
"I hate everything."
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