Chapter 356 - There's A Popularity Contest?

This is the final of the tournament. If the cult is planning to do something, it should be around this time when everyone is gathered in one place. Well, two places actually. One in the Arena, and the other in the square.

I'd like to stay and watch the fight while hearing the two silly commentators, but I can't do that.

"Roy, the final is between your friends, right?" Spot asked.

Right now, we are on the rooftop of the Arena. And I'm not alone. It was because there are many other wind mages who want to watch the final without paying the ticket. Since I'm one as well, I can't just kick them out. Though their eyesight is worse than me so they can't see as clear as I could.

"Yeah. It's between Angela's team and Kayla's team," I said.

"Then you should watch their battle. I will take care of those monsters coming this way," Spot said.

What he meant is that there are many monsters coming this way as if it's a Stampede. But in a smaller scale than that time. If Spot is fighting them alone, I think he can do it.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'll be back before the final is over," Spot said as he flew outside the city.

I am planning on subjugating them myself, but if he wants, he can do it.

I have come to a realization that Spot is surprisingly kind. Not just to me because I'm an Aura user. But everyone else he got along with. Well, mostly it was because they are my friends. I don't have to worry about him attacking any of us anymore. In fact, I shouldn't have think of that from the start.

Since he's taking care of the monsters, I can lay back and watch the match.

Hmm… so far, the first few matches were not that interesting. Cassau's agent won against the capital's male agent. Then the capital's female agent won against Cassau's agent who was too tired already because of his previous match. After that, it was Sara's turn.

Sara easily defeated her opponent. She didn't waste much mana as well. She pretended to prepare to attack the opponent with Air Cannon on the rock she raised from the ground, and when the opponent prepared to block it, Sara made a pitfall under her opponent's leg, making her fall and become an easier target for the Air Cannon. Sara won the match.

It's the first time that she used a pitfall on an opponent. No one can predict that she would do it.

"The winner is Sara from Cassau! It has been an interesting match so far excluding the first comedy routine," Dwight said.

"That's not match for you but a comedy routine?" Steven asked.

"How else should I explain it? He gave up as soon as the match started just like Cassau's previous two matches. It's already a routine where everyone would laugh at him. That's a comedy routine and not a match at all," Dwight explained.

"I see. That makes sense. But enough with the comedy act. We're here to watch something amazing. And they give us something great to watch! Both sides are down to their last three fighters, and we still can't see who will win the match. Are you still thinking that the Capital team will win?" Steven asked.

"I don't know, Steven. I am indeed supporting them to win, but there are too many unknown factors here. As for the next bout between Sara and Frederick, I think Sara will win. But overall, the Capital team is stronger. Still, Kayla is the smarter one. She might have some plans against her best friend, Angela. We can only watch the excitement from here," Dwight said.

Next is Sara against Fred. Just like Dwight said, I think Sara will win this.

Sara easily blast away the fire coming toward her with the blast of her air pressure. Sara win easily because her opponent's elements are incompatible with hers. Not just she can make the fire disappear with her air magic, her earth element can block the fire from reaching her.

Fred has only learned about magic control a few days ago, and for the tournament, he only focused on training his fire element. That's why he lost against Sara.

Well, at least he managed to make Sara wasted mana many times. Which will make things easier for Shirley.

"You're right. Sara did win against Frederick. But the next bout will be difficult for her because she will be fighting against Princess Shirley. And she wasted quite a bit mana from her previous fight. But wait! We have an announcement for everyone!" Steven announced.

What announcement? And why are the officials letting them do what they want? What about the matches?

Seems like even Kayla and the others were confused. So, they also don't know about the announcement, right? What kind of surprise this time?

"Yesterday, just as we went looking for those who knows about Angela's and Kayla's past, we also asked them and the citizens one more question. 'Who is the most beautiful participant in the tournament?'" Steven said.

…they really enjoy doing those stuffs, huh? To think that they did a popularity contest as well…

If I ask them to be the commentators for the tournament between countries, will they do the same as well? Probably.

"So, we made people vote and we will announce the result now! Actually, we were thinking of announce it after the tournament is over, but now is a good time to do it! Why? Because… the top five of the voting are the five last standings in the tournament! All five of them are the top five!" Dwight said.

"Obviously, the most beautiful girl is not voted just because of their appearances. But because of their strength and the effort they put in this tournament as well. That's why for those who are not voted, you are still beautiful," Steven said.

"Don't flirt while we're working."

"But what if your future sister-in-law is listening?"

"I will feel sorry that she got seduced by your terrible flirting. Anyway, we will announce the top five of the most beautiful participants from the bottom!"

This is not part of the tournament, but I think it's Albert who planned it. He probably thinks that Sara will be too tired after fighting, so he asked the twins to announce it right now. This way, Sara can catch a breath. And Shirley is someone who wants to fight other at their full strength.

Albert must have heard about the voting, and predicted that these five will be the last fighters. He told the two to announce it right now when only those five are left standing.

"The fifth place is… Sara! It's no wonder because in this whole tournament, she's the one who fight the most. While the others defeated one or two opponents, Sara herself defeated three opponents in every match she fought. We also have the citizens leaving comments about her. Like how powerful she is, air magic is amazing, and there's even a little girl saying 'I want to be like big sis Sara!'. She has a lot of fans," Dwight said.

Hearing that she's being praised, Sara blushed. Hey, you need to rest.

"The fourth one is Kayla! Although she hasn't fight at all, she's ranked fourth. It was also mostly because the people who voted for her are from Melk. And they have been healed by her during the stampede," Steven announced.

She's the fourth place? If she fights, I think she can get second or even first place.

"The third one is Jewel! Surprisingly, many people love to see her Rhino hybrid form. They say that she's so cute," Steven said.

"And powerful. She has defeated all her opponents just by using her transformation. Does she have other elements? We don't know. Just like Kayla, seems like she's still hiding her strength," Dwight said.

That leave two more. Shirley and Angela.

"The next one is… let's announce the second place and the first place together. Second place is Princess Shirley, and first place is Angela!"

""WOOOOOOOOOO!!""

Everyone screamed at the name of the two girls being called. Even some who are at the rooftop are shouting. I hope this place can endure this many people standing on it.

"This is surprising because I thought the princess would be the winner. But it seems that Angela's prowess is just too amazing. Some even called her 'Elemental Master' because of her four elements. Each of those elements are equally strong. Fire, ice, wind, and earth. Those four might be four of the most common elements to have, but so far, she's the only one who has all four elements," Dwight said.

"It's also because the tournament is held in Melk. If not, both Angela and Kayla won't be listed that high. Angela would lose from the princess, and Kayla wouldn't even be on the list. But that's just my guess. Let's see what they wrote about Princess Shirley. 'She's a princess!', 'I thought a royalty doesn't have to be strong and can just be lazy since everyone around her worship her. I'm sorry. You're amazing', 'I'm glad to be born in Tatrama!'. There are many more of those comments. And she's also so close in the number of voting with Angela. The difference is just thirty votes. Even the third place, Jewel, her votes is two hundred fewer than Princess Shirley," Steven said.

"As for Angela, most of them are praises about how strong she is. And question about how she can raise all elements to be that strong. Well, most people would mainly focus on one or two elements, but she improved in all of them. All these five girls… no. Not just these five. All the participants of the tournament are amazing role models for everyone so they can get stronger. All of them are amazing in their own way," Dwight said.

"Except for some."

"Except for some. Well, this is just the first tournament. Next years, there will be another tournament. But the location where it will be held will be changed. Seeing all the fights in this tournament, I have a great expectation for next years. I hope Angela and the others will still participate."

"And I hope I can still be the commentators for next year. Let's get back to the main event for today. It's Sara against Princess Shirley! Seems like Sara managed to catch a breath while we announced the result of the voting," Steven said.

"That's fine. if both sides can use their full strength, the audiences will enjoy the match more. Let's begin the sixth bout of the final!"

Well, that was interesting. So, there's a voting like that, huh? If I have to vote, I would pick Kayla for the obvious reason. But to think that Angela is so happy down there because of the result of a voting… well, that's just like her.

Anyway, the next bout has begun. Who will be the winner?

Good luck to those who are fighting. This fight can't be decided by voting after all, so do your best!