The Wrong Hero Has Been Summoned
Chapter 20: Deal

Chapter 20: Deal

In a luxurious box overlooking Stadium 1, several nobles lounged on plush chairs. Servants moved silently between them, refilling wine glasses and offering platters of food. The nobles barely noticed the servants, their attention fixed on the arena below.

"That last match was quite interesting," said Lord Bellamy, a portly man with a thick mustache. He dabbed his forehead with a silk handkerchief. "This Luther fellow fights unlike anyone I’ve seen before."

Lady Karine nodded, her jeweled fingers tapping against her wine glass. "He moves strangely. Did you notice how he kept changing his style? First those direct punches, then those spinning kicks."

"I’ve placed three thousand gold on him to reach the semifinals," said a younger noble with sharp features. "After seeing that performance, I think my money is safe."

"Don’t be too sure, Desmond," cautioned an older man with a gray beard. "Becca will be his next opponent, and she’s the champion from the eastern territories. She’s not to be underestimated."

Near the back of the box, several men and women sat slightly apart from the nobles. They wore simpler clothes, though still of fine quality. Each had a badge or emblem pinned to their chest - the marks of guild masters from across the kingdom.

"What do you think of the yellow-mana user, Gretta?" asked a broad-shouldered man with burn scars on his forearms. The emblem of the Smith’s Guild gleamed on his chest.

Gretta, a severe-looking woman with her hair pulled back tightly, frowned. "His technique is unusual. I’ve never seen someone fight that way before." She wore the blue and silver emblem of the Mage’s Guild. "And that yellow mana... it’s not an element I recognize."

"Does it matter? The boy has power and skill," said a third guild master, a lean man with quick eyes. The Mercenary Guild’s crossed swords decorated his collar. "I’d take him in my guild in a heartbeat."

"You would, Tallen," Gretta replied dryly. "But the real question is whether he’d take you. A fighter of his caliber will have options."

"I heard he’s unaffiliated," said a fourth guild master, this one wearing the green leaf of the Explorer’s Guild. "No formal training in any academy or under any master. He’s completely self-taught."

"Impossible," Gretta said. "No one reaches that level without training."

"Unless he’s hiding his background," Barton suggested. "He could be from one of the border regions."

In a different box, higher up in the stadium, a group of even more richly dressed nobles watched the proceedings with greater interest than mere entertainment.

"The tournament is proceeding well," said Duke Harren, the king’s cousin and one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. "Several promising fighters this year."

"Indeed," agreed Countess Elise. "That Luther boy seems particularly interesting. Have we learned anything about his background?"

A thin man in dark clothes stepped forward from the shadows. "Very little, Your Grace. He appeared in section D a few days ago. Before that, no records of him exist in any major city or settlement."

"A nobody from nowhere," mused the Duke. "Yet he fights with the confidence of a seasoned warrior and uses a type of mana I’ve never encountered."

"The royal family might take interest in him if he continues to advance," the Countess said carefully.

"Already have," the Duke replied. "My nephew has instructed me to watch him closely. If he makes it to the final rounds, he wants him brought to the palace."

"And if he refuses?"

The Duke smiled thinly. "Few refuse a royal invitation."

Back in the lower level of the stadium, guild recruiters mingled near the fighter’s exit, hoping to catch contestants between matches.

"The Smith’s Guild offers excellent benefits for fighters of your caliber," Barton was saying to a muscular woman who had just won her match. "Access to our finest weapons, training facilities—"

"Not interested," she cut him off, pushing past.

He sighed, then perked up when he spotted Luther walking toward the exit with the girls.

"Excuse me! Young man!" Barton called out, hurrying toward them. Several other recruiters noticed and quickly moved to intercept Luther as well.

Luther stopped, raising an eyebrow at the sudden attention.

"Hello there! Magnificent fight!" said Barton, arriving first. "I’m Barton Forgehammer, Master of the Smith’s Guild. We’d be honored to have someone of your talents join our ranks."

Before he could respond, Gretta stepped forward. "Gretta Windcaller, Mage’s Guild. Your mana control is exceptional. We can offer proper training to refine your talents."

"Tallen, Mercenary Guild," said another, pushing to the front. "We pay better than these two combined, and you only take the jobs you want."

He looked at the guild masters with mild surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by more recruiters arriving.

"Explorer’s Guild! See the world while getting paid!"

"The Royal Guard is always looking for exceptional fighters!"

Luna stepped slightly forward, placing herself between Luther and the increasingly pushy recruiters. "He’s not making any decisions right now. He’s still competing in the tournament."

"Of course, of course," Barton said quickly. "But afterward—"

"Afterward, he’ll consider all offers," Vess cut in smoothly. "For now, he needs to rest before his next match."

The recruiters reluctantly stepped back, though many pressed small tokens or cards into his hands before he could move on.

"That was... annoying," he said once they were clear of the crowd. He crushed the cards and threw them away.

"This is to be expected. Once you win even more fights thing will get worse." Selene said, smiling at him with a proud expression.

He sighed and looked around until he saw the girls with cold eyes from before staring at him. Beside them was Lord Haver and Elias, both staring at him with disgust on their faces. Had it not been for that incident outside the walls, they too would have been all over him.

"I will be right back."

"Huh?"

The girls watched where he was heading, "ah crap." They said at once.

Halfway there, the guard girls came to intercept him, stopping him from reaching them. "Yoh, do you want to make a deal?"

Lord Haver said nothing and thought about leaving but something told him to at least hear him out. "Let him through." The girls moved aside and as he passed, he smiled at them and there was a hint of them smiling back, just barely.

"What do you want?" He asked coldly, his expression filled with distrust.

"I want to clear the air between us," he said calmly. "Our first meeting didn’t go well, but I think we can benefit each other."

Elias scoffed. "And why would we want anything to do with you?"

He smiled confidently. "Because I’m going to win this tournament, and having connections with a rising champion could be useful for someone in your position."

Lord Haver raised an eyebrow, slightly interested despite himself. "You seem very sure of yourself."

"I am, will you accept?"

The two guard girls exchanged glances, impressed but trying not to show it.

"Fine. Speak your piece," he said, motioning for Elias to be quiet when he tried to object.

"It’s simple. I need to get into the academy in section A."

"What!?"