"Next was the second-year Knight Academy's top student, Emma Metis—also undefeated in the main tournament and having advanced all the way to the Winners Bracket finals!"
On the platform to the other side, Emma Metis appeared with a stern face, showing no intention of cooperating with a smile.
"Lastly, the second-year Knight Academy student who had fallen into the Losers Bracket at the very beginning of the main tournament, but fought his way back through sheer strength and unyielding will—our Son of the Hero, Victor Gaude!"
On the final platform, Victor Gaude wore an excited expression. As soon as the platform rose to its highest point, he abruptly raised both hands and waved them vigorously at the thousands upon thousands of spectators, fully reveling in the joy of being the center of attention.
Of the three contestants, only his smile was so ardent, so genuine.
Senior Judy then briefly introduced the three contestants before interviewing them one by one.
Ring Belt.
Dark, who had kept his head down reading ever since sitting down, set his book aside for the moment and looked up at the arena.
Beside him, Dulong and Pistan were gritting their teeth and muttering things like, "Damn it," "What's he showing off for?" and "If Dark hadn't forfeited..." and so on.
Dark could not be bothered with them.
His gaze passed over Judy, Sara, and Emma in turn before settling, like that of most of the audience outside the arena, on Victor Gaude, the Son of the Hero.
From the time the Son of the Hero first appeared before the public upon enrolling at the academy until now, nearly a year and a half had passed. At last, the Son of the Hero seemed to have stepped onto the stage where he belonged.
Watching the black-haired