Chapter 22: The world is so big!

Observing the crowd’s reaction, Lienne then resumed speaking.

“Now, I shall outline the supplementary rules.”

At that moment, two assistants approached, pulling two large chests behind them.

As the crowd watched with bated breath, the chests were opened, revealing an array of intricately designed tokens.

“As you can all observe, I now request that each participating team send forth a representative to randomly select a single token.”

Gesturing towards the two chests of tokens, he explained, “These tokens are categorized into two distinct types: one designated as [Human], and the other as [Spirit].

They respectively symbolize the Spirit Master and their Companion Spirit Weapon.

“Our Knightly Competition assesses the combined prowess of both the Spirit Master and their Companion Spirit Weapon, as neither can prevail independently.

Consequently, the sole condition for triumph in this match is to acquire both the [Human] and [Spirit] tokens, and to endure until the final shrinking circle.”

A cruel smile now played upon his lips.

“So, has everyone grasped the rules? You are required to seize the token you lack from opposing teams.

Should you acquire a token identical to one you already possess, you must continue your pursuit for the missing piece.

If, by the time the final circle has fully contracted, your team still holds only one type of token, you will be unequivocally disqualified.

Is that clear?”

A sudden murmur rippled through the assembled spectators.

Just then, a voice rang out again, posing a question.

“I comprehend the rules, and I have no qualms with them.

There is, however, one matter I wish to clarify.”

The questioner, as it turned out, was none other than Andrew.

A cruel smile, mirroring Lienne’s own, stretched across Andrew’s face as he leered and inquired, “If our team successfully gathers both the [Human] and [Spirit] tokens, are we still permitted to continue seizing others? Or perhaps…”

Before Andrew could even complete his thought, Lienne nodded decisively.

“Naturally, you may continue to seize tokens!

Provided your strength is sufficient, you are at liberty to confiscate every single token from all other participants, thereby eliminating every team save your own!

This, too, falls entirely within the stipulated rules!”

“How is that even allowed!”

The crowd below immediately descended into a renewed clamor.

This time, their collective indignation flared, with numerous individuals vociferously protesting the perceived unfairness of such a rule.

However, before Lienne could utter a single word, Andrew’s boisterous laughter erupted, echoing mockingly through the arena.

“Hahahahahahaha! A pack of useless wretches!”

“By what right do the weak deserve victory?

The referee speaks the truth!

Allowing a throng of incompetents (TL Note: ‘Caibi’ is a derogatory slang term, similar to ‘noob’ or ‘trash,’ referring to someone utterly unskilled) to merely survive until the end would be an affront to the truly powerful!

*That* would be the true injustice!”

“This rule is splendid!

I thoroughly approve of it!”

His gaze swept over everyone in attendance, lingering for a pointed moment on Sephylia, before he bellowed, “You fledgling novices, you’d best prepare yourselves!

We will seek you out, and none shall escape our grasp!

Even if it comes down to the final shrinking circle, I shall seize your tokens!

The sole victor of this entire competition shall be me, and me alone! Hahahahaha!”

Xiwei pressed a hand to his forehead, a clear sign of his growing headache.

“Andrew, have you completely forgotten that this is a team competition?

Do you intend to eliminate your own teammates as well?”

Andrew froze, his bluster instantly deflating, and he sheepishly scratched his head.

“Ah, haha, a mere slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue, indeed.

Hahaha.”

While the atmosphere within their own team remained remarkably light-hearted, other teams did not share the same ease.

The faces of most participants were etched with grim displeasure.

Sephylia let out a cold snort.

“Hmph, while I hold that loutish buffoon in utter contempt, he did utter one undeniable truth: by what right should an incompetent (TL Note: ‘Caibi’ is a derogatory slang term, similar to ‘noob’ or ‘trash,’ referring to someone utterly unskilled) claim victory?”

It was then that Melina abruptly spoke, her voice carrying clearly as she addressed the referee on the platform.

“Good day, esteemed Referee.”

Lienne glanced at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Observing her polite demeanor, a courteous expression softened his own features, and he responded gently, “Indeed, my beautiful young lady, how may I assist you?”

Melina stated, “I have a query.”

“Do proceed.”

Melina then gestured towards Andrew.

“I harbor no grievances regarding the rules of this competition.

However, if my memory serves, this is specifically the Youth Division of the Knightly Competition.

Does that gentleman’s age, over there, truly meet the eligibility criteria for participation?”

Melina’s pointed inquiry immediately silenced the previously boisterous arena.

Many in the crowd then gasped in sudden realization, slapping their foreheads.

“Exactly!

Can that scoundrel (TL Note: ‘Wangbadan’ is a highly derogatory Chinese slang term, literally ‘turtle’s egg,’ akin to ‘bastard’ or ‘son of a b*tch’) genuinely be considered a youth?

He must be pushing forty!”

The crowd promptly resumed their collective condemnation of Andrew.

Andrew, however, remained utterly unperturbed, instead letting out a disdainful snort.

“I am eighteen years of age this year, so what of it?

Are you dissatisfied?”

The assembled spectators were visibly unconvinced.

Only then did Lienne recall that this particular event was indeed the Youth Division competition, which mandated that all participants be under twenty-five years of age to register.

As for Andrew…

He turned his gaze towards a nearby assistant.

The assistant produced a tablet, consulted it briefly, and then nodded back at Lienne, an equally peculiar expression on their face.

Upon receiving confirmation, Lienne himself was utterly astounded.

He scrutinized Andrew once more before slowly declaring, “Following verification, it has been confirmed that contestant Andrew is, in fact, only eighteen years old, hailing from the Knight Academy of the Syracusan City-state.”

“What in the world!?”

“I refuse to believe it!”

“Are you seriously telling me this man is eighteen years old?!”

Even Melina appeared somewhat taken aback.

Andrew’s unkempt, bearded visage hardly suggested the innocence of an eighteen-year-old.

Yet, with the head referee’s pronouncement, further dissent was effectively quelled.

Each team dispatched a representative to step forward and claim their token.

For Melina’s team, it was Sephylia who advanced.

As she joined the lengthy queue, her gaze fell upon the towering figure beside her.

Serendipitously, it was Andrew once more.

“Our paths truly are intertwined, little girl.”

“I am sixteen, and you, merely two years my senior, presume to call me ‘little girl’?

You haven’t, by any chance, falsified your age, have you?

Is your deceit now exposed, old man—?”

Andrew faltered, his face flushing crimson as he bellowed in fury, “I *am* truly eighteen years old! Damn it all!”

Having uttered a curse, and realizing he was outmatched by her quick wit, he resolved to ignore the sharp-tongued individual.

“Hmph, gloat all you wish.

Your team’s token, I have already claimed as mine!”

Sephylia, equally unyielding, retorted, “Very well then!

If you fail to come for it, you shall be nothing more than the sole beneath my foot!”

As the two stood locked in a fierce staredown, a quiet, almost timid voice suddenly drifted from behind Sephylia.

“Why are they rewarding him?”

Both combatants paused, turning their heads in unison, to find a soft-spoken, delicate, almost doll-like little boy frantically ducking his head.

“So effeminate, and a pervert to boot!” Andrew scoffed with disdain. (TL Note: ‘Niangmen’er jiji’ is a derogatory slang term used to describe a man who is excessively effeminate or behaving in a ‘girly’ manner.)

Sephylia, for her part, shivered, though what thought had provoked such a reaction remained unclear.

Curiously, the person standing further behind the little boy suddenly appeared intrigued, reaching out to pat the child’s shoulder.

“Oh, a femboy (TL Note: ‘Weiniang’ is a term for a male who dresses or acts in a feminine manner, often translated as ‘femboy’ or ‘cross-dresser’)? I find that quite appealing.

Care to make an acquaintance?”

Both Sephylia and Andrew fell silent, resuming their place in line without a word, to claim their tokens.

For they had both suddenly realized that, compared to the femboy (TL Note: ‘Weiniang’ is a term for a male who dresses or acts in a feminine manner, often translated as ‘femboy’ or ‘cross-dresser’) behind them who had just declared a desire to be a shoe sole, and the man (TL Note: ‘Nantong’ is a slang term for a gay man) who openly admired femboys, their own squabble seemed utterly trivial.

In that very moment, the two who had been locked in relentless contention just moments prior, now echoed the same unspoken sentiment in their hearts.

‘The world truly is a vast place!’