Let's Go to the Colosseum

The Ocelot Colosseum.

A tournament that gathered martial artists from across the continent to determine the strongest among them.

Competitions like this were held in various sizes everywhere, but the Ocelot Colosseum was the largest of them all, drawing massive crowds of participants hungry for its hefty prize money.

The victor won fame and fortune. The audience got to white-knuckle through thrilling matches.

After the preliminaries, betting opened during the main rounds, and the champion earned the right to a ten-percent cut of the gambling proceeds on top of the prize money.

But the most valuable right the champion received was something else entirely.

Something absurdly over the top.

The only rule was a ban on intentional killing. Serious injuries were common.

Because of that, the previous tournament had introduced substitution puppets, magical proxies that swapped in for a fighter about to take critical damage, resulting in an automatic loss.

"That's the Ocelot Colosseum in a nutshell. Fighter protections were added last time, so you three can compete without worry."

As a side note, the substitution puppets were magical tools. Mass production had brought the cost down, but they were still fairly expensive.

They also required magic circles and other preparations, so adventurers couldn't take them into labyrinths. Unfortunately.

Azu raised her hand, timid.

"I understand we're entering. When is it held?"

"Registration for the preliminaries opens thirty days from now. It's being held in Spartia, further east of the Empire."

"Spartia…"

Alexia looked somewhat put-upon as she said it.

Being from the Empire, she seemed to have her own feelings about the place.

"A mercenary nation. Home to the world's strongest military. The story of three hundred of their soldiers defeating ten thousand monsters is famous."

"The country that's been holding back the monsters pouring from the Demon Den at the eastern edge of the world."

Spartia. A nation ruled by a king and a senate, where strength was the highest virtue.

Incredibly, the champion of the Ocelot Colosseum earned the right to challenge Spartia's king.

If the challenger won, they would be crowned king on the spot, or so Spartia publicly declared.

Spartia worshipped not the Sun God but Barbaroi, the God of War and Wealth. The declaration had been sworn in that god's name, so presumably they meant it.

For the record, all six previous tournaments had ended in the king's victory.

The strongest soldiers served the strongest king. Simple as that.

Some said the Ocelot Colosseum was nothing more than a recruitment showcase for Spartia's military.

Several past champions had, in fact, become generals in Spartia's army.

Oh, and Spartia's own soldiers were allowed to compete too.

Rank-and-file martial artists couldn't even make it through the prelims.

There were apparently limits on the number of entrants from Spartia, but still.

A tournament for the strong, by the strong.

"Can we win? I've been fighting monsters this whole time, so I'm not very confident against people…"

"Ideally you'd make it past the prelims. But if you can't, just go as far as you can."

"What do you mean? Aren't you after the prize money?"

"Ah, is the tournament just a side objective?"

When Elza said that, Master pulled out the elemental crystals.

They were housed in proper decorative cases. Three of them.

"Exactly. The buyers who won these at auction? All Spartian merchants. Shipping costs are steep, so delivering them in person is pure profit."

His real goal was transporting the auction goods. Entering Azu and the others in the Ocelot Colosseum was just a bonus.

Azu had tensed up at the mention of a martial arts tournament, but learning she wasn't actually expected to win took some weight off her shoulders.

Though not being expected to win was a little lonely in its own way.

"The agreed-upon delivery window is fifteen days from now. We'll head out before the tournament. Fortunately, there's no shortage of monster-hunting quests over there, so that's more earning potential."

"Isn't the only one happy about more earning potential you, Master?"

"We'd appreciate you sharing some of the profits with us. I'm sure the Creator King would agree."

Elza said something decidedly un-priestess-like.

Did the Creator King's blessing even still exist?

Elza could use healing miracles, so it wasn't as if there was nothing, but still.

Azu thought Master gave them plenty as it was.

She'd never once been in want.

"Calm down. Depending on how much you earn over there, I'll put you up somewhere decent."

"In that case, I'd love a place with a bath. I want to soak properly."

"Tools need proper maintenance or they break down. I've already factored that in. Now, you cut your labyrinth trip short, so you shouldn't be that tired. Get the expedition gear ready. It'll take ten days by a generous estimate. We can't use portals outside the country."

Azu was a bit stumped. She'd never been on a long journey before.

For escort jobs, she'd only ever brought the bare minimum.

"Um, what do we need?"

"We'll need to shop, too. Even if this is a tool shop with most things covered, we don't have everything. We're short on changes of clothes."

"I know, I know. Here, one bag for the three of you."

Master handed Azu a coin purse heavy with silver.

From Azu's perspective, it was a fortune. Even Alexia thought it was a generous amount for preparation funds.

"W-Wow, this much…"

"Aren't we generous today."

"Then let's get going. That's all right, yes?"

"Sure. Just don't buy anything I already carry in the shop."

The three of them stood and headed out to the market to shop.

Master didn't come along. Apparently he couldn't be bothered to keep up with three women on a shopping trip.