What kind of nonsense is this, that you'd be chosen by the gods and favored by all the gods?

However, reality is completely different from fantasy.

Lyle entered the castle belonging to the city lord, located at the deepest part of Reed Village, and saw a familiar red hood.

"Elsa?"

Elsa happened to be standing outside the castle at that moment, in the darkest corner, staring at the wall in despair without saying a word.

Lyle's visit immediately drew her attention to the visitor.

"Ah! It's you!"

"What are you doing here?" Lyle asked curiously, but when he looked up, he could hear shouts coming from deep within the castle.

"What's going on?"

Elsa was just worried that no one was talking to her, and when she heard Lyle ask the question, she immediately became furious.

"Hey! It's my dad coming home!"

Elsa's father is the master of this city, the old lord whom Lyle is going to visit.

"So soon? I thought you wouldn't be back until the eve of the festival. Oh well, this makes it easier for me to take care of the rest of the things."

Lyle was about to go in when Elsa stopped him.

"Don't go! Can't you hear the argument inside? If you go now, no one will pay attention to you."

Seeing Lyle's confused face, Elsa shook her head helplessly.

"I don't know what to say... Traditionally, there are only a few positions for the successor of the celebration, reserved for members of the village's main clans. But unexpectedly, because so much time has passed, this year's celebration has about twenty people vying for the successor position!"

"But with so many people, how can we hold the celebration?"

"I really dislike these ballots from the North; they're so annoying and tedious... If Dad hadn't said they'd be useful to the city lord, I wouldn't have given them a second glance!"

vote?

Lyle then noticed that Elsa had a short wooden sign in her hand.

Elsa noticed the other person's gaze, and helplessly raised the wooden plaque in her hand, pointing to her own name on it, and said:

"It's something used to express one's intentions. In the past, there was no such thing. It's said that it was learned from the cunning north."

"My dad said that as Reed Village gradually expands, the old traditions can no longer adapt to our... development. Yes, that's the word he used, so we learned from the so-called advanced experiences of the outside world..."

"I still prefer the old days, with the chosen warriors fighting to their hearts' content under the watchful eyes of Suenmoser! Yay! That's how a true warrior should behave!"

"I wish I had been chosen..."

Elsa's eyes gleamed with longing, but Lyle fell into deep thought after hearing her words.

This sounds like the result of a clash between traditional and advanced theories in this small town.

Ultimately, however, this was their own business, and Lyle didn't really want to get involved.

That sounds really complicated...

He then coughed lightly and patted Elsa's head.

"I'll go in and check, and let you know if I find any news."

Lyle entered the city lord's room, where he saw a rather luxurious large bed on which lay a weak middle-aged man.

Standing next to him were three men he didn't recognize and Adeline.

Unlike most of the girls attending the celebration, Adrie was not dressed in a gown; she was still dressed as a hunter, with the dagger Lyle had taken still tucked into its sheath at her waist.

She sat in a corner of the room, next to the huge bookcase, with open books and silver tea sets piled on the desk, while Adlie herself was engrossed in reading a book.

"Ah, it's you..."

Adeline noticed Lyle's arrival and waved as a greeting.

Then, she turned to the middle-aged man on the large bed and pointed at Lyle.

"Dad, this is Lyle Procent, the man who saved me in the forest."

Upon hearing this, two of the other three men glanced at Lyle discreetly.

"Gentlemen, this is Lyle Procent, a traveler from the North."

"Lyle, these three are the heirs of the three main clans in the city, and they are also the main force of this celebration."

"Doug Monroe."

Doug was a burly middle-aged man with dark hair and dark eyes, his brows serious and powerful, as he sized Lyle up and down.

Seeing Lyle looking at him, he raised his hand in response.

"Jed Wyatt."

Jade stood by the window, his red hair gleaming. He looked out the window, sometimes leaning out, sometimes swaying from side to side, appearing somewhat impatient and distracted.

Even with Adele's introduction, he didn't even glance at Lyle.

"Gentyl Bentley... uh, I misspoke earlier. Although Gentel is also the heir of his clan, he is not a warrior chosen by Sunmozer."

"He was a doctor who took care of my father."

Kin Tae-il looked very scholarly, with blond hair and glasses, and his eyesight seemed to be poor.

Beside the large bed, he was fiddling with some kind of herb, looking very serious and professional.

"Hello, Mr. Lyle, I've heard about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."

He also seemed to be the most polite one.

"What's going on here?" Lyle asked. "I was planning to visit the old city lord, but what's this all about..."

There was a moment of silence among them, but it was Adele who finally spoke.

"Don't worry, we just have some disagreements about the specific format of the celebration."

"Because there are just too many people this time, we can't do what we always do and put over twenty people in cages to fight..."

"Why not?"

Jed, leaning against the window, snorted coldly, exhaling a contemptuous breath from his nose.

"Do you think we're cowards? Do you think I'd be afraid of twenty people? Stop talking nonsense, bring it on! Twenty, two hundred, I can handle it!"

It's clear he's a complete warrior.

"Jed is right. As chosen by Suenmozer, we should select our successors in the manner of warriors." The black-haired Doug waved his hand. "But I don't agree with such primitive fighting, because the strongest warriors would be overwhelmed and the one who survives might be the most despicable and shameless."

The compromise... Lyle made his judgment about Doug.

"That just proves that bastard isn't strong enough!" Jed was very annoyed. Doug always beat around the bush and compromised, which was unpleasant!

"But this is still better than making decisions based on a few pieces of wood. My God, Adele, when did you become so weak!"

For some reason, things have come back to Adelie.

"I'm just trusting my own judgment, Jade," Adley said calmly. "The world has changed, things are very different outside, but our greatest advantage in Reed City is our unity."

"Determining the strongest through ruthlessness and violence will always leave people resentful. We need to unite, not make enemies..."

"What the hell did you say?! You mean I can't control them?! They've gone too far! Let them try and take me on if they dare!"

Jade instantly flew into a rage, rolling up his sleeves and glaring angrily at Adley.

Adele scoffed, not to be outdone.

"Want to make a move? Don't forget I was the one who stood at the very back last time!"

"Quiet down, everyone. There are outsiders here."

Doug sighed helplessly, then looked at the old city lord and Lyle, and reached out to restrain the two.

They really do look like they're going head-to-head...

Lyle didn't intervene; instead, he looked at Dr. Kintail.

"Ah... Mr. Lyle, I've heard of you, and I've already had dealings with Miss Helena beside you."

Kintail seemed like a warm person. He stepped forward and took Lyle's hand.