They all call me Great Master

The registration address for the "Swordsmanship Competition" was at Elta Square.

The Elta Square, previously struck by a "gas lamp explosion," had undergone a complete repair under the auspices of the Earl of South Los, who "personally funded" the restoration, yet this explosion made the Earl start to reconsider the safety of "gas lamps," delaying the planned renovation of the "gas lamps," previously set to start in April of the following year, once again.

Even the persistent lobbying and persuading by several "Gas Lamp Companies" of Inner Bay bore no fruit.

Rumor had it that these "Gas Lamp Companies" were already looking for help from others indirectly—shares that were once 100% were being continuously reduced.

Especially under the competition among these gas lamp companies, the share ratio was visibly being carved away, incrementally bought up by the locals of South Los.

Of course, all of this was none of Bern's concern.

Bern didn't even know about these things.

As a coach at the "Joel Jock Swordsmanship Club," what he cared about more was this "Swordsmanship Competition"!

He was 20 this year, but hadn't had his 20th birthday yet.

So, he still qualified to participate in this "Swordsmanship Competition."

Besides him, there were also two other students in the club who met the requirements—beyond their ages, they must at least withstand ten moves under his instruction.

Otherwise, it would just be a waste of the registration fee.

However, by the time Bern finished registering with the two students, he realized...

It seemed like he might also be wasting the registration money.

The contestants in this "Swordsmanship Competition" were too strong.

Not to mention the contestant that had just brushed past him, heading towards the eastern corner of the square, tall like a small giant, the one standing in the western corner was also extremely formidable; he felt a stinging sensation in his eyes just from a brief glance.

There were also contestants at the northern and southern sides of the square.

Though they did not stand alone like in the eastern and western corners, but in groups of threes and fives.

Still, each group of contestants exuded a unique aura.

That aura...

It was somewhat like the "Spirit Medium"!

The thought that these people all possessed the strength of the "Spirit Medium" made Bern couldn't help but wryly smile.

Moreover, what was more important was that all of these people were strangers.

As a coach with a bit of fame within the South Los swordsmanship circles, Bern was just twenty, but he was familiar with most sword practitioners.

Unless...

'Nobles?'

What happened?

Why did all these nobles send someone to compete?'

Bern had some understanding of the ways of the nobles.

They couldn't possibly take the field personally in the "Swordsmanship Competition," but the "Noble's" rights allowed them to choose to have their attendants participate on their behalf.

This kind of thing has happened in past "Swordsmanship Competitions."

But it was only an occasional occurrence, once or twice.

A participation on such a large scale as seen now, however, was unprecedented.

This aroused Bern's attention considerably.

But no matter how the young coach speculated, he was clueless.

About the 'Swordsmanship Competition Champion's reward including a knighthood title,' at this stage, it was still circulating only among a small circle of people in the know.

Outside this small circle?

No one would be informed of anything further.

Just like Bern and those commoners similar to him.

They wouldn't know what was happening until the very last moment.

And by the final moment, even if they knew a great deal, everything would have already been decided, with no chance of change.

So, for most people of South Los or them, the "Swordsmanship Competition" was more of a celebration with a performance element.

The protagonist?

It would never be them.

Certainly, even minor characters and extras could get a "reward" in such a celebration.

It was like the owner of "Joel Jock Swordsmanship Club" who was constantly weaving through the crowd.

Todd Gili, the owner of the "Joel Jock Swordsmanship Club," originally wanted to replicate the "miracle" of the last Swordsmanship Competition.

But upon realizing that the people standing at the north, south, east, and west corners of the square were all extraordinary, he quickly gave up his original plan.

The owner began to flash a smile and started networking.

Bern and the two students didn't care about this.

It wasn't something they needed to worry about.

What they needed to worry about was the Swordsmanship Competition that began tomorrow.

So, after greeting their boss, Bern left with the two students—taking advantage of the remaining time to once again clarify the battle plan for himself and his students.

The appearance of those family servants of the nobility...

It disrupted his original plan.

Clearly, many commoner contestants who were not content were thinking the same as Bern.

They came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

Fighting for the only chance they might have to "make something of themselves." Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

Even if...

The hope was slim.

Standing in the shadows of the bell tower, Marinda with a pipe in her mouth, her gaze swept over the competitors at the east and west corners of Elta Square with derision—

The contestants there were the "family servants" representing the interests of "Baron Korol" and "Baron Hausman."

This was "noble privilege," and no one could say anything about it.

However, Marinda was still surprised at the shamelessness of both barons.

This lady recognized the two contestants.

One, with a large and strong stature like a little giant, was Kangsion, the "Whale Slaying Sword" with a considerable reputation in the Nearshore Islands.

The other, a slender man exuding a sharp aura, was the well-known ruins explorer "Storm Sword" Deljo from Bert Territory.

Both were Great Arcana Level contestants.

In their respective territories, they each had their own forces.

The former owned Whale Island and had at least 200 men under him, controlling various facilities on the island such as docks, pubs, inns, and brothels.

Although the latter did not have many people, a complete adventure team of 12 was not to be underestimated by anyone.

And persuading such people was not easy.

"Heh, to acquire the knighthood, did you reveal part of your family's core legacy?" Marinda sneered to herself.

She knew a bit about Baron Korol and Baron Hausman.

She also knew that the core legacy that could touch the Entrants, even just a part of it, would be attractive to Arcana Level powerhouses like Kangsion and Deljo.

So much so that they were willing to appear as family servants for both households—this was to circumvent the "noble rules" that began in the Silver Age: non-nobles shall not touch "noble knowledge."

Although with the onset of the Pioneer Era, these "rules" had loosened in some places.

But in most areas, they were still unbreakable.

At least that was the case in South Los.

But what this lady was even clearer about was that having a legacy wasn't enough; one also needed Talent, otherwise, the Korol and Hausman families would both be Entrants by now.

Therefore, her eyes were full of mockery.

Not mocking Whale Slaying Sword and Storm Sword, but mocking the Korol and Hausman families.

"Sometimes, the existence of rules isn't a constraint, but a protection...

I hope you understand what you're doing!" Marinda thought to herself as her gaze moved to the north and south corners.

Immediately, her eyes grew stern.