Sword Saint's Reincarnation
Chapter 84: Post-Battle (1)

Rylan looked at the judges. Damian was standing near the edge of their platform, looking at Jasmine with kindness. With a wave of his hand, the mana barrier around the paved arena vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“By unanimous decision, Rylan Flameheart is the winner and will advance to the finals,” Damian continued.

The audience rumbled like thunder. As if everyone had been holding their breath and could only now return to normal, they cheered and shouted at the top of their lungs. Rylan heard his name being called out countless times. Some spectators looked appalled, covering the eyes of the children they had brought along. Voices superimposed over each other in a veritable cacophony that made even the floor and the water over it vibrate.

Rylan straightened his posture and started walking toward Jasmine but stopped in place once he noticed an uncomfortable gaze. He looked back at the judges.

Gael Astassier, his grandfather, was staring at him like a man who had just found a pile of treasure.

Rylan frowned. It was a look filled with desire and misguided hope that Roland had been all too familiar with. It didn’t matter whether Gael wanted to manipulate Rylan for his own benefit or to exploit their relationship. Until he learned more about the man and the Astassier family, Rylan wouldn’t buy into it. His mother’s words echoed in his mind. He needed to be careful.

Shaking his head, Rylan slowly walked up to Jasmine, who had dropped to the floor after the Spikes crumbled. She looked at the ground and hid her expression, but he could see the falling tears. Healers entered the arena and ran toward them, but he didn’t even look at them.

“Jasmine.”

His tone was soft but loud. He could only hope that she could hear his voice over the cheering. She raised her head and looked at him with bloodshot eyes and gritted teeth. Water and tears mixed. Rylan knew that empty consolation wouldn’t serve any purpose. Instead, he tied the wand back to his waist and then ran his fingers over the largest cut on his torso. Blood covered his palm. He extended his bloodied hand in front of her.

“This is proof,” he continued.

Jasmine blinked, looked at his hand, then at his ruined robes. Her gaze went from his cut to the burns on his arms and waist, then to the wounds on his lower body. Almost three dozen gashes, both big and small, marred his figure. Rylan turned around and pointed at his back with his thumb. He couldn’t see it but knew there were more severe burns. The pain was a sharp reminder. He turned to face her again and looked into her eyes. Judging by the way she was staring at him, it seemed like she’d understood what he meant.

“My efforts weren’t wasted,” she finally said as she slowly furrowed her brow. “And that’s my proof.”

Rylan smiled.

“Yes. I won this time, but you’re the better Mage. You’ve done great, Jasmine.”

“…But you’re the one who won.”

“I have more experience when it comes to combat.”

She frowned but didn’t say anything else. A wave of green mana hit him in full as they stared at each other. It covered his entire body and made his damaged skin and flesh slowly mend. Another healer ran to Jasmine’s side and cast his healing spell. Her expression slowly relaxed as she let out a breath, the green aura enveloping her completely. Rylan did the same. The pain slowly decreased.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” a voice much louder than the others forcefully stood out in the fiery atmosphere. Rylan blinked, looking at the announcer. He’d almost forgotten about him. “What an unbelievable turn of events! Rylan Flameheart proves himself in both swordsmanship and magic and secures the tournament’s second place! Will he be able to overcome all odds and prevail in the finals?”

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The cheering got even louder. With a scoff, Rylan shook his head and looked at the sky.

Finally, he was close to the end of this tournament.

***

Regis stared at Rylan with a shaking gaze and clenched fists.

This is impossible.

Sweat flowed down his brow. Regardless of his feelings, this was reality. Next to him, Lillia put her hand on his shoulder.

“This settles it, then,” she said in a low tone.

“No!” he immediately replied. “There has to be an explanation!”

“There is. We already know what it is. We know how this is possible.”

Regis turned to stare at his sister with venomous eyes. Her expression was calm, blue eyes staring into his.

“…Are you really so eager to forgive that bastard?”

Lillia frowned and pulled her hand back.

“What I’m eager to do doesn’t matter. The truth is the truth. Besides, I haven’t forgiven him. I’ve just accepted his story. ‘Rylan’ couldn’t have won against Jasmine Lamollet like this unless ‘Roland’ supported him. I know you were the one closest to Rylan before shit happened, but don’t lash out at me.”

Anger rose as Regis opened his mouth, fully willing to argue. Lillia’s cold stare seemed to mean that she was willing to do the same. It was unbelievable. Of all people, she was the one arguing in Rylan’s favor? For him to accept some bullshit reincarnation story? He gritted his teeth.

I know it’s fucking true!

Regis swallowed his words. Unless Rylan was some generation-defining great genius, his ability with swordsmanship and magic didn’t make any sense. The Scrying Crystal had already thrown the evidence in Regis’ face. He was just running away.

Lillia’s eyes softened, as if she could read his mind.

“Take your time. We’ll get through this together,” she said, then hugged him, her head against his chest. “But the truth won’t change.”

Regis frowned bitterly.

“…I know.”

Even if he didn’t want to believe it, even if he thought it was borderline impossible, Rylan’s prowess was real.

His brother had changed. The Rylan he knew no longer existed.

***

Rylan waited for the healing to finish as he looked at the System windows floating in front of him.

[Intelligence has increased by 1.]

[Wisdom has increased by 1.]

He nodded to himself. They were in line with his expectations. His focus turned to the healing spell around him.

The feeling of his wounds mending as flesh and skin crawled over themselves was familiar, in a way. He looked at the male healer next to him with appreciation. The man’s expression was serious. Choosing to become a healer in a world like this, which valued combat power, was deserving of respect.

He let out a breath. After some time, the pain disappeared. Rylan looked at Jasmine, only to realize she was staring at his torso. He lowered his gaze and beheld his ruined clothes, as well as the scars from the battle against Evenon.

“…How did you get burned like that?” Jasmine asked, raising her gaze and looking into his eyes.

“A battle against someone who needed to die,” Rylan replied while shaking his head.

“And you killed them?”

“Yes.”

Jasmine blinked. Her expression now carried a trace of dread. Before she could say anything else, Rylan looked to the side. The announcer was approaching them with a smile and carrying two intact robes. He gave one to each of them before bringing the wand close to his mouth.

“The next battle will happen right here in an hour!” his voice boomed. “I wonder if it will be able to compare to such a thrilling match! We’ll have to wait and see!”

A few men and women in brown robes walked into the arena. Some cast fire spells and forced the water to evaporate, while others pointed their wands at the ground. Cracks and holes mended as new earth appeared out of thin air to fill them. The slopes and walls slowly sank back into the floor. In hindsight, it was only obvious that the next match wouldn’t take place in such a ruined battleground.

Rylan threw one last look at the judges, who were all standing up and looking at him, before putting on the robe the announcer had given him to hide his figure. With one last nod at Jasmine and a smile, he turned around and headed to the exit.

The audience’s cheering and shouting rumbled, especially as he got closer to the corridor that led out of the arena.

“I fucking knew it! Rylan Flameheart, bitches! All of you who bet against him can get fucked!”

“How did you become so good at swordsmanship?”

“Who is your master?”

“Rylan! Please look at me!”

Shaking his head with a grin, Rylan entered the corridor. Countless people stared at his back.