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“The rumors weren’t exaggerated at all.”
“More importantly, I never imagined that a conscript’s spear could be so powerful
 Babylon never stood a chance.”
“It was fast, strong, and precise. With all three elements at his fingertips, his opponent was doomed
”
“Now that proves that the power depends on the wielder. Joshua Sanders—Damn, he’s only fifteen years old?”
The seats closest to the waiting rooms buzzed with chatter.
“Here he comes
!” The crowd fell dead silent as Joshua approached the waiting room.
Joshua didn’t pay much attention to it, but he could hear the voices tickling his ear.
No matter what anyone says, the spear is the finest weapon in the world, not the sword. A faint smile danced on his lips as he walked.
He was half a century old, counting his previous life, but right now he was living in the moment. Joshua acted casual on the outside, but he was beaming on the inside.
[Woooooow
 this is good. Are you happy? This body is being praised by those lowly human beings—does that make you happy?]
Joshua’s expression slowly fell as Lugia’s voice rattled in his head.
[Is that how it is? Or is it like taking your pretty girlfriend around town?]
“It’s not because you’re being recognized—!” Joshua gave up and sighed. What was the point? Lugia might be known as a “Demon artifact,” but this was the real Lugia.
[Whoo-hoo! Even the chumps in this world recognize how great this body is. They’re sharp!]
“Hooooo
” Joshua took a deep breath as he left the waiting room.
“Congratulations on winning the opening match.”
Joshua halted. The voice was clear and pure, but somehow cold. He turned around and met her cool, blue eyes.
“I knew you were great, but this is more impressive than I expected,” Iceline murmured. She sounded tired. Considering her normal stoicism, that was rather unusual.
[Ohohoho! They say that women are drawn to heroes. Great! Really great!]
Joshua couldn’t take it any longer and cut the connection with Lugia.
“Where’s Akshuler? Why aer you alone?”
“His first opponent is the Prince, so he went somewhere on his own early in the morning. Maybe he’s nervous.”
Joshua silently nodded in understanding.
Ulabis, the Knight of Red Flame. Even Joshua thought he was the most important person participating in the Master Battle. In the not-too-distant future, he would climb beyond the Twelve Superhumans and ascend to the Nine Stars. On top of that, he had the other Primordial Stone.
Joshua only caught a brief glance of Ulabis at a distance, but he couldn’t forget the feeling.
It was the first time Bronto reacted since I encountered the “Thunderbolt” of the Seven Magicians. The minute he laid eyes on Ulabis, Bronto’s power had roared to life. Joshua was hoping he’d be able to confirm this bizarre phenomenon if they met again.
And then
 another of the Seven Magicians. Storm. He was a fairly young man with looks that evoked the wind. He had an usual name as well: Theta. However, his appearance wasn’t what Joshua remembered when they passed by each other.
The Storm, Theta

“But Young Master,” Iceline said, “before that—”
“How long do you plan to call me ‘Young Master?’” Joshua interrupted.
“I’m sorry?”
“I’m no longer an Agnus. I think ‘Young Master’ is a little out of place.”
“Oh
” Iceline nodded.
“Then, Baron Sanders—”
“Just call me Joshua.”
“What?” Iceline stared blankly at him, far cry from her usual ice-cold demeanor.
“Aren’t we friends?”
“Friends?” Iceline fell into thought. It was not that she never thought about Joshua—no, on the contrary, she thought about him rather often in the last five years of her flight. Joshua Sanders felt different than other people, even herself.
“If you don’t like that, well, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Hey, it’s not like that!” Her heart suddenly twisted.
Why did I
? When was the last time she’d felt this way since she lost her family?
“Well, you are my friend,” Joshua said with a light smile, ignoring her obvious embarrassment.
“That’s—”
“I wish you all the best, Iceline. So, what were you trying to say?”
“Ah—!” Iceline quickly gathered herself. “The
 Laypone. I think the Young Ma—Joshua needs it now.”
Although she was trying her best to act calm, Iceline was starting to stutter badly, making her even more embarrassed. Her cheeks were becoming faintly pink.
“Laypone
” A body transformation artifact that changed not only your appearance, but also your atmosphere. As she said, Joshua would become more and more recognizable the more famous he was, regardless of where he went. It was not a welcome thing for Joshua, who preferred peace and solitude. The gazes crawling over him was proof of that.
While he was thinking, Iceline had managed to regain her calm.
“In fact, we had all the ingredients. I just needed time.”
“Is it time to let the people know who I am?”
“That’s not it.” Iceline quickly shook her head. “Laypone is considerably more complex than it looks. That little thing eats up more mana than most people can even imagine. The mana needed to maintain it can be supplied by mana stones, but it needs my mana for the initial development. At the time, my physical condition was not perfect, so I couldn’t make it even if I wanted to—”
“You didn’t want me to see you when you were weak.”
Iceline shut her mouth.
“I understand.”
Joshua’s reassuring words made something in Iceline’s heart tremble.
“Can I ask you for something? Not as a client, but as your friend.”
“Anytime.” Joshua smiled widely.
If it’s this guy, then maybe
 Iceline’s expression firmed.
“If you were defeated by the Prince, and you meet Barbarian—”
“Barbarian? You mean the Mercenary King?”
“Right.” Iceline nodded. “Apart from my family, he and Mister Akshuler—”
“There you are.”
Iceline and Joshua turned around. There stood Akshuler, drenched in sweat.
“I heard the news when I arrived. Congratulations on winning the opening match, Master of Avalon, Baron Joshua Sanders.” Akshuler smiled bitterly. “Oh, is it too early to celebrate? You aren’t done here yet. At this rate, I might face you soon.”
“Aren’t you a little too confident?” Joshua laughed. “If the Prince heard that, I think he’d be a little upset.”
“Who goes into a battle thinking they’re going to lose before they even fight? Are you supposed to make things happen without expecting them to?”
Joshua just shrugged.
“By the way, you two. What were you talking about without me?” Akshuler shot Joshua a menacing glare. “By any chance—”
Iceline cut him off. “We were talking about Laypone. It was a deal, not a celebration.”
“Aha!” Akshuler smiled cunningly. “Then are you going to do it again like you did for me?”
“What
?”
“Isn’t it a custom artifact? You gotta make sure it fits him perfectly, so you have to take measurements. You know—” Akshuler patted his face and chest. “—feel him.”
“Well, that’s—” Iceline’s face started to heat up again. —something I hadn’t even thought about.
“Oh, is that so? Come to my room tonight. Don’t make me wait.”
“What?”
“What?!”
Joshua may not have thought anything of his words, but he probably should have.