3rd round!

"*Yawn*, this is so boring! I don't want to watch these matches anymore" Kaen complained while yawning.

"I agree!" Demios nodded in agreement.

"Let's just find that undead after these types of useless fighters gets eliminated from the tournament. A Death knight should atleast be able to make it to the 5th round, right?"

Kaen suggested as he turned around to leave.

"Yeah, let's just find out about your next opponent" Demios' transmitted his tired voice.

They had both grown tired of watching these low level matches where they just clashed swords and used low level magic.

After two days, Tournament's 2nd round came to an end...

Kaen was standing on the fighting ring, looking at his opponent of the 3rd round.

His opponent had a terrified expression on his face and his legs didn't stop shivering.

"Ladies and gentlemen, The match which is predicted to be the most entertaining in this round too shall begin---"

The host announced but he stopped in between noticing a hand raised in the air wanting to speak.

The host turned towards the man who had raised his hand before questioning: "What is it, Mr. Hemlock?"

This was Kaen's opponent for the third round.

He had brown hair and matching eyes with average looks. He was a newly advanced 5-star knight.

"I-I want to forfeit this match!"

He announced with an afraid expression revealing on his face.

"What?"

The audience and the host expressed their shock.

This knight had been valiant and proud in his previous 2 matches.

No one expected him to forfeit without a fight and that too like this... without even letting the match start.

"Why is he surrendering without a fight?"

"Yeah, even if he is sure to lose, he shouldn't forfeit before the match had even begun"

"Indeed, That would bring him shame to a knight. A knight is supposed to face even the death head on without fear!"

Whispers and murmurs reverberated from the audience who were unable to contain their opinions.

Similarly, The Duke also wanted to hear the reason as he signaled the host to question Hemlock.

The host noticed the Duke as he nodded, expressing his understanding.

He turned to face Hemlock as he inquired: "Mr. Hemlock, Can you tell us the reason for this abrupt surrender?"

Hemlock's face revealed a horrified expression in response to the Host's question.

He fixed his gaze at Kaen before pointing at him: "Him! He is the reason!"

"Winter Nightfallen is the reason?"

"Did he threaten Sir Hemlock into forfeiting?"

"What? Do you really think he need to do that after seeing his previous matches?"

Murmurs of discussion once again resounded throughout the arena.

The Duke was also curious and noticing the duke's expression,

The host asked: "Can you please elaborate on what do you mean by your statement?"

Hemlock stared at the host as if posing a question with an answer that should have been obvious.

"What more of a reason do you need? Haven't you seen his previous matches?" He roared: "How he humiliates his opponent, How he make them cry, How he bring them to their knees while throwing them into the river of shame."

"It'd be better to die than go through the embarrassment his opponents faced"

Hemlock had bursted out in frustration and now, he was once again coming back to his senses when he heard a low voice coming from Kaen: "It wasn't that much, was it?"

Hearing those words, Hemlock stared at Kaen as if he had seen a ghost.

He roared inwardly: You think that wasn't much?

What more do you want to do? You Demon!

You stripped a knight naked in front of the whole arena and you say that wasn't much!

You made your opponent beg you while crying to make you stop from commenting on his wife and you think that wasn't much!!

What more did you plan on doing to me today if all that wasn't much??"

Hemlock's inner mind was in a mess, however without caring for that, the host threw another question at him:

"But, Why did you forfeit even before the match had begun?

You could've forfeited whenever you wanted after the match had started.

Like this, Your honor would've remained intact and no one would be able to call you a coward.

Don't you think that would've been a better choice?"

Upon hearing the question, that look which said 'Isn't the answer obvious?' appeared on Hemlock's face.

"Haven't you seen what happened to Ron Chase?" He shouted in response. "Didn't he try to surrender in between the match, but what happened?"

"He is now in the infirmary bearing the largest stigma of shame of his life!"

He then pointed at Kaen before asking at the top of his lungs -

"Do you really believe that demon would've let me surrender before he had humiliated me enough?"

"Maybe he would've inserted that knife in my mouth too, like he did to Ron Chase."

"Or maybe worse? He would've directly crushed my throat, rendering me devoid of speech!"

"Can you even know what he is thinking behind that creepy mask of his?"

This time, his words came from his heart.

When he had seen who his next opponent was, he hadn't slept for a second due to anxiety and fear.

He was really terrified of the creepy mask and this man who wore it, named — Winter Nightfallen!

In his eyes, fighting Winter Nightfallen was the same as walking naked in public to bring humiliation to yourself.

The audience also felt his words, as many agreed with his decision of yielding this match.

"I agree with him. If I had to face Winter Nightfallen, I too would've gone insane!"

"Indeed, It's not easy to do what he is doing by keeping his honor aside for the sake of the bigger picture"

"Yeah, you have to lose something to gain something, right?"

Duke Valentino also understood his position but he had keep his benefits at a higher priority.

This match was the most anticipated one and many nobles from out of Argenzon have come to see it, cancelling it would reflect on him poorly.

He signaled the host to refuse the request to surrender.

The host caught on quickly as he reacted: "Sorry, Sir Hemlock, we can't accept your surrender at such a short notice!"

Hemlock had already predicted this as he shouted: "Everyone, I had already informed them about my surrender, the moment I was informed of my next opponent.

But they told me that I had to surrender in front of everyone as it would be wrong to the viewers who came to watch the tournament.

And now that I have done it, they are going back on their word.

You all can see that my wife is also here today, I don't want her to be insulted by this demon."

Hemlock pointed at Kaen before pleading on his knees-

"You must understand my pain and let me leave.

I beg of you"

At the end of his imploring speech everyone had tears in their eyes.

They felt sympathy for Hemlock and wanted to help him.

The audience stood up as they shouted in unison "Let him surrender! Let him surrender! Let him surrender!.. "

The Duke's wife also felt sympathy for hemlock as she looked at the Duke with an imploring gaze as she held his hand.

Seeing his wife also in support of Hemlock, A gentle expression appeared on the Duke's face. For his wife, The duke decided to relent.

He sent the signal to the host which was well received.

A smile appeared on the Host's face as he announced "The audience's wish is our Command!"

He grabbed Hemlock's shoulders helping him to stand.

"Sir Hemlock, Your request to Surrender has been accepted. You can leave now, Congratulations!" The host informed with a smile.

Tears welled in Hemlock's eyes as he extended his gratitude: "Thank You!"

He wiped his tears shouting: "I am grateful to you all"

Kaen, on the other hand, found this scene too weird.

He had never expected to see a fighter be so happy to lose:

Isn't this too weird?

He is happy about surrendering and the host is congratulating for it...

Am I that scary?

Then what about the insults I had prepared?

-----------------------------------

(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)