Day Before The Tournament

Only one day was remaining before the battle tournament.

My meeting with Walric was now done and I had planted the important seeds. This leaves only one thing and that is participating in the battle tournament itself.

Oh wait, that's wrong, Anya is the one participating in the tournament since I have other things to do. I'm sure she's doing what I told her and talking with Ainge about that.

"You are looking all normal now?" asked Ron, who was walking beside me.

I and Ron had come to drop Walric and his parents at the exit and were now returning back home.

Ron was specifically asking me about the troubled look I had on my face when I reached there with Walric.

Well, that was a part of my plan so I can't explain things to him.

"What do you mean? I'm just like how I was, you must be imagining things," I replied with a smile.

"Huh really? I think I'm too stressed out," Ron muttered to himself.

After that, we didn't talk much since Ron was still busy thinking about Anya and her future. He really was a father who cared for his children if you ask me.

Thinking back on it now, in my previous life I always distanced myself from my parents, and because of that, I don't fully know what parental love is. All I have are fuzzy memories from my childhood.

How to say…I was different from "normal" teenagers. I'm really glad that I got this second life, maybe I can do things in a normal way now.

I was lost in thought and before I knew it we reached back home, Ron pushed open the door and the first thing which came into sight was Anya who was arguing with Ainge over something.

'So she started without me huh,' I thought to myself as I walked toward them; Ron with me.

"What happened?" Ron asked the same thing I was about to say.

"Darling, see, she's making an illogical request," Ainge complained.

"What is it Anya?" said Ron, asking her the details.

"I want to participate in the battle tournament that is taking place the day after tomorrow," said Anya.

"What? But why are you asking a thing like that out of the blue? I thought you didn't like showing off your strength."

"I know that but...if I am really getting married then this is the last thing I want to do before that," Anya said while she looked at Ron, her eyes were wet like she was about to cry.

'You don't need to go that far,' I said inwardly. I had told her to emotionally attack Ron like this but I never thought she could act in a way that even I was confused for a while over whether she was actually about to cry or not.

Ron was not able to refuse her, he can defend himself from my emotional blackmailing but Anya was her weakness. No father wants to make their daughter cry after all.

She got permission to participate in the tournament and that was all for today. Nothing major happened after that.

I went back to my room and Anya to hers. I threw myself on the soft and fluffy bed of mine, it was nighttime and the atmosphere was cool. I was able to feel the cold breeze embracing me, it was coming inside the room from the window I had left open.

I closed my eyes and started to analyze the current situation.

Today was a rough day, I met with that arrogant bastard and moved some pieces so everything will work according to my plan.

The battle tournament indeed was a key part of my plan but that was not all there was. In fact, I started moving my pieces the moment I decided I have to stop this marriage.

The stage was set, the pawns were ready to move, and the outcome was pretty much decided. All that was left was for Anya to fight in the battle tournament, she didn't need to win the tournament but just to make it to the final fight.

I wanted to fight myself first but I stopped when I calculated the benefits of moving in the shadows.

[Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.] –the art of war, by Sun Tzu.

By the outcome of this battle, I will save Anya from getting married, and crush Walric and his family. There was also a part that I kept for myself or I would say it was just my selfishness but it didn't affect my chances of winning so it was fine.

I was mentally tired after using my brain so much, and the cold and comfortable atmosphere just made it even better and I fell asleep quickly.

***

It was morning when I woke up, last night I left the window open, and now the sunlight was falling right onto my face.

It did wake me up but not in a good way, I felt a little headache after opening my eyes, though it was nothing but a little fuzzy feeling that went away after a while.

I changed my clothes and wore a black colored hoodie; this was the only clothing that was similar to something I wore in my previous life. Wearing it gave a feeling of comfort.

After that, I ate breakfast along with everyone else. Today was the last day before the 'Champion of the decade battle tournament' that will be held in the Bull's stage coliseum.

Anya had our parents' permission now to join the tournament and all that was left was for today to pass.

Done with the breakfast, both I and Anya went to the backyard of our house. I was a little late and when I reached there I found that she was training there.

Her sword movements were as smooth as ever, when she was using her sword it looked more like a beautiful dance instead of a deadly fighting style.

The sword arts we learned were only the basics and after giving the graduation exam and getting a green flag from your teacher, you were free to change the fighting style according to your taste.

In Anya's case, her style was speed and accuracy, most of her moves were one-shot kills. If you talk about me then I had not changed the style much, I was also practicing magic so I did not have the time to find the style that was best for me and then change the sword art.

"I did tell you that winning was not necessary," I said while I walked close to Anya.

"Yes I know, but I wanted to give it my all. What will you do if I slacked off and didn't make it to the last and final round?" said Anya as she stopped her training and turned toward me.

"Well, that's true."

"So what is it? You must have something to tell me right?" she asked, raising her brow.

Sigh! She *is* my sister after all. Guessing this wasn't that difficult I guess.

"Yes, exactly. You didn't think that winning in the tournament is the thing we're aiming for, did you?" I said as I sat on one of the logs lying on the ground.

"What do you mean? There's something else that I have to do there?"

"*We*, have to do, you will be doing things on the stage while I'll do my work behind the scene," I mentioned, interlocking my fingers.

"So what is it?"

"Listen, when you reach the final round then..." I explained the plan to her.

Or to be more exact, I explained what she has to do there, not the entire plan.

"What! Are you crazy? That's insane! You can even get executed for that!" she shouted as she stood up quickly.

"Don't worry, nothing like that will happen. You just do your part and everything will be fine. Or are you now don't have any problem in getting married with that bastard Walric," I said, teasing her a bit.

"That's...Ah fine!" she sighed.

With that, the things for today were almost done. Anya kept practicing for the tournament while I went out to prepare some things.

The day passed out and the next morning came, the day of the battle tournament.

Was today.