Chapter 180: Clue


    Ray pointed at himself and asked, You mean me?


    Yes.


    What do you need from me?


    As he asked, the minstrel hesitated before speaking.


    Earlier, you mentioned my instrument looked simr to a violin, didnt you?


    Had she heard his muttering?


    How sharp was her hearing?


    Ray nodded.


    Yes, I did.


    How did you know to call it a violin?


    The hooded minstrel gazed at him intently, searching for an answer.


    This put Ray in an awkward position.


    He couldnt exactly reveal that he knew the term violin from an instrument he had seen in the modern world.


    Ray pondered as he looked at her, Im aware of violins from the modern world. Could she be from there as well?


    Suspicion crept into his thoughts.


    To probe further, Ray decided to fabricate a tale.


    I read about it in a book.


    Upon hearing his answer, the robed minstrel locked eyes with Ray.


    After a brief pause, she shook her head.


    Thats a lie.


    Naturally, it was a fabrication.


    Ray grasped this instantly.


    The minstrel before him was no ordinary human.


    She must be an Elf, given her possession of the Elves distinctive Eyes of Truth.


    Yet, her ears were those of a human.


    A Half-Elf?


    It was umon, but on rare asions, a Half-Elf would arise from the union of a human and an elf.


    Unable to deceive those truth-revealing eyes, Ray conceded.


    He addressed her, Ill tell you the truth. But first, you must exin how you acquired that instrument and your knowledge of it.


    Agreed.


    Princess Celia watched their exchange in silence.


    Although she failed to grasp the significance of their dialogue regarding the instrument, the air wasden with gravity.


    The minstrel inhaled deeply before responding.


    This instrument is an heirloom from my grandmother. She crafted it herself, and as her descendant, I inherited it. She also taught me how to y when I was young.


    Hmm.


    There was no room for dispute.


    Simply put, the Half-Elf in front of him had learned to y the instrument from someone.


    Now, Rays suspicions turned to her grandmother.


    Made it Creating something simr to a modern violin, even down to the decorations  could it really be a coincidence?


    No, it seemed impossible.


    Unless her grandmother, like him, hade from the modern world.


    It appeared necessary to have a deeper conversation with this Half-Elf.


    Now its your turn. Ill ask you the same question. Where did you see this instrument, and how do you know about it?


    Ray responded to her question with a prepared answer.


    I saw someone ying it. I asked about the instrument, and they told me it was a violin, so I remembered it.


    Ray had briefly learned to y the violin when he was young.


    His teacher had performed for him and taught him the name of the instrument.


    There was no falsehood in his story.


    Therefore, the Half-Elf nodded in agreement, evidently finding nothing amiss through her Eyes of Truth.


    I see.


    Was there a story behind it?


    She caressed her instrument and smiled wistfully.


    Im sorry. I got carried away thinking you might know something about where my grandmother used to be.


    Rays mind raced at her words.


    A violin that was made, and the ce where her grandmother had been.


    The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the modern world.


    Perhaps her grandmother, like him, had been reborn in this world from the modern era.


    Ray cautiously asked, Can I hear more about your grandmother?


    The Half-Elf readily nodded.


    She hadnt had much interaction living in the mountains, so having someone to talk to was a greatfort to her.


    Of course. Hmm where should I start? My grandmother was a bit unique when I was young.


    A unique person indeed, replied Ray, who couldpete for the title of the most unique in the world.


    Yes. She seemed out of ce unique yet incredibly knowledgeable. It was as if she carried knowledge from a world that doesnt exist here.


    Ray felt a twinge at her words.


    One day, she made something called a bicycle and rode it around. Haha. It was fun to see her enjoying it.


    Upon hearing this, Ray was certain.


    His grandmother had definitely been from the modern era.


    Violins, bicyclesall things that didnt exist in this world.


    Creating them with the same names couldnt be mere coincidence.


    She used to tell me she wasnt from this world. So, Ive been looking for someone who might know about the world she lived in.


    She looked up at the star-filled night sky and asked, But you saw someone ying this instrument, right? Who was it?


    Ray gazed at the sky, muttering as if to himself.


    Who knows? I cant quite remember their name or where they lived anymore


    Youre in a simr situation, arent you?


    It seems somewhat simr.


    As their conversation dwindled, Princess Celia intervened.


    She smiled warmly at the minstrel.


    Its a bitte to say, but that was a wonderful performance.


    Thank you. I still have much to learn.


    Having yed the violin for decades, if not centuries, a great performance was inevitable.


    Though a half-elf, her lifespan wasnt much shorter than an elfs.


    Perhaps just a two-hundred-year difference?


    If her ying wasnt beautiful, it would be the listeners fault.


    As she gathered her instrument and belongings by the fountain, she turned to Ray.


    The fireworks in the sky they were incredibly beautiful. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.


    You might see it again if youre lucky.


    Really? Haha. I have a feeling well meet again. Maybe well run into each other someday.


    After saying that, she waved her hand and left the fountain.


    Ray had no intention of stopping her.


    He had no intention of probing into the story of her grandmother, who might havee from the modern world.


    Like her, who lived her life and quietly passed away, he too should live the life he had been given.


    There was no need to deliberately uncover reasons for everything.


    However, he did feel a strange sense of relief knowing that he was not the only one who hade from the modern world.


    Princess Celia chuckled behind her hand.


    Hehe. You look rxed. Did something good happen?


    The feeling of loneliness has lessened a bit. Lets head back now.


    With those words, Ray thought quietly to himself.


    A bicycle, huh? Not a bad idea.


    <hr>


    Thest day of the Selection Ceremonys preliminaries dawned.


    Thepetition was fiercer than ever.


    If one didnt win here, advancing to the mainpetition would be impossible.


    Ray arrived alone, apanied by a few knights, to watch the preliminaries.


    There was one interesting man he had his eye on.


    Therge man from before waspeting again, wielding a clunky sword.


    His opponent was also a beginner aura user.


    Both had limited mana and seemed unlikely to use their aura, but it appeared they would have to resort to it soon.


    Sure enough, therge man, swinging a hefty bastard sword, infused his aura into a sudden attack.


    As the sword arced toward the opponents side, thetter, flustered, quickly drew up his aura.


    ng!


    The sh of swords created a brief, intense sound.


    Watching the exciting scene while chewing on jerky, Raymented.


    This is more fun than watching experienced fighters duel.


    The higher the skill, the easier it is to predict the opponents moves.


    Battles among sword masters, who have reached the pinnacle, ur in an instant.


    Mana capacity, sword skills, aura quality  these three factors usually determine the oue, making battles among top fighters less entertaining.


    But this duel was different.


    Block with a sword, strike with a sword.


    They repeated this simple and exhrating sequence of actions with all their might to determine the winner.


    The desperation and tension for victory hung thick in the air.


    After about twenty minutes, the oue remained undecided.


    The man gasped for breath, releasing a cry that was part roar, part scream.


    Argh!


    He swung his sword.


    Their movements, exhausted to their limits, were so slow that an ordinary person could have dodged them.


    But that was the full extent of the strength they had left.


    The spectators watched in silent anticipation.


    The sword, moving slowly through the air, was just barely blocked by the opponent.


    ng!


    Huff Huff


    Bothbatants were equally exhausted.


    Yet, neither showed any sign of giving up easily.


    The match kept everyone on the edge of their seats.


    Ray found himself unable to root for either side.


    ng! ng!


    The prolonged duel had dulled the sharpness of their sword tips.


    Their hands trembled as they gripped their swords, preventing them from drawing sharp and precise trajectories as they intended.


    Yet their eyes remained focused solely on the others sword.


    The mans sword flew through the air, swiftly striking at three points.


    With all escape routes blocked, his opponent hastily raised his sword.


    But his exhausted body couldnt respond as he needed it to.


    Eventually, the sword raised toote was prated by the mans strike.


    Even in a duel, being cut by a de could be fatal.


    This was especially true when they were so fatigued that they could barely use their mana.


    The man twisted his sword with all the strength he could muster.


    Consequently, unable to withstand the force, he too suffered a significant impact.


    Ugh!


    The pain in his shoulder and chest was intense.


    At that moment, the referee dered the end of the duel.


    Fourth duel arena! The winner, Ainor! Priests, attend to both fighters immediately!


    Wow!


    As his deration ended, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.


    Ray watched the scene with a pleased smile, unfolding before him.


    He felt that this beginner aura user might make it to the mainpetition, yet actually witnessing it unfold was remarkable.


    For a novice aura user to advance to the mainpetition was no small feat.


    It demanded a do-or-die effort.


    The mans opponent, another beginner aura user who had reached the final preliminary with equal determination, would have received the same apuse, regardless of the oue.


    Their performance heightened the excitement of the Selection Ceremony.


    Thus, the final day of the Selection Ceremonys preliminaries drew to a close.