The Art of Sword

Chapter 15 The Tornament's Rules

After Grimm leaves, Sunz joins Jihu and Sogae's conversation.

Sunz: Hey, what are you two talking about?

Jihu: Just some clan business. How was Grimm? He seems like a really nice guy!

Sunz: From what I see Grimm has teacher material. And he also lives in another world different from your.

Sogae: The man's name Grimm! He has lost too many and seen too many horrors that he could have stopped, but the chance to stop those horrors is ZERO. Sometimes "Death" doesn't come for us but it waits for us, knowing our reason "Death" lend us a hand before taking us away.

Sunz: "Death lends us a hand" that means Grimm is going to risk his life winning this tournament.

Sogae: That's right! But "Death" isn't someone, it's everything, it can change and it has emotion.

Jihu: Don't you think all of this is kind of extreme speculation?

Sogae smile: If you have been sleeping and working for 24h straight every day there are things you can see but no one can.

Jihu is confused: Wait you sleep and work at the same time for 24h straight every day?

Sogae makes a cute gesture: I just use what I was born with to my advantage.

Sunz: So if Grim is looking for "Death" that means he is looking for an ally to end his suffering whether they are good or bad.

Sogae: That's right! But I don't know his entire story so I just make a general guess based on experience.

Sunz: Your speculation is spot on Sogae and I like how you use "Death" to make things sound more interesting. If I use my way of analysis I would say Grimm is a "Parasite", he has lost two hosts because he couldn't protect them, and now he is keeping distant to avoid the same thing happening again.

Jihu's mind: I feel like I don't belong in this conversation. Now I understand why does Sunz always feel invisible around people. And he likes it! I need to change the topic to something I could understand.

Jihu: Um Sogae can you explain the tournament rules to Sunz so he can prepare?

Sogae: Oh sorry were you feeling left out of the conversation?

Jihu: Maybe...!

Sunz: We didn't mean to make you feel that way. I guess we can talk about random stuff another time. Sogae can you please explain to me how the tournament work?

Jihu: Now I feel bad!

Sogae said "Don't say that!" while shuffling papers "Rules are important and your friend should know what is going to happen. Because it looks like he doesn't know how much force it takes to decapitate body parts."

Sogae gives Sunz a paper with the title "win-lose condition". The Winning condition as follows: Your opponent die or knock out by your own hand.
The Losing condition is as follows: Having help during battle. Fighting before the real match.

Sunz after reading through the paper asks: Are there any other winning conditions instead of killing the opponent?

Sogae smile: Then let's me ask you something "How much do you value the position in one of the first four clans? On top of that winning the tournament will give your clan a better facility and every member in your clan will have the same benefits as our clan members."

Sunz: The value is life-changing for many people, and it's cost them nothing except their skill!

Sogae "BINGO!" and then started messing with Sunz's hair "You have such a smart friend Jihu."

Jihu sigh: But there is one person in this tournament that care about winning this the most because it's mean "Redemption" to her.

Sogae: Yeah you're right. Fun fact! During her test, the inspector couldn't use the clan skill.

Jihu: I just hope that she doesn't show up in the first round against Sunz.

Sogae: Look at you, caring so much about your friend!

Jihu: I have to, this tournament is like a death trap for him. And how long are you going to keep messing with his hair?

Sogae: Oh sorry he wasn't saying anything so I thought he doesn't mind it.

Jihu: And you too Sunz! You don't like it when anyone touches your hair but Sogae has been messing with it for like 5 minutes.

Sunz: Yeah...I don't know why maybe it's easy to get comfortable with her. I guess?

Sogae "Ok boys it's getting pretty late and you two need to get ready for tomorrow bracket announcement at noon." She then gives Sunz the bracket formula and explains it "There will be a total of 17 contestants, 16 of which will be randomly put in the first bracket, and fighting against each other to reach the final. Where the last contestant is waiting."

Sunz: Wait what is so special about the last contestant?

Sogae: Well his inspector was someone a rank behind Miss Jun and the result was he passed the test by killing the inspector. So we need to put him in his own corner to reduce casualty.

Sunz: So what would happen if there were only 16 contestant total? And the winning condition is "Your opponent die or knock out by your own hand." That's means after the first round the max casualty is 8. So he just following the rule.

Sogae: The thing is all of our casualties are saveable while his is just literal death to his opponents. You remember the meaning of this tournament?

Sunz: No risk high reward.

Sogae: That's right! Even if it could happen worst case scenario is losing limbs which we can still fix.

Sunz: Does all of the contestants know about this?

Sogae: Every contestant that is in the tournament because they defeat the inspector, no other details are included.

Sunz: So at what time and where are all the contestants are meeting?

Sogae: All the contestants will be having lunch at noon and at the same time we will announce the bracket.

Sunz: Ok then. Can you please wake us up two hours before the meeting?

Sogae: Um...Ok!

Jihu is confused: Wait why are you so calm right now? We just discuss that there is a murder in the final!

Sunz: I don't know! I got 4 more rounds before facing him. And I just don't care who he is.

Sogae just laugh awkwardly: Ha ha. Your friend he is pretty unique isn't he?

Jihu: Yeah sometimes I wonder what is wrong with him too.

Jihu and Sunz said "Goodbye" to Sogae and go back to their room.