Chapter 108 Main Event
After paying the bill at the restaurant, the group went to a nearby pub called Drunken Ring. However, the pub was just a front. In actuality, it was a fighting ring as well as a gambling den.
The professors from the academy of course knew about it, but they decided to overlook it. Students needed some sort of enjoyment after all. Besides, nothing illegal was going on here.
The entry manager was a middle-aged Rank 1 Magus. He wore fancy robes and welcomed the students inside the pub after they'd paid a fee.
When he saw Adam coming here with his friends, his eyes lit up. "Magus Adam! Are you going to participate today?"
"Nope." Adam waved his hand. Then he pointed at Edward. "But he will."
The manager was initially dejected, but when he heard Edward would be participating, he beamed. "Great! Tonight's going to be interesting. I'll make sure to set things up accordingly."
"Sure, we're going in." Adam walked in without even paying. And so did everyone else. This went on to show just how much this place valued a customer like him.
Besides, this one time Adam had caused a major ruckus here after having to pay every time he entered. The owner of the establishment made concessions after considering how much the youth had helped them indirectly earn.
Well, that and Adam's relation to Berger also played a role. Even though they didn't know that the youth was Berger's apprentice, the fact that he worked at Herbs & More was enough for people to treat him with respect.
After all, it was a well-known fact that Berger was the best Herbalist in the Southern Federation.
The main floor of the Drunken Dreams was like any other pub, however, if one went downstairs, they'd be greeted by a small fighting ring where the students fought each other. Moreover, there were also many seating areas around the ring.
Currently, there was a fight going on between two second-year students. Meanwhile, a clamorous crowd was cheering from the sidelines. The scene of alcohol, fighting, and gambling made for a boisterous environment.
Seeing such a spectacle, Daneli spoke in contempt, "How barbaric!"
"Hehe, Daneli." Adam looked at him and smirked. "Do you know why the academy doesn't forbid this?"
Daneli raised his eyebrows and gestured for Adam to go on.
"Look." Adam pointed at the fighting ring. The match had just ended and the two students were now shaking each other's hands, albeit reluctantly.
"Firstly, it serves as an outlet for students to resolve the disputes that they might have with one another," Adam explained as the group walked toward their private seating area.
"Rather than trying to kill each other, it's much better to duke it out and release all grievances and whatnot. Don't you think?" he asked.
As everyone sat down, Daneli looked at Adam and scoffed, "That's not a good enough reason to encourage such savagery."
Lisa chimed in with a faint smile. "Secondly, this is a place where students can hone their combat skills."
Both Daneli and Atiel were intrigued. It seemed like a plausible reason, but still, they couldn't get over the fact that this whole thing was very… rowdy.
Adam continued, "The owner of this pub, who is an alumnus of the academy, initially used this place as a club for practicing extracurricular activities, mainly fighting. This used to be a fight club for the students of the academy back then.
"Gradually, it developed into what it is today. The owner's quite clever if I'm being honest. He turned an extracurricular school club into an enterprise. Now students come here not only to hone their abilities but also for entertainment."
Daneli's lips twitched, but he didn't speak further. He continued to look at all the fights that took place inside the small ring and found that these students' combat abilities were quite decent compared to the elves of the same age back in the forest.
Moreover, he learned that the fighters were prohibited from using mana. That meant no magic spells and magic combat techniques, only pure fighting. Not even weapons were allowed.
The young elf found this very interesting.
Suddenly Atiel asked, "Adam, are you going to fight?"
Adam chuckled. "It's not beneficial to me at all."
"Why not?" She asked. Even Daneli was curious to hear his reply.
Adam drank from the gourd and replied with a carefree attitude, "Because none of them stand a chance."
"Hmph, you're cocky. I'll give you that." Daneli harrumphed. If all students of the academy came here, that meant that there would surely be Magi of the Organ Stage and Neural Stage.
Even if they didn't use mana, he didn't believe for a second that Adam, who was only a Bone Stage Magus, would be able to defeat them.
Adam simply chuckled, not bothering to explain to the twins at all.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man wearing a neat robe came to the center of the ring and announced in a loud voice.
"Next up is the main event of the evening. On one side we have the fourth-year student, Rick Richards!"
Amidst the cheering of the crowd, a tall and burly youth with blond hair and golden eyes walked onto the ring. He removed his shirt, revealing his chiseled muscles.
The girls in the crowd blushed at this scene and cheered even louder. Rick flexed his muscles at the ladies, enjoying the attention he was receiving.
The announcer continued, "And his challenger, a third-year student, Edward Turner!"
Adam tapped his friend on the shoulder and displayed the most sincere smile. "I'm counting on you to make me rich, Ed. If you lose, I will give you a good beating."
Edward involuntarily shuddered remembering the beating—no, the training he'd been getting from Adam over the past year. He nervously laughed, "D-Don't worry, I won't lose."
Lisa shook her head at this conversation between the two. She looked at Edward and smiled. "You got this, Ed!"
Seeing her smile, Edward's heart fluttered. He blushed a little and replied with a toothy grin, "Leave it to me."
Edward jumped over the wooden railing separating the ring from the viewing area. As he took his position and prepared to begin the fight, Adam got up from his seat and went in a particular direction.
"Alright, time to make a quick buck."
He walked toward the betting counter and slammed a bulging pouch of money on the desk. Grinning from ear to ear, he stared at the clerk and stated,
"1000 gold pieces on Edward Turner!"
This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com