Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 194: Preparations for the tournament

Chapter 194: Preparations for the tournament

Meanwhile, the academy faculty was holding a meeting about the small selection tournament that would take place in the city the following week.

Officially, the tournament had been announced as the selection event for students who would represent the academy in the upcoming Legacy World expedition.

But in truth, everyone in the room knew the real purpose.

Money.

The academy expected a large amount of revenue from sponsors, merchants, and spectators who would pay to watch the students fight.

Many influential figures and organisations would attend the event as well, hoping to see promising talents from the academy and hopefully recruit them one day once they graduate from the academy.

So even though the tournament was technically only the appetizer before the main event—the opening of the Legacy World—the academy still had to organize it carefully.

If the event disappointed the crowd, both the academy’s reputation and its sponsors would suffer.

Because of that, a great deal of effort was being invested into making the tournament a success.

And so, the professors had gathered to finalize the preparations.

Unlike the previous meeting, this one was taking place in the large council chamber on the highest floor of the academy, far above the clouds.

However, unlike last time, one person was missing.

Maximus was not present.

Instead, Professor Halbrecht was leading the proceedings.

Not every professor had attended the meeting, but there was at least one representative from each academic year.

For instance, George was the only professor representing the first-year department. But there was one particularly interesting presence in the room.

Standing before the ten seated professors was a familiar figure.

Xavier.

Even though he was the only one standing, his presence didn’t seem weaker than anyone else’s in the room. If anything, his calm aura made it feel as though he belonged among them.

“Good of you to join us, Xavier,” Halbrecht began, folding his hands calmly. “Especially on such short notice.”

He paused briefly.

“I assume you know why we called you here.”

Xavier nodded calmly.

“I’m aware,” he replied. “You want an update on how far the student council has progressed with the tournament preparations.”

“Yes,” Instructor Voren agreed with a nod.

“You understand how important this matter is. That is why we entrusted the preparations to you. We were confident you would deliver the necessary results.”

Xavier inclined his head slightly.

“Everything is already in place,” he said.

“The appropriate guilds were notified weeks ago, and I personally inspected the venue not long ago with two of my associates. An announcement has already been made to the general population, and tickets have begun selling.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“By the time the tournament begins, everything will be ready. The only remaining step is to confirm the list of participating students with each professor.”

“Immaculate work as always, Xavier,” George said, clapping his hands once in approval.

Xavier glanced at him briefly.

“Your words are too kind, professor.”

Listening to their exchange, one might assume they were nothing more than a professor and a student speaking formally to one another.

But there was something curious about their interaction.

Most of the people in the room had no idea that the two of them were actually related by blood.

“I assume everyone here has brought their lists?” Halbrecht asked.

Several of the professors nodded.

“Give them to Xavier,” Halbrecht instructed.

Seven different professors reached into their robes and pulled out sheets of paper. Each one contained a list of names, the students who would be participating in the tournament.

One by one, they handed the papers to Xavier.

George did the same.

Xavier took the lists calmly and began skimming through them. At first, he only gave them quick glances, quickly memorizing the names and levels written beside them.

Then he reached George’s list.

And suddenly—

He froze.

The list had been organized according to student levels, starting from the highest.

And the name in first place made Xavier’s eyes narrow.

Elion Nova — Level 29

For a moment, he could barely hide his shock.

’Why have I never heard this name before?’ he wondered.

Was this someone from a noble family he didn’t know about? The son of some powerful figure who had recently entered the academy?

That didn’t seem right.

Xavier paid close attention to such things, even if he never spoke about them. He kept track of the major noble families and their heirs for political reasons.

Yet the name Elion Nova meant nothing to him.

His gaze shifted down the list.

What surprised him even more was what came next.

His brother’s name. William Dawncrest.

But William wasn’t in first place. Far from it.

He wasn’t even second.

Second place belonged to a girl from the Crimson family.

Tessa Crimson — Level 27

Xavier frowned slightly.

Then he looked further down.

Third place.

Isolde — Level 26

And William?

Fourth place.

Even worse—

He wasn’t alone there.

William Dawncrest — Level 25Mira Gale — Level 25

They were tied.

Lower still, there were more names who seemed to be quickly catching up to him.

Aria Moon — Level 24. And there were more less important ones.

This group of first years seemed to be far more talented that the previous ones. How were there so many of them past the level 20 threshhold already?

Xavier’s frown deepened.

His brother was arrogant and foolish; that much was true. But William was still talented. Not at Xavier’s level, of course, but still far above the average student.

Yet his growth had clearly stalled.

He was still level 25, while several others had surpassed him, and others were catching up quickly.

’What exactly is going on with the first years?’ Xavier wondered.

Was this just a coincidence?

Maybe.

His thoughts drifted back to something he had experienced not long ago. The day he had gone to scout the coliseum with Julian and Ezra.

He had encountered a group of first-year students there. One of them had stood out.

A young man with a calm presence that didn’t match his age.

’Was that him?’ Xavier wondered.

’Elion Nova…’

The thought seemed very likely. Even back then, that boy’s presence had been impressive for someone so young.

’It has to be him,’ Xavier concluded silently.

Still, the matter had nothing to do with him personally.

Xavier quickly composed himself.

Across the room, George had already noticed the brief confusion on Xavier’s face. But he said nothing.

It wasn’t his place to explain.

Of course, if Xavier asked directly, that would be different.

“Is something the matter, Xavier?” Halbrecht asked, noticing that he had been silent for a moment.

Xavier shook his head.

“Nothing, professor,” he replied calmly.

“I have everything I needed. This should be enough for now.”

Halbrecht gave a small grunt of acknowledgment. He leaned back slightly in his chair before continuing.

“As for the tournament structure,” he said calmly, “you and the other members of the student council may organize it however you see fit.”

Several professors nodded in agreement.

“You may choose whatever system you prefer to arrange the bouts and determine the matchups,” Halbrecht added. “If you believe it is necessary, you may even overlap the battles between different years.”

He paused briefly before clarifying.

“If a student from a lower year displays overwhelming strength compared to their peers, you are free to match them against students from higher years.”

The room fell quiet for a moment as the meaning of his words settled. Xavier inclined his head respectfully.

“Thank you for your trust, Professor Halbrecht.”

But inside his mind, something had already clicked.

’That is… very convenient.’

Halbrecht’s words had given him exactly the freedom he needed.

After all, what was the best way to test the abilities of someone who appeared suddenly out of nowhere?

Someone who seemed like an anomaly. Someone you had no prior information about. You pushed them into difficult situations and watched how they responded.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed slightly as the thought formed.

’Elion Nova…’

If he adjusted the matchups slightly, he could arrange for Elion to face second-year opponents early in the tournament.

That would reveal far more about the boy’s true capabilities than any simple first-year matchup that he could win easily.

It was the perfect test.

By the time the meeting ended, Xavier had already decided what he would do.

He walked out of the council chamber calmly, the massive doors closing behind him.

As he made his way down the corridor, he shook his head lightly.

’First things first,’ he thought.

’I should ask Ezra to run a background check on him.’