Chapter 110: Someone Else with My Name

Uriel considered his options. Lumina knew far more about this supposed investigation than he did, and the more details he gave her, the sooner he would trip over his own lies. Keep it brief. Keep it vague. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

"I've found something. There are still a few things I need to check."

He paused and looked toward the enormous arena in the distance. The last few words came out less steadily than he would have liked.

"First, I'll watch the Hero's Ascent. I can decide our next move once I've seen it for myself."

Lumina gave no sign that she'd noticed. She nodded, then asked the one question Uriel was happy to answer.

Lumina lowered her voice. "The Witch will accompany you?"

Beside him, Tian smiled and nodded. Lumina turned her attention back to the investigation, scanning the buildings around them.

"Scribe, I request permission to investigate the pontiff at the cathedral. Fenria can look into the Holy City Guard. May we proceed?"

Uriel's stomach dropped. The cathedral was the pontiff's own stronghold. If his suspicions about the Curse Cult were right, sending Lumina in alone could get her caught by an entire guard detail.

He couldn't tell her it was too dangerous. Lumina would hear that as a judgment on her abilities, and then he'd have a different problem on his hands. He raised one hand, pressing it gently downward.

"Start with the Adventurers' Guild. People pass through there all the time, so it's a good place to gather fresh information. We can decide what to do about the cathedral and the guards after we've compared what you find."

Lumina nodded in understanding and bowed slightly.

"As you command. You'll observe the pontiff's representatives during the Hero's Ascent while we gather information through other channels. Understood."

She turned to Kira and gave her a few quick instructions. The three girls split up and vanished into the crowded street.

Uriel stayed where he was and rubbed his forehead. His vacation had barely started. He'd already spent three days at the Golden Iris Hotel under the adoring gaze of twenty-six magical girls, fled to Trido for a peaceful soak, found his ex-girlfriend in the same bath, and watched his mother open a portal to come and fold his laundry.

Now the Brigade's core members were fanning out across the Holy City on a mission he had invented five minutes ago. How did it turn into this?

Please. Let me watch the Hero's Ascent, finish this little trip, and go home in one piece. That's all I'm asking.

He repeated the prayer three times to whichever god happened to be listening. Then he drew a breath, turned to his mother in her Tian disguise, and managed a smile.

"Come on. Let's watch the matches."

After half an hour on foot, they reached the arena outside the Holy City. Its outer walls rose at least twelve stories above the street. Crowds streamed through the arches at its base.

Vendors called out prices for souvenirs and snacks. Groups of friends talked over one another, already arguing about who would win.

Uriel joined the queue at a ticket window. A sign listed the prices: twenty silver for ordinary seats, fifty for the front rows, and ten gold for a private VIP box. A smaller notice advertised student and group discounts.

A student discount? Finally, something going my way.

He passed his student card through the window. The clerk checked the crest and department beneath the name of the Royal Capital First Senior Academy, took twenty silver, and handed him two tickets. "Enjoy the matches." Ten silver apiece was a decent deal.

Uriel gave one ticket to Tian. They had barely turned from the window when someone stepped into their path.

Kira had changed into a fitted navy jacket and pencil skirt, with a silver brooch at her collar. Her bangs still hid half her face. She looked ready for a business meeting.

She stepped close and kept her voice low. "Scribe. I've prepared a VIP box for you and the Witch."

Uriel looked at the two tickets in his hand, then at her immaculate business attire. "I already bought tickets. We don't need it."

He meant it. Two ordinary students would blend into the stands.

A VIP box would put them among nobles and academy staff who might ask questions. If Seraphina was there, he'd have to explain himself to her, too.

Kira opened her mouth to object. Then she glanced at his plain clothes, the cheap tickets, and the short-haired Witch beside him.

Kira caught herself. Of course. He's blending in. I nearly gave him away. She took half a step back and placed a hand against her chest.

"Understood. I'll handle the VIP area."

Uriel had no idea what she meant. With the crowd pressing past them, he settled for a nod.

"All right," he said.

She gave him and Tian one last look, then disappeared into the line. Uriel turned to find Tian returning from a snack stall with both arms full.

He carried two cups of chilled juice, a bag of grilled meat skewers, a tub of honey candies wrapped in colored paper, and two little flags bearing Trido's crest. Apparently, honey candies were this world's answer to popcorn.

Tian put a flag in his hand. Then he picked the biggest piece of meat from a skewer and held it in front of his mouth.

"Say ahh."

Uriel glanced around and gently pushed his hand away. "You're my roommate right now."

Tian considered that for a moment, then ate the meat himself.

They showed their tickets and climbed to seats halfway up the stands. Below them lay an oval field of yellow sand. The tiers around it held tens of thousands of people, and a vast magical screen above the field displayed the schedule and contestants' names.

The announcer's voice reached even the back rows. Several matches had already finished.

Below them, a swordsman in light armor fought a translucent blue figure. This had to be one of the summoned heroic spirits. Each swing of its blade cut audibly through the air.

The swordsman swept his weapon across its waist. The spirit flickered, then scattered into blue points of light. Cheers rolled through the stands as the announcer named the winner and called for the next contestant.

Uriel chewed a piece of meat from the skewer Tian had passed him and watched the next few fighters. Their skill varied, but most put up a respectable fight.

After a while, it felt like watching a cockfight. Uriel settled in with his snack.

Tian watched quietly beside him. When his juice ran out, he set down the cup and offered him a honey candy. His timing was almost exactly the same as when he'd passed him the meat. Does he have a feeding schedule?

Seven or eight matches went by. One contestant nearly lost before rolling under a swing and landing a counterattack.

The cheers rose and fell around them. Then the announcer took a breath and called the next name.

"Next contestant: Uriel!"

Uriel kept chewing. That name sounds familiar.

Oh. Right. That's my name.

But I didn't enter. Must be someone else. He set down the skewer and muttered to himself.

"Someone else is called Uriel? Nice. I really do sound like a background character."

The announcer called again. Tian blinked and gave him a light nudge with his elbow.

Uriel glanced at him, then up at the enormous screen above the field. It read: Royal Capital First Senior Academy. Uriel.

He stopped mid-chew, his mouth still half full, while the arena waited for its next contestant. The announcer repeated the name, sounding puzzled now, and people nearby began looking around for whoever was holding up the match.

Uriel looked at Tian. He looked at the screen once more. Then he shot to his feet.

"Oh, hell. That's me!"