Vol.2 Chapter 82

As I logged out of the game and returned to the real world, the crowd's cheers suddenly overwhelmed my senses. I instinctively covered my ears, the noise a jarring reminder of the tournament stadium we are currently in.

The crowd is even more enthusiastic than ever. There's no surprise there, though. This was the end of the tournament, so they were probably going all out. Our dominating performance in the final match definitely played a huge factor in their enthusiasm.

I’m also pretty sure there would be a lot of organizations vying for my teammates. Since I won’t be able to guide them anymore after this tournament is over, it’s quite reassuring to know that they would have a top pick on the organization they would like to join. Particularly Liz, with her incredible display of skill in the final match, which I was lucky enough to see first-hand.

I honestly thought I would need to lend Liz a hand in her battle with Aria. Surprisingly, she was moving at 100% potential, probably even exceeding it with her in the flow state. She did receive a little help from the last exchange, but I suspected she had already factored in my support, given her utmost trust in me. 

That thought alone really makes me glad to have her as my partner. It also makes me a bit melancholic since this will be our last match in a tournament setting together. However, I did deliver on my promise to her, so it’s not all that bad.

Speaking of Liz, I quickly alerted myself. I was prepared this time in case she tackled me for a hug once more, like she usually did after a big win.

I looked at my surroundings and noticed Liz emerging out of her VR pod. But instead of rushing towards me, she seemed overwhelmed by emotions. She had told me it was her dream to win this tournament, so it was understandable. That was good since it meant that she wouldn't be tackling me out of nowhere anytime soon.

I approached her slowly, wanting to give her space to process her feelings.

"You okay?" I asked carefully, my voice soft.

"Oh… Kat, I'm fine. It's just that… I can't believe this is real. We won the entire thing. We are the champions," she replied, her voice shaking with emotion.

I smiled, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "It is real. You did it... we won."

When her eyes met mine, a wave of emotion washed over her face. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them back, a small smile playing on her lips.

"…I can't believe it," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“You better believe it! We are the best of the best in the entire world!” Clarence rudely butted in.

Where the heck did this buffoon come from! Stop ruining the moment, please!

"The tournament was just for non-professional players, though. We still have a long way to go," Chu clarified, his voice a low rumble.

You too, Mr. Edgelord! Stop dampening our well-earned victory! It's good to celebrate whenever you can, you know, or else people will end up as grumpy as you!

I sighed internally at their usual antics.

"…we should go greet the Paragons. They are already leaving their booth,” I interjected, trying to redirect the conversation.

"Yeah! Let’s show them some respect. After all, they were worthy opponents and the only team that got one game out of us," Clarence puffed out his chest, which only emphasizes how annoying he really is.

Chu, on the other hand, remained stoic.

"…I agree," he grumbled, but I could see a flicker of something akin to grudging respect in his eyes.

I guess he really does think highly of them, especially Blitz.

As if suddenly realizing something, Liz was then back to her usual bubbly self.

“Sure! Let’s go see how Ria and her team are doing. I hope they aren’t too downtrodden by the loss. Come on, guys!" she exclaimed, pulling me and the others towards the Paragons. 

As both of our teams met in the center of the stadium, Liz suddenly rushed over to Aria and embraced her.

"It was a great match! I can't believe we won!" Liz said, her voice brimming with excitement.

Aria was caught off guard, her eyes widening in surprise. She hadn't expected such a display of affection, especially after the intense competition and within the eyes of the whole stadium.

In turn, a sense of schadenfreude washed over me. Aria, now you know the type of things I deal with on a regular basis. Liz's over-the-top affection could be a bit overwhelming at times.

Fortunately, Liz's warmth and genuine joy were contagious, and Aria found herself hesitantly returning the hug, a small smile gracing her lips. The two of them are somewhat rivals on the field but close friends off it, so I guess it is to be expected.

The crowd, sensing the heartwarming moment, erupted in cheers.

"Look at them! They're like sisters!" a voice boomed from the back.

"They're showing true sportsmanship!"

"That’s good. Respect for their opponents, even in victory!"

“These kids are quite a sight to behold.”

“I’m so jealous! I wish I were the one being hugged by Miss Elizabeth!”

Well, not every cheer was wholesome, I guess.

As both girls chatted excitedly about the match and anything in between, Lucy and the others approached me.

"That was a good match, Miss Yu- I mean Miss Katherine!" Lucy greeted nervously, her squeaky voice a bit hard to hear amongst the cheer of the crowd.

Please stop being so obvious! I know you guys already found out about my other account, but people will suspect you if you act like that! Being the center of attention is the last thing I want to be in now that we have already won the tournament.

"Yeah, you did pretty well, especially in the first match," I praised her wholeheartedly.

She had really improved a lot from back then, and her performance in the first round completely caught me off guard.

"I-it's an honor!" she replied, her cheeks flushing red.

Like I said, stop acting so weird!

Thankfully, Seer, noticing the awkwardness, butted in.

"You completely outplayed us in the last match. Good game," Seer said, offering a handshake. His stoic expression remained unchanged, but I could sense the overwhelming respect in his eyes.

I shook his hand and reciprocated his gesture, which elicited another round of cheers from the crowd.

On the other hand, Chu unexpectedly approached Blitz on his own accord, his expression a mix of determination and grudging respect.

"I won't lose next time," he said curtly.

"Haha, I'll be looking forward to it!" Blitz replied jovially, his grin widening

Both of our teams continued to chat with each other for a bit, and despite the recent competition, the atmosphere was light and friendly. We have already become close to their team due to training and scrim matches with each other, so it’s quite expected.

After a while, the announcer's voice boomed through the arena, signaling the start of the awarding ceremony for the champions of the tournament. With a final wave and a few parting words, the entire Team Paragons exited the stage, leaving us at the mercy of the crowd as we headed to the very center of the stadium where the trophy was being held.

"They accepted the defeat quite well, especially Ria. Considering her prideful nature, I thought she would be more devastated than that. Good to see she bounced back pretty easily," Liz commented as we walked towards the trophy.

"I guess," I replied nonchalantly, trying to sound unconcerned.

I'm probably the one to blame for that. Since I always beat them up when I trained them back then, they probably got used to it. Maybe I should have been a little gentler in training them. In my defense, I usually prioritize efficiency and have only done what I thought would make them stronger with the best results in mind.

As we arrived at the center of the podium, my teammates all hesitated, their eyes darting between the trophy on the pedestal and each other. I knew the reason. We hadn't specifically discussed who would lift the trophy from its place.

"I think we should let Kat do the honors. What do you guys think?" Liz suddenly suggested, her smile a little too bright.

"…I agree," Chu nodded silently.

"Alright. I'll let you have the glory this time," Clarence said, his usual boisterous demeanor subdued.

Gaming tournament traditions dictate that the player lifting the trophy is considered to be the one who contributed most to a team in that specific tournament. It signifies the lifting they did for their own team in the matches they had up to the championship. As much as I don't want to do it myself since I’m only our team’s support, I have to respect my teammates' wishes. It would be rude to disregard their feelings after all.

I sighed heavily, accepting my fate. "Fine."

I turned my focus towards the trophy. The gleaming silver chalice trophy stood tall and imposing on a velvet pedestal, with the words ‘Champion’s Brawl’ embedded in captivating handwriting. I do have to give props to the tournament organizers. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, and it was clear they didn’t hold back on its costs.

I stepped forward, my heart pounding in my chest. This was the first time I'd ever tried to lift a trophy as large as this in a tournament. In my previous victory in the AC, I couldn't attend the online awarding ceremony as my sister's surgery took priority.

A sudden wave of negative emotions rushed toward me as I was reminded of the past. Thankfully, I managed to suppress those bubbling emotions through sheer willpower.

Oops, I got too serious there. It's best not to think about it now; there is no use souring the festive mood just because of my issues. Let's just focus on the trophy.

As I held on to it, I realized that, though beautiful, it was surprisingly heavy. I braced myself, gripping the base with my hands, and slowly lifted it from its pedestal.

The weight of the trophy and the sudden movement almost sent me tumbling forward. I stumbled, my feet catching on the edge of the podium. For a moment, I thought I was going to crash to the ground, trophy and all. But with a burst of adrenaline, I regained my balance, my grip tightening on the trophy.

Phew! That was close! That would have been a headline if I'd managed to stumble and fall flat on my face. Curse this feeble mortal body of mine that lacks exercise! Lifting the trophy in the VR world would have been so much easier!

The crowd gasped, a wave of concern washing over the stadium at my fumble. But then, as I steadied myself and customarily held the trophy up high to show the world our team's victory, confetti suddenly burst from everywhere, resulting in even louder and more festive cheers from the crowd.

“There you have it! We have our winners of the Champion’s Brawl, the strongest team under 20, Team Paradigm!” the announcer declared, his voice booming through the arena, eliciting an even louder uproar from the crowd.