Swords, magic, and martial arts

The group found an inn outside the city to rest. On the way, Rod learned from Baron why they knew Miles.

Miles was the bard who found the severely wounded Rhodes in the wild and carried him to Ebony City for treatment. Miles made a lot of money in the Kingdom of Nord, and after making a fortune, he abandoned his plan to travel further north into Nord and instead decided to return to the Kingdom of Fish to study at the Bard Academy.

Although bards and troubadours may seem similar, there is a slight difference. A bard is simply a wandering poet or singer, while a troubadour is a poet who can use poetry to cast spells.

In reality, no one really cares about the difference between the two. People on the mainland generally refer to both as wandering poets, and only the wandering poets themselves would care about such a small difference.

Miles's desire to study at the Bard's Academy was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea. After learning that Rhodes and his friends were preparing to participate in the team competition of the tournament, he decided to join them and compete alongside them. This truly was a highly anticipated event, and Miles had already planned how he would calmly and composedly face the fervent adoration of countless girls after winning the championship.

Rhodes and his friends were just one person short to register, so they agreed without hesitation. After all, Miles was Rhodes's savior. Although they didn't know him well, Miles had saved a complete stranger and carried him so far, even offering to pay for his treatment himself. Such a person couldn't be a bad one.

Rhodes was very confident in his and Baron's strength. The tournament used blunt swords and did not allow the wearing of armor. With his Iron Shirt and Iron Head Technique, his ability to withstand blows was comparable to that of a warrior wearing plate armor. He didn't know how he could lose.

"Actually, the jousting tournament after the team competition is the main event of the tournament. Many wandering knights from various countries without fiefs hope to make a name for themselves in the jousting tournament. And those free riders and mercenary cavalry who are not even knights also hope to stand out in the competition and gain the favor of a lord, becoming his vassal." Miles sat on the bench, holding a wine glass, chatting with Baron and the others, completely forgetting his previous embarrassment.

"I'm still more interested in the 10,000 gold coins for the team competition." Baron picked up his glass and took a sip of Bayview City's specialty wheat beer.

"The prize money for the knight's lance duel is even higher, at 50,000 gold coins," Hammer reminded him from the side.

Baron, who was halfway through his drink, froze, and the alcohol dripped down his chin.

"I really don't know what Duke Owen is thinking, giving away so many gold coins to others for nothing every five years," said Messil, who hadn't spoken until now.

"He definitely made his money back. Think about it, he held a tournament, and in just a few months, Bayview City gained nearly a hundred thousand people, some to compete and some just to watch. Just imagine, those hundred thousand people ate, drank, and used the place for a few months, and he made his money back, and there must have been more. We ate all the food and drinks that had been piling up for years, and the hotel we stayed in was his. Normally, there aren't that many people staying here. The room rates alone covered the costs for just a few months," Rhodes explained. "Not only that, he also gained fame, which is more important than money. Listen to how people around him address Duke Owen; they all call him the generous Duke Owen. I haven't even figured out the surnames of the dukes of the Nord Kingdom yet, but I already know his. If he wants to raise an army in the future, countless mercenaries and adventurers will join him. After all, he has left everyone with the impression of being wealthy and generous, and serving under him must be quite a good experience."

Baron nodded after listening and patted Hammer on the shoulder. "Learn from this. When you go back, tell your father to do the same. If he organizes a competition like this, I'll be the first to participate."

Hammer smiled but didn't say anything.

"This wouldn't work in the Kingdom of Nord, would it? Bayview City is famously wealthy. They can grow several wheat harvests a year, with more grain than they can eat or drink. That's why they have the capacity to host such a grand event. As for the Kingdom of Nord, I don't need to say more, lest you be unhappy," Miles said.

Compared to the Kingdom of Fish, the Kingdom of Nord is much worse off. The Kingdom of Nord has many mountains and a cold climate, with very little land available for cultivation, so many people are forced to become adventurers.

The conditions in the Roman Empire were similar to those in the Kingdom of Fish, but the nobles exploited the people so much that many commoners couldn't even get enough to eat, so they didn't have much energy to work. With less labor on the land, the harvest would be worse, and this vicious cycle meant that the common people in the Roman Empire were not as comfortable as ordinary Nords.

However, the comfortable life has made the army of the Fish Kingdom the weakest in combat on the entire continent. Although it has the most complete and advanced equipment, it lacks fighting spirit.

"You're right." Baron sighed after hearing Miles's words. He also envied the Fish Kingdom for having such superior natural conditions.

Ten copper coins could only buy one cup of wine in the Kingdom of Nord, but here they could buy at least ten. Baron observed that, apart from meat, everything in the Kingdom of Fish was much cheaper than in the Kingdom of Nord.

"What an enviable country," Hammer sighed.

"Indeed," Misell agreed. The country where she grew up was inferior to the Kingdom of Nord in every aspect.

The country that Baron and his friends envied so much was still considered backward by Rhodes. He thought it was still an agricultural society and had not developed any industry. But then he wondered if it was more difficult to develop industry through magic.

"Stop thinking about these things. No matter how much you think about it, it won't change anything. Why don't we discuss the tournament?" Miles' words pulled them back from their thoughts.

"Let's rest today and register again tomorrow morning," Baron said.

"I'll go take a nap first." Miles stood up and prepared to go upstairs.

Rod grabbed him. "You saved my life, and I haven't properly thanked you yet. Please accept this."

Miles picked up what Rhodes handed him and looked at it. It was a leather scroll with the Iron Shirt manual that Rhodes had translated into the world's language over the past few days. He had only made this one copy.

"What is this?" Miles asked curiously.

"It's a protective martial art that, once mastered, makes you feel like you're wearing a layer of metal armor," Rod explained.

"Will that make my skin hard?" Miles didn't ask what martial arts were, but instead asked this kind of question.

Rod was speechless. How could a grown man care about such things?

He rubbed his arm and replied, "No."

"Alright, I'll take it then." With that, Miles took the animal hide scroll and went upstairs...

……