CHAPTER 629: SUMMER FESTIVAL

New Rakuya, Irio, Karuza High.

It was a sunny morning in Irio. So sunny that a surprising heatwave swept through the small city like a fire.

In Karuza High, stalls were raised high. Banners were being hung, and students were buzzing with excitement.

Today was Karuza High’s annual summer festival.

People from all around Irio came over. Even from neighboring cities. It was because his festival was also a celebration.

They were celebrating the success of Kiernan Hunter over in the tournament, which ended a few days ago, and Irio was now world famous as the place of the greatest talent that humanity has produced this generation.

It was also the festival before the nationals; in a week’s time, Karuza High would send their five best fighters to the nationals.

Everyone expected them to win. Anything else was unacceptable.

Walking down School Street, heading to Karuza High, Julian walked with a backpack slung over his shoulders.

Everyone in the streets turned over to him and screamed in excitement. Well, it wasn’t actually directed at him, but at the person he was walking with.

"...You’re seriously going to school now? You do realize that you’re no mere student anymore."

Julian said with a wry smile.

"I will enjoy school until I can’t anymore."

Kiernan said with a smile, his gray hair waving around him, and his handsome smile charmed everyone in the streets.

"Oh my gosh, it’s Kiernan!"

"I love you!"

"He is coming to the festival...? That’s insanity."

The students whispered among themselves, and some shouted.

Amidst the whispers, Julian and Kiernan entered the school grounds through the decorated gate and were immediately met with a sea of people in the yard.

Every stall was crowded, and there weren’t many places to walk without bumping into anyone.

People noticed Kiernan. Excitement grew in the air. It turned very loud, like in a concert, and slowly, everyone noticed Kiernan.

They stepped aside from his way, like the splitting of the Red Sea, and watched in awe as he made his way through the crowd.

"...There are some events over at the track and field that we could check out."

Julian suggested it, as it was impossible for them to enjoy the stalls without people just crowding around them.

"Mmh."

Kiernan nodded, grabbed Julian from the back of his shirt, and leaped across the air like a gazelle.

"Ahhh!"

Julian screamed as they appeared high in the air. He felt dizzy. And then they started falling back down, but Kiernan effortlessly landed on the hillside.

"Sorry about that. It would’ve taken a few hours to walk through that crowd."

Kiernan said with a smirk, put the backpack aside, and sat on the grass by the track and field, where people were running a relay race.

"You jumped like a hundred meters into the air..."

Julian said, stunned, and sat beside him.

"I only jumped as high as I needed to."

Kiernan said.

"...How far can you really jump?"

Julian asked curiously.

"...Don’t know, haven’t tried."

Kiernan said.

With a wry smile, Julian said while looking over to the high jump competition that was currently ongoing.

"Well, one thing is for sure, you would win the high jump competition."

Julian said.

In that moment, people started noticing Kiernan’s presence and turned nervous over in the bleachers and at the track.

"...Kiernan?"

A familiar sweet voice came from behind, and they turned around to see Julia wearing a track and field uniform.

She had a tight top, running shorts, and pink sneakers.

"How’s it going?"

Kiernan said with a smile.

Surprised, Julia returned the smile with a blush on her pink cheeks, and she then sat down beside them while hugging her legs.

"I was wondering what’s with the commotion. I didn’t expect you to come back to Irio anytime soon."

She said.

"This is my home, after all, and I need school to finish."

Kiernan said.

"...Are you participating in the nationals?"

Julia asked curiously.

"...I talked with your father yesterday on the phone, and I agreed to participate, but I don’t think you guys need me."

Kiernan said with a chuckle.

"Hehe, I feel bad for our competition. With Julian alone, we were very much the winning candidate, and now with you there, I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone just forfeited!"

Julia said with a giggle.

"Every team will be begging to not get us as their opponents."

Julian said.

"You guys are going to the training village?"

Kiernan asked.

"That’s the plan.

"The team currently consists of you, Julian, me, Dominic, and Beaugard."

Julia said.

"Beaugard is a solid one. He is already Middle Stage Martial Fighter, and he is only a first-year, so Karuza High will be in good hands."

Julian said.

"I remember the times when being Martial Fighter was considered top talent in New Rakuya, and the best was Johan as the Low Stage Martial Champion.

"Now everyone seems to be Martial Fighter, and Martial Champions are becoming more common."

Kiernan said.

"...That’s called the Kiernan Effect, you know, over here. Your talent has pushed everyone to improve and try to keep up, which has made everyone stronger.

"There are rarely any Martial Kings over in New Rakuya, but as it seems now, this place will be filled with them in the future.

"When more Martial Kings appear in New Rakuya, this country’s air gets improved because of the aura that the Martial King oozes unknowingly.

"Even now, you, Kiernan, are releasing a faint Martial King aura that is improving the air around Irio, which in turn will help everyone else’s speed of advancement."

Julian said.

"...I didn’t know that. Interesting."

Kiernan said.

"New Rakuya will be tier 3 soon. I’ve heard that the World Martial Arts Federation has sent scouts over to this country to check whether it meets the requirements.

"While New Rakuya’s overall strength is still low, because of the talent it is producing, its future looks extremely bright.

"Because of this, the World Martial Arts Federation is considering making New Rakuya tier 3 already."

Julia said excitedly.

It had been his father’s dream for a long time to make New Rakuya great, and every day, their lovely country was becoming greater and greater.

If humanity had lost the tournament, New Rakuya would’ve belonged to Animal Kingdom, as it’s one of the areas that humanity would’ve needed to forfeit over to Animal Kingdom.

Luckily, humanity won.