CHAPTER 71: EYES ON THE FUTURE

Amidst the cheers and shouts, John William finally reached the stage. His presence was commanding. Even without a word, his posture alone spoke volumes about his strength and status. He came to a halt at the center of the stage, where the referee and Rowan were already waiting.

From the upper balcony, Logan didn’t miss a single moment—right from the beginning of the match to this very point. Even he felt slightly puzzled. The match had ended in such an anti-climactic way. Rowan could have easily overpowered Lilith, so why go to the trouble of forcing her to surrender instead?

It didn’t make any sense to Logan at all.

And then there was John. As he walked to the stage, Logan felt like John looked at him for a moment. But he quickly brushed it off as coincidence.

Back on the stage, the rectangular reward pillar from earlier rose from the ground once again, stopping at four feet tall. Waves of familiar magical energy rippled through the air. A space ring and a defensive bracelet floated just above the pillar’s surface, rotating slowly in midair.

Many in the audience eyed the items with visible lust in their eyes. Either one of them alone would be worth a fortune. Now both would go to the Third Prince. The cruelty of fate—those who already had more just kept getting more. Many spectators in the gallery shared the same thought.

The referee stepped forward.

"Prince, please come ahead."

Rowan walked forward calmly.

"You have done amazingly, prince. We are glad to see that the kingdom has capable young talents like you."

John smiled politely, then handed over the two prizes one by one.

"Thank you," Rowan replied.

He accepted the items with grace, but his expression remained calm. No visible excitement—no spark in his eyes. The kinds of rewards that others might fight to the death for didn’t seem to move him in the slightest.

Because in Rowan’s eyes, these were normal things. But he had earned something far more valuable. Or at least, he believed he had. And he couldn’t wait for the ceremony to end so he could return home—with Logan. Behind his composed exterior, his heart pounded with excitement.

After receiving the prizes, both Rowan and John gave a slight bow toward each other, then Rowan turned and exited the stage at an unhurried pace.

Then, John’s deep voice rang out across the arena.

"Everyone, I know you all enjoyed the matches. While there can only be one official victor, we judges believe many of the participants were truly excellent fighters this time. The prince may have claimed the championship, but several others were not far behind."

As he said this, his eyes unconsciously shifted toward Logan—though only for a second—before returning to the crowd.

He continued.

"So, best of luck to all of you. Train harder, focus stronger, and break past your own limits. We hope to see you all grow into the pillars of the kingdom. Not just for Arcadia... but for all of humanity."

His voice grew firm.

"As you know, the state of our world is changing. Dungeon breakouts are increasing. This tournament wasn’t just about crowning a winner. It was also meant to motivate—to awaken those who are still asleep in denial. Those with talent must rise. Those with strength must act."

He paused, then added one final announcement.

"And from my side, I have one more message: All who reached the semifinals have earned the right to join the Courtmage division, should you choose to apply in the future. Your performance has proven your worth."

He raised a hand and concluded with power in his voice.

"With that, I end this ceremony. I wish you all the best of luck in the path ahead."

His final words boomed through the arena, stirring the hearts of thousands. Thousands of applause filled the air.

And just like that, the Arcadia Tournament came to an end.

But even as the ceremony wrapped up, the air was still buzzing with murmurs and excitement. Though the tournament was officially over, it felt like the momentum was still alive. The crowd wasn’t ready to let go.

But slowly, the arena began to empty. For those who had come to watch, these past two days had been worth every second. But among the participants, thoughts were more complex. Many noble family heads left with gloomy faces. Yet, a few still had the clarity to accept reality and acknowledge talent.

As the Smith family was preparing to leave, two figures approached Logan.

They were Morgan Benedict and Zephyr Albrecht.

It wasn’t that they had come together—they simply happened to arrive at the same time.

"You did well," Zephyr said. "I hope we get the chance to spar someday."

"You’re strong," Morgan added flatly. "But beware of your surroundings. Strong people tend to walk straight into danger."

Even Morgan’s casual words sounded like a sharp-edged warning. He was always serious.

Logan gave a polite smile and bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you both for reaching out to me. I hope we’ll get the chance to spar someday too."

"Do you plan on joining the Courtmage division?" Morgan asked.

"Well, I have no plans for that right now," Logan answered honestly. "And I can’t say for the future either. What about you?"

Before Morgan could reply, a new voice interrupted from behind.

"Why not, Logan? Joining the Courtmage division is a prestigious path. You’ll gain both power and honor."

It was Rudeous, who had been walking down from the balcony with the rest of the Smith family. He had paused upon overhearing his son’s response.

Logan looked at his father with a half-smile.

"Well, Dad. I’m just twelve. You really don’t plan on sending your kid into a job this early, do you?"

Once, there had been distance between father and son. But ever since Logan began training, even after his mana core was sealed, that wall had begun to crumble. His dedication and perseverance had slowly changed Rudeous—not just as a noble, but as a father.

"And don’t forget," came a firm voice beside them, "he’s still training under me. Until his training is complete, he’s not going anywhere." Ardyn Vex.

"Um... well. I was just asking about his future," Rudeous said awkwardly. "Logan, come when you’re ready. We should leave soon—it’s a long journey home."

Even Rudeous realized he’d sounded a bit absurd. Deep down, he knew it was foolish to talk about government posts when the boy wasn’t even a teenager. But Logan’s recent performance had made him forget all about age.

Standing nearby, Mirena was quietly watching everything unfold. And her eyes gleamed.

If Logan joined the Courtmage division, then Darius’s path to the Smith family’s patriarch seat would be smooth. She made a mental note to discuss this with Rudeous once they returned home.

But Logan had something else on his mind.

"Actually, Dad... I won’t be returning with you."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"I already told you. The prince asked me to accompany him to the royal palace," Logan added. "So, I’ll be leaving with him."

Mirena’s relief vanished again like a poof.

"What? Then how will you return, honey?" Alice asked, her voice filled with concern.

Before Logan could answer, a familiar voice responded.

"No need to worry, Mrs. Smith. I’ll see to it that he returns safely."

It was Rowan. Rowan Hale, the 3rd Prince.