*In castle chamber*

Now, Vaan’s family is discussing with the king’s family on the topic of marriage between their heirs of family. Referring to the king suggestion, Vaan and the princess now is in fiancée relationship, but Vaan’s father suggests that let both of them reach the mature age which is 18 to be able to marry. The king agrees with Gaia idea, and he will wait until that time, during the discussion the princess keep staring at Vaan and that make Vaan feel nervous because a very goddess like girl staring at him. Vaan’s father has set several rules in order to protect Vaan from dangerous because he will be married to the princess, so he suggests that this matter will be kept in secret until the time has come.

During Vaan stay at the castle, princess Virtie has spent most of her time by escort Vaan to look inside the castle, Vaan has tried to befriend with Virtie and he realizes that princess doesn’t have many friends in the castle. Vaan says to Virtie that he will be her first friend that makes Virtie’s face turn into red because she is blushing after listening to Vaan. Vaan realizes that as the princess in the kingdom that makes her feels burden even though she still young, thus Vaan do the best he can at least to make Virtie forget that she is a princess for that day. After 2 days at the castle, Vaan and his family are going back to their house.

“Why you should leave now, can’t you stay here and play with me,” says Virtie in a sad face.

“Vaan, need to going back to his home my dear, he can come again when he has time,” says the king.

“I promise you princess Virtie, I will come and meet you after this.”

“We will meet again, take care Sir Vaan.”

“I will Princess Virtie.”

Saying their farewell Vaan enters the carriage and it starts to move, a few minutes later the carriage is nowhere to see anymore.

*2 days later in Varan city*

One of every 4 years, Varan city will be holding a festival. This festival is known as the Festival of Ruter, the name come from the first mayor of this city and in order to remember the good deed he has made to create the city every town people will hold this event. The period of this festival is 3 day straight and there are many mini-events that will be held during this time, not to mention people from around the world will come and also this is the good opportunity for the shop to gain more profits.

Vaan now is walking around and help other people to set up their shop, the reasons why Vaan helping them is because he wants to create a good relationship with all the town people and help them as much as he can. Another reason is, by helping them, Vaan also can train his body and stamina at the same time so that can be considered as a win-win situation. Finally, the event that will be held in the festival has been decided, first there will be a cooking tournament, and then will be a beauty contest and the main event in that festival is a tournament. The tournament is open to who wanted to sign in and the winner will get 100 pieces of gold coin.

“You think he will enter this year too?” asks the A man.

“I don’t know but if he enters again who can defeat him right,” answer B man.

“Can I know who is the person you talking about,” Vaan join the talk.

“Well, no one knows him or his face, during last tournament he is wearing full black cloth and wearing an Oni mask during the fight,” says A man.

“That not all, he manages to beat your father in one on one fight and win the tournament by KO.” Add on B man.

“Wow, he can even beat my dad. I must see if he enters the tournament this time.”

Vaan look at the bakery shop, he can see the owner of the shop is in. Went he asks what happen to that person, the bakery owner says that he now lacks butter and without enough butter, he cannot produce the signature dish for his shop in the festival. Vaan offer himself to help the owner after listening to owner instruction Vaan head to the Voga village in order to retrieve the butter for the owner. Voga village located in grassland near the Varan city, and there is a place where the farm of the goats and cow is located. Vaan is running as fast as he can in order to quickly reach the village and return back to the city, in the Voga village, Vaan is looking for milk farm and want to purchase butter for the bakery owner.

Finishes purchase the butter, Vaan head back to the city. When he reached the jungle that he just passes by to reach the Voga village Vaan has been an ambush by 5 bandits fully armor them self. Vaan does not bring his sword with him today because he been helping people, looking at situation Vaan know that he is in danger. Before Vaan able to make his move, the entire bandits begin their attack at the same time. In the blink of eyes, all bandits have been lying on the ground. Vaan quickly take a look around the surrounding area, and he sees a person wearing black cloth and Oni mask stands behind the tree, that person is matching with the guys that described by the town people.

Judging from that man body and appearance Vaan can take a guess that he is around 30 plus, not to be rude, Vaan says his thank to that man and said he needs to quickly back to the city. That man keeps silence and Vaan walk pass by that man.

“By the way, sir, are you going to enter the tournament this time too?” ask Vaan.

“I will, and I once again will be the champion,” answer the man.

“Then I will be watching your fight in that tournament.”

“No, no, we will meet in the tournament.” Says the man and disappear from Vaan sight.

Vaan doesn’t understand why that person said such a thing, but he just ignores it and reaches the city before night. Return the butter to the bakery owner, and Vaan receives payment 10 silver as the gratitude towards what has he done, the day is going dark as Vaan start to return to his house. At Vaan’s house, his father and mother are ready for dinner, and Vaan joins in to eat together. They have been talking about the festival, and Vaan’s father will not entering the tournament this year because he has received news about the bandits around the city during the festival so he needs to be on duty to protect the town people. As for his mother, she is not the type who likes the crowded place, so she will stay at the house and just be reading the book for a day.

Vaan tired and head to his room, then his father stop him for a moment to talk about something.

“Vaan is preparing for the festival okay,” says his father.

“Why I need to prepare dad?”

“Well, this morning I just sign in your name into the participant list for the tournament in the festival.”

“You did what?”

“Well, just prepare yourself okay my son, show them who the boss around this city is.”

“Why you always decide something without discussing anything with me, dad.”

*First day of festival*

Today is the beginning of Varan’s Festival day, many people start to come into the city and the center is being crowded with people early in the morning. The today main event is the cooking tournament in the morning and then in the afternoon, the beauty contest will be held. The participant in the cooking tournament is bakery owner, Media grandmother, and even the owner of blacksmith Miata and much more join in the tournament.

As for the tournament, there will be 2 blocks which are A block and B block. Vaan has been placed at B block and the Oni man is in the A block. He will only meet the Oni guy if he keeps winning in the B block, Vaan doesn’t have any motivation to fight in the tournament at first but realizes that he can fight the Oni guy he suddenly starts to prepare for the incoming fight. The tournament will begin on the second day of the festival.

“Sir Vaan” a voice comes from behind.