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"That's the Adventurer party that defeated a Demon King Army leader?"
"I heard they're a team from Axel."
"A newbie team from Axel actually defeated one of the Demon King's generals?"
"Unbelievable…"
"Still, I didn't expect the Dustiness family's heiress to be in their group."
"That beautiful girl who looks like a Goddess must be an Arch Priest, right?"
"And that young black-haired girl, isn't she from the Crimson Demon Clan?"
"So that's it. With such a beautiful Arch Priest, a Crimson Demon Clan arch-mage, and the Dustiness heiress known as the Shield of the Kingdom, I suppose it is possible they took down a Demon King general."
"But who are those two men?"
"Compared to those beautiful ladies, they look kind of… plain."
Inside the banquet hall, nobles whispered among themselves as they watched Fang Li's group slowly enter from outside. Their eyes swept over the group, evaluating them with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny.
Most of the nobles' attention was focused on Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness, showing clear signs of amazement and admiration, some even with unmistakably lecherous intent.
In contrast, the gazes of the adventurers, many of whom exuded a strong presence, were far more hostile.
But unlike the nobles, the adventurers' hostile glares weren't aimed at the women.
They were aimed at Fang Li and Kazuma.
Especially Fang Li, the looks directed at him were even sharper than those aimed at Kazuma.
"That guy is their captain, right?"
"Isn't Lady Aqua part of his party?"
"To have recruited three top-tier members, one of whom is a Goddess, another a famous Crimson Demon Clan arch-mage, and the Dustiness heiress, he must be capable."
"But then why is someone with the weakest and most useless Class even in that party? What was he thinking?"
"Could it be… those two men are just con artists who tricked Lady Aqua?"
With these murmurs growing, a group of cheat-powered Hero Candidates looked toward Fang Li with increasingly unfriendly eyes. Kazuma, noticing all of this clearly, let his inner frustration show on his face.
"This is just straight-up gender discrimination, isn't it?"
And wasn't it?
Why were those three troublemakers, who only had looks and presence but no real substance, getting all the attention and admiration, while the two men who were constantly being dragged into their messes had to endure all the judgment?
There could be no explanation other than pure gender bias.
Normally, if it were any other situation, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness would've smugly accepted all the attention and probably started bragging.
But not today.
Now, they had no room to feel proud, only fear, as they anxiously stared at the back of the man walking at the front, Fang Li.
In this tense atmosphere, Fang Li simply led the group forward, completely unfazed by the multitude of gazes and opinions surrounding them. His expression was calm, almost devoid of emotion.
That composure gradually quieted down the murmurs of both the nobles and the adventurers.
Before long, the group reached the center of the banquet hall.
Fang Li raised his head and looked ahead.
Sitting on a luxurious chair, accompanied by Claire and Rain, was Iris, as if she had been waiting for them from the very beginning. Her youthful, incredibly cute face lit up with a genuine smile as she watched Fang Li approach.
Perhaps, out of everyone in the banquet hall, Iris was the only one who truly wanted to celebrate Fang Li's group and who genuinely felt proud of their achievements.
Then, Iris sent a meaningful look toward Claire.
Receiving Iris's look, Claire reluctantly stepped forward. After clearing her throat, she raised her voice and began speaking:
"Today is a day worth celebrating. Because our Belzerg Kingdom has seen the rise of a group of outstanding Adventurers who have made a tremendous contribution in the fight against the Demon King's Army."
"They come from Axel, yet they defeated a leader of the Demon King's Army, removing a towering obstacle in our path to resisting the Demon King."
"Therefore, under the name of Her Highness Iris, the First Princess of the Kingdom, all of you have been invited here today to attend this celebration banquet, held in honor of these brave Adventurers who vanquished a general of the Demon King's Army."
With that declaration, Claire gestured toward Fang Li's entire group.
"Now that the stars of the banquet have arrived, everyone, please give these young and capable Adventurers a warm round of applause!"
As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted all around the banquet hall, reverberating through the air and filling the room with waves of sound.
Bathed in that applause, Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness finally felt they could lift their heads. Exchanging glances, their postures straightened a little, as if they had completely forgotten all their previous troubles. With satisfied expressions, they waved at the crowd, genuinely looking like the main characters of the celebration.
Only Fang Li remained completely calm from beginning to end.
Because he knew, at least 80% of this applause was hollow, given only out of obligation in response to Claire's speech as a representative of the royal family.
The proof? The surrounding nobles still held skeptical gazes, and the Adventurers present were starting to look increasingly restless.
Seeing all this, Fang Li immediately realized: Trouble was coming. And soon.
Just as Fang Li predicted, right as Claire continued her declaration: "In light of the meritorious deeds of these exceptional Adventurers, Her Highness Iris has decided to bestow upon them a special reward, as encouragement. May this serve as motivation for them to continue striving for the sake of our Kingdom-- "
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden voice cut her off.
"Please wait a moment, Lady Claire!"
With those words, a figure slowly stepped out from the crowd.
It was a male Adventurer.
This man had rather ordinary brown hair, but a very handsome face. His appearance radiated a kind of heroic charisma, sunny and righteous, the type that people naturally looked up to and admired.
He wore a suit of gleaming armor, polished to a radiant shine.
At his waist hung a sheathed sword, exuding a powerful aura like a ferocious beast trapped in a cage.
There was no doubt about it, that sword was an Artifact.
This male Adventurer was undeniably one of the cheat-wielding Hero Candidates from modern Earth.
Seeing him, Claire's eyes widened in surprise.
"Isn't this Lord Mitsurugi? Excuse me, but what is the meaning of this…?"
At her words, the man named Mitsurugi glanced first at Aqua, then at Kazuma, before turning to face the also-surprised Iris, and offered his words like a formal petition:
"Your Highness Iris, I humbly request an opportunity. As an Adventurer myself, I deeply wish to see just how powerful those who defeated a general of the Demon King's Army truly are. Therefore, I would like to issue… a challenge."
(End Of This Chapter)