Chapter 483: The Banquet and Drinking Contest!
The champion's award was different from those for second and third place.
Besides the medal worn around the neck, the certificate was replaced with a trophy.
There was also one additional reward—The title of "Seven Stars Sword King."
It was an honorary title.
From now on, besides Falling Star Sword Emperor, Luke could also call himself the Seven Stars Sword King just like Moroboshi Yuudai.
The title carried considerable weight throughout Japan and even within the League.
If an honorary title gained enough prestige, it could gradually replace a Blazer's original title and become their new symbol.
The most famous example was Nangou Torajirou, the God of War.
The championship title he earned from China's God of War Cup had long since replaced his original title, Flawless.
It had become the symbol most associated with Nangou Torajirou today.
By now, few people even remembered "Flawless" Nangou Torajirou.
Instead, "God of War" Nangou Torajirou had spread far and wide.
After receiving the trophy and medal, Luke did not immediately walk toward the podium like Ikki and Stella.
As the champion—He still had one more thing to do.
Luke turned toward Hagun Academy's director, Shinguji Kurono, who was waiting beside Kaieda Yuzou.
Then he accepted the school flag symbolizing Hagun Academy from her hands.
Only after that did Luke walk to the first-place position on the podium.
He stood upon the highest point—The summit of the Seven Stars.
Then he raised the flag high overhead.
"The 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival is hereby concluded!!!"
...
This year's Seven Star Sword Art Festival could easily be called the strongest in recent years.
No—Calling it the strongest Festival in history would not be an exaggeration.
Even the year featuring Kurono and Nene—World Clock versus Yaksha Princess—Could not compare.
But no matter how spectacular a tournament was, Luke's victory had finally brought it to an end.
After the closing ceremony, the spectators, vendors, competitors, and Festival staff all began their journeys home.
In only a single day, the once bustling bay city returned to its deserted silence.
The festival—Was over.
However, not everyone left.
The Hagun Academy representatives led by Luke remained behind, along with several friends who had grown close during the tournament.
At the suggestion of Moroboshi Yuudai, a local Osaka native, they held a fairly large celebration banquet together.
...
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!!!"
Led by Luke, the champion, and Moroboshi Yuudai, who had provided the venue known as Ichiban Boshi, everyone raised their glasses in celebration.
As mentioned before, this world had separate adulthood laws for Blazers.
So most people were drinking alcohol.
Naturally, the few who did not drink chose water or juice instead.
Luke was one of them.
As the champion, Luke sat at the head of the long table formed by joining several tables together.
But not long after the banquet began, countless people started finding excuses to pressure him into drinking.
There were Ikki and Stella, who were especially close to him.
Shizuku and Arisuin, who often traveled with the group.
Touka and the other student council members.
Moroboshi and the other two from Bukyoku Academy.
Yakushi Kiriko from Rentei Academy.
Even Sara Bloodlily and Kazamatsuri Rinna from Akatsuki Academy had come.
Luke had invited Sara personally.
Rinna, meanwhile, was apparently acquainted with Hagun student council treasurer Toutokubara Kanata.
Everyone had been surprised when they first heard that.
But considering both the Toutokubara and Kazamatsuri families were prestigious houses in Japan, their descendants knowing each other was perfectly reasonable.
With Luke and Kanata vouching for them, Sara and Rinna were readily accepted.
Luke set down his cup and sighed helplessly.
He had started with juice.
As mentioned before, Luke was not particularly fond of alcohol.
He did not dislike it either.
He simply had little interest in drinking.
So juice had been his first choice.
Unfortunately—The others had no intention of letting him off that easily.
With the mentality of, "If we can't beat you on the battlefield, surely we can beat you at the drinking table," several people joined forces to attack him.
And the most persistent of them all—Luke looked at Moroboshi Yuudai, who had approached him for the fifth time, and helplessly set down his glass of juice.
Then he picked up the wineglass beside it.
"Seriously, shouldn't you give up already?"
Luke clinked glasses with Moroboshi, drained the alcohol in one gulp, and continued.
"You're not getting me drunk."
"The alcohol here in Japan is too weak. Why don't you go bother someone else?"
Luke was telling the truth.
It was not that he looked down on anyone.
With his current physical abilities, getting him drunk using ordinary alcohol was simply too difficult.
Alcohol brewed in Orario using special Dungeon materials specifically for Adventurers might have a chance.
But in a modern world like this one?
Forget the alcohol sold in Japan.
Even strong Chinese baijiu would have trouble getting Luke drunk.
"Hmph! I refuse to believe that!"
"There are this many of us taking turns drinking against one person. How could we possibly lose?!"
Moroboshi clearly had no intention of surrendering so easily.
He had even brought reinforcements.
"I'm rather curious too."
"Luke, is your alcohol tolerance really as terrifying as your strength?"
Arisuin held a bottle and refilled Luke's empty glass.
Then, with a mischievous smile, he extended his own glass.
Luke reluctantly clinked glasses with him and drained his drink again.
"Alice, haven't you already drunk with me before?"
"Don't you remember how that ended?"
"My, my."
"That's exactly why I'm still a little frustrated about it."
Arisuin laughed while refilling Luke's glass once again.
Then he gestured toward Luke's third opponent.
"…Why is someone who can't even hold his liquor joining this?"
Luke stared at Ikki, who stood awkwardly beside Arisuin with a glass in his hand.
He could not help covering his face.
Ikki himself looked rather embarrassed.
He knew his own limits and had never planned to participate in this particular "battle."
But—
"Shizuku and Alice asked me."
"It was kind of hard to refuse."
Ikki gave a helpless smile and lightly bonked Shizuku on the head beside him.
That was right.
The true mastermind behind all of this—Was Shizuku.
First she had incited Moroboshi.
Then she persuaded Arisuin.
And knowing Ikki had difficulty refusing her requests, she easily assembled this four-against-one lineup.
"Hmph."
"That's what you get for stealing Onii-sama's championship."
Shizuku puffed out her cheeks.
Covering the spot Ikki had tapped, she stuck her tongue out at Luke with obvious dissatisfaction.
Luke clinked glasses with Ikki and drained another drink.
Then he looked at the group surrounding him.
At this rate, if he did not knock every one of them out first—He would never get to enjoy the food in peace.
Luke glanced enviously toward Stella, who was happily stuffing herself without a care in the world.
Then he sighed once again.
Finally making up his mind—Luke gave the four of them a provocative grin.
"Just the four of you?"
"You're nowhere near enough!"
…
…
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