Chapter 412 - 412: Beginning of the alchemy tournament.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen!" The presenter of the alchemy tournament said: "We will be starting the first stage of the alchemy tournament. I am Reginald and I will be the host of the alchemy tournament!"

"Applause! Applause! ..."

He raised his right hand, signaling the audience to calm down, and continued: "There are 1147 participants in the alchemy tournament in total, everyone can enter the arena and go through the identity specification."

Participants entered the arena and were quickly attended to by tournament officials and ensured their identity, and finally, not least, presenter Reginald began to explain the rules of the first stage.

"Cough. For the first stage, we will have all participants using a low-quality forge furnace." When he finished saying this, 1147 furnaces were delivered to the participants.

He continued: "Only 100 participants will make it through the first stage - Within 4 hours, you guys participants have to create level 1 mana restoration pills. The quality will be assessed and the quantity as well."

He explained: "A low-quality level 1 pill is worth 1 point. Medium quality pill, worth 3 points. High-quality pill, worth 5 points. A pill of perfect quality, although it has never happened before in the alchemy tournament, is worth 100 points!"

Many participants were shaking with excitement. It would be a lie if they said they didn't want to create a pill with perfect quality, but that was almost impossible, so they were aiming at least to make high-quality pills.

Some knew of their own limits and hope at least to be able to make medium quality pills.

"One hundred sets of herbs for each participant were sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, Shuts, and Fatenp. A hand clap for them." Presenter Reginald said with a wide smile.

"Applause! Applause! ..."

"Hilda!" Audrey, of the Wild Beast Sect, said: "How would you like to place a bet with me again?"

Hilda, niece of Emperor Naga, a white fox in human form, with long white hair and crystal blue eyes. Full b.r.e.a.s.ts, final waist, big ass, and long legs 181 cm high. She wore a beautiful pool blue long sleeve dress and 5 cm high heels.

Hilda looked at Audrey, who is a red lion in human form, with short auburn hair, black eyes, and a large, thin body 209 cm tall. She said with indifference: "Sure, what do you want to lose this time?"

"The same bet as before, if I win, you will be my girlfriend." He said confident, "If I lose, I'll give you a level 5 forge furnace."

"Hehe. I am in need of a new furnace." She smiled: "Okay, I accept."

"Tsk, there you go again, Audrey." Audrey's sister Scarlett, with red hair and pale green eyes, a slender body, full of curves and white skin like snow, scorned: "You never learn, do you, big brother?"

"Stay out of this, little sister, this is a couple thing!" Audrey didn't even blush as she brazenly made a commitment to Hilda without her agreeing.

"Say that only after you manage to beat me." Hilda said with the same indifference. She murmured in her mind 'Or when you ask me properly...'

"Mmm, she is so cold, but I still love her!" Audrey looked like a passionate fool squirming and hugging while fantasizing about Hilda.

"Idiot." Scarlett sighed helplessly. She couldn't understand why her older brother had to be such a fool.

*

"Theo, who of these two do you think will win?" Ariana asked in amus.e.m.e.nt.

"The girl named Hilda." Theo replied.

"Oh, I think the boy has a better chance of winning." Ariana proposed: "Whatever you tell me, you want to bet on who will win, I accept to bet that the boy will win."

"Okay, I accept, but what are we going to bet?" Theo was interested.

"What do you think of..." The rest she said telepathically.

"I accept!" Theo agreed at once.

"Humph!" Shina snorted: "Pervert!"

"Hehe. I'm looking forward to it." Ariana licked her lips seductively, prompting Theo to have dirty thoughts.

Jka didn't even dare to look and paid attention to the holographic projection. Klin, seeing this, nodded in satisfaction.

"Mhm, this guy's chances of winning are less than 20%." With his hand on his chin, Theo said.

"Oh, what makes you think like that, Theo?" Shina asked.

"Instead of me answering, let me ask." Theo looked at Shina: "Normally he was supposed to have a better chance of winning, but then why are the chances of him winning is just 20%?"

"This..." Shina was thoughtful.

"..."

"Because of the bet?" It was Yuki who answered.

"Almost that." Theo smiled.

"He gets nervous and doesn't concentrate well when the girl he likes is at stake, so he ends up making more mistakes than he normally does and that is why his chances are low?" Shina said.

"Yes, that's what I can see by looking at it a little." Theo explained: "Look at him now, you can see that he is constantly opening and closing his hands looking very anxious. Before, although I vaguely remember, he was not like that, which indicates that it was the bet with the girl that made him like that. In addition, his breathing is a little hurried, which will hinder him a bit when it comes to creating pills."

"But I realized that the girl likes him too." Ariana asked, "So why is she so calm? Couldn't she just let him win and be together?"

"Haha. This is an option, but do you think she would be satisfied with that?" Theo asked: "Or rather, do you think he will be satisfied with this result? Apparently, he wants to be worthy of her. At least that's how it looks to me, there's no way I can savvy more than that, without talking to him for a while."

"This is silly..." Ariana pouted as she murmured.

"Yes well. Most men want to be worthy of being around the girl they like." Theo said.

"Are you like that too, Theo?" Shina asked with interest.

"In part, yes." Theo said: "Although not as much as most, I still have my insecurity, and because of that, I am always dedicated to improving, I don't think I am perfect, and I am also willing to change. I'm not talking about a drastic change, like a personality change, but at least I want to be strong enough to always keep all the people I love safe."

Although it was not Shina's initial intention to know that much, she felt warm in her heart. The girls were also satisfied and blushed when they heard his response. All the girls were also willing to improve and continue to support Theo even if only a little. It also helped to understand that even Theo, whom they have on a high pedestal, has his insecurities.

Presenter Reginald waited for everyone to be silent and shouted: "Now that everything is explained and everything is ready, let the tournament begin!"

Theo coughed: "We ran away from the topic a bit, let's see the tournament and see what the result will be."

*

If you were interested in reading advanced chapters of this novel, you can find it in my Pa treon: pa treon.com/Lruskaa