Elseran, the Hometown of Heroes.
As the second-largest city in the Kingdom of Solenston, it plays a role nearly akin to a fusion of China’s magical capital and Pengcheng.
Initially, Elseran was just a poor small town in the Kingdom of Solenston, until a man named Ilson Nolan emerged out of nowhere.
He pulled out the holy sword, vanquished the Demon King, and led humanity into the great Light Era.
As the hero’s hometown, Elseran rose to global prominence.
In less than two hundred years, it grew into Solenston’s officially second but practically first super-large, comprehensive city.
A city of merely 40,000 square kilometers packed in a staggering 30 million people, becoming the undisputed largest city in Solenston.
Alongside its fame, the Elseran Swordsmanship Tournament, held every four years by Elseran’s officials, also gained worldwide renown.
With no age or strength restrictions, as long as you’re a swordsmanship practitioner, you can register with your beloved sword.
Competitors of different ranks are leveled to around Tier 4 physical stats by high-ranking priests hired by the Holy Nation, who apply weakening or strengthening magic.
With stats nearly equalized, participants can rely only on their constantly honed and refined swordsmanship.
A pure swordsmanship competition, aimed at reaching the pinnacle of the art and exploring its boundless possibilities.
This is the Elseran Swordsmanship Tournament.
…
^
The sun blazed high, not a cloud in the sky.
Miss Nico was in a great mood, thanks to a certain noble lady out gallivanting.
She had clinched the top performance spot in the western suburbs branch of the Solenston Kingdom Adventurers’ Guild, earning a promotion and a transfer.
From a remote town in the kingdom, she was elevated to the super-large city, the Hometown of Heroes, Elseran.
She became one of the esteemed staff members of the Adventurers’ Guild in Elseran’s western district.
Strong and mighty, strong and mighty! Who would’ve thought that she, Scholar Nico, would rise so high?
Being transferred to Elseran meant she was one step closer to becoming a direct subordinate of Vice President Judith.
Vice President Judith’s office was on the fifth floor, Room 502, of the Adventurers’ Guild building in Elseran’s central district.
She had confirmed this on her first day in Elseran.
If she kept working hard and snagged another top performance, she could transfer to the central district’s Adventurers’ Guild.
Then, with another top performance, she could be promoted to deputy manager of the central district guild. And with one more top performance…
Ehehehe… ૧(●´৺`●)૭
(Miss Nico, fantasizing—)
With a goal in sight, her energy surged, and she walked with a spirited stride.
Since Nico had been the top performer in the western suburbs for the quarter, her role had also upgraded from a mere receptionist to a unique profession exclusive to Elseran.
—Star Sword Scout! Or simply: Scout.
Having achieved top performance, she naturally possessed a keen eye for talent.
Her job perfectly matched this trait—scouting exceptional swordsmanship practitioners from the vast crowds.
She would sign contracts with them, handle all their non-competition affairs, and ensure their food, lodging, and travel, allowing the swordmasters to compete in peak condition.
In return, the swordmasters would use weapons and equipment provided by the guild, aiming for high rankings to boost the fame of the guild’s gear.
This created the so-called celebrity effect.
The champion’s choice must be top-tier.
Then came the mass production and aggressive marketing of all sorts of quirky advertisements.
The Adventurers’ Guild, after all, was a private organization.
Without state subsidies, it had to be self-sustaining.
Task commissions earned peanuts; equipment sales were the real profit driver.
The celebrity effect greatly fueled equipment sales.
Items labeled “champion’s choice” fetched higher prices and profits.
The Star Sword Scout profession was born from this demand.
Not just the Adventurers’ Guild—major weapon manufacturers and other commercial organizations had similar roles.
All were chasing the dividends of the celebrity effect.
Like the slogans still hanging in front of Duma Trading Company’s shops:
“Duma series gear, 248th champion’s choice. Greatness needs no words.”
Or those targeting specific female swordmasters:
“Gear? I only use champion giegie’s choice.”
…
And if you couldn’t afford it, they thoughtfully prepared low-quality “champion’s choice youth editions.”
Using cheaper materials while maintaining the same appearance.
If even the youth edition was too pricey, they offered less expensive “champion’s choice” alternatives:
“Drink Magic Boost before the match—she’s good, I’m good.”
“How to watch the swordsmanship tournament? I’m sticking with Dudu tonight. Champion-approved Dudu Steam Patch—stick it anywhere for instant steam.”
…
With these wildly imaginative ads, Duma Trading Company pushed creativity to the max for profit.
Originally a third-rate organization, Duma struck gold by scouting and binding the previous champion.
Through this slick “champion’s choice” tactic, they raked in fortunes, elevating the company to a whole new level.
Naturally, the swordsmanship tournament became a battleground for trading companies and weapon manufacturers.
This was Miss Nico’s current mission: sign promising competitors to make a name for “Guild Manufacturing.”
Flipping through the Star Sword Scout work guide issued by guild headquarters,
Receptionist Nico—
No, now Scout Nico—
—Sorry, sir, I didn’t recognize you earlier.
Strolling through the streets of Elseran’s western district,
Looking at the endless stream of passersby, Scout Nico’s face fell, slightly displeased.
The reason?
Simple—
She hadn’t signed a single competitor yet.
Most strong and mighty swordmasters had already been snapped up by more experienced scouts.
Champions of annual or biannual minor swordsmanship tournaments were also preemptively signed.
As a new scout, Nico lacked experience, and the resources she could secure from the guild for swordmasters paled compared to what veteran scouts could offer.
Weak and feeble, weak and feeble.
Even the super-watered-down champions, like the Turtle Trading Company’s Western Station Turtle Mall Water Friend Tournament winner, looked down on her resources.
As expected, a rookie like Nico was destined to scout unknown “grassroots” swordmasters.
Of course, this was the path every new scout had to tread.
Everyone went through it, so Nico couldn’t complain.
All she could do was work harder and be more sincere than other scouts.
These past few days, she’d been tirelessly roaming sword training grounds and busy streets, shuttling back and forth, day and night, often spotted in odd places even after dark.
Ghosts drifting at night would see her and say, “Big bro, stop skulking around with that gloomy face. You’re scaring me in the dead of night.”
So—
“Come on, a strong and mighty wild swordmaster, sign a contract with me!”
“Promise me, compete with me for life, okay?”
“Kuroshi~~”