**Chapter 2**
**Episode 10: Hero Ray (Full Version – Extended)**
I changed the alias to "Reiji" just to be safe.
The receptionist looked like she'd been saved from execution.
She stamped the form with trembling hands and slid over a glossy black lottery box.
"Congratulations on registering! Every participant gets one free accessory-type magic tool! Draw your fate♪"
She was way too cheerful about it.
Free magic tool? Count me in.
I shoved my hand into the hole and fished around dramatically for show.
Pulled out a shimmering golden ticket.
Rainbow holographic letters: **SSS Prize – ???**
The entire reception hall froze.
Then the receptionist screamed like she'd won the lottery herself.
"THE SSS PRIZE! THE ONE AND ONLY ROYAL CUSTOM PIECE!!"
She slammed a massive golden bell.
Confetti exploded from nowhere.
Every contestant turned to stare at me like I'd grown a second head.
I kept my face perfectly deadpan while internally screaming jackpot.
She scurried off and returned carrying a velvet cushion like it was the holy grail.
On it sat a lacquered box with the royal crest.
She opened it with reverence.
Inside:
A pair of enormous, glittering glasses shaped like a flower garden had vomited on them.
Roses, lilies, and daisies made of gemstones bloomed across the frame.
Golden vines curled everywhere.
And right in the center—because of course there was—was a giant fake nose attached to the bridge.
The official name, announced with pride:
"Hanamegane – Eternal Blossom of Royal Elegance☆"
I stared for a solid five seconds.
Then gently closed the box and slid it back.
"No."
"B-but it's Princess Elena's personal design! She spent three months on it!"
The receptionist was on the verge of tears.
I opened the box again just to confirm I wasn't hallucinating.
Nope. Still hideous.
"Features?" I asked, already regretting the question.
"Indestructible! Auto-repair! Resistance to dragon breath and S-rank magic! It will never break, scratch, or tarnish!"
She beamed. "Perfect defense for the face area!"
"So it's an immortal gag item."
I tried to hand it back.
She recoiled like it was cursed (which it was).
I tried to pawn it off on nearby contestants.
One guy saw it and literally sprinted away.
Another pretended to faint.
Defeated, I shoved the flower glasses into the deepest corner of my Item Box, right next to the other cursed objects I never want to see again.
That's when the shouting started.
"I definitely applied! Check again!"
Some brown-haired swordsman was red-faced at the next counter.
Behind him: black-robed mage girl facepalming, and…
Blonde hair. Gentle smile. Same stupidly handsome face.
Cain.
Our eyes locked.
Time slowed.
I slammed the Hanamegane onto my face in one fluid motion.
The world became floral and sparkly.
Cain blinked several times.
"…No way Master would wear that crime against vision. And red hair now… Yeah, just a lookalike."
He turned back to his party.
Bullet dodged. Heart rate 180.
I dropped my forms like they were on fire and bolted.
Private waiting room → instant sanctuary.
I scribbled "Reiji" on the nameplate, slapped it on the door, locked it, and collapsed onto the couch.
Peace. Sweet, glorious—
Knock knock knock.
The door opened anyway because apparently locks are suggestions here.
A hyper red-haired elf mage burst in like a tornado.
"Lina-chan! You have to win today! Master's entire research budget for the next five years is riding on you! Do your best! Do your BEST!!"
Trailing behind her, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else:
Long red hair in twin tails. Sharp golden eyes. Elven ears.
The walking death warrant named Lina.
She glanced at me.
I glanced back through a wall of gemstone roses.
Lina squinted.
Tilted her head.
Squinted harder.
I casually covered half my face with one hand and pointed at the door with the other.
Lina kept staring.
"…Feel like I've seen that dead tired expression somewhere…"
Cold sweat.
Then her gaze landed on the Hanamegane.
Her expression did something complicated.
Like she was trying to solve a math problem and the answer was "clown."
She muttered under her breath:
"…No way he'd wear that. The guy I'm gonna kill had black hair and zero fashion crimes this severe… Yeah. Different person."
She grabbed the elf mage by the collar.
"Sorry, wrong room."
Door slammed.
Silence.
I slid down the couch until I was basically on the floor.
Cain. Lina. Probably more disasters waiting in the wings.
This city is a minefield wearing a festival mask.
New life plan, effective immediately:
1. Survive tournament
2. Collect reward money
3. Grab ancient artifact exhibition ticket from Eve
4. Change name again
5. Change country
6. Maybe change dimension
I stared at the ceiling and whispered to no one:
"As soon as this stupid tournament ends, I'm disappearing for real this time."