Translator: imperfectluck  Editor: Kurisu

"Good morning, Kagursan . " Chiaki smiled in a friendly manner after a short exchange of glances .

"Good morning," s.h.i.+ka responded calmly as she sat down next to Seiji and poured some tea for herself .

Just like always… but if one had to find a difference, she was sitting closer to Seiji than before .

Mika blinked at this and looked towards Chiaki .

Chiaki responded with a smile .

"s.h.i.+kchan, perfect timing . " Seiji forced himself to ignore the subtle tension in the air . "There's something important I have to tell you . "

He explained the Bloodwine Ritual tournament's situation to her, along with the things related to Natsuya and Yui .

s.h.i.+ka silently listened to him talk as something flashed in her eyes .

"…Signing our names onto this card and activating it will formally register us for this tournament . " Seiji showed her the red card at the end .

"Let's activate it, then . I shall fight with my full power for Brother as Brother's Spirit-branded Retainer!" s.h.i.+ka replied in a calm yet adamant tone of voice . A seemingly powerful aura radiated from her .

This aura was so strong that it appeared like she was glowing… basically, she looked really cool!

'My adopted younger sister is so cool!'

"Thank you, s.h.i.+kchan," Seiji sincerely gave his thanks as he injected his Mana into the card .

White runes instantly lit up on the tournament entry card . A complex spell array was projected in midair which arranged itself into a screen showing large red letters .

This was an explanation of partic.i.p.ating in the tournament!

Seiji carefully started reading the explanation . s.h.i.+ka, Mika, and Chiaki also read this seriously as well .

After they all finished reading, the summarized version was that . . .

Every tournament partic.i.p.ant would be in a two-person team . Both people would need to have the desire and resolution to do battle while signing before this contract to join the tournament would be approved .

If the contract to join the tournament failed due to one person having insufficient resolution, there would be only one more chance to sign the contract again . If it failed again, then the tournament entry card would lose effectiveness .

If the contract to join the tournament succeeded, the partic.i.p.ants might not withdraw of their own volition . They would be punished severely if they withdrew regardless .

The tournament would have sixty-four teams for a total of one hundred and twenty-eight people . The combat format would be group battle first, followed by individual combat .

First round: All partic.i.p.ants would be split up into two group teams, Red Team and Blue Team . Once all members of one team defeated the other team, the second round would begin .

Second round: All the remaining partic.i.p.ants would face each other in two-on-two combat until only one final victorious team remained .

Surrendering would also be punished by the power of the contract . The punishment's severity would be different depending on the situation .

Those that surrendered before even seriously fighting would receive the severest punishment . Fighting seriously and surrendering only after victory was impossible would result in only a light punishment .

For every partic.i.p.ating two-person team, if one person lost the ability to fight, the other person could surrender without receiving any punishment . If both people lost the ability to fight, that team would be judged to have lost .

The tournament hosts would give every tournament partic.i.p.ant a "Lifesaving Talisman . " These talismans would automatically activate upon taking a fatal blow and form a powerful protective and healing barrier .

The moment that a Lifesaving Talisman activated, the holder's team would automatically be judged to have lost . The other tournament partic.i.p.ants would be banned from attacking that individual any longer . Otherwise, those who violate this would face the most severe contract punishment of all, along with bearing all responsibility afterwards, with no liability against the tournament host .

"So, surrender is only truly permitted with no punishment after one person has been completely defeated… this feels rather strict," Chiaki commented .

"So, surrender is only truly permitted with no punishment after one person has been completely defeated… this feels rather strict," Chiaki commented .

"I suppose that the ritual needs this as a requirement . "

"First splitting all the partic.i.p.ants into two teams and eliminating one team entirely, with the rest being two-on-two combat… is this also a requirement of the ritual?" Mika asked questioningly .

"Perhaps… but it might also be that the tournament hosts feel that this type of format is better for the partic.i.p.ants to show their skills . " Seiji rubbed his chin in contemplation .

There would be many opportunities to show one's skills in a group battle, along with many unknown variables .

A major chaotic battle between one hundred and twenty-eight individuals, split up into sixty-four per side… compared to defeating the opponents, it would be more important to protect yourself!

It was just like Playerunknown's Battlegrounds . Compared to how many people one killed, it was far more important to survive until the end . Only by living until the end would one successfully enjoy a chicken dinner .

The basic goal of games like PUBG was to survive! Not killing as many enemies as possible or showing off and dying because of it… Cough, he was getting sidetracked .

"Lifesaving Talismans will be issued to all the tournament partic.i.p.ants… something with an effect like this sounds quite valuable . Although I'm not sure how powerful its effects will be, at least it's a last resort protection for us . " Seiji looked back at the holographic spell array screen .

"Don't take too many risks just because of this talisman's protection," Chiaki warned him .

"Of course . "

Everyone fell silent for a moment .

"s.h.i.+kchan, is there anything you'd like to say?" Seiji looked towards his adopted younger sister .

s.h.i.+ka shook her head .

"In that case… let's sign . " Seiji forcefully squeezed the card as the explanation had told him to do .

The words on the holographic spell array screen instantly changed to a contract incantation .

Seiji carefully looked it over and determined that the contents were the same as the explanation from earlier .

Seiji carefully looked it over and determined that the contents were the same as the explanation from earlier .

Seiji squeezed the card once again .

The contract instantly transformed into a dark-red mystical spell formation with two blank spots within it for signatures .

Seiji and s.h.i.+ka lifted their hands together, putting their index fingers on the signature s.p.a.ce in unison .

The spell formation instantly started whirling and s.h.i.+ning with a white light . There was also the faint sound of a female uttering an incantation . This really felt quite ritualistic to Seiji .

With serious expressions, both Seiji and s.h.i.+ka wrote their own names with their index fingers .

The next second, the spell formation released a blinding light which transformed into to b.a.l.l.s of light mist which twirled around Seiji and s.h.i.+ka's hands . Small blood-red spell formations formed on top of their palms .

Their contract to enter the tournament had been successful!

Seiji glanced at the mark on his palm and then looked at the one on s.h.i.+ka's .

The two blood-red seals soon faded into their skin . The white runes on the tournament entry card disappeared, and the card slowly turned pitch-black as it lost its magic powers .

"Next up will be preparing for battle… let's work hard together, s.h.i.+kchan . "

"Yes, Brother . "

"Our goal is to obtain victory . But, this isn't a scenario where we absolutely have to win . That's why you shouldn't feel too pressured," Seiji told her sincerely .

"Brother…" Something flashed in s.h.i.+ka's eyes .

"Just work hard an appropriate amount . You definitely shouldn't overdo things . "

'Victory is important, but not as important as you . ' Seiji transmitted this message with his eyes .

s.h.i.+ka understood this message . A warm feeling arose within her chest and a gentle expression appeared on her face .

'Victory is important, but not as important as you . ' Seiji transmitted this message with his eyes .

s.h.i.+ka understood this message . A warm feeling arose within her chest and a gentle expression appeared on her face .

Mika and Chiaki concretely understood s.h.i.+ka's position in Seiji's heart even better upon witnessing this scene .

Although they already knew what Seiji thought of her before, they still felt rather jealous .

"How's the situation?"

"Seiji Haruta of the Haruta Family and s.h.i.+gure Tendo of the Tendo Family have just signed the contract to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament . "

"The famous 'garbage' of the Haruta Family and the 'low ability' of the Tendo Family… it seems that both really want to prove themselves . Haha, with them partic.i.p.ating, this ritual tournament won't be too boring . "

"These two are a perfect match for each other, almost as if they're destined rivals . "

"You can delete that 'almost' portion, because they are destined rivals . "

"Why's that?"

"Seiji Haruta's older sister Yui Haruta killed s.h.i.+gure Tendo's older brother Raizen Tendo . "

"I see…"

"They have similar names, similar situations, and a reason for a grudge . Haha… it's almost as if they're destined enemies in a shonen manga . Although I wonder who's supposed to be the main character and who's supposed to be the antagonist . "

"Wouldn't s.h.i.+gure Tendo be the main character then? His older brother was the one who was killed . "

"Who knows? Only the G.o.ds know who the main character will be . "