I had no intention of getting involved in unnecessary trouble nor falling for the Dragonkin’s provocation. Instead, I remained in the room, waiting, and enjoyed the matches alongside everyone else.
If Nan would bring up the provocation from earlier, he might say something like, “It was a flag, wasn’t it!?” and try to send me off, but this time, I intentionally let it slide.
It’s not that I don’t question if that was the right choice, but there’s no need to go out of my way to step on a landmine.
Thanks to that, I wasn’t caught up in any unnecessary trouble and was able to witness some valuable battles, if not entirely peacefully.
Therefore, even if some flag or other has disappeared, I will stand by this choice.
If something did go wrong, then I’ll just reflect on it.
And so, the competition, with all fifty participants, proceeded smoothly except for the trouble of two participants being eliminated in my first-round match. Now, it was time for the semifinals.
The so-called Top 4 were decided, and it was time for battles to determine who would advance to the prestigious finals.
The four were Carter, Basarunte, and on the other side, a Dark Elf and a Skeleton, who seemed likely to be crushed by the other two.
Carter against the Dark Elf, and Basarunte against the Skeleton. The semifinals, where it was obvious who would advance, concluded without overturning the predictions of the spectators or myself. The two who Nan described as “mob-like” were instantly defeated, and the finals matchups were decided after the semifinal matches ended without incident.
“It’s been quite a long day, hasn’t it? Well, I suppose it can’t be helped, given the breaks and the sheer number of matches.”
I had wondered if it could truly be completed in a single day, but the matches that began in the morning showed signs of concluding by nightfall.
After the semifinals, we, who had been watching the combatants fight for extended periods, began to show slight signs of fatigue.
I could understand Kitamiya, who was massaging her eyes with her fingers as if to relieve their strain.
“It’s good that it’s flashy and enjoyable, but the strain on the eyes is a drawback. This is especially noticeable during magical battles.”
“Yeah, since it’s so flashy. There are flashes and explosions, my eyes hurt a little too.”
When warriors fought, their movements were so fast it was tiring to follow with my eyes, and when magic was added to the battle, even from a distance, the magical effects fatigued the eyes.
The spectators, whether they could clearly see the high-speed combat in the latter half or not, were still cheering at the flashy magical displays.
However, it must be tiring to sit on chairs for extended periods without private rooms like ours.
“I’ll make some cocoa.”
“I’ll help too.”
Quite a few people were leaving the spectator seats during the break before the finals, perhaps for drinks or just to walk around.
With such scenes unfolding, Katsu and Himik, having ample time before the finals, headed to the attached kitchen to prepare cocoa, also as a way to give our group some energy.
“Masaru~, make mine extra sweet, okay~!”
“Ah, if you can do that, then I want mine sweet too!”
“Considering how much you just ate, you’ll get fat, both of you.”
“Ugh.”
“No problem!! If we dance, it’s not a problem!”
Nan, sprawled on the sofa, made his request, and Amelia chimed in.
Then, Mike, who had calculated the caloric intake from their previous meals and drinks, uttered a forbidden phrase for women.
As a result, the responses from the two, whose daily lives were on opposite ends of the spectrum, changed.
One spent a lot of time at a desk, while the other spent a lot of time moving.
While they moved around in the dungeon, that was with their magic bodies, so while it prevented aging, it actually had no effect on dieting. Training, however, didn’t involve magic bodies and consumed calories, but there was no point in mentioning that now.
Reluctantly, Nan rephrased his request for less sweetness, and Amelia waited for her sweet cocoa.
Their expressions were as contrasting as their lifestyles.
“The senpai and that Carter guy really stirred up the tournament, but looking at the results, it seems like the ones who logically should win have advanced, which is a bit anticlimactic.”
While watching the scene of the two, we returned to the topic of the competition.
“There are always those who stand out. Those two are those people. But honestly, I have no idea who will win the next match.”
“Really? I personally feel like the Dragonkin will win. I mean, he’s defeated everyone in his matches so far in one hit? I even felt a sense of余裕 [Yoyū – composure/余裕] from him.”
Kaido countered my prediction as we discussed the matches so far from our seats across the room.
“Is that so? If we’re talking about composure, I think the Vampire guy will win. While his attack power might be inferior, I think his speed is amazing. It felt like he was even holding back on his speed, and his attacks weren’t exactly weak.”
However, Kitamiya interrupted that opinion.
From her subjective point of view, she rated Carter higher than Basarunte. Kaido, on the other hand, believed Basarunte would win due to his powerful single attacks and his defensive capabilities that could block any attack. Kitamiya, therefore, inferred that Carter would win, valuing his superior speed and sharp sword techniques.
“The Dragonkin is the same way. He’s definitely hiding three stages of transformation.”
“What kind of Demon Lord are you talking about? But if that’s the case…”
Even with the Demon Lord himself watching the tournament, Kaido’s remark was rather disconcerting. Watching their opinions escalate, I pondered my earlier statement. My uncertainty about the outcome of the upcoming match stemmed from the fact that both their arguments were spot on. With my current abilities, I couldn’t fully gauge the strength of those two. Were they on par with an instructor, or below or above? Perhaps with a wider range, leading to overestimation or underestimation. All I knew was that both were stronger than me. Would Basarunte’s power win, or Carter’s speed? Or would other factors come into play? With only the information I had, it was difficult for me to predict the outcome.
“Master, your cocoa. I thought you might be tired, so I made it sweet.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Putting aside for a moment the complicated thoughts in my head, I accepted the mug from Himik, who was handing it out to Suella and Memoria as well, while they relaxed and eased their bodies. Steam rose, and the sweet aroma tickled my nostrils, making me feel like my fatigue had already been relieved. I avoided burning myself as I slowly sipped the cocoa. The sweet taste spread through my mouth, informing my body that it was replenishing its sugar, bringing me a sense of peace.
“Himik.”
“What is it, Master? Another cup?”
Seeing Himik hand out cocoa to Suella and Memoria while I relaxed and eased my body, I suddenly wondered. Himik was undoubtedly the closest to the instructor’s ability in this place. So, if that was the case, wouldn’t she be able to predict the outcome?
“No, not yet. I have something I want to ask you; I’d like your prediction, if you don’t mind, but who do you think will win between those two in the finals?”
It was a question asked half out of curiosity. I expected Himik to ponder for a moment before answering.
“The Dragonkin will win.”
She answered immediately, saying Basarunte would win. Hearing this, the two engaged in their heated discussion finally reached a conclusion. Kaido revealed a smug look as if he had captured the head of a demon, while Kitamiya, conversely, wore a displeased expression.
“Himik, why? From my perspective, it seemed like either of them could win.”
Suella, who, like me, thought either could win, voiced the common question to Himik.
“Well, I just get the feeling that the Vampire is holding back.”
“? Isn’t he holding back because his opponent wasn’t worth using his full strength on? I think Basarunte-san is the same…”
“Suella, that’s not what I mean. Holding back and going easy are different. Holding back is adjusting the power according to the opponent, but going easy involves a crude adjustment of power. He isn’t fighting to win. It was as if he didn’t want to show his combat capabilities at all. I suspect that stance won’t change in the next match. But it won’t be enough to win against the next opponent. That’s why I said the Dragonkin will win.”
It was less about intuition and more about inference based on experience. Himik pointed out that Carter wasn’t fighting at his full strength during the match, while Suella suggested it was because he didn’t need to exert himself. However, Himik stated that rather than holding back, he was intentionally concealing his abilities.
If I think about it, I have some familiarity with that, and I have a bad feeling about it. I try to think of the reason, but I can’t think of anything at all. It’s probably safe to assume that the instructors, supervisors, and even the president have noticed this sort of complacency. Leaving it as is means there’s no problem, but I still have a bad feeling.
“I don’t know about that. Does he not want to be a general, or is there another reason?”
Even though Himik had seen through Carter’s half-heartedness, she couldn’t discern his intentions.
“Nan, you might know the reason for that, right? You’ve heard similar stories, haven’t you?”
“Hmm, if the story develops like this, perhaps he’s taken hostage and will lose on purpose in the end? Or, as Himik-san said, maybe he doesn’t want to be a general and has to win to a certain extent to save face for his employer?”
Katsu asked Nan, who played many games, but Nan’s story also remained within the realm of speculation. What started as a prediction of who would win soon turned into a discussion about whether Carter might be plotting something. Carter, a man who makes one suspect he’s plotting something due to his encounters, is different from someone like Instructor Kio, whose lack of motivation could be explained simply by a weak opponent…
“It can’t be helped if we think about it.”
I was reminded again how troublesome men who keep their thoughts hidden are. My predictions couldn’t take shape, feeling like I was trying to grasp fog. From what Himik said, I could only be sure of two things: the upcoming finals would not end ordinarily. It wouldn’t end quickly. I was certain of that. Considering both the former and the latter, I couldn’t imagine Carter ending the match so easily without causing trouble. Whether he wins or loses, I believe he’s the kind of man who would do something.
“If possible, I hope this imagination is wrong.”
I muttered softly, wishing my impression would be proven wrong, but based on my experience, bad feelings tend to predict bad outcomes. It’s probably best to assume the possibility of being wrong is low.
“It’s starting.”
Suella next to me announced that the battle was about to begin, as she watched the two slowly make their entrance beyond the window. While conversing, time flew by, and it was time for the final match to begin.
“? Did he change his weapon?”
As we each returned to our seats and entered spectator mode, I noticed something. Carter was not wearing the rapier he usually carried at his waist but something wrapped in cloth, resembling a sword, possibly a replacement weapon.
“A magic sword?”
Considering his opponent is a Dragonkin and a skilled fighter, it wouldn’t be unusual for him to bring out a real weapon for the finals. The only magic sword that comes to mind as a powerful weapon in the Demon Lord’s Army is that flawed one, but for someone of his caliber, there might be magic swords he can use without drawbacks. In fact, no one around him said anything, and it was probably not against the rules. Basarunte, his opponent, on the other hand, showed his first enjoyable smile of the tournament. He was delighted that a powerful weapon was brought out, and a fight would ensue. His tail swayed, and a fierce grin appeared on his otherwise sleepy face. Then, as the atmosphere began to heat up due to Basarunte, the President slowly ascended the stage. The President slowly ascended the stage to give the signal instead of a referee for the finals and to kick off this battle.
“Show me your full-powered battle, all of you.”
With these words, he took his stance, and just as they were about to begin, Carter reached for the cloth wrapping his sword.
“! Master! That’s!!”
Himik, realizing what it was, stood up and shouted, spreading her magnificent, fallen, jet-black, three pairs of wings.
“A Holy Sword!!”
Himik’s cry, as she conjured a barrier to protect us, seemed to be the signal for the battle to begin. Blinding light filled the entire venue. I saw it by chance. Amidst the roaring sound and shaking vision, Carter, the source of the light of destruction, was slashing at the President with a speed that made his previous speed look like child’s play. The scene was like a Hero challenging the Demon Lord.
Today’s word:
“A full-scale war between a Hero and a Demon Lord right here… isn’t that insane?”
That’s all for today.
If you enjoyed it, please leave reviews, ratings, bookmark it, etc.
* The first volume of the novel has been decided to be published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
An e-book version is also planned for release on October 31st of the same year.
The content includes revisions and additions to the material posted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, as well as the inclusion of an unpublished interlude.
We ask for your continued support.
