After confirming today’s schedule, we began preparing for the ceremony in earnest. That said, all I really had to do was change, fight, and drink, and it wasn’t like I was participating in a nation-wide special event as during Trisen’s or Traage’s ceremonies. That part was a relief, but it also meant that intense drinking sessions were waiting for me, and I was already worrying about tomorrow’s hangover. No, Efil had made sure everything was perfect. It probably wouldn’t happen. I trust Efil…!
By the way, for today’s ceremony, several people from the host nation, the Beast Kingdom Gaun, have come. There’s Sabato, an A-Rank adventurer and prince of his country, who fought alongside us against the Trisen army, and his party members (Sabato and Guin were already knocked out, presumably since yesterday). And then there’s Beast King Leonhardt, who has transformed into Miss Wiar and is drinking down a barrel of alcohol with the elf drinkers, much to Miss Wiar’s severe glare, while she herself is busy with the ceremony preparations. And Nito, the uncle who was in Gaun, whose immortality seems to extend to alcohol, is also drinking as much as the other heavy drinkers. Besides them, people connected to Gaun have gathered, bringing the alcohol as gifts—well, it seems everyone brought alcohol as a form of congratulatory gift. It appears the elves being heavy drinkers is quite a well-known fact.
“I hope Sera, who is in the no-drinking area, is safe…”
“Oh? Worrying about your allies already? You seem to have quite a lot of free time.”
“Hm? Oh, Kelvum.”
I wonder what he wants? Come to think of it, I haven’t taken my clothes off yet today. That’s unusual. If he was at that event, I would have expected him to at least put on a naked dance.
“Hey, were you just having some impudent thoughts?”
“Just your imagination. So, what is it? You didn’t come to peek at me changing, did you?”
“Of course not. I just wanted to get a good look at the face of the great idiot who’s about to fight Adams, before he gets defeated. It’s good to see you’re as carefree as I imagined.”
“You’re saying whatever you please right from the start. Well, it’s still better to be daydreaming about victory than to be stiff with tension, isn’t it?”
“…Hmph, you call that a retort? So you can still talk back. That’s better than nothing.”
Kelvum sat down on the chair in the waiting room, seemingly satisfied. Huh, is he just going to stay here?
“You’re not seriously here to peek, are you…?”
“Hey, don’t push your luck with those retorts.”
No, I was genuinely worried about that just now… He looks like he’ll get angry if I say it, so I’ll just keep quiet.
“Well, putting that aside, what exactly do you want? I’m not that free today, you know? Ah, well, I suppose I’ll have plenty of time to talk during the drinking session later—”
“—Kelvin, you are a warrior from the lower world, yet you fought me and ended in a draw. Your battle with Maria yesterday was, I must admit, superb. In our Ten Authorities, we could never have coordinated like that. In fact, in the moment you defeated Maria, you surpassed the Ten Authorities. Be proud, hold your heads high. You are strong.”
“O-oh, th-thanks…?”
He’s suddenly praising me in such a serious tone. Could this be Kelvum’s way of congratulating me?
“But, that is precisely why I warn you. You cannot win against Adams. I know I can’t stop you from fighting now, but withdraw your decision to cancel the ceremony due to defeat. Adams will likely allow that.”
…Hmm?
“Heh, what an interesting warning. Do you mean to say we have even a sliver of a chance to win?”
“Let me be clear, don’t misunderstand. I’m not picking a fight. It’s precisely because I acknowledge your strength that I’m giving you this advice. While it was a victory within the rules, you defeated Maria. You did your best and made a miracle happen. However, to achieve that victory, you revealed too much of your hand. You understand, right? The same trick won’t work on Adams. It’s the same for Maria. Do you think you can win against her again by fighting under the same rules?”
“…Well, perhaps. But, we yesterday and we today—”
“—Are different because Adams granted us Authority? That’s a naive way of thinking. You can’t master Authority overnight. Adams, despite his leniency in many ways, isn’t so lenient that you can win a match with a hastily assembled blade. Kelvin, it’s not too late. Rethink this. If you fail to stop the ‘Wait a moment,’ the ceremony will collapse, and cracks will form in your relationship. This will, in turn, become a factor in crushing your talent. I absolutely cannot allow that…!”
“…I see. So, regardless of the outcome, you want me to remove the cancellation of the ceremony from the agreement.”
“Precisely!”
Kelvum declared, without averting his intense gaze. Ah, I understand. Kelvum is genuinely worried. He can’t read the room, he has a habit of undressing, and he’s quite eccentric, but… he does care about his friends. Due to his position, he can’t give me information about Adams. At best, this is all he can do.
“Thank you for your concern. But, I can’t accept that proposal. Honestly, I don’t want to compromise Efil’s ceremony.”
“Kelvin!”
“Don’t you misunderstand. I’m not acting recklessly. I’m making this decision because I believe there’s a chance to win.”
“…Do you really have a chance?”
“Yes, I do. Besides, the Authority I’ve awakened is ‘Shura.’ Judging by the name alone, it’s inseparable from combat. If I run away from victory now, the Authority itself will dislike me.”
It’s about time I changed. But, conversely, this seems like the right moment. I’ve decided to leave the waiting room in my usual robe, without changing. So, shall we go?
“Are you planning to make the first move with that look on your face?”
“You’re telepathically connected to an unnerving degree. Hey, are you me from a parallel world?”
“As if. If my head was that full of battles, I wouldn’t be making such a proposal.”
“Heh, that’s true.”
The warm gaze on my back felt different than moments ago. Regardless, I’m leaving the waiting room. Now, Adams… Ah, there he is. Already enjoying some alcohol.
“Adams.”
“Hm? Oh, it’s you. You’re still dressed like that? There’s still some time before Efil’s instructed ‘Wait a moment,’ but this isn’t the place to be killing time. The place you should be heading is over there. Directionally, turn around and—”
“—No, the place I should be heading is here. I’m in the right place.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Adams, it’s time for the challenge. I’ll be the one to put a ‘Wait a moment’ on your absolute power…!”
“…Was it your turn to say that line?”
Thus, the final battle begins.
