“I’m home! Did everyone already leave?”
The tournament starts today.
Although playoff matches, final qualifying rounds, and rematches from draws have apparently been happening since early morning, the official start is now.
“Welcome back, Derus-sama.” “Good morning.”
Head Maid Big Mam, Seira, and her daughter, Shikada, greeted me at Nina Castle.
“Are you two going to the tournament?”
“My daughter is going with Amari and Pero.”
“Then, Seira, you’re staying behind?” “Yes, with Bauer-san.”
I don’t see why grandpa can’t go, but maybe he’s just not feeling it anymore.
“What about Nina-san?”
“She hasn’t been seen since this morning.”
“What?! Did she disappear?!”
It’s unlikely Nina is still sleeping.
“She definitely went to bed last night, so she must have left somewhere before dawn on her own.”
“Was there a note or a message?”
“None that I know of. Rather, we thought Derus-sama might know.” “I haven’t heard anything.”
It’s strange, Nina disappearing without telling me anything…
Actually, it has happened somewhat often. I was on a date separately this time, so perhaps there was something she needed to tell me directly but didn’t have time to due to the suddenness?
“Oh well, I’ll ask Nina later. And Clarice?”
“She’s heading to the Colosseum with the slaves, even those not participating will act as healers.”
“Ah, even if they can’t fight during the match, they’ll need healing afterwards.”
So, Seira and Bauer are the only ones staying behind?
If someone attacks the castle, Kelpie should be able to handle it.
(And there were those eight strange monkeys too.)
“Also, Clarice asked me to give you this.”
“Ah, the spectator tickets. It’s good you have extra.”
“Yes, in case the number of people increases.”
As expected, no oversight.
“And this is the same-day participation application form.”
“Ah, you can sign up for special classes right before the official tournament starts.”
“Nastasia-san has already submitted hers. If anyone else wants to…”
Yes, I have two, just in case.
“Anju, you can teleport to the Colosseum, right?”
“Yeah! Where should we go? Somewhere with fewer people?”
Teleporting into a crowded area could be dangerous.
The guild or inn are fine on the rooftop, but the Colosseum is…
“Um, Derus-sama.”
“Yes, Seira-san. Ah, Shikada, do you have plans to meet up with other children?”
“Pero and Amari are with Clarice-san; they’re slaves.”
Oh, right. She took not only the slave participants but also the slave spectators.
“So, Shikada will be with us then.”
“Yeah, I wanted to participate in the children’s division too.”
“Haha, if only we had another crab-picker.”
I don’t think there are any others.
“And Derus-sama, that person over there is Jumaji-sama.”
“Yes, Amari’s grandfather. He’s also a slave, but…”
“My apologies, it seems I’ll be able to observe the tournament.”
Seira’s gaze shifted to the people behind him.
“And those three beautiful women over there?”
“Ah, it was supposed to be two, but this is a representative for the backup and overall leader.”
“My name is Harmy, I am the representative, and these two are…”
After she introduced them, Seira and Shikada looked at me quizzically.
“A-Angels??”
“Are you big sisters angels?”
“Yes, we are! Here goes!”
They released their concealment, revealing large, beautiful white wings!
Then, they flapped them and floated into the air… Yes, the mother and daughter were surprised.
“That’s amazing.”
“Wow! Can I have a feather?”
“I’m sorry, but angels only give feathers to someone they’ve fallen in love with!”
There’s such a rule?
“Well then, let’s go. Harmy-san, please conceal your wings for now.”
“Understood!”
Now, everything’s ready.
Shikada came closer, facing Seira.
“I’m going!”
“Be good, Shikada.”
“Let’s fly!”
With that, we teleported to a dimly lit, cold place in the Colosseum!
“Where is this?”
“An an-tijoo!”
“Don’t say such ominous things!”
Whether Anju knew this place or had been here before is irrelevant. We went outside, climbed the stairs, and wandered around as a group until we reached what seemed to be a general information area.
(I’ll ask that tall woman with glasses.)
As we approached, she spoke to us first.
I vaguely recall meeting her somewhere, maybe at a guild.
“Oh, you’re Derus of Nina Starlights.”
“Yes, sorry. I thought I could just get in with a familiar face, but I got lost.”
That was a lie. I just walked in.
“Derus-sama, you have a special VVIP seat. Your tickets…”
“Sorry, I have them, but I haven’t presented them yet.”
“In that case, this is your designated location.”
Yes, I’ve memorized the route perfectly!
“Also, regarding same-day new participant registration…”
“Well, Derus-sama…” “It’s not me.”
They told me that too.
It seems to be the same place as the regular participant assembly area.
“Um, what should I do? Anju, you take the spectators to their seats.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Who are you calling boss! Nastasia-san and Harmy-san, you’ll come with me to participant registration.”
Anju, unusually, led the spectators on foot.
If the conversation gets strange at the ticket-checking point, well, Jumaji or someone should be able to handle it.
“Ah, Anju, the tickets, the tickets!”
“Do we need those?” “We haven’t used them yet.”
I handed out tickets for the number of people accompanying us, and Nastasia, the three angels, and I headed to participant registration.
(I’m not sure how Harmy, who isn’t fighting, will be handled, but let’s go.)
As we went to the participant registration, we saw something unexpected. No, we saw a woman!
“…What, why are you wearing a butterfly mask, Nina-san!”
“Shhh! No, I’m Princess Butterfly right now.”
What on earth is that!!!
