Fighting Tournament Begin!
“Kyuー……shaaaa!”
Lucy-chan, who rode on my shoulder, growls at the Sword Saint.
“Hero-sama? How was it?”
“Erm”
What’s with that? It’s my first time seeing it displayed as such since acquiring the skills.
“……Shinta-san. Miasma is rising from the Sword Saint-sama”
“Miasma?”
“Kyu?”
Mayria looks at the Sword Saint and whispers that to me.
“……can Lucy-chan see something too?”
“Kyuu kyu”
Lucy-chan nods.
She can see it? I guess ‘feel it’ is a better way to put it.
She ever felt the gargoyle approaching as well after all.
Eh? What?
Does it mean the Sword Saint-sama, is being hijacked by the Demon Lord’s gene or something?
Why??
No, I guess being clad in miasma doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the Demon Lord’s gene.
However, the only one that Lucy-chan reacted to was the aforementioned gargoyle after all.
“……for the time being, let us return”
“A-, aah”
Mayria, who can actually see the abnormality occurring on the Sword Saint, pulls my hand.
We decided to return to the tent and explain the situation to the Princess.
As far as I could see from afar, he looked normal though; what in the world is going on?
◇◆◇
“Sword Saint-sama’s misdeeds are not visible. On top of that, he is clad in miasma, you say?”
“Eeh, Alicia-sama”
We report to the Princess, but she’s silent since there’s no way she knows why.
“At the very least, it did not feel like that the last time we met”
“……something happened to the Sword Saint-sama in this one month?”
I guess that’d be the case. If he’s clad in miasma, then the cause is probably not my skill.
“Kyuー”
“…………”
Hmーm.
“Mayria is acquainted with him, right. Him being clad in miasma or whatnot,”
“Has never happened before. ……besides, honestly, I believe the Sword Saint-sama just now might be in an abnormal state”
“As I thought?”
The information I can see with the skill is also displayed as bugged after all, it’s a little scary. It’s horror, you know.
“……I wonder if he got his hands on cursed equipment or something, in preparation for the fighting tournament”
“Cursed equipment, is it”
It sure seems probable huh. However, why the Sword Saint of all people?
“………………Hero-sama might be the cause huh”
“Eh?”
The Princess, she mutters that, but I haven’t got a clue.
Why am I the cause, when I didn’t even meet him for this one month.
“Sword Saint-sama, is aiming for a victory in this time’s tournament, the role of my official knight, and an engagement. ……is what Hero-sama saw through with the skill, right?”
“Yes”
“And then, the ‘Hero-sama’ is……extremely strong”
“Yes?”
Whatcha on about.
“The only ones who have an accurate grasp of the Hero-sama’s actual set of skills, are me and the Chivalric Order Captain, and then the ones who are here. Hence, what has been conveyed to the citizens is……the Hero-sama according to their imagination. We, too, did our best so that it gets conveyed as such after all…..”
The Hero’s publicity・image building strategy is something Princess Alicia put in her blood, sweat, and tears after all.
“Aah……. Leaving Shinta-san’s actual capabilities aside for now. Someone who possesses the legendary Hero’s powers has been summoned and is standing in the way of his engagement with Princess Alicia, which is his very wish, as an obstruction. Hence, he prepared a secret plan in order to defeat that?”
Uwah.
Even though I’m the underdog challenger even as it is, you’re telling me the Sword Saint is giving his all with the assumption that I’m an overpowered Hero!
It’s easier if he lets his guard down though!?
“……I do not know how it actually is, but……”
Mayria sends a side glance over at me.
……can I obtain information with my skill?
But I mean, the information has been deflected in 【Character Introduction】 after all.
It was also the same back when it was Lucy-chan; based on this pattern, I have a feeling that a corrupted text document will appear even if I obtain a detailed report through the Transportation Technique.
Whatever it is, I don’t want to test it in front of Princess Alicia.
It’s hard to say anything since it’s full of unknowns at this current stage.
“For now, just to be safe, I believe it is better for Alicia-sama not to get close”
“Eeh, got it”
Well, it’s just that, he didn’t really have the vibe that he’ll go on a rampage.
The only ones who noticed the Sword Saint’s abnormality are me・Mayria・Lucy-chan.
Isn’t that worse……?
More importantly, I guess I’ll think about the approaching tournament for now.
After the Princess is no longer around, I shall try to sound out the Sword Saint’s condition with the Transportation Technique for once.
“I do not know the details, but it seems that he has some kind of misdeeds at the very least”
“Then if you take on the Sword Saint, you can use the Holy Sword huh”
“Eeh”
It’s just that, the Holy Sword’s strengthening value is insufficient after all, and it’s iffy whether I can make full use of it.
……since it’s a tournament format, while accumulating actual combat experience, I’ll check it out in the matches.
It’s the reveal of the expending-the-Holy Sword’s-AP-and-temporarily cladding-in-Aura-move.
Nnー. ……something like 『Overdrive』? for the move name.
It’s chuunibyou1, but it’s easy to understand for me, so I guess I’ll go with that.
Lucy-chan, I wonder if she likes this kind of chuuni-naming, or if she hates it.
The move name is an exaggeration though; it’s actually no more than a move that makes it so that I can move at the same level as Aura-leaning warriors of this world. As of now.
It’s just that, if I’m able to strengthen my movements as a whole, even temporarily, Counter will become easier to land.
It feels something like fighting through the combination・coordination of the skills.
“Hero-sama. ……will you prepare a different weapon and whatnot?”
“Eeh, that is the plan. Mayria”
“Yes. ……what should we go for?”
Since it has transformed into a convenient skill by cooperating with Mayria, the Female Magician takes my hand as a facade in front of the Princess.
“……I want a weapon that contains a showy *move*, and an accessory that raises my capability value”
Looking at how Counter works, it’s no good to raise my defence too much.
Since ‘being able to just avoid an instant kill or a fatal wound in a single hit is good enough’ plays into my skill, if I have knockout resistance or something, I guess it’ll be effective if it’s a no-killing match?
On the other hand, it’s also necessary for me to be careful so that I don’t kill the opponent.
Slicing them apart like butter with some kind of special attack, is inappropriate for this tournament, and it’s grotesque.
I’d very much like a strategy aligned with the Hero’s image while avoiding things that’ll cause the Hero’s evaluation to fall.
After all, I’m that Princess Alicia’s fiancé.
◇Shining Sword
1. Hero-exclusive Equipment. The following effects manifest by the Hero using and swinging it.
2. An effect of 『Critical』 where 1 out of 10 hits on the same target has the force to decimate the opponent’s protective gear.
3. However, it is incapable of dealing a fatal wound to the human body.
4. The blade shines dimly when Critical manifests.
5. A trail of light stays for a bit when the sword is swung.
6. Rank A
◇Knockout Resistance Armlet
1. Makes it difficult to be knocked out when equipped.
2. Rank B
◇Impact Gauntlets
1. When you place your palm on the opponent and chant 『Shockwave』, it produces a shockwave that is enough to send a single person flying for roughly several meters.
2. The shockwave manifests only in front of the wearer, and it does not send the wearer flying.
3. Rank B
With something like that, I select Mayria with the Transportation Technique and activate it.
The equipment,
【Shining Sword】【Fire-Resistant Hero Outfit】【Impact Gauntlets】
【Breathing Supplementation Necklace】【Fire Smothering Mantle】【Knockout Resistance Armlet】
【Hero Boots】
……is worn on my body.
Let’s have Yuri hold onto the 【Invisible Robe】 and 【Monster Hunting Magic Sword】.
“Looks like it went smoothly huh”
“Aah, it’s thanks to Mayria”
I thought of kissing her, but I gave up on the idea since it wasn’t that kind of mood.
“Is the effect powerful?”
“No. It feels something like a *move* that exists on the same branch”
It’s because reputation and 【Leveling】 play a part as well.
Of course, it’s a fight that I have to win, but the good thing about this fight is that no life is at stake.
It’s a serious duel that I should make use of for Leveling.
There are probably those who put in great effort for the sake of this tournament as well.
Not all participants are misdeed-holders.
Since it’s not a scene where it’s okay for me to do sketchy things through the skill, I’ll stop at preparing substitutes of moves that Aura-leaning warriors can use.
As long as my objective is Demon Lord Subjugation, even if I win by tricks, it does nothing for the future if I’m truly weak after all. Which means, I’ll fight seriously.
“……Shino, are you not thinking about something unlike you?”
“Kyuー?”
“How rude”
It’s as though, I’m weird for trying to fight seriously and fairly, isn’t it.
And.
“……jet-black huh. It is not set as such, right”
“Aah”
“Kyuー……”
In order to handle the tournament’s opening ceremony greetings, the Princess left the tent.
Hence, I tried to obtain the Sword Saint’s condition with the Transportation Technique, but……for some reason, a jet-black paper ended up appearing.
How scary.
“We know it’s not omnipotent, so it’s that huh”
“Kyuー”
The information we want is *non-existent* or the skill doesn’t work.
I’m used to such things because of Lucy-chan though.
“Does it mean he’s cursed? That guy”
“It sure seems so huh. The reason is unknown though……”
“Kyuー!”
Lucy-chan jabs her fists.
Since the Sword Saint is not a Demon Lord candidate, please do cut him some slack, next Demon Lord-sama!
“Kyu?”
“Here, here”
“Kyuー!”
I pat Lucy-chan’s head.
Which means, ‘it’s finally here, the time for me to test my skills!’
I’m all kinds of uneasy about the Sword Saint.
“Also, Mayria”
“Yes”
“Before the tournament, I want to *accumulate* it to the brim beforehand. Can I get your help?”
As far as it goes, despite taking the orthodox route, I shall do whatever I can do.
◇◆◇
“Well then, from here on out, we will hold the first match of the Cousler Kingdom Fighting Tournament!”
Soldiers are encircling the vicinity of the fighting stage.
It’s by no means in order to disallow fleeing for your life.
They’d been stationed there in order to put up a barrier so that the magic and moves wouldn’t go flying to the audience.
A transparent membrane envelops the stage from afar with Earth Wall and Wind Wall, a Wind Magic version of my Mirror Wall.
It’ll be troubling entertainment-wise if the audience can’t see the match after all.
It seems that in order to keep the wall as difficult to see as possible and also maintain its strength, a technique for that is required.
By the way, if they really want to protect against the threats of monsters and such, it’ll easily turn into a magic where the wall is visible.
“Hoo, the legendary Hero-sama, you sayy? Is it for real”
“It is”
My first battle’s opponent is……a normal Adventurer, warrior-feeling opponent.
“On the east is……Hero Shinohara!”
By the way, the first match of this tournament is my match.
A 1vs1 split to the east and west.
……at this point in time, the tournament’s schedule has already completely been set up by the Princess huh.
Furthermore, the Sword Saint is on the other side of the tournament.
She sure knows where the hype is.
This opponent is probably also chosen by the Chivalric Order Captain and is an opponent matched for me to be infinitely close to my current level.
That being said, since I’m not that strong that I can let my guard down, I’m going all out.
By the way, the King and the Princess are sitting side by side in luxurious chairs prepared by the royal castle and overlooking this tournament. It sure has been a long time since I saw the King-sama huh.
“I’m gonna verify whether or not you’re the real deal!”
“Aah, verify me”
I’m also unclear on what extent my vs-people battle power is after all.
That aside……it feels like I’ll *explode* if I don’t hurry up.
“Everybody, make sure to aim for the final victory, and fight fair and square!”
The proceedings of the tournament is……conducted by the Minister, maybe? and the battle finally started!
“Here I come!”
“…………”
The opponent slashes at me with an opening dash.
He has no misdeeds. I can’t use the Holy Sword for attacking, but……I wonder if I can use it for movement supplementation.
The movement supplementation itself is being supplemented by 【Hero’s Boots】 though.
That aside, I make use of the fact that it’s the tournament’s first match.
My fundamental strategy is Counter-focused.
However, it’s precisely so!
“……Counter Burst!”
I slam the *accumulation* of damage given by Mayria before the match into the opponent who closed in on me! It’s not a reflection of magic, but a Counter of accumulated damage-move! It’s a shockwave through pseudo-Aura!
“Wha-!?”
I also charged at the opponent who charged over, and then I did a *preemptive strike*!
I’ll leave the impression of ‘Counter is not my only weapon’ in the participants beforehand!
“””Ooh!?”””
It’s a powerful? first move deriving from the Hero’s preconception!
It’s a single strike that includes the image-building strategy!
“Guu……!”
The opponent ate the attack, which is also a single strike of Counter, head-on for how much he charged at me, and he flew away.
O-, ooh?
On top of being hard to control, the force also disperses, so I thought it might be iffy, but it worked even in vs-people!?
I wonder if I’ve become stronger than back when I was summoned.
……like the Chivalric Order Captain is just irregular.
Or is the opponent weak.
In any case, I’m going to go all out! I’m gonna go for the win stylishly!
◇◆◇
“Good work, Shinta-san!”
“Thanks. Fuu……”
“……why the ‘pheww’ kind of reaction, Shino”
“Kyuー!”
Having won the first battle without any problem, I returned to the waiting room’s tent and was received by the girls+the next Demon Lord-sama.
“Well, it’s a natural reaction since I, who I thought was a small fry, won, right”
“A small fry can’t kill Papa, you know”
Should I, peck at that now? That’s a trap kill, you know.
……I guess the battle this time is also something similar.
“I gave the impression that I also have means of attacking other than Counter. It’s precisely because there are many observers, that they should have understood that I don’t only have one hand to play”
There’s nothing better than to confuse the opponent’s thoughts after all.
I may not be able to set it up that calmly when it actually comes time for the battle though.
◇◆◇
“Nn?”
Observing also makes for good studying, so I also watch the other participants’ matches.
As expected, I don’t think experience points will accumulate by just watching though…….
Huh, somehow, my eyes have become better?
【Leveling】, has too many elements that it sure is hard to grasp huh.
Rather than having a dramatic effect, it’s overall accumulation-focused after all.
“What is the matter?”
“No, I was thinking that, ‘come to think of it, Magicians also participate in this tournament huh'”
“Aah, yeah”
Since the equipment of one of the people who just went up the stage, has a ‘Magician’ vibe no matter how you look at it, I pay attention to him.
It somehow has the image of a moves-based tournament, so I was thinking that only Aura-leaning humans will participate.
“A Magician opponent, might be easier for me huh”
I probably won’t lose if I reflect with 【Mirror Magic】 after all.
I’m an arch-nemesis of Magicians.
“……won’t the Princess match you up if you said it to her?”
“As expected, it’s probably impossible to change the schedule from now on”
My public reception will become bad if there’s suspicion of match-fixing or pre-arrangement after all.
I’ll do it with an orthodox method, leaving aside whether or not that’s obtainable.
Since I also prepared a shining sword that focuses on theatrics, I’ve gotta hype up the tournament as well.
And then, cheers erupt again, and another match comes to an end.
It looks like the Magician won.
It feels like I’ll be able to have it easy if it carries on like this, and the one I run into before the fight with the Sword Saint is him.
The one I want to watch the most, is the Sword Saint’s battle though…….
“Hero-sama”
, the Magician I’d been paying attention to unexpectedly called out to where I was over there.
“Ah, yes”
“The fight just now, it was a marvellous fight. The legendary Hero is the real deal huh”
“That is……appreciated. Thank you. Your fight was marvellous as well”
I respond with lip service.
And then 【Character Introduction】, activate.
◆Straizo
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Profile:
『A skilful Magician. Fond of Princess Alicia. Looking up to the Hero, he trained himself, but he was discouraged by his lack of talent in swordsmanship in general. Instead, he trained himself in magic and became competent at it as well, but he harbours some kind of complex. His jealousy for those who excel in martial arts and contempt for those who cannot use magic well, is excessive in order to protect his pride. He is also interested in Mayria, who is an excellent Magician』
Misdeeds:
Additional Profile:
『Looking at how Alicia・Mayria and the Hero are in an out-of-the-ordinary relationship, he is angry and jealous in his heart』
“U” u……”
“Yes?”
I ended up groaning reflexively.
‘Additional profile’, you say, but I don’t know anything before the addition though!
“Is something the matter?”
“N-, no……”
I mean, it’s not like he did anything bad, and he probably just doesn’t think well of me inside his heart……
“If both of us win our next matches, it will be our match huh, Hero-sama”
“Ye-, yeah”
“……please do not hold back, alright, Hero-sama”
“Of course. Straizo-san”
I meann, he didn’t do anything, but……I wonder if I’ll have to ‘repay his loyaltyーin death’2. If the Sword Saint is the boss character, then he’s the mid-boss?
“Shino, what are you thinking about?”
“Kyuー?”
“Just a little something”
……it seems there are all kinds of people participating in the fighting tournament as well.
- 中二病(Chuunibyou): It’s a phase that some middle school students have in Japan where they think they have super powers and whatnot
- Live A Live reference, Streibough’s phrase. I used the official Streibough’s dialouge in English here. It makes a little more sense in the Japanese, where it goes something along the lines , ‘I wonder if I’ll have to ‘beg for his forgiveness in the afterlife”
