Should've deposited one more coin

After the first day ended, I decided to just stay overnight in the waiting room.

Sure, I could've gone back to the inn, but how often do you get to spend the night in a tournament waiting room?

Aishia and Dea-kun did have dinner with me here, but they headed back to our base afterward. Could've just stayed and slept in the room with me, you know.

"And so, I've summoned Mashiro-san."

"… This is seriously the Central Coliseum in Teraria-Wan, Terarialbee."

"Yeah, so?"

Mashiro-san was grumbling about how crossing the border without permission would make her an illegal immigrant… but as long as she doesn't leave this room, it's fine. Yep. I trust Mashiro-san knows to be careful about that stuff.

"While you're here, mind filling me in about this country? A bit late for that, I know."

"I told you plenty before, right? That was pretty much everything."

"By the way, I'm currently competing in the tournament with the money you entrusted to me on the line."

"Alright, ask me anything."

Now that Mashiro-san was in a cooperative mood, time to ask some questions.

"So, I want to confirm something… The king is also White Wolf Clan, right? Same as you, Mashiro-san?"

"Yeah. Barbaros-sama is White Wolf Clan too. Oh, and if you end up facing him in the tournament, don't hold back, just beat him down. That old guy might be the crowd favorite, but he loses in tournaments every now and then, so it's no big deal."

Mashiro-san just called the king 'that old guy.'

"I mean, we're technically relatives, even if super distant ones. Fought him in a tournament once. Couldn't win, but I put up a pretty good fight."

"Ooh, if even Mashiro-san couldn't win, he must be amazing!"

"You're one to talk??"

Well, I mean, she can't win against me in bed. Right?

"Hmm, General Garou might be tougher though."

"Really?"

"Black Wolf Clan are hard to spot when they melt into darkness. White Wolf Clan rules the day, Black Wolf Clan rules the night, or so they say."

"I see!… But the tournament takes place during bright daylight, doesn't it?"

"They use hidden weapons and stuff. I dabble in 'em a bit myself, but the Black Wolf Clan take it seriously."

If I end up facing Black Wolf Clan, I should probably hunker down on defense.

"Well, either way, they're no match for you. Win the whole thing and make me some good money."

"Yep yep, leave it to me. If I keep winning, that's 10 times the payout—and with Dea-kun's contribution, we're looking at 200 times!"

"… I deposited one gold coin with you, Karina, right?"

"If things go well, it'll become 200 gold coins."

"Kheh…"

Mashiro-san's face twitched.

"… Sorry, some weird laugh came out."

"Oh, that was a laugh? First time I've seen that one."

"Haaah, seriously? One gold coin turning into 200? That's ridiculous profit… Makes you wonder why anyone bothers working for a living… Should've deposited one more coin."

Despite saying that, Mashiro-san was also muttering things like "Now I can order equipment from the Five Elders' big sisters," so she clearly has no intention of quitting the adventurer life.

"By the way, Karina. I heard you fought 11 consecutive matches in the tournament?"

"Oh yeah. After that there was a break, then one more match, and it continues tomorrow. They basically ran the preliminaries all in one day."

"That's a lot of fighting… After all those battles, you must be pretty wound up, yeah?"

Saying that, Mashiro-san sat down on the room's bed and patted the spot next to her.

… Oh? Is she inviting me?

Fine, I'll play along! I'm ready!

So I sat down right next to Mashiro-san.

C-come at me! (but passively)

"You sent Dea-bou and the others back and called me over just for this, didn't you? Fine by me, it's rent time. I've always wanted to do it in a room like this."

"… Kuuun!"

With Mashiro-san paying me plenty of rent, I felt ready to face tomorrow's tournament with a refreshed mind.