Preliminary Tournament Begins

The day of the tournament preliminaries had finally arrived.

We arrived at the arena where the tournament would take place. It was more than four times the size of the arena we'd been practicing in. It was like the difference between an elementary school sports field and an athletics stadium.

"There are so many people here."

"It is a once every several years festival after all."

Although the demons' one was held every year, this one was once every four years. There was no reason to not be excited about it. Stalls were lined up and down the main thoroughfare and people who were basically monsters like lizardmen and harpies (maybe they were actually monsters…) were enjoying the festival as well… Woah, there's a giant beetle walking on two legs there. Insectoids are a thing? Heeeh…

"This is the qualifier. If you win here, you'll go to the main one in the capital."

"Wataru's participating too, right?"

"Yeah Rokuko. That hero has been exempted from the qualifier. If you're worried about a fight with him, it will be in the main tournament. I'd love if he won and got to participate in my tournament though."

Moreover, since we're participating form the same location (the Empire's bracket), the matches between me, Niku, and Wataru were arranged to all be as unlikely as possible.

Even in the preliminaries, we're in different blocks, so Niku and I would definitely not face each other even if we won every match. If we were to fight Wataru, it'd have to be in the main event. Even then, it'd be in the finals or semifinals.

"Hmm? In that case, Sebas won't be able to win the championship even if he beats me or Wataru in the main event, Right? Won't he be unable to participate in the higher ranking tournament?"

"If he loses, he can participate in the higher ranking tournament as my Master. It's a bit pathetic, but there's not much we can do about his opponent being a hero."

"My apologies, Ojou-sama, but this cheating bastard aside, I have no intention of losing to a pampered hero who's been soaking in lukewarm water."

"Hoh, Master. I hear that Hero Wataru is a famous martial artist though?"

"Wataru is stronger than Niku, I wonder if Sebas will be able to win despite being on the verge of losing outright to Niku?"

Sebas couldn't find a way to counter Aidi and Rokuko's verbal attacks. How pitiful.

… Speaking of which, I didn't know that Wataru was a martial artist. All I can recall about him is that sloppy smile of his.

"He's been called things like The Grinning Nightmare and The Smiling Slayer, you know?"

"What's with those two nicknames? Does he keep that smile even on the battlefound? That's freaky."

"It's not an uncommon thing for otherworlders and heroes… but Wataru is different. Unlike those children who don't value life and just plays around with people, it's like he understands and kills them properly."

"… And that just makes his smile even more scary."

I remember Wataru saying something about how he wouldn't be able to go back to Japan anymore with a sad look on his face… Right, note to self: have Nerune be more kind to Wataru.

"Kehma, just focus on winning, okay?"

"Uhh, yeah."

Encouraged by Rokuko, I entered the arena.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

With that, the preliminary tournament began. The opening ceremoney was quickly glossed over and the battles started right away.

I wrapped the [Divine Blanket] around me like a cloak and entered the arena.

The [Divine Blanket] was able to change its appearance to some extence, so it just looked like a thick cloth at first glance… but it was a blanket in the end.

I'd wondered how many rounds you have to win in the preliminaries, so I asked Aidi, but she just smiled and said "Just beat the enemy in front of you, that's all." and wouldn't give me an answer.

… Let's just say that I'm handicapped because I'm using the [Divine Blanket].

At any rate, it was one on one. The arena was divided into four sections and four matches were being held at once.

"Ha, you actually came… What's this, you look weak. I'll cut you to pieces with my sword and teeth."

"Ah, nice to meet you? But you know, you should stop judging people by their appearance."

My first opponent was a sahagin with pink scales. He was a tough looking dude with metal armor and his own fish scales. He was wielding a sword and had pike-like teeth.

The match began.

Simultaneously, I fired off an [Elemental Shot]. First, I'll use it to restrain him, then—

"Gufu!?"

"Eh, it hit?"

"I-I give up…"

"Eh, you're already giving up?"

—Idiot. He'd only been hit in the knee. Sebas would have gleefully charged at me, and besides, he hadn't been hit at all.

Well, I would have given up too. More like I'd be rolling around in pain, but still.

"Kehma Golen advances to the second round! Next up is the second match! Please wait for a moment. The next match will start soon."

"Eh, we're fighting back to back?"

As I waited for the referee's instruction, a boar beastkin appeared. He was half as much taller than me and more than three times as wide. He had a massive build, and to top it off, he was fully armored.

"Muahahaha, this king's defense can't be pierced!"

"Aaah, nice to meet you? … It's my win if I can pierce your defense then?"

"Very well! Come at me! Wahahaha!"

And so the second match began with another [Elemental Shot]. I aimed for the middle of his stomach, a place that wouldn't be a vital spot. Ah, I'm also using the wall behind me as a shield, so I'm not bothering the other matches.

"What, what kind of piercing power… Gufu, I'm done for…"

"… Yeaaah."

The boar beastkin was carried away on a stretcher. Well, it's not like he'd be able to recover from that wound with a healing spell… The spectators who were watching my match were making a lot of noise. Was the boar beastkin a candidate for the championship? No way.

"Kehma Golen advances through the second round! Please wait for a moment."

"Eh, back-to-back again? Hold up, how long am I supposed to be fighting?"

Isn't there supposed to be a break or something?

"It is a generous arrangement by our sponsor. Oh, here is the tournament table."

"… Hey, isn't everyone else seeded except for mine?"

It was obvious at a glance that the tournament table was blatantly rigged.

My name was on the left side and I'd have to fight a seeded opponent after winning a match. This pattern continued all the way down.

The last guy only needed to win one match to advance through the preliminaries.

"Hey, isn't this obviously disadvantageous to me!?"

"Ah, I'm so envious! To be able to fight this much, what sort of connections did you use? Or was it some display of strength? I love shows of strength! Hahahahah!"

"… Ah, right. I don't mind swapping places with the guy on the far right."

"Such cheating is not allowed."

What the hell!? The tournament table itself is rigged, but you're not allowed to cheat!?

"Kyaah! Kehma, keep going like that! CRUSH—THEM—ALL!"

"Rokuko, you're getting too excited. Let's watch the matches more elegantly."

Rokuko and Aidi were sitting in the front row of the audience. When did they get there?

"Hey, Aidi!? What's with this tournament!?"

"I arranged it for Rokuko's sake. Since I've given you a stage to show off, how about saying something like 'thank you'?"

"You… have you ever heard of the phrase unwanted favor?"

"Fufu, you're welcome."

It's no use, she doesn't get it. Another cultural difference?

In the end, Sebas, who I'd been practicing with, was pretty strong. I was able to win against most opponents with just an [Elemental Shot] at the start, and I was able to win the tournament and advance through the preliminaries without any problems.

Admittedly, some of them started managing to avoid my first shot, but I was still able to win with just two or three [Elemental Shots]. Before they could even attack me, I'd already won.

… Ah, well. I was thinking that I could have used [Pitfall] or [Stone Pile] and fought more aggressively since I was using the [Divine Blanket] for safety, but… well, I won with just one card, so it's fine.