Preliminary Tournament Final Day (2)

The final day of the preliminaries was reaching its climax as the remaining battles were the finals of each block.

Since the third-place match didn't matter in the preliminaries, it would be held as a casual event after the finals were over.

"I thought they'd hold it before the finals, to build up some suspense."

"To put it simply, Rokuko's Master, people in the Demonlands are impulsive."

"So they just want to get the finals done quickly, huh?"

The difference in temperament definitely affects cultural differences.

And so it came time for Niku's final preliminary match.

Niku seemed nervous at first, but there was no sign of that left at all. She faced her opponent with her usual emotionless expression and nonchalant tail wag.

"Niku's final opponent is a wolf beastkin?"

"No, Rokuko's Master. That's a werewolf."

"… Huh? Werewolves are monsters, right?"

"Yes. So what?"

In the Demonlands, it seems that monsters lived openly as monsters, yet still lived like humans… In the Empire, Misha kept insisting that she was a cat beastkin.

"Is the Demonlands more open-minded about that sort of thing?"

"Yes, as long as they're strong, it's fine. Though from our perspective, monsters provide less DP, so it'd be troublesome if there were too many of them."

"I see. I was starting to forget the difference between humans and monsters, but there is a difference when we look at them like that."

The werewolf opponent had a completely wolf-like head, a muscular upper body, and slightly wolf-like legs that looked fast. It was a werewolf befitting the title of [Werewolf], with a beastly appearance of about three quarters.

On the stage of the finals, Niku and the werewolf faced each other. The referee's signal was just a little longer.

Then, the werewolf snorted with a laugh through his nose.

"Do you really think a dog can beat a wolf?"

"If I win, I win."

"Ha! You've got guts, girl! I like it! You look like you'd bear strong children. Give birth to my offspring!"

"I refuse though?"

What was that werewolf even talking about before the match? I'd be tempted to aim for his groin.

"It's passionate and wonderful. I wish my Master had that much spirit."

"Really, Aidi? Are you and Sebas that close?"

"It's just an example. But I do like strong males. I want to make them submit and serve me."

Aidi placed her hand on her cheek, looking dreamy. The way she placed her pinky near the corner of her mouth seemed sultry… Rokuko,no imitating that, okay?

"Begin!"

With the referee's signal, the match began. Niku had defeated all her opponents in an instant so far. I thought she would settle the match quickly this time as well, but her opponent was strong enough to make it to the finals. The werewolf caught Niku's knife and stopped it.

"Hmm, it won't cut. That's some sturdy fur."

"Hah! If you want to cut me, bring a magic sword with increased sharpness!"

"Is that so?"

"Eh? Nuguwaah!?"

Having held off on channeling mana through her knife golem thus far, Niku activated it.

As a result, the werewolf's hand that was holding the knife was cut off――no, he just barely managed to let go in time. The fingers were still connected, but blood was flowing from each.

"W-wait, was that a magic sword?! You weren't using it until now!"

"…? I'm allowed to use a magic sword, right?"

"I can't believe you held back on using it until now… Heal my wounds—[Heal]."

"I didn't, need it yet."

While slashing, dodging, healing, and kicking, Niku and the werewolf were calmly talking to each other.

It was impressive that they could chat so casually while moving their bodies so much. Well, the Demon King Style didn't require you to breathe.

"Haah! Take this—[Slash]"

The werewolf swung his freshly healed hand, raising his claws for a 【Slash】 attack. It wasn't a sword technique but a claw technique. Niku easily avoided the attack by bending her body—however…

"[Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash]!"

"Mu—, ha—, to—, yo—, ho—, ha—!"

It was a series of quick, consecutive attacks. The claws assaulted Niku from all directions, but she calmly avoided them by staring at the werewolf's arms.

"[Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash]!"

"Fu—, ha—, to—, gu—!? Aguh—!"

But the relentless, even more consecutive attacks were too much for Niku, and she couldn't avoid them all. However, she did manage to guard. She stopped the downward swing with her knife golem and was blown away by the next [Slash] to her side.

"W-Wait, Aidi! Niku was just blown away!?"

"That was the Demon King Style's [Deception], Rokuko. It's a technique I taught the puppy as well."

"Eh, what? What just happened? Explain, Aidi."

"… Did you notice that he yelled out the skill without actually using it? That werewolf used a devious technique to land an attack on an impossible trajectory without the skill, then used the skill when her guard was down."

I see, so that's what that technique was… it wasn't just a rapid-fire, monotonous skill after all. Huh.

"So—"

"Is Niku okay? She's crouching down."

"Yep, she's fine. She's used to taking hits like that during training with Sebas."

"Really?"

"… Yes. As Rokuko's Master said, if losing focus after taking damage is all it takes, then the puppy is just that limited. The Demon King Style is about fighting with all your strength until the very end… That being said, there's no need to worry, Rokuko."

But Niku was still crouching down, holding the side of her body where she had been attacked.

Just then, the werewolf rushed at her as if to follow up with another attack—

"I've got you now!"

—But that's exactly what Niku was hoping for.

Niku didn't miss the slight opening created by the werewolf's overextended attack, wanting to finish her off. Pretending to be unable to move due to the damage she had taken, Niku swiftly closed the distance between them, moving so fast that it seemed as if she had disappeared from the werewolf's sight. She then silently pressed her knife to his throat.

Of course, the magic sword Golem Knife was activated. As it shaved off the fur on the werewolf's neck and cut into his flesh just a little, she stopped the knife just before it reached his carotid artery. The werewolf could no longer move.

"Did you think you could defeat me with just that?"

"… I admit defeat. You're quite something, kid."

"Yes."

With the words of surrender, Niku emotionlessly stepped away, her tail wagging happily.

"Oh! What an upset! The previous tournament's third-round competitor, Scujila, has been eliminated during the preliminaries! The one to bring him down is the assassin from the empire, 'Black Hound' Niku Kroyne! How far will her small but sharp fangs bite into this demon country's tournament?!"

The referee's announcement was even more flamboyant than before. It seemed that Scujila had been a favorite to win, having advanced to the main event in the previous tournament. That's fitting for a preliminary final match.

Seeing Niku waving her hand toward us, I waved back.

"Wait, wasn't Niku the one who got hit by Scujila's [Deception]?"

"What are you talking about, Rokuko? That was the puppy's Demon King Style [Deception], right? I told you."

"Huh? Where?"

Well, this is Aidi's fault for not explaining properly.

The Demon King Style, [Deception].

I was taught this as well, but it's essentially a very Demon King-like technique where you pretend to be defeated to unleash a second form.

Of course, Niku doesn't have a second form, so it was probably just her giving it her all… Oh, maybe her last jump was a bit unnatural because she finally allowed herself to use the Golem assist.

"Um, so what was Scujila's technique then? What's it called?"

"? We don't bother naming something as crude as that feint. At least not in the Demon King Style."

Well, that seems to be the case.

Anyway, Niku's advancement to the main event was confirmed. Our girl is strong.

Oh, and Sebas also advanced to the main event. His opponent was a small fry by Sebas' standards, so there's not much to talk about there.

The last of the four contenders from this town was decided when Gaigankin, who had defeated Muzoh, triumphed over his rival, Aljarlo Menowe.

And so the four main event competitors from this town were determined.