After randomly killing some time, my match was finally about to begin, so I returned to the waiting room.
“Ah, Mr. Orn, I’ve been going all around for you! Why weren’t you in the waiting room! Seriously–“
He must have been searching for me.
The staff member sees me and complains incessantly.
“Sorry, I was just taking a walk.”
“……Well alright. The prior match has already started, so please get ready.”
And just as the staff member says that, that match coincidentally comes to an end.
Derrick enters the waiting room from the match venue.
He catches sight of me and stares furiously.
“Oi! Go win! I’ll beat the shit out of you in front of everyone tomorrow!”
As usual, he’s a noisy guy. Even though I’ve already told him to stay out of my life, he still keeps coming.
Well, it is my fault too.
“I’m glad you’re supporting me.”
“I ain’t supporting you!”
I engage in some banter with Derrick and leave the waiting room.
Appearing before my eyes from the back is a wide circular arena.
“That bracelet is a magic tool, isn’t it? Magic tools are not allowed to be brought into the match venue. Please hand over the magic tool or the magic stone attached to it.”
This had already been explained in the rules beforehand, so it’s not a surprise to me, I retrieve my sword belt and the two swords prepared for the martial arts tournament from the bracelet on my right.
Then I remove the magic stone from my left bracelet before handing the bracelet to the staff member.
Naturally, I didn’t want to pass the magic stone to someone else.
Continuing on, I put the sword belt around my waist and put the long sword on my left and the short sword on my hip.
As I’m getting ready, I hear the announcer’s voice.
<Well then, there’s only one match left for today’s tournament! The Ace from ‘Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit’, the leading candidate to win the entire tournament, Orn Doula – the ‘Dragon Slayer’! His opponent, descending to the 89th floor this month, currently said to be closest to being an S Rank party, from ‘Jade Gale’, Lauretta Weaver!>
Cheers follow the announcer’s voice, just as they did before the first match.
Everyone is sure in good spirits…….
After finishing my preparations, I slowly walk towards my designated position in the match arena.
◇ ◇
“Nice to meet you, ‘Dragon Slayer’. To think I’m up against the favourite in my first match, I’m disgusted with my own bad luck. But, if I beat you, we’ll leap to being a famous party. So, let me beat you!”
“……I don’t think your party’s fame will change that much depending on whether you win or lose this match. In this past month, you’re the party that reached the 89th floor straight from the 86th.”
That’s right. Last month, the A Rank party that had reached the lowest floor was Bernard’s party from “Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit”.
However, in the blink of an eye, her party has leapt to the top of the A Ranks.
This breakthrough is honestly praiseworthy.
The middle layers aren’t anything much, but it’s no easy feat to conquer the lower layers in such a short period of time.
“It’s still not enough. Pass the Lacquer, pass the Rabbit, pass the Gold, we will be the ‘Heroes’!”
Lauretta holds up two long swords in each hand.
Can a woman handle them well without buffs? I mean in terms of strength.
She has an average build, and it feels like she might be swung around by the swords.
“I see. I’d like to support your goal, but I have my own reasons for not losing, so let me win.”
I draw my long sword from my left side and slightly lower my centre of gravity while relaxing my entire body.
<Looks like both participants are ready. Well then, let the eight match of the first round commence!>
Immediately after the starting signal, Lauretta rushes at me.
I watch Lauretta’s movements without moving.
Lauretta enters into sword range and from my perspective, swings her right-hand sword horizontally from right to left.
–As I had imagined, she was a little swayed by the weight of the sword.
Perhaps because the weight wasn’t appropriate for her, the attack is slow.
I easily dodge the attack, and without any pause, the sword in her left hand runs through almost the same trajectory as the sword in her right.
With this much of a swing, I judge that there will be a big gap after she finishes swinging her left sword, so I counterattack.
–But right after that, the tip of the sword comes at me from my lower left side, aiming at my throat.
“–su!”
I immediately stop my attack, turn my body to avoid the thrust, and leap backwards to create distance.
Right after Lauretta’s thrust with her left sword, she follows up with a lunge with her right sword.
These moves are only possible for someone with a strong core.
“Ooh, you can react to that, huh. I wanted to overwhelm you in one go with that attack though!”
(Was she bluffing and making it look like she was being swayed around by her swords?)
Lauretta’s voice comes out casually as she closes the distance and then swings her sword again.
Since the speed of her swords isn’t that fast, I can deal with them.
However, there are many variations.
She’s using the advantage of two swords to the maximum.
I’m able to avoid or block Lauretta’s attacks, but can’t make a move to attack.
<An unexpected development! Orn hasn’t been able to shift to the offensive! Are his hands full with holding on!?>
We exchange swords dozens of times.
(I’ve got a general idea of her moves. –I guess it’s about time.)
I, who had been wholly observing her movements while receiving her attacks, start turning towards attacking.
Lauretta compensates for her slow sword speed with the number of her moves.
However, the tempo of her attacks is almost constant and easy to grasp.
First, in order to break that rhythm, I pull out the short sword from my hip with my left hand and strike it against her right sword before she can finish her swing.
“–su!?”
With the rhythm of her attack collapsing, I swing my long sword.
Lauretta immediately goes on the receiving end and backsteps away while blocking my attack with her left sword.
And following that, for her to close the distance and return to attacking, she quickly adjusts her posture to swing her right sword.
Unfortunately, that attack doesn’t reach me.
I’ve already understood that she’d be starting with her right sword and have also grasped the range of her swords.
Her attack just fails to reach me and ends up swinging through empty air.
Instantly after her empty swing, I send my long sword at her right arm.
The blade is dulled so I can’t cut her, but I can feel her bones breaking through the long sword.
I attempt to follow up with the short sword in my left hand, but I abandon that thought after seeing her take a large leap backwards to make space.
Instead, I throw the short sword, timing it with her landing.
Taking advantage of the gap in Lauretta losing her balance to avoid the thrown sword, I close the distance and slash my long sword horizontally with all my strength.
Even while unbalanced, she catches my strike with her left sword, but she can’t hold her ground and falls down, dropping her sword.
And I point the tip of my sword in front of her eyes.
“Mm, it’s my loss.”
<It’s settled! The winner is Orn from ‘Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit’! After he started taking the initiative to attack, the match was one-sided! He’s strong after all, the ‘Dragon Slayer’!>
The excitement of the announcer is matched by the excitement of the audience.
……It’s still noisy.
“Ah, couldn’t win after all……. Winning with an improvised style without buffs, you’re not that simple of an opponent, yeah~”
“I did think that what you just did wasn’t the way you normally fight.”
“Well, yeah. But it’s not an excuse.”
She did give a good performance, but if you were to ask whether this was the level of the Ace of an A Rank party, there would be some doubts.
“Also, I’m sorry about your right arm.”
“Nah, don’t apologise. I’ve been prepared for injuries ever since I decided to participate in this tournament.”
Injuries are a natural part of martial arts competitions.
The best Healers are on hand for this reason.
She’ll also be receiving treatment after this.
Probably by the end of the day, she should be completely fine.
“Then, good luck in your next match! You need to win. Then I can have an excuse for losing in the first round because I lost to the winner.”
“Got it. It was my intention to win to begin with.”
Thus, my first round of the martial arts tournament ended in victory.
Going through this match made me even more certain.
The rules of this tournament don’t match well with explorers.
I’m fine with that, but it’s a bit unpleasant if the public were to think that this was all advanced explorers are capable of.
And this marked the end of the first day of the “Advanced Explorers Division” in the martial arts tournament.
There are only three victories left until the finals.
Next, at any rate, the semi-finals and the finals probably won’t be simple to win, but for the Clan, and above all for myself, I can’t lose.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Everyone, good morning! With yesterday’s excitement still fresh in our minds, we’re going to be starting the second round!”
Like yesterday, the crowd’s still as loud, like they’re being fired up by the announcer.
<Now, let’s check out today’s matches! The first match will be the Hero Party’s Oliver against “Night Sky Silver Rabbit’s” Wilkes. The second match will be “Lacquered Evening Mist’s” Haruto against “Blue Autumn Rain’s” Olaf. The third match will be between “Amber Flash’s” Keiron against “Lacquered Evening Mist’”s Fuuka. And the fourth match will be the Hero Party’s Derrick against “Night Sky Silver Rabbit’s” Orn! Of particular note are the first and fourth matches where fellow S Ranks will clash with each other! Shall we see what kind of fight they have in store for us today–>
“Will, how are you doing?”
Orn, waiting in the waiting room with me, says to me.
“Not too bad. Based on Oliver’s fight yesterday, I’ve done some simulations, I’m gonna win.”
That guy’s fighting style’s all about attack, like he’s all-in on offence being the best defence.
If he’s only going to attack, it’s good for my fighting style.
“……Oliver’s match yesterday, I don’t think it’s a good idea to refer to that. I’m not saying that it’s completely meaningless though.”
Orn warns me with concern.
“I’m aware. There’s a chance yesterday’s way of fighting was to mislead. I’ll be careful and fight while keeping a close eye.”
<Well then, now that it’s time, let’s begin the second round of the [Advanced Explorer’s Division] Martial Arts Tournament right away! The first match, the one who instantly defeated his opponent with an overwhelming series of blows, Oliver Cardiff. Facing him will be the one who steadily received his opponent’s strikes, then took control of the battle and entranced us with his skills, “Night Sky Silver Rabbit’s” Wilkes Severly!>
My name called, I walk towards the centre of the arena.
Oliver’s walking in from the other side.
He’s got an air to him after all. Somehow similar to Orn, feels like.
“Go easy on me, Mr. Hero.”
“……Easy? Don’t say stupid things. I am obviously going to crush you with everything I’ve got.”
Meant it as a light greeting, but he took me seriously.
And with eyes sharp enough to make you think he could kill someone just by looking at them.
But I get that he’ll be coming at me all out.
I also ready myself and my double-bladed sword.
<Now, let the first match of the second round begin!>
With the voice of the announcer, the sound of loud drums ring out around us.
“……?”
Completely unlike yesterday, he’s not going right in for the attack.
Scared of me? I don’t think so.
My fighting style’s basically to match the enemy’s attack.
Anyone with a good head would know from seeing how I fought yesterday that I don’t start with my own attacks.
If that’s so, I’m gonna make a move and take the initiative!
<Oh, Wilkes is the first to move! This is the exact opposite of yesterday.>
Even while I’m closing in, he’s still watching me with sword in hand.
In this way, he’s just like Orn.
But Orn’s skills with countering are better.
I’ve had many mock battles with Orn, so I should be able to handle him even if he’s aiming to counterattack!
I swing my double-bladed sword.
With the blade pressing in on Oliver, he’s still not moving.
(What’s this about? If he’s not moving already, he won’t counter in time–!?”
Before the blade reaches Oliver, it hits something and my attack’s stopped.
I immediately check what the blade struck and see a golden mass in the air.
(This is [Mana Convergence]–!?)
Oliver’s sword comes at me just as I stop moving.
I’d been on the lookout for a counter so I’m able to react, but I can’t completely avoid it and his blade hits me in the side.
“Gghh!”
The blade’s dulled so I’m not cut, but it still hits me at a fairly fast speed. Hurts like hell….
While enduring the pain, I take Oliver’s second strike with my double-bladed sword.
(Bloody heavy…….)
Not being able to parry the attack, receiving it head-on’s heavier than I’d anticipated.
Still, I somehow manage to bear it and we lock swords.
And after fixing my stance, I’d planned to attack with the opposite blade, but before I can do so, Oliver pulls back his sword.
I stop myself and stand my ground, but by that time, Oliver’s attack already comes in.
I block that attack too, but I can’t parry it, I can barely receive it.
I’ve got my hands full with just enduring.
<Oliver’s raging rush! Wilkes somehow manages to block, but he’s on the defensive! Will he be able to recover from this!?>
Oliver’s attacks don’t slow down, he’s slowly cutting away my strength.
He doesn’t even give me time to adjust my stance.
(….Orn told me, I thought I’d known. I knew that I couldn’t beat Oliver. But I didn’t know there was this much of a gap between us……. From the first clash to this point, have I just been in his palm……)
“Will!! Go for it!!”
(–su!)
I feel like I heard Lucre’s voice over the crowd noise.
(Why the hell am I already in a giving up mode! Can’t show them me looking pathetic! Even if I lose, at least leave a mark!)
Even with my posture disbalanced, I force myself to receive his attack at an angle, causing Oliver’s sword to slide over my blade.
“Huh!?”
“Haaa!”
Following that, I swing my double-bladed sword and it his Oliver near the stomach, blowing him backwards.
(I felt that. That should be quite a bit of damage…..)
Even though I hit him with all my might, Oliver’s standing as if nothing’s happened.
(That must have been a direct hit. What the!?)
“That was a surprise. I didn’t think you could go on the attack from there.”
“I’m the one who’s surprised…….”
“Then, the next attack. Can you survive this one? Rabbit’s shield.”
As he says that, Oliver’s blade emits a golden light.
(This is [Heavenly Flash]!? Not good!)
The double-bladed sword I usually use can erase that.
However, this weapon is a purely physical weapon created for the martial arts tournament.
There’s no way I can face this kind of straight attack from this crazy bastard!
In fact, I’d probably die!?
I quickly close the distance to stop him from shooting [Heavenly Flash].
Then, Oliver smiles.
(Was that a bluff!?)
I assumed Oliver wouldn’t move and can’t react as he instantly rushes into my space, strikes me with that blade wrapped in golden light. My head goes blank.
–