I ate lunch in the waiting room, where significantly fewer contestants remained than right after the start.
It seemed the first day was scheduled to cover up to the first round of the main tournament.
It wasn’t that the remaining contestants weren’t allowed to leave the waiting room, but…
However, I decided it was better not to go outside, as I had made quite a spectacle of myself in front of the audience during the preliminaries.
Opening the bento box I had asked Sue to prepare…
(Wow, it looks delicious!)
Akane rejoiced with an excited voice.
Inside was, surprisingly, Japanese food centered around onigiri (rice balls).
I had been eating a lot of bread lately, so I personally requested it, and they prepared it for me.
In the Kingdom of Garcia, rice accounts for about 30% of the total staple foods.
It’s said to be a relatively new grain, but due to its inherent high productivity, it’s rapidly spreading now.
It’s said to be a plant brought from “outside,” but given that the farming methods have also spread completely, it was probably introduced by a lost person like me.
Translator’s Note
“Lost person” (迷い人 – mayoibito) often refers to someone transported from another world, basically the lore friendly version of calling someone an isekai protagonist.
Thank you, unknown pioneer.
And thank you, Sue.
(Big brother, let’s eat quickly!)
(Oh, right.)
At Akane’s urging, I first took a bite of the tamagoyaki (rolled omelet)…
Mmm, delicious.
Sweet tamagoyaki, Sue really gets it!
(Whoa… sweet yet salty.)
Next, onigiri.
Since we’re inland, there’s no nori, which is hard to come by… but a simple salt onigiri is delicious, isn’t it?
(Yeah, delicious!)
Other items included chicken karaage and pickles.
Ahh, this is comforting.
(But big brother, didn’t you used to eat this a lot? Uh, conbini…)
(Stop it, don’t lump them together!)
That was mostly the pathetic food I ate during my freeter days towards the end of my previous life, wasn’t it?
Translator’s Note
“Freeter” (フリーター) is a Japanese term for a person who chooses to work part-time rather than full-time, often associated with a less stable lifestyle. This is split from NEETs who do not have a job.
For some reason, I liked it and often bought onigiri bento.
Those were delicious in their own way, but they can’t compare to homemade food.
(It’s different?)
(It is different. You wouldn’t understand in this world where basically everything is handmade.)
Mass-produced items like that feel cold somehow.
Well, anyway, Sue’s cooking is the best.
(Thank you for the meal!)
(Yeah, thank you for the meal.)
It was past 3 PM when all the preliminary rounds finished.
From here, the first round of the main tournament, a total of sixteen matches, would take place.
The pairings were simple, based on the order of the preliminary groups: the winner of group one against the winner of group two, group three against group four, and so on.
There was no lottery for the pairings.
Matches were scheduled in the order that preliminary rounds finished, considering fatigue.
Since I was in the fourteenth group, my match would be the seventh.
“The first round of the main tournament will begin shortly! Contestants, please proceed to the ring!”
Called by a staff member, the two participants for the first match headed towards the ring.
As I watched the waiting room, where only about twenty people remained, including staff…
…Huh? Did someone familiar just pass by?
(Wasn’t that Kyoka-chan?)
(Right?)
Akane said so too, so there was no mistake. Besides, black-haired humans aren’t that common.
I approached and called out.
“Kyoka-san!”
“…Tch. Oh, it’s Lady Katia.”
She just clicked her tongue, didn’t she? This person.
Her attitude is gradually becoming more blatant.
The one who turned around was indeed Kyoka-san, the princess’s guard.
She carried a large shield and a mace, and was also fully clad in armor.
She had a cool expression, but I wondered if she wasn’t hot in such heavy equipment.
“I hadn’t seen you guarding the princess, so I wondered… what are you doing here?”
She wasn’t in the line heading to the arena, so I thought it was strange for someone who’s always glued to the princess.
“…Lord K… told me to participate.”
“Huh?”
“I said, Lord Spike ordered me to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament! Honestly, why such a pointless thing…”
“Um, what was Lord Spike’s intention—”
“I don’t know! He only told me to participate properly because there would definitely be something to gain!”
Something to gain for Kyoka-san…?
What could it be? I have no idea.
“Ah, I’m still worried about Lady Lily! I should withdraw from the match, even if it means—”
From those words, it seems she passed the preliminaries.
But withdraw? I can understand her feelings, but that wouldn’t lead to a good outcome.
Should I stop her here?
“No, wait. Lord Spike has the authority to appoint the princess’s guards, right?”
“? That’s true, but…”
If Princess Lily were to inherit the throne, she would gain personnel authority and such, but currently, her guardian, Lord Spike, manages everything.
“If you withdraw, you might be removed from your guard duty. You might be reinstated once the princess ascends the throne, but… can you endure that, even for a short time, Kyoka-san?”
It was a simple matter that didn’t require much thought, but Kyoka-san was so agitated she couldn’t even realize it.
She made a face that said, “I listened to her!”
“I can’t endure that!”
“Then it would be better to participate obediently. Also, if you hold back, Lord Spike might see through it, so I recommend going all out.”
“Oh, this is such a bother! …Understood. Lady Katia, see you later!”
Kyoka-san, looking utterly frustrated, walked away with heavy footsteps.
Translator’s Note
Funman yaru kata nai (憤懣やる方ない) means to be filled with indignation and have no way to express it, or to be utterly frustrated.
(Kyoka-chan is always angry, isn’t she? Why?)
(Beats me.)
I think that was anger towards her current situation.
But apart from that, I’m also disliked by her.
Did I do something to annoy her? I don’t remember…
“Next is the seventh match! The two relevant contestants, please proceed to the ring! Failure to be on the ring within five minutes will result in disqualification! I repeat—”
My turn, huh.
I leaned away from the pillar I had been using as a backrest and hung the weapon I had put down onto my sword belt.
Then, towards the waiting room exit.
…As I entered the arena, gazes pierced me, far more intense than during the preliminaries.
Swaying the sword at my hip, I slowly ascended to the ring.
My opponent, a male dwarf warrior, was already in the ring.
He was short, but as a preliminary qualifier, he exuded considerable intimidation.
“For the seventh match, I will introduce the contestants! To the east of the ring, from the Kirke territory, a 35-year-old dwarf, B-rank soldier, Powell!”
A young man, a dog beastman with spiky hair, called out the contestants, holding a megaphone-shaped magic tool.
So the main tournament has things like this too.
Wind magic vibrated the air, carrying his voice far.
“Opposing him, on the west side, is the mysterious hooded contestant who wishes to remain anonymous! However, the swordplay shown in the preliminaries has led to speculation that she might be the rumored individual! Will her true identity be revealed in this match?! Now, the highly anticipated match is about to begin!”
A staff member stood beside the bell and swung down a hammer.
The sound of the bell echoed throughout the arena.
“Sorry, but I won’t hold back!”
—At the signal, my opponent, Powell-san, charged forward.
His weapon was a morning star.
It had a much larger iron ball than usual, and the chain was long.
He swung the iron ball, maximizing centrifugal force above his head, bringing it down.
I simultaneously drew both swords and swept away the iron ball with a crossing slash.
Heavy, my hands hurt! I should have just dodged it…
Landini was fine, but I thought the blade of the Main Gauche would chip.
“Ngh!”
Powell-san stumbled.
But he instantly regained his balance, then began to spin his whole body like a hammer thrower.
He gradually approached, increasing his speed.
I decisively put some distance between us.
(Big brother, is it my turn?)
I considered what to do in response to Akane’s question.
(…Should I use it this time?)
(Really? Yay!)
It’s the main tournament now, so I need to stand out as much as possible.
First, to reveal my identity, I sheathed my Main Gauche and discarded my coat with one hand.
My striking red hair was revealed, and I was finally freed from the heat.
The audience’s murmurs grew louder, but I paid them no mind, gripping Randini with both hands and charging it with magic.
(Here I go!)
Thanks to Akane’s highly efficient magic conversion, the sword instantly glowed red-hot.
Towards the approaching threat, spinning closer, I raised the reddish-black sword high above my head, making it easy for the audience to see.
And against the roaring, approaching morning star, I swung my arm at high speed!
—With an unusual “sizzle” sound, the morning star’s chain vanished from the middle.
“What…!”
Immediately after Powell-san stopped moving, his weapon suddenly lost its weight.
—The iron ball directly hit the wall right below the audience seats.
Screams rose from the audience, but it seemed no one was injured.
…I panicked because the iron ball flew farther than I expected.
“Well, you no longer have your weapon, but… what will you do?”
I pointed my sword at him, asking if he intended to continue the fight.
He made a grimace when asked, but it was only for an instant.
“I surrender… no, it’s a complete defeat. You’re amazing for someone so young! Hahaha!”
The final bell rang, and deafening cheers shook the ring.
“Match over! There’s no doubt about it! Just like the painting, just like the painting! I, I can’t hide my excitement! The winner, the red-haired magic swordsman and disciple of the Sword Saint, Katia Myers!”
The winner was announced, and thus my first round ended in victory.