114 - - The Brave Have Dinner with Everyone

"Dehyahyahyahyah!　What are you scared of?　I'm not going to eat it!"

It was hard to tell with his mask on, but he seemed to be laughing.

"Sorry guys. I'm sorry for scaring you.

The masked man bows his head.

The smaller masked man sitting next to him stays where he is.

"Hey, you apologize too!

"............"

"d*mn, he's still an unfriendly little brat."

Apparently, he was more of a lighthearted guy than I had expected.

"We told you our names, now tell us yours."

"Oh, right. I am Zagan!　I'm a third-year student at Eastern Federation."

Still wearing his mask, Zagan points a finger at himself.

"Feel free to call me [Zagan-kun ♡]. But only for girls, dehyahyahyahyahyah!

"Zagan. You're the devil, aren't you?"

"Oh, my God, do they know?　Later, I'll tell you why I'm actually the devil!　I was going to surprise you!"

WTF! Zagan crosses his arms behind his head.

"Yi-yi-yi-yi, did you just say something that I don't like to hear, you little b*tc*!

Anti says with a tremble.

"Hey, I'm Zagan. I am Zagan, the Devil of Solomon. And this little guy over here is Amon, a first-year student who's also a demon.

"............"

Anti turned white, started foaming at the mouth, and fainted.

"Oh my God!　We have to get him to the infirmary!"

Kazuma was the first to get up, took Anti in his arms, and left the room.

"It's just as I heard in the rumors. Julius, right?　I'm amazed you didn't see through the cloak and mask with this magic formula attached to it and the demon."

Zagan turns to me and murmurs in admiration.

"Well, you know what I mean. You know?"

All the guys except me shake their heads.

"Well, okay. My boss said Julius would know I'm a demon anyway. Well, please go easy on him, okay?"

Zagan reaches out from his cloak.

"Hey, nice to meet you."

With a clunk, we hold hands.

Thus, we met the representatives of the school competition, the male members of the team.

Royal: me, Gaius, Michael.

Imperial: Anti.

Holy Empire: Kazuma, Artoo, Takeru.

Eastern Federation: Zagan, Amon.

After the first day of the competition, we stayed at an inn.

In the evening.

We came to the cafeteria of the inn.

"Oh!　Lots of food!　Is that what they call a buffet?　Wow!"

"Wow, Mika!　There's so much to choose from!"

"Come on, Eri-chan, go-go!"

Dooooo!" my brother-in-law and Elise run toward the food.

On the table was a platter with noodles, soup, and other colorful dishes.

"God, you're such a child. ......"

"We'll just take what we want and sit down."

They pick up their trays and get in line.

They put their favorite dishes on their plates and take them to their tables.

"Where do you want to sit, brother?　It looks like you can sit at any table."

"Well, let's go to ...... Oh, let's go over there."

"What?　Hey, brother!"

At the table sat a large man eating a heaping bowl of rice.

"Delicious!　Delicious!"

"Yo, Kazuma. Can I sit next to you?"

"Mm!　Julius!　Please, sit down!"

Well, if you'll excuse me."

Kazuma was the only one seated at the round table.

"Where are the others?"

"Mm!　There they are!　You're just now getting in line!"

On the table was a pile of empty bowls.

"You eat a lot, you son of a b*tc*!"

"You can't fight a war on an empty stomach!"

"Oh, is that a proverb from your world?"

"Mm!　You've got it all figured out!　That's my boy Julius!"

I eat alongside him again.

I gobble down my rice.

"Mmm!　You're a good eater!　But I'm not going to lose!"

Kazuma picks up the pace.

"You're doing a good job, I'm not going to let you beat me."

I gobbled up another bowl of rice.

"Hey, bro!　So why are you befriending the enemy!"

Behind me, my brother is holding a tray in one hand.

"That's good. We're competing with each other, friends-in-arms, aren't we?

"Julius, you are right, Gaius!　This is not a battlefield!　Then there is no need for us to bicker!"

"No, well, ...... I mean, yes, but..."

I look at Kazuma.

"You really don't seem like a bad guy. I like you."

I like strong and noble men like you too!

With a clunk, we squared our shoulders.

"............"

Gaius sits down next to me and pulls my shoulder with a jerk.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. You had a grain of rice on your cheek and I just wanted to take it off!　Here, don't move!"

"Oh, sorry."

My brother wipes my cheek with his handkerchief.

"Julius!　There's a grain of rice on this cheek, too!　I'll get it!

"Oh, thank you."

Kazuma took a grain of rice from his left cheek and ate it.

"Hey you!　What are you doing?

"Mwah!　Is there a problem, Gaius?

The younger brother stood up, his face turning red and pointing at Kazuma.

"Where did you have to eat that?

"But isn't that a waste of a grain of rice!　It would be bad for the farmers if we left them out!"

"No, maybe so, but ......"

"What are you mad at me for, little brother?"

Gaius sits down and eats his meal in silence.

"Fudgy ......♡ Fudgy ......♡ Fudgy ......♡ Love triangle ......♡ Fudgy ......♡ Fudgy ......♡ That's great ......♡"

Before I knew it, Dantalion was sitting in front of me.

"Oh, Dantalion. Would you like to have dinner with me?"

"Thank you very much. ...... rotten rotten handsome."

Dantalion had nothing but a bowl of white rice in front of him.

"Is that enough for you?　Side dish?"

"Don't worry, we have ...... rotten rotten rotten ...... handsome in front of us ...... right now. ......Continue ...... please ......♡"

Then, the cherry pickers arrive.

"What are you guys doing doing with your guys?"　

"Ah!　That's not fair!　Aniue is flirting with another guy!"

A member of the royal family came in with a dish.

"What are you doing, Kazuma-senpai?　I can't believe I'm eating with the enemy team."

Alto came to us with a member of the Holy Empire.

"Mm!　We're building friendships!　Let's all sit down!"

"Well, I don't mind. ......"

Members of the Royal Family and the Holy Empire gather around the same table.

"Are you having a shurabai?"

I'm not!　Don't say funny things, idiot Mika!"

"Wow, you're from the Far East too?　What a coincidence. I'm Sakura.

"Yeah!　My name is Tsukasa Kurohime!　Nice to meet you, sis!"

They were having their meals, and then...

"Yes, yes, everyone, please listen to me.

The chairman clapped his hands.

"I'll tell you about the schedule after tomorrow and the rules of the tournament. Please pay attention to the members of the competition.

Lucifer, the chairman of the board of trustees, a dowdy man in a white suit, is in the center of the room.

"First of all, let me explain the basic rules of the school competition.

(1) Multiple events are held over a period of several days.

(2) In one event, all students of the school will participate. However, the number of participants differs from event to event.

The number of participants differs from event to event.

First place: +2 points

Second place: +1 point

Third place: -1 point

Fourth place: -2 points

The school with the highest point total at the end of all events is the winner. The school with the highest point total wins the chalice.

"Uuuu......ani-u...... explanation is too long - ...... it's too difficult - ......"

"Winning one event is not enough to win. The school that wins as many events as possible is the winner."

"Oh!　A clearer explanation than my old brother's!　That's what I'm talking about!　The old one is out!"

"You're being lightly disrespected, Chancellor, how pitiful."

However, the person in question is unperturbed and continues to explain.

"There are a few rules that are forbidden at the tournament.

(1) Killing of a player by a player is strictly prohibited. At that time, the player is considered to be eliminated from the tournament.

(2) Any player found to be cheating will be considered to be eliminated from the tournament.

If a player is forced to participate in the tournament, he or she will be severely punished. -The penalty is 100 points.

(4) No one is allowed to obstruct or kill any player except for the player himself/herself. If found, the school will be considered to be eliminated from the tournament.

(5) In addition to (1) to (4), penalties will be imposed each time any other offenses against public order and morals are found out.

That's all.

""""............""""

"Oh?　What's going on, everyone?　You look so surprised."

"Yes, yes!　Old brother."

"Yes, Michael?"

My brother-in-law stands up and tells the chairman.

"You look like a bad guy who's up to something, but the rules of the tournament are too clean, aren't they?　On the contrary, it looks suspicious.

"Hey, hey, Mica!　You're being rude!"

With a gulp, Gaius makes his brother-in-law sit down.

"Didn't Gaius think it was strange?　I'm sure my old brother is up to something. There are too many rules, can't we interfere?"

"Well, well ...... I thought some of that too ......."

Lucifer says with a grin .......

"As I said at the opening ceremony, we are not at war with another country, but against the school is one of the school events."

He looks over at us.

"When you graduate from the school and go out into the world, it is your happy memories and friends from your school days that will support your hearts and minds."

Lucifer smiles devilishly.

"I sincerely hope that this battle will be one of your most precious assets.

Everyone is puzzled.

"You look like a villain and talk so nicely like an educator, I'm surprised at you.

"Excuse me, I am an educator at heart."

Jiggles ...... and Lucifer looks at Gaius, not at me.

"It is ...... my mission to teach and nurture [students] who are still immature."

Lucifer says with a devilish grin on the edge of his mouth.

Well, that's all I have to say. Please eat well today, get plenty of sleep, and prepare for tomorrow's competition.

With that, Lucifer leaves the cafeteria.

"Because, brother. Don't worry.

I pat Gaius on the head.

"Whatever the reason, this tournament is a student event. There's no need to be so uptight about it."

"Yeah. ......"

"I understand your concern, but you and Kazuma are rivals as well as friends competing against each other. Let's all fight together, okay?"

Gaius closes his eyes and nods his head.

"Hey, Kazuma_......."

Gaius looks straight at him and says

"You can call me Kazuma!"

"...... then, Kazuma."

He reaches out his hand.

"I'm sorry I called you ...... an enemy earlier."

"Mm!　Never mind, Gaius!　You are the leader of a group, it is natural to be cautious!　I like your seriousness!"

Smiling, Kazuma and his brother shake hands.

"Let's enjoy the match tomorrow, fair and square!"

"Yes, it's nice to meet you too."

Well, well, well. I'm glad to see that Gaius has made another friend.

"Ummmmm... ......♡ There's a love triangle ......♡ and there's a three-player ......♡... ...♡"

"You've really ruined it already!　Oh, God!"

Thus ends the first day.

Tomorrow, the competition would begin in earnest.