CH 322.2

Once all the matches are completed, the tournament’s finalists are determined. After that, the draw for the pairings was made, and then the group was dismissed.

「Today was very surprising, isn’t it?」

The most senior male instructor opened his mouth. He was a low-class pilot who had retired due to old age but had been reinstated as an instructor due to a shortage of manpower.

He didn’t mention the context, but no one in this room who didn’t understand. At this moment, the instructors were more interested in Plain-chan than in the two beautiful women of Jayanne.

「She only used her whip three times today. Three matches, and only three times.」

The middle-aged instructor, who served as the referee, said with a strong tone. The others could only groan.

「What I can see through that is an incredibly polished skill!」

He was a pilot with no small amount of experience in actual combat and could be said to have fought many battles. Even with that, he could not stop a chill from running down his spine.

(Just how much experience did she have to accumulate to achieve such a skill?)

It is a realm that cannot be reached simply by swinging a sword around. It shouldn’t be possible to reach it unless you repeat a series of serious matches that would make you sharpen your mind and body.

(And at such a young age? Just what kind of life she has led?)

The middle-aged man shakes his head and exhales heavily. The commotion around him also gradually grew.

The instructors began to express their opinions to each other.

「May I say something?」

The oldest instructor who folded his arms in thought since his first words raised his hand.

While everyone’s eyes were focused on his fingertips, which were slightly trembling due to his old age, the old instructor continued.

「……She wore a red butterfly mask and stepped on men’s backs with her stiletto heels. Her rains of sharp whips and hot wax led men to the Pure Land.」

He deliberately said those words slowly with a serious tone.

After finishing, he looks around at the other instructors who had become quiet and opens his mouth again.

「There’s been such saying going around the top level of the red-light district lately, you see.」

The instructors exchange nervous glances with each other. The 『Top level of the red-light district』 is a world where only those with money, status, and ability above a certain level can reside.

The standard criteria are by having a 『Nickname』.

『Nobles by blood, and Pilots by might.』

These are words reflecting the pride of the pilots. Even among the members of the Kingdom knight order, who are equivalent to nobility, there are only a few who have nicknames, even if only for a single generation.

In other words, for the instructors gathered here, this is a world they aspire to reach.

「If my memories serve me correctly right, she is 『Cassabell’s Storm』, the Queen of Queens.」

The staff room instantly broke into commotion.

There are three top-class brothels in the royal capital. Among them, Cassabell is the oldest and most prestigious.

The Queen of Queens is the star ornament that shines at the top of Cassabell’s Christmas tree. It is truly one of the highest positions in the royal capital.

It is quite a surprise for them, because different from Jayanne’s duo, she didn’t shine as brightly.

「Is it the same storm that defeated the Grim Reaper in the previous Divine Tournament?!」

The old lady instructor raises her voice with a look of lost composure.

This is because she has participated in the Battle of Landbarn and has seen the slender, black-colored A-class Knight wielding destruction with his Death Scythe, right in front of her eyes.

Incidentally, Cool-san is also a winner of the Divine Tournament, but that was already more than a year ago. None of the instructors knew about it because she rarely appeared in the store.

「…..The Grim Reaper… To such a slender girl…..」

In the Knight’s cockpit or the bed, the battlefield may be different, but he is a fearsome enemy, still.

(Do I have the courage to face him alone?)

The old lady asked herself but was unable to reach an answer.

After nodding affirmation to her, the old man’s instructor continued.

「I was on a pilgrimage to the Holy City and saw the match live. That barrage of whips could only be described as a storm.」

The old man seems happy because he is being listened to.

At home, he repeats the same story too many times and only ends up getting a repeated 『Yes, yes』.

In this world, just by being a pilot, you can be a successful person. However, no matter how accomplished a person is, he is treated like that at home.

「But the Grim Reaper wasn’t a common opponent either. He did not take a step back but accepted every whip coming at him with a cool face.」

The attacks that didn’t manage to go through.

He must’ve tried to replace such a hopeless situation with his own body. A strained sound escaped from the mouths of the instructors.

Seeing such reactions from the younger colleagues, the corners of the old man’s mouth turned into a smile.

「However! Cassabell’s storm did not flinch, and she said, 『Don’t get so full of yourself, you sleep-deprived hunchback!』. I will never forget the feeling of surprise I got back then.」

“What show of supremacy, what courage!” The instructors were so shocked that they were speechless.

「But the shock to my heart did not stop there. She took a huge leap into the bosom of the Grim Reaper, despite the fact that she was using a whip. Then, from close range, she struck him with a huge blow!」

The kamikaze attack was effective, and she managed to roll up Grim Reaper’s body with her whip and took away his freedom.

The old man’s mouth got excited even more as the others nodded enthusiastically and silently urged him to continue.

「It was magnificent. The Grim Reaper fell to the floor, his freedom taken away by the whip that coiled around him. The Death Scythe, which he can no longer wield, is no longer a deadly weapon!」

A tilting tower standing before an oncoming storm. The oldest instructor closes his eyes for a moment, remembering its defenseless appearance.

He nodded a few times and quietly opened back his eyelids.

「She then coated the Death Scythe with wax. She placed a shortened candle on the tip of the scythe and let him suffer from the heat until he climaxed.」

The old man can hear the voice of the Plain Queen saying, 『Alright—! Candle service finished!』 as if it were only yesterday.

The moment she blew out the fire with her breath like one would do to a birthday cake, a large amount of cream spurted out from between the Death Scythe and the wax.

It was a sign of defeat.

「……That’s amazing.」

No one knows who leaked out such words.

But whoever it was, the instructors were impressed.

When you face a formidable enemy single-handedly, and then win in the end, others can’t help but respect you as a warrior.

「I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s matches. I hope she will join the knight order.」

The instructors nodded in agreement with the old man instructor’s closing comments.

***

The sun has set in the royal capital.

As usual, I was enjoying conversation with my three familiars who gathered in my living room as if it was a natural thing. The topics of our conversation came and went as we talked.

『What shape of seed do you like?』

By the way, this is what we are currently excitedly talking about. The subject was brought up by the leader of my familiars, Imosuke, who resembles a fifth instar larva of the swallowtail butterfly.

When everyone has expressed their opinions, I bring up a new topic.

「Actually, I’m going to the pilot school to watch the match tomorrow.」

A lot of familiar faces are going to be competing in the match this time. I also want to check the growth of my student, 『Black hair bob-cut, small chested, athletic Kouhai-chan』.

『A store specializing in uniforms. “Any uniform is available! Now come and let’s conquer with uniforms!”』

She is a slender girl who attends pilot school while working part-time at a low-class brothel with a long name. She has participated in the knight order training before and is probably one step away from being hired.

Black Tights-chan, who is sent back to school and depressed, is being trained by Corneal instead. Now she must have gotten stronger than before.

『What about Unicorn?』

The one who asked the question was Imosuke.

This caterpillar, the leader of my familiars, is also the vice-chief of the evil secret organization 『The Doom Squad』 which is led by me, Doctor Slime.

He must have always had the monster who was his subordinate somewhere close in his heart.

「Yeah, she will also be competing. In fact, I heard that she’s pretty strong, and she’s one of the favorites to win the tournament.」

I heard that Cool-san, the virgin eater Unicorn, is the most likely candidate to win, along with Light Cruiser-sensei.

『That’s good!』

『We’re proud!』

The caterpillar and the dung beetle face each other and nod their heads. Dangorou, the general, seems pleased with the success of his subordinate.

On the other hand, the turtle, who does not belong to our Doom Squad, just calmly listened.

As I was watching him, a question came from Imosuke and Dangorou.

『What about the fish?』

『Yeah, what about the fish?』

I wonder what they mean. Then I ask back with a big question mark above my head.

「Fish?」

I cross my arms and tilt my head. The two spirit beasts saw this and started bumping into each other, saying 『Bishi Bishi』 and 『Bashi Bashi』.

Finally understanding what they were talking about, I nodded my head and opened my mouth.

「Ahh, you mean the Plain Queen? I’m pretty sure she’s in the qualifying round today, but I’m not sure if she could have won.」

As to why both of them refer to her as 『Fish』, it’s because I couldn’t explain 『Sin and Punishment』 very well.

『It’s where someone feels happy getting beaten.』

Vice-chief Imosuke and general Dangorou once asked me a lot of questions about it, because they couldn’t understand it.

I guess they couldn’t see that I was at a loss for words. Zaratan, the long-lived and knowledgeable tortoise who was my advisor, offered me a helping hand.

『Stimulation that would stimulate sperm release.』

It is something that fish and such often do.

Two of them agreed with him on this, and since then, they have started calling the ladies and gentlemen who like 『Sin and Punishment』, 『Fish』.

Incidentally, Zaratan also seems to genuinely believe this is the case.

『And what about the Whirlwind?』

『And Lightning?』

Imosuke and Dangorou ask me, with sparkling expressions.

Lightning, whom they know well aside, for some reason they both like 『Skewering Whirlwind』. As I thought, it seems that a special move with impressive effect is very important.

「They won’t be competing. Because they’re already full-fledged pilots.」

『That’s a shame.』

My familiars felt dejected by my words.

Let’s bring up a different topic that will change their moods.

「By the way, you guys. I’ve developed a new special move, would you like to tell me what you think of it?」

At these words, my familiars, including Zaratan, instantly turn to look at me. These spirit beasts love special moves for some reason.

「Then, here I go. Airwalk!」

I was lying on my face on the living room floor and repeatedly kicking the air with a jerking motion like a dolphin. They all were pleased seeing me doing that.

『Fish!』

『It’s a fish!』

『Umu, certainly, it looks like one.』

No matter how old you are, it is always nice to be praised.

After that, I did an encore and kept swimming in the air on the floor as they requested until I was out of breath.