CH 135

“Now, it’s time for the last competition of the Class Competitions, the “Indiscriminate Combat Competition”. We’ll start with the first-year students first, in order.”

Waaaaaaaa ……

As we stood on the field, there was a particularly high cheer. Combat Competitions are very popular for some reason.

There are no parents who enjoy watching their children fight each other, but those who want their children to be strong, like Urka’s father, seem to watch the games as an opportunity to see them grow. The combat competition itself, including melee and magic, is something that would be claimed in modern Japan. When everyone gathered around Tigre-sensei, he coughed and opened his mouth.

“Now, unlike the previous two games, this is an all-out competition for all classes. The format is one-on-one, not winner-takes-all. You fight against the opponent in front of you, and the first three people to win, wins, okay?”

Everyone nodded, and the competition began. Since they would be fighting all five classes, they would have to be creative in saving their energy and changing the first three opponents so as not to exhaust themselves too much. It’s a good thing that it didn’t turn out to be like the special rules often seen in quiz shows.

“Now then, it’s the last competition.”

“Yes. For the first years except B-Class, It’s a point where it’s impossible for them to get first place, so they get desperate even if there’s no need for them to fight, but I’m wondering what they’ll do.”

“What is the usual procedure in such cases? Isn’t there some kind of extra points?”

“No, there is not. Basically, you have two choices: fight or give up. In the past, there was an attempt to make it a round-robin game, where you get a point for defeating one person, or a point for defeating all five players, but it was thought that it would be more tense to simply fight for points, so it was not adopted.”

I see. If you can turn the tables, I think the motivation will be different.

“So there are no reversals ……”

(T/N: Turn the table or reverse their situation.)

Someone from C-Class muttered to himself, and Ryuuze whispered to me.

“This is a win for us then. It would’ve been a hassle if we’d gotten extra points for this. “

“Yes, it’s the result so far.”

“But do we have to fight?”

Nora put her finger to her lips, tilted her head, and asked. There are many factors to consider, so there is no single answer. So, I’ll just leave it at that.

“I think it’s important to fight with all your might? Look, you won’t want to be in last place, after all.”

“Oh, I guess so–“

But to be honest, I think it’s pretty tough to come this far and not have any hope of turning things around.

It might be a good lesson for an aspiring adventurer to know that “failure is not an option”, but for someone like Jack who wants to take over their fish shop, it’s not going be a good memory…

The other world’s sports day also seemed to have a “let’s just do this until the end” attitude, so I wonder if it’s the same everywhere?

“Then the overall order is in this ball with the class name written on it. I will take it out and play the game. We’ll use two fields, so we can play two games at a time.”

If it’s a round-robin game, there will be ten matches in total. If we play two games at a time, we can move pretty fast. There will be classes that can take a break, so if you’re lucky, you might not have to fight a lot.

“Let’s get started! First up is …… A-Class and C-Class.”

“Oh, C-Class, right out of the gate.”

“Who do you think will go? I guess Lars will go first, after all?”

“I can hear you, we’ll get to that later.”

Kuderica said, and once everyone was out of the field, they decided on the order. I was thinking that I would be the one to go, but raised his hand and said Ryuuze. His eyes were already looking at the one standing on the field, Lux …… right? He was looking at him.

“Can I be the first? He’s bothering me.”

“I’m fine, but what about you, Lars-kun?”

“I’m okay too. What about Urka and Kudelica?”

They nodded when I asked.

“Then, I’ll go first.”

“…… What, so it’s not Lars-kun. I thought he was going to get all the attention and come out on top, but I was wrong.”

When Lux annoyingly complains about my evaluation, Ryuuze opens his mouth while gripping the wooden sword with his eyebrows lowered. 

“Did you want to fight Lars? It doesn’t matter who it is, though.”

“Hm-hmm, well, you’ll never understand. Ryuuze-kun, who lost their Lord’s position?”

“I don’t see what that has to do with the fight.”

“Hmm, you’re a lot different than when I met you as a kid, aren’t you?”

“Hmm? You–“

Lux spoke as if he knew Ryuuze and said something that could be taken as a provocation. Just as Ryuuze was about to ask something in doubt, Tigre-sensei gave the signal for the battle to begin.

Lux’s weapons are a conventional sword and shield. Unlike in combat, Ryuuze switched to a large wooden sword and held it with both hands. 

“!”

“Shooting magic so suddenly, huh! But I can avoid basic magic.”

Ryuuze quickly moves to the right, and the Aqua Bullet explodes on the spot where he was just standing. In the meantime, he swung his large sword at Lux, sending up a cloud of dust.

“Take that!”

“It’s not that easy–guh!?”

Lux held up his shield in his left hand and tried to catch it, but was blown away. From the way he tried to swing his right sword, it seems he was planning to catch it and then counterattack. But Ryuuze’s blow blew away that plan with ease. We’ve been fighting with Tigre-sensei, so it’s only natural that he’d end up like that if he guarded it like any other student. 

“Ow ow ow ……”

“Oh, in spite of your bravado, it’s over with just one blow?”

“What power ……! Ha!”

“Oh, you’re still coming? There!”

He got up and swung his sword at Ryuuze, and Ryuuze caught it with his large sword. Of course, two hands and one hand are not the same in terms of strength, so Lux is immediately overpowered. But right after that, he points his left hand at Ryuuze’s face and unleashes his magic.

“!?”

“!”

“Now you’re doing something Lars would do!”

“Guha ……!?”

Ryuuze, who moved his head and avoided the fire, twisted his body as it was, and when he forcibly shook his large sword to the side, Lux danced like a leaf and fell from his back to the ground.

“As expected, if anything is possible, then I won’t lose. That’s why I’ve been practicing combat competition for a month, probably more than any other class. I might not have been able to be of any use to anything else. “

“Gugu …… You cheeky bastard……”

“It’s you, isn’t it? I just remembered that you’re from Coria, right? I remember when I was little I went there for your Brother’s birthday or something.”

It seems he had met Ryuuze when he was still the lord’s son. Lux stared at him silently, and he continued talking.

“……”

“Oh, right, you’re the same as Lars, the second son of a lord. You’re very different from him.”

“…… What’s the difference? I’m more surprised that you’re friends with the guy who threw your father in jail.”

“How do you know that!? Buh ……!”

That the story isn’t generally known to the public, and I can’t hide my surprise too. A sword struck him when he’s caught off guard, and he pursues Ryuuze, who staggers. 

“Sleep ……! .”

“There’s no way that kind of thing will work on me!”

Lux shoots a Wind at Ryuuze. Ryuuze doesn’t mind, but I can’t help noticing that there are white particles in the wind.

“Ryuuze, hold your breath!”

“Lars ……! Mmm!”

“Damn it ……! Lars Irving!”

At my shout, Ryuuze immediately held his breath and swung down with his large sword.

“Uraaaaaaa!”

“Guha ……!?”

He was hit in the shoulder and fell to his knees. At the same time, Lux also wobbles a little.

“I’m suddenly feeling sleepy ……”

“It’s a green mushroom powder, the so-called sleeping potion.”

He’s got that kind of powder ……!? I thought it’s going to be okay, but.

“Tch, then I’ll quickly get it over with ……”

And with that, Ryuuze swung his head down and launched his large sword. A direct hit to the jaw and Lux’s head floats. But as he stepped on the stomach, he threw down his sword and put his hands on Ryuuze.

“N-Not yet! !”

“……!? You’re using some good magic, aren’t you! Then, Magic Sword!”

“You think you can erase my Flame ……”

“I don’t!”

The Magic Sword Wind of Ryuuze does not only create wind …… but it also becomes a kind of wind slash that shoots. It will cut through Lux while blowing him away. Ryuuze narrowly evaded the attack and only got a little Flame on his shoulder. 

“Uh, Guhhh ……”

“You’re the one who’s been scheming, aren’t you? I don’t know why you were targeting Lars, but he’s also the second son of the lord. And with that kind of strength, you’re probably jealous, right?”

“No ……! I’m!”

Ryuuze’s wobbly, but he places the large sword on his shoulder, and said things like that. Ryuuze glares at Lux because of all the provoking things he did. Then, Ryuuze said with wide eyes.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s father or Lars. I’m me. Even if you are the second son of a lord, you can’t be Lars. You should do what you can do. “

“…… Congratulations, how I wish I could do that! ”

“You asshole ……!”

Ryuuze slams Lux’s body with his Large sword and rolls over. He rolls over to us, makes eye contact with me, and opens his mouth. 

“I’m not just going to …… lose ……!”

“This guy ……! Everyone hold your breath and get behind me, .”

He threw a bag from his pocket at us and then fainted. And with Tigre-sensei’s signal, Ryuuze’s victory was confirmed.

“Ryuuze wins …… Fuah, damn it, I breathe in a little, Zzzz ……”

“Huh, it works on teachers too, this is an interesting, powder ……”

“Ryuuze!”

I went into the field to pick up Ryuuze, who was about to fall.

“Ohhhh, I won. ……”

“Yeah, you did good, man. That’s one win.”

“Maybe he’s got some …… thing going on too …… Let’s talk about it some time…… Sorry, I’m going to sleep.”

“I’ll wake you up for the next game.”

“Yeah …….”

After saying that, Ryuuze fell asleep.

It seemed to be a very strong powder, and Makina and Urka, who seemed to have inhaled a little of it, had a grim look on their faces. Anyway, It’s unusual for Tigre-sensei to be like that too.

First of all, one win.

I don’t know what makes Lux go this far, but for now, let’s focus on the fight. It’s my turn next, I thought, as I laid Ryuuze down on the floor, watching the opponent come out.

——————————-

Ryuse vs. Lux, over.

I feel like Ryuuze can get his words across better than Lars, but what do you think?

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“Lux, I hope he doesn’t get into trouble.”

If he become friends with Lars and the others, he might be able to help them, it’s something like that, I guess?