Chapter 227
Perhaps our long-standing camaraderie influenced their decision, or maybe they genuinely saw me as nothing more than a cockroach.
The conversation between Teron and Yuridia began, with me right in the middle.
"We'll have to exclude ourselves from the lineup."
Yuridia nodded in agreement to Teron's statement.
‘If a leader were to step forward and lose, the embarrassment would be unmatched.’
She could also rationalize later with a mental victory like, ‘Ah~ If I had gone out, I would have won~ I won’t go easy next time.’
Indeed, in the game, Teron, Yuridia, and Victoria were unable to participate.
"We should definitely save Daike for last, right? They will have that 'monster' on their side."
The monster in question was Adonis.
Yuridia had clearly witnessed the strength of Adonis, who could handle Daike with one hand.
"No, we won't save Daike for the last. He would have to go first, if anything."
Strategically, it made sense to save the strongest for last.
But to have Daike go first was unexpected.
Yuridia’s eyes narrowed curiously.
"Hmph~ Don’t you trust Daike?"
"Tsk, it's the opposite. I trust him, that's why he's going first. He’ll surely bring me a victory... no, he’ll bring 'us' a sure victory."
"That’s true, but... it seems too wasteful to use Daike as our first move."
"I intend to exploit a flaw in the multiple round system."
A best-of-five series.
If we secure three victories early on, the remaining two matches become unnecessary.
Teron was pinning his strategy on this point.
"They might send Adonis first as well... but knowing Victoria, she won't do that. It will be someone just below Adonis’s skill level."
"Defeat Victoria’s number two and secure a solid victory... That’s the strategy?"
"Also to seize the momentum. In a series, securing the first win is a powerful advantage. I am worried about what follows if Daike is out early..."
Teron’s gaze drifted far off to where Alex stood.
He lowered his head slightly then locked eyes with me.
Could it be the allure of his face that captured my gaze?
‘Right? Too handsome to be treated like a cockroach?’
I met Teron's deep gaze.
It seemed like he flinched slightly. But perhaps that was just my imagination.
"We have our own secret weapon. Things will work out somehow."
"Alright, then let’s have Daike take the field."
Shortly thereafter, Daike ascended to the dueling ground. Across from him, a boy also took to the field.
Though calling him a boy was a bit of a stretch due to his enormous size.
He was big enough for two Dikes to fit inside him.
The hammer slung over his shoulder was several times larger than a normal hammer, but it appeared almost small in comparison.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Hans. And your name is?"
"...Daike."
"Don't be ashamed of defeat. Losing to someone like me isn’t shameful, it’s inevitable."
No further conversation was necessary.
As soon as the child referee dropped the flag, they charged at each other.
"He plans to face that massive hammer head-on?"
"How reckless! He should prioritize evasion!"
At that moment, when Hans swung his massive hammer, Daike's sword moved like lightning.
Daike’s first original skill, Scheitelhau.
While Daike’s sword had been raised above his head, it was now thrust towards the ground.
Hans’s hammer followed suit, also successfully swung towards Daike.
Both had swung their weapons at each other, yet both were unharmed.
'Perhaps they were too tense and failed to gauge the distance properly?' everyone thought.
Crack!
Thud! Thunk!
The steel hammer Hans was wielding split in two and fell to the ground.
Daike had cleaved Hans’s hammer in half. And with a single strike.
"This... This can't be! To cleave through steel?"
"Hans lost! That’s impossible!"
"Given that... he might be on par with Adonis?"
The children of Victoria’s faction were in an uproar. The defeat was shockingly decisive.
And Hans was just as taken aback.
"I lost? What the..."
Hans trembled, holding only the handle of his now-broken hammer.
Looking at him, Daike spoke up.
"Didn’t you tell me not to be ashamed of defeat earlier? Perhaps you should feel a bit of shame yourself."
"Are you mocking me?"
"No, just understand your own level. Here, I'm not even what you'd call a 'strong' opponent."
"What...! Are you saying there are those stronger than you?"
"Yes."
Hmm, he must be referring to Alex?
That must be it. Currently, Alex might be weaker than Daike, but the protagonist's buff is something you can't ignore.
He must have sensed something in Alex.
Though I'm not sure why he's looking at me...
'Must be my imagination.'
I waved at Daike.
His expression suddenly soured as if he had seen a cockroach waving at him.
Of course, this too must be my imagination.
Even in a world filled with derogatory meanings, it’s ridiculous to think a person appears as a cockroach.
It was absurd.
As Daike descended from the arena, Yuridia blew a whistle.
"Whew~ Daike really is something. He was scary as an enemy, but as an ally, he’s incredibly reassuring!"
"If you're jealous, become an ally of mine. Then you can feel this reassurance anytime."
"Wouldn’t it be the same if you joined under me, Teron? I prefer how things are progressing this way."
"...Looks like I have a new task after dealing with the Victoria faction."
"Oh, what a coincidence. I just thought of something I need to do afterward as well."
Fizz!
Ah, they really do get along well.
Perhaps that’s why. In the next two duels, they experienced defeat in a friendly manner.
"Didn’t you say the plan was to exploit the loophole in the multi-round system and secure a best-of-three victory?"
"Wasn’t it your protege who lost?"
"The same goes for your side, Teron. Whether it’s Jeffin or Generki. You quickly racked up a loss as well!"
In the second duel, Yuridia’s right-hand, Alfonso, entered and lost.
In the third, Teron’s right-hand, Jeffin, entered and lost.
They swiftly recorded one win and two losses.
Just one more loss and everything would be over—a literal fire under their feet.
Yuridia started flapping her arms and legs as if fire was indeed burning her.
‘Just like the story goes.’
Of course, I was perfectly calm.
Everything was proceeding exactly as I knew the story would.
‘After Daike’s victory, the next three matches would record one win and two losses.’
Win-Loss-Loss.
Loss-Win-Loss.
Loss-Loss-Win.
The order could be random, but they would not deviate from these three outcomes.
Thus, it would be two wins and two losses, leading to the final duel where Alex and Adonis would face off.
Fixing the gaze on Alex, the protagonist, is a game mechanism and a cliché to highlight him.
The current two losses were merely for this staging.
‘So, this time, whoever goes out will win.’
However, unaware of these facts, Teron and Yuridia were busy discussing.
"If Adonis comes out now... it’s a definite loss."
"Using the loophole in the series. Impressive."
"Are you not embarrassed saying that? What loophole! We just handed them the victory!"
"Ahem! Ahem! Anyway, it’s likely that Adonis will come out. We need to play our strongest card as well."
Teron and Yuridia scanned the surroundings. But the choice of who would go next was already decided.
‘Either Raymon, Luna, or...’
Me.
Yes, I was planning to participate in this fourth duel.
‘The fifth is fixed for Alex, so there’s no real need for me to go out...’
‘But,’ given the possibility of ‘if,’ I couldn’t be complacent.
So I would participate in the fourth duel, eliminating the ‘if.’
‘Adonis will only appear in the last, the fifth duel.’
During the countless times the game was played, Adonis never appeared in any order other than the predetermined one.
"Keke, it seems I have no choice but to step forward."
"Yes, Zero! I trust you can handle it."
"I agree too. Even if Adonis comes out, it’s worth a try. I'm worried about the fifth duel, but it’s crucial that we win this one."
Their responses were as expected. Of course, I wouldn’t actually face Adonis.
As I headed to the arena, someone was already there.
Oddly, they were standing on our side.
A girl with pink twin tails.
It was a back I had seen many times before.
Yes, standing in the arena was...
"Luna?"
Why are you standing there?
"Hey, sorry, but I'm going first. I can't stand just watching any longer."
Oh, I see. So you went out without permission? Even with both Teron's and Yuridia's factions glaring daggers at you?
"That crazy cat! Do you realize Adonis could come out?"
"So? That's even better. I have some scores to settle."
"Th-th-th-th...!"
Teron grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed.
I understand. Even I, who am immune to Luna’s antics, was taken aback.
For Teron, who dislikes Luna, it must be infuriating.
‘The participants for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th duels are chosen randomly, but Luna being in that mix?’
Something feels off... but maybe it’s just my imagination.
I needed time to think, but my head just wouldn’t cooperate.
Because a cheer had erupted from behind.
"Stepping in for her lover!"
"She’s saying she’ll protect her man herself!"
"Typical Luna. Truly a warrior woman!"
"Kyaaa! Go Luna!"
All Luna did was wiggle her fingers in her ears.
"What? Why are they acting like that? Did they eat something bad?"
Luna, aren’t you the strange one for not knowing why by now?
It wasn’t just Luna who was acting strangely. Yuridia clasped her hands in front of her face, her eyes sparkling.
"How brave... Our Luna is truly the best bride material."
Best bride material? More like a barbarian.
She’d fit right in shouting ‘ooga, ooga!’ as she roamed around, a barbarian and brawler to the core.
‘Well, I understand it’s part of her effort to get stronger...’
But being uncontrollable was a significant problem.
"Yuridia, snap out of it! If Adonis comes out from their side, we’re finished!"
"It's fine! That little kid! The power of love renders everything else meaningless!"
"This crazy woman!"
It seems being uncontrollable was not unique to our side.
As Luna stood in the arena, another person climbed up from the opposite side.
A sinister-looking boy, the complete opposite style of Adonis.
"Kikikikikikiki!"
He stuck out his tongue and licked his blade.
...Is this guy really a priest? More like a thug, right?
"L-Luna!"
"That thug is Luna's opponent... that’s too much!"
"Luna, run away! It's okay to run!"
"It's not okay... ack!"
Teron was suddenly sent flying far away.
That happened because a group of fiercely united girls had rushed forward.
Seeing their reaction, the sinister-looking boy grumbled.
"What, is this some kids' play of love? I’m losing my patience."
"...What?"
"Isn’t that what it is? Kids playing at love. Do they even know what that means?"
Then Luna began to tremble.
Drawing her sword, she spoke softly.
"I can tolerate them calling Zero a kid..."
But.
"I will not forgive anyone who dares to call me a kid!"
...Luna.
The reverse would have sounded cooler.
--TL Notes--
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