TWEM Vol. 6 Chapter 7 Part 1
Episode 7 – The Future of the Team Competition
The next day, the third day of the team competition.
Today was the second round of the competition, where the semifinals and the finals were scheduled to take place.
The first match was between Reid’s team and the party of four A-rank adventurers who had won the second match on the first day.
Nina gave the signal for both teams to begin their matches.
As was the case with us yesterday, the strategy chosen was one-on-one battles, but the adventurers’ team was, as might be expected of an A-ranked team, even fiercer in the exchange of techniques than yesterday.
Nina’s play-by-play commentary could not keep up with the actions, and from time to time there were groans of “Ooh…” from the spectators.
The adventurers’ party had been fighting well for a while, but one by one their numbers dwindled until finally they were down to their last man.
Reid and his team were still going strong, with not a single one of them dropping out.
“…It’s decided.”
“It seems so. Reid is strong after all.”
Finne nodded at my muttering.
The last remaining adventurer was still smiling despite the situation.
Apparently, he had not given up yet.
One of Seven Royal Guard, Sentes, who was the adventurer’s opponent, also seemed to be having fun, and it seemed like they were going to fight one-on-one until the end.
Reid and the other two were in good shape, so they could have gone for a four-on-one fight, but probably because they were knights, or maybe they thought that would be boring, they didn’t break the one-on-one fight.
After that, the adventurer held out for a while, but finally collapsed, and Reid and his team were declared victorious.
While the audience was getting excited, we moved to the participants’ waiting room.
“I’m nervous to be facing an S-rank adventurer.”
“All of their companions are A-rank adventurers, too. It’s going to be a fierce battle.”
“That’s right.”
Kuzel nodded to Iris, who had a firm expression on her face.
Next to her, Finne was silently concentrating with her eyes closed.
This situation was unusual, so Finne was probably nervous as well.
I spoke in a cheerful tone, as if to dispel the atmosphere.
“Don’t be so nervous. Just like yesterday, I’m going to take on the most formidable opponent, Fance, so all you have to do is to defeat your own enemy. Don’t worry, you all won’t lose against a normal A-ranked opponent.”
All three of them nodded vigorously at my words.
I guess we’re going to be okay.
Just then, a staff member came to the waiting room.
“You’ll be entering soon, so please come here.”
“Okay…all three of you, let’s do our best!”
“Yes!”
“Yeah!”
“Ooh!”
We left the waiting room with high spirits.
～
‘‘—Then, both teams, please enter!’’
Nina’s voice brought cheers and applause.
We faced Fance and his team in the center of the arena.
“I am Fance, an S-rank adventurer. I never thought I’d be able to fight the rumored ‘Demon King’.”
“I’m Haruto. Please don’t call me ‘Demon King’. Haruto is fine.”
“I see. Well then, Haruto, let’s have a good fight.”
“Ah, let’s have a good fight.”
We kept our distance and faced each other with our weapons ready.
‘‘Now, the second semifinal match! Are you ready? —Let’s begin!’’
As soon as Nina gave the signal for the match to begin, Fance and the others rushed in at once.
But I immediately fired four fire lances at each of my opponents.
Then I fired in rapid succession, separating them from each other so that they couldn’t join forces with each other.
“All right, let’s go!”
As soon as I called out, Finne, Iris, and Kuzel rushed out to create a one-on-one situation.
It was the same strategy as yesterday, but I decided that this would give us the best chance of winning.
Naturally, my opponent was Fance.
When I stopped in front of him, Fance held up his weapon in a relaxed manner, not seeming to be in a hurry.
“You’re my opponent after all, Haruto.”
“Nice to meet you, Fance.”
“It’s good to see you too. Well, I have a question for you.”
“…What?”
“You’re stronger than me, aren’t you?”
I answered Fance’s words with a wry smile.
“Of course, I’m EX rank, remember?”
“Then let me go all out!”
With those words, I felt Fance’s magic power increase by a notch. …No, I’m sure it wasn’t my imagination.
This was because Fance’s movement was clearly faster than before.
In an instant, Fance was right in front of me and unleashed a barrage of spear blows.
I thought for a moment about keeping my distance, but decided to repel the spear attacks with my sword.
However, after repelling several blows, the spear suddenly became transparent, and I sensed the tip of the spear approaching from a different angle than I could see.
“Huh!?”
Although I was surprised, I evaded the attack by turning my body and took a large distance.
This was Fance’s unique skill, Illusion huh?
“You could avoid that?”
“It’s an interesting skill. But there’s still a long way to go. Well, before that…”
Finne and the others were getting pushed around, so I cast a spell to support them.
“Try to avoid this! —Fireball!”
A fireball filled with extra magic power flew toward the opponent.
“—What? Everyone avoid it!”
Fance, startled, hurriedly raised his voice and called out to his companions to avoid it.
His companions, distracted by the shout, were surprised to see the fireball I released.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Finne and the others took a large leap backward to create some distance.
The other team jumped backward to avoid the fireball as well, and the match was back to square one.
“Thank you for your help, Haruto.”
“That saved me!”
“Damn, that was the good part…”
Finne, Iris, and Kuzel each responded, but Kuzel was more upset than expected.
No no, it wasn’t the good part, was it?
“Is this your plan?”
Fance looked at me as if he were looking at something interesting.
I didn’t answer him anything, but smiled.
Then Fance’s companion opened their mouths.
“Mr. Fance. She is stronger than I thought. She’s already ranked A in terms of ability.”
“This one too. She’s fast and her attacks are heavy. Is she really the princess of a country?”
“Help me, she’s already a battle freak…I mean, she’s stronger than me…?”
These were the adventurers who dealt with Finne, Iris, and Kuzel in that order.
The adventurer who dealt with Kuzel looked a little frightened, but he had no choice but to do his best.
‘‘What a fierce battle! I can’t take my eyes off this!’’
Nina was watching our battle and giving live commentary with excitement.
“Okay, let’s start again!”
With those words of mine, we clashed again.
I swung my sword, dodged spear attacks, and occasionally covered for Finne and the others. After a few minutes, Kuzel was the first to defeat her opponent.
Finne and Iris were struggling, but Kuzel came to their aid.
If they had taken their time, they might have won by themselves, but it would have been a shame to let Kuzel play and lose.
Thanks to her help, they managed to defeat both of them, leaving only me and Fance.
“I never thought that someone other than me would be able to defeat them. Their ability is among the highest among A-ranks, but…I’m disappointed.”
Fance smiled a troubled, yet amused smile.
“I see. But what is that smile? You seem to be having a lot of fun.”
“Hahaha, of course I’m having fun! And Haruto, isn’t it the same for you?”
It seemed that Fance had found out.
To be honest, I’m having so much fun right now!
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to have a fight without worrying that someone’s in trouble or that my life is at stake. I could defeat most of my enemies in no time at all.
But still, this fight…
“It’s still not enough, huh?”
“Really.”
Fance, who answered my murmur with narrowed eyes, moved instantly in front of me and fired a sharp blow.
At that time, a flash of purple electricity rushed out from the tip of the ear.
I turned my body to avoid it, but the tip of the spear was bent and headed toward me.
“What the hell is this?”
I didn’t understand.
I immediately tried to hit it with my sword, but there was no response. Apparently it was an illusion.
At that moment, when the illusion disappeared, I sensed a presence behind me.
“I can’t let my guard down at all.”
“You grabbed it!?”
Just as Fance said in surprise, I had a firm grip on the hilt of Fance’s spear, which had been thrust out.
I had invoked Physical Boost and my hand had been strengthened by Diamond skill, so there was no damage at all.
“Hmph!”
Fance didn’t seem to give up and threw a kick at my stomach, so I let go of the spear and leaped backwards to avoid it.
“Let’s settle the fight with this! —Magic Spear Keravnos, released!”
Blue lightning surged from Fance’s spear and enveloped his arm and spear.
That was the same technique he used against Kuzel.
“Haruto!”
“Haruto, be careful!”
“Hey, Haruto! That’s—!”
Finne, Iris, and Kuzel look at Fance’s spear and express their concern.
“I’ll be fine.”
I replied, and my mouth lifted.
Meanwhile, Fance raised his voice even more.
“Not yet! Aaaaaahhh!”
The pressure that Fance was exerting increased several times.
Is this… fighting spirit?
“Come, I’ll take it!”
I sheath my sword, bend my back, and take a stance to draw my sword.
“I’m coming!”
Fance disappeared from sight, and then appeared in front of me in an instant.
Most likely, he used the skill Ground Shrink.
I didn’t expect him to be so fast that I would have trouble following him.
“Thunderbolt!”
A divine speed strike was unleashed.
It was much more powerful than when he used it against Kuzel in the individual match.
He must have used his most powerful skills.
And then I rushed in to intercept it ―with my sword drawn.
We crossed each other, and the arena was enveloped in silence.
A few moments later, I hear a thud from behind me.
I quietly sheath my sword and look back.
Fance, lying on the ground, shows no sign of moving. He was probably unconscious.
Nina announced the winner.
‘‘…And the winner of the tournament is —the team led by the Demon King Haruto!’’
The next moment after a beat, the venue exploded into excitement.
I smiled at Finne and the others and raised my fist toward the sky.
～