Chapter 128: Tournament, First Day of Team Battles

Double chapter today!

The previous chapter left a bitter taste, so I decided it was best to address it quickly. So here it is!

Even the author admitted it was a poor choice to release that kind of chapter after the hype chapter. He reflected on his actions—That’s good to know—.

— Participants’ Waiting Room

“Do you think… there will be rule changes?”

“There will. No doubt. If Hopelace doesn’t do anything after yesterday’s match, then that means he gave up, but that’s definitely not going to happen.”

Daena answers Amelia as if dismissing the idea of giving up.

From the tenacity in the individual battles, he understood the determination of the interfering nobles.

It wasn’t apparent in Daena’s tone, but his own individual battles ended in disappointing results, and he feels bad for his wife who came to watch his matches.

She praised the content of the match, but as a man, he wanted to push himself further.

Considering the Goddess’ blessing, in this world, women’s battle power often increases more than men’s.

But in these decades, battle power from blessings couldn’t be relied upon, and in that sense, the male side is stronger.

And then, in this tournament, having the Goddess’ blessing is prohibited.

The Academy considered the dangers of fighting in such a state. This has been a rule since the time the Goddess was still active.

“Team battles have fewer restrictions than individual battles after all~. No matter which one of us senpai fought with, the result would be obvious.” (Yuno)

“Yuno, you can’t lower your guard too much. Sensei will probably see through that.” (Sif)

“Uh… I will be careful.” (Yuno)

“Well, I understand how Yuno feels. Champion-sama is on our team, and even the warrior category winner, Jin. The semifinals and finals are tomorrow, so today might actually be a bit boring and nothing problematic will happen.” (Izumo)

Izumo cuts into the conversation of the Rembrandt sisters.

They haven’t brought up Izumo’s grading, but it doesn’t seem to bother him much.

He looks relaxed.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Jin and Misura return to the room where five people were chatting.

“Welcome back. Did they tamper with the rules?” (Amelia)

“Yeah, just as expected. But, something even bigger happened.” (Jin)

“What?” (Amelia)

Seeing Jin’s discouraged face, Amelia asks anxiously.

“It seems… Sensei can’t come today.” (Jin)

…

All five faces changed.

Their emotions varied, but disappointment and despondency were common threads.

“What about Shiki-san?!” (Amelia)

Amelia was the first to react.

She was completely prioritizing Raidou.

“Shiki-san and those two aides, Tomoe-san and Mio-san, will be coming to watch. Sensei himself won’t be able to come, but it seems there’s a message from him.” (Jin)

“Why can’t he come?” (Sif)

Sif was next, followed by Yuno and Izumo, and all the other members nodding. It was a question on everyone’s mind.

“It seems the Merchant Guild has called for him.” (Jin)

“Oto-sama couldn’t make it…” (Sif)

“Looks like it. He was even called on a day like this, so it’s quite the problem. Even though I asked so many times to not cause problems for Raidou-sama…” (Yuno)

The Rembrandt sisters’ eyes held a sharp, unyielding light.

It faded in a few minutes, and Jin felt a prickle of fear from them.

“Well, can’t be helped. And what kind of changes did the rules have? Looking at Misura’s state, it seems quite severe.” (Amelia)

As if saying, ‘if Shiki is coming, then that’s fine,’ Amelia inquires about the rules.

Noticing Misura’s unusual state, she’s prepared for some pestering to a certain extent.

“Ah, no… This is because of something else. Regarding the team battle rules, only one point was added. Honestly, it pissed me. That he thinks he’ll be able to defeat us with just that.” (Jin)

Jin laughs fearlessly.

That smile wasn’t directed at the changed rules, but at the plotter who thinks he can defeat them with something so superficial.

“Hmph~, don’t beat around the bush and just tell us.”

“Level restrictions for the entire party. The total level should be within 365. If your number is over that, you have to adjust the party to fit within that margin.” (Jin)

“… So he’s telling us to go with 3 people, huh. Those numbers are like sniping us.” (Amelia)

It was just as the bitter-smiling Amelia said.

They registered as a party of 7 and it was accepted, yet it changed to only being able to participate with 3 on the scheduled day.

It couldn’t be helped.

“And in truth, it is really a snipe. Because when adding the levels of Hopelace’s party, it almost reaches that number. The only team that surpasses that number are us.” (Jin)

“I’m amazed. But just like Jin said, in terms of conditions, there are no problems for us. With only this much, nothing will change. We are stronger when teamed up after all. Why is Misura making such a cornered face then?” (Amelia)

“That is…” (Jin)

“… They told me… they would train me.” (Misura)

Misura mutters with a pale face. This was an unusual way for him to speak.

“By whom?” (Yuno)

Yuno urges him to be clearer. Because it didn’t sound like something to be so cornered about.

“… By Sensei’s close aide, the blue-haired one. The one called Tomoe-san.” (Misura)

“No way!!”

The voices of the Rembrandt sisters perfectly synchronized.

“That’s true. It seems she was impressed by his match with me, and after the school festival is over, she will have a training session with him.” (Jin)

“—Incredible!!”

“That Tomoe-san is. There are almost no adventurers who have caught Tomoe’s eye to the point that she would want to train them. Misura-san, that’s amazing.”

The sisters’ surprise was understandable.

Tomoe sometimes looks after adventurers in Tsige, just like Mio, she practically never took a pupil or taught anyone personally.

At most, there’s Lime who suddenly announced his retirement from the Adventurer Guild and seems to be personally admiring Tomoe, and also Mio, who has looked after one female adventurer with black hair.

“Well, it’s supposed to be, but he was intimidated and is now completely scared.” (Jin)

“If you were told that kind of thing, anyone would.” (Misura)

“What did she tell you?” (Izumo)

Izumo probably found the scared Misura amusing; he asks with a smile.

“… She placed a hand on my shoulder… and told me to please don’t die, with a straight face. I will hold back, because I don’t want to get scolded by Waka, she said.” (Misura)

“Uwaa, she is practically not caring about you.”

“See, see?! If a person with a crazy number like 1,500 says that to you, it’s obvious that the color of your face would drain too, right?!” (Misura)

“Even if you die, Shiki-san will definitely bring you back. Well then, since Misura is not at his peak condition, he will be in standby for the first match. Ah, Jin. Can we change members in this tournament?” (Amelia)

“Wa?! I can do it, I will do it! Yesterday I was totally unable to show off, so please don’t exclude me!!” (Misura)

“… You are merciless Amelia. Changing is okay. Just that, if the team loses, even if you didn’t participate, everyone will be in trouble.” (Jin)

“Instead of the match, it feels like choosing members will be more troublesome~. Well then, let’s decide quickly.” (Yuno)

Placing their tension elsewhere, Jin and the others’ intense participation battle begins.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

The Princess of Gritonia, Lily, clicked her tongue internally.

She was watching the team battles unfolding before her.

A match of 3 versus 7.

Normally, the 7 should be overwhelming them.

But the reality was the opposite. The 3 were playing with the 7.

Humans’ way of thinking is that a straightforward power fight is the basic.

But the fighting style of those three was different from the publicly recognized way of fighting.

Frankly speaking, it resembled the demon race’s fighting style.

Using coordination, technique, and strategy to overcome disadvantages.

Truly, the way demons fight against humans.

Lily, who had fought with them for a long time, could recognize that this was the fighting style of demons, or not.

That style is the style the weak use against the strong.

Scheme, and compensate for the difference with their own strength.

Humans don’t know it, or perhaps they forgot this way of fighting long ago. But it’s true that this method is very useful. It’s also knowledge the empire’s army is trying to implement.

And they were able to brilliantly utilize it, moreover, students who, with their own strength, were able to overwhelm the opponent.

When she watched the individual battles, she could tell they weren’t normal. But she didn’t think they could display such ability in teamwork.

To the point that it made her think this would become even more one-sided than the individual battles.

The ones fighting now are, based on Lily’s memory: the warrior category winner, Jin; the one who showed splendid spear-handling, Yuno Rembrandt; and the one who participated as a magician yesterday, Amelia Hopelace.

Today she is not holding a staff, but a bow.

If humans possessed the same teamwork and strategy as demons, this would be the living embodiment of it.

For Lily, there is nothing that would make her happier than this. If they have strength on their side and the same level of strategy as the demon race, they should easily overwhelm them.

Normally, she would have tried to secure these outstanding individuals without reservation.

But she can’t.

They are children influenced by Raidou’s style after all.

For Lily, there’s nothing more irritating than that.

Even when they possess the specialized dragon summoner girl, they were simply overwhelmed. The Kuzunoha Company that Tomoe is in, is involved in this after all.

(It feels like I am watching wooden dolls and scarecrows being beaten down for training…) (Lily)

It was already something neither side could call a match.

Just as Lily compared it, it truly felt like they were watching a training session where they kept hitting a scarecrow.

The frontline quickly cut through and destroyed the opponent’s vanguard, forcing them to protect their middle, and even putting pressure on their rear lines.

In the opening created, a spear was added, and in the quickly crumbling formation, magic was used to finish them off.

Even when they tried to counterattack, the rear guard students who were attacked by arrows and magic were unable to properly chant their spells or take a stance.

Those three were clearly used to group battles. And they were completely playing around.

No, in Lily’s eyes, it was as if they were showing off their moves to someone, and so they were thoroughly taking their time.

She could tell that, if they were in the mood, the warrior category winner could defeat everyone alone.

But they didn’t do that, and were utilizing teamwork to attack and pressure their opponent.

Not show, but showcase.

Even the princess could tell their intentions.

Because of the fighting style they chose, the fight that should have ended in minutes was stretched to about 5 minutes.

The result was, obviously, total annihilation.

Unable to land a single effective attack, they were defeated.

Raidou’s students didn’t even break a sweat.

The three went down the stage and gathered. All seven were talking about something, and their figures as they returned even looked refreshed.

Why is it that, even as students, they can display so much skill in group battles?

How can they maintain such a composed thought process as students?

Lily pondered.

About how much of Tomoe’s warning she should heed.

She could tell she was genuinely interested in them.

If she were to take an approach unrelated to Kuzunoha, perhaps she could make contact with them.

Even so, she wanted to know.

Raidou’s teaching method.

The true ability of those students.

If Tomoki were here, she would have been able to use his eyes to attract them.

But if Raidou were to notice that, it’s over. If Tomoe were to find out, it’s a disaster.

When Lily looks around, the King of Limia, the priestess faction of Lorel, the Church’s Archbishop, the elite teachers invited to commentate at the academy, and the academy heads as well; were watching the match as if devouring it, and also looking at the students.

It can be said that they are no longer nameless students.

The attention they garnered yesterday has firmly solidified today. And, among those present, some already have information about the Kuzunoha Company and Raidou.

Gritonia already has a trump card, which is the hero.

After his meeting with Tomoe, it was as if he had completely turned over a new leaf. He dedicated himself to training and is increasing his strength.

He is quite reliable, but Raidou and his students are also hard to give up on.

No matter how reliable he is, there is only one hero.

The flexible thought process that the hero possesses, which differs from the human’s brute-force approach. In the future, there will be a need for more people with the same way of thinking.

Lily found Jin and the others quite appealing talents.

(In that case, after expressing my gratitude, I will make contact with Raidou entirely regarding the students. I wonder if by doing so, I would still be able to maintain my promise with Tomoe. Raidou. He calls himself a merchant, but he has this much nurturing ability. I don’t want only Tomoe, I want him as well. Giving him to another country would be too much of a waste.) (Lily)

While the team battles continued, Lily’s thoughts explored a method for a favorable relationship with the Kuzunoha Company.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“The world has what are called remarkable figures.”

“Yes, Father.”

“When looking at Hibiki-dono, I sometimes think that way, but to think that I would be able to meet people like that in the traditionally educated Rotsgard, I didn’t expect it at all.”

“Currently, we have gathered as much of their personal information as possible.”

The first day of the team battles has ended.

The four remaining teams were introduced, and the event ended for the day, but in the conversation of the second prince accompanying the Limia King, he was only talking about one team.

Even though there is also a team with Hopelace’s second son, who comes from the Limia Kingdom.

“Umu… I do admit their competency… but what we truly have to look at is not them, but the teacher who taught them that way of fighting.” (King)

“What do you mean? Yesterday, we began investigating the classes they take and the ones they have in common. Also… for some reason, there was already a teacher that the Hopelace household has investigated, so I have also included that person in the documents.” (Prince)

“N? The Hopelace household? I knew that he was doing something in the background with the Academy, but to think it had to do with that teacher. My intuition was lacking. That group of kids are undoubtedly students overflowing with wisdom, but this time, I think the core of the surprise should be the one who has taught them this path.” (King)

“You are saying… there is someone who is producing remarkable figures?” (Prince)

The prince slightly frowned at the king’s insight and asked for the meaning.

The prince was also surprised by their orderly way of fighting, as if he was watching his own country’s hero.

But, if there is a teacher who is ‘teaching’ them and creating these kinds of students, the first one they have to make contact with is, without a doubt, that teacher.

Even if the Limia Kingdom is unable to secure those students who are still teenagers, it is fine if they are able to obtain that teacher.

“Looking at the state of Hopelace’s second son, there’s a chance he has done something wrong.” (King)

“With that much ability, I thought it wouldn’t be strange to balance it. But in the team battles, the added rule seemed as if it was targeting them.” (Prince)

“Even if we try to restrain him now, it might be too late already, but restrict the head of the family from interfering any further. Also… do you know the name of that teacher?” (King)

“Understood. It is a class that the seven of them have in common, and it is also a teacher that Ilumgand-dono has taken interest in, Raidou. He is also the representative of a recently established company, Kuzunoha.” (Prince)

“Raidou… Kuzunoha Company’s Raidou huh. Do you think you can schedule a meeting with him?” (King)

“I will try to. But, there’s still one question remaining.” (Prince)

“What?” (King)

The prince’s expression turned gloomy, and after mentioning Raidou’s name, he turned to the king and spoke as if questioning.

But the king didn’t mind that attitude and simply urged him to continue.

“It’s about Hopelace’s second son, Ilumgand-dono. From what I remember, before Hibiki