Round of 16 (3)

Luche’s Round of 16 ultimately ended with a 2:1 victory, win-loss-win.

The content of the matches was good too. When she lost, it was a narrow defeat, but in the last match, she won with a significant difference.

It was a much better result than the close match predicted before the game.

Especially in the last engagement, even I was impressed.

She clinched victory with a clean counter.

It’s quite common for sense in engagements to improve as experience increases.

But it’s rare for physical abilities to improve as well.

That’s because it’s truly a difficult path.

There’s a reason why physical abilities are considered a realm of talent.

It’s not something that can be achieved with just a day or two of training, but requires steady effort to make even tiny improvements.

And when you finally reach that point, what awaits isn’t the destination but the starting line.

‘That’s why many dropped out. I almost did too.’

Looking back, it’s quite a bitter memory.

Anyway, it was clear that enormous effort was infused into that small achievement.

Moreover, her method of utilizing vision had improved considerably.

A way of hiding attack trajectories behind the shield to reduce the enemy’s preparation time.

Luche started using tactics that seemed like Cerberus’s patent.

《 This is why fans can’t help but like Luche as a player. She never stops growing. 》

《 Many players have defeated Luche. If you’ve been watching the domestic league for a long time, you’d know, but how was she at first? She was a player whose participation next year was in question. 》

《 That player has now become the undisputed best holy knight player in the country. I think we’ve been mistaken lately. We thought Luche would become complacent now that she’s established herself. But didn’t she prove today that she hasn’t? 》

Listening to the commentators made me feel good too.

But victory reports can’t keep coming day after day.

As if to signal the end of the sweet time, matches with formidable opponents were being decided one after another.

In the following match, Reaper advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Sylphirose’s witch.

Cerberus also continued his undefeated streak and put his name on the bracket.

My opponent won’t be decided until the last match is over, but the opposite side of the bracket was set.

Traveler vs Cerberus.

Luche vs Reaper.

Traveler’s match against this Arena’s most formidable opponent was finally confirmed.

Even domestic fans predicted his chances as hopeless, and the commentators’ evaluations were harsh.

He probably knows the objective difference in strength too.

And the person who has to fight… was sitting next to me with an indifferent expression.

I asked, dumbfounded:

“Why on earth are you here?”

“What kind of question is that? I came to watch the matches, of course.”

“Isn’t it more comfortable to watch from outside?”

“I told you, no one on our team is interested in the Arena. But I’m leaving now. No need to watch the later matches.”

Luche’s match is over, and so is Cerberus’s.

The ones preparing for the next match are the players scheduled to meet me in the quarterfinals.

For Traveler to meet them, he’d have to advance to the finals.

As I waved my hand to see him off, Traveler stared at me intently.

His lips moved as if about to say something difficult.

But the request that came out wasn’t something I needed to think about much.

“Hey. If you have time after watching all that, let’s have a few practice matches.”

“…Do we have to?”

“It’s not bad, right? Let’s do it just to build basic skills, without using skills.”

“Well, okay. I’ll help you. Let’s go right now. We can watch the matches again later.”

“Thanks for agreeing.”

I gave permission readily.

That’s because the money Traveler promised recently had been deposited.

It was a bit more than the amount initially promised.

If the customer shows sincerity, I should provide some service to make it even.

We started a practice match in a suitable open space.

Traveler came out with a short spear instead of a gunlance.

Certainly, if Cerberus competes as a magic swordsman, that would be easier to handle.

While exchanging light attacks, I opened up some casual conversation.

“Do you think you can win the next match?”

“Of course. Didn’t you see the interview?”

“I didn’t watch it all. I just read the headlines. How do you really feel?”

“It’s going to be very difficult.”

In official settings, Traveler showed confidence even against Cerberus.

I… think this guy did well not to be intimidated.

But it must have taken a lot of courage.

If he loses, it’ll be perfect material for criticism.

Isn’t it true that pro gamers receive more hate as they become more popular?

“I’ve been analyzing Cerberus’s matches like crazy until dawn today. I knew he was amazing, but the more I learn, the higher the wall seems.”

“Hmm. He is quite good.”

“Ah, I realized our concepts of combat are completely different. Cerberus was living in a world I didn’t know. I’m just starting to see it now, so it’ll take quite a while to catch up.”

Words that seem to imply defeat.

Yet, why did he give such an interview?

─If asked, Traveler would answer like this:

“But I’m a pro, aren’t I? If I tremble before even fighting, what would that make of the people watching me?”

“That mindset is cool.”

“And… tch. I wasn’t going to say this to an amateur because it hurts my pride too much, but I had similar thoughts watching your match this time.”

“Hm.”

I didn’t expect to hear such words from this guy.

A guy who was full of pride since he was a rookie.

It’s a side you can’t see now, but wasn’t he the one who got a lot of criticism for his selfish play in the early days?

I’m sure that pride hasn’t gone anywhere, but I didn’t expect him to praise me this much.

This guy must have come this far by constantly chipping away at himself.

Then, has he improved on the weakness he showed last time?

To test it, I tried to dig into his lower body in the same way, but I almost got a shield stuck in my solar plexus.

It seems he won’t fall for it anymore.

I wasted my precious guard gauge for nothing.

“The reason I’m saying this is, you saw Luche’s match too, right? That was definitely influenced by you.”

“Really? How are you so sure?”

“Our analysis team uploaded a play report on you. It was very detailed. If we did it, Sigma must have done it long ago, and the same goes for Cerberus. The amateur treatment is essentially over.”

No wonder this guy’s guard was so strong today.

It seems my habits and preferred attack routes have all been dissected.

Good to know. From now on, the chain sickle is sealed.

I was feeling its limitations since fighting Reaper anyway.

If I can’t raise my proficiency more, it’ll become a losing card with no element of surprise.

“Since I gave you some useful information, you tell me one thing too.”

“I’ll listen and decide if it’s fair. I have business ethics too.”

“Why are you so obsessed with winning?”

“Hmm.”

This touches a bit of a sore spot.

Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to answer.

“I’ve had a mental illness since I was young. Back then, I just thought I had a strong competitive spirit, but looking back, it was definitely a mental illness.”

When Traveler was young, a certain card game was popular at his school.

It was a game where skill was important, but luck was important too.

Naturally, there were times when you lost and times when you won.

Traveler hated that.

This guy was always a demon of competitiveness, desperate to win.

He hated losing so much that he didn’t mind using unfair methods.

He learned sleight of hand techniques to win at card games, and even subtly marked cards with fingernail marks.

He says he was happy to win even by such means.

After hearing that, I gave my honest impression.

“Wow, you were really messed up. Did you even bet money?”

“I did. But if I won, I’d give it back, and if I lost, I’d give it without complaint.”

“You crazy bastard. Why on earth?”

“If there’s something at stake, it becomes a much more important match. If I return the money, they’ll be willing to play again later. I got a lot of pocket money since I was young anyway. Winning was more important than money.”

What a disgusting guy.

As I clicked my tongue, Traveler laughed heartily.

“Being a pro gamer was your true calling. Except for the cheating part.”

“Right? But I graduated from cheating in my school days. It’s much more fun to fight fair and square.”

“That’s a relief. I was about to have some strange suspicions.”

“Why do you sound so nasty when you talk? Anyway, I’m like that because of my mental illness. What about you?”

He revealed his weakness in his own way.

Then maybe I should tell a little bit too.

But recalling unnecessary memories is also painful.

If I say I want to be a pro gamer, naturally questions will arise about why I can’t.

So I had no choice but to say this:

“Objection. I have no intention of telling you that. Ask something else.”

“You stingy woman. Then just keep it as a debt.”

“Sure, why not. I’ll even add some interest.”

Someday, the day to repay will come.

I’m pretty exact in my calculations too.

After that, Traveler had four practice matches with me.

He fought desperately and fiercely.

A few days later, the quarterfinals began.