Martial Arts Tournament (4)

1.

I checked the tournament bracket.

“Huh?”

That’s strange.

There were 16 survivors from the first round.

But there were only 8 names on the bracket.

Half had disappeared.

“I think there’s something wrong here.”

I held out the bracket to the guide who had handed it out.

“Weren’t there 16 participants?”

“Well… the others have forfeited.”

“What?”

Suddenly forfeiting?

Did something happen?

I asked the guide again.

“Why? Why did they forfeit?”

“That’s…”

The guide looked like he was having trouble answering.

It seemed like there was some internal problem with the tournament.

But since they were continuing, it didn’t seem like a big problem.

Well, as long as my name is there.

It’s a shame that there are fewer opportunities to cross swords, but I decided to be satisfied with the fact that I can compete at all.

“The second round will begin in 10 minutes. The participants in the first match should prepare.”

Two people stood up.

One was a witch wearing a large pointed hat.

The other was a drab man in a black cloak.

Is that woman about a 7th Circle Mage?

Considering there are 13 Circles of magic, she probably has about average skill.

As for the man…

I can’t tell what weapon he uses because he’s wearing a cloak.

Judging by his gait, he seems to use a sword.

The weighty atmosphere stimulates my interest.

I’d like to fight him if possible.

By the way.

Where’s that adventurer from earlier?

I looked around for the adventurer who had amused me.

I was going to chat with him while waiting for my turn.

But he was nowhere to be seen.

I checked the bracket.

It’s hard since I don’t know his name.

“Excuse me, wasn’t there a Platinum-ranked adventurer?”

I grabbed the guide who was about to leave and asked again.

“If you’re talking about him, he forfeited as soon as the first round ended.”

“Eh?”

Oh dear.

That’s disappointing.

I had high expectations for him.

These days, people seem to lack perseverance.

They don’t seem to have a sense of responsibility either.

Once you’ve decided to participate, you should see it through to the end, even if you lose.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

I clicked my tongue and shook my head inwardly.

2.

The audience’s reaction was hot.

On the other hand, my mood was chilling.

I had expected the martial arts tournament to be full of strong people, but it was proceeding too blandly.

Quarterfinals.

Semifinals.

My opponents were defeated with a single strike without even exchanging a proper blow.

The first round was the most fun.

With such a disappointing feeling, I reached the finals.

Now there’s only one opponent left.

If I defeat that guy, I win.

Please!

I beg you!

Please, let the last one last a little longer!

I prayed to God.

It felt like the first time in a long time that I prayed sincerely.

I usually just pretend to.

“Finally, the finals! The first participant to be introduced is a powerhouse who has appeared like a comet! Don’t underestimate her because she’s small! She’ll finish you off in one hit again this time! The girl swordsman, Ria!”

I entered the arena.

The reaction was at its peak because it was the finals.

For the record, Ria is a pseudonym to hide my name.

Well, it’s just Elia without the El.

“And her opponent! He tears apart any enemy mercilessly! The ghost of the Eastern Forest, Illuner!”

My opponent was the man in the black cloak I had marked.

The ghost of the Eastern Forest, huh.

That’s quite a cool epithet.

The man appeared.

He also received a great cheer.

Due to tournament rules, participants cannot watch other participants’ matches.

So I haven’t figured out what weapon he uses yet.

One thing I do know is that the bodies of those he defeated had dozens of cuts.

He must be a speed attacker.

This is going to be fun.

I’m a swordsman who values strength over speed.

My fighting style is to defeat opponents with one powerful attack rather than attacking multiple times.

Of course, it’s not that I can’t do speed attacks.

It’s possible to change my fighting style depending on the situation.

That’s just what I mainly use.

“The rules of the match are the same! Use all the power you have to defeat your opponent and win! And become the champion!”

I drew my sword.

My opponent was relaxed.

He must be confident in his skills.

“Start!!”

The way to deal with a speed attacker is very simple.

Approach him faster than he can and cut him down quickly.

Just as I swung my sword and reached the man,

-Flap!

The man’s black cloak spread out like wings.

And what appeared before my eyes were 10 small magic circles.

“A mage?!”

He wasn’t relaxed, he was preparing.

Did he know I was going to come straight in?

Or maybe he has a lot of practical experience.

I grinned.

Fun!

The magic was activated.

Blades of Magical power came crashing down like a storm.

I bent my knees, leaned back, and slid.

The Blades of Magical power brushed over my face.

The moment my knees dragging on the ground were about to stop, I immediately got up.

And then.

-Thwack!

A sharp dagger was embedded in my thigh.

“Ugh…!!”

I looked at the man.

He was holding five daggers in his hand.

To use magic and swords at the same time.

It’s not the first time I’ve seen such an opponent.

But it’s not a common one either.

I’ve met a dirty bastard.

The Phantom Legion Commander of the Demon Lord Army comes to mind.

That bastard swung a greatsword and cast magic.

I barely defeated him after a tenacious three-hour battle.

I pulled the sword out of my thigh.

“Oops, I let my guard down.”

I dusted off my knees.

Hot blood flowed down my thigh.

It hurts, but not enough to stop me from moving.

“I’ll warn you in advance.”

A Blade of Magical power flew towards me.

I tilted my head to the side.

The blade passed by, cutting through my robe.

“Hey, I’m talking here…!”

The hood of the robe came off.

Golden hair flowed down to my chest and fluttered in the wind.

“I’ll warn you first. Even if you cry and beg, I’m going to tear you apart.”

It’s our first meeting, but he’s talking like he has a grudge against me.

“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”

The battle resumed.

The man attacked with speed as expected.

What was different from my expectations was that Blades of Magical power and daggers were flying at me at the same time.

I was dancing in the midst of his attacks.

Faster than I expected?

I admit it.

This guy is on the skilled side.

When I first participated in the martial arts tournament, I expected to see a swarm of guys at this level.

-Slash!

A dagger cut my shoulder.

I should stop playing around.

I have to get serious too.

At that moment.

“Huh…?”

My vision blurred as if fog had settled in my eyes.

The ground rippled like the sea.

The cheers of the crowd faded away and then came closer again.

“This is…”

“Poison.”

Did he put poison on the dagger?

That’s pretty nasty.

But I didn’t hate it.

Because it’s his strategy for victory, even if it’s cowardly.

“Soon all your nerves will be paralyzed. Enjoy it slowly.”

“Heh, hehe…”

I chuckled.

I’m getting old too.

To fall for such a shoddy trick.

I put my hands together.

“I told you I’d tear you apart even if you begged, didn’t I?”

I ignored his words.

“God.”

“A prayer?”

“Hear my voice.”

A simple prayer.

Divinity as hot as the summer sun pricked my body.

My body is recovering.

My body is being purified.

A subtle afterglow remained in my chest.

“Now…”

My eyes returned.

“Shall we see you get torn apart now?”

I smiled.

“You.”

I filled the spot where Divinity lingered with Magical power.

And I put that Magical power into my sword.

The rusty sword began to shine with a brilliant golden light.

“You detoxified it?”

“You’ll make me sad if you’re surprised by that.”

I raised my sword above my head.

Blades of Magical power surged in like a storm.

Six daggers rode that wind and headed towards me.

Let’s see whose storm is stronger.

I swung my sword.

Sword Aura swirled and stretched out towards the man.

The Blades of Magical power and daggers that were flying towards me were caught in the vortex.

The Sword Aura, like a wolf, opened its jaws wide and ran towards the man.

“Wa, wait…!!”

It swallowed the man whole.

I swung my sword around.

The Sword Aura disappeared.

In the place where the Sword Aura had disappeared, the man was lying on the ground, his body torn to pieces.

I approached the man and squatted down.

“It’s not over, is it?”

“Ugh… heh…”

I put my hand on the man’s head.

I recited a prayer and healed the man.

I had deliberately avoided fatal injuries, so he recovered quickly.

“Please fight me again.”

Fatigue washed over me because I had used too much Magical power and Divinity.

I felt like my eyes were going to close from exhaustion.

However, my heart was beating faster than ever because it was happy.

“You, you dare…!!”

The man launched a close-quarters battle.

I swung my sword like a club and hit the man’s knee.

“Agh!!”

“You have to maintain your composure. To be swept away by emotions and rush in mindlessly, leaving behind what you’re good at. You’re disqualified as a swordsman.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!! Agh!!”

“You have a good spirit. Try to control your emotions with that spirit. I’ll heal you one more time, so how about doing it right this time?”

I raised the man up several times.

I liked the man.

I wanted to fight him more because he didn’t have a common fighting style.

But it’s disappointing.

Once he lost his composure, the man stupidly threw punches and rushed at me.

If he’s like this, he’s no different from that lump of a guy in the first round.

It’s a waste of time.

“Let’s end this.”

I lightly tapped the man’s head with the flat of my sword.

The man who was rushing at me rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.

“Aren’t you going to end the match?”

A quiet atmosphere.

Everyone had a look of boredom on their faces.