Ch.388[Episode 388] Tournament of the Constellations

A few days later, Sir Dominic was able to arrive at the mountainous region on the outskirts of Gachaland through I’m Not Little’s invitation.

Unlike the wasteland, the mountainous region consisted of high and rugged mountain ranges. Sir Dominic, already quite plump, began to run out of breath as he climbed the steep slope.

“A competition in a place like this. I simply cannot understand.”

“I-a-gree-with-you-sir!”

Lieutenant Elang was supporting Sir Dominic from behind to prevent him from rolling down the mountain.

Considering how much weight Sir Dominic had gained recently, Lieutenant Elang’s forehead was lined with veins from just supporting him from below.

The two finally succeeded in reaching the top of the mountain, which was the venue for the competition.

“So this is… the competition… venue…”

Sir Dominic said, gasping for breath.

The competition venue was very simple—just a flattened mountaintop with a few spectator seats placed around.

“At least the sky is pretty.”

Lieutenant Elang looked up at the sky as he collapsed, practically lying flat on the ground.

The sky was embroidered with aurora like curtains, and beyond them, countless stars twinkled, each showing off its presence.

“Still, a competition in a place like this is rather strange.”

Lieutenant Elang seemed to have quickly recovered his stamina as he looked around once more.

There was no one at the competition venue except for Sir Dominic and Lieutenant Elang.

“Could we have gotten the date wrong, or perhaps been deceived?”

Lieutenant Elang began to calmly analyze the situation.

“Unfortunately, you haven’t been deceived.”

It was then.

Sir Dominic and Lieutenant Elang heard a sacred voice echoing from the sky.

When Sir Dominic and Lieutenant Elang looked up at the sky, there was a massive Star that sparkled as if beautiful planets had been embedded in its eyes. Sir Dominic had never seen a Star with such an appearance before.

Of course, the Stars of Gachaland that Sir Dominic had seen so far were only The Tentacle Explorer, Giant of Hundread Hands, and I’m Not Little.

Sir Dominic dared to ask the Star for its identity.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, it’s your first time seeing me in this form.”

The Star’s hair swirled as if it were alive.

It seemed impossible, but what was happening before their eyes was exactly that.

The hair swirled and gathered to form a shape, and only then could Sir Dominic and Lieutenant Elang recognize her identity.

It was the Star I’m Not Little.

“…Impressive.”

This was the first time Sir Dominic had seen a Star up close.

Perhaps that’s why?

Sir Dominic did not hold back his admiration.

“Is that your true form?”

Sir Dominic asked Star I’m Not Little.

“No. This is for the event. You know, like how you wear a suit when you have something important to do. It’s like that.”

I’m Not Little shook her head at Sir Dominic’s question.

In fact, I’m Not Little’s true form was humanoid, and taking the form of a Star was just her powering up a bit for today’s competition.

“There’s a reason my name includes ‘Little.’ I’m probably the smallest among the Stars.”

“But the largest when measured in the sky,” I’m Not Little added self-deprecatingly.

“By the way, didn’t you say this was the competition venue?”

Sir Dominic tried to stroke his chin but merely flailed his arms due to his excessive weight.

“Is this really the competition venue when there’s no one here?”

“Of course. Actually, everyone is waiting. It’s just that the doors to the venue haven’t opened yet.”

I’m Not Little said as she slightly pulled back the aurora.

There, familiar viewer chats often seen on I’m Not Little’s broadcasts appeared, along with the number [01:00].

“We’re still on standby. When that timer ends and the competition begins, only then will these spectator seats be filled.”

After saying that, I’m Not Little remained silent for a moment, and exactly one minute later, she said:

“Now. Watch out for lag.”

And beams of light began to descend from the sky as Stars started to descend to this land one by one.

…With terrifying lag.

…

Sir Dominic, for some reason, was able to roll around despite finding it difficult to move his body.

To be precise, he was going somewhere not by his own will but by someone else’s intervention.

“I’m sorry, Sir Dominic. Since we registered on the day of the event, I need to move you around a bit.”

That intervention was none other than I’m Not Little.

I’m Not Little, in the form of a Star, was taking the round Sir Dominic somewhere.

“Hmm.”

Sir Dominic was a bit upset about having to move by someone else’s will rather than his own, but since he had already agreed to help, he decided to stay still for now.

And so, Sir Dominic, I’m Not Little, and Lieutenant Elang arrived at the registration place.

I’m Not Little said to another Star at the registration place:

“We’re here to register our entry.”

“Ah, yes. Could you please tell me your name?”

“It should be registered under ####.”

“####…. Yes. You’re confirmed. Which object would you like to register?”

Sir Dominic heard I’m Not Little’s true name, but it was so grand that he couldn’t hear it at all.

“Um, is a temporary object possible?”

“Yes, it’s possible. So what kind of object is it?”

“Well…”

I’m Not Little wondered if this was really okay, then closed her eyes tightly and shouted to the Star in front of her.

“S-Sir Dominic!”

“…?”

The Star in charge of registration looked at I’m Not Little with an expression that seemed to say, “What nonsense is this?”

It was an expression that seemed to ask who would register a ‘mortal’ as an object.

I’m Not Little saw that expression but decided to be even more brazen.

“What? When registering objects this time, the condition was ‘as hard as stone and metal, and round enough to roll around.'”

After saying that, I’m Not Little looked at the round Sir Dominic and said:

“Is he as hard as stone and metal? The answer is yes, right? Sir Dominic is called a walking fortress, right? Fortresses are made of stone, right? So Sir Dominic is as hard as stone, right?”

“Is he round enough to roll around? That’s also yes, right? As you can see now, Sir Dominic rolls around, right?”

“So I’m saying I’ve brought an object that completely meets the conditions!”

I’m Not Little answered quite brazenly.

The Star in charge of registration sighed, rubbing their face as if to say, “What nonsense is this?”

“Father, you were right. The world is wide, and there are many crazy people.”

For some reason, Sir Dominic felt like he heard such words in the sigh of the Star in charge of registration.

The Star in charge of registration naturally wanted to send I’m Not Little away.

The idea of using a mortal as an object for the competition seemed strange no matter how you looked at it.

However, since it met the conditions of the competition, the Star had no way to prevent I’m Not Little’s registration.

“…Here’s your number. The bracket will be out soon, so be careful not to lose it.”

In the end, the Star sighed and gave I’m Not Little a number.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. …Just get eliminated in the preliminaries.”

The Star in charge of registration muttered a small curse, but I’m Not Little didn’t seem to hear it and was just happily looking at the number.

“So, what kind of competition is this anyway?”

Sir Dominic, who had been quiet, asked I’m Not Little.

“What kind of competition requires something as hard as stone and metal that can roll around?”

“Ah.”

Only then did I’m Not Little realize that she hadn’t told Sir Dominic what kind of competition this was.

This was I’m Not Little’s mistake.

“Well, it’s a kind of race? Tower defense? Something like that…”

I’m Not Little began to agonize over how to explain this.

“Um, it’s a competition where you roll a sphere made of stone or metal to destroy the opponent’s fortress first. Stars set up various obstacles to block the sphere. So… you can think of it as an obstacle race!”

I’m Not Little explained the competition to Sir Dominic as best as she could remember.

Sir Dominic understood I’m Not Little’s explanation but had a new question.

“Wait, wouldn’t you need multiple lanes then? All I can see is just the competition venue.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

After saying that, I’m Not Little cleared the fog clouds hanging over the mountain and explained to Sir Dominic.

“There are courses like this on other peaks too.”

I’m Not Little pointed to a specific location with her thin, eerie finger.

“That’s my fortress. And the fortress we need to destroy first… hasn’t been announced yet.”

We’ll know when the bracket comes out soon, I’m Not Little said.

Sir Dominic thought her fortress was quite fitting for her as he looked at it.

Her fortress was wearing a gaming headset with cat ears.

“Well, now that I know what to do, I have no further thoughts.”

Sir Dominic nodded as if he understood.

“Ah, it looks like the competition is really about to begin.”

Cheers erupted from the nearby spectator seats.

That meant the competition had started and the commentators had appeared.

Thinking this, I’m Not Little picked up Sir Dominic.

Currently in the form of a Star larger than the mountain, I’m Not Little’s palm was just the right size to lift Sir Dominic like a marble.

“Well then, let’s go. To our battlefield.”

I’m Not Little said as she headed to the competition venue.

It was almost time for the bracket to be announced.