More Important Than the Tournament

The match I ended up participating in after accepting the winning streak challenge.

My opponent’s class was a Knight, the most well-balanced in offense and defense.

As many people choose it, there are various operational methods for Knights.

The opponent was wearing minimal armor, focusing on mobility.

The only parts that could be called iron armor were the gauntlets and boots.

He was only wearing a light gambeson on his upper body.

The waiting time given before the match started.

Just as I was observing the opponent, they were also scrutinizing me with sharp eyes.

I didn’t like the way they scanned me from head to toe.

“Huu…”

I let out a soft sigh and checked my body’s senses.

My head wasn’t working properly because I hadn’t slept.

Naturally, my sense of touch was also duller than usual.

Just as I thought that, the short waiting time ended and the match began.

But the opponent didn’t move.

Neither did I.

In my case, I simply spaced out and missed the timing to enter, but the opponent Knight seemed to have other ideas.

As the subtle standoff continued.

I was the first to move.

My legs stretched out long.

A slightly off-kilter feeling.

But the speed at which I ran was no different than before.

Tadat dat!

The moment I started running, the opponent also began to move.

Their hand pulled back and their leg stretched out greatly.

It wasn’t a stance to swing a sword.

It was a throwing stance to hurl something.

Could it be.

The sword in their hand?

Hwaaaak-!

The moment the opponent’s upper body, which had been pulled back, shot forward, the sword in their hand spun rapidly and flew towards me.

Immediately after, the opponent started sprinting forward.

I drew my Nodachi and deflected the incoming sword.

Kaga gang!

Blue sparks formed on the edge of the blade.

The flashing sparks filled my vision.

At that moment, the opponent’s hand, which was rushing towards me, pulled out a sword that was stuck in the ground.

The background of the map where the match is currently taking place is a circular arena where many warriors fought and died.

Naturally, the floor was littered with weapons that they had used and abandoned.

You could get a new weapon just by reaching out, so it wasn’t a place where you couldn’t fight just because you lost your existing weapon.

I bit my lip.

Without slowing down, I raised my arm high to deflect the Claymore.

Of course, that meant it wasn’t a good stance for defense.

This was the opponent’s aim.

Tadadak-!

The opponent Knight sprinted quickly.

I immediately stopped in my tracks and forcibly twisted my posture.

Kaaang!

The opponent’s sword strike was swung mightily.

A sharp flash flew towards my neck, but the blade of the Nodachi, which I barely lowered, protected my body.

“Ugh…”

My body staggered.

A natural result for me, who lacks Strength stats.

The opponent knew that I had low Strength stats.

The opponent didn’t stop attacking.

The moment the strength on the sword side I was fighting with started to weaken, the opponent’s body tilted slightly and one leg quickly came up.

A kick with great force.

I was horrified by the powerful attack aimed at my abdomen and retreated.

Huoong-!

The hard and heavy steel boots brushed past me in the air.

The opponent’s attack ended there.

They retreated immediately, as if knowing that if they came any closer, I would get them.

I frowned and glared at the opponent.

They knew the timing of attacks and how to gauge the distance between the opponent and themselves.

I underestimated them, thinking they were just a young student, but they’re quite something.

I could be sure of it right there.

The person in front of me right now was one of the strongest championship contenders.

I examined the opponent’s expression.

Their bare face was exposed because they weren’t wearing a helmet.

Slightly furrowed eyebrows and a subtle upturn of the corners of their mouth.

An expression that seemed to say they couldn’t help but enjoy this situation.

“Haat!”

The moment I examined the opponent’s expression, they, having recovered their breath, attempted a charge.

A sword swung mightily.

An instinctive movement that trusted in their Strength stats and talent.

A haphazard swordsmanship without a system.

Kaang!

I blocked it.

I deflected it.

I calmly and composedly read the opponent’s attack and flowed over it like water.

Suddenly, the strength in the hand holding the Nodachi slightly weakened.

Why? I don’t know the reason. My hostility towards the opponent lessened slightly.

Kang! Kaang!

There is an opportunity to attack. There will be more in the future.

But my hand didn’t move.

I didn’t intend to drag things out. I wanted to end the match right away, head to bed, and lie down.

But what is it?

This subtle feeling.

Pity for the opponent?

No. This feeling is directed at myself.

But I couldn’t understand it right now.

While I was blankly deflecting the opponent’s attacks.

An undeniable sharp strike flew towards me.

At that moment, my body moved.

My body started moving on its own, like an instinct engraved in my soul.

My quickly lowered upper body deflected the sword.

Immediately after, a white pain began to bloom.

The moment my vision started to burn white, my attack unfolded.

Shaaaak!

A blue flash flew like a wave.

The opponent quickly raised their arm to attempt a defense, but the blue flash moved as if bending, modifying its trajectory.

A movement like a white snake.

The naturally unfolded swordsmanship went over the opponent’s arm and brushed past their vulnerable nape.

Seogeok-!

The sensation on my fingertips is clear.

The predetermined end of the match.

I stood there blankly and examined the opponent’s expression.

I could read the humiliation and resentment lingering in their eyes, though they seemed relieved at first glance.

“Ha…”

Before the fountain of blood erupted.

It was a sigh that flowed from the opponent’s mouth.

Was it directed at themselves? Or was it directed at me?

Thud-

Victory.

Current match situation.

2 to 1

The opposing side has 2 players left.

Our side has only Ellie, excluding me.

I naturally suggested a winning streak challenge.

My current health is 100%

That means I haven’t been hit even once.

The opponent, who showed overwhelming skill, suggested a winning streak challenge.

They might not accept it. If the goal is to win the tournament itself, they should definitely refuse.

But the opposing team accepted the winning streak challenge.

A corner of my heart starts to stir.

I don’t know the reason. Or rather, the accurate expression would be that I don’t want to know.

I closed my mouth and waited for the next opponent.

The opponent who appeared this time is a Paladin.

A class with more solid defense than a Knight.

The chosen weapons were a Mace and a Kite Shield to protect the body.

Unlike before, they were wearing armor that covered their entire body.

I could understand what the opposing team’s strategy was.

They must be thinking of relying on their solid defense to whittle down my health as much as possible.

The waiting time given ended and the match began.

The health I possessed was instantly reduced by half.

The opponent Paladin immediately started approaching me.

The sound of footsteps getting closer.

I took a breath and focused on the match.

All the while desperately ignoring the corner of my heart that kept stirring.

Kang!

The Nodachi, swung mightily, slipped off without penetrating the opponent’s armor.

Huoong-!

I avoided the heavy Mace attack aimed at my head.

Thus began the exchange of offense and defense, and the probing.

30 seconds.

That was the time I needed to figure out the opponent’s patterns and where the gaps were in their armor.

The moment those 30 seconds passed, the edge of my Nodachi pierced through the gaps in the opponent’s armor and tore through their vulnerable skin.

Kugugug-!

The Nodachi’s blade went in without stopping.

Red blood started flowing along the blade, following the sword’s body through the gaps in the armor.

This time as well, victory.

I naturally suggested a winning streak challenge.

I thought as I suggested it.

I hoped they wouldn’t accept.

But the opposing team accepted my suggestion.

Thus, the third match begins.

The person who appeared this time was a Samurai with the same setup as me.

Current remaining health 45%

The moment the next match started, the remaining health became 22.5%.

My vision was dyed red due to the lack of health.

Beyond that vision, I could see the opponent’s expression.

A faint smile and a gaze full of fear.

But more than fear, it was sparkling with anticipation and excitement.

All the opposing players were making this expression.

The Paladin who fought me earlier wouldn’t be any different either.

After the waiting time, the match begins.

Due to the nature of the Deathmatch mode, the pace of a match is very short.

That fact was no different this time either.

Chwaak!

The Nodachi stretched out greatly.

The opponent also stretched out their Nodachi, but it only barely brushed past my cheek.

They couldn’t deliver a sharp strike.

In contrast, my Nodachi accurately severed the opponent’s neck.

Tuk-

The head fell belatedly.

I shook off the Nodachi in my hand and stared at the head rolling away.

It was dirty, covered in dirt and blood, but the face hadn’t lost its smile.

It was fun, huh.

Then that’s a relief.

I ended the game and came out of the capsule.

Standing guard in front of the capsule was, of course, Sohee.

“Good job.”

“Yeah.”

I confidently stretched out my hand towards Sohee.

Sohee tilted her head, looking at me in that state.

Soon, as if realizing something, she put her hands between my armpits and lifted me out of the capsule.

She’s quick-witted as always.

We also won the round of 16.

The tournament staff came into our team booth and handed over the documents, just like yesterday.

Yes, it’s the same daily life as yesterday.

My head feels strangely blank.

I took Sohee’s hand and left the booth.

At that moment, I could spot the opposing team coming out from across the way.

Their faces were flushed red.

They had expressions that seemed to be suppressing something, as if holding back tears.

Of course, not everyone was like that. Some of them were giving refreshing smiles with relieved expressions.

At that moment, I could realize what was stirring in a corner of my heart.

This is.

Regret.

The VRS tournament. And it’s an inter-school competition.

That means this tournament is a place where those who truly love and enjoy VRS, and who dream of going pro, can spread their wings.

I participated in such a place.

I don’t enjoy VRS, and I don’t dream of going pro.

It was a tournament I participated in simply to skip class.

Sohee and Ellie also don’t have much interest in the tournament itself.

Seongshin-seonbae is no different either.

Her main game wasn’t VRS, after all.

Of course, the opponents we faced wouldn’t know these thoughts.

But I didn’t feel comfortable.

“Hayeon-ah. Are you tired?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“You won, but you don’t seem very happy. You must be tired, huh?”

I don’t bother answering Sohee’s question.

I silently stared at the opposing team’s players.

Those who were sadly leaving because they had lost the match.

If our team hadn’t participated, they might have been the victors.

Hmm…

If we advanced to the round of 16, that would be a pretty high ranking, right?

I held Sohee’s hand tightly and left the tournament venue.