Preliminary Round of the Selection Competition

Losfelt is in a festive mood.

I bought a skewer.

“It’s quite lively, isn’t it? Is there a festival going on?”

“Did you arrive today?”

The auntie handed me the skewer.

“Yes, I arrived today.”

“You look like a Hero, but I guess you haven’t heard the news?”

“What news?”

“The news about recruiting companions for the Princess. I thought all the Heroes knew about it.”

“Ah… that?”

I’ve heard about it before.

“There’s a selection tournament going on to choose the Princess’s companions. As far as I know, they’ve been accepting preliminary applications for a few days now. If you go now, you might not be too late. Are you interested?”

“A little bit, but…”

I wonder what kind of person is born as a princess.

To put it in easier terms, what kind of person would the daughter of a big company’s CEO be?

When you interpret it that way, it naturally piques your curiosity.

But I have no desire to be selected as the Princess’s companion, so while my interest was briefly sparked, it quickly faded.

“They say applications are being taken at the castle. Women are given preferential treatment, so if you’re confident in your skills, give it a try. Well, it seems you need skills beyond your level to have a chance.”

I ate the skewer.

It’s delicious.

I left the street stall and walked down the street.

The people gathered here were all those who had applied for the preliminary round or came to watch it.

And there were also jesters performing on the streets, using magic to show strange and beautiful phenomena to entertain the crowd.

Magic created purely for performance with no practical use.

In reality, it might be something like fireworks.

It has no practical use, but it’s fun to watch.

While watching these performances, I fell into thought.

Skills beyond one’s level.

For example, someone who is level 1 but has skills at level 10.

For example, someone who is level 33 but has skills at level 79.

I searched for Losfelt in the [Community], and the Princess’s companion Hero selection tournament came up.

There were even posts confirming passing the preliminary round, with photos of the Princess included.

Vivid red hair.

It resembled Skilla’s.

Being from a ducal family, it makes sense they would look alike.

At the level of a duke, they’re related by blood.

Since Full Dive is based on medieval Europe, it’s reasonable to assume that the Princess and Skilla are relatives.

Skilla’s relative.

“…”

I flicked the skewer stick into the trash can.

I licked the seasoning off my fingers.

‘The Princess, huh.’

Should I do it or not?

Actually, I was leaning towards not doing it, but then the [Lightning Struck Tree Branch] given to me by the peddlers I met before entering Losfelt tipped the scales towards doing it.

“Well, I should at least do as much as I’ve received.”

Besides, the other party is the Princess.

Even if I enter and leave, they’ll quickly fill the vacancy.

The skewer was surprisingly delicious, so I went back to the stall to buy another one, but for some reason, there was a long line of customers, so I couldn’t buy it.

“Your name?”

“Americano.”

“Your tier? Both solo and party.”

“33rd tier, 3rd tier.”

“Affiliation?”

“None.”

“Origin?”

“Origin?”

“Whether you’re a Native Hero or from the Martial Arts world.”

“Hunter Hero.”

“Reason for applying?”

“I was asked to.”

“Asked by whom?”

“…”

What was the name again?

The receptionist said,

“We’ll mark it as confidential.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you see that signpost over there? If you follow it, you’ll be able to take the preliminary test.”

“Yes.”

There was a signpost with an arrow drawn on it where the receptionist pointed.

I headed in the direction the arrow on the signpost indicated and arrived at one of the preliminary venues taking place throughout the city.

“Argh!”

“Gah!”

Heroes fighting in the preliminary venue.

They were wearing flashy outfits, and both were Summoned Heroes.

One was a Hunter Hero.

He took out a throwing knife and threw it at his opponent.

The opponent dodged, but the knife stopped in mid-air and returned to stab the opponent’s back.

“Foul!”

“What? Why!”

“We said no use of Special Abilities, didn’t we?!”

“But Awakened Abilities are my abilities too, how can you tell me not to use them?!”

“I understand that Hunter Heroes’ Special Abilities are powerful, but due to their tendency to rely on them and quickly become exhausted, we’ve excluded them.”

“If I just raise my level, that kind of thing-!”

“Rules are rules! Do you think we’d keep a Hero who can’t even follow rules by the Princess’s side? Please leave!”

He had a point.

Even if you use your Awakened Ability, it’s meaningless if you quickly become exhausted.

‘At least put Nine Yin Severed Meridians into your Geass.’

If you put that good stuff into your Geass, you can reduce worries about magical power consumption. If you learn [Mana Cultivation Method] as well, you can aim to increase your total magical power and enhance the power of your Awakened Ability.

But so far, I haven’t met anyone with a constitution like [Nine Yin Severed Meridians] or [Nine Yang Severed Meridians].

No, I did meet one person.

What was the name again?

It was a middle school student, but for some reason, I can’t remember the name.

The face was probably,

“Hahaha! Burn to death, all of you!!”

Right, that’s what they looked like.

The middle schooler set their body on fire.

They also set their sword on fire and swung it, KO’ing their opponent. The referee shouted, “Put out the flames!”

The heat was so intense it was difficult to approach.

“Is this a Special Ability?”

“Yes, it’s an Awakened Ability. Impressive, right?”

“It is impressive. But you’re disqualified.”

“If it’s disqualification due to quick exhaustion, think again. I can use this same power all day long with the same intensity as just now.”

“That’s not for me to judge. If you want to appeal, there’s a consultation office inside. If what you say is true, a knight will face you and make a judgment. But here, I’d like to prioritize the rules.”

“…Well, that’s fine.”

The middle schooler left the preliminary venue and headed towards where the referee had indicated.

‘So we meet again here.’

I wonder if this should be called fate.

Personally, I’m not too fond of it.

Still, thinking about the Gumiho Quest and the Blacksmith Job Change Certificate, I feel a bit glad. It’s like meeting a Golden Goblin.

The preliminaries continued.

The preliminary venue was a wide open space.

The city had areas of wide open spaces scattered about where one could run and play freely. There were training grounds for the guard posts distributed throughout the city, parks for relaxation, and some areas that were just meaninglessly wide.

This place was simply a plaza.

A plaza right in front of the castle.

Quite atmospheric.

“Arghhhh!”

“I’ll never lose!”

“Yawn~”

I yawned.

The level of the Heroes taking the preliminary test had dropped significantly.

They say it’s for the Princess’s companions, but in reality, it’s a selection tournament to find her guards, and the level, let alone their skills, had dropped a lot.

‘Well, that’s why it’s a preliminary round.’

I’m getting tired of waiting.

I tapped on my Steel Cuirass.

Are you asleep?

Cappuccino had been quiet for a while.

Judging by the wriggling sensation in my chest, I hadn’t dropped her. I tapped again to warn her not to fall.

“Next Hero, please come up.”

It was Americano’s turn.

As she stepped onto the preliminary stage, a priest cast a spell on her.

The priest. A man with a gentle face was acting as an assistant to the referee and as a medic. And the spell the priest cast on Americano was,

[Seal]

“You will be suppressed to level 1 for 10 minutes.”

“…”

As if to demonstrate the power of the gods, the priest reduced the Hero’s level to 1.

It seems like a warning not to act recklessly, showing that they have this kind of power.

‘How thorough.’

My body feels heavy.

It’s because I’ve become level 1.

There were changes to my stats as well.

All became 10 points.

Level 1.

Average stats of 10 points.

‘This feels strange.’

It’s different from the [Field].

It feels like having the magical world’s powered suit that I enjoyed as a Hero confiscated.

“No wonder everyone seemed weak.”

It was because of the [Seal].

Americano stepped onto the preliminary stage and swung the sword given to preliminary participants.

Swish.

Swish.

Swish.

She adapted to her weakened body.

She had experienced something similar before.

Her opponent was a Native Hero.

His Western appearance was particularly so, and there was something unique about his atmosphere and fashion that only a local could pull off.

One might be flustered by becoming weaker, but.

‘Is he from a similar background as Skilla?’

The Native Hero briefly checked his [Sealed] body condition and nodded.

Then he calmly pointed his sword.

The referee said,

“Then… begin.”

The preliminary match began.

However,

“…”

“…”

He’s not coming.

Americano knows she’s strong.

Without taking a stance, she raises her left hand.

She wiggled her index finger.

“…”

The Native Hero frowns.

He seems angry at being looked down upon.

He approached immediately.

He steps with a footwork technique.

He comes in at once with a balanced posture and swings his sword.

The stats are the same.

But only the stats.

A significant difference appeared in the original physical abilities stripped of stats.

From the moment he stepped with his footwork technique and easily lifted his sword, she had a feeling.

‘This preliminary test is disadvantageous for Summoned Heroes… no, for Hunter Heroes.’

Martial Arts Heroes at least did physical training in their original world.

But Hunter Heroes only relied on their Awakened Abilities to fight, so their basic physical abilities were the same as ordinary people.

This Native Hero knows this.

He already has the face of someone who’s won.

The [Plum Blossom Sword Technique] retreats as if to strike and advances as if to retreat.

At a glance, it seems to have many unnecessary movements, but when mixed with [Phantom Sword], all the sections that seem to retreat as if to strike become attack points for [Phantom Sword].

Even without using [Phantom Sword], it becomes a feint that deceives the opponent.

The Native Hero raised his sword to block her sword that was aiming for his neck.

Block.

Block.

Block.

Keep blocking.

And she slashes.

An exchange of offense and defense.

How sloppy.

Well, it’s pitiful to compare a beginner to [Death Knight].

Even [High Knight Evga] is above average.

Due to her body and sword becoming heavier, she couldn’t immediately decide the match as her speed was reduced, but this leisurely exchange was fun in its own way.

‘What good is strength alone?’

In swordsmanship, as long as you can handle the sword freely, that’s enough for power.

The Native Hero’s arm was deeply cut, and his sword bounced off the ground.

She advised the Native Hero.

“You get caught off guard when you look down on others.”

“…”

The Native Hero had been looking down on Americano.

You can tell by looking at his sword stance.

He clearly treated her like an amateur.

This time, she looked down at the Native Hero and placed her sword against his nape.

The sword touching the Native Hero’s nape,

“You don’t have the right to be arrogant towards me.”

Passed right through his neck.

Ah.

He’s disqualified.

“How pathetic.”

In the Lord’s Castle.

The muscular Lord turns to look at the young man kneeling before him.

Outside the window, preliminaries were being held in the plaza.

The scenes of those taking the preliminary test were magnified by enlargement magic.

The preliminary venue that the Lord was watching with interest was a place where only those with external influence were gathered separately.

The young man had also taken the preliminary test at that venue and was killed by a woman wearing a hood.

It was the first round of preliminaries.

It was pathetic.

The young man gritted his teeth.

However, the Lord did not blame him.

“But the opponent was formidable. To call you pathetic would be unfair given how exceptional your opponent was.”

“No, it was due to my poor performance.”

“Enough. It’s true that the opponent was formidable, so do you know who the woman you faced was?”

“…”

He couldn’t even see her face.

There was a power in the robe that created deep shadows, hiding the woman’s face.

Moreover, the swordsmanship she used was so unfamiliar to him that he couldn’t even guess.

“…I don’t know.”

“That’s understandable. In a way, it was inevitable that you would lose.”

“Who was she?”

“She turned out to be a proxy of Laftica.”

La, Laftica.

The public authority that name carried was immense.

The current Duke of Laftica is a Grand Master.

One of the pillars supporting the kingdom.

If one were to name those who could single-handedly annihilate a clan of Heroes, he would be mentioned alongside the King and the Sage as one of only three ultimate forces of the kingdom.

To think it was a woman backed by that name.

No wonder he couldn’t do anything against her.

“Of course, this is just speculation. Don’t carelessly mention this to anyone else.”

“I understand. But then, what about her disqualification?”

“…”

Normally, they would give one more chance, but the Laftica ducal family abhors favoritism.

“…It was that person’s mistake. You just focus on entering as a companion of Princess.”

“I will do so.”

“You may leave.”

As the young man withdrew,

The Lord’s thoughts deepened.

He tried to read the Duke of Laftica’s intentions, but as he was far from being a schemer, his intentions were not at all visible.

Could it be someone else’s doing?

As there were people who might do such things, he was in the process of listing them one by one when,

Boom.

The castle shook.

“Again.”

The Lord pinched the bridge of his nose.

The tomboy princess was causing a ruckus again.

“What’s all this fuss about a festival.”

Soon, a report came in that the Knight Commander had been dispatched and stopped the princess’s escape attempt.