The first match of the preliminary round will begin in 30 minutes. All competitors please come to the waiting room."

 I stood up after hearing the announcement by the magic tool.

"I'm off then."

"-----"

------

 Lucy is cheering for me, and Saraswathi is looking down at me for some reason. The first time I saw her, she looked up with an anxious expression on her face, wondering where her energy had gone.

"Hey, you can't lose."

'I will do it with the intent of winning."

'I don't mean that. Not that."

What does it mean if it is not like that?

After thinking about it for a while, I understood Saraswati's feelings.

One year ago, Saraswati, who had given up because she was an ordinary person compared to Lucy, became enthusiastic about the sword again by following my back in my hard work.

Therefore, my defeat was equal to her defeat.

 I was afraid that I would lose at this point and be told that everything had been for nothing.

The high-spiritedness displayed earlier may have been a cover for that.

. I will definitely win the preliminary round, and Saraswati will definitely win too."

'I know that. But ------"

She' s usually a strong person, but she's the type that is weak in the real thing. It's the same in the main story of the game , and when I actually got involved in the real world here, that nature was very obvious.

 But I think it's great.

 It's because I've put so much serious effort into it that I get anxious when I imagine losing.

 As a NEET, I couldn't be at my best in anything until the end. Oh no, I could only be serious about the game . Every time I saw Crescencia die, I wanted to die too.

 I digress.

Anyway, Saraswati had that much of experience. Saraswati had worked harder than anyone else to the point of death. I have seen it more closely than anyone else.

So I won't let anyone say that Saraswati is weak.

". I'm going to win and prove that we are strong. Don't worry. I know better than anyone how hard you have worked."

"------ Yeah."

She looks really anxious. I think it would be cute if she looked like that in everyday life. No, that doesn't suit Saraswati, does it? 

"I'm off then "

 After saying that for the last time, I headed to the waiting room this time.

⚪️.

When I arrived at the waiting room, the other competitors had already arrived.

 I took a quick look around and saw four young kids around my age, and ten other kids with bodies that were clearly older than mine. It seemed that I had been assigned to a block full of older players.

In a fight, the one with superior physique has the advantage in terms of reach, the weight of each blow, and even the difference in velocity due to the difference in stride length.

In a melee of fifteen, 10 opponents bigger than me would be quite troublesome.

 It might be better not to let them get too close to me and mainly attack with magic.

 Hmmm. I don't have a sixth sense to know the strength of an opponent just by looking at them, but ------ only one large boy sitting in the corner of the room, I felt a slight tingling sensation on my skin.

 Maybe it was strong, but, well, there was no point in thinking any more about it.

I felt a number of searching glances coming my way, but I decided to keep quiet and wait for my time to come.

A few minutes later, an attendant arrived to do our final checks and roll call, and it was ten minutes before the first match was to begin.

"The time has come, so we will now proceed to the arena from the competitors' aisle. All competitors please follow me in the same order as the roll call."

 Finally.

 The attendant gave the order and opened the door leading to the aisle.

 From there, a dimly lit aisle with evenly spaced lighting fixtures stretched out. It was slightly chilly as I stepped into the room, and I could feel the pre-match tension building.

 The passageway is quite long, by the way. I must have walked for a few dozen seconds already.

 I'm bored, so I look around at my opponents.

I'm going to fight these kids from now on.

 I wonder what kind of children they are. Are they aristocrats? Commoners? The dirty-looking girl walking at the end of the line is probably a slave looking for an upset.

 I have to go on, stepping on the possibility that these children might shine.

 I cannot lose. I absolutely cannot lose.

 The passage still continues. But I see a light ahead. That's the outside. Once we reach that point, we will finally enter the arena!

I heard the children all around me gasp.

 Step by step, we moved closer and closer to the light. Eventually, as we stepped over the light and through the aisle, we heard...

 Roar

 It was all the cheering that poured out from the audience.

 Everyone in the arena was paying attention to us as we appeared. They were cheering us on.

 We are in the center of this frenzy!

:We are in the center of this frenzy! The first match of the preliminary round of the martial arts tournament is about to begin! First of all, let's start with the entrances of the competitors, and this year we have a lot to look out for, starting with the first match!'

Even his voice through the loudspeaker-type magic device was drowned out by the cheering, and could be heard only brokenly.

'The player number number one!"

Can we put a plaque of victory on the Marussiedo family this year?

Edogun von Marseido! Ten years old!

Edogun has been the runner-up in the Juvenile Division for three consecutive years, but this year is different!

He has grown up since last year's defeat, and has achieved the second place in the practical test and the top place in the comprehensive test at his military academy!

Can he ride that momentum all the way to the championship?"

 'Wo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!"

 The cheers swelled even more. Apparently, Edogan, the kid walking at the front of the pack, is one of the most notable competitors in this year's competition. I have never heard of him in the main Arcue, so I guess he's not the world's chosen talent.

'Go on, competitor number two!

The battlefield is home!

Slaine, the fighter! He is nine years old!

Slane was raised by his father, a mercenary by trade, and was already holding a sword when he could remember!

I wonder if his experience honed through actual combat is superior to the knightly art of swordsmanship!

Perhaps he will be the dark horse of the tournament!"

 "Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

 The cheers explode again. Maybe it doesn't matter who the competitors are who have already been introduced. It could be anybody who is being introduced, but the atmosphere of the place is probably just getting them excited.

 After a few more introductions, it was finally my turn.

"Now, on to the next one, participant number ten!

Is he the future hero!

Norwin von Endenberg! Six years old!

A child prodigy who is so much talked about that I don't even need to mention it!

The only apprentice of the hero Schneizel the Swordsman, he is considered to be one of those who settled the recent underworld upheaval!

Although he is only six years old, his abilities already surpass those of most adult men!

The overwhelming favorite to win this year's tournament will create a storm from the very first match!

As a side note, I, as the MC, have put three months' salary into his entry for the finals!'

"Oh, wow, woa,"

 No, no, no, I don't have that information! You're a sucker for Almire, you know that? (Almire is the betting agent for the martial arts tournament.)

 But, haha. I'm a future hero, huh? How can I say, I'm deeply moved by the things.

When I first came to this world, I was so confused because I didn't know left and right. It was hard even to get Misha to become a member.

 But now, in front of 40,000 people, I'm being called a future hero.

I'm going to win!

 I looked toward the guest of honor's seats where Saraswati and the others were. They were so far away that I could hardly see them, but I was sure they could still communicate with each other.

Then the rest of the fighters were introduced, and we finally stepped into the arena.

We will now go over the rules of the match..." an announcer explained the rules of the match.

tch. Again, it was a long-winded explanation, but in summary it was as follows.

 This match is to determine the three finalists.

The arena where the match will be held is covered with a special boundary, which prevents the use of magic beyond the level of magic equivalent to the first level, and those who are seriously injured will automatically be given recovery magic.

Those who are seriously wounded are automatically cast with recovery magic. Any other fighter judged by the judges to be incapable of continuing the battle will be rendered incapable of fighting.

 Weapons must be made of wood provided by the judges.

If a fighter uses magic to create a weapon, there is no problem as long as the application has been submitted in advance. If you produce a dangerous object for which no prior application has been made or which has been rejected, an attendant (Schneizel) on standby will take immediate action (magic smile).

 It goes roughly like this.

 While listening to the explanation, I held the spear that was provided to me, and it felt good in my hand because it was prepared by the management in response to the players' requests.

 It was a spear that had been prepared in response to a player's request, and it felt very comfortable in my hand.

"These are the rules! Now then, please spread out at equal spacing! After the count of five, the match will begin!"

'Five!"

 We spread out in the arena and looked around, thinking about how to move, whether to run or attack.

"Four"!

The competitors' eyes are on me. I guess they want to crush the strong players as soon as possible.

"Three!"

The competitors' bodies are getting stronger.

"Two!"

A sense of will to fight, or perhaps a sense of desperation, is concentrated on me. Ha, seriously?

'One!"

I step into the arena, and the sound of the arena's stone pavement scraping echoes through the arena.

 According to this feeling, there are five people who run out at the same time as the signal. Of those, are there four who are trying to run toward me? The center of gravity is tilted toward me, so it's easy to tell.

"Start!'

⚪️.

At the same time as the signal, four nearby people rushed toward . Looking at the whole group, there are five more.

 A total of nine people made up the Norwin encirclement. This is the worst joke I've ever heard.

"Deyaaaaah!"

The first kid to get to me swung his wooden sword.

 He has a good sword stroke. Straight and without hesitation, he must be working hard every day.

 But that's all.

I think back to all the people I have fought.

Starting with vampires, Saraswati, Lucy, Schneizel in training, White Mask, Flesh Puppet, and Cassandra.

 Was I so small that I could be defeated by them?

 No. The answer is a resounding no. The answer is a resounding no.

 So, you will be my stepping stones.

"--- phew."

 I gently touch the approaching sword with the tip of my spear, and then pass it outward.

 The moment the enemy had an opening, I skillfully rotated my spear and readjusted it with just the movement of my fingers, and then I struck.

"Ugh!"

 The flash that accurately pierced the dove tail gave the enemy a shock so strong that he could not stand up. The man was disabled in just a few seconds.

"There is a chance'!

There is no opening!

 The enemy, approaching from behind, side-steps to avoid the blow. The opponent dodged and looked at me with an astonished expression, but quickly switched and attacked.

"You can't use a spear at this distance!'

 T"hat's right. A spear cannot be used if a man hits you close to you. That's why I dared to fall back.'

"What?"

While the enemy is swinging his fist in front of me, I hit the ground behind me with my spear, and the shock of the blow makes me stand up.

 Then, I push away the enemy, who is exposing a gap after the attack, with one hand to create a space, and thrust my spear into it.

One more person drops out.

One more.

e. A young child, who came at me a moment after the current attack, was not much bigger than me and did not seem to have any skill or experience at all.

 This is a little pitiful.

 I dodged the attacker's tearful attack and scratched his leg as we passed each other. He didn't seem to have any fight left in him as he cried out, "Bubbeh!" as he plunged nose first into the ground.

 That's three.

 The fourth one---wouldn't he come?

The enemy, who had rushed in so vigorously, seemed to have lost all interest in attacking me, who had knocked the three of them out in less than 10 seconds.

 Well, this is... well, you know...

Isn't it a little bit weaker than I expected?

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