Chapter 121: Martial Arts Tournament ③
Today is the second day of the Martial Arts Tournament. Yesterday featured the first four matches of the first round, but luckily, I had a bye, so I didn’t have a match. However, today, in the fourth match, I’m scheduled to fight Yorumungan, who defeated Ignito-san yesterday.
I teleported from my home to the Royal Capital early in the morning. As I was casually strolling through the city towards the Arena, I ran into Ochcho-san, who was eating grilled skewers from a street stall, even though it was still morning.
(Alright, might as well strike up a conversation!)
“Good morning.”
Perhaps because I’ve gotten used to my taciturn persona, that’s the only thing that came out!
“Nnngh, mornin’ to ya, y’know.”
However, my inner turmoil seemed to blow right past him. Ochcho-san’s laid-back pace is soothing.
“Ochcho-dono, no, Otto-dono, why are you participating in this tournament?”
This was actually what I wanted to ask. Ochcho-san was originally an S-Rank Adventurer, but he retired and was working quietly at the Orc Inn, right?
In a way, I thought he embodied the slow life I was aiming for, so I wondered why he would join such a conspicuous tournament now.
“Nnngh, the King asked me to, sayin’ the fate of the country is at stake, so I couldn’t really refuse, y’know. It’d be trouble if my shop disappeared too, y’know~”
Hoh, well, if the country’s fate was on the line, I guess even I couldn’t refuse… Huh? The fate of the country is riding on this tournament? I hadn’t heard anything about that.
Surprised by the unexpected answer, I couldn’t help but ask for more details.
According to Ochcho-san, this tournament was proposed by the Dragonkin after they learned that the Demon Lord and the Pope were gone. They declared that if a Dragonkin won this tournament, the Dragonkin would become the supreme rulers and place all nations under their dominion.
What a surprise. This was partly my fault…
Apparently, the Dragonkin could have conquered through military force, but perhaps not wanting to reduce their already small numbers, they proposed this instead.
Of course, this wasn’t acceptable to the other countries, but considering the strength of the Dragonkin, they couldn’t refuse. So, each nation dispatched those hailed as their strongest in a desperate attempt to stop them.
Well, the two participants from the Dragonkin nation both won yesterday, so things are going according to their plan so far, huh?
But their opponents today are… Ajidaha is against Hayato, and Yorumungan is against me, right? There’s no way either of them can win. What will they do if they lose? Will they retract their declaration? It would be troublesome if they got desperate and started a war. Maybe I should beat Yorumungan so thoroughly that he loses any will to start a war.
I gave Ochcho-san some grilled skewers as thanks for the information and headed to the Arena ahead of him.
“The first match of the day: Hayato versus Ajidaha! Begin!”
Shortly after I arrived at the Arena, the first match began. Just as the male referee announced, it was a match between Hayato of the Demonkin and Ajidaha, the No. 2 of the Dragonkin.
Hayato readied his spear, while Ajidaha held a one-handed Sword. Ah!? The spear Hayato is holding is the one the Demon Lord had!
It should be a precious spear made of Adamantite, right? He sneakily picked it up, huh. Well, I forgot to grab it, so I guess it can’t be helped.
Now, as for the match itself, Hayato has “Appraisal,” so he probably knows Ajidaha’s status and Skills.
He seems to be fighting cautiously, confirming if his information is correct.
Ajidaha, unaware of Hayato’s intentions, is currently attacking comfortably. He probably thinks Hayato is purely on the defensive.
Hayato deflects Ajidaha’s continuous thrusts with the Adamantite Spear and blocks his fire-attribute Breath with Dark Wall. His clearly余裕のある way of handling things seems to make Yorumungan’s expression, watching from the waiting room, turn grim… or so I think. It’s hard to read a Dragonkin’s expression.
After letting Ajidaha attack to his heart’s content for a while, Hayato seems ready to counterattack.
He dodged a thrust from a Spear Skill while moving forward and, as Ajidaha showed what looked like surprise, Hayato struck him hard in the chest with the shaft of the spear as they passed each other.
“Gugh!”
The Dragonkin, known for high defense, clearly took damage. Was that simple brute strength? Or was it a Skill?
Either way, having sustained significant damage, Ajidaha dropped to one knee.
However, Hayato didn’t press his advantage during this chance; instead, he shouldered his spear and watched with a smirk.
I see. So Hayato is also aware of the Dragonkin’s intentions. Just like me, he plans to demonstrate such an overwhelming difference in strength that they lose any desire to start a war.
Sure enough, he let the recovered Ajidaha attack again, only to land powerful counterattacks. Each time, using the shaft of the spear. With every hit, Ajidaha’s Scales dented, cracked, and scattered.
It was less a match and more a one-sided beating. The spectators weren’t cheering; they were watching with bated breath.
Finally, the battered Ajidaha tried to stand but lost consciousness and collapsed, ending the match.
“Winner, Hayato!”
Despite it being the first victory of the day, the crowd wasn’t excited. You messed up, Hayato. Your face is twitching as you raise your spear high in a victory declaration.
That was close. I almost ended up doing the same thing…
“Maybe the impression of Demonkin wasn’t good after all…”
Hayato grumbled to Sayaka upon returning to the waiting room.
“Wasn’t it just that your way of fighting was bad?”
Oof, that blunt remark made Hayato slump. It’s kind of like watching a married comedy duo, but it’s probably rude to stare too much.
I turned my attention back to the Arena, where the next match was about to begin.
“Second match, Lusar versus Otto! Begin!”
Oh, it’s Otto-san’s match. Or is it Ochcho-san? Well, either way is fine. Will I get to see Ochcho-san’s true strength in this match? I’m looking forward to it.
“To think the legendary S-Rank Adventurer was a ‘Pig’ like you. I must say I’m rather disappointed.”
Once again, Lusar uttered words meant to provoke her opponent before the match. Is this just her personality?
“Nnngh, impressive that you knew I was a Pig Beastman, y’know.”
However, Lusar’s taunt seemed completely ineffective against Ochcho-san. If anything, he looked impressed that she guessed his race.
“Th-That’s not what I meant…”
Isn’t Lusar the one taking damage here?
“Movin’ around too much makes me hungry, y’know. I’ll end this quickly. Awakening, y’know.”
The moment Ochcho-san shouted “Awakening,” his already chubby body expanded further. He grew enormous, both vertically and horizontally, but it looked like that mass of fat concealed tremendous power within. Appraising him in this state revealed…
Race: Pure Beast (Pig)
Name: Otto Hamburg
Rank: SSS
Level: 150
HP: 2044/2044
MP: 0/0
Attack Power: 2311
Defense Power: 2578
Magic Attack Power: 0
Magic Defense Power: 2432
Agility: 1896
Skills
Awakening
Status Concealment Lv25
Mace Arts Lv25
Titles
Ancient Race
Wow! Ochcho-san is amazing! This is approaching Zmey’s level. Level 150 is incredible too. How did he raise it that high?
Looks like my opponent for the finals is decided. Heh heh, this is getting exciting.
The match ended in an instant. Ochcho-san moved with incredible speed behind Lusar, struck the back of her neck with the mace in his hand, and that was it. His control was exquisite, holding back just enough.
Lusar collapsed, the spectators unsure of what had just happened.
Ochcho-san had already returned to his normal form and was walking back this way, eating a grilled skewer he’d pulled from his pocket.
“W-Winner, Otto!?”
Even the male referee couldn’t see it? It couldn’t be helped. An Agility of 1896. Not just ordinary people, even top-tier Adventurers probably couldn’t follow that. Look, even Hayato looks surprised. After all, even S-Rank Hayato only has an Agility of just over 600. Otto’s is more than three times higher.
Ah, by the way, my Agility is 3062. I could dodge Otto-san’s current attack while yawning.
Still, Ochcho-san is always eating something, isn’t he? Mostly grilled skewers.
Right, the next match is… ah.
“Third match, Sayaka versus Darius! Begin!”
Right, it was Sayaka’s match.