This time, it was written in the third person. What to do next is still undecided.
Seigel visited Rupie, who was lying in the Infirmary, staring at the ceiling. They had teamed up a few times, so the two were familiar with each other. Upon recognizing Seigel, Rupie greeted him with a cheerful smile.
“I saw the match. That was quite a disaster.”
Normally, one would be caught off guard by such a strange expression as “disaster,” but Rupie had no doubts about it. He understood better than anyone what it meant to fight.
“I don’t recognize that sword at all.”
“It seems it didn’t show up in your Stardust Memory either.”
Seigel was well aware of the nature and threat of Stardust Memory. Considering that, he had watched the earlier match, and while he appeared calm on the surface, he felt a deep-seated threat within.
“They say the heavens are watching. The battles fought under the stars are recorded and manifested as a space. By analyzing movements and habits, one can predict their actions and seal their techniques. Frankly, it’s not an exaggeration to call it cheating. Was that sword not recorded?”
“It seems his battles were recorded, but his movements were like those of a different person.”
Something felt off. Seigel’s gaze wandered around the sterile Infirmary. Some A-Rank members had been dispatched to guard the Royal Capital, and there were subtle movements to avoid disrupting the festival. Even the soldiers, who were supposed to be deployed every year, had many inexperienced newcomers either on leave or assigned only menial tasks. Fortunately, it seemed Rupie had cast a barrier spell just before taking a hit, so his injuries weren’t too severe. Once he fully recovered, Seigel decided he would probe deeper into the matter. Rupie shared the same resolve.
“Tiferia-san, the match, the match…”
Rua’s persistent shaking finally roused Tiferia from her slumber. Rubbing her eyes and surveying her surroundings, she slowly grasped the situation. Not forgetting the customary morning greeting, Tiferia, as usual, ascended to the arena without any weapons or armor. Rua watched her from behind, filled with anticipation. Finally, they would witness the prowess of the enigmatic Master Knight. Would she be stronger than Rua? Despite her thoughts, Tiferia let out a huge yawn.
“And here she comes! The main event of the tournament, the appearance of Master Knight Tiferia-chan!”
The vibrations of the cheers were overwhelming, and a massive wave of excitement erupted from the audience. People formed words with their bodies, spelling out “Tiferia LOVE.” The Master Knight had moved the hearts of so many, even making Rua feel a twinge of admiration.
“Ugh… so noisy…”
“I want to die while being blown away by that sigh!”
With her cheek resting on her hand, Tiferia seemed annoyed by the cheers. This gesture only fueled the fans’ excitement, and some men were seen swooning in delight.
“And her opponent is the mysterious man, Inoro! Aside from being a magic user, we have no data on him whatsoever! What kind of battle will he show us?”
“He’s likely focused on offensive magic.”
“Yes, we know that! Now, let’s get started! Round one, match four!”
Inoro silently observed the lethargic Tiferia. He was shorter than her, with a childlike physique. Though his robe gave him an unusual aura, the scene felt like an adult facing a child, and the outcome seemed clear to everyone in the audience. Who could possibly win against a Master Knight?
“Tiferia versus Inoro! Begin!”
Despite the match starting, Tiferia displayed the same lack of enthusiasm as in the preliminary finals. Inoro remained still, waiting for Tiferia to make her move.
“Are they both just testing each other? There’s no sign of movement!”
“Sometimes, battles between seasoned fighters can be decided in an instant. Considering that, Inoro must be quite skilled.”
Rua held her breath as she watched the two stand in the arena. More than being concerned about Inoro, she was worried about Tiferia. Perhaps losing patience, Inoro moved first. However, he didn’t cast any spells; he simply walked slowly toward Tiferia.
“W-what is Inoro planning to do?! And Tiferia-chan is…”
Finally recognizing Inoro as he approached, Tiferia blinked repeatedly, her expression blank.
“Um, what is it?”
The audience, who had expected an intense battle, and Rua, were left dumbfounded by the absurd development. What was Tiferia doing? Feeling frustrated, Rua fidgeted restlessly.
“Master Knight Tiferia. She doesn’t even glance at opponents she deems unworthy. Just as the data suggested.”
“I see…”
“But that could be her downfall.”
Inoro swiftly cut his own hand in front of Tiferia. Blood splattered onto her. With her mouth slightly agape, even Tiferia was taken aback. Without wiping away the blood that dripped onto her, she looked down at her opponent for the first time, from head to toe.
“Um… how are you going to cover the cleaning costs for this?”
“Don’t worry. You won’t need to pay for that. You’ll be heading to the afterlife with that foolish look still on your face.”
“Eh? Of course, I don’t want that!”
“…I give up.”
The audience, commentators, and everyone else fell silent at the absurdity of what had just transpired. Inoro repeated his declaration of defeat, unable to react even to the referee’s single word.
“Huh? What did you just say?”
“I said I give up. Alright, this match goes to Tiferia.”
Inoro abruptly ended the match and left the arena, disappearing from sight. Tiferia, seemingly indifferent, stepped down from the arena without any joy. Rua, who had wanted to see Tiferia’s battle, felt let down by the incomprehensible conclusion and loosened her clenched fists resting on her knees.
“Is that it? Just ending with blood? What is this?”
Rua muttered to herself, not seeking anyone’s response.
“Ah, blood is such a pain to get out… sigh… Oh, but I heard if you cover it with a cut from a radish and pound it, it works. I want to go pound it, but…”
Tiferia shifted her gaze from her soiled clothes to Rua. With a smile, Tiferia left Rua with no choice but to return the gesture. Tiferia was a type of person Rua had never encountered since leaving the Abyss Cave.
“Next is your match, right? I was watching the last match closely. That was impressive; even with that much restraint, the power was incredible…”
“I was sleeping, though…”
Rua felt that this person could easily see through her heart, realizing that her restraint had been obvious.
“Oh, it’s almost time for your turn.”
“Now, let’s begin the second round, semi-final, first match! Rua versus Hecaton!”
Hecaton was already standing imposingly in the arena. As Rua hurriedly jumped into the arena, Hecaton scoffed at her. Rua felt a deep disdain for this towering man who looked down on everything. Coupled with her feelings about Ritta, Rua had already decided how this match would unfold. She wouldn’t just defeat Hecaton, who arrogantly believed he could win simply because he had taken down Amane in one blow. She would crush Hecaton, who trampled on the hearts of others. Rua’s heart, engulfed in the same passion she felt during her confrontation with Gametz, burned quietly like blue flames.
“Hey, you think just because you took down that muscle-bound girl in one hit, you can do the same to me?”
“I do think that.”
Rua’s voice was low, filled with a weight that belied her youthful appearance, as if she were no longer a mere girl.
“You brat.”
Hecaton spun his prized hammer above his head before slamming it heavily into the arena floor. For an average opponent, that display would be enough to intimidate, but Rua remained unfazed. To her, Hecaton was merely an adult showing off a large toy, devoid of the oppressive aura she had felt from the monsters lurking in the Abyss Cave.
“Shitakka, do you think that girl’s monstrous strength, which belies her small stature, will be effective against Hecaton?”
“It depends on her potential. Battles are inherently unpredictable.”
“That’s all he’s saying, isn’t it?”
As the referee stood between the two, the match was finally about to begin. Sensing the unusual tension between them, the referee instinctively took a step back.
“Alright, let’s get started. Let me tell you something good. The king over there welcomes someone like me with open arms. In the end, strength is justice; you understood that from what I said earlier, right? The reason I wasn’t disqualified for killing in my last match is precisely that.”
Hecaton gripped his hammer with both hands and swung it with all his might, slamming it down. The ground cracked, and the earth trembled, providing ample evidence of the power behind that single strike.
However, even after witnessing the spectacle, Lua wore a bored expression. Her eyes were glazed over, and the frown on her lips was a clear sign of her disdain for her opponent.
“The Amane I fought in the previous match was incredible. So I reflected on my performance and fought properly, but you’re different,” he said.
“Shut up!”
He quickly switched the hammer to his left hand, aiming to strike Lua. She dodged effortlessly, as if to say that such an attack would never land. The hammer in his right hand followed, launching another assault. The marks left on the arena floor multiplied rapidly, as if the hammer was stamping down at high speed. Hecaton wielded the hammer with a rhythm reminiscent of a drum, unleashing a relentless barrage.
“Hey, hey! Heh heh heh!”
With each taunt, the marks increased. The ground trembled, sending waves of fear through the audience, causing some girls to scream. The vibrations reached the stands, and a few girls began to cry. Yet, Lua danced gracefully through the storm of hammer strikes, her movements almost soundless.
“What an intense attack! Lua has no chance to counterattack!”
“That’s Hecaton’s ‘Grand Ram.’ His hammer strikes cover a wide area, and the vibrations prevent the opponent from stabilizing their stance, draining their stamina until they’re exhausted, only to deliver the finishing blow. The more skilled the opponent, the more they’re forced to evade his strikes. What’s truly terrifying is that Hecaton enjoys cornering his opponents.”
“I feel like I’m finally getting a proper explanation!”
A massive hammer materialized above Lua’s head, descending with the force of a thunderclap. The entire arena seemed to resonate like Hecaton’s drum, each swing of the hammer sending shockwaves that threatened to engulf Lua.
“Yoi yoi yoi yoi! Yoyoi yoi!”
The arena was becoming unrecognizable. Built from a stone said to be second only to orichalcum in hardness, it was designed to withstand the clash of A-Rank fighters. Yet, the power behind Hecaton’s strikes was enough to dent the ground. He was convinced that Lua was terrified and exhausted by the sheer force. However, Lua’s expression remained unchanged from the boredom she had shown before the fight.
///
“What’s wrong with Lua?”
“Oh, Gantetsu, you’re here.”
“She doesn’t seem to be resisting at all; it feels more like she’s choosing not to. Something’s off. What do you think, Seigel?”
“She seemed pretty furious in the infirmary, so I have a feeling she’s plotting something childish.”
“Lua-chan isn’t doing anything sneaky!”
Roel protested desperately while stuffing her face with buttered potatoes, but she was only met with a reminder to swallow before speaking.
///
“You think you can escape like this?”
Lua continued to dodge the impacts from above without answering. She considered letting one strike land but decided to wait a little longer. She had resolved to take him down thoroughly.
“Don’t you like me? But think about it. Everyone laughs at those below them. They point fingers at the weak, gaining comfort from ostracizing them. At least I’m not like that loser; I’m still… well, you get the idea. Humans aren’t that noble.”
As he spoke, small sparks of electricity flowed into the hammer from Hecaton’s arm. The crackling sound grew louder until it enveloped the entire hammer.
“Every time I see a piece of trash like that rise to A-Rank, I get excited. I can crush them again.”
For the first time, a creepy smile appeared on Hecaton’s face. Lua found that smile utterly repulsive. It was more grotesque than any monster she had faced. She quickly understood that the “trash” he referred to was Nikka. Gritting her teeth, she refrained from drawing her sword.
“You’re worse than Uncle Grundom.”
At their core, Hecaton and Grundom were not so different, but something unnameable stirred within Lua. As if to counter that resolve, Hecaton leaped high into the air, preparing to bring his hammer down. His jump was so high that he could see over the entire Coliseum, showcasing his physical prowess to everyone present.
“I’ll tell you this: in the end, it’s all about power! No matter what noble cause you claim, without it, you’re just a loser howling in the wind! You can’t protect anything! And before you stands the harsh reality of your own powerlessness! This is it… you will die here, so curse your fate! Toooooooor Hammer!”
With the electric hammer crashing down from above, it struck the center of the arena, not even aiming for Lua. The voltage was so high that even a mere Floor Monster would struggle to withstand it. Every cell in a body would perish, losing all biological function under the might of Hecaton’s ultimate skill. The blinding light and deafening sound forced the audience to shield their eyes and cover their heads in a desperate attempt to protect themselves. It was nothing short of terror, Hecaton’s skill was designed to kill. From the very beginning, he had intended to eliminate Lua. The match itself was of no concern to him. His only goal was to crush someone who dared to rise above him. When that was achieved, he would experience a peak of pleasure. Yes, only when that goal was fulfilled.
“What is this?”
As the light faded, Lua stood at the center of the arena.
Hecaton’s smile vanished. Lua had deliberately positioned herself to take the full brunt of the Tor Hammer. She held the hammer with one hand, the electric current long since dissipated, revealing only the image of a girl who had effortlessly blocked Hecaton’s most powerful strike. Cracks formed in the hammer, and it shattered into pieces. Hecaton could only stare at the girl who had crushed his weapon with sheer grip strength.
“Uncle, you’re weak.”
Those words struck Hecaton’s nerve. Without his hammer, he resorted to attacking Lua with brute strength. Yet, there was no way he could match the strength of a girl who had withstood his ultimate technique.
“You little brat! Don’t underestimate adults! What kind of upbringing did you have, you little piss girl?!”
“Weak, weak. It’s funny how you can act so tough with this level of strength. I’m way stronger than you.”
“Die!”
Hecaton’s punches and kicks with his remaining left hand couldn’t even budge Lua. The insurmountable gap in their abilities was undeniable, and Hecaton’s pride refused to acknowledge it.
“W-What kind of support magic are you under? Don’t you know the rules? That’s… that’s against the rules! Referee! Disqualify her!”
“No, but from what I can see, there’s no such magic affecting her…”
“You useless idiot! Can’t you see?! Everyone! This girl is breaking the rules! You see it, right?!”
In the audience, Queed and Tiferia, who were waiting, and the king looking down from above, all heard Hecaton’s desperate cries for agreement. It was a pitiful sight, evident to anyone watching. Tiferia, who had been eagerly watching Lua’s match, hadn’t even been paying attention to Hecaton. His voice likely didn’t even reach her ears.
“Hecaton has lost.”
“Shut up!”
No matter how much he struck, the situation wouldn’t change. The referee was astonished by Lua’s strength but was left dumbfounded by the unfolding match.
“W-What level are you?! Answer me! Answer me! Answer me!”
“999…”
“Hey, referee! This one’s gone crazy!”
Lua intended to end it here. She would crush Hecaton’s confidence and then take him down. She planned to return the words he had said to Nikka in the infirmary. She had thought of this from the very beginning. But it was Hecaton’s next words that interrupted her thoughts.
“That brat… she’s your companion, isn’t she? Heh heh heh, don’t underestimate Crusher. I chase down those I dislike to the very depths of the earth. You understand now, right? Because of you, that blonde brat is going to suffer. Heh heh heh… now, what should I do?”
Those were Hecaton’s final words.
Lua’s fist struck Hecaton’s cheek with a force that could shatter skulls, sending his body crashing down beneath the audience seats. Almost all of his teeth were shattered, and he convulsed, losing consciousness. The block crumbled, debris falling atop Hecaton. The referee, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events, stood there in a daze for a moment.
“Huh?! Uh, um…”
The referee rushed to Hecaton’s side, and soon after, Lua’s victory was confirmed.
“The winner… Lua.”
The once-boisterous commentary and analysis fell silent, unable to process Lua’s inhuman strength. The king watched the match without changing his expression, but his hand was clenched into a fist, betraying a sense of joy.
The only ones celebrating in the audience were Roel and Cynthia, who cheered for Lua’s victory. Even Gantetsu, who had witnessed Lua’s prowess during the Poison Lizard hunt, remained silent.
“She’s still just a kid, huh?” Seigel sighed, muttering under his breath, but his words didn’t reach the delighted ears of Roel.
“Well… hee hee…”
Tiferia’s cheerful kicking of her legs seemed out of place in the stunned arena. It was only a few seconds after the match was declared over that a grand cheer erupted from the crowd.