Episode 21: I Ended Up Saying I’d Participate on Impulse
When we reached the Twelfth Floor, Randall-san called for a halt.
“Oh my, are you still proceeding?”
“Eh!? No, shall we do it here then?”
She tilted her head at Yuri’s reply.
She probably wondered if Yuri usually came this deep while burdened with someone like me.
“Ah, please don’t mind me. I’ll just be observing.”
“Eh, ah, is that so?”
Ah, yep, I was right.
Once she knew I intended to observe, she looked convinced.
This floor has Wood Golems, which are relatively easy to fight, so if I were to join the party, it’s not like I couldn’t act as a vanguard, but it would be tough unless I increased my magical power consumption.
As someone who wants to get stronger as quickly as possible, I don’t want to waste magical power.
Even if I have some left over today, thanks to Yuri, I have a backpack.
As I observed the two of them fight, I found out that Randall-san was quite strong.
Her attendant, Yukina-san, was the same.
They each took on one monster, skillfully cutting down the Wood Golems without any trouble.
In my estimation, they were at a level where, even if they couldn’t win two-on-one against Yuri, they could barely serve as her training partners.
For me, I’d be evenly matched if I maxed out my output. If I could push through before running out of magical power, there might be a slim chance, I suppose.
Well, it’s not like this is their full strength either, and I think I’d normally lose.
In any case, it means I’ve grown enough to think that way about Class A top-rankers.
Yuri’s teachings are seriously amazing.
As for Yuri-san herself, she instantly killed mere Wood Golems.
Seeing that, the other two’s eyes widened, and smiles appeared on their faces.
“Ohohoho, this was a pleasant miscalculation. For Razbel-san to be this strong.”
“Randall-sama, you are also very strong.
This is the first time since coming here that I’ve had someone I can fight alongside without holding back.”
Yuri looked just as happy as Randall-san, not losing out to her in the slightest.
It’s true that because she’s always with me, I’ve always caused her worry.
“I’m sorry. I’m always causing you trouble…”
“N-No, that’s not it! Rui’s support is always perfect, so I have no complaints!
Um, this is a matter between vanguards!”
Well, thanks to the gun, I think I’m properly fulfilling my role of thinning out enemies, but I sometimes push her too hard, making sure enemies absolutely don’t get through to me.
“Oh my, so Rui-san is a rear guard.
If that’s the reason, it makes sense then that you couldn’t show your full strength in the tournament.
Then, may we ask for your support?”
Ah, I see.
There’s no problem if I fight with magic.
I was thinking of conserving my magical power, but if things have turned out this way, it can’t be helped.
“Understood. Then, I’ll participate from the next encounter.”
However, because the gun is more efficient with magical power, I’ve hardly ever used attack magic.
If I use fire… what should the output be?
If the flames spread to the surroundings, it’ll be no laughing matter…
Ah, I can just test it with Fire Wall.
Oh, the next one’s here already.
“Allow me to make the first move.”
After declaring that and deploying the magic circle, the thought, ‘Burning logs with fire requires considerable firepower, huh. I might not be able to finish it off,’ crossed my mind.
It seemed I could still switch attributes now, but even if it failed, there was no danger, so I continued as planned, aiming to increase the output.
Sending a large amount of magical power into the Fire Wall’s magic circle, a large pillar of fire rose, the monster was charred black in an instant, and the Wood Golem crumbled.
Whoops, I overdid it…
“Sorry, I got carried away and raised the output too much.”
“W-Well, that’s fine, but to defeat it with a Wall from a rear guard position…
To be able to form a magic circle at that distance is incredible magical power control, isn’t it?”
“Ahaha, that’s my only strong suit.”
Yeah. If you take that away, I’ll have nothing left, so this much is a given, right?
“Amazing… With such speed, and the skill to activate high-output magic even at a distance, eventually becoming a court magician might not be just a dream, could it?”
Oooh, nice.
It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but even Yukina-san praised me.
“That might be too much praise. But thank you.”
“Rui, that’s great, isn’t it?”
I replied to Yuri, “Yeah, I’m glad my efforts are paying off,” but their words didn’t stop there.
“This is quite the remarkable talent.
If you can activate it from this far, couldn’t you even use explosion magic for offense?”
“Indeed, it seems it could be easily used in solo combat.”
Yeah, that might actually work.
It was said to be a magic that couldn’t be used for offense, wasn’t it?
Since I can use it, I might as well try it later.
As I was muttering that, she picked up on my words.
“Oh my, you can use it?
Then, let’s try it right away. I want to see just how much destructive power it has!”
“Riana-sama, considering the previous magic, wouldn’t it be a bit dangerous in a party?
Rui-san, can you adjust the output without any problems?”
“Um, I don’t think it’ll be a problem, but…” I glanced at Yuri, asking if it was okay, but she replied, “It’s fine, Rui will have no problem. There are two of them beyond the next corner,” and even scouted the monsters for me.
Then, deciding to give it a try, I hid behind a wall, and by extending my magical power to its absolute limit, I could reach them even from my hiding spot, so I tried detonating two simultaneously there.
With a loud BOOM, the monsters that were sent flying slammed into the wall.
One of them had its legs broken and couldn’t move, but the second one got up and charged towards us at full speed.
“Whoa, crap, I held back too much!” I extended my sword, increased the output of my enhancement, and killed it instantly, but…
“Oh my, you could have left it to us.”
“That’s right, Rui. We’re here too.
However, compared to other elemental magic, I can’t say it was very useful.”
I was admonished by the two, who had apparently become quite friendly with each other.
True, if I had shot Stone Bullets with the same amount of magical power, I probably could have defeated them.
It seems the reason it’s not usable for offense isn’t just a matter of distance.
Well, of course. There are probably many people out there with control abilities on my level if you look for them.
It seems Yukina-san delivered the finishing blow to the one that was down.
“Your close combat skills don’t seem too bad either.
Couldn’t you participate in the tournament as yourself, Rui-san?”
Yukina-san, who had returned, tilted her head and asked Yuri, but I interjected with a correction just in case.
“No, I significantly increased the output of my enhancement just now. I run out of magical power quickly.”
“I see. So you haven’t completed many subjugations yet.”
“Oh my, in that case, it’s perfect for the tournament. You’ll only fight three matches at most.”
Hearing Randall-san’s words, I put my hand to my chin and couldn’t help but ponder.
Hmm, in that case, I also have my backpack, so it should be fine even if I use up all my magical power each time.
But… if someone with a low evaluation like me participates, I’m scared I’ll get glared at by the others.
“Well, it’s not compulsory, so please think it over.
I also want to avoid teaming up with Listol as much as possible.”
“–?! If Rui refuses, will he participate?!”
“Yes. Razbel-san has the right to appoint, but it’s limited to party members.
If choosing from outside the party, it will be in order of strength.”
Ah, I see. The appointment right is meant to consider teamwork.
It’s not strange at all that it would be in order of strength if it means choosing someone you haven’t even teamed up with.
So Listol was one of the top students in our year, huh… What a pain.
“Yuri, I’ll participate. Is that okay?”
“Y-Yes! Please do!”
The two of them were staring intently at Yuri and me with a somewhat knowing, warm gaze.
“I-Is something wrong?”
“Ufufu, it’s nothing at all.
Also… you don’t have to be so formal with me, you know?
Ah! But I would be troubled if you were to call me by a nickname without any honorific!
Your tone of voice is fine, but please use an honorific, whether it’s -san or -jou, okay?”
…S-So that’s what this is about.
Even Yukina-san was covering her mouth, smirking and giving me a meaningful look.
Yuri’s face turned red and she started flustering, but she didn’t say anything.
This is one of those times where I have to step in and correct things again.
“U-Um, there are circumstances behind this… or rather, you already know, don’t you?
That she initially pretended to be a commoner and called herself Yuri.”
That’s right.
Karls made such a fuss about it in the classroom, there’s no way they don’t know.
I’ve been had, I thought, giving her a reproachful stare.
“Ufufu, I know. I’m sorry for teasing you.
But your interactions with Razbel-san seemed so wonderfully informal…”
“Yes. It was very lovely.
It was as if your feelings of ‘I’d rather participate myself than let her be with him‘ were coming through.”
Gunuh… That’s not wrong, so it’s hard to deny.
This calls for a strategic retreat before I become their plaything.
“Please don’t tease me. Our social standings are different.
More importantly, time is limited, so let’s hurry on ahead.”
Saying that, I briskly walked ahead.
“Rui-san! There are monsters ahead!”
Eh!?
Ah, crap… I’ve already been spotted!
And there are three of them!
Damn it, I haven’t tested Fireball yet, so I don’t know what output to use…
Facing three of them is definitely dangerous.
There’s also the option of forcing them back and pressing the attack, but while Yuri could handle it with ease, I’m not sure if it’s okay to do that with Randall-san and the others.
No choice then. Guess I’ll take out the handgun-type Gun and use it.
And so, I instantly created a rugged handgun, like a slightly elongated Desert Eagle, slammed a Magic Stone into it for each shot, and immediately shot them dead.
I don’t usually do this because the Magic Stones shatter, but if I’m going to absorb them, I just need to pick up the pieces.
Then, I instantly made the handgun disappear and, just for show, pretended to deliver the finishing blow with my sword.
“Rui-san, what in the world was that just now…?”
The two of them were looking at me with astonishment.
Now, how should I respond…? No, with gunshots that loud, there’s no way I can talk my way out of it, huh.
That said, I guess there’s no need to force an explanation. I’ll try to brush it off for now.
“Um, it’s a secret weapon. It’s not something I can use on people, so please understand.”
Yeah. There’s no way I could use it in a tournament, not even by mistake.
There’s the whole reincarnated person business, but I’m also scared of the trouble that would come if I were to receive too high an evaluation.
Well, this is a world with magic. So I don’t think the adults’ evaluation of it would go that far, though.
“That wasn’t elemental magic, was it…? It looked like a Maso, though.
Hmm, I don’t understand it at all, but if you say it’s a secret, then I suppose I shouldn’t pry.
I see. It makes sense now why even Razbel-san, who’s so strong herself, relies on you.”
“Yes. Rui is amazing. Much more so than someone like me.”
Yuri-san? Let’s stop with the unnecessary flattery, okay?
If you got serious, you could probably take me out in an instant even if I had a Gun.
I shook my head, trying to signal ‘That’s not true,’ but it seemed the ladies had already come to their own conclusion.
From then on, I mostly stayed out of it, and the day ended with me just watching their battles from behind.