There's a lot of reluctance in the world.
I agree with you on that, though.

　Spectator seats in spectacles have aisles running through them like the annual rings of a stump.
　The entrance to the arena is similar to the Colosseum in the Principality, where you enter by showing your ticket at the gate closest to your seat.

　Futa is not familiar with this aisle, as he is the one who is shown to the privileged seats, but on his way back, he was walking with Pasta for some reason.

　This aisle is located near the top of the bleachers, and fortunately no one can stop and watch the game because of them.

　Originally, Pasta's height was not enough to block anyone's eyes, but that was about it.

　Futa and Pasta were looking down at the battle royale unfolding below them in the distance.

　The game was already in its fifth round.
　From Futa's point of view, the game, which was aimed at narrowing the field of fifty down to ten, seemed to be in full swing.

"......
But why did you go all the way up to the top step and then try to get back to your seat?
Because I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my brother.
I know you're desperate, but you're not making anyone happy, so leave it at that.
"Yeah, ......

　Pasta's shoulders slumped.

The reason is simple. I wanted to see how the crowd was doing.　
"It's a good crowd. Even the Colosseum in the Principality doesn't get this excited. Even the Colosseum in the principality doesn't get that kind of excitement, not with all the famous players.
...... Well, let's see.

　The manager's eyes were scrutinized.

　This is a great way to get the most out of your business.

　--There was a sense of discomfort.

　But she couldn't quite verbalize what that discomfort was at the moment.
　But as a manager, I could not overlook this feeling of unease.
　Pasta crossed his arms, feeling that he was about to lose a great business opportunity.

After the fifth game, things should be a little more relaxed. It's been more than two hours since the opening ceremony. Do you know ...... why it's so popular?
"Well, ......, I don't know. I don't know. The Colosseum was the same way.
So let me ask you, what's the difference between the Colosseum and this spectacle?
The difference? ...... like the format of the competition?

　Pasta shook his head quietly in reply.

Pasta shook his head quietly. "I'm not talking about such details, I'm talking about the bigger picture. The Colosseum was like this every day, wasn't it?
Hmm?　Yes. There are minor differences, but the excitement is like this.
Well, what's the difference?
Well, you know.

　Fouta overlooking the wide, wide spectacle.
　The audience was packed. I'm sure it's because of Pasta's production skills.
　It's a little difficult to say if there are different kinds of noise.
　Fouta has no way of knowing how to classify their cheers.

　The only clear difference that Fouta noticed was.

I guess it's cheering for a specific player. For example, the presence or absence of banners or goods is significant. But people seem to be buying Spectacula merchandise. ......

　Yeah. At Pasta's suggestion, the arena was selling original goods.
　They were towels made of cheap cloth, wooden fans, and so on. There were many people wearing such things, and to Futa's eyes, it looked like the Colosseum.

　But then Pasta raised the corner of his mouth.

"Wow. You know what you're doing.
"Really?
"Well, this is the realm of the manager. Today's box office probably won't be much different from the Colosseum's. But if we don't do something, it's going to be all downhill from here.
What?
Look.

　Pasta points to a family.
　Pasta pointed to a family, the boy was absorbed in his work, while his wife was busy with the children.

　The next person Pasta points to is a couple of lovers. They spend most of their time talking to each other, although they occasionally raise their voices.

"You don't seem too interested in sword fighting?
"No. I brought people here because of their interest in something new. The only thing left to do is to draw them in with the power of the spectacle. ...... If it continues like this, it's going to be unattractive.
A fighting sword is unattractive?
You were just saying a good point. You were saying something good. You were talking about people buying the players' merchandise. That's right. If you were interested in fighting swords from the start, you wouldn't be buying merchandise for a new building. It's just a souvenir.


"H......

　Pasta's eyes met Huta's as she opened her eyes.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

I'm sure you'll agree that this is the best time to sell Spectacula merchandise.
The point is, we need to turn tourists into fans of the fighting sword.
Yes. Well, apparently it's not as easy as the Colosseum. Why do you think that is?
Does that mean that ...... is going to make fans of the players you were talking about?
...... and Lilac seems to think so. But...

　The wife of the family just left her seat.
　I thought she was on her way to the restroom, but as soon as she turned away from the stadium, she gave a tired sigh.
　It's a good thing we came here as a family to see the sights, but the hours are too long and the kids are too hard to take care of.

It's too late for that.
Do we need to find another way?
"You should identify the problem you need to solve before you start thinking about the means. Today's excitement is just an interest in something new. Why? Because unlike the Principality, they're not familiar with sword fighting.
What do you mean?
You forget?　Most of them travel all the way from different parts of the kingdom. We can't keep them. --If we can't keep them, we'll lose if they don't spread the word back home that they had a good time. If we can't make them think it's worth the expense of coming all the way from the country, we lose.
"I see. That's why it's too late.

　Even though the finals are coming up later.
　The main purpose of people traveling to King's Landing is certainly sword fighting and spectacle. But what if you're more satisfied than you thought?　What if you think you've seen enough spectacle?

　If they can't make you want to see them fight again tomorrow, they'll just enjoy another tour of King's Landing.

　And when they return home after enjoying King's Landing so much, they may not say, "You should see Spectacula's sword fighting.

Well, this is the realm of management. It's probably not going to make as much money today as the Colosseum. But if we don't take action, it's all downhill from here.

　Futa raised an eyebrow at the refrain of Pasta's words.

What are you going to do?
I enjoyed the game between you and the prince so much that I decided to pay to see it. ...... You missed a few.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　Then she tells him.

It's because of you and him that the sword fights were so worthwhile, like paintings. --In this fight, I have no idea what's going on.
"Oh, ......, right. Well, thank you.
What are you embarrassed about, you idiot?　You have to be able to do that to be worthy of life.
"How can you judge the value of a human life with such pure eyes?

　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　Pasta is not a warrior. She is not a martial artist, and the only reason she decided that she could win money was because the fight between Barrier Reef and Futa was beautiful, even to the untrained eye.

　I would have given anything to have seen this, but watching the preliminary round matches, it was all a bit of a jumble.

　I could feel the desperation they were fighting with.
　That said, unless you are rooting for a specific individual, you may not know how to enjoy it.

　If you are not rooting for a particular person, you may not know how to enjoy it. I felt that it was only recognized as such an event.

It's like an amateur going to enjoy an artist's exhibition. If you're not an art dealer, you don't realize the essence of it, then it's not the painting that they enjoy, but the time. In other words, it doesn't have to be a painting.
...... Does that mean I have to train amateurs?
No?　No. The people who pay for the show are amateurs. --It's rather useless if the organizer can't entertain the amateurs.

　I don't know what to do," sniffs Pasta.

　Futa thinks for a moment.
　The fifth match is over, and the stadium is being used as an interval before the next match.

　Entertaining the amateurs. Not even time to present the star players.
　But. If I'm to believe her, it's all over the map.

But the point is, is that a problem the organizers can handle?
It's more of a problem that they have to deal with.
If it's ......, then the point is you can do something about it, right?

　If the organizer can come up with a solution. That means it is her domain.
　Pasta was momentarily taken aback by such a sudden question.
　They stared at each other for a few seconds. She blinked her eyes and raised the corners of her mouth distortedly.

You simply say it ......!


"Well, I'm not sure I'd trust my business to a manager who can't even handle the problems he sees.
"That's a cheap provocation. You don't even know what you're talking about.
Yeah, well. I'll do whatever I can. You need a hand?
......

　Not wanting to interrupt Pasta's pondering, Futa turned his attention to the sword fighting venue.

　When the signal for the start of the sixth match sounded, Futa's eyes widened.



"Whoa!



　The roar was loud enough to reach even Futa, who was watching from this distance.
　The six swordsmen swung their hammer-axes and blew them all away together.

"My name is... Izuna!　Izuna Sienzan!

　The stone stage caved in with a single stomp of the foot.
　A mere poke with a stone pike will crack the stage with a sound.

"Hey, you guys!　Come on, all of you!　Me vs. 49 people!　If you don't do that, the audience won't get excited. ！！！！

　Futa barely.
　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.
　If he hadn't been talking to her, he would have been focused on how Izuna was going to perform, and would have been as glued as they were.

　Couples who were enjoying themselves.
　Couples with children.
　Everyone had to pay attention to the man who had suddenly declared something terrible.

　Not to mention the fact that so many swordsmen had been battling it out until the fifth game. Their curiosity was piqued by the recklessness of a single man taking on them all.

　And then he said.

I'm ！！！！！　I'm strong. ！！！！！！

　He swung his hammer axe at the fastest speed.
　He even pays attention to the direction in which he blows the swordsman away, and even smiles at the cheering crowd.

　--He even smiled at the cheering crowd.

　The former Ichinotachi was no slouch, even though his rank eventually dropped to Gounotachi.
　But even so, it's as if he knows firsthand how to get the crowd going and how to make sword fighting fun.

What's wrong with you?　Don't be scared!

　The crowd was gradually cheering for Izuna Sienzan as he began to fight against the 49ers.

　Come on, come on, five more.

　The countdown of four, three, two, one, was not initiated by anyone, but it echoed through the arena with passionate cheers.

　After he had truly blown them all away down to the last man, he brushed off his red-bronze hair, raised his mallet, and shouted.

I am Izuna!　I am Izuna Sienzan!　I'm Izuna Sienzan!


　That's what I call an explosion of cheering.

　It was only one game.
　In less than a few minutes, she won the hearts of the crowd in an instant.

　This is it.

　This is the fighting swordsman.


　This is the true essence of the former "Eight Flashes Under Heaven".


"...... That's great.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure if Lilac was expecting this or not. This might last a few days.

　So," she crossed her arms.

I'll figure out what I can do. I'll see what I can do. Maybe you have a job for me.
"Yeah, okay.

　She turned her back on Huta, who nodded, and started to leave the arena.

　I didn't mean to hold her back. If she was thinking, there was no reason to interrupt her concentration.

　But...

But...

　Pasta turned at the word that came out of her mouth. Like him, her eyes widened as she looked down at the field.



　Ahead of her, a girl with a cap and a sword. Leafy Lean Glide.
　While he is convinced that the seventh game is the one in which she appears...








"I see. I'm sure Izuna-san is quite flamboyant as well.







　The golden girl with the parasol.
　The golden girl with the parasol stepped onto the field for the seventh game.