"So, big brother, where does Bob's awesomeness lie?

　A few minuets after the start of the third game.
　As in the second game, he was still the same qualifier who had to endure the onslaught of the waiting list, but Bob didn't look like a pasta, at least not in the way that Leafy did, with his incredible defensive skills.

　If he didn't look like pasta, neither did the majority of the audience, and Futa nodded and opened his mouth.

"Well, this situation is already amazing.
"I don't want to end up talking about guts. ......
"Bob's spear technique is not a school of thought. It is based purely on the fundamentals of being a sentry and the accumulation of actual battles, and his experience with overwhelmingly superior players has trained his eyes. That's about it.

　The game going on below looked somewhat strange to Futa.
　It wasn't that Bob was doing anything strange. It wasn't that Bob was doing anything wrong, but there was something about Lilac's sword that made him seem passive.

　It's not that he's slacking off, but it's hard to say that he's giving it his all. It's not like she's nervous.

　So, it's better to conclude that Lilac is thinking about something that Futa doesn't understand.

"Eyes?
Yes, the eyes. Pasta is not a warrior, so yes. About 10 days ago, there was a bug flying around at dinner. You were flying around trying to catch it, and you missed like crazy, and I caught it once.
"What are you so proud of, big brother player?
"What's with that name? ....... The same is true for a spear or sword pointed at you, just as your eyes can get used to the speed of an insect catcher. No matter how fast you attack, you will eventually get used to it. Whether it takes a moment or five years depends on the person, but ...... Bob's body at least seems to be used to the idea of a very fast attack.

　This is because he has been blown up over and over again by Prim Lancaster, Huta knows very well.

　He didn't know what kind of thoughts and wishes he had going into the battle against Arawn, but if the fact that he kept getting blown up every day was one of the main factors that kept his hopes alive of reaching the finals .

　That would really make Prim proud.

　Futa gently raised the corner of his mouth and thought to himself.

　Good luck, Bob. And.

　However, wanting him to do well and wanting him to win are two different things.

　And if we're talking about winning or losing, Bob has no chance from the beginning.

　Knowing this, Futa watched the match and took a good look at Lilac, who was adopting an oddly passive strategy.

　He wondered if she was trying to do something.
　It was true that he was concerned that a normal fight would result in a one-sided beating that would keep Bob on his feet.

　How is he going to overcome that?

　At the very least, his awareness of the audience and the way he proceeded with the fight was a kind of fighter's thinking.

　Even though she was not a "fighter" like Prim, whose behavior was already attractive. But her ability to look at the situation from a bird's-eye view and create an image of herself is a masterpiece.

　I will be a champion. I'm sure that behind her declaration, she has a plan to not only become a strong swordsman like Futa, but also to gain popularity.

　But still...

I'm sure he's got a plan to get popular in addition to becoming a strong swordsman like Futa.
In that case, who has the advantage?
"You're right, Bob. There is a difference in the number of occasions, and the physical strength to keep fighting is different from the physical strength to work on a short sleep every day. There's a difference between running short distances and walking long distances.
"Then there's no way Bob could possibly beat Lilac-sama.
"Well, you can't call Mr. Lilac by his name, can you?
"I have Richter's permission. He wants me to treat him like a player.

　Depending on how you look at it, it may sound like Lilac is narrow-minded, but there's no way a nine-year-old girl could spew such venom, even if she looks smart.
　And there's probably no particular connection between her and the princess.

　The only thing he felt he had stepped on was a strange tiger's tail, and he looked away for a moment.

"Well, the game is about to get underway.

　So, he turned his gaze to the field.


You're sticking with me.

　Bob fumbled with his spear while Lilac fought with her sword.

　He shook his head quietly and said under his breath.
　It's not that I want to persist. Not that I have to.

　But... Just as a man.

"No, Lilac-sama. ......!


　What is that heat on his back as he breathes out his flame?
　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you.

　Even if not as much as Futa, all the spectators, especially the male ones, were heartened by Bob's enthusiasm.

　There's a woman I'd rather choose than the princess we all admire.
　His story is like a heroic tale.


"I just want to be with her again.


　Clenching his teeth, he howls as if to shake off his feelings for Lilac.


"I just want to see him again!


　You've got to be kidding me. What are you trying to be serious about?
　It doesn't matter now whether there were twin guards shouting "I want to see you!

　His roar brought Futa to tears, and 30% of the cheers went to Bob's supporters.
　The amount of emotion, if you can call it unintentional, surpassed the respect and admiration for the princess that he had always had.

"............ this.

　Pasta muttered to herself.
　She doesn't know much about Bob's feelings.


　But what is the sense of unity in this hall?
　It's only one guard. At first, he was booed, but now the audience, with the princess in front of them, is pushing him back.

　The heat that swells beyond Pasta's intentions is welcome, but the situation, which logic cannot parse, leaves him alone and quiet.



　But...


　But that mysterious phenomenon... The next moment, it would cool down in an instant.



　--He swung his spear.

　He knew Lilac was going to weave in and out of his body techniques from the moment he released his heel drop.
　He had been attacking with his contessa for a while, so he hadn't been able to react to the unexpected.

　Bob was knocked off balance by a foot strike.






"Hyan......






　He fell completely flat on his back, and his left hand - without the spear - slipped into the skirt of the girl he had knocked down.



　A rage explodes in the arena.



"I'm going to tear you to pieces seven or eight times.
Whoa!　Stop, stop, stop!
"If I tear it into eight pieces eight times, that's 64 pieces. That's 64 ingredients.
What?　Big brother, you really need to calm down. ！！！！！



　Bob opens his eyes and realizes what the soft touch of his left hand is. I'm sure you've heard of it.

　He could not even apologize.


　He collapsed in a heap, blowing a nosebleed.



"Let go of the pasta. I'll chop him up, make him into soup, eat him up, turn him into piss, and then scatter him on my parents' graves.
"It's too scary for the darkness to just roll off!

　The commentator's seat, which was supposed to hold back the audience, was in this state, and there was no stopper at all.
　But I don't know if he knew that or not.
　But whether he knew it or not, the cool tone of his voice stopped everyone in their tracks.

'Wait, wait!　Please wait!

　The next thing I knew, I was holding a magical device in my hand. Lilac herself, holding a magical device in her hand, shouted to control the audience.
　She was still red in the face, but she stood up quickly and took a deep breath to regain her usual composure.

You can't help but be touched when you compete as a fencer. And moreover... I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you have. ...... I never thought this would happen, but...

　I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I'm sure you're aware of it.

I'm not sure what to say. It was an accident. ......

　I'm not sure what to say.
　This is probably because she, as the organizer of the martial arts tournament, wants this tournament to end happily more than anyone else. The spectators could not rebel if they were so publicly protected.

　Even though she was participating in the tournament as a swordsman, these were the words of the princess herself.

　In the event that you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Isn't it obvious now that he has no ulterior motives? His feelings were for someone other than me.

　So," she smiled.

I really don't care. So?

　The unconscious man's expression seemed too relaxed for that, but she was right.
　I'm sure she's right. He only wanted to fight Aylan, even though the princess was right in front of him.

I'm not sure what to do.　I'm going to the semifinals!　So, everyone!　Please enjoy the fourth and final match of the day!

　And so, half-heartedly, she concluded.

　She waved her hand to the entire audience and walked as proudly as she had come.
　Bob, who was being carried away on a stretcher - aside from the rather rough treatment of Bob by the paramedics - also disappeared from the field, leaving only a delicate atmosphere in the hall. There was only a delicate atmosphere in the hall.

　Pasta cursed inwardly, "Don't give me the right to talk in this atmosphere," but then, as if regaining her composure, she spoke up.

"That wasn't tight enough, bro!
"...... I know.

　Try to be cheerful. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's a good idea.

　Now that the princess has made it to the semifinals, I'm sure people will come back tomorrow to see her. But what about today?

　There are a few spectators who are ready to leave, satisfied that they saw the princess.

　But if you think about it.
　Wouldn't the princess usually play in the fourth game?

　And the man who stood out the most in the preliminary round, beating Arawn, has yet to make his appearance.

　Those who are interested in sword fighting, of course, have already noticed this.
　--The last "preferential slot" was a complete secret.


　And those who have not yet returned. In other words, they were already genuinely enjoying the sword fighting, and they were tilting their heads as they chatted about what the next match would be.

　There is no candidate.


'Hey, hey, big brother. It's the last game.


"Oh!
"But the princess and Richter are out. Prim's the biggest surprise.
Oh.


　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　I think that today - no, ever since yesterday - the swordfighting was even more brilliant thanks to these two.

　The pasta was fun, but also very exciting.
　Futa, the commentator, with his simple but accurate and easy to understand explanations.

　I'm sure they'll be able to make the last match on the card even more exciting, even if it's completely secret.
　Despite my trust in them, I also felt that the show was lacking, as Pasta said.

　There was the surprise of Purim.
　But Richter and Lilac, the two people who had been announced, had also left.

　So who was left?
　The opponent was Izuna Sienzan. And yet, it's a game of attrition with only a handful of players.
　We've used up all the people who could have been listed as preferential.
　Such an atmosphere of half resignation and half expectation enveloped the spectacle.

"Wasn't everyone amazing?
'Yeah. I think you could see that Prim's skills were as good as anyone else's today, as far as the preferential quota is concerned. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to be doing and how you're going to do it. And Lilac's skills are well known to everyone, but I think she made her presence felt.
"Yes, yes, yes. You explained everything to me, didn't you, big brother?
Hmm?　Well, yeah. It's my job.
"Hahaha, that's cool!

　Their conversation was unusually to the point.
　Was it because they were taking time to prepare, or was it really just a pause?

　--But the astute ones had already noticed.
　There were many experts and warriors who thought it was strange from the beginning.

　There are those who have come to understand that the event that ended it just now happened.

　It was small, but it smoldered like a spark, and a buzz began to form around the edges of the spectacle.

"I knew it.
...... It's funny when you think about it.
Yes. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't make sense.
I was wrong to listen to them.

　The audience around them tilted their heads as they muttered, "What?　The audience around them began to tilt their heads.
　The fact that the destination of the conversation between the siblings was unclear also added to the confusion.
　Not a few of them thought that their current intellectual curiosity would be better satisfied by listening to the guessing faces of the experts than by listening to them.

　But. The answer comes not from them, but from the spectacle.

"By the way, big brother.

　The innocent question was innocent.

'I think everyone is wondering about you by now.

　But in a tantalizingly joyful way.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Lilac, is the best user in the country.

　Most people take that assumption for granted.
　But to those who are quicker, these words are the answer.
　But for those who are wise, this is the answer.



"Who is this Lilac-sama who explains all her strengths and weaknesses?



　-The commentary seat.



"Oh, I see. You didn't do a good job of introducing yourself, did you?

　The whole spectacle was focused on the young man as he slowly stood up from the commentary seat.

'No. You don't have to say anything.


　The child who shook her head loosely pointed to the battlefield.



I'm sure you'll understand if you look at it. I don't know.





　--The first martial arts tournament in commemoration of the construction of the Eisenhart arena spectacula.






　First round, fourth match.






I'll take it. But it's important. Don't say it's hard.







　Izuna Sienzan vs. Futa Pomodoro.






"I'm the last of the honorable mentions. I may have disappointed you, but please support me if you can.






　The most frenzied cheers of the day.

　It filled the arena spectacle.