Norbu.

So, the fifth preliminary game, let's get started in the ministry.

　After the referee's declaration, the players on the match stage begin to move in unison.
　The actions varied from those who aimed at the players with their backs to those who looked weak, to those who dared to expose the gaps and invite their rivals to join them.

　Among them, Jairo-kun's chosen action was very simple.

''I'm going to go for it!　Flame dahhhhhhhh!

　As Gyro-kun shouted, flames overflowed from the two projections protruding slightly behind his armor.
　The flames spread like wings, and in an instant, Jairo-kun's body was blown forward as if he were being blown away.

''Ola-la-la-la-la-la ministry!''

　The sword thrust forward, destroying the equipment of the players in front of us like a piece of paper as it rushed forward, reminds me of the swarm of Evil Boa that once attacked us, and I feel a little bit of a cringe.

　The riders in front of us were blown away by Jairo and he jumped out of the group....

"Gyro-kun, ahead!　Forward!

Heh-heh-heh, any...　Oh, shit.

　I don't know if he heard me, but Jairo let out a squeal of surprise when he noticed the scene in front of him.

　That's because what had gotten him through the melee was the edge of the match.
　If this continued, Jairo-kun would be disqualified off the field!

'What a ministry!

　As Gyro-kun shouted out, flames spewed from the soles of his feet, pushing his body up into the air, sparing him from the field.
　Then, arcing in the air, he slowly reverted his body towards the center of the match venue.

No, that was a close one. I almost lost the preliminary round.

　It's true, don't let me worry you too much.
　Thanks to the new equipment, I was able to manage it, but if I hadn't been good at it, I would have been out of the field like that.

　The flame that blew out of Gyro-kun's armor, that was purely the flame of Gyro-kun's flying magic.
　The magic that worked well with him is the fire attribute, so when he uses his flying magic to fly, it seems to be easier to fly while blowing out flames.

　However, Gyro-kun is a bit uneven, so when he uses fire magic, the momentum is great, but it's difficult to control.
　That's why Lex said he added an auxiliary function to Gyro's new armor to assist his flying magic.

　The armor automatically detects the direction the surgeon wants to go, and adjusts the direction of the spewing flames.
　That's why Jairo-kun said it's very easy because you don't have to control the direction in which the flames are blown out, they just do it on their own just by thinking about it.

　........Yeah, it's really an extraordinary function.
　I don't understand why the armor can detect it on its own just by thinking about it.
　According to Rex-san's explanation, flying magic is said to unconsciously release magic power to the opposite side of the direction the surgeon wants to go.

　But it's only at the unconscious level, so it doesn't release enough magic power to actually move.
　However, even with that level of magical power movement, the armor is said to be able to draw on the feelings of the magician and guide the magic power well.

　........I understand the logic, but when I think about how it's executed, I feel a little faint at the sheer magnitude of the technology used in it.

　I'm a monk, so I'm not familiar with techniques other than sacred magic, but I was impressed by Mina, who was listening to the explanation with me, and I was impressed by her expression that she shouldn't have in public.

What is that fire... is that magic?

I've never seen magic like that before.

A little boy is a flying machine.

　Not only the players on the game stage, but also the players watching around them were amazed at Gyro's appearance.
　That's right, that's how you would normally react.

"Hehe, you're freaking me out.

　Jairo is pleased with everyone's reaction.

'd*mn it, if it comes to this, I'm going after that kid!　Hey guys, if you want to win, give me a hand!

Hey, don't tell me what to do!

But he's right. We have to do something about the kid first.

　The players who thought Gyro-kun was a threat attacked him in an impromptu partnership.

''Heh, it doesn't matter how many mooks get together, it won't change!

　Jairo, we were that little fish a few months ago, so you shouldn't get too carried away.
　See, we know there's an upside to this, so we should not get too carried away.

"Don't lick it, kid!

　The players all attack Jairo-kun at the same time.
　It's a simultaneous attack that can't be called coordinated, as if they would hurt each other if he avoided them.

　The pressure of attacks from all directions must be immense.
　Even I, who is watching from outside, can't help but sweat my hands.

It's a good thing that they're all in one place.

　However, Jairo showed no signs of impatience.
　On the contrary, with a smile on his face, he held his sword in a hollowed-out position, and the magic power condensed into the blade.
　The magic is transformed into a bright red flame, which is then compressed to turn its color from red to blue.

What⁉︎ A sword is on fire⁉︎ A blue flame.

Something is going on here.

　Suddenly, Jairo's sword began to burn, causing the players to shout in agitation.
　However, their momentum, which had already begun to run, did not stop any longer.

Eat it! Meltosraaaaaaash ministry.

　With a shout, a circle of flames was drawn around him.
　In the next moment, the weapons of all the players who had attacked Gyro were cut off.

!

　The players went rigid, not knowing what had happened.
　No wonder they were bewildered, since their weapons had been destroyed in an instant.

　Melt Slash, that's what Gyro-kun, who is not good at using magic as a flying tool.
　The melee magic for weapon destruction that Lex-san taught me.
　The content of the spell is very simple: compressing super-hot flames into the blade of a sword and burning the opponent's equipment with the heat.

　It sounds simple enough, but in reality, it is extremely difficult to fight with that much super-hot heat concentrated in a very small area.

　Moreover, burning out the enemy's weapons means that the flames require the same amount of heat as the furnace in the workshop that always melts iron...no, more than that to melt it all in an instant.
　Furthermore, the surgeon also needs to be careful not to get burned.

　Lex has solved many of those problems by modifying a certain magic item.

　A tinder knife.
　It was the name of a magic item that was given to him by an adventurer.
　Originally, it was just a magic item that could be used to start a fire when camping, but Lex had modified that magic item to create Gyro-kun's sword.

　Yes, a knife became a sword.
　You'd think that's not a modification anymore, but a new one. I would think so, too.

　But from Lex's point of view, he said it was a modification because he was using parts of the magic circuitry used in the Tinder knife.
　Apparently, it seems that for Lex, it's not the knife itself, but the magic circuitry that is the main body of the knife.

　Lex said, "Well, this is the limit of what I could do with the materials I had on hand. If I had a better workshop and materials, I could have made a better one, but you'll have to be patient with this one this time, Jairo-kun.

　That's why a modest magic item that was just to create a spark has been transformed into a tremendous weapon that can burn through and disable the enemy's equipment.

　

"Hahahahahahaha!　Did you see what I can do?　Now's the time to surrender, old men!

　The players were upset that their weapons had been destroyed, and Gyro-kun makes a statement with a big smile on his face, confident that he's going to win.
　However, that was not good enough.

''Hey, don't lick me, kid!

Don't let your ministry get to you.

　Angry at Jairo's challenge, the players threw away their destroyed weapons and attacked him with their bare hands.

Oh, shit....

　Jairo-kun was taken aback by the unexpected bare-handed assault, but he immediately smiles.

''Hehe, you've got guts!

　As soon as he did so, Jairo-kun sheathed his sword while avoiding the players' attacks, and began to fight with his own bare hands.

'.........Why is that........

　If you've destroyed the players' weapons, why are you doing it on purpose to hurt them?

'Heh, I'd hate for people to think I won by force of arms!　I'll make sure my skills are properly pounded into my body, old man.

Shut up!　I'm going to remind you of the power of adults, you gawker!

　What a surprise, the match stage has instantly transformed into a barroom brawl.
　Jairo-kun, as expected of him, is reckless in fighting this many people without using a weapon, and he's taken several good punches.

''Or rather, he's already taken off his armor before I know it⁉︎.

　When will it all start...

'Hahaha!　Oraaaaah.

Nunnaro!　Uraaah!

　One hit back, one hit back, one hit back, one hit back, and the next thing you know, the brawl was going on not only between Jairo-kun, but also between the players around him.
　One by one, the players fell one by one until they were down to the last five, when the referee announced the end of the match.

''Well what are you really doing, Gyro-kun?''

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm just being friendly.

　When I complained to Jairo, who had managed to survive, while casting a recovery spell on him, he didn't seem to feel sorry at all and apologized to me.

''Oh, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to heal those old men's injuries too,''

　'Yes,' said Jairo, who had finished his treatment and asked me to treat the other players as well.

'Are you sure? You've been the enemy until now, haven't you?

It's not like they were killing each other, right?

I understand.

　I think that's what's great about you, Jairo.
　When a fight is over, whether you win or lose, you treat him as if nothing happened.
　He says that it's okay because he fought with me and I put a white circle on him.

　It's because of people like that that I think he must be our leader.

Hey, guys! When you're better, let's go to dinner! Tell me a good place to go!

　.........Yeah, isn't that a bit too divisive?

◆A nobleman in the royal capital.

I heard that a player of tremendous ability appeared in the preliminary round. Not only was he a skilled swordsman, but he was also a magician, and even more so, he had a powerful magic item in his possession.

　When we heard the report from the assassins we had sent to the match hall, we were surprised.

''To be able to cross over more than evenly against dozens of people with just one person, is that person the Dragon Emperor?''

"I'm not sure yet. The game has just begun.

Yes, it's possible that it's a well-traveled man, or it could be a counter sent by the forces against us.

　Indeed, the tournament has only just begun.
　It's too early to make a judgment here.

And, although he was a good player, he also seemed to be on a roll.

A little crazy?　What do you mean by that?

Apparently, after he took out the other guys' weapons, he ended it with a bare-knuckled blow to all of them, leaving no stones unturned.

""What?

　Why did he do it to you, that man?　How could he be so stupid?

Whatever it was, he didn't like it when people thought he won by force of arms.

　A comrade reading the report frowns, as if to say that it's hard to understand.
　I can understand that feeling.

　When you've gotten the upper hand, why are you throwing it away on your own?
　That player was probably an idiot.
　There is no other reason to explain it.

''Well ... that guy wouldn't be the Dragon Emperor.

Yeah, I guess so.

　Common sense dictated that such a fool could not be the Dragon Emperor.
　After all, if he lost, it would be all for naught.

''Then let's remove that player from the Dragon Emperor candidate list.''

""No objection."

　This was the moment when one more candidate for the Dragon Emperor was reduced.