Things are getting a little crazy these days, aren't they?

　I was taking a meal at the inn when Liliella muttered something like that.

''What's going on?''

Yes, I was attacked by a bandit on my way home from a game earlier.

Oh, yeah? Are you sure about that?

　I got attacked by a bandit in the city, isn't that bad?

I wouldn't be here if I wasn't okay.

　And Liliella laughs at what she is saying.
　Yes, that's right.
　Since Liliera-san is here, it's only natural that she's safe?

''Ah, we were attacked too. Because we were surrounded and attacked out of nowhere.''

I'll be sure to check in with you guys.

Well, if we're good at what we do, we're a small bandit, but we're a small bandit!

　That means that Jairo and the rest of you were able to safely fight off the attackers.

The bandits who attacked me were turned in to the guards, but if they were attacked as well, they must have been a fairly large bandit group?

Or maybe more than one bandit has come after the people who are floating around the convention.

'But then you'd probably get more pickpockets than muggers, wouldn't you? If you pull off a robbery that big, the guards are going to get serious about hunting bandits, aren't they?

'Oh, that too,'

　Norbu guesses that the bandits might have come after the guests who came to watch the ritual, but Mina denies that it's a strange thing to do.

'I think they were probably after the participants in the ritual.

Us? Why?

And that's where Megri muttered that the bandits might have targeted us players.

'I think the guys behind the scenes are using the participants in the ritual to make bets. So I think some of them are attacking other players to get the ones they want to win.

" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

　We are impressed by Mr. Meghri's reasoned speculation.
　It's true that there were a number of such incidents in previous lives as well.

We are outsiders, so the Dragon Princess ceremony alone is enough of an obstacle to cause trouble.

I'm glad I turned you in to the guards.

　Yeah, it's unforgivable to interfere with a serious match for such a reason.

''Uh........But isn't that the work of the anti-Long Emperor faction of the example that's after the Dragon Emperor's Majesty?''

　Mr. Leune opened his mouth anxiously.

''Ah, those nobles that the example Dragon Emperor School mentioned.

　It's a group of nobles who want to kill the Dragon Emperor and rule the country as before because they can't do many things when the Dragon Emperor is back, right?

''Hmm, but if they're such a dangerous group, wouldn't they send more powerful assassins to us? I don't think they're going to send you a half-baked assassin that you can easily repel.

　That's right, even in the previous life and the previous two lives, the assassins sent by the nobles were a lot of troublesome people.
　Rather than relying on numbers, they were attacked by an elite group of extraordinarily skilled men.
　Mid-strength assassins, on the other hand, are a liability.
　As a matter of fact, I used those assassins to fight them off as well.

It's a good thing that we were able to lightly defeat them, and they didn't look like dangerous assassins sent by a nobleman.

I think they were just a bunch of regular backstage workers.

Even I had the upper hand.

Well, whatever comes at you, you can count on me to win!

　Yeah, you're all very encouraging.

Oh, really...

　Ryne-san seemed to be convinced, though she tilted her head to see if that was the case.
　Well, she was trained to fight dragons, so she didn't have much experience fighting ordinary bandits and assassins.
　A real assassin's ability with specialized training is much more troublesome than a bandit's, you know.

''By the way, didn't Master Lex get attacked?''

　Leune-san asks as if she remembered.

I'm sure you're aware of the fact that I've been staying at this inn, so I used my disappearing spell as soon as the game was over and came back. I was lucky that I didn't get attacked by bandits.

'I see, Master Lex is very good! If you can't see them, you can't attack the bandits, right!

'Well, the people who use higher level exploration magic will find out, so we can't be too careful.

Oh, I don't think we need to worry about that, do we?

　Anyway, I'm glad that we all came back safely.
　But I can understand why Leune-san is worried.
　I think we should take measures against assassins, considering the future.

　◆.

'Well, then, let's have a good day.

　Today, I'll be putting on my disguise armor to participate in the Dragon Emperor's Ritual again.

''I was preparing for the countermeasure against the assassins, but I'm a little late. I have to get to the match site quickly.''

　It's a hassle to hide your identity in armor every time, but it's a necessary hassle to keep a low profile at a convention where the nobles come to watch.
　Fortunately, the head of the Adventurer's Guild has promised to exercise the Adventurer's Guild's confidentiality and keep my identity a secret, as long as I can participate in the match.
　Thanks to that, I can enjoy the tournament comfortably.

''However, it seems that since it's the first tournament to be held, the high level adventurers don't seem to be coming because it's not very well known.

　The head of the guild was disappointed to hear that high level adventurers were busy fighting dangerous unexplored regions, ancient ruins, and powerful demons, so it was difficult for them to participate in the tournament when it was suddenly announced that it would be held.

''I only met four S-ranked adventurers, including Risou-san, but I would like to meet S-ranked adventurers from other countries as well,''

　Hopefully we'll meet up someday.

　Perhaps because this tournament was held in a hurry, there weren't many adventurers at their day jobs, and instead there were many ordinary participants who had gotten their equipment together.
　They probably came from nearby towns and villages.
　Even though the recruitment period was short, they were able to get their equipment together.

　There were some people who had prepared what seemed to be custom-made equipment, and since this area is close to the dragon's territory, the residents of the neighborhood must have prepared weapons and armor so that they can buy time for the knights to arrive on their own in case of an emergency.

''Oops, we need to go out soon.

　If you think about it forever, you'll be late.

Kyu Kyu!

　I was just about to go out when I saw Fluffy clinging to my feet.
　I saw Fluffy Fluffy clinging to my feet.

"What's up, Fluffy?

　I gave her food earlier, so I guess she's going to pee.

Coo!

　With a single cry, Fluffy Mofu smoothly climbed onto my shoulder through my armor.

"Do you want to follow me?

Swoosh!

　Fluffy Fluffy cooed as if to say that he was right.

'No,' he says. If I take Fluffy Mofu with me, he'll know who I am.

　I usually take Fluffy Fluffy around without a disguise, so if I take her around like this, there's no point in disguising her.

''Kyu!''

　I tried to put the mofo down on my shoulder, but the mofo clung desperately to my shoulder armor.

''Gyukyu!''

　My face is a little funny because I was pulled, but Fluffy seems to be so desperate that he can't do anything about it.

''However, I'm annoyed.

　If you rip it off forcibly, you'll hurt your fluff...
　Besides, it's a bit sad to leave Fluffy alone during the tournament.

"Oh well. I'll be right with you.

　Time is a bit tight, but if I hurry up and get there, I'll make it.

　◆Norv ◆

Mr. Lex, you're late.

　The next match is for a player named Tyran, but it's actually Mr. Lex in disguise.
　But while his opponent was already there, Lex hadn't arrived yet.

Is there a problem, sir?

　I don't think you don't need to worry about your personal safety since you're Lex-san, but I'm a little worried that Lex-san's delay means that he's in some kind of terrible trouble.

''Well, that Tyran guy was pretty strong in the qualifying round, and I hope my brother can make it before the match starts.

　Tyran's fight seems to be bothering Jairo too...

What?

I'm sure that Tyran is a very strong man. So I'd really like to see how he fights with my brother and we can make a plan together.

....

　Oh, what? Could it be that Jairo, you don't realize that Tyran is actually Mr. Lex?

"My brother and Tyrann, this tournament is full of great guys!

　........well, as long as Gyro-kun seems to be enjoying himself, that's fine......right?

'Yes, but Tyran is still slow. If he keeps this up, he might be disqualified.

　In fact, the referees on the match stage look around fidgeting as Mr. Lex doesn't show up.
　If this is the case, you'll really be disqualified, Lex-san.

''The guy from Tiran isn't coming, could it be that Golmer has set him up?

That could be Golmer.

　A group of spectators nearby were having an ominous conversation about the players on the stage.

"Is that golmer a bad guy?

　What I was wondering about, Gyro-kun simply asked me.
　It's amazing how calm and unafraid he is.

Ah, his name is Golma. He's from the underworld that runs this town.

　As he said that, the spectator pointed at Golmer with his gaze, and the player certainly had an air of guilt about him.

''He's a guy who's good at rough stuff, but even more than that, he's a guy who likes cowardly hands, and people who oppose him get hit with unnatural trouble and get hurt badly.''

''That's.......I don't want to be too close to you, huh?

　Yeah, I guess these people are right, he must be dangerous.
　Maybe the attackers who attacked us were working under Golmer's orders.
　But that explanation convinced me that Tyran's participation was not delayed by Golmer's interference.

　Yes, it was definitely something else.

　But still, a late arrival is a late arrival.
　Deciding that they couldn't wait any longer, the referee stood in the middle of the match stage.
　Oh, you didn't make it in time....

Since Tyran didn't show up in time, this match...

　And then suddenly, something jumped down onto the stage of the game from above.

What...?

　It was the black-armored warrior, and it wasn't Lex... but Tyran.

Finally, he's here!

　Jairo-kun shouts happily at the sight of him.
　Really, it's just in time, Lex.

'Uh ... since Tyran has arrived in time, we will now begin the second game. Tyran, please allow more time for him to come to the venue in the future.

　When the referee notes him, Tyran, dressed as Lex, bows his head lightly and apologizes.

　Tyran then turns his attention to the round object on his shoulder.......what is that thing?
　For a piece of armor, it looks like it's blocking your view, and most importantly, it's only on one side.

'A black metal ... ball?'

　As I was tilting my head to see what the hell was going on, the object suddenly started to move.
　It crept on Tyran's shoulder, and then it went down his body...oh, it fell.
　The ball rolls as it is and almost falls off the stage.

''What?!''

　In a hurry, Tiran catches the ball and gently places it on the ground.

''Cue!''

　I thought I heard a familiar squeal coming from the ball, and then I started to move my four short, gaping legs away from the stage of the game.

"That can't be...

"Cuccioo!

　The black ball jumps around like it's cheering on its master, Tyran.

　Yeah, I knew that squeal was....

It's so cute!

Do you think he's a pet?

'You're supporting your master!

　And the interest of the surrounding spectators was focused on the ball that Tyran had brought with him.

'You look kind of cute in your matching outfits!

He was a bit intimidating in his black armor, but I wonder if he's more of an animal lover than I thought?

　Oh, I see, that ball is the same as Tiran's in terms of color and decoration.
　The crowd had been waiting for so long, but now they were all glued to the lovable black ball.

Oh, no!　Quiet!　Let's start the second match between Golmer and Tyran. Both fighters come forward!

　The hall is quieted by the referees' voices and Golmar and Tyran stand in the center of the match stage.
　Golmer holds a pair of daggers and Tyran holds a broad black broadsword.

"Keke, you flatter the crowd with your weird pet. But hey, pets don't help you in a fight.

....

　Tyran responds silently to Golmer's challenge.

'What's that ball-like armour, for the most part?　Is there a pig or something in there?　Shouldn't you be getting a little exercise?

"Gustavo!

　And then a black ball came up to the field of play with an aid.
　And then it stood in front of Goldmar and...?

'Oh?　What's round?

"Ooh!

What, are you mad at me for making fun of you?

"Gustavo!

　Apparently, the black ball is angry at the Golmer players for making him look bad.

'Heh, you're in my way. Get out of my way, black one!

　And then, as soon as he swung his leg up, he kicked the black ball with all his might.

"Kyu-⁉︎

Oh, shit!

Terrible!

　The crowd around him accuses Golmer of kicking the black ball away.

'Hiyahahahaha!　I couldn't feel it kicking because it was so light!　A little bit of airplane has flown out of town.

　With a pleasant smile on his face, Golmer turns to Tyran.

He turns to Tyran and says, "Hey, owner, I think we better go get him soon, don't you?　If we don't do this, the demon will eat our precious pets, right?

　Despite kicking it away, Goldmar said that he was unrepentant.

　But Tyran did not respond to Golmer's challenge, nor did he show any signs of going to save the black ball from being kicked away.

"So we're letting our pets die?　You're a terrible master.

....

　But still, Tyran didn't take Golmer up on his challenge, he just pointed at his feet.

'What is it?　What's wrong with my leg...?

　The moment he said that and looked at his own feet, the Goldmar player's smile froze.

''What?　d*mn it, why....?

　Yes, there was the black ball that Golmer was supposed to have kicked away earlier.

Kyu.

I'll be d*mned.

　A golfer hears the squeal of a black ball and leaps to his feet.

What happens now? I kicked the ball as hard as I could.

"Ssshhh.

　The black ball slowly approached the Goldmar player with a single squeal.

"..........

　The spectators who had been cursing at Goldmar earlier seemed to be too bewildered to say a word about the situation.

'd*mn, I'm going to blow you up again!

　Once again, Golmer raises his leg to kick the black ball away.

"Ssshhh!

　The black ball suddenly bounced off the ground and hit the golfer.

Gosh!

　Golmer's body floats in the air as he takes a stunning blow to the pigeon tail.
　But that wasn't the end of it.

"Swoosh!

　The black ball half-turned his body, and with his short legs, he kicked the Golmer player up and lifted his body further into the air.

　Kick, float, kick, float, kick, float, kick, float.
　Golmaa's body did not fall to the ground, but floated up as if dancing in the air.



　Then, as Golmer's body rose higher than the roof of the house, the black ball flew up to the top of the house and kicked him off the ground with a lightning-quick kick.

　And when the dust cloud stopped, there was Golmer, who had been knocked unconscious by the floor stone of the stage, and Black Ball, who was standing on top of it, exhaling heavily while maintaining his kicking pose.

"..........

　The crowd was speechless at the unexpected turn of events.

''Guh~...''

　Then, with a big breath, the black ball jumped off Golmar's body and returned to Tyran.

''Haha!''

　The crowd finally came to their senses after seeing this scene and a thunderous roar of excitement engulfed the match venue.



Does Tyrann win?

No, it was your pet that you fought.

What are you going to do?

　Not only the spectators but also the referees are puzzled as to what is going on.
　Tyran holds out his hand to Goldmar, and the referees are wondering what to do about it.

The "Instant High Heel

　Unlike that man I knew, a heavy, calm voice sounded, and a gentle light enveloped the golfer's body.

'What is it?'　That Golmer guy is glowing....

　The light healed Golmaa's wound in the blink of an eye.

''Oh, shit, Goldmar's wound has healed.

Tyran did this...

I thought he's a warrior... but he even uses healing magic.

I never saw you say a spell.

''I didn't even feel the magic flow, how did you activate it!

　Not only the spectators but also the players were amazed at the recovery magic used by Tyran.
　Really, when you see that man's magic for the first time, you're surprised just because you know what magic really is.

''Ugh.........''

　Then the wounded Golmer player woke up with a light groan.

'Oh, what the hell am I...?'

　Maybe it's a muddled memory, but the golfer can't seem to remember why he was unconscious.
　Well, it's no wonder he can't remember.
　Maybe his instincts don't want to remember.

　And then the black ball came in front of the golfer again.

Squeak.

　Then he raises his paws and cries out as if to say hello.

".........

　The Golmer player stops moving when he sees the black ball.　

''.............''

　And then he started to shake, his face pale and trembling as he poured out greasy sweat from all over his body.

''Gyuun?''

　snappingly

'Gah!

　The moment the black ball touched him, he stood up and ran out of the game hall, screaming and rolling around.

Wait, wait, Golmer!

　The referees call for Goldmar, but he ignores their cries of restraint and runs off, leaving the rest of the referees baffled as to what to do about it.
　The remaining referees are puzzled by Golmer's disappearance and wonder what to do about it.

'Shouldn't Tyran be disqualified because of his pet?

'No, that was probably due to Golmar insulting Tyran's pet. He was the one who got to it first to begin with.

What's the point of letting the game go on if you're going to lose to your pet anyway?

'No, that's not a normal pet by any stretch of the imagination, but...'

"'Oh no, well...'

　And after a while, one of the referees comes to the center of the match stage, as if he has come to a conclusion.

'The second game is deemed a waiver of the match by Golmer and Tyran is declared the winner!

　Well, it's a reasonable conclusion since it's unlikely to be possible to redo the fight since the other fighter escaped.

'Oh, I didn't get to see that black bastard fight after all.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

But that round black guy is tough as nails.

　In the end, Jairo didn't even realize who Tyran was.
　He was even followed by such an obvious pet...

　You're not going to be able to do that.

　Hmmm, how did I get myself into this mess...
　I was improvising and making armor for Fluffmofu so that he wouldn't know who I was, but I was about to be disqualified.

　But then my opponent got into a fight with the Fluffy Mofu and the Fluffy Mofu beat him to a pulp.
　We rushed to treat him, but for some reason he ran off.
　What's really going on?

　And... why did that guy get knocked down unilaterally by the Fluffy Moffy?
　Even though I was fighting with Fluffy.

　........What? ! Don't tell me he's actually an animal lover.
　That's why I couldn't even fight back against the Fluffy Fluffy.

　The first attack on the mohumoff didn't seem serious at all, and I'm sure the mohumoff was deliberately trying to get rid of me by pretending to be a scary person so that he wouldn't get hurt in the aftermath of our fight.

　In fact, there's no way a kick like that would have broken the armor we had put on Fluffy.
　I shouldn't have been so excited that I thought he would just play with me.
　I'm sure he abandoned the game because he thought it would involve the mohumofu.
　There was an acquaintance of mine in a past life who was an incredibly tough guy, but an incomparable animal lover, and I'm sure that's what he did because he acted somewhat like that person.

　Hmmm, I did a really bad thing with that one.
　He was always worried about Fluffy.
　Next time I see him, I'll mooch him to my heart's content to make up for it.

　Yeah, yeah, that'd be great!
　Now that the game is over, let's get Fluffy and go see Golmer.

　Let's see, Fluffy is....
　I look for the Fluffy Fluff that was there a while ago.
　And then.....

"Queue!

Cute!

Here you go. Here you go. Eat this.

"Cue!

You're so strong!

"Swoosh!

"It feels good that you blew that bastard away! Here, eat this too!

"Quuuut!

　Fluffy was delighted to be fed by the excited crowd.

　I see, that's why he wanted to follow us.
　That's really cool.

He's so cute when he's desperately grabbing food with his feet sticking out of his armor!

"Squeak!

　I was so engrossed in eating the food they gave me that my mofo was flipped over by the roundness of my armor.
　It's round in its normal form, too, but that thing is furry, so it's more properly balanced than it looks, and it makes contact with the ground.
　But that armor is round, so it seems to roll over easily if you use its arms and legs to grab food.
　That's a structural flaw.

'Oh no, it's so cute!

　But the customers seem to love it.
　However, I can't leave them alone forever, can I?

　I held up Fluffy Mofu, who was absorbed in his food, and went to find Golmer, who had left the venue.

"Mocu-mocu.

　Oh dear, he's still eating.
　Mr. Golmer was worried about him, and I think it's time to put him on a diet.