"Shobone.

　Jairo-kun, who had been knocked out by a double knockout in a fight just a few moments ago, was completely screwed up.

''I'm the only one who lost........''

　I thought we won at last, but it looks like it was a coincidence that it turned out to be a draw, so it can't be helped, I guess.

"Oh, my God!　It's just so depressing to me that you're perpetually droning on and on! You can't blame them if you're disqualified!　Switch it up!

　Mina, who couldn't stand Gyro-kun's depressed state, raised her voice.

''Because...''

'Not because!　It's over!　If you're frustrated, be stronger than that!　This isn't the only time we have a convention!

'What?　Is that right?

''Since we started it to commemorate the appearance of the Dragon Emperor, we'll do it again next year anyway. Considering the fact that the Dragon Princess ceremony turned into a festival, it's obvious that the town's high and mighty people will do it again next year. So we'll just have to win then.

　Well, there's certainly a good chance of that happening.
　I mean, I feel like it's going to happen.

'Well, I guess we'll just have to join again.

　Mr. Gyro looks up.

'Yes.'

'You just need to be stronger, don't you?'

Yes.

"...Yes!　All right, Mina!　I'm going to get stronger and stronger and we're going to win the championship next year!

""Oh,"

　Mina and the others clapped their hands in response to Jairo's declaration.
　As expected, we've been together for a long time, so we have a good relationship.
　It's nice to have friends who can build a relationship like this.

It's time to go cheer for Megri and Leune!

Oh!

　Oh right, it's going to be Megri-san and Leune's match now, right?
　The problem is that as the match progresses and the number of players decreases, there will be more and more match-ups like this.

''It's the semi-finals next, so no matter who wins, our relatives will be in the final, right?

　Yes, Mina was right, the Dragon Princess ceremony was a semi-final.
　The number of players had already been reduced to four.

By the way, we who are participating in the Dragon Emperor's Ritual are also in the semi-finals, right?
　But since Jairo's match was a draw, there are only three players left, and the one who gets chosen for the next match will be a no-go.
　Who in the world is going to be the winner of the match?

　◆.

Let the semifinal match begin!

　With the declaration of the referees, the match between Megri and Leune begins.

''Hah!''

d*mn!

　But strangely enough, Meguri-san's movements were unnaturally slow, and the difference between the spear and dagger weapons was also incompatible.
　As a result, Megri-san was pushed slowly and finally pushed out of the ring and Leune won.

''The winner, Leune!

Yay!

　Mr. Leune is innocently happy to have won the game.

''Surprisingly, it was over very quickly.''

The equipment is not right for you, sir.

　If this was Mina-san, she would have been able to use magic to shave it off from long range.
　It's not as speed-specialized as Megri-san, so if you use body strengthening magic well, you'll have a good chance of winning.

But why was Megri-san's movement so slow?　That wasn't your usual Megri-san move, though?

'Oh, I see, Lex didn't see the previous fight. In the last fight, me and Megri fought. We fought each other so seriously that Megri was still tired from the fight. I was also drained of a lot of magic power...

　I see, then it can't be helped.
　Even in my past life, when I was on a long run, I needed to always be in the best physical condition, not only for that day's battle, but also for the next day's battle and beyond.

'Oops, then I should have given you this.

　I take the potion out of my pocket.

What's that?

''It's an all-purpose potion I created. Not only can it heal your injuries, but it can also restore your strength and magic power at the same time.

It just came out great.

Oh, since it's a good time, how about you, Mina?　You're still tired from the game, aren't you?

'Uh, yeah it's a bit scary, but, well, Lex made it, so it's not dangerous... is it?'

　Saying that, Mina, who received the universal potion, opened the lid and swallowed the contents, and her body began to glow faintly.

''Eh!　What is this!?

　The potion heals Mina's body in the blink of an eye and restores her depleted magical power.

It's not a good idea.　Magic power in just a moment like this?　What?　What is this!

　Yeah, it looks like it worked.
　I remembered how to make it, but I didn't have a chance to drink it at all.

And after the game, Leune comes back to us with a big smile on his face.

'We won, Master Lex!

Congratulations, Mr. Leune.

　As I worked on Leune-san, who was sincerely happy to report to me, Megri-san, who looked heartily depressed, also came back.

''d*mn, I was too worn out from the previous fight.......my prize money.......''

I'm sorry.

　Hmmm, it's awkward when you know each other in these situations.

"Huh?　What's going on, Mina?

　Ryune nodded his head at Mina's condition.

''Oh, I drank the all-purpose potion I made to restore my strength and magic power. The two of you can have it too.

　Saying that, I hand them both a universal potion as well.

''All-purpose potion?　Restore strength and magic?

It looks like a normal potion...?

　The two of them sipped the potion as they tilted their heads.

'Oh no!　Don't take the Megri!

　Then before I knew it, Mina, who had come to her senses, shouted to Megri not to drink the universal potion.

''Huh?''

　But after Megri-san had already swallowed the universal potion.
　And Leune and Megri-san's bodies glowed faintly and the wounds they received in the match were healing.

''Whoa, what is this?　It wasn't just the wounds, but all the tiredness in my body was instantly blown away!　Plus, the magic power that should have been drained from the match is also flowing.......my body is too light, it's like it's not my body!

　Haha, that's a bit much for an ordinary all-purpose potion.

The potion not only heals the wounded, but also restores strength and magic. It also has the ability to counteract weak poison. See, carrying around several different potions would be a burden, and drinking several bottles in battle would leave a gap.　So I made sure that was the one thing that would cure everything.

'What?　I've never heard of such a potion!　Can you make one?

No. No, they don't normally make potions. Mixing ingredients from different potions with different potions would be a recipe for disaster.

'I know...'

''If such a thing existed normally, the value of all the other potions would plummet across the board. And you're giving such an outrageous thing to Megri at this time.

'Uh....'

　Mina's sigh is met with a sigh from Leune, who raises her voice to agree.
　Um, what do you mean?

......

　Then all of a sudden Megri-san broke his knees and prostrated himself on the ground.

"What?　What is it, Megri-san, what's wrong?

　You didn't mean to say you didn't mix the right medicine?

I'm recovering perfectly...

　Huh?　Is it healing properly?　Then why do you look so frustrated?

'I wish I'd taken this earlier!　I could have fought with everything I had!

Oh....

You don't find out about these things after all this time.

Yes, I wouldn't be able to help but say that if I were in the same situation...

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

　With a heartfelt resentment, Meghri-san was staring at me with her moist eyes.

''I'm sorry...''

　I don't know what to do.

'Yes, yes, there's no point in regretting it now. In the first place, normal players can't take this kind of medicine. Now that you've recovered from your injury, let's concentrate on cheering for Liliera.

''That's right. The next match will determine who will be in the final!　Let's all support Princess Dragon!

Yeah, right!

　Thanks to Mina-san and Ryune's nice follow-up, I was able to get out of the predicament.

''Jeez........''

　I don't think they're taking it off.

　◆

Okay, Liliera and Kate, come forward.

　There was a bit of a rumble, but Liliella and her friends appeared in the hall.
　Then, prompted by the referee, the two of them faced each other in the center of the match stage, weapons at the ready.
　Since this was a battle to determine the opponent for the final match, the spectators were also watching the match in a serious manner.

"Hey, who do you think will win?

You're the dragon princess, right?

Yeah, I know. I can't help but feel sorry for his sister.

'It's their fault, isn't it? Good luck not to get hurt, sis.

　...Serious?

Let the game begin!

''Ta-ah!''

　With the signal to start the match, the two crossed blades.
　Then, the opposing player's sword broke in half and Liliella-san's spear was attached to her throat.

''Well, oh dear........''

　It was a true lightning bolt, and the game was decided in an instant.

'The winner, Liliera!



Rieliela's victory was decided, and a cheer went up from the audience.
　In this way, the final match was decided as Liliera versus Leune.

　◆

By the way, where have you been?

　After today's game, we were all having a victory dinner together to celebrate, when Liliella asked me why I was out.

''I was just going to the royal capital for a bit to stall the anti-Long Emperor group.

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

Squeak.

　Huh?　What's with that 'I've figured it out' look?

''Well, anyway, that's how we got the anti-Long Emperor people to be good at catching them, but we couldn't find the Prime Minister alone.

Only the Prime Minister?

'Yeah, the one I caught was a shadow warrior, and he's stubbornly refusing to tell me where the real Prime Minister is, claiming he's the real one. Considering the weakness of the guards and the timing of my detection, there's no doubt that it's a fake.

　Yes, the shadow warrior was found at an unnaturally good time.
　It was easy enough to see that he was clearly inviting us to join him.

'It was admirable loyalty, even for an enemy.

" " " " " " " " "

"Cue.

　What's that look you're giving me that says, "So that's what you mean?

''For now, I left the shadow warrior in the care of a nobleman from the Dragon Emperor School. However, the aristocrats who are accustomed to seeing the real thing usually look so much alike that even they were fooled, so I made sure to remind them that it was an imposter.

'Uh-huh, I get it. You've convinced me that I'm an imposter.

Oh, I see, you've convinced him he's an imposter.

'You're convinced that it's a fake, which means...'

It doesn't matter what kind of interrogation you do, because you're an imposter...

I mean, it's an imposter.

Okay, well, there's one thing that's a fake.

Kyukyus.

　I don't know why everyone is looking at the Kagemusha with such pity, but...
　Even though they are enemies, they will show respect to someone who is that loyal.
I'm sure there were many loyal opponents in the past life that were too loyal to be considered enemies.

''Anyway, this should keep the anti-Long Emperor group stuck for a while. Let's finish the Dragon Princess ceremony and the Dragon Emperor ceremony while we're at it, and let it be known that Mr. Lune is the rightful successor of the Dragon Princess!

'Yes!　



　Hearing Lune's words of enthusiasm, Liliera-san becomes a shocked face.

''What's wrong, Liliera-san?''

I've made it this far as a normal person!

.... uh, good luck with that.