You lick it...
"We're enough of a bunch of C-listers on our own...
''Fine, they'll do their best to smash it down...''

　Seven people other than me are looking at me with eyes filled with murderous intent.

　........Why are they so angry?

Hmm?　I think it was a mutually beneficial proposition?　There's too much of a difference in competence for it to be any kind of experience. I'd rather spend my time training as an individual than wasting my time on that kind of thing.
You little...
You're wasting your time fighting us?

　Hmm, I think I got angry instead.
　Why do you think?

　I see.
　You won't gain anything by playing against me, but they would have been competitive in their abilities against each other, and it could have been a reasonably good fight.
　They are angry that they were deprived of even that opportunity.

　I've been thinking only of myself, haven't I?

All right. Well, I'm going to take it easy on you. That way, it will be a little more productive for you guys.

　I shouldn't be complaining about this.
　Honestly, it's harder to add or subtract than it is to be serious, but think of it as making up for the last minute change in the original format of the match and getting them involved.

'Tame?'
You've got to be kidding me.
How long do you think he needs to taunt us, this guy...!

　...er...

I don't get it. I have no idea. ........Maybe they're just stressed out and just want to be angry anyway.

　I don't seem to understand even if I think about it, so let's just call it that.

''.........Arel-san is the type of person who gets on other people's nerves in a natural way......''
''It's also annoying that he doesn't realize it...''

　Lilia and Laina are muttering something with their half-eyes, and perhaps they too are confused by their opponent's unreasonable anger.

''So then, let the match begin!

　On cue, the seven swordsmen leapt at me one by one.

　I exquisitely cut my hand and took enough time to take them down.





''And anyway, congratulations, Mr. Arel!　Now that's a qualifier for the second round!
Were there close to a hundred fencers in the second round as well?
'Yes!　From there, the tournament will whittle it down to twelve!
...I'd like to have another ten people call me at a time.
You know, this is really reckless against a Grade B swordsman!

　The second round would not begin for another week.

'Then we'll have to dive into the dungeon.

　We've only made it to the seventh floor, and we've finally just started to see a few 【Highest Level】 living armors appearing here and there.
　I want to advance to a lower level and fight the [Highest Position] living armor.

''Ah!　I'll be there!
You don't need to come.
'You don't have to be so clear!　But I don't want to!　I'll definitely follow you!

　

''No, from my point of view, you have more than enough of a steel mentality as well.......''

　Laina said something.






　The pairings for the second round were announced.

　There were twelve contestants who could compete in the main round.
　So the participants in the second preliminary round would be divided into twelve blocks of about eight people each, where they would compete in a tournament.
　The winner of each block would be able to participate in the finals.

''Why are you in the same fourth block as Arel-san!

　Lilia shouted with her head in front of the combination list posted on the bulletin boards in various parts of the city.

''........It has been decided that we will miss out on the main competition again this year......''
'Don't be so downhearted. Even if I wasn't on the same block as you, it would have been hard to qualify for the finals with Lilia's skills, wouldn't it?
'Yes, sir!　Yes, but I think that's a terrible way to comfort you!

　I leave Lilia, who is ranting about something, and I talk to Laina.

'Laina is in the eighth block?'
'Oh. ........Fortunately, we're on a different block from the two of them, but there are many strong opponents. Still, last year we made it to the finals of the second round and defeated them, so we're hoping to win a spot in the main round this year.

　From a strength standpoint, Laina would have a better chance of winning than Lilia.





　The second preliminary round has started.
　A larger venue was used than the first round, and many people who seemed to have come to watch could be seen.
　There were also many people who were obviously not fencers.

Of course, this is the peak of the competition, but around the time of the second round, people start coming from outside the city to watch the matches.

　Lilia tells me as we head from the waiting room through the players' only corridor to the fourth block of the game field.
　There are several match fields in the building, assigned to each block.

'No wonder the city has been so busy lately,'

　We reach the game field.
　There was a stage in the center, and the bleachers around it were already almost filled with spectators.

'Hey!　Isn't that the unemployed guy we hear about?
I didn't know what that kid was like.
I mean, seriously, an unemployed person won't even make it through to the second round!
''Is it true that you defeated a Blackblade A-level swordsman in a rivalry battle?
I know it!　I've seen it with my own eyes!　And it's one man without ten!

　You're getting some kind of attention.
　Well, it's not the first time, and I'm used to curious looks like that.

''Obviously, there's a lot of audience...''
Is that so?
Yes. Usually it's about half this many. I guess a lot of people have heard about Arrell-san and come to see him.

　As she said it, Lilia was hugging my arm.

''What ... what are you doing?''
"Hmmm, a lot of people mistakenly thought that if I did this, me and Arel-san would be able to do it, and eventually it would become an open fact, and then it would really be-----baby!

　Lilia held her stomach and squatted down on the spot.

''This man punched the maiden in the stomach without a care in the world!
It can't hurt, since you have the blessing anyway.
''It doesn't have to be painful, but it will be a shock!　That's not the point in the first place, and please don't reduce your blessings before the game!

　A voice could be heard whispering from the audience.

''Hey, you seem to be getting along quite well with Lilia from The Fine Swordsman.
It's the same guild.
'It looks to me like we're more than just a guild.
'd*mn, you're still going out with him. I was a bit curious about you because you're good looking, regardless of what's on the inside...

　I don't understand why you would come to that conclusion after seeing what you just saw.