Well, it's about to begin.
It's like a whole hall of nerves, you know?
No doubt. It's the highlight of the team competition. All eyes will be on this game.

A trio of adventurers who claim to be "Guardians" in the Kataya Kingdom.
The three are famous for their A-ranked adventurers.
They're both active as a group of three, so the expectations of the public are high for them to be adventurers or knights.

I'm hoping that the Red Line will win, of course, but I also don't want them to do anything too rash.
I'm not in a battle, so I have to think of it as safety first, but I sincerely hope that everyone comes back safely.

What is White's opinion?
We don't know what we're dealing with yet.

Such was White's perfect balance of fried moi in a cup, while still keeping a firm view of the ring.
He seemed to care about the match itself for some reason.
Naturally I'm keeping a firm position where I can see it so I don't miss it either.

Everyone held their breath as they watched the vice-captain step into the ring and take a deep breath.

'Ladies and gentlemen!　Let's get this semifinal underway!　First of all, an A-ranked adventurer who is based in Ains Hale, but who also makes his name resonate in King's Landing!　It's not just good looks! The Red Front is here!
''Oooooohhhh!

The vice captain called out to introduce the competitors, and the three men walked in forcefully to the ring.
Their expressions were serious and their faces were so tense that it seemed as if they were somewhat nervous.

'Good luck, all three of you!

I raised my voice loudly to reach the three of them amidst loud cheers.
Then, I wondered if they heard me, and Solte looked at me.
Then Solte gave a small wave of her hand and smiled, and her face quickly returned to a serious one.

''To be continued!　The kingdom's most powerful shield!　I don't call myself a guardian!　We'll take care of the Lord!　The entrance of the guardian!
''Wow!

The three guardians receive loud cheers, and the three guardians come in with their hands raised in response.
You can see a sense of composure on their faces, and in contrast, they appear to be relaxed.


I guess. I hope I don't put too much pressure on Sorte and the others.
Don't worry. That's not going to scare the three of us.

White unusually defended the three of them.
Looking at the three men's faces, they didn't seem intimidated by this cheer, but seemed to be staring straight at the others.
The shield bearer and the wizard stop in the middle, and only the man with the mace walks to the center.
In response, Aina walked to the center and shook hands with him as requested.

''It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies and gentlemen of the Red Front. Your rumors have been well heard in the royal capital.''
As do I. Even in Ainsdale, I hear of the valor of the Guardians.
It's superimposed. Let's have a good match.
Yeah, but we're gonna win this one.
''This one also claims to be the guardian of the King's Landing, so we can't afford to lose. We will do our best to deal with you.

Aina and the man with the other mace bearer talk lightly and then they turn their backs on each other and walk to their respective starting positions.

'Oh, that's so far back,'

The position of the 'guardian' was clustered small at the corner of the ring.
The Red Front, on the other hand, is in the middle of the center of the ring, ready to charge at any time with full motivation.

"It doesn't matter where we start, as long as we divide the starting position in the center. That's also a strategy.
"If you stay in front of them halfway, the wizard will be the first to be killed. That's why I think we have to reduce the amount of space we can get around and focus on defense.
'But doesn't that make you more likely to ring out?
"They are the guardians, they must be very confident in their ability to defend themselves. The fact is, they use the narrow streets as a wall, allowing their own allies to escape.
Well you're a guardian. Hmm, mace man, do you have something in your right hand this time?
'Both short spear and mace. Maybe they'll let the vanguard protect them and attack through the gaps.

I see, so you make a wall with the shield man and stab him from behind in between.
Then where will the mace be used?

"I'm sure they'll both be fine!　So let the game begin!
"'Oh, wow--'
'Ooohhhh!

A loud shout rises from the ring as if to drown out the cheers of the crowd.
The shield man shouts to the sky, and the man with the mace and the wizard seem to have already covered his ears.

''Wha, what!?''

Well, I'm sure he'll have a high level of expertise.

If you look, Sorte and Aina, who were about to charge from both sides, have stopped and are running towards the shield man.

'Tch, then I'll hit you over the head!
"Sss!　I'll take the first spear!

As soon as Renge started running towards the front, the shield man raised one foot to stomp the ground as if he were stepping on four legs.
Then his body wobbled as he felt not only the ring, but even the spectators' seats were shaking.

''Trying to kill the momentum with the 'Collapsing Leg (Heavy Stomp)', but...''
I can tell by the motion of the stones!

In a moment of stomping, Solte thrusts his spear out as he leaps into the air and evades.
But the attack launched from a precarious position is lightly played by the shield.

''I'm sorry!
'Never mind!　Attack away, yikes!
It's not all about defense!

As the shieldman twists his body to clear the path of the spear for a landing, the man in the mace thrusts out a short spear and pokes Sorte.
Solte dodges the chase by jumping backwards, holding back his shoulder that was hit by the attack that was too breathtaking.

''Are you okay?!''
Just go!　Look ahead!

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

It's a very hard wall. But if it's my attack!
I'll keep you under control.
What?

A huge wall of ice appears in front of Aina, who was coming from behind, and it is made of thick ice, as if to separate her from Sorte and Renge.
It was to separate Aina from Sorte and Renge, and was made of thick ice, as if to keep her there for a while.

'Such ice!　Melt it down now!
No, Aina!

Aina reacted to Sorte's shout with a jolt and looked at Sorte.
Solte nodded at her guardian with a nod and turned back to the guardian and went to the shield role with Renge.
As I recall, Aina is half of the Flame People race.
It would be possible to dissolve her if she used flames, but he feared that the information might be passed on from there.
If it's magic, I can't help but wonder if there's a reason for it there as well.

''Kuuuh, that's a hard shield!
I'll still get through!
"Sss!　If I can't break it, I'll blow it up!
I'm not going back. You're coming with me.
Don't get cocky.

Just when I thought Renge had launched his fist at the shield, he killed his momentum on the verge and put his palm on the shield.
Then he dropped his hips and hit hard, not with the force of his arms alone, but with a twist of his shoulders and hips.
However, the shield actor changes his angle exquisitely to catch the force and immediately twists his body.
And what is unleashed there is the mace man's short spear.

''Gee!　Ughhhh!

Renge's face contorts as he is hit hard in the abdomen by a big move.

''While we're at it!''

The effect of the 'Heavy Knight's Roar (Heavy Howling)' wore off and Solte flew away over the shield man who hadn't yet prepared his system and took a stance in the air to launch a spear at the wizard.

''No, trap........''
"White?

White muttered softly, and one shadow appeared in front of Sorte.

'I've been waiting for you,'

The mace man, who was supposed to have become a short spear earlier, swung his mace in the air to intercept Sorte, and jumped up and swung down on Sorte as if to strike him with all his might.

''Ka.........!
"Sorte!

Aina's screams were vain, and the vigorous slamming of her body caused it to float a little as if it had touched the ground and then bounced, and then the man in the mace quickly swung the mace out from underneath like a sword returning the position in the air.

Hmm, second shot is blocked...
'Whoa!　ugh........

The second blow was apparently prevented, but by all accounts, it was a serious one.
But Sorte's fighting spirit doesn't fade, and he takes a step forward, spitting out the blood in his mouth and wiping it off as it flows down.
But he almost falls forward as if his knees have been shattered, but Aina, who appeared after breaking the ice wall, lends her shoulder to stop him from falling.

'Are you okay?'
Of course.......... I'll be right over....
Okay.

Aina approached Renge, who was holding the front line, leaving Solte standing with a spear as a staff, and then she made a blow to the shield man, but the shield man's ironclad walls did not hold back.
It seems that Renge also lackedluster movement due to the previous blow.

''Haaaaaaah!''
Hm!　I do admire your strength, though.
I'm still going strong, too.
You're a sleeper!

The shield man twisted his body and as a short spear was released, Renge avoided it.

''Don't get hit so many times by a stone--!
Hmnnu!

However, when the shield man's shield is released into a sideways slice, Renge can't avoid it and uses his arms to block it, but he's almost blown straight out of the ring.

'Renge!　Hold on!
I'm sorry, Aina!　Right guard!

Aina reached out and grabbed his arm and barely avoided ringing out, and then the mace man continued on and swung the mace sideways at Aina, who was facing elsewhere as he came forward.
In response to the guard's voice, he tried to prevent it by holding up his sword, but due to the fact that it was backhanded, he couldn't support it and the mace hit him in the armpit.

''Gah!　But!

Aina didn't let go of Renge's hand, despite the painful blow, and continued to build up momentum, turning Renge toward the mace man, and Renge jumped and kicked in response, but was blocked by a shield man who appeared from the side just in time.

'Saved!'
What? I'm just doing my job.
Kuhn, can't you decide on that one too?

Renge is back in the ring due to the recoil, but the damage seems to be significant, including Aina.
Solte, too, has managed to freeze and try to defeat the shield man, though he may not be fully recovered yet.
However, he was easily played back by the shield with the spear, which was not strong enough.

''Why........why can't it pass.......''

That sorrowful voice of Solte's seemed to tell the current desperate situation.

''Are you not good at interpersonal...?''
Eh....

A small word from the man with the mace brings Sorte to a halt.

''Excuse me. .........After fighting, I can see that the quality of the fight is different between you and us.
What?
Hey, Roland, I'm in the middle of a battle.
Yes, that's true. But this is the end of the line.

The Icyle End

Suddenly a white blur appears between Sorte and the guardians and it begins to shine, and the players are surrounded by a blur.

''Please, please surrender,''
No! No!
'No!　And besides, this magic will do some damage to you guys!　If only we could use that as an opportunity to win!
'Unfortunately, we use accessories to protect against it. We bring accessories that have the effect of retaining heat.
'Shit!　So you were right on target from the beginning!

They were freezing out of the ring with a crunching sound, but the three of them were already fully wounded and had nowhere to run, even if they tried to avoid it.

"Ugh, my leg!

My feet on the ground seem to be slowly freezing and becoming immobile and unable to move.

''I'm not going to surrender...I'm definitely not going to surrender!

Solte tried to move her legs as if to resist both the ice and the cold, but they were beginning to freeze to the point where she could no longer move them.
This is not good any more.

'Solte!'

I was screaming at the same time as I thought that.
Solte looks up in response to the voice and makes eye contact with me.
Her face is twisted in a sad manner.
However, once she lowered her face, she muttered in a small voice.

''I surrender, I will........''

I don't know how much of a struggle it was just between now and then to twist that one word.
Still, I was relieved that Solte had responded.

'Rocco!　Unlock the magic!
Yes!

The white, cold wind stopped at the same time as Solte's declaration of surrender.

''Warm Ground (Heat Ground).''

As the wizard cast a new spell, the ice covering the ring gradually melted.
Soon the ice melted away, and when they were able to move their legs, the three of them fell straight into the ring.

''Hey, are you okay!　XO, stretcher!

'Oh, the Red Front has declared its surrender, the victorious 'guardians'!　And get a stretcher, ASAP.　It's three!'
''Oh.....

The guardians who have been named the winners are cheering, but to me it's not that important, it's the three of them.
A stretcher passes by them and I follow it with my eyes as they carry Aina and the others on it.

'Me too........!'
Don't wait. You'll hear from your master soon enough. If they pass each other by, they won't let you in!
Huh!

Oh, shit!
Well then, come quickly........

Master....
Lord, calm down...
Wendy, White...

They're both looking at me with worried eyes.
They probably look terrible right now.........

''Sorry......... Huh.........

I let out a big breath and try to calm myself down.
I shouldn't panic, right?

'Excuse me!　Is the Lord of the Red Front here?
'Yes!　It's me.

As soon as I was called, I set Iris and White down on the couch and stood up and approached the man who I thought was running the convention.

''Then I will take you to the infirmary, would you mind following me?
White's coming.
'Excuse me, sir, but it's not very wide, and your companion...'
White is small. So I'm going.
White. Don't be too selfish.
Please. Just let me go.

White was staring at me with straight, serious eyes.
I've been told that he's usually selfish, but when I'm careful, he stops.
But seeing this stubborn attitude, it seems that there is a reason why he has to go.

''I'm sorry, please do something about it.
Well I understand. Then please follow me.
Master!
Sorry, Wendy, take care of Iris!
'All right!　
Yeah, I'll do my best to cheer you up.

I don't know if I can or not, but maybe it would be counterproductive for me to go.
Still, I have to go.
For now, I hope above all else that the three of us are safe, and I suppress my impatience and quickly follow the back of the man who is guiding me.