Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Swordsmanship Tournament (1)
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I froze solid the moment I opened the door.
"......"
"......"
As I stood there dumbfounded, the girl seated in the chair gave me a puzzled look.
It was only natural.
When a total stranger stares at you blankly right upon seeing you for the first time, how could she not be puzzled?
If she asked why I was acting like this, if it was love at first sight, I'd tell her absolutely not.
So what was the reason, then?
It's a little hard to explain.
You know someone very, very well.
You have a rough idea of what they like, how they talk, and what they prefer.
But what if that person doesn't know you at all?
...Wouldn't that just make you a stalker?
Wrong. That's a perfectly ordinary reason.
...Not ordinary?
Quiet.
Compared to my current situation, it's downright mundane.
I've been grinding away in 2D all this time, building up her affection meter.
What would you do if a character you'd interacted with somewhat in the story suddenly appeared right in front of you in real life, big as day?
My emotions were all jumbled up.
It had only been a brief heroine conquest quest for the reward, but seeing her—my temporary 2D girlfriend—I couldn't hide my fluster.
Silky-smooth long golden blonde hair, bold red eyes.
And that familiar, mischief-filled expression.
...It was her. The one I knew.
Lucy Amelia.
The Alchemy Club's top member and one of Cain's heroines, Lucy Amelia, was standing right there in front of me.
*
"...Here is the magic stone."
"Ooh!"
I quickly schooled my expression into something casual, greeted her, and handed over the magic stone.
Who would've thought the person Ceria was introducing me to was Lucy...
Then again, as the genius head of alchemy, she'd be the expert on something tricky like a magic stone. My thinking had been too narrow.
...Lucy took the stone without suspicion, her eyes sparkling as she carefully cradled it in her hands.
"This is that famous magic stone...!"
Word had spread that far?
Lucy turned it this way and that.
She examined it, stroking it with clear fascination.
Even these little mannerisms were identical. This was Lucy, the heroine from Ariel that I knew.
Facing her brash, excitable personality in real life felt utterly surreal.
"It's really attunementless?!"
"Yes."
"Could you infuse a bit of mana into it? My mana just bounces right off...! Maybe it sees mine as a foreign substance?"
"......"
I silently took the magic stone back from her and gripped it.
The faint blue glow immediately sucked in my mana and began shining brightly again.
"Whoa-!"
Lucy's eyes widened in wonder.
She took the stone back from me and stared at it quietly for a moment before speaking up.
"I can't guarantee success, but I'll process it for you. No, let me process it!"
"I'd be grateful. Tell me if you need anything—I'll support you fully."
"I do! I was just about to ask."
Her eyes sparkled like stars filled with curiosity as she continued eagerly.
"I need a mana scroll! It repels my mana, so I can't process it... Fill a mana scroll with your mana and bring it to me!"
"A mana scroll...?"
Mana scrolls were on the pricier side among scrolls.
Unlike one-use disposables, they could store and release mana, serving as auxiliary batteries for recharging during battle...
I knew they cost about 5 gold each.
After taking down the Twilight Queen and the Giant Ant, I'd split 30 gold with Hedi...
Not impossible, but it was a bit of a pinch.
Noticing my hesitation, Lucy spoke up again.
"They're expensive, right? I figured, so I looked into something else... Are you a swordsman by any chance, Sian?"
"Yes. Currently, at least."
"Heh heh, perfect. Do you know about the Ariel grade-level tournament next week?"
Already that time of year?
The grade-level tournament held annually at Ariel Academy.
It was a competition to determine the strongest in each grade.
There were swordsmanship and magic tournaments.
Depending on your ranking, you got all sorts of rare rewards.
High-ranking nobles and royals came to watch every year, scouting talents who showed off their skills in hopes of launching their careers.
But I knew the truth behind this event.
It was a show to hype up the protagonist, Cain.
Just a stepping stone for Cain to prove himself before being chosen as the hero. First place was basically predetermined.
But why was she asking?
"I do... but why the tournament?"
"They say there's even a participation prize this time."
A prize just for entering?
"Is the participation prize a magic scroll?"
"Ding ding ding! Sharp as ever."
I got the picture.
Enter the tournament, snag the participation scroll, and bring it back.
"You'll join, right?"
"Have to. No other options, and it wouldn't hurt to gauge my strength while I'm at it."
"Heh heh, first place might be tough. My friend is entering too!"
...Cain, obviously.
He must have awakened to his sword talent by now.
I didn't want to stand out and risk him figuring out who I was, so I'd drop out appropriately in the early rounds.
The school bully was pre-possession Sian... Why did I have to watch my step?
Wait. Come to think of it, didn't pre-possession Sian hit on Lucy too...?
"......"
"Huh? Why are you staring like that?"
"Oh, nothing. Anyway, got it. I'll contact you next week through Ceria's stitch. I'll be going now."
"Huh?"
Business done, I bowed quickly and left the clubroom.
I'd lost so much weight I was unrecognizable now, but I didn't want to take any chances.
How embarrassing would it be if she found out?
I hadn't even done those things myself, yet my heart was pounding like this...!
Lucy looked puzzled as I bolted, but I ignored her and kept walking down the hall.
I might run into her often, so I'd avoid the Alchemy Club from now on.
***
I wasn't particularly nervous.
I planned to go easy and forfeit in the early or mid rounds anyway.
The day before the swordsmanship tournament began.
After registering for preliminaries, I went about my day as usual.
"This CoCo Bang is soooo good! Why did I wait this long to try it?!"
"F-Finally, Lloyd awakens to the world of foodies...?!"
"Not quite, Bobby."
I attended lectures diligently, then had lunch with Lloyd, Bobby, and Lui as always.
After lunch, I headed to the training grounds for strength training and sword swings as usual.
In the evening, I jogged down to the village for cardio as usual.
Really, just my normal routine.
'Huh...?'
Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Hedi much lately.
Even when we crossed paths in class, she ignored me.
Since that sandwich incident, she'd been avoiding me weirdly...?
Did I mess up somehow? I'd have to think it over back at the dorm. If I did, I should apologize...
Lost in those thoughts, I was walking the halls late at night with Lloyd, Bobby, and Lui.
"Hey, hey! Sian! Isn't that her? The one you tried to flirt with via stitch and failed!"
"......?"
Lloyd pointed ahead, and a figure was walking toward us.
I peered closer in the direction he indicated and saw a woman with soft-looking golden blonde hair swaying as she approached.
"Ah! Sian?!"
It was Lucy.
Lucy waved familiarly and came over to us.
"Lucy...?"
"I thought it was you, Sian! How's your sword tournament practice going?"
"Uh...? Uh...?"
Bobby panicked at Lucy's friendly greeting, looking incredulous.
"S-Sian...! You actually succeeded in hitt— Mmph!"
This idiot...!
I clamped my hand over Bobby's mouth before he could finish.
Quick on the uptake, Lloyd dragged Bobby off to the side.
Lui followed, leaving just me and Lucy.
"Huh...? Who were you trying to flirt with, Sian?"
"Oh, just guy friends. I was hitting on a skilled swordsman friend to spar with me."
"Ahh~."
Nice improv.
Bobby almost blew my cover as the pig young master who'd hit on her.
"Well, my friends are waiting, so I'll..."
"Wait! Hold on!"
Lucy grabbed my arm as I turned to go.
"You've done this before—why do you always rush off? I have something I want to ask you!"
"Something to ask...?"
"Yeah. I've heard rumors from my family about some promising hero candidate lately..."
One hundred percent me.
Told you, hero isn't for just anyone... These exaggerated rumors were embarrassing me to death.
"They say he entered an unidentified labyrinth no one could escape, took down the boss monster single-handedly, and came out. Around our age, attends our academy..."
"...Sounds impressive."
I feigned wide-eyed admiration.
"Right? But his name... was Sian. Not you, right, Sian?"
"No way. Must be a namesake. I'm not strong enough to be called a hero prospect."
"I see... Heh heh, mystery solved! If it had been you, I'd have worried for my friend..."
Even if it is me, your friend wouldn't stand a chance.
How could an extra villain possessed by a protagonist stripped of every munchkin trait beat him?
"If that's all, I'll be going. Got things to do..."
"You're always so busy, Sian. Yeah, take care! Good luck in the tournament!"
I sent Lucy off and explained to Lloyd, Bobby, and Lui.
Bobby apologized, but I brushed it off and finished our stroll back to the dorms.
Then, for tournament prep, I turned in earlier than usual.
*
The day of the swordsmanship tournament.
Preliminaries wrapped up in the morning, weeding out most of the entrants.
The test was nothing special.
A professor tested the long line of prelim registrants one-on-one for agility and strength, passing them at his discretion.
Honestly, with my current strength—bolstered by old player knowledge and exploits—I breezed through against my peers.
I made it to the final 16.
And entered the Colosseum's player waiting room—an academy facility.
It was a private lounge.
The cheers from outside filtered faintly into the room.
Wonder how hard they were screaming out there.
It hadn't fully sunk in that I was a participant. Maybe because I'd prepped so half-heartedly...
"Coming right up, Ariel Academy's pride! The annual event! That's riiight... the grade-level swordsmanship tournament starts NOW! From the round of 16!"
I jumped.
The announcer's amplification magic boomed even into the lounge.
It's starting soon.
"All tournament participants, please exit the lounge and gather at the Colosseum entrance!"
At the announcer's call, I slowly rose from my chair.
This was it for real.
...Back when I played the game, there were no special rewards, so I'd skipped this event even if it killed me.
Never imagined I'd enter like this.
How did things end up this way...?
A chuckle escaped me.
I rolled my stiff neck and headed slowly toward the entrance, where the roar of cheers grew louder.