Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Magical Mascot Battle
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[No, what is this…… Seriously……?]
The fox mascot broke out in a cold sweat as it stared at the stag beetle in front of it.
As if it had never imagined they'd actually fight like this, and at the same time, as if it couldn't comprehend how the stag beetle wasn't backing down in fear.
I couldn't tell which one it was exactly.
But whatever. It didn't matter.
What mattered right now was winning.
"I don't want to eat cup ramen anymore!"
"Just spare this girl once, please!"
"I have to win. Please. I really feel like I'm gonna die."
Whitey, Octopus, and Rez all poured their desperate encouragement into the fox mascot, sharing the exact same sentiment.
"You got this! Dark Chariot-sama!!!"
I, too, desperately cheered on my temporary mascot, the stag beetle.
"Show them the power of the hot blood flowing through your veins!"
"Hetero, insects are cold-blooded."
"Show them the power of the lukewarm blood flowing through your veins!"
Were my words some kind of signal?
The stag beetle, facing off against the fox mascot, suddenly reared up on its hind legs.
And it wiggled its front legs.
Even without words, it felt like a faint "kui kui" of mockery echoed in the air.
A blatant provocation.
[Ha?!]
It wasn't just me—the fox mascot started growling.
It was just like Sora, getting scratched up over nothing all by herself.
And maybe that's why. The standoff, where they'd just been glaring at each other, collapsed.
The fox mascot struck first.
[Sorry, but you brought this on yourself!]
Having decided to take it seriously, the fox mascot swung its front paw sharply at the stag beetle—even while apologizing.
[Don't blame me!]
An attack backed by overwhelming mass compared to the stag beetle.
But the stag beetle dodged it effortlessly.
With a quick scuttle forward.
And it didn't end there.
Dark Chariot-sama smacked the fox mascot's exposed side with its front leg.
- Thwack!
A strike that clung crisply to the eardrums.
A perfect, solid hit.
[Kuh!]
Hard to believe it came from the stag beetle's tiny body—the fox mascot let out a small groan at the sheer power.
Not missing the opening, the stag beetle followed up with the exact same strike.
[Not falling for that twice!]
Its intelligence was real enough; the fox mascot didn't get hit by the same attack again.
But in the end, it was still just a beast.
[Huh?!]
It hadn't spotted the real attack.
The stag beetle swiftly pulled back its front leg, drawing it inward.
Like loading a single bullet.
No—precisely two bullets.
Because its middle legs were prepped too.
The stag beetle stepped forward with its hind legs, rising up.
- Click.
Then, the charged front and middle legs shot toward the fox mascot's face.
This was a martial art manifested by an insect.
A grounding stance on the hind legs.
Double strike from the front and middle legs.
A tiny movement, but the momentum packed into it rivaled death itself.
So it deserved a fitting name.
"Death Eight Extreme Fists!!!"
- Thwap!
One sound.
But two impact points.
The effect was tremendous.
[Gyaak─!!!]
The fox mascot clutched its face and went tumbling away in an unsightly heap.
"No! Partner!!!"
Ignoring Sora's scream, the stag beetle closed in on the fox mascot.
Accelerating with its wings suddenly spread wide.
- Vroom!
What followed was the stag beetle's relentless assault.
- Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
[Gyaak─!!!!!!]
Front legs, middle legs, hind legs battered the fox mascot mercilessly.
Flowing naturally like water.
Precise and disciplined, not flailing wildly.
This, too, was a martial art.
"Death Wall-Climbing Palm!"
"Partner! Get up! Please!"
Did Sora's desperate cry reach it? The fox mascot, on the ropes, suddenly sprang up and leaped back to create distance.
But the stag beetle didn't just watch.
- Vrooooom!
Spreading its wings once more, it fiercely pursued the fox mascot.
- Whiiiiiish!!!
With its front legs pulled back and loaded.
[I won't be toyed with!!!]
At that moment, the fox mascot spun around and smacked the incoming stag beetle with its tail.
- Boom!
A heavy thud that you wouldn't believe came from mere beasts echoed out.
"No! Dark Chariot-sama!"
"You're the best, partner!!!"
My scream and Sora's cheer crossed paths.
Caught off-guard by the counterattack, the stag beetle went flying far away, rolling across the ground.
But it didn't seem badly hurt. It got right back up.
Still, it wasn't exactly fortunate.
[It's over!!!]
The fox mascot's front paw was right in front of the stag beetle.
Sora let out a triumphant yell.
"Yes! Partner! You did─"
However.
"……Huh?"
Sora's cheer turned into a different tone.
"W-Why……?"
A question.
The fox mascot, mid-swing, suddenly flew to the stag beetle's rear.
[Ah……?]
The fox mascot looked just as baffled.
But.
I saw it clearly.
The split-second when, just before the fox mascot's attack landed, the stag beetle's front and middle legs traced a certain pattern.
A strange pattern, but not unfamiliar.
It wasn't just me—everyone would know it. A pattern we'd all seen at least once.
We all knew what it meant: the harmonious circulation of yin and yang.
Yes. The Taiji.
[W-What is this……?]
The fox mascot voiced its confusion.
Its tone suddenly much more polite than before.
So it was only right to answer.
Speaking for the stag beetle, I opened my mouth.
"Death Taiji Fist."
At that instant, the stag beetle planted all six legs on the ground.
Raising the massive horn on its head.
This was the real weapon the stag beetle had kept sealed until now, unleashed here and now.
In other words, it was finally acknowledging the fox mascot as a worthy opponent.
Something hot surged in my chest.
[Very well……!]
Had the stag beetle's resolve reached it? The fox mascot landed, scraped the ground with its front paws, and steadied its stance.
And so, they silently prepared their final blows. The solemnity weighed down the air with heavy silence for a moment.
Then, the silence shattered.
- Tap!
- Scuttle scuttle!
By the sound of their footsteps.
The fox mascot bared its teeth at the stag beetle. Each fang a deadly threat.
[Teach me a lesson!]
Unfazed, the stag beetle accelerated even faster on its six legs. This time, thrusting its horn high.
"Go! Death Thrust!!!"
The distance between them shrank rapidly.
From nine cubits to five.
Five to three in a blink.
Then to one.
And.
The final clash.
──!
Victory and defeat were decided.
[Gyaak─!!!!!!]
The loser was the fox mascot.
The fox mascot was pushed back.
Outpowered by a mere pet stag beetle.
Defeated in a contest of strength, the fox mascot soared high into the air.
But it wasn't over yet.
Like before, the stag beetle spread its wings wide, loaded its front legs sharply, and flew toward the fox mascot.
A slender front leg.
But that front leg carried the stag beetle's small yet mighty will.
They say will is a star.
Maybe that's why. The stag beetle's front leg seemed to glimmer with starlight.
No—correction.
It wasn't just starlight.
Tiny starlights gathered on the stag beetle's front leg, forming a vast universe.
So the technique's name could only be one thing.
"Dark Galaxy Impact!!!"
The stag beetle thrust its front leg forward with all its might.
The stubby leg, shorter than a finger joint, touched the fox mascot's head.
──!!!
In that moment, the air trembled.
Well, actually the fox mascot's skull trembled, but it felt like the air shook for a second. Such was the strike's power.
Finally, the fox mascot crashed to the ground.
Silently cradling its struck head.
And.
The stag beetle stood tall on its hind legs before the pitifully sprawled fox mascot.
Front and middle legs splayed wide, like flexing shoulders.
Arrogant and majestic, yet more proud than anything.
A pose permitted only to the victor.
The result of the Magical Mascot Battle was so unbelievable, even watching it made you doubt your eyes.
Our reactions split to extremes.
I knelt before Dark Chariot-sama, hands clasped in reverent prayer.
"Thank you……! Overwhelming thanks……!"
Meanwhile, the rest of the dorm erupted in intense negativity.
"Waaahhh!!!!!!"
"Ha…? Did we lose……? N-No way……!"
"……Please tell me this is a dream. Please."
Sora bawled, Whitey clutched her head, and Rez turned away from reality.
"This is obvious Magical rigging!!!! Anyway, it's fucking Magical rigging!!!!!"
Octopus screamed and flat-out denied the reality before her eyes.
But the result didn't change.
The winner was Dark Chariot-sama.
I gazed at my mascot's noble form with teary eyes.
Despite its innate limits as an insect, it had defeated a real mascot.
Honestly, steadfastly.
Without retreating a single step.
A name worthy of Dark Chariot-sama─
"No, that's not right."
For such a feat, "Dark Chariot-sama" felt a bit lacking. Honestly, it was woefully inadequate.
So, better to give it a new name befitting the achievement.
Yes.
Dark Ultrarisk-sama.
Or Dark Ulrari-sama for short.
I bowed deeply to Dark Ulrari-sama. He deserved it.
Overcoming a mascot as a pet and bringing me sweet victory. My deep bow was only natural.
"Thank you so damn much, Dark Ulrari-sama!!!"
At my words, Dark Ulrari-sama nodded and slowly headed toward the dorm door.
Time for farewell.
"B-But……."
Unable to let go, I reached out. Truth be told, I didn't want to send Dark Ulrari-sama away like this.
But.
- Thwack.
Dark Ulrari-sama shook its head and lightly smacked my hand away.
As if to say not to.
Born a mere pet and overcoming a mascot, yet choosing to return to its place as a pet. That was Dark Ulrari-sama.
Everything must part ways.
The lesson Dark Ulrari-sama gave me.
So noble, so pure.
"……I understand."
Sadness welled up, but I held it back.
If not anyone else, at least I had to respect his choice.
I'm a hero, after all.
"I shall obey your─"
- Slam!!!!
At that moment, the dorm door flew open.
Striding in was none other than the captain.
"Why's it so damn noisy in here!!! I already feel like dying from today's Magical endurance training!!!"
Seemingly calling out the commotion from the Magical Mascot Battle.
But nothing reached my ears.
"Uso…… Daro……?"
The dorm door had burst open so suddenly.
And Dark Ulrari-sama got caught in it.
With no chance to dodge this time.
"W-What…… Why are you……?"
Seeing my expression, the captain flinched in surprise and quickly shut the door.
Thanks to that, the door stayed open for only a few seconds.
But.
"No!!!!!!"
That was enough.
"You're flat!!!!!!!!"
Dark Ulrari-sama became a flattened-sama.