Tension Relief Before the Finals

"I-Instructor…… Is this really the place that can boost our win rate?"

"That's right."

"Uh……."

Kind trailed off with a dumbfounded look at Norun's bold response. No one had expected him to bring them to a pleasure district like this.

"Does anyone know why I brought you here?"

"……."

Everyone went silent as mice at Norun's question. They couldn't even guess.

But I had a pretty good idea of his intentions.

"Sheesh, no one at all?"

Norun clicked his tongue low at our silence, disappointed by the lack of response.

"Listen up. The reason your instructor brought you here is……."

"Tension relief."

"Tension…… Huh, what'd you say?"

"I figured you brought us here to help us unwind."

That was my read on why Norun had dragged us to this place. We'd been on high alert during today's matches. If we stayed that way until tomorrow, we'd hit the field tomorrow still wound tight.

The others might be fine, but our team—with the finals ahead—would be dragging accumulated fatigue into the fight.

So Norun had brought us here. Not just for drinks and dancing.

"Fun distractions like games are one of the best ways to loosen up."

"Kuh…… Kuhahaha! Exactly! As expected of you, Aleck. I knew you'd get it."

Norun nodded with a broad grin splitting his face.

"Whoa, that's what it was?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Ooh…… Aleck, you're amazing. How'd you figure out the instructor's plan?"

"Heh heh, guess that means we just play, right?"

"Off to the Chungwangjeon!"

"Me!"

"Me too!"

The trainees lit up once they caught on, grins ear-to-ear as they broke off into groups to find their favorite games and scattered.

Left behind were just our team and Norun.

"You lot have fun too."

"Yes, sir!"

Norun waved us off, and Kind replied in an excited shout.

"Aleck! Let's go!"

Kind tugged at my sleeve.

"Hold on."

But I didn't budge right away. For a simple reason.

"Instructor, why don't you join us?"

"K-Kuhm…… Me too?"

"Of course. We've got five. Even numbers make things easier for games."

"Is that so? Kuhm, then I won't hold back."

Norun's lips twitched up at my suggestion. He'd wanted to hang with us but couldn't bring himself to say it first because of his position.

No wonder he looked a bit lonely.

Maybe because I saw him every day. Reading his expressions had gotten easier lately.

Is it because I'm getting used to empathy? Does it work on ultimate bodies now too?

And because I'd invited him……

His eyes are more intense than usual…….

Maybe I'd overdone it.

"Oh! Then shall we hit up some Chungwangjeon?"

"Nah, I've played way too much of that stuff already. Something else."

"Aw! Then you pick, Aleck!"

"No, that's on you."

"Hahaha! Then your instructor will decide. Follow me, all of you."

And so that evening, we laughed and shouted our way through a blast of a time.

The next day, the arena for our matches was even more packed than yesterday.

"Hello, everyone! Day two of the league is upon us."

"That's right! Today features the Infant-Juvenile League finals. Who will lift the championship cup? It's got us all on the edge of our seats!"

"Ahh, but honestly…… we pretty much know who's winning, don't we?"

"Haha! True enough."

Luke and Matthew bantered back and forth.

The Infant-Juvenile finals had been set yesterday. But most folks figured Overlord Club was the sure winner. No analysis needed. The power gap was that obvious.

"Still, isn't breaking it down our job?"

"Exactly. So we pulled an all-nighter crunching the win probabilities for both sides…… And wow! The results are shocking!"

"Right! We were floored ourselves."

"Curious about the odds we've crunched for each team?"

The crowd erupted at Luke and Matthew's question.

"Yes!"

"Tell us—!"

The response was electric. The duo grinned, loving the heat, and pressed on.

"Great crowd energy today!"

"Sure is. Alright, no more buildup—here's the data we analyzed!"

"Overlord Club's three teams versus Team 32, made up of this year's warrior class newbies. The power difference is huge. Especially Team 3—all shield clansmen in Juvenile Stage. They're unstoppable in this league!"

"Indeed, their vanguard Takwin racked up all-kills in every match, showing overwhelming might. But is he the strongest on Team 3? Nope!"

"Right. We've pegged two players stronger than Takwin, and the other two about equal!"

Gasps rippled through the stands at that.

"Ooh."

"Whoa, as expected!"

Takwin's all-kills had everyone assuming Overlord Club was strong. But most didn't know the rest of the team's level. Hearing the other four were on par or better? Team 3's strength hit home.

"Basically, Team 3 had this locked."

"Finals are a formality, huh?"

The crowd buzzed hard at Overlord Club's absurd power. Team 3 alone could've lined up the other 31 teams and won winner's bracket style, just like this.

"Hey, Matthew, what about Team 32?"

Luke prodded, eager for our team's breakdown.

"Yes! We were a bit surprised analyzing them. They're stronger than they look!"

"Oho! How strong?"

"They've notched plenty of all-kills en route to finals. Robed and Ruslan each got two in prelims and main bracket as vanguards!"

Murmurs of awe from the stands. Team 32 had a solid one-two punch.

"Ooh, a one-two combo?"

"Yep! Undefeated all the way. And keep an eye on Aleck. No vanguard spots, but solid as midliner. Undefeated too!"

"Whoa! Three undefeated on Team 32?"

"That's right!"

"So they've got a real shot?"

"Ah! Well……."

Matthew trailed off at Luke's question, then gave an awkward smile before dropping Team 32's odds.

"Hate to say it before the match, but even crunching every scenario…… Team 32's win chance is……."

"The odds?"

"0.64%! That's it."

"Z-Zero? Not even 1%……?"

"Yeah, shockingly low. But no helping it. Team 3 is that strong!"

The stands went wild at Team 32's odds. 0.64%? First time anyone's seen sub-1% predicted.

"They hyped Team 32 as strong, but 0.64%?"

"Never seen under 1% before."

"That's why Team 32 skipped training yesterday for the pleasure district?"

"They were at the pleasure district?"

"Yeah, even with their instructor."

"Hah…… Gave up and partied."

"Instructor okayed that?"

"Nah, probably just cheering them up so they don't get down."

"Smart, maybe. Better than clinging to a lost cause."

The crowd shook their heads with tsks. No upset here. That was the vibe.

And soon, the finals kicked off. Most watched half-heartedly, like a scripted end to a show.

"Alright! Lineups are up!"

"Ooh—!"

"Team 3, fight! Takwin, fight! Undefeated champs!"

"Team 32, you got this! Give it your all!"

Cheers exploded as the lineups lit up. Over 3,000 spectators—30% of Mantis Hall—had shown up.

"Ugh…… Aleck, I'm shaking bad."

Kind's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice trembled as the order dropped and the crowd roared. First big stage nerves.

Makes sense for his debut.

I chuckled, pondering how to ease him.

"Where'd that Kind go who stumped even Norun with games yesterday?"

"Huh? N-No! Th-That was…… ughhh."

Hm? Backfired…….

Kind slumped more, so I racked my brain again. Then……

"Kind, don't worry. Just do your best. We've got your back!"

Bishier stepped up, taking his hand to soothe him.

"Ah…… Bishier! Thanks for the cheer."

"No need to win—just don't get hurt. Fight!"

"Got it!"

…….

I was speechless watching Kind calm instantly from her words. Flirting even in finals?

Man, that stings.

"Aleck! I'll do great!"

"……Go roll around and take a beating."

"Huh?"

"Nah, no pushing too hard. Do your best."

"You just said roll around and……."

"Hey! You misheard. Get ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out there."

Kind scratched his head and headed up, tension mostly gone. Good.

"Both fighters in position!"

"Takwin vs. Kind! Everyone's betting on Takwin—can Kind pull the upset?"

"Ah! And it's on!"

The first match started with the casters' call.

"Think Kind can win?" Robed asked beside me.

"……Dunno."

I trailed off, but I already knew.

Kind's not ready to beat him yet.

An uncrossable wall. That's the gap between them.

Ching—!

Less than a minute in, Kind dropped his sword.

"Takwin! Blazing fastsword takes down vanguard Kind! Total domination."

Takwin's blade focused on speed. Kind barely blocked the storm, mustering no offense before defeat.

"Kuh—! Takwin rules!"

"Undefeated fastsword!"

"All-kill sweep again—!"

The crowd chanted, mesmerized by his speed.

"Heh heh heh! Hey cuties, wasn't bro cool?"

Takwin hammed it up for the ladies. Cringe on anyone else, but the fans ate it up now, playing along.

"Lost…… Sorryyy."

Kind slunk back, shoulders slumped, too ashamed to look up.

"No apologies—you did great. Don't get down."

"Yeah, Kind! Solid effort. That senior's been here way longer—expected. You blocked well at first. That's awesome!"

"Guys…… Thanks."

Kind's eyes reddened a bit at our encouragement. Touched, huh.

"Alright, I'm off."

Flank Bishier. Her turn.

She took our cheers and climbed up.

"Ho ho."

Takwin's eyes gleamed facing her.