"Uh... that... G, good jo...b...?"
"I heard this somewhere... They say winning without fighting is the best. In that sense... yes, it was truly the best match."
"I, I'm e, envious..."
After returning to my original spot, already feeling uneasy, words closer to teasing than congratulations poured in.
Compared to the praise the protagonist of someone else's novel had received at the beginning of the previous chapter, my mood sank even further.
Perhaps noticing my mood, Reisir quickly changed the subject.
"But I saw you having quite a long conversation with the person next to you while waiting earlier. What did you talk about?"
According to my memory, the conversation hadn't continued for that long.
Even then, it had mostly been the other party babbling on by himself. I had only spoken exactly three sentences.
However, since "long" is always relative, I decided to stop dwelling on the wording.
Because if I nitpicked for no reason, this conversation would only get longer.
"He showed confidence in his skill and said you wouldn't regret taking him in, so I {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} said I would consider it if he made it to the finals."
"Seeing him suddenly say something like that, it's obvious he's trying to use you, but you really intend to keep him by your side?!"
"Well... wouldn't a capable person who can make it to the finals be more useful than someone?"
As I said that, I gave a quick sidelong glance at Ríolíkin.
Then Reisir, unable to find the words to refute me, trailed off with, "That is true, but..."
And Ríolíkin, who had been indirectly singled out, turned pale as if feeling a sense of crisis.
"E, even so, you... you can't a, abandon m, me...?"
"Fulfill the condition I presented first before talking about that."
"I, if I just w, win three times including the p, preliminary... You w, won't abandon me...? Y, you promised?"
"......?"
Feeling doubtful at Ríolíkin's words, I tilted my head.
It seemed there had been an error in the communication process.
So I immediately corrected it before he could use it as an argument later.
"The condition I stated wasn't three victories, but knocking down three opponents, wasn't it?"
"Ye...s? Isn't th, that the same thing...?"
"I used the expression 'knock down' not in a figurative sense, but in a literal one."
"Uh......"
Ríolíkin froze blankly and merely blinked.
Because he didn't want to understand what I was saying, his brain had stopped functioning.
Then I had no choice but to explain it directly and firmly engrave it into his mind.
"Unless the opponent's body falls to the floor, even if you win the match, it will be considered as not having met the condition, and I will not count it."
"W, w, where is such a rule...?! E, even Lord Karvaldr... c, couldn't knock d, down even o, one person...!"
"How can I use someone as an escort if they can barely manage what even I can do? Naturally, you should be able to accomplish what I cannot... No, wait. It's not as if I only received wins by forfeit because I lacked skill, is it?!"
As I spoke, a sense of injustice welled up inside me.
Aside from the student who had openly expressed his ambition and asked me to take him in, they had all been chaff.
That meant that if we had fought properly, the probability of me knocking them down was very high.
Especially if the Earth-attribute chaff hadn't run away midway through, it would almost certainly have happened.
Yet somehow, I was being treated as someone who had advanced to the main competition through easy victories without any skill.
"Anyway, I made the condition clear. If you aren't confident in advancing to the upper rounds and knocking down stronger opponents, then at least charge at them before they surrender. I presented that condition in the first place to verify whether you possess that kind of spirit."
"Y, yeees..."
Whether he had finally understood the purpose behind his participation in the martial arts tournament after hearing my explanation.
Or perhaps because he knew that no matter how much he complained, I would only become angry rather than relax the conditions.
Ríolíkin lowered his head and adopted a submissive posture.
"Excuse me... but do you all intend to stay here?"
As Ríolíkin and I finished our conversation, Vigdís cautiously brought up the topic.
Whether we would remain here to watch the preliminary rounds or go do something else immediately.
That was what she was asking.
'The original plan was to observe as many people as possible and accumulate data, but...'
I reviewed the matches I had watched earlier.
Including the ones I had participated in directly.
There was no need to hesitate before overturning the plan.
"I'll head back now. There are too many people who don't even have the basics, so it seems pointless to watch."
"Right, right. That's why even when a skilled person comes out, they win before showing their full abilities. It was too boring."
Reisir agreed with my words and added his own comment.
Up to that point, I could have dismissed it as natural, since the level of the preliminary participants was so low.
But Reisir's actions while saying those words were extremely irritating.
"...Why are you saying that while patting my back?"
"Isn't it because of the reason you're currently imagining in your head?"
In other words, he was trying to comfort me because I felt unfairly treated.
Even though he was openly saying such nonsense, the fact that it felt as if my skill had been acknowledged made my heart soften strangely.
I shouldn't be like this.
"Pointless gesture."
Saying that, I moved first and left the auditorium where the preliminary rounds were still in full swing.
I once again came to the auditorium where the insignificant preliminary rounds were taking place.
Because I needed to verify with my own eyes whether Ríolíkin would really physically knock down his opponents.
Since it was only mentioned once in the episode before last, and many readers had probably forgotten, I'll mention it again.
Ríolíkin belonged to Group 15.
In that case, I could have arrived late in the afternoon.
So why had I come here first thing in the morning?
Because Vigdís had been assigned to Group 9.
'If I didn't even show my face when my fiancée participated in the preliminary round, only to appear later to watch someone like Ríolíkin, it would look strange no matter how you viewed it...'
To outsiders, it needed to appear as though we were maintaining our engagement properly.
In order to fulfill the outward role of a fiancé whose engagement was scheduled to be broken off, I came here.
I had that reason, but...
"Reisir, why did you come again?"
"Of course it's to cheer on my friend! Why ask such an obvious question?"
"......"
"Even if they want to come cheer for a friend, there are people who can only swallow their disappointment because they aren't participants in the martial arts tournament. So shouldn't those who can attend the preliminary rounds come?"
The person Reisir was referring to was probably Helga.
From his remark, I could tell that both Reisir and Helga genuinely cared about Vigdís and supported her growth.
"Thank you so much...!"
As she said that, Vigdís looked at Reisir with sparkling eyes.
She seemed deeply moved.
Or perhaps her unrequited feelings for the original protagonist had already begun.
"Thanks to Kar and Yor too. Kar must have come to watch as my fiancé, but... No, precisely because of that, even more..."
"Is there really a need to explain the reason?"
"Ah! Th, that's right...?!"
Startled, she reacted that way before smiling awkwardly.
She was so clumsy that I nearly let out a hollow laugh, thinking she might accidentally reveal the matter of the broken engagement contract at this rate.
Fortunately, Ríolíkin interrupted at that moment.
Otherwise, I might actually have laughed.
"F, for me... is there n, nothing...? I'm in Group Fi, Fifteen, so I could have c, come later... But I still c, came..."
"Come to think of it, that's true! Thank you too, Ríolíkin."
"Th, then later... when my match s, starts... Will you be h, here...?"
"Of course."
Ríolíkin visibly relaxed at the immediate answer.
Since he could be certain that both Reisir and I would watch his match, if only to verify whether he fulfilled the "condition."
As for Vigdís, I wasn't sure, but I thought he wanted a definitive answer.
'In the end, with the same group of people who were together at the start of yesterday's preliminary rounds, we'll end up staying together until Ríolíkin finishes his own...'
Well, like this.
If there weren't a scene break symbol (*) and the words "the next day," it would be easy to misunderstand and think the preliminary rounds had ended in a single day.
"Since it is time, we will continue the preliminary round matches starting with Group 9!"
The professor in charge of the proceedings was the same as yesterday.
Through the microphone, the names of the Group 9 participants, including Vigdís, echoed throughout the auditorium.
"Then I'll be going...!"
"I wish you good luck! Fighting!"
"F, fighting..."
Reisir and Ríolíkin each offered a word to Vigdís, whose nervousness was obvious.
Since I had come here to play the role of a fiancé conscious of other people's gazes, I should say something as well.
"Do well and come back."
"Nyan nya nyang nya~!"
As Yor and I each contributed a word, some of the tension lingering on Vigdís's face faded.
Perhaps Yor's cuteness had melted away some of her anxiety.
"I, I'll really do well and come back!"
Vigdís replied energetically and ran toward the arena.
Since there was nothing else to watch, I found myself absentmindedly staring at her back.
"Oho...! You actually give proper words of encouragement to your fiancée?"
"I, I also... know how to l, listen to encouragement..."
Those words pierced my ears.
Since I had absolutely no idea how to respond, I simply ignored them and let out a snort.
"Hmph!"
Fortunately, the protagonist of someone else's novel didn't persist today.
Because Vigdís immediately stepped onto the arena.
I could see Vigdís draw her sword and stare at her opponent with calm, sharp eyes, as though she had never been nervous at all.
The student standing opposite her was also a swordsman, but not only his expression but his entire body was stiff.
Seeing how tightly he gripped his sword, the outcome already seemed decided.
As expected, Vigdís secured her first victory without difficulty.
After that, the other students finished their matches, and Vigdís stepped onto the arena once more.
Perhaps because the sword was such a common weapon, it naturally ended up in the hands of extras.
Her second opponent was also carrying a sword.
Unlike the first opponent, however, composure radiated from his expression and bearing.
'That student must have trained with the sword for a long time.'
At first glance, the eyes he directed toward Vigdís seemed to contain a trace of disdain.
But once the match actually began, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
With an expression that seemed to say, 'Quite good?'
He exchanged attacks and defenses with Vigdís continuously for five minutes.
However, it wasn't because their skills were equal.
Rather, it was because the opponent never tried to decisively finish the match.
The result was a victory by decision for the opponent.
After experiencing one win and one loss, Vigdís also recorded a draw in her third match.
It wasn't a record that completely eliminated her chances of advancing to the main competition, but it certainly wasn't a strong one either.
'It's exactly the kind of situation that could cause anxiety... Will she be alright?'
Contrary to my concern, Vigdís never lost her composure while holding her sword.
As a result of maintaining her calm and continuing to clash blades with her opponent even in the final match.
Vigdís secured a place on the list of qualifiers for the main competition with a record of two wins, one draw, and one loss.
