My name is Sulkar Jandor.
A 32-year-old demon born in the Demon King’s Kingdom.
But I’m not just any demon.
I’m the strongest person alive.
Wait, no. That’s an exaggeration.
I’m a person striving to be the strongest.
…….
You’re thinking I’m just some loudmouthed fool, aren’t you?
Well, too bad….I have proof that I can aim for the top.
A skill.
I possess a unique ability called [Result of the Match].
This skill lets me see the outcome of a battle before it even happens.
For example, let’s say I consider challenging a random passerby.
The moment I think about it, I get a vision of how the fight would end.
I might see myself standing victorious, grinning with pride.
Or I might see myself collapsed on the ground, utterly defeated.
On rare occasions, I even see myself running away.
It’s not from my own point of view, either.
If I saw through my own eyes, I wouldn’t know what happened if I lost.
Instead, it’s from a third-person perspective—just slightly above the battlefield, as if an unseen observer is watching.
But even if I see myself losing, there’s no need to despair.
The result can be changed.
If I fight under the same conditions as the vision, the outcome will remain the same.
But if I change the situation, so does the result.
The easiest way? Change the location or timing.
Even a few seconds can make a difference.
Or if my opponent isn’t holding a weapon, my chances of victory skyrocket.
That’s right!
I’ve used my skill to only fight battles I know I can win.
Cowardly?
Nonsense.
This skill is mine—my power.
What’s wrong with using it?
It’s not like I don’t work hard.
I train relentlessly to make sure I see myself winning.
A battle’s outcome shifts depending on my own growth.
So I keep my body in peak condition.
I hone my swordsmanship until I can hold my own against seasoned adventurers.
I maintain my weapons, always ensuring they’re top quality.
Hahaha!
That’s why, one day, I’ll be the strongest.
The undisputed strongest person alive.
-0-
And so, I arrived at Village Five.
For a village, this place is shockingly lively—practically a city in disguise.
I’ll admit, I was a little taken aback.
B-But there’s no way I’m gonna get overwhelmed by something like this!
My goal here is Gulf the Sword God.
The guy is said to be the strongest in these parts.
Rumor has it he frequently shows up in Village Five, so I made the trip.
But first things first…
Since I’m here, I might as well grab some ramen.
I heard it’s delicious.
…Though, there are way too many ramen shops.
Which one should I pick…?
[Result of the Match]—Activate!
Fufufu… My skill applies to all kinds of battles.
Even choosing a place to eat is a battle!
……
Alright. This shop seems like the best choice.
Now, before you think this ability is too convenient, let me tell you—it’s actually quite a hassle.
I have to clearly envision myself enjoying the meal for the result to be useful.
Which means I end up watching myself from a third-person view like some bizarre self-surveillance.
It also makes my daily life overly dramatic.
But hey, there’s no way I’m gonna eat bad food.
So I refuse to stop using it.
However…
Why the hell was I crying tears of joy just from eating ramen?!
And why did I leave another shop worshipping some demoness like she was a deity?!
What the hell is a Ramen Queen?!
I decided to avoid both places—the one where I wept like a fool and the one where I left worshipping a demoness.
The ramen was great, though.
-0-
By the way, [Result of the Match] doesn’t work for gambling.
Well, technically, I can use it… but I’ve never once seen myself winning.
No matter what I do, I always lose.
Is it just that I have terrible luck?
Or maybe gambling doesn’t count as a real “match”?
Whatever the case, I stay far away from betting.
Because I already know—I’d only lose.
-0-
Alright.
Now that my stomach’s full, it’s time to get down to business.
Where’s this “Gulf” guy?
I know he’s a beastkin, at least…
But whatever.
If I just keep picking fights, he’ll come to me.
That’s how it’s worked everywhere else.
Beat a few people, stir up some rumors, and they come to me.
Fufufu.
I can’t wait.
For now…
Let’s go for one of those adventurers hanging around.
-0-
Alright, alright, alright.
I can win.
And I did.
No problem.
…Oh, wait.
The city guards just warned me.
Damn.
Bad choice of time and place to fight.
It’s the middle of the day, and there were too many people around.
Well, at least I didn’t kill the guy.
So I got off with a warning.
I always pick my fights wisely, but I never go for the kill.
Sure, killing would make things easier.
But that just breeds pointless grudges.
And when you’re constantly traveling, running into a vengeful bastard down the road is just asking for trouble.
My skill has a major weakness—ambushes.
I can’t pick the circumstances.
If I get jumped and the skill shows me losing, I have no choice but to fight anyway.
That’s pure despair.
So I make sure to avoid fights like that.
Or at the very least, make sure I get to choose the setting.
That’s why I don’t kill.
Becoming the strongest was never gonna be easy.
A little self-imposed restraint is nothing.
-0-
Now then, about this guard in front of me…
How strong are they?
[Result of the Match]—Activate!
Ehto…… Instant defeat.
Absolutely destroyed.
This one’s seriously skilled.
Oh, she’s the captain of the city guard.
I’ll, uh… just politely accept the warning.
-0-
Finally, I’m free from the guards.
What a relief.
But now what?
I still need to find Gulf, but I can’t afford to butt heads with the city guards again.
No need to rush, I guess.
I lean against a wall on the main street and start using my skill on random passersby.
Most of them? Easy wins.
But the ones I lose to—those are the strong ones.
Which means they might be close to Gulf.
So I keep scanning.
And…
…areh?
I’m losing to a lot of people.
That’s weird.
Am I feeling off today?
Is my gear deteriorating?
No, everything seems fine.
Alright—stay calm.
Analyze the situations where I lost.
Since I’m watching from a third-person perspective, it’s basically a form of future prediction.
Stay cool… First opponent.
My weapon is… intact.
I… wait, where the hell am I?!
Did I get blown away by magic or something?
Nothing’s left of me.
That’s… unsettling.
Second opponent.
…shredded?
What the hell did I do to deserve that?!
Third opponent.
…A pile of ashes?
Wait, that’s me?!
Fourth opponent.
…Launched into the sky?
Wait… what is this?
…Darkness?
Outer space?!
Eh?
Eh?
Fifth opponent.
…I’m buried in the ground.
………………………………
O-Okay.
Maybe… just randomly testing my skill on people passing by isn’t the best idea.
Yeah. Terrible idea.
Most of them were females, too…
I need to stay focused.
My target is the sword god Gulf.
A beastkin.
Male.
I should be scanning men.
Oh, perfect. A weak-looking guy.
No, no—I’ve been losing too much.
I need to see a win to reset my mood.
Ahahaha! Skill, activate!
I was impaled by a spear.
…A spear?
From where?
Areh?
There aren’t any spears around.
The guy’s barehanded.
Hmmmm?
Let’s try again.
Impaled. Again.
What the hell is going on?
Did he summon a spear with magic?
I mean, if he caught me off guard, that’d explain why I lost, but…
Right now, I’m completely focused.
I’m being cautious.
And yet—no matter how many times I check, I still get impaled.
…….
Uh… e-excuse me, sir?
This is gonna sound weird, but… could you hold my sword for a moment?
Yes, just hold it.
Sorry about this.
The guy takes my sword.
Alright, now let’s see… Skill, activate!
Impaled by a spear.
WHY?!
Why aren’t you using my sword?!
It’s a high-quality weapon, damn it!
A-Ah, sorry.
Thanks for holding it.
Here, as a token of my gratitude, please enjoy some skewered meat from that stand over there.
The guy takes the meat.
Alright, let’s try again. Skill, activate!
Impaled by a spear.
…Yeah, I figured.
Damn it!
Who the hell is this guy?!
He’s not a beastkin, so he’s not Gulf…
What do I do?!
《U-Um… excuse me?》
Huh?!
Who’s talking inside my head?!
《I-I’m… well, I’m your skill, Result of the Match.》
What?!
You can talk?!
《Uh, well, I, um, just sort of… awakened? Or maybe I was forced to awaken?》
…?
《A-Anyway, you really shouldn’t pick a fight with that guy. If you do, you’ll be returned to the earth. And, uh, I’ll be turned into dirt too. H-He said he won’t hold back next time.》
…???
I HAVEN’T EVEN ACTUALLY FOUGHT HIM!
《W-Well, sometimes in this world, even thinking about something is enough to get you killed. So, um, let’s stick to ‘fighting only those you can actually beat’, okay?》
…I feel like that last part was emphasized way too much.
But Result of the Match has helped me a lot so far.
And if it had to awaken just to warn me…
Yeah. I should back off.
-0-
Hmm.
So not only are there people I can’t defeat in these Village Five, but there are also plenty of downright dangerous ones.
A few people have even warned me to “keep it in moderation” when I use my skill.
Yeah, I should probably behave myself.
If I see a beastkin, I’ll just ignore him.
It’s not like he’ll turn out to be the Sword God Gulf anyway.
Wait…
That guy over there—an adult male—his only weapon is a wooden stick? And no armor?
…
Yeah, I should stay away from him. Definitely.
-0-
I thought about leaving Village Five, but the food here is amazing.
It’s hard to walk away from that.
So, I’ll just focus on training myself instead of stirring up trouble.
That said, I still need money to live.
Maybe I’ll work as an adventurer…
Hmm?
Someone wants to scout me?
Oh, it’s the captain of the guards.
Wait, does she want me to join the guards?
No?
She wants me to train some kids she’s looking after?
Three elven boys.
And apparently, my strength is just right for the job.
Fufufu.
To think I’ll be underestimated.
-0-
The contract was for several years, and the pay was ridiculously good, so I accepted.
And then I realized something.
The people surrounding these kids?
Yeah, they’re the same ones who wiped me out instantly, burned me to a crisp, or made me disappear entirely.
The guy my skill literally gained a mind of its own to warn me about is here too.
So are the people who told me to stop using my skill so recklessly.
Ahh, I get it now.
Everyone around here is just way too strong.
And since there’s no one “just the right amount of strong” for them to fight…
That’s where I come in.
Tch.
I don’t like it, but it’s true!
Fine, I’ll train them properly!
I’ll make sure they get their money’s worth!
Alright, you three, keep up with me!
Oh, and just call me Sul.
No need for “sensei” or “shishou”.
If you call me that, some lunatic will take it as an excuse to challenge me to a duel.
Your mothers already did.
If you’re High Elves, you could’ve at least told me that beforehand!
Do you have any idea how terrifying your mothers were?!
Anyway, from now on, we’re comrades working to get stronger together.
That’s right. Comrades.
Let’s aim for the top!
-0-
My name is Sulkar Jandor.
A 32-year-old demon born in the Demon King’s Kingdom.
While aiming to become the strongest warrior, I also work as a sort of martial arts tutor.
Currently looking for a marriage partner!
Come live with me in Village Five!
-0-
The three boys are the sons of the High Elves Ria and the others—Ririus, Riguru, and Ratte.
The one who erased him was Loo.
The one who chopped him into pieces was Tier.
The one who turned him into ashes was Rasuti.
The one who sent him into outer space was Hakuren.
The one who slammed him into the ground was Reginleif(oldest angel).
The ones who warned him about his skill were Youko and Niz.
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