The next day.
Noon.
1 PM.
It was finally the day of the Grand Martial Tournament finals.
I stood before the iron gate of the competitors’ entrance.
Just like yesterday, I was armed with a short sword.
『And now, the final match begins!』
「「「「YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!」」」」
The female announcer’s declaration echoed through the stadium.
The crowd roared with excitement.
The atmosphere in the coliseum was even more intense than it had been the day before.
The winner of today’s match would earn the right to challenge the king.
It was a critical fight, and naturally, the spectators were deeply invested.
『Now then, Henry and Clemuir, please enter the arena!』
At the announcer’s words, the iron gate lifted.
I stepped onto the coliseum grounds.
I walked toward the center of the circular arena.
From the opposite entrance, my opponent entered.
Her name was Clemuir, if I recalled correctly.
She was a woman.
Roughly 165 centimeters tall.
Brown hair, tied into twin tails.
Yellow eyes.
Lightly armored.
Over a black inner layer, she wore a chest guard and a waist guard.
Her shoulders and arms were exposed.
She wielded a pair of small two swords.
Her presence gave off the vibe of an assassin or ninja.
We stopped about twenty meters apart.
『As with the semifinals, we will begin with greetings from both competitors!』
The announcer approached me and handed me a magic stone for voice amplification.
Just like yesterday, I gave my brief greeting.
The crowd responded enthusiastically.
Once I finished, I handed the stone back.
The announcer then handed it to Clemuir.
『Clemuir, please say a few words!』
Clemuir accepted the stone and spoke.
「I’m glad to have made it to the finals. But of course, this was expected. The idea of me losing is as impossible as the heavens flipping upside down.」
She continued, brimming with confidence.
「I’ve never known defeat. My pride lies in being undefeated. That’s why I pity any opponent who has to face me.」
Then she turned toward me, addressing me directly.
「Your name was Henry, wasn’t it? I only hope our fight doesn’t leave you traumatized, Henry-kun.」
Our eyes met.
And then,
「Let’s speak with our swords from here on. That’s all.」
Clemuir ended her speech.
『Thank you very much!』
The announcer took the magic stone back from her.
(“I only hope our fight doesn’t leave you traumatized,” huh…)
I silently repeated Clemuir’s words in my mind.
(She certainly seems confident. I look forward to seeing the face she’ll make when that confidence turns to despair.)
A faint, wicked smile crept onto my lips.
-0-
The crowd was buzzing with excitement.
Among them, voices predicting the outcome could be heard.
Spectators debated who would win, Henry or Clemuir.
「Who do you think’s gonna win?」
「Clemuir, obviously.」
「Anyone who saw the matches yesterday would say the same.」
「Sure, Henry beat that huge woman, but he just used standard swordplay. Nothing special.」
「I’m still rooting for Henry. His speech was the best.」
「Yeah, I liked his speech too, but skill-wise, Clemuir’s on another level.」
「She might even have a shot at beating the king.」
「I don’t care who wins, just hurry up and start already!」
The general consensus was that Clemuir held the overwhelming advantage.
From what they saw in the semifinals, Henry had simply fought with a short sword in a conventional manner.
His swordsmanship may have been refined, but it couldn’t possibly match Clemuir’s exceptional talent.
Everyone believed that.
Everyone except one.
Or rather… one creature.
(Nyaanyaa… None of them have any idea how terrifying Henry really is.)
Cat Demon God Vischy.
The only one among them who truly knew Henry’s capabilities held a different opinion.
(Henry hasn’t even used five percent of his power. Actually, it’s not that he won’t go all out, it’s that he can’t, because his opponents are too weak.)
Henry had yet to fight seriously, not because he was holding back on purpose, but because no one so far had been strong enough to warrant it.
Because of that, Vischy was certain that Henry could not possibly lose.
(Still… that speech of Clemuir’s was pretty entertaining, nyaa! She’s like a female version of Henry, huh!)
Chuckling gleefully to herself, Vischy waited in anticipation for the finals to begin.
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