Chapter 60

When I logged in, the sky outside was overcast.

It was exactly 6:00 AM.

It was still early morning, so it was dark outside.

As usual, I summoned Residual Moon, Helix, and Obsidian and moved to the village of Legias.

Perhaps because the clouds looked ominous, I was ambushed by Hunter Bats during the short time it took to pass through the forest.

Thanks to Obsidian, I managed to fend them off, but I can't let my guard down.

The same goes for the road.

I was attacked by a Rampant Silverfish (female) from the shadows of the forest.

I was also attacked by a Parallel Raccoon.

I managed to repel both without any problems.

The striped raccoon, which had been running away all night, was surprisingly aggressive when it came to launching a surprise attack.

I can't forgive just dealing damage and then running away.

Thanks to Wolf, I was able to give them a proper punishment and feel satisfied.

In the village of Legias, I looked for Mio's stall as usual.

There was a cart in the back, and it seemed like they were planning to move something.

"Good morning, and welcome."

"Hello, good morning."

I received a bowl of fried noodles with horse meat from Yuka and was eating it at a table when Rick arrived.

It seems that Fina and the others were not around.

"I heard you're in the tournament?"

"Yes, today is the preliminaries."

"Really? So you're still in the running? Is today the final day?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I can't go to the main event, but I think Fina and the others will. Good luck."

"Thank you. But I haven't seen Fina and the others."

"Oh, they're out buying and transporting goods for their business. They're heading to Remto this afternoon."

"Really?"

"I was the only one who came from Remto yesterday. We'll be switching places, I guess."

I see.

The cart in the back must be carrying the goods Rick brought.

A traveling merchant wouldn't waste any time moving.

"Is there anything I can buy?"

"Oh, I almost forgot."

He laid out yesterday's catch on the table.

There were fewer than usual, but the presence of a wild horse hide made it a decent amount of money.

"Please tell Fina and the others for me."

"Got it."

I nodded to Yuka and Fudou and left from behind the stall.

I should arrive in Remto at just the right time.

It's the third day of the tournament.

I wonder what kind of player I'll face today.

I arrived in the town of Remto.

Since it was along the road, there was almost no combat.

I only hunted two Step Hawks.

My third match is at the old training ground.

After receiving the [Identification] from the staff, I entered the waiting room and saw Lady Gertha.

I didn't see her yesterday.

Oh.

I'll watch from a spot near the wall close to the waiting room.

My match is scheduled for 9:40 AM.

There's plenty of time.

The matches hadn't started yet, but Lady Gertha appeared in the center of the arena.

She raised one hand and signaled to the four arenas.

Players appeared in all four arenas.

So, the first match of the day is starting.

It was exactly 8:00 AM.

The matches began.

It's interesting.

There are some matches that make you involuntarily gasp, and it's clear that they've made it to the third round of the preliminaries.

The most troublesome opponent is probably the warrior I saw in the first match.

A warrior who neglects defense and specializes in offense with an axe.

Well, he did have a shield, but he kept it on his back.

He was overwhelming his opponent, a dwarf, with a large axe in both hands.

It looks that way, but it's not actually the case.

He was continuously securing the perfect position by taking advantage of his movement speed.

This player is the type who cuts through everything with sheer power.

The battle style of the archer who mainly uses light magic is also interesting.

He used illusion spells to confuse his opponent.

The illusions created were of the player himself.

The opposing archer seemed to be at a loss.

Sometimes they would overlap and then separate, and then separate and overlap again.

This was repeated.

Since he's not a mage, there were a few times when his opponent saw through it, but he maintained the upper hand throughout the match.

That kind of usage is scary.

There are also players who use dark magic, which is the opposite of light magic.

At the start of the match, he created a semicircle of darkness in the center of the arena.

Was it to confuse his opponent?

Or just to buy time?

This was not a good move.

The dark space didn't last more than 30 seconds.

It seems that the opposing mage used a counter spell and succeeded.

It was Dispel Magic.

It's hard to tell from the appearance what magic skills they have, but the opponent was clearly dressed as a mage.

There's a good chance they have the level 5 common spell.

This was a clear mistake.

"Mr. Keith, please go to the arena."

"Yes."

The staff member was suddenly next to me.

It was the scheduled time.

Time flies when you're engrossed in watching.

I placed my hand on the crystal to fully recover my HP and MP.

I stood in the arena, but something was off.

The match didn't start.

The reason was on the diagonal side of the arena where I was.

My opponent was not there.

[You have advanced to the fourth round of the preliminaries! The fourth round is scheduled for 1:30 PM today at the old training ground A.]

It seems that I won by default a little past the scheduled time.

What a surprise.

Perhaps the opposing player had some other business.

Not all players are as tied to reality as I am.

I feel a bit let down, but...

The next match is also at the old training ground.

I set an alarm for 11:00 AM to have an early lunch before the afternoon match.

It's better to avoid intense exercise after a meal.

Does it matter in a game?

No, it's a matter of feeling.

I'll continue watching.

The staff can't tell the players waiting for their matches to watch from the stands.

I had a front-row seat to enjoy the matches.

Watching the battles between warriors, I realize that many warrior-type players have magic skills.

Enhancing with enchantment spells is still fine.

But I saw some players using attack spells, even taking the time to cast them.

If they have martial arts, they should use them.

Aren't there penalties for wearing metal armor?

If I were in a match, which would be scarier?

Being hit without any time lag is far more terrifying, even if the damage is smaller than the spell.

But for archers, this comparison doesn't apply.

They avoid penalties by using non-metal materials for their arrow fletchings.

This gives them multiple long-range attack options.

Their battle style tends to be more complex.

While they may not be popular with spectators who expect flashy battles, it was interesting.

The way they create walls with spells and use them to outmaneuver each other is especially intriguing.

The walls were made of fire and earth.

They used the walls as shields while attacking each other and vied for advantageous positions.

The match ended unexpectedly.

The archer using earth magic intentionally invalidated his own wall and rebuilt it.

He repeated this, gradually narrowing the opponent's movement area.

With a smaller movement range, it's easier to aim.

In the end, he cornered his opponent in a corner of the arena and finished the match with a series of arrows after removing the wall.

He used the wall not for defense but to corner his opponent.

Interesting.

I don't have any level 6 elemental magic spells.

Countering them would require a lot of effort.

Dispel Magic isn't guaranteed to work.

It's troublesome.

But I keep running through virtual battles in my head.

It's troublesome, but that's what makes it fun.

There's no point in struggling with strategies for easy opponents.

Yes.

I think a strategy should be like this.

How do you fight a tough opponent?

How do you win?

How do you avoid losing?

Thinking about it is fun!

The alarm on my clock went off.

I quickly had lunch at a stall during a less busy time and returned to the arena.

I continued watching.

The most intense match was between two warriors.

One had a sword and shield, very standard.

The other was completely in a grappling style.

I cheered for the grappler.

Which one?

Obviously, the grappler.

Moreover, the player used throws and joint locks.

Great.

I can't help but want to be friends with them.

But the result was disappointing.

He forced the opponent to fumble and drop their main weapon, a sword and shield.

When he secured a mounted position, I thought he had won.

But then he was reversed with a dagger.

The dagger's tip repeatedly pierced his thigh and side.

I didn't see the dagger being pulled out or the attacks.

What's scary in combat?

It's scary when attacks come from unseen enemies.

It's also scary when you don't know what's happening.

In this case, both happened simultaneously.

It was a thrilling match.

All the more disappointing.

I can't help but feel restless.

I want to move my body to calm down.

"Mr. Keith, please go to the arena."

"Yes."

It seems my turn had come while I was engrossed in watching.

At the staff's urging, I touched the crystal to fully recover my HP and MP.

I stood in the arena and looked at the diagonal side.

Leather armor and a leather helmet.

The gloves and boots were also leather.

He held a bow and had a quiver on his back.

An archer, huh?

Or was it a match between similar players in the preliminaries?

An archer.

Memories of the battles I watched came to mind.

What kind of tricks will this opponent use?

I'm looking forward to it.

I hope it's something unexpected.

I don't want the match to end too quickly.

Whether I win or lose, I don't want it to be over too soon.

That's how I feel.

We bowed to each other.

"Begin!"

"Meditate!" "Breathe!"

I used my usual staff martial arts and immediately selected a spell to cast.

I closed the distance with the opponent.

I dashed.

"Twinshot!"

Arrows pierced the ground at my feet.

Two of them.

One completely missed, and the other grazed my boot.

A feint?

A stop?

The opponent held an arrow but didn't nock it.

He seemed to be casting a spell and was closing the distance slightly.

What's coming?

My spell completed first.

"Mental Enchantment Light!"

The opponent's spell was about to complete a moment later.

I selected and cast another spell.

"Stone Wall!"

A wall of earth formed in front of me.

I was still some distance away from the charge.

I've seen this sequence a few times.

He's planning to attack from behind the wall.

But I could see the opponent.

He was on top of the wall.

The wall was less than 10 feet high, probably not more than 3 meters, but it was over 2 meters.

It seemed like the opponent was smiling on that temporary high ground.

Arrows were fired at me again.

"Twinshot!"

One grazed my head.

The other hit my shoulder.

The impact and pain were minimal.

It didn't penetrate, but it still hurt.

Hey, you!

You did it!

Before I knew it, I had let go of my rod and jumped at the wall.

I reached the top of the wall with my right hand.

I managed to hold on, but my body collided with the wall due to the momentum.

It hurt.

I felt a bit angrier.

I climbed the wall quickly.

I stood on top of it.

The opponent was right in front of me, with an arrow nocked.

"Twinshot!"

I tackled low at the same time the arrows were fired.

I heard the arrows pass by where my head had been and grabbed the opponent's left leg with both hands.

I pushed with my shoulder.

But the opponent braced to avoid falling.

I let go of my right hand.

I swung a punch overhand.

I felt it hit the opponent's face.

I couldn't see where it hit, but it didn't matter.

It was just a feint.

I wrapped my right hand around the opponent's left hand, which held the bow.

I grabbed the opponent's left wrist with my left hand and applied a joint lock.

It was a modified armbar.

The bow fell from the opponent's left hand.

I could see the pain on the opponent's face through the leather helmet.

I kneed the opponent in the stomach.

The moment my kicking leg landed, I threw the opponent.

It was a back throw, but I threw in the direction of the joint lock.

I thought I heard a dry snap of a bone breaking.

I kicked the opponent where they landed on the wall and then dropped them into the arena.

I moved to continue the attack as they rolled on the ground.

I jumped down from the wall and kicked the opponent who was still trying to get up.

[Match over! Please stop fighting!]

The kick I aimed didn't hit.

It seems I was forced to fumble.

What am I supposed to do with this heightened feeling?

I noticed the opponent had already given up.

With the staff's help, I left the arena and received recovery.

[You have advanced to the fifth round of the preliminaries! The fifth round is scheduled for 2:40 PM today at the old training ground D.]

I managed to suppress my heightened feelings and bowed, then left the arena.

I wasn't satisfied with the match itself.

But thinking calmly, it was dangerous.

Securing a high position and launching a continuous arrow attack.

To dispel the wall with Dispel Magic, I would have to get close to the wall.

But to get close to the wall, I would have to be prepared to take the arrows.

It would also take time to cast the spell.

Even if I kept my distance, it would be difficult to escape the range of the arrows.

Even if I used spells to attack, I don't think I could gain the upper hand against arrows.

It's a well-thought-out strategy.

Climbing the wall was the right move, wasn't it?

Climbing and jumping.

It was probably helped by some minor auxiliary skills.

It wasn't as easy as the result suggests.

I was lucky.

But that's a separate issue from this restless feeling.

I want to let loose somewhere.

I spent the time watching matches, feeling restless.

I can't enjoy watching the matches.

That's not good.

Fighting with this kind of feeling is dangerous.

I was trying to suppress myself when the next match started.

The staff called me.

"Mr. Keith, this is your last match of the day. Good luck."

"Ah, thank you."

My responses were absent-minded.

At the staff's urging, I touched the crystal to fully recover my HP and MP.

I stood in the arena and looked at the opponent on the diagonal side.

Clearly a mage.

A standard mage.

He held a staff.

My rod is designed for striking, but his staff is different.

The tip is knobby.

I heard from Reina that staffs for enhancing spells often have that shape.

The problem is which element he will use.

Probably, I can withstand two attack spells.

The third one will likely be too much.

Even with Mental Enchantment Light to boost my mental strength and reduce magic damage, I can't withstand four.

If I know the element, I can use resistance spells effectively.

That's my biggest advantage against a mage who relies on spells.

What will happen?

The biggest problem is that my body wants to fight.

I can't seem to control it.

We bowed to each other.

"Begin!"

"Meditate!" "Breathe!"

"Meditate!" "Breathe!"

I cast a martial art and immediately ran.

Faster, faster!

I wanted to fight.

I was okay with taking damage first.

I wanted to do something with this heightened feeling.

"Mental Enchantment Light!"

I first enhanced my mental strength.

The advantage is that it can counter any spell.

This is the best way to reduce spell damage.

"Fire Wall!"

The opponent's spell exploded after a delay.

A wall of fire blocked my path.

Should I go around?

I should.

But my body was too eager to fight.

I made up my mind.

I charged through the wall of fire.

It was hot, painful, and the damage was severe.

But that's fine now.

The opponent was right in front of me.

I approached the surprised opponent with the same momentum.

I stopped the opponent by thrusting the rod into their stomach.

The opponent seemed to fall forward and kneel.

I let go of the rod and circled behind.

I wrapped my right arm around the opponent's neck and applied a chokehold.

I pressed my left hand on the back of the opponent's head.

I used my upper body to apply my weight.

I aimed to crush the airway.

The opponent's spell casting was forcibly interrupted.

I continued the chokehold.

Good.

But I can't be careless.

I saw the opponent's hand trying to pry off my locked hand.

I won't let that happen.

The hand was

hitting my arm.

What?

[Match over! Please stop fighting!]

What?

It's over already?

What?

They gave up already?

I released the hold.

The opponent seemed to be in pain but could stand on their own.

What?

Fight longer.

It's not enough.

The sense of fulfillment from the fight is completely lacking.

My feelings are still heightened.

The opponent stood up with the staff's help.

We bowed to each other.

Really.

Is it over?

[Congratulations! You have advanced to the main event! Your first match in the main event is scheduled for 8:30 AM tomorrow at the new training ground D.]

[You have earned 2 bonus points for advancing through the preliminaries. Your total is now 5 points.]

[Please complete your registration at the new training ground by 8:00 AM tomorrow.]

It was really over.

I was stunned as I saw the information about advancing to the main event.

The match time was too short.

No, the match ended too quickly.

I had taken severe damage, but I was fully recovered by the crystal.

With that, the sense of reality quickly faded.

I was stunned.

That's the only way to describe it.

I returned to the waiting room to regain my composure.

Okay.

Stay calm.

I'm probably calm now.

I must be.

Calm?

No, I realized that all the remaining preliminaries were over.

I clearly wasn't calm.

Main Character: Keith

Race: Human, Male, Race Level 7

Class: Summoner (Summoner) Level 6

Bonus Points Remaining: 5

Set Skills:

Staff Level 6, Striking Level 4, Kicking Level 4, Joint Locks Level 4, Throws Level 4

Dodge Level 4, Block Level 4, Summoning Magic Level 7

Light Magic Level 3, Wind Magic Level 4, Earth Magic Level 4, Water Magic Level 4

Fire Magic Level 3, Dark Magic Level 3, Ice Magic Level 1, Lightning Magic Level 1

Wood Magic Level 1