Chapter 25

"Damn you..."

"We, C-rank, are more than enough to handle one person..."

"...Fine, I'll crush you with all my might..."

The other seven are looking at me with eyes full of murderous intent.

...Why are they so angry?

"Hmm? I thought it was a proposal beneficial to both sides? If the skill gap is too wide, it won't be any meaningful experience. It would be better to train individually rather than waste time on something futile."

"You brat..."

"You think fighting us is a waste of time!?"

...Ugh, it seems I've made them even angrier.

Why?

I see.

Fighting me won't give them any benefit, but fighting each other, where their skills are more evenly matched, might have been a good experience. They are angry because even that opportunity has been taken away from them.

I was only thinking about myself.

"Understood. Then I'll hold back. That way, it will be somewhat meaningful for you."

This should leave no room for complaints.

Honestly, holding back is more difficult than going all out, but I can consider it as compensation for changing the format of the match at the last minute and involving them.

"Hold back!?"

"You're kidding me...!"

"How much more do you plan to mock us, you...!"

...Eh?

"I don't understand. I really don't understand. ...Maybe you're just stressed out and want to vent your anger."

Since I can't figure it out, I'll just assume that's the case.

"...Alair, you're the type who unintentionally rubs people the wrong way, aren't you...?"

"...The fact that you don't realize it is even more frustrating..."

Lilia and Rina are muttering something with half-closed eyes, probably confused by the other's unreasonable anger.

"Alright, then the match begins!"

At that signal, the seven swordsmen leaped at me one after another.

I held back just enough and took about ten minutes to defeat them.

"Anyway, congratulations, Alair! This means you're in the second round of preliminaries!"

"Does the second round of preliminaries also have nearly a hundred swordsmen participating?"

"Yes! From there, they narrow it down to twelve through a tournament!"

"...Would it be possible for about ten to attack me at once again?"

"That would be reckless against B-rank swordsmen!"

The second round of preliminaries starts in a week.

"Then I'll go into the dungeon."

I've only reached the seventh floor so far, where Advanced Living Armors are just starting to appear. I want to go deeper and fight the Elite Living Armors.

"Ah! I'm going too!"

"You don't have to come."

"Don't say it so clearly!? But I don't want to! I'll definitely follow you!"

...Her mental strength is something I should learn from.

"No, I think you already have a steel-strong mentality..."

Rina said something.

The pairings for the second round of preliminaries were announced.

Twelve can advance to the main tournament.

So the participants in the second round are divided into twelve blocks of about eight people each, and they compete in a tournament within each block. The winners of each block advance to the main tournament.

"Why are you in the same Block 4, Alair!?"

Lilia, looking at the pairing list posted on the bulletin boards around the city, clutched her head and shouted.

"...It seems I won't be able to advance to the main tournament this year..."

"Don't be so down. Even if we weren't in the same block, it would have been difficult for you to advance to the main tournament with your current skill level."

"That's true!? But that's a cruel way to console me!?"

Ignoring Lilia's rant, I spoke to Rina.

"You're in Block 8, right?"

"Ah, yes. ...Fortunately, I'm in a different block from the two of you, but there are many strong opponents. Last year, I made it to the final of the second round but lost. I want to win the right to advance to the main tournament this year."

Considering her skill, Rina has a higher chance of advancing than Lilia.

The second round of preliminaries started.

A larger venue is used compared to the first round, and there are many spectators, some of whom clearly aren't swordsmen.

"Of course, the main tournament is the peak, but by the time of the second round, people start coming from outside the city to watch the matches."

Lilia explained as we walked through the players' corridor to the Block 4 arena. There are several arenas within the building, each assigned to a block.

"I see, that explains why the city has been so lively recently."

We reached the arena.

There was a stage in the center, and the surrounding spectator seats were almost full.

"Hey! Isn't that the rumored Unemployed guy!?"

"I've heard about him, but he's just a kid?"

"Seriously, the Unemployed made it to the second round!?"

"He defeated a B-rank swordsmen from Black Blade in a challenge match, is that true!?"

"No doubt! I saw it with my own eyes! And he took out ten in one go!"

I'm getting a lot of attention.

Well, it's not new, and I'm used to such curious gazes.

"There are clearly more spectators..."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Usually, even at most, there would be about half this number. Many people must have come to see you, Alair."

As she said this, Lilia clung to my arm.

"...What are you doing?"

"Hehehe, if I do this, many people will misunderstand that you and I are a couple, and eventually it will become a public fact, and really—...!"

Lilia clutched her stomach and crouched down.

"This person just punched a girl's stomach!"

"Since you have a blessing, it shouldn't hurt."

"Even if it doesn't hurt, the shock is still there! Besides, that's not the issue, and don't reduce your blessing before the match!?"

Whispers could be heard from the spectator seats.

"Hey, the Rapier Swordsman Lilia seems to be quite close to him."

"They're from the same guild."

"It looks like more than just being in the same guild."

"Damn, they must be dating. I was a bit interested in him, even if just in appearance..."

I don't understand how they reached that conclusion after seeing this.