The summer heat has already subsided, and the season is almost in autumn.
　Early in summer is cooler than in the daytime, but it's still summer.
　However, when autumn is approaching, people who are vulnerable to cold may feel a little chilly.

"Oh, my God!"

　Under the cloudless blue sky, in the midst of the rising sun, screams echoed in the courtyard of the inn.
　Avoid the point of a dagger with a crushed blade for a mock battle with a few mm of skin.
　However, he doesn't think his attack can easily be understood by the person who fired the thrust. No, they were probably building the attack on the assumption that it would be avoided.
　Pull the dagger back quickly and shoot back in a row.
　No matter how much the blade has been crushed, the point of the long sword is naturally sharp. Even ordinary people were sharp enough to stick into the trunk of a tree with all their might.
　Furthermore, if Rodos, a high-fighting Rank C adventurer, wields it, a blow from the long sword could easily kill a person, even if the blade is crushed.
　But of course it is if the other person is a regular person.
　Rodos, who has seen all the thrusts delivered in succession over and over again, cannot afford to think of any moderation.
　In fact, Ray had evaded all the more than ten thrusts that had been delivered in seconds.
　Even so, Ray avoids all the thrusts that come out one after another because he can't give up.
　The scene looked as if it were a dance of harmony, as if showing that martial arts were not a dance.

"...that's a lie, isn't it?" What is that monster? Most of them are able to carry out thrusts of that speed without a break, but they are continuing to avoid all of them."
"Oh, and look at the movement of that shirking priest."
"...no. Are you avoiding the attack after seeing everything?"
"Yes, you would normally read the signs of an attack and anticipate and avoid it..."
"Oh, I know," She seems to be the bodyguard of a nobleman from the kingdom of Milliana. as far as I've heard the people in the inn talk."
"Guard? ... I know, I know. You're a bodyguard, so you don't participate in competitions, do you?"
"If you say that, we're here as guards, too, but if we don't, we wouldn't be able to stay in a first-class inn with such a super power."
"Well, that's for sure," but when I see them fight, I lose my confidence."
"Well, a man who is actually treated well by that child has something high enough just to look at his ability alone." Simply, that child is too overwhelming. I didn't expect to win the championship, but seeing such a kid makes it seem difficult to get to the finals."
"No, unlike the final, which is going to be an individual match, we should think that there is a chance of winning even against an opponent who is superior to our ability because it is a mixed match in a large number of people."
"I understand what you mean, but if you use your group strength to stay in the final tournament, you'll probably lose easily in the first round."
"When I play in the final tournament, I get a lot of attention. If you're only thinking about your career, that's enough."
"But if I even got to the final tournament, I'll stay in the top spot and get prizes and prize money..."
"It's good to dream, but you should see the reality well."

　The Battle of Ray and Rodos... No, those around him say what they want, watching the mock battle.
　This is the courtyard of a long‐standing empty house.
　It is only one of the finest inns in the Vestian Empire, and has considerable space in the courtyard.
　The courtyard was now crowded with people who had followed them as bodyguards for those staying at the inn, or with their personal reputation or supporters.
　Since they came to the imperial capital as guards for the people who could stay at this inn, naturally they are all skilled enough to be called veterans or great talents.
　"If there are other individuals who have the ability to stay at this inn or supporters, it is natural that they are required to be able to stay at this inn. "
　All these people were watching the mock battle between Ray and Rodos. No, it's right that I could only look at it.
　Of course, there is no doubt that even those who initially gathered to exercise in this place had the intention to judge Ray and Rodos' ability.
　However, watching the way they fight makes us understand each other's differences in ability.
　It must have been unfortunate for those in this room to have that much ability.
　Knowing that there is a competitor we can't compete with, we have no choice but to participate in the competition.
　As long as I was here, I was naturally confident in my ability, and the shock came down on the spectators.
　There are two paths that those who were shocked should take.

"Oh, it's a fool to be able to do it. Here, let's go back. If we train in the same place as them, our movements will be affected strangely."

　a group of people who murmured in frustration and glared impatiently at Ray and Rodos, who were still engaged in mock warfare.

"... now I'll do it." They may be strong, to be sure, but they have a little time until the competition begins. In that short time we'll still be strong. I can't do it now, but I have only a little training to catch up with them."

　At this point, even though they are beaten by Ray and Rodos, they are sure to catch up with each other, and if they overtake them, they are enthusiastic about their training.
　The former had a higher percentage, but it would be clear which had a better future.
　Ray and Rodos were just playing mock battles, but they didn't realize that they were influencing people at all.
　As a result, if Rodos hits Rey anyway, he will feel the difference in ability, and a few people will drop out of the competition.

"Oops!"

　Rodos, who kept shooting and avoided all of them, puts his heart into it as if it was his last blow and puts his best foot forward.
　The thrusts fired at the body, which is the most difficult to avoid, are avoided by Ray pulling at half the body. 　
　The long sword came to a standstill at the thrust of the last blow, but the next moment, in the thrust position, it was forced into a horizontal mowing blow, and a horizontal mowing blow was fired.

"Too,"

　The sudden blow also surprises Ray.
　But the surprise was fleeting. The next moment he reached out his hands casually and accepted the blade of the long sword he had wielded at his attention.
　Serious white‐edged sword removal.

"What!"

　It was probably a confident blow for Rodos, too. A stupid voice comes out of my mouth, wondering if I ever thought I could stop the blow with my bare hands.

"Yes, unfortunately,"

　Rodos, who was so dumb at what he saw in front of him that he couldn't decide to let go of his weapon, lost his position and exposed his defenseless body, and the next moment Ray's right fist was a few mm away from his jaw.
　I grabbed the blade of the sword, but I only looked down, but there was my own long sword that was stopped by my left hand.

"... I'm at a loss,"

　the most perfect defeat
　When Rodos understands this, Ray pulls his right fist against the tip of his jaw into the words he utters with his sigh.

"I think the last attack was pretty good. But I used too many thrusts to take it to that point."

　Returning to the advice he gave away from Rodos was a fishy stare.

"What?"
"How can you handle such an outrageous skill?"
"What a trick?"

　After a moment's thought, I immediately recall the serious white-edged sword removal I mentioned earlier.

"No, it's not such a difficult technique, of course, I can't say it's easy. ...but it's not very easy to use in actual warfare.""Why? It's a very convenient technique because you can neutralize the opponent's weapon with your bare hands."

　Rodos's voice echoes through the courtyard, and those who train far away secretly agree.
　Those who watched the mock battle between Ray and Rodos and still didn't forget to improve themselves, but perhaps because of the high level of the mock battle between them, most of them in the courtyard were paying attention to it... even though the blade was crushed, it was too unexpected to stop the long sword with bare hands.
　Therefore, it would be absolutely useful if I could get that technology to myself in earnest. We decided so, but somehow Ray, who showed the technique, says he doesn't want to use it in actual warfare, and everyone is interested in the reason.

"I used it this time because I knew the blade was crushed, but if it was a real long sword, the palm or wrist would be cut off just by a little off the timing, and if it was a magic item like a magic sword, if you grab the blade poorly, it could be damaged by fire, ice or lightning."
"... I see,"

　The reason I heard was that I was satisfied.
　Of course, it would be a different story if their skills were isolated from each other, but even in that case, it is not always the case that there is no one who has a magical sword.
　A good example would be Alorgan, who was previously involved in Ray and then joined him on the rank-up exam.
　He had a magical sword as a weapon, though his skill was not so high in itself.
　There was not much danger, for the magical sword's ability was not to produce fire. Based on that experience, however, serious white‐edged techniques are not practical techniques.

"Well, that's why it's a mock game. But I'm sure my skills are improving now that I've made them use techniques that I've never used before."

　Rodos's mouth smiles at Ray's rare compliments.
　In fact, it's true that Ray was in a hurry, even for a moment, so it should be praised.
　It is clear, however, that there is still a huge gap in ability between Ray and Rodos, who have sweaty foreheads and Ray, who has not sweated at all.

"If you think about the rest of the fight, I'll give Ray a shot."
"Oh, I'm looking forward to it,"

　It's true that we're still very different now, but Rodos is still the son of Elk, and he's growing his strength day by day by day.
　I don't mean to let Ray overtake him at all, but it was interesting to see Rodos grow every day.

(At first, I thought it would be difficult to get through the preliminary round, but at this rate, would it be possible to advance to the final tournament? ...However, the preliminary round Battle Royal can't be completely relieved unless his skills are too far apart.) That kind of maneuvering is probably a highlight for the audience. I hear that it is not uncommon for betting to be more exciting than the final tournament.)

　Whispering inwardly, I heard the noise of the inn guests waking up, and tossed the cloth I had prepared nearby towards Rodos.

"Well, morning training is almost over. Breakfast is ready, isn't it?"
"Huh? Oh, it's about that time."

　Rodos looks up into the sky, wiping the sweat from his face.
　Autumn clear. It's probably right to express it that way. It's clear, and it's supposed to be early autumn, so the temperature is still high, but it's still quite comfortable now, perhaps because of the morning.
　Realizing the fine weather, Ray and Rodos each leave the courtyard.
　Those who have not seen it off are immersed in their own training, thinking of the conversation I mentioned earlier.
　I was half disappointed that Ray and Rodos had disappeared from view, and half relieved.

"Then go to the dining-room first."
"Oh,"

　Ray, speaking briefly and breaking up with Rodos.
　Rodos' appearance will tell you why he doesn't go straight to the dining room.
　Even if you wipe off the sweat, the sweat you've scratched all over your body is still intact, so you go back to your room to get dressed and then head to the dining room.
　If this is an ordinary inn, there is no problem going to the dining room while sweating.
　"However, this inn is one of the best in the Westian Empire...""In other words, it is an unparalleled inn in Elgin." The people who are staying are aristocrats and merchants of considerable standing, and if they go to such a place with sweat on their hands, Rodos' employer, Dusker, will be despised.
　Rodos therefore needed to trim his appearance.
　Ray didn't sweat at all, so all he had to do was pat the dragon lobe lightly to remove the dust.
　Thus the days leading up to the competition pass.