the first day of a competition
　Compared to the qualifying round, more people were coming to the arena.
　Naturally, there are many emperors, princes, princesses, and nobles of the Vestian Empire, and some people who are not interested in competitions come to the stadium to see the faces of the imperial family including the emperor.
　Until recently, the imperial capital was overflowing with people, but now people in the streets were out of sight.
　That's only natural. Most of the people who are now in this imperial capital are people who come for a competition.
　Of course not everyone is, but still few people are not interested in the annual events held in the Empire of Bestia.

"Wow... What's this number of people?"

　There were so many people muttering around the stadium.
　This man came from a village in the countryside of the Vestian Empire to see his first competition this year, but arrived yesterday for some reason or other.
　Far from qualifying for the competition, he was an unfortunate man who missed even the opening ceremony a few days ago.
　It is not unusual, however, to arrive a week or two apart, for it is difficult to come from a rural village to the imperial capital.
　weather, accidents, or robber attacks In view of all the other circumstances, it is worthy of praise that he arrived safely in the imperial capital, albeit during the course of his business in a carriage.
　Although it was an occasional sight to watch a competition, I couldn't help but exclaim at the number of people around the stadium.

"What? Is this your first competition?"

　A man in his 40s, who was close to him, said, "Do you feel sorry for him, or am I tired of simply lining up?"

"Huh? Oh. It's my first time... Is this the norm in the imperial capital?"
"No, no, that's not the case," I don't usually get this crowded even in the main games of a competition... was my brother lucky or bad?"
"What do you mean?"

　a man who doesn't understand what a middle-aged man is saying and nods his head in spite of himself.
　A middle-aged man opens his mouth with a smile on his face.

"This year's competition is special in many ways. "Well, it's my brother's first visit to the imperial capital, so it can't be helped."
"... special?"
"Yes. First of all, crimson is participating in the competition."

　The man who hears the name bends his head in spite of himself. 　
　I remember hearing the word crimson. He is an adventurer belonging to the Kingdom of Milliana who devastated the Westian Empire in the Spring War.

"Why did such a person come all the way to the Empire of Bestia to sell a fight?"

　A middle-aged man shakes his head when he mutters something he doesn't know.

"I've heard that someone from the Kingdom of Milliana brought crimson. So I wonder if the crimson was interested in participating in the competition. Well, I don't know the truth, but it's true that crimson is playing. I actually saw it in the preliminary round."
"... What? Are you out of the preliminary round? Normally, such a special player comes out of the finals, right?"
"Yes. ... Well, crimson must have a lot of ideas. Anyway, I started the preliminary round and went on to the finals easily."
"I suppose,"

　a man who nods for granted
　Fortunately, the village in which the man lived was in the countryside, and several of them headed for the Spring War... and they were never close friends.
　Still, the death of a resident of the same village doesn't feel good, and it's far from convincing that someone with that much ability will lose the preliminary round. 　
　That's why it was only natural for a man that crimson would make it through the preliminary rounds.

"And since crimson is coming out in the end, are there so many people who want to see scary things like this.

　Nearly a few dozen people have already lined up behind me, although I had just lined up at the end of the procession.
　When asked if crimson had such a reputation, the man shook his head in denial.

"No. ... What the people in line here really want to see is not crimson. Of course, the crimson fight is worth seeing because it's so colorful."
"Why, then?"
"...because I'm taking part in a competition. "Rank S Adventurer, the infamous Noise"
"What about .........?"

　For a moment, far from it. After a long silence of nearly a minute, the man screams involuntiloquently.
　That's only natural. Rank S Adventurer alone is a very rare and valuable entity, but that person appears in the high-profile arena of a competition.
　Originally, Noise was a well-known Rank S adventurer with an immovable nickname.
　It's no wonder that there are only three Rank S adventurers now, the only one who belongs to the Bestian Empire.
　Rumors of his brilliant performance have spread, however, but he has never participated in a competition.
　Therefore, it was hard to believe what the middle-aged man told me.
　Of course, even a middle-aged man would have understood it. continue one's speech with a nod of understanding

"That's when we get back to the crimson that we just had. It's just a rumor, but if things go on like this, crimson might win the competition, so I think it's a trump card prepared to prevent it."
"Oh, I see,"

　Now that you said it, it was a satisfactory story.
　The existence of crimson can even be said to be a disenfranchised enemy of the Westian Empire. If such an opponent were to win one of the biggest competitions held in his home country, it would be as if he were to be trampled on, not to lose face.
　In addition, important figures from neighboring countries are invited to the competition, and if they are not good at it, it is possible that it will be held in front of them.
　It should not be tolerated by the Westian Empire, which is dominating neighboring countries.
　I didn't know the details, but it was easy for a man to understand the problems of his superior face.

"Well, that's why this competition has become a feature of many things. Besides crimson and Fudo, there are also some other notorious players."
"...should I say that I'm glad I made it to the finals, or should I say that I'm sorry I couldn't see such a person's performance in the preliminary round... Don't hesitate."
"Well, don't worry so much. I'm glad I got there in time for the main battle. This is the only competition I can't believe. There is no doubt that it will be handed down for a long time. Oh, I think we've begun to enter the stadium."

　Gradually, the middle-aged man smiles as the line begins to move forward.
　The other man was standing in line to move forward, hoping that he should concentrate on getting a good seat for now.





　Ray, who doesn't know anything like that outside the stadium, looks around the waiting room again.
　There are quite a few, but each one is concentrating on his own fight.
　It was fortunate for Ray that he didn't have anyone to entangle him like he did in the qualifying round.
　...however, it was already known in the qualifying round that Ray was crimson. With that in mind, no one would commit such a reckless act.
　At the very least, there was no such person among the players in this waiting room.

Rodos and I will play today. Is it just the three of us? I wish I had at least been in the waiting room with one of themselves.

　It's disgusting to just keep silent here until the start of the game.
　However, I would like to avoid having to withdraw from the race because I could not make it to my own game while walking alone in this large stadium.That's why I wish there was someone I knew... Ray looks around him thinking like that.
　a person who moulds with a weapon in his hand, a person who concentrates his mind with his eyes closed, or a person who is talking to someone he knows by chance.
　There are a lot of different people, especially those who are talking, who are startled when Ray looks at them.
　He's not afraid, but he probably realizes that contact with Ray can be a nuisance.
　In fact, some of the participants in the waiting room are giving Ray a murderous stare.

(Perhaps he was involved in the war... but not for any other reason, actually?

　While somehow thinking so, Ray looks back at the other person looking at him and exhales.
　Perhaps it seemed provocative, the master of the gaze clenches his weapon.
　But what's going on now is not the preliminary round, but the final round.
　If the participants engage in a private fight outside the venue, they will be disqualified without any questions and answers...and may be charged with a crime.
　When Ray first heard it, he thought it might be too harsh, but if he thought the aristocrats and royal families of the Westian Empire were coming to the stadium, he had no choice but to agree.

"It's a match, Cleo. Please come to the stadium."

　The management committee members show up in the waiting room and say so.
　Hearing the voice, a man with a spear stood up and left the waiting room.
　Watching such a participant's back, Ray, who had nothing particular to do, began exercising flexibly to kill time.
　Zepyle's body is quite flexible.
　When you stand up and reach out to the floor with your knees straightened, your palm slips to the floor without any particular pain.
　Some people were looking at Ray with surprised expressions, but as if it had nothing to do with him, he continued to exercise flexibly.
　Having said that, I couldn't kill time forever with just flexible exercise, and I was satisfied with it in about 10 minutes.

(If only there were magazines or something like that...)

　While sitting in a chair, I suddenly remember a comic magazine I read when I was in Japan.
　It's a pretty useful thing in terms of killing time, or perhaps even more useful if it's a game console.

(No, if you had a game console in Elgin, you wouldn't stand out.)

　While thinking inside, the murderous gaze directed at him becomes troublesome and he stands up.
　I didn't really try to do anything about the other person, it just made us feel sick, and it meant that Ray was just killing time.

(It might be a good idea to take a peek at the game at the stadium.) If you win, you'll end up fighting against someone.)

　I leave the waiting room, being careful not to forget the order of my matches.
　Many people probably have the same ideas as Ray. After all, the number of participants in the waiting room had decreased considerably.
　Most of them will still be close to each other after the game is over.
　and Ray left the waiting-room with a murderous, interesting, troubling, and power-seeking gaze upon his back.





`... whoop,'

　I'm out of breath at last. Ray, who breathes out like that, looks around again.
　The crowd was cheering up to here, perhaps because of the excitement of the battle in the stadium.
　I have a lot of work to do, but I'm afraid I'll have a lot of trouble doing it. I walk around feeling like I'm visiting the stadium, thinking like that.
　There are people here and there, but of course they are few compared to the waiting room.
　Most of them, however, look surprised when they see Ray. 　
　The reason why Ray is free to move around is probably because he doesn't have a death size in his hand.
　No matter how heavy a ray feels when it is held, others may not be hurt if it hits them while walking.
　Because of the mystery ring, you are free to take out as long as you like and carry it around without getting in the way.

(Well, that's that, and that's that guy.)

　Think like that inside, while being looked at in awe by the other person walking down the aisle.
　There must be a lot of strange things about being here. After all, I'm the enemy of this Vestian Empire.

(Come to think of it, Elk bet on me, right? No, you don't have to worry because Min is here.)

　He continued to tour the stadium, walking around and remembering that he had left it to Elk to bet on his victory in this game.
　What disappointed me was that I could not find a stall that would have been sold for the visitors at the stadium.