"Gut, gut, gut,"

　Rodos, who had fallen on the stage, groans and starts to stand up... the next moment he realizes he has no left arm and falls again onto the stage.
　The left arm, which has no point from the elbow, continues to bleed, but the amount of bleeding is not that high.
　Ray wonders as he picks up Rodos' amputated left arm as he rolls onto the stage, but suddenly recalls Rodos's mouthpiece during the battle.

"Well, it must have been a very high-level portion,"

　Judging that the amount of bleeding was small, he walked towards Rodos with his left arm in his hands.
　There was also a referee, who was helping Rodos to his feet.

"I'll help you, too." and this arm will need to be attached."
"I'm sorry, please,"
"...hmm,"

　While the referee thanked him, Rodos snorted more precisely, looking away from Ray's face.
　However, there is nothing dangerous about the atmosphere. I'm frustrated that I lost, but it's probably because I've done my best at the moment.
　Knowing that, Ray also walks to the edge of the stage, clutching both Desize and Rodos' left arm with little blood in his hand.
　Then he left the stage with his amputated left arm stuck to the wound...

"...oh?"

　As he left the stage, Rodos' body shone for a moment, and his left arm, which was supposed to have been amputated by Ray's death size, was firmly attached to Rodos' body, as if it had been a dream to be in a state earlier.
　If the arm had disappeared, it would have been made from scratch, but this time, the actual thing was left, so it must have been collusion.

"It's -- it's amazing,"

　a muttering ray
　Of course, even Ray knew that getting off this stage would heal his injuries…it would have been less accurate.
　But fortunately or unfortunately, Ray has never suffered a limb amputating wound in this competition. Therefore, it was the first time I had seen such a solid loss of injury.
　There have been numerous attacks that break the opponent's bones, but there are also reasons why it is difficult to see the effects of the treatment from the side.

"Yes, that's why this competition is so fierce, yet there are very few deaths. It's the cornerstone of this competition."

　The referee who hears Ray's words answers proudly.
　Ray suddenly thought that there was no reason for you to be arrogant, but since he was able to use the inheritance that had this much effect, I think it's natural to brag about it.

"Well, that's great. The pain is gone at all."

　Rodos also muttered, clasping his left hand, which was supposed to have been amputated.
　Rodos has also injured his opponents, and at the same time he has injured himself, having won so far in the competition.
　However, there are still many scratches and minor cuts, and I think it's because I've had my elbow cut, but I've never done it.

"Well, I'm glad you're safe. I don't know what Elk or Min would say if you were injured."

　Ray says to Rodos, exhaling relief.
　Rodos nodded again and smiled bitterly at the words... so he must have seen Ray's face again and remembered that he had lost.
　No, I knew you had lost, but was your consciousness focused on that because of the amputation of your left arm?
　As soon as Rodos realized that his left arm had returned to normal, he realized that he had lost to Ray.
　A fairly high-end portion of Rodos' own money. Despite using what could be described as the last resort, Ray overwhelmed himself without using any offensive methods other than the counter.
　an indescribable defeat

(I...lost? You mean I couldn't give a shot back?)

　He mutters in his heart, realizes what it means, and immediately a feeling of emptiness wells up in his heart.

(What beats Ray...?)I'll show my strength to Mr. Vihela. I lost because I couldn't even get Ray to take it so easily...)

　The more I think about it, the more I hate Rodos through his lack of power and misery.
　For Ray, Rodos, who had been speaking normally, suddenly began to feel depressed. As expected, I feel anxious and reach out to that shoulder.

"Hey, Rodos,"

　Then Ray's hand touched Rodos' shoulder, the moment.

"Don't touch me!"

　It echoes around... with a sharp voice that echoes through the stands, Rodos plays Ray's hand, touching his shoulder.
　The almost reflexive act caused a high-pitched sound to ring around.

"... Rodos?"

　Why did you suddenly behave like this? Until just a few minutes ago we were talking as usual, partly because the game was over.
　As long as he didn't know what was inside him, Ray's next move was nothing but cruelty to Rodos.

"Well, don't worry. It's not like you're at your limit. It will be stronger from now on."

　an opponent who overthrew oneself And the person your first love is thinking about.
　How humiliating and pathetic it is for Rodos to be able to offer words of comfort to such a person.
　So it would have been no use if Rodos had a murderous stare at Ray.

"... don't... don'
"Rodos?"
"Don't be silly!"

　With the cry he thrusts the point of his long sword into Ray.
　The carnage that is unleashed is not directed at acquaintances, if not at all.
　Ray hesitated for a moment about what was going on, but as long as he was trying to kill me, I couldn't keep quiet...

"That's it!"

　That's what I hear at that moment.
　I turned my eyes to the voice, and it was the referee.
　The umpire looks sharply at Ray and Rodos.

"Trouble between players during a competition is a factor in disqualification. I think that's what I was taught when I participated in the competition, but that's the same rule as those of you who participated in the competition on the recommendation of some high-ranking person."
『……』

　At the referee's word, Rodos and Ray drop their weapons, which had been staring at each other silently.
　Still, the tense atmosphere that still exists between the two of us never abates.
　It's dangerous at this rate. The referee who judges so speaks.

"That's the end of the game anyway. There's another match to be played, so you two must get away from here."

　The referee's words finally cast a murderous glance at Ray and leave.
　Ray, who saw it off, turned his head in a different direction from Rodos, saying there was no point in staying here any longer.
　The referee, watching the situation, breathes a sigh of relief in his heart without expression.
　I had such a murderous conversation off the stage, let alone on stage. If a battle were to break out here, there was no doubt that the outcome would be horrific in many ways.
　I didn't think it would have been better if I were on stage at least, but from what I heard earlier, I think that the reason was probably because of the communication after the battle.
　Also, the referee wasn't the only one who was frightened by the interaction between Rodos and Ray. The same was true of the spectators in the stands.
　And Elk and Min, who were watching the game in the honorable seats, could not have been more frightened.
　But... on the contrary, there are some people who smile in sympathy when they see what we're talking about.

"He... has mixed feelings of resentment and admiration for crimson, hatred and friendship. Moreover, the balance was just right, but in this game, the balance shifted greatly to the negative. I think I can use it very well as a piece of hand.""Really? Well, I don't deny that I'm going to pull you in. Is it of service to His Highness Kabazeed by bringing in that much of a fellow?"

　As two men exchange words, one man says questionably.
　However, the first man to open his mouth nodded and affirmed, as if to take it for granted.

"I'll stand up,"
"...with that level of strength? It looks like he only has the ability to be ranked?"
"He's as good as Rank C, to be sure. That's true, but you've got a strange misunderstanding. In the first place, Rank C is positioned as a strong man in the world, and... it's not really a pure force to be it. the axe of the god of thunder I know them so well that I can't use them any more when I'm against them."
"Why, it's not pure fighting power. I don't care if that's the case with me."

　A man whose interest in Rodos disappears as if a child were throwing a lost toy.
　As he said, the other man can only smile bitterly.
　This man is pure in a way. It could be said that he had grown up pure. That was a little difficult to deal with, but he was still a comfortable companion to the man.

"Here we go," Anyway, now I'll get your Highness to talk about that man, Rodos, and I'll move."
"Well... well, if you say you're going to move, I'm going to move naturally, too. If possible, I'd like to fight against that crimson."

　Ray showed no real strength in the battle with Rodos.
　He must have been interested in his ability. But... the man pats his partner on the head.

"Calm down! If you fight, the stadium will collapse. Besides, I understand your strength and trust you, but your crimson strength is also outstanding. At least we won't have a chance to fight now."
"Well... can't you just give me a second?"
"I can't do it said he.
"...really?"

　No wonder. He almost told me that, but I can't stand to open my mouth when I see the color of his partner's eyes.
　It's like putting the finest meat in front of a carnivore... that kind of expectant glance.
　If I were to say something thoughtless here, I could go to crimson at any moment to confirm it.
　Fortunately, however, the man had a magic word to calm his partner down at once.
　Too much use is ineffective, but now they say the word, judging that it should be used.

"Your Highness Kabazeed will scold you if you speak ill of me here,"

　The effect of the word from a man's mouth could never have been more effective.
　The way he was about to go down the crimson has completely changed.

"Yes, I know," I don't run like that without thinking. Don't breathe strange things into your Highness, eh?"
"Well, if you listen to me quietly, you won't have to worry about it."
"...hmmm."

　I snort myself into a chair, perhaps because I was offended by the remark.
　The man breathes a sigh of relief when he realizes that he has apparently given up.

(First of all, I've got to get in touch with Rodos.) You can't be completely off guard against the aristocracy of other factions or the Emperor. Also, the third prince's faction... needs to prepare more military power than it is now.

　He secretly thought of what to do, thought of the order in which he would advise his lord which task to do, and complained that he was going to be busy, but his expression was undoubtedly happy.





"Why did it happen all of a sudden?"

　In the waiting room, Ray mutters involuntarily, remembering his interaction with Rodos after the game.
　There is no one in the waiting room but Ray.
　I'm glad that I'm here alone, thinking that if I progress to the third round of the main game, I'll be assigned one waiting room for each player.
　Ray doesn't understand why Rodos was so murderous, so he feels something unpleasant about him.
　It was because I knew that if someone got involved in this situation, I would take it easy.

"Well, let's leave Rodos to Elk. If Min's neighborhood comes out, it could be done in no time."

　For some reason, Rodos had a strong -- excessive -- affection for his parents, so he thought it would do something about him.
　In fact, I thought it would be easy to solve if I remembered the time I had spent with Rodos.
　At the very least, Ray was convinced.
　It is evident by Rodos' failure to return to the long-held empty house that night.