Aizawa Daisuke Read online

  reached Alexia’s ears. Though her nature is suspicious as ever, but her information is

  sure. She has also supplied various information related to rumors regarding the Order

  of Diabolos.

  “It seems that Oriana Kingdom wishes to treat it as an Orianan problem. They requested

  Midgar Kingdom to not get involved.” (Natsume)

  “That sounds suspicious.” (Alexia)

  “It does indeed. She can be tried under Midgarian law, but then that would affect the

  relationship between the two countries. Midgar Kingdom will most likely acquiesce.”

  (Natsume)

  “Well, it’s my father we’re talking about. I’m sure he’s decided on wait-and-see.” (Alexia)

  Alexia recalls the face of her peace-at-any-price father, then clicks her tongue once

  more.

  “Rose-sama’s fiance is Doem Ketsuhat, second son of a duke family of Oriana Kingdom.

  Once she’s caught, she will probably be punished heavily.” (Natsume)

  (T/N: ‘Do M’ = ‘super masochist’, and I think ‘ketsuhat’ = ‘asshat’. Anyone got a better

  read? Here’s the original for your reference: ドエム・ケツハット )

  “She’s a royalty, so execution is definitely off the table, but probably imprisonment or

  exile… But for now, let’s the two of us find Rose-senpai first before Oriana Kingdom

  does, and hear her out.” (Alexia)

  “Wait a moment. Rose-sama did not tell us anything in regards to this case. I believe

  that we should avoid causing any international problems with our intervention.”

  (Natsume)

  “So, what?” (Alexia)

  Alexia’s eyes are focused on Natsume.

  “I’m just saying that we should refrain from any actions that might possibly lead to

  problems.” (Natsume)

  “So you’re saying that we should abandon her?” (Alexia)

  “I did not say that. But we should think carefully before we act.” (Natsume)

  “So you’re saying that I don’t think before I act?” (Alexia)

  “I did not say that. But we should spend a bit more time thinking things through.”

  (Natsume)

  “So you’re saying that I’m an idiot?” (Alexia)

  “I did not say that. People all have their own strengths and weaknesses.” (Natsume)

  “If you have something to say about me, then how about just coming straight out with

  it?” (Alexia)

  “How could I be so presumptuous…” (Natsume)

  Natsume hugs her shoulders while her eyes shake from anxiety.

  Alexia walks forward with crisp steps, then grabs Natsume by her collar. Natsume’s

  revealed cleavage jiggles with an almost audible ‘ poyoyon’ sfx.

  “Don’t you go acting all innocent and harmless with me.” (Alexia)

  Alexia glares at her at zero distance.

  “Hiii, d-, don’t kill meee…!” (Natsume)

  Natsume struggles to get free, which causes her chest to jiggle with even more ‘ poyoyon’

  than before. Alexia notices a mole on one of those lumps, which for some reason pisses

  her off excessively.

  “As I keep saying, every single one of your reactions seem fake!” (Alexia)

  “Fueee…” (Natsume)

  “I am so going to kill you.” (Alexia)

  “Hawawa…” (Natsume)

  Seeing Natsume looking up with teary eyes, Alexia clicks her tongue and lets go.

  Natsume collapses onto the sofa.

  “Rose-senpai surely has her own reasons. I also understand that she doesn’t want to

  drag us into this. But that’s what irritates me.” (Alexia)

  “So…” (Natsume)

  “When I’m told to stop, that only makes me want to do it. When someone tries to not

  involve me in something, that only makes me want to rush into it.” (Alexia)

  “Umm…” (Natsume)

  Natsume looks up at Alexia with a face that’s clearly troubled as to how to respond.

  “We are friends. I don’t know what you’re thinking inside, but at least you’ve also

  decided to act out being friends. Am I correct?” (Alexia)

  “I, guess…” (Natsume)

  “And we cannot abandon friends. Of course, I also will not abandon you. Understood?”

  (Alexia)

  “…Alright.” (Natsume)

  Natsume stands up with her eyes cast down.

  “In that case, then I’ll go gather information about Rose-sama. There also seem to be

  black rumors about her fiance , so I’ll look into that too.” (Natsume)

  “Sounds wonderful. I’ll go speak with my Nee-sama.” (Alexia)

  “Let’s meet again tonight then, to exchange information.” (Natsume)

  “Aren’t you recovering too fast?” (Alexia)

  “So then, see you tonight.” (Natsume)

  “Saying this just in case, but take care.” (Alexia)

  “You too, Alexia-sama.” (Natsume)

  Natsume bows once, then leaves.

  Alexia stares at that back, then sighs heavily.

  “Well, no other choice but to do something about it…” (Alexia)

  After rearranging her slightly disheveled appearance, Alexia also exits the room.

  The weekend has come, and along with it, the start of the preliminaries of the Festival

  of the God of War.

  I am sitting together with Hyoro in the audience seats at the fighting arena, watching

  the matches. The sun is still high in the sky, and spectators are sparse. Well, this is just

  the prelims after all. More like, this number is a pretty good turn out for the prelims.

  Actually, I had fought two matches already last night. Not in the fighting arena, but at

  random grassy locations. Yep, the first and second rounds of prelims are held at the

  grasslands outside of the royal capital. Nobody comes to watch those matches. The

  quality of my opponents was also the worst. I beat both of them by knocking them out

  with a half-hearted lariat. Both victories were entirely joyless.

  Then from the third match onwards, it’s finally the fighting arena! By this point, the

  quality of the matches have finally reached barely acceptable standards. Though few,

  there are at least some spectators, which is also a big improvement. What most people

  refer to when they mention the Festival of the God of War is the tournament proper,

  after all.

  “Oh yea, where’s Jaga?”

  So I ask Hyoro, who appears to be taking notes of some sort.

  “He said that he went home to do some farming.”

  (T/N: The joke here is that Jaga’s last name is ‘Imo,’ so when you put it together his name

  is ‘Jagaimo’ = potato. And he’s farming. Lol.)

  “I see.”

  Hyoro continues to enthusiastically take notes while watching the match. Around his

  neck is the Holy Sword necklace, the souvenir that I had gotten for him at the Holy

  Land. I’m glad that he likes it enough to wear it. But more than that, I have misgivings

  about his sense of taste, to actually like something like that…

  “So, what’re you doing?”

  “I’m gathering battle data. Noobs would bet based merely on their intuition, but I am

  different. I collect data, I apply statistics, and then bet based on probability.”

  “Fu~n.”

  I steal a glance at Hyoro’s memo pad.

  ‘Probably strong’ ‘Probably weak’ ‘No idea’ is what it says.

  “Winning in betting is considered from the cumulative total.”

  So Hyoro says confidently while continuing with his notes.

  “Is that
so.”

  “Noobs bet on one match and call that a win or a loss. But I am different. I do not fixate

  on the results of a single match. I increase the number of trial runs, combine the

  probabilities, and win in units of 10 matches.”

  “Is that so.”

  “For I am a man who wins by totals…”

  “Good on you.”

  I yawn.

  “That’s an interesting conversation you guys are having over there.”

  That moment, a young man appears behind us.

  “Our conversation is interesting?”

  “It is indeed!”

  In response to my question, the blond handsome guy with an almost visible background

  of sparkles smiles with a pose.

  “You, you are…!”

  “You know him, Hyoro?”

  “You are the Undefeatable Myth, Goldoh Kinmekki-san!!”

  (T/N: When read together, his name means ‘gold gilding/plating’.)

  Goldoh-san brushes up his hair in response to Hyoro’s reverent gaze.

  “That nickname is quite embarrassing. By all means, call me Sure-Win Golden Dragon

  Goldoh Kinmekki instead!”

  “Y-, yes for sure! Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh-san!”

  Eh, I prefer ‘Undefeatable Myth’ though.

  “Are you gathering battle data?”

  “Yes I am!”

  “Prospect, you hold. I, too, never forgo the collection of battle data.”

  “I-, is that true?!”

  “Indeed. Always in pursuit of victory… see?”

  “SO COOL! Can you tell me more?!”

  “Yare yare, just a little bit then.”

  I have a feeling that this is going to take quite a while.

  My entry is just about approaching too, so it’s good timing.

  “Gonna go take a shit.”

  “Go already.”

  I change in the toilet, then head towards the participants’ waiting room.

  2

  Hyoro is listening to Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki’s sure-win theory

  with rapt attention.

  “For example, see. Take the next match as an example.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  It just so happens that the participants of the next match are being called into the arena.

  “Round 3, Match 12! Gonzales versus Jimina Sehnen!”

  The two magic swordsman face off.

  “My theory enables me to measure most people’s general strength before it even

  begins. First let’s consider Gonzales. His physical strength can be determined by

  looking at his muscle balance. His eyes and expression give him the aura of a veteran

  who has waded through many a battlefield. At a quick glance, his battle power is

  1,364.”

  “B-, battle power?! What is that!!”

  “After I gather and analyze a fighter’s battle data, I quantify it. Battle power of 1,364 is

  not a bad number.”

  “Awesome!”

  “In contrast, Jimina Sehnen… fumu.”

  Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki stares at Jimina with sharp eyes, falling

  silent.

  “H-, how is he?”

  “No, how could he… But, this is…”

  “G-, Goldoh-sensei?”

  “Sorry about that. I was merely a bit taken back.”

  “Could it be that Jimina is actually that…?!”

  “Indeed, that man… Jimina Sehnen is… an incredibly small fry!”

  “Eh…? Small fry?”

  “No doubt about it! I haven’t the faintest idea how he managed to win his way to the

  third round! Perhaps by a miracle?”

  “He does look kind of weak…”

  “Weak-looking face, weak-looking body, and weak aura! Jimina’s battle power is 33!

  Haha, he’s the bottom of the barrel as a magic swordsman!”

  “Which means that it’ll be Gonzales’ win?”

  “With just one blow, most likely. There’ll be nothing to see in this match.”

  Then the match begins.

  The one who moves first is Gonzales.

  With a speed unbefitting of his large muscular body, he rushes towards Jimina,

  brandishing his sword.

  His movements are a notch above most other participants in this third round. Goldoh’s

  evaluation of him as a veteran of battle seems to be not entirely unbased.

  Jimina does not even react to Gonzales’ attack.

  Every single person is sure of Jimina’s loss.

  But, at that moment.

  Gonzales… trips.

  Right in front of Jimina, Gonzales stumbles and rolls.

  Then in the same movement, his head hits the ground, and he loses consciousness.

  The entire arena falls completely silent. ‘Come on, he’s gonna get up, right?’ is what

  everybody is thinking.

  But Gonzales does not even twitch.

  Jimina sheathes his sword and turns to leave, before the judge finally reacts.

  “W-, winner, Jimina Sehnen!”

  “W-, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!”

  “RETURN MY MONEY TO ME!!”

  Jeering falls like rain upon the unconscious Gonzales.

  Not knowing how to react, Hyoro peers at Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki’s

  face.

  “W-, well, this happens too, every once in a while.”

  So says Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki with a slightly twitching face.

  “Battle data can help us to predict the outcome. However, nothing is ever certain in a

  fight. This was a good lesson, was it not?”

  “D-, don’t tell me, Sensei actually predicted that this would happen…?”

  “Hmph…”

  Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki merely smiles in reply.

  “Let me teach you something good.”

  “Eh…?”

  “There are two ways to win a gamble. The first is to seek out a strong participant, and

  to bet on that participant. The other way is to seek out a weak participant, and to bet

  on the opponent of that participant.”

  Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki stands up and turns his back.

  “Tomorrow’s Round 4, Match 6 will be Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki vs.

  Jimina Sehnen.”

  “Wha-… you mean!”

  Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki turns around, and points at Hyoro.

  “Have you… also figured out the sure-win formula?”

  Then he leaves while brushing up his sparkling blond hair.

  “S-, so cool…!”

  Hyoro sees Sure-Win Golden Dragon Goldoh Kinmekki off with a dazed face.

  “Yo, I’m back from my shit.”

  A black-haired teenage boy returns to his seat.

  “Oi, Sid! Tomorrow there’s a match with guaranteed victory! Bet all your money on it!”

  “Eh, don’t wanna.”

  “Just do it, pretend you were tricked by me!”

  “No thanks.”

  “Tch, forget it then. Don’t come crying to me afterwards!”

  Then the two of them resume watching the matches.

  Round 4 of the Festival of the God of War has begun.

  Annerose is sitting in the front row of the audience seats, waiting for a certain match.

  With her light blue hair being brushed by the wind, her eyes of the same color are

  focused on the arena. The number of spectators has gone up a bit from yesterday, but

  more than half of the seats are still empty.

  “Jou-chan, you also here to see that guy’s match?”

  (T/N: ‘Jou’ or ‘Ojou’ is a relatively neutral way of addressing young ladies or girls. Then

  the suffix ‘-chan’ or ‘-san’ is a reflection of how familiar you purport to b
e to the lady/girl

  OR a reflection of the amount of respect. The former consideration is for someone you

  know, the latter consideration is for complete strangers.)

  Hearing a voice calling out to her, Annerose turns around.

  “As I recall, you are…”

  “Quinton.”

  The Quinton who is like a rough-looking pro wrestler sits heavily into the seat next to

  Annerose’s.

  “You also watched the match yesterday in Round 3, didn’t you?”

  “I did, yes. From your tone, you also…?”

  “I had no intention to, but just happened to see it. Jimina’s Round 3 match, what did

  you think?”

  Quinton sprays his legs forward while asking Annerose.

  “At the very least, I don’t believe that his opponent just happened to trip by himself to

  allow him a lucky win.”

  “Me neither. That guy definitely did something. I couldn’t tell what it was that he did,

  but thought maybe you caught it, Annerose-san of the ‘Seven Swords of Begalta.’”

  Quinton’s insolent gaze is met by Annerose’s sharp eyes.

  But quickly, Annerose turns her face away and crosses her legs. The slit in her skirt

  reveals a glimpse of her white legs.

  “I’ve already discarded that name. Now I am ‘only’ Annerose.”

  “Well sorry then. It’s a bit late, but congratulations on passing the Trial of the Goddess.’”

  “Thanks.”

  “So, could it be that even Jou-chan didn’t catch it? What that guy did?”

  “Y-, yea, I couldn’t catch it either.”

  So answers Annerose with a slight pout.

  “It was beyond my expectations that I would overlook it. It completely caught me off

  guard. However… I thought I saw Jimina-kun’s left hand move.”

  “Hou, his left hand.”

  “But I couldn’t tell what it was that he did with his left hand. The only thing I can say

  is that whatever it was, it was incredibly fast.”

  “Hmph. Then that means my guess was off.”

  Quinton snorts as if he’s lost interest.

  “Guess?”

  “I thought he had used a forbidden artifact or something.”

  “I see… I suppose that possibility also cannot be crossed out.”