The tournament day.
The people walking on the stone paved road are gazing at me with smiles.
It's ticklish.
"What's wrong, Celica."
"You.... I'm just not used to it."
Celica laughs like a blooming flower and then she embraces my arm tightly. I can feel her slender body line.
"It's fine isn't it. Fufu."
We arrived at the arena.
"Then I'm going."
"You too Celica, watch your surroundings. Do it as planned okay."
Celica obediently nodded even though her shapely brows furrowed. Her blond hair is glittering from the morning light.
A middle-aged man who seems to be an official approaches me immediately.
"Has my opponent come?"
"Hou, is that right."
--<
"Perfectly."
"Then I'm going. Kukuku, I'll humiliate that bastard in front of the audience...."
Defeating him will be worth it.
I laughed and followed after the official in the narrow stone passage.
There's some chairs, table and bed inside.
"Is that so. Please guide me."
I followed after the official.
It's the elliptical arena stage with soil ground. Me and my opponent are situated furthers apart from each other.
Gaff with his filthy hairy face came walking slowly.
The host shouts like his throat's split.
The starting gong resounded.
I walk ahead while pulling my Tachi. The sleeves of my Wakufu are fluttering.
The great sword glitters reflecting the morning sun.
--------------------
Name: Gaff
Age: 30
Job: Bandit Head
Element: 【Fire】
【Equipment】
Armor: Chimera Scale Armor 【Robbery and Murder Item】: Agility improvement Weightless Floating
【Skill】
Mow Down: Horizontal slash with two-handed sword
Press Down: Jump to the sky, driving down a powerful blow with your whole weight put on it
Accumulated Slash: Accumulate power and slash. Pulverize opponent. Double power.
Blaze Dancing: Cause chain explosions with an attack. The opponent will run about like they're dancing
Looks like he's not all words, he's mastered the higher skills of warrior class.
Since Gaff has come closer, I speak to him.
"Y-You....!"
A horizontal slash.
He takes a big step while chasing me.
The great sword was lifted diagonally to the left, and then slashed down.
Must be 【Storm Press】. Did he train to be able to use it diagonally.
I slant my Tachi and lightly flush away the powerful slash. The ground is gouged with the blast.
Gaff's face crumples with anger.
He's swinging the great sword continuously. Fwoosh, swoosh, cutting the wind.
Gaff is already sweating and gasping for breath.
"What, was that all your power. Hm? Hmm?"
Then he jumps in the sky while gritting his teeth.
Jumping thrice the height of a man, blocking the sun.
A powerful blow!
I take a back step to evade and tilt my Tachi to act as a shield.
The stage's stone pavement cracked, raising cloud of dust. I block the flying splinters with the side of my Tachi. Clank, clink, lightly repelling them away.
Gaff is stiffened with his sword below.
I didn't miss that chance.
"There."
"Gwa!"
"Hee, looks like even a fool has nerves on their shoulder."
"Anything else you can do? None of your skills came through right?"
Gaff looks awfully hurt from my words.
Gaff's warped face that looked like it was going to cry suddenly brightened.
--Hmph. Looks like he wants to talk to me about something.
I slowly swing my Tachi matching his sword.
Our swords hit each others.
He puts his face close to mine while we're locking swords.
I move only my eyes and see it.
One of Gaff's underlings is standing behind Celica in the audience seats.
"Give yourself up if you value the woman's life. I'll let you go with your life.... We're gonna thoroughly enjoy the woman later tho'!"
I laugh with a composed face.
"Aa?"
"Keika-sama! Please don't mind me, I beg of you please win!"
A sound like meat getting bitten resounded under the blue sky.
The underling behind her shouts.
The underling was panicking.
Her blond hair spread out like a fan.
I grin and laugh.
Gaff changes his countenance in surprise.
"Ah, right. I won't forgive you for causing this situation."
"Hmph, that's not quite right-- I'm a God."
Gaff falls on his backside in the rising cloud of dust.
I speak while looking down on Gaff like giving a sentence from God.
"W-what! I didn't do anythin'!"
"Hou. Then let me count your sins. --first, yesterday, you attacked an old man baker, stole his money and gravely injured him."
Gaff's surprised voice is met with the audience's rage.
I turn into the judge of the afterlife and sentence more of his sins.
"""EEEEH!"""
"So it was his doing", "They said the bandits killed the people who were pleading for their life while laughing", "Didn't know he was a bandit."
"What're you saying! He can't prove his words!"
My sentence is not over yet.
"Kuh....Dammiiiit....!"
The audience rustles.
They began to speak those words.
"You've killed more than 100 people who were not resisting. Even if the king pardons you, God won't."
Gaff groaned with white bubbles coming out of his mouth.
However, the atmosphere in the arena has turned completely on my side.
Even no mercy call has begun.
"I didn't want to use this.... But you alone, I'm not gonna let you live."
"Bark all you want! --This is the eeeend!"
It's a mask that emits ominous aura.
He smiles like a madman and then puts on that cursed mask.
Shaken by the strong wind, the audience screams.
"That guy went and put on a cursed mask!"
The audience are trying to run away.
Gaff pushes his hand toward the spectator seats.
Intense black wind rages.
"No way!", "Someone, help!", "NOO!", "I don't wanna die!"
Looks like he's pleased with the screams, Gaff walks toward me while his big body convulses.
His attribute values have certainly multiplied by more than 1000.
"Go on and try it."
Gaff swings his great sword while shouting dirtily.
--【Storm Press】 huh.
I stand and smile like it's nothing. I'm not even trying to evade the swinging sword.
BAM--!
A dull sound resounded in the arena.
However, I'm standing calmly. Not even spilling a shed of blood.
"W-why! How could you stood this power--!"
"Wha---! Whaat--! Y-you, just who are youuu--!"
I raise my Tachi overhead. Reflecting the sunlight in glimmer.
"You didn't know? I said it just now didn't I? --I am....a God!"
I swing down the Tachi in one go! A trail of light surpassing speed of sound!
ZUZAAN!!
Straight line from Gaff's head to his groin!
My Tachi is sunk in the ground.
Swoosh~, a light breeze blows.
The cursed mask falls from his face. It hit the floor twice and broke.
"Nge....nga...."
Then his fallen body splits apart.
After a moment, UOOOOO! The arena shook like it was broken.
"You did it!", "You're the true hero!", "Keika-sama~, look at me~!", "Keika-sama, hold me!"
"The winner of the first match, Keika! The loser is this filth, Gaff! Give a grand applause to the future hero!"
During that, Celica stood up with her blond hair loose.
And then she took out a ruptured pouch and a hard meat from her mouth.
"That man is the bandit's friend!"
The bandit ran away.
"That guy was together with Gaff!", "Catch him!"
The bandit drew his sword and swung it randomly.
An arrow was stuck in the bandit's chest.
"You bastard Maji....! You traito...r"
Majiria wearing robe with a bow in his hand is standing at the top of the topmost seat.
"There's one over there!", "He ran away!"
Well he's accomplished the job of handing the mask to Gaff anyway, after that it's whatever.
I greatly nod at Celica while walking back to the entrance. Praising her, you've done well.
She waves her hand happily while looking bashful.