Chapter 120: Black Knight and Pet
“It’s been getting dangerous lately, hasn’t it?”
While we were eating at the inn, Liliera muttered such a thing.
“Did something happen?”
“Yes, I was attacked by thieves on my way back from the match earlier.”
“Ehh!? Are you okay!?”
Being attacked by thieves in the middle of town, isn’t that serious!?
“If I wasn’t okay, I wouldn’t be here.”
Liliera smiled wryly as if asking what I was saying.
Yes, that’s true.
Since Liliera is here, it’s natural that she’s safe.
“Ah, we were attacked too. Surrounded all of a sudden.”
“Jairo and the others too!?”
“Well, with our skills, thieves are a piece of cake!”
In other words, Jairo and the others also repelled them safely.
“I handed the thieves who attacked me over to the guards, but if you guys were attacked too, I wonder if a fairly large band of thieves has entered?”
“Or maybe multiple thieves came targeting people getting carried away by the tournament.”
“But if that were the case, wouldn’t pickpocketing increase more than robbery? If they commit robbery on such a grand scale, the guards will start hunting thieves in earnest, you know?”
“Ah, that’s true too.”
Norb deduced that thieves might have come targeting guests who came to see the ritual, but Mina denied it saying it was strange for that.
“Probably, they targeted the participants of the ritual.”
“Us? Why?”
There, Meguri muttered that maybe the thieves targeted us contestants.
“I think the people in the shadows are betting using the ritual participants. So I think some of them might be attacking other contestants to make the contestant they want to win win.”
“I see.”
We were impressed by Meguri‘s reasonable deduction.
Certainly, there were many such match-fixing incidents in my previous life too.
“Since we are outsiders, just in the Dragon Princess Rite, we can be called nuisances who invite upsets enough.”
“Good thing we handed them over to the guards quickly.”
Yeah, interfering with a serious match for such a reason is unforgivable.
“Umm… but isn’t that the work of the anti-Dragon Emperor faction aiming for His Majesty the Dragon Emperor?”
Ryune spoke anxiously.
“Ah, the nobles that the Dragon Emperor faction person mentioned.”
A gathering of nobles who want to kill the Dragon Emperor and rule the country as before because they’d be troubled if the Dragon Emperor revived and they couldn’t do whatever they liked anymore.
“Hmm, but if they were such dangerous people, wouldn’t they send more powerful assassins? I don’t think they’d send half-baked assassins who can be easily repelled.”
Yes, in my previous and the one before that lives too, the assassins sent by nobles were often troublesome.
Rather, they wouldn’t rely poorly on numbers, but would attack with a select few of exceptional skill.
Half-baked assassins would conversely be a hindrance.
In fact, I used such assassins well to repel them.
“That’s true, we could turn the tables lightly, so they didn’t look like dangerous assassins sent by nobles.”
“I think they were just people doing normal underworld jobs.”
“Even I could fight them with an advantage.”
“Well, no matter what enemy comes, it’s an easy win if I handle it!”
Yeah, everyone is reliable.
“I-Is that so…”
Ryune seemed convinced while tilting her head, wondering if that’s how it is.
Well, she trained to fight dragons, so she probably has little experience fighting ordinary thieves or assassins.
The ability of real assassins who received specialized training is troublesome beyond comparison to thieves.
“By the way, wasn’t Master Rex attacked?”
Ryune asked as if she remembered.
“Yeah, to keep it secret that I’m staying at this inn, I used invisibility magic immediately after the match and came back. Luckily, I avoided being attacked by thieves.”
“I see, as expected of Master Rex! If your figure isn’t visible, thieves can’t attack either!”
“Well, I can be discovered by opponents using high-level search magic, so I can’t let my guard down, though.”
“Ah, maybe you don’t need to worry about that?”
Anyway, it’s good that everyone came back safely.
But I understand Ryune‘s worry well.
Considering the future, it seems better to take countermeasures against assassins.
◆
“Now then, I guess I’ll go energetically today too.”
Today too, I put on the disguise armor to participate in the Dragon Emperor Rite.
“I got a little late preparing countermeasures against assassins. I have to go to the match venue quickly.”
Hiding my identity with armor every time is troublesome, but it’s a necessary effort to avoid standing out in a tournament nobles come to see.
Fortunately, the Adventurer’s Guild Master promised to use the Adventurer’s Guild’s confidentiality obligation to keep my identity secret as long as I participate in the match.
Thanks to that, I can enjoy the tournament comfortably.
“But as expected, since it’s the first tournament held, recognition is low, so high-level adventurers don’t seem to be coming.”
The Guild Master regretted that high-level adventurers are busy fighting in dangerous unexplored regions, ancient ruins, and powerful monsters, so it’s difficult for them to participate even if the holding of the tournament is suddenly announced.
“The only S-rank adventurers I met were Lisou and the other three, but I’d like to meet S-rank adventurers from other countries too.”
I hope I can meet them someday.
Perhaps because this tournament was held hurriedly, the number of professional adventurers was small, and instead, there were many general participants who prepared equipment.
Probably they came from neighboring towns and villages.
Despite the short recruitment period, everyone gathered equipment well.
Some people prepared equipment that seemed custom-made, and since this area is close to dragon territory, neighboring residents probably gather weapons and armor to buy time until the Knight Order rushes in just in case.
“Oops, I have to go soon.”
If I keep thinking, I’ll be late.
“Kyuu kyuu!”
It was just when I thought about going out.
Fluffy was clinging to my feet.
“What’s wrong, Fluffy?”
I gave him food just now, so maybe pee?
“Kyuu!”
Fluffy chirped once and smoothly climbed up the armor to my shoulder.
“Could it be, you want to come along?”
“Kyu!”
Fluffy chirps as if saying exactly that.
“No good. If I take Fluffy, my identity will be revealed.”
Since I usually walk around with Fluffy without disguise, if I take him as is, the meaning of disguise will be lost.
“Gyuu!”
When I tried to put down Fluffy who got on my shoulder, Fluffy desperately clung to the shoulder armor.
“Gyu kyuuu!”
Being pulled, his face is becoming a bit funny, but Fluffy seems desperate and doesn’t care about that.
“Even so, this is troublesome.”
If I peel him off forcibly, I might injure Fluffy…
Besides, leaving Fluffy alone during the tournament is a bit pitiful.
“Can’t be helped. Wait a bit.”
Time is tight, but if I hurry, maybe I’ll make it.
◆Norb ◆
“Rex is late.”
The next match is for a contestant named Tyran, but actually, it’s Rex‘s match in disguise.
However, although the opponent is already here, Rex hasn’t come yet.
“Is it some trouble?”
Since it’s Rex, I don’t think I need to worry about his safety, but the fact that Rex is late makes me a little worried that some outrageous trouble might have occurred.
“Yeah, that guy Tyran was pretty strong even in the qualifiers, I hope Big Bro makes it before the match starts.”
Jairo also seems curious about contestant Tyran‘s fight…
“Wait, eh?”
“In my estimation, that Tyran guy is considerably strong. So I definitely want to watch his fighting style with Big Bro and plan countermeasures together.”
“…”
A-Are? Could it be Jairo hasn’t realized Tyran‘s true identity is Rex?
“Big Bro aside, Tyran aside, this tournament is full of amazing guys!”
…Yeah, well, if Jairo is having fun, that’s fine… right?
“E-Even so, contestant Tyran is late. At this rate, he might be disqualified.”
In fact, the referee on the arena stage is looking around restlessly since Rex isn’t coming.
At this rate, you really will be disqualified, Rex.
“Tyran isn’t coming, could it be he was set up by Golmar?”
“If it’s Golmar, it’s possible.”
Nearby spectators are having an ominous conversation about the contestant on the arena stage.
“Hey you guys, is that Golmar guy dangerous?”
Jairo asks casually what I was wondering.
This fearlessness is amazing.
“Yeah, his name is Golmar. A man of the underworld whose turf is this town.”
Contestant Golmar, whom the spectator indicated with his gaze, certainly wore a shady atmosphere.
“He’s good at rough stuff, but more than that, he’s a man who likes dirty tricks. People who opposed him were attacked by unnatural troubles and met with terrible fates.”
“That is… I wouldn’t want to get along with him much.”
Yes, as these people say, he must be a dangerous person.
Perhaps the attackers who attacked us were moving on Golmar‘s orders.
However, hearing that explanation, I became convinced that contestant Tyran wasn’t late due to Golmar‘s interference.
Yes, undoubtedly another reason.
However, late is late.
Perhaps judging he couldn’t wait any longer, the referee stood in the center of the arena stage.
Ah, he didn’t make it…
“Since contestant Tyran did not arrive by the time, this match…”
It was at that moment. Suddenly something jumped down onto the arena stage from the sky.
“Wh-What… !?”
What appeared was a warrior in black armor, yes, Rex… no, contestant Tyran.
“Finally showed up!”
Seeing that figure, Jairo shouts happily.
Really, just in the nick of time, Rex.
“Ah… Since contestant Tyran made it in time, the second match will now begin. Contestant Tyran, please come to the venue with more time to spare in the future.”
Warned by the referee, contestant Tyran, disguised as Rex, bowed lightly in apology.
And contestant Tyran turns his gaze to the round object on his shoulder… wait, what is that?
For armor, it obstructs vision and looks annoying, and above all, it’s only on one side.
“A black metal… ball?”
While I tilted my head wondering what on earth it was, suddenly that object started moving.
It wriggled on contestant Tyran‘s shoulder, then went down along his body… ah, it fell.
The ball rolls as is and almost falls off the stage.
“!!”
Panicking, contestant Tyran catches the ball and gently places it on the ground.
“Kyu!”
Just when I thought I heard a cry I remembered hearing somewhere from the ball, short four legs grew from the gaps, and it toddled away from the arena stage.
“Could that be…”
“Kyu kyuu!”
The black ball jumps as if cheering for its master, contestant Tyran.
Yes, the cry is definitely…
“What is that, cute!”
“Is that person’s pet?”
“It’s cheering for its master!”
The interest of the surrounding spectators was poured onto the ball contestant Tyran brought.
“Matching outfits, kinda cute!”
“With black armor, he had a bit of an intimidating air, but maybe he surprisingly likes animals?”
Ah, I see. Indeed, that ball can be said to be the same as contestant Tyran in color and decoration.
The spectators who were kept waiting were completely glued to the charmingly moving black ball.
“A-Ah! Silence! Then, the second match, contestant Golmar vs. contestant Tyran, BEGIN! Both advance!”
The venue becomes quiet at the referee’s voice, and contestants Golmar and Tyran stand in the center of the arena stage.
Contestant Golmar readies a pair of daggers, and contestant Tyran readies a black, broad broadsword.
“Keh, trying to curry favor with the audience with a weird pet. But in a match, a pet won’t help you.”
“…”
To contestant Golmar‘s provocation, contestant Tyran responds with silence.
“Anyway, what is that ball-like armor? Is there a pig or something inside? Shouldn’t you exercise it a bit?”
“Gyu!”
It was at that moment. The black ball took a run-up and went up to the match venue.
And stood blocking in front of contestant Golmar… did it?
“Aah? What is it, roundy?”
“Gyuuu!”
“Hah, could it be you’re angry about being made fun of?”
“Gyu!”
It seems the black ball is angry about being badmouthed by contestant Golmar.
“Heh, you’re in the way. Get lost, blacky!”
Just as contestant Golmar raised his leg high, he kicked the black ball with all his might using momentum.
“Kyuu!?”
“Kyaa!?”
“Cruel!”
Surrounding spectators criticize contestant Golmar who kicked the black ball away.
“Hyahahahaha! It was so light I didn’t feel like I kicked anything! Did it fly outside the town!?”
Laughing gleefully, contestant Golmar turns back to contestant Tyran.
“Hey owner, shouldn’t you go pick it up quickly? At this rate, your precious pet will be eaten by monsters.”
Despite kicking it away himself, contestant Golmar speaks words showing not a fragment of remorse.
However, in response to that, contestant Tyran showed no sign of taking contestant Golmar‘s provocation or going to help the kicked black ball.
“Hey, hey, abandoning your pet to die? What a cruel master.”
“…”
However, contestant Tyran still didn’t take contestant Golmar‘s provocation and just pointed at his feet.
“What? Is something wrong with my feet… huh?”
The moment he said that and looked at his feet, contestant Golmar‘s smile froze.
“Wh-!? Y-You, why!?”
Yes, there was the black ball that contestant Golmar should have kicked away just now.
“Kyuu.”
“!?”
Hearing the black ball’s cry, contestant Golmar came to his senses and jumped back in panic.
“What does this mean!? I definitely kicked it with all my might!?”
“Kyu.”
The black ball cries once and slowly approaches contestant Golmar.
“……”
The spectators who were cursing contestant Golmar until just now seem unable to speak due to confusion at this situation.
“Kuh, I’ll blow you away again!!”
The moment contestant Golmar raised his leg to kick the black ball away again.
“Gyu!”
The black ball suddenly leaped at contestant Golmar as if bursting.
“Guh!?”
Receiving a splendid blow to the solar plexus, contestant Golmar‘s body floats in the air.
But that wasn’t the end.
“Gyu gyuu!”
The black ball rotated its body half a turn and kicked contestant Golmar up with its short legs, making his body float further into the air.
Kick, float, kick, float, kick, float.
Contestant Golmar‘s body floats up dancing in the air without falling to the ground.
“Kyuuuu!!”
And when contestant Golmar‘s body rose higher than a house roof, the black ball jumped even higher and kicked contestant Golmar‘s body down to the ground with a lightning-like kick.
And when the dust settled, there was the figure of contestant Golmar fainted embedded in the stone floor of the arena stage, and the black ball standing on him breathing heavily while maintaining a kick pose.
“……”
The spectators also have no words for the unexpected development.
“Gyu fuu…”
And inhaling deeply, the black ball jumped off contestant Golmar‘s body and returned to contestant Tyran.
“Hah!?”
Seeing that scene, the stir of the spectators who finally came to their senses envelops the match venue.
“…H-Hey, that bastard Golmar got beaten, but what do we do about this?”
“Is it Tyran‘s win?”
“No, the one who fought was the pet, right?”
“What do we do?”
Not just the spectators, but the referees are also confused about what to do.
It was at that time. Contestant Tyran holds his hand over contestant Golmar.
“Distant High Heal.”
Unlike that person I know, a heavy and calm voice echoed, and a gentle light wrapped contestant Golmar‘s body.
“What? Golmar is glowing!?”
The light healed contestant Golmar‘s wounds in the blink of an eye.
“Ooh!? Golmar‘s wounds are healed!?”
“Did Tyran do it!?”
“Thought he was a warrior, can he use recovery magic too!?”
“There was no sign of chanting a spell!?”
“I didn’t even feel the flow of magic power, how did he activate magic!?”
Not just the spectators, but the contestants also raise voices of surprise at the recovery magic contestant Tyran used.
Really, seeing that person’s magic for the first time surprises people precisely because they know a little about magic.
“U… ugh.”
And contestant Golmar, whose wounds healed, woke up with a light groan.
“Wh-What on earth happened to me…?”
Perhaps his memory is confused, contestant Golmar doesn’t seem to remember why he lost consciousness.
Well, it can’t be helped if he can’t remember.
Maybe his instincts don’t want to remember.
And before such contestant Golmar, the black ball came again.
“Kyu.”
And raising a front paw as if greeting, it cries once.
“…”
Seeing the black ball, contestant Golmar‘s movement stops.
“………!”
And sweating grease from all over his body, his face turned pale and he started trembling.
“Gyuun?”
Pon.
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”
The moment he was touched by the black ball, contestant Golmar stood up as if flicked, and ran out of the match venue rolling while screaming.
“W-Wait, contestant Golmar!”
The referees call to stop contestant Golmar, but dominated by fear, he ignored the referees’ restraining voices and ran out.
And the remaining referees, confused about what to do now that contestant Golmar is gone, start consulting.
“Since contestant Tyran‘s pet was the cause, shouldn’t we disqualify contestant Tyran?”
“No, that was caused by contestant Golmar insulting contestant Tyran‘s pet. In the first place, he was the one who struck first.”
“Either way, if he loses to a pet, there’s no meaning in letting him continue the match.”
“No, that doesn’t look like a normal pet no matter how you look at it…”
“Well…”
And after a while, seemingly reaching a conclusion, one of the referees comes to the center of the arena stage.
“We consider the second match as contestant Golmar‘s forfeit, and declare contestant Tyran the winner!”
Well, since the opponent ran away, restarting seems impossible, so it’s a reasonable conclusion.
“Ah-ah, in the end, we couldn’t see that black bastard’s fight.”
“Ah, that’s unfortunate.”
“But that black round thing is strong too.”
In the end, Jairo remained unaware of contestant Tyran‘s true identity.
Even though such an easy-to-understand pet came along…
◆
Hmm, why did it turn out like this…
Fluffy insisted on coming along, so I was improvising armor for Fluffy so his identity wouldn’t be revealed, and I almost got disqualified.
But then the opponent started a fight with Fluffy and got beaten up by Fluffy.
I hurriedly treated him, but for some reason, contestant Golmar ran out.
Really, what on earth happened?
Besides… why was that person defeated one-sidedly by Fluffy?
Even though he went out of his way to pick a fight with Fluffy.
…Hah!? Could it be that person was actually a huge animal lover!?
Is that why he couldn’t even counterattack against Fluffy!?
The first attack on Fluffy didn’t look serious at all, so surely he tried to drive him away by pretending to be scary so Fluffy wouldn’t get hurt in the aftermath of our fight.
In fact, there’s no way the armor I put on Fluffy would break with a kick of that level.
It was just bad that Fluffy, thinking he could play, frolicked and played around.
Surely thinking he would involve Fluffy at this rate, he forfeited the match.
There was an acquaintance in my previous life who looked super scary but was an incomparable animal lover, and his behavior somehow resembled that person’s, so that must be it.
Hmm, even so, I did something really bad.
That person was worrying about Fluffy incessantly.
Next time we meet, I’ll let him fluff Fluffy to his heart’s content as an apology.
Yeah, that’s right, that’s good!
With that decided, since the match is over, let’s take Fluffy and go find contestant Golmar right away.
Umm, Fluffy is…
I search for Fluffy who was there until just now.
Then…
“Kyu kyuu!”
“Cute!”
“Here, here, eat this too.”
“Kyu!”
“You were strong!”
“Kyu!”
“I feel refreshed that you blew that bastard away! Here, eat this too!”
“Kyuuu!”
Fluffy was overjoyed receiving food from excited spectators.
I see, he wanted to come along for that.
Good grief, calculating as always.
“Using legs sticking out of the armor to desperately grab food is cute!”
“Kyu kyu!”
Absorbed in eating the received food, Fluffy rolled over due to the roundness of the armor.
His usual form is round too, but since that’s fur, he contacts the ground with better balance than he looks.
But since that armor is round, if he uses his limbs to grab food, he rolls easily.
This is a structural defect.
“Oh my, cute!”
But it seems popular with the customers.
However, I can’t leave him alone forever.
Holding Fluffy who is absorbed in food, I headed to search for Mr. Golmar who left the venue.
Mokyu mokyu
Good grief, he’s still eating.
Mr. Golmar was worried too; maybe I should put him on a diet soon?
