Chapter 133: Final Match, Dragon Princess Decided!

◆ Liliera ◆

We step onto the final stage.

“…”

The spectators are also watching with bated breath, as the Dragon Princess will be decided in this fight.

“Finally, the final match…”

“Yeah, with this, the Dragon Princess will be decided in the true sense.”

In the quiet venue, I could even hear such murmurs from the spectators.

“…Or rather, I’m not the Dragon Princess though.”

But the trouble is, ever since I defeated the dragon in the middle of town, the public has completely mistaken me for the Dragon Princess.

Hmm, really, how should I clear up this misunderstanding?

“Liliera.”

There, Ryune speaks to me in a small voice.

“What is it?”

“I want to prove it. That I am worthy as the Dragon Princess‘s successor. So, I will challenge you with all my might… Liliera, please fight seriously too.”

Ryune‘s gaze is seriousness itself.

“…”

I’m stumped, really stumped.

Honestly speaking, it would be better if I lost this fight.

Or rather, if I want to clear the Dragon Princess suspicion, it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s better to lose.

But… the trouble is, losing on purpose also has problems.

I am an adventurer. For an adventurer who lives solely by their own strength, reputation is very important.

Even if it’s intentional, once I lose, that fact remains.

And I will be seen as inferior to that opponent.

Because the people watching don’t know I lost on purpose.

Even more so for those who didn’t watch. Who knows what irresponsible rumors might be spread.

So, even if being mistaken for the Dragon Princess is unwilling, I can’t lose easily.

If I fight a battle that smears mud on the signboard of an A-rank adventurer, that becomes a matter of credibility.

But, while such credibility issues are important…

More than that, there’s also the fact that I don’t want to hold back.

After all, to this girl, I am…

“Both contestants, step forward.”

Receiving the referee’s voice, I stop thinking unnecessary things.

Yeah, the time for thinking ended long ago.

There is only one thing to do from now on.

I step forward and ready my spear.

“…!”

Seeing that, she also steps forward and readies her spear.

Yeah, no need for unnecessary conversation before fighting.

The spear—this is our language.

“Dragon Princess Rite, Final Match! Contestant Liliera vs Contestant Ryune, Match…”

The referee raises the hand holding the flag straight up.

“BEGIN!!”

“HAA!!”

The moment the flag was swung down, Ryune and I jumped forward.

Partly because I activated Body Enhancement Magic, my speed moving forward is faster.

I thrust my spear first.

But Ryune followed my speed with movement without stagnation.

“!?”

The spears collided simultaneously.

Even though I moved first, she matched me completely.

That means Ryune‘s spear handling is superior.

The tips of each other’s spears collide and bounce off.

We immediately pull back the spears and thrust again.

No unnecessary movements. Just thrust straight, pull back, and thrust again.

“…!!”

Fast, fast, fast, I thrust the spear.

Incorporating the shock of collision and bounce into the action of pulling back.

Sparks scatter from the impact.

Before the glittering sparks disappear, new sparks are born, and a bouquet of light is born in the narrow space where spears collide.

“A-Amazing…”

“Beautiful…”

Small murmurs can be heard from the spectator seats, but we didn’t have the leeway to understand their content.

“HAA!!”

Realizing this won’t get us anywhere, we leap back largely after the next thrust.

“…Phew, phew.”

“Haa, haa, haa…”

The spear thrusting exchange, not sword locking, ended, and the venue was wrapped in silence.

“U…”

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! TOO AMAAAAAZIIIIING!!”

As if a dam broke, the spectator seats raise their voices all at once.

“What was that fight just now!? Can spears thrust that fast!?”

“Impossible, right? I’ve seen the Garrison’s training, but there was no one who could do such fast thrusts!?”

“Then adventurers!? If it’s a high-rank adventurer, maybe!?”

“B… no, how about A-rank?”

“No no, isn’t it impossible even for A-rank?”

“Could it be that is the legendary Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts…?”

“Seriously? If you learn the Dragon Emperor Style, can you fight amazingly like that? Should I become an apprentice of the Dragon Emperor Style too?”

“No, that’s impossible for you.”

With the thrusting exchange over, the leeway to understand surrounding words finally returned.

“But right, the Dragon Emperor Style is certainly amazing.”

Yeah, certainly I am learning the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts from Rex.

Furthermore, I learned flight magic, Body Enhancement Magic, and even elementary attack magic from him.

Frankly speaking, I’ve become incomparably stronger than the me before meeting Rex.

“But that girl became Rex‘s apprentice later than me.”

Since she became an apprentice later than me, simply in terms of training time, I am advantageous.

I thought so.

And I am a former B-rank adventurer, now A-rank.

I pride myself on being superior in simple combat experience too.

But Ryune and I were evenly matched in spear handling.

Against me who should be overwhelmingly advantageous, she is keeping up without even using Body Enhancement Magic.

There is one reason for that.

“Unlike me, that girl has been training only the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts since long ago.”

She says much of the technique of the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts Ryune learned has been lost for a long time due to past tragedies.

But still, basic training was done properly, and she learned many techniques, albeit incompletely.

In contrast, it’s been only a few months since I started learning the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts.

The accumulation is different.

I am advantageous strictly because I have many techniques taught by Rex.

But in terms of pure spear user technique, she is undoubtedly superior.

And by meeting Rex, she got the opportunity to learn the secret techniques of the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts that were supposed to be lost.

The current her is in the middle of growing with tremendous momentum, supplementing what was lacking until now.

“So in this fight, it’s not like I’m overwhelmingly advantageous… huh.”

No, really, I’m stumped.

“To think I was this conceited, I didn’t realize at all.”

Receiving teachings from an outrageous person like Rex, surviving various carnage, defeating a dragon by myself, I had the illusion that I became incredibly strong.

Even enough not to lose to S-rank adventurers.

And right after that, this happens.

Shows how much I was conceited.

“There are plenty of opponents stronger than oneself in the world, just as Rex said.”

I see, Rex was right.

That favorite phrase wasn’t because his self-evaluation was unnaturally low or he was ignorant of the world, but a warning to always be humble because you never know when or where you’ll encounter a hidden strong person.

“You’re amazing, Lady Dragon Prin… no, Liliera.”

Unaware of my feelings, Ryune directs a glittering gaze of respect towards me.

Rather, I want to say that line.

Because surely the old me couldn’t have won against you.

“Now, from here on is the real thing!”

“Yes!”

I activate Ice Attribute Enhancement and freeze the floor of the arena stage.

“!? This is…”

And I create ice daggers on the soles of my feet and start sliding.

“Wawawa!?”

In contrast, Ryune must be fighting on frozen ground for the first time.

She is clearly bewildered by the sensation of her feet slipping.

Using that opening, I accelerate while circling around Ryune, and approaching while shrinking the circle at the same time as gaining sufficient speed.

“Here I go!”

Before Ryune gets used to fighting on frozen ground, I’ll decide the match at once!

“HAA!!”

The moment I enter spear range, I circle Ryune and hammer spear strikes from all directions.

“Kyaaaaaaa!?”

Ryune desperately tries to parry my attacks, but on the frozen ground, it’s precarious to even brace herself, let alone turn her body towards me.

Even with advantageous spear handling, if the footing is unstable, she can’t fully demonstrate that power.

…Really, Rex taught me a nasty trick.

Says me who is using it.

“Kuh!”

Taking my spear, Ryune loses her balance.

Then the spear hammered in scratches her armor.

But compared to the monsters I’ve defeated so far, the feedback is somewhat weak.

…As expected of being maintained by Rex, sturdy armor.

But my weapon is also equipment forged by Rex; in terms of tool rank, it doesn’t lose!

“HAAAAAAA!!”

I apply Attribute Enhancement to the spear, and the spear’s surface becomes covered in ice filled with magic power.

Ice created by magic power doesn’t shatter easily unlike original ice.

The more magic power I pour, the stronger and sharper the ice becomes.

The ice covers not only the weapon but even the armor, changing the shape of my armor.

“La-Lady Dragon Princess‘s armor is…”

“Beautiful, like armor of jewels…”

Seeing the ice tinged blue by magic power, the spectators praise my armor as jewel-like.

But you know, these jewels aren’t just pretty jewels.

“TAAAAAA!”

One blow of my spear blows away the right shoulder of Ryune‘s armor.

“Uah!”

Unable to withstand the impact, Ryune slips on the ice and falls.

“It’s over!”

I thrust the spear into the fallen Ryune without letting my guard down.

“N-Not yet!”

But Ryune dodges the attack while rolling sideways.

And tries to stand up desperately while slipping slick slick.

“I won’t let you!”

Not letting her regain her stance, I add small continuous attacks on Ryune.

“Hawawa!?”

She tries to parry attacks desperately at least to avoid direct hits, but Ryune, unable to brace her feet, is pushed back more and more while her armor shatters.

“Take thiiis!”

“Uwah!?”

Ryune abandoned defense and counterattacked, but with an attack without leverage, even if she managed to hit, it only hits the ice covering the armor and doesn’t reach the armor itself.

“That’s cheaaating!”

Not cheating, it’s my magic so it’s not cheating!

It’s magic Rex taught me but not cheating!

Because I learned it while going through near-death experiences too!

“Then a place with thin defense!”

“As if I’d let you hit that easily!”

I dodge Ryune‘s attack and land attacks unilaterally.

“Hiuu!?”

If I keep pushing like this, eventually Ryune will be pushed to the edge of the stage and out of bounds.

Ryune is a spear user, not a mage, and the promise to learn from Rex was only the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts.

So she has no means for a dramatic counterattack from this situation.

It’s not an exaggeration to say this is checkmate.

…But I won’t let my guard down.

Because this girl is Rex‘s apprentice, after all.

Knowing his outrageousness and the brilliance of the Dragon Emperor Style spear she has trained so far, I won’t let my guard down even by mistake!

“As Rex‘s apprentice, I have more seniority! So I won’t aim for out of bounds! I’ll decide it here!”

“I-I accept the challenge!”

Saying so, Ryune thrusts the spear into the ground and stands up forcibly.

“Kuh!”

Naturally, she is full of openings during that time, and the armor that took my attack defenselessly shattered, was pierced, and blew away.

Just to stand up and regain stance, the sacrifice is too big.

But still, she must have thought it’s better than being whittled down helplessly while losing posture.

As the successor of the Dragon Emperor Style Sky Spear Arts.

“But the disadvantage of footing hasn’t changed!”

“No, I found a countermeasure just now!”

“What did you say!?”

What can you do in this situation?

No, even if you can do something, I don’t intend to let you do it quietly.

“I won’t let you!”

Maintaining high-speed rotation, I thrust at Ryune from all directions.

With her having lost much of her armor, it’s impossible to protect herself from this attack.

I won’t do big swings. Even if plain, I’ll finish it surely!

“Take thiiis!”

What Ryune did next was a completely unexpected action.

“Eh!?”

Surprisingly, Ryune jumped straight up using the butt of the spear thrust into the floor as support.

“Hah!?”

What do you intend to do jumping up!? Unlike us, you shouldn’t be able to use flight magic!?

“Hup!”

The jumped Ryune pulled out the spear with the hand touching the butt, and slammed a barrage of spear strikes towards the ground as is.

“DAAAAAAAA!”

“Wh-What are you doing!?”

Forgetting to attack Ryune who became defenseless floating in the air, I get confused instinctively.

And Ryune, unable to stay floating, lands on the ground immediately.

With a posture with a straight back.

“…If the ground is frozen, I just have to crush the frozen ground and dig out the non-slippery ground from underneath!”

“…Ah.”

I see, that’s it!

My magic froze the surface of the ground.

The ground didn’t turn into ice.

So she thought if she crushed the ice, it would return to the original ground!

“You really are strong…”

Yeah, honestly surprised.

Because in this cornered situation, this girl brilliantly accomplished a countermeasure.

This calmness and inventiveness cannot be underestimated.

Obvious answers are things you can’t think of the more panicked you become.

“I’m honored to be praised by Lady Dragon Princess. But I also endured Master Rex‘s hell-like special training!”

I smile wryly at Ryune‘s boastful expression.

“True, you endured that person‘s special training. Then most pinches are nothing compared to that.”

“Yes yes!”

That was right, this girl was blown away by dragons many times in Rex‘s special training.

Of course she’d gain courage.

“But you forgot? I’m not the Dragon Princess.”

“Ah, that was right. The Dragon Princess is…”

“Yes, the Dragon Princess is…”

“…”

We become silent.

Because the words beyond that should be spoken after the match ends.

“But I don’t intend to let you say it easily.”

“Yes, I don’t think I can say it without defeating you either.”

We ready our spears against each other.

“Here I go!”

“Please!”

I dive towards Ryune.

“I won’t let you enter!”

Not letting me enter her range, Ryune thrusts her spear continuously.

Since we both use spears as weapons, the range is the same.

However, even with the same type of weapon, the range changes due to individual physique, usage, and difference in center of gravity due to weapon shape.

So that subtle difference isn’t taken, Ryune checks me with full power.

But I also stepped in without fearing her spear.

In spear technique, Ryune is superior.

In overall ability including other than spear, I am superior.

However, Ryune‘s equipment is a genuine Dragon Knight‘s spear passed down from ancient times.

Moreover, forged by Rex, its blade cuts even magic.

Therefore, amateur mage me can’t decide the match with magic attacks.

So I jump in.

“Not yet, I can’t yield the future to a junior! ICE ARROW!”

Just before entering each other’s range, I fire as many Ice Arrow magics as I can.

“Take this!”

Ryune, who secured her footing, easily crushes the Ice Arrows.

But I don’t mind! I jumped in at full speed and thrust my spear.

“It won’t hi-uhyaaa!?”

Ryune, who tried to intercept my spear immediately, suddenly loses her balance.

Footing taken by the frozen ground again.

“Wh-!? Why!?”

“I froze it with magic. It’s natural that I can freeze it again, right?”

“TH-THAT WAS SOOOO!!”

Yes, the Ice Arrows were decoys to concentrate her consciousness on something other than the ground.

While she was intercepting the cold Ice Arrows, I covered the ground with ice again.

I wind up the spear of Ryune who lost her balance and flick it high into the sky.

The spear dances in the air of the arena stage spinning kurukuru, and stuck into the ground out of bounds.

I thrust my spear before the eyes of Ryune who fell to the ground, and declare.

“My win.”

“…Yes, it’s my loss.”

When Ryune admits defeat, the referee raises the hand flag largely.

“Winner Liliera!”

Phew, that was quite dangerous.

Unexpected capable people are hiding in the world.

Lacking one step, but when that one step is managed, they grow at once.

I wonder if I’ll continue to meet such people on the verge of becoming masters.

And with Rex, who met such people, meddling as usual, masters seem likely to increase in the world with tremendous momentum…

Yeah, scary that it really seems likely to increase.

Anyway, with this, the long tournament is over too.

I feel like I’m forgetting something…

“UOOOOOOOO! LADY DRAGON PRINCESS!!”

Suddenly, loud voices rise from the surroundings.

And I remembered.

What I was worried about until just now.

“Amazing! Lady Dragon Princess is amazing! Too amazing!”

“I was captivated instinctively! Not just Lady Dragon Princess, the opponent girl was ridiculously amazing too!”

“Is that the ability of a legendary Dragon Knight! Wonderful!”

“Lady Dragon Princess!”

The surroundings are a grand Dragon Princess call…

CRAAAAAAP! In the end, far from solving this problem, it became a bigger deal!

I was absorbed in the fight and completely forgot about that!

“To think Lady Dragon Princess finally returned to our country… living long has its merits.”

“Yes, yes… Lady Dragon Princess‘s divine figure fighting while shining glitteringly, grateful, grateful.”

Aah, somehow grandpas and grandmas are crying and praying with hands together!?

“I told you I’m not the Dragon Princess!!”

“UOOOOOOOO! Lady Dragon Princess waved at us!!”

Unfortunately, my cry from the heart was drowned out by the cheers of the excited and misunderstanding spectators… Sob.