■ Day of the Final Battle □
The semifinals were scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
No matter how you look at it, this is the biggest event of the exchange conference.
All the attention of the demons who came to participate in the exchange conference was focused on the martial arts tournament.
Isn’t it said that the most entertaining spectacle in the world is watching a fight?
The martial arts tournament was, in a sense, an environment where both spectacles could be seen in full.
Since it was a competition only for demons, there were actually races that could breathe fire.
Anyway, that’s how it is.
With today marking the third day of the martial arts tournament, it is also the last day.
After eating breakfast early in the morning and lazing around my room for a while, I headed to the arena when the time came.
“Hey! We’re rooting for you!”
“Show us another exciting match today!”
“Partarth! Partarth! Partarth!”
Nowadays, quite a few people recognize my face.
To be precise, they recognize the dog-shaped mask I wear over my face, but that means my fame has risen quite a bit, doesn’t it?
Camilla was following me like a shadow from a distance, so it wasn’t revealed that she was related to me.
It was a precaution to prevent my identity from being exposed by being seen together with her later.
In any case, after struggling through the crowd of demons packed into the route leading to the arena, I finally arrived at the venue.
Ozma said she would arrive a little later, so I thought I might be the first participant to reach the arena.
“Oh, welcome.”
However, contrary to expectations, there was already a visitor in the contestant waiting room.
As usual, Gav sat cross-legged on the desk with his shirt off, revealing his muscular upper body, and greeted me.
“You’re here early?”
“I don’t really have anything to do after waking up in the morning.”
While saying this with a cheerful smile, Gav tilted his head and asked.
“What about Ozma?”
“She said she’ll be a little late.”
It was then that I realized why Ozma mentioned she’d be late.
She had participated in countless martial arts tournaments so far, and if she had met Gav each time, it would be normal for her to know his patterns.
Apparently, she didn’t want to meet Gav before the official start of the competition.
Camilla would be in the audience, and it was obvious that I’d need to avoid other people’s gazes if I went outside, so after some deliberation, I decided to stay in the contestant waiting room.
In any case, there was only about 30 minutes left until the tournament began.
To pass the time, I reached for the snacks placed in one corner of the waiting room and asked,
“By the way, where did you learn Qi Technique, Gabriel sir?”
“Hmm? Oh, this? A long time ago, I traveled to the Eastern Continent as part of my training. I learned it from an old man I met there.”
Generally, when you see highly skilled swordsmen or martial artists, their inner energy (鬪氣) is described as clear.
Even though the root of mana is the same, depending on the person handling it, its form can vary infinitely.
From what I’ve observed, Gav has reached a considerable level as a martial artist.
He must have practiced for more than just a day or two.
His attire alone exudes an Eastern Continental vibe, indicating he stayed there for quite some time.
This time, Gav asked me a question in return.
“And you? Your body shows signs of harsh training, yet are you a mage learning Qi Technique?”
I shook my head in response to his question.
“No, I haven’t learned Qi Technique.”
“Then what?”
“I’ve learned something called Magic Technique, which combines magic and Qi Technique.”
“Hmm?”
Gav’s expression filled with curiosity.
“Does such a thing even exist in the world? I’ve never heard of it.”
I nodded in agreement with Gav’s words.
“It only existed theoretically until now. The master who taught me Magic Technique is the founder who first created it.”
“Intriguing, very intriguing.”
Gav stroked his chin while saying this.
“I want to fight you even more now.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Before fighting me, there’s someone you need to defeat first, right?”
“Are you talking about Ozma?”
“Yes.”
“That’s nothing to worry about. No matter how much stronger Ozma has become, she won’t be able to beat me.”
“Ozma has grown much stronger than before. Underestimating her will get you into trouble.”
At this, Gav burst out laughing and slapped his knees.
“I think I evaluated things fairly. You know, a dragon’s tough skin isn’t easily pierced by ordinary magic, no matter if it’s in its original form or transformed by polymorph. If simply learning magic allowed anyone to capture dragons, the world would be flooded with dragon slayers.”
“…”
That wasn’t exactly wrong.
As embodiments of elements, dragons possess immense power despite their small numbers.
A dragon’s skin likely wouldn’t even allow a biological weapon to penetrate it from magic of mediocre level.
Dragons are creatures specialized in mana sensing more than any other race.
Unable to refute him, Gav leaned his chin on his right hand with a deflated expression and asked,
“Do you like Ozma?”
“No. Why would you say that all of a sudden?”
“Well, it’s generally said that males lose rational thinking when they fall for females. That’s why I asked. Ozma is a pretty good female in her own right.”
“I’ve never thought of her that way.”
“Then why do you predict Ozma’s victory?”
“Because she’s worked hard enough that it’s about time she got rewarded.”
Although I haven’t been traveling with Ozma for long, she has an obstinate personality that suits the description “stubborn.”
She’s the type who pushes forward relentlessly in what she believes is right.
I’ve never seen her skip a single day of practice.
Even though she could rest every once in a while—especially given her advantageous position as the Demon King’s daughter—she continues to strive daily to become stronger.
Self-perfection.
She grows anew every day.
She will undoubtedly break through her limits sooner rather than later.
If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be reasonable for her to dream of defeating a rival she hasn’t beaten in 34 years as a precursor?
Upon hearing my explanation, Gav wore an enigmatic expression.
Anyone could tell he hadn’t thought about it that way before.
“Does Ozma think of me like that?”
“To be exact, all the demons who have participated in this tournament multiple times probably share the same thoughts.”
His expression became unusually serious.
Though this is Ozma’s 35th attempt, there are certainly others who have struggled for far longer, striving to defeat Gav even once over decades.
He’s reigned as the undefeated champion for a full 50 years.
Isn’t it about time he stepped down after ruling for so long?
For the sake of the numerous challengers who respect him, at least.
Upon hearing my words, Gav wore a serious expression for the first time.
So much so that he ignored attempts to talk to him.
Finding it awkward to interrupt his concentration, I opened the door to go to the restroom for a moment.
There stood Ozma, looking slightly flustered.
“Ah.”
“Uh.”
Upon meeting my gaze, she quickly took a step back.
Though she said she’d come late, it seemed she arrived early.
Checking the clock hanging in the room, I realized there were only ten minutes left until the tournament began.
Turns out, Ozma had arrived right on time.
“Shall we go in?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah.”
Fortunately, during my conversation with Gav, I hadn’t said anything negative about her.
It was truly a stroke of luck.
Ozma, wearing a slightly dazed expression, nodded and turned back to speak to me before entering the contestant waiting room.
“I appreciate what you said earlier. I didn’t expect you to defend me.”
“That’s a bit surprising. Did I seem like someone who lacks recognition?”
“Not exactly. To be honest, this is the first time someone has acknowledged my efforts.”
Saying this while scratching her cheek sheepishly, Ozma added casually,
“This kind of recognition isn’t bad, surprisingly.”
“…Then I’m glad.”
I sighed in relief internally.
Seems like she’s not upset with me.
She adjusted the hilt of the sword tied to her waist and said,
“Today’s going to be the fight of my life where I put everything on the line. So, please watch.”
I nodded.
“That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Hmm. That’s enough.”
Ozma smiled for the first time as she spoke.
Hidden beneath her boyish demeanor, her face was quite beautiful.
When the clock struck ten, the final schedule of the martial arts tournament commenced with all participants gathered.
My opponent in the semifinal was a guy named Adolf, who clawed his way up from the bottom of Block A. Rumor has it he was one of the notorious demons during the human-demon war.
Adolf, a member of the Baphomet race, similar to Seneca, the Demon King’s steward, with a goat-like head representing the classic demonic figure, stared at me with eerie slit eyes and said,
“You look like decent meat. I wonder what flavor you’d have when chewed?”
Hearing this, I gripped the handle of the Orichalcum knuckles on my hand and asked,
“Do you like meat?”
“…What if I do?”
“Not really, I just wanted you to remember the taste well.”
Saying this, I tightly clenched the knuckles on both hands.
“I’m about to make you live on soup alone.”
Unfortunately, this world lacked dental implants.
