The official walked into the room and didn’t even blink at the sight. He’s good at his job, this one.
“The fourth round has just come to an end. Since your match is two rounds away, we would like for you to move to the waiting room near the arena, please.”
That was sooner than I expected. Fran asked the official about the matches so far and he told her that the first round had ended in a flash. Gaudartha won, as expected. The giant beastman closed in on his opponents as soon as the match began and knocked them out. No wonder he was the Beast King’s elite bodyguard.
The two fights after that took almost the entire thirty minutes. No one wanted the victor to be chosen by deliberation, so they fought each other to their absolute limits.
We made our way through an underground passage to the arena. Fan favorites would cause too much of a ruckus if they took the land route. Private rooms awaited us near the arena, more luxurious than the waiting rooms at the guild hall. Ours came equipped with a fancy sofa and a feather-quilted bed. The organizers spared no expense.
“The fifth match will soon be underway. You may be called immediately, so please get ready.”
“Hm. Sure.”
“Please wait here until you are called.”
“Hm!”
Fran threw herself onto the fluffy sofa, clearly enjoying the cool touch of its leather, and perked up her ears to listen to what was going on outside. I followed her lead and strained to hear the match. Cruise should be up against Radule at the moment. The explosions I heard must have been the old mage’s spells.
Fran listened for a while before losing interest. She jumped onto the bed and played with Jet. I wanted to warn her to keep the direwolf off, but now wasn’t the time to be worried about that. Dirty bedsheets were a small price to pay for her peace of mind. I listened until the crowd became too loud to be intelligible.
Is the fight over?
It sure sounded like it was. I strained my ears again, listening for the commentator’s voice in all the noise.
“He did it! C-Rank adventurer Cruise pulls through a victory against all odds!”
Wait, seriously? Cruise won? Really?
“What is it, Teacher?” Fran asked, my surprise hadn’t escaped her.
Well, it sounds like Cruise beat Radule.
“Who’s Cruise?”
I just told you… Never mind. Anyway, you’re almost up. Get ready.
“Hm. Okay.”
Fran ordered Jet to return to the shadows and set me on her back. She finished by storing away the snacks she was munching on. A tournament official came to fetch us, and we left the comfortable confines of the waiting room.
“Right this way.”
“Hm.”
The path to the arena was wide and well-lit.
You nervous?
“Should I be?”
I talked to Fran to ease her nerves, but it didn’t seem like she had any. In fact, she was in such a good mood that she was almost skipping. She couldn’t wait to throw down with whoever this Zehmet was.
Didn’t think you’d be nervous. Guess you’re ready for your first match.
“Can’t wait.”
Jet, only come out on our mark.
Woof.
We passed through the hallway and entered the arena, which was twice as large as the one from the second round. There were about ten times as many spectators, too. No one could make out what they were saying as their thunderous applause combined into a deafening roar, descending on us from the bleachers like a waterfall. It reminded me of the finals of the World Cup back on Earth.
“Ugh.” Fran flopped down her ears.
You all right?
“Hm…I’m fine now.”
Good thing she adapted fast. Exceptional hearing might be a problem here. The deafening applause made me wonder if beastmen like Royce were at a disadvantage. As the loud noise flustered Fran, an unknown voice rang through the arena.
“The time has come for the sixth match of A-Block! Making her way to the ring is the adorable A-11. But don’t let her looks fool you! This is the talk of the town, the newly minted C-Rank, the Swordceress Fran!”
On the commentator’s mark, Fran stepped into the ring. Her opponent was already waiting for her there.
“Hrmph.”
She frowned when she saw what she was facing. It was no exaggeration to say that she was dripping with resentment.
“Her opponent is A-12, the young leader of the mercenary band Blue Pride! One of the up-and-coming figures of the Blue Cat tribe! Blue Lightning Zehmet!”
A Blue Cat. And the leader of Blue Pride, at that. Fran glared at Zehmet and drew me from my sheath. She took a step forward, showing her murderous intent.
I didn’t expect to be fighting another Blue Cat so soon. He was my enemy as long as he was Fran’s. He would’ve been mincemeat by now if we had run into him outside the city walls, but we would have to show some degree of restraint here.
Fran confronted Zehmet in the center of the ring.
“Hey there. Looks like you’ve met one of my people already,” Zehmet said, smiling like some kind of cheap prince.
“…”
‘Met one of your people’? We would’ve killed him if it wouldn’t have disqualified us!
Fran maintained her silent glare.
“Uh, do you have to keep glaring at me?”
“Hmph.” She had no intention of hiding her hostility.
Zehmet responded with a bitter smile, scratching his head. “I-I know! How about we shake hands as a show of good faith?” His smile was friendly as he extended his arm.
“Don’t touch me with your dirty hands.”
“Oh…”
He looked heartbroken. He was putting on quite a show, though. I almost felt sorry for him. But of course he was acting—he was a Blue Cat. Not that I spotted Acting among his skill list…but Blue Cats were the enemies of the Black Cats. It was written in their DNA. That handshake might’ve been followed up with a knife for all I knew.
“…”
And yet Zehmet still stuck out his hand in the hopes that Fran would take it. When she didn’t, he bowed his head to her.
“I’ve suspended Seith.”
“Hm?”
Who’s Seith?
“He’s the guy you
