The day after the preliminaries ended, there’s a draw in the arena for the final selection.
This will decide everyone’s opponents, the ones who got through the qualifiers will be introduced too.
I hear there’s going to be a description of how they fought in the preliminaries, and apparently it’s because it’s not illegal to make bets on this tournament.
I feel like gambling would make it so there would be groups trying to make specific participants win, but the harsh penalties in this country mean no one does that.
“D-don’t get nervous.”
Shun is nervously looking at the venue.
We are currently in special seats overlooking the arena, provided to us by the beast king.
This is a private box, so we don’t have to worry about anyone else. And it’s also spacious, with plenty of room to fit all of us.
I look at the venue again, and think that it makes sense for Shun to be nervous. The place is packed with close to thirty thousand spectators.
A lot of people travel from nearby villages just for this. There are also people who got through the preliminaries who came here as representatives of their villages, so people from there are here to cheer them on.
“I wouldn’t want to fight in the middle of all that.”
I wouldn’t be able to focus.
“Really? I don’t really mind the spectators. Once the fight starts, I can only see my opponent.”
“Also, the participants have a chance here. The attention from making it through the preliminaries might mean an influential person goes up to you.”
Argo and Siphon laugh it off.
It’s not just people from the Beast Kingdom who come here to watch the tournament, so do people from Elesya, Eldo, Efa, and Frieren.
I wonder if people from Elesya and the empire would bother, because of the whole human supremacy thing, but apparently there’s a history of people coming here partially as a sort of enemy recon.
And every year humans like Argo and the others participate. Incidentally, last time’s second place, and the one before that, were human.
“It’s almost time. Let’s go, Shun.”
Says Argo, and Shun gets up.
His face is still stiff.
“Good luck.”
Says Miharu, easing his nerves a little.
And then, it begins. The arena where they won’t be fighting today is about eight percent full.
The crowd cheers when it’s decided who will be fighting who and the groups, and there are shrieks from the arena.
The shrieks come from two of the four people in the beast king’s group.
Apparently participants get rewards based on their position, with the first and second places getting a much higher reward than the others.
And being in the same group as the beast king means much lower chances of making it to second place.
I think it’s strange to go into it with that frame of mind, but I guess a lot of participants feel that way because the beast king is just too strong.
A third of the reason why last time’s second place didn’t come this time was because he didn’t think he could beat the beast king.
Geitz is in the same group as the beast king, and his first fight will be with a beast person adventurer.
Siphon and Argo will be fighting in the first round, and Shun will be facing a knight of the Beast Kingdom.
“Argo and Siphon will be facing each other in the first round? From a pure rank point of view, I feel like Argo is stronger, but what about you, Jin and Guilford?”
“It’s tricky. I think Siphon loses out on speed because he uses a great sword.”
“He has the advantage in individual blows. And he faces Geitz on a regular basis.”
Jin and Guilford calmly offer their analyses.
They really value Geitz. And Guilford might not value Argo very much.
A long time ago… Back when I was just starting out as an adventurer, he was always hitting on girls instead of accepting quests.
Even after fighting alongside him in Elesya and seeing how strong he is, that image is still vivid in my mind. Of course, there was a reason why he was like that.
Incidentally, in the main competition of the tournament, people fight inside a barrier produced by an ancient magic item.
If they fight in there, they won’t die even if they’re fatally injured, and will instead be flung outside.
That means one strong attack is better than multiple weak ones. Not that they don’t hurt anyway.
“Well, these duels are a matter of chance. We should just enjoy watching them. Unless we have money on them.”
“Are you going to bet, Guilford?”
“…I might if I can predict who will win. But I’m not going bankrupt over it.”
Yes, the thought of striking it rich is nice, but it’s a different matter if it hinders your daily life.
And I have some… No, considerable money saved up, so I don’t really need to bet.
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Thanks for the treat.