kscans

Chapter 106 - His Name Is

"—No, no…"

It was about to be five minutes since the start of the preliminary round—no, it had only been five minutes, and yet.

Looking around, the number of participants in the venue had already dropped by more than half in the blink of an eye. Rotta let out a strained smile, muttering, "You've got to be kidding me."

'Quite something,' he had thought?—What a fool he was.

The young man from whom Rotta had expected something 'beyond his expectations' had, as if the line of expectation he had set didn't even register, soared high into the sky, far beyond it.

While dealing with the three preliminary participants who had challenged him, Rotta's gaze was fixed on the other side of the arena—where, in the span of a few seconds, numerous death effects were blooming.

The white and azure shadow running through the red phosphorescence held a crimson long spear, another weapon he had never seen before.

However, the unsheathed blade… seeing the single crimson horn, there was no player who wouldn't realize what it was.

[Ruby Bullet Rabbit]—the murderous rabbit that resides in the [Spiral Crimson Tower], a topic of conversation both here and in the real world for the past two weeks.

That horn, whose acquisition method was unknown, or perhaps impossible to obtain, was undoubtedly it.

Recalling that, everything connected.

The unfamiliar, similarly crimson-glowing spiral ring.

And that hair ornament that adorned his black-ash hair.

Several days before the commotion over the conquest of the [Spiral Crimson Tower], the rumor of a newcomer who had escaped the usual overwhelming welcoming party in an unbelievable way.

And even further back, a month and a bit ago. The bombshell-like post by a certain new player that had stirred up the forums.

And the name of that new player, clearly written on the non-anonymous forum, was—

"[Haru]…!!"

Honestly, what was he thinking, 'I can't help but get my hopes up'!

What was he thinking, 'I might get to see something interesting'!

After talking with such a monster, even shaking his hand, and not sensing a shred of his true ability, what kind of 'Observer' was he!!

"I'm beat…! Yeah, I'm beat…!!"

"—We're the ones who are beat!!"

"—Looking away while fighting three-on-one!!"

"—Could you at least face us when you fight?!"

And so, a pained complaint was delivered from the players he had been dealing with half-heartedly.

…This wasn't good. While he thought it couldn't be helped that he was so absorbed, he had to carry out the role he was given with sincerity.

"My apologies—well then, let's wrap this up."

He swatted away the approaching scimitar with his right hand and placed his left on the sword that was still in its scabbard.

"Oh crap—"

"Your offense is lacking. You need more options."

One strike. With the momentum of the draw, he cut down the scimitar user—

"W-Wai, I'm sor—"

"Your build isn't synergistic."

One strike. With the return stroke, he sent the head of the magic swordsman who had stumbled beside him flying—

"You're not bad, but that's all you are."

"That's kinda the meanest thi—"

One strike. He cut down the short spear user, who had all but lost his will to fight, in a diagonal slash.

With a fluid motion, Rotta sheathed his sword and looked around. His eyes met with the players who had been watching his fight from the sidelines, but…

"Well, yeah."

As their gazes uniformly averted, Rotta couldn't hide a wry smile.

To have challenged the 'Observer,' the previous three at least had guts, which was good. If they had the skill to back it up, he would definitely recommend them for the main tournament.

—However, for this time only.

"No recommendation spots… I guess."

When he looked again—on the battlefield that had become almost empty, the young man, who was finally left alone by everyone, stood there looking troubled.

He had thought he had the momentum to greedily hunt down every last person, but it seemed his mentality wasn't that of a berserker.

…No, to say he wasn't like a berserker after single-handedly devouring more than half the participants was a strange thing to say.

—It's decided then..

The winner of this block was already determined; it could be no one but him.

Then there was no point in continuing. Rotta, and the few remaining players who showed no intention of challenging Haru, could be considered to have lost their will to fight.

"Yeah… let's call it here."

Nodding, Rotta began to walk.

As his feet carried him forward, the white and azure youth standing there noticed him approaching—that wary look, he must have seen his fight as well.

With a smile, and raising both hands to show he had no intention of fighting,

The 'Observer' simply walked towards Haru, who was giving him a suspicious look, with joy in his heart.