kscans

Chapter 112 - Main Selection Tournament, Match Two... Aftermath

"—Ughhhh..."

"Hee hee... Good work out there."

I collapsed onto the sofa with a great sigh. Beside me, Sora's caring smile was dazzling... but is it really okay for me to receive this kind of healing effect after every match? Isn't this some kind of foul play?

I had enough mental capacity to entertain such silly thoughts, but I had to admit I was feeling a fair amount of mental exhaustion.

After the match against [ElephantThree], I was whisked away to the second match without even a few minutes' break.

That battle, against a high-mobility light warrior of the same type as me, ended with me, the one with superior AGI, unilaterally maintaining distance and turning my opponent into a beehive with Parabellum Bullets.

Just saying that might conjure up a brutal image, but it was actually a pretty intense fight. Even though it was a one-sided kiting match, we were both zipping around at well over a hundred kilometers per hour, so it was a spectacle of superhuman mobility.

The crowd, which had grown quite a bit since the first match, seemed to be roaring, so I think I managed to avoid putting on a pathetic show.

Ultimately, it's my fellow high-speed specialists who are the scariest... Since I lack experience, it's hard for me to predict my opponent's moves, so I absolutely did not want to let him get close.

Man, the most noteworthy thing has to be the Parabellum Bullets—no, the ridiculously overpowered nature of the [Rabbit Shortsword: Parabellum].

Being able to create an unlimited number of clones with almost the same specs as the original for a tiny amount of MP is so nonsensical that it feels like I'm using a banned weapon.

On top of that, the clones, the [Parabellum Bullets], still have two special abilities that I've been able to keep under wraps, and the main weapon itself has a primary effect as a direct weapon. Are you serious, Kagura-san?

Of course, to get the resources to realize that insane performance, it has a flaw in one particular area that's almost laughable... but then again, that thing does that, so.

In order to generate the bullets, the Rabbit Shortsword itself needs to be equipped, so unlike before, I now have to keep it sheathed at my waist at all times.

But this shortsword, despite being over thirty centimeters long, which is apparently the largest in its category, is as light as a feather. So even though it's always sheathed, it feels no different than before, and it's simply wonderful that it doesn't hinder my avatar's movements.

In reality, if I jumped around like I do with a sword at my waist, it would probably fly out of its sheath at high speed... but as long as the player doesn't try to draw it, that kind of silly accident won't happen. As expected of a game.

—Anyway, thanks to that divine weapon, I've been winning smoothly so far, but...

"Fighting against other people... PvP seems really tough, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, the... the tension, you know? It really wears on you mentally..."

I wouldn't say I dislike it... but I feel like I'm better suited for PvE.

I can understand the appeal of PvP, of clashing with other players in that unique, tense atmosphere—but at least in Arcadia, I prefer teaming up to take on powerful monsters.

"If it's like that for you, Haru, then it would probably be too difficult for me after all."

"You never know. You might try it and find out you're a natural."

When I replied, she must have taken it as a joke. Sora let out a small laugh, but I was being quite serious.

In Sora's case, the performance of her [Cradle of Sword-Craft], combined with her exclusive 'Magic Sword Aptitude' skill tree, is just insane... She could probably dominate most players just by relentlessly generating magic swords and firing them off with her 'Homing Shot' skill.

At the very least, if Sora and I were to face off in a "ready, set, go" duel, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to win.

I might have a chance of pulling something off with a single strike from my now-trademark opening [Ignition], but that's about it.

However, as she demonstrated during the [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King] fight, Sora is a master of adaptation, so the future where I get hit with a painful counterattack and it's all over is a very real possibility...

It's possible I'm overestimating her out of partner bias, but that's how it is. In PvP as well, my pride and joy of a partner undoubtedly has the specs to shine.

As I lay sprawled on the sofa, lost in thought, Sora, who had taken my earlier words of "you can borrow it anytime" to heart, was happily fiddling with my right hand.

Super cute—and super strong, this partner of mine. She's an invincible partner I can brag about to anyone.

—The third match of the selection tournament will begin shortly.

"Oh."

Just as I was indulging in a break that, if I were to be honest with myself, could be described as flirting, a familiar notification arrived for the third time.

As I watched the countdown to the teleportation begin, Sora offered her third round of encouragement.

"I'll be cheering for you again. Do your best, Haru."

Having my hand squeezed and being gifted a smile is, without a doubt, an invincible buff for any man.

Mental exhaustion? What's that? For this girl, I can act cool indefinitely.

"Leave it to me."

The light of teleportation enveloped me a moment before her, and I flashed her a grin.

My opponent for the third match is Mr. [Gamagappa]. I don't know if he's a frog or a kappa, but I'll be coming at him with everything I've got.

Yes, no matter who my opponent is, I'll just face them with all my strength—as for the insurmountable wall that likely awaits in the fourth match, I think I'll try my best not to think about it.