The matches for today have all finished. An announcement played, and the ring cleaning for tomorrow was starting.
The crowd was starting to thin out, but the stands were packed until the very end. Well, it's a tournament where the top 8 from each qualifying block are decided, so it's natural for it to get that much attention.
Because of that, the entrance will probably be packed. The Saint King is here too, so I don't want to go to a crowded place like that.
"Yeah, let's wait a little while."
When I said that to Yukina, she agreed right away.
To fill the extra time, as expected...
"Ha... It's over... I've never seen one before, but they're this intense..."
"There were some amazing matches. I can't believe there are people that strong, even among professional athletes..."
"Yes. As expected, when you get to this point, everyone's level seems to be quite high."
The Saint King, Yukina, and Kokkoro were each giving their impressions of the matches.
From what I've heard, it seems like a lot of scouts are here. Not just for athletes, but from various armies and important people. They just find it easier because strong people gather here, so they don't have to conduct interviews themselves.
I don't think they'll come to Team Nakajima... Even if they're a promising new star, they're way too small. Maybe an offer from a gym will come?
"Is that so?"
"I heard there are all sorts of specific rules. If they allowed everything, it would become a lawless zone."
This is, after all, an Inter-Middle tournament. It's not an auction to scout talented people.
To ensure the athletes can compete healthily, acts like slapping someone's cheek with a wad of cash are completely prohibited.
Though, some athletes might be here to get scouted.
"Indeed, there might not be a better place than this to see talent."
"But just because you can fight in a match doesn't mean you can fight in a real battle," I replied to Yukina's words.
Someone like Vivio might be strong in a match, but if she was told to fight just to hurt her opponent, she probably wouldn't be able to use even half her strength.
The champion who fought Einhart, however, seemed like someone who could do both.
Just then, my phone rang. It was from Kuro.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Oh, big brother? Are you still at the venue?"
"Yeah, I am. Are you outside already?"
"No, no, I'm still inside. A lot of people have gathered, you see."
A lot of people have gathered?
People who would gather... The Yagami family and the champion who had a match today? It would be tough to go out now. All the top athletes are here.
"That's right. And so,"
"Hmm?"
There was more.
"The Yagami-san invited us to go for dinner together."
Oh, I see.
---------
"You're doing well, Captain Yagami."
"Hahaha! It's a pretty nice view, isn't it?"
We were led to a restaurant on an upper floor of a hotel. It wasn't a high-end place but an affordable buffet-style restaurant.
They had rented it out.
A decent night view could be seen from the window. The buffet, which was usually for many people, was ours to enjoy tonight.
"Ah, you can eat as much as you want too, okay? The number of people increased a bit, but they were flexible with it."
"A bit?"
I glanced at the members. The number was probably double what they initially planned.
Not only were there Vivio's Team Nakajima members, but also the two from the Yagami Dojo. That was just the beginning. There was also Harry and her entourage, Harry's rival Else, and Victoria and Elemia.
Then there was our group. We couldn't keep the Saint King out so late, so we had dropped her off at home and came here by ourselves.
She seemed a little disappointed. It seems even the Saint King wants to meet the stars she saw in person.
"Well, that can't be helped," I said.
As Yagami-san and I were talking, Kokkoro stepped forward.
"Thank you for inviting us today, Hayate-sama."
"Oh my, what a well-mannered girl... Yozuki-kun, whose daughter is she?"
"She's not anyone's daughter."
It's impossible for me to have a daughter this old at my age.
The people I was meeting for the first time were looking at me with 'Are you serious?' faces. I'm not serious.
"But with a senpai like you, it wouldn't be strange for a woman with a child to suddenly show up 10 years from now..."
"Lord, please have some restraint in your relationships. Please, I beg of you."
Yukina and even Kokkoro were giving me a cold stare.
And then I got another 'Are you serious?' look. About this... well, I'll avoid making a clear statement.
"Hey, what do you mean by 'Lord'?"
"I-I don't know. She seems to be an acquaintance of Yagami-san, so maybe she's an incredibly important person despite how she looks."
Harry and Else were whispering to each other.
Ah, so that's what you mean. 'Lord' is pretty weird too!
"Mika-nee, do you know him?"
"Well, I know him, but I don't know what kind of person he actually is... However, there was a story with Einhart-chan and Kirin-chan..."
"Hmm? What was that?"
"...No, if he was that much of a womanizer, the adults around him would have stopped him. That was just a little joke from Yagami-san."
No, I am a womanizer beyond your imagination.
"...I wonder how many people here will fall victim to senpai's poisonous fangs."
"Poisonous fangs... Well, I guess they are poisonous fangs..."
Yukina turned away coldly.
And so the meal began, but none of the new faces came to talk to me, this mysterious person.
They were talking to old friends they hadn't seen in a while. I wasn't in the mood to force a conversation either. The original story of Vivio is relatively peaceful, so it's probably better if I don't get too involved.
If some unknown incident happens there, I'll go crazy.
After some time had passed, Yagami-san clapped her hands.
"Okay everyone, listen up while you're eating."
With her voice carrying well, everyone's attention was on her.
"As you all know, the two who fought in today's match have a bit of a history. Ah, the two I mean are Einhart and Sieglinde."
I wonder if everyone knows? Well, even if they don't know the details, if they know the two of them and saw the match today, it wouldn't be strange for them to think something was up.
"The successor of the 'Black Elemia,' Sieglinde, and the descendant of the 'Hegemon Ingvalt,' Einhart. And the 'Holy Princess Olivier' who connects the two. The descendants of people who once lived together in an era of war have gathered once again in this day and age."
I thought it was a history lesson at first, but she was trying to say that the descendants of historical heroes were gathered here.
"And in this place, we have Victoria, of the 'Lightning Emperor Dahlgrun' bloodline, and although she's not here, another direct descendant of the old Belka royal family."
Victoria, whose name was called, held her skirt and bowed. It was a well-practiced motion. The result of her upbringing from a young age.
"I don't know if this is a coincidence or some kind of destiny or guidance. But, this is just a personal concern, a worry from an adult. It's a little unsettling that so many direct descendants of ancient Belka bloodlines have gathered in one place."
"..."
I felt Yagami-san's voice become a little more serious.
No way, right?
This development was also in the original story, so she's just following that, right? This isn't a prelude to some strange incident, right?
"The Inter-Middle tournament is nearing its end, and this is the most critical time. We want to protect everyone so that you don't get caught up in any incidents. So, if anything happens, I want you to talk to me."
Yagami-san's tone returned to a gentle one.
"After the tournament, I'd like to create a place for the two of you to talk about your past. As fellow successors of True Ancient Belka, if there's a place you want to go or something you want to find, I'll cooperate with all my might."
She said that with a gentle smile.
---------
And so, the time for lighthearted conversation returned.
Everyone gathered around and listened to Einhart's story. She was the one who had inherited the most memories from the past.
"Senpai, aren't you going to listen?"
"Could you two, Yukina and Kokkoro, go and listen for me?"
"Well... that's fine, but what will you do, Lord?"
"I have something I want to talk about with Yagami-san. No, it's nothing strange, okay?"
"I haven't said anything yet."
"Lord, we trust you."
Yukina and Kokkoro said that and joined the circle of conversation.
I, on the other hand, went closer to Yagami-san.
"Yagami-san, you're so kind."
"It's an adult's job to protect children. I was helped a lot when I was a child, too."
It was her turn now.
I also had something I wanted to ask.
"So, do you have a bad feeling about something?"
"Hmm..."
Gathering everyone and giving a warning like that might be kind, but it was also roundabout. It was like she was saying she had something to worry about.
"Or rather, something strange has been happening, right? Since August, it's been constant."
Yes, the mysterious monsters, the "Yummy," have been appearing all over the island. Living on this island, people get so used to strange things that they live normal lives even though monsters are appearing, which is an unusual situation.
I wondered what she thought about that.
"Haah, you've seen through me... Yes. That's part of it."
Part of it? So there's something else too?
"(The 'Dimensional Demon King' that appeared in that prophecy... Although there's no mention of it in the documents I'm currently researching, it's a 'Demon King' after 'Holy King,' 'Hegemon,' and 'Nether King'... I can't say for sure that there isn't someone who didn't get into the records and is connected to ancient Belka. It's better to be careful.)"
"Yagami-san?"
She was silent, thinking about something.
"Hmm, well, various things. I have a lot to think about. We're also looking into those mysterious monsters. It doesn't seem like they're rampaging to target something specific. But..."
"But?"
"When we compiled the data on the strength and number of monsters defeated by管理局員(Bureau of Administration) and武偵(Armed Detectives), it seems the Inter-Middle venue is at the center of the occurrences."
"That... Considering the timing, it's probably aimed at the athletes, right?"
"That's the logical conclusion, isn't it? And the targets are likely to be everyone here."
Everyone here has an unusual background. I don't know how they'd be used, but it's a good enough reason to be targeted.
However, the Greed I know wouldn't create so many Yummy. There's also no reason for them to target Vivio and the others in the first place.
If that's the case, then someone else is creating the Greed...
"(If 'someone' is creating them, that person is from the same place as me. I don't know if they're the same person who gave Tiaille-sensei the Build Watch.) In that case, shouldn't you stop the tournament?"
"That's the thing. There's no concrete evidence of anything unusual, so we can't stop the tournament."
"So there's no evidence."
"For now, we're on standby, ready to respond immediately if something happens behind the scenes."
So, they're always one step behind, as usual.
But since it's the same as the Another Build, the Yummy this time are likely caused by Another OOO.
If that's the case, the members of Special Section 6 probably won't be able to solve it.
"If anything happens, call me too."
"No, aren't you on a bodyguard mission for the Saint King right now?"
"Well, yes, I am, but..."
"Come on, this isn't a celebration, but let's not talk about work here, okay?"
"No! ...Right."
I wanted to ask more about the Another OOO (probably) incident, but Yagami-san didn't seem to want to talk about it anymore.
"So, completely changing the subject, are you free in two days?"
"No, I'm not. I have a bodyguard mission for the Saint King for another three days. Is there something going on?"
"Since everyone's matches are over, we're going to the pool, and I was wondering if you'd like to come."
"Don't tell me you're planning to invite everyone here?"
Like Elemia and Victoria, too?
"Unfortunately, everyone else has a match that day, so it'll just be the usual members."
Even with "the usual members," it's going to be a lot of people.
"But I've heard you've been using your bodyguard mission as an excuse to play around town."
"Well, that's kind of true. If I can take the Saint King with me, I can go."
"That's fine with me. As long as you get permission."
Besides, the outings themselves are overlooked. We don't ask for permission from anyone.
The only problem is the Saint King's will. She probably wouldn't refuse.
"Then let me know when you've decided."
"Okay."
With that, my conversation with Yagami-san ended.
"Senpai."
"Lord!"
Yukina and Kokkoro returned.
"How was it?"
"Well, to summarize the main points..."
From what the two of them told me, there were no major differences between Einhart's story and the memories I had. So that part hasn't changed.
"And after the tournament, they decided to go to a place called the Infinite Library to research the past."
That hasn't changed either. I also reported to the two of them about what I had talked about with Yagami-san.
"I don't mind at all."
"Yes. I'm sure the Saint King will agree as well."
The two of them agreed to go to the pool.
And so, our next plan was set.
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