Interlude 6 (1/2)

Interlude 6

(Souichi POV)

As Aya climbed up the arena, loud cheering, incomparable to the ones Francesca-senpai got, rose in the audience.

We were currently at 1 win and 2 losses.

If Aya lost here, the match will be decided. And for a hero to fight at such a time, it’s only normal for the audience to get so excited.

Looking up towards guest seats, I saw Yui-chan watching the match from the balcony.

I couldn’t hear her from here but by the looks of it she seemed to be cheering Aya on.

“Will Aya-san be able to win?”

“I doubt she’d have any problem to be honest.”(souichi)

The one who asked me that was the only one in our team except me and Aya who had won all her fights, Francesca-senpai.

It seems her travelling with Renji-niichan wasn’t just for show as she definitely seemed to be levels above normal students. Even in the first and second round, though she must have been underestimated, she still did win against pro adventurers so her ability was the real deal.

Well, even if Aya and I won, if noone else had won their fights, we would be able to advance so honestly, I’m relieved that she had such skill.

And currently, it seems like the damage she took from her previous battle was still left as she walked slightly unsteadily. No matter how I looked at her, it seemed dangerous.

“That aside, are you sure you should be walking already? I think you should sit down for a bit more.”(souichi)

“uu……..is it that easy to tell?”(fran)

“Well, yeah.”

After all, her steps are not firm at all.

Even if Francesca-senpai’s magical energy wasn’t that high, exploding the air so close was still overdoing it. In the worst case, she could have blown her own eardrums as well.

In fact, it should be said that she was lucky to have just taken some damage and fainted for a while after that. Nobody at the magic academy teaches such a way of fighting. Where the hell did she learn that?

“Aya’ll be fine. She’ll definitely win.”(souichi)

“Eh?”

I held not a sliver of doubt when I said that.

Certainly, Aya is one of the summoned like us and even strong enough to be called as the Grand Magus, having reached the peak of magic.

But above all, I know that a word like [definitely] doesn’t exist.

No matter how advantageous of a situation there is, even a mall mistake could overturn it all. Despair was always there, right by our side.

But, even then.

We are supposed to be [Heroes].

A human known as a [Hero] is simply not allowed to lose. That, is a definite fact.

{Heroes] who are meant to be the hope of the people must win no matter what.

There is no such thing as ‘definite’ in this world, yet, we must definitely win.

……..that’s the kind of existences we are.

Though there are times when we were told that we simply think too much about it but I believe that that is what being a [Hero] is all about.

Well, the definition of a Hero varies from person to person though.

“Rather than that, watch her carefully.”(souichi)

Saying that, I turned back to look at the arena.

In Aya’s hands was just a staff made of oak wood that could easily be mistaken for a normal stick.

Her opponent had, though blunted, a splendid long sword. Judging by the way he seemed adept with an unfamiliar sword provided by the tournament administration, the guy must be a very adept fighter.

Even his expression seemed to hold confidence. Even if his opponent was Aya, she was a magician. He must be thinking that if he could push this fight into a close quarters, he’ll be able to defeat her with a flurry of sword swings.

His expression is clearly showing that.

“I think, this’ll be a good learning experience for you as well.”(souichi)

Inside my head, the magic [voice] resounded. The opponent and Aya’s introductions began.

It seems the opponent fighter was pretty well known in his school. He was a year older than us, and also seemed to have experience as an adventurer like Francesca-senpai.

It seems he’s not a noble born which is why he seems to have some pride in his sword skills.

Against him was Aya, a top student of the Magic Academy and the Grand Magus. One of the [Heroes] that subjugated the Demon God and also the world’s greatest magician.

Both of them faced each other on the arena. One held a blunt long sword while the other held a wooden staff that looked like a stick.

I think Francesca-senpai was also worried due to the difference in their weapons as well. Since she was unable to deal with the large sword used by her opponent with her short sword, she must be worried for Aya who just had a staff.

“It’s starting.”

When I said that, the magic [voice] declared match start and at the same time, the swordsman, like common sense would dictate, instantly moved to reduce the distance between them. To stop Aya from activating magic.

Magic was manifested from the imagination of the caster. Then first, so that the magician becomes unable to freely imagine, to obstruct their thought process, it is considered basic to put as much pressure by closing in on the magician as possible.

Certainly, against a normal magician that is a very viable tactic.

In this world, the job of magicians was the same as artillery. To use long ranged attacks with wide area of effect to destroy the groups of enemies. That’s the first and foremost expectation of a magician on the battlefield.

After that, by working together with a knight or other similar warriors, they use magic to destroy single enemies one by one while the knight holds the enemy back.

In either case, the image of [magicians are to be protected by close range fighters] was strong.

In that sense, the definition of magician was not applicable to Aya. She’d be a new type of magician. That’s exactly why she’s called the [Grand Magus].

Well, it was Koutarou-san who gave her that name at first and he was also the one who made it popular with the public though.

I’m pretty sure the main reason for him was probably – ‘since we’re in a different world, it’d be cooler to have aliases and nicknames!’ or something like that. As a matter of fact he is the only one in this whole world who possess the title of [The Wizard] as well. In easier words, he just wants ‘something’ that sets us apart from normal people……..at least that’s what others said.

In Aya’s case, out of embarrassment or something of being given such a nickname she really dislikes Koutarou-san.

……….Even I think it’s pretty cool though.

But if I say that, she’ll really angry so I won’t.

While I was wondering about such things, the match had already begun.

Even though he wasn’t much older than us, his sword looked sharp as he attacked Aya. His sword swing’s speed and power probably surpasses the one who fought against Francesca-senpai.

But Aya didn’t run away from it, instead she faced it head on.

Receiving the sword swung towards her with her staff with full confidence, she parried it away turning the attack powerless. I wonder how magicians are there in this world that can deflect a sword with a wooden staff?

Her fighting style was actually quite similar to what Francesca-senpai uses. Or rather should I say, Francesca-senpai’s fighting style resembles Aya’s.

Chasing after the same person and looking at the same person’s fighting style, I guess it was normal for both of them to end up with the same fighting style. While thinking that, I observed Aya’s fight closely.

Maybe it was obvious but Aya’s movements were incomparably polished than Francesca-senpai’s. With just the minimum required movement, while negating the opponents attacks, she kept herself with lots of room to act. Just like a swordsman is supposed to put pressure on a magician by closing in, instead she was putting pressure on him by constantly parrying his attacks.

And all this was being done by her without the help of any boost to physical abilities through magic. And also because she’d get scolded by the tournament and arena managers, she wasn’t even allowed to use her trap and pitfall magic. Those ones would completely destroy the arena after all and it’ll take too much time to repair it all again apparently.

Meanwhile, the opponent’s swings started becoming rougher and sloppier. He must be really confident of his close combat skill as he didn’t seem to want to admit that he was being defeated by a magician in it and didn’t fall back. And that gap in his mind would result in mistakes in his fighting style.

No matter what the situation, no matter who the opponent was, you must maintain your cool. It’s very difficult, I know, but it’s still very important.

As he swung another side slash, it lacked it’s speed and power and Aya was in no way going to let go of that opening as she struck his hand with her staff ending his attack. It must have been a perfectly done counter hit as that one attack made him drop his sword.

Holding his hand that as struck, he kneeled down without even trying to pick his sword again. It seemed like his hand hurt a bit too much, maybe even his bones had been hurt.

And that was the end. In my head, the [voice] declaring Aya as winner resounded. Even though this was supposed to be the 3rd round’s vice-leader match, it ended so quickly.

“See, she won.”(souichi)

“……..haa. As expected, she, Aya-san, really is strong”(fran)

The audience made excited noises as the match had ended in the same time as we spent talking.

Most of the crowd was shouting Aya’s name. Probably because Aya’s pretty cute, she was pretty popular with men as well. As her childhood friend, it’s pretty complicated to be honest.

In the meantime, Aya came down from the arena. As if it was normal, she was neither sweating nor even out of breath.

“Good job.”(souichi)

“Good job, Aya-san.”(fran)

As me and Francesca-senpai spoke to her, she silently but while giving us a smile, stood alongside us. The remaining teammates got the same reaction.

Aya wasn’t really cold to others. She was shy/anxious around strangers but she was already pretty open to all our teammates.

But, somehow…….her dignified, or should I say, her personalityof creating walls around herself felt really confusing. It was the same for everyone else.

Thinking till that, I looked up once more. This time, not just Yui-chan but even Renji-niichan was watching from the balcony. Probably he came to see Aya’s match. And also Aya’s reaction. Even though normally she’d give a high five at such situations, right now she was acting as if it was normal for her to win.

I’m sure he must be making a teasing face right now while seeing Aya…thinking that, I realized I was smiling as well.

“Looks like you were able to show your coolness in front of Renji-niichan, eh?”(souichi)

“———-”

“Ack!?!”

My foot was crushed in silence.

I wasn’t in full armament like Masaki-chan so I was only wearing some thin leather boots. That’s why…….it really hurt. While becoming silent myself, I grit my teeth to avoid screaming in pain.

As expected, it’d be too uncool to squat down from the pain so I endured it.

But, Francesca-senpai who noticed it seemed surprised, or rather was making a pained face in my place.

“Shut up.”(aya)

“…..yes.”

In my opinion, rather than acting all mature like that I think Renji-niichan would enjoy her happily celebrating her victory more though.

Well, I’ll get my foot crushed again so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.

I’m worried that he’d actually think that Aya had a dry personality who’d act like it was obvious for her to win instead since she looks pretty mature as well. That said, if it’s Renji-niichan, he probably understands Aya’s personality pretty well already so it should be fine.

In truth, she’s actually pretty emotional and also has a very childish side as well. Even then, she’d always try to act tough and would always act like she’s angry when she’s actually embarrassed.

Well, I’m pretty sure there are guys out there who find that nice but for those who know her true personality……..well, it’s not like I know everything about her either though. But still, I feel like it’d be fine if she’d act a bit more sweet and childish than now. At least when Renji-niichan is watching.

I’m pretty sure she’d seem much cuter then.

“Souichi-san, calling a girl ‘cool’ isn’t really a compliment.”(fran)

“Wha”(souichi)

“Guh…….that’s not it!”(aya)

What the hell——-how should I say this, but hearing Francesca-senpai’s stupid words, I could also only answer looking stupid.

After that, I got scolded by Aya in a low voice. Why me?? Well, it’s the usual so I don’t really care anymore.

But, maybe she got a bit embarrassed, her cheeks were a bit red so she didn’t feel scary at all.

Instead, I ended up smiling when she looked at me like that.

There’s nothing more amusing than seeing your childhood friend’s state in love.

But, I still get my foot crushed though.

……….. There’s nothing more physically painful than seeing your childhood friend’s state in love as well it seems.

“Just go and quickly win the next round as well.”(aya)

“Yeah, sure.”

“You need to show your cool form to Renji-sama as well right?”(fran)

“Please, enough of that!”