Volume 2 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Extra: Misu Battle
TL: qbomb
Editor: Deus Ex Machina
I can't empathize with a mediocre main character who loves an uneventful everyday life
The reason is, I've never experienced putting myself in that ”ordinary everyday life”
Three years ago, I found ames in an arcade
…Before that, I have no
I wasn't holding any identification, wallet, or a phone; instead, there was a sun haphazardly jammed into the inner pocket of my jacket
…For as long as I can remember, my life was the exact opposite of ”ordinary”
When I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror, both my facial features and my body looked like that of a e The unifor looked more like a military uniform than a school uniform, and on my armband, the letters ”EGG” ritten in the silhouette of a griffon It sounded like soanization
Ai the toithout a particular destination, I encountered a girl confronted bywith the flow of things, I helped her out Once the incident was over, the girl, Riki, finally arrived at her destination—it was her parent's home, the mansion of the Misumi family
After being frank with ood luck, the head of the Misuht me into the family as an adopted child, and so I became the person I am today—”Misumi Eiichi”
And so I was given food, clothing, and shelter, but even then, my life wasn't by any means calm
Afor lianization would occasionally appear, the family's pharmaceutical coet irl from school, and I would often be attacked by people ore the sa when I first woke up…
And h School, Tendo Karen-san, called out to me and invited me to the Gamers Club for some reason (my sister had a sullen expression)
Well, at any rate, in the life of Misu day”
As a result, since I don't knohat”ordinary” has in the first place, whenever I read a onist that treats it as an i, I don't understand Because my everyday life has always been in ”a state of perpetual action”, whenever a work depicts an ”ordinary life”, I can only think of it as a boring, flat, and a useless depiction
So I, starting noill tell a story
A story using the typical, overused light novel setting, though I feel very regretful doing so
At the end of the day,
Starting from the ti extraordinary is called out by the beautiful girl, this is an extraordinary tale that makes me empathize to a remarkable extent—
—This is a story about a game
＊
”Is it… the local TVGT preliminaries?”
”Yea!”
In the clubroom of the Gamers Club, the beautiful as ever president Tendo Karen-san, confidently pushed forward a proposal
Kase-senpai was playing an FPS, and Oiso-senpai was playing a fighting game quietly, so the only two first-years in the roo of the clubroom, Tendo-san faced towards h the flyer, Tendo-san kept enthusiastically ra on and on
”Total Video Game Tournament, or TVGT for short It's next Saturday, so it's a bit sudden, but I wanted to invite you to participate in this tournament Of course, I will too”
”Yes, that's no problem, but…”
While talking, I sent a fleeting glance towards the senpais Even though ere talking about gaely uninterested Tendo-san had a bitter smile
”Those tell, I o”
”Eh, is that the case? Why?”
”I' at the flyer, but this tournaaaame with soht before the next round”
”Heh~, that sounds somewhat like a festival; it looks fun”
”Right? I also think that way and go every year, but look at these other club members…”
”Ah… I see”
Understanding how Tendo-san feels, I nodded my head Other than Tendo-san and I, the other members of the Gamers Club were people who are fundamentally ”specialized” They're people who have an interest in and are good at specific gaames
Naturally, they don't have a reason to participate in the ”coaht by why Tendo-san wanted people like Aamers”
After looking over the flyer and noting the key points briefly, I turned to Tendo-san with a smile
”Alright Then, let ether Well, I'inner, so I'll probably be eliminated pretty early on anyway…”
At olden hair fluttered in the air as she smiled
”OK, good! You can sign up here Let's both do our best”
”Yea Please take care of me”
After finishi+ng her explanation, Tendo-san went back to her seat I looked over the flyer once again
”(A tourna than our usual club activities …As I thought, I still don't knohat it means to have an 'ordinary life')”
Looking forward to the new experience and the fierce battle to come, my heart leapt in excitement
—However, a disturbance that would surpass ame tournament
＊
I think the part that ames fun is that unlike reality, for every action, there is a proper ”reply”
It's probably different for unreasonably bad video gaames are based on predetermined rules If the player presses a button, the character will respond, if your HP goes down to zero, it's gaame ends
This ”rule-bound world” felt very comfortable to me
At the very least, an outrageous event like
that happens in real life is less believable than any event that occurs in a high quality game
In that kind of world, it's completely possible to have ”victory” or ”defeat” without killing or injuring anyone… it's really wonderful
”…Today's finally the tournament, huh”
Saturdayin the dining rooah, h she usually finishes her breakfast quickly and leaves the room
Sitting across fro her cheek in her hands She's a dainty girl that looks like a really delicate doll
I started the conversation with a harmless and inoffensive smile
”What's wrong? You look somewhat unhappy today”
”…Not really~ Ruirl's school that Eiichi has plans on his day off with a popular, beautiful wo to do with me, so…”
Rika talked with a sullen look on her face …As the ojou-saantly, she can be childish fro to uess itup her heart to me… well, I am a little happy
When I chuckled unintentionally, Riki pouted and stuck out her lips
”A-are you that excited about going out with Tendo-san?”
”Huh? Ah, well, I guess Actually, I' forward to today”
Anyway, ever since joining the club, I, as a beginner, found aainst anyone Because of that, I felt even more excited for today
”(Actually, it's because that game was really fun When Tendo-san, Kase-senpai, Oiso-senpai, and Aether…)”
Thinking back on those fun times, I unintentionally s while she was looking at me, but Rika, in a really bad mood, hit the table and stood up
”Thank you for the meal!”
”Oh, Riki, if you're also going out, anization—”
”Tch, i-it has nothing to do with Eiichi! Well then, have a good day!”
”Ah, o-ok You too, Riki, have a good—”
Before I could finish, Riki quickly walked out of the dining room …Hs today? What a natural ojou-sama Well, I'm sure she'll cheer up later
”…Alright!”
Drinking the last of my coffee, I pumped myself up and walked out of the house
The local TVGT preliame center in the area
After istered for the coistered naainst the wall together and passed time until our first event …However…
”…Even now, Tendo-san, when you're going out… or rather, when you're outside, you attract a lot of attention”
Ever since wesince ere attracting everyone's attention
However, Tendo-san seemed to be used to it, and looked confident instead
”Is that so? Misumi-kun, if you feel mindful of it, I don't mind if we separate”
”Ah, no, I'm normally used to the attention, but…”
In the last three years, I got involved in quite a few troubles don, so I'm pretty resistant to attention …But in this case, Tendo-san stands out too much
While looking at the croith a strange ad really funny
”Huh? What's up?”
”Eh? Ah, no, it's nothing When ere talking about being used to attention, I thought of Amano-kun”
”Ah, he looks like the type that would be bad with these kind of things”
While ere talking back and forth about a co enthusiastically for some reason
”Yea, that's right! Whenever I get close to hiuess he feels somewhat embarrassed …Fufu”
I blinked hing really hard in enjoyment
”(H-how strange, for her to laugh like this …She's usually pretty gentle, so I didn't think she had this kind of side to her…)”
I've never seen this Tendo-san at the Gamers Club …Personally, I didn't think our conversation about Amano-kun was that funny… Rather, I only think that Amano-kun is pretty pitiful, but…
I couldn't bring ed the subject
”Anyway, there are a surprising amount of people at this preliminary I mean, this area isn't even a city”
”Yea, that's right Well, the preliminary level really feels like a festival, so the threshold is pretty low Misuaht?”
”Yea, probably”
”TVGT opens its doors pretty widely and lets a lot of participants join …But because of that, I don't think there's a 'true warrior' participating here today”
”'True warrior', huh…”
Unable to iames, I tilted my head in curiousity Tendo-san said, ”For example… look, the one in the white hat” and looked towards the corner of the room
”He's one of the lint in his eye”
”What…”
I was lost for words The one in the white hat looked like a university student with the characteristic freckles…
”He's went to the strip s crossed!?”
Tendo-san talked calmly while I was still in shock
”…Isn't it shocking? Look at that face full of confidence He's disregarding even the fa other members looks of disdain as well You look like you haven't thought about why no one dares to enter that area in all this confusion and bustle
”Gulp… c-certainly a warrior… a warrior that only looks at games…”
It seehts and battles
While I tres, the loudspeakersound, and then an announcement was made over the PA system
After the standard greetings and rules, they finally announced the details of the tournaroups, and they were starting to be displayed on several
While I checked roup A had started being listed Tendo-san talked as the nu displayed
”That's ames Then, people to watch out for… ok, it doesn't look like there aren't any famous players to look out for That's too bad”
”Well, I'lad that I didn't have to meet Tendo-san in the preliminaries”
At these preliroups A, B, and C win in their respective groups… so, in the end, three people get to advance to the next stage In other words, if I'ht in this round
While Tendo-san said, ”Oh, that's too bad”, in a roup B started
I looked attentively as my heart beat loudly… finally, I saw my number listed
”The genre is… t-tennis gaenre I've never tried before”
Feeling that I'd be eliminated in the first round, my mood was dampened Tendo-san, while in a flustered state, responded
”B-but look, your opponents are also probably bad at tennis games— …”
”Huh? Tendo-san? What's wrong?”
Seeing that she abruptly stopped talking, I looked at roup
”Number 43… uh… Echizen-san? Um, do you know the person?”
Tendo-san stayed silent to my question and looked towards the corner of the room Is he over there…?
”…Uh… what about that stripperson—wait, by any chance…”
While I was trying to guess, Tendo-san broke out in a cold sweat as she nodded…
After a few rave look on her face
”That person is, your opponent, Echizen His playstyle involves provoking others by talking in an extre manner and he's known as the <coach of=”” tennis=””> In other words… he's one of the best players of tennis games”
While I was lost for words, Echizen, having seen rinned
And while sitting on the strip , and with confidence dripping fro
”You still have a long way to go”[1]
＊
The le set, first to four wins As expected, Echizen started out massively dominant
Gaht up lost Echizen smiled
”You still have lots more to work on… (Mada mada dane)”
”H-hah, is that so… (What?)”
He said so cool and refreshi+ng, but I couldn't hear hiuous reply
Gaaain Echizen said a feords
”I will advance”
”H-hah, is that so… (It's a tournament, so you'll advance if you win…)”
This person surprisingly sees at his own pace It's as if he's a game character that only says a few fixed lines
”(By any chance, are all gamers like this for their whole lives—)”
While I thought about it, Tendo-san was shaking her head violently in denial …It wasTendo-san with such a desperate look
Game 3 As a result of the improvement of my own skills and the mistakes from Echizen's overconfidence, I was able to take a point, but eventually lost
”Won't you teach me how to play tennis?”
”…Uh… (I don't think he has the right to be speaking so sarcastically Besides…)”
He still had the stereotypical lines, but his s look disappeared
And then, it was game 4
”…Fu, fu~n, not, not bad…”
His voice shook, but kept saying fixed phrases I glanced at hiame screen …I didn't want to lose focus
Finally, I took a ga
Changing up the flow of things, the surroundings started to becoame 5 started
The result of the game was…
Echizen forgot his typical lines after that ga for the next ga amped up
”H-hey, this guy just took two games off Echizen!”
”It was… by chance, right? It's gotta be a lie He was a coame…”
The attention had shi+fted away from the famous player Echizen and towards the no-naames
Gritting his teeth, Echizen had a desperate look on his face Game 6
”I… I will defeat you and make it to the nationals!”
He shouted a war-cry during the ain …This time, he was only able to take a point, and my skill had surpassed his
Everyone watching thetheir breath All the excitement had already passed, and instead, the ateover the crowd
And the deciding gaame 7
”…I want to becoer More… moooooorrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee!”
Echizen had all but collapsed and forgot his lines and his character, but—
As if it was a throay game, I… uninterestedly looked down at le point, won the match
For a short while, only the sound of the game echoed in the room
But right after, the silence was broken by loud cheering
”A-a! What is this!? An aame!”
”T-that's a lie! He's a faot lazy and lost!”
”No, you sahat just happened, right!? He didn't lose on purpose, he was actually beaten by a complete amateur!”
”But in the last game, didn't he look like a pro player!?”
”A-are you saying he got better…? In in those seven games…?”
During the confusion of the surroundings, I calmed myself down and let out my breath
Looking toto hio?” …Even to the very end, I still don't get what this guy is saying Well, it's not like I heard anything he said
”Good job, Misureat”
Making o , but had a stiff look on her face Wondering why, I returned a s, ”You too, Tendo-san”
”In the first round, you inning handily unlike ht?”
”Yea, I was, but… but you…”
Tendo-san was talking in a roundabout way She was looking down as if she was thinking about so, and looked up after a few seconds
”Misu these tennis game?”
”? Yea, that's right Or should I say, it was enre itself”
”…That's right…”
Looking at Tendo-san, who had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, I thought I so bad, and tried to follow up in a panic
”Ah, b-but, it was a real fight! It was co alone, and I feel like I learned a lot It's all thanks to the <coach of=”” tennis=””>”
”…Yea… because it was a fight… huh …Then, that time when you visited the Gamers Club…”
”L-look, Tendo-san! More importantly, your second match is about to start!”
”Eh, oh, y-yea I'll be off, then”
”Ok, take care”
After saying goodbye and ot to her destination, I unintentionally let out a deep sigh and looked at my own hand
”(Yes, this feeling of satisfaction Challenging a difficult obstacle, and overcoames are… no, an everyday life filled with accidents is the best)”
Grabbinghands in excitement, I looked towards the monitor to check the location of my second match
＊
After the h the preliroup B tournament
After the simple award cere the stuffy arcade, the air outside was really refreshi+ng… It's not like the arcade was uncomfortable, but I felt relieved, as if I returned to the world I belonged to
”At any rate, you're a that gaot a lot better”
While walking side-by-side, Tendo-san would praise me froroup A handily was a natural and obvious outcome With a bitter smile, I replied to Tendo-san, as the same as ever
”No, you're exaggerating things, Tendo-san I… I was just desperately trying to hold on by i others”
”Your ability to concentrate isn't nornized you”
”No, like I was saying… Also, today's tournainners”
”Ah—… Well, that's certainly true, but…”
Tendo-san nodded Her best virtue is not overesti other people
Tendo-san touched her chin in thought, and then continued talking
”Today's preliion and had that 'festival' kind of feeling, so for a genre like tennis gainners For a structure like that, it really suited your fast growth rate But…”
”Yea, I also understood that If the a My coood example If that was the end of the match, I wouldn't have been able to improve”
”Yea I think it's a completely worthy assessment of your skills, but sadly, the opponents in the next round will gradually get harder and harder In other words…”
”Unlike this tia, huh”
To retfully nodded
”And another bad thing is that since TVGT is such a big competition, the schedule's usually really crowded So…”
”So I have liames in advance …By the way, the next round is…”
”One week from today, Saturday”
”One week…”
Since I don't even have the Hyperbolic Ti a dramatic power-up is pretty difficult[2]
As one would expect, I prettyany further After pondering over solint in her eyes
”…If it's your growth rate, possibly…”
I tiltedwhat sheher thoughts, and then caestion for me
”It's pretty sudden, but to to the club Since everyone has appointments, I can't make any definite promises, but I think I can force everyone to participate”
”? Huh? Uh, that's fine withclub activities, you know? Actually, all I've been doing during club tiames”
I was just trying to speak honestly and wasn't trying to be humble, but Tendo-san denied it
”No, the policy of our Ga In your case, it is more important to experience the actual co the fundamentals If you look at the match between you and Echizen, that much is clear”
”Hah… Well, I certainly do like co, but…”
Re the exhilaration of the co opponent, thinking desperately of ways to defeat theies and getting experience fro toit inning and exceeded it; you could call it ecstasy
Certainly, the coames I feel like there's absolutely no truth to Aame theory” that I heard about fro man for the first time
…Huh? Confront a strong rowth…
Suddenly understanding what I have to do fro my answer
”The members of the Gaenre In other words, in the week before the co those reain—”
”Are you hoping for a… rerowth?”
In the breeze of the early summer, the trees by the road rustled
With the setting sun in the background, and with a confident look similar to that of Echizen's, Tendo-san declared the nay
”Let us start Operation 'History's Strongest Disciple Eiichi'!”[3]
＊
And thus, I started the journey to becoest all-purpose player
However, the road through TVGT starting fro tale in a short amount of time, and if this were a comic, would take about 20 volumes to complete
For this reason, from now on, I will only tell the important points of the story
”History's Strongest Disciple Eiichi, Digest~”
First of all, by playing with ames to approach the top players Of course, I wasn't able to reach Kase-senpai and Oiso-senpai's overwhelames out of 10
Further Tendo-san and the two kouhais, I was able to learn a new special ability, ”Hasty Preparataion”, thatmy powers of concentration, it's an ability that lets me copy my enemy'ssomeone, by itself, can only result in a draw at best, but for my ability, ”Quick Growth”, the ability to ”earn time” is irreplaceable
In this way, I was able to easily pass through local tournagled in a match for the first time
This tiaenres that I didn't practice in the past week Furthermore, the opponent this time was—
”Give up, Eiichi! Your journey ends here!”