The match ended and the exhibition match was in full throttle. After
Ryouma finished removing the sticky slimes from Roodman’s ogres, he
quickly went back to his waiting room, and ate as he thought to himself.
(I
thought it might be possible when I met him this morning… No, actually,
I’ve thought of it ever since I won the preliminaries ¬– that as long
as I keep winning I might end up meeting Matthew along the way, but… who
would’ve thought I’d actually have to fight him in the finals. To be
honest, I didn’t think he would be able to remain in the tournament for
this long. He put on a lot of airs in the past, but he didn’t really
give off a strong image… But then again, there’re also people who’re
weak, but have strong magical beasts. And it’s a fact that Matthew got
through all of his matches so far, so I might’ve been underestimating
him…)
“Right! In the next match, I’ll have the slime I can show in
public fight as hard as possible. The slime also has good compatibility
with the opponent, so there should be no problem!” [Ryouma]
Around the time Ryouma resolved himself, the man at which that spear was aimed at was currently…
“Just one more win, just one more win and I’ll be able to recover.” [Matthew]
He
was assigned a waiting room just as Ryouma was. After eating his meal,
he quietly mumbled to himself, caressing his left shoulder with his
right hand repeatedly as he sat on a chair. The image of him mumbling
and caressing like that resembled nothing like a tamer guild branch’s
guildmaster. Of course, he was actually only the big man in name and
wasn’t actually the one in charge, but let’s just put that aside.
Besides,
being on paper meant that he wasn’t actually that far off from the top
seat. But what Ryouma doesn’t know is that Matthew had actually already
received a notice of dismissal. One week later, Matthew would officially
lose his position.
Matthew entered this tournament to gain fame
and wealth. If he could attain the prestige of the magic beast
tournament’s champion, his personal worth would increase. If so, then
with enough luck, he might just be able to keep his status; it was the
desperate hope of a man in dire straits. As for the alternative of
turning over to a new leaf and starting anew, he did not think of it. In
fact, he probably doesn’t even have anything else on mind except for
chasing after his status.
Meanwhile, the finals were drawing ever closer.
The
exhibition match and the deciding match of the third place left the
spectators lifeless as they eagerly waited for the finals. Amongst the
eager crowd, within the noble seats, was one of the groups cheering
Ryouma: It was Elia and the others.
“It’s finally the final match!” [Kanan]
“It sure feels strange watching someone you know make it to the finals.” [Michelle]
“I didn’t do anything, yet I still feel so proud.” [Riera]
“But still… Who would’ve thought that Ryouma-han would actually make it
to the finals with just his slimes? How frightening.” [Miyabi]
“It’s just as usual though.” [Elia]
“It is exactly as the Ojousama said, Ryouma-sama is always exceeding our expectations.” [Sebasu]
Sebasu-san
who has visited Ryouma several times since parting three years ago and
has personally seen his research and experiments that were either based
on his previous life’s memories or things he’d thought up, heartily
talked about Ryouma. The five girls wryly smiled when they heard Sebasu
talk like that, but then suddenly, the trumpets sounded, and everyone’s
attention were gathered onto the stage.
The resound of trumpets
indicated the beginning of the finals. The extravagant, heroic
performance lasted for a short 30 minutes. After which, the announcer
spoke.
<<For our final match in this tournament, the first
man to enter is none other than the very guild master of this town’s
tamer guild branch, Matthew Ganteyn!!>>
At the announcer’s call, Matthew entered the arena with his magical beast from the entrance below Elia and the other’s seat.
He
had 12 beasts all in all. 11 of which resembled the raptors inhabiting
the Great Forest of Shurus. From a glance it didn’t look much different
from a small carnivorous dinosaur, but its whole body was bigger than a
raptor. Its jaws and legs were more developed and in between its claws
were membranes, drawing its limbs, webbed. As for the last remaining
beast, it was a giant over two-meters tall, possessing a rocklike
carapace and shears, it was a giant crab.
When Ryouma saw Matthew
going up the stage, he thought to himself, “Did he always have a name
like that? Then again, I think he might have said something like that
when we were registering…” Ryouma was more interested in Matthew’s
family name than his magical beasts.
<<Participant Matthew’s
magical beasts include 11 river raptors and 1 river crab. Can we get a
quick explanation of these magical beasts?>>
<<Yes, of
course. The River Raptor is a C Rank magical beast. It looks similar to
the D Ranked, Raptor, but it has an air sac by its neck and webbed
limbs. It’s a magical beast that can move even in water. It generally
lives around large rivers. The river crab similarly also lives near
large rivers, but in exchange for its lack of mobility, it possesses a
hard carapace and a pair of strong claws. River Crabs that’ve lived for a
long time can also use water magic.>>
<<Since it can use magic it must also be B Rank then.>>
After Matthew’s entrance ended, it was Ryouma’s turn to enter, but suddenly… The audience stiffened.
<<Oh?>>
What
entered was not Ryouma, but a lone slime. Only, that slime was so big
it filled the entrance, and it seemed like it had to forcefully push
itself out just to get out. But what’s more is that not all of its body
was out just yet. Of course, the spectators knew that that slime was
Ryouma’s magical beast, but no one knew what kind of slime could
possibly be so big that it would fill the entire entrance. No one,
except for Ryouma’s friend, Sebasu.
“So he’s bringing out that slime.” [Sebasu]
“It’s big… Very big…” [Elia]
“That’s the emperor scavenger slime.” [Sebasu]
“Isn’t that too big?” [Kanan]
The
emperor scavenger slime is the combination of 10,000 slimes; its
special trait is its overwhelming size. It’s a league bigger than the
king variation, and even its nucleus has a diameter of 60 centimeters.
Ryouma tried a lot of things, but despite all his effort, he couldn’t
get the emperor scavenger slime smaller than a ball with a radius of 3m.
Moreover,
today was a time to battle, so rather than make the slime small, Ryouma
made it a little bigger. And because of that, it ended up filling the
entrance. After the slime was finally able to get through, Ryouma
appeared.
<<Participant Takebayashi has entered the stage!
If you don’t think you can see him, look above the giant slime! That man
riding is none other than Participant Takebayashi!!>>
Ryouma
had ordered the slime to take care not to crush the official that
signaled for him to enter, so Ryouma only went up after confirming the
official’s safety. As for why he’s riding the slime, there’s not much
reason behind it. He just thought it’d look good, so that’s what he did.
After
entering, Ryouma ordered his slime, and the slime immediately depressed
the part Ryouma was sitting on, throwing Ryouma high up through its
elasticity. It was as if Ryouma had jumped on a trampoline. All eyes
gathered on Ryouma. Some imagined Ryouma falling, giving rise to voices
of shock and surprise, but–
“‘Telekinesis’” [Ryouma]
As Ryouma was falling, he casted ‘Telekinesis’ on himself to soften the fall, and he landed safely without even a sound.
<<What a gaudy entrance!>>
<<A spectacular landing that took advantage of the neutral magic
‘Telekinesis’. This seems to be the same technique taught by the dragon
guild to its members to ensure safe descent when falling while in
midflight. But putting that aside, what’s really worthy of attention is
that giant slime. According to information we’ve just received, this
slime is apparently known as the Emperor Scavenger Slime; a new
variation.>>
<<A new variation! Another unusual sight! What kind of slime is it?>>
<<Unfortunately, I’m not privy to the details. After all, it is a
new variation… However, as a magical beast its rank should be anywhere
from C to B.>>
A normal slime is G Rank, a big slime is F,
and a huge slime is E. Each size change increases their rank, so a king
slime is D. Naturally, the 10,000 slime, emperor slime, despite not
having been discovered before yet, would be a C Rank. If the slime is a
higher type, then it would go up by another rank. No matter how
favorable one ranks the slime, it would still stay within the B Rank, so
it won’t go past the tournament limits.
<<So that’s how it
is. Still, Participant Ryouma sure has brought out another interesting
one, huh. I wonder just how exactly he is able to acquire all
these.>>
<<As far as I know, he is the only one who’s
been able to gather these many slimes. For him to go this far, I wonder
just what exactly his purpose is. According to talks around town,
Participant Takebayashi apparently has a cannonball rhino; a powerful B
Ranked magical beast. Yet he has won all this time without relying on
that cannonball rhino once.>>
The two commentators were
filled with a mix of admiration and astonishment while Ryouma felt a bit
shy as he quietly caressed his emperor scavenger slime’s big body.
This
is off topic, but before Ryouma got 10,000 scavengers, he actually
wondered whether to call the next slime after king, god. But because of
the strong faith of the people of this world, a problem might occur if
he were to do so, so the gods stopped Ryouma. Naturally, after finding
out the possible repercussions, Ryouma thanked the gods.
Going back to the topic.
Ryouma
and Matthew sent their respective slave demons forward. Matthew
positioned his river crab right in front of him, beside which, he then
positioned the 11 river raptors. After he finished positioning them, he
looked up, and glared at Ryouma’s emperor scavenger slime as well as
Ryouma who was hidden behind and had his eyes closed
The reason
Ryouma’s eyes were closed was because the emperor scavenger slime was
too big. Ryouma couldn’t see in front of him, so he decided to abandon
his sight and just rely on his Magic Perception to ascertain the enemy’s
position.
<<The two participants are ready. It feels like
it’s been so long, but not much time has actually passed. Now, for the
final match of this tournament… to whom will the goddess of victory
smile? Final Match, start!!!>>
Immediately, the group of
river raptors split into two groups of six and five as they surrounded
the emperor scavenger slime. The river raptors ran in two circles, one
inner that ran clockwise and another outer than ran counterclockwise.
The river raptors ran like that without stopping once.
<<Looks
like they’re already using it. This is the method a group of river
raptors would use when hunting a single large prey. They surround their
prey, confuse their eyes, and then attack from behind. River Raptors
possess explosive leg strength which come from their activities
underwater. When this method is coupled with that leg strength of
theirs, even adventurers have no choice but to be beaten to
death.>>
<<Frightening! What frightening power! But… doesn’t it seem like the river raptors are at a loss?>>
The
river raptors are running around the slime, but they’re not attacking.
As for Ryouma and the slime, they’re just waiting for the opponent to
make a move. The scavengers’ fighting style focuses on the use throwing
techniques, so it’s easier for it to fight when the aggressor is the
enemy.
<<Aren’t the river raptors just being cautious? It
might only be a slime, but it’s managed to get to the finals, so it must
be strong. Moreover, the slime is also bigger, and it’s also a new
variation, so there’re currently no information available regarding it.
It wouldn’t be strange at all for Participant Matthew to send out an
order like that.>>
<<So that’s how it is. And here I thought the river raptors were at a loss at what to do.>>
At
the host’s joking words, laughter filled the arena. While commentator
and spectators alike were laughing, the battle between the river raptors
and the slime continued.
