Chapter 697

The Qualifying Round

Translated by Tods

Edited by NotEdited

The day after we watched the qualifying round.

『The matchups have been announced, and well… It looks like we matched up against someone we know right from the start』

(…Who?)

『Well, I knew you wouldn’t remember』

We couldn’t wait for the news to reach the inn, so we came to check the matchup table posted in front of the arena.

The names of the 64 participants in the main round are written on this board. The table is divided into four blocks with 16 names each that will compete to get into the semifinal, and Fran’s name is written at the very top of the first block.

That is because we are placed under the “Seed-A”. It seems that this place was given to us because we placed third last year.

Directly across our block, at “Seed-B”, Diaz’s name was written under it. Under our block, at “Seed-C”, Hilt’s name was there. And next to it, the “Seed-D”, there’s Fermus.

This seeding is not based on adventurer’s rank or prestige, but the previous year’s rank seemed to have the highest priority. This meant that Fran, a B-ranked adventurer, was ranked above Diaz, Hilt, and other A-Ranked adventurers.

It sure feels good to be in Seed-A.

Fran seemed to feel the same way, looking at the tournament table with a shine in her eyes.

(Master, my name is first on the table!)

『Yeah, this is going to attract a lot of attention. We can’t afford to show them a bad fight』

(Nn! Let’s do our best)

If all goes well, we’ll meet Diaz in the semifinal and Hilt or Fermus in the final.

『Your first match will be against Dufour』

(…Who?)

『The one you trained in Barbra at Gamudo’s request, remember?』

Fran seems to have forgotten that he was one of the fledgling adventurers she met at the adventurer’s guild in Barbra. At Gamudo’s request, she broke their noses when they were getting too overconfident.

Riddick, Naria, and Miguel formed a party and joined us in escorting a ship to the Beastman Kingdom and even trained them on the ship.

She seemed to remember the three whom she had trained pretty well, but as for the others, her memory about them was quite limited.

『Hey, he was the strongest of all the novices back then, the phantom swordsman』

(…Oh, there’s someone like that too, maybe?)

Even after I told her the details of his characteristics, she could only recall him vaguely. Well, even if he was a little strong, he was still at the level of a novice.

I hope she’ll remember you this time, Dufour-kun!

『After that, our next most likely matchup is――』

(Mordred)

Fran muttered in a cheerful tone.

She seemed to remember this one.

He is also a B-ranked adventurer who was with us when we escorted a ship to the Beastman Kingdom.

He was the type of adventurer who excelled in more than just simple combat. Of course, his fighting skills were also top-notch. He was a master of spears and Molten Iron magic, and he used them skillfully.

『So Mordred’s first-round opponent was Naria, huh』

(Naria!)

Naria, as I mentioned earlier, was the novice adventurer that Fran had trained for a short time. She was supposed to be a bow user, but to my surprise, she made it through the qualifying round.

I don’t think she was strong enough to beat Mordred after only one year though. Mordred would surely advance to the second round.

『If so, I wonder who will advance to the third round…』

「Hmm」

I don’t see another familiar name on the same block… Oh, there’s another!

『This Biscot, wasn’t he the guy who was with Sibylla?』

「?」

It seems Fran didn’t remember him. But, now that I take a closer look, Sibylla’s name is on this block too!

I never thought that Sibylla and her companions, the (Suspected) spies of Raidos, would participate in the martial arts tournament. Are they not actually spies? Or do they just not give a damn about this?

Moreover, Sibylla and Biscot’s names are so close. Wouldn’t it be bad for them to face each other?

『If I were to assume that Sibylla is going to win, we’ll be facing her in the quarterfinals』

(Nn. I’m looking forward to it)

As we were checking the tournament table, the people around us suddenly made a noise. It was the same reaction as when Fran appeared here.

Did some famous adventurer happen to show up?

As we waited, a man came up to the tournament table. Well, no wonder they were surprised when they saw this guy.

The man’s head looked like that of an insect. It was as if a praying mantis head, which was as big as a human head, was mounted on top of a human body.

With just one look at him, surely no one will ever forget his appearance.

He seemed to be strong too. His movements were flawless, showing that he was a high-ranking warrior. He was probably on par with Colbert at the very least.

「Hmm… My name―…」

I had imagined a voice that sounded more gritty, but his voice sounded surprisingly normal and human.

No, his voice would rather be in the cool category. His voice is exactly like that of a handsome voice actor.

The way he muffled the sound of his footsteps, the way he paid attention to his surrounding, made me think that he was a first-rate warrior. He doesn’t seem to be carrying any weapons, is he using his bare hands? Or could he transform his arm into a scythe or something?

Anyway, it seems that there will be a competent participant that Fran will be a little excited about.

「Who is that guy?」

「There aren’t any half-insect kin adventurers in this town, are there?」

「He’s someone from outside then? He looks strong」

「You think so?」

「Yeah, he has pretty good movement」

It seemed that the adventurers around did not know this man. He’s probably from another city or country then.