Kays Translations

Chapter 40: I'm Angry Either Way

(... It seems I can't afford to let my guard down next year either.)

Michela leaves the ring and heads towards the waiting room.

In terms of the content of the match this time, there is no doubt that it was a overwhelming victory.

However, for Michela, who actually fought against Estelle Tracy, it was by no means an easy battle.

Having experienced long-range attacks that felt like the demons of Ishud, she was able to respond with some ease.

However, that doesn't mean you can win just by letting your guard down.

The victory was obtained by maintaining a heightened state of concentration.

No matter how she is asked, Michela answers that the previous match was not an easy battle.

(But really, that guy... What is he thinking?! With that casual attitude and applause!!!!)

After defeating Estelle, Michela naturally found herself unconsciously looking towards the direction of Ishud that she had discovered during the battle.

There was indeed Ishud, who was certainly applauding.

However, his attitude was too casual... It clearly showed a sentiment like, "I'm not interested, but since everyone else is applauding, I'll give a half-hearted applause too."

It wasn't a display of his utmost seriousness, nor was it a battle where he laid bare all of himself.

Even so, receiving such casual praise was unpleasant.

Nevertheless... if he hadn't even applauded, that would have led to a different kind of dissatisfaction.

"Ah, welcome back, Michela... Uh, well..."

"Hey hey hey, did you lose, by any chance?"

Michela, returning to the waiting room with a sulky expression, Philip asked without hesitation whether she had lost. 

Gulf, considering the possibility, was unsure how to approach the situation.

"I won."

"Huh? Then why the grumpy face?"

"That guy... instead of clapping, he should take things a bit more seriously."

"...Ahhhhh, I see. Well, well, hahaha! Well, that's typical of Ishud."

With this short conversation, Philip understood why Michela was so annoyed.

"???"

Gulf, not understanding with just that conversation, tilted his head.

"Hey, Gulf. In the first match... when you stepped into the ring, didn't you hear Ishud's voice?"

"Oh, yeah. Even though there were voices from many people, I immediately recognized that this cheering was Ishud's voice. It's a bit embarrassing, but when I stood on the ring, the tension increased again... but because of that voice, I could relax and fight."

"That's good. In my case too... I remember it was really clear cheering that reached my ears. It was a bit risky kind of cheering, though."

Both of them still vividly remembered the words of encouragement Ishud directed towards them.

Listening to the conversation between the two, Michela's expression turned as if she had been hit by a pellet gun, and she froze for a few seconds.

"W-What is... that?"

"So, how about you, Michela? Did he at least cheer for you?"

"I don't remember clearly, but... it felt like he was assessing me with a scrutinizing look."

"Hahaha!!! I see, so he was in a teacher mode, checking if his student could apply what he taught in real combat."

She never considered herself a student.

She thought he just occasionally asked about combat-related matters... but realizing that, in a broad sense, she might fall into the framework of being his student, she arrived at that conclusion.

"So, did he properly praise you?"

"I never considered myself his student."

"You're getting all stubborn~~"

Despite feeling a bit angry at Philip, who continued to tease her, Michela let out a big sigh and sat down in a chair.

"...Well, yes. At some point, whether it's a hallucination or not, I might have been praised in a very condescending way..."

"Ohh~ That's good, isn't it?"

"It's not good at all. That extremely, extremely, extremely casual expression and applause... I, I want to thrust my dual swords into him right now."

"Stop, stop. If you retaliate, you might get beaten, and your proud golden hair rolls might get cut off."

"...That's a bit too much even for retaliation."

While the importance of hair varies for each individual, among the young ladies, hardly anyone neglects to care for their own hair.

"Isn't it something like 'as important as life for women'? Well, for us too, having that part cut off would be unpleasant."

"Y-Yeah, just thinking about it gives me chills."

"Same here. But it's Ishud, right? If he can't afford a nice meal, he might just cut your hair instead of paying."

"It would be better if he just dropped dead."

"If it's Ishud, he'd happily take on the god of hell and come back gleefully."

"...It's frustrating that I can actually imagine that."

Whether Ishud is a friendly friend or a terrifying teacher like a demon or an ogre, discussions like these continued while the first round of the first-year tournament came to an end.

After that, the second-year tournament's first round began.

"..."

"Gulf, are you nervous again?"

“Probably. But, in a good way, I think... To be honest, in the first match, my opponent completely underestimated me, so I won almost unscathed. The next one won't be like that."

Unlike Michela, who took some damage but aimed to defeat all her opponents without holding back, he passed the first round using a hunting-like approach—taking down opponents when he could—closer to real combat.

"Hmm~ Well, that's true. The guy you'll face next is like us, someone who passed the first round. It might be safe to assume they're a step above. But, you're not planning to lose, right?"

"Of course not. Standing on the stage of the Intense of Fierce Fights, passing the first round... it gave me even more confidence. But, it's no time to be satisfied there."

Considering that Gulf, a commoner, has come this far, some might say it's a miracle for certain individuals.

Gulf couldn't deny that thought.

Nevertheless, participating in this Festival of Fierce Fights, Gulf had one clear goal.

If his classmates were to hear, they'd probably shout, "Don't get too cocky just because you've gotten a bit stronger!!!!" while spitting on the ground.

Still... the confidence that had quietly grown within him was pushing Gulf forward.

His goal was to win the tournament and face Ishud in the final special match.

Having passed the first round, did a bit of greed start to emerge?

Certainly, that might be the case.

But, rather than repaying a favor someday... there was no time like the present to collide with all one's might.

Today, here and now... Gulf would repay even a tenth of the kindness he received.

Gulf's fighting spirit, maintaining a truly good tension, had reached its peak.

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