Reido Academy Cup Tournament Round 2 (1)

"Now then, the founder of this tournament. And currently the eye of the storm in this world — entering, Akai Naoto-senshu!"

Waaaaaaa…

Cheers came pouring down. These cheers are being poured down on me, huh, I thought. Somehow incredible.

"Fufu, quite the popularity. Did you all know? This boy went on a magic-ash cleanup and came back having subjugated a Great Magical Beast."

Waaa… hahaha…

Maybe Silvana's phrasing was funny; along with cheers, laughter rose too.

"Moreover this Great Magical Beast… Black Cyclops Type-Zero.

"A Great Magical Beast that calls to mind the Titan calamity 100 years ago."

"Yes, here let me once more explain the Titan calamity."

Maybe they'd planned it ahead of time, maybe it was natural rapport; Anneroese-san smoothly took over the explanation.

"100 years ago. To intercept a Great Magical Beast that had appeared, the S-Class 6th-ranked Master at the time, Paris, headed out.

"He was famous as the Master of the otherworlder Garumon Mille-Feuille Fauria, said to be one of the 24 strongest Garumon and to possess the finest beauty.

"… But he was defeated by that Great Magical Beast. And Mille-Feuille, along with all the Garumon he possessed, were taken into that Great Magical Beast.

"The Great Magical Beast leaped up in fighting strength, and…

"Transformed into the calamity called Titan.

"Titan brought unprecedented damage to the world. If we exclude Tiari Belzebute of the world's creation era.

"Twelve S-Class Masters died. Many of the surviving S-Class Masters were injured too.

"In such hopeless circumstances, the one who splendidly subjugated that Titan was…"

"Aw geez, stop it～. My age will be exposed～.

"Silvana-chan is a fresh-and-bouncy sixteen～."

Silvana, joking around, cut off Anneroese's explanation.

"116."

Anneroese-san, no mercy. Well, whether 16 or 116, the fresh-and-bouncy doesn't change.

"Well, joking aside.

"What I want to say here is that what kind of beast Paris actually fought is not known.

"Great Magical Beasts are named by their discoverer, but once they reach calamity-tier, the system names them.

"Titan was a name chosen by the system's sense.

"If a calamity occurred now, would Anneroese-chan be the one to name it?"

"… I'd rather we have no such occasion."

"To repeat: what we encountered was Great Magical Beast Titan… or actually, by now I think we can distinguish calamity from Great Magical Beast separately.

"In any case, it's Great Magical Beast Titan.

"Paris encountered Great Magical Beast something-or-other, named it, fought it… that's how it should have gone, but since Paris died, that info couldn't be brought back and simply vanished.

"Fight a new species of monster, name it, but if you die en route and can't return, that name isn't confirmed and the info doesn't come back.

"Per the spec of monster battles.

"So this is just speculation, but… I don't see anything strange about the Great Magical Beast Black Cyclops Type-Zero that Naoto fought being the same type and same performance as the Great Magical Beast that Paris fought and was defeated by."

… So that's how it was, after all.

Since the info on the Great Magical Beast Paris met was already lost, only Silvana, who'd defeated Titan, could ever certify that Great Magical Beast.

If Silvana said so, then in this world that was effectively confirmed info.

Oooohhh, the crowd seemed to share my impression.

"And so… Naoto-chin here can be called a hero who accomplished the Great Magical Beast subjugation that Paris, 100 years ago's upper-tier S-Class Master, couldn't, preventing a calamity. Let's give him a round of applause in thanks."

Pachi pachi pachi…!

Silvana led off with applause, and Anneroese-san and the great audience joined in.

Pachi pachi pachi…!

Oh, a downpour of applause.

… Ooh… this is wonderful.

A pride and confidence welled up in my chest…

Ah, it was tough, but I could feel that I'd done something fine and good…

"Thanks, Akai Naoto-kun.

"As a reward, I'll let you slide on the fact that you did chu-chu on Almaria's boobs."

… She lobbed in a wild bombshell!

That Almaria-sama's boobs…?

I could feel the great crowd's mood of blessing turn at once to anger.

Almaria-san seemed to have idol-tier popularity with everyone…

But I didn't do chu-chu! … I did momimomi, though.

And the cum bukkake… was Yuria…

But since I was the one who'd made her ejaculate, I guess this was on me too, no helping it…

And then the one who chu-chu'd up that semen was Almaria-san…

Yeah, well, even if you called it boob chu-chu, that wasn't wrong, then.

I'd humbly accept the criticism after all.

Or rather, Silvana-san said she'd let it slide, so it was fine.

Audience jealousy is scary, though.

"And so… while Akai Naoto-kun has put up splendid results, a match is a match. Hopefully it doesn't become his last shining～.

"With that, I'll close my pre-match remarks."

Pachi pachi pachi…

Silvana accepted applause.

… Somehow I'd just been put on display, hadn't I.

But well, the applause felt good, so I'd call it a win.

I couldn't bring myself to hate Silvana no matter what she did… was it because she was cute, or because she somewhat resembled Yuria.

"Now then, let me explain about Julian, who's about to fight Naoto. Anneroese-chan."

"Yes. S-Class 16th, Julian-senshu.

"His epithet is King of Plunder and Bandit King.

"In S-Class Tournaments and swap matches, the higher-side can dictate the Garumon battle rules, and he uses this. When he's challenged to a Garumon battle in an S-Class Tournament or swap match, he won't agree unless Garumon are wagered no matter what.

"In B-Class, A-Class, and S-Class, whenever possible, he's maintained the stance of absolutely forcing the opponent to wager Garumon.

"He wins like that, takes the opponent's ace Garumon, and grows stronger…

"The nickname he picked up is Bandit King, so to speak."

"I see… a player with a very bad reputation among those defeated.

"But originally Garumon battles are that kind of thing, no?

"Couldn't you say he's a Master-like Master, embodying Garumon battles?"

Silvana defended Julian.

"You could say that. However,

"as a result, multiple Masters who had their ace Garumon taken were driven to retirement."

"There were such cases～. Or rather, there were about ten of them among A-Class Masters. It'd be tedious to list each one…

"The most memorable is Fabir.

"He had a four-piece band called Four Star with his Garumon, and they were pretty popular, but the vocalist Savona was taken by Julian.

"To take her back he challenged in an unreasonable rematch, and ended up having all of Four Star taken…

"Poor thing."

"Yes. A regrettable affair."

"Among S-Class Masters there weren't so many. One was… oh yes, Maurin.

"Treated as a fairly promising up-and-comer, gradually rising in rank, but in a swap match Julian knocked her down. After that she couldn't recover and retired～."

"Yes. He too was a pity."

"And one more…"

"Regarding him, I've been told to keep silent from before, but…"

"Oh yes, Quied. Said he'd avenge his apprentice Maurin and got handily counter-defeated.

"Well, since now he can act all important as a commentator, things turned out well～."

The silencing was pointless!

"… Haa, well, fine."

Anneroese-san bitterly smiled and tolerated it. The well, it's Quied kind of treatment.

Or rather, Silvana was at the apex of commentators and was his boss, so Quied couldn't go against her…

Quied was the loud commentator at the A-Class Tournament who'd droned on with his own boasting.

His actual S-Class life had apparently ended fairly tragically.

"So, Julian's caused damage to a lot of people… but, well, no helping it. In this world might is right.

"Julian's approach is, fundamentally, not at all the normal approach.

"Just stealing someone else's Garumon doesn't make you strong.

"You build a balanced composition considering attributes, and after long training, the team finally takes shape.

"In B-Class and above, taking the opponent's Garumon ceases to be common because, at this level, training yourself up makes you stronger than plundering. That's the strategic reason.

"Despite that, Julian repeatedly plunders and still maintains S-Class skill, which is proof of his exceptional training ability, on-the-fly tactical skill, and his ability to overcome strategic disadvantages."

So Silvana praised Julian.

"With S-Class Masters at 24, having an oddball troublemaker like Julian, even just one, is interesting, I think.

"I rate him fairly highly. Well, I don't like him, though～."

Silvana gave that evaluation.

"That said, Julian-senshu doesn't always wager Garumon anywhere. Up to now there have been two matches where he didn't wager Garumon. Those were the previous tournament's match against Sairas, and 4 tournaments ago against Aqueria."

"Ahaha～. Well, pathetic if you call it pathetic.

"But, while it's natural to avoid those two now, at the time they were just newbie Masters with a few wins under their belts.

"His instinct to perfectly judge them as above his own grade is something else, I think.

"… In that sense, against Naoto this time, Julian's instinct didn't activate."

"Have Julian-senshu's instincts dulled? Naoto-senshu has a track record of defeating a Great Magical Beast that S-Class 6th was defeated by…"

"Whether 100 years ago's 6th is the same as today's 6th, I don't know～.

"Well, Mille-Feuille's skill compared to Tiamat is… I'll stop there.

"I was a newcomer back then too, and I didn't actually cross blades with her.

"Plus, monster battles and personal battles are different.

"In any case, currently calling Naoto's skill equivalent to S-Class 6th is overestimating things, however you cut it."

"Then, Silvana-san, which side do you think will win…"

"Hmm, prediction is hard. But I want Naoto to win."

Oh, to think she'd openly cheer for me like that.

"Considering the commentary for this tournament after Naoto loses, it'd be kinda rough～.

"Well, if the scenario became Shaina winning against Julian, winning against Eclair, and reclaiming Naoto, it gets exciting, but that's not very realistic.

"Commentating on Julian's swift advance, too…

"So, I need Naoto to win, fairly badly. I do."

… It was 100% her own circumstances.

"Now then, let me re-explain the victory rewards for both… Although, in Julian-senshu's case winning over Naoto-senshu is as stated at the start.

"He can take, as much as he wants, Naoto-senshu's Garumon that aren't already designated by Eclair-senshu."

"Yeah, yeah. Naoto's Garumon are all lined up with cute Garumon, strong Garumon. A drool-worthy reward.

"Ursula and Suzanne, the two Demon Generals will get particular attention, but I'd focus on Patty and Yuria.

"Well, he'll probably leave out some of his own Garumon to take as many as possible."

"Meanwhile, Naoto-senshu has designated Julian-senshu's Sonya."

"Sonya…? Who's that?"

"No tournament participation record. Apparently a Garumon who only fairly recently joined.

"Julian-senshu calls her 'useless trash.'"

"Hmm. Calling her that does, frankly, irk me a bit.

"… I have to wish for the development where Naoto takes Sonya and properly raises her to strength～."

I agreed with Silvana's impression.

If anything, my irritation was more than a bit. That was the difference.

I came to want to entrust a tremendously strengthened Sonya to Shaina and beat Julian to a pulp at year-end's S-Class Tournament.

"Now, was the introduction all done?

"How Naoto, against Julian, the wall of mid-tier S-Class, will stand against him… let's pay close attention."

"Now then, entering, Julian-senshu!"

Waaaaaaa!

On entry, cheers properly rose up.

As if to declare the chief of bandits has entered, Julian came slowly out with a rough, wild atmosphere.

Around him, naked beautiful girls followed gracefully.

He was probably parading the Garumon he'd plundered up to now like medals.

… A truly nasty guy.

For me, his attitude was unacceptable, after all.

It made me feel unforgiving.

"Yo… Akai Naoto! Thanks for inviting me to such an entertaining festival…!

"And not just Ursula — you're saying you'll hand over plenty more good females to me, too!"

Gahaha!

Julian laughed boisterously.

Fergus was also that boisterously rough, but lumping them together would be rude to him. Fergus was more cheerful and lively. A normal womanizer.

In Julian's roughness, I sensed the malice to hurt others.

"Here's the token of my thanks. I don't need this trash, so I'm paying in advance!

"Even if I win, this one alone I'll leave you with!"

When Julian said that…

From Julian's entrance, more naked girls appeared, and one of them… a girl bound in hand and foot cuffs, wrapped in rags, was dragged out.

"… Sonya!"

I rushed to Sonya and snatched her from the naked girl.

Bathed in the girls' displeased gazes of what's with this guy?

"Sonya…!"

I held her close. A small body of about 12-13, with small breasts…

A transparently beautiful girl, yet now her skin was filthy, and that silver-like hair of hers was all soiled with dirt and dust.

"What did you do to Sonya, you…!"

"Huh? I just beat her around a bit for fun, that's all.

"But no matter how I beat her, she didn't cry or scream. Too scrawny to be satisfying to punch. Useless for sex.

"Trash in combat. The moment she opens her mouth she launches into an incomprehensible lecture. I've never seen trash Garumon like this.

"Really, that you'd want this thing… I just don't get you, our promising newcomer-sama, at all!

"Gah-hah-hahha!"

Julian laughed loudly.

… In my chest, even murderous intent dwelled; that's how much anger welled up.

… A sexual taste for hitting a girl, hurting her, tormenting her.

He was probably that type. His two Sub-Masters also looked exactly like violent bandit underlings.

That this world could satisfy even such people's tastes, huh.

… The nearly 20 girls around Julian besides Sonya proved that.

"That's right, Julian-sama."

"Really, when Julian-sama is graciously beating us with such love, she can't even give a single thanks…"

"If it were me, I'd be so happy I'd wet myself…"

"Lucky her… Julian-sama's belly punches! That scrawny, useless Sonya, I'm so envious…"

They each said such things.

… For so-called masochist girls, Julian might be the ideal master, perhaps.

But was that really the case? Among them, wasn't there a child who'd hated it from the bottom of her heart at first, but at some point gave up and came to accept everything…

Really, even toward this kind of taste for hurting girls, could one truly say nothing as an outsider?

… But I had to think carefully.

I had no will to suppress all tastes different from my own.

But carelessly attacking tastes different from your own got taken that way and turned many more people into enemies.

That way, everything became a resistance force, and no reforms could advance.

… One thing I could say: Sonya, at least, really wasn't enjoying his tastes.

For now, I'd save Sonya at least.

That didn't go against my sense of justice, and it'd be accepted by society too.

In this world, the desire to take a Garumon you like was accepted, after all.

I held Sonya tight and glared hard at Julian.

"Fufufu! Splendid. Things are heating up!

"Evil filthy and ugly to the end! Justice pure and beautiful to the end!

"The fight between these two is just wonderful!"

Silvana was greatly delighted.

… I see. I could understand one side of why Yuria and many others said she was a problematic person.

Up to now Silvana had been a fairly kind, interesting, nice elder sister, but at heart she was basically a troublemaker.

She loved chaos, loved interesting things. Even if it was evil…

So that was it.

I was an otaku too, so in the world of fiction, evil being more wicked is better. I got that. You get more catharsis when you defeat them.

But this was reality, and the one really hurting was Sonya… I could never forgive this!

… Of course, the one I could least forgive remained Julian.

Fine, even if it ended up delighting Silvana, here I'd thoroughly beat him down!

In this world the strong are justice.

If so, then if I beat Julian, I was right.

"Julian… I will defeat you."

"Come at me, you shitty brat…! Hand over your everything!"

At last… it's the start.