A-Class Battle Begins

"Let's challenge Stein."

I made the declaration in front of everyone.

"Really? You said yourself that having assassins sent your way wasn't bad, since you could swat them down easily… and you'd pocket 10,000,000G plus level-grinding every time. And you said it was true that, when targeted by a capable lower-rank Master, there's nothing the higher-rank Master can do about it."

Yuria said as much, but…

"Yeah, I did say that… But I've gotten fed up.

"I can't stand the thought of a guy who pulls these petty stunts squatting on a position as honorable as A-Class."

Those were my honest feelings.

"Understood. If that's what Naoto wants, then it's our job to make it happen with everything we've got."

Everyone agreed with what Yuria said.

"Thanks, Yuria. And everyone else…"

So then, let's think it through concretely.

"… I'd like to confirm the procedure for challenging an A-Class Master to a Garumon Battle."

I checked with Colette.

"Y-Yes. A B-Class Master applies to challenge an A-Class Master to a Garumon Battle through their secretary.

"The A-Class Master must accept within one month.

"They get to set the date and venue anywhere from same-day up to thirty days out."

"… So the right to set venue and date lies with the challenged A-Class Master.

"One thing I want to confirm. For example…

"What if they specify the inside of a locked vault and shut themselves in, refusing to come out?

"We try to head there, but the vault blocks our way and we can't get in.

"Just like that, we fail to reach the appointed location and lose by forfeit. Could that happen?"

"Eh, ehhh…? Th-That sort of thing should… I don't think it could, but, e-erm…"

Apparently caught off guard by the unexpected question, Colette began frantically looking it up.

"You really do have a surprisingly cunning streak, you know…"

Yuria sounded exasperated.

"No, I wouldn't do it. But it's something Stein might do, isn't it? If you can't anticipate stuff like that, you can't defend against it."

"That was meant as a compliment. I think you're right. It's reassuring."

Yuria laughed.

"Sealed-off private spaces such as the inside of a vault cannot be selected as a battle venue.

"Even if it came to that, I could connect us via Gate, but…

"Furthermore, that would fall under interfering by any and all means.

"On the day of the Garumon Battle, a state of Garumon Battle being established is in effect.

"It is not possible to launch attacks, including out-of-battle battles.

"For an A-Class match, the press also rushes in, and the System monitors. Failing to reach the designated location qualifies as illegitimate obstruction. If the obstructing party works such interference, it is they who are penalized. Like fleeing the field, they would be ruled forfeit.

"The System is not so incompetent. You can place your trust in it."

Before Colette could finish looking it up, Lyuka answered for her.

"I see. Then for now we're fine. Thanks, Lyuka."

"… Th-That's right… yes."

Colette tagged along with a considerable lag.

"So if a state of Garumon Battle being established is in effect on the day, that means I won't have to fight worn-down after Stein's C-Class Master subordinates pile on consecutive battles.

"Since a Garumon Battle has a limited number of skill uses, back-to-back battles would be brutal…

"Being able to wipe them all out at once with an area attack, an out-of-battle battle would actually be the easier of the two.

"Then, is there any sort of place that gives an advantage? Terrain effects or something…"

"A Garumon Battle is held inside a battle field. As we've seen so far, it's a cylindrical space about 20m in diameter, with no obstructions, where every element can be brought to its full effect. There's basically no advantage available before the start. Of course, after the start, you can freely use skills to favor a particular element, set the stage, and so on."

Yuria gave the rundown. As an active Master, she knew more about battles.

When it came to the System, Lyuka was the expert… and if Ursula, with her expertise on S-Class and higher-tier combat, joined us, we'd be set. The Stein fight was the first step toward that.

"Well, when all's said and done, the System sets things up so people can fight on equal footing."

"That's right. It's a world with three hundred years of history.

"People trying to outsmart the System and cheat their way through have hardly been rare.

"Each time, the System has been updated. Of course, there have been cases where bugs introduced during an update worked in favor of certain Masters. But in the end, you're left with no choice but to fight squarely.

"On that front, you can put your trust in it."

"… Thank you. So basically, the only thing to worry about is whether I can actually beat A-Class Stein…

"Beyond that, there isn't much to fret over."

If so, that was one thing off my mind.

"You really can come up with some pretty underhanded things, huh…"

Sawako pointed out.

"I'm not always thinking about it.

"If I don't consider how the other side might cheat, I can't deal with it, can I?"

"I'm not blaming you… It's that Yamagata and I weren't thinking about anything. It's only natural we lost…"

"Eh, underhanded things in the fight against Yamagata-kun… ah, that. The bit where you had me deliberately ignore the order."

"I have no intention of blaming you. That's all part of tactics."

Sawako laughed.

"Alright, let's apply right away then. Colette, if you would."

"Yes!"

Stein's true strength was still unknown. His fighting style, all of it… I had no idea.

But… if I couldn't beat that kind of opponent, I couldn't see myself making it as A-Class or S-Class going forward.

Courage and recklessness were different. So were caution and cowardice.

Colette tapped at the keys to apply.

The die was cast. From here on, I had no choice but to charge straight through.

A few minutes later…

"…! The acceptance reply has come back. Tomorrow!? It's tomorrow. The location is Stein-sama's castle in Ainsworth.

"A-And the rules have been specified… The rules are… All-Out Battle!"

"… All-Out Battle?"

"! Damn… so that's how he came at us!"

Lyuka, of all people, was rattled. It seemed even calm, composed Lyuka had an oversight.

"Lyuka… You know about it?"

"Yes… I'm sorry, I didn't notice. It's true that in promotion matches, the side being challenged can set the rules. All-Out Battle is one of those rules, and…

"Ah, come to think of it, I haven't explained knights to you, Naoto-san."

There was apparently quite a bit of explanation outstanding. That said, this was on me for not asking.

There was no way I could remember all of it even if Lyuka laid out everything she knew. It went into my head more easily when she disclosed information as it became necessary.

So as a rule, knowledge I didn't immediately need wasn't disclosed unless I asked.

"A knight… means a C-Class Master, but Masters of B-Class or higher can form knight contracts with Masters of their own rank or below. Knight contracts come in many varieties, from the heaviest, absolute obedience, to the lightest, a pure contract relationship.

"Absolute obedience is becoming a slave who obeys any and all orders, the same as a Garumon.

"A contract is a relationship bound by money, where each time a task is offered, the contents and reward are negotiated, and once accepted, the task is taken on. Things like that.

"There are various levels in between, too.

"As you can see, the relationships range in weight, but in any case, they refer to one Master being placed under another Master.

"B-Class can hold up to 6 knights, A-Class up to 12, and S-Class up to 24."

"… I see."

I understood why this hadn't been explained. I'd never had a single occasion to take on another Master as a subordinate.

"Are there really Masters who'd agree to absolute obedience? If you do that, isn't it game over…?"

"It's possible, on conditions like the transfer of a Garumon, with end conditions attached. The chance to acquire a UR-Class Garumon hardly ever comes to a C-Class, but for an A-Class, it comes a fair number of times.

"If that UR-Class Garumon isn't needed in the A-Class Master's party, the A-Class Master has to let her go.

"They'd still want to make use of a UR-Class they finally got hold of as combat strength. In such cases, they transfer her to a knight under their command.

"If that knight is bound by absolute obedience, it's possible to give them the Garumon with peace of mind.

"That way, C-Class Masters often want to become a higher-rank Master's knight in order to strengthen their own forces."

"… I see. So even though there's a numerical limit, when you account for handing them off to subordinate knights, the actual limit on Garumon ends up much higher."

"That's right. Even now, if you make Haru or me your Sub-Master, and the other an indefinite-term, absolutely-obedient knight, you'd be able to acquire 24 Garumon."

Yuria explained. I see…

"That said, a knight's Garumon is, in the end, the knight's Garumon. They can no longer be in the same party with you. That's about the only drawback.

"If she's under absolute obedience, you'll also be granted rights such as commanding the Garumon over their head. Holding her, breeding her, all yours to do as you wish.

"Well, between us, I don't think it makes much of a difference whether someone's a knight or a companion…"

Lyuka added as a supplement.

"Garumon transfers between knight and master aren't all that troublesome, but the System-side procedures are required, so you can't reshuffle mid-combat. Please factor in those drawbacks when you make use of it."

That was how she taught me about knights.

I see… if I made use of the knight system, it was already possible to bring vast numbers of people into my fold.

But it was a little lonely that they wouldn't be treated as my direct companions…

Then again, I could just consider those knights my companions too.

I'd been running things by treating the slaves who were Garumon as companions.

In that case, I'd treat the subordinates who were knights as companions as well.

I made up my mind.

"Now then, returning to the explanation of All-Out Battle.

"All-Out Battle means that everyone fights, knights included. Of course, when A-Class fights B-Class, an equal cap of 6 knights applies… 6 knights, plus an A-Class Sub-Master and the A-Class Master. It becomes an elimination match between up to 8 on each side."

"… An elimination match!"

Ah, I see… so this was how he'd struck precisely at my weak point.

… I didn't have any companions.

Of course, the companions present here were companions to me, but on paper, Garumon were treated as property.

I had no Master companions.

If anyone qualified, it was Haru and Yuria, but…

"In other words, with no knights, I have to take on this 8-person elimination match alone… or even with Sub-Master Yuria added, the two of us against eight."

"Exactly."

I see… I'd thought I had every angle covered, but Stein had outdone me and engineered an advantageous situation. That was an A-Class Master for you. He was no fool.

"Even rounding up new knights starting now, one day isn't enough…"

"No, I don't want to take on companions I don't know well.

"The fact that this 'knight' could be Haru or Yuria means that to me, knights are companions I trust and love from the bottom of my heart, more than I do myself.

"I have absolutely no intention of taking on someone I barely know just for combat strength."

So the proposal to bolster forces was rejected.

"… Is it possible to swap out members after a victory? In other words… can I take this on alone, and rotate in among my 13 companions in turn, watching their skill counts?"

"That's possible. If your Sub-Master participates separately and you take it on with an 8-person formation, you can swap out the 8 members each time you win… However, with 6 of them down and 6 still left, you can't swap and re-fight. Once you take a single loss, that's where it ends."

Lyuka added.

"… Yeah… Well… this is interesting.

"An 8-fight streak with my current members rotating in. Waiting at the rear is Stein, who, even if I throw everything at him, may well be at least my equal. Stein's Sub-Master, the C-Class knights who must have been gifted UR-Class Garumon by Stein… I knock all of them down. Whether the skill counts hold up. Whether the HP holds up. A fight on the edge with no margin to spare.

"Interesting. Heh, what started as a sour-mood A-Class challenge has… become something to look forward to all at once!"

My motivation surged.

"Going on a buying spree of store-sold Garumon to bolster forces from now is…"

"Not happening. I'll do the 8-elimination myself. I considered making Yuria my Sub-Master, but in that case I'd have to fix the members at 6 plus 7. That's less versatile, harder to work with."

A tingle ran through me… I didn't know if I could win. If anything, I was at a disadvantage.

Ah, but… taking on a tough enemy like this was when I felt alive.

"The conditions if you lose are: all your money, the transfer of Kanan-sama, and a one-year prohibition on A-Class challenges.

"If you decline, only the one-year prohibition on A-Class challenges takes effect."

"… Hah! Not bad, Stein. As expected of an A-Class Master.

"He sent useless assassins, calculating that I'd come at him irritated and underprepared."

Over there, they probably figured they had me cornered. Caving to the conditions and pulling out would mean a year of safety.

If I challenged, I'd be an opponent he could potentially beat even one-on-one. With 8-on-1, he was guaranteed to win. And then he could even lay hands on Kanan…

"I'll… overturn all of that. I'll challenge. Kanan, I'll absolutely never hand over."

"Naoto-sama… at the very least, won't you move your cash into real estate or the like to safeguard it…"

"No, since we're going to win anyway, I'm not doing that. 120,000,000G in cash? Leave it as it is."

Conversely, I checked the victory conditions.

Promotion to A-Class rank 118 was a given. And then 30,000,000G? That was lousy.

"This can be hiked up, surely. Are there any cute girls to my taste among his Garumon…"

"I'll have him present the list."

What I could see was name, headshot, level, and Value only.

The race name displayed up to now was hidden. Apparently you were allowed to guess the element from hair color.

He was holding all 16 slots full, but…

… Looking it over, I noticed only 3 UR-Class Garumon valued at 7000 or above.

Alicia, 7400.

Dura, 7800.

Nebilia, 7900.

These three were head and shoulders above. They were certainly beautiful in appearance, too…

But maybe because they weren't loli-faced and busty the way I liked, they didn't quite grab me.

If they came over, it wouldn't really matter either way.

"I'm putting up 120,000,000G. I want a sum that matches it."

"Understood. I'll negotiate for at least 100,000,000G."

"Yeah, that works. Colette, send the acceptance reply."

… And then negotiations went through. The battle was set.

"… Understood. Ursula-sama also expressed her wish to spectate, so I'll get in touch with her."

"Patty's getting in touch with Mama too～! I'll arrange interview staff right awa～y."

And just like that, things started moving in a flurry.

"How interesting… Colette, Patty, and Luna, our rookie trio. How far they can win their way up.

"This time it really is a fight where I have no choice but to take it on in Spirit Garb…"

The tension rose. There was fear, too, of course. If I lost, Kanan would be taken. The thought sent a fear strong enough to seize my heart in its grip welling up.

But all of that fear, all of that despair… was interesting!

I'd already gotten my hands on so many wonderful things. But this wasn't the end.

I wanted more, and more… I wanted to obtain. First was Ursula.

As an obstacle on the way to that goal… wasn't this fitting?

This was getting interesting…!

That day was spent bustling through preparations for the next, and then… we faced our decisive battle.

"Now then, an A-Class challenge by a B-Class Master has occurred. I, who shall serve as commentator, am Lima the NPC. Challenging will be the recently-talked-about B-Class rank 501 Master, player Naoto Akai, taking on A-Class rank 118 Stein!"

A girl in a bunny-girl costume. Whenever there was a battle, spectators gathered, a commentator showed up… and a spectacle sprang up in no time. Garumon Battle was the chief topic of interest, and the chief entertainment as well. It was one of the interesting points of this world.

"Whatever the rank, when one takes the field in a Garumon Battle, calling them 'player' is the convention."

"I see. Well, the rankings get shuffled after the fight ends, so during the battle they're treated as equals."

I listened to Lyuka's supplement.

… I felt calm. 8-against-1… no, in head-count terms, 64-against-13. It was a fight where the disadvantage was undeniable, but no one seemed to doubt my victory.

Everyone wore a smile.

… In that case, I couldn't let my anxiety show on the surface.

I had anxiety, I had fear. But I crushed all of it down and…

Wore a smile of trust, certain I would win.

"Oh ho, Naoto. To think thou wouldst challenge Stein this swiftly."

Ursula called out to me. Today, it seemed her companions had all turned out to root for me as well.

"I have seen the conditions. Should thou suffer defeat here…"

"I know. I won't be able to fulfill Ursula's conditions."

"Mm, at that point, thou shalt be my slave Master."

"… You're alright with me losing to someone like Stein?"

"Hmph, in that case, I myself shall retrain thee anew. Best thou strive with all thy might so as not to come to that."

Ursula laughed coolly with a small hmph.

"Fufufu, oh Ursula-chan. Even though you're really worried sick over him…

"The way you panicked yesterday when you heard the conditions…"

The Dragon King Saria Naga giggled, kusukusu.

"Ngh, wh-what dost thou speak of! I am hardly playing favorites with Naoto!

"Stein, though he be what he be, is still a subordinate of mine!

"As it is a duel between subordinates, I cannot but watch over them, hence I have come, threading the gap of a busy schedule!

"My schedule simply happened to be free!"

"… Even though the notice came a single day in advance, and adjusting the schedule was quite a hassle…"

Her secretary and Holy Knight, Libera, gave a wry smile and let it slip.

"Ngh, Libera, even thou…! I am here purely to watch over them in equal fashion!"

"… Even though you say that, the System is very much aware that you've been favoring Naoto too much, you know?

"I don't think there's any point doing tsundere about it now…"

The Yoko Mikoto called out with a wry smile.

… Yes, I'd challenged Ursula to mock battles many times by now, but it seemed I'd challenged her too often, since lately my levels had become decidedly hard to raise.

No matter how seriously the person involved thought they were going at it, even with a transfer of money, once the System judged it as 'companions fighting in a friendly manner,' the experience earned plummeted to near zero.

Unless I went all-out in a real fight with rankings on the line, leveling up with Ursula's cooperation had become impossible.

It wasn't our fault. If anything, it seemed the cause was that Ursula had grown too kindly disposed toward us.

"Hmph… that we should ever fraternize with the likes of you is unthinkable; the System lacks discernment."

Raphaela Cellas stepped forward with a sharp krii.

"Naoto. If thou puttest into practice the teachings of we knights, victory shall draw near of its own accord.

"As a pitiable lamb in need of teaching and guidance, I am watching over thee."

"Yeah. Thanks, Cellas."

"Fufu… no thanks needed. Splendidly secure thy victory.

"… Well, shouldst thou insist on offering thanks, I would not be averse to setting aside a little time…"

… Yeah, Cellas said all sorts of harsh things to me, but at heart she was a kind person. Lately she'd been getting kinder and kinder.

"Naoto-san, the time has finally come. All of us believe in your victory and are cheering you on."

The peerlessly graceful and beautiful young lady with metallic-luster golden hair, Mira Kongouin-san, took my hand and said so.

"Mira-san… thank you."

And so, watched over by Ursula's group, we headed for the arena.

Waaaaaaah…

"Now, the entrance of the challenger, player Naoto Akai! Taking on All-Out Battle is a single Master! Against a higher-ranked Master, it's almost as if he's stepping onto the executioner's stand… how pitiable. Do your best, player Naoto!"

That was how Lima cheered me on.

The crowd's turnout felt sparse. Without proper advance notice, large crowds didn't gather.

… However, even now, sparsely and in scattered numbers, the audience continued to swell. Word of the match was apparently spreading and drawing people in.

"Now then, the entrance of player Stein and the Stein Order of Knights!

"Knights of the Stein Order: Harid, Maicos, Luenza, Oimar, Arudd, and Lukai. Veteran knights serving player Stein. And player Stein's slave Master, Reifen, is a battle-hardened warrior who has charged through countless battlefields to this day.

"My, everyone looks formidable… It makes player Naoto look all the more frail by comparison… It tugs at one's maternal instincts. Do your best, player Naoto!"

She was probably saying it out of goodwill, but… I cracked a wry smile.

"Oh, ohh… fair Ursula-sama. To think you would deign to grace such a coarse setting. Welcome, welcome."

Stein, who had taken to the stage, knelt to Ursula in the box of honor and bowed.

"Mm, thy welcome is much obliged."

Ursula nodded with full dignity. When she did so, she was every bit the queen.

"But… why has your person come to set foot here, for the trifling words of such small fry?"

Stein voiced his question.

So my battle was the trifling words of small fry, was it.

The glance he flicked at me carried a flicker of jealous flame.

Had Stein taken note that I was visiting Ursula's castle frequently?

From that, conjecturing that Ursula had some special favor for me had earned Stein's jealousy and anger.

I'd thought he was just an unpleasant guy with no real reason behind it, but that explained things.

If some weirdo were getting close to Ursula, I'd be furious as well.

"Surely the rumor going round, that this small fry would be elevated to your slave Master, Ursula-sama… by no chance is there any truth to such talk…"

"… Hoh, has such talk become the gossip?"

"M-My deepest apologies! Loose-tongued chattering swallows speak such drivel… Should the fair Ursula-sama deign to hold one such, surely it ought be from among us A-Class…"

"… Kuku, were the conditions met, perhaps it would come to pass…?"

"!? The conditions, you say…! Wh-What manner of conditions could grant such an honor to this small fry…!?"

Hm? Was he talking on the assumption that I wanted to be Ursula's slave?

It was the other way around… well, Ursula understood, and there was no need to deny it to someone like Stein.

"… You! I shall not allow it…! The mouthwatering position of slave Master to the beautiful and noble Ursula-sama, I will not give a fraction of a chance to the likes of you! Your unspeakable insolence ends here! The difference in strength between an A-Class Master and a B-Class Master… savor it well!"

With only that, Stein withdrew… His tone was as if to say he wouldn't hand Ursula over.

Like hell. Ursula was mine. Well, no point declaring that to this guy, so I wouldn't.

One stayed behind alone.

"… Hmph. My name is Luenza. Like you, I'm a knight debuting this year."

"… Ah, is that so. Nice to meet you."

I greeted him idly, but Luenza's hostility toward me was bare for all to see.

"… A knight to an A-Class Master is a position a rookie C-Class Master cannot easily attain.

"Among this year's debuting rookies, I hold one of the highest positions.

"… They speak of you as if you're this year's representative, but in this fight I'll teach you that the difference between you and me is merely the path we chose. Climb your way up to me."

Luenza pronounced as much to me from on high.

"Ah, sure, nice to meet you."

Wondering which of us was the more distinguished, a knight to an A-Class Master or a B-Class Master, I saw him off.

Who was left was, let's see…

"Knight Lukai, taking the vanguard!"

Now then, time to start.

The 6-VS-6 x 8-fight elimination match!