S-Class Ranking Match

We were visiting Ursula's castle with our companions.

"S-Class Master Ursula Belzebute, huh…"

Griera had come along too.

"Griera, is this your first time meeting Ursula?"

"Yeah, that's right. I knew there was a stir over the daughter of former S-Class Master Esta Belzebute making her debut. Probably about as much of a stir as you're causing now.

"Ursula was strong enough to deserve that talk, no doubt about it, the real deal just like the rumors said, but…"

"Hm? Did something happen?"

"That year, Ursula-san was the one who got all the attention at first and made the big splash, but…

"In the end, it was all Sairas."

Irana added.

"Yeah, hidden in Ursula's brilliant shadow, Sairas didn't get talked about at all at first.

"He didn't really become a topic until he beat Ursula in the A-Class Tournament finals.

"He debuted as S-Class number 23 and Ursula as number 24, and then came the next year's S-Class Tournament.

"Sairas Wifgard's S-Class twenty-one-match win streak.

"Overlooking a guy with that kind of looks and that kind of talent, Garumon Battle Weekly had egg all over its face too.

"Even though Ursula and Sairas had both been winning in B-Class matches, they only featured Ursula and ignored Sairas.

"Some real blind eyes there."

"Aaah… I'm so sorryyy…"

Patty shrank in apology.

"No, you weren't even on staff yet back then. Things got way more interesting once you joined.

"And it's thanks to you introducing Naoto that I got to meet Naoto too. Thanks for that."

"Same to youuu. I'm so happy Griera-san became one of Naoto-san's companions. I was useful!"

While we talked, we made our way to Ursula's room.

"Glad thou hast come, Naoto."

Ursula greeted me.

"So thou hast added Griera, the one targeted by the Demon God, to thy side. Thou art steadily building up thy fighting strength as well, it seems."

"… Pleased to make your acquaintance. Now that I'm on his side, no matter what, I'll see to it Naoto wins."

"Fufu, I look forward to it."

Both being Demon-element, the two of them seemed to get along well enough.

"… Today thou art invited for none other than this. Today is the day of the S-Class ranking match. I called thee here to watch together."

"S-Class ranking match, huh… Wait."

Wasn't Ursula, as an S-Class Master, supposed to be participating?

"I have not put in a request to participate. The ranking match is a contest only among those who wish to enter."

So saying, Ursula brought out a giant mirror.

"It's a magic television. Far higher quality than the commercially sold ones, lets you enjoy the very best picture quality."

Yuria explained.

"Aaah…"

The old-style cathode-ray-tube TV at Leone's Inn.

It had sat tucked away in my father's retro game collection room, so I'd seen and touched one before, but other young people probably wouldn't know it.

That was the standard TV in this world. Flip the switch and it went bzzzzz with an electronic noise, and you'd hear that low-frequency hum the whole time.

And then the click-click dial method to change channels and tune it. So that was where the phrase "turning the channel" came from, I figured.

But the magic TV was more like a state-of-the-art TV. Or rather, a giant screen, around 100 inches.

"Now then, please."

It seemed S-Class Masters got an exclusive NPC magician too, and she switched it on.

A man and a woman appeared on the large screen.

"Looks like it just started. Now, relax and enjoy watching."

I was guided to the sofa in front and sat down.

Kanan sat to my left, Lyuka to my right.

Whoever sat next to me got rotated at appropriate intervals, but when commentary was needed, Lyuka or Yuria would sit close.

This time, I'd thought Ursula, as host, would take the commentary seat, but…

"Heave-ho."

Ursula sat down on my lap.

What was with this cute S-Class Master. I was definitely going to touch her boobs.

"Mn, fufufu… a fine seat indeed."

Including my hands, Ursula seemed to be enjoying herself.

The others each settled onto sofas or cushions on the carpet, taking it easy as we watched.

Drinks had been brought out too; we were thoroughly waited on.

The female announcer spoke in a stiff tone.

And then the camera projected Zeiros. On that large screen, practically life-size.

… Even with his whole body on display, I wasn't particularly happy about it.

Zeiros was an ordinary man.

Not the type to stand out. The kind of young guy you could find anywhere.

Even though he was an S-Class Master, I didn't get any S-Class aura off him.

The camera panned, and Shaina Fervey appeared.

… Cute. So very cute.

Her hair was on the short side, bright blonde curls. Her round, big eyes were a yellow you wouldn't see on Earth, but the bright color suited her well.

She was a flawless beautiful girl.

Her breasts were big too, and seriously fit my taste.

Of course she was beautiful, but the word "beautiful" didn't quite suit her. Above all she was cute, with hardly any of that hard-to-approach feel.

"She's cute. I'd like to meet her…"

"Yeah, isn't she～. Shaina Fervey. I'd love a go too."

Griera sympathized with what I'd said.

"Shaina Fervey, hm."

Ursula started to share her thoughts from atop my lap.

Mush-mush… I kneaded Ursula's breasts as I listened.

"Mn, … kuh…"

Ursula got worked up and her words faltered a bit, but she still managed to explain properly.

"The S-Class ranking match is one in which S-Class numbers 24 through 9 who put in a request can challenge the rank one above them.

"It's held at year's end every three years, except for years with an S-Class Tournament.

"A win merely swaps ranks, that's all. Those who want a slightly more favorable rank in preparation for the S-Class Tournament can challenge.

"Well, the most-watched match of this tournament is this one."

"Zeiros versus Shaina Fervey? Even though they're nearly the lowest-ranked S-Class?"

"Shaina Fervey has lost the past two S-Class ranking matches in a row. Will she lose this year too and make it three in a row?

"That's what's drawing attention.

"… And every time she loses, she gets raped.

"A beautiful girl like that. There's strong demand to have that scene shown to the public."

"…"

I felt a little uncomfortable. A cute girl like Shaina getting raped… I didn't really want to see that.

Well, I wanted to see it a little bit.

"In particular, last year's scene of her being raped by that mega-cocked sex beast Fergus apparently drew rave reviews.

"There must be plenty looking forward to this year too."

"Mngh… I'm rooting for Shaina."

"I don't want to enjoy a good woman being done by some other guy either. A good woman, you should bed her yourself.

"… Well, if it's Naoto doing it, I'd love to see that."

"Ahaha… well, hopefully someday I can show you that."

"Bedding Shaina Fervey, hm. For thee, that may not be such a distant tale.

"Win against me and thou shalt face Shaina at the S-Class Tournament. Just win on the spot and bed her there."

… I see. In that case, it really wasn't a distant tale at all.

Huh, seriously.

I'd come close enough that, if I wanted to have sex with an S-Class Master who stood at the world's apex, making it happen wasn't impossible…

When I thought about it that way, it really was amazing.

"… Well, thou couldst lose to me and fight as my Sub-Master, thou knowest?"

"I'll pass on that."

Well, all of it hinged on beating Ursula, after all.

"Lady Ursula, who do you reckon's going to win this match?"

Griera asked Ursula. Even with the "Lady" honorific, the way she said it didn't carry much respect, but…

Ursula didn't seem to take any offense.

"Fufu… I think Shaina will win this year.

"S-Class Masters are broadly divided into upper rank, 1 through 8; middle rank, 9 through 16; and lower rank, 17 through 24. The lower rank is further divided into two kinds. Those barely different from top A-Class who frequently swap with A-Class challengers, and those a clear cut above top A-Class, who fend off A-Class challenges and rarely change.

"Shaina Fervey is the latter. Zeiros is the former."

"Shaina Fervey is on a three-match win streak versus A-Class. Meanwhile Zeiros was promoted the year before last, and… in the previous swap match, beat A-Class number 2 Romos."

Lyuka added.

"Well, between two on the same S-Class borderline, who wins comes down to the luck of the moment."

Ursula didn't seem to rate Zeiros highly.

And then the match began.

What surprised me was…

"Huh, Shaina's party is just three people?"

Shaina Fervey herself.

A silver-haired, long-haired, adorable loli displayed as Shita.

An exotic beauty with skin black as obsidian, hair black as the night sky, and black eyes, displayed as Carla.

Just those three.

Zeiros's party had six. They were unmistakably beautiful, but… compared to Shaina Fervey's members, every one of them came up short.

"Indeed. Shaina Fervey took runner-up in the A-Class Tournament with just three, and won her way up to S-Class. As another commoner-born achievement following Sairas, it drew great attention."

"Whoaa…!"

That was incredible. Even granting runner-up, to win up that far with just three people…

"Why such a handicap challenge?"

"I know not. I have not spoken with her directly all that much.

"If thou wishest to know, thou shouldst ask her thyself."

"Even though you're both futanari Masters, you aren't close?"

"It's not as if I particularly bear her ill will…

"It's just that I get the sense she's avoiding me. And I have no special intent to be friendly with the other S-Class Masters either.

"The S-Class Masters all knew my mother and have known me since I was little, so many of them are dismissive toward me.

"On that point, with Shaina, who didn't know my mother and is my junior, getting along wouldn't be so bad, but…

"Even though her rank is above mine, I'm one year her senior. She's the one who ought to come speak to me first.

"But she makes no particular approach to me. With that attitude, there's no need for me to approach her either.

"And so we're estranged."

That was the kind of conversation we had.

It was interesting to get a feel for the atmosphere among S-Class Masters.

… Though, before long, I'd be entering it myself.

And then, the match began.

There was no detailed commentary on what Shaina and the others were doing, and from the outside it was hard to tell what they were up to.

So this was the effect of information shielding.

All you could tell was whether HP had decreased.

You couldn't even guess what element each one was.

Well, predicting from hair color was apparently fine. Going by appearance, Shaina was Light and Carla was Dark.

Shita, no idea.

For each one, you could tell whether they were attacking, defending, or buffing.

But the way Shaina kept firing sparkling attacks and chipping away at the opponent was clear enough; you could tell which side was pulling the situation in their favor.

"… Well, you really can tell.

"Zeiros's movements are sluggish overall. Shaina and her party's movements are obviously sharper. Even with fewer numbers, with this much of a quality difference in movement, it's easy to predict Shaina will win."

That was my evaluation.

Sure enough, with plenty of stamina to spare, she beat the first party.

The Garumon on Zeiros's side weren't covered in detail. Well, that was probably fine.

Frankly, there didn't seem to be much difference between them and Shiraki's Garumon (excluding Yumi) or Stein's Garumon.

There should've been a few URs in there too, I'd think…

No, they probably just clearly paled next to Shaina and the others.

"… Zeiros, does he really have the strength to be S-Class? Maybe he just looks weak next to Shaina…?"

"Hmm… He's the opponent I faced in the A-Class Tournament. Back then Cellas was still only an Archangel, and Saria a Dragonkin, and even leaning on my being a Demon Lord, I had a bit of a struggle. But… well, the S-Class number 24 I fought afterwards was several grades stronger."

"The top eight in A-Class are all S-Class veterans. They aim for openings in S-Class and swap places constantly."

Lyuka added.

"That's so. Win the A-Class Tournament, choose the right opponent, and you can become S-Class. That's how it goes.

"Right now, number 23 Zeiros and number 19 Zares are the easy-target lower-tiers.

"… What was unfortunate for Shaina was that when she got promoted, number 20 was the easy target.

"Current number 20 Gidsen sticks to number 20, and number 18 Melville sticks to number 18. As a result, number 19 becomes the open target.

"But at that time, because Sairas had won his way up the previous year's S-Class Tournament, the rankings had shifted by one, and number 20 was the easy target. Shaina, runner-up at the A-Class Tournament, won her way in aiming at number 20.

"… Of course, in the next year's ranking match, Gidsen tried to return to number 20.

"What that monster did to those girls the year before last was truly merciless…"

"U-uwah…"

Right, Gidsen, that one. The one with Value 1 nightmares, with six Ultimate Ones lined up…

Uwah, I absolutely didn't want to see that…

"Number 21… at the time, number 22 Fergus had ambition for promotion and often challenged Gidsen, but he's a guy who could never seem to win.

"There's no reward for winning, so he doesn't get fired up; that's the going rumor.

"With Shaina as the opponent, his motivation must've been considerable.

"The public rape with his 30 cm mega-cock was apparently very well received by the audience."

"Hmmm…"

Poor thing, kicked while she was down.

"Wasn't number 23 the easy target in Shaina's time too?"

"It was, but because she was runner-up she couldn't choose.

"The one who won the A-Class Tournament was an old man named Wallace.

"He was about 200 years old… a great veteran of the same generation as Leonhardt himself, the kind once called Leonhardt's rival.

"His strength was said to have fallen off greatly, but… even so, his strength as low-tier S-Class was sufficient. That was the kind of person he was.

"Going for one last hurrah, he secured the A-Class win and S-Class promotion, and retired the year before last.

"That Zeiros only won the A-Class Tournament and was promoted to the vacant S-Class number 23 without a swap match. Even his win is said to have been lucky, the result of the championship favorites grinding each other down, leaving an opponent he had an elemental advantage over."

"Well, well…"

"If thou simply wantest to become S-Class, it'd be better to aim for Zeiros, no?"

Said Ursula.

"Nope. I'll bide my time and challenge you when I'm ready."

"Fufufu…"

We had that flirtatious exchange as we watched.

Shaina splendidly overwhelmed Zeiros's second party with just three people too.

She properly displayed the dignity of an S-Class Master.

"… Strong."

"With just three, it's said she's the strongest in low-tier S-Class, even said to match middle-tier S-Class.

"If she dropped the three-only restriction, she'd easily get even stronger."

"Hmm…"

Why on earth was she imposing such a restriction? I'd ask about that when I actually met her.

… The day I'd meet S-Class Masters wasn't far off either.

If anything, three months until the A-Class Tournament felt too long. Well, I'd just have to thoroughly hone my skills in the meantime.

The next match was number 16 Julian challenging number 15 Dunes. Eclair didn't challenge either, huh.

Number 16 versus number 15 felt low-key, but… around here it was middle-tier S-Class versus middle-tier.

"Oh…"

The Garumon they were bringing along were appropriately high-level and beautiful.

"Around here it's UR-Class as a matter of course, huh."

"Of course."

Julian's scattered fighting style was overcome by Dunes's well-coordinated fighting style, and the match went rank-wise; that kind of feel.

The dance of the lovely Garumon was beautiful.

Beyond that, no particular comment.

"… Huh, they don't do several matches in a row?"

"When it becomes consecutive matches, the match day is changed.

"… Now, what shall we do with the remaining time? Some training, perhaps?"

"Sure. Mind if I ask?"

We worked up a sweat against Ursula, and at night worked up a pleasant sweat too.

… …

The next day, Dunes continued on to challenge Garland.

"If Dunes had lost to Julian, the next match wouldn't have happened. Julian can't fight in a ranking match twice. Fighting twice is only for the one who repels a challenge then challenges next."

The Garumon Garland brought along were also extremely beautiful and uniformly excellent.

"… That'd be Brother Garland."

Suzanne commented.

"… Hm?"

"Father Leonhardt, S-Class number 4, has three sons.

"The eldest is Garland. He's an S-Class number 14 Master.

"He inherited many Garumon from Father, and obtained his S-Class position through their power.

"He may not look it, but he's about 100 years old, a veteran."

"Heeh…"

So he was Lasheid and Reichhardt's older brother, huh.

Now that she mentioned it, he did look a bit similar, but a little aged, with slightly drooping eyes and a smirking face.

Frankly, in terms of looks alone, he was the most lackluster of them.

"… Why he can't break out of middle-tier S-Class despite having that many Garumon, that's a question often asked.

"Father reflected that giving him six or more of the strongest Garumon from the start may have stripped him of his ability to develop them, so the second and third sons were raised under a revised approach. I think so too.

"… Even so, on the strength of his powerful Garumon, he sits firmly in middle-tier S-Class…

"He's a delicate sort. He's certainly not at a level to be scorned, but as for whether he's worthy of respect, well…"

Suzanne's comment was delicate too.

This match was Garland's Garumon's individual strength tearing through Dunes's coordination; that kind of victory.

"Garland once climbed as high as number 4 at his peak.

"His Garumon had fighting strength enough that you could call them Father's second party.

"So that was only natural…

"After that, as young Masters built up their strength, he was overtaken.

"Whether the Older Sisters and Aunts who passed into Brother Garland's hands properly grew stronger as they should have… only question marks come to mind.

"Garumon keep growing for their whole lives, but only with proper, accumulated training…"

That was Suzanne's evaluation.

"I get it. Suzanne, you really did get strong, but I don't think that's an achievement of mine.

"… You'll need to grow even stronger.

"It's only when you grow stronger than even that predecessor Michaela Hilde or whoever that I can puff out my chest and call it my achievement, I'd say."

"! Just so! How splendid, Brother!"

Suzanne was overjoyed at my words.

"… For reference, Michaela Hilde's evaluation.

"… That kind of Garumon she is."

Lyuka read out the entry on Michaela Hilde, one of the 24 Strongest Garumon in the Garumon Yearbook.

"U-uh huh…"

Yeah, I knew, but… read out like that, it really was a little intimidating.

But with a Garumon as good as Suzanne, if I didn't make her at least that strong, it'd just be my own laziness.

All right, I was furiously fired up.

"But it's a skill build specialized for group battles. That means she's for anti-Magical Beast use, I guess?"

"Well, after all, the one who possesses her is Satoru, the world's number one…

"He probably has six set up for Garumon Battles and two for large army battles.

"Considering anti-Magical Beast battles are the real combat for S-Class Masters, there was apparently the view that Michaela Hilde, specialized for that, was Satoru's ace Garumon."

"Seraph Michaela Suzanne, hm…"

Ursula muttered.

I deliberately chose not to touch on it.

… Honestly, Suzanne becoming a Seraph meant I had an overwhelming advantage in a fight against Ursula.

If Suzanne went all out, she'd probably overwhelm Ursula.

… Of course Ursula had Saria, the Dragon King strong against Angels, so it wouldn't be straightforward, but…

If I sent out Suzanne in a mock battle, she'd probably be able to fight even if Demon Art Belzebute was used.

Up till now Ursula was a step above me, so I could ask for mock battles casually, but with the calculus for taking down Ursula starting to come together, asking for an all-out mock battle was something I wasn't sure how to handle…

"Oh, Hortensia, that beautiful Master."

The topic shifted, so I focused on the TV.

Hortensia… yeah, his face really was beautiful. What a waste that he was a man.

The six Garumon he brought along were…

"Whoaaa… so cute…"

They were the sort of cute that hit me right in the gut. Plenty of loli-faced explosive-bust girls just to my taste!

First, the leader Tinifa: silver-haired bob cut. A gentle-faced explosive-bust beautiful girl with one eye hidden.

The second was Lupila. Red hair; this one was loli-style and not explosive-bust… but with big eyes, cute.

The third was Melusine. Long blue hair, sharp slanted-eyed cool-style explosive-bust beautiful girl.

Melusine on Earth was the name of a monster with a snake's lower body, but no such thing here; she had beautiful legs.

The fourth was Naraku. "Naraku" was a slightly sinister name, but with her black hair tied up in a bun on top of her head, she was a slightly Chinese-style explosive-bust beautiful girl.

The fifth was Ilene. Pink hair felt a bit lewd, but she had a kind, gentle gaze that looked thoroughly chaste and pure-pretty… but with explosive boobs, she was lewd too.

The sixth was Seiran. She also had the same bun-style hair as Naraku. Her white hair contrasted. The look of an utterly bewitching beauty.

She had something boyish about her… well, calling those explosive boobs boyish was a stretch, but she contrasted with Naraku.

Their Master Hortensia, in face alone, looked like nothing but a chaste beautiful girl, and combined with the Garumon, they made for a splendidly easy-on-the-eyes lineup. Splendid…

"Ohh, Hortensia's Garumon really are great, lewd.

"I'm so into that kind of girl."

"Right!? Totally get it!"

Griera and I understood each other.

"Mmh… Well, I wouldn't say I don't get it. After all, with Garumon, you're drawn in by fluffy big breasts and adorable baby faces…"

"Oh, Lady Ursula gets it too. The taste in the Garumon you bring along is good too… right!? Isn't that great!"

Ursula and Griera understood each other too. And me too, of course.

I see; certainly all of Ursula's companions perfectly fit my taste.

… In other words, our tastes matched.

"In which case, Hortensia must share my taste too.

"If only he weren't a man, we could've gotten along…"

"Hm? … Aah, yeah…"

"… Aah, well, Hortensia is a 'man' though…"

Some delicate phrasing. Was there something behind it?

… Well, whatever. I'd find out eventually.

Goldin's Garumon were beautiful too, but… how to put it. They were clearly off from my taste.

You could practically call it a beautiful-girl preschool; there were obviously a lot of loli types.

No, preschool was definitely going too far. They weren't quite that. But… they slipped under my strike zone.

There were even girls who looked single digits in age… Huh, you could do it with little kids like that?

"Indeed thou canst. At which stage a Garumon stops growing depends on the individual. If their power awakens and growth halts, they're an adult. A Garumon's body is sturdy, so it ought to be doable."

… In other words, legal lolis. Was this world a paradise for lolicons too?

There was also a slightly larger one who looked early teens. At that age I'd be fine, but she had a slender beauty kind of feel. The chest armor was lacking.

Well, she was definitely the sort of beautiful girl who'd suit a kimono…

Hmm, what a waste. If she were explosive-bust she'd have been great. But her face was a little cool-style too, slightly off my taste. Definitely a beautiful girl, no question.

The match result was… rank-wise, after all.

Hortensia's cute Garumon's fight was lovely and wonderful. I'd been rooting for them, but Goldin's Garumon were generally higher in firepower, and… in the damage race they suddenly fell to a disadvantage, and just like that Hortensia lost.

Ah, too bad. Even if he was a man, I'd been rooting for him as a fellow with matching tastes.

Huh, no other requests, huh…

Well, they said there's no ranking match for number 8 and above, so either way Aqueria's matches couldn't be seen…

Which meant getting to see how the people I'd been keeping an eye on, Shaina Fervey and Hortensia, fought was meaningful, I'd say.

Soon… I'd stand on that stage.

Thinking that, I couldn't sit still, and the three months until the A-Class Tournament felt unbearably long.