Paradigm Parasite

Chapter 174: "Opening"

"............ is that him?"

When I called out for confirmation, Yonomori gently looked away.

Right now we're in the arena spectator area.

Currently, trials and other state-run events are basically closed for tournament preparations, but only betting matches, known as swordfights, are held without a break.

As it is one of the country's valuable sources of income and a popular event, it is open all year round.

The rules are simple: bettors simply go to the reception desk outside, look at the match-up table and the odds table and place their bets on who will win.

Those who want to leave the game have to report to the reception and sign a written pledge that they will not complain even if they die, and then go to the game.

Incidentally, you can also bet on yourself, so many people bet on themselves before going into the match.

If you win, part of the payout is paid as fight money, even if you didn't bet.

It is said that many people who are confident in their skills go out to make a little extra money.

To add to this, any kind of cheating is a serious offence.

If found out, it can be punishable by death.

As a state enterprise, they don't want to lose credibility, do they?

Now, the players at the end of our gaze were the bull beastmen, who had completely turned into humanoid beasts... or perhaps they were minotaurs.

In the arena, the bovine beastman had won five consecutive victories and had excited the spectators, but the sixth challenger was apparently a human being.

He was dressed only in a rough shirt and trousers.

His hair was golden. His face - I couldn't see it because the angle was wrong.

Well, the features are just as I'd heard.

I mean, he's completely unarmed, which I thought was fine, but after a few seconds I was convinced.

The fight started immediately, and it was literally instantaneous.

After lightly brushing aside an attack by a bull beastman who swung a huge battle-axe, the bull flew away.

To be honest, I didn't really know what he had done either, but the next moment he grabbed the axe that had been swung down and the next thing I knew, the bull was blown away.

The person who was in the arena - Mr Aspizal - didn't move from the spot, and the axe was in his hand.

...Was that thing thrown away?

He dexterously replaced his axe and slowly thrust it at the bull beastman, muttering something to him.

The bull beastman, perhaps sensing the difference in strength, raised his hands and sat down on the spot.

That's amazing.

The difference in weight shouldn't be twice as effective, but to throw that opponent away...

Aspizal-kun responded to the cheers with a wave of his hand, then noticed us, "Azusa-!" and calling out Yonomori's name repeatedly.

...This is embarrassing.

The reason is that Yonomori gently averted her eyes when I confirmed it just in case and now we are here.

Whatever it was, you're glad you were able to join up.

I thought so while gently separating myself from the Yonomori, who was attracting so much attention.

'Moo~! Moo~! Call out to me at a place like that! You're embarrassing me!"

"Ha-ha-ha, sorry, sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I was just in a good mood and Azusa was there, so I was happy and ended up..."

The location has changed again and this is a room in the inn taken by Yonomori.

Aspizal-kun smiles as he brushes aside Yonomori, who looks as if steam might be coming out of her head.

I watched it idly in the corner of the room.

...If you've done your business, can I go home?

"But how did you manage to get a place to stay? When did you learn the language here?"

"I don't know! I hired a guide!"

You've changed your character.

The Yonomori who speaks with Aspizal is very childish.

Maybe this is just the way it is.

"Is he the one you call the guide?"

Finally, it's my turn.

"My name is Roe. I've been hired as a guide until the end of the tournament. I'm looking forward to working with you."

As I say this, Aspizal-kun comes up to me and stares into my eyes.

When I look at him up close, he has a very well-defined face.

He looks more neutral than handsome and looks like he could pass for a woman - a man, right?

"Heh. You're a normal human being, aren't you? That's rare over here, isn't it? Why?"

"My parents took me to the forest when I was growing up. I came here for no particular reason."

Aspizaruku... don't you want you anymore - doesn't take his eyes off me.

"So, the language then?"

"Magic tools. That's what I'm doing."

Aspizal looks me in the eye for a moment, his expression relaxes and he smiles.

"You're funny, brother. Maybe you've had some unusual training or an unusual constitution?"

"I don't understand your question."

What is this guy?

There is no aversion or fondness in their gaze.

What there is it curiosity...?

I get the impression that you're asking because you're curious rather than probing.

To be honest, that's a bit creepy because I don't know what he's thinking.

"I wonder what it is? I kind of don't know what brother is thinking...?"

That's a coincidence. I don't know what you're thinking either.

"I'll give you my answer: other than the fact that I live in the woods, I think I'm perfectly normal, don't you?"

I wouldn't say it's normal.

"I see. I feel like I can get on well with brother."

He said this and smiled a smile with no evil intentions.

"That's an honour. Then, as a first step towards becoming good friends, will you stop the brother?"

"Yes. Yes. Nice to meet you, Roe."

You're calling me that. You jumped the gun.

Did I accept this request too soon?

"There's an elf village in the woods?"

"Yeah, that's what I heard too, so I don't really know."

The next day, I am asked a lot of questions by Aspizal when I have to accompany Yonomori on her shopping trip.

Apparently he liked me and asked me to go out with him, so that's why I'm doing this.

I'm supposed to say that I live in the forest, so I talk mostly about the forest.

At first it was about monsters, but halfway through the conversation I ran out of material, so I decided to make a joke out of it by talking about elves.

Fortunately or unfortunately, this was well received and I am being asked a lot of questions about the elves.

"So you're saying elves spend their time up in the trees?"

"Yeah, they build all sorts of things on big stumps and live off them."

"I see. But when we went through the forest, there were big trees, but I don't know if they were that big..."

"I'm not sure about that part. It's just what I've heard."

Today's shopping is said to be for daily necessities and food that can be stored for a long time.

I can tell the price by looking at the price tag, so the yonomori next to me is shopping by gestures, but when the beastman in the shop speaks to me, it's my turn to be the interpreter.

My job in the meantime will be to babysit.

Without taking my eyes off Yonomori, who is looking around at the stalls, I change the subject.

Let's change the subject before we run out of material.

"Can I ask you this time?"

"Yes. Ask me anything!"

"What are you going to do after?"

"After?"

"I'm talking about after you leave the country. You're not going to stay, are you?"

"No, I'm not. I'll go back to Urs Laguna when I've finished my business."

"And what business is that?"

When asked this, Aspizal gives a small tilt of his head.

"Hmm. Solicitation?"

"Solicitation?"

"Well, while I'm out sightseeing, I was wondering if I could bring home some promising ones to work for me."

"What? You have a shop?"

"Something like that."

Solicitation.

"What are you selling? Or are you some kind of mercenary?"

"Hmmm. I teach people who are in trouble and do research on magic. You can join us if you like. I'll give you a living."

... too suspicious.

"No, I'm more comfortable on my own. I decline such offers."

You don't really think it's Darzine, do you?

The phrase 'solicitation' is also worrying.

"I see. Shame."

"Sorry."

I smiled bitterly at that, but inwardly I was biting my teeth.

I'm already half convinced that if these guys were Darzain, they would definitely be in the cadre class called Apostles.

Aspizal would be different, but seeing as how the reincarnated Yonomori are following them, are they of high status?

No, maybe a high-ranking part-holder?

That fighting ability. It's quite possible.

Oh, shit. I really screwed up.

I should have avoided getting involved as soon as I saw Yonomori.

...But now that it's come to this, I guess I have no choice but to go along until the end.

I've already received an advance and if I run away at this point, I'm sure I'll be suspected.

It would be bad if I don't avoid that.

I breathe a sigh inwardly.

The number of days requested is until the end of the tournament.

It's going to be a long time.

The next few days went by without any problems.

Aspizal never gets tired of talking to me, I just deal with it, while Yonomori takes care of her business, which is what has been happening these days.

"I'm not sure how much I can take. That's the end of the shopping."

Saying this, Yonomori expands his big rucksack and smiles.

"I'm glad to hear that. I told you yesterday, I'm..."

"I'm listening. You're going to the big conference, aren't you? We're going too. Right? Azusa?"

Yonomori lets out a small breath.

"...it seems like, so if it's not too much trouble, is it okay if I go with you?"

"All right. Then let's go together."

I swallowed down the words 'no thanks' because it would be a nuisance, and nodded willingly.

Qualifying for the fighting tournament.

It is a place where those who do not qualify for the main competition fight in order to qualify.

Let's take a quick look at the entry requirements for this tournament.

There are two rounds, the qualifying round and the main round, and the winner of the main round becomes the next king, but there are fixed quotas - in short, seeded players - for the main round.

First is the current king.

He does not fight until the final as champion.

It seems to be a long-standing custom that the new king must defeat the old king to be elected king.

So the winner of the tournament and the last one standing gets to challenge the king.

The next is the one who has achieved a certain level of success in the matches organised by the arena.

In short, the one who is recognised by the state for his abilities.

There are not so many slots available, so those who are serious about challenging for the king's seat have to compete quite a number of times before the tournament to win this slot.

And to be selected to participate in the main tournament outside of these slots, you need to pass the qualifying round.

Well, there are steps that need to be taken in order to get out of that qualifying round as well...

The maximum number of qualifiers is 300.

If you go over a certain number of them, the organisation that runs the tournament - the examiners from the steering committee or whatever they call it? and they fight and thwart them.

Incidentally, there were five hundred and eighty-eight participants in this year's qualifying round.

The duration of the event was two days. Incidentally, if the number exceeds 700, the number is reduced.

The format is a battle royal.

The players are divided into halves and they all have to crush each other.

Incidentally, the most exciting part of the betting is this preliminary round.

It's interesting because there are so many people and you don't know who you're going to hit.

I'm not interested in betting, so I just watch the games.

I've got the reward for the success of the commission, so I'm not in need of money at the moment.

By the way, the match ends when there are only ten players left.

There are 20 qualifiers, 10 seeding slots + the current king's 31 players to fight for the title.

...So, below me in the audience - in the arena - half of the qualifiers, 294 people, each with a weapon at the ready and full of the will to fight.

A few beastmen appear in the actual arena at the top of the outer edge of the auditorium.

All of them are women who look like normal humans except for their ears.

So-called campaign girls? They start shouting with something like a microphone in their hands.

Their voices echo through the place.

... is it really a microphone?

"Ladies and gentlemen! Once every two years, this time has come! Six years ago, he overthrew the previous king in a tournament and reigned over this country as king! Since then, he has defended his throne against two challenges! Many of them are determined to do it again this year, after having suffered a bitter defeat in the previous tournament! Before we begin, the current king and reigning champion, the King, will give his opening address!"

The woman holds out a microphone.

The king of the country slowly appears from the end of the microphone.