『Fran, how’s your condition?』
「Nn, all good」
『Good. How about you, Urushi?』
「Woof!」
Urushi replied with a cheerful voice from within the shadows.
Urushi has returned to us today. Now that Sibylla and her companion were also participating in the tournant, it beco easier to monitor them. The adventurer’s guild must have decided to relieve Urushi from his post as his master was also participating.
Fran nodded at my words with her usual expression. She seems to be sowhat excited, but not as excited as I think she would be.
But, well, I think she should be able to remain calm and fully demonstrate her abilities in this state.
Her bearing did not change as she walked through the corridor and was showered with loud cheers from the large crowds.
It seems she had gotten used to the cheers after last year’s experience.
As expected of Fran, she is so dependable.
In contrast to Fran, the young man standing on the other side of the arena looked sowhat flustered.
「C-calm down, …」
It was the Phantom Swordsman, Dufour. He’ll be Fran’s opponent in the first round of the martial arts tournant.
His job is still that of a phantom swordsman, but he looked much more skilled than the last ti we saw him. His status and skills have beco more developed too.
However, I guess he is not used to fighting in front of a large crowd. He was clearly a bit intimidated under the gaze of more than ten thousand people.
But with Fran in his sights, he seed to have flipped a switch.
The face of the young man who had been looking around at the crowd with an uneasy look changed into that of a warrior. Well, he still looks a little pale though.
「S-so you’ve co!」
His voice is so hoarse. Maybe it wasn’t the crowd that made him pale, but his fear of Fran?
Co to think of it, the last ti we saw him, Fran gave him a pretty bad experience. Maybe he was rembering that ti. And now, the very sa person was his first opponent.
No wonder he was so frightened.
「It’s certainly been a while, isn’t it!? T-today won’t be like last ti!」
『Fran, just reply with a nod for now』
「Nn」
It would be a pity if Fran were to reply with a “Who?” when Dufour is courageously putting up a brave front after all.
『Now, here we go! It’s that ti of year again! The Ulmut Martial Arts Tournant! Starting with the first round, here co the seeded participants!』
It’s been a year since I’ve heard this kind of comntary. He spoke as fast as ever, introducing the participants to the audience without pausing.
『Last year, she beat all the other strong competitors and ca in an impressive third place! The incredible beastman girl who set the record for the youngest winner! She’s not a dark horse this year, she’s the number one seed and the favorite to win! The Black Lightning Princess, Fraaan!』
Imdiately after the introduction, an explosion of cheers rained down on Fran. It was as if an idol or the like had just appeared on the stage, and the cheers were even mixed with shrill voices.
It seed that Fran was much more well known and popular than I had imagined.
Well, it has only been a year since last year’s martial arts tournant in which Fran perford well. I’m sure many people still rember Fran.
The cheers showed support and encouragent for the participants.
『I can’t wait to see what kind of amazing fights we’ll see this year!』
Fran stood calmly as she was used to, but Dufour was visibly dismayed. He seed to have rembered that he was being watched by a lot of people.
『On the other side, making his first appearance in the main tournant this year! The D-Ranked adventurer, Dufour! He may be young, but don’t underestimate him! He’s a formidable participant who made it through the preliminary round unscathed with his skillful swordsmanship!』
The audience roared at the comntary. However, the cheers were far less than at Fran’s, as a clear indication of the popularity of the two.
The spectators are being too obvious! It’s good manners to applaud for both sides, you know!?
But it seems that DuFour is so nervous that he is completely unaware of such things. With a slightly awkward movent, he draws his sword and readied it.
Well, it was his first ti in this tournant. It also seems that the crowd were much bigger than he had expected. And his opponent was the terrifying Black Lightning Princess. I have to admit that I felt sorry for him.
Even so, I appreciate the fact that he doesn’t lose his will to fight. Well, Fran doesn’t seem to be aware of it at all though.
「? What’s wrong?」
「I-it’s nothing!」
「Mmm」
Fran, which has no word called “nervous” in her dictionary, couldn’t understand why his movent was bad.
Fran followed Dufour’s lead and drew out. Seeing this, his eyes twitched slightly. He’s clearly afraid of .
The calm face of Fran and the pale face of Dufour face each other in the center of the arena. Just from the contrast between them, it is easy to see who has the upper hand.
And then, it’s finally ti for the battle to begin.
『Well then――Let’s begin!』
「Ooohh!」
Imdiately after the signal was given, Dufour rushed in at once. What he unleashed was a horizontal strike with all his might. And as expected, he hid the blade with his skill, the phantom sword.
He wanted to strike before Fran did. But his opponent was simply too skilled. Fran could see the invisible trajectory of the sword by the sound, and she bent down to pass under it.
「Impossible――gha!」
Fran’s fist went straight into his belly, and digs into his guts. With that one shot, Dufour’s legs lost their footing and his body collapsed.
「You’ve grown a lot. But you’re not close enough to get to yet」
「…Damn, it…」
「Your opponent could read your movents if you don’t mask your gaze. Also, there’s still problem with your movent too」
「…」
It seed that seeing his phantom sword had finally reminded her of Dufour.
But I don’t think Dufour is listening. Because he’s already completely unconscious.
『What a stunning performance! It’s all over in just five seconds! Many of you seed to have missed it! Well, it looks like we’ll have to keep our eyes on the Black Lighting Princess this year too!』
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