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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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There was a brief commotion due to Himura whining about not accepting his defeat, but he was quickly withdrawn by his own party members. Until recently, Himura had been an avoided target along with Bakugo, but now he seemed to have become quite close with his party members, becoming docile when they stepped in.
Like School Lunch Kid, it seemed you never really knew people until you got to know them.
Except for Saito’s party’s mage from Ishiraki’s party whose opponent self-destructed, the matches that followed were ordinary. The parties that won in the first Round of 16 were Saito, School Lunch Kid, me, Bakugo, Handsome Delinquent, Shoenji, Luna, and Ishiraki’s party, with 8 parties advancing.
Three party leaders were from our party, two from Saito’s side, and from Shoenji’s party, only Shoenji himself. Perhaps because of this, Shoenji’s cheeks were puffed up with dissatisfaction after defeating Yashiro’s party.
In truth, he looked more cute than scary, but the two defeated leaders seemed to be doing their best to comfort Shoenji.
“For the first quarterfinal match, Hero Saito Hajime’s party will face Hero Kudo Ren’s party. Would both sides please step forward.”
As the rest period during which the Turtle’s fruit was recovering ended, the knights began calling out for the heroes.
It would be a battle between Saito’s party, who demonstrated leadership through decent skills and high sociability, and School Lunch Kid’s party, who had united through exceptional talent and unexpected leadership.
My heart was starting to feel a bit grand.
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At this point, those definitely known to be S-rank were Saito and Shoenji. And unofficially treated as S-rank was School Lunch Kid.
For reference, while I was known to be A-rank, people were suspicious that I might be S-rank. Although I had hidden it just in case, it wouldn’t matter much if it became known now.
Anyway, as two who were considered S-rank were about to face off, people’s expectations seemed to be focused on them. Even those who had watched the Round of 16 matches with disinterest were now looking at the training ground with somewhat intrigued expressions.
“It’s amazing, your party. All three of you won.”
“…We were lucky. And one person from Saito-san’s party also lost to Shoenji-san’s party.”
“Haha. Are you trying to comfort me? Thanks.”
Saito, who had been talking warmly, extended his hand to School Lunch Kid.
“Let’s do our best with no regrets.”
“…Yes.”
There it was, there it was. He was enchanting our kid.
I was indignant watching School Lunch Kid bow his head with a slight blush on his face. I was planning to make the Japanese popular guy pay if he continued his aggressive scouting that ignored proper conduct, but as expected of a popular guy, he cleanly turned around and took his position.
What was even more annoying was that his clean attitude, without even a hint of lingering attachment, made him look even cooler. School Lunch Kid also returned to his position without showing any lingering attachment to the departing Saito.
As each party took their positions, soon after the referee called for the start, both parties began moving toward their opponents.
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The result of their fight ended with Saito’s victory by a paper-thin margin. In terms of individual combat ability, School Lunch Kid was more skilled.
However, what decided the match wasn’t Saito and School Lunch Kid, but rather the difference between their teams. In Saito’s case, despite having an 8-person party essentially composed of lower-tier players, he played cleanly and orthodoxly as a vanguard who could support the team’s core.
In comparison, School Lunch Kid’s party was at a level where they simply put forward School Lunch Kid, their main damage dealer, and functioned adequately. Of course, given that the party members assigned to those currently evaluated as S-rank were of low caliber, it was already impressive enough as a leader that School Lunch Kid, merely a high school student (looking like a middle school student), had managed to form a party with them.
However, Saito’s ability in this realm of personnel management was too outstanding. The remaining 7 members of Saito’s party, excluding him, were composed of users ranked at the bottom among the 108 participants.
But in 10 days, Saito had made those users perform no differently from users in other parties. People who had seemed to lack motivation now appeared to have bonds with each other.
‘I couldn’t even imitate that.’
While I could handle advice about gameplay or strategic aspects, inspiring motivation in people who barely had any and producing results was closer to being about human nature than skill.
It was a match that highlighted Saito’s human nature and leadership. Still, although his team was generally overwhelmed in terms of overall team synergy, School Lunch Kid, who had nearly broken through Saito’s party’s formation several times with plays that even looked seasoned, wore a refreshed expression despite losing.
“It was a good match. We won this time, but I think it could have gone either way.”
“…I think Saito-san’s party won because they were amazing.”
“Hahaha, thanks for the compliment. Honestly, everyone pushed themselves a bit too hard to raise their skills to this level. Our party members will be happy to hear you say that.”
The atmosphere was warm.
Just as I was about to go up and cause a bit of trouble, even if it meant being petty, since we were waiting for the next match below, Fatty, who had been extremely tense, called out to me.
“What is it?”
“Kid-kun, do you think I can block Bakugo?”
At those words, I thought of Bakugo. While Warriors belonged to the vanguard class along with Defenders, they were closer to dealing damage-tanks, to the point where Berserker existed as a job advancement.
Standing at what appeared to be over 185cm, with broad shoulders and solid muscles from apparent exercise, he was quite intimidating, and since he fearlessly charged forward, he truly played the role of a destruction tank. If you only considered the visual impact, he might have seemed even more impressive than S-ranks like Saito and Shoenji.
“It’ll be a bit difficult, but if you give it your all, you can block him. Their team doesn’t seem to have proper teamplay except for Bakugo-san. The only person we really need to block is Bakugo alone.”
Conversely, considering that Bakugo’s one-man team had completely crushed Tsurushima’s relatively balanced team, it meant that Fatty, who had to directly block Bakugo, had a heavy burden.
“Their key player is Bakugo-san. And if you can properly stand against Bakugo-san, wouldn’t you be able to take pride as a tank?”
“…A tank… Would that prove that I’ve become a man who can protect my ladies?”
“……Well, I guess so?”
At my unconsciously lukewarm response, Fatty’s eyes burned with motivation.
… Well, it was good if he got motivated. At least it was much better than being completely terrified and becoming an automatic door like before.
‘Still, I should adjust the positions just in case.’
As Fatty was forgetting his fear somewhat and burning with motivation, Saito came down after finishing his conversation with School Lunch Kid.
“Congratulations on your victory.”
“Thank you. Kid-san’s party really has a lot of talented people. Both Kudo-kun and Luna-san, everyone seems amazing. Your match is next, right? I wish you good luck.”
Saito, who had offered his support without any ulterior motives, walked toward the spectator seats leading his party members.
“…Somehow Saito-san is uncomfortable. I’d say I can’t bring myself to stand before him because his normie aura is too strong…”
“If you think about the future you want, Fatty-san, you can’t ignore those types. Look over there.”
After whispering the latter part, I pointed toward Amakasu and Masunaka.
Both were staring at the departing Saito with somewhat dreamy expressions. Unexpectedly, Kinoshita, who I thought would brighten up, was carefully removing her fake nails with indifference and entrusting them to the soldiers beside her.
“Right?”
“…I absolutely cannot forgive handsome guys. They’re the enemy of humanity. As a representative of the men of this world, I absolutely cannot let them get behind me.”
“Please talk about facing Saito-san after we beat Bakugo-san, at least.”
“…That’s true too.”
Fatty suddenly turned gloomy.
“For the second quarterfinal match, Hero Bakugo Shouhei’s party will face Hero Yun Sihu’s party. Would both sides please step forward.”
“They’re calling us. Let’s all go.”
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“It’ll be an easy victory.”
Bakugo, who we faced, immediately started picking a fight.
“The talent that should be the core of the team is a priest, and the one who’ll block my path is just a scared pig. Why don’t you just forfeit and go down?”
“If you lack skill, it’s better not to trash talk before the game starts. The backlash can be quite severe when you lose.”
I kindly advised him, thinking of the pros who trash talked before matches, lost, and then were ridiculed for the entire day.
“What?”
“We’re already in a situation where people have to get along and survive together whether they like it or not, so I’m giving you advice because you keep accumulating bad karma like a child.”
Then without waiting for an answer, I turned around and returned to where my party was.
“…Kid-kun. They’re looking at us with murderous eyes from over there.”
At Fatty’s words, I glanced back slightly.
Just as he said, Bakugo was staring at me with murderous eyes.
“Don’t worry about it. Sakaki-san, has your tension eased a bit?”
“Ah…um.”
“How about Amakasu-yang and Masunaka-yang?”
“…Y-yes. I think we’re okay.”
“…Me too.”
“Me too.”
“I’m a bit nervous but I think I’m okay.”
“Kinoshita-yang… Well, that was a pointless question.”
I smiled seeing Kinoshita who was checking for hangnails or looking in a small mirror even with the enemy right in front of us.
“Shall we prepare then?”
“Um… is it okay to take a moment?”
Fatty cautiously raised his hand.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Just a moment.”
As Fatty made a gesture suggesting I come closer, I approached, and Fatty asked with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
“…Would you chant a victory spell for me?”
“…Are you serious?”
“Well… honestly, it’s because I’m scared of Bakugo.”
“…Honestly, I’d feel a bit awkward saying that to you myself.”
“Is… is that so?”
When I sighed, Fatty showed a slightly withdrawn appearance.
‘Since Fatty’s role is important…’
If we’re going to do it, we might as well do it properly.
I made a stern face and carefully approached Kinoshita with a request.
Honestly, even though Kinoshita seemed open-minded, I was worried since it could be a somewhat rude request.
Kinoshita first looked at Fatty with a strange expression, then eventually made a sadistic expression.
“Really?”
“…It’s his wish.”
“This is amazing. I’m seriously seeing someone like this for the first time in real life. Um! It’s okay. I can do it.”
“Hero Yun Sihu? Are you not ready yet?”
“Ah, could you wait just a moment? It’ll be quick.”
At the referee’s words, Kinoshita approached Fatty with small steps and blew a breath into his ear.
“Eek!”
“Hehe!”
“Kinoshita-yang.”
“Yeah yeah. Got it.”
Kinoshita made a mischievous expression and spoke into Fatty’s ear.
“You’re suited for defeat fetish~ Loser~♡”
No, I didn’t ask her to say that far.
What the heck is a defeat fetish anyway.
“Uooooooooooooh!!!”
…Well, it seems to be effective so maybe it doesn’t matter.
I sighed watching Fatty who was letting out a wild cry with his eyes rolled back at Kinoshita’s words.
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“I’ll butcher you right from the start, pig.”
“Grrrr…I…I…”
Being in the tank line, Fatty and Bakugo were engaging in psychological warfare while facing each other before the start.
Normally, Fatty would have lowered his eyes in front of Bakugo, who was 8cm taller than him, muscular, and emanating intimidation, but the current Fatty was in a state where he couldn’t see anything else.
He neither yielded nor shrank back from Bakugo’s threats.
Jjaeng-!
As soon as the starting gong rang, all the vanguards from both sides began to move forward.
Particularly on Bakugo’s party’s side, regardless of Bakugo’s personality, they seemed to trust his skills and were approaching quite deeply, thinking he would break through the front.
Living up to those expectations, Bakugo, who had received all the buffs, charged at Fatty while swinging a thick wooden sword that was more like a club.
“Move aside, pig.”
As the thick wooden sword and tower shield collided creating a loud noise, Bakugo skillfully dug in deeper and crashed his large body into Fatty.
Fatty’s body, which had successfully blocked the first attack, lost balance and shook from the sudden additional body slam.
“Don’t stand before the king.”
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