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High School Hack and Slash Chapter 130 Part 2

I think what so-called religion, not only Buddhism, is a system for the privileged few to efficiently control the masses.

As for Zen, I get the feeling that it has a different nature from religion, and is more like a kind of study or perhaps self-discipline.

The proof is that it’s not widespread.

In other words, it means that as there is no one who benefits from making it widespread, it doesn’t carry out consciousness incitement of the masses.

The fact that the concept of Zen has been handed down without disappearing, even though it has deviated from the Buddhist collection system, is surprisingly poking on the truth, is it not?

Well, it doesn’t really matter, though.

「E, even though I’m not a player, I’m getting more and more nervous.」

「Let’s cheer together.」

「I’ve made a lot of bentos~」

「Nodoka has good taste. Even Melon praised her, you know.」

Mirin and her group of four, who have completely become a part of the club, are also getting along well with the Senpais, getting excited.

Since the schedule is pressed for the main tournament of the inter-club tournament this time, the matches will start in the morning.

The clubs that made it through the qualifying rounds are to head straight to the『Tartarus Arena (Colosseum)』, the venue of the tournament.

The classes are temporarily canceled today as well, so it looks like the spectators will be a lot in number.

It’s too late of a matter, but this academy sure is one that makes light of classroom learning.

Now then, the Tartarus Arena is a huge stone structure.

Compared to the wooden school building that’s overflowing with Taisho-vibe, it does not fit in with the surrounding scenery.

It gives off a sense of discomfort, as if something that must not exist is existing.

Outward visual-wise, it looks just like an amphitheater in Rome.

At the gate in front of the arena, a match table is posted on a bulletin board.

「It sure is crowded, isn’t it~? Rather, isn’t it turning into more like a festival?」

Mai’s words, with a look of exasperation on her face, literally mean what they sound like.

In the bustling, crowded plaza in front of the gate, a variety of stalls are lined up.

It’s a lively scene reminiscent of a school festival.

「This academy sure likes to hold events, doesn’t it?」

「Until last year, that wasn’t necessarily the case, you know? It used to be a lot more savage.」

In the crowded plaza, as we wait for the front of the bulletin board to become available, a husky voice calls out to us.

「To Kaoru-san and everyone from Black Honey, good morning~.」

When I turn around, I see a lively armed group of about 20 people waving at us.

「Good Morning-woof.」

「… good morning … it’s great, that you all look well …」

On academy grounds, it is not uncommon to see students carrying swords on their waists or carrying long weapons.

Rather, unarmed students are fewer in number.

This is a right recognized by academy rules as a tool for self-defense, as a fashion item, or as a weapon used in dungeon training.

However, drawing your sword or engaging in combat outside of designated areas are not allowed.

In cases of the supreme department students, they seem to receive preferential treatment, but for the regular department students, it’s an NG.

If you are holding a drawn weapon in your hand, the duel committee members will spring up out of nowhere, and you’ll end up being taken away.

Unlike such a daily life scene, seeing everyone being fully equipped, as if they were going to the battlefield, ends up making me feel a sense of discomfort.

They’re akin to parties heading out to dive through the Rashomon into the dungeon, a realm disconnected from daily life.

At the places where figures from such a world stand, reality and illusion are mixed together and end up becoming fuzzy.

Yeah, but it goes without saying, so do we.

「They were selling quartet popcorn, flavored with salt, caramel, butter soy sauce, and cheese!」

Doggy-senpai, operating like usual, comes running toward us from the direction of the stalls.

What she’s holding with both of her hands is a large serving of mega-sized bucket popcorn.

Her tail is wagging and buzzing in a good mood.

I think it won’t fill her stomach since eating popcorn is mostly akin to eating air, so I’m sure she would get tired of it halfway through.

「If it’s one piece each, you’re free to have some, too.」

「Itadakimasu.」

It must have been freshly popped popcorn.

I can’t get enough of the piping hot, aromatic flavor.

「Caramel is justice-woof. Four of these will do-woof.」

「… the basic one is salt …」

「Prez, thanks.」

「What a nice scent. I’m not hungry, but I think I can eat as many as there’s to it.」

「Butter and soy sauce is delicious~.」

「Hmm, it has a cheap vibe to it, where each flavor doesn’t add up, but I wonder if it’s the so-called simple is best.」

「That’s right.」

「It, it’s running out~. It’s closed up now~.」

Doggy-senpai tries to isolate the bucket by holding it above her head, but from everyone’s point of view, that just happens to be a position where it’s easier to pick.

She’s running around in a panic, so it’s akin to her distributing it to everyone.

Thank you for the treat.

「Au… Only half of it is left.」

「Next time, I’ll make you seven-flavor rainbow popcorn, mixing curry and strawberry flavors and stuff, okay?」

Hearing the suggestion from Kurumi-senpai, who’s unable to just watch, the tail of Doggy-senpai, who is holding the bucket in a dejected manner, bounces up in the air.

After going through joint struggles in raids and event exchanges, I think the Adept Orders (we) and Black Honey have gotten along quite well.

It’s a system that I don’t quite understand, but we’re also fellow clubs that have formed an alliance.

「I guess so. As we’re pretty much allies, the fact will be taken into consideration in tournaments like this.」

「If we were to fight, it would be in the final. Though, it would be crazy interesting if that were to happen.」

「That would be a burning situation!」

The muscle-brain pair of Tetsuro-senpai and Saki is getting excited.

When I check the matchup table, sure enough, we and Black Honey are placed in a tree of different blocks.

In the『Tartarus Arena (Colosseum)』, on the stage (battlefield) surrounded by spectator seating, there exist four stages.

Each seems to have the name of『North Wind Gate (Boreas), 『South Wind Gate (Notus)』, 『East Wind Gate (Eurus)』, and『West Wind Gate (Zephyrus)』.

It’s said that when the four stages are combined, they transform into『Heavenly Sky Gate (Anemoi)』, but I totally couldn’t care less about it.

The main tournament of the inter-club tournament adopts a knockout tournament system, so if you lost even once, that would be the end for you.

On the first day, the tournament is divided into four blocks, with four battles commenced at the same time.

Combining the 4『S』 rank slots, 12『A』 rank slots, and 48『B』 rank slots, they form the best 64 clubs.

The schedule for the first day will be to decide the best 16 in each block.

The total number of clubs entered in the main tournament is about 200 teams.

The top ranked teams, such as the ones from the current『S』 and『A』 ranked clubs, are seeded so that they would not clash on the first day of the main tournament.

The low ranked『C』 and『F』 teams having more matches is same as in the previous tournament.

The first day of the main tournament is a sort of screening process, I guess.

Even the clubs that end up being eliminated will be recognized as『C』 ranked, from the sole fact that they passed to the main tournament.

There’s no fixed number of『C』 ranked clubs, so this point has been set in stone.

「The Adept Orders (we) are… the North Wind Gate, was it?」

「Black Honey (our side) is the South Wind Gate-woof. As expected, it seems that the current『S』 and『A』 ranked clubs are divided into each block-woof.」

Next to Shizuka, who is looking up at the bulletin board, the doggy-eared hood-senpai is crossing her arms.

It overlaps with Doggy-senpai, so I hope she’d refrain from selecting canine ones as much as possible.

But, well, the point is, in order to win through the tournament block, there’s a need to knock down the current『S』 ranked club, at the very least.

Will we reach it, I wonder?

To where this path leads.

「Black Honey is not really that interested in club rank and the likes. But it doesn’t hurt to have a high rank, and we don’t intend to do anything reckless, but we go with policy of doing our best.」

「I see.」

The Black Honey Doctrine that Doggy-senpai teaches us is the same as ours.

I’ve heard that a unique undead system is also in effect in the Tartarus Arena, as is in the dungeon dive through the Rashomon.

It’s said to be a field effect to keep『instant death ascension』 in place.

Even if the head and torso were to be separated, they would end up going back to normal as long as you use things like a potion on them before their vital activities completely cease.

The potions freshly harvested from the dungeon boast that much nonsensical medicinal efficacy.

At least, their healing power for external injuries is not half bad.

Actions which cause damage that cannot be regenerated by potions, i.e., destruction of the head or severe damage to the flesh, are forbidden.

However, the probability of accidental death occurring is not comparable to that of Rashomon, and there is no function to reset the shock and pain to the psyche, either.

So a different kind of『resolution』 is required than in the dungeon.

「That’s why, let’s not be reckless and meet in the final.」

「… I see. Let’s meet in the final.」

「Yeah.」

Gulping down the bucket popcorn like it was a drink, Doggy-senpai nods her head.

「Touma-kun, let’s head to the waiting room at once. Get my armor out, wai…」

「Oto-chan-senpai.」

「Come over here.」

Otoha-senpai, moaning as she has elbows thrust into her from both sides, is dragged away by Miharu and Natsumi.

The heavy equipment, which is inconvenient to carry, is kept in the Item Box.

It’s a skill that’s simply way too convenient, so recently I’ve been making use of it without prudence.

I have a feeling that I’ve been using it without prudence from the beginning, but one ought to not look back at the past, but think about the future.

「… By the way, I don’t seem to see the figure of Kuribo-senpai, though?」

「… That thing is banned from all official events of the academy-woof. No need to worry about it-woof.」

As Shizuka lets out a murmur in a manner of being hesitant to even mention his name, Nenene-senpai sports a pained look on her face.

We sometimes meet with Kuribo-senpai at the『Seven Deadly Sins』 tea party, but I think he is a self-absorbed, harmless person.