Chapter 278 Part 2
There are eight matchfields.
Along with one other guy, Lambda and I took positions near the center of the New Training Grounds.
There’s a platform directly in front of us, and from a distance I could make out the guild leader, Master, and Juna.
They seemed to be dealing with some visitors.
Lambda’s friends seemed to have split up in pairs to monitor the fields.
That’s so that no matter which field the semi-solo bard’s match is held, at worst they can save it on video.
We didn’t have to wait long for that match to come.
The field in front of me, slightly to the left.
Close enough.
I can see his opponent’s back.
??? Lv.2
Elemental Sorcerer『Light』 Standby
What’s the weapon?
A bow.
I have high hopes.
Judging from the two matches this morning, what’s the weapon he would struggle with the most?
Without a doubt, the bow and arrow.
What if there were a preemptive arrow before the Cursed Songs and Magic Melodies could take effect?
It would greatly affect the course of the battle.
It could even interrupt the spellcasting.
How will you counter a tough opponent?
I’m excited to find out.
『Bow and arrow, is it』
「The range is different, but【Throw Object】might come in handy」
『Before he becomes in range of the bow, he could cast one spell』
「But just a single one, you could say. It’s going to be a tough choice, don’t you think?」
What am I thinking about?
If he uses a spell, what will he choose?
Based on the first and second rounds, he likes to fight on ground that gives him a relative advantage.
Cursed songs and magic melodies, maybe?
The question is whether or not they’d take effect by the time he comes into range of the bow and arrow.
If it’s resisted, he might suddenly be in a pinch.
But.
My prediction was wrong.
His weapon was the foil.
He used a series of martial arts techniques to close the distance and barrage them with strikes.
Certainly, once the distance is closed, he has a solid advantage.
Still, I wouldn’t call it an overwhelming advantage.
That’s because his opponent’s spell was just in time.
A spell that creates a mirage, Illusion.
While he was wrapped up with the illusion, the next spell made it in time.
A spell that uses an illusion to disguise oneself, Illusion Blind.
Good choice.
After that, they continued to release arrows while avoiding close combat.
And yet nonetheless, the Half Solo Bard waves around his foil.
Strange.
If you want to find out if the illusion is the real one or not, I think the idea is to make a few moves and make sure.
Why swing it around?
It doesn’t seem like a rational move.
Does he not have enough magic skills set to counter it?
Compared to the first and second rounds, he’s like a different person.
At the very least with a foil I think thrusting is the way to go.
He would turn and poke and wave towards where the arrows came from.
He seemed totally out of it.
And there was no sign of the sharp thrusting attacks from the first round.
His opponent appears.
He used a series of martial arts to close the distance, but he broke his stance.
Strange.
Very strange.
It definitely is a reckless way to use martial arts skills.
The deciding move was an attack spell.
Pulse Laser Burst.
It was a direct hit from behind.
At that point, the half-solo bard surrendered.
He just went and surrendered.
It was a total defeat.
That’s a surprise.
The surprise was the way he fought.
Not the defeat.
Because I watched his first and second rounds I can tell.
I can’t believe that’s the same player.
There were a few things that I noticed.
『He lost pretty easily. What do you think?』
「Something’s off」
『I think it’s because the rules are too restrictive for this individual match』
「His stance was different」
『What?』
「And the extension of his arm when he stabbed with the foil was different too. He wasn’t putting his shoulders into it」
『Is that so?』
「You can look at the video later. And was his center of gravity higher?」
『It looked the same to me』
「When he wasn’t using martial arts skills, he was moving his feet differently. His knees seemed stiff」
My conclusion.
It doesn’t look like the same player.
Though they might have just messed with the settings a lot.
And there was a shocking moment.
My【Discern】went through.
??? Lv.5
Black Bard/Principal Bard Standby
Oh?
For a moment, I’m sure I saw it.
Black Bard, huh?
Was it just a fluke?
Now matter how hard I look now I can’t get through.
??? Lv.2
Principal Bard Standby
I tried again, and now this!
I don’t know why【Discern】went through.
No, really.
「For a second there, it said ‘Black Bard’」
『What?』
「For a moment,【Discern】seems to have worked. The level was five」
Lambda’s expression is?
Unchanged.
I don’t know what’s happening on the inside.
『What are your thoughts?』
「My impression from the first and second rounds was that he’s playing it safe to try and pick up wins」
『”Was”?』
「My evaluation of that match is completely different. I don’t think he was strong or skilled」
『It couldn’t be a different player controlling the game could it?』
「I can’t be sure. But it being someone else might make sense」
『There’s no way』
He’s been playing for a long time.
He seems to have acquired a lot of skills.
He doesn’t have a fixed party.
Yeah.
That’s suspicious.
『But isn’t it unreasonable for multiple players to control a single character?』
「That’s what you’d think. But the way that last game went, I might believe it」
『Would they go that far to get past the anti-fraud measures?』
「I don’t know about that kind of thing」
That’s right.
Isn’t it fun to steadily develop yourself?
Well, people have different values, and it’s okay to have those values.
I can understand it, but I don’t agree with it.
Even if you have a strong character from the start, right?
I think developing your character yourself gives more of a sense of achievement.
『He’s gone outside the venue. I’ll follow him』
「So this is where we say goodbye」
『If the revenge is successful, I may see you again as a different character』
「That would be nice」
Yeah.
I hope that’s how it goes.
We bid each other farewell with a simple nod and parted ways.
Too simple?
No, I think this kind of thing is nice.
As for watching the game?
Of course, I’ll continue.
The next match also looks pretty interesting.
Just for fun though.
Believe it or not, it’s a martial artist.
And what’s more it seems to be a woman.
I can’t see her face, but her figure alone is enough to make me salivate.
I want to ask for a ground fighting sparring match.
But too bad.
Her opponent looks familiar.
There’s a net on their left shoulder.
In his right hand is a harpoon.
??? Lv.1
Grappler Standby
??? Lv.2
Skipper Standby
Grappler, huh.
A high-tier fighter job?
I searched the latest info, but didn’t find any such profession.
I guess I should assume that they changed classes just recently.
And Skipper.
When I searched it up, it seemed to be a high-tier Fisherman job.
Is it Jirou or Joji?
Or is it Muneo?
Or it could be someone I don’t know.
Judging purely on equipment, the martial artist seems to have the short straw.
Like I thought.
It seems that their compatibility was too bad.
It’s natural to be wary of throwing nets, but in the end the net didn’t come into play.
It was only to keep her in check.
However, I can say that the net was effective enough as a deterrent against close combat.
There are things like this, aren’t there?
It’s one of those times where being overly cautious ends up being the cause for your defeat.
It really is difficult when there are restrictions on the skills that can be set, isn’t it?
「Do you mind if we sit here?」
「Huh?」
All of a sudden, there are familiar players around me.
Margrid and Saki.
There’s also Fiona and Mio behind them.
Then there’s Reina, Helga, and Len-Len.
It’s the usual group of production workers, but why are they all women?
Margrit sits to the left of me.
And she very naturally reached a hand out to Volff, who was at my feet.
She strokes him.
She strokes him all over.
I wonder if it feels good. Volff is squinting his eyes.
He looks like he’s really about to fall asleep.
To my right, Fina-san has secured a spot.
Oma was over there, but.
He gave up his position so easily!
Crap.
What’s with this position?
I can’t escape now, can I?
「Seems like there’s a lot of upsets happening all over the place, huh?」
「Upsets?」
「Yosaku was eliminated in the second round」
That’s a surprise.
Actually are there any survivors connected to the production workers?
There is that Skipper from the last match but.
「So? Have there been any interesting matches?」
「Just now a Skipper won. Before that, a Principal Bard lost」
「Ara, were we late?」
「How are the other participating players from the production workers at Fiona’s place?」
「Shinonome and Hannes made it through to the third round. Are the others wiped out?」
「They’re not! There are still two players left in the beginner level!」
It seems that Fiona wasn’t aware about the beginner league either.
Reina made a correction.
「What would have happened if you had been in the tournament?」
「It’s pointless to guess, but I imagine it would have been pretty tough」
To be honest, I think it would be harder than just ‘pretty’.
I think it would be quite tough.
There are a lot of skills I don’t want to miss when it comes to martial arts.
Especially the hand-to-hand ones.
That means I’d have to give up most of my magic spells.
Wait.
Let’s do the math.
What’s my total stat value?
Currently, it’s 142.
At the beginner league, I can only set skills up to a total of 8.
That won’t do me any good.
I guess I could take【Throw Object】?
No, In the first place I can’t do without【Summon Magic】 so it’s pointless!
Then how about the intermediate level?
I made a tentative skillset.
Summoning magic alone consumes 29.
That leaves me with 79.
Huh?
There’s only 79 left?
Let’s continue.
I’ll take【Speedcasting】and one magic skill.
Let’s say it’s【Fire Magic】.
I’d like to have【Punch】and【Joint Lock】.
So what’s left?
There’s only five left.
Should I add【Throw Object】at the end?
But this is a lineup where most of my skills are sealed.
Even if I temporarily remove【Summon Magic】, it’s awkward.
No matter what, it’s awkward.
I’d like to add【Magic Effect Amplification】and【Magic Range Expansion】.
Hmm.
It’s not enough at all!
If I were to join in it’d be horrible!
「No, tough isn’t even close to describe that」
「I know they’re trying to close the gap in individual strength as much as possible, but I think it’s extreme」
「Certainly」
I have no objection.
I’m glad I’m not participating.
I’m really glad I kept it to just enjoying the spectacle.
Protagonist Keith
Race Human Male Racial Lv29
Job Grand Summoner Lv. 15
Bonus Points Remaining: 20
Skill Sets:
Sword Lv12 Two-handed Spear Lv11 Lance Lv9 Club Lv 11 Dagger Lv 11
Rapier Lv10 Rope Artes Lv10 Cane Lv21 Punch Lv19 Kick Lv19
Joint Lock Lv19 Throw Lv19 Evade Lv19 Block Lv19
Summon Magic Lv29 Spacetime Magic Lv17 Seal Magic Lv11
Light Magic Lv17 Wind Magic Lv17 Earth Magic Lv17 Water Magic Lv17
Fire Magic Lv17 Dark Magic Lv17 Ice Magic Lv16 Lightning Magic Lv16
Tree Magic Lv16 Dust Magic Lv16 Lava Magic Lv17 Steam Magic Lv15
Alchemy Lv13 Pharmacy Lv9 Glassmaking Lv8 Woodworking Lv11
Synergy Lv20 Appraisal Lv20 Identify Lv20 Discern Lv7 (↑1) Cold Resistance Lv9
Grab Lv16 Horsemanship Lv17 Precise Manipulation Lv19 Ropework Lv10
Jump Lv10 Acrobatics Lv10 Heat Resistance Lv12 Climb Lv9 Balance Lv10
Dual Wield Lv18 Disassembly Lv16 Swim Lv6 Dive Lv6 Throw Object Lv4
Dash Lv9 Endurance Run Lv9
Hide Lv3 Conceal Lv3
Physical Enhancement Lv18 Mental Enhancement Lv18 Speedcasting Lv18
Magic Effect Amplification Lv18 Magic Range Expansion Lv18
Petrification Resistance Lv6 Sleep Resistance Lv5 Paralysis Resistance Lv6
Confusion Resistance Lv4 Darkness Resistance Lv4 Unconscious Resistance Lv6
Charm Resistance Lv1 Poison Resistance Lv1
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
Summoner is Going
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 Hours
Thanks for the treat.