Mob
Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #20
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Episode 20 When I see a beautiful girl, I can't help but
wonder if she's the heroine
“Well, regarding the trouble that occurred
earlier, it was stated that Minamiyama-kun attacked Kitagawa-kun without
realizing that the battle was over. So that there will be no more troubles like
this next time——“
—— that's what they said.
I
guess the program had no choice but to let the tournament continue.
Despite
his tone of concern for me, every part of the man’s words hinted at adult
circumstances.
'If
things continue as they are, there is a possibility that Minamiyama-kun will be
facing criminal charges. If both parties could agree to keep their mouths shut,
it could be settled peacefully. Of course, the program will take appropriate
action against the other side, so please rest assured. It would be safer for
you than taking it up with the police in a bad way,'
it felt something like that......
To
be honest, I didn't want to make a big deal out of it either, since I will also
somehow get involved if this tournament went out of business because of this
matter.
The
TV station side, which is in some ways more troublesome and frightening than
the police, said they would take appropriate measures and ensure safety, so I
guess I should leave it to them.
Besides,
Shigeno-san from the Guild was also present as the live commentator. No matter
how he could have avoided criminal charges by talking to the TV station, it
would have been impossible for him to continue his career as an adventurer.
Then
I have nothing to say.
Whatever
happens next will be taken care of by my parents, who were there to watch the
game, the TV station, and Minamiyama's parents.
I
don't want to see Minamiyama taken away in handcuffs. If the adults were going
to punish him in a place where I couldn't see them, it would be the best thing
for my mental health.
The
other side seemed relieved to see me cooperating from start to finish.
And
above all... I also wanted to calm down and ponder over Minamiyama.
Why
did that guy, who was supposed to be in the top caste group, cut me off along
with Higashino and Nishida, and become so hostile with us...?
I
felt that this was where I could see the true nature of the top school caste
group, which I had always admired.
Well,
that can wait for now.
For
Eliza's sake, I should concentrate on the tournament.
Thus,
my first day of the tournament ended.
The
next day. The second round was held early in the morning... but I won by
default.
It's
not like there was a dirty backroom deal....... The reason is that there were a
lot of students who were scared of the card’s lost rate in the tournament and
withdrew.
For
students like us, cards are not replaceable consumables, but extremely
expensive items. We are not like the professionals seen on TV all the time.
Those
people are backed by sponsors, so whether they win or lose, they can
immediately recover the cost of the lost cards.
We
can get in the MonColo! But then they were probably scared to
death when they saw how high the lost cards rate was.
Some
of the participants, like Minamiyama, must have used their title as adventurers
to rise through the ranks of the class caste, or even school caste.
For
them, losing their cards was tantamount to losing their social status.
That
was why can I win the second round without fighting.
By
the way, although this is completely irrelevant, but in the second round, like
the first round, the opponents identities are not informed at all in order to
avoid trouble.
In
other words, even if the program switched the opponents, the players and
spectators would not know. No, no, it's completely
irrelevant.
The
third and fourth rounds were held that afternoon and evening. The third and
fourth rounds were even more complicated than the match against Minamiyama.
My
opponent in the third round had blatantly shed three F-rank cards. Perhaps they
did not want to lose any precious cards, yet they did not abandon the match in
the hope that they might be able to win the tournament without a loss.
In
the third round, there were a few players who was like this, and the audience
was clearly losing tension.
The
program staff must have thought this was bad. So they introduced the leading
players and showed highlights of the exciting matches.
Starting
from the first round - the moments when many of the player’s spirit broke – and
many deadly battles and spectacular moments. The audience became a little more
excited than before.
Then
came the fourth round. I went into the match with a lot of enthusiasm because I
was in the top eight, but I had a bad aftertaste in my mouth.
The
reason was that my opponent was already too battered to fight.
Unlike
me, who won the second round without having to lift a finger and went on to win
the third round without putting up much of a fight, my opponent seemed to have
fought serious opponents in the second and third rounds.
His
main D-rank card was in tatters, and the remaining two cards were F-rank cards,
leaving him with practically only one card with strength.
On
the other hand, if I won this, I would be in the top 4, so I went up with
Eliza, Yuki, and Mea. Three D-rank cards.
The
expression on my opponent's face when he saw my lineup was something I won't be
able to forget for a while.
On
the night of the second day, when the top four were determined. We were
gathered in the cafeteria. The purpose was to meet each other and to choose the
D-rank card for the prize.
There
were 16 different D-rank cards available as prizes, but if there was a conflict
of interest, the players would discuss it among themselves.
During
this, the players are also filmed on camera, so ugly name-calling and foul
language is not possible.
“Then, let me introduce the players who have made it this
far. First of all, Kannazuki Tsubasa-san.”
“Yes.”
The
first one to be named was Kannazuki, who was by far the most good-looking of
the remaining players.
He
is a beautiful man beyond comparison to me. First of all, even his name is
cool. He has a face that is even rarely seen on idols. His face is more like a
facial standard on a card than a human being's.
His
face is slim and beautifully oval-shaped, and his eyes are very bright, showing
intelligence. His light-pigmented hair formed a halo, and his long hair suited
him well. He has a lean body and long, slender legs ...... No, they're too
long, aren't they? That
ain't a Japanese body shape. He looks like a foreign figure skater.
He's
so beautiful that at first glance he looks like a beautiful woman in men's
clothing....... No, maybe this guy is really a woman. The name is also neutral
and indistinguishable.
But
it doesn't matter to me whether that person is a man or a woman.
That
person doesn't have any boobs. If a woman is cute, I can compromise even if she
doesn't have big boobs, but not if they don’t have any at all. This is the
biggest reason why I don't understand Nishida's preference. Lolita does not
have boobs.
No,
no. It’s not the time for that. My thoughts strayed too far. Let's start over.
--
But it doesn't matter to me whether that person is a man or a woman.
It's
because he's also a player. There is only one winner. Then it doesn't matter
who the opponent is.
I
thought seriously like that in my mind.
"What is your motivation in this tournament?"
As soon as the moderator said that, a cameo appeared
saying,
"Please give us some encouraging words."
Whoa,
that sounds like something from a TV show! My
eyes lit up.
Come
to think of it, I'm really on TV now. Will this scene be on TV, too?
...... Oh no, now I'm starting to worry about my hair. I
should have gone to a hair salon. I've been too busy conquering the dungeons
that I haven't really paid attention to that. I hope I didn't have nose hairs
or anything!
I was so busy with the dungeon that I didn't
realize that.
“I am Tsubasa Kannazuki. I don't have much motivation,
but I will definitely win the tournament. From what I've seen so far, I'm sure
of it.”
This
guy says a lot of crazy stuff. I was quite surprised.
Normally,
one would make a safe comment in a place like this, in these days, there is no
profit to be gained by flaming up with a big mouth. You'll just get bashed on
the Internet.
The
program staff was also perplexed by the fact that Kannazuki ignored the script
and said provocative things.
Probably,
the program was planning to make this guy the hero of the tournament, given his
looks.
I
saw this guy play, and with three well-used D-rank cards, he looked like he had
a good chance of winning the tournament.
At
the words of Kannazuki, the other players were also fuming.
"Yes, you are motivated enough, aren't you? You've
been an adventurer since the first year of junior high school, and now you're a
first-year high school student and already a three-star adventurer. I'm looking
forward to the battle."
Hey,
seriously?
We looked at Kannazuki in astonishment.
First
year of junior high school is the fastest start under the current Japanese law.
Him being a three-star adventurer is crazy.
And
three D-rank cards? He's definitely saving his C-rank card.
Oh no, he wasn't a big mouth at all!
This
guy really has the means to be the winner!
While
we were raising our guard against Kannazuki, the moderator named the next
player,
“Yes, Well then, the next player is Yujin Sato-san.”
“.....Yes."
The
next player was a large, stern-looking young man whose expression was like he
was being handed some kind of punishment for being called after Kannazuki. He
looked less distinctive, perhaps because he ws after Kannazuki. He seemed like
an ordinary boy. Only his name is a little sparkly.
His
face was a bit scrunched up, as if he knew that his own character was rather
faint. His eyes were somewhat absent-minded and wandering.
......
Hey, you're not trying to say something impactful, are you? Don't
do it. If a mob character like us tries to say something good, it will just be
a slip!
I was feeling a bit like he was a kindred spirit, so I
called out inwardly.
"Please share
your motivation with us."
“My name is Yujin Sato. Well, first of all, I'd like to
say: Hey, Kannazuki, don't get carried away. I'll show you that you can't win a
card battle with just your face."
But,
it's useless ......!
Unfortunately,
it seems my heart's voice didn't reach him. Sato said that while looking down
at Kannazuki, but his line was so embarrassing that it lacked impact at all.
It
was so painful that no one could react to it. Even Kannazuki, who was named,
seemed to be at a loss as to how to react.
Sato,
after being jostled by the awkward air, said,
"Tha- that's all,"
and sat down in his chair.
You're
pathetic ......, but I like you a little bit better.
I
could tell that he wasn't used to putting people down or making fun of them.
"Yes, Sato-san. He is currently a senior in high
school. His career is only about a year old, but his goal is to become a
professional adventurer in the future. We have high expectations for what kind
of battle you will show us in the semi-finals. ————Next is, Anna Jushichiya-san."
"Yes!"
Sato's introduction passed quickly, and the next person
introduced was the only female player in the room.
She
was also the person I was most interested in.
It
is not ...... because this girl named Anna Jushichiya
is a beautiful girl with red hair and blue eyes.
Well,
but of course I was attracted to her appearance itself. I'm an adolescent high
school boy myself.
She
was probably the same age as me or a little younger. She had soft, fluffy red
hair in a ponytail, and her big blue eyes sparkled, making her look very cute.
Her
skin was clear and white, exactly the kind of beautiful half-Japanese girl that
Japanese people imagine. She was petite and slender, but I personally
appreciated the fact that she seemed to have a good sized bosom.
To
be frank, she is quite my type.
I
think she may have been the reason why Sato was so excited. When there are cute
girls, they get all worked up....... It's the sad nature of men.
However,
what I am interested in more than her looks is her unusual surname, Jushichiya.
This
is because her surname is the same as that of
the founder of the dungeon mart.
President
Jushichiya (Kanou) is a man who is somewhat of a
show-off and often appears on TV ...... as what is commonly referred to as the
'celebrity president'. He is also a regular commentator on news programs and
has a certain number of fans and opponents because of his extreme comments.
So
when I hear the name "Jushichiya," I can't help but think of that
famous president.
“Please share your motivation.”
“I am Anna Kanou. I’m a
junior high school student! I may look like this, but I
was born and raised in Japan! I’m still immature and have
a long way to go as a master, but my cards are excellent, so please look forward
to it!”
Instead
of focusing on the content of what she says, she is playing with her character,
she's good!
The
moderator was also excited to finally get the comment he had been waiting for.
The fact that she is a beautiful girl is also strong in terms of attracting TV
viewers.
"Oh,
you're so energetic! Jushichiya-san is the daughter of the
founder of that Dungeon Mart. Her career also started from the first year of
junior high school, just like Kannazuki-san, so the expectations are
high."
So
she is the daughter of the founder of Dungeon Mart, after all!
We
looked at her with a mixture of surprise and astonishment.
At
this, Jushichiya's expression turned into a scowl.
"My
father has nothing to do with this! When
I first registered, my dad bought me a card, but since then he hasn't given me
any allowance, and I've been earning my own money to get the cards! And
I'm going to pay him back for the first card one of these days!"
"So,
so it's like that, please forgive me."
...Hmm,
I guess being the child of a celebrity must be a lot of trouble. I felt
Jushichiya had a complex about her birth.
Better
not mention anything related to this to her. No, rather, would it be a good
provocation if it is during a match?
"And
last but not least, Utamaro Kitagawa-san. Please share your motivation."
I'm
the last, huh? I'm in a bind. Everyone's character is so strong, it's almost
too much to handle.
...They
will probably edit it anyway, so I'll just get it over with.
"I'm Utamaro Kitagawa. I'd like to say that I'll
definitely not lose......, but I'm already defeated by you all in terms of
character, and I'm at a loss."
The
program staff gave a small laugh. Oh, I did it, I got a little bit of a laugh.
I smiled and said,
"But
my cards have some pretty good characters, so look forward to seeing
them."
"Okay! Thank
you very much. Kitagawa-san is already a two-star adventurer even though his
career is only around two months. He also has a track record of defeating an
irregular encounter and seems to have more experience than his career let
on."
The
moderator made a comment that seemed to lift me up, perhaps to thicken my pale
character, or perhaps as an apology for the trouble I had gone through in the
first round.
The
other players looked at me with surprise.
They
looked at me as if they thought I was just a mob figure for the sake of
numbers, but they were impressed by my ability to do well .......
It
seemed that I had not left any impression on them at all. Well, as far as I'm
concerned, I didn't really do much battle.
"Now
it's time to hand out the prizes! Here are the prizes for the best four!"
With
the moderator's words, suitcases were brought into the cafeteria. The staff
began to lay out the cards, one by one enclosed in sturdy clear cases, on the
table.
Our
eyes lit up when we saw the cards.
As
one would expect from a prize, all the cards were popular.
About half of the cards were strength-oriented, and the other
half were girl monsters. The acquired skills are also good and not common.
Now,
which should I choose? If it is more about strength, I would choose Dragonette,
Tengu, or Water Tiger.
For girl monsters,
maybe Alraune, Nekomata, Harpy, Silky, Amazones, Angel, or Demon. Even if it is
a girl monster, I don't want the Yomotsu-shikome (Ugly woman of the
underworld). Uh, but she is strong. Even stronger than a Water Tiger.
No one was looking at the Yomotsu-shikome,
either.
If I had to choose completely by taste, I
would choose between Dragonette, Nekomata, or Silky.
Dragonette is a small dragon and the
weakest among dragon monsters. Even so, the fact that it was one of the
strongest D-rank cards was a good indication that dragons are the strongest race
of monsters.
Nekomata and Silky are the weakest of the
D-rank cards, but they are very popular among the whole D-rank cards, and both
are priced at nearly 10 million yen. Cat ears and maids are popular .......
If I were to focus on the practical side,
Dragonette, Tengu, Harpy, and Angel would be the nominees.
After all, flying types are worth it. They
can neutralize ground-based monsters that do not have long-range attacks, and
they can pass through many of the traps in the dungeon.
On the other hand, they are vulnerable to
being shot at, and the constant fear of losing the card is a disadvantage.
Moreover, the flying
type was characterized by either being stupid or, conversely, too smart and
high-minded. We often hear that there are too many incompatible species,
especially angels.
If
you look at it from the perspective of reinforcing our party, there is the
option of Amazones and Demon.
At
first glance, our party looks well-balanced with two vanguards and two
rearguards, but it has a weakness in that it relies on Eliza to also play the
tanker role.
Yuki
is also a vanguard, but she is a complete attacker with high attack and speed.
She also serves as a scout, which is like having a thief or a ninja play the
vanguard in a game.
So
I have been thinking of adding a warrior or a knight to this group for a long
time.
For
romanticism, Nekomata and Silky. In terms of practicality, flying-type, and in
terms of reinforcement, Amazones and Demon.
I
looked at the skills of each card one by one and pondered.
'...... Hmm?"
At
that moment, a card caught my attention.
It
was a card of an ogre. The illustration depicted a beautiful woman with flaming
red hair and eyes. The deep cleavage peeking out from her disheveled kimono is
very sexy. She is my type visually.
But
what I was more interested in was her skills.
I
took out my phone and looked up the details.
[Race]
Demon
[Combat
Power] 180
[Inborn
Skills]
・Sturdy: Has a sturdy body. Constantly improves vitality
and endurance.
・Monstrous: Possesses extra-human strength. Muscle
strength is always greatly improved.
・Self-regeneration
[Acquired
skills]
・Blindfolded Demon: This is a
demon. This demon is able to attract the hostility of the target to themselves.
・Martial Arts: Possesses a certain level of knowledge and
skill in combat techniques. When performing a specific action, it is positively
compensated.
・Judgment: The skill to read the opponent's movement. It
provides a positive action compensation for evasion and counterattacks.
In
addition to the synergy of [Sturdy], [Monstrous], [Martial arts], and
[Judgment], the [Blindfolded demon] skill is interesting.......
In
game terms, this would be a 'hate control' skill. It is an essential skill for
the tanker role, and it is also a good evasive-type skill.
Eliza, a durable support type, and an evasive-provocative
demon seemed to be a good combination.
Okay,
I've made up my mind. Let's go with this one. It's not every day that you come
across a card with such a great set of skills. In addition, it's a girl
monster, and I really like the way she looks.
Just
when I reached for the Demon card,
"Huh?"
A
hand extended from the side coincides with mine.
Our
eyes meet. The blue sapphire-like eyes were staring at me. It was ......
Jushichiya.
"Oh,
is this your aim too?"
"Ah,
yeah. ...... if possible, could you give it to me?"
When
I said that with an amiable smile, Jushichiya smiled brightly. A smile like a
Cheshire cat playing with a mouse. Somehow... I have a bad feeling.
"Well,
that's a little bit of a problem, isn't it? I really like this one too! Look at
this wonderful red hair and bewitching look. It looks exactly like me,
right?"
Saying
so, Jushichiya striked a sexy pose.
Eeh? Well,
the red hair is the same, but the allure is totally different .......
Jushichiya
is the type of lovely and wholesome cuteness that comes straight to the
surface, and there wasn't much sex appeal.
I
wonder if that voice in my heart leaked out, but Jushichiya pouted her lips.
"You
have the face of an objection, you know that?"
"Hahaha."
"No,
I can't be misled by the impersonation of the mouse. ......,Although you're
quite good at it. Well, how about we play a game here?"
"A
game?"
"Yes,
let's hold off on that for now and say that the winner of the match will get
this."
After
saying that, Jushichiya looked around.
I
realized that the players and the program staff, who had finished choosing
their cards, were looking at us.
This
is .......
"Hmm, you say the winner, but what if one of us
loses before our match is made?"
"Ah, that's right. Hmm... then we'll say the one who
did better in the tournament is the winner."
I
asked a little nasty question to Jushichiya, who smiled prettily,
"What
if we both lose in the semi-finals?"
"Then
you can take it with you."
"Ooh,
you're very generous, aren't you?"
"Yeah!
I'll win anyway!"
This
girl ...... she earlier said that she is still immature.
But
I can tell. What she was trying to do.
Jushichiya's
intention is to fight against me in the semi-finals.
She
must have seen that Kannazuki guy as the biggest obstacle in this tournament.
Even
if she has to fight him sooner or later, she would rather fight him in the
final, not the semifinals.
So,
by making a fight with me, she is trying to induce me to face her in the
semi-finals.
From
the TV side point of view, when such an exciting event took place, if both
Jushichiya and I were eliminated in the semifinals and ended up with her saying
"We both lost, so the card belongs to you, Kitagawa-kun," It will be
no fun anymore.
'Since
Kitagawa-kun is not likely to win the championship anyway, we would like to make
the semifinals a little more exciting by matching him against Jushichiya.'
That's
what they might be thinking.
It was probably no coincidence that Jushichiya chose the
Demon's card. She was waiting for me to choose.
In
other words.
Jushichiya
thinks that she can easily defeat me.
That
means she thinks that my cards are small fry.
"Okay, let's do it that way then."
"Ooh, that's great. Let's do our best!"
I'm
going to make her cry.
That
was what I decided as we shook hands.
[Tips] Monster Ranks
Monsters
are roughly ranked according to their initial combat power. The higher the
rank, the more vicious the skills tend to be.
Monster
ranks are strongly influenced by the land and culture in which they are found.
Even monsters of the same race are ranked differently in different countries.
In Japan, youkai1 come out stronger. For example, the Zashiki Warashi is a
C-rank monster in Japan, but an E-rank monster in Western countries.
***
Notes:
1 Apparition of Japanese cultures↩
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