第１１８４堀：午前中の動きその２ (Part2)
"Ah, Eris and the others are choosing to focus on paperwork because they say it helps them get through their tasks more efficiently. And Tori and her group are off helping out at Alfin's shop."
"So, those two teams went off to earn their keep in their respective fields of expertise. The rest of the members seem to be staying here to watch the matches while handling their own paperwork, just like us."
Well, it’s a bit dull to hole up in an office and churn through documents when there’s such a grand event going on, isn't it?
No, that’s not to say Eris and the others are in the wrong. For them, that’s likely the peak of efficiency.
But if I chose that path, I’d probably just end up slacking off, so it’s better for me to keep things balanced here.
As we were talking, the announcement came:
*“That is all. The winner is Ria.”*
It seems the match has reached its conclusion.
As expected, the victory went to the Hero.
"Ah, she lost. It’s a shame Enola ran out of steam at the very end."
"Indeed. Though, Ria does have the inherent advantage of being a Hero."
"Hmm, but if you push her with enough speed, even Ria starts to run out of breath, don't you think?"
True. If you had the raw physical prowess of someone like Riel, you could pull that off, but for us mage-types, keeping up a constant sprint is impossible.
If we were allowed to unleash high-output magical barrages, we’d have a chance, but this is a martial arts tournament with a restricted field.
In such tight quarters, there’s no time to prepare grand-scale sorcery.
"Well, that’s something only Riel could pull off. We’re mage-types, after all."
"Exactly. We aren't the type to engage in a head-on collision."
"Come to think of it, why did you invite me? I’ve been meaning to ask. Was it just on a whim?"
"No. I had intended to reach out to Riel from the very beginning."
"We knew that, on our own, we’d be lacking in raw physical strength."
"Eh? But if you’re talking about movement and physical ability, there were plenty of other candidates, weren't there?"
"True, but Riel, you have the sharpest intuition of anyone here. That’s what we valued most."
"Exactly. Your instincts are unparalleled, Riel. That’s why we asked, even though we thought it was a long shot. Honestly, I was certain you’d end up teaming up with Tori and the others."
It’s true—I never imagined we could actually pull Riel into our team.
Yet, when we asked, she surprisingly agreed.
"I’m curious, too—what made you decide to join our team?"
"Ah, I’d like to know as well. It’s not that you and Riel aren't on good terms, but in a battle royale where coordination is key, wouldn't it be more natural to team up with Tori’s group?"
Indeed. As Comet says, no matter how you look at it, there isn't much objective benefit for Riel to join forces with us.
Or perhaps I’m wrong; by teaming up with Tori, Riel could maximize her own potential.
The fact that she cast that aside to join us is truly a mystery.
"Eh? Yuki-san came up with this event so we could all grow closer than before, right? If that’s the case, it would be a waste not to team up with people other than the usual crowd, wouldn't it?"
"..."
We both instinctively clutched our chests at Riel’s guileless words.
The sheer pettiness of our obsession with victory pierced us to the core.
"I don't get to play with Comet and Agil like this outside of games. I was so, so looking forward to it."
"Gah!"
Struck by another wave of such sparkling, 'pure intentions,' our consciences took a direct hit.
"What’s wrong? Do you want some water?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
"Yes, thank you, Riel."
Accepting Riel’s kindness, Comet and I took a moment to catch our breath while sipping our water.
Then, we exchanged a look.
"Agil. I think we should follow Riel’s lead and focus on enjoying ourselves."
"You’re right. I’ll make enjoyment my priority this time, too."
"Yes, that’s the spirit. Let’s all have fun. And if we work together, we might even stand a chance against Yuki-san."
"Ah, right. We do have that 'final boss' to deal with, don't we?"
"True. But defeating Yuki is quite the tall order. We’ll have to cooperate with everyone for that. But Riel, are you sure this strategy is okay?"
"It’s fine. Yuki-san and Tori always say that battle is ruthless, and when you work as an adventurer, you see that sort of thing all the time."
Oh? It seems Riel is surprisingly capable of handling such harsh realities.
Then again, she has been working hard alongside Yuki all this time, so I suppose it’s only natural.
"Still, 'play' is essential, so let’s rethink our approach with that in mind."
"Yes, maybe we’ll find a hint that way."
"Eh? What, what? Are we going to do something?"
And so, with the battle royale looming, we began to craft a strategy that incorporated a bit of fun.
As for Riel’s performance in the tournament, she managed to defeat Ria in the following match, though she ultimately fell to Seraria.
Now, who will be the one to win this martial arts tournament?
And is it better to just stick to the paperwork?
It’s certainly a point of curiosity, isn't it?