Volume 9 Chapter 11 Martial Arts Tournament
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The day after I had a blast helping Ines with her practice until late at night was Red Day¹.
I had been out by myself since the morning.
”Sorry to keep you waiting, Daisuke-dono!”
”No, I just got here myself. We’re still ahead of schedule, so it’s fine,” I said.
The person who came running toward me while calling out was Mai.
She’s the vanguard of the Yamato Nadeshiko Party, and her class is War Saint².
She is also one of the pillars of the Yamato Nadeshiko Party’s “Heavy Artillery Trio.”
They were massive.
They were bouncing and swaying violently with every step.
If they were moving that much even with a bra on, the scale was truly impressive.
(I wonder if they’re around the same size as Ines’s…)
”Daisuke-dono? Is something wrong?” Mai asked.
”It’s nothing. I’m looking forward to today,” I replied.
”Yes, leave it to me!”
Because Mai thumped her chest with a refreshing smile, it took a monumental effort to tear my eyes away from that swaying, super-massive weight.
I wonder if I managed to play it cool without her noticing?
Well, they say women are sensitive to where a man’s eyes are wandering, so she probably realized it.
Even so, the fact that she didn’t call me out, get annoyed, or try to cover up was likely due to Mai’s easygoing nature.
(God bless her. I’ll make sure to enjoy the view just enough to not be caught staring.)
As a side note, Mai’s outfit was quite casual.
She was wearing a shirt and short pants that looked easy to move in; she clearly wasn’t viewing this as a “date” with me at all.
Even so, those majestic “Great Mountain Ranges” couldn’t be hidden, and the muscular thighs peeking out from the leggings under her shorts were incredibly sexy.
Today was the final Red Day of September, the day of the Martial Arts Tournament I had promised to take Mai to as thanks for the cosmetics.
Apparently, they hold it on Red Day because that day is dedicated to the Red God, who presides over martial-type Skills.
By the way, while the Red God is often listed as the first among the deities, there’s no actual hierarchy of power.
Their domains differ, but they are all considered equal in status.
The Martial Arts Tournament isn’t strictly limited to bare-knuckle brawling; they compete in various categories.
There’s the Martial Arts Division for physical attacks only, the Magic Division for magic-only combat, and the Unrestricted Division where anything goes.
If there’s a Magic Division, you’d think they’d hold it on the day of the Purple God, who governs magic, but the general consensus seems to be “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”
The arena is a building shaped like a colosseum, with a capacity of maybe twenty thousand people.
I heard the original Colosseum could hold fifty thousand, so this one is quite a step down by comparison.
Then again, that one was built to flex the might of an empire, so it makes sense the scales are different.
Still, to the citizens of the Royal Capital and the people of this Kingdom, this place is apparently considered staggeringly huge.
To me, having worked part-time at a domed stadium in my Previous Life, it just felt on the smaller side.
Usually, the arena is home to things like gladiatorial combat—a major source of entertainment for the locals—but for me, it’s a bit too bloodthirsty.
Even though these are “duels” where the participants swear a Vow to the gods, people die quite frequently.
Using such a place for a date is usually out of the question.
(Though I suspect Gerta or Captain Emily would probably love it.)
There are no specific entry requirements for the tournament.
You can even sign up on a whim.
However, there are restrictions on which “Class” you can enter based on your Adventurer Rank:
* Dragon Class: No restrictions.
* Minotaur Class: B-Rank or lower.
* Orc Class: C-Rank or lower.
Additionally, anyone who finishes in the top four of the Orc or Minotaur classes is barred from entering that specific class in the future.
Most participants are Adventurers, but you see Knights and soldiers joining in as well.
It’s not mandatory, but it’s not forbidden either.
Mercedes mentioned she wouldn’t enter because her opponents wouldn’t be monsters.
Cassandra doesn’t seem like the type to join, but she wouldn’t hesitate if she felt it was necessary.
I haven’t seen her since the Designated Request³, so I should probably send her a letter soon to see how she’s doing.
As the rank requirements suggest, the Martial Arts Tournament is hosted by the Adventurer’s Guild.
Since the Guild is an organization independent of the state, the Maultasche Kingdom has almost no involvement.
They simply lease the venue at a fair price.
I heard a rumor from Grete that the Guild refuses state involvement because it leads to annoying politics, like being pressured to give preferential treatment to nobles.
(I imagine it would end up with entry being limited to those with noble recommendations. That would certainly make it boring.)
When I asked Grete how she knew all this, she mentioned she has an acquaintance in the Guild.
Come to think of it, she did say something like that.
While they don’t take sponsorship money from the Kingdom, they do collect entry fees (ranging from one silver coin to one Gold Coin) and admission fees (one silver coin).
Because of that, you can’t really watch it unless you have some breathing room in your budget.
If the place hits capacity, the admission alone pulls in two thousand Gold Coins.
That’s a hell of a sum.
The top winners get prize money, with the Dragon Class payout being a whopping one hundred Gold Coins.
That’s a hundred times the entry fee.
It’s the stuff of dreams, but since there’s no insurance for injuries or broken equipment, anyone blinded by greed is going to have a bad time.
Beyond that, the Guild also controls the rights for the stalls around the arena, and those vendor fees also go into the Guild’s pockets.
The operation isn’t just handled by the local Royal Capital branch; they bring in help from all over, including temporary hires.
* * *
While I was walking to join the entrance line, I spotted a familiar face and called out.
”Hey. You here to watch the matches today?”
”Oh, Daisuke? Nah, I’m competing,” Gerta said.
It was Gerta—the person I’d just been thinking would enjoy a bloodbath.
She’s a massive lion-type Beastman woman, nearly two meters tall, and a B-Rank Adventurer.
She was Camilla’s previous owner, and she’s my masochistic fuck buddy.
By the way, she looks like she’s in her mid-twenties now after using a Rejuvenation Potion to de-age five years.
I’ve seen her twice since then, so it’s not really worth mentioning at this point.
”Daisuke-dono, is she an acquaintance of yours?” Mai asked.
”Yeah. This is Gerta. She’s a friend. Gerta, this is Mai. She’s a Transferee like me,” I said.
”I’m Gerta. Daisuke and I are fuck bu—”
”Hold it right there!”
This woman was about to say “fuck buddies” right then and there!
After I went to the trouble of keeping it vague!
I grabbed Gerta and pulled her aside for a hushed conversation.
”Hey, you were totally about to say ‘fuck buddy,’ weren’t you?” I whispered.
”Huh? Is there a problem?” Gerta asked.
”Yes, there’s a problem! People don’t just go around saying that!”
”Really? I don’t usually sweat the small stuff,” Gerta said.
”Well, I sweat it! Just stick with ‘friend’ to be safe, okay?”
”Fine, fine. I get it,” Gerta replied.
Gerta nodded, looking like I was being a pain.
This world is relatively open about s*x, but there’s no reason to say it if you don’t have to.
Especially since Mai is a fellow Transferee girl.
”Sorry for the wait,” I said.
”Did something happen?” Mai asked.
”No, nothing. Anyway, as I was saying, this is Gerta,” I said.
”I’m Gerta. Daisuke’s friend.”
”I am Mai. You have truly enviable muscles!”
”You think so? They just kind of happened, so I never really thought about them,” Gerta said.
”Mmm… I suppose some things just come down to natural constitution…” Mai said.
I had them properly re-introduce themselves.
Even though they’re both B-Rank Adventurers, they don’t seem to have had much contact before.
As Mai noted with envy, Gerta’s musculature is incredible.
It’s a trait unique to the larger lion-types among the Beastmen.
”Which category are you in today?” I asked.
”The Dragon Class for the Martial Arts Division,” Gerta replied.
”Makes sense. You’re a vanguard, after all. I’m looking forward to a good fight,” I said.
”Yeah. I can’t wait to go up against some real monsters,” Gerta said.
”I bet!”
Gerta could have easily entered the Minotaur Class since she’s B-Rank, but she’s going out of her way to hit the Dragon Class.
(I can’t tell if it’s because she’s a battle junkie or a masochist.)
Mai, who was nodding along enthusiastically, seems to have some battle-junkie potential herself.
”Mai is a vanguard too, and you two are close in Level, right?” I asked.
”Indeed. Gerta-dono, we must spar sometime!” Mai said.
”Sure. I won’t ‘go’ at you today since I’ve got a match, but let’s go at it soon,” Gerta said.
As a true battle junkie, Gerta grinned happily.
”Knowing someone in the ring definitely makes watching more exciting!” Mai said.
”You’re right. Good luck out there,” I said.
”Yeah,” Gerta replied.
”May fortune be with you!” Mai added.
We gave Gerta our best and watched her leave before joining the line.
Once inside, the place wasn’t at capacity yet since it was before the start, but it was already quite full.
The reason I wanted to meet early was that the seats are unassigned general admission.
”Let’s get as close to the front as we can!” Mai said.
”Sounds good,” I replied.
Mai spoke with a beaming face.
I didn’t have any particular preference, so I was happy to let her choose.
As luck would have it, we managed to snag seats in the very first row.
Mai was practically vibrating with excitement, so I call that a win.
The arena has four areas, each fifty meters square, where matches start simultaneously.
By “areas,” I mean they’re just sections marked off with white lines; there aren’t any raised stone platforms.
If they had those, they wouldn’t be able to clear them out when the number of matches decreases later in the day.
Matches are held by division.
When it’s the Martial Arts Division’s turn, all four areas are used for those fights.
This is apparently to prevent any unfairness in match order based on the luck of the draw.
As for the format, the qualifiers are battle royales, while the main tournament is a bracket system.
The qualifiers were held on a different day; today is the day of the main event.
Except for the finals, there are time limits.
If time runs out, the winner is decided by the referee’s judgment.
Since the referees have also sworn an Oath⁴, there shouldn’t be any corruption.
”You really like combat sports, don’t you, Mai?” I asked.
”I do! I’ve watched boxing, karate, capoeira, and even muay thai, but I think my favorite has to be kickboxing. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing a solid strike land clean!” Mai said.
”I can get that,” I replied.
It wasn’t kickboxing, but I remember a certain fighter who became a legend for his axe kicks.
Opponents were always on guard, so they didn’t land often, but when one did connect perfectly, it was a beautiful sight.
Of course, the next day at school, everyone would try to copy the axe kick and fail miserably.
Mai seems to favor standing-strike combat.
I used to think there weren’t many women who liked combat sports, but I feel like I heard that’s changed in recent years.
”In fact, I used to be an instructor for those kinds of exercise classes at a gym,” Mai said.
”Makes sense,” I replied.
If Mai was the instructor, I definitely would have wanted to join, but those classes are usually women-only.
(And even if men were allowed, being the only guy there would be awkward. Well, more accurately, I shouldn’t go there just because I’m a horndog.)
”But with your current stats, you’re probably stronger than any top-tier athlete back home,” I said.
”That is true… in this world, I have Ability score⁵ and Skills. Techniques that were nothing more than a dream back then are easy for me now,” Mai said.
She seemed happy about it, but there was a hint of melancholy in her voice—a more somber reaction than I expected.
(This isn’t good. I need to change the subject.)
”I’m excited to see what kind of fights we get today,” I said.
”Me too! I’m hoping to pick up a few pointers for myself!” Mai answered with a determined huff.
—
Summary:
Moving toward the arena, Daisuke encounters his physical friend Gerta while on a date with the athletic Mai. The trio discusses their competitive prospects amidst the festive bustle of Red Day. Tensions simmer as Daisuke barely manages to hide his vulgar relationship with Gerta from the earnest Mai
—
Trivia:
- The specific size comparison between Mai and Ines
- The exact date in the world’s calendar
- The fact that Grete’s acquaintance in the Guild might imply deeper espionage or information networking
- Daisuke’s previous life working at a domed stadium being the benchmark for his arena compariso
—
Character Insight:
Mai shows a rare moment of melancholy regarding her past life as a gym instructor versus her current supernatural strength, while Gerta remains utterly indifferent to social norms regarding s*x.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Ines – An 18-year-old, 170 cm tall D-Rank Magic Swordsman (Level 21+) with long, silky emerald-green hair, blue eyes, a slender waist, and the largest breasts among Daisuke’s lovers—she wears college-style heavy armor that accentuates her curvy, sturdy frame and heart-shaped eyes. Shy yet proactive, she’s affectionate, logical, and mature, leading the Gale Party and its household while yearning for a child. Her floral-scented, goddess-like smile brightens whenever she looks at Daisuke, her devoted lover, and she often guides discussions among the women with quiet authority.
• Daisuke – Mid‑40s Japanese reincarnate with a youthful green‑god face, short hair, lean build (<170 cm), modest armor, one‑handed sword & buckler. B‑Rank Gale Party leader, high DEX, Onanist class, alchemy & healing magic, hides dragon‑slaying feats, holds ‘Ordeal’ that lowers favorability. Cautious analyst, mentor to polyamorous harem (Ines, Regina, Dietlinde, Cassandra), provides recovery magic and intimate expertise. Primary caretaker and lover to several women, fetish for shaving play, meticulous hygiene, possessive, lives with nine (lovers + two slaves). Transferee from another world, ex‑stadium part‑timer, casual with Gerta, dating Mai, narrator Daisuke evaluates via Ability scores, struggles to keep internal monologue.
• Mai – Standing 175 cm tall, she sports a toned athletic build, thick chest armor, a single ponytail and a slightly masculine look. As a War Saint Vanguard of the Working Women Party and Leemans member, she’s a former gym instructor with a massive, ‘super‑class’ chest, a refreshing smile, and a 10× EXP cheat. Enthusiastic, battle‑maniac, and tactical, she leads the Yamato Nadeshiko Party as its vanguard.
• Emily – Thirty‑year‑old Captain of the Knights’ Order, B‑rank adventurer‑equivalent, wavy purple wolf‑cut hair tied back, powerful aura, wicked older‑sister‑like smile. Married, leads the Third Unit, chaperones a high‑school girl party, teases Daisuke with disciplined charm. Recently recovered from battle, unconscious and being carried by Cassandra while wielding a segmented great scythe.
• Gerta – A 190 cm lion‑type beastman, muscular with golden‑brown flipping hair, jagged teeth, a lion tail and a wild predatory aura. B‑Rank adventurer, former Beast Fang leader and Daisuke’s ex‑opponent, she wields a greatsword and loves masochistic combat. Rough, intense lover of Daisuke, their bond forged his martial‑arts legacy.
• Mercedes – Mercedes (Mel), a brown‑haired noblewoman and Home Secretary of Maultasche, is a highly‑leveled knight called the “Disappointing Beauty” in a white frilled gown. She travels with Daisuke as his intel‑snacking companion, is energetic, has a massive sweet tooth and worries about her weight, fears Vice‑Captain Cassandra, despises goblins, sees dungeons as divine trials, loves sweets, seeks a Reincarnator boyfriend, and is the devoted mother of Patrizia, once a proxy for Cassandra.
• Cassandra – 175 cm tall, short brown hair, muscular build; stoic Krieger heir, daughter of a Knight‑Class father and housekeeper mother, once ‘The Ogress’ and Royal Knights VP. Now B‑Rank defense specialist leading the 3rd Unit, bound to serve Daisuke as a slave. Cold aura hides trauma, hatred of Otto and traitorous adventurers, and a thawing intimacy. Late‑twenties, niece of Gunther, wields a one‑handed spear and shield in a counter‑focused style.
• Grete – Bright‑orange‑haired D‑rank spearwoman of the Wyvern Slayers, in a girly checkered skirt and long‑sleeved blouse, is cheerful, highly communicative and playful with a hint of diabolical charm. She rescued Daisuke on the Fifth Floor, then proposed to him and often scores free items from stall owners. Recently moved into the household, her sunny, extroverted personality and sharp communication quickly befriend the other residents.
• Camilla – Fourteen‑year‑old fox‑beastkin, ~140 cm, thin, brown short hair, fluffy tail that thumps when excited, ears twitch when nervous, slave‑marked ear, simple accessories. Illusionist/fire mage, slave porter for Gerta, and Daisuke’s lover‑slave who clings to his arm, melts at his touch, craves his scent and his approval. She helps with chores, stands up to Yumiko, was rescued from a duel, and always seeks to be by his side.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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