The Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon’s Winning Formula

SID

The week rolled around, and the Bushin Festival Preliminaries finally kicked off.

I was hanging out in the arena stands with Hyoro, watching the matches. The sun was still high, and the crowd was pretty thin. But hey, that’s just how the qualifiers go. Actually, this was one of the better days.

To be honest, I’d already fought two matches yesterday. Not in the arena, though—just out in some random field. Yeah, the first and second rounds are held in the meadows outside the Royal Capital. No crowd, no stakes, and the quality of the competition was atrocious. I ended both matches with a half-assed lariat to the neck. It was a pretty hollow victory.

By the third round, they finally move things into the arena. By this point, the quality of the matches has reached a barely acceptable level. The crowd is still small, but I guess I should be grateful there are any spectators at all. The real Bushin Festival doesn’t start until the main tournament.

"By the way, where’s Jaga?" I asked Hyoro, who was busy scribbling something in a notebook.

"He says he’s back home plowing the fields."

"Makes sense."

Hyoro was intently taking notes while watching the fights. Hanging around his neck was the Holy Sword Necklace—the souvenir I’d picked up for him at the Holy Ground. I was happy he was actually wearing it, but man, I really had to wonder about his sense of style.

"What are you even doing?" I asked.

"I’m gathering battle data. Amateurs bet based on gut feelings, but I’m different. I compile data, run the stats, and place my bets based on probability."

"Huh. Interesting."

I snuck a peek at Hyoro’s notebook.

It said: Probably strong. Probably weak. I don't know.

"The thing about betting is that you have to win in the total," Hyoro said, looking incredibly smug as he kept scribbling.

"Is that right?"

"Amateurs gamble on winning or losing a single match. But not me. I don’t obsess over the outcome of one fight. I increase the number of trials, let the probability converge, and win in ten-match units."

"Hoh."

"Because I... am a man who wins in the total."

"Wow. Incredible." I let out a massive yawn.

"That’s a fascinating perspective."

A young man suddenly appeared from behind us.

"Was there something fascinating about it?" I asked.

"Quite," the flashy, handsome guy with sparkling blond hair replied with a grin.

"Y-you’re...!" Hyoro stammered.

"Do you know him?" I asked.

"Are you Goldoh Kinmekki of the Undefeated Legend?!"

Faced with Hyoro’s starstruck gaze, Goldoh-san brushed back his hair.

"Please, that alias is embarrassing. I’d prefer it if you called me Goldoh Kinmekki the Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon."

"Y-yes, sir! Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon Goldoh-san!"

I think I like Undefeated Legend better, I thought.

"Are you compiling battle data?" Goldoh asked.

"I am!"

"You have promise. I, too, never fail to compile my battle data."

"R-really?!"

"Indeed. One must do what is necessary... to always win."

"So cool! Would you mind telling me more?"

"Good grief. Well, perhaps a little."

This looked like it was going to take a while. Since my turn was coming up soon anyway, the timing was perfect.

"I’m going to go take a dump," I announced.

"Hurry up and go," Hyoro waved me off.

I headed to the restroom to change into my disguise and made my way to the participants' waiting room.

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GOLDOH AND HYORO

Hyoro listened with rapt attention to Goldoh Kinmekki the Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon’s "Theory of Constant Victory."

"For example," Goldoh said. "Let’s look at the next match."

"Yes, sir!"

In the arena, the next pair of fighters was being called out.

"Third round, twelfth match! Gonzalez versus Jimina Seinen!"

Two spellswords stepped up to face each other.

"With my theory, I can determine most of a person's strength before the fight even begins. First, look at Gonzalez. I can analyze his physical strength just by looking at his muscle balance. The look in his eyes and that insolent expression tell me he’s a veteran warrior—his Aura confirms it. Just glancing at him, I’d say his Battle Power is 1364."

"Ba-Battle Power?! What’s that?!"

"It’s a numerical value of combat potential, analyzed from my compiled battle data. A Battle Power of 1364 is quite a respectable number."

"Incredible!"

"On the other hand, Jimina Seinen is... hmmm."

Goldoh Kinmekki the Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon narrowed his eyes at Jimina and fell silent.

"W-what’s wrong?" Hyoro asked.

"No... it’s just... this is..."

"G-Goldoh-sensei?"

"Ah, forgive me. How unlike me."

"Don’t tell me... is that Jimina guy actually that strong?!"

"No. That man... Jimina Seinen is... an absolute, utter small fry!" Goldoh let out a snorting laugh.

"Wait... a small fry?"

"Exactly! I have no idea how he stumbled his way into the third round. Some kind of miracle, perhaps? He has a weak face, a weak body, and a weak Aura. Jimina’s Battle Power is 33. Haha! That’s the absolute bottom of the barrel for a spellsword."

"So, Gonzalez is going to win?"

"Yeah, it’ll be an instant kill. There’s nothing worth seeing in this match."

The match began. Gonzalez was the first to move. He closed the gap with an agility that defied his massive, muscular frame and swung his blade at Jimina. His movements were top-tier for a third-round participant. It seemed Goldoh wasn't wrong about him being a veteran.

Jimina didn't even seem to react to the slash. Everyone in the stands was certain of his defeat.

But then, the unexpected happened.

Gonzalez tripped.

He caught his foot on nothing and face-planted right in front of Jimina. He hit his head on the ground so hard he knocked himself unconscious.

The entire venue fell silent. Everyone expected him to get back up, but Gonzalez didn't move an inch. Jimina sheathed his sword and turned to walk away before the referee finally snapped out of it.

"W-winner: Jimina Seinen!"

"You’ve gotta be kidding me!"

"Give me my money back, you hack!"

Boos rained down on the unconscious Gonzalez. Hyoro, not knowing how to react, looked at Goldoh.

"W-well, these things happen," Goldoh said, his cheek twitching slightly. "Battle data can predict the outcome, but there are no absolutes in a fight. Did you learn something today?"

"C-could it be that you even predicted this result, Sensei?"

"Hmph..." Goldoh offered a mysterious smile and said nothing more. "I’ll tell you something useful."

"Eh?"

"There are two ways to win at betting. One is to find the strong and bet on them. The other is to find the weak and bet on their opponent." Goldoh stood up and turned his back to Hyoro. "Tomorrow’s fourth round, sixth match, is Goldoh Kinmekki the Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon versus Jimina Seinen."

"Wait... that means!"

Goldoh spun around and pointed dramatically at Hyoro. "Have you... solved the winning formula yet?"

With a final flick of his sparkling blond hair, he strolled away.

"S-so cool..." Hyoro muttered, watching him go in a daze.

"I'm back," I said, returning to my seat.

"Sid! Listen! There’s a match tomorrow we can’t possibly lose! We’re betting everything on it!"

"Pass. No thanks."

"Just do it! Trust me for once!"

"No."

"Tch, fine! Don't come crying to me when you're broke!"

The two of us watched the matches for a bit longer before heading back to the dormitory.