I stepped away from Kuro and made my way toward the finish line where Megiddo-san waited, greeted by a thunderous roar of cheers.
The air vibrated with the storm of voices. Most were shouts of praise directed at me, and it was a strange sensation—it made me feel a bit itchy with embarrassment, yet it also filled my heart with a burning, wondrous heat.
"……I lost, Kaito. That was a fine match. You have my thanks."
"No, thank you as well, Megiddo-san."
I exchanged a handshake with Megiddo-san in his humanized form, both of us acknowledging the other's effort. There was something truly nice about this—shaking hands with an opponent after you'd both given your all.
I never belonged to any sports clubs in middle or high school, so I can only imagine, but I suppose this is what people call "youth"... even if I am already twenty-one.
"By the way, Megiddo-san. I heard from Bacchus-san that there was 'something you wanted to tell me.' What is it?"
"Ah—right. About that, I’ll let you know a bit later... at the banquet. It starts at 8 PM. Until then, go back out and enjoy the festival."
"O-Oh... I understand."
So it seemed I wouldn't learn Megiddo-san’s true intentions until the evening banquet. And I suppose my participation in that banquet has already been decided? Yes, I thought so. Fine, I get it.
Well, thanks to the perks of my Black Rank status, I was the first one to challenge him, but other challengers might show up for Megiddo-san later. Postponing the talk until afterward was reasonable in its own way.
As I pondered this, the obstacle course that had been set up in the arena dissolved, returning the grounds to their original state.
『An intense best-of-three match! The one who emerged victorious was the challenger, Kaito-san! Man, that was a spectacular battle, wasn't it, Fate-san?』
『Kai-chan was so hot and cool at the very end! Kai-chaaan! It’s me! Support me for the rest of my life!!』
『A-Ahaha... Er, well then, let’s give another massive round of applause for the challenger, Miyama Kaito-san!』
……Fate-san is as hopeless as ever. But please stop saying things like that through amplification magic! It’s beyond embarrassing!
『Now then, while one battle has concluded... an even greater conflict is looming.』
『……So it’s finally starting.』
……Huh? Wait. What is this prickly tension in the air?
『Now then, for the battle about to begin... those with weak hearts should evacuate immediately. You will literally die.』
『……This is bad. We’re well past the level of simple bloodlust now.』
Accompanied by a sound like a low tremor in the earth, explosive magic power erupted from several points, making the arena shudder violently. It felt exactly like an earthquake, and cracks began to spiderweb across the arena floor.
Wait, what? What is this... what on earth is starting!?
『……And now... we will begin the "Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament with the Clay Craft Made by Kaito-san as the Prize"!!』
In an instant, several shadows blurred into the center of the arena.
There was Kuro, wreathed in magic power like black smoke; Isis-san, radiating an overwhelming amount of bluish-white Magic Power of Death; and Liliwood-san, who looked utterly exhausted.
There was Shiro-san, enveloped in a quiet yet shimmering magic power; Chronoa-san, wearing the same weary expression as Liliwood-san; and Life-san, who looked deadly serious.
Then, stepping into that arena—which now resembled a cage of ferocious beasts—were Chris-san and Laguna-san, showing no fear. And finally, Eden-san, who seemed to have descended from thin air.
……Wait, just a second! Isn't everyone being a little too serious about this!? This is bad, the world is actually going to end at this rate...
『Everyone is fired up! We are accepting general participants as well, but... it is truly life-threatening, so please join only if you are prepared for the consequences.』
『Hey, No-chan? I want to join too...』
『Fate-san, you can participate from right there. I’ll be joining from the commentary booth as well.』
『I see, Roger that!』
No, no, seriously, wait! Everyone is incredibly motivated, but the prize is that "sad creature," you know!?
I mean, give me a break... why is everyone fighting so hard over my black history? No matter who wins, it’ll be a nightmare...
『Ah, that’s right. What about you, Kaito-san? Will you be participating?』
"……I will."
If it’s come to this, I have to win no matter what. I have to recover that black history and bury it myself.
『……Are you sure you’re up for this? At the very minimum, "if you can't change your hand at least a thousand times per second, you won't even be able to compete."』
"……What even is that? That’s terrifying."
Was Rock-Paper-Scissors always a game for monsters? Or are the participants just that abnormal?
As I stood there, stunned by Alice’s words, I saw Kuro and Isis-san playing Rock-Paper-Scissors out of the corner of my eye—presumably as practice.
……It’s wrong. It’s all wrong. Why do their forearms vanish into a blur every time they throw a hand? Why are craters forming in the ground just from them playing a children's game?
"Oh... What a magnificent struggle! Alright, I’ll join in too—"
"Megiddo?"
"……Ah, no, never mind. I’ll pass."
Faced with that terrifying atmosphere, even the battle-crazed Megiddo-san had considered jumping in... but the moment Kuro glared at him, he dropped into a submissive seiza.
I’m starting to think Megiddo-san is only that obedient when it comes to Kuro.
Actually, that’s not the point right now...
『Well then, we’re about to begin. However, please be warned that "anyone who blows away the arena" will be immediately disqualified.』
I have never heard a disqualification rule like that for Rock-Paper-Scissors in my entire life! Although, the fact that there are multiple people here capable of doing exactly that is an insanity all its own!
And so, my battle with Megiddo-san ended... and the Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament of monsters began.
Dear Mother, Father—They say it's just one trouble after another... though that might not be quite right. I just never expected things to spiral into such an outrageous situation. And what’s worse is that the thing they’re all fighting over—is my black history!
Serious-senpai: "Only 10 days until the release of the book version!! Give me a serious development!!"