The well-Balanced Yamamoto-san Gets Caught up in a Death Game

Chapter 64

“We didn’t want to do this either! But we can’t disobey a royal command! If we lose miserably like this, our lives will be targeted when we return to the kingdom! So please, help us and let us win!”

“Eh? No way.”

“Huh?”

“No way.”

I’ll say it again since he didn’t seem to hear me.

Why should we lose just to accommodate your circumstances?

That’s your problem, and it has nothing to do with us, right?

Moreover, you prioritized your convenience and did all those things to Lily, CogTwo, and Take, didn’t you?

Do you think I’ll forgive you?

“I told you from the start that I’d make an example of you. Did you think you could sway me with tears? Besides, you say you couldn’t refuse because it was a royal command, but you could have refused. The kingdom wouldn’t dispose of useful personnel just because you might lose face. If they did that, the country wouldn’t function. In other words, accepting this request was your own responsibility, trying to make a name for yourself in the kingdom and rake in money. So even if you lose miserably here, it’s your own responsibility. That’s what I’m saying, understand?”

“…You really seem to be the Demon King.”

Nabal stands up, completely changing from his dogeza.

And he starts to take some kind of stance.

“The Sword Master’s ultimate technique without a weapon… its name is [Bodhisattva’s Returning Palm]! Those who have withstood this secret technique—”

“I don’t care about that.”

“W-What…?”

▶Copycat Animal has been activated.

Acquired [Something Like Bodhisattva’s Returning Palm].

Ah. I’ve learned another weird technique.

The flaw of Copycat Animal is that it learns skills without being able to turn it on or off.

Besides, I’ve achieved my goal of destroying the magic swords, so we’re done here, right?

If I leave him alone, he’ll probably keep coming at me with “How about this technique!?” So let’s end this. Yeah, it’s decided.

“Well then, I’ll finish this.”

“Heh, you fool! This technique is the pinnacle of counter-attacks! The one who attacks first loses—”

Slash slash slash!

Nabal is reduced to dust and disappears from the stage as particles of light.

Well, yeah.

Isn’t a counter-technique only effective when the speeds are about the same?

When there’s such a hopeless speed difference that all of your attacks look like slow motion, what else can I say but “that’s what happens”?

▶[Sawdust Daphnia] has been registered to [Yamamoto Style].

Eh…

Wondering what kind of technique it is, I check it out.

======================

[Sawdust Daphnia]

Whatever the user of this technique judges to be sawdust is reduced to dust.

======================

It was a skill with an incredibly vague description and a dangerously powerful effect!

Sorry, Nabal.

It seems you were sawdust to me.

By the way, sawdust means an insignificant opponent!

“Winner! Tatsu & Lily! The Demon King ends it with an overwhelming victory!”

Hey, what’s with this “overwhelming victory”!?

I only defeated two people!?

■□■

So, I’ve advanced to the finals, but—

“I feel bad for Tatsu, but I’m thinking of forfeiting the final match.”

“Well, I figured you’d say that.”

I’m talking with Tatsu while entering a random waiting room for competitors.

Yeah, I’m impressed by Tatsu’s high level of insight.

The fairly spacious room is equipped with tables, desks, and a large TV-like screen showing the arena… maybe it’s a magic tool? It’s set up to be quite comfortable.

I take out rice crackers and tea from [Storage], and we’re drinking and eating while giving off a relaxed mood as if everything’s over, which is probably why Tatsu noticed.

Besides, my goal was never to win in the first place.

“You see, I originally just wanted to avenge Lily. I’m in a production class. I wasn’t even entered in this Grand Martial Arts Festival from the start. I think it’s a bit off for someone like that to stand on the final stage.”

“Well, I can understand the feeling of wanting to do things properly if you’re going to stand on the final stage. But you know…”

Tatsu’s words trail off.

Eh, is there something you want to say?

“I don’t think they feel the same way.”

Following Tatsu’s gaze, I see the second semi-final match about to begin on the TV screen (?) hanging on the wall.

It shows Iko and Gobzou… both looking full of spirit.

“Aren’t they fired up for their next opponents?”

“Their opponents are Axel & Crow, said to be the top of the walkthrough group, but they’re probably no match for Iko and the others. Still, the fact that they’re so fired up probably means they’re at maximum motivation for the finals.”

Somehow, I make eye contact with Iko through the screen.

That gaze seems to be saying “Let’s fight in the finals!” and I shake my head as if to brush off that thought.

“If we’re talking about doing things properly, wouldn’t it be improper not to fight those two in the finals?”

“Eh, why?”

“The ones who raised the starting flag for this world event were probably us, right? Since Iko and the others are standing as the final obstacle in this event, wouldn’t it be improper for the ones who started the event in the first place not to see it through to the end?”

“Hmm. Well, I guess that’s one way to look at it?”

“Besides, even the promising Axel is just running away. Iko and Gobzou haven’t even transformed, so they’re clearly holding back a lot. If the finals end up being a forfeit after such an unsatisfying match, wouldn’t Iko and the others be disappointed?”

The match between Iko, Gobzou, and Axel & Crow on the screen is one-sided, with Iko and the others leisurely chasing Axel & Crow around.

It’s almost like a comedy skit at this point.

I can hear booing from the audience seats even from here.

“Well, the decision is yours, Yama. You should decide what to do.”

“Tatsu, you’re sly in that way.”

“It’s called an adult’s way of life. It’s normal to throw decisive responsibility-bearing statements to the person in the position to take responsibility.”

In other words, I’m in the position to make the decision now.

Hmm.

Honestly, if you ask me if I want to fight Iko and the others, the answer is no.

I’m not a battle maniac, and I’m not the type who wants to test how strong I am.

But, well, I do want to enjoy LIA, right? …Yeah, I do.

A virtual reality world indistinguishable from the real one, with highly… overly flexible skills and magic. I want to fully enjoy the situation of feeling like I’ve truly entered a game world.

Even if it has turned into a death game and the pain is indistinguishable from reality, that feeling doesn’t change.

I mean, I rushed to finish work for this, stocked up on food, and was planning to shut myself in and play obsessively, right?

It would be a waste not to enjoy it!

So within that enjoyment, I think participating in events on a whim is more than acceptable.

Rather than being forced to fight when suddenly picked on in some random field, it’s totally fine to fight with the mindset of “It’s a festival, so I’d be missing out if I didn’t join in.” At least in my opinion.

Not fighting because I want to or want to test myself… but fighting because I want to enjoy it.

If that’s the reason, I think I might be okay with fighting Iko and the others?

As I’m thinking this, a message suddenly appears at the edge of my vision.

▶Friend call from Lily.

“Eh, Lily?”

I can imagine that the sleep curse has been lifted, but… what could this be about?

For now, I’ll accept the friend call.

“Hello?”

“Yama-san, right? You fought in my place!”

Ah, yeah.

I’ve been found out.

Well, she knows I’m the one who made CogTwo.

Of course she’d realize if a fake Demon King that looks exactly like CogTwo fought in the semi-finals.

“I’m sorry, Lily. I knew how hard you’ve been working, but I just couldn’t forgive those guys… So I participated in your place… I’m sorry for snatching away the fruits of your efforts.”

“I’m frustrated…”

“I know. You’re angry, right…”

“No, that’s not it! I was certainly frustrated about being put to sleep by Nabal and the others’ interference… But more than that, I’m frustrated that I felt a bit relieved about not having to fight Nabal and the others in the semi-finals…”

“Relieved?”

What does she mean?

As if to answer my question, Lily continues.

“I had seen videos of Nabal & Hasan’s past matches, and I think I unconsciously thought I couldn’t win against them… So when I heard the semi-finals had ended while I was asleep, I felt relieved… I’m frustrated with myself for having such a weak heart…”

Lily is so earnest.

It’s because of that earnestness that she believed my nonsense and put in nearly a month of effort.

She really is a good kid…

“I think even if I had participated in the semi-finals with such a weak heart, I would have lost… Because my heart was already discouraged before the fight… So it’s thanks to Yama-san’s strength that we advanced to the finals… um, that…”

Yeah. This indecisiveness and weakness at the crucial moment is one of Lily’s cute points…

“Ah, this is frustrating!”

“Take-kun!?”

Ah, so Take was nearby too.

Take’s slightly angry shout is a bit painful to the ears.

“You lied to me and left the room, didn’t you!”

“Ah, yeah. Sorry.”

“This is your punishment! You go out there in the finals and snatch that victory!”

“Huh?”

Well, I was actually debating whether to participate in the finals…

“Lily’s disappointed, you know! She couldn’t see your semi-final match live! So go wild in the finals and win it all! Then we’ll call it even for the lie!”

You’re being unreasonable, Take.

Besides, do you not doubt at all that I’ll win?

I mean, Iko and Gobzou are really strong, you know?

It’s not that easy to win, I want to say.

I want to say it, but Lily chimes in before I can.

“So! I want Yama-san to do your best, regardless of me! Please do your best in the final match! I’ll be cheering for you!”

The call ends with a click.

I must have had a “What should I do?” expression on my face at such an abrupt end to the call.

“Well, they’ve cornered you from all sides, so you’ve got no choice but to do it, right?”

Seeing Tatsu’s grinning lizard face, all I can do is let out a long sigh—

Haah.

…Well, I guess I have no choice but to do it!