New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Urban Fraternity Battle
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Night. The first night of the Banfra Festival was as lively as the day. If the residents of this city weren’t mostly adventurers, there would undoubtedly be complaints.
“Alright, it’s done! How’s it feel, Lost?” (Gnome)
Late at night, while the city was in an uproar, I was undergoing surgery to modify my right arm at Gnome-sama’s magic tool workshop. In stark contrast to the outside, the workshop was silent.
“I don’t feel anything off.” (Lost)
“That’s a relief…” (Gnome)
Gnome-sama wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm, then smacked her hips in an uncharacteristically old-man-like gesture.
“Sorry about the timing. I didn’t think it’d come down to the wire like this…” (Gnome)
Three months of trial and error had passed since Gnome-sama proposed upgrading my right arm. Finally, the modifications and integration of the old-style Managram into my right arm were complete.
“Guess that makes the ‘test firing’ happen during the real thing.” (Gnome)
“Well, it’s just a matter of whether I’m propelled or the projectile is, right?” (Lost)
“Yeah. Not too complicated. The only question is how precise your aim will be.” (Gnome)
I couldn’t thank Gnome-sama enough. Even if it was out of interest, she did all this for free.
“Sorry, but now that you’re one of my creations, I’m taking the right to name it!” (Gnome)
“Seriously?” (Lost)
One of Gnome-sama’s creations, huh? The workshop was littered with strange and quirky devices. Now I have become one of them.
Gnome-sama named my right arm “Insignia Arms.” She said it meant a man’s badge of honor.
—
The moment before our match on the second day. We stood on the launch platform for the participants. A transit circle for teleportation magic had been set up there. Yustin, Alba-san, and I stood on it, and the staff teleported all three of us into the arena simultaneously. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, and then we were summoned into an arena filled with roaring cheers.
<Day 2, Block B, 1st Round, 2nd Match>
The opponent’s “Stalwart Warrior” team must have been at their starting point, hidden by a blocking structure that created blind spots.
“Alright, Cheese Bread, do your best!” (Spectator)
“Cheese Bread? That’s just disrespectful!” (Spectator)
Various jeers flew around.
It seems our team, “Dark Awakening Cheese Bread”, isn’t popular.
From the arena, looking up at the audience seats felt like a completely different world. There were so many people it looked like a swarm of tiny beans.
This must be what it’s like to stand on a big stage. I’d never been in a fight with this much attention before, and it makes me nervous.
“Alright, let’s do this, everyone!” (Lost)
I tried to boost morale by calling out to the two behind me. But there was no response.
“…?” (Lost)
I turned around. There stood Alba-san trembling and Yustin with a pale, frozen expression.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” (Lost)
“…” (Alba)
“…” (Yustin)
They’re both out of focus. Do they even know I’m there?
“Are you nervous?” (Lost)
Both turned to look at me, their pale faces nodding vertically.
They kept saying that I didn’t have enough spirit or self-awareness, and yet that’s what happens when they get on stage!
“Take deep breaths! Imagine the audience as pumpkins! This is a battlefield. Think you’ll die if you let your guard down!” (Lost)
Even with my pep talk, the most they managed was a stiff and hesitant walk forward.
—
Our strategy was based on our roles, Alba-san and I were close-combat types, while Yustin provided ranged magic support. Yustin would act as the commander, and Alba-san and I would hold the front line.
The formation was meant to stay intact, fend off attacks, and gradually overwhelm the enemy. If we could engage in melee combat, we’d push them out of the arena. In group skirmishes, Yustin’s magic would disrupt their formation while we took them down one by one. Essentially, it was a copy of the “Ironclad Offense” team’s tactics from Block A’s first match.
We moved slowly, taking cover behind obstacles and advancing carefully.
“Yustin, couldn’t you use a quick magic attack from a blind spot?” (Lost)
“You don’t understand magic at all. I can’t cast without a clear target.” (Yustin)
Fair enough. Blindly firing would only reveal our position.
For the record, Yustin’s teleportation magic was banned in this tournament. Outsmarting opponents to knock them out of bounds was allowed, but indirect methods like using mind-control magic or forced displacement via teleportation were strictly forbidden.
No matter how far we advanced, we couldn’t spot the enemy. At this point, a sudden encounter might have been more straightforward. Then again, it could be part of their strategy and that was to make us anxious and catch us off guard.
“…” (Lost)
I felt something from behind a cover. Perhaps it was my intuition skill. By sheer coincidence, when I glanced back, I spotted a shadow poking out from behind a stone wall block.
“Alba-san! Yustin! They’re behind us!” (Lost)
At my shout, both turned around instantly.
When had they managed to circle behind us? Maybe they had surrounded us while we were dithering.
“—Born of Othel, resplendent radiance! Obliterate the carcass that obstructs my path!” (Enemy Mage)
Suddenly, someone started chanting loudly.
The match had already begun, and it was a moment where an attack could land anytime.
“Come forth, Intense Ray!” (Enemy Mage)
The spell name was chanted in succession.
A loud, dramatic sound echoed through the arena, and from behind the stone wall block, numerous cabbage-sized orbs of light appeared and hurtled toward us at high speed.
The audience erupted in cheers. They must have been thrilled by the flashy magic display.
“Hey! Didn’t you say you couldn’t cast without a target?” (Lost)
“That’s an advanced holy magic, Intense Ray!” (Yustin)
“Intense Ray?” (Lost)
“An auto-tracking spell that doesn’t require aiming! Unless we destroy the orbs, they’ll keep chasing us!” (Yustin)
In the midst of my panic, the spheres of light were closing in. Alba-san, who was closest to the enemy, became the first target of the sphere of light. However, Alba-san was also quite skilled in combat. I thought she would easily dodge it and regain her stance.
But to my surprise.
“Aaaaaah!!!” (Alba)
She wasn’t moving at all. Far from dodging, she took a direct hit, and her entire body was engulfed in light. Her exposed arms and sides revealed scorched skin.
“Hey, Alba-san!” (Lost)
She must have been too tense to show her usual agility. Earlier, her legs were trembling too… While I was shouting, numerous spheres of light were heading toward me and Yustin.
“——Elektriche Kugeln (Electromagnetic Bullets)… Duplikat (Dual)!” (Yustin)
Yustin, unusually, chanted a two-word spell. At the same time, two spheres of electric magic floated up behind Yustin. He skillfully manipulated them to intercept and cancel out two of the spheres of light heading toward him.
However, behind that battle…
“———My master, who borrows the power of Kano, shall burn in crimson flames and transform their body.” (??)
A familiar chant could be heard from another direction. This was something I had heard often.
“Even after quelling countless battles…” (Lost)
Surely, that is the phrase.
What was unleashed was a concentrated fireball, an intermediate fire-attribute magic spell, Fireball.
Where had I seen this before?
When I turned around, a slightly smaller-than-expected Fireball was descending slowly, aiming to scorch all three members of Cheese Bread.
An advanced holy magic, Intense Ray, and an intermediate fire magic, Fireball.
To think the match between “Stalwart Warrior” and “Dark Awakening Cheese Bread” would escalate into such a flashy magic battle… The adventurers in the audience probably never imagine this either.
“Lost, this is bad! …Elektrische (Electro)…!”
(Yustin)
Yustin, dripping with sweat, began chanting desperately, but he didn’t even have the chance to utter a single phrase of the spell and instead jumped to evade. It seemed the hand-to-hand combat training with me had helped a little. However, during that time, the Fireball was just about to land. Upon impact, it would likely create a massive explosion, sending us flying. Depending on the force, there was a danger we’d all be knocked out of the arena at once.
This is exactly the moment for Gnome-sama’s handcrafted Insignia to shine.
“Take this!” (Lost)
I focused power into my right arm, aligned my aim, and unleashed an anti-mana shot. I had a fair expectation of the effect. The particles of light in my right arm had the power to neutralize magic. If I could gather those particles and fire them as a bullet…
The energy bullet I fired exceeded my expectations in size and speed, intercepting the Fireball and scattering it into mist. The fiery orb vanished, as if it had never existed in the first place.
“What?!” (Enemy Mage)
“…Alright! It worked!” (Lost)
This is it. This is exactly what I’d been hoping for. It doesn’t have any offensive power. No energy to destroy buildings or send enemies flying. But it’s an energy that can turn magic into nothingness. A secret technique that forces others to fight on the same field as someone like me, who can’t use magic.
“Lost! Behind you!” (Yustin)
As I turned around, three glowing orbs from Intense Ray were closing in on me.
I twisted my upper body just in time to avoid the three glowing orbs. However, the three orbs changed their trajectory and came after me again.
“——Obliterate the carcass that blocks my path! Intense Ray!” (Enemy Mage)
Meanwhile, the chanting continued.
They are layering advanced magic! How much mana does that caster have?
I swiftly dodged the three orbs, leaping onto a stone block wall. Immediately, six new glowing orbs appeared. Counting the previous ones, there were now nine glowing orbs in total. All of them were aimed at me.
From the top of the stone wall, I jumped even higher, surveying the arena from above.
I should have been searching for the enemy’s position like this from the start. Behind the stone wall facing Alba-san, there was one caster of Intense Ray. A few meters ahead of where I’d stood earlier was another caster who’d unleashed Fireball.
Both of them were dressed as swordsmen, making them appear unlike typical magic users. But the magic they cast was top-notch. The team name “Stalwart Warrior” might be a deliberate deception to conceal their magic skills.
However, the third member was nowhere to be seen.
Where could they be hiding?
From above, I aimed with the Insignia Arms and neutralized four of the nine glowing orbs. Now there were five tracking orbs left. Twisting my body midair, I dodged the remaining five and landed back onto the arena.
“Alba-san, behind that stone wall!” (Lost)
As I landed, I called out to Alba-san.
Meanwhile, the five glowing orbs I’d just dodged came flying at me from above. I evaded one, two, three, and four of them before neutralizing the fifth with the Insignia.
Only four left…!
“Damn… I can’t believe this!” (Lost)
Perhaps realizing there was no time to stay tense, Alba-san shook her head, drew her sword, and charged toward the stone wall. She should be fine now. There was no time to maintain formation. With two flashy magic casters on their team, the only option was to defeat them individually.
“Yustin! I can’t find the last one! Stay alert!” (Lost)
Without turning back, I warned Yustin as I rushed toward the Fireball caster, wielding my broadsword in one hand. I sprinted at full speed. Behind me, the four glowing orbs from Intense Ray continued to chase.
“Fool!” (Enemy Fire Magic Swordsman)
The fire magic swordsman insulted me as he drew two swords from his waist and prepared to fight.
Apparently, he uses two swords.
——Thud… Thud… Thud…
“You’re the fool!” (Lost)
Blood surging through me, I yelled in an unexpectedly aggressive tone as I felt the world slow down.
I deflected the two descending swords with my broadsword, tackled the fire magic swordsman, and sent him flying. He smashed into a stone pillar block, breaking it dramatically, and was flung out of bounds.
“…Fast—!” (Enemy Fire Magic Swordsman)
The teleportation magic circle placed outside the arena whisked him away.
Now we’re one step ahead.
Cheers erupted from the audience. But I had no time to catch my breath. The glowing orbs from Intense Ray were still chasing me. Dodging all four was no longer difficult. Its movements were predictable, but it was tiring to keep evading them.
The next target was the light magic swordsman fighting Alba-san.
Let’s defeat him together and finish him off quickly. The last one is nowhere to be seen, but if we can make it 3 against 1, the enemy might lose heart and declare retirement midway.
I sprinted across the arena to the other side.
“Guh…!” (Alba)
The moment I rounded the stone wall, I saw Alba-san being knocked out of the arena.
“Alba-san!” (Lost)
“Lost, if you step there——!” (Alba)
Alba-san tried to warn me mid-sentence, but she collapsed onto the teleportation magic circle and was whisked away. Alba-san was out too.
“Damn it! It’s two versus two now!” (Lost)
I punched the stone wall in frustration. The Stalwart Warrior team’s tactics felt unfair. It wasn’t against the rules, but their reliance on magic didn’t feel honorable. Maybe I was just projecting my own insecurities about being unable to use magic.
“It’s two against one, you idiot.” (Enemy Magic Swordsman)
“Huh…?” (Lost)
When I turned around, there was the third member. He wore the same attire as the other two swordsmen.
Could this guy use magic too? If the other two were magic swordsmen, then he probably was as well…? And what did he mean, “two against one”? Did that mean Yustin had been taken out too?
“——Jamming Field!”
(Enemy Magic Swordsman)
The enemy knelt down, placing his hand on the ground and channeling mana. Suddenly, a magic circle appeared beneath my feet, releasing purple lightning accompanied by crackling sounds. The electricity wrapped around my legs, sending a shock through them.
“Uaaaaaahhhh!!” (Lost)
It was far more intense than the Paralyze spell. The electric whip wasn’t just numbing, it forcibly pinned me to the ground. Simultaneously, the four glowing orbs of Intense Ray came at me again.
“Haha! Checkmate!” (Enemy Magic Swordsman)
The four glowing orbs approached. The lightning magic swordsman laughed triumphantly. Behind him, the light magic swordsman smirked maliciously.
This is a lynching. The laughter of scum toying with a cornered prey. A surrounded lynching…
—
“Hey, stand up!” (??)
“Ughh!” (Lost)
The backyard was always my execution ground. The house servants all turned a blind eye.
As usual, my two older brothers beat and kicked me…
My face was covered in bruises.
“It pisses me off just watching you!” (??)
A kick to my stomach.
“…” (Lost)
A filthy laugh. A contemptuous look. This was the same as me. They were my brothers, who shared the same blood.
Then, I don’t need blood. A lifeless scarecrow is enough.
—
I remember something. It was a memory from a distant day.
“A lifeless scarecrow is enough…” (Lost)
*―― Baku… Baku… Baku…!*
The heartbeat accelerated. The world turned into slow motion. The lightning magic swordsman in front of me laughed loudly, and his voice tone became lower and lower.
With calm movements, I readied the Insignia. I aimed it at my own feet. I unleashed a two-hit strike, one for each leg. The electric crackling of purple lightning snapped, and my legs were freed.
“W-What is this guy…! Just like with the Fireball earlier!” (Lightning Magic Swordsman)
“Just do it already! There’s only one left!” (Light Magic Swordsman)
I silently closed in on the lightning magic swordsman nearby. The sword strike was too slow. I grabbed the descending enemy’s sword with my bare hand, pulled it, and seized the cutlass.
Too slow. Really.
“Huh?!” (Lightning Magic Swordsman)
I immediately switched to the cutlass, stabbed it into the enemy’s shoulder, and pulled him close. I used his body as a shield. Two of the four Intense Ray hits landed directly on him.
“Ahhh! That hurts!” (Thunder Magic Swordsman)
I immediately yanked the cutlass’s handle, threw the lightning magic swordsman over my back, and tossed him at the light magic swordsman. The light magic swordsman dodged it, and the one who had been thrown was sent out of bounds and teleported away.
“This guy’s strength is insane! And… he’s too fast…!” (Light Magic Swordsman)
I immediately charged at the light magic swordsman. Behind me, the two remaining Intense Ray orbs still chased me.
“Don’t underestimate me! In swordsmanship, I’m better than the other two…!” (Light Magic Swordsman)
The light magic swordsman roared. But from his stance, I could tell he wasn’t much. I parried his erratically swung sword strikes with my broadsword, deflecting them five times before counterattacking. The two Intense Ray orbs swirled around me, still chasing. From the side, it might have looked like just two light spheres circling around me.
Dodging and counterattacking at the same time. After evading, I struck back at even greater speed. Seven strikes in 0.5 seconds. Ten times faster than the enemy’s sword strikes.
“…Ugh… This shouldn’t be happening…” (Light Magic Swordsman)
It seemed he had reached his limit in dealing with my sword strikes. My broadsword hit his full-face helmet directly, and his movements stopped. Perhaps he lost consciousness.
I kicked him away and sent him out of bounds. Then, I punched the Intense Ray orbs that had been desperately tracking me and dispersed them into mist. The battle was over.
The only one left on the field was me. Shouts of insults and yellow cheers. Those shouting insults probably lost their bets in Toto-Calcio.
—
Later, I learned that “Stalwart Warrior” was considered the favorite team to win the tournament.
To face such a favorite in the first round…
And I hadn’t known how strong they were either.
Their magic was quite powerful, and their swordsmanship wasn’t bad either. When I asked the staff, they said that although “Dark Awakening Cheese Bread” was an unknown team, the stats of the members (me, Yustin, and Alba-san) were so outstanding that only a favorite team could match us in the first round. However, with this system, strong teams were facing off too early, and the semifinals and finals were likely to be boring…
“Excuse me! You’re from Dark Awakening Cheese Bread, right?! Even though you’ve already competed, can I ask about your enthusiasm for the match?!” (Reporter)
After leaving the Adventurer Guild, which had turned into the Urban Fraternity’s information center, I was approached by a cat-eared woman holding paper and a feather pen. She seemed to be a beastkin. Apparently, she was planning to sell articles about this Battle Tournament. In other words, she was a reporter.
When I asked for more details, she told me that, unfortunately, “Dark Awakening Cheese Bread” was deemed not worth interviewing because we had faced the favorite team, but she had conducted interviews with almost all the teams.
“Uh, well… we…” (Lost)
When I hesitated to answer…
“Victory and glory will be ours!” (Alba)
“My magic will uphold justice!” (Yustin)
Alba-san and Yustin declared proudly.
I hope they approach the actual match with that same confidence…
—
As we continued walking through the city…
“―― Kyaa, isn’t that the person?! The one who faced two opponents alone at the end!” (Fan 1)
“―― Is that the mage? So cute!” (Fan 2)
“―― Oohhh! A female warrior!” (Fan 3)
There were many people gathering around us. Mostly women surrounded me and Yustin, while men surrounded Alba-san.
“―― Still a child, though! So cute!” (Fan 4)
I was being squished, and honestly, I didn’t feel bad about it. I didn’t feel bad, but it was a little embarrassing. Also, I could feel some sort of murderous intent coming closer. It was like a blue meteor approaching, spewing fire from an umbrella. The murderous intent landed right in front of us, and with a flap, the umbrella was closed.
“Let’s go home now.” (Shia)
Half-pulling us, the three of us were led back to Shia’s house. Although it was the first match, it had been quite a high-level battle.
Tonight, I’ll relax with Shia’s home-cooked meal.
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