"What the heck...Is this really just a house?"
"Rather, isn't it even larger than the arena itself...?"
As we moved closer, the pair looked outside the carriage window while sharing their impressions.
They were Eko's father, Sho Leafret, and Capito, a young man from the same beastmen village as Eko, who was also a contestant for the Reiou title match.
Even after getting off the carriage, they had their mouths hanging open and looked around restlessly. They completely look like tourists in the capital. Wait, I guess they really are tourists in the capital if I think about it.
"Welcome home, Master."
Upon arriving at the lakeside mansion, Yukari and various other servants welcomed us.
Tonight, we were throwing a 『Great job in the Kongou matches』 Party, a small celebration.()
"Those just now, were they villagers?"
"They were maids, probably...or rather, you shouldn't be calling them villagers, sensei..."
"Don't get so annoyed. It's the first time I've seen something like this."
"It's the first time for me too!"
As we were guided to the living room, the pair of beastmen were quietly talking to each other in hushed tones.
A nice smell drifted around. It looks like dinner is already prepared.
"I bought this house by selling quite a lot of mithril collected from the Proline Dungeon. But there are many other ways to make money so I won't become lost down the road. Rest assured."
I told Eko-Papa as we sat down.
Since I'm the person in charge of her daughter Eko, I have to properly explain it to him to give him some peace of mind.
"Pro-what? ...To be honest, I have no idea what he just said, did you?"
"...Sensei, seriously. Anyway, all you have to know is that your daughter is guaranteed to be safe, secure, and healthy as long as she stays here."
"I see. Then that's good."
"Haa..."
These two look like good friends.
Or so I was thinking when the food was suddenly brought in.
Since Eko's father was here, it seems the wine served was quite an expensive one. Most likely this was Cubero's idea. As proof of this, one look at the self-satisfied expression on his face was enough to tell. Cubero's also the one in charge of the liquor cabinet, so there's that. If I'm being completely honest, I don't know how to spot a good wine, so I primarily drink cheap wine that the general populace consumes, thus I'd be a complete failure managing the wines in the mansion. But certainly, an expensive wine should be served at times like these, otherwise, it would only stay there gathering dust.
"Well, let's have a toast."
After the food plates were ready in front of us, wine was poured into our cups.
In a surprise turn of events, this time it was Eko-Papa the one who seemed to know the value of this wine. He stared at the label with rounded eyes. Capito on the other hand didn't seem very familiar with wines.
Then.
With a small shout of "Great job, Eko!", the small evening party began――...
"Second Ni-kan (Double crown) is really something else. In the first place, if you're participating in three Title matches, that means you've got the qualifications for three titles, right? And he's achieved the first double crown in history. That's just too much. I even dare day impossible. Seriously. Hey, Sensei, are you listening?"
"I'm listening."
"It's something unheard of, unheard of, you hear me? And his techniques are similarly incredible. After all, it's not every day that you see someone bringing out superior technique after superior technique as if they're nothing. And his tactics are amazing. This will rewrite the common sense starting from the basics. And perhaps, when this winter season is over, the common sense of the Title Matches will be completely overturned. Are you listening?"
"...I'm listening."
"I was truly amazed, like with the Issenza match. To treat the former Issenza, Rothman, as if he were a child? That exhibition match was also great. I'm sure everyone was surprised to see he could even do Archery. I can help but laugh. I can feel nothing but respect. And the urge to try and be like him. Seriously, I'm glad I left the countryside. If I hadn't, I'd be nothing but a slime in a well. Hey, you listening?"
"...Eh? Yeah...Listening."
Around this time, the party was at its peak.
Capito had turned bright red from face to neck due to drunkenness and talked non-stop with Eko-Papa while having one of his arms over his shoulder. His endless talk was about things like praise for me, his wish to become like me, some shit talk about the countryside, and so on and forth.
Eko-Papa was slumped over, barely sipping from his glass, and giving some vague answers to Capito here and there. He seemed to be the type of person who gets sleepy when drinking, just like Eko.
"Speaking of which, how old are you, Capito?"
"M-Me? I'm 21 years old."
My senior, AND my junior...how complicated.
"Isn't it amazing that you can participate in the Reiou match at such a young age?"
"Yeah...Wait, what are you talking about? Second Ni-kan, aren't you 17 years old? And Eko-san and Silvia-san are also about the same age, aren't they?"
"No, I'm leaving us aside. I'm talking in general."
"Ahh, certainly. Team Firstest is special after all!"
Capito seemed to be quite knowledgeable about us. I wonder if his praise and longing are true and not just some empty flattery?
"I hated living in the countryside, so when I was 15, I ran away from my village. Ever since then, I've lived a frantic life surrounded by monsters, and when I noticed, my Monster Summoning, Unsummon, and Tame had all become Grade 9."
There are two different qualifications for participating in the Reiou title match. They are to either have "Monster Summoning", "Unsummon", and "Tame" at Grade 9; or to have "Spirit Summoning", "Unsummon" and "Spirit Possession" at Grade 9. Capito seems to belong to the former.
"Were you an adventurer?"
"Yes. But I also did many things. I've visited many different towns and cities in the Kingdom, and traveled around many dungeons."
"I'm amazed you didn't die."
Tamer is a rather famous, or should I say infamous job, in which many "accidents" happen in the early stages. For the low levels, tamers only use monsters to fight in their stead, so they often find themselves doing nothing. Or to say it in other words, fresh tamers are "small fry". To the point where it's dangerous to even receive a single attack.
"I, uhm, yeah, lucky. I was lucky to tame a strong monster...And it all just kinda fell into place."
So that's how it was.
"It's alright, you don't have to tell me. Your first match is against me, right? I'm looking forward to it."
"Yes! I'm also looking forward to it!"
I wonder what kind of monster did he tame? This added one more thing to look forward to in the Reiou match.
In any case, Capito is an honest and refreshing young man. Despite having a handsome and composed expression, the dog ears that peek through his short gray hair makes him also look kind of cute. I'm sure he's popular with elderly people...
"Come visit us again anytime."
"Will do! Thank you very much!"
We decided to call it a night before it became too late since we both had an important day tomorrow.
My servants will be the ones taking him to the inn, it seems. Capito, alongside a half-sleeping Eko-Papa, got inside the carriage.
Then, just as we were about to part ways, Capito spoke to me with a serious expression, despite his drunkenness.
"Be careful with the guy that calls himself Slim. Many nasty rumors are flying around in the Summoning community about him."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice."
"It's nothing. Now, if you'll excuse me. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you."
The carriage started moving and the pair left.
A summoner by the name of Slim. If I remember correctly, he certainly entered the tournament under the name of 「Mr. Slim」. If I'm matched against him, it would be in the final match.
...Can it be that he's somehow up to no good?
This was Capito's advice. It can't hurt to be careful about it, but on the contrary, I can't help but get a little excited and look forward to it.
My expectations for the Reiou title matches have grown in a few ways...
＊ ＊ ＊
"Hey Vogue, what's the point of this sort of training?"
"Keep quiet, Salamandra. Do you want me to unsummon you?"
"Please, spare me. But what's the point of getting all tired due to training on the day before the matches?"
A forest a little away from the royal capital. There was an elven woman with long hair the color of red wine that reached down to her waist, to which the world beautiful wasn't enough to describe. And a handsome man with crimson eyes and hair that seemed like a blazing flame.
And despite it being currently night, the area around them was as bright as day.
This was because the body of the crimson man simmered and glowed like a burning flame.
"...!? W-What in the world are you doing!?"
"Eh? Ahh, sorry, my bad, my bad."
The woman called Vogue suddenly raised her voice.
Beyond her line of sight, the vegetation suddenly burst into flames.
The man called Salamandra simply scratched the back of his head with a bewildered expression on his face, as if he had just realized what happened.
"Even though I was careful, it leaked out. Man, it's been a long time since the last time."
"Stop that right now! Don't you know it's outrageous to use fire attribute magic in a forest!?"
"Yeah, yeah...geez, I really hate that overly serious side of yours."
While admonishing him, Vogue chanted and released a "Water Attribute・Second Form" spell. However, that was not enough to extinguish the fire.
Thinking "In that case…", she then fired a "Water Attribute・Fourth Form" spell, completely erasing the fire, alongside some of the trees.
"Hmmm! That's some nice power there."
"And just who ends up cleaning after your mess? At least reflect a little and show some remorse."
"Huh? Says the kid who always says she can't do anything without me."
"First of all, I'm 144 already. I won't stay a child forever."
"As far as I'm concerned, you'll always be a crybaby who can't make up her mind at all."
"Haa. And that's the thing I hate about you..."
After giving Salamandra a look of displeasure. Vogue's expression turned back to one of self-discipline.
"――HA!"
Towards the monster that appeared, an Ash Slime...A single slash flashed.
Her sword slashed through the Ash Slime in a single motion. Without even using a [Swordsmanship] skill.
"I don't see the point of you practicing the sword, but that's just my opinion."
"That's the weak point of a summoner. You'll be troubled if you're targeted, and that's not something fit for a Reiou."
"...And that's why I say you're overly serious. I'll just say it again, okay?"
"Say what?"
"Be it in the past, the present, or the future. I won't let anyone take away my enjoyment. I alone am enough to clean up all the enemies, got it?"