On the day of the second trial.

Before heading to each waiting area, Mr./Ms. Naia walked into our tent just like we had in the previous trial.

 

"Unlike the previous one, the second trial is not as flashy as the previous one, but there are elements that the audience can enjoy, such as solving puzzles, so I think people will enjoy a different reaction."

"Sure, it's nice to be able to focus on solving puzzles without combat."

 

The senior nods at Mr./Ms.'s words.

In the tent, there are other than the two of us, me and the humanoid Nea, who has assimilated with Ferm.

 

"But the key to this ordeal is to solve the mystery, and you can expect to see some competition to get the key issues. Or rather, that's what I'm going to do. It's the same with Usato-kun, isn't it?"

"yes, I'm not going to lose either."

 

As a result, the score will be matched, but for this trial, I think that the competition within the trial is not the ranking of the national team, but the main thing.

 

"There's a secret to that."

"It's a miracle, I have a special plan."

"Fufufu""

 

"Hey, Nea."

"Maybe these two idiots have the same secret plan, I can imagine."

 

I'm going to show you the friendship combination between me and Reval.

Mr./Ms. Naia smiled as she watched the exchange between me and my senior.

 

"It's going to happen again in the second trial."

"From Naia's point of view, is it fun to watch the festival?"

"Yes, of course, because I am also your father's daughter, and I am a man who lives in Calmhelio."

"Well, then we'll do our best to make sure you enjoy it too."

「……」

"Naia?"

 

When a senior calls out to Mr./Ms., who is speechless, she suddenly looks out from the curtain of the tent behind her.

 

「…… I have something to tell you."

 

With the words of Mr./Ms. who checked behind us, we perceived it as a secret story, and our expressions became serious.

 

"Did you find out anything about the devil?"

"No, there hasn't been any noticeable anomaly so far, but that's ...... After the Second Trial, Father...... King Lambda wants to talk to the two of you."

"King Lambda ......?"

 

To the surprised senior, Naia laughs as if she is in trouble.

 

"Oh, no, it's not that important, I was actually going to talk about it sooner, but it seems that I was busy with the festivities and it has become now."

"So why did you decide to tell me from Naia? If it's a call from King Lambda, I'm sure you'll get a call in advance."

 

Indeed it is.

Even if Mr./Ms. Naia doesn't tell you, she will contact you.

Mr./Ms. nods at the senior's point.

 

"Mr./Ms. Usato, can you give your father healing magic and make sure he is not affected by the demon's magic at the same time?"

「! I get it."

"I'll tell you about it beforehand, but above all, your father is looking forward to meeting Suzune Mr./Ms. and Usato Mr./Ms. so much that he can't wait to meet you."

 

You might think that he really has a connection to the king, but it's important to make sure that King Lambda isn't affected by the demon's magic.

As she nods at Mr./Ms.'s words, Nea, who had been listening in silence, speaks to her.

 

"Is that king always like that?"

"No, I can't tell from his appearance during this festival, but he is usually a strict and very serious person...... I don't ...... do that outside of festivals and official duties."

"Strict......?"

"Are ......you serious?"

 

Nea and Ferm, who is assimilated to her, are muttering in bewilderment.

I can't imagine what to do ...... at all.

 

"I am aware of King Lambda."

"Please...... Oh, it's time to move to the waiting area. I'm going to move to the audience."

 

Is it time for that?

At Mr./Ms.'s words, I look at my seniors and Nea.

 

"Nea, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to watch the game like I did last time, and I've made an appointment to join up with Ulua."

"Mr./Ms. Ulua."

 

Come to think of it, Mr./Ms. is watching the game again this time.

I'm sure she was a squire too, but I guess she's watching over Liz and Elisha for their growth.

 

"So, me and my seniors are going our separate ways."

"Huh, Usato-kun, I'm not going to mess with you."

"No, it's restricted, so please take care of it, okay?"

"Kyayes."

 

Collect all problems with full thunder beast mode...... If something like that happens, I won't even be able to look at it.

After such a conversation, my seniors and I headed to our respective waiting areas.

 

●

 

This trial, like the first, will start from different entrances.

I moved to the waiting area where one of the entrances was located, joined up with Rival, the hero of the kingdom of Garga, and waited for the start of the second trial.

 

"It's kind of a strange feeling."

"What's wrong?"

 

Next to me, who was stretching the sleeves of the uniform that I had rolled up, Rival was muttering something like that with deep emotion.

He is no longer dressed in gold-decorated armor as he was in the first trial, but is dressed in a simple cloth garment that is easy to move around.

That alone makes it clear that he has changed from three days ago.

 

"Not so long ago, I had a lot of pent-up emotions swirling inside of me, that I'm not a hero, I'm a helpless bastard."

"How are you now?"

"It doesn't change the fact that I'm not a hero, and I realized that the very idea that I was made a hero because I was appointed in the first place was a misconception."

 

Rival looked somewhat blown away as he said this.

 

"I haven't done anything as a hero, I haven't pioneered new skills, I haven't mastered martial arts, I haven't accomplished feats that my people can be proud of. …… When I think about it, I don't feel that the "hero" chosen by the Kingdom of Garga is worth that much."

「……」

"Perhaps, squire...... I'm sure my friends noticed it. I was the only one who didn't realize it, and I finally figured it out."

 

Hero as a symbol of the country.

As for me, I don't mean to deny the way of being a hero of the kingdom of Garga.

After all, the definition of a hero varies from country to country.

 

"I'm starting to feel like an idiot for being so desperate to keep up with your ridiculous training."

 

Saying this, he suddenly pressed his forehead and looked up at the sky.

 

"Well, it's just a matter of what we're going to do now...... Ah, I don't know, really."

"Then I'll do it."

"Hmm?"

 

I hold up my index finger to Rival, who turns to me in dismay.

 

"Shouldn't you guys create a new form of hero in the Garga Kingdom?"

 

The current hero of the kingdom of Garga is not his father, but Reval.

It is the kingdom that has acknowledged it, and the foundation is well laden.

 

"Haaaa......aa

"It's like a test for you, and it's not easy, right? And you're not alone."

「…… Ah, yes. Certainly...... That's right."

 

Rival has a squire who adores him.

I don't think Rival will ever break if they have them.

 

"Besides, if you have the guts to get through me and Claude Mr./Ms.'s training, it's an easy win."

「…… Hah, I don't think there's anything more difficult than that."

 

No, it is ...... that is usually agreed upon.

I was expecting a rebellious reaction, but I feel like I'm not going to be able to explain it because I'm normally convinced, but if the person is positive, that's okay.

 

"But for now, it's just a test in front of us."

"That's right."

 

"This time we will exchange the brave and the servant! Cooperate with different combinations of countries and cultures and face the comparison of wisdom! That's the second test!! Huh-huh, I can't wait any longer!!"

 

Outside, you can hear King Lambda's voice shaken off the tension.

 

"Rival, I have a secret plan for this ordeal."

「…… I have a really bad feeling about it."

"Are you willing to take a ride?"

"Oh, wow."

 

I nodded and turned my back to him, leaning forward and squatting down.

When I was in a position to carry him, I called out to him.

 

"Okay, anytime."

「……」

「…… Anytime, okay?"

"No way, this is a secret plan, is it?"

「…… Huh, are you ready to ride?"

"Hey, please, can I slap you once...... Whew!"

 

No, I want you to calm down.

It's a tactic that proved useful in the first trial.

 

"I'll take care of you and I'll be the fastest to get the problem, no matter how long it takes to answer, as long as you have the speed to recover, it's a real miracle."

"Well, except that it looks catastrophically bad ......!!"

 

It certainly doesn't look good.

But it's already been the first trial, and above all, it's an effective tactic because Liz and the others used the same tactics.

 

"I'm Bulllyn in the Ringle Kingdom...... He runs with a blue grizzly on his back on his back. I'm used to carrying it."

"What kind of pride...... Whew! Don't you worry about me getting caught up in it? …… There's no room for my reputation to go down any further, damn it!!"

 

It's amazing, it's a self-tsukkomi from a continuous tsukkomi.

However, it's not a bad strategy at all, so he urges Rival to put his foot on the hand that he put behind his back again.

 

"The ordeal is about to begin."

"Damn ......."

 

"Okay, let's count!" Ten, nine, eight..."

 

The countdown begins, announcing the signal for the start of King Lambda.

Still, Rival resists with a bitter expression.

 

"You don't do it, do you?"

 

"Seven, six, five..."

 

"No matter how effective the tactic is, I absolutely hate it!?"

 

"Four, three, two, one..."

 

"I'll never do it!!"

 

"Zero! The Second Trial Begins!!

 

"Damn it!!"

______________

It was Rival who was forced to make a decision to take advantage of Usato's secret plan.

 

That's all for this update.