READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 20
Chapter 20. Battle Begins
A cloudless, clear sky greets me.
Around me, a variety of people walk toward a certain building.
Time flows swiftly.
Today is the day of the interschool competition, eagerly awaited by everyone but one I desperately wanted to avoid.
“Good luck, big brother! I’ll be watching while munching on popcorn!”
Next to me stands Ao, who came specifically to witness my ridiculous display.
I told her countless times not to come, but she brushed it off and ended up tagging along all the way to the venue.
“Haah, whatever, just sit in the audience for now.”
“Alright! Make sure to show me your cool side!”
Waving her hand with impossible demands, my little sister leaves.
I head toward the Saien High School waiting room.
Let me explain the rules of the interschool competition.
It’s a four-school battle royale.
Six participants are chosen from each school and fight in a specialized arena.
If someone sustains significant injuries in the arena, they’re forcibly removed, effectively retiring. The school of the last remaining participant wins.
As a side note, Saien High School hasn’t won in five years. The teachers, full of determination, have given us their fervent support for this time.
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
Before the match, you can apply for weapons at the reception.
Without a weapon, I’d have no chance of winning.
I plan to give it my all within the boundaries of not using my abilities. I’m determined to take down at least one opponent.
I submit my application form at the reception.
“What?!”
The staff member looks a bit surprised but quickly processes it, packs the requested item into a large bag, and hands it over to me.
With everything prepared, I head straight to the waiting room and open the door.
“Ah! You’re late, Yanagi-kun! It’s almost time to start!”
“Sorry, it was heavier than I expected, so it took a bit longer.”
When Hattori-san sees what I’m carrying, she looks surprised before grinning mischievously.
“I thought you weren’t motivated?”
“I just changed my mind a little. I’ll take it seriously but won’t go all out.”
“Hmm, well, whatever. But this time, be careful. I’ll be waiting as backup, but you never know what might happen.”
What’s with that ominous phrasing?
Asking further might lead to trouble, so I skillfully brush it off.
Cheers echo from outside the waiting room.
It seems it’s already time to enter.
“Alright, everyone, I’m heading out! I’ll be cheering from the stands!”
“””””Got it!”””””
Leaving the waiting room, we enter with slightly tense expressions.
(Wow, this is intense.)
The arena is a circular coliseum.
Above us floats a massive monitor that will display our battles in real time.
And then, the sheer number of spectators overwhelms me.
I don’t see a single empty seat.
There are even people standing to watch.
“”””””Wooooooaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!””””””
The audience’s cheers resonate thunderously. It’s so overwhelming I want to run straight home. Calm down a bit, will you?
[And now! Saien High School’s team makes their entrance!]
Oh, they even have live commentary.
I’m curious how much they’ll hype my brilliance.
[What will happen in this year’s interschool competition?! Saien High School boasts a superhuman with a power level exceeding 10,000! Introducing Nanase Marin, whose ability, [Sagittarius], promises merciless sniping. Expectations are high for her performance!]
Nanase-senpai blushes slightly, bows to the audience, and moves on.
[And don’t forget these two with power levels over 9,000: Yamada Shougo with [Rock Destroy], and Hayashi Kyoko with [Flow Control]!]
Both third-year powerhouses confidently wave to the crowd.
[Then there are the rising talents with power levels over 8,000: Okita Nene with [Alter Form], and Yura Tenka with [Psychokinesis]!]
Finally, it’s my turn. I wonder how spectacular my introduction will be!
[And last! Huh? Is this correct?]
The commentator sounds confused.
I was perhaps overwhelmed by my incredible backstory.
[Ahem, introducing our final participant. With a power level of 0, yet perhaps a hidden ace up his sleeve?! The enigmatic dark horse, Yanagi Hayato!]
Huh? That’s surprisingly decent. I was expecting pure mockery.
But no matter how polished the words, the reactions around me don’t change.
[Wait, does that mean he’s powerless?]
[Is Saien High School giving up on winning?]
[Why send out a powerless guy? Get off the stage!]
[Doesn’t he feel ashamed?]
[Maybe they’re using him as a decoy?]
[What’s with that thing on his back? Pointless effort.]
The cheers quickly turn to jeers, mockery, and disdain.
Even the other schools’ competitors wear sneers, openly underestimating me.
––Let’s see how long those faces last.
This time, the opponents are humans, not monsters.
That means power levels don’t matter much.
Considering my combat experience, I’m overwhelmingly advantaged.
The only ones I need to avoid are physical-enhancement users who can resist weapons even in surprise attacks.
Grinning, I walk through the arena, enduring all the stares.
With everyone gathered, the match begins.
At the arena’s center, all four schools’ teams assemble.
Every single person looks down on me.
Though concerned for their future, it’s convenient for now.
The more they underestimate me, the easier it will be to hunt them down.
[And with that, the match begins!]
The commentator’s announcement signals the start, and a blinding light envelops us.
When the light fades and I open my eyes, we’re no longer in the arena but in a dense forest.
(This year’s forest stage? Lucky me.)
In a forest stage, traps are harder to spot.
A plateau stage would’ve been much tougher.
“Excuse me, do you mind if I go off on my own?”
Acting solo is easier in many ways.
Besides, I haven’t trained with the team, so my presence might just be a hindrance.
“Huh? Oh, sure. Hattori-san said you could act independently, so go ahead.”
Yamada-senpai replies.
Perfect. I’ll act as I please.
Carrying my bag, I leave the group behind.
Now, where should I start hunting?