Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World
Chapter 127

Chapter 127.3. The Third Year at the Academy - Martial Arts Tournament Preliminaries (3)

I only watched the first day and then immersed myself in my usual tasks.

A few days later, the second round of preliminaries began.

When my name was called in the early afternoon, I headed to the venue.

A match was underway on the neighboring field.

It was Siglas.

I didn't recognize his opponent, but they were having a good match.

Siglas was rare among baron sons—a boy with little prejudice.

During the first-year outdoor training, he fought goblins fiercely to protect a gravely injured Elliot.

Though his performance in the third-year joint training was a bit underwhelming,

his personality and skills weren't bad at all.

I wanted him to do well, but… no good.

A momentary lapse cost him the match, and he narrowly lost.

As I watched Siglas leave, I sensed a presence straight ahead.

From the entrance opposite, my opponent was walking in.

Ah, it's a familiar face.

My opponent stepped before me and smirked confidently.

"Too bad you're seeded. I was hoping to start this tournament by taking you down."

"Huh?"

It was Cartilard. I recognized him immediately.

"You've improved since then, but so have I. I'll defeat you and dedicate my victory to my father!"

"Uh, sure."

The boy struck a theatrical pose and pointed a dulled sword at me.

That sight jogged my memory.

Ah—it's Carlos the Goblin Slayer!

He left the military academy, so I hadn't seen him in a while and had forgotten.

Now that I think about it, he stood out during the first-year outdoor training too—for all the wrong reasons.

Still, I have no idea what he's talking about.

In Tarvitt, we just had a brief chat by the gates.

What does that have to do with this tournament?

While I was pondering, it seemed the introductions and match explanations had finished.

Before I knew it, the referee had declared the start of the match.

With a battle cry, Carlos charged in like a goblin.

I responded, half-focused, and after about five minutes, knocked his sword aside.

When I pressed my blade to his neck, the referee declared my victory.

Carlos grimaced, frustration evident.

I didn't get it, but at least he had his moment—wait, I remembered something!

"We had a mock battle just after enrollment, didn't we?"

"Now!? You're only remembering that now!?"

Carlos stared at me in shock.

"Yeah, it's nostalgic. A lot happened back then, huh? Like stabbing a goblin and yelling about it."

"There's more than that! I worked hard during joint training, too!"

Ugh… even if you say so.

I tried to dig through my memories, but I couldn't find anything notable about him.

Eventually, we were chased away by the referee for loitering.

Carlos left, grumbling in dissatisfaction.

Watching his retreating figure, I reflected on the past three years.

He was my first mock battle opponent, stabbed goblins while shouting,

got overwhelmed by Tarvitt, and acted a bit odd.

There were things, sure, but we didn't really interact much, did we?

I feel like there's still something I'm forgetting, but—well, whatever.

It's probably nothing important.

◇◇◇◇

The tournament, a culmination of three years, continued.

Over the next two months, the participants experienced highs and lows.

In the second round, Felix faced Cartilarl Nejigane and won uneventfully.

In the third, Nils' fears came true. He fought Lambert, but couldn't find an opening and lost.

In the fourth and final round, Elliot challenged Tarvitt. Despite the cheers of Ted and others, he was crushed—shield and all—and defeated.

As for my opponents, they were mostly unfamiliar faces, or ones I knew but didn't know well.

So, as in my first match, I created a moment of spectacle before claiming victory.

The days passed, and the eight finalists were decided.

Lambert, Felix, and Tarvitt all advanced without trouble.

The others weren't weak, but those three were clearly a cut above.

If things went as expected, I'd face Lambert in the semifinals.

And Felix or Tarvitt in the finals.

There doesn't seem to be much room for surprises.