Village Daughter of a Potato Farmer, Until She Was Praised as a Sword God

Chapter 8: Talent Monster

　After my fight was over, I went to see the matches being held in the second to tenth arenas. The number of spectators everywhere else was much smaller than in the first arena.

　After moving around for some time, I returned to the first arena and saw that the number of people in the audience had decreased. And, of course, the reason being that the princess had left.

　If the knights were here, they would have been busy trying to protect the princess and there were a lot of people who only wanted to see the first match.

　Since there was still more than an hour until the second round, I decided to fill my stomach with the potato salad I had bought earlier. The rest period gets shorter as the tournament progresses and now was the only time I could relax.

　While vacantly watching my classmates’ matches, I continued to refine my mana. Sometimes, I collect my mana on my fingertips and then roll it up into tiny balls and float them in the air.

　These techniques were called Collection and Separation. They were the next stage after Chord, and I planned to work on them for the latter half of my third year. It seems that if and when an alchemist progresses to this point, it will be possible for them to learn offensive techniques, special moves that utilize mana.

　Starting with Cepharis, there were a lot of girls who looked up to me, but I didn’t think they needed me. Potato farmers didn’t need special moves. Mana itself was useful for work, so it is helpful in its base form. 

‘I’m sure my waist will be straight no matter how many decades pass.’　As I was thinking about my old age, a crowd of people had surrounded me.

　A female knight then called out to me.

“I saw your match just now. Just as the rumors say, I knew right away that you were exceptional.”

“Eh, okay. Um, could it be that is why everyone is looking at me?”

“Of course it is. I couldn’t help but check it out for myself when I heard that a ‘mana monster’ had been discovered by the princess.”

“…a monster?”

“Even Jill-sama went out of her way to enter the academy just to become your educator.”

　She then proceeded away from the crowd, saying; 

“Well then, do your best next time.”

“…”

    ‘Wait a minute; I need to organize my thoughts. She was right about being found by a princess, and I’ve heard of these mana monsters before. But why did Jill-sensei become a teacher for me? Why go that far? I have no doubt that she was instructed to do so.’

　The wall of people began to part at the middle and they all saluted at once.

“The second round is coming soon. I’m looking forward to it, Tremina-san.”

　Princess Lizteles.

　For now, I decided to put those thoughts aside. If I didn’t concentrate on the tournament now, my opponent would be in great danger. What was certain was that I had managed to attract a lot of attention.

　I felt sorry for my opponent. They’ll end up fighting on a stage set up in a large gallery. It is impossible not to be nervous.

　As for me, of course I was conscious of being watched. But my body moved normally and the quality of my mana didn’t change, so it didn’t affect me much. But, I’ve never been nervous before, so I wasn’t sure.

　However, my opponents were not taken aback by the crowd. Since the matches with me were expected to be like this, the mana of my opponents for the second and third rounds was normal. I realized that the more I fought and won, the higher my fighting spirit.

　My opponent for the fourth round had an impression that was not so different from the matchups at school.

　And then my fifth round opponent was a very big man who stood at about 180 centimeters tall. His mana caught my eye even before his huge body. It had a positive growth.

　Experience perception is based on the resonance of mana, so you can somehow read the feelings of the other person and my opponent had ambitions of defeating the No. 1 in front of this big crowd and making a name for himself.

　It was fine, but I thought it was a little immature. I wasn’t even 150 centimeters tall. The senior knights even looked like they were on the verge of pulling him back. But the gap between our actual abilities was wider than the physique difference.

　I quickly dodged his wooden longsword that he swung with incredible power and deftly moved around to his side. Following this up with a foot sweep that sent the huge frame into the air and, while still in the air, I immediately followed with a hit to his cervical plexus with my fist, knocking him out. Finally, I gently put my hand on his fainted head, protecting it from swelling.

　This series of movements took about five seconds, but I think it was still clearly visible to the discerning audience and I received another standing ovation and a storm of applause.

　“What a masterpiece! Or a monster showcase!”

　Of course, Princess Lizteles was also clapping her hands with satisfaction.