"Oh, Almark, where have you been?!
I raised my voice when I saw Almark as Nelson ran back to the backup seat.
"Pillman's game is over."
"Sorry."
Apologizing and eyeing the game field, Deg's game was already about to start.
"How was Pillman?"
"Lost"
Nelson glanced at him as he looked at the playing field.
"I worked hard, but my body's big opponent pushed me into it with force. I'm pissed off at Ain's good face."
"Right..."
That's two wins and two losses.
Almark looks to one set of backup seats.
Ain was just watching Almark too.
When his eyes met, Ain smiled and waved.
Almark also waves back.
"Hey, Almark. Why are you waving at the enemy?"
Nelson blames him and gives him a voice, but Almark shook his head.
He's not an enemy.
Almark also thought they were enemies until this tournament day.
But between those who have been trained for the same purpose. There exists no hatred, no exchange of life.
Northerners don't call it an enemy.
At that time, at the beginning, Bowen's voice sounded.
"Here we go. Who's Deg's opponent?
"Mulka.... honestly, I guess my strength is a little bit better than Deg"
"If Ain't calculating, well, that's the kind of person he's gonna come to."
Almark nodded.
But Ein doesn't know much about it.
"What?
"About those three."
Almark glanced at Torque and Galein watching the game.
Deg took Mulka's sharp thrust with his own sword.
Dangerous.
But I'm relieved. Soon the next attack will fly.
I manage to recieve that too and make a mistake. I don't even have time to fight back.
Shit, I'm strong.
Deg thought as he looked at Mulka's confident face.
The opponent is a Torque Hip Wipe, if he attacks with strength, he immediately puts out a blur.
I'm sure Ein tells me that.
Mulka steps in again. As if you are not at all afraid, such as Deg's attack.
Deadly recieve the attack again. I can't grasp the thread of a counterattack.
"Mulka, push! They're scared!
A voice that passes well.
It's Ain. That smart guy.
Damn. I'm definitely scared.
To Mulka's onslaught, the audience boils.
When Pillman lost and went 2-for-2, honestly, Deg trembled.
My wins and losses have hung over this whole game.
In the first place, I'm not the kind of person who can take such heavy responsibility.
I'm sure on this occasion, Galein would still have shown more grandeur and power as usual.
From the time I stood in the center of the game field, I could see my body atrophied.
I'm not familiar with the other Mulka, but I've heard rumors that she's popular with girls with clean faces.
When I saw that confident, neat face when I was across the street, I felt like Deg was no match for me anymore.
At least if it was someone who stayed away as long as I did.
Mulka's penetration jeopardized Deg's torso, and a pair of women's, yah, cheered from the audience.
Look, all the girls are rooting for this guy, too.
Not me.
Almark or Nelson. At least if it's Raido.
Deg slipped back.
"Deg! Come on!
I can hear Almark and Nelson.
I'm sorry, I had you hanging out with practice.
I can also hear the screaming support of the two groups of girls.
I'm sorry, but I had a heavy load.
Look, I'm trying desperately, too. Here's how.
Deg had managed to endure without getting a decisive dozen.
But it's only a matter of time.
At that time.
"Deg!"
Not a voice that passes as well as Ein, or as gorgeous as the girls. But the voice clearly reached Deg's ear.
Torque voice.
"Please."
Was that the day after Torque was hit by Almark in a martial arts class?
Torque pretended to be as strong as usual on the surface, but Deg and Galein, who have always acted together, found himself deeply upset inside.
On the way back to the dorm, when it was just the three of us, Torque said inadvertently.
"You know my power. To that extent."
When the two of them said nothing, Torque went on further, without even looking at the two of them.
"Get away whenever you run out of love. And it's not as small as resentment."
"I'm with Torque."
Deg said immediately. Galein nodded as well.
"I'm not smart enough to say it."
Deg tried to say why, but the words didn't come out well.
I had another taste of the usual horrible feelings that my feelings couldn't be clearly put into words.
"Torque is strong"
That's all I could say.
Neither did Galaine seem to be going to say anything. The two of us shut up and looked at Torque's face.
Torque shut up for a while and looked at the two faces, and finally, he told them to like it.
So I liked it.
I also got more chances to talk to other people in my class, but still Deg and Galein were basically beside the torque.
Torque should have been badly hurt then, but he didn't even tell me to stay by my side, or leave me alone. I didn't ask them to do anything, I just let them like it.
Even when his freshman year was exposed to demons, Torque followed Almark alone.
Deg doesn't know what happened then or afterwards. I didn't even talk about torque.
But at some point, Torque seemed to agree somewhere with Almark.
Torque does not rely on anyone.
Deg and Galein were always beside Torque, but Torque never consulted or relied on them for anything.
The important thing is, I've always thought, decided, and accepted the consequences by myself. And I'm sure he got up on his own again.
That torque told both of us yesterday evening.
"I can't do anything about it until tomorrow's game, you guys. But"
I squealed, winning.
Deg found out.
Because I made Almark say the word of solidarity in the morning.
Because I heard that word.
Torque must have wanted to win as a class as well as himself.
I would shake my head if I asked him.
"Galein, Deg. Never win, I'm not saying. But don't ever give up."
Torque slapped the two shoulders.
"Look, I promise. Attack the harder you are. It's the toughest time to attack."
Can you, they said, and they nodded.
"I can do it."
"I can"
The strength of Almark and Wallis, even when subject to surprise, was not an object of admiration because it was too heterogeneous in strength at all with itself.
Because I could only show the reality that I would never be.
But for Deg, the strength of the torque was different.
It's also highly capable, but more like the strength of living without relying on anyone. Even though he is a nobleman, Torque has had such strength from the beginning.
"Deg, please"
That torque just said "please" to me.
Torque, who doesn't rely on anyone, asked me, please.
Deg felt the power in his body.
The excess hardness falls out and I feel the heat rushing all over my body.
Torque. Can you count on me like this in such a truthful voice?
The harder it is, the better.
I keep my promises.
If you look closely, compared to Torque and Nelson, this guy's attack is like a fart.
Deg struck down Mulka's sword hard.
Rapid changes from previous weak movements became a complete feint for Mulka.
Deg thrust his sword hard into Mulka's empty torso, which bewildered and opened his eyes.
Along with the dull feel, Mulka gets her ass cake on.
"Until then!
Bowen's voice sounds.
Torque, I won.
Deg proudly raised his sword high.
Thanks for relying on me.