Four Against One! - Anime: Infinite Swordsman! (Danmachi+Asterisk War+Rakudai)

Chapter 386: Four Against One!

Tsuruya had hesitated as well.

However, after another competitor from the same block came to her and explained a similar thought, she made up her mind.

Thinking about her conversation with that clown-dressed person, Tsuruya silently steeled her resolve.

"I have no objection to the match time. However, I cannot accept the tournament not giving any punishment to a late competitor!"

"I hope the committee will punish competitor Stella for being late!"

Tsuruya's sudden attack immediately caused discussion among the surrounding spectators.

"What kind of demand is that?"

"That's so unsportsmanlike. Fight fair and square!"

This was the opinion of most spectators.

What they hoped to see was a proper, full-power duel between young competitors.

Of course, there were also people who supported Tsuruya, and their voices were not completely drowned out.

"I think… competitor Tsuruya isn't wrong, at least."

"Being late is a mistake in itself. It's reasonable to have some kind of punishment."

No matter how fiercely the audience discussed it, Tsuruya Mikoto did not care.

Her demands for the tournament really were not high.

She had already been very satisfied with her top-eight ranking last year.

At the same time, she had not given up on training.

On the contrary, she had trained very hard, to the point where she had achieved a qualitative leap this year.

Although she was confident in defeating powerhouses like Touka and Moroboshi, Tsuruya's demand for her ranking was really not high.

Last year, she had reached the top eight.

This year, as long as she could enter the top four, she would be perfectly satisfied.

After learning that this year was packed with strong competitors, Tsuruya had even quietly lowered her goal to maintaining her top-eight position.

At worst, reaching the top sixteen would be fine too.

That way, after returning to school, she could at least sigh and say, "There were too many strong competitors this year."

No matter what, losing in the very first match was too much!

There were only thirty-two competitors in total, and she would not even get one win?!

In terms of strength and ability, this year's Tsuruya Mikoto was even stronger than some of Akatsuki Academy's students.

Her absolute zero, which ignored distance and could be instantly activated through her gaze, could make even Ikki lose if he was careless.

It might even injure Luke.

However, among all the competitors, there was only one person it would not work on.

Facing a monster like Stella, whose body would be covered in undying flames the moment she stood on the stage, "helpless" was the best description of Tsuruya.

But to be honest, her argument was somewhat unsteady.

There were precedents for punishing late competitors, but those had all been cases of malicious behavior.

Stella's situation this time had been confirmed as an accident.

The committee unanimously believed that making her compete immediately after arriving was already enough punishment.

Unless…

"I agree with Tsuruya-senpai's statement."

Unless Stella herself personally requested punishment!

Stella ignored the audience, who were shocked by her words, and continued speaking on her own.

"Tsuruya-senpai's argument is very reasonable. Even if I was late because of an accident, the fact that I was late itself cannot be ignored."

"So there should be some punishment."

Forget the audience.

Even the committee, Luke, and Tsuruya herself, the one who had raised the issue, were stunned.

However, after being stunned for an instant, Luke reacted.

After thinking about the situation in Block B, he had faintly realized Stella's purpose.

And Stella's next proposal directly confirmed this point for him.

"If the match is held directly like this, it would be too unfair to Tsuruya-senpai, who was not late."

"I propose that in the next match, all Block B competitors, including Tsuruya-senpai, fight me together."

"A special four-against-one match!"

Hearing this, Luke was already certain of the girl's goal.

Although he had not looked at the tournament schedule, so he did not know the later match combinations, he still knew who had won the already completed matches.

Each block had eight competitors and four matches.

Stella's match was the fourth match, meaning the final match.

And before this, the three victorious competitors from Block B were, respectively—

Pierrot, Hiraga Reisen.

Unturning, Tatara Yui.

Beast Tamer, Kazamatsuri Rinna.

That was right.

They were all members of Akatsuki Academy!

Thinking of this, Luke, who had originally planned to speak up and slightly stop the situation from escalating, withdrew that thought.

Because he knew this combination of competitors turned this seemingly absurd proposal into something that would absolutely pass.

The competitors unanimously approved it, Minister Tsukikage above would also apply pressure at the same time, and this was Stella's own proposal.

There was no reason it would not be approved.

So Luke turned and quietly left the audience seating.

To him, there was no need to listen to what happened afterward.

After meeting up with Edelweiss, the two continued the date that had just been interrupted by the match.

…

The development of events did not exceed Luke's expectations.

After a round of discussion, the operating committee ultimately approved Stella's proposal.

"You really are reckless. Was there a need to go this far?"

Before the competitors entered the waiting rooms, Luke found Stella.

Facing Luke's question, Stella did not answer him immediately.

Instead, she first complained with a mutter.

"Where did you run off to just now? I was going to find you and Ikki to eat something together while the stage was being repaired."

However, she seemed to only mention it once and had no intention of digging deeper.

Immediately afterward, she answered Luke's question.

"You know this too, right? The other three competitors who won in Block B are all Akatsuki Academy members."

"If I don't do this, then by the second round, one of them will definitely negotiate and withdraw."

"Isn't that fine? As long as they can't win the championship, that's enough, right?"

Luke's words earned him a big eye roll from Stella.

The girl spoke in annoyance.

"They destroyed the school that badly. If I don't beat them up, there's no way I can feel relieved!"

"I don't plan to let even one of them go!"

'...Actually, the school was basically destroyed by you.'

Luke hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he did not dare say this out loud.

So he changed to another way of saying it.

"Didn't you already beat all of them up during the attack?"

"…I wasn't conscious at the time!"

Stella clearly understood Luke's implication, so an awkward look immediately appeared on the girl's face.

Seeing this, Luke could only shake his head and silently sigh in his heart.

Judging from her reaction, even though she was embarrassed, she had no intention of changing her mind.

Clearly, she was determined to vent her anger on the Akatsuki Academy group.

Luke did not intend to stop her, and there was no need to stop her.

However, the necessary reminder could not be omitted.

"Be careful during the match."

"They saw your Dragonification that day. Since they still dare to make a move against you, that means they have a trump card capable of dealing with that state."

"Be careful not to overturn."

Facing Luke's reminder, Stella was no longer embarrassed.

She smiled brilliantly, like a child looking forward to a festival.

"Don't worry. The match will end in an instant…"

Deep within that smile, Luke seemed to see a volcano about to erupt.

…

(PS: Vote for more chapters this week. If this fanfic reaches 100+ powerstones, I will increase the daily upload frequency. Also, don't forget to write a review!)

---

Chapter 386 - Four Against One!