An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world

Chapter 80 Eye of the typhoon

“This one’s interesting. I wonder what they’ll summon this year.”

“Summon? For a summoner.”

Summoner vs Two-Handed Sword Fighter, huh?

Whoa, it’s a Triceratops!

A Triceratops, I mean a Triceratops! It’s got two huge horns on its forehead, and one on its nose, with its entire neck covered in tough, collar-like protectors. It’s a massive dinosaur!

Thump, thump, thump.

It’s enormous!

About three times the size of a cow!

Bigger than an elephant, I’d say.

What are we going to do with something like this?

Facing the swordsman, the Triceratops roars as the bell rings.

Dinosaurs don’t have vocal cords, so they don’t bark. It’s more like a throaty sound. In movies, the Tyrannosaurus rex makes a roar like “Rawr,” but apparently, that’s not true. Kind of disappointing, right?

Triceratops are on the prey side of the T-rex, so they might use roars to intimidate. They used to form herds and protect each other, it seems.

Just that roar alone made the swordsman surrender.

Well, this is… a monster you’d defeat with a party, right? I doubt it’s an opponent a swordsman could handle alone. Luckily, Triceratops is an herbivore, so it doesn’t attack without reason. But it’s been battling for millions of years, refusing to be devoured by Tyrannosaurus rex, and it’s safe to say it’s the ultimate warrior among herbivorous dinosaurs. Those three powerful horns and the robust shield protecting its vulnerable neck leave no room for strategy.

“…A Mid-Dragon, huh? This might be unbeatable for anyone.”

Even Dō-san seems amazed.

“The Summoner is invincible, isn’t he? What are we going to do about this?”

“Keyris, the Summoner, had a Lesser Dragon last year. It had its neck broken by a single strike from the hero, Wrench, in the semifinals. That’s why he changed the summoned creature this year. It’s quite impressive. He might even win.”

“But isn’t it forbidden to kill opponents?”

“That’s why Keyris is still alive. Summoned creatures are like weapons, so killing them is permissible.”

Pretty strict, huh?

Was the Lesser Dragon a Deinonychus? In movies and games, it’s often mistaken for a Velociraptor. It’s a swift carnivore about the size of a human. It’s known for initiating group battles, so it has a formidable image. However, its weight is lighter than a human’s, and in a one-on-one with a weapon-wielding human, it might be an even match. The hero can defeat that with a single strike…

I’m glad I don’t have to fight a hero.

The first time was hiding and long-range shooting. The second time was a preemptive attack against the zombified hero.

If we had engaged directly, I’d probably be dead.

“What about a direct attack on the Summoner?”

…Saran, well, I think it’s a good idea, but if we did that…

“Well, that’s not what a knight does. It wouldn’t please the audience.”

Up to this point, the first round has concluded, with thirty-two participants and sixteen winners remaining.

Today, we’ll proceed to the second round. Eight participants will remain.

“How about it, big brother? Who do you think will come out on top?”

“As expected of the top contenders, Duke Baldorat’s swordsman, the magician from the Mage Guild, and the summoner, I suppose. It’s hard to predict since it depends on the matchups. Some they can win against and some they can’t. So, I really have no idea.”

“I think that heavily armored spear wielder was quite skilled.”

“You mean Church Knight Baldus. You have quite a discerning eye, sister.”

“Because he seemed the most human and relatable, I want to root for him.”

“Haha, that’s an interesting perspective!”

I understand, Saran. So, you figured that if it’s like that, you could probably win too, right?

Hahaha…

“And what about you, Shin?”

“I’d be killed by anyone in just 2 seconds.”

“Of course, you fool. Don’t think weird things, brother.”

To be honest, I’ve been watching each participant, thinking about how I would fight them if I had a gun.

You see, even when I go to the zoo or the bear farm in Noboribetsu, while other tourists are throwing feed around saying “aww,” I’m there thinking, “Where’s the weak spot? Where would I shoot? Can I aim for that size?” It’s the hunter’s nature, you know. Thinking like that, I must come off as dangerous and risky. I’m watching every participant, considering how I would kill them.

The second round unfolded as expected, with the strong contenders advancing smoothly, and the day’s tournament came to an end.

” brother, sister, are you coming to watch again tomorrow?”

“Yes, we’ll be in these seats.”

“I’m coming too. Looking forward to it! See you tomorrow!”

It’s great that I could sit next to interesting people.

As night falls, I join up with the Ballistes members, and once again, it’s time for a banquet.

“The taverns in the capital are expensive!”

“Yeah! It’s better to bring the drinks here and have a wild time!”

Well, everyone, you’ve been feasting on Saran’s cooking and drinks, so what are you all saying?

Sorry, Saran, I’ll help out too.

I’ll grill plenty of meat over the charcoal fire. Let’s add some barbecue sauce.

“It’s delicious, it’s delicious!” The praise is pouring in.

“How was it, Shin? Watching battles of hero class?”

“I was amazed. Humans are incredible. I realized they can become that strong.”

“That’s right. You, being a gun user, are so strong that even we’re impressed. But that doesn’t mean you’re inherently strong. We get that too.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not all-encompassing, right? Your abilities are too specialized. You need to use them well to contribute to our strength.”

“That’s true.”

“We’re the same way. Just becoming a Class 2 Hunter doesn’t mean we can beat all opponents. It’s important to know our limits. Watching something like this is crucial.”

I was getting carried away swinging my gun around. I reflect on that.

I owe everything to Saran for surviving in this world.

That’s what I deeply believe.

I don’t aspire to be the protagonist in this world; it’s more fitting for me, a somewhat unconventional magical tool user from the outskirts, to live out my life like this. I’m glad I came to watch.

“It’s okay, Shin. I like you just the way you are,” Saran says as she hands me a salad.

“Make sure to eat your vegetables.”

“Yeah.”

Saran always tells me to live a long life.

I must look like I’m on the brink of an early death for her to say that.

She’s easily reassured when I eat my vegetables for her peace of mind, though.

“Looks like no archers showed up after all!”

Lant, the archer, is drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

“Hahaha, what can you do? It’s a mano-a-mano competition, after all, in the arena!”

“Mages are still weak, huh? Was anyone left?”

“One person. The mage from the Magic Guild.”

“Ah, that one’s an exception. But they tend to surrender quickly if they see they’re up against someone stronger. Maybe it would have been better to watch today. What a letdown.”

The magician guy seems a bit disappointed. While it’s true that the preliminaries offer a more diverse range of participants, there’s a good chance many of them hadn’t shown their full strength yet. The finals will surely be a spectacle in their own right.

“No sword-and-shield fighters left either. We’re weak in real battles…”

Vice-Leader Mild looks downcast.

“Against monsters, effectiveness and defense are key. We hunters can’t do without at least one. Don’t get too down,” I say, trying to comfort him.

“That’s right. Against monsters, a shield is definitely the way to go. I saw Mild-san hold his ground against the Hydra without flinching, and he was reassuring as the Werewolf as well,” I add, making Mild smile and brighten up. Good.

“So, Shin, as a first-time spectator, who do you think will win?”

The leader, Bartil, is a master of the great spear.

Bartil, the heavy hitter of Team Ballistes, but today’s battles might not provide the best insights.

Relying solely on armor for defense and focusing on attacks made it all seem a bit monotonous.

“I think the summoner might win. I mean, who could possibly defeat a Middle Dragon like that, right?”

“Middle Dragon!!”

The magcian guy and Newton, who hadn’t been watching earlier, react in astonishment.

“The summoner, well, they used a Middle Dragon. Everyone surrendered before even fighting against them,” I explain.

“Wait, wait, wait, that’s not fair. There are cases where the Demon King is a dragon too, you know? Having a dragon fight against another dragon, that’s not how a hero should win, right!?”

“I agree.”

“Absolutely.”

Bartil nods in agreement with the protest from the magician guy and Newton.

“In tomorrow’s final, the key will be who can defeat that Middle Dragon.”

“Even if the summoner makes it to the end, will the royal palace recognize them as a hero?”

“That would be quite revolutionary. It could become quite interesting.”

“I personally think it’s unfair for a hero to use monsters. I’m totally against it.”

“I’m against it too.”

“And what about you, Saran-chan?”

“I don’t care anymore… after seeing that, it just seems ridiculous.”

“No way.”

Ahaha. We all burst into laughter together.

Day three in the royal capital.

Today is the finals.

The arena is already packed.

The trumpet sounds a lively fanfare, announcing the entrance of His Majesty the King.

Your Majesty. You seem to be in good health, and that’s a relief.

There are no words from the King today. I wonder who’s actually organizing all of this.

“Hey, make sure to watch closely today. If you’re confused about anything, just ask me.”

Once again, Do-san is by my side. He’s taking on the role of commentator, so I rely on him for explanations.

“Thank you. Um, who is actually organizing this tournament?”

“The Hero Church.”

“The Church, I see… so that’s why the King seems distant.”

“This year, there won’t be any words from him either. The impact of last year’s incident is still lingering.”

Yes, that makes sense.

The fact that the previous hero was hanged and that the series of noble assassinations turned out to be a scheme by the Hero Church is known to the public now.

This time, they really need to choose a decent hero, or the trust of the people will plummet.

“Who do you think the Church is supporting the most?”

“Well, it’s probably Duke Baldorat’s sponsored contestant, Blanversh. The Duke’s authority serves as a strong backing for the Church. It’s probably the best scenario for them…”

I know a little about the previous hero.

I did some sabotage, you see.

“I have a question, though. Blanversh seems quite powerful, right? Why hasn’t his name been widely known until now?”

“Well, you see, the previous hero was a member of the Church’s Knight Order. If you defeat a Church-sponsored hero, they start coming up with excuses like ‘There’s no way someone can defeat a Church hero. They must be borrowing power from the demons.’ It’s a hassle. Even if you have the strength, it’s an unwritten rule among participants not to beat a Church hero.”

Oh, that’s quite unfair…

“Well, this year, there’s no Church-sponsored hero. This might finally determine the true hero.”

That would be a relief.

“Blanversh, the question is whether he can defeat that summoner.”

“Yeah, exactly. For the Hero Church, it would be a nightmare if the hero, who should be defeating dragons as the Demon Lord, ends up using and controlling one. This time, the Church probably wants Blanversh to win.”

It seems like the summoner will indeed be the center of attention today.

In the quarter-finals, first match:

The contender for the championship, Blanversh, faced off against a two-handed sword wielder. The difference in skill became clear. While it was a good match, Blanversh dominated, putting on a captivating performance. You can tell that he knows how to entertain the audience and make them happy.

Second match:

A fully-armored spear wielder against another two-handed sword user. Saran is rooting for the spear wielder. The spear wielder skillfully dealt with the two-handed sword and emerged victorious. Truly impressive. They demonstrated that if the skill levels are equal, the advantage goes to the spear, just as expected.

Third match:

A magician against a two-handed swordsman.

Right from the start, the area around the two-handed swordsman is enveloped in flames!

Oh, so they were saving this for now, I see.

The ring of fire gradually narrows down.

The two-handed swordsman attempts to leap over the flames but ends up being engulfed in fire. They collapse and struggle, allowing the magician to extinguish the flames, sealing the victory.

Fourth match:

A summoner facing off against a fully-armored spear wielder, who is a knight of the church.

Since they’re not yet a hero, the church won’t be nitpicking even if they win.

… The opponent is a Triceratops. Well, in this world, it’s known as a Mid Dragon.

They probably want to surrender right away, but as a knight, it’s not something you can just do—being defeated without landing a single blow. Moreover, they’re wearing full armor, so they brace themselves to face the challenge.

The cheers from the audience are tremendous.

Of course, since until now, all the opponents have surrendered without a fight against the Triceratops.

They twirl the spear around… is it like catching a dragonfly?

Perhaps because the Triceratops is an herbivore, it doesn’t charge at them.

Could it be that they’ve observed its behavior from previous fights?

The Triceratops gets lured in, glancing at the spear’s tip and turning its head to the side for just a moment… and then they thrust the spear right into its face!

Roarrrr!

The Triceratops opens its enormous mouth wide!

And then, they shove the spear into its mouth…!

I see! That’s definitely its weak point!

But that thought lasted only a moment.

With its massive jaws, it crushes the spear, swinging its head vigorously and seizing the spear. Th-This is terrifying!

In a fit of rage, the Triceratops charges at the fully-armored knight!

Easily sent flying, the knight is thrown out of the ring by the Triceratops.

… They were carried away on a stretcher, but it seems they survived with just enough damage to stay alive.

Thank goodness for the armor…

How can anyone expect to defeat something like that? It’s impossible!

Even with a firearm, it’s impossible. What kind of gun would you even use?

Large animals don’t just drop dead instantly. It takes time for them to die.

During that time, if they manage to counterattack, there’s no chance at all.

The quarter-finals have come to an end.

The audience is abuzz with murmurs.

The boos are overwhelming. Well, anyone would consider that a foul play, right?

Even His Majesty the King is shaking his head with his arms crossed.

If something like that were to win, what are they going to do… seriously?

“What do you think, big brother?”

“Well… if you think about it logically, that thing should win, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right… Dragons are the kind of thing you face with a party or an army, not something you take on alone. If you can win against one, you’re not exactly struggling.”

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

Saran is munching on a snack. She seems to have bought it from one of the stalls.

“Want some food?”

“Yeah… What do you think Saran would do if she encountered something like that?”

“Run away.”

“Yeah, that’s probably it…”

“But that thing should be faster than a human if it runs. We’ll have to sneak away quietly without being seen.”

“That thing is a herbivore, right? As long as we don’t attack, it shouldn’t come after us, right?”

“Yeah, that’s what I think. It should be fine if we leave it alone.”

“However, this is a martial arts tournament. If we don’t defeat it, we can’t win.”

You’re right, Do-san.

“What would you do, Shin?”