I was in my room, lying in bed and waiting the rest of the day out. After that talk with the headmaster, I can't help but feel like I'm just getting sidetracked. I suppose I've forgotten my mission here, and I can't take any more risks.

  ...

  Someone's out to kill me, huh?

  "Ugh, I've had enough!" I pouted, rolling around and clutching my head in frustration. "What am I so scared of? I made a promise to win, so I won't die until after!"

  The game starts tomorrow afternoon (luckily, it's the weekend, so I won't have to miss class), though because the colosseum shut down, we'll have to play at their school which is around five towns south from here. It's a bit closer to the capital, and there's actual stuff to do there.

  I'll just check my stats one last time and think of a gameplan for now...

  "Status!"

  Boles Bose | Age: 16 | Title: Novice

  Strength: 20

  Fortitude: 15

  Intelligence: 5

  Magic: 1.o2

  Luck: 23

  Idiocy: 44

  Seems like I'm making steady progress.

  Morning came, as I was greeted by the sound of banging on my door. Captain Tomas wanted me to be ready by 10 to get into the carriage, which was pretty easy considering I didn't need to bring much. Sure enough, I finished up everything I needed to do and the time arrived. I stared off into the distance as we set off.

  ...

  Bump.

  I was chucked forward, pulled right out of sleep as the carriage came to a full stop. Here we are at Sunabi town. This is what I would refer to as a gated community considering that there's a literal fence around the entirety of town, and the expensive-looking property.

  I hopped out with the rest of the Volleybomb team, noticing the clean, level cobble pavement. The houses around were less houses and more mansions, with giant statues, rooves on rooves, well-trimmed bushes, and even car garages (though cars don't exist in this world, so I guess these are storage rooms instead).

  There were people dressed in all sorts of expensive goods, and I don't mean just clothes. Somehow, people fashioned uncomfortable clothes out of metal and had unopened wine bottles as accessories. Even I could've sworn that I saw a well-groomed dog in a suit pee sparkling water, not that I'm willing to test that hypothesis.

  "Well, well, well." A snobbish sounding voice came from around. Another group of teens popped up, all dressed in fancy purple suits and eccentric to say the least. There was one kid with a receding hairline and bucktooth standing at the center, who I presumed to be the captain. "Look who we have here. Prepared to lose again?"

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  "Oh, no. Quite the contrary, actually." Tomas said, extending a handshake with malicious aura. The other captain received it, though he writhed in pain, unable to free himself from the grip. "You won't even stand a chance."

  "Owwie!! I'm gonna tell my mom if you keep hurting me!! WAAah!!!"

  At this rate, there'll be a battle breaking out here. I suppose it's my job to take care of it all...

  "Hey, let's cut it out." I muttered, standing between the two. My words seemed to work a bit, as they released grips. "We're just here to have a game, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less, right?"

  "Pleh! Even this stupid pleb seems to understand it!"

  "Yeah, whatever. Boles, let's not hold back even from the start."

  With that conflict out of the way, we followed them over to their arena. There's already a large crowd forming, and I'm not prepared to compete in such a big event! If I mess up, they'll tear me apart!

  We took the back entrance (secret) for players. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect in this new arena, but it was a real surprise in one way or another. Even a few of our members noticed, speaking out about the glaring issue.

  "Hey, wait a minute! This is exactly the same building back at our school!"

  "Feh! W-we have no idea what you mean!" Their captain replied, clearing his throat. "P-perhaps we contracted the same builders..."

  I took a look at the columns, which were completely identical to those in our colosseum. The fine print read "Mass produced by children in an unethical sweatshop."

  What a bunch of skilled workers, huh?

  "Boles, stop looking around and get everything settled! The game starts in twenty minutes, so no excuses or accidents during the match!"

  "R-right!"

  I'll just take a breather and use the bathroom. Washing my face will be the best way to cool my nerves, for starters.

  ...

  Hey, wait a minute! Our locker room doesn't have a bathroom!

  Those prep kids really wanna sabotage us, huh? I guess I'll have no choice but to use the public ones...

  "Welcome, everyone, to the Fides Preparatory Academy's Volleybomb arena, sponsored by Luxury Falls! Have you ever wanted to taste the nectar of the gods? Well, oh boy will you, because the game starts in eighteen minutes and that's just enough time to get up from your seats and buy the all new exclusive flavor, Luxury Nectar, for only five bronze coins (cups sold separately)!"

  Man, even in another world, I can't escape pesky advertisements. It's really awkward having to get in front of people and move around the stands, but this is the only way I can make sure I don't yellow myself mid-game. The fact that they can afford all this but not a bathroom sign...

  "Erm, what a surprise!" A familiar voice rang out. A few seats nearby, I saw Stu holding a basket full of overpriced concessions. "My liege, what brings you here on the realm of the peasants and not the holy playing field?"

  "Huh?! Why're you here?"

  "Cuz I wanna."

  Well, that's a fair point, but it's not just him who came. I think... I think there's a goddess hidden amongst the crowd! Who could this dazzling light besides Stu possibly be?!

  "Stop staring like that..." Audi muttered, facepalming. She had her hands digging into Stu's wallet, though it seems like I've drawn attention to her. "But yeah, we came here because-"

  "Because we want to celebrate you! Congratulations!" Elise shouted and jumped up and down from her seat. "I knew my disciple could make it!"

  "Erm, actually, this isn't even nationals. It's just a school game."

  Ugh, really? This is so embarrassing. It's like when your parents unexpectedly show up to an event and now you have to try extra hard to make it seem like you're really good at what you're doing or something relatable like that. And if I screw up, they'll have something to laugh at for the next week straight.

  But still, I can't say I'm not a little happy that they're here to cheer me on.

  "I'm kind of in a rush right now, but thanks, you guys!"

  "Anything for my greatest ally!"

  "Wait, sweetie hold on! Distract him for a bit more and I'll make a fortune!"

  "I had a fortune cookie one time. I'm not Chinese, though."

  Great. I think I'm starting to see where I'm supposed to be. Now all I need to do is hope that nobody will get in my way before I make a massive mess of the-

  "I could recognize that stench from anywhere! My Malodorous Magister, oh please grace the world with your-"

  ...The world is a circus, and I am the ringmaster. I guess I should've expected Alvure to be here, and now he's yapping all around me. What's next, Scarlet and Elliot are here, too? The two characters that haven't had any screen time in the last few chapters?

  "Of course I'm here." Scarlet said, dragging along the other named character. "It'd be funny to see you screw up, so I'm making sure I burn it into my memory."

  "Ooh la la, who is this fine lady that you have acquainted yourself with?" Alvure asked, creeping behind her. "Your eyes are red, like crimson, but burn with fire... which is also red."

  "My name is Elliot. I'm important. You remember me, right?"

  ...uh.

  By some miracle, I seem to have.

  "Yeah, yeah. Nice seeing you guys, too! Now, I have a little emergency, so would anyone please point me to the direction of the place where even kings walk alone?!"

  They proceeded to follow my orders, and I made a rush for it.

  ...

  I think I've been having fun lately.