The true pacifist Shadyna is enjoying her newest hobby~

Which is watching violent people murdering each other.

They are voluntarily violent on their own so it is truly the best hobby for me, who abhor such savagery from the bottom of my heart, to enjoy in peace.

_ Miel: I doubt that is the case, .

Even though my logic was foolproof?!

It's good that people know that pacifism is always on my mind with just a glance (probably), but why is no one agreeing? So sad~

Taking a seat next to me, the deadpan waitress dives straight into my lap. Already feeling at home, aren't you…?

_ Miel: …Smell of another woman.

No there is not! For one, this game does not feature that kind of fetish, and in the bizarre event of Sateri implementing it in the future, she would not be able to give player characters body odors exactly because of perverts like you! And in my case specifically, there are way more than one person who come into close contact with me, so the "another woman" part is also wrong!

I feel like my reputation would not survive if I voice my objections out loud though. And since it's not like my lap will go numb, I'll let her take a beauty nap while sleeping in real life, un.

_ Choruse: Oh, 's on LDR duty today?

_ Miel: Yes, it's been too long since we last slept together.

Even though we have never done that?! Wait, how do you calculate it to begin with? Wouldn't the time span be negative because the last time is in the future?

_ Melodyn: I'm surprised Hessy let you go. No one else can tank bosses without using potions or healers like you.

Her "daughter", you mean. I don't know about Sateri's standards in balancing, but having a single player tanking a bonus boss solo without taking any damage by abusing their pet's invincibility is kind of game-breaking.

Personally, I'm fine with that. The [Symbiosis] pets I have seen, Lutena and Yassyl included, are too small to fully shield their masters from attacks. If anything, they are more akin to shields in games which feature perfect blocks, or enemies that cannot be damaged from the front. An annoying feature that was probably invented by the same guys who created status effects, but not to the point of having no way to deal with it.

Doesn't mean I don't want to tie them up to a chair and "peacefully complain" to them, preferably until they are so dead, the ghostly creatures in this game look like a lively bunch in comparison!

_ Miel: I told Hessy that if she would not give me private time with as she did to everyone else, I would act like the lonely housewife that I was and would not guarantee her safety. Easy.

So Hessy decided to sacrifice MY safety instead?! Darn it, I want a new manager~!

A brunette lady with a gigantic bow on her back walks to us, followed by her usual bunch of muscle idiots… Probably. It is hard to know when my sole impression of them is muscle!

_ Cinrald: Yo, ~! I never thought you would come!

_ Shadyna: But you invited me!?

Yes, we are at 's arena, not Elri's house. The guildmaster, , told me I should come and watch the prelims yesterday. The invitation also extends to a full party as well, as long as we all agree not to disclose anything in the prelims.

My guild is filled with service workers, so they are used to not blabbering stuff they should keep secret. As for me, I can craft anywhere. In fact, I can't even move from my seat because I brought the whole material storage here in order to avoid having to go back to restock.

As such, the tournament arc can begin without disruption!

_ Cinrald: Because you kept refusing to participate, even only for a guest match, I thought you would not enjoy the tournament despite your sponsorship.

_ Shadyna: Uh, pacifists normally don't want to fight, be it real combat or tournaments.

_ Cinrald: Really? We have a few guys who only do PvE and no PvP at all. One of my oldest members flat-out told me that he refused to raise his sword against fellow humans as part of his roleplaying.

Understandable. Roleplaying or not, there is a big difference between fighting AI-controlled creatures and human-controlled avatars. I'm pretty sure flexible min-maxers like who excel at both are on the rarer side.

My guild members? Let's just say the overwhelming advantage in stats renders the matter moot~

_ Cinrald: He was a-okay with slashing elves, dwarves and other races though.

That guy was talking about in-game playable races?! For a seemingly useless title, [Halfblood] is driving a lot of backstories huh…

_ Shadyna: In my case, I avoid combat whenever possible, but I have no problem watching people fight.

_ Cinrald: Glad to hear~

Why are you taking a seat on my other side…? You are not having an audience today, there are plenty of seats to choose from!

Down in the stage, combatants are walking in lines from the four entrances and instructed by muscular men to their starting positions. There are a hundred of them, so you can't just tell them to enter the stage and begin murdering others as if they were in a duel.

_ Shadyna: It's hard to know who is who…

When building this place, I made the stage quite big, more than enough to have this many players. Still, keeping track of them in combat will be troublesome once they start moving.

_ Cinrald: Yeah, this is partly why we are not having audience for prelims. Most can't see what is happening until a few remain standing.

_ Miel: What are the other reasons, if you don't mind telling?

_ Cinrald: Practice before the real thing in terms of organization, and limiting information leaks of the winners.

_ Miel: Oh… Right, those one-trick ponies that rely on catching opponents by surprise.

_ Cinrald: Exactly. These guys have to fight one round more than guild players, so we gotta make it as fair for them as possible.

_ Miel: Like that would deter the sore losers from complaining…

Before the match can even start, the two are already low-key dissing the participants. I wonder if Miel was interested in registering for the tournament…?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, a muscular old man in a vest steps onto the extruding platform. That one is for important people to make a speech before the event, so I suppose he's the MC?

_ Muscular gentleman: One, two, three. We are testing mics, mics are testing us.

Da heck?

_ Muscular gentleman: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! Welcome! To the Blood Sacrifice Battle Royale!

Somehow, the distance doesn't seem to matter as I can hear the general chat from across the stadium no problem whatsoever. And it's not just the MC. I can hear the members around the place cheering on with their "YEE-HAW!", "WOOO!!!", "TAKE THAT SHIRT OFF!!!" and the likes.

Wait, what the hell is that last one?! What if there is an innocent half-elf girl in the area listening to you degenerates!?

Then, the muscular guides down there form a circle around the stage and start to do various poses that one would only see in bodybuilding competitions!

My eyes! MY EYES!!! Potions! [Minor Heal]!

_ Miel: Out.

_ Melodyn: Out~

_ Choruse: Totally out.

_ Cinrald: Figured as much~

You don't say! No matter how you look at it, this was catering to the muscle maniacs that are members. Look, some combatants are already fainting out of shock! You perverts on audience seats, stop cheering! You guys are going to change this tournament arc into a horror survival series!

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

…

A few minutes later, the opening "ceremony' concluded with over half of the combatants lying motionlessly on the ground. The fact that some of them even survived that mental assault is amazing by itself, I think.

Me? I muted the chat while poking Gelly's jiggling body to erase those eye-burning images out of my head. I only realized that it had ended because got up with Gelly still on her head to get my attention.

Now she's back on my lap, hugging Gelly in her arms. What the heck~

_ Muscular gentleman: Now then, I shall explain the rules of the first round!

Not one bit bothered by the combatants' wellbeing at all, are you…?

The rules are typical for a PvP event. Anything goes, from swords to magic to forcing surrender by holding the opponents' cute daughter hostage. A participant is out if they are killed, surrender or fall off the stage. Nothing out of the ordinary.

No, neither or I would complain if a hostage situation arises. In fact, should someone manage to kidnap 99 cute daughters and win, I would applaud him for the sheer dedication alone. Most harem protagonists can't even come close to such achievement.

Especially when not all participants are going to have a daughter to kidnap!

_ Miel: , delusion time's over. Match is starting.

How rude~ But thanks for the notice!

_ Muscular gentleman: Let the first match of the Blood Sacrifice Battle Royale preliminaries… BEGIN!

_ Combatants: UWOOOOOO!!!

They sure bounce back quickly after that horrific trauma. Good for them~

In the span of a few seconds, the stage turns into a chaotic mess. They were spread equally across the whole area of the stage, so the bulk of the fighting is taking place in the center, where there are more players at the start.

Magi are dropping like flies, which is understandable considering they are off against multiple enemies in close quarters. Oooh~ that one managed to set off a big explosion! However, why in the name of Sateri did you fire it at your feet!? You blew a few of them away at the cost of your own squishy life!

_ Dead mage: Fight on, my brothers!

The same ones you are supposed to defeat!!!

_ Warrior: Hey baby, wanna team up against these losers?

Invite them to your party, or flirt with them, don't try to do both!

_ Priestess: Eh… sure?

_ Knight: Go to hell! She should team up with me!

Because that would happen, guaranteed (not really)!

As a result, the two manly men fight against each other to assert dominance while the priestess gets skewered by stray arrows. Welp~

It's safe to say that you need to form alliances BEFORE the battle, otherwise it will inevitably end up the same. Too fast-paced to negotiate mid combat.

Only around two dozen players remain. That was fast.

Either by implicit understanding or behind-the-PM dealings, they separate into two groups and stand off against each other. It is the final battle, or at least until one side is defeated so that the survivors can begin their civil war!

_ Swordsman: For the dumplings!

_ Enemy battlemage: In the name of the dumplings!!!

_ Everyone: UWOOOOOO!!!

The materialism is strong in these guys!

_ Miel: Maybe flexing about having dumplings daily was too effective.

It was YOUR doing?!

_ Cinrald: It was good advertisement for this tournament so it's all good~

For a guild filled with maniacs obsessed with having a good fight, you guys sure are flexible about the motivations for said good fights! What happened to sportsmanship, self-improvement and becoming the best of the best?!

_ Melodyn: Regardless of their cringy introductions, all tournament participants know deep down inside that they are joining because of the same reason~

Please tell me they are not. That is not why we should hold tournaments to begin with~

_ Choruse: Worldly desires.

And say it normally!!!

_ Cinrald: It's amazing how you girls are having a conversation even though is barely speaking.

_ Miel: Long exposure does that.

What am I, a radioactive hazard?!

_ Melodyn: And since you could see that we were conversing, you are already corrupted~

_ Choruse: One of us, one of us.

Rude~

_ Muscular gentleman: We have a winner!

After one group fell, the winning group turned against each other. The first match ended when the rogue stabbed the battlemage in the face and shouted "FOR THE DUMPLINGS!" at the same time.

I really should watch how I distribute my [Fishy Dumpluck] from now on. If it becomes an expectation in events, it would be bad for other organizers who cannot afford to have them in the prize pool…

_ Rogue: I would like to thank my friends and fam…

_ Muscular gentleman: Next match!

I feel sorry for that guy, but please save that speech for when you actually win the tournament~

…

Compared to the time to bring in the competitors, the fight itself is pretty short. Although I doubt it will be a problem in the main event as we would have one-versus-one fights, I should check with to see what I can help in logistics. 127 fights in one day is a lot after all.

Second match went about as organized as the first one, until I spot a cute mage (most likely) dying in a warrior's arms. The scene itself is already out of place, but it is even more bizarre to see others trying not to caught up in it.

The atmosphere is serious business!

_ Warrior: Honey, hang in there! We promised to face each other in the finals!

Totally not a death flag at all, un. And what are you going to do when you meet in the finals? Kill each other for some dumplings?

_ Dead (?) Mage: I'm… sorry. I love… your daughter… 's girlfriend… Guh.

_ Warrior: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Yes, officer, that degenerate right there! Also, what the hell is with your character's backstory?! Is your crush even of legal age?

The warrior was put out of his misery after that, by being in the blast radius of another big explosion. Sigh~

…

Apparently, the guys in the third match learned a thing or two during their waiting period. The moment the match starts, they group up with nearby players before engaging in combat.

I rarely have the luxury to watch team-versus-team fights, so this is a good chance to study, un!

Ah, they are already backstabbing each other. Don't need to learn that. My guild members are already teaching me aplenty.

_ Miel: Love you too.

That is not a compliment~!

_ ???: Drop your weapons if you want this one to live!!!

While I was distracted, a hostage situation has developed! A young, beautiful knight is… the one doing the kidnapping?! I wonder how many cute daughters she managed to kidnap for this match? 20? Or even 30~?

_ Kidnapped old mage: Pl-please, have mercy!

It's actually the grandfather of the cute daughters!?

_ Kidnapped old mage: I don't have a wife yet, but multiple daughters to feed!

The worst! This guy is the worst!!!

_ Miel: I think he might be related to the dramatic warrior earlier.

_ Shadyna: Are we seriously going down that line of thought…?

_ Choruse: He's obviously the daughter's girlfriend.

Obviously~ NOT!!!

_ Melodyn: Now now, . Even is not buying that.

I have a feeling there would be a lot of problems if I was… and did you just casually accuse me of being gullible?

_ Melodyn: He is definitely the daughter~

How the heck is that anywhere more plausible than your sister's take!!!

Both the kidnapper and the hostage were blasted to pieces as the magi on the stage went straight for the "Normies go explode!" route, literally. The audience is more interested in the theories thrown around by my guild members though.

, is your guild going to be alright with these guys…?

…

The fourth match went surprisingly normal for the most part until about a dozen players remain. A battlemage who was losing against a group of five players suddenly pulls out a consumable from his inventory.

_ Battlemage: Do you know what this is?!

Not really~

His opponents seem to have realized what he is holding, judging by their terrified expressions. Probably a bomb?

_ Battlemage: I! SHALL! HAVE! THE DUMPLINGS!!!

I would appreciate if you guys would stop treating my food as some secret weapon that is worth dying for.

Even if it is one.

Using a [Leap] to jump into the sky, he throws the orb to the ground. An improvement from the self-destructive mage in the first match! Maybe they are friends…?

*BOOM*

Then the stage exploded~

_ Cinrald: Well, this is going to be a problem…

No kidding. While I'm sure some top players can take a hit from high-level [Alchemy] bombs, normal players won't. One-shotting AoE items are a nightmare to balance.

_ Cinrald: How are we going to decide the winners if they die at the same time?

That's what you are worried about?!

_ Miel: Concerned about consumables?

_ Shadyna: Un, they are costly, but they are powerful and does not require casting. There is nothing stopping a participant from throwing bombs to victory in this tournament.

_ Miel: Don't worry about it. Good magi have better burst and sustained damage than bombs. More importantly…

_ Shadyna: More importantly?

_ Miel: They will come out at a net loss if they only use expensive consumables to fight.

Materialism once again protects the game balance~!

_ Battlemage: Muahahaha! I wo…

The madman's victory speech was cut short as a rogue, who had somehow survived the bomb point-blank, emerged from the dust cloud created by the bomb.

Aaaaand the rogue stabs the battlemage in the face, ending the match for real this time. At this rate, stabbing magi in the face is going to become the next fad by the end of this event~

By the way, the remaining two winners were decided by checking the footage to find who fell to the ground last. Hurray to technology~!

____________

At the teahouse corner in the cafeteria, an unexpected group of players can be seen enjoying their snacks. Luckily, not too many gossipers wander around here, so no one is raising a ruckus, yet.

_ Ignar: Yo, . Wait, why are you here?

_ Hessenria: *Sighs* I'm taking a break before our next trip. Can I take your order?

_ Ignar: Uh, no thanks. Please just enjoy your break. Max, you wanted to ask them something, didn't you?

The waitress turns to the grumpy archer in surprise. In the first place, this guy is the type to give or sell information to the tavern, not the other way round. His party is also self-sufficient for the most part. What in the world would he need that he cannot work for it himself?

_ Hessenria: Sorry, our company does not encourage romantic relationships outside the workplace.

_ Maximus: Dafuq?! I just want to meet the brat, not confessing to you!

_ Ignar: …

_ Tippe: …

_ Everyone else in earshot: …

_ Hessenria: …You know that's illegal, right?

_ Maximus: WHAT THE HELL?!

's raging scream can be heard across the building as his reputation tanked (again) from "Kidnapper" to "'s love rival"!

also wants to point out that the waitress's rejection was kind of weird too, but feels like he would lose if he says anything. Instead, he and order some tea despite the previous refusal.

Because this is going to take a while after all.

--- Topic: Tournament: Blood Sacrifice Battle Royale - Preliminary ---

## Shining Knight

Anyone has footage of the first day? m(_ _)m Can't find any stream for some reason.

##

## Heaven Piercer

There's none. Event organizers requested us not to release anything until the day of the main event. To protect our secret moves, they said. ^o^

##

## Newbie Charisma build

And our secret relationships! ＼(^o^)／

The muscles, make them stop, please. (T_T)

##

## OP alchemist

And our secret affairs!

Did something happen in first match? We heard the screams at the start.

Thought you guys were murdered by Black Mantis or something. (°_°)

##

## CuteIsJustice

And our daughters!

I saw Black Mantis living the life at the seats. So jealous! =^_^=

##

## Bountiful Hunter

Who are actually old men!

Petitioning Pathwrecker to change the MC and opening ceremony. We have been tainted forever, but others should not have to! (;_;)

Petition: [Link]

##

## Shining Knight

You guys are still talking about the tournament where people fight each other right?!

##

## GoldBar9999

That does sound like what Pathwrecker would do. (^_^;)

Wasn't there so don't quote me on that.

##

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