Chapter 40: Hope of the World, Our O-Oma Saharu

「...What’s wrong. O-Oma Saharu! O-Oma Saharu! If you don’t come out, your physical attack power record is going to be 0!」

The man in the blue robe was shouting, but the cheers were so overwhelmingly loud that I couldn’t understand a single word.

Eventually the cheers turned into a murmur and gradually calmed down.

Had the highlighted contestant’s test already ended?

What kind of record did that highlighted contestant get, anyway?

「...Can’t be helped. Next up, Marglant’s prized warhorse daughter, Iferaski!」

Huh?

Did they already announce the highlighted contestant’s score?

I didn’t catch it.

Well, whatever.

"Hey. It’s Iferaski’s turn."

Iferaski seemed scared by the commotion and tried to head in the opposite direction from the castle gate.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t worry about the noise."

I took Iferaski’s hand and pushed through the crowd of examinees.

"Here. Go on."

"...!"

I gave her a pat on the butt as encouragement (with a side of sexual harassment). After a startled face, Iferaski put on a highly motivated expression and walked forward with energetic steps.

She stood in front of the target, but it was at a distance where her arms could barely reach.

What’s going on?

Ah.

She turned her back to the target. Does that mean she has no intention of attacking normally?

Hmm?

Iferaski bent her upper body forward, then kicked the target hard with her back leg.

**DASHIN!**

A heavy sound exploded, just like a Muay Thai fighter’s kick.

Oh... ooh...

Could this actually turn out to be a good result?

Without even waiting for the result announcement, Iferaski ran back to me and clung to my arm. She must have been scared being out in front of everyone.

"There, there. You did great."

"...!"

When I stroked her head, she rubbed her cheek against my shoulder.

Now then, what was Iferaski’s record?

The man in the blue robe, who had heard the number from the examiner, announced Iferaski’s result.

"Marglant’s prized warhorse daughter, Iferaski! Record: 52.4 points!"

Ooh— Amazing.

I don’t remember every single record, but there weren’t many people who broke 40 points. This feels like it’s right behind A’s 101 points and Jarda’s 82 points.

Despite the excellent score, because the idiot before her had cooled down the entire venue, there was almost no applause.

Well, that’s fine. If there had been loud applause, Iferaski might have gotten scared and run away. Besides, Rafilia-san is smiling and clapping from what looks like the medical tent. That’s more than enough. (Though I really wanted to see her breasts bouncing up close.)

Now then. Since Iferaski, who applied together with me, was called, that probably means I’m next?

I stretched my elbows so I could go out at any time and waited.

"Next! Vice-leader of the mercenary band 『Three Spears of Light』! B-rank #1 knight, Marvera! Step forward!"

It was the turn of a beautiful woman with a face as refined as a Greek sculpture.

Not my turn, huh.

Left hanging, I resumed patting Iferaski’s head.

"Vice-leader of the mercenary band 『Three Spears of Light』, Marvera! Hyah! 126.8 points! The highest record of the day!"

Waaaaaaaahhh!

The entire venue erupted. Not just the spectators on top of the castle walls, but even the examinees were cheering loudly.

Marvera skillfully spun her spear around her waist like a hula hoop, then pointed the tip toward Ana on the wall. There must be some history between those two. Unlike Marvera, who had quiet fighting spirit burning in her eyes, Ana remained completely expressionless.

This was the biggest highlight of the physical attack power test.

After that, no nameless powerhouses appeared, and the test continued until the last man scored an ordinary 27 points.

...Huh?

What about my turn?

I still haven’t been called.

Is this bullying?

Why isn’t my turn coming?

The examiners had already started cleaning up the attack targets.

The man in the blue robe said, "Please wait a moment until the physical defense test begins."

Seriously? The physical attack power test is already over.

**Grasp.**

Suddenly, someone grabbed my upper arm from the side.

"Saharu! You were here! Why didn’t you take the test!?"

"Eh?"

The one who grabbed my arm was gatekeeper A.

"Your name was called, but... Wait, are you a mage? Did you deliberately skip the physical attack power test?!"

"Eh? Eh? Ah..."

That’s right.

To some people in this other world, my name "Masaharu Ooi" sounds like "O-Oma Saharu"... Even though I properly applied under the name Masaharu Ooi, I was apparently called without realizing it and failed without realizing it?

This is bad.

I can’t use magic at all, so I have to get a good record with physical attack power.

"Saharu, what’s with that face? Don’t tell me you just missed it?"

"W-w-w-what should I do... I didn’t realize my name was called..."

"Tsk. Wait here."

A ran to the front of the castle gate looking panicked and raised his voice to the man in the blue robe.

"Excuse me! There’s one person who missed their turn!"

"That’s unfortunate, but... We’ve already started preparing for the physical defense test. Making everyone wait would be unfair to the citizens who came to watch."

"In that case, there’s no problem. The name of the person who missed their test is O-Oma Saharu. He is the disciple of the Silver Flash Princess Iria! He didn’t notice his name being called because the cheers were too loud!"

"So that’s what happened. That’s too bad, but..."

"He is the powerhouse who single-handedly annihilated over 100 orcs that attacked Marglant, and even rendered the Silver Spear Princess Iria unable to fight with a single thrust!"

*Whispers.*

Because A raised his voice, the nearby spectators began to stir.

The murmur spread like a wave to the sides.

It didn’t take long for the news that O-Oma Saharu was about to take the test to reach every single spectator.

Soon, voices calling Saharu’s name rose from the castle walls.

"O-Oma Saharu!"

One person shouted, then another followed. Before long, it was impossible to tell who was third or fourth. In an instant, dozens, no, hundreds of people were shouting.

"O-Oma Saharu!"

"O-Oma Saharu!"

A great chorus calling Saharu from the walls came crashing down onto the wasteland like a wave.

Someone started clapping overhead.

People nearby copied the rhythmic clapping, then more joined in. In no time, it spread across the entire wall, becoming a roar like crashing waves against a reef.

**Pan! Pan! Papah! Pan!**

"O-Oma Saharu!" **Pan! Pan! Papapan!**

"O-Oma Saharu!" **Pan! Pan! Papapan!**

It was exactly like the frenzy in the world’s largest pro-wrestling organization waiting for the champion’s entrance.

The man in the blue robe looked over the walls, then looked down at the testing ground and gave a big nod, spreading both arms wide.

"Very well! We will now conduct O-Oma Saharu’s physical attack power test!" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Ehh... ehhhh...

"O-Oma Saharu!" **Pan! Pan! Papapan!**

"Our hero!" **Pan! Pan! Papapan!**

"O-Oma Saharu!" **Pan! Pan! Papapan!**

"Our hope!" **Pan! Pan! Papapan!**

When the hell did I become everyone’s hero and hope? The expectations are way too high...

What am I supposed to do about this...

I have the Dragon God’s blessing, so I think I can get a good result, but...

I can, right?

Right?