『 [ Wielding such a massive weapon… ]
[ Master Yunli seems to prefer overwhelming violence over strategy. ]
Hearing Yunli's question, March 7th thought for a moment before replying.
[ You're not wrong. ]
[ My tactics have always been simple and effective—just hack away and get it over with. ]
[ Observing the weapons your opponents use, judging what kind of tactics they excel at, and finding their shortcomings—that is the shortcut to victory. ]
[ For example, a giant sword of astonishing weight is clearly disadvantageous in a prolonged battle, so you should choose tactics that stall for time. ]
Yunli began sharing her knowledge with March 7th of her own accord.
[ Why are you telling me your own weaknesses? ]
March 7th scratched her head.
[ That's the only way to make it a relatively fair contest. After all, as your master, I don't want to see you lose to anyone else. ]
[ Right now is a good opportunity. Take this chance to learn how to size up your opponents. Use the people in this hall to practice. ]
[ Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "Haha, how rare. Even a violent girl like you knows how to use tactics?"
Yanqing: "I thought you only knew how to use brute force."
Yunli: "Who are you calling a violent girl?!"
Yunli: "Stop squawking at me!"
Stelle: "No wonder Yunli isn't flustered at all. It turns out she's already prepared to go up on stage and beat March to a pulp herself."
March 7th: "No way, right?"
March 7th: "What kind of master goes up on stage to bully their disciple?"
March 7th: "But speaking of sizing up opponents, I really want to borrow that Rating Pistol from earlier."
March 7th: "I want to see who in this hall actually scores higher than a five!"
Silver Wolf: "And then you'll specifically pick the ones with higher scores than you to fight?"
Silver Wolf: "Aren't you afraid the rating is real, and you'll end up getting beaten to a pulp instead?"
March 7th: "Impossible! This lady is definitely not a total weakling!"
Lumine: "Miss March 7th indeed doesn't seem like a total weakling."
Lumine: "Someone like Paimon is the real weakling."
Paimon: "Ah… Curse you!"
Paimon: "I can't even argue against that!"
....
『 [ Know yourself and know your enemy… Let me see, who should I ask now? ]
March 7th and Yunli began walking around the hall, attempting to scout out the contestants' backgrounds.
[ …I'm really not used to wearing these clothes today. ]
[ Ah, you must be contestant March 7th, who is standing in for Lieutenant Yanqing! ]
[ Am I right? ]
As March 7th was walking, two reporters who looked rather awkward approached March 7th and Yunli.
[ That's right. And you are…? ]
March 7th looked at the two in front of her with some confusion.
[ As you can see, I am a reporter responsible for on-site tournament interviews, indeed. ]
The reporter introduced herself.
[ As the host, the Sky-Faring Commission has prepared quite thoroughly. Interesting. ]
Yunli smiled, watching the interview with great interest.
[ Yes, in grand occasions like this, people like us are usually indispensable. ]
[ By the way, before the tournament begins, may I ask a few questions I'm personally interested in? ]
The reporter wanted to interview March 7th.
[ Actually, I'm here to know my enemies… ]
March 7th showed a hesitant expression.
[ Knowing yourself and knowing your enemy includes knowing yourself, right? ]
[ Accepting an interview is a great way to understand yourself. ]
[ First, the question everyone is most concerned about! ]
[ Lieutenant Yanqing did not appear at today's Wardance Ceremony. ]
[ According to some unreliable rumors, I heard that Lieutenant Yanqing is currently seriously injured. Is this true? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "Ah, this…"
Yanqing: "This rumor is a bit too unreliable, isn't it?"
Yanqing: "How did I end up seriously injured?"
Qingque: "They probably heard you withdrew from the tournament, so some people made up a reason in their heads and spread it around."
Qingque: "It's not bad, though. At least they didn't say you fled or were afraid of fighting."
Robin: "Strange, why do I feel like these two reporters… are a bit… uh…"
Robin: "Unprofessional?"
Robin: "Could it be a unique style of the Xianzhou?"
Charlotte: "She asked questions she was personally interested in right off the bat. That indeed doesn't seem like something a professional reporter would do."
March 7th: "Is that so?"
March 7th: "I didn't think there was anything abnormal about it."
March 7th: "Maybe they're rookie reporters."
March 7th: "Rookie reporters aren't very skilled, so it's hard to avoid things like this."
....
『 [ Uh… It's… It's true! ]
Hearing this question, March 7th hesitated for a moment and nodded.
[ So it really is true. May I ask how he got seriously injured? ]
The reporter continued to press.
[ It was due to a traffic accident! ]
March 7th answered without a second thought.
[ Could it be… a starskiff traffic accident? ]
[ How dangerous! ]
[ After the Wardance begins, Miss March 7th will accept challenges from swordmasters of different worlds. Is there any opponent you are particularly looking forward to facing? ]
The reporter sighed in dismay, then moved on to the next question.
[ No. ]
March 7th shook her head.
[ No? ]
[ Contendant March 7th is truly too arro—uh, no, too confident! ]
[ Thank you very much for accepting the interview, thank you! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Did that reporter lady want to say Miss March 7th is arrogant?"
Stelle: "Not necessarily. Maybe she wanted to say haughty?"
Guinaifen: "Is it possible she just wanted to say 'too wild'?"
Lumine: "Ahem, there's no point in obsessing over this, right?"
Paimon: "Miss March 7th has a lot of momentum!"
Paimon: "Is this what they call despising the enemy tactically?"
March 7th: "You flatter me, you flatter me…"
March 7th: "Mainly, I don't even know the backgrounds of the contestants. I don't know any of them…"
March 7th: "So how could I look forward to anyone?"
Yunli: "You can't say that. At least you know your master's background, right?"
March 7th: "But I don't look forward to meeting Master Yunli and getting beaten off the stage!"
Yanqing: "Be more confident. Maybe you'll be the one beating your Master Yunli off the stage?"
Yunli: "Do you believe that?"
March 7th: "I don't believe it anyway."
Yanqing: "Wait, what was Miss March saying in the video just now?"
Yanqing: "How did I get into a traffic accident?"
March 7th: "Saying that can prevent people from over-speculating about you."
March 7th: "Otherwise, who knows what kind of ridiculous reasons they would come up with."
Yanqing: "But I'm perfectly fine. What if someone runs into me? Then I won't be able to explain it, right?"
Stelle: "What are you afraid of? When the time comes, just say that the Lady Dragon brought you back to life with her miraculous skills. In just one hour, all your external injuries were cured."
Stelle: "Now only invisible internal injuries remain, which require careful recuperation according to the doctor's orders!"
Qingque: "My, you're really good at finding excuses!"
....
『 After finishing the interview, March 7th began to get to business.
She observed for a moment, then walked over to a Yaoqing contestant not far away.
[ Dammit, I've heard of Lieutenant Yanqing's great name for a long time, and I came here just to see him and spar with him. ]
[ Who would have thought he actually took a disciple and let his disciple defend the ring in his stead. ]
[ In our Yaoqing, this is a shameful act of fleeing without fighting! ]
[ Who on earth is this March 7th who is temporarily standing in for him? ]
As she approached, March 7th heard this Yaoqing contestant muttering constantly.
Taking this opportunity, March 7th began to observe the opponent's weapon.
[ This contestant is carrying an electromagnetic hand crossbow in addition to the long sword behind his back. ]
[ Ah… If I knew we could use multiple weapons at the same time, I would have brought my own bow. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "An electromagnetic hand crossbow???"
Stelle: "That thing sounds like it packs quite a punch, doesn't it?"
Paimon: "Can you really use any weapon in the Wardance Ceremony?"
Yanqing: "Uh… basically, there aren't many restrictions."
Yanqing: "It all depends on the contestant's performance."
Silver Wolf: "So it's fine to pilot Sam in there, right?"
Yunli: "It's not impossible."
Yunli: "I actually really want to fight a powerful mecha."
Boothill: "Heh, son of a nice lady, no-holds-barred fighting."
Boothill: "Pretty interesting, I like it."
March 7th: "Oh my~ since there are no restrictions on weapons, I should have brought a powerful weapon up there too."
Stelle: "Bring Himeko's orbital cannon up there."
Stelle: "Whoever is hard to fight, just give them a blast!"
Himeko: "Ahem… I'm afraid that… might not be very appropriate?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Speaking of which, wouldn't it evolve into a weapon war?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Whoever has the stronger weapon wins?"
Yanqing: "Not really, there are still limits."
Yanqing: "Weapons that are too ridiculous cannot be used."
Lumine: "I feel like a Wardance Ceremony like this will be very exciting."
....
『 [ Hello there, young lady. Are you here to take part in the Ringmaster's Challenge, too? ]
The Yaoqing contestant noticed March 7th staring at him and greeted her.
[ That's right, I'm that March 7th. ]
March 7th nodded in reply.
[ What?! ]
[ You are March 7th!! ]
Hearing this, the Yaoqing contestant was suddenly shocked.
[ Don't worry, I'm just a swordsman who has practiced swordsmanship for half a month. ]
March 7th gestured for the opponent not to be too surprised, indicating that she was just a novice.
[ March 7th, standing before you is… ]
[ A Cloud Knight veteran who has practiced swordsmanship for over two hundred years! ]
The Yaoqing contestant put his hands on his hips, showing a confident expression.
[ Playing dumb to make the opponent underestimate me counts as a tactic too, right? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Xiangling: "Huh??"
Xiangling: "How many?"
Xiangling: "Practiced swordsmanship for over two hundred years??"
Xiangling: "Heavens, are all the contestants in the Wardance Ceremony like this?"
Xiangling: "The time Miss March 7th has practiced swordsmanship isn't even a fraction of his!"
Hu Tao: "As expected of long-life species, they are easily several hundred years old."
Hu Tao: "But practicing swordsmanship isn't necessarily about who has practiced longer being stronger, right?"
Hu Tao: "Look at young Yanqing and Miss Yunli. They are so young, yet their swordsmanship is superb."
Xingqiu: "In my opinion, talent is still more important."
Xingqiu: "By extension, although Miss March 7th has only practiced for a month or so, she might not be inferior to this veteran swordsman who has practiced for two hundred years."
Paimon: "Miss March 7th deliberately said she only practiced swordsmanship for half a month just now."
Paimon: "Was it to lower her opponent's guard?"
Qingque: "Playing dumb to catch them off guard."
Qingque: "But the problem is, Miss March 7th, are you actually capable of pulling it off?"
March 7th: "Ah, this…"
March 7th: "Maybe… probably… perhaps… yes?"
....
『 March 7th bid farewell to this Yaoqing contestant and continued to gather information with Yunli.
[ Looking for me? Yes, is there something you want to ask? ]
This time, the two of them came before a Cloud Knight soldier.
[ Um, excuse me, do you have any weaknesses? ]
March 7th observed the Cloud Knight's attire and couldn't help but ask.
[ If you must ask about my weakness… as soon as I speak, the atmosphere gets cold. Does that count as a weakness? ]
[ I see. Miss March 7th, Miss Yunli, I am not a contestant. I am a guard responsible for tournament security. ]
Seeing that the two had mistaken him for a contestant, the Cloud Knight quickly explained.
[ Ahem… then have you noticed anything unusual? ]
March 7th covered up her embarrassment and quickly changed the subject.
[ Nothing unusual. You could say it's as calm as a wolf in the wind. ]
As soon as these words were spoken, March 7th and Yunli fell into silence at the same time.
[ As expected, the atmosphere went cold again… Did you get the joke? ]
[ 'Wind' and 'wolf' sound similar in our dialect, which makes it amusing. ]
This Cloud Knight began to explain the joke to the two who were looking at each other in bewilderment.
[ This guy actually explained the joke! ]
Yunli was amused and exasperated.
[ Sigh, the atmosphere goes cold as soon as I speak. It really is my weakness. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Tighnari: "…."
Tighnari: "I see the shadow of an acquaintance in this Cloud Knight soldier."
Cyno: "What? Thinking about me?"
Cyno: "Hmm, I really want to meet this Cloud Knight soldier. I have a feeling he would be a kindred spirit!"
Tighnari: "Stop! Please continue to remain silent!"
Tighnari: "I don't want to hear any more cold jokes!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Uh… cold jokes are indeed quite terrifying."
Furina de Fontaine: "And I feel like this isn't a weakness; it could even be considered a weapon, right?"
Qingque: "Tell a few cold jokes and freeze people to death."
Qingque: "Cold jokes are simply terrifying!"
Qingque: "Fortunately, he isn't a contestant. Otherwise, the temperature of the Wardance ring would probably drop drastically~"
....
『 [ The guests are still increasing. Please be extremely careful. ]
Yunli instructed the soldier and hurriedly fled with March 7th.
She didn't want to hear any more cold jokes.
[ The first match of the Wardance Ceremony is about to begin. ]
[ March, are you okay? ]
Coming to a quiet place, after checking the time, Yunli asked March 7th.
[ Me? I'm fine. ]
[ Seeing so many people gathered together, somehow I suddenly feel at ease. ]
[ Looking at these contestants, my heart suddenly stopped fluttering for some reason. ]
[ I understand Master Yunli's intention in having me know myself and my enemy. I'm not as nervous as before! ]
After walking around the hall, March 7th found that she had calmed down.
[ …How about we go see the venue? ]
Yunli already wanted to go check out the arena.
[ Wait, I plan to continue scouting! ]
March 7th felt she hadn't finished gathering information on the contestants.
[ …Alright, go ahead and ask. ]
Yunli nodded, then followed behind March 7th.
As they passed the center of the hall, they heard this conversation.
[ I heard that a swordsman from the Zhuming Xianzhou is going to challenge Lieutenant Yanqing in this Wardance Ceremony. Who do you think will win if they fight? Can you give a rational analysis? ]
[ It must be Lieutenant Yanqing! His swordsmanship has reached the pinnacle. I was fortunate enough to witness his heroic posture capturing criminals with flying swords in Starskiff Haven. In just a few moves, he could… ] 』
『 ....』