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Somehow, I ended up here.

Gilbert was calmly settling his mind in the stadium filled with cheers.

His original goal was to achieve a decent rank and drop out midway, but after the academy attack incident, he couldn’t help but go a bit overboard to motivate the cadets.

He did wonder if he had acted too conspicuously in a situation where there might be an insider at the Demia Empire Academy, but he didn’t regret it.

He wasn’t an idealist who only pursued grand causes, but he also wasn’t a cold-blooded person who would turn a blind eye to what was about to happen.

In his original world, he was a soldier, and soldiers were the shields that protected the nation and its people. Just like his comrades, he was no different.

Turning a blind eye to what he could do was something he couldn’t tolerate.

After organizing his thoughts, he let out a long sigh and looked at the colossal mech displayed on the screen. It was Ian’s colossal mech, the playable character and protagonist of Tactical Combat.

He already knew that Ian, true to his protagonist title, had effortlessly dominated the competition tournament with overwhelming skill. Honestly, he was really worried about what direction Ian, who moved with free will, would grow into.

In the game, with his veteran skills and know-how, Ian could become a legendary figure with an undefeated myth, but as repeatedly mentioned, this was reality.

No matter how overpowered Ian’s characteristic skills were, their effectiveness depended on who was wielding them.

Even with the same character, there was a huge difference between a newbie’s play and a veteran’s. Unless Ian was a regressor with multiple life cycles, the chances of him showing piloting skills surpassing Gilbert’s were significantly low.

Although there hadn’t been any major crashes since the entrance mock battle, it was evident from his struggles against the Resistance in the comprehensive assessment. Even if it was due to carelessness, it didn’t change the fact that Ian had essentially died once in actual combat.

Since then, whether he had honed his skills through sheer determination, his ability to maneuver the colossal mech in this competition tournament was nothing ordinary. Considering how much more refined his use of characteristic skills had become, it was easy to think that his skills had improved by leaps and bounds.

But Gilbert wanted to experience Ian’s skills firsthand. When playing the game, his own skill was the only indicator of Ian’s skill. When he was a newbie, his skills were terrible, and like everyone else, he didn’t even come close to the ending in his first playthrough.

As time passed and he shed his newbie status, he became capable of clearing the game in various ways. In other words, Ian’s skill in the game was the epitome of a genius that no one could match.

So, what about Ian’s skill now that this was reality? Could the records from the game he played influence this world, allowing Ian to show piloting skills beyond that? Or would he show something completely unexpected?

His heart wouldn’t calm down. As he waited excitedly for the match to start, a personal communication magic request came from Ian.

Was he asking to do well in the final match? Without much thought, he accepted the communication.

“Ian, right? Let’s do well in the final…”

[My destined rival.]

“What…?”

Gilbert was taken aback by Ian’s sudden tone and asked in return. Destined what?

[It has been a long time. Even as you, Gilbert, my destined rival, made a name for yourself in the world, I remained crouched. I waited, counting the days until I could spread my wings and soar. And finally, that day has come. The greatest stage is now set.]

Ian, with a solemn expression, began spouting strange words in a tone that matched his expression. Since Ian was originally handsome, it felt like watching a play.

Of course, considering the historical background of Tactical Combat, it was somewhat understandable. It was a world with magic and colossal mechs, but it was set in a medieval era.

There was a monarchy, and society was strictly divided into nobles and commoners. In other words, if he were to compare it to his original world, he was essentially in the Joseon Dynasty. In that context, speaking in a historical drama tone was normal.

But Ian’s tone had something that went beyond that. It was hard to pinpoint, but it gave off an uncomfortable vibe.

[Your expression doesn’t look good. That must mean I’m making you nervous. Don’t be too nervous. You are more than worthy to be my rival.]

As the conversation went on, it sent shivers down his spine. It was almost a physiological rejection.

It was a tone that sounded both familiar and unfamiliar. As Gilbert racked his brain, a memory flashed through his mind.

Wait… isn’t that the chuunibyou concept?

It felt like he had been hit on the head. In Tactical Combat, the protagonist Ian’s personality was determined by the player’s choices.

Like many veteran players, there were those who couldn’t resist playing the game with a chuunibyou-like personality, which had been a trend at one point.

Even though this was a medieval era, using exaggerated vocabulary would earn the disdain of other nobles. They spoke in a cultured manner, not in a theatrical tone.

Of course, Gilbert had also played the game with that concept before. The interesting thing was that, with Tactical Combat’s high AI, if you showed overwhelming skill, people would no longer look at you strangely or avoid you.

Instead, the chuunibyou tone spread rapidly through noble social circles like a trend.

However, if you didn’t show truly overwhelming performance, you were just treated as an eccentric. No matter how much Ian was from the Line Barrel family, there were limits.

Especially for families of count rank or higher, it was even more so. It was just a chuunibyou build that existed for veteran players to enjoy their concept play.

[In that sense, what I want to say is…]

So, his personality is like that because he’s running the chuunibyou build?

Gilbert’s head was spinning. When he first saw him, he thought it was fortunate that he wasn’t a cowardly personality, but this wasn’t a good situation either.

Such an eccentric personality didn’t suit a commander, and if his abilities were lacking, he would quickly lose control. The only thing better than a cowardly personality was that he wouldn’t run from a fight. That was it.

[Therefore, you must clash with all your might. I am an unbreakable fortress. A barrier of protection.]

With a laugh, he spouted more nonsensical words and cut the communication. It felt like a storm had just passed.

He was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even swear. All he could do was let out a hollow laugh.

Well, if he’s already running the chuunibyou build, there’s nothing I can do. He’s not the game character I controlled.

He gave up cleanly. Just like when he gave up on becoming comrades with Lily, Gilbert gave up on fixing Ian’s personality.

But there was one thing he couldn’t give up on: Ian’s skill had to be above the passing grade he had in mind. Considering the main quests to come, such a personality wouldn’t be very helpful.

The chuunibyou build always required playing as if you were the protagonist, making it self-centered and constantly craving attention.

You always had to act unpredictably to create situations where you were the center of attention.

In other words, no matter how elaborate a plan you made, Ian could become a stumbling block. Gilbert didn’t need to take on the risk of bringing Ian along if he didn’t have overwhelming skills.

So, there was only one thing to do.

He had to confirm Ian’s skill.

[Cadet Gilbert and Cadet Ian, please come out as soon as you’re ready.]

As the announcement rang out, Gilbert cleared his complicated feelings and entered the arena with his colossal mech. On the opposite side, Ian’s colossal mech was entering.

Somehow, the overbearing Ian he saw in the communication magic seemed to be projected onto the colossal mech.

– Ian! Ian! Ian!

– Gilbert! Gilbert! Gilbert!

The audience chanted the names of the two finalists. Remembering the skills they had shown in the competition tournament, the audience was eager to see what kind of match they would have.

Ian raised the hand of his colossal mech slightly, responding to the cheers of the audience.

If he hadn’t known through the communication magic that Ian was running the chuunibyou build, he would have thought it was just good fan service, but now he knew better.

It was just an act to draw people’s attention to himself.

As the audience’s cheers reached their peak.

The signal announcing the start of the final match rang out.

Gilbert, hearing the signal, drew his iron sword and charged at Ian like a raging wave.

 

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