Hey there guys. Sorry about being late with the update this week. I’ve been feeling really out of it this past week. But that doesn’t really excuse me for being late so I’m really sorry about that. Now onto what you really want, the next chapter. Enjoy.
Natural Talent
In the Free City Galarie, there existed many lodging facilities.
It was because the city was the center of maritime trade, and was flourishing with tourists because it had the acknowledgement of its bathhouses and the arena from the religious organization.
One hotel among those lodgings, 『Halcure』.
This hotel, where the owner is said to have been a former member of the mercenary group that the Galarie Feudal Lord Oisast had once started up, had attentive service and gave a lot of delicious food for cheap, and boasted a popularity where it competed for being first or second among the lodging facilities that weren't aimed towards nobles.
Kaito's party was in one room of this hotel.
「And so, when will the Mazoku be coming.」
Akane was straddling a chair without even trying to hide her displeasure.
Seeing that kind of Akane, Akira made a wry smile.
「『Witch of Time』-san said that it would be either today or tomorrow.」
「I know that part of the discussion.」
Akane folded her arms.
「So just how long do we have to stay here?」
「Until those guys come and attack, I suppose. According to the 『Witch of Time』, the future is easily changed, and if we move without tact, then the Mazokus' actions might also change.」
This time, it was Sakuya who answered while she was doing maintenance on the sword she had drawn from its scabbard. It wasn't one of the usual boorish curved swords like a machete. Made through the manufacturing techniques cultivated in a country of this world known as Wakoku, it was a Japanese sword that was created in a country that wasn't Japan.
「Uuugh, I know that, jeez!」
Akane groaned sounding sulky.
Seeing that, Sakuya giggled a bit.
「As long as we do not know the timing for when they'll come, we have no choice but to stay here, right?」
「But……It's like, how do I put it.」
「You can't feel at ease if you don't move your body, is that it?」
「That would be very much like Akane-chan.」
Being laughed at by Akira and Sakuya, Akane's face turned red.
「Hey, Kaito, what about y……!」
This time, as she tried to ask Kaito, Akane held her tongue.
He was glaring.
Glaring at the seeable sky from the hotel's glass window.
It wasn't like there was anything that could be seen in the sky that could be seen from the glass window. It wasn't like he was turning to the Mazoku that were said to be invading between today and tomorrow either.
(Yuu……Just who in the world are you?)
He was turned towards the young man that was summoned from Japan together with them and had ended up walking down a different path due to having no maryoku, Yashiro Yuu.
(I want to believe that it wasn't an Advent. But, to be able to along with Akane's movements as she was strengthened with maryoku……It's very hard to believe that he's an ordinary person.)
After hearing the case about how she had met with Yuu the other day from Akane, the contents of the story were very hard to believe.
(Besides, I'm also bothered by that sister that was said to have known about the Advent. ……Yuu was unwittingly affected by an Advent or something……Dammit, I'm swelling with nothing but bad guesses.)
He remembered the appearance of Yuu when he saw him in Lizwadia.
Was he already able to rival Akane at that time? Or could it be even further back than that. That young looking Guildmaster said that she taught him defensive techniques, but could it already have been at that time?
「……I.」
「Eh?」
「If there is ever a time where he has fallen to the Mazoku, would I, be able to bring the sword down upon him.」
It wasn't like he said that to anyone in particular. It could have been towards himself, and a form of resolve.
But, Sakuya, Akira, and Akane shuddered at the meaning of those words that Kaito had let out.
There were no words to say to that.
Silence covered the area.
After that painful silence, a young girl let out some words.
「『Soul Desire』……Kaito, Kaito answered my question.」
This whole time, the grey young girl that sat in a chair at the corner of the room the whole time, perceived Kaito with her grey eyes.
「I will become your sword. That is my, duty.」
「Even if……the true sword is the opponent.」
In the young grey girl's eyes, something, a strong emotion could be seen.
The result of Iibsal's second match, due to the easily imaginable overwhelming difference, ended with Iibsal's victory.
Although it didn't end in an instant like the first match, since his fistfighter opponent was pretty strong, starting to play (a seriousness in the name of play) with him, Iibsal purposely received his opponent's techniques, and after accurately copying the moves that he received, he obtained victory.
Are you a cheat or something.
「Is Master's acquaintance or whatever a cheat?」
Paimon, you're not one to be calling others cheats.
「The Fist Saint, was it? It looks like he isn't called that just for show.」
Tre-san eagerly nodded in an excited state. It's kind of vexing. It feels like I was beaten at my own game by that Iibsal jerk.
「Although they were almost the same motions, the speed and power were remarkably different. ……They were movements that could only seem like he knew them from the start.」
Lililuri, who could utilize 『Time Magic』, gave her commentary.
However, as for whether or not he knew them from the start. The opponent's techniques, they were the type of techniques that destroy internal organs. They felt like they resembled techniques that aimed for pressure points. They looked like the ○kuto Shinken.
Troublesome-looking techniques like those, that Iibsal practicing little by little……might have happened. That guy kind of had a stoic part of him only when it came to empty handed martial arts after all.
But while I got a sort of unpleasant premonition, I also obtained a strange conviction.
That jerk went and copied it right there, definitely.
「Dif if refwy goof ifn't it, Yahiro-fan.」
You're holding several skewers in both of your hands, Bernadette! Beef and chicken, grilled corn and grilled squid, cotton candy and a candied apple, a choco banana and skewered dangos, and there's still more!?
Like this, our party spent the time freely before Kuon's second match.
「Dof Fuon haf ha chanf ov finning?」
「Either eat the food in your mouth or talk.」
「*Mosha mosha mosha*」
「This girl chose to eat!!」
「Does that girl known as Yuu's disciple have a chance of winning against him?」
Lililuri took over Bernadette's words.
「None at all.」
I decisively denied it.
「……That's quite the harsh evaluation, Yuu.」
It can't be helped, Tre-san.
Kuon is strong. But, as she is now, she is no match for Iibsal no matter how hard she tries.
「Tre-san, do you have any chance of winning if you fought against mankind's strongest, Leonhart?」
「……By Leonhart, you don't mean that Azure Sky Knight, Leonhart Clasion, do you?」
Tre-san looked at me with reproachful eyes.
When I said "Yup" and nodded, Tre-san let out a big sigh and then shook her head sideways afterwards.
「There's no way I could win. From what I hear, isn't he a monster that could equally fight against a Duke-class?」
「More accurately, it's that he 『wouldn't lose even against a Duke-class opponent』 though, but well, in any case, a normal human couldn't win against him no matter how hard they tried. Rather, even I couldn't win against him if I went from the front.」
Of course, me not having the Sacred Sword is the major premise though.
「Even if Kuon were to make use of that Spirit King-class spirit, in a match of freezing type magic, Leonhart would most likely be declared the winner. That being the case, that Leo jerk, he can fight using the sword while firing advanced level magic chantlessly. He's already a cheat. A cheat. ……That being the case, when I fought against Iibsal, he was strong to the point that I had delusions that I was fighting against Leonhart. They often say things like 『softness subdues hardness』 and 『hardness severs softness』[1], but he handles both of them to the point that it's hard to tell which one he specializes in, and so, depending on the opponent, the way he fights is forever changing ……Whether it be physical ability, talent, or sense, those have all been greatly pushed aside. This is already a difference in strength that can't be overturned unless she does something absurd like 『stop time』.」
Although I've been surprised by hearing nothing but things like him being the Fist Saint and the Valenshel imperial prince for the first time ever since I came to this town, at the same time, I could immediately understand why.
It's because just like how Iibsal said he 「thought I would immediately gain fame」 to me, I also thought 「no matter how I look at you, you don't seem like a nameless fistfighter」.
「There are no factors that could let her win. She is no match for him.」
「Even if she used the 『Zantetsu』 that you tried to teach her, Yashiro-san?」
「Even if she has that, she can't win. 『Zantetsu』 is simply makes it so that the blade gets through no matter how hard the opponent is. There will be no damage unless it hits.」
Bernadette felt down. But I'm guessing that this match will become a huge plus for Kuon.
Kuon was brimming with talent. She also possessed a fighting spirit that won't yield to adversity. Guys like that won't let things end with them simply falling over.
She possesses a strength that will persistently jump back up with vigor just as much as she falls down.
「Well, her match with Iibsal will be the one after the next match, so she should first focus on the match before her. If she loses in the next match, this current conversation will become completely pointless.」
Looking over at the ring surrounded by the sea, Kuon and her opponent came up.
Her opponent that was wrapped in a pure white robe was about two times Kuon's height. He didn't reach two meter, but he was pretty big.
「Kuon-saーn! You're not allowed to loseー!!」
When Bernadette raised her voice within the roaring audience and gave a cheer of encouragement, Kuon's ears moved with a *piku* and turned towards the seats we were at.
As expected of Kuon's ears, to think that they could pick up Bernadette's voice among these excited cheers……
After waving her hand at us looking embarrassed, Kuon turned back to her opponent.
Sorry to keep you waiting, this is the most recent story.
This time was about the state of Kaito's group right now, and an explanation of Iibsal.
In terms of Drago○ Ball, Leonhart is Krillin.
Well then, see you next time
Translator’s Notes:
[1] I don't really know the actual sayings for these. Here are the originals: 『柔よく剛を制す』,『剛よく柔を断つ』