Here’s a second chapter. Enjoy.
The Silver Wolf Disciple
「……It's been a while, Procyon.」
「Yes, it has been a while, Shishou.」
In the passage that connected to the arena's participant waiting room, I managed to reunite with the young therianthrope boy, Procyon.
Right now, I had the Darkness Executioner's overcoat and hood on, but it seems that he was able to identify me without effort.
「It is because I was told by Her Majesty.」
「I see.」
Maybe because he realized what I was thinking, Procyon confessed that while making a wry smile.
If he knew the answer, then of course he would know.
「……You've become quite strong, Procyon. Honestly, I hardly recognized you.」
「Thank you very much. This was also all thanks to you, Shishou.」
Procyon smiled at my words looking delighted. I was also able to finally feel relief by that smile.
The Procyon that was on top of the ring was greatly different from the young Procyon that I knew of.
His height was much smaller, and he also didn't have that strength.
I had heard that it was Procyon that had made a scratch on that Zephyr's face from Zephyr himself[1], but the image of him that was in my head was the young boy that blindly idolized me.
For that young boy to have become a Warrior that now surpassed me……that is what I thought, but after seeing that smile, it seems that there wasn't that big of a change inside of him.
It was surely growth appropriate for his age.
「Still, you……you've gotten pretty big haven't you, you rascal. Aren't you bigger than me now?」
「Ahaha, I grew a lot in this past year.」
When I got closer, our gazes were pretty much on the same level. Even though he was small like Lililuri three years ago.
……Dammit, to be a pretty boy and be taller than me like his older brother, seriously stop it.
「Shishou.」
Suddenly, Procyon, who was giving a smile, made a serious face.
Procyon, who should have been a young boy in the middle of becoming an adult, showed a sharp expression that could put an adult to shame.
「Welcome back.」
Looking closely, there were tears collecting at the corners of his eyes. So he had stiffened his expression so that he wouldn't cry.
「……Ou, I'm back.」
When I lightly hit his shoulder, Procyon made a small nod.
After that, I made an appointment with Procyon for after my match, and then I headed to the participant waiting room.
「Yashiro, -aniki.」
「……Kuon.」
Outside of the waiting room, Kuon was standing there, leaning on the wall.
「……I was watching.」
「How, was it?」
Kuon asked me that while looking down.
Against that, I patted Kuon's head somewhat roughly.
「You've still got a long way to go. From now on, I'm going to go all out in training you, so get ready for that!」
Kuon promptly raised her head looking surprised, and then
「Ossu!!」
shouted with a loud voice and lowered her head.
「It's good that you're energetic. Now then, let's go, Kuon.」
「Oーssu!!」
……Uumu, I feel like she's become a bit too energetic but……well, I guess it's better than her being gloomy.
After bringing the energetically lively Kuon into the waiting room, the gazes of four people were turned towards us.
「Oh, so you're already energetic. Even though you were about to cry just a little while ago.」
Iibsal approached while making a broad grin.
「っ, I didn't cryー!」
「Kekeke……But still, it's true that what that young wolf boy did was unfair. The strengthening ratio wasn't on the level of just doubling or anything.」
Iibsal said that and turned his gaze towards me. He was asking me 「You know something, don't you?」 with it.
「『Beastification』……While being something anyone could achieve if they are a therianthrope, it is a exquisite skill that only a very small amount of people can attain. ……That is what an acquaintance told me.」
「『Beastification』……C, could I reach that as well!?」
Kuon pressed and asked me as if she were about to hug me. Well, that also inevitable. Being almost equal before 『Beastification』 was used, Kuon, who possessed the trump card known as that awfully sexy fox spirit, had a bit of an advantage, but that difference in fighting power was completely broken through by 『Beastification』.
There was the possibility of reaching that 『Beastification』 as long as they were a therianthrope.
「If it's just as my acquaintance had stated, then you can. The possibility is extraordinarily low though.」
「So I, can attain it as well……!」
When I said those words of confirmation, Kuon tightly clenched her fists.
「It did not look like it was something all that simple.」
Suddenly, we were called out to by the Dragonnewt participant. Despite having scales stronger than your average armor and claws sharper than a sword, he was a heretic Dragonnewt that possessed armor, a shield and a mace.
「If I remember correctly, you're……」
「I am, Do Ijun.」
He replied with a low, groan-like voice.
「What did you mean, by that just now?」
When Kuon asked that, Do Ijun folded his arms and closed his eyes as if he was thinking.
「After the match with you, he had returned to his original form but……his stride was strange. Most likely, that is something that gives its user an outrageous amount of fatigue.」
This guy, so he had put that much thought into it with just something as vague as his stride!
「Looks like, he was right.」
Iibsal looked at me, and grinned. Huh? Right now, I have the hood of the Darkness Executioner's overcoat on though……My expression shouldn't be able to be seen.
「……Do Ijun, it is just as you say. 『Beastification』, that is a double-edged sword. If used, a staggering amount of fatigue will accumulate in the body in proportion to how long it is used, and when the limit is reached, it will be cancelled on its own. Moreover, after it's been cancelled, their physical abilities will be drastically lowered. ……It's something where they themselves might instead be done in if they don't soundly bring down their opponent.」
When I peeked a look at Kuon, she, who had looked a bit depressed even as she was attracted to the physical ability boost known as Beastification, folded her arms and started to worry about it.
「Well, look at it this way. First, there is no guarantee that you've become able to use 『Beastification』. Besides, it would be a bad move to completely rely on 『Beastification』 which is simply an ability boost. ……Without getting spoiled, it will be fine if you get strong in your own way.」
When I lightly patted her head as if to persuade her,
「Kuun……」
she made a small purr while her cheeks reddened, and nodded.
「Still, 『Beastification』 huh……If I had that, it feels like I'd be able to win against that Leonhart.」
That jerk Iibsal, as usual, his head is filled with nothing but combat.
When I let out a small sigh, the voice of a staff member resounded in the waiting room.
「Would the participants of the next match please come up!」
Sitting down on the provided benches, the black leotard knight, Ryuune, stood up and after taking a peek over at me, she walked towards the ring.
It was hidden by her helmet, but there was no mistake that her gaze was directed towards me. Uumu, that sexy female knight is also a source of worry this time. Why does she know my identity……
「Well then, 『Black Executioner』. I'll be waiting for you in the semi-finals.」
「Aiyo, if you're willing to wait, then wait for me.」
Do Ijun showed his fangs, laughed, and headed towards the ring. This match where a Dragonnewt that uses armor and a sexy female knight filled with mystery are going to clash, there's no way I can miss it.
I wonder what kind of fight will unfold.
「Ou, ou, kiddo, there's no way you're forgettin' your fight with me, right?」
When Do Ijun and the black leotard left the waiting room, Zappa of the Asura Tribe approached us.
「……Have ya forgotten our promise at the baths?」
「You shouldn't be saying something like that so easily, what promise might you be talkin' about?」
Come to think of it, I only told him to not reveal my name.
「Ah, Aniki! You're even acquainted with that 『Champion』 Zappa!?」
Kuon looked at me with sparkling eyes.
These are the eyes of a child that's looking at the athlete that they admire.
「Well, a bit, I guess.」
I had simply met him at the baths, but since it seemed like I would betray her expectations, I kept it vague.
「『Champion』 huh……To claim to be a 『King』 before my great self. I can't see that as anything but foolish, right, Yuu? You think so too, don't you?」[2]
I don't really get it, but Iibsal suddenly became livid. Eh, what, this isn't your first time meeting Zappa!?
「Well now, so the royalty-sama that was chosen as the 『Fist Saint』 just from dancin' a bit is gettin' full of himself……I'll take ya down a notch, brat!!」
Zappa also became livid. Eh, eh? What's with these two. Suddenly snapping like that, I'm getting scared here.
「Aniki, Aniki, among fist fighters, this sort of thing is a daily occurrence, you know?」
Ahh, come to think of it, you also picked a fight with me just from passing by you, didn't you……I want to go home already.
Sorry to keep you waiting, here is the latest story.
For when the fist fighters are picking fights,
「I'll beat 'cha down (I have heard of your name and valor since long ago, so by all means, I have been thinking that I would like to exchange fists with you at least once.)」
「Ah? I'll beat 'cha at yer own game, koraa!! (I also have known of your fame…Let us have a good match)」
Please translate it in your mind with this kind of feeling.
Well then, until next time. Look forward to itー
Translator’s Notes:
[1] Reference to chapter 89
[2] The word I translated into Champion, 王者, uses the kanji for king, 王.