This chapter, like the previous one, has a change in point of view.
Please be aware of this.
With the first member’s weapon destroyed, Midir declares his defeat.
However, the first man doesn’t seem to accept the result.
He protests, spittle flying from his mouth.
“That’s cheating! You did something to that sword, didn’t you!?”
No, if my eyes don’t deceive me, she was using a wooden sword from the training grounds.
She wasn’t carrying anything when she entered the training area.
She chose two from among the wooden swords provided as equipment, but did he not see that?
It’s true that the wooden sword shattering like a rotten branch was a shocking and unbelievable sight.
The company commander standing beside him covered his eyes with one hand as if enduring a headache.
“That’s unsightly. Honestly, that guy…”
“Is it okay, Commander, to just leave him be? Even Senpai is a little more graceful than him.”
“Hey, do you always have to put me down?”
“Midir will handle it appropriately. He’s usually a serious guy, but when he gets heated, he doesn’t listen to others.”
Midir’s solution… is to give Katia’s wooden sword to the protesting man.
Probably to show that she wasn’t cheating.
And he gave Katia a new wooden sword that a nearby member had.
It seems that a rematch has been allowed.
– The result?
It goes without saying.
After that, many challengers stepped up… but it was, well, a truly disastrous spectacle.
Those who underestimated her based on her appearance were especially bad off.
“Gwaah!”
Weapons were destroyed, sent flying, buried in the ground, and they couldn’t even exchange blows properly.
“It won’t hit!”
Furthermore, even if their weapons weren’t broken, their attacks simply wouldn’t connect.
Those with a certain level of skill exchanged a few blows before receiving a powerful counterattack and were defeated.
“Buhee!”
Those who were timid and kept too much distance were overwhelmed by the storm-like attacks from her two swords and sunk.
“Guhe!”
By the time the number of people in line was cut in half, the faces of the colleagues who had been waiting eagerly were dyed from expectation to despair.
I knew it, but it seems that none of them have any pride as knights.
I’m no exception.
“Senpai, my stomach suddenly started hurting. Can I go home?”
“You idiot. I don’t want to go either, you know?”
…Senpai, your face is pale.
I’m sure I have the same look on my face.
But suddenly, I remember Senpai’s words from yesterday.
“You were acting so cool yesterday.”
Saying something about how if they crossed swords, blah blah blah.
You chickened out, didn’t you?
“…Well, she’s showing off her strength so much, isn’t it okay if I don’t fight myself?”
“…You’re right. Look, she’s not even breathing heavily.”
She, Katia, is swinging her two swords with powerful, yet efficient movements.
And sometimes she mixes in kicks.
There’s no way anyone can dodge that.
“Ah, she’s a monster. And she hasn’t even used her rumored magic sword yet.”
“Maybe she can’t use it with a wooden sword?”
Maybe it would burn if it was wood?
The company commander, who had been listening to our conversation, stuck his face out.
“No, I heard from the intelligence department that she can imbue her hands and feet with fire along with her aura, if she’s so inclined. Even if a large amount of fire is impossible, she could use it for a brief moment, enhancing it with aura, regardless of the material, I believe.”
Seriously? That’s scary.
So she’s simply not using it.
And on her hands and feet, she can fight to some extent even without weapons, even though she’s a swordsman.
“That’s nice, being able to have connections in the intelligence department as a commander.”
Oh, Senpai is making a pointless jab at the commander with a pout.
Senpai, are you jealous?
He’s a curious person, after all.
He loves gossip, too.
Either way, it’s uncool!
“Fufu, if you’re envious, you should get promoted. You’re both still young.”
“Yes, sir, you’re absolutely right…”
And he’s been completely shut down.
As expected of Senpai, he never lets me down!
“Well, you won’t get injured, so you should gain some good experience. Come on, it’s your turn.”
““So fast!””
Before we started chatting, there were still about half, about a hundred people.
While we were talking, everyone had lost.
It’s finally Senpai’s turn.
“Senpai, go and die well.”
“Hey, I feel some malice in your words.”
“It’s just your imagination. If possible, please last as loooong as you can. For my mental preparation.”
“I don’t care about your mental preparation! …Damn it, I’m going!”
By the way, Senpai’s weapon is the same as mine, a spear.
The extremely nervous Senpai faces the calmly standing red devil.
Both of them bow lightly and ready their weapons.
“Sshaaa-oraaa!”
Senpai let out a spirited yell… but the latter half of it cracked.
How lame.
Oh, Senpai is using the range of his spear to hold out.
He’s holding out, holding out… Ah, his body was thrown off balance when his spear was deflected by a short sword.
And a long sword was placed against his neck, and it’s over.
–Well, time to go home.
“Where are you going? Huh?”
Ah, wait.
Don’t grab my shoulder so hard!
Senpai, you came back too fast!
“Let go of me, Senpai! What’s the point of a fight you know you’re going to lose!”
“You go and die too. You can experience true terror, just like on the battlefield…”
Senpai blocked my escape route…
Ah, damn it!
With no other choice, I trudged towards Katia, carrying my spear.
The wind blows, and a pleasant scent is carried downwind towards me… Mmph.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She greets me with a clear, calm voice.
A high-pitched, beautiful voice is nice, but this is also… yeah, nice.
It’s nice.
It suits her appearance.
Haa.
But she really is beautiful up close.
Her eyelashes are so long.
Her skin is beautiful, and her lips are glossy.
As I’m staring, those plump lips open.
“Um, is something…?”
“No, no, it’s nothing. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”
Oops, I shouldn’t have stared.
It can’t be helped, I’m a man.
“Then, let’s begin.”
Midir-sama gives the signal to start.
My and Senpai’s abilities aren’t that different.
…No, no, I should be just a little, just a bit, slightly, subtly better.
So, taking the previous battle into account–.
“Ha! Sei!”
I try to keep her in check with my spear, paying attention to the deflection of the short sword.
Of course, the spear doesn’t hit.
It doesn’t hit, but I’ll fight for a little longer than Senpai!
I hold the spear long, sweeping the tip with minimal movement to gain distance.
“…This is a little troublesome.”
–Eh?
The moment I thought I heard the woman in front of me mutter, her body sank deeply downwards.
I hurriedly thrust with my spear, but it doesn’t hit.
Oh no, an opening!
But I won’t give up, I’ll try one more move!
I swing my spear horizontally with all my might, almost like a leg sweep, towards Katia, who is approaching in a low stance.
It’s going to hit! That was the moment I thought.
An aura that made my legs freeze up involuntarily erupted from my opponent, and her form disappeared, leaving a red afterimage.
–Where is she!?
A faint shadow appears at the top of my vision.
I quickly look up and see her long red hair trailing behind her as she dances in the air.
And, I couldn’t move any further.
I sensed her landing silently behind me without a sound, and felt the sensation of a short sword poking my back.
“It’s my win, isn’t it?”
“…Yes, I have no objections…”
She didn’t strike, how kind…
But I have no words.
This person is strange.
I couldn’t follow her figure midway, and she suddenly jumped into the air from a crawling posture, right?
How flexible and strong are her legs?
I honestly don’t understand her aura or swordsmanship, the level is too different.
My defeat has been declared, so I slink back to Senpai.
“See, amazing, isn’t she…”
“The moment her aura rose, I got goosebumps.”
“Me too… The wooden sword looked like a real sword. Scary.”
“But I fought longer than Senpai! That means I’m better than Senpai, right!”
“What are you saying!? You were clearly watching my fight and using it as a reference!”
“Ah, you noticed?”
“Of course I noticed! How many times do you think we’ve trained together!”
“Tch. I thought it would be a good way to tease you.”
“Hey!”
Putting Senpai aside, next is the commander.
The commander is a veteran of a hundred battles, a user of practical swordsmanship backed by vast experience.
Despite his advanced age, there is no one in the current company who can defeat him.
The commander is already standing face-to-face with Katia.
I can’t predict how this battle will turn out.
But since I’ve completely switched to being a spectator due to my defeat, I’m getting more and more excited about what will happen.
Just how much power does this red-haired woman have?
My other colleagues seem to be in a similar state of mind, silently watching the two fight.
“Then, the final match, please begin.”
With Midir-sama’s signal, the two facing each other each take a step forward.