“Alright, fully equipped.”
Lyall’s muffled voice.
The figure that turned around with a clank was–
“Full body armor?”
It’s what’s commonly called full plate armor.
However, it’s not the usual rounded type, but has a sharp, stylish appearance.
It somehow feels like a powered suit, something like a tokusatsu hero.
Translator’s Note
Tokusatsu refers to Japanese live-action shows that heavily feature special effects, like Super Sentai (Power Rangers) or Kamen Rider.
“Wow, that’s so cool…”
I blurted out, completely taken by the design that perfectly matched my taste.
Only Lyall’s mane-like hair was exposed, but it looked like an ornament and it looks really good.
“Right?! You’re the first woman who’s understood!”
Ah, Lyall seems really happy.
Even though I can’t see his face, I can feel it.
“Appearance matters. Wearing this armor gets me fired up, and regular armor is just so round and lame, you know?”
“Y-yes.”
I think that roundness is to deflect blades, but… well, whatever.
“When I ask the usual people… Fina, what did you think of what I just said?”
“Huh? I don’t get it at all.”
Fina had a puzzled look on her face.
The atmosphere in the dojo was similar.
A few people had faces that indicated agreement, but they were a minority.
“This is what I’m talking about… Hah. But Katia, I’ve grown to like you even more.”
“H-haha…”
I’m not sure I want to be liked for that.
As for me, I’m in my usual gear.
It’s light compared to Lyall’s, but familiar equipment is best.
“I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Are you sure about that equipment? …Alright, I’ll ask for a judge.”
I’m ready.
The shihandai acting as judge raised a hand between the two of us.
Translator’s Note
Shihandai refers to an assistant instructor in a martial arts dojo.
The dojo fell silent.
The tension gradually rose, and then…
“Begin!”
The judge’s hand swung down.
At the signal, Lyall’s touki swelled instantly, and he leaped into my range–.
Translator’s Note
Touki can be translated as “fighting spirit,” but it’s a concept similar to “aura” or “battle aura” in fantasy settings. It’s a visible manifestation of inner strength and will.
“!”
I didn’t even have time to think “He’s fast!”.
I gave up on drawing my black sword and drew my main-gauche instead.
With a thunk, I felt a response in my left hand.
The powerful fist, deflected by the guard of my sword, passed by my head.
“Well defended! That’s what I’m talking about!”
I managed to divert the trajectory of the fist.
But…
“Ora ora ora ora!”
A rain of fists poured down.
There was no time to breathe.
It’s hard to believe he’s wearing full body armor with those movements.
I desperately parried, dodged, and blocked.
“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?!”
This is bad, this is bad!
I have to somehow turn the tide.
I haven’t even drawn my black sword yet.
He’s too far inside my range, not giving me a chance to draw it.
“Are you still holding back! Or… is this really all you’ve got?”
…!
Lyall’s fists slightly slowed down.
This person hungers for battle with strong opponents.
When he feels his opponent is weaker than expected, maybe…?
“Kuh…”
I’m gradually being pushed back by the force of his fists.
With just the dagger, I’m really reaching my limit.
“…I’m disappointed, Katia.”
I can’t see his face, but Lyall sounds dejected.
He launches a powerful blow, intending to finish it.
This is it!
I stepped to Lyall’s outside, and with my right hand, which had been “resting on the hilt” until now, I pushed his fist back with all my strength.
“What?!”
I couldn’t break his posture, but it created an opening.
I immediately aimed for Lyall’s right flank with the main-gauche held in a reverse grip in my left hand.
“Nuooh!”
That was the plan.
But his right fist came back in an instant with a roaring backhand.
The fact that I couldn’t completely break his balance came back to bite me.
An exchange of counters–but I have the initiative.
My goal isn’t to rush to a conclusion right now.
I dodged the backhand by ducking low and took a large back step, finally drawing my black sword.
There was no follow-up attack from Lyall.
“Tch… Reminds me of those days when Tim beat me down over and over again. His specialty was counters, too.”
“I don’t have Grandpa’s skill… but, well, that’s how it is.”
“What a troublesome master and disciple. But, kukuku. It’s good that you haven’t betrayed my expectations. It’s getting interesting!”
…Phew.
As usual, now that I’ve drawn both swords, there’s no reason to be defensive.
This time, I’ll be the one attacking.
I swung my flame-clad black sword down at Lyall’s head.
“Woah?! What the hell is that?!”
He blocked it by crossing both arms.
The dojo erupted in murmurs.
“What kind of trick is this…?”
“Are you going to stay like that?”
“Huh?”
My flame sword is a combination of magic and aura.
Magic can be blocked by aura, but in reality, it’s more accurate to say they “cancel each other out.”
If you keep blocking it, what happens?
“…My aura is… being shaved away…!”
A corresponding amount of aura is consumed.
The flames relentlessly burn away Lyall’s aura.
His arms gradually lower as his aura decreases. –Can I push through?
“NuoOOOOOOOOOOO!”
“!”
But Lyall flared up his aura again and deflected my sword.
It’s not going to be that easy.
“Just how much are you going to surprise me! In other words, a long fight is a disadvantage. Plus, the flames make it hard to see the tip of the sword, making it difficult to judge the distance. Alright, I’m getting fired up!”
He looks absolutely delighted.
But I have no intention of losing either.
The thought of losing is no longer in my head.
This feeling, it’s been since I was training with Grandpa.
I want to unleash my full power.
“That look on your face is great, it’s irresistible, it’s making me shiver! –Alright, let’s resume!”
The clashing of metal echoed through the dojo.
My two flame swords and Lyall’s fists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet, and head collide.
This person is like a walking weapon.
His main attacks are his fists, but he mixes in other attacks at exquisite timings.
I can’t let my guard down for a single moment.
Each of his movements is refined, and his optimized aura moves around like a living thing each time.
Lyall’s and my fighting styles were very similar.
A constantly aggressive fighting style, always moving forward.
However, I’m making up for my lack of hand speed with the reach of my sword.
Every time I’m about to be overwhelmed, I have to desperately keep him at bay with my black sword.
“Hahahahaha! Fun, this is so fun! Katia, what about you?!”
An exchange of rushes that seems like it could go on forever.
In the midst of it, Lyall asks.
Fun…?
Yes, that might be right.
“I suppose so. Heh, just a little.”
The exhilaration of playing a sport with all your might.
My body, and my heart, are burning hot.
“Right? But it seems like the fun time is coming to an end.”
“…It seems so.”
We’re both out of energy.
Lyall’s aura movement is starting to slow down, and I’m no longer able to maintain the flames.
It’s time to settle this.
I sheathed my main-gauche and held my black sword in a seigan no kamae stance.
Translator’s Note
Seigan no kamae is a basic sword stance in kendo and other Japanese sword arts, where the sword is held at chest level, pointing towards the opponent’s throat or eyes.
No more tricks, I’ll decide it with the next strike!
The flame, which had shrunk considerably at the tip of the sword, disappeared.
“…!”
Immediately after, Lyall moves first.
He’s aggressive to the very end.
Since I’m late, there’s only one thing to do.
Grandpa said.
Counters are all about distance and timing.
It’s not about speed or strength, the most important thing is the resolve to see your limit.
Lyall winds up his fist.
A sharp, fast, and powerful blow.
If I take it head-on, I won’t be able to avoid being incapacitated.
Even though his aura has weakened, his fighting spirit hasn’t waned at all, in fact, it’s burning even brighter.
–I’m scared.
At this critical moment, his already nearly two-meter tall body looks even larger.
My body instinctively tries to go into a defensive posture.
My arms are about to move on their own.
–Not yet, not yet!
I’m being tested.
My limit, my resolve.
Endure, endure.
Like pulling on a thin thread, I just endure.
I sharpen my remaining aura.
The fist approaches, and I have the illusion that a wild beast is opening its huge mouth to swallow me.
My vision is filled with the fist covered in metal.
My thoughts gradually stop–.
When I came to, I saw Lyall, the chest part of his armor shattered, flying away.
The shattered pieces of metal danced in the air.
“–!”
With a jarring clatter, Lyall was slammed onto the floor.
“S-Stop!”
The shihandai shouted.
Looking at my own posture, it seems I delivered a thrust.
Did I win?
The dojo fell silent.
There’s no blood on the tip of the sword.
Of course, I didn’t have the luxury of holding back, but fortunately, the thrust didn’t reach his body.
I slowly sheathed my black sword.
The instant the tsuba made a ringing sound, a great cheer echoed through the dojo.
Translator’s Note
Tsuba is the guard on a katana, it’s the disc separating the blade from the hilt. Basically “the moment she sheathed her sword”.