Tournament day two.
Today, the matches would continue up to the quarterfinals.
Having won my second-round match, I would need to fight again.
However—
(That was no good, big brother! It was fine since he wasn’t that strong, but what would you have done if your opponent was super powerful!?)
I was currently receiving a lecture from Akane.
(Yes, you’re absolutely right…)
(Even Grandpa Tim said that composure is important! He’d be so sad if you got hurt because of your own mistake…)
(…You’re right. I’m sorry.)
The memories and knowledge Akane absorbed from me are full of holes, but it seems she holds onto the important ones quite firmly.
Her harsh words, difficult to hear, stung one after another.
(Have you learned your lesson?)
(Yeah, I have.)
Grandpa used to say it too.
“Once a battle is over, you’re free to show any emotion you want, but never show them during combat.”
Because if you die, you can no longer cry or laugh.
He was probably referring to war, but just because my life isn’t on the line is no reason to get sloppy.
I’ll end up developing bad habits.
(Well then, let’s do our best this afternoon, okay? I’ll do my best too!)
I’m truly glad Akane is here with me.
Having someone who will scold you is precious.
…Though being lectured by a little girl so much younger than myself feels rather pathetic in its own way.
After a break and lunch, it was time for the afternoon matches.
The ring announcer, showing no signs of fatigue, shouted in a high-energy voice.
“And now, for the third match of the quarterfinals! In the east corner, she needs no introduction! The strongest rookie and the top contender for the championship! The Magic Swordswoman, Katia Meyers!”
Good, it seems they’ve skipped that embarrassing, over-the-top praise this time.
I’d like them to keep it this way from now on.
Assuming I win and there is a next time, of course.
“Her opponent in the west corner… Hailing from the Cesar territory, he has fought his way here with his brilliant techniques as his weapon! The A-rank soldier, Yata!”
The man called Yata was dressed entirely in black.
Black hair, a black cloak, and a tall, slender build.
He had black hair, but his features weren’t Japanese-style; they were sharp and defined.
He wasn’t carrying any large weapons. I wondered what kind of fighting style he used.
“And now, the match is about to begin!”
The bell rang out loudly.
As Mr. Yata lightly brushed aside his cloak, a pair of large jet-black wings burst from his back.
Wings meant he was the type of beastman known as a birdman.
And what’s more, the wings were on his back… which is extremely rare.
The vast majority of birdmen have wings for arms, but he had proper, human-like arms as well.
Having arms meant he had that many more ways to attack.
Without letting my guard down, I immediately drew my two swords.
“Dash.”
I thought I heard him mutter that single word.
His wings beat powerfully, causing his body to accelerate rapidly.
—Another speed-type?!
And he was even faster than Minasha from the last match, so fast I couldn’t even track him with my eyes.
I moved my main-gauche in the direction my bad feeling was coming from.
Clang! A sharp metallic sound.
I don’t know when he drew it, but an arm holding a dagger was aiming for my side.
A bead of nervous sweat ran down my back, but regardless, this was a chance to counter!
I slashed with Landini in an upward diagonal strike.
“Soar.”
But my attack didn’t reach my opponent, who had leaped… no, flown straight up.
He was flying about ten meters up, his wings spread wide.
“…”
Then, as if probing me, he slowly circled diagonally above.
What an irritating way to control the pace.
He possessed such incredible speed, yet the moment I blocked him, he changed his fighting style.
It seemed he was quite the cautious type.
I tried firing a few fireballs as a feint, but as expected, they didn’t connect.
“…Are you planning to just run out the clock?”
If it comes to a decision by the judges, the one who fought passively will be at an overwhelming disadvantage.
There was no way my opponent didn’t know that, and he simply…
“Absurd,”
…muttered in response.
What is he aiming for?
After circling for a while, Mr. Yata suddenly shot upwards.
(Big brother, look out!)
I just stood there and watched him.
Where Mr. Yata ascended to… was right into the rays of the sun, which had just peeked out from between the clouds.
The direct sunlight blinded me—!
This is bad, an attack is definitely coming now!
With my eyes still closed, I took a big leap to the side.
“A miscalculation!”
Luckily, his attack seemed to have missed.
I was saved.
Perhaps he intended to finish me with that; I heard a slightly panicked voice from above.
But my vision still hadn’t recovered. This was bad.
(Akane!)
I had no choice but to borrow Akane’s power.
She should know what needs to be done.
(Okay, big brother! Now, let’s get fired up!)
From above, I could hear the sound of approaching wings.
But perhaps because he was still flustered, he wasn’t fully concealing the sound or his killing intent.
I couldn’t hear the sound of his wings at all before.
To buy time, I swung Landini widely in that direction!
“!”
I didn’t hit anything.
However, I sensed him retreating for a moment.
While I had the chance, I kneaded my magic power, and before he could come again… It was ready!
I fumbled to sheathe my main-gauche, stabbed Landini into the ground, and spread my arms.
A vortex of flame erupted, centered on me.
“What is this!?”
A barrier of fire protected me.
I spread my arms to help me concentrate, due to the difficulty of maintaining the spell.
Simple spells can be controlled with just my gaze, but the more intricate they are, the more they require
hands or a staff to manipulate in addition to sight.
Besides, a simple, low-density flame would be easily broken through.
Relying on the sensation of magic flowing from my hands, I kept the spell stable.
Like that, I waited for my eyes to recover.
As my vision finally started to adjust, I saw a wall of flame raging more intensely than I had intended right in front of me.
No wonder it felt so hot!
(Akane, you put too much spirit into it! Tone it down, tone it down!)
(Soooorry! But, it might be too late…)
…Huh?!
Just as Akane said, the fire raged even more intensely.
The barrier formed a nearly sealed hemisphere over the ring.
At this rate, the oxygen would be gone in an instant.
Defeating myself would be just too stupid.
(Big brother, if we’re doing this anyway, why don’t we just—)
(…Well, yeah. Considering the amount of aura he has, I think he’ll be okay.)
Change of plans.
I lifted the flames just as they were.
Fortunately, this barrier was still under our control.
I couldn’t adjust the firepower, but at this point, it didn’t matter.
Towards Mr. Yata, who was flying in the sky and watching me…
“?”
I threw it.
“! …Evasion…!”
Of course he dodged it, but until just now, I was the one being attacked one-sidedly.
Now it was his turn to experience the same thing!
While predicting his evasive maneuvers, I shaped the mass of flame into a firebird and sent it after him.
Controlling it with just my left hand, I had it relentlessly chase him down.
Bit by bit, it burned away at his aura.
“…Tch! Charge!”
Translator’s note
The authos uses teishin (挺身), which means to throw oneself into something, often at great personal risk.
After being scorched by the flames several times while flying, Mr. Yata came at me with the resolve of a suicide attack.
But that was within my predictions.
I pulled Landini from the ground with my right hand, parried his dagger, and kicked him in the torso.
“Gah!”
His slender, light body was easily sent flying.
And where he was sent flying, the firebird embraced Mr. Yata’s body.
I clenched my left hand, which was controlling the magic.
In that instant, the flames exploded.
…When the flames subsided, Mr. Yata emerged. He was physically unharmed, but I could barely feel any of his aura.
“…Defeat.”
He muttered, and turned his back to me.
Staggering while clutching one arm, he walked to the referee and said a single word.
“I surrender.”
And with that, he conceded.
“It’s decided! Offense and defense, at long range and short, completely flawless! Her magic is also first-rate, no, you could even call it top-tier! Her comeback after being blinded was nothing short of spectacular! The winner, Katia Meyers!”
The bell signaling the end of the match rang.
…I was being praised, but I feel I need more practice when it comes to controlling my magic.
It was also bad that I didn’t pay attention to the sun’s position. Looks like it’s time for another self-reflection session.