Chapter 47: Great of Rounds ④

Somehow, I recovered from being completely full and barely made it in time for the exhibition match.

The Rank I VIP area had more empty seats than yesterday.

The witch was at work. Munieka-san was at Tasan’s other residence.

I hadn’t seen Chive-san since this morning.

Oh, there’s Celeste-san and “Sword of Swords.”

Celeste-san noticed me and then froze in surprise at my shoulders. She let out a wry smile, the same reaction as everyone else who had seen us arrive.

On my shoulders sat Ruriha-san and Mineha-san. Not “a flower in each hand,” but “flowers on each shoulder.”

Apparently, it was quite rare. Even the faerial receptionist who I had met before and had helped me looked astonished.

“Sword of Swords” unusually stayed seated and glanced at me. A greatsword was placed next to the seat. I greeted Celeste-san, who was seated next to me.

“Hello, Celeste-san.”
“Yes. Uh, um…”
“You look well, Celeste.”
“L-long time no see, Ruriha-san. Um…”
“Oh my, it’s rare to see you here, Sword of Swords.”

Celeste-san seemed like she wanted to say something more, but after being interrupted twice, she gave up with a sigh.

“That’s because Axe is participating. Axe trained under his master in swordsmanship, after all.”

She calls them “Master,” huh? Well, of course, being a disciple, but… do they not have a name?

“Well, you’re as indulgent with your disciples as ever. And I suppose Ence is the same.”

Ah—so this is a master vs. disciple showdown.

“…Really, a dog…”

Mineha-san muttered softly. I whispered to her.

“The witch says he’s one of the oldest Rank I members.”

“Eh, that means…”

His true form is some kind of canine. Apparently, it’s a real dog, not a former human disguised as one. How exactly… no one knows.

“Ruriha, Mineha.”

Emi-san called them. Mineha-san immediately looked awkward.

“Emi, long time no see.”
“Yes, it’s been years.”

I turned to Emi-san. She gestured to the seat next to her, so I sat.

Ruriha-san looked at Emmy-san and slightly lowered her gaze. She sighed.

“You… I heard about it from Mineha, and I’m just exasperated.”
“Well, many people have said the same to me… but what can I do? If Ruriha’s husband were to return… I’d understand how she feels.”
“There’s some truth to that.”
“Mother!?”

There is, huh… though she would never admit it outright.

Emi-san looked at me suddenly.

“Still, it’s unusual for you to sit on someone’s shoulder.”
“It’s comfortable. And Mineha likes it, so naturally… it turned out to be even more cozy than I thought. It’s become my favorite spot.”
“Mother?”
“That’s fine, Ruriha. You’re still young, after all.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, Wof-san. Something?”
“N-no, it’s nothing.”

Ruriha-san was smiling, yet not smiling. And her face is so close—it’s terrifying.

“No, you must nod for things like that.”

Emi-san chuckled softly.

“I-I’m sorry.”
“Oh my, what are you apologizing for?”
“Uh, well…”

Why is she putting her hand under my chin? Is she stroking it?

And why is she blushing and looking so dreamy?

“Mother! Please stop. Wof will feel bad.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Geez.”
“You two seem like you’re having fun.”

Emi-san said that. I felt… it was fun. Mineha-san using polite language is amusing.

And having Ruriha-san sitting on my shoulder makes me feel oddly safe.

While all that was happening, the match finally began.

Ax and Ence faced each other in the middle of the arena.

Come to think of it, Rell-san and Hoss-san weren’t in the VIP area. But they must be somewhere in the arena.

“Axe-chan has grown up. Looks just like Ens.”
“Ruriha met him when he was very young, right?”
“Yes, I still remember holding baby Axe-chan.”

Baby Axe, huh… The witch said she held him once too.

“I even changed his diapers. And now he’s grown so much.”

Ruriha-san said this sentimentally, and for some reason leaned against my cheek.

“Exhibition Match: ‘Traverser of the Abyss’ Ens Hylant vs. ‘Thunder Fang’ Axe. Victory is by surrender or knockout. No killing allowed. Understood?”

“Y-yes.”
“Understood.”

“Begin!”

At the signal, both drew their swords.

Axe immediately closed the distance to Ens—one step! Right from the start. But then he did something even more surprising.

He raised his sword in front of Ens, feigned a downward strike, and then dropped the sword.

“!!”
“Take this!!!”

Ens had a tiny opening from the shock. Axe didn’t miss—he punched him straight off his feet.

“Oh! He did it!”
“He’s got it, Axe.”
“Hot-blooded!”
“But Axe, you threw your sword… now what?”
“He said he’s only thinking about punching him.”
“I know, but just ending it there… I think that’s a bit too simple.”
““Yeah, right?””

Ens spat blood.

“That felt good. Hurt a little.”

Ens, with a slightly swollen cheek, laughed.

Axe said casually:

“It’s a surprise attack I learned from Sword of Swords. If you’re just punching, it works. How about that?”

A surprising tactic from Sword of Swords.

“Master… you taught him this?”

Celeste asked, but Sword of Swords didn’t answer. Well, it’s a dog, so it couldn’t.

Ens smiled wryly and picked up Axe’s sword.

“Good sword. Standard model.”
“Yes. I like it.”
“What a coincidence. My sword is from the same craftsman. But mine’s premium—if a standard is one masterpiece in a thousand, premium is one in ten thousand.”

He threw it to Axe, who caught it, puzzled.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

“Well, just punching and leaving it at that would be anticlimactic. I wanted Axe to see my sword.”

Ens assumed a ceremonial stance with the blade in front of his face.

Axe assumed a basic stance, pointing his sword straight at him.

“Here I go! Uooohhh!”

Axe rushed forward—one step—and closed the distance again.

Ens didn’t move. Axe swung. Ens didn’t move.

He swung down. Ens didn’t move. And yet his sword was deflected.

“!!?”
“Nice blade work.”

Ens subtly phased back. What kind of evasive step is that?

Axe raised his guard to her waist and approached again—one step.

“Uooooohhh!!!”

This time, he launched a full assault. Ens went on the defensive.

The crowd erupted. A storm of precise, powerful strikes—I couldn’t even block them all.

“You’ve gotten stronger, Axe.”

Emi-san murmured.

“That one… he trained in the Fire Dungeon just for today.”

“Really?”

“Hoss and Rell said it was tough for them too.”

I hadn’t known that. Watching the results of her training as an experienced observer was exciting.

“Uooooooohhhhhh!!!”

A torrential rain of sword strikes fell from every angle—up, down, left, right, diagonally.

Ens somehow managed to block them all, but it was clear he was struggling. Incredible. He was pressuring a Rank I explorer.

“Really nice blade work… I’m barely able to block it… Hmph!”

Ens’ eyes widened. No wonder—Axe had suddenly unleashed that technique.

“One Hit Technique!!!”

Ens’ sword was cleaved in two, the tip flying into the air. It clattered to the ground with a metallic ring, prompting a roar of cheers.

“WAAAAHHHH!!!”

“Axe, splendid.”
“Oh my, Axe-chan, you can handle that technique?”
“That’s Agaro-san’s…”

For some reason, Gymnema-san’s One hit technique didn’t come to mind.

Celeste-san was impressed.

“That powerful technique… from the Fire fang style?”
“? Celeste-san, Fire fang style?”
“You don’t know? Each of the nine sword schools has its own version of One-hit technique. So even the same technique can differ.”
“Wow…”
“Still, cutting a higher-grade Premium sword… impressive, really.”

Nine schools… Fire, perhaps? Each attribute might correspond to a sword school. So Gymnema-san’s version might be Water. But nine?

Mineha-san must have thought the same.

“Wouldn’t that make one extra?”
“There’s an original source style, before the nine split.”
“Ah… the origin.”

Or the main lineage. I see.

“How’s that? Not bad, huh?”

Axe smiled fearlessly. Ence’s face lit up with a full smile.

“Amazing, Axe. Truly impressive… I’m honestly surprised.”
“Being told that is embarrassing.”
“Yeah. Well then… maybe it’s okay for you to know.”
“Ah?”

Ens raised his chipped sword. A single-handed, reverse grip, covering his face with his fist. Odd for a sword stance.

“Axe, remember this. There’s power that comes only because you have no relic.”
“What…?”
“The soul power you can’t use with a relic—that exists in this world.”

From Ens’s body, a faint white light glimmered. It collected along the blade, making his sword shine brilliantly.

“So… that’s what you’re using.”

Emi-san said, worried. Ruriha-san immediately responded.

“Emi, Axe-chan will be fine.”
“Yes… he’s shown a technique like that already.”

Emi nodded slightly.

“Mother, what exactly is that?”
“A vessel for the soul. The relic is engraved on its surface.”
“Yes, I know that.”
“Then what’s inside the vessel?”
“That is…”
“Power?”

I answered. Ruriha-san nodded.

“Yes. Relics use that power to activate. Some relics have cooldowns—times when they can’t be used. That’s said to be because the soul vessel’s power has been spent. Once the cooldown ends, the vessel is full again. That’s the ancient mechanism of relics. And without a relic, it was thought that the vessel’s power couldn’t be used. But… what if you could directly wield the vessel’s power precisely because you don’t have a relic?”

“…So that white light is the soul vessel’s power?”

“Perhaps.”

Using the soul power directly, bypassing the relic. The energy must be enormous. Can a human even handle it? And should they, without a relic?

“What’s that? Some cheap magic trick?”
“The fangless sheep’s struggle. The desperate flail of one without a relic.”
“….”
“This is also a type of power, Axe.”
“…I didn’t know that… but I’m not backing down here!!!”

Axe, one step— Ence appeared right in front of her. One step.

Before Axe could strike, Ens closed the distance in a single step. Still, Axe swung his sword upward without hesitation.

“One Hit!!”
“Psyche Fang”

A white, fang-like blade pierced Axe’s chest. He collapsed.

“Stop! Winner: ‘Traverser of the Abyss’ Ens Hylant!”

The arena went silent. The outcome was so sudden and shocking that a moment of stillness enveloped everyone.

“O-ouch… ow…”

Axe slowly opened his eyes. His chest… stabbed?

He looked up at Ens and seemed to understand.

“…Next time, I’ll win.”

Ens extended his hand.

“I’m counting on it.”

Axe grasped his hand. The arena erupted in thunderous applause.