Kays Translations

Chapter 20: Muscle Stamp

(Considering that she can activate skill techniques while surrounded by a whirlwind, she's at a decent level... Well, it's something to look forward to in the future.)

There's no point in continuing the fight.

Having made that decision, Ishud finally stepped forward in this battle.

"Huh?!"

He easily dodged through the storm of slashes and delivered a palm strike to her abdomen. 

It didn't have the force to send her flying backward dramatically, but the impact was not to be underestimated, causing her to float gently.

By intentionally keeping the power in check to avoid sending her flying too far, the damage inflicted was deep and blunt.

(W-Was he suddenly faster... did he use some kind of skill?)

Unfortunately, Ishud hasn't used any skills at all.

He simply increased his pace, dodged the slashes, and delivered his attacks... that's all.

He didn't do anything special; he just attacked normally.

"Huff, huff..."

"What's the matter, not giving up yet?"

"Of course not. Surrendering at this level is out of the question!!!"

From desperation, her expression transforms into a fierce, intense determination.

Her two friends, who have never seen Michela with such an expression, raise their voices even louder to continue cheering her on.

However, reality is harsh.

Ishud, who has already begun to discern the trajectory of the twin swords, easily counterattacks.

"Gah!!!??? Haaahhhhh!!!"

"Heh~~~ Just give up already."

Even after taking a kick just above her abdomen, she barely manages to hold her ground and steps forward again, swinging her twin swords.

(Not my kind of thing, so can you just give up already~)

While there are those who find sexual excitement in tormenting beautiful women, Ishud might have an interest in her, but he's not interested in that kind of play.

"Guh!!! Haa, haa, haa... What's... the matter? Is it over now?"

"If you had some strategy, it would be different, but you don't. So, all this bravado is just lame. You should stop."

He doesn't dislike tenacity.

In fact, there have been real battles where victory was achieved by not giving up until the end.

However... when someone stubbornly refuses to go down, especially given the current situation, it becomes quite troublesome.

(...Should I forcefully end it?)

He doesn't want to lose the match, but he also has no interest in tormenting his opponent.

Deciding on this course of action, Ishud, for the first time in this match, takes a fighting stance.

Misinterpreting his actions, Michela's fighting spirit is further ignited.

"Yo!"

"Hu...!?"

Before Michela could swing her twin swords, Ishudo's jab was released.

While the attack was the most predictable from the fighting stance, to some observers, the thrown jab seemed like... an artistic flash.

"That's enough!!!"

The tip of Michela's jaw was shaken, causing her vision to sway significantly. Before she knew it, the ground attacked her in front of her eyes, and she felt it against her body.

In the next moment, a powerful stomp was pounded in front of her head.

"W-Wait, please!! I'm still—"

"Can you still say you can fight after that?"

"After that...?!!"

The final stomp, meant as a finishing blow, did not actually make contact with Michela.

However... just a bit beyond where her head had been when she fell, there was a distinct shoe imprint.

"I could have killed you if I wanted to. This should make it clear—no matter how much you struggle, you can't win anymore."

The image of the final stomp hitting her own head is easy to imagine.

"Sensei, it's okay to declare me the winner, right?"

"Yeah, of course. I got a bit impatient with the last stomp."

"Don't worry. I don't hate her enough to want to kill her or anything."

Having finished what he came for, Ishud was about to return to Gulf, who had been watching the match. However, something crossed his mind, and he turned towards Michela, who was now crumbling in defeat and fear, trembling.

"Hm? ...Ah."

"Well then, as promised, I'll be taking this."

Without any hesitation, Ishud took the ring that was part of their agreement.

(Memories with my sister...)

Do not cry... As one who chases after that back, I understood in my mind that it's no good to break down in tears here.

Even so, no matter how bravely I try to behave, trying to stand up, those tears couldn't be stopped.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Yeah, um, this time was overwhelming too, huh?"

"Among students, she’s probably strong, but compared to those in my hometown... well, it seems she has some guts, and she might become strong in her own way, I guess?"

"............"

"What's wrong, Byron-sensei? You're making a strange face."

"...You're ruthless, aren't you?"

The flow leading up to the match, Ishudo has no negative aspects... at least for now.

In addition, there is not even a millimeter of justification for criticism, as there have been no particularly foul plays during the match.

"Eeeh, Byron-sensei is just too kind, isn't he? Well, I think I'm still considerate because I’m not aiming for the face."

"Well, that's true... but we'll probably get a ton of applications again from tomorrow."

"Huh, really?"

In the future, they seemed to be a material that could become playmates.

Today's class included combat training, so my classmates were able to see some of the abilities up close.

And today's match... If it turns out that an elite among the internal transfer students has been defeated, it would be enough for them to realize that challenging it is meaningless no matter how much he tries.

"I hear there are many male students who have feelings for her."

"...Could it be that they intend to challenge me for reasons like wanting to show off in front of her?"

"According to a friend, it seems like a sufficient reason for a man to show himself to another man."

"Ahhhhh... Well, I guess I kind of get it, at least a little."

In this current life, Ishud had spent time learning about strength, so he had never dedicated time to romantic pursuits. However, in his previous life, he had experienced things that weren't entirely unfamiliar.

(It's fine if they want to have a match, but can they provide what satisfies me, as a compensation? If they can endure the fear of being cornered to the brink of death, I guess it's fine not to prepare anything...)

Ishud directed a very cold gaze towards those who vented their anger on him.

"...Byron-sensei, there's something I'd like to ask, is that okay?"

Byron immediately agreed to the softly spoken proposal.

In the following days, an extremely unconventional match unfolded, with over thirty male students challenging Ishud alone.

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