ch401-ch420 · 408-ch408

Chapter 408: The All-Rounder Samurai

"So? Why were you two fighting? You don't exactly seem close."

Yukiya-san, mixed in with the people Kuwashima-san brought along, asks us.

"It was over which should be our main battlefield—Chiba or HQ. If we won, they'd transfer to Chiba; if they won, they'd keep operating out of HQ. That was the wager."

Well, that's how it went, probably.

"And naturally, you lot won."

"Well, it's not over yet."

I'm about to flatten Shimizu, after all.

"So, Kuwashima-san—what exactly did Haruki do?"

"That is what I am about to ask. A person of interest presented herself, so first comes the apprehension."

Did she foresee that an "unfortunate accident" was about to happen, and come to stop it?

Does the 【Saint】 have precognition too?

No, no—whatever could you mean.

"Well, there's the matter of skills too...... Fine, I get it. Haruki, fight me."

You DON'T get it!

Why does it turn into that?

"That can wait until tomorrow, right? There's no point in fighting right now, I think......"

Tomorrow, we were originally supposed to meet 'Blue Ocean.'

In Chiba, though.

To push the talks along, we were planning to sit in on the meeting, and if needed, fight 'Sword Saint-chan' once more.

There's no point showing my strength in front of a gallery here.

Especially with Aikawa's father around—he'd see through everything.

"Tomorrow? Ah, that was about that girl, was it? Somewhere along the way, the story went from 'Miko-chan will' to that girl......"

Yukiya-san looks at Aikawa.

Right.

Aikawa's exams are over, so she's officially joining 'Blue Ocean'—that's what tomorrow's gathering is about.

"Ah, unless Haru-kun beats you, I can't be poached, you know? Today's little show was for that reason too. My, what a popular girl I am—troublesome, truly."

Why are you saying useless things NOW?

Make it tomorrow!

"Hoh. So it was already planned for tomorrow? Then now's as good a time as any. It's been bothering me since earlier. You're like a completely different person. Your memory is fully back, correct? Or did you use a skill to become some OTHER thing? Oi, you there—hand over that katana. And someone go fetch Ao!"

Ah, right—everyone thinks my special skill is 【Blood Suck】.

Is that why they've been subtly prickly toward me—suspecting I've become a vampire?

No, in Chiba my special skill passes as the movement-type 【Idaten】, you know......

Well, if Aikawa's 'Blue Ocean' joining gets announced as early as tomorrow, there would have been a stir anyway.

We're past the point where a little attention matters, so I don't mind fighting......

"If I win, you'll transfer to Chiba—we'll make that the terms. Even with that, you're fine? Lend me that."

Just as Yukiya-san borrowed Murakami's katana, I borrow Minami's spear.

"Hah? What's that about?"

"We have no reason to fight, so that's the price when we win."

Good idea, actually.

For my part, I have the warehouse there, and Chiba is easier to work with—I'd like 'Blue Ocean' to come to Chiba too.

Past Floor 40 there's nobody around, so maybe I'll have them do that.

Hayashi-san would be delighted, and everyone wins—win-win all around, no?

Though in that case, I'd have to beat 'Sword Saint-chan' too, which is the sticking point......

"You INTEND to win, do you!?"

A surprise attack!

Fast—no, sharp.

My spear just barely made it in time.

(That was close)

But blocking it was pure luck.

If he'd aimed anywhere but my face, I might not have reacted at all.

This person is stronger than the skeletons......

The skeletons repeat their single strongest attack—there's something AI-like about them.

This man, on the other hand, is famous for having every manner of attack in his repertoire.

Surprise attacks included, of course.

He can unleash any kind of strike—which is why they call him 'the All-Rounder Samurai.'

"You blocked it after all. But you saw what that was, right? Come at me half-hearted, and you'll lose in a heartbeat."

Says the man whose katana is still in its sheath......

Was that a test?

If he'd drawn, it would have been even faster.

If he's a Level 50 【Samurai】, his Agility must be higher than mine too.

Without super mode, I might genuinely lose here.

Do I use it, or not?

"That's enough! I cannot overlook any more of this. Furuta-kun—that attack of yours would not have ended in a scratch."

Oh—the referee calls a halt.

"That's right! No injuries! Surrender without resistance!"

Hmm—if Kuma-chan had come alone and simply said "come with me" without explaining, I might have gone along quietly.

Hiramatsu-san falls for it all the time too—it must be the fatal weakness of the Hiramatsu-ryu.

"Tch. Fine, then. Haruki, the rematch carries over to tomorrow."

Not happening.

"No—the referee called a foul on that attack, so that counts as my win. Tomorrow, please join OUR side's talks."

"Huh? Eh? Since when were you THAT kind of guy? You really are......"

"Excuse me. Did you say I lost? Someone, seize this Haruki!"

Scanning around—aside from Yukiya-san, nobody here looks strong.

The only Triple-Rank-looking ones are the staff trailing Kuwashima-san's escort, maybe?

The Triple-Rank adventurers should all be at the new dungeon right now.

Alright—line up and come at me one by one.

All of you, to Chiba......

"Don't. Don't do it. Anyone here see my attack just now? These lot together couldn't beat him."

Tch. Stopped.

Or rather, the others look too spooked to come at me.

They DID just hear about the three Triples hospitalized......

"What is going on here?"

Oh? It's Ao-san.