arc03 · 060-ep54

Episode 54: Someone Strong

The Akabane Guild—or, well, guilds in Japan in general—are built around the dungeon at their center, ringing it entirely. You know how a school courtyard gets boxed in by the school buildings? Like that.

Of course, sealed up tight on every side, you can't see the dungeon from outside. All to keep people from sneaking in, naturally.

Now, the first floor of that enormous building is taken up by the production guild and adventurer guild facilities…… and honestly, until today I'd skipped past everything but reception, so this was my first time coming this way.

Besides the training room there was an infirmary, a big communal bath, locker rooms—even a laboratory.

First time here, so I couldn't help gawking all over the place.

So, with all that said, the training room I'd come to visit is…… frankly, just a big empty room. Like a gymnasium.

No special contraptions installed or anything of that romantic flavor—none at all. Well, figures.

◇

"So, what rules are we fighting under? No 'anything goes until one of us can't move'—that's off the table."

"Well, duh. Otherwise it's just beating up on the weak. We've got plenty of spectators now, anyway, so we'll have a guild staffer referee it—first one to land a clearly effective hit wins. That work for you?"

"Hmm. Fine by me. But whatever the outcome—no more of this afterward."

"Heh. I'll have you whimpering soon enough."

Not one thought that he might lose, apparently. Not that I'm one to talk.

But man, there are a lot of spectators……

None of this was your problem a minute ago, huh.

Might as well pin one thing down first, though.

"Ahem—everyone who's gathered! Sorry to take your time! I am officially done with this sort of circus, so no matter how this match turns out, I'd be grateful if you kept everything from today tucked away in your hearts!"

There. That much shouldn't ruffle any feathers.

"What a joke. Hey, YOU—what about your weapon? Hurry up and pick something from the training rack on that wall."

"Huh? Ah—bare hands are fine."

"Hah?"

Ah—yeah, he's cracking, big time.

Not that I'm baiting him or anything—honest. There's simply nothing among the training weapons I can use. I'm a hand-to-hand fighter, so bare hands it is, that's all.

Besides, neither of us can move in here like we do inside the dungeon anyway, so this much is plenty.

Taishi, for his part, has taken up a wooden greatshield and wooden sword—ready to go.

"Referee!"

"Yes, yes—I'll take it from here~ I won't play favorites for either side, so no complaining about the calls afterward~ Attacks with real killing power are banned, 'kay~?"

One of the guild staff aunties stepped forward. One of the ones who'd been holding him back.

Seriously, so sorry for stopping everyone's work like this.

"Then, both fighters, take your positions————begin!"

In that instant I fire off 【Movement Arts】's skill-within-a-skill, 『Shukuchi』, and circle around behind Taishi.

"——!?"

No reaction from him at all.

A knife-hand chop, pulled up just short of that wide-open neck.

"………………"

Taishi and I are both frozen dead still.

All these people, and not a single voice.

But then, the next instant————

"OHHHHHHHH!"

"Insane! What WAS that speed!?"

"Anyone see that!? That's no C-rank movement! Reverse fraud! That's a reverse fraud!"

"Seriously…… figured it'd be closer than that."

"Jersey-kun is straight-up insane!"

Jersey-kun……?

W-well, fine. No ruling from the referee yet, but this one counts as my win, surely.

"——Aaand, the winner—Kobayakawa-kun!"

"…………Damn it."

Taishi, it seems, has no objections either. Head finally cooled, maybe?

Honestly, I couldn't care less, but a word of advice couldn't hurt.

"Say—who's the leader of 『Braver』, exactly?"

"Ah—ah, that's me. Sorry for the late introduction—I'm Tatsumi Yuya."

"Ah, thanks. I'm Kobayakawa Takeru. Pleasure. Anyway—setting that aside…… if you mean to keep aiming higher from here on out, do NOT pull a stunt like today's ever again."

"That's…… true enough. I'm truly sorry."

"No, if you understand, that's all I need."

So the first one to apologize was the leader. Yeah—figured as much from the look of him.

In any case, that settles that.

Now then—just reception with Sakurai-san, then off to explore the dungeon!

"Well, well. You're something else, kid."

"Gh—!?"

A voice from behind, out of nowhere—and my reflexes fired 『Shukuchi』, bounding me sideways before I knew it.

"Ohh! Good reflexes, too."

"H-how long have you been standing there?"

"Since I was talking with that leader boy of yours."

"…………Seriously."

I never sensed a thing.

He looks to be a somewhat flighty middle-aged man.

But he is very obviously strong. The same pressure I felt facing that Goblin King—no, more. And just now, I couldn't sense his presence at all……

"Easy, easy—no need for all that caution. I'm hardly going to eat you."

He speaks like a man gently talking a child down.

"……Um, so is there something you need from me?"

"Hm? Well—it's there if you call it there, and not if you call it not, I suppose."

"Umm…… so which is it?"

"Hahaha. I just happened to catch that mock battle of yours, and you were something else—thought I'd call dibs, that's all."

"……Some kind of scouting, then?"

"That's it—how about our clan, hmm? Ever heard of the A-rank party 『Steel Wings』?"

"I've heard of them. ……Don't tell me."

"Yep. I'm a member of 『Steel Wings』—Akechi Kazuma. Pleasure's mine."

An A-rank party member, of all people.

No WONDER he's so damn strong……!

Gwaaaah, and it's turning out exactly the way Mio said it wouuuuld!

Absolutely refusing! Absolutely refusing!

『Steel Wings』 is a corporate-backed clan, you know!?

There's no way my freedom survives that!

"Um! I've got no plans to join any clan—actually, I'm thinking of founding my own someday—so even if you scout me, I can't join!"

"Ohh, is that so~? And here I thought you'd really hit it off with our leader."

"Sorry. It's an honor to be asked, but this one thing I won't budge on."

"I see, I see. Then I'll pass that along to ours. You've got a rough road ahead, I'd say—well, good luck."

"Urk…… I-I'll do my best."

"If you ever change your mind, say the word anytime~"

With that, he left the training room.

Me, Braver, and every adventurer who'd gathered to watch could do nothing but see that back off in silence.

People who've broken clean through into real strength really are something else.

I want to reach that realm myself, and soon.