Chapter-03 · EP-048

Episode 48: Mock Battle - Part 4

"What's wrong? I said I'd personally judge your skill. Take your stance."

Saying this, the First Swordsmanship Club President, Ryuichi Iwakura, provoked Iori. She raised her wooden sword.

"Wait, Iori! There's no reason to fight anymore!"

Suppressing my fear of Iwakura, I stepped between them.

The duel with the second-year Hachinohe earlier had been about avenging Murasakimura's humiliation and acting as Hikaru's proxy. But there was no reason for Iori to fight Iwakura.

If anything, he might want to avenge Hachinohe, but Iori had lost interest in the First Swordsmanship Club and didn't seem intent on joining. Even if she won, there was no benefit.

But Iori was a battle maniac.

"Shirou, let me do it. I want to fight that man."

She wasn't fighting to gain something; she simply wanted to fight. That was Iori's impulse.

Hearing that, I could no longer stop them.

And no one else could stop them either.

When I stepped away from Iori, nothing stood between them anymore.

"Don't you need protective gear?"

"You think I need protective gear against a first-year? Don't underestimate me."

"Don't blame me if you get hurt."

"Hmph."

Iwakura also raised his wooden sword. Everyone around moved back to avoid interfering.

Without a signal to start, their match began amidst a killing intent reminiscent of a real battle.

Iwakura simply stood, sword raised, glaring at Iori.

Unlike before, Iori couldn't seem to step in easily.

She moved subtly back and forth, left and right, reading her opponent's rhythm. But she only appeared to be struggling to attack around Iwakura.

Steeling herself, Iori stepped in. Iwakura's sword moved to counter her strike.

At the moment their swords crossed, Iori's sword shifted just like before, slipping past Iwakura's blade. Just as it seemed her sword would reach him, Iwakura's body had leaped backward.

"I see… You have some technical skill."

Iwakura muttered.

Iori looked surprised, not understanding why her attack hadn't landed.

I, watching, also didn't understand what had happened.

Both had been moving forward, yet suddenly Iwakura's body had leaped backward to evade. There should have been a moment of bracing to shift weight from forward to backward, but it didn't seem to exist. It was as if he had defied the laws of physics.

But Iori didn't falter; she continued her attacks. Iwakura dodged left and right, as if seeing through each swing of her wooden sword. However, faced with Iori's relentless attacks, Iwakura still hadn't counterattacked.

"Excellent movement. Hard to believe you're a first-year."

Iwakura calmly commented while fighting. This man was probably taking it easy.

"Tch!"

Perhaps frustrated by his composure, Iori steeled herself and stepped in further. With a clang, their wooden swords clashed for the first time in the match.

"Hmph!"

With Iwakura's shout, Iori's body lifted into the air and was sent floating backward before landing.

"Not falling from that! Excellent balance control."

Iwakura praised her further. Iori, in contrast, looked flustered.

Not just me, but everyone around was watching their fight with bated breath.

"My turn now."

Iwakura moved forward on his own for the first time.

Overwhelmed by his pressure, Iori stepped back two, three paces.

But Iwakura closed the distance faster, swinging his wooden sword at an imperceptible speed.

Iori reacted instantly, dodging sideways. But Iwakura's blade changed trajectory, chasing the retreating Iori.

"Tch!"

Iori blocked it with her wooden sword held vertically, then leaped sideways to dissipate the impact.

"You blocked that? Interesting! Very interesting, first-year!"

Iori's face no longer showed any composure.

A fierce grin on his face, Iwakura raised his sword again.

"I'll show you specially. My true strength."

A chill ran down my spine at his words. So this was killing intent.

Immediately after, Iori's face guard shattered.

With a bursting Bang!, the transparent plastic face guard cracked.

A moment later, the air shuddered.

A shiver ran through me. Something inhuman. I felt fear at the unknown attack.

And Iori collapsed to her knees.

"Iori!"

I rushed to her.

She had taken an impact strong enough to break her face guard. Was she alright?

When I reached her, Iori's eyes were wide open with surprise behind the broken guard.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah…"

Iori was dazed, but seemed unharmed.

"I only broke the guard. It shouldn't have done serious damage."

Iwakura declared. Was he still holding back? I couldn't hide my shock.

"What was that at the end?"

Iori asked Iwakura.

Yes. At the end, I couldn't see Iwakura's movement. He had moved at a speed beyond human comprehension.

"'Acceleration.' That's my skill."

"Skill…?"

Not only Iori but I, who hadn't known Iwakura's skill, was also surprised.

That imperceptible speed earlier was a skill.

From the name, it was a skill that moved the body at super-high speed… No one could deal with that.

"First-year… Takigawa, was it? What skill do you have?"

"…I don't have any skill."

"I see. What a pity. Most people born into nobility possess skills. In contrast, only a handful of commoners like you have skills. Skills are bestowed according to the person's worth. That means commoners like you are lowly creatures abandoned by the gods."

So this was noble supremacy. I had met someone who looked down on commoners to this extent for the first time. I felt I understood why Murasakimura despised them. They mistakenly believed they were chosen by the gods.

"But Takigawa, you have some potential. As a special exception, I will allow you to join the First Swordsmanship Club."

Surprised voices rose from the surrounding club members.

The First Swordsmanship Club was a club that only nobles were permitted to join. Yet he had just said he would allow Iori, a commoner, to join.

"The president approved her membership…"

"A girl… and from D-Class at that…"

Amidst the commotion, Iori heard Iwakura's words and smirked.

"I refuse!"

Iwakura looked puzzled upon hearing Iori's answer.

"Why? Didn't you come here wanting to join?"

"Heh. Surpassing you seems like it'll be my immediate goal."

"I see. You choose to be an enemy. That's fine too."

Iwakura turned and walked away.

"It's over. Get back to practice!"

At Iwakura's command, the First Swordsmanship Club members returned to their original places.

Only we first-years were left behind.