Chapter-09 · EP-136
Episode 136: Holding Back Is an Insult
"Ichinose-kun, would you have a match with me?"
"Huh?"
I was confused by Murasakimura's sudden request.
"I want to see how much stronger I've become."
"Why me? No, but there's a level difference, and for that kind of thing, shouldn't you fight someone at the same level…"
Even if he asked me out of the blue, I was at a loss. I was aware that my level was far above my classmates', so I couldn't have a fair match.
But Murasakimura's expression was serious.
I asked him.
"Why so suddenly…?"
"As I said, I want to confirm how much stronger I've become in this past month. Ichinose-kun, you have the highest level in D-Class right now, don't you?"
"I know that, but why me? There's too much of a level gap… If that's the case, you should fight someone at level 2…"
Murasakimura was still apparently level 1. In contrast, I was level 6. The level gap was indeed too big.
Iori had beaten Hachinohe, who was level 4, when she was level 1, but that was because Iori was special.
And the level gap between me and Murasakimura was even larger.
"Please. I've lost confidence in whether I should even continue as class president. I want to test my own strength."
"Lost confidence? Why?"
Then Sendo, who was nearby and knew the situation, explained.
"Kyoya has been suffering from harassment by those Class B guys."
"Huh? What? What do you mean?"
I looked back and forth between Murasakimura and Sendo.
Murasakimura looked down in frustration, clenching his fist.
"Kyoya, you don't need to listen to people like that. Just keep doing your best at your own pace."
"Sendo, explain."
I asked Sendo for an explanation.
"It's those guys from Class B, Dokujima and Numabe. Lately, they've been harassing Kyoya. And they're spreading rumors that he's a level 1 dropout."
I remembered the faces of those two who had visited during club activities the other day.
"Those guys. You've been targeted by some weirdos…"
When I looked at Murasakimura with pity, he told me his true feelings with a desperate face.
"They said I don't deserve to be the top student."
"Deserve, my ass. It's a fact that you're the top student, isn't it?"
"That's not what I mean. It's just that my grades were the best in middle school. After entering this academy, I've started to wonder if I'm just a dropout who can't measure up to everyone else as an explorer… I've lost confidence myself."
"We've only been enrolled for a little over a month. We don't know that yet, do we?"
At my words of encouragement – no, I wouldn't encourage Murasakimura. It was just a fact. When I stated the fact, Murasakimura poured out his anxiety.
"I want to confirm through a fight with you that I'm not weak, that even though my level hasn't gone up yet, my training in the swordsmanship club isn't wasted."
"Ah… why me? Does it have to be me?"
"As I said, you have the highest level in D-Class, don't you? Let me confirm the difference in skill between you, who doesn't come to club, and me, who practices every day!"
"Ichinose, please. Won't you spar with Kyoya?"
Even Sendo was telling me to fight Murasakimura.
How was I supposed to refuse and have him accept it?
"Please."
Saying that, Murasakimura bowed his head deeply.
For some reason, Sendo also bowed his head to me.
…Now there was no escape for me.
"Fine. Fine. But don't complain if you get hurt, okay?"
"Of course. Thank you, Ichinose-kun!"
When I agreed to the match, Murasakimura smiled happily.
I really didn't get along with this guy.
We both put on protective gear and raised our wooden swords.
I switched to a wooden sword because my usual iron sword might break Murasakimura's wooden sword. When I held a wooden sword again after a long time, it felt surprisingly light. Probably because my level had increased, improving my physical abilities.
After swinging it around a few times to get the feel, I faced Murasakimura again.
"Whenever you're ready, Murasakimura. Come at me!"
"Here I go!"
Murasakimura swung down from a high stance without hesitation.
I deflected it to the left with my wooden sword while moving to the right, leaving his face and torso wide open.
But even though he had armor, I thought it would hurt to strike there, so I didn't and instead stepped back to create distance.
Murasakimura turned to face me, adjusted his posture, and changed his attack from an overhead swing to a diagonal slash. As I readied myself to counter, he changed his stance again and thrust.
I reacted after Murasakimura started moving, but I easily saw through his trajectory, dodged the thrust, and simultaneously stepped into his chest. I could have struck anywhere – his head or neck.
But again, I didn't deliver a decisive blow, instead stepping back while preparing for his counterattack.
"Fight me seriously!"
A shout of anger came from Murasakimura.
"No, I…"
"Don't hold back just because I'm weak!"
He must have realized from the two previous exchanges that I could have struck him many times.
Seeing his serious expression, I understood that I had been rude.
"Sorry. Next time, I'll really hit you."
"Yeah…"
Now, with that tension, Murasakimura also hesitated to step in.
We both moved sideways in small steps, gauging the distance.
No one watching, including Sendo, made a sound.
In that silence, I moved first.
I stepped in, pointing the tip of my sword just above Murasakimura's face mask. Startled, he turned his wooden sword sideways to block my downward swing.
But I didn't swing down. Instead, I lowered my sword and, as I passed him, swung it hard into his torso.
Thwack!
My strike hit his chest protector with a dull thud. Murasakimura groaned, "Ugh…," and crouched down on the spot.
"Uu… I can't breathe…"
Murasakimura seemed unable to breathe from the pain.
"Kyoya! Are you okay?!"
Sendo rushed over in a panic.
Murasakimura writhed in pain.
Uh-oh, even with the armor, did I hit him too hard?
"S-sorry, Murasakimura!"
Worried, I also approached him.
Murasakimura was clutching his stomach, suffering in pain.
The fact that I could use Healing Magic was a secret from my classmates. So,
"We're taking him to the nurse's office!"
I hurriedly picked Murasakimura up and headed to the nurse's office with Sendo.
"Hey, you went too far, Ichinose-kun!"
"I'm sorry!"
Murasakimura, who received Healing Magic from Professor Jonouchi in the nurse's office, quickly recovered from the pain and calmed down.
When we explained the situation, I got scolded.
The three of us bowed our heads to Professor Jonouchi.
"Murasakimura-kun is still level 1! Level 1 is the same as an ordinary person. Before anything else, you need to raise your level!"
Then it was Murasakimura's turn to be scolded.
As for Murasakimura, he was even more dejected than me, remaining silent and unable to retort.
"It's fine to have youthful energy, but you need to understand each other's abilities before you fight! The primary indicator of that ability is your level. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I'm sorry…"
Murasakimura apologized weakly.
I, and Sendo who didn't stop the match, were also thoroughly scolded. Dejected, we went home that day.
The next morning.
No one was sitting in Murasakimura's seat in the classroom.
Wondering why, the teacher explained during homeroom.
"Murasakimura-kun is absent today, feeling unwell."
Huh? You're kidding… Was it my fault?