Chapter-09 · EP-145

Episode 145: Kyoya Murasakimura (Part 9) – Unwavering Resolve

This was essentially a fight for the future of the Second Swordsmanship Club.

If I lost, the club would no longer be able to practice in the schoolyard. For the Second Club, which didn't have its own training hall, that meant they wouldn't be able to practice properly going forward.

Ichinose-kun had proposed the condition casually, but I had no intention of retracting it.

I wanted to prove it with my own strength. That our efforts weren't in vain.

The captain, Takayama-san, also watched over me without stopping me.

I absolutely couldn't lose. For the sake of these companions.

But I still had doubts.

I still couldn't use outside the dungeon the practical application of Lightning Magic that Ichinose-kun had taught me yesterday. If I could use that, I was confident I would definitely win.

And I was still level 1. In contrast, Numabe-kun was Level 2 and apparently had a skill called "Mighty Strength." I was overwhelmingly at a disadvantage.

But this was a situation where I couldn't back down. I had to win.

With renewed determination in my heart, I steeled myself.

My opponent wasn't Dokujima-kun, who had been shouting loudly until just now. Apparently, Numabe-kun would be the one fighting.

Indeed, Numabe-kun was larger and looked stronger.

He was easily over 180 cm tall, with muscles all over his body, and his shoulders were so broad you couldn't even see his neck. He had a somewhat absent-minded way of speaking, but his physique was imposing, and frankly, he looked strong.

But I couldn't afford to be scared. I calmly put on my protective gear.

As I was preparing, I heard Mamoru talking to Ichinose-kun.

"Ichinose, is this really okay? Kyoya still hasn't leveled up, you know? Couldn't we at least raise his level after school today and have the match tomorrow?"

"It's fine. Trust Murasakimura. Besides, he's motivated, isn't he? He wants to show those annoying nobles."

That was right. I wanted to prove that nobles aren't the only chosen ones.

And I also had a lingering feeling of not being able to forgive their past treatment.

I psyched myself up and put on the face mask made of transparent reinforced plastic.

I walked over to my companions who were watching my fight.

My eyes met Ichinose-kun's.

I was grateful to him. For showing me the path to leveling up. For teaching me the potential of my Lightning Magic, which I'd thought was a dud skill. And for creating this opportunity to clear my name.

I declared to Ichinose-kun once more.

"Ichinose-kun. I've heard that dreams and goals are meant to be spoken aloud. So I'll say it as many times as I need to. I will become the world's greatest dungeon explorer, become famous, then become a politician. And I will abolish the Japanese nobility system. To do that, I can't afford to be discouraged here. I can't yield to tyrannical nobles like Dokujima-kun."

Hearing my words, Ichinose-kun smirked and patted my shoulder.

"Yeah! I'm counting on you."

Numabe-kun seemed ready too, approaching with his wooden sword.

Beside Numabe-kun, who was wearing protective gear, Dokujima-kun smirked defiantly.

"You won't understand until you get hurt. We won't let you back out now. Let me tell you, Numabe can easily deadlift 100 kg normally. And when he uses his skill 'Mighty Strength,' he can lift up to 150 kg. Feel the difference in power!"

I was surprised by that explanation.

Deadlifting essentially meant lifting weights. Probably even 100 kg was an unbelievable level for someone our age. 150 kg was so amazing I couldn't even grasp how amazing it was.

Then Ichinose-kun, who didn't know the word "deadlift," asked Hachinohe-senpai.

Hachinohe-senpai explained deadlifting to Ichinose-kun with gestures.

"Normally, an average person can lift about their own body weight, but 150 kg is probably twice Numabe's body weight. It's an absolutely impossible weight for a normal person."

Hearing Hachinohe-senpai's words, I was convinced. Numabe-kun indeed had power unimaginable for a 15 or 16-year-old like us.

I felt a shiver down my spine.

But then Ichinose-kun muttered.

"Deadlifting… has nothing to do with swordsmanship, does it?"

Hearing that, I couldn't help but laugh.

Heh… He was right. No matter how much weight you could lift, you used different muscles when swinging a sword.

Thinking that, the fear that had sprouted in me dissipated like mist.

But Dokujima-kun and Numabe-kun's confidence didn't waver.

"Let's see the top student's pathetic performance! Wahahaha!"

"Pfft…"

The two laughed loudly.

I raised my wooden sword in a standard stance.

Numabe-kun and I stood at a distance where our wooden swords wouldn't reach.

Ichinose-kun would act as the referee.

Standing beside us, Ichinose-kun gave the signal to start.

"Begin!"

With the signal, we both stepped forward.

"Sei!"

With a loud shout, Numabe-kun's overhead swing came at me.

I hurriedly turned my wooden sword sideways to take a defensive stance.

Thud!

Feeling a sense of danger from that momentary impact, I hastily leaped backward.

My wooden sword was deflected without blocking Numabe-kun's blow.

My palms holding the sword went numb.

If I had stayed, I would have taken a direct hit to the head.

"Wahahaha! Surprised, top student? This is our power! The power of level 2!"

Dokujima-kun's jeers came from behind Numabe-kun.

I was indeed surprised. I had to find a way through this attack.

Then, I heard Ichinose-kun's voice from behind me.

"Murasakimura, you're too stiff! Remember your practice!"

Stiff. That was a word Takigawa-san had often said to me.

I was so tense my shoulders were tight.

I took a deep breath while watching for Numabe-kun's next attack.

I relaxed my shoulders and remembered the basic stance Takigawa-san had taught me.

Then, as if not wanting to let me rest, Numabe-kun came at me with his next blow.

Since he struck when I was relaxed, I couldn't dodge in time.

Involuntarily, I tried to block again with my wooden sword.

Clang!

The sound of Numabe-kun's wooden sword and mine clashing echoed.

I put strength into my lower abdomen and braced myself.

Numabe-kun groaned, straining his arms.

"Numabe, show him! The power of your skill 'Mighty Strength'!"

"Urgh!"

At Dokujima-kun's shout, Numabe-kun's strength increased.

My body instinctively used the technique I had learned from Takigawa-san.

I endured Numabe-kun's pushing force by channeling it from my feet into the ground.

…I could endure it! I, through the power of the basic training I had built up every day, was withstanding the force of a Level 2 opponent with the 'Mighty Strength' skill!

"Numabe! Get serious!"

"Grrrr!"

At Dokujima-kun's voice, Numabe-kun put even more strength into it, veins bulging on his forehead. But I was still holding steady.

And then I noticed. Numabe-kun's center of gravity was high. In contrast, I felt mine was low, below my navel.

Maybe I could push back now?

I shifted from enduring to pushing back.

When I pushed, Numabe-kun's body wobbled.

"Huh?"

I pushed with a silent "Eigh!" and Numabe-kun's upper body leaned back, his posture breaking.

"What are you doing, Numabe!"

Dokujima-kun's scolding shout flew.

In that instant, I stepped in to attack.

"Whoa!"

Numabe-kun tried to block with his wooden sword.

I felt I could knock him down along with his block. But that would be too lenient.

I avoided Numabe-kun's wooden sword and swung hard at his face mask through the gap.

Bang!

My strike exploded on Numabe-kun's mask.

He fell from the impact.

"Ippon! That's it!"

Ichinose-kun's voice rang out.

Numabe-kun collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"You did it, Kyoya!"

Mamoru's cheer went up.

Then came applause and cheers from the club members.

"Murasakimura, you did it!"

"As expected!"

Hearing everyone's voices, I realized I had won.

I, level 1, had beaten Numabe-kun, who was level 2 and had the 'Mighty Strength' skill.

I took off my mask and turned to look at my companions.

Everyone was smiling at me.

In contrast, Dokujima-kun stood frozen with his mouth wide open.

Numabe-kun sat on the ground, dazed.

"Th-that's impossible… Numabe, who has 'Mighty Strength' at level 2…"

Dokujima-kun muttered in disbelief.

I turned to face him.

"Dokujima-kun. Do you understand now? Level and skills aren't everything. Daily effort, proper posture, bonds with companions. That is our strength."

At my words, Dokujima-kun couldn't retort.

I had won.

I had continued swinging my wooden sword every single day. The technique I had honed after Takigawa-san told me to start with the basics. That had overcome the level difference.

My efforts hadn't been in vain.

That fact made me happier than anything.