Chapter 79 - Darkness and Sword King Festival [10] (1/2)

Idol-san gripped a long sword in her right hand, with her center of gravity slightly to the right. Assuming a slightly unique stance.

(One-hand stance… that’s rare…)

From the viewpoint of both offence and defence, it makes more sense to hold the sword with both hands.

Firmly lower your center of gravity.

Try to keep the other party at the center of your vision.

Gently grip the sword with both hands as if wrapping it.

This is the established theory of modern swordsmanship that we learn at Swordsmanship Academy.

Her stance greatly deviated from that definite theory.

(But don’t let your guard down…)

The other party is a top-notch swordsman called『Prodigy』and『Strongest First Year』.

I’m sure that unique stance has some sort of meaning.

As I was examining Idol-san’s stance while maintaining Seigan no Kamae,

「…Ah.」

Suddenly, she let out a short cry and sheathed her sword into the scabbard. And walked up to me without her sword.

What on earth is she thinking?

「……Nn.」She stood in front of me and held out her right hand.

「What is it?」

As I tilted my head,

「Handshake… You don’t know? Greeting by holding hands.」

「I know that, of course, but…」

I didn’t expect to be asked for a handshake at this timing when the match had already begun.

「P-Pleased to make your acquaintance.」

I gently grasped Idol-san’s small hand and shook it.

「Un, nice to meet you.」

After we broke the handshake, she turned her defenceless back towards me and returned to where she was.

(She’s somewhat strange…)

Is she unique, or just living in her own head?

(I think they refer to people like this as a ”natural airhead”…)

When I was thinking about that,

「Let’s do it.」

Idol-san held the sword which she drew out with her right hand and said so while maintaining her unique stance.

(That stance is surely not because of being a ”natural airhead”.)

It seems that the one-handed grip is her stance.

「Then… Here I come.」

Victory goes to the one who makes the first move.

The『sword of wait-and-see』is dangerous against a superior swordsman.

(Attack, attack, single-mindedly attack and push through with momentum!)

I kicked the ground firmly and zeroed the distance with her in one step.

「F-Fast!?」

I did not miss the chance where she stiffened for a moment,

「HA!」

I unleashed a reverse diagonal slash aimed at her left shoulder which was half defenceless.

(Yoshi, I got her!)

The moment I was convinced of the telling blow,

「Naive!」

The metallic sound of swords clashing resounded.

「Wha!?」

The blow I unleashed was defended by a second sword that she pulled out with a backhand grip.

「T-Two Sword Style!?」

「Haa!」

Idol-san countered with her right sword.

「……」

I had enough time to dodge that blow and jumped back.

And then,

「You’re fast…」

She whispered, staring me in the eye.

「Thank you for that.」

「I never thought I would have to pull out my second sword at the very beginning of the match. It’s beyond my expectations.」

Saying that, she slid her right leg half a step forward and her left leg half a step back.

Her right hand maintained a slightly higher position, and her left hand was pulled back behind.

(“Slash” with the right hand, and ”thrust” with the left hand, I see… It’s a pretty aggressive stance…)

Even so, two-sword style, huh…

I’ve heard of it, but this is the first time I’m facing it.

The difference in『sword』is one-to-two. It is inevitable that I lose in number.

(Should I play by the books, and press forward with ”force”?)

When I was thinking about how to proceed with the match,

「…Wha!?」

Before I realised, Idol-san was already before my nose tip.

「Thunder Style – Heavy Thunder!」

She brandished the swords at lightning-like speed, and ten slashes bared their fangs.

「Kuh, Eighth sword – Yatagarasu!」

I tried to offset it with my eight slashes, but one slash slipped through and grazed my left cheek.

「Kuh…」

At the same time, one of the Yatagarasu cut her right cheek.

「Kyaa…」

Our cheeks were cut like a mirror-match. A complete tie in terms of injury.

(She is overwhelmingly superior in the number of slashes, but… As expected, my “two hand grip” wins in power…)

The current exchange is testament to that.

Although there were two less slashes in number, the Yatagarasu I unleashed tore through her slashes.