Chapter 58 (1/2)
Chapter 23: Duel (1)
「D-Do you really intend to fight Thunderbolt-san!?」
Yuuto raised his voice to Asuka inside the training room in the mansion.
Asuka who silently swung the weight sword, wiped off her sweat and answered.
「Isn’t that obvious? It’s a duel. I must accept it」
Seeing Asuka’s expression, Yuuto made a sorrowful face. It’s not an atmosphere where she would listen.
「It’s my fault. Asuka-sama has nothing to do with this so I’ll apologize to Thunderbolt-san…」
「It’s different, Yuuto」
Asuka interrupted Yuuto midway. Yuuto became silent from Asuka’s serious tone and stared at her.
「It’s not about the love affair. …I’m sure that Thunderbolt-san bet everything and challenged me to the duel. Can you believe it? Against me? The ordinary apprentice swordsman Asuka Retroliva is being challenged by 『Certain Hit』Thunderbolt to a duel」
Asuka held the sword in front of Yuuto.
Yuuto drank his saliva due to the fighting spirit.
It’s the girl from that time. Right now she’s not wearing any treasure tool he made.
「I know. Even I think that it’s no good. On the high ranks of the heroes, I’m surely the ordinary woman. That’s why I can’t just run away」
The grip she’s holding made a creaking noise.
She must’ve thought of this all the time.
It’s scary that she always turned her eyes away.
For him, she’s much more deserving to be a heroー.
But, she won’t run anymore. She can’t run away.
Because, it’s been said. That girl clearly said.
It would be no good if it’s not her.
「I really prove what you said. I’ll never allow anyone to call you a liar」
Asuka looked straight to Yuuto.
The best in the world. This guy knows what Asuka meant by that.
Even though she’s wearing the strongest armor, holding the strongest sword, there’s still a place she can’t reach.
Then, she’ll believe in him. ‘To support him, I’ll be the strongest in the world’
「I’ll win against Thunderbolt-san」
Yuuto wasn’t able to say anything more in front of Asuka’s determined expression.
He can’t say anything. He was the one who made her a hero.
「Dammit!」
But he ran. He can’t let them fight.
The 10th and the 9th in the hero rankings. The fight they will take will never end safely.
(I don’t care if I get hated. I’ll take responsibility and stop this)
Even if it ended with him being bound by the infatuation, it’s still fine. Not caring what would happen to him, Yuuto ran through the road of the capital.
He heard Thunderbolt’s house from Risty so he ran full speed there. Coming up to here, he has no choice but to make withdraw from the start.
「Okay, a bit more. …Hey!?」
Yuuto suddenly stopped. However, upon seeing the unexpected person that appeared in front of him, Yuuto thought that it’s perfect and he spoke up.
「Ruby-san? I-I’m glad. Sorry, Thunderbolt-san’s house…」
「Yo, I was waiting for you」
However, Yuuto’s eyes opened wide from Ruby’s misdirected answer.
While looking down on Yuuto, Ruby told him that it’s no coincidence.
「I thought you’d come. So I waited」
Ruby approached him slowly and Yuuto retreats vigilantly.
Her tall figure always has an overpowering impression. Yuuto is being careful from Ruby’s big breast but Ruby still stared at him directly.
「Good eyes. You have the determination. …You want Thunderbolt to withdraw in the duel right?」
Hearing Ruby’s words, Yuuto’s face brightened. Ruby also came to stop the duel. He thought so Yuuto tried to ask Ruby’s cooperation.
「ーEh!?」
However Yuuto saw an unbelievable spectacle the next moment.
「Please. Please accept the duel」
Ruby lowered her head while saying so. The head of Ruby that’s higher than 2m is rubbing deeply on the ground where Yuuto’s feet is in.
「Wai!? R-Ruby-san!? Please raise your hand!」
Yuuto was in panic. The 6th in the Hero ranking, 『Safety Zone』 Ruby Sapphire Diamond1. It’s a person who’d never lower her head.
「Sorry but I won’t. Not until you consent. I’m her buddy after all」
Ruby mutters as she dogeza, Yuuto is at loss. It’s her best friend Thunderbolt’s duel. Isn’t it normal to stop it? Yuuto stares at Ruby’s lowered head.