c15 (1/2)
CHAPTER 15: AN UNAVOIDABLE BATTLE
Just what part of an encounter like this is any different froot earlier? The nuotten er were in a different category altogether fro itself tier on an innocent victih The chancellor, the receptionist, and now these two Today was apparently his day to be ilares
Fro assessment had been these two One was the warrior naician named Enmarph
The ranking assessht Pavilion adventurers could ask for pointers on battle technique Originally, new recruits were to select a single opponent against whoht them both one after another
The result was obvious, and could be deternored Lefille’s slender sword and finely-crafted light ar lady with the beauty of a butterfly or flower Given their poor attitude toward a girl of such nature, their lossindeed
Dorothea and the pair finished speaking, their consultation having come to an end
“—So it’s ht?” Suimei asked, somewhat rudely
If they were going to treat him like this, then he had no need to be polite
“Yeah,” Raikas replied
“What kind of battle is it going to be?”
“The guild doesn’t set any guidelines with regards to that There just needs to be a battle, and then we give our assessment End of story”
Whether because he found the question annoying or because he was in a bad mood, Raikas’ answer had been both short and sharp
The gri, Suimei asked another question
” ‘There just needs to be a battle’ – that ht?”
“Yeah The only rule is that real weapons can’t be used during the assessic staff Hmm… Well, if you have one on hand, just use that Just reic you use, you’re not allowed to cause major injuries or kill anyone It’s not like you could do soh Ain’t that right, Enmarph?”
“…Not a problem”
In answering Raikas’ question, this was Eninally a man of a taciturn nature, but the look on his face as identical to Raikas’ – that of utter self-confidence
Suddenly, an unknown voice taunted, “You say that, but didn’t you just get your butts kicked?”
It was Dorothea Surprisingly, she was a pretty daring young girl
“Shut it! No one asked you anything!” Raikas roared
A wordless rage could be felt e out her tongue and scratching her head This girl really likes to fan the flames, doesn’t she…
“So? Who’s it going to be? If you don’t choose, then we’re going to decide between us”
“…”
“And? What’s it going to be?!”
“Well…”
…Maybe there wasn’t really any point in thinking too hard about this
From the tiht an opponent without e inpart yourself were two entirely different things Plus, he’d thought to himself on more than one occasion that he’d love to take part in just such a battle With that infield match was the perfect opportunity Lefille would leave soon enough, and that’d leave hi to clean up after himself once the battle was over
Moreover, if he were to take care of things here, then he ht just be able to muddle up accounts of what had occurred earlier, at the reception desk
That makes this a real opportunity, doesn’t it?
In an instant, Suimei concluded that even if Dorothea hadn’t added fuel to the fire byprovocative statements, the end result would still be the same
“Although this is probably asking a bit ht both of them At the same time”
“—Ohh?”
“What?!”
Lefille’s interest seemed to have been piqued by his anshile Dorothea shouted in surprise
The expressions of the other pair, the ones he had just challenged, also changed
“…Huh? You want to fight us at the same time? You punk, are you really serious?”
“Hmph I hate jokes that aren’t funny”
Unsurprisingly, Suimei’s calm words only served to worsen Raikas’ already extremely foul mood
“Maybe if you had the strength of that woe like you thinks you can beat us? Don’t tell o to your head?”
“…”
En, easily a e Suimei had already anticipated this reaction For adventurers as confident in their abilities as these tere to be challenged by a green brat blowing hot air, of course things had taken this turn
However, they’d been showing hi As such, this was nothingthem a taste of their own medicine Perhaps an outsider would have seen such a choice as despicable, but he had his own goals to achieve, and in light of that, he wasn’t going to place thatabout how other people felt
Sensing the tension in the air, Dorothea, unable to control her voice, asked, “Um, Suimei-san Are you really sure about this?”
“Ah, yeah, this is what I want I have to go look for sos as quickly as possible”
“That’s not what I meant—”
“You have the confidence to beat us quickly, do you?” Raikas interrupted, cutting Dorothea short
“Yeah”
“What a ridiculous claim”
“It’s not really that big a deal Just like you guys have confidence in your abilities as adventurers, I have pride in the path I’ve walked to get here Excessive ood for my mental health, after all”
“…You little brat If you continue to overestith, then you’ll be beaten to a pulp Take back this stupid joke and choose your opponent You can still be forgiven”
Raikas again threatened Sui said this h
“No I will not And I have no intentions of seeking your forgiveness”
“…You’ll regret it”
“I appreciate the warning”
“Hmph Enmarph, we can’t let this little punk look down on us like this Let’s crush him!”
“…Got it”
Suied Raikas beyond all reason and provoked a furious response fro his partner’s eyes, sent a aze was no less penetrating In thisfield
(…)
…He’d been the target of their anger frooodwill, and stubbornly boasted of his own ability By the tione past the point of no return If he kept this up, then eventually there would come a day when his actions would come back to haunt him
The circumstances of where he was had also contributed to the current situation As a ician, he wasn’t the least bit worried, but it was also the truth that the current situation was exactly what his opponents wanted As men, they couldn’t bear to lose to an immature brat Suimei was distinctly aware of all of this, but he couldn’t help but follow this train of thought nonetheless
As the situation grew more serious yet, a voice called out from behind him
“Sui Are you sure this is okay?” Lefille asked as he approached the training field
Is that because she’s worried aboutth?
Suimei nodded in her direction
“Yes”
“You have the confidence to face them at the same time?”
“Sadly, it’s pretty hard to iiven how ordinary I look, isn’t it?”
As he mocked himself in answer, Lefille unexpectedly smiled
“It certainly is”
“—You answered so fast! How cruel”
So that’s how she saw hihter
“Hehehe…”
“Hahaha…”
Surprisingly, they seeuidance sure is miraculous, Suimei mused to himself
“…Anyway, fighting them both at once is in line with my aims This works out perfectly”
“…I see Alright then I won’t say any more”
Lefille nodded, before unexpectedly turning to Dorothea
“Excuse me, but can I watch this from the sidelines?”
“Wuh?”
Co that wasn’t even a word unwittingly left Suimei’s mouth
“That’s not a proble you, right?” Dorothea asked, after straightforwardly giving her assent to Lefille
“Oh… No, it’s okay”
“If it’s okay, then why does your face look like that?”
“Oh, this has nothing to do with that I was just really taken aback is all”
“Really?” Dorothea asked, cocking her head in confusion
Having received perhtedly
“Great Let’s see what you can do”
Lefille seeainst both opponents at once seemed to have stirred her warrior’s spirit
His h he already kneas going to take care of that, he couldn’t help but tsk inwardly even as he walked over to the center of the training field
And then—
“Alright Is everyone ready?”
“…Yeah”
“…”
“I’ood here”
Raikas pulled his sword from its scabbard and Enemmed tip of his staff toward Suimei
As they had, Sui his Divergent Gloves over his hands and extracting a vial from his pocket
Raikas, not co, asked, “What’s that?”
“Nothing special It’s just my weapon”
“…?”
Under the surprised and confused gazes of those around him, Suimei removed the stopper from the vial and poured its contents onto the floor This was, of course, the saic weapons within his possession
Because of the extrelittery, silver substance
“Silver… water?”
“This is mercury You’ve never seen it before?”
“Yeah, this is
“U the floor is kinda…” Dorothea said weakly
“…Oh, no I’”
“That sure is what it looks like, though…”
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, he’d poured a liquid onto the floor That much was undeniable, however…
“You’ll understand soon enough”
“Hah…”
“…H?”
“Nope—”
By the time he’d answered Lefille’s question, the contents of the vial had completely transferred themselves onto the floor Next, as this extre the floor, he concentrated his mana, and spoke the incantation that would alter its form
“―Perulatio Vix Lamina (Transmute, solidify, become power)”
His incantation spoken, with the ic circle spread outward
A ht
“—!”
“Wha?!”
“Eh?”
“…!?”
As he operated his ic, four different exclamations of surprise reached his ears They were probably surprised by his ability to construct ait first, much as Felmenia had been
“Alchee
It seemed that he understood what Suiht eic circle, the mercury pulled and drew itself upward like soin Suimei’s hands in the shape of a sword
“—This is my weapon”
Sure enough, this had answered Lefille’s question Sui himself for the battle ahead There was no rooloved hands, Suimei took up his sword of quicksilver and shi+fted into a co eyes
“…Hey you Weren’t you a e?”
“You saw ic just now and you still don’t believe?”
“Because you’re aa sword …Actually, do you even kno to use that thing?”
Raikas’ question re It seeician warrior was unheard of in this world Their “coaicians took up positions in the rearguard and warriors served as the vanguard Then again, seeing as ic and close combat were two entirely different domains, it was probably natural to think that way—
“Well, I know a thing or two”
“I see”
Suily fed up with talking Seizing the opportunity, Dorothea raised her arm
And then—
“Begin!”
At Dorothea’s coan Raikas’ first attack was easy to follow Racing forward, he slashed diagonally at Suimei
Suimei mirrored his action
“Ha—”
Snorting in laughter, Raikas couldn’t see anything special about Suith could be seen with a glance, just looking at their relative arm sizes would tell you as much
Suimei could read from Raikas’ cold smile that he believed he’d obtained victory, but the final result was so that only he had foreseen Just as their swords were about to cross, Suio out of his ar the opening thus created, he spun a full circle and froinally standing, he slashed at his opponent once more
“Wha?!”
Raikas’ reaction was a moment too late, and he lost his opportunity to correct his stance, instead being forced by the er forward
What had just happened was completely unexpected It had been a eted an opponent’s attack and destroyed their balance, causing their attack to fail
This s around coo to waste With a flip, he unleashed an attack at Raikas’ defenseless back Raikas, on the other hand, was slow to react He seeret the price for his carelessness Suimei, however, realized that he would not have the opportunity to finish his opponent
That was because there was still so its prey
“—O wind Focus thy eternal pohich crushes all before thee Unleash thy wrath upon mine foes! Wind Fist!”