79. Darkness and Sword King Festival [10]

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.

In terms of the simple power of each individual slash, mine was superior.

And then,

「What tremendous power… Are you really human?」

Idol-san whispered, while caressing the wound on her cheek.

「Of course I’m human. I could say the same for Idol-san too, that sword speed was not human either…」

「Fufu, thank you.」

She laughed delightedly and assumed her unique stance again.

In response, I firmly assumed Seigan no Kamae.

「Then, I’ll make the move this time!」

「Come!」

Then we exchanged ferocious blows repeatedly.

「HAAAAA!」

I closed the distance with Idol-san, and unleashed consecutive attacks without giving her time to breathe.

「Kuh…」

Diagonal Slash, Bamboo Split, Downward Slash, Upward Slash, Thrust – She somewhat managed to defend all the point-blank consecutive attacks raining down on her.

However, there was a big gap in physical strength between me and Idol-san, apart from the two hand grip and one hand grip.

Every time she defended a blow, her stance gradually became disordered.

「Right there!」

「……」

The blow that I landed cut through Idol-san’s side.

Her face distorted in pain, but she matched the timing when I pulled back my sword, and stepped into my range.

「Thunder Style – Thunderclap!」

Just as my consecutive attacks before, she unleashed her own set of consecutive attacks at unstoppable speed.

(Top, Bottom, Top, Bottom, Left, Right – Middle!)

I opened my eyes wide and completely cut down her wave of seven consecutive attacks.

「No… way!」

I guess she didn’t think it would be possible to defend them all.

Idol-san displayed a slightly upset face.

I didn’t miss that opportunity, and unleashed a follow-up attack.

「Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique – Mirrored Sakura Slash!」

「Kuh…」

She gave up on intercepting and jumped back a great distance.

「First Sword – Flying Shadow!」

I aimed for the opening when she landed, and shot a flying slash.

「This…!?」

With an unstable posture, Idol-san somehow managed to cut off the looming slash.

But I had already closed the distance by hiding behind Flying Shadow.

「Fifth Sword – World Judgement!」

I unleashed a certain kill attack at the critical moment.

「This is…!?」

Idol-san took a defensive posture for a moment, but she probably instinctively judged that World Judgement could not be defended against.

She immediately jumped to the right and avoided the large swing.

However, I have already inserted something there.

「Second Sword – Hazy Moon」

「Wha, kyaa…!」

The two slashes that I inserted during the earlier exchanges burst and grazed her left shoulder and side.

Fresh blood trickled down Idol-san’s white skin.

(That’s a good response.)

The moment Hazy Moon caught her skin, she reflexively twisted her body. So she splendidly avoided a direct hit.

「Haa haa…」

「……」

Idol-san suffered several lacerations.

And I am still almost unscathed.

For now, the battle was heavily leaning towards me.

When the match temporarily fell into a rigid state,

「W-W-What can I say about this situation? Allen Rodore, an entirely nameless contestant, has completely overwhelmed the『Prodigy』Idol Luxmaria! Incredible, contestant Allen! Who on earth would have expected you to be such a powerhouse!」

The commentator exclaimed in an attempt to enliven the venue.

However, the audience silently held their breath, and closely observed the fight between me and Idol-san.

And then,

「You are strong… Allen. I never imagined that I would ever lose in swordsmanship!」

Idol-san said frustratedly, and sheathed both her swords.

At that moment, I sensed it.

(So… It’s finally coming!)

Tense air began to permeate the battlefield, and the intimidating air surrounding her grew larger.

「If it’s a match without soul dress… You might be the best of our generation.」

「I’ll take that as a compliment.」

『A match without soul dress』- an improbable condition in the battle between first-class swordsmen.

「I want to clash with everything I’ve got against you, Allen!」

The moment she strongly declared so,

「Fill me up -〈Neba Glome〉!」

Two lances reminiscent of azure lightning suddenly appeared from empty space.

(It appeared, Soul dress!)

The wall of absolute talent that always stands in my way – Soul Dress.

(The real battle starts from here on out…)

From here on, it is『Prodigy』Idol Luxmaria’s real power.

「Here I come, Allen!」

「Aa, come!」

This is how the curtain finally raised on my and Idol-san’s battle.

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