Chapter 192: Common Traits Of The Dead

Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio

The audience was expecting the duel to continue on spectacularly.

However, just a few seconds later, Harunaka began panting heavily as her lips were drained of their color, and she felt as if both her arms were no longer hers. The involuntary trembling made her feel somewhat shaken as sweat dripped down her face inside the mask.

The intense speed of her sword strokes had exhausted her to the point that when she shifted her footing, she nearly ended up stumbling over herself and falling to the ground. Despite her combative power having reached a considerably high degree of strength in that split-second, the move had taxed her body more than any of her previous training practices. In other words, this was the first time she had ever experienced the feeling of complete exhaustion of her mental capacity and physical strength. In fact, it was to the degree of over-exertion.

This feeling… was not exactly pleasant.

Seeing this from the opposite side, Kimura Kazuki’s face was a show of approval and satisfaction. The ‘Rainstorm Style’ that Harunaka had just used had reached a level of perfection. He knew that this had to be due to Harunaka experiencing a comprehension of sword power, causing her sword skills to take an unconventionally large leap forward in strength.

In ordinary cases, a comprehension of sword power would only occur after a battle. Take Ono Nakamura’s case, for example, she had comprehended the sword power following her participation in the Asahi Kendo Competition. However, the comprehension of sword power during battle came with superior benefits.

For instance, in Harunaka’s case where she had been using the ‘Rainstorm Style,’ it would have previously been impossible for Harunaka to achieve that level of speed. Even after learning the skill, achieving such a level of speed would require vigorous training or the additional support of reiki. For Harunaka to display such speed without the use of reiki was an abnormal, an over-exertion of her body.

In fact, her speed moments ago had already fulfilled the criteria of the speed of the

‘Sudden Flash.’ This type of sword skill strengthening that was achieved through in-battle comprehension of sword power had broken through the body’s physical limits and was a feat that depended on pure luck.

As long as Harunaka could recapture and relive that state, her body would be able to remember that state after her body had become accustomed to it. With a little training afterward, Harunaka would be able to fully master the ‘Rainstorm Style,’ and her progress in learning the Yagyu Flying Sword Style would likely be accelerated.

Seeing that Harunaka could barely stand on her own two feet, Kimura Kazuki raised his shinai and tapped her mask lightly, bringing the duel to an end.

“Men! ” While the audience was still puzzled as to how Kimura Kazuki managed to seize victory so easily, he had already stepped forward to lift Harunaka’s mask off her face. Furuhashi Harunaka’s sweat-drenched face came into the view of the audience as if it had been steamed in heat, and her eyes were glazed over. The Kendo robes that were usually light and convenient on Harunaka now seemed to weigh a mountain upon her.

“Kimura-senpai.” Harunaka stubbornly stood on the spot and smiled dazedly, “I did it, I can feel that I’ve mastered the Rainstorm Style.”

“Yes, you have.” Kimura Kazuki sighed, “You’ve become stronger. Have a few days of rest, and I’ll teach you some new sword styles afterward.” Subsequently, he turned to the referee, intending to say something. However, upon seeing Harunaka’s physical state, the referee did not require any words from Kimura Kazuki to call for a stretcher to carry Harunaka off the stage.

As Harunaka was carried off-stage, thunderous applause rose from the audience.

The applause was not directed at Kimura Kazuki. Instead, it was for Furuhashi Harunaka, or rather, it was meant for both of them. The audience had already realized at this point that for Furuhashi Harunaka to maintain her previous speed of sword strikes, she had probably exhausted all her energy as a girl.

Kimura Kazuki and Furuhashi Harunaka had given them such a spectacular duel that although the match only lasted a few seconds, it was completely deserving of their respect.

It was only from this moment that many people began to place their attention on the Sakura Kyu High School’s Women’s Team. They had not expected such talent in Sakura Kyu High School and that there would be such a skillful person besides the Head of Department Kimura. It seemed as though the girl’s skills were completely overshadowed by that of Head of Department Kimura.

The following duel then came down to Kimura Kazuki and Ikioi Ito.

Both of them had put on a spectacular show of abilities during the team category, sending a wave of excitement rolling through the audience.

Yet apparently, this final match would not be as spectacular as was expected. To prevent Ikioi Ito’s emotions from acting up and pulling off unexpected moves again, Kimura Kazuki knocked him out the moment the duel began, leaving the audience stunned.

Even the three judges blanked out for a few seconds before raising the red flag, announcing Kimura Kazuki’s victory.

Ikioi Ito, on the opposing end, had a grudging look all over his face, “Kimura-Kun, that ended way too soon… Doesn’t that make me inferior to my sister-in-law?” At least Furuhashi Harunaka had managed to fight briefly against Kimura Kazuki. Still, he had only just got on stage before being instantly knocked out with a single strike the moment the bowing ritual was complete. This was way too realistic of him, and did it not also imply that he was inferior to Furuhashi Harunaka?

“If you don’t train seriously in the future, perhaps Harunaka’s abilities may soon overtake yours,” Kimura Kazuki spoke slowly. What Harunaka displayed today had made him realize that her talent was perhaps not inferior to that of Ikioi Ito’s after all.

Ikioi Ito had disbelief written all over his face.

Kimura Kazuki merely smiled without saying more.

Harunaka had been practicing Kendo for 10 years. Similarly, Ikioi Ito had also been introduced to Kendo since a young age and had even undertaken training with the guidance of professional teachers. However, Harunaka had been training step-by-step alone this whole time, but she already had a comprehension of sword power within one month of being introduced to sword styles from Ancient Kendo. Hence, to state that Harunaka’s talent was inferior to that of Ikioi Ito’s would clearly be disagreeable to Kimura Kazuki.

After that, in the accompaniment of the crowd’s cheer, Kimura Kazuki rose as the champion of the Tokyo District Qualifiers.

With that, the champions of both the individual and group category of the District Qualifiers were claimed by Sakura Kyu High School. It was won entirely by Kimura Kazuki himself.

The Jade Dragon Flag District Qualifiers only ended officially once Kimura Kazuki accepted the individual category’s champion medal from Chairman Tetsuto Hirata. Moving on, a week following this event would be the Jade Dragon Flag National Competition, where all of Japan’s most skillful high-school level Kendo practitioners would assemble at Fukuoka.

Just as Kimura Kazuki intended to pay Harunaka a visit, he received a call. A quick glance at his phone showed that the call was from the Otake Police Department.

Upon picking up the call, Ryo Otake’s words made him furrow his brows. “Kimura-Kun, another body has been found… The location is at the Reimei District…” Ryo Otake’s voice was deep as he spoke slowly, “The crime scene was similar to the scene from yesterday where the victim died in his home, the same kind of sealed room murder. Furthermore, from what we’ve seen on the surveillance footage, there wasn’t anyone who had entered the victim’s room.”

If Kotone Mikami’s death had merely raised Ryo Otake’s suspicion of it being a supernatural case… He was no longer in doubt now.

“How can you be certain that the killer was the same person?” Kimura Kazuki questioned doubtfully, “Perhaps the perpetrator could be a different person?”

Ryo Otake’s tone sounded strange as he replied, “Honestly, I’ve thought of this before… but the two victims share a few common traits.”

“What kind of common traits?”

“Both victims were cheaters when they were alive.”

???

Kimura Kazuki’s expression was one of utter bafflement.

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