First Match: Seiryu Mifune
Seiryu Mifune was a commoner like Sheila.
He became a scholarship student because of his swordsmanship and intelligence. Moreover, being an upperclassman, he should be incomparably more skilled than Zechs and Bert.
Even when the signal was given to start the match, the two didn’t move an inch. No, they couldn’t move.
‘There’s no gap….’
You could see that the nerves were spread all the way down to their fingertips. If she moved, he should be able to move at the exact same time.
‘What will you do? Will you suddenly bring out your weapon and entice agitation….?’
If the opponent remained calm, there was no chance to take advantage of them. If she showed her deepest move right at the start of the game, she couldn’t deny the possibility that he could come up with a countermeasure, but it was clear that he wasn’t an opponent you could afford to play coy with. She quickly formed a strategy in her mind.
She made a decision quickly. First, Sheila began to move.
“Wha―!”
Seiryu’s eyes widened at Sheila’s leap.
It was too high and too far. Moreover, her speed was too fast for him to follow. To an opponent, it would appear as if she had vanished like a puff of smoke.
Sheila closed the distance in a single leap and swung her blade.
It could be said that Seiryu, who received the blow and was still standing, was talented as expected. Due to the difference in physical strength, competing with each other was dangerous. As it was enough that the disturbance was successful, Sheila didn’t pursue him too deeply, but kept her distance.
Her physical prowess was astonishing even to those around her.
“Damn, is he really a wild monkey?!”
“What a lightweight!”
“I didn’t see any movement at all!”
The voices of the outside world didn’t reach Sheila, who was fully concentrated. All of her nerves were focused on Seiryu, who was in front of her. She could almost hear him breathing.
Putting his hand on the sword that was still on his waist, he crouched slightly.
Even his movements seemed terribly slow.
‘…. It’s coming.’
“Haaaah!”
A flash of a sword appeared near her. Even though she was out of the blade’s reach, the nape of her neck flashed hot, as if to warn her of danger. Sheila jumped to the side as her instincts told her to.
The sword wind passed by her side. At that moment, she felt a pain in her cheek. A trickle of blood slid down her cheek. Sheila didn’t wipe it off, but looked at Seiryu.
‘I don’t know how it works, but it can attack by sending sword winds. But it takes a long time before it flies off. The range of the attack is wide, so I have to be careful, but if I watch the movement carefully, there should be no problems.’
Sheila was unfazed by the attack and slashed again.
She slashed hard and quickly moved away. She entered Seiryu’s blind spot and slashed at him again. Perhaps reading her attack pattern, he reacted immediately. He returned it by attacking Sheila.
“Ugh….”
She was almost overwhelmed, but dodged the blade just in time.
Undaunted, he slashed at her again. It was stopped. The same battle continued over and over again.
Cody and Bert, who were watching the match around them, began to get impatient.
“If it continues as it is, Sheila will be exhausted. I don’t see how Sheila can win if he doesn’t come up with something decisive.”
“Oi, what’s going on with that guy….?”
While Seiryu had hardly moved from his position since the start of the match, Sheila had been flying around in all directions. Because of the difference in the way their bodies were trained, Sheila would probably run out of strength first.
“But, since it’s Sheila, I’m sure he’ll find a way out of this.”
Cody muttered to himself as he stared intently at his friend.
He was sure that his cheers wouldn’t reach Sheila, who was concentrating so hard that she couldn’t hear anything else. Cody gave her a cheer in his heart.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sheila dropped to one knee on the ground.
“Hah….”
She breathed hard and took in as much air as she could.
Seiryu finally moved from his position. He was holding his sword in the upper position, ready to deliver the final blow to Sheila. She closed her eyes as she exhaled all the breath from her lungs.
A victory or defeat was instant.
She opened her eyes and dodged the blade that was approaching her with a single glance. The movement was one step faster than it was a moment ago.
Standing right next to the staring Seiryu, she stopped her sword in a position as if she was going to cut his torso. The match was over.
“…. I give up.”
Seiryu spit out in a heavy tone. Immediately, the people watching the game began to make a commotion.
“That awesome little kid! He beat Seiryu!”
“What’s up with him, he’s so cool!”
Sheila, who was suddenly surrounded by the noise, finally relaxed her shoulders.
Sheila’s strategy was to start out fast and make the opponent think it was the fastest speed she could go. Then, she would bump into her opponent several times to get him used to her speed and try to make him go even faster.
‘Well, it would’ve been better if I could’ve hit him all at once at the beginning. However, it was only the first match.’
By the way, her heavy breathing was also an act.
Sheila originally had inexhaustible physical strength, capable of running around the mountains for a week in pursuit of prey. She wanted to catch him off guard when she was weak and created an opening for Seiryu, even if only a little.
It might not be in accordance with chivalry, but it was the only way for her to be recognized as a knight because no matter how hard she tried, she was inferior in physical strength.
Sheila, who was more exhausted mentally than physically from the unfamiliar tactics, collapsed on the spot. She was quickly held up by her opponent, Seiryu Mifune, with whom she had just had a fierce battle.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t put any strength into my knees… It’s pathetic.”
“You’re the one who won, you shouldn’t say such things… It was a great match.”
Seiryu smiled modestly and offered one hand to Sheila for a handshake. How wonderful it was to be recognized by her opponent. Sheila was thrilled, and they exchanged firm handshakes.
She looked out onto the field and saw that Clauschezade was watching the game. The wrinkles between his eyebrows were dreadful.
“Eh? Claushezade-sensei?”
“…. Sheila Danau. You should fight a little more like a knight with respect.”
She immediately received an earful of sarcasm. Sheila’s mouth twitched. She was about to apologize when she realized she was talking to the wrong person and turned to face Seiryu.
“I’m sorry. I’m new here and don’t know the ropes, but I was rude to you… Um, if you don’t mind, may I use senior’s movements as a reference? They were so precise and so beautiful!”
Everything about him was beautiful, from the angle of his sword to the way he bowed.
She still didn’t really understand the concept of “being courteous,” but she could still freely praise Seiryu’s wonderful behavior. She could learn about knighthood from there first.
When she looked up at Seiryu with expectant eyes, he nodded with a puzzled look.
“Y-yes.”
“And that weapon! May I see it later? It’s a very artistic sword!”
When she smiled with her cheeks flushed with excitement, for some reason, he slightly averted his gaze.
“…. When you were fighting, you were so dignified and beautiful, but when you’re finished, there is this kind of gap….”
Seiryu muttered while covering his mouth.
Sheila looked up to ask him back because she couldn’t hear well, but was startled. His face had turned red.
“Seiryu-senpai? Could it be that you were pushing yourself too hard even though you weren’t feeling well? Leave it to me. I have arrowroot, peony root, and ginger. Yes, I’ll make you a ginger tea right now, please wait for me―”
“Wait a minute.”
Sheila was about to run out immediately when Seiryu hooked his fingers around her neck. Thanks to this, she let out an ungraceful “Guegh!” sound. She was also wearing a steel breastplate, which made it quite difficult to breathe.
“Sorry, did that hurt?”
“I’m fine. Um…. you don’t have to hesitate, okay? There’s plenty to go around, so all I have to do is collect them again.”
Seiryu, who was still feverish, looked at Sheila, who tilted her head in concern.
“That’s not it…. I was in perfect physical condition when I fought you. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea later on that I’m the kind of guy who would tell such petty lies, Sheila.”
His jet-black eyes, like the evening twilight, narrowed dazzlingly. This time, Seiryu smiled clearly.
“If it’s all right with you, I’d like you to join me for another hand-to-hand combat.”
The invitation was too good to be true, so Sheila jumped at it without a second thought.
“I’d be delighted! I’m so happy to be able to fight with you again, Seiryu-senpai!”
Clauschezade, who had been watching the battle idiot taking the bait, sighed secretly, the crease between his brows growing.
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