The opponent for the exhibition match is none other than Reinhardt-kun.
As expected from a rare rank S.
And today, as always, he carries himself like a true nobleman. Even if I lose in appearance, I won’t lose in an exhibition match!
“Looks like it’s you, Toma-kun, who ended up as my opponent.”
“That’s my line, Reinhardt-kun.”
Reinhardt-kun has a great smile, one that seems to gather the May sunlight only on him.
The cheers for Reinhardt-kun are so loud that they feel like they’re splitting the venue. I feel completely out of place here.
Well, considering he’s a prince and I’m just an upstart, it’s understandable.
“Now, let the exhibition match between Reinhardt Kurudia, the Seventh Prince, and Toma Bald Rocksfall, Marquis of the Rocksfall family, begin. Although it’s an exhibition match, please fight with all your might, without holding back.”
An exhibition match doesn’t technically count towards any rankings, and it doesn’t matter if my opponent is Prince Reinhardt.
I won’t lose in the name of my father!
“Now… begin!”
At the signal, Reinhardt-kun closed the distance immediately.
“Haaah!”
I blocked the sword he swung down with my self-weight sword.
His movements are quick, and his sword strikes are sharp. The feeling that it’s above my level is probably due to the blessing of the Thunderbolt Hero.
“As expected, you block them so easily!”
While delivering a kick, Reinhardt-kun leaped backward to create some distance.
Right now, I have the advantage in level, so blocking is easy. But if our levels were the same, I might not be able to stop his attacks. His swordsmanship is that sharp.
Reinhardt-kun quickly closed the distance again and launched a series of rapid strikes.
“Haah!”
It was a good combination of speed and power.
I used my feet to dodge his attacks.
“Looks like I still can’t land a hit on you, Toma-kun.”
“That was a good attack.”
“I can’t be satisfied just because you say that, Toma-kun.”
“Then, you’re not using your left arm properly.”
“Ugh… that kind of hurts.”
“Unreasonable!”
I can’t think of anything to say in response, truly.
“It might not land now, but someday I’ll definitely land a hit on you, Toma-kun.”
“I’ll be waiting for that moment.”
The moment he finished speaking, I moved.
I swung my self-weight sword in front of Reinhardt-kun. He tried to block it with his shield, but I didn’t strike, instead circling around behind him.
I placed my self-weight sword at his neck.
“…I yield.”
The venue went completely silent. Were they not expecting me to win?
“W-winner, Toma Bald Rocksfall!”
Oops, I forgot to use the self-weight sword as a magical tool. Well, it’s just an exhibition match, so it’s fine.
“As expected, Toma-kun is strong.”
“I suppose I am, sometimes.”
We both laughed.
It was then. A loud noise rang out, and when I turned around, the audience stands were ablaze.
“W-what’s happening?!”
Almost simultaneously with Reinhardt-kun’s voice, the arena was consumed in flames.
Without thinking, I grabbed Reinhardt-kun and leaped backward.
The referee was writhing in the sea of flames, but since I was holding Reinhardt-kun, I couldn’t help.
“Hot!?”
I felt an intense heat on my back. It felt like my rear was on fire.
“Hoh, you dodged that. You have good instincts.”
“Who are you?!”
A figure emerged slowly from the flames. I wondered how they weren’t being burned.
“It’s Reinhardt and Toma, right?”
“Eh, am I being called by my first name?”
I don’t recall being on a first-name basis with someone I’m meeting for the first time!
“Hehehe. It seems you don’t understand the situation.”
I understand.
It’s clearly an ambush targeting Reinhardt-kun. I pride myself on my ability to understand things.
“T-Toma-kun. Can you put me down?”
Reinhardt-kun said, embarrassed.
“That person is dangerous. I might not have the luxury to protect you, so I’ll buy some time. You need to run with all your might.”
“What? That’s—”
“Run. Reinhardt-kun is just a burden now.”
“Ugh…”
I feel bad for Reinhardt-kun, but I don’t have time for pointless arguing.
That person has been directing killing intent at me, watching my reactions.
Even without needing to confirm, the strength radiating from this person far exceeds Berg, who attacked me before.
“Are you done talking?”
“Yeah, I’m done. But let me ask: You’re not planning on letting us escape, are you?”
“Hehehe. Sorry, that’s not going to happen.”
“Straightforward, huh? What’s your goal?”
“Goal? Heh-heh-heh. Don’t you understand it yourself?”
“Myself?”
Could it be that they’re not after Reinhardt-kun, but me instead? If that’s the case, I absolutely can’t involve Reinhardt-kun. I need to make sure he gets away.
“Come, try your best.”
The man drew a jet-black sword from its scabbard.
What is this, a sword that invokes the heart of a middle schooler?
Vishnou’s Profile:
Name: Vishnou
Race: Shadow Clan
Age: 255, Healthy
Title: Assassin, Katoria’s Faction Executive, Master of the Conqueror of Heaven
Rank: A
Affinity: Shadow
Blessing: Cursed Blade’s Shadow
Level: 312
Skills: Assassination Technique Lv.7, Shadow Swordsmanship Lv.7, Shadow Magic Lv.7, Shadow World Lv.6
Life: 3,400
Stamina: 2,900
Mana: 2,020
I can’t breathe. The pressure feels like it’s crushing me.
“Hehehe, heh-heh-heh, heh-heh-heh.”
“T-Toma-kun?”
“I was just using a breathing technique because I felt a bit suffocated. Don’t mind me.”
“I see…”
“Now, I don’t have much time, so drop your weapon obediently.”
“Eh, I’d rather not.”
“If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”
“I’d prefer not to.”
“You little brat.”
I sensed movement from Vishnou. I leaped backward and threw Reinhardt-kun.
“Run!”
Reinhardt-kun landed gracefully in front of the passage. As expected of the Thunderbolt Hero.
“Too soft. Shadow World.”
Vishnou activated a skill, trapping me in a pitch-black space.
“No one can escape from this Shadow World. You should give up.”
In the pitch-black world, Vishnou’s voice echoed.
“What is this?! Toma-kun! Where are you?!”
Reinhardt-kun’s frantic voice echoed. It seems he too has been trapped in this dark space.
This is bad. I don’t know where Vishnou or Reinhardt-kun is. I can’t protect Reinhardt-kun like this.
Maybe throwing Reinhardt-kun was a mistake.
“Ugh!?”
I felt killing intent and swung my self-weight sword. I heard a sharp clang. I could feel the impact, but I didn’t know what had been thrown.
I heard something hit the floor, but I couldn’t sense Vishnou’s presence at all.
“Ugh, cough…”
“Reinhardt-kun!?”
No response.
“Reinhardt-kun, are you okay?!”
“Hehehe. Useless.”
Vishnou’s voice echoed from the left in the darkness.
“What did you do to Reinhardt-kun?!”
“Don’t worry. I haven’t killed him yet.”
I can’t afford to have Reinhardt-kun killed, but how do I break this situation?
Now, I hear his voice from the right? He’s moving without making a sound?
“I guess it’s best for Toma to just give up before he suffers too much.”
“Keep talking all you want.”
“Hehehe. You’re quite the brat.”
Clang.
Another object came flying, and I deflected it. A slight killing intent leaks when something is thrown. That’s my only consolation.
“You have good instincts.”
“Attacking from unseen places is cowardly.”
“Hehehe. Cowardly? You’re naïve. Creating a situation where you can win for sure is the essence of military strategy.”
“Only a coward would speak of military strategy like that.”
“How you define cowardice is a difference in perspective.”
“You’re a grown adult, yet you’re kidnapping kids. That makes you a cowardly scumbag.”
“Watch your mouth.”
Even while talking, something was flying toward me. I can’t afford to relax, this tense time is stretching on too slowly.
