erless you are, puling you out of the heart of Emilia-sama.

– Umm, calm down a bit. We are going to participate in the operation starting tomorrow, right? We’ll exhaust our?energy?if we have a duel now. We even were prohibited by the President to use it so..

– Of course, I also have a good idea. Do you know if there’s a Slayer’s gym* in this town?

– I know one, but..

– Then, there is no problem. In every gym there should be practice weapons of the same shape as the 100 kinds of weapons which are the basic forms of the Hundred. Let’s have a battle with those. There will be one rule. How about having a battle that is transmitted from the medieval times in the Kingdom of Gudenburg, which is the victory for giving a blow with the weapon? It goes without saying that we won’t use?sense energy.

– Certainly, that won’t have an impact on you for the operation from tomorrow.

– That may be true but..

– Hayato, accept the match.

– What?

– If it’s Hayato, I’m sure you can win.

– Even if you say I can win, isn’t that a problem?

Emile brings near her face to the ear of the bewildered Hayato.

– Listen, Hayato. This is a good opportunity. If Hayato wins, let’s make Claudia to promise us to never come back again.

– I see..

He can comprehend the thinking of Emile.

But, can he really win?

– How’s her skill?

– Well, taking into consideration that is higher when comparing it to the time when I taught her, I suppose that her skill is a bit lower than Fritz and Latia.

– Then, that’s no good, I guess?

At any rate, those two aren’t Variant, and their skill was enough to let them enter?Selections, despite being first-years.

– But, if you don’t use?energy, you have more chances to win. No, if it’s Hayato, the victory is completely yours. Hayato is definitely above her physical ability, and after going back to Yamato from Gudenburg, you were doing kendo, right? Besides, Hayato has?that.

– .. Emilia-sama, what are you talking so secretly?

Claudia glares at them.

That made Emile stop her ongoing conversation.

– So, Kisaragi Hayato. Are you up to the challenge?

Hayato looks at the face of Emile.

It was written on it that her answer was yes.

– .. I’ll do it.

If it’s about Emile winning, then perhaps she has some reasons for that.. probably. Surely. He wants to believe so*.

– Then, let’s fight immediately. I’m sure the place of the dōjō is——

Claudia picked out the PDA from her pocket.

She launches the map?app?and confirms its location.

– Come to think of it, Emilia-sama, you have changed all your contact details. Could you please tell me your new phone number and email address?

– Once again, I’m not Emilia, here I’m Emile Crossford. So don’t call me “Emilia”. And I’m not telling you my number.

When Emile said so, the expression of Claudia became instantaneously grim.

– Well then, please tell me about them if I win the fight against Kisaragi Hayato.

– Fine. Only if you win.

– I have identified the location, so let’s go.

Claudia started walking to lead Emile and Hayato, but she immediately turned around, looking at Hayato,

– Kisaragi Hayato, I will definitely win.

While walking towards the dōjō, Hayato asked Emile, with an almost whispering voice.

– .. so, which are the reasons that I can win?

– Hayato is a Variant, and Claudia is a regular Slayer. Hayato has become able to activate freely the ability of the Variant in the past week. So you can definitely win if you use it. In other words, this isn’t even a duel.

– Isn’t even a duel, you say——

He understands the words of Emile, but there are too much things to be involved with.

– That means that she has no idea about me being a Variant?

– I haven’t talked about that with her, that goes for the ordinary people and the Slayers too, since only a handful of people know about the Variants.

– Oh, I see..

– I have the feeling that it will be difficult for her to get into it. As for me, I think it’s a good idea, like killing two birds with a stone.

– After all, you are a little sly, isn’t it? But if I activate the ability of the Variant, then the amount of consumption of?energy?will rise above basal metabolism. It’s the same as using?energy, right?

– But the amount of?energy?used in a portion of the metabolism is different from person to person. In my case, it’s considerable higher than most people. Because that portion only increases, I don’t mess with it while using it. If it’s triggered for only an instant, then it shouldn’t be significantly consumed, and with a night’s sleep you should be fine.

– Effectively you could say that but..

– What? Then Hayato is saying that it’s fine for me to go back to Gudenburg?

– I didn’t say anything like that..

After a while, they saw the dōjō for Slayers.

It’s a wooden building, it looked like the kendo hall where Hayato attended.

At the entrance door, a girl is cleaning with a broom.

It’s Mei Fan, one of the two people who met by chance with Shuemei at noon.

It looks like she noticed the presence of Hayato and the others, since she’s quickly bowing and raising her head.

– Greetings, we haven’t seen since noon. Did something happen that you are in this place?

It was Emile who answered that question.

– Actually, we have a small request.

– .. a request?

– If it’s fine with you, can you let us use the ring, please?

– Eh..?

Towards Mei Fan who is perplexed, Emile began to talk about the duel that Hayato and Claudia have. Naturally, they aren’t going to use their Hundred.

– If that is the case, I think that there are no issues even if there is no permission from the teachers or the dōjō head but... I will ask Bakuei who is cleaning inside.

Bakuei is the name of the boy they met during midday.

Mei Fan rushed into the dōjō and came back right away.

– Bakuei said if you do not use your Hundred, it should not be a problem. There is nobody aside from us here now, so please do not worry about anything.

Hayato and the girls set foot into the dōjō, following the lead of Mei Fan.

The interior is the same as the exterior, it definitely looks like a kendo hall. A white boundary line of around 5 meters by 5 meters is drawn on the wooden floor. That’s where the match will take place.

– The armory is this way.

They move to the armory with the guide of Mei Fan.

Even though there were imitations made entirely from wood, there was a variety of swords and spears, as well as things like guns and bullets, everything was crammed and cramped.

– The amount is amazing..

It was Bakuei who’s hearing by chance the murmur of Hayato and knitted his brows.

– What, how can you be so surprised with this?

If you are a Slayer, then you should be saying that you have seen this much already.

Mei Fan, looking flustered, hit the head of Bakuei.

– Bakuei! Do not utter discourtesy to the Slayers!

*Slap*, a violent sound echoes.

– Kisaragi-san, I really lament the impoliteness that was uttered by Bakuei.

And, Mei Fan bowed deeply her head.

– You too Bakuei, lower your head properly.

– I’m sorry..

Urged by Mei Fan, Bakuei bowed his head.

– No, don’t worry about that, raise your head. And to be honest, it’s my first time coming to a place like this.

– Does that mean that Kisaragi-san is not from a dōjō?

– I was attending a dōjō where I was doing kendo, but I didn’t attend one related to the Hundred.

– And yet, you are participating in the search-and-destroy operation of the Savage, correct? Just like Shuemei-nee-chan said, you are truly amazing.

The eyes of Bakuei that are looking at Hayato changed to a gaze of envy.

Looking that, Emile said very contented,

– Yup, Hayato is amazing.

– Hey, don’t say unnecessary things..

– Take it easy.

– Oh! I’ve found a weapon that suits me well.

While Hayato was having a talk with the youngsters, Claudia, who continued searching in the storehouse, seemed to have found a weapon she uses.

What she has in her hand is something that has a sphere at the end of the chain——it’s something that looks like a hammer throw, the ones found at the track-and-field events.

. That resembles the form of your Hundred?

– Exactly. My Hundred is a Crusher type. The form of the weapon is a hammer. So, Kisaragi Hayato, what’s the form and weapon of your Hundred?

– My Hundred is a Chevalier type, the weapon is a sword.

While answering, Hayato picked up a bamboo sword.

– Are you okay with that? Compared to?Hien, it’s quite small and thin..

Emile was showing an expression that said?Why don’t you pick a bigger sword, huh?

Certainly, in this storehouse there’s a metal fake sword that resembles the shape of?Hienrather than the bamboo sword.

But Hayato?intentionally?chose the bamboo sword.

– In Yamato I used this for the practice of fencing, so I’m fine with it.

– .. if so, it’s your choice. I don’t want any complaints after this.

Hayato grasped tightly the bamboo sword, and left the storehouse with Claudia, then moved to the match ring.

– Are you really sure? Even the length of the weapon is quite short compared to?Hien..

Emile looks very worried.

Maybe he only gives his all when his life is on the line?

– Yeah, I’m really sure.

Hayato replied with confidence, and like Claudia, he moved to the ring, they are facing each other with a distance of about 3 meters.

(As expected, the bamboo sword doesn’t fit in my hands, but?Hien?isn’t easy to use either..)

He remembered when he was bending and stretching, just before he started practicing kendo.

I want to become strong.

To not lose my important people.

To never be apart from them again.

Hayato took the bamboo sword in one of his hands, because of the?Second Attack?that occurred in Gudenburg.

The sudden encounter of the Savage.

Separating from the girl he was worried about.

And now, in order to protect the girl of that time, he decided to do it like this, by taking a bamboo sword——

– .. why are you laughing?

– No, it’s nothing.

Even though it’s different from the form he was imagining, that time is definitely connected to the present.

There’s no way that he could say such an embarrassing thing, but he thought that what he has done so far it hasn’t been for nothing, and so, his mouth spontaneously relaxed.

Besides, he smiles till here.

From here on, he must become serious.

– I’m curious about it, but it’s okay. Well then, shall we start the match?

– Yeah, let’s do it.

Hayato readies the bamboo sword in an overhead position.

It’s his first time in a long time doing this stance.

When looking towards Claudia who’s standing in front of him, she began to spin the wooden sphere with the movement of her arm.

– Boy, can you give the start?

– Ah, yes!

Replying, Bakuei straightened his hand towards the ceiling.

– Welll then——start!

At the same time Bakuei swung downward the arm, the match started, but neither Hayato nor Claudia moved.

They are fixedly staring at each other.

– Aren’t you coming?

Claudia said in order to provoke him.

Still, Hayato doesn’t move.

– If you don’t come, then I’ll go towards you!

It’s Claudia who got tired of waiting and rushed out.

– How about this, Kisaragi Hayato!

He dodged with a back step the hammer that was released from overhead towards the ground, but Claudia advances a step further and started to attack in succession, drawing a cross-like shape from left to right.

Hayato dodged it while rolling horizontally.

– Kuh, this guy is quick!

She shouts with frustration, but her attack doesn’t stop there.

Hayato avoided it and steps forwards, then Claudia sweeps down the hammer again.

Hayato crouched down, rolls horizontally like he did moments ago and avoids the hammer.

And then, he tries to slash at the body of Claudia that is full of gaps.

– It’s not enough!

– Wha..!!

The bamboo sword was heavily weighted.

While looking at it, the chain is wrapped around the bamboo sword.

Claudia coiled the chain around it, using the centrifugal force thanks to the weight of the wooden ball.

– What’s wrong? You can’t move with this?

*Jari*, the chain makes a sound.

In that situation, the body of Hayato approaches Claudia.

Otherwise, the bamboo sword would break, so he couldn’t go against her.

(Dammit, what do I do..?)

If this continues, Claudia will do as she pleases.

– This is the end, Kisaragi Hayato!

– Kkh..!

The chain sounds for a second time.

The bamboo sword makes a creaking sound without breaking, and his body looks like is about to float.

Thereupon, the chain was suddenly loosened.

– Uwaah!

Hayato lost his balance due to the sudden pace and falls on his backside on the floor.

Of course, Hayato stands up, but Claudia won’t wait for him to adjust his stance.

– This is it!

She has the intention to decide the match here.

Shouting, Claudia raised high overhead the wooden ball.

(If it has come to this, it can’t be helped...)

He wanted to win without the ability of the Variant if possible, but he’s not in a situation where he can say such a thing.

If he loses, he will be separated from Emile.

(..I’m against that.. so..!)

This moment is when he activated the ability of the Variant.

He seems to appeal to himself and,

——*Ba-dump*!

His heart beat fast.

In a split second, the eyes of Hayato changed from black to golden color and began to release an intense brilliance.

The scenery in front of the eyes of Hayato changed completely.

His field of vision isn’t gold-colored.

The movement of everything became slow, so not only Claudia, but also the children, Emile and the movement of the approaching wooden ball can be perceived completely with his eyes.

He senses that 1 second became 30 seconds.

And still, the speed of his movement doesn’t change.

Hayato stood up, making sure to straighten up his back, then swung the bamboo sword horizontally to the half of the top and bottom of her body, towards the torso of Claudia.

At the same time, the world returns to its original speed as well as the response of the victory transmitted from both arms.

The color of the eyes of Hayato also returned from golden to their original black.

– ..ah.

Claudia falls with a thud on the floor while leaking a small scream from her mouth.

– The match has ended!

Bakuei shouted, with the hand stretched to the ceiling.

– Yay, as expected of Hayato!

He guesses she couldn’t endure the joy.

Emile jumped to Hayato who’s taking a breath.

– Hey, stop it, the kids are looking at us with weird eyes!

The face of Hayato turns deep red and pulls her body apart.

– Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just..

*Ahaha*, while rubbing her head, she brought her lips close to the ear of Hayato and whispered.

– It seems like it went smoothly, isn’t it?

– That’s true, but..

Hayato points his eyes to Claudia who’s groaning on the floor.

– .. are you okay?

Hayato extended his hand, approaching Claudia.

However, she never grabbed it.

On the contrary, she glares at Hayato,

– ..you can’t stand by yourself without borrowing your strength!

Saying that, she stood up.

Drops of tears can be seen on the corner of her eyes.

– .. about what we discussed, Claudia. Don’t think that you can try to take me back to Gudenburg from now on.

Emile asserts mercilessly, as if to destroy any possible hopes,

– No!

Claudia replied, turning her face away.

– What do you mean with “no”? That’s not what you promised!

– Because Kisaragi Hayato is a sneaky person!

– Eh?

– A sneaky person?

A surprised expression appears on the facial expression of Emile and Hayato.

They thought that maybe she found out that he used the ability of the Variant, but it seems that that’s not the case.

– I don’t get it but, he was weird!

Claudia shouted and continued her words.

– Otherwise, I wouldn’t have lost to you.

– No, that..

It wasn’t because she discovered that he used the ability of the Variant, but because she just doesn’t want to admit that she has lost.

The fact that she doesn’t understand properly the situation, they don’t know if that’s convenient or not.

– I will absolutely expose your cunning deeds. Time is necessary for that. So, postpone the result of this duel until then!

Page 155

– Ah, hey!

– Claudia!

*Criiiiiiiiiiiieeeeees*, with a crying voice, Claudia jumped out of the dōjō.

– In short, that means I didn’t win the match now?

Emile murmured with a bewildered appearance.

– You did use the ability of the Variant, and what she was saying isn’t mistaken, so..

– I feel that this has become even more troublesome somehow.

– To begin with, it’s your fault. You said that I had to accept the duel.

– Um, but I thought that I could stay forever by the side of Hayato with this ..

Murmuring in a small voice so that she couldn’t be heard by Bakuei or Mei Fan, Emile sighed profoundly.