Volume 7 - CH 3(2/3)
– I hope everyone can pass through the preliminaries.
– I hope so too.
Regarding Emilia, Hayato nods.
..though, there’s no doubt that it’s going to be a tough fight. Even by just watching the data of a few people, the Slayers who are participating in single matches, it can immediately be seen that they are not going to be easy contenders. In the?Third Attack, fighting against the Savage, there were some of them who slaughtered many of them alone.
– That reminds me, I could not find his figure wane.
– Aah!
– Come to think of it.
In response to Claire’s words, Emilia and Hayato spontaneously looked at their faces.
It is a round body that flew through their minds. Maybe he hasn’t finished changing his clothes and hasn’t returned yet.
– Oh, everyone?.
Along with the sound of *STOMP* *STOMP*, the round young man comes near.
It’s Alphonse Brewstadt who has changed into his Variable Suit. Next to him, the figure of?Silver Blitz, the Tamer type Hundred can be seen.
– What about Noah and Shuemei?
At the same time he arrived to Hayato and company, Alphonse asked.
– They already headed to the bus stop wayo.
– Eeee―――!?
Alphonse who heard Claire’s reply showed surprise by jumping.
– Does that mean that I was left behind?
– It does not mean that it was like that masuwane.
– That’s... How much has passed since everyone headed to the bus stop?
– I guess that it was only two, three minutes ago desuwayo.
– If that’s the case, then I can reach them. Thank you, President.
Saying that, Alphonse called out to?Silver Blitz.
– Let’s go,?Silver Blitz! We must run after everyone!
– Woof!
Alphonse, along with?Silver Blitz, run to the bus stop. While staring at his back, Claire sighed astonished.
– How to say it, there is no tension at all wane..
– Well, being free from tension is a good thing, don’t you think?
While smiling wryly, Hayato makes a follow-up without a moment’s delay.
– I also think the same as Hayato.
– Certainly, that has some truth masuwane.
Claire slipped out a smile, and continued her words.
– Then, let’s pray for everyone to have a good fight and that they will come back safe and sound. We should move to the watching space masuwayo.
The number of Slayers participating in single matches is around 400 people――
All of them will be divided into 12 groups that will fight.
A?battle royal?with near 30 people. The survival is harsh and only one person will win and proceed to the tournament.
Good luck? Or bad luck?
The results of the raffle is that Yumina, Sango, Mirai, and―― Touka, Shuemei, Noah and Alphonse, everyone were placed in different groups.
Although the acquaintances, the comrades of Hayato and the others don’t fight around one spot, they can’t cooperate until it becomes two people in the end.
– Uu, I gave up..
Two hours after the start of the preliminaries. It was Shuemei in group B who was the first ahead of everyone who came back to the lobby prepared for the tournament staff, were Hayato and company have watched the preliminary contest of single matches en masse.
She has already changed her clothes from Variable Suit to the uniform of the Martial Arts Department of Little Garden, got closer to Hayato and everyone, while dropping her shoulders.
It was Emilia who spoke comforting words to such Shuemei.
– But, you defeated both, and only 10 people were remaining. I think you did well.
– I think so too.
– ..really?
Hayato said so, and Shuemei’s face looked happy.
– Yeah――in that state, I guess you had no choice but to give up, and as Emilia said, I think you did well until that time.
At any rate, a gun was pointing from behind.
She couldn’t do anything in that state, not even to deploy a barrier. There is no mistake to say that it could have been a serious injury if she moved badly.
– Uhh, certainly I had a good feeling that I could move well at the beginning, but then I saw that the movements of my opponents were strong. So, there were places that I thought that maybe I..
– That is because you are striving on your everyday training desuwayo.
– Ah, Claire-sama..
In regard to Shuemei who showed a surprised look by suddenly calling out her name, Claire said that while smiling gently, like rewarding her for the efforts.
– Good work, Ryuu Shuemei. Not only you, but also Noah Sheldon and Alphonse Brewstadt are incredibly powerful compared to the beginning. In Little Garden where excellent Slayers gather, it may seem for you that you are an inferior one, but that fact it is not so anymore for all the Slayers, did you not understand it well by participating in single matches?
– Ah..!
In other words, this was the goal of Claire.
It seems that Shuemei went along properly with it.
– Thank you very much, Claire-sama. Making the best use of this experience, it will encourage my training even more from now on.
– Yes, if you do that, then there is a meaning to have you participate in the preliminary contest.
Claire answered while expressing a sweet smile.
– ..then, on that subject, what are the results for Noah and Alphonse-kun..? Alphonse-kun was certainly on the next group after me, didn’t he?
– Yeah, he ran from place to place, he luckily knocked out his opponent, and he remained approximately the same as Shuemei-san but,?Silver Blitz?was equivalent to a stray bullet and it disappeared. So, he gave up. Noah-san has just finished now, she also did a good fight but dropped her sword and give up.
– Oh, is that so..?
Feeling bad, Shuemei drops her shoulders. Listening to Claire’s story, it was probably because she had fleeting expectations that someone could break through.
– By the way, I also lose too.
While saying that, it was Mirai that approached the location of Hayato and the others from the direction that Shuemei came back.
Behind her is Sango too.
Sango is sighing with a gloomy expression in contrast to Mirai whose attitude is nonchalantly as always. In comparison to Shuemei, she was considerable depressed.
– But, both of you fought bravely, don’t you think? Sango-san ended when there were only 3 people remaining.
– Hey, Sango. You’ve been praised by Emilia-san, no?
Mirai follows so, but Sango’s expression doesn’t clear up.
– ..but, it is the same if I lose desuwayo.
She muttered with a small voice without coming from the back.
Looking at the situation, Claire sighed a little. She probably noticed that Sango is glancing repeatedly towards her from a while ago.
– It is not the same even if you lose wayo.
While Claire says so, she approaches to Sango.
– Ah..!
– Your battle was amazing deshitawa. I can’t imagine that you are a middle school student desu.
– That’s, I am..
Furthermore, Sango hides behind Mirai. Seeing that figure, Claire sighs with a “Good grief!”
– Don’t be humble wayo. If you continue to train yourself further and study hard in Little Garden, you should be able to become even more stronger――
– Eh.. Claire-sama, that is..
In a flash, the eyes of Sango opened wide.
– Yes, if you want next year, wouldn’t you come to Little Garden?
– Cl, Claire-sama... Is that, true..?
– Of course, it is very true desuwa. I, Claire Harvey, the representative of Little Garden, will scout Kurumi Sango to the Martial Arts Department of the senior high school masuwa.
When Sango heard those words, her facial expression went bright with a *Paaaa*, and jumped out from behind the back of Mirai, hugging Claire’s waist.
– Claire-sama, I.. I... uwaaaan!
– I’m glad for you, Sango.
Looking at Sango who is loudly crying, Mirai smiles with a friendly grin.
– Ah! I’ll take a picture because this is interesting.
*PASHARI*, and Mirai took a photography of the figure of Sango crying and hugging Claire’s waist.
It seems that Sango didn’t notice it. Claire told to Mirai while smiling wryly looking at the condition.
– Umm, what about you Mirai-san? Do you want to come together?
– You mean, that you are scouting me to Little Garden, right?
– Exactly desuwa. Your ability is equally as good as Sango desu. Certainly, if you come to Little Garden, that will be of great help masuwa.
– Yeah, thank you for your proposition. That’s right.. it’s fun to be with Sango so, I think that I’ll do that.
– Yes, without fail.
Claire smiled satisfied when she heard the reply of acceptance.
– Oh, it ‘s almost time for the preliminaries of group J.
It was Emilia who raised her voice.
– Group J, huh..
– Yumina’s group, yes?
Sango and Mirai said so one after another and turned their eyes on the monitor.
Thereupon, the figure of Yumina is displayed right there. Her weapon is sickle and chain――
It’s <<Male Giant Serpent>>?Orochimaru, an Arsenal type Hundred.
Immediately after the start of the game, Yumina knocks down safely one, two, three Slayers. But then the rests cuts around 10 people.? She is alone against two Long Shooter type, and a Slayer armed with a Dragoon type――
She was surrounded by a total of 3 Slayers.
As far as can be seen by the clothes of the three people, there seems to be no relationship between them. They probably judged that she was a dangerous character by knocking out 3 Slayers.
The two Long Shooter type Slayers shot 10 beams towards Yumina. She dodges them by jumping, but there is a Dragoon type floating battery following her.
However, Yumina could take countermeasures. Throwing the weight attached to the sickle and chain, she wrapped it around a tree, and moved towards there.
To the side of that place there is a Slayer of the Long Shooter type.
– ..sorry.
Yumina used her hand like a sword, swinging it down from behind, stunning the Slayer. There, a shot of another Slayer of the Long Shooter type got near, but Yumina presents one hand against it and stop it with an E barrier.
Of course, that beam is a decoy to distract her from another attack. Yumina was aware that it was nothing but a diversion.
The Slayer of the Dragoon type was saving energy in his gun and was aiming for her.
Without a moment’s delay Yumina throws the weight. She saw before her eyes that the chains are coiled around the leg of the Long Shooter type who fired the shot a while ago, making his body to roll around as it is.
Using the body like a hammer, she struck the Slayer of the Dragoon type that was aiming for her and was ready to shoot with a gun in the air.
Because of that impact, it seems that both fainted. Their armaments are cancelled. And safely after that, Yumina defeated two Slayers. Then the buzzer sounded close to the ground in the field.
[The winner of J Block is Kirikagure Yumina]
Along with the announcement, Yumina’s image is displayed on a huge monitor. It showed that she had won the preliminary contest.
– As expected of Yumina-han.
– Yeah, she is amazing desuwa.
Mirai and Sango were rejoicing because of her. On the other hand, Hayato stared still at the huge monitor. Karen asks to Hayato about it.
– Nii-san, what’s the matter?
– Well, it’s just that the next is Touka’s turn..
Of course he is happy that Yumina won. But he was worried about Touka.
– Oh, it seems that Touka’s preliminary contest is about to begin.
Due to the words of Latia, Hayato looks once again to the huge monitor.
– Oh, it’s Touka!
At the same time as the figure of Touka is displayed, Sakura raised her voice.
Touka stretches her body in a big way.
Emilia said, looking at that figure.
– Hayato, do you think that Touka-chan is going to win?
– Hmm... Even if I declare that... There’s no doubt she is going to win, but I don’t know the ability of her opponents. I can’t be certain of it since this is a?battle royal.. Anyway, it would be the best if she doesn’t get hurt.
– That reply, is typical of Hayato.
– You think so?
Hayato replied to that.
– ..I guess so, if you see the data being registered, the skill of the Slayers of group K doesn’t appear to be so high, so I think that Touka-kun’s chances of winning are high.
It was Charlotte that approached to Hayato and the others to where they were, butting into the conversation.
– Huh? Charo? Are you free now?
– Watching the match is also my job, you know. I’m hoping to investigate the usability of the equipment deployed for the preliminary contest. Besides, the Slayers of Little Garden are using the Hundred that I have developed and adjusted. It would be natural to cheer for them, don’t you think?
In response to Emilia’s doubts, Charlotte continued talking.
– ..now, returning to the conversation, Touka-kun, who has the fighting ability comparable to that of the members of team battles, I think that she should be able to come out from this group K’s preliminaries, unless there isn’t much to do. She also has the special characteristic to not receive attacks of?energy.
– I certainly think that it is a big factor when it comes to a melee battle.
However, Hayato had only one concern. It seems that Emilia noticed it, although it was emerging from his facial expression.
– What’s wrong, Hayato? Why do you have a stiff expression?
– No, actually..
Being that the preamble, Hayato started to talk.
– Kendō is basically a one-on-one match. I’m concerned about whether she is accustomed to fight with many people at the same time.
– Now that you mention it, in the beginning, Hayato was also struggling with that kind of training.
– Yeah, that happened.
It’s somehow hard to drift away from it, since he has been fighting for years concentrating only on the opponent in front of him, eliminating any presence and sounds from the surroundings.
A bombardment from a place that is a little far way, a member who evaded the attack of its opponent and then hit it, it was harsh.
– If so, there’s no problem.
That said, Shuemei continues.
– Touka-san also did that kind of training.
– Eh? Is that so?
– Yes. She trained with us. Rather, our numbers weren’t sufficient so we invited Touka-san. I think that point won’t be a problem.
– I see, then..
Limited to the match they watched from her, Shuemei didn’t seem to be bothered by the fight between a large number of people, compared to other Slayers.
The words of Shuemei were that much persuasive.
– Oh! It seems that the preliminaries for the Block K will begin.
At the same time Emilia said so, the bell for the beginning of the game rang.
Each one of them had a round mark attached with a number, and several of them were indicated in the monitor in front of their eyes. The round lights with the number indicated started to move. That shows the location of each Slayer. They started to move at once.
– What number is Touka?
– She should be the number 21.
Emilia replied to Hayato’s doubt.
– It seems that she hasn’t entered any battles so far.
Shuemei said that, following. But Latia denies that immediately.
– No, number 11 and number 12 are coming closer.
– Oh, Hayato, look at the screen over there!
Doing as Emilia told him, he looked at the monitor pointed out by her finger, the image of two women Slayers was displayed there. The appearance of Touka can be seen beyond that.
– Out of the blue two people are her opponents.. it looks like it will be a tough fight.
– Yeah..
Hayato nods in regard to what Emilia muttered. Besides, those two people look like they are mirrored. Both of them have small knives in both hands. Speaking about differences, there is a white muffler knotted that was concealing the half of their faces. It’s divided into right and left.
Just looking at the light armor that gives the impression of being easy to move, and that muffler, they seem to be Slayers of the Assassin type specialized in assassination.
– What the, why is your Variable Suit so weird?
– That’s not an armor.. what? Is that the national costume of Yamato or something?
They ask Touka.
– National costume... Well, you might say so.
Answering, Touka continues.
– But I can say that you are twins, huh?
“”Yeah, that’s right!””
Their voices overlapped, and attacked Touka at the same time.
There, Touka closed her eyes.
(Catching them with both of my eyes, I won’t be able to catch up with them and I’ll get confused. That’s why in a situation like this, I must see with my heart!)
That is the conclusion Touka put out during training.
(―――they come!)
Touka stopped the knife swung down from above with her sword and flips the body of her opponent with her arms as it is.
– Wha...!?
The surprised voice was given by the girl who was the other part of the party that was chasing after her.
Touka kept her body horizontally without a change and evaded the attack, then she swung the sword towards the gap, the back of her body, the moment she landed on the ground.
– Guah..
That flash indicated the victory. The girl who fell to the ground from the front cancelled her armament.
– You, how dare you, to my sister!
The girl that was the other half rushed on once again with rage. But that single person wasn’t enough to become an opponent of Touka.
Catching the knife that was swung down for a second time with the sword, she destroyed her posture in a flash. With a blow resembling a flow, Touka slashed her opponent.
– Such a.. even though we were especially from the same team, if we had won..
The other girl says that while collapsing.
– ..this is a battlefield. So please forgive me.
Touka bowed to the girl who fainted and whose armament was cancelled.
Emilia who was in the watching space gives a cheerful voice, looking at that picture.
– She did it, Touka-chan beat them!
But Latia was calm.
– Touka is being targeted..
– Eh?
Latia’s words are fixed motionlessly at the map.
So Hayato and the rest noticed that there was a female Slayer of the Shooter type near her, ready with a rifle leveled towards Touka. Immediately afterwards, the shot is released and hits the back of the head of Touka.
– ..n? By any chance, was I being aimed just now?
Touka turns around.
There, was a girl holding a gun with both hands. It’s a woman with a red waving hair.
The girl is trembling and looks frightened.
– What was that..? I’m sure I just hit you now..right?
But Touka doesn’t answer that. On the contrary, she was with indignation of suddenly being shot.
– You are aware that there are no manners in a surprise attack. I hate that type of guys!
Touka who kicked the ground vigorously, readied her sword and ran after the position of the girl.
– Kuh!
The flustered girl fired shots consecutively. But the result is the same. The attacks of?energy?don’t affect Touka. At the same time they hit her body, the shots disappear.
– That.. kind of..
Two shots, three shots, it’s the same. Touka who came until a distance with her opponent by erasing the third beam, stroke with her sword the top of the shoulder of the dumbfounded girl.
– Guah...
There was no such a thing like room for the girl to deploy a barrier. The girl attacked by Touka screams and falls to her knees. The moment she fell to the ground, the armament is cancelled. Just like Charlotte said at the beginning, perhaps it’s true that she was blessed with that combination. After that Touka survived without struggling, she defeated the last one, and broke through the preliminaries of group K.
Around thirty minutes after the match of Touka was over.
Touka’s voice echoed to Hayato and the others who continued watching the matches.
– ――Shinshishō?
Hayato was taken aback due to that voice, and turned his line of sight to the direction from where he heard it. Then, he saw the figure of Touka who finished changing clothes to the uniform of middle school of Little Garden from her kendo uniform rushing over in a half run.
– Shinshishō I, made it through the preliminary contest!
Catching the body of Touka who jumped at him, Hayato patted her head.
– Yeah, I watched it properly. You did it well, you know?
– Thank you.
Rising her face and looking at the face of Hayato, Touka smiled sweetly. While sullenly looking at that scene, Emilia said.
– ..it is good that you have passed the preliminaries but, about your special characteristic that makes you unable to receive?energy?attacks, you should have kept it hidden until the finals of the tournament.
– Hahaha, I also told her that. Even though it was only one blow, everyone thought that it was strange that there was absolutely no damage after receiving that one.
Yumina said after Emilia, who came back on the same bus as Touka. Unlike Touka who rushed over, she slowly walks to Hayato and co.
Then, two young girls ran up to Yumina and embraced vigorously her waist.
– Yumina-san, congratulations!
– Congratulations masuwa!
– Mirai.. Sango――
Looking at the face of Sango, Yumina smiled feeling relieved.
– ..Sango, I’m relieved that you are more energetic than I expected.
– ..? Why are you saying that desuno?
Sango tilts her head, raising one of her eyebrows.
– When I knew your result, I thought that you were shocked when you showed an unattractive part of you in front of Claire-sama.
– Oh! That kind of thing.
Hearing the words of Yumina, it was Mirai who showed a grinning smile.
– She did exactly what Yumina said, though. Claire-sama said [You did it well mashitawa. In case you wish for it, it will be of great help if you come to Little Garden next year masu] so that’s why her mood is better now.
– Wha, Mirai.. you, don’t say unnecessary things!
– But, it’s the truth, isn’t it?
– Yes, it is but!
– Hahaha. Anyway, I’m glad that what you wished for came true, Sango.
– We, well, that is something natural for me desuwa..
Mirai stroked gently the head of Yumina, who hanged her head with a bright red face.
– By the way, like Sango, I was invited too.
– I see... Since you two will go to Little Garden, I’ll be a little lonely. Nonetheless, I’m happy that the efforts my pupils did by themselves were recognized.
Saying that, Yumina patted Mirai’s head.
– If you diligently study in Little Garden, then you will overtake me quickly. If you are in the next tournament, not only you will have enough power to participate in single matches, but also in team battles.? That’s why you have to do your best. Of course, I will not be beaten in terms of practice.
On that night, a victory celebration was held to congratulate Touka and Yumina who broke through the preliminaries. The next day they are free――
The day after that, Touka is going to appear in the first round of single matches of the finals of the tournament.
Single match of the finals of the tournament, round 1.
Just before Touka’s match starts.
– Yo, Hayato. How was your cute disciple?
Authorized person and member participant of team battles――Fritz asked Hayato who came back to the special watching space where besides them, only the organizers of the tournament are allowed to enter. Following Hayato, Karen, Sakura and Emilia also came back to the special watching space. Four people were visiting the waiting room to greet Touka before the match.
– Well, I can say she was sufficiently motivated.
Following Hayato who answered, Emilia said.
– She wasn’t feeling nervous, and her mood was the same, so she should fight just like always.
– Really? If so, then she’ll surely win.
– ..I hope so.
In response to Latia who told that convinced, Hayato sat on the chair.
Emilia and the others also took a seat.
– Great, the entrance hasn’t started yet.
It’is the monitor of the stadium that Emilia’s line of sight is pointed at while muttering so.
There is already a picture of Touka and her opponent.
It’s a Slayer of Al-Salaam whose age doesn’t differ from Hayato and the rest. Dark brown skin, her eyes are sharp. And she looks pretty strong.
Next, Hayato directed his eyes towards the battlefield. There, the stage that was at the time of the concert is no more. A ring was now prepared there.
– Hmm, it’s wide as expected, huh..
Compared with the battlefield of the stadium in Little Garden, the area is nearly twice of that.
Since this ring is also used for the final round of the team competition, it has been made assuming that battles will be between lots of people.
By the way, the final rounds of individual matches are the same as the <<Campus Martial Arts Competition>> being held in Little Garden. All are done in a one-on-one battle.
The rules are to some degree the same. Those are: when the armament is cancelled, when the numerical values of the Vital Ring placed in the arm fell into the critical zone, and with a KO by knocking down for 10 ten seconds.
What’s different is that there’s an area outside of it. Falling outside the ring will result in a KO if more than 10 seconds have elapsed. You only need to be careful about it.
– Oh, it looks like the match will start.
The announcement resounds at the stadium.
Touka comes first.
– It appears that she is really not nervous, isn’t it?
Fritz said, looking at Touka that appeared in the stadium with her usual kendo uniform from the wing of the battlefield.
– ..you think? Touka-chan was sufficiently motivated so..
Sakura puffed with pride as if she was boasting her own child. Then, the opponent, a Slayer, came in.? The Slayer of Al-Salaam is a woman. Her height is high, and her limbs are long.
Looking at her figure, Karen mutters.
– She is a very high person.
– She seems to be around 170 cm.
Emilia answered.
The PDA confirms the personal data of Larke Mandola who is the opponent of Touka.
Looking at that figure, Latia asked.
– She is strong, right?
– Well, honestly, reaction values are not that important, but it looks like she has been fighting using her Hundred since she was young, and she seems to be blessed with physical ability, and her combat skill seems to be fairly high. It’s written in her personal data that she finished off two Savage in the?Third Attack. However..
– ..however?
– The shape of her armament is a Chevalier type, so her weapon is a sword. Then, undoubtedly Touka-chan won’t lose.
– I see, so that’s the reason. If that’s the case she will win anyway.
Emilia and Latia.
There are reasons for them to be convinced about Touka’s victory. Touka has already fought with various types of Slayers in trainings, sham battles and in the Martial Arts Tournament of Little Garden.
As a result, this <<World Martial Arts Tournament>>, even including the individual matches preliminaries, she has almost never lost against sword users.
That goes for Krovahn too, he did a fair match for the best 16.
Touka and Larke deployed their Hundred together.
Touka has a black sword. Larke’s weapon is a curved edge sword type.
– Uu, I’m getting nervous..
It’s Karen who muttered visibly trembling.
Looking at the them at a fixed distance, they picked up their weapons, and put together their hands in front of their chest like praying.
– It’s okay, Touka will surely win. Hayato-kun also said that so..
Sakura says so, and praying like Karen, she joined together her hands in front of her chest, her body was trembling.
This is not a game at all. That’s why, as the tension wraps around Hayato and his surroundings, the buzzer reverberated, starting the match at the stadium.
Touka’s the one that started first.
Almost at the same time when the buzzer ended to ring, she kicked the ring, rushing vigorously at her opponent.
– Haaaaa!!
Touka swung the sword and released a sharp slash. However, the slash is easily dodged.
Her opp-->>