Chapter 84

Chapter 84 [Contender Eiji]

84，闘士エイシ

TL : Cnine

ED/PF : akshaythedon

Part 1

The next attack definitely will tear the barrier and cut through Haruel’s flesh .

There’s no doubt that there’ll be a rain of blood in the arena .

The audience on their seat fell into silence in that situation .

And then, the sword is swung downward―― Faster than that, an arrow of light is fired from the audience seat toward the hand of the swordsman .

「What？」

The swordsman reacts immediately to clear away the arrow with his sword .

Or should I say as expected, since it seems that this degree of attack can’t even be considered as a surprise attack . If that was the case――

「What was that just now！ What’s the meaning of this！ 」

I was rushing in toward the swordsman who’s saying that words toward the audience seat .

I draw my sword immediately and then stand in front of Haruel as if protecting her .

「Eiji-kun!? Why?」

「Because you’re in danger . It’s only that . 」

「In danger you say… Then, you’ll be the next who’s in danger, Eiji-kun！」

Haruel says that with a worried face .

The swordsman is also looking at me with a puzzled face, and I keep hearing the sound of bewilderment coming from the audience seats .

「Who the hell is that guy?」

「Could it be that he couldn’t watch what would happen to Haruel?」

「Quite a passionate fan, isn’t he？」

They keep saying whatever they like .

And then, the swordsman talks with a cold tone .

「I’ve no interest in small fry . If you’re just being reckless, get out of here right now . 」

「Don’t say such cruel words, you want an opponent right? Even I can’t help but feel slightly interested . I won’t be coming down as long as Haruel is safe . 」

Haruel’s feet becomes limp as she fell on her place with an uneasy expression .

I invoked all kind of skills such as boost and speed enhance while confirming her situation .

And then, I swung my sword with its tip to the side .

The rumbling sound in the arena gets silenced in a moment .

A straight line formed on the swordsman’s mask .

And then, the mask falls on the ground after it was sliced in two .

I remember the face that’s peeking out from behind that mask .

Yup, as I thought, it was the man who I met on the riverside and arena .

A thin cut forming on his cheeks after I sliced his mask, and then blood is starting to trickle down from it .

「If you really want to see a rain of blood, I’ll show you as much as you want . With your blood, that is . 」

The swordsman’s touching his cheeks that just lost its mask and is showing a slightly surprised expression after confirming that it’s his own blood .

And then, he’s licking the blood on his hand and sends a delighted gaze toward me .

「Kukuku, I never even considered that you’ll be the first one who will hit me . A person who doesn’t match his appearance, huh . Or it might be just your appearance？ 」

Suddenly cheers is erupted from inside the arena .

　BEAT HIM！

　Who the hell is that guy！

　He’s a mysterious warrior, a mysterious warrior who trespassed into the arena to save Haruel-chan！

　I’m sure that he has registered as a fighter―― But I’ve never even once seen his fight . Who is he?

Though I heard various voices, there’s gigantic clumps of exclamation . The audience is wrapped in heated passion as if it’s just on the verge of a big match .

The swordsman is sneering as he saw that situation .

「It’s not just me, right . Who doesn’t love it? There’s plenty of people who love blood even for『Just looking at it』 . Though it seems they have no guts for spilling it . What about you？ 」

「Like hell . The one who’ll be spilling blood is just you . 」

On looking at me pretending to be tough, the swordsman is laughing quietly .

「You got some nerve there . Moreover, it’s not just your courage, the swordsmanship from before too . I slightly belittled you . If the best fighter is even only at your level, it’s nothing… Let’s just enjoy this . 」

The swordsman was setting a middle stance with his sword .

In that moment, I sensed as if the temperature around my body dropped .

This is… more than I expected .

I hear a voice as I’m rousing myself again in the midst of such pressure .

「This person is Isakuza . 」

That was Haruel’s voice which came from behind me .

The swordsman who heard Haruel’s voice then said .

「Hou . So you knew me huh, fighter girl . 」

「Naturally . I heard the story that you’re a former A rank adventurer who disappeared once . 」

「You saved me the effort of introducing myself, huh . Well, I’m gonna tell you my name since you’re strong though . You would have become tired since you only fought against monsters in adventurer guild, right . 」

「So you want to say that you want to kill humans . 」

The swordsman Isakuza’s nodding without a hint of hesitation .

What a dangerous guy .

But, an A rank adventurer huh… It is also befitting of his strength . Moreover, I’ve no doubt that this guy is best amongst the best of A rank adventurers .

「Haruel, is this guy quite a celebrity？」

「Maybe amongst swordsman . The sensei of my swordsmanship dojo mentioned about him before as a famous swordsman . He said that Isakuza is the best swordsman in the world . 」

「The best in the world？」

I’m sending a fleeting gaze on the back while keeping my vigilance on the front .

Haurel nods to my question .

Seriously .

The best in the world you say .

「Fu~… I never wanted the best title; I just wanted to fight like this . Contrary to my expectation, it’s something trivial compared to not being able to fight with someone who can give some feedback . 」

Isakuza’s saying that with a cynical tone as he glared at me .

As if to tell me to not disappoint him .

Fu~h .

Somehow it seems he is a really strong enemy .

I can’t win unless I give it my all .

「I see . Then, here I come！ 」

Kicking the ground with a “tan”, I send the first attack just like the first time with my strengthened speed .

But, I coudn’t hit him . Isakuza’s swinging his sword as he sees the point of my sword with small action .

But, it doesn’t mean that I’m not expecting that to come .

Since I already prepared the shield spell, I unleashed tha―― EH！

The shield keeps being chipped while letting out sparks .

When I noticed that it’ll be severed at this rate, I quickly twist my own body to evade it . It succeeded thanks to the barrier which reduced the speed of the sword .

Just like that, we create some distance between us .

I knew that my breath become rough .

This is a true battle .

This power isn’t just a rumor .

I don’t think that I can evade the speed of the tip of his sword . It’s already that terrifying even when I somehow decreased its speed .

Moreover, he also really agi――LEHH!?

Now it was Isakuza’s turn to attack while I’m analyzing it .

After he drew near with such terrifying speed and then measured the distance with a complex method, he released a slash .

「KUH！」

Though I tried to evade it, I failed to escape and it grazed on my own ribs .

The cut itself wasn’t that deep but it hurts .

Moreover, he slashed twice .

Though it’s not at the speed of mind blowing, it’s still the first time I saw such speed, yup, to the point that I could hear the sound of him swinging his sword from behind .

Since I can’t use my magic shield simultaneously while it’s being sliced by him, I can’t defend against that attack . Though I barely managed to stop it with my sword, it still bit into my shoulder and blew me with its momentum .

I canceled my magic shield and fired a magic arrow while being blown away .

But, he keeps avoiding every single one of the magic arrows .

He’s way too fast .

As expected of a swordsman, his movements and sword are fast .

Just how much is his class level? I can’t even imitate it with my parasite .

It’s already too late to think about asking a handshake with him for a fair and square fight . This good idea’s floating after the deed is done .

「I have no choice but to use the certain victory pattern, huh . 」

I invoked my sorcery .

If my opponent is faster than me, I just have to make his speed similiar to mine .

And fight him when it’s achieved .

「Now ca――ME！」

He’s still too fast though!?

He certainly became slower .

But, still not on the same speed as me, he’s still faster . Moreover, he’s better than I am, I can’t read his movement at all .

His complex footwork is fascinating .

It seems he’s not that strong in magic; despite the fact that he’s fighting in a way where he won’t suffer a fatal wound, it’ll become too much for him if the fight gets prolonged .

My movements also gradually become dull having received his attack on my arms and feet .

It’s way too hard for me since his movements are far more complex compared to the monster . I’ve a way to deal with it to a certain extent if it’s just speed and power .

The moment where we mutually take a breath .

The best swordsman in the world and I exchange glances .

Well then, what will you do, Eiji?

He is too much of an opponent for a brute force approach .

Do something about this situation――

My head is working faster than the swing of my sword, and then .

「I see, I understand now . 」

There’s no way I can’t break through this situation if I use all of what I have learnt .

I resolved myself in the next move .