◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Uzei Religion Temple, Dojo ◆
“Take this! And this!”
“Nothing.”
What does that one word even mean? Yet, something unbelievable was happening. Kurinka’s class was Priest, so naturally, she wasn’t specialized in hand-to-hand combat. Still, her physical abilities were already enough to toy with not just ordinary humans, but even Captain Kirkton. I had optimistically thought that with her skills, she wouldn’t lose to anyone unless they were exceptionally strong. However, something unexpected was unfolding. Kurinka’s clumsy punches were completely missing their mark. Whenever she threw a punch, Hyonhaku would quietly step back, and when she awkwardly swung a chop, it would fly completely off-target. Yes, “fly away” was the perfect expression.
“Geez! I can’t hit anything at all, Lua-chan!”
“Don’t ask me…”
“At first, I was surprised by your physical abilities, which are unbefitting of a girl, but it’s futile. Nagi embodies naturalness; moreover, a fist clouded by distractions cannot possibly reach someone like me who has mastered the ultimate techniques.”
That’s right, Nagi embodies naturalness. But should I really tell Kurinka that?
“You were probably aiming to exhaust your opponent’s stamina, but that’s unfortunate. I, Nagi, require no physical movement at all. To merge peacefully with nature, that is the essence of being natural.”
“Currently, those in Avangarde Kingdom, including Hyonhaku, are all young. There are individuals in our homeland who are equal to or even stronger than Hyonhaku. However, they are all extremely busy, so it’s regrettable they couldn’t come.”
“They say that if they were to seriously wield their power, they would be among the top in the continent… Negesta is truly fearsome.”
“Oh, so if you master it, you can move like that even without stamina? I’ve been feeling the limits of my own style, so maybe I should learn Tenryu-ken too.”
Interest in the Uzei Religion was starting to gather in this place again. Especially among the Adventurers, I noticed some eager nods from those who seemed ambitious. It was clear which looked cooler: Kurinka’s wild, reckless attacks or Hyonhaku’s graceful dodges. At this rate, Hyonhaku didn’t seem like he would tire out, so I decided to give some advice. Or rather, it might be a bit unfair.
“Kurinka! Take a deep breath and exhale!”
“Huh? Oh, got it!”
“What on earth are you…?”
Kurinka inhaled deeply, as if preparing for a powerful breath. Hyonhaku, while puzzled, remained relaxed. He truly had no idea what was about to happen.
“Whoooosh!”
“Whoa?!”
The gust of air expelled by Kurinka was powerful enough to lift the slender Hyonhaku off the ground. Not just the three seated opponents, but even those watching from the back were sent tumbling, albeit not as dramatically as Hyonhaku. Oops, since it was my first time, I didn’t know how to control it.
“W-What was that?!”
“Did that girl do something?!”
“Ah, haha… I’m sorry.”
The audience wasn’t too affected, but Hyonhaku, like a piece of paper caught in a storm, spun several times before crashing to the floor, looking quite pained. Although it was as intended, I had truly gone overboard. Yet, Ryoho, maintaining a composed posture without changing his expression, was impressive. He merely covered his face with one arm, as if a slight gust had blown by.
Nagi’s ultimate technique was one of naturalness. In other words, it allows one to blend with the air. Thus, no matter how hard you hit, it would be dodged effortlessly, like paper blown away by wind. I felt like I had just begun to understand what the Uzei Religion meant by being natural.
“Ugh, I let my guard down…”
“Gotcha!”
“Ugh! What are you doing?! Let me go!”
“How am I supposed to win if I don’t know how?”
“W-What is this strength?! This isn’t something a girl should possess… Ugh! Let me go!”
“My win?”
“Fine! Just let me go already!”
Hyonhaku, forced to stand and held in a tight grip, finally gave in and surrendered. This led to laughter from the audience, leaving me unsure whether the image of Tenryu-ken improved or worsened. Hyonhaku, looking utterly exhausted, returned to his three opponents, seemingly too shocked to even apologize to Ryoho.
“…Hah, how pathetic. If the young ones are like this, I worry for the future of the Uzei Religion.”
“Are the people in Negesta stronger?”
“Of course. They are mostly middle-aged or elderly, but they are incomparable to those four. However, it remains true that they are the strongest among the young. We must acknowledge the results honestly.”
After saying this, Ryoho’s expression turned serious, as if he was organizing his thoughts. It seemed he hadn’t expected such an outcome at all.
“Ryoho, if you watched our fight, you should understand. Ritta, Ord, and Kou all grew up in this country. Strong and resilient… they have developed this far without the teachings of the Uzei Religion.”
Ryoho remained silent. Kurinka’s desires and intentions had been conveyed through all the matches up to this point. Tenryu-ken was indeed impressive, but it had many flaws. In real combat, would it even work against someone like the Demon Lord Army? I didn’t really understand teachings or anything like that, but I could say this much.
“There is no correct way to live or grow. There is no happiness that can be imposed upon you.”
Indeed, I couldn’t believe that everyone in this country would resonate with the teachings. It was like suddenly being bound after having lived freely until now, leaving you unable to move.
“Ryoho, you may have lived by the teachings of the Uzei Religion since childhood. But for us, it’s something we simply cannot adapt to.”
“…That’s unfortunate.”
“Yes, and so…”
“I lack the strength. At my current level, I cannot preach the Uzei Religion. I have come to realize that painfully.”
Had I ever felt my spine chill like this before? The audience, given the mood until now, must have hoped to understand something. But this person before me couldn’t hear it. No, Kurinka’s voice had never reached his ears. In his mind, only the teachings of the Uzei Religion existed. That was everything, so he couldn’t even attempt to understand. Rather, he simply couldn’t.
“This is like trying to explain the taste of alcohol to Lua…”
“I’m also quite particular when it comes to women. I prefer larger breasts over smaller ones. There are those who say smaller is better, but from my perspective, that’s just a minority mindset. Once you experience it, you’ll realize bigger is better.”
The analogy was a bit harsh, but Gantetsu was right. As for Seigel, I didn’t even want to hear what he had to say. I almost wished he would just leave.
“Let’s begin the captain’s match. I will personally demonstrate the essence of Tenryu-ken, which I have honed over more than thirty years.”
“Are we still going?!”
“The demonstration is not over yet. Don’t worry; it will end quickly.”
“…What does that mean? Even if I’m your opponent?”
“Yes, there is no problem.”
I wasn’t kind enough to be indifferent to that challenging attitude. It was pointless to think about how to convince this person.
“Shall we begin? I will be the captain, and you are Lua, correct?”
“Yeah, I’ll finish this quickly for you.”
Facing Ryoho, I could feel him blending into the air, just like Hyonhaku. He had already entered the state of Nagi’s ultimate technique. But the difference was that his precision was incomparably higher than Hyonhaku’s. While Hyonhaku could recognize his presence, Ryoho felt as if he were there yet not there at all. It was as if he had completely erased his presence. I almost thought he wasn’t even breathing.
“Hmm, then let’s get started.”
“Where are you looking?”
Suddenly, a thrust came from right behind me, with his index and middle fingers poised. My reflexive dodge was something I had honed in the Abyss Cave. My body moved instinctively, not my mind. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t have survived, so it became second nature.
I never expected to use it in a situation like this. I found myself questioning whether the Ryoho before me was even real. Was that just an afterimage? As Ryoho unleashed thrusts from all directions, his figure became increasingly difficult to see. It was strange to say I couldn’t see him while being attacked, but that was the reality, and I had no other way to describe it.
“W-What the?! Seigel, do you understand what’s happening?!”
“That’s something only Lua can know. To me, it looks like she’s desperately avoiding something invisible.”
“That is the other secret technique of Tenryu-ken, Sky Nagi. The derivative technique, Sky Nagi, can erase not just your heartbeat but even your very existence. No, it would be more accurate to say it appears to vanish as one becomes one with the natural flow of air.”
The audience erupted in excitement at Hyonhaku’s explanation. As I caught sight of Ritta and the others, who were watching with bated breath, I couldn’t help but feel impressed. I thought I had learned everything there was to know in the Abyss Cave, but I was sorely mistaken. Just look at Azuma and the Demon God Clan standing atop the water; there are still many people in this world with unknown skills.
When I thought about it, I had spent ten years in the Abyss Cave, while they had been training in Tenryu-ken for thirty years. In terms of experience alone, I was completely outmatched. Spending thirty years on a single pursuit naturally leads to strength. That’s double my age.
“Quite impressive, indeed. If that’s the case, then the secret technique… Flow—Geh!”
I hate to interrupt your moment of confidence, but I’ve caught you. Just as you were about to say something, I seized your neck with one hand and slammed you down onto the dojo floor. Splinters of the beautifully polished wood flew everywhere as Ryoho’s body sank into the ground.
In the face of such a quiet and mundane conclusion, the onlookers could only remain silent. Even Ryoho himself must have struggled to comprehend the reality of what had just happened. He was still trying to grasp what had occurred to him, and only then did he realize he had been captured. In that final moment, Ryoho weakly grasped my wrist, staring at my face as if to confirm the truth.
“W-Why…?”
“I’ve fought someone like you before. An enemy who was completely invisible.”
“W-What? I don’t understand at all…”
“Even an unseen opponent must reveal themselves when they attack. Like when their arm brushes against your body. If that’s the case, you can generally figure out where their neck is.”
“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
It’s fine if Ord doesn’t understand. Well, Ryoho has the same look on his face. It might be similar to Bathram’s Gentle Counter from the Demon Lord Army. Once you grasp the rhythm, your body will instinctively evade. Even if you can’t see the attack or the opponent, the attack will always make contact with your body. So, all you have to do is dodge at that moment. When I mentioned this to Kurinka, she was taken aback, saying that only Lua-chan possesses such reflexes. I’ve been told countless times that I’ve transcended human reflexes.
“If it were Lua-chan, she could easily dodge a spear that suddenly appeared right in front of her. She’s just that amazing.”
“What, is she actually not human?”
Should I tell you that I’m not human, Ord? But I consider myself human, at least in spirit. The true end comes when one loses their heart, like the Demon Lord Army; that’s not completion or anything close.
“Ryoho, I win.”
“…Your reputation does not disappoint. I acknowledge my defeat.”
As I quietly released my grip, Ryoho stood up with barely a sound. He brushed off the dust and splinters from his body and fell silent once more. I hope this time he truly understands.
“Indeed, I lack the training. Chinku, Ikan, Ord, Hyonhaku… You must have all felt the same. However, the future of the Uzei Religion rests on your shoulders. Do you understand the meaning of Tenryu-ken?”
“Yes, it is to flow one’s sins and impurities to the heavens over a lifetime. In other words, Tenryu-ken is life itself.”
“Correct, Ord. Thus, the time we have now is far too short to convey our teachings.”
“Yes! That’s right! I, Chinku, will continue to strive for improvement!”
“I have no face to show to the masters back home… Ryoho, let us conclude this gathering for now.”
“Indeed, Hyonhaku. Ikan, what’s wrong? Lift your head.”
These people are heading towards a tragic conclusion. In the end, everything we did was in vain. They can only see the Uzei Religion. Teaching them about our lives and common sense is likely impossible, just like trying to explain the wonders of simple food to Kurinka.
“Ikan?”
“Yes, that’s right. Ryoho, I too still have much to learn.”
Ikan extended a hand for a handshake. With that, the meaning of today’s demonstration—no, the match—was lost. They wouldn’t understand anything; I couldn’t help but think about what kind of people the King had summoned.
“That’s right, Ikan. Such humble behavior is…”
From Ikan’s hand, Ryoho’s hand slipped away. It was as if all the air had been sucked from his body, and he collapsed to his knees.
“R-Ryoho?!”
“W-What’s happening?!”
“A… Ah! Ikan, wh-what are you…?”
Seeing Ryoho bleeding from the corner of his mouth, I finally understood what had happened. Ikan looked down at Ryoho with a twisted grin, then burst into a crude laugh.
“Gya-hahaha! Hah, hah… I never thought it would go so smoothly. If I can just kill you, the rest will be easy.”
“I-Ikan?”
“You’re a fool, you know. Just because you sympathized with the Uzei Religion a little, you let me in. If you had even the slightest doubt about me, you would have noticed this little thing in my palm.”
In Ikan’s palm lay a small needle. What could possibly happen with something like that?
“K-Kurinka. For now, help Ryoho…”
“Whoa there, don’t move. If this Demon Slayer Poison-coated needle pierces him again, he’ll surely die.”
“D-Demon Slayer? Such a potent poison can be obtained in Negesta?!”
Ikan pressed his palm against Ryoho, keeping us at bay. Demon Slayer, potent poison. It’s probably similar to Dragon Slayer, but that doesn’t matter right now. He thinks he can take us hostage with that, but did he not see my speed?
“Ikan! Have you lost your mind?!”
“I’m perfectly sane, Hyonhaku. Well, you probably don’t understand what’s happening. If that’s the case, let’s take it step by step… Huh? Wh-where did Ryoho go?!”
“Over here.”
Too slow, way too slow. He’s chattering away, leaving himself wide open. No matter what he is, he’s not a big deal. Ryoho has already been brought over here and treated. I don’t care if it’s Demon Slayer or whatever; don’t underestimate Kurinka. Look, his complexion is already back to normal.
“Ryoho! Are you alright?!”
“Yes, it seems Kurinka here helped me. More importantly… Ikan.”
“Tch, I guess I shouldn’t underestimate the Flash Strike Girl. Well, it doesn’t matter. We’ve already achieved our goal.”
With a snap of Ikan’s fingers, several Smooth Ones entered the dojo. Each of them carried a box in their arms. Ignoring the panic of everyone else, Ikan walked over to them, grinning with delight.
“Kinji, Mukai… What’s in those boxes?”
“Ryoho, thank you for everything until now. As of today, we will be leaving the Uzei Religion. Therefore, in honor of the rise of the Phantom, we would like to show you this.”
Phantom, these people are. Even as we struggle to comprehend, Ryoho still cannot accept the reality of what his trusted comrades are saying. He keeps murmuring their names.
“Is this some kind of demonstration? There was no such plan.”
“Please, take a look.”
It was as if Ryoho’s question fell on deaf ears as each of them opened their boxes.
“…Kin, Ji.”
Ryoho could barely utter a name as the contents of the boxes rendered everyone speechless. Inside each box lay the severed heads of elderly men, each one quietly closing their eyes.
“Mas…ter?”
Someone barely managed to whisper that hoarse word. Those heads belonged to the masters, the very people Ryoho had hinted were back in the Nation of Negesta.
“The Nation of Negesta has come to an end. From now on, it will be under the control of the Phantom, so please be aware.”
No one could respond to that unified declaration.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Tenryu-ken is being evaluated.
Kurinka has plunged a considerable way into the realm of monsters.
This is martial arts that should be known to the Demon Lord as well.
If so, we can reach even greater heights.
If Lua occasionally learns such martial arts, perhaps her somewhat reckless personality will improve.
As I was writing this, something incredible happened.
Ikan betrayed us, and the Phantom, along with several elderly men who seem to be from Negesta, were killed.
The Phantom is finally revealing itself here?
If my predictions are correct, the identity of the Phantom is…
Fame, sleep…
That’s all for today. Don’t panic, don’t panic. Take a breather, take a breather.