Chapter 7 – Word to the Person we Care About

“Shit, shit, shit!”

“Kenta, I don't think cursing helps.”

“It does for me! Argh!” This is the worst. I have three powerful attacks per day and I may have wasted them. One to severely damage muscle-brain, one to break myself free from Rine, and the final one to push Hoshibashi back.

I can only guess why there is this limit, but the third time always costs me a third of my SP and causes me pain. I guess it’s because I can't use it properly. Ara-san suspects that it's too imbalanced, that I push my body only one-sidedly and therefore can't endure the backlash. Yet it's the only way I can do it now!

I have chugged down an SP-pot, but we're most likely chased and I can be glad that this shit is all taking course over only one day, as I would need to consider the [Worn-out]-condition otherwise, which shuts down the whole body.

For it to happen last time, I had a forced march the day before, fought against mercenaries in a one-against-all and then had a kilometer-long dash to catch up with the girls, followed by a fight with the oni. All things considered, today is less taxing, but it'd be better to finish everything quickly.

“Kenta? They are behind us.”

“Dammit!” I turn around and see Fake and two of his posse in the distance. However, I can't see Hoshibashi which is concerning given his [Stealth]-skills. Should we engage them and finally get rid of some? I would need to rely on Rine, looking at my own condition...

Kyou-san. I need Kyou-san! Her [Heal] and [Stamina]-spells alleviate the headache somewhat. With the outlay of Section A, we have to go that way and enter the cliffs we escaped from before... into enemy territory.

We're running in cycles, which perfectly sums up everything we faced since my encounter with the invisible enemy. Trying to circumvent each other, looking for a weakness. Let's try it straight this time!

[Tracking]. I see the tracks of several people, still fresh and easy to follow in the dust and dirt. There are Ara-san's bare feet. “Rine, keep your eyes behind.” She's able to deflect arrows which is most likely the only reason why we weren't shot yet.

What is this noise!? “Give up!” It's Kyou-san, and I think she's brawling... no, this can't be, I mean, whenever Kyou-san fights, she's the stabby type.

Then we turn around the corner I see Kyou-san mounting ponytail while punching her... I have to be daydreaming. I rub my nose-bridge. “Phew...” I need to look at it one more time. Yes, I was right, Kyou-san is bullying her so-called friend, whose face looks even more demolished than before.

“[Fountain Gun]!” Not far away from that, Ara-san shoots repeatedly spells at muscle-brain, who is pushed against the rock-wall, staggers forwards, and then pushed back again...

This is proof that I didn't waste my first power-surge when wounding muscle-brain. Without it, this scene wouldn't be possible. I'm kinda shocked, to be honest. Not that I feel sorry for any of them, but I wasn't prepared to see this.

Still, I can't help but start smiling. My worst smirk is on my face as I see those two suffer a bit. “Kenta...” Rine looks at me, her underlip is pressed forwards. This is almost like she's scolding me.

“Phew... Kyou-san, Ara-san, we need to-”

*Clank* Metal meets metal as suddenly Fake appears, his swords are blocked by Rine's. “Eri! Daichi!” He suddenly moves much faster, trying to get to Kyou-san and ponytail.

“[Speedthrust]!” I attack him, I can feel how little force is behind that attack and he easily blocks it. He then kicks me away. “Urgh...” There was some weight behind it, but I just endure the pain and catch his foot.

“Katsuragi-kun!”

“Fake!”

We both yell at each other. We need to be quick here. I'm hitting some limits, and there is so much to do here!

Then suddenly, someone hits me in the face. The same goes for Fake. We both start staggering and fall on our knees. I try to strangle Fake, yet I stop as a blade comes between me and him. It's Rine...

Her eyes are scary! “STOP!” She says in a loud voice and everyone becomes quiet and all the fighting stops. “I can't take it anymore! Kenta, Kyou, and Ara, you go there. The rest to the other side. If you don't, then I'll make you!” She snapped. Rine finally snapped!

… … … I hear the sounds of people running, shrimp and the dark one are finally around the corner. “Masa-kun! [Speedthrust]!” Without asking any questions, she immediately attacks.

I blink several times as I'm stupefied about how the girl who attacked with a running spear-thrust is now a bleeding mess on the ground next to me.

I could see everything, but I can't believe what happened just now. In a sense, it was a work of art. Terrifying and cruel art. First, Rine grabbed her spear, ignoring the fact that shrimp just used a skill, which is much more powerful than the average blow. Then Rine pushed it upwards, which makes shrimp lose her balance and opened her torso. Then the princess kicked her in the stomach from a low angle and lifted her up. Then Rine stepped closer and uppercut her into the face hard enough to make shrimp lose her weapon and change her trajectory. What followed was a flurry of blows and kicks from all sides, finished by a fist right into shrimp's stomach that slammed her into the ground.

…

I silently stand up and walk to the point Rine ordered me to go. Fake crawls to shrimps side: “Teruko!”

“ua... *blub* ahaauua...” Seems like she's still conscious. What an ill luck she has, this must hurt like hell. She's still a hero though and slowly stands up.

“Teru-chan!” Kyou-san is about to run to her, but with a single glare from Rine, she changes direction and stands now next to me. Shortly after, Ara-san also joins us.

Oh god, is this my fault!? Has my words finally broke something inside Rine, so that her cheerful personality has been gone for good and now we have all of her capabilities with none of her mercy!?

―○●○―

Masahiko looks at the princess who just turned everything around, taking everything into her own hands. Eri is busy healing Teruko, who received severe damage.

The princess coughs slightly to get all the attention. “To all who may not know it, I'm Princess Katarine von Stolzherz of the Kingdom of Feuerberg. I have observed and partaken in all that fighting and at this point, it has become unendurable. Hero fighting against hero, friend fighting against friend, all of this has to stop.”

“Eri, what happened?” Masahiko whispers to her to get a picture of what exactly made all of this go out of hand here.

“Katsuragi's mind-control is worse than we thought. He used Kyou-chan to attack me!” Daichi nods to her words. This is the lowest of the low, using her own friend...

The princess is right, this is out of control. Yet Katsuragi-kun has attacked them, used underhand tactics, and doesn't even want to talk to them. Masahiko suspects that the mind-control has some limitations, one that allows Katarine-hime to speak her mind in this moment.

Maybe this is the start of an actual conversation? No, not yet. For all the grief, for all the pain, for all the anger he and his friends had since their last encounter in the Mauerfelsen-mountains and all the frustration, wounds, and hostility they suffered here, there needs to be retribution. While Masahiko is someone who likes to sit down and talk, this can't be forgiven as it is.

Therefore he steps forward. “May I speak, Katarine-hime?” She nods to his serene and determined voice. “Katsuragi-kun! This has to stop.”

“Then give up, dammit!”

“No. I challenge you to a duel to surrender or fall! The loser's side will surrender to the other.”

“Seriously!?”

“Dead serious. Then only two need to fight it out. I may have been too lenient with you in the past, but now I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make you stop!”

“...fine, I, as the leader of my party, accept.”

“Good.” Masahiko stands up. He then retrieves his magic sword from the backpack. “I won't hold back anymore.” He also changes to [Champion], the class with the best dueling potential. He will use everything at his disposal.

Of course, the sword catches Katsuragi-kun's attention. “What's up with that weapon?”

“I found it after our last encounter in the cave of the monkey-spiders. It's [Caliburn].” Caliburn is the name of the first sword of King Arthur, the sword in the stone. The sword that named him king. Masahiko doesn't know if this sword is the actual sword, one sword was named after the other, or if this is a translation from the hero-system.

“...fuck you, Inoue!” It's also a name that often appears in games, so of course Katsuragi-kum knows that it's a powerful weapon by its name alone.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Let's face off, Katsuragi-kun!”

“You're joking, right?”

“Wha- Katsuragi-kun! You accepted the duel!”

“There is the thing, fake: You didn’t specifically challenged me as an individual and I haven't accepted as one. It was your party challenging mine. Rine? Your turn.”

““What!?”” The princess is as surprised as Masahiko about this turn of events.

“What? Wanna give up, Fake? Surrender? Sure.”

Masahiko grits his teeth as he sees the princess being thrown into this match. He already knows that the princess is most likely stronger than him, but that's not what makes him angry. It's how Katsuragi-kun evades his responsibilities and send another person in his place, a person he has control over... “I won't surrender.” This is how a mind-controller does things. Masahiko should have expected this.

It will be an uphill battle, but he has trust in his own cause. Time to break his limits.

―○●○―

Stupid Fake! He gets demolished by monkey-spiders and get a most likely overpowered magical sword. I outsmart monkey-spiders and get a cursed ring!

“Kenta!” My announcement of sending Rine into this fight made her even angrier, though she minds the other heroes and speaks in a soft voice. “Why!?”

“Because it makes sense. I'm almost done for, Kyou-san and Ara-san won't stand a chance. I mean, if I fight him, then I would need to use deadly tactics. If I kill him, you will be sad, Kyou-san will be devastated, Ara-san will mourn the death of a hero.” I'm also not sure if I can endure it mentally to kill him. Killing bandits is one thing, but I know that guy. Hating him makes no difference here. He may be a two-faced, arrogant, insufferable moron and I like to see him in pain, but... I don't know how to end that sentence, but in the end, I don't want to kill him. Yet. “On the other hand, you can easily handle him. Even after your skirmish with Hoshibashi, you're still up to your game. Everyone wins except him. If they give up, we can finally have something like a conversation here.”

“You have dismissed the possibility of conversation before!”

“Do they look like they want to talk? Everyone looks at me like I have killed their grandparents here!”

“Kenta...” Rine does what she rarely do: Sigh. “This is so complicated! Why are you so difficult to figure out?”

“Because I'm a person with my own personality and decide for myself.”

“Kyou, Ara. What do you think?” Both of them has listened to our quiet conversation.

Kyou-san plays with the ring on her finger. “My friends don't believe me anymore... if we get this one chance...” She almost sounds obsessed. I don't know exactly what happened here, but Kyou-san is at the verge of tears.

Ara-san is pointing at the jerks across from us who are surrounding Inoue. “They're fully agreeing with Inoue-dono and are giving him advice on what to do, while complaining about Kenta-kun and how abhorrent he is.” I nod at this as I also have [Pitch] active. Well, not the first time they trash-talked about me, yet it really pisses me off. “Katarine-san, just be as usual and end it quickly.”

Rine looks at all of us as if we have left her and sorrowfully turns to fake who now draws a cycle with his magical blade. Poser!

I whisper into Rine's ear from behind: “He can detect metal. Also, his cape is out of metal and he can use it to block your attacks.” In our small bout, I noticed the detail about his cape and when he was turning around, his sight was only roughly on me. It was a far cry, but the way his body always slightly twitched when I tried to find another angle told me that he somehow sensed me. His cape and his behavior was all I needed for a guess and then I prepared my trap. “Maybe he can do more. Be careful.”

“Why... why are you now warning me? …I don't know what to think of you anymore...”

“Phew...” It would be so easy to say something that would make her think more positively about me. Yet this would manipulate her. I will do a lot of things, but I won't let Rine believe a world of lies. Nobody deserves this.“You'll figure it out.”

With a doubtful face, Rine looks at the circle and nods to it. I guess, there are even rules to that. “Katarine-hime,” Fake starts with his most smeary smile, “who will give the signal?”

“I suggest Ara,” she answers while moving her joints. The more movements she does, the sharper they become, her face also slowly transforms into determination.

“Alright. Ara'ainn?” With a silent yelp of joy, she steps forward. I guess, she likes to be close to the fight between heroes.

Rine and fake stand at the border of the circle and Ara-san lifts her hand. “Draw your weapons!” Rine draws her sword, Fake takes a second one into his hand. “Take your stance!” Rine makes half of a step forward, her sword is hidden behind her body. Her knees begin to bend only minimally, but it reminds me of a spring that's put under pressure. On the other hand, Fake stretches his arm with his magical sword forward while his other arm is bent, still with its blade pointing at Rine... I guess these are formal stances? “Fight!”

*clank, whff, bamm, clank, clank, whoosh*

“Ken?” Kyou-san asks me. “What just happened?” Well, it was fast and very hard to follow. Even with my superior [Perception], I needed to pay full attention to this.

“All weapons clashed, Rine kicked, he evaded, she changed direction, hit him, he opened the weapon lock to attack her twice, she parried both, then he tried to kick her, she jumped back and escaped.” Fake's movements are different from what I saw before. I guess his current [Class] supports a whole other fighting style. Shit, he wasn't even serious when fighting me, that asshole!

Well, time to do what I can do. With my [Perception]-skills and [Wild Eyes] I start to check our surroundings. There is nobody here as far as I can tell... yet this would be the perfect opportunity for an ambush.

Ah, Fake got kicked into his face. No, no time to smirk... well, smirking yes, but not for paying much attention to them. Rine will handle this. For me, I'll be the look-out to see whether Correo, Yoshimura, and Hoshibashi will seize this moment or not.

I just wish, Rine would hurry a bit.

―○●○―

Masahiko gets a knee into his stomach while blocking the princess' blade with [Caliburn]. He heard that she also wields a magic sword, yet this is the least of his worries. When he trained with shishou, Masahiko noticed a lot of his shortcomings and how much thought is put into martial arts. Most of the ideas are the same as the ones Daichi told him about way back in Japan.

A good defense is also an offense. Katarine-hime deflects [Caliburn] while drawing closer only to aim with the handle of her weapon at his face.

Use everything at your disposal. Every part of the princess' body is a weapon.

Vary speed and power so that your opponent can't get used to your movements. Katarine-hime's movements differ so much, spectacular movements mixed with short and deadly strikes. If this would be a duel to death, Masahiko would have most likely lost his head when she jumped over his attack upside-down, instead getting a hit on the top of his head.

“[Steelslicer]!” He attacks with his nonmagical sword after finally seeing a chance to hit her despite her nimble movements. Currently, her magic sword is blocked by his, her foot is planted painfully into his side, her hand tries to push his face away. He's in a bad spot and out of balance, but he takes what he has!

With an eerie sound he suddenly only holds a handle with the remains of a blade, as she nonchalantly used her hand in his face and her leg in his side to propel herself, her sword moves serpent-like to escape the lock while cutting his other sword into two. Wait, why is she moving back with dance-like steps? The rest of his sword! She hits it like a baseball with her weapon as the bat!

Masahiko barely escapes his leg being pierced by his own weapon by hitting it aside with his sword. “[Exquip]!” He exchanges his sword with his other one. He smiles... “This is certainly an uphill fight.” He breathes in and out, Katarine-hime gives him that moment, despite the menacing air around him that may be because of Katsuragi-kun's renewed influence.

It doesn't make her any weaker though. Masahiko's SP is running out, he's outmatched in technique, and he has no idea how to win this. Still, he will not lose. He's doing much better than expected, most likely because he's used to being beaten up by now, especially with this very offensive and mobile fighting-style. She's his senpai, after all.

Masahiko wipes the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and starts attacking. Only starts, as he gets a knee into his face, he barely saw that coming. The pain from Katsuragi's beating is alighted anew, tears and blood running down his face, yet he already knows what's coming and just lets himself fall backwards. She really made a backflip to kick him under his chin.

In a duel to surrender or fall, the party that falls to the ground and stay still for even a moment loses, so Masahiko rolls to the side and quickly gets back up. This is a move he had to practice ceaselessly. Staying on the ground means death, after all.

Back on his toes, he charges in again: “[Quicksword]!” He only slashes at air, as Katarine-hime simply jumps over his attack while spinning once to make a heavy strike. Masahiko quickly raises [Caliburn]. The princess uses the parry to bounce back, landing right before the border of their ring.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Masahiko needs to remind himself of that so that his anxiety doesn’t get the better of him. As long as he has [Caliburn] at his side, he won't lose. This sword has chosen him for a reason, therefore he has to stand his ground here.

He raises the sword, invoking its power: “{Heed my call!}” His voice resonates with the red rocks of the canyon, causing a loud echo. “{For I'm the leader, so I won't fall!}”

“[Crescent Moon]!” A flying cut with a charging Katarine-hime right behind! Masahiko is in the bad spot of a hero, who doesn't have the time to transform. Both weapons before him, he evades the [Crescent Moon] and meets the princess' magic sword.

Yet this was just a faint: “Urgh!” He moved [Caliburn] to meet her sword first, yet there was little force into her attack. Instead, she kicked right into the blunt side of his other sword, causing it to hit him across the torso and almost cutting his face.

All or nothing. He changes to [Vanguard]: “[Whirldrill]!” He spins around himself with his weapons outstretched, this sudden momentum made the princess jump back. Masahiko raises [Caliburn] again: “{I may fight alone, yet your hearts are with me. So lend me your strength!}” [Caliburn] is set alight and its light began to surround Masahiko and then his friends.

The table has turned. He's connected to his friends, share their senses and drawing power from their trust in him.

He attacks: “[Dual Thrust]!” This time, he can see her movements from five different angles, giving him a better understanding what she will do. So he changes back to [Champion]: “[Drillkick]!” This time he kicks in the direction the princess is evading, as he saw her shift her movement from the side.

This time, it connects. Masahiko feels sorry to do that to a girl, yet his foot landed right into her stomach, he feels how it's drilling into her and with a unlady-like sound, Katarine-hime is pushed away. She comes to halt quickly, yet this was a clean hit.

To not waste his momentum, Masakiko makes another charge: “[Quicksword]!” He's sure that he hears Kyou yelling something, but Masahiko has all of his attention on the princess, blending out every distraction.

Katarine-hime loses her balance, as she parries his skill, yet he has two swords and start attacking relentlessly. He changes to [Vanguard]: “[Double Flurry]!” She won't be able to keep this going, this is two swords against one and she doesn't have the time to sunder another one and even if she does, Masahiko still has other weapons at disposal. He can see her every move from different angles and has her backed into a corner. This is it, this is his part to victory!

“[Sweep]!” Yet this one word turned everything around. Literally, as Masahiko suddenly loses contact to the ground and is upside down. During this moment, the princess kicks his arms by changing her sweep into a heel kick, his nonmagical sword flies away while he has trouble keeping [Caliburn] in his hand.

Yet the real danger comes from above. A hammer fist right towards his nether regions that are now looking upwards. Without the senses of his friends, he wouldn't even be warned. He presses his legs together, changing the course of the princess' fist slightly so that it's only gracing... Yet this invites a new world of hurt.

It's not even over, as she knees into his stomach another time despite his armor. Then she grabs his leg and spins around herself to throw him. Before Masahiko can even think of breaking his fall, she's already above him and smashes him down with another kick.

While she elegantly lands on her feet and takes distance once more, Masahiko is more or less staggering to his feet to avoid the duel to end. Without the duel-rules, she may have kicked him half to death by now. In this case, she's different from shishou who would have finished beating Masahiko black and blue before he even hit the ground.

Pain assaults Masahiko from about everywhere. Yet it's still better than the doubt that's about to overwhelm him. Even after conjuring [Caliburn]'s power, she still gets the better of him. He has trained so hard, earned two [Class-ups] and yet he's still being beaten by a girl younger than him. A girl who isn't even a hero.

No, he can't falter here. Summoning his courage and determination, he looks for a weakness in her stance. Something to exploit. All he needs is another chance.