I, Tsunoda Arata, invited the man known as Satou Kenji to the tournament when I heard that he defeated the Dark Queen in close combat. Even though we were in the same class at the time, I was doing an errand and was excused for the day so I couldn't see how the fight went. I wanted to win the tournament at all costs so I invited everyone I thought would be able to help me.
At first, he demonstrated overwhelming power enough to destroy even an A-class armor, then he defeated a true A-class. He had so much power that I sometimes doubted if I was even awake. All I could do to make sure I wasn't dreaming was to fight and fight.
Next, he showed unbelievable leadership skills by using telepathy, a skill that is said to only be held by a handful of people in the kingdom. He also told us many things about the human body and behavior. It was like we were being taught in class and executing it through live training. He told us that a normal human would hesitate if a weapon at their face and would unconsciously block even if they were on the verge of victory. A person who overcomes that subconscious reaction is strong.
I had tested it during the battle and it was right, everyone who had my spear near their faces blocked and stopped their attacks. He also told us the weak points of the human body like the 'carotid' on the neck. I haven't a clue as to where he took that term from but he was also correct.
But that wasn't all; to top his knowledge, he had even shown us feats impossible to reproduce just by normal training. I have no doubt that this man has been through countless battles. I take pride in the fact that I train everyday until I collapse but now I think that it's laughable.
But the scene I'm looking at right now is the very definition of strength. There, standing atop the collapsed bodies of nine people is Satou Kenji. With a scythe in his hand and golden fire in the other, he had defeated these nine by himself, I had no time to interfere.
I looked around and saw that my friends of Memento were gathering around Erina who was poisoned and was writhing in pain. Kenji had given her some treatment to ensure it wasn't life-threatening but it looks like the poison was still very fierce, even our healer Umi had no knowledge about how to cure the poison. Kenji had fought off the nine people with his scythe, alone. His face was filled with anger but it appears he had managed to hold back from killing them.
It sent shivers down my spine, the killing intent he produced. It wasn't something a normal human would be able to produce.
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The Day Before, End of the First Day of the Main Tournament
Memento Mori had defeated everyone without much trouble and decided to hold a small celebration.
"To our victory on the first day, cheers!"
Arata had a cup in his raised hand.
"Still, I can't believe Kenji was that strong."
Kei said as he gulped down the alcohol. There was no required drinking age in this world but everyone mostly drinks at thirteen. The alcohol in this world was also quite light compared to Earth's but the people in this world have this as a standard and so they get drunk as easily as Earth's.
"I've been training since I was a kid after all."
Yoko took a sip from her own cup.
"I've also been training ever since I was seven, but I have yet to approach your level of power. At first, I thought it was just your technique that had outclassed mine but to think that even your power is many times that of mine, a B-class. I can't believe we have two A-class in our team."
"Ah, you're right. Miss Erina is the youngest A-class in the continent and to add to that, Kenji is also A-class. But it's strange that I haven't heard of your name before..."
Arata tilted his head as he stopped drinking. Everyone looked at Kenji and awaited his response.
"I don't like attention. Of course, fights like these are an exception, I'm quite the battle maniac despite my look."
Kenji pointed as his glasses when he said that.
"So, Kenji, how did you get your power?"
Date who had a red face slammed his cup on the table and narrowed his eyes at Kenji. Everyone once more turned their eyes at Kenji.
"Well, I don't mind saying so but since I promised to tell you all after the tournament, I'll do that. For now, I'll tell you all some basic stuff that I don't really mind keeping secret."
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Everyone inched closer and Erina who was drinking tea, elegantly tucked her hair behind her ear.
"A few years ago, I wasn't living in the royal capital. I had only come here three years ago. I'll tell you all where I had actually stayed at before but let's just say that there are beasts there more dangerous than you could ever imagine. If I hadn't been accompanied there, I'd have died many times over. Even now, I have no confidence to say that I can survive there alone."
Kazuki audibly gulped.
"During my stay there, I was taught many things about battling and have touched powers I can't reproduce now. My master is very strong. Strong enough to crush me with a thought."
His words wouldn't hold much weight if they didn't know Kenji's power but he had shown part of it during the tournament today. His words were very heavy now.
"My master trained me so severely that I had thought I would die several times. Anytime I was told to spar with master, it sent shivers down my spine."
Kenji visibly shivered for an instant but he shook it off. It was too real to be considered acting and so everyone had cold sweat running down their backs.
"Master attacked me day and night, even during meal breaks or sleep, master always attacked me with spells that I had to counter. I was also forced to learn techniques as fast as possible and if I had not met her expected time, I would be punished. There was even the case where I was forced to endure master's attacks for a full day."
Kenji held the helm of his shirt and pulled it down; revealing a scar stretching from his left shoulder to his right rib.
"It didn't heal?"
"No, there are some wounds that can't be healed by magic."
Kenji had a melancholic look as he said that but was knocked back into reality by Arata.
"Kenji, I understand that you're remembering something from the past but can you please wear your shirt properly again?"
Arata leaned in after those words.
"The girls are giving some very dangerous looks right now, so..."
When Arata said that, Kenji looked at Haru who was staring very intently while peeking through the gaps in her fingers. Yoko was looking at the scar as if analyzing it, Umi was also analyzing Kenji but not like Yoko, she was analyzing him as a research subject which sent chills down Kenji's spine. Erina was... blushing slightly while her eyes were alternating from facing in front of her to Kenji's chest despite the fact that her eyes were as hollow as ever.
Once Kenji realized that, he let go of his shirt and it settled back into its place. Erina took the cup in her hand once more and sipped with closed eyes as if to hide the fact that she had been looking before.
"What kind of weapon was used to make that wound?"
Yoko inquired.
"Weapon? No, this was because of something entirely different."
"Magic?"
Kenji shook his head.
"No, something much, much stronger."
Although she still had questions, it was evident that Kenji wouldn't answer her.
"The knowledge I have of battle is because of experience and experiments, my power was honed by my master. That's the reason for my strength. I'll tell all of you the details once we win, remember that."
Although they hadn't heard much, it was evident that Kenji's master was very strong. If they had even the slightest chance to be acquainted with such a person, it was beneficial to them. Even if they can't meet his master, Kenji himself was strong and strengthening their bonds with him isn't a bad deal.
"You don't need to tell me. That was my goal from the beginning after all!"
Arata placed a fist on his chest after he gulped down his drink.
"I don't have much confidence in myself but I can at least help the team a bit!"
Date was also pumped up.
"I'll defeat everyone!"
Kei said with a laugh, he was quite drunk.
All of the boys were drinking alcohol but among the girls, only Umi was drinking. Yoko, Haru, and Erina were all drinking tea as they didn't like the taste of alcohol.
"You're all too excited though..."
Haru said tiredly. It was only the first day of the tournament yet everyone was so active.
"Now that you all are done with the questioning, it's my turn!"
The now flushed Umi slammed her cup.
"Oi, how many did she drink?"
Kenji said as he looked at the bunch of cups on Umi's side of the table, there were at least ten. But they've only been here for thirty odd minutes, it wasn't enough time for her to drink all of it.
"Ah, you didn't know? Miss Umi is actually quite the avid drinker. Her family collects many types of wine and drinks regularly. It isn't obvious at all because she uses her water attribute to flush it out of her system but she enjoys the taste quite a bit. I have no idea why she's drunk now when she's only taken in ten or so cups when she usually... wait."
Arata paused as he accidentally knocked something under the table. There were more cups there, this time there were at least three dozen.
"...When did she have time to drink that?"
"You should be questioning about when she had time to order the drinks, I didn't notice at all."
Arata and Kenji were amazed from the bottom of their hearts. The fact that the cups under the table were stacked very neatly was also quite strange.
"...If a single cup is one copper, then she just splurged nearly half a silver coin."
"Arata, look closely. That's the special aged wine, it costs two silver each and there are only limited stocks per year."
"Then didn't she splurge a gold coin already?! I understand using gold coins for life-saving equipment and daily use but to actually use gold for leisure when it's only a celebration for the first day of victory."
Though a piece of gold really wouldn't matter for them who are the son and daughter of viscounts, Kenji decided to not say that.
"Hmm, Kenji I've always thought of it as strange but how come you talk as if you have a lot of money?"
"That's because I do."
Kazuki inquired and was answered with a smug smile.
"If you want to know how, I'll tell you after the tournament as well."
"You're surrounded by too many secrets..."
Kazuki said with a sigh.
"I don't like being in the public eye but ever since I entered school, I've been revealed more than necessary. I decided that I'd reveal everything that I can reveal after the tournament."
Now that I think about it, that promise of his started everything. To reveal the truth. We all thought it was the opportunity to get stronger than our current selves but unfortunately, the truth wasn't something we, who had grown up in a peaceful time would have ever imagined. (Arata)