Episode 475 Trial Cut

The day before a sword tournament was to be held, Chika and her father Kenzo headed for Osaka. When they checked into a hotel near the venue, Kenzo disappeared, saying he had to go to a meeting.

　The remaining Chika goes outside to walk around the area.

A little cold, but it feels good."

　Stretching out and walking through a nearby park, a young girl sits on a bench and watches the pets gathered in the park.

　This park seems to be a walking path for pets. Chika was somehow curious about the girl.

Do you like dogs?"

　The girl looked surprised, but nodded honestly, as if she sensed that Chika was someone who had no ill will toward her.

I like dogs and cats."

Then why didn't you just go up close and let me touch you?"

　The girl shook her head strongly.

No, I suffer when I go near them."

　This girl may be allergic to dogs or cats.

'You're allergic. Then I'll pet my shadow puppet."

　The girl makes a face that says she doesn't understand what it means. Chika laughed and produced from the shadows a cat-shaped shadow puppet, Taiga. It is a black-and-white shadow puppet with a tiger pattern.

　When the cat comes out of the shadows, the girl looks surprised. Then, her face changes to a look of anxiety.

It's okay. This isn't a normal cat, it's a shadow puppet, so it won't suffer."

Really?"

Yes, it's true. Stroke it."

　The girl patted Taiga with a sense of fear. Taiga climbed onto the bench and sat down beside the girl.

It's true. It doesn't hurt."

　The girl happily stroked and hugged Taiga. However, she could not pick him up. Taiga weighs 20 kilograms.

Sarara ...... no good."

　A man who seemed to be a little older than Chika picked up the girl to keep her away from Taiga. Apparently, he was a relative of the girl.

Even if he's allergic to cats, Taiga will be fine."

Isn't that a cat?"

Cat Shadow Puppets.

　He let Taiga hide in the shadows and called him out again. The man rolls his eyes at that. He then lowers the girl he was holding to the ground. The girl happily approaches Taiga and begins to pet him.

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Excuse me. I am Sarara's uncle, Kisaragi.

second month of the lunar calendar

lotus-shaped pedestal for a gravestone

night after night

Is."

I am Chika Mifune. You don't seem to have an accent, are you not from Osaka?"

Yes, I'm here to compete in a swordfighting tournament that will be held here.

　It seems that Kisaragi is planning to represent Kisaragi style swordsmanship in the tournament. Chika and Kisaragi talked about shadow puppets for a little while and parted ways.

　The next day, he went to the tournament with his father to observe the sword fighting competition. Since many adventurers compete in this tournament, magic is prohibited in the matches.

　The contestants were highly skilled and it was interesting and instructive to watch. Kisaragi, whom I met yesterday, lost in the second round. It was not that his skills were low, but I felt something was missing.

I guess he had no experience in fighting for his life. It was like he was pushed into a corner by his opponent's spirit."

　I think his swordsmanship skills alone are on par with his older brother, Ken I, but he seems to lose out in spirit to adventurers who have experience fighting demons with their lives on the line.

Oh, it's your sister."

　It was a girl named Sara whom I met yesterday. Behind her is Kisaragi. She must have come back to change her clothes and watch the match.

I'm sorry to hear that."

Did they see me lose the game? Did they see me embarrass myself?"

I don't think you need to be embarrassed," he said. It seems our experience has made a difference."

　Kisaragi tilted her head.

What do you call the experience gap?"

The other party seemed to be an adventurer. He had fought demons many times, risking his life.

　Hearing this, Kisaragi bit her lip.

I'm not sure I've ever had that kind of experience before. If I had that kind of experience ...... and I had a talent for magic tricks, I'd be an adventurer and go to the dungeon."

Kisaragi, do you have any magical talent at all?"

　Kisaragi, smiling bitterly, said that the analytical magic was a "D" and the life magic was an "E", while the others were "F". As expected, Chika thought, it would be tough to succeed as an adventurer.

　However, he can learn "Push", "Corn Arrow", "Thunder Bowl", "Airbag", "Blade", and "Javelin". Then you can explore the lower levels of intermediate dungeons.

　When I told him this, Kisaragi became interested.

I'll think about it. I'll think about it."

　At that moment, his father, Kenzo, approached.

Chika, do you have a sword that can cut logs, yes, the Raikirimaru with you?"

　They perform a test cutting technique to make the tournament more exciting, but it seems that the magic weapon they use for the test cutting has snapped off. They are looking for a replacement.

Raikirimaru?　If you want to try it out, I think Sesshomaru is better than Raikirimaru."

　＜It is a Japanese sword made of white bright steel with the properties of "Kankaku" and "Zangou". The Sesshomaru would be able to cut a log.

　Chika took out the Sesshibamaru from the storage pendant and handed it to her father. Kenzo pulls the Sesshomaru out of its scabbard and inspects the blade. Looking at it closely, he could feel the power exuding from the pure white blade.

I think I can cut with this one. However, the blade is light for its length. It will take some time to get used to it. Chika, please show me how you cut with it.

　I took it on because it was my father's request.

But I didn't bring my kendo suit.

　Chika was dressed in her usual attire of moss green tapered pants, shirt, and jacket.

You look fine.

　Kenzo returned with a relieved look on his face. The matches proceeded, and the final was held, with the previous winner, Hizaki, winning again. While the awards ceremony was being prepared, the test cutting began.

　At first, a trial cutting of a rolled straw was performed, and when a log was brought in at the end, the audience was surprised to see it. This was because the log was quite thick.

　The logs used for test cutting at these competitions are about 15 cm in diameter. This log, however, was 25 centimeters in diameter.

I see, you broke your magic weapon trying to cut a larger-than-usual log.

　When Chika takes off her jacket and appears with the Sesshoumaru, some of those watching ask, "Are you okay?" Many of them looked at her as if they were wondering if she was all right. It seemed that many of them felt that way because the man who had tested the maki-wara was a very strong man.

　Chika stood in front of the log and let the magic power circulate through her body as if she was warming up. As that magical power began to increase and leak out of her body, it began to affect her surroundings.

　The amount of magic power that had just leaked out was so unusual that Hizaki, a B-level adventurer, felt it was a threat.

　The general public who were watching felt as if Chika's body had grown larger and watched her with bated breath. Kisaragi also felt the magic power that leaked out and drew blood from her head.

　As Chika slowly pulls out the Sesshomaru, Kisaragi's eyes widen as she feels the power released from the blade. The next moment, the shining white blade swings down. The log is severed with a snap and falls to the floor.

　Chika took a deep breath and swung her sword in rapid succession. Each time, a piece of the severed log fell to the floor, making a thudding sound.

If you're this good, I wish you'd been in the tournament.

　Hizaki says, staring at Chika. Meanwhile, Kisaragi began to think about learning about the life magic that Chika had mentioned.