Ch.241August Dungeon, and the Artisan’s Trial (5)

Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!

A fierce battle raged with neither side giving an inch.

My sword strikes were all blocked by Lockhart’s fists. His skill surpassed even Tina’s.

“Die!!!”

In that moment, Lockhart swung his fist.

I shouldn’t block it. My warrior’s instinct screamed at me.

“Hut!!”

I twisted my body to dodge the attack.

Whoosh-!!!!

His fist barely grazed my head as it passed by.

BOOM-!!

Immediately, an incredible pressure wave erupted from his fist.

“Kugh…!”

I clicked my tongue and readjusted my stance.

If I had tried to block with my sword, the pressure would have torn my body to shreds.

It was the same technique I learned from Igor. The ability to control the wind to some extent.

“Good instincts.”

Lockhart smiled.

The suited men around us seemed incredibly surprised.

“To think he could match His Majesty so evenly…”

“He’s strong, that Japanese man.”

“And that spiky hair… he’s the legendary warrior.”

Good reactions from the crowd.

However, I had no intention of ending this in a draw. At this rate, the match would never end. I needed to use my trump card.

Shiiing-!!!

I immediately gathered the surrounding air in my hand.

The wind soon took the form of a sword.

Swish-!

I held it like I was using dual swords.

“Ohhh!! Japanese light novel!!! Katana Art Online!!!”

Mimishutain shed tears of excitement beside me.

“So you use the same technique as me. To think you’d reach this level. Interesting!!!”

Lockhart raised his fist.

Whoosh-!!

Wind swirled around Lockhart’s arm.

Lockhart was also preparing his finishing move. The meaning was obvious. Lockhart was making his decisive play. Either cut or be cut. One or the other. Yes, this is how a real duel should be.

“Dad!! That technique is really dangerous!!”

Tina shouted.

“Don’t interfere!! This is my battle!!”

Lockhart cut her off.

“A battle…!”

Tina muttered.

“Yes. Here I must prove my worth to my father-in-law.”

I stated firmly.

“Such… idiots!!”

Tina shouted.

“Here I come!! Youngster!!!”

“Anytime!! Come at me!! Father-in-law!!!”

“Who are you calling father-in-law?!”

Lockhart closed the distance toward me.

Fwoosh-!!

Though he charged, there was a hint of hesitation in Lockhart’s movements.

That’s right. He was concerned about the air sword I had created.

Fwoosh-!

I swung both swords and closed the distance.

‘But… I can’t actually use dual wielding.’

I coolly acknowledged this fact.

Dual wielding. Such a style exists in kendo. However, contrary to what amateurs believe, it doesn’t have a particularly high win rate.

Controlling two swords is very difficult, and swordsmanship is ultimately about speed. Rather than flashily wielding two swords, it’s much more efficient to grip a single sword with both hands and strike quickly for the first hit.

Naturally, even with my talent, it was impossible to master dual wielding on the spot.

‘This is just a diversion anyway!!’

I made a feint of swinging the air sword.

Lockhart reacted by raising his fist.

But I never intended to swing it in the first place.

“Hyaaah!!”

I hurled the air sword like a javelin.

Whoosh-!

The swirling wind struck Lockhart directly.

Clang-!

Lockhart somehow managed to push back the hostile wind with the pressure from his fist.

“Hahaha!!! Too bad!! Throwing your weapon!!! A bold but reckless strategy!!”

Lockhart laughed, sensing victory.

“No. I had no choice.”

I gripped my sword with both hands.

“……..?!”

At that moment, Lockhart’s expression froze.

Thanks to my feint, an opening appeared in Lockhart’s stance.

“You had so few openings, I had to create one by taking a risk.”

I closed the distance toward Lockhart.

“Hyaaaah!!!”

I shouted loudly as I swung my sword.

“Kugh?!”

Lockhart tried to evade. However, my sword had greater reach.

Fwang-!!!!

A clean horizontal strike cut through Lockhart’s steel-like muscles.

“Kh…haak!!!!”

Lockhart staggered, gasping for breath.

I won. I was certain of that.

However, Lockhart didn’t fall.

Crack-!!

Just as he was about to collapse, Lockhart regained his stance. Simultaneously, he stomped on my leg, cutting off my escape route.

“Shit…!”

I tried to pull my leg free. But my foot wouldn’t budge an inch.

“Emperor Tornado… maximum output.”

Lockhart raised his fist, uttering what was clearly a dangerous technique name.

This… is fucking dangerous!!

As that thought crossed my mind, an incredible pressure wave hit my chest directly.

BOOM-!!!!!

The blade-like wind struck my chest head-on.

CRACK-!!!!!!

The wind pierced through my back and hit the wall behind me.

The surrounding walls began to crack with tremendous force.

“Khaak!!!”

I didn’t cough blood… but gasped for breath.

Though he had controlled the output, it was powerful enough to knock me unconscious.

Stagger-!

I collapsed face-first onto the ground. My defeat came from being too careless after gaining the upper hand.

“Haa… haa…”

The powerful technique seemed to have drained Lockhart’s stamina as well. He staggered as he steadied himself.

“My victory!! I oppose this marriage!! Hahaha!!”

Lockhart shouted loudly.

At that moment, someone embraced and supported me.

“Shota!! Hang in there!! Get up!!!”

Tina shouted, holding me.

Tina’s warmth… her caring gaze of concern, it gave me strength.

Swish-!!

I immediately got up and grabbed my sword.

“No way… he withstood the Emperor Tornado?!!”

“Is that man’s body made of steel?!!”

The voices of the spectators grew loud.

“He took that hit… and didn’t fall?”

Lockhart muttered with his mouth agape.

“I must… marry Tina… so I can’t fall.”

I said as I took my stance.

“Take down that petty father of mine!!”

Tina began cheering for me with all her might.

“P-petty…!! My daughter… cheering for another man instead of me…!”

Lockhart seemed quite hurt by that.

“Hmph. Your Majesty. You may have won the fight, but it seems you’ve lost the match.”

Mimishutain said.

“……..”

At Mimishutain’s words, the expressions of the other aides softened.

“I accept my defeat.”

Lockhart lowered his fist.

“What nonsense!! Pick up your sword!! We need to finish this!!”

I immediately got angry.

What the hell are you trying to end this on a heartwarming note for?!! When you draw a sword, you must see it through!!! This makes it seem like I’m just receiving pity!!

“Ha. You’re combative. Just like me in my youth.”

Lockhart said as he sat down.

“That’s what makes my boyfriend charming, Dad.”

Tina said with a smile.

“But you need to work on your observation skills. Look.”

Lockhart raised his fist.

“Ah…..”

Only then did I realize I had been disrespectful.

The flesh on his fist was ruptured. His entire fist was covered in blood.

“I thought I could just deflect a sword… but you were strong. It was a sword strike difficult to block with bare hands.”

Lockhart said.

“You pass the physical test. I’ll allow you to date Tina.”

Lockhart conceded graciously.

“Sigh. Finally this nonsense is over. What a hassle.”

Mimishutain said as he began to put away the augmented reality equipment.

“Hey!!! What did you say?!”

Lockhart glared at Mimishutain.

“Nothing, Your Majesty.”

Mimishutain feigned innocence.

It seemed Lockhart wasn’t that authoritarian, given that his subordinates could talk back to the emperor to some extent.

“I know you have complicated relationships with women. But… of course!! My daughter will be your primary wife, right?”

At that moment, Lockhart threw an unexpected question.

“Ah… Eri is my primary wife.”

I said.

Snap-!

At those words, Lockhart’s veins popped.

“What the hell are you saying!!!!”

Lockhart immediately tried to lunge at me.

“Oh my! Your Majesty!! You’ve overexerted yourself today!!!”

“Please calm down!!”

The ministers were busy restraining Lockhart.

“Dad!! Even I acknowledge Eri as the primary wife!! And there’s not much difference in how Eri and I are treated!! Stop interfering in our relationship!! Please!!”

At that moment, Tina stepped in.

“If you keep doing this, I’ll start hating you!!”

Those words seemed to be a cheat key for a daughter-doting father.

“…Sorry.”

Lockhart immediately became submissive.

“And… the position of primary wife isn’t permanent, right? Mom was originally a secondary wife too. I’ll also take my time and earn the position of primary wife.”

Tina said in a triumphant tone.

“Hmph… I see.”

Lockhart smiled at those words.

“You’re becoming more like your mother every day. Both inside and out.”

Lockhart said in a relieved tone.

Anyway, that’s how I received approval for marriage. It was truly a memorable date in many ways.

———

Meanwhile, at Shota’s house.

Everyone in the harem knew that Sasitsu was in a difficult situation. Dozens of aliens were arbitrarily revering Sasitsu as a hero and following him around.

In the end, the harem members had to step in.

Eri and Kana took action. Eri handled the reception, while Kana instinctively displayed leadership to maintain some order. She established a system where aliens would explain their situations to Sasitsu one by one. Kana roughly recorded their information on documents. She was preparing to report everything to Shota when he returned.

“I am Karikkarik from the provisional government of Planet Elika.”

“We are suffering under the oppression of Pink Beard.”

Everyone shared their hardships and requested salvation from Sasitsu.

“Oh my. That must have been tough. Here, this is Earth’s tea. I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste.”

“Everyone, hang in there. Have some snacks.”

Eri’s bright, friendly gyaru nature worked even on aliens. Eri had somehow become a ‘saint-like’ figure to the oppressed aliens.

“Planets that have pledged to rebel against Pink Beard: about 351… including external multiverses, 681. Hmm. Not bad.”

Then Kana made a bold declaration.

“Here and now, I proclaim the formation of the Anti-Pink Beard Alliance.”

Kana spoke with the charisma befitting the daughter of the Saito family.

“W-what nonsense!!”

Sasitsu immediately objected.

“Shota would do the same if he were here, wouldn’t he?”

Indeed, Kana was fundamentally intelligent. She could see through Shota’s intentions to some extent. Kana was implementing what she thought Shota would want.

‘Master… I’m working so hard for you. You’d better reward me later?’

Kana thought to herself, blushing.

Meanwhile, Shota.

“Tina. I love you.”

“Me too.”

The two were just enjoying the afterglow of their date, kissing and cuddling. Shota himself wasn’t thinking about much else.