Ch.328Breaking the Seal (4)

I concentrated my mind, focusing all my attention on Sayaka’s breathing.

‘Senior Sayaka’s breathing… it’s getting rough. And she’s moving. Moving fast…’

From the situation, it seemed like she was running away from someone.

I could also sense the breathing of whoever was chasing Senior Sayaka. That breathing was controlled. Despite running at a steady pace, their breathing remained normal. The answer was obvious. There was a significant difference in skill level.

In truth, as long as none of us were defeated, we would technically win the match… but that didn’t mean I could leave Senior Sayaka to fend for herself.

When a comrade is in danger, you save them. That was common sense.

“Hey! Violet!! Come!!”

I called out into the empty air, half hopeful, half certain.

“Help me!!”

I shouted loudly.

“………”

But there was no response.

“Violet!!! My love!!! Open the window for me!!!!!”

I immediately launched into a passionate serenade for Violet.

“There he is!! It’s Arigiri Shota!!”

Hearing that, other disciples of the Fleur family rushed toward me.

“Suddenly singing like a madman!! What are you trying to do, huh?”

One of them asked.

“Who the hell is Violet?!!”

Another seemed curious about that.

“Violet? She is my beloved girlfriend.”

I stated flatly.

“Hahaha. Looking for your lover in the middle of a fight. I don’t dislike such a romantic guy…”

SWOOSH-!!!

I immediately swung my wooden sword and subdued all the guys in front of me. I’d already told them everything they wanted to know. Answering others’ questions—that’s what an intellectual does. I don’t consume others’ inner energy. That’s internet etiquette!

“Oh my… really!!!!!”

Unable to stand it anymore, Violet summoned a portal at a nearby window and jumped out.

“Who is your girlfriend?!”

Violet shouted loudly.

“Hehehe. You came out after all, didn’t you?”

I said with a smile.

“That’s because you’re spreading rumors about our relationship!!”

Violet immediately got angry.

“I’m sorry right away, Violet. Can you convert the memory of the strong one right now?”

Since I’d called Violet anyway, I wanted to convert the memory into stats immediately.

“Well… I can. But couldn’t we do this in the Soul Room…”

Though grumbling, Violet took my hand. This tsundere, really.

Flash-!

The stats were immediately converted.

‘Fleur Holchak: A former head of the Fleur family and a sword master called the strongest in the history of the Fleur family. Sometimes, eyes can be a hindrance. There are things that can only be seen with the eyes of the heart.’

‘Dexterity increases by 15.’

Instead of one stat increasing, my dexterity increased significantly. Well, dealing with that crazy old man jumping around everywhere definitely made me feel more agile.

“This is all for the sake of the world, Violet.”

I stated flatly.

“Just let me eliminate Pink Beard!! I said I’d save the world, didn’t I? Can’t I?”

I said to Violet.

“Using the same logic as when you made a fuss about wanting a Psycho Robo…”

Violet hit a sore spot.

“Hey!!! If you don’t grant my request… the world will end because of you!”

I immediately started gaslighting… I mean, persuading her.

“Fine!! I said fine!!”

Like Green Beard, she had no resistance to gaslighting.

“Where should we go?”

Violet asked me.

“To where Sayaka is. She should be around the 8th floor.”

I said.

“That you know that… you’ve really transcended humanity.”

Violet said.

“Yes. Now let’s transcend humanity and species and get married, Violet-chan.”

I gazed deeply at Violet and held her hand.

“Again!! You’re just saying that to tease me, aren’t you?!!”

Violet blushed and got angry.

“I’m always sincere.”

I stated flatly.

“Anyway… I’m just one of many women to you. I don’t like that.”

Violet mumbled. Ah… so that’s what she’s concerned about? Still… once she tastes the harem life, she might change her mind?

“Anyway!!! I’ll open a dimensional door to that place! Okay?”

Violet immediately started looking for a suitable place for a door. She did this last time too.

In the end, the place Violet and I found was a bathroom. Both of my secret meetings with Violet had been in bathrooms. Saying it like that made it sound incredibly risqué.

“It’s, it’s a flush toilet… and it smells fragrant!! There’s air freshener!”

Violet marveled at strange things.

“The pit toilet from last time must have been quite a shock, Violet.”

I placed my hand on Violet’s shoulder.

“Don’t mention it!! I don’t want to remember!!”

Violet immediately got angry.

Flash-!

Anyway, Violet transformed the petite door of the 5-star hotel bathroom into a dimensional door.

After counting to three, Violet and I jumped through the door.

———

At that moment, Sayaka was running through the 8th floor of the hotel.

Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!

Sporadic combat broke out as she ran through the hotel.

“Hehehe. Is that all you’ve got?”

A man was casually running behind her. He was a member of “Wings,” an organization composed of the Fleur family’s first-class fighters.

“Damn it…”

Sayaka clicked her tongue.

“Let me be blunt. You have no talent.”

He said, brushing up his hair that was curled like butter.

“…….”

Sayaka’s face hardened at those words.

“Well… you fight well for your age, but you can’t escape the level of a student. Give up kendo and just live as a normal high school girl. You’ll be happier that way.”

Butter Man said with a smile.

“Huff… huff…”

Sayaka didn’t respond to his provocation and raised her sword. She had lived only for kendo. No talent? She knew that much. However, everyone has something they can’t bend on no matter what. For Sayaka, that was kendo.

“I’ll give you credit for that spirit. Since I like you… I’ll have to break your spirit.”

Butter Man raised his sword with a slightly sad look.

“I’ll make you give up kendo.”

Right after that, Butter Man closed the distance toward Sayaka.

Swoosh-! Thwack-! Swoosh-! Swoosh-!

After that, Butter Man gleefully beat Sayaka. The detail of deliberately avoiding places where the umaebong might be was a bonus.

“Gaaah!! Kuhk!!”

Sayaka desperately took a defensive stance and didn’t let go of her sword.

“You still won’t let go of the sword… I’m not particularly talented either. But you have even less talent. The world of swordsmanship is harsh. With such shallow talent, you’ll only experience bitterness.”

Butter Man said that while one-sidedly toying with Sayaka.

“Kuhk…!!”

Sayaka didn’t even speak and continued to hold her sword as she got up.

“Impressive determination.”

Butter Man said that and delivered a final blow toward Sayaka.

Swoosh-!

With that, Sayaka’s waist bent like a bow. Sayaka was about to fall grandly to the ground…

Pop-!

Shota appeared in the middle of the air. Shota lightly supported Sayaka.

“Sho, Shota…”

Sayaka looked at Shota who was embracing her.

“Senior Sayaka. You might have lost to that man in swordsmanship, but you won spiritually.”

I said.

“Won? What are you talking about…”

Butter Man glared at me while curling his round hair.

“You didn’t let go until the end. The sword.”

I looked at the sword Sayaka was gripping tightly.

“Yes… I… did my best…”

Sayaka burst into tears.

“That’s enough.”

I smiled and stroked Sayaka’s head.

“As long as your spirit doesn’t break, you can reach anywhere. That’s the way of the warrior, isn’t it? You upheld the way of the warrior as a kendo practitioner.”

I said that and gently placed Sayaka on the ground nearby.

“You’re… unlucky.”

At that moment, Butter Man said.

“Lucky?”

“You showed off so much in front of a woman… but you’ll get beaten just like her. It’s quite unsightly.”

Butter Man smiled and curled his hair.

“Well, if you had fought with Master Holchak, you would have suffered something more terrible. Should I say you’re lucky in that respect?”

Butter Man continued with a smile.

“Holchak? That old man… I took him down.”

I said with a shrug.

“That’s impossible…”

Butter Man stared at me and then snorted.

“It must be bluffing to shake me. It won’t work.”

Butter Man said with a grin.

“No… it’s true…”

I was at a loss for words.

“Well… let’s finish this quickly. I need to take care of your comrades quickly and proceed with this engagement ceremony as planned. This marriage is very important for our family, which has honor but no money. I can’t let outsiders ruin it.”

Butter Man smiled and raised his sword.

“Alright, then let’s end the talk and…”

Flash-!!

After that, I approached him without warning.

“What…?!”

Butter Man’s expression hardened at my unexpected speed.

“Let’s fight now.”

With those words, I swung my sword with all my might.

SWOOSH-!!

The sword struck Butter Man’s face with full force.

“Guaaaaaah!!!!!”

Butter Man flew back and hit the wall.

Thud-!

Butter Man tried somehow to get up.

“What… ridiculous speed… kuhk…!”

However, it seemed his stamina had been reduced to rags from just one hit.

“Is that all? How boring.”

I smiled and approached him.

“Su-surrender!! I surrender!! Please!! If it’s the umaebong, it’s right here!!”

Butter Man immediately took out a snack from his pocket.

I lightly received the snack from Butter Man and placed it gently to the side.

“What are you…”

Butter Man’s expression hardened.

“If I don’t break this, the match isn’t over yet. The match continues until the snack breaks.”

“You… bastard, don’t tell me…”

“I’ll break the snack after beating you up a bit more. Until then… become my sandbag!! Anakin #2!!!”

I shouted that and charged toward Butter Man.

“You crazy bastard!!!!”

Butter Man’s scream echoed through the 8th floor of the hotel.