It’s Been a While Since I’ve Been This Heated

Allen Ludwig’s heart was filled with excitement as he stepped onto the stage for the semifinal.

It had been a tough fight, but he had somehow made it to the semifinals.

Kyo Wentos had already advanced to the finals.

Just one more person. If he could defeat the woman in front of him, he could have the revenge he had been waiting for.

“The next match is Allen Ludwig versus Iris Likenair!”

[Waaaaa!!]

[Allen! Allen! Allen!]

[Show us another amazing comeback!!]

Cheers supporting Allen rang loudly from the audience.

Allen Ludwig, who had achieved flashy comeback victories against numerous strong opponents.

His next opponent was Iris Likenair, known as the academy’s strongest swordswoman.

The audience’s cheers were filled with expectations that he would show another magnificent comeback this time too.

Of course, there were a few people who had displeased expressions at these cheers.

To them, Allen Ludwig’s so-called comebacks were nothing but farces that were difficult to accept.

But there was no sign that he had arranged anything, and no evidence of any means such as magic or drugs being used.

Which means, all those absurd farces happened by chance.

Even the tournament organizing committee had launched a thorough investigation with bewildered expressions.

“We find the probability preposterous too, but all we can say is that it actually happened.”

Even those who came to protest were left speechless at the truly aggrieved appearance of the organizer.

And it was very frustrating.

While there was suspicion of some foul play, there was absolutely no evidence.

As Allen drew his practice sword, Iris also drew the borrowed practice sword.

The blunted practice sword, well-maintained by its appearance, reflected the sunlight and gleamed brightly.

And she silently glared at the silver-haired boy in front of her.

As they faced each other with swords drawn, the referee announced the start of the match.

Allen Ludwig charged immediately.

His sword swung at Iris, but she lightly evaded Allen’s sword.

Like that, the first strike, second strike, third strike.

Allen delivered consecutive sword strikes, but Iris easily avoided all attacks.

“Tsk!”

Allen grew increasingly impatient as all his attacks were evaded.

And as soon as his combo ended, a counterattack aimed at Allen flew in as if it had been waiting.

Iris’s attacks came precisely at timing and positions that were difficult to block with a sword.

He had to launch his body and roll several times to avoid the attacks.

“You’re so slow.”

“Kuh… then…!”

Allen discarded his shield and gripped his practice sword with both hands.

Iris’s eyes narrowed at seeing that stance.

The high-speed combination attack that Allen had used several times in the competition.

It was quite fast but lacked any substantial power, with attacks so weak that one could take a few hits without issue – all flash and no substance.

That’s how Iris saw it.

But in this Mushin Festival, everyone who either blocked or took those attacks had lost.

Thanks to “coincidental” happenings.

So Iris concentrated carefully.

“Haaaaaaaap!!”

With a battle cry, Allen swiftly swung the practice sword he held with both hands.

[Waaaaaaa!!]

[Allen! Allen! Allen!]

Simultaneously, cheers from the audience shouting Allen’s name filled the arena.

Allen felt as if he was gaining more energy from the cheers filling the venue.

Many people were cheering for him.

They wanted him to win.

“Haaaaaaaap!!”

First attack, Iris took a step and evaded it lightly.

Immediately the second attack, Iris twisted her body to avoid it, and the attack missed.

Third, fourth, fifth in a triple combo. Iris threw her body backward to avoid them.

‘Why…!’

Iris Likenair was evading everything as if she could read all his sword movements.

Seeing this, Allen felt his impatience reaching its peak.

Until now, no attack had been effective against her.

No, forget effective, not a single attack had even hit her.

Yes. Just like.

Just like his duel with Kyo Wentos a few months ago.

That point made Allen even more impatient.

“Uaaaaaaaa!!”

Allen’s fast combo attacks became even faster.

As the 16-hit combo unfolding from Allen’s hands was about to end.

Not once during that combo did he manage to hit Iris Likenair.

‘…I thought his only advantage was speed, but even his speed is very slow.’

While evading Allen’s combo, Iris thought.

She remembered yesterday’s special training with Kyo Wentos, who had imitated Allen’s movements.

She even thought that Kyo Wentos’s attacks, which were merely imitations, seemed faster.

‘Five more.’

As she dodged the 11th combo strike, Iris began counting the timing.

And Allen’s consecutive sword strikes continued.

‘Four… three… two…’

Iris, who had been evading all of Allen’s attacks, clenched her right hand holding the sword tightly.

“One… Haaaap!!”

Thwack!!

“Kuhk!!”

As soon as she evaded the final strike, Iris immediately threw her body forward and delivered a blow to Allen.

Allen’s face contorted after being properly hit by the practice sword.

It connected properly! Thinking this, Iris immediately attempted a follow-up attack.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!!

Iris’s swift sword strikes hit Allen’s body in succession.

She beat his body mercilessly, to the point where screams rose from the audience.

This is the end! Just as Iris was about to deliver the finishing blow.

“Kuh…?!”

Suddenly, an intense headache struck Iris’s head.

‘What…is this? I didn’t allow even a single attack…’

Two legs trembling along with the powerful headache.

She felt strength draining from her entire body.

Strength was also leaving her grip, and she almost dropped the sword, but her hands instinctively tightened to prevent it.

[Waaaaaaaa!!]

[Now’s the time! Go, Allen!]

As Iris’s movements suddenly stopped, the cheers from the audience grew louder.

As always, a golden opportunity for Allen’s counterattack had arrived.

The audience cheered, thinking it had come again.

…Only a very few people noticed that this was a strange sight for Iris, who hadn’t allowed a single attack.

Hee hee…

Hee hee hee…

A laughing sound reached Iris’s ears along with the terrible pain.

In Iris’s vision, which she was somehow trying to maintain despite her blurring eyes, she saw Allen composing himself and readjusting his grip on the sword.

Allen raised the readjusted sword high and ran toward her.

…It’s a charging stance with many openings.

Her head hurt, and her body wouldn’t move as she wanted.

If she took that hit as is, the sword she was barely holding onto would fall from her hand.

Drop the sword?

Iris recalled her childhood when she was learning swordsmanship from her father.

‘As long as there’s an enemy in front of you, never drop your sword from your hand unless you’re cut down and killed.’

The image of her father saying that to her naturally came to mind.

Strength automatically entered Iris’s hand.

She absolutely could not drop this sword from her hand.

“Aaaaaaaa!!”

Iris swung the practice sword tightly gripped in her hand widely.

At that force, Allen, who had been charging in for an attack, flinched and retreated.

Kyaaaak!!

Kyaak!!

“…Ah.”

The pain.

The pain that had been tearing through her head, the weakness that had been enveloping her entire body.

They disappeared like they were blown away by the wind.

“Haa… haa…”

The audience erupted in loud cheers.

Allen stepped back momentarily, still holding his sword.

In that situation, Iris, who had somehow composed herself, breathed heavily.

“Haaaaap!!”

Allen, who had flinched very briefly with his momentum killed, charged in again.

He wasn’t sure, but he judged that his opponent was showing an opening.

“…!!”

Clang!!

Allen’s desperate charging attack was simply blocked by the practice sword that Iris had raised.

Iris’s heart sank momentarily, but there seemed to be no problem with the sword in her hand.

…She was worried about what might happen if there was an issue, since it was a borrowed sword.

The practice sword was still gleaming brightly.

Iris, who had let out a sigh of relief, gripped the sword tightly with both hands.

As if the intense headache that had just enveloped her was a lie, a cold and icy anger gradually consumed Iris.

“…I don’t know what trick you pulled.”

Iris and Allen faced each other again.

Allen faltered momentarily at the killing intent that Iris was emitting.

A few seconds passed like that.

In Allen’s field of vision, which was watching Iris, her figure became blurry and then slipped away.

“Huh…?”

Thwack!!

“Kyaaaaa!!”

Instantly, Allen felt an intense pain in his waist.

By the time he recognized the practice sword that had struck his body, it was already too late.

“You’ve done something really disgusting.”

“…W-What are you…?”

“I don’t know if you’re pretending not to know or if you really don’t know, but…”

Looking at Allen, who was somehow not dropping his sword despite his trembling body, Iris raised the corner of her mouth in a sneer.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been this heated. Let’s see how long you can endure?”

“Urgh…”

Thwack!! Thwack!! Thwack!! Thwack!!

Primitive striking sounds filled the stage, to the point where the audience instantly fell silent.