A Spar

We went to the dedicated field for that purpose by the volunteer army's office. Not only Yousuke and Kei, but the rest of our comrades were looking over the railing to take a look. '...Actually, there were many more.'

Volunteer soldiers— some of whom I knew— then frontier soldiers, and the citizens of Alterna were watching. It wasn't overwhelmingly large and bustling, but it still wasn't a small number.

"Damn, Kiyotaka and Suzune? I'm fired up!"

"How the hell did it come to this, in the first place?"

"I'm curious myself... You have any idea, Chiaki?"

"I'm as clueless as you. Try asking Yousuke and Kei."

"Who do you think will win, Yousuke?"

"Huh? Uh, I think Kiyotaka."

"You two ready?" Britney was smiling. He would be our judge.

"I am."

"Anytime."

Suzune and I both had our bodysuit protections on, but our respective weapons had been replaced with wooden ones to avoid serious injuries. I allowed Suzune to fight with a wooden shield to stick with her paladin style. In return, I wielded a clearly bigger wooden sword than her.

"On three, then," Britney announced. We both adjusted our stances. We're close enough to attack head-on. "Three, two, one!"

I reached out to her at once. Suzune deftly used Thrust to ward me off. '—nice form.' The way she shielded her body with her shield, using that long wooden sword to keep me at a distance, and reading my movements to tackle me, they're quick and steady.

I could end this spar quickly. But I've said that I'd show her my ability to use the skills the guild had offered without them having to teach me. To do so would be contradictory.

I utilized my excess speed to get over to her side where she was grasping her shield. Since Suzune had both hands occupied with her shield and sword, she wouldn't be able to quickly use her blade on me.

That could be why she used Bash, shoving her shield against me the moment I tried to strike her. And I received the blow head-on.

"—?" Suzune instantly stepped back. She was aware of our vastly different physical powers. Obviously. 'I should do it now.'

"I'm gonna go on the offensive."

Commemorating that, I sped straight for her once again. Suzune braced herself with her shield and wooden sword. She was either going to do the same thing as the first one or went on the offensive as well. Either way, it was to no avail.

"Wha—" Suzune probably had her eyes wide open from beneath her helmet. 

She hadn't expected my sudden somersault maneuver. "—urk!" I brought my wooden sword down on her as I went. It'd be bad to hit her head even if it was only a wooden sword, so I directed it at her shield instead.

Suzune didn't let go of her shield. It was affected, sure, but not by much. She would be able to harden her grip immediately. I executed a Fast Thrust before that could happen. Suzune barely block it with her shield.

I performed a horizontal spin, slamming into her shield with my wooden sword. "Hk!" This time, her shield nearly flew out of her hand.

Then, I swung my wooden sword from below. Suzune opted to threw away her shield and concentrated on countering it with her wooden sword. 'Good.'

She managed to lock the blades with me.

I slid my blade upwards. Suzune reflexively did the same. But, when I was at a sufficiently high vantage point, I brought it down. Suzune couldn't keep up with the sudden movement and left her head banged. That was Wind.

Her grasp on the sword becomes awkward thanks to that. I used the opportunity to apply Rage Blow.

"Ngh?!"

Pushing down on her shoulder, I had Suzune kneel helplessly on the ground.

"Wooaahhh...!" The audience burst into an instant uproar.

"That was smooth as fuck!"

"He doesn't even look a little bit overwhelmed..."

"Did he really just start working as a volunteer soldier?"

"I guess that's to be expected from the slayer of the Death Spots."

"That was brilliant," Britney praised, walking towards us with a clearly impressed expression. "That's more than anything I expected from you... You didn't learn those skills from the guild, did you?"

I shrugged, extending my hand to Suzune. She took it unreservedly. "That has proved my claim, hasn't it?"

"'Obviously,' Suzune wheezed. Then, in a painfully low tone, she mumbled something. "...sorry."

"What for?" I used a similar tone.

Suzune shook her head. It seemed like it would take some time for her to open up with me or any of her companions.

"You know, I think I have a great suggestion," Britney stated with that suspicious smile of hers. "Would you all be open to picking up the order?"

"Order?" Suzune didn't seem to know what he meant.

Britney stared at me. "I'm sure Kiyotaka knows what I'm trying to say."

Suzune immediately turned her attention to me. I sighed. "It was the assault of Deadhead Watching Keep. I have heard that the frontier soldiers will be the main attackers, though. The volunteer soldiers will just ride along."

"It's retaliation for their raid from a little while ago." Britney shrugged. "You guys haven't arrived yet, sadly."

Ken and the others entered the training field, while the audience dispersed.

My fellow warrior rushed over to me. "That was good, Kiyotaka! Let's do my turn!"

"No."

"What?! Why...?!"

"I don't have any energy left for that."

"Bullshit! Just fight me, man. What's so troublesome about it?"

"It was troublesome in many ways."

"The hell does that mean?"

"That would be up to your imagination."

Yousuke went to Suzune's side. "Are you particularly hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine. Kiyotaka is holding himself."

Kei watched from behind in awe, not even bothering with Suzune. Kikyou was by her side. I feel like she's been deliberately avoiding me ever since the incident a while ago. I should do something about it.

"Man, that was fun to see," Kanji clapped me on the back with a leisurely smile. "You should do that with Ken some other time."

"...I'll consider that."

Chiaki questioned Britney. "When is the assault supposed to start?"

"The day after tomorrow," Britney replied immediately. "The final registration is tomorrow morning, and departure is Monday just before dawn, outside the North gate."

Suzune had her helmet off, frowning. "'Deadhead' is filled with orcs, isn't it?"

Britney smiled. "Yeah. What's wrong? Afraid?"

She flinched.

"I don't think we should rush things," Kikyou interjected. "We could discuss it together this night."

"...You're right."

Britney giggled. "I do hope you accept, though."