Chapter 14: The Sumisakis

"Well," I stopped and turned to face my opponent. "Looks like I'm forced to unsheath you, Hana."

"Finally!" Hanakanmaru complained. "You never let me in on the fun!"

When Nanao was within point-blank range, I parried his blow and struck back with Sorahoshi, followed by Kanshou no Sakura.

"Coward!" Nanao yelled. "Come out and face me!"

I ignored him - well, I couldn't interrupt my own sword skill halfway through. After a while, my seemingly arbitrary attacks were able to tire him out.

"What a... disgusting way to win," Nanao spoke his words and fainted.

"Just because your strength is in your power, doesn't mean mine is." I shrugged.

"The victory goes to Reiken!" The host announced as I put Hanakanko back in its sheath and walked to the side.

Unfortunately, when I did my matchmaking, I drew a bamboo stick that had a multiple of three on it, meaning I had another match coming up.

"What do you think?" Moye asked.

"People who are here do indeed have a reason to be," I pinched my chin. "I was hoping to win without using Kanshou no Sakura, or even without Sorahoshi, so I could save some energy."

"Well, better use this time to recover then."

I nodded and went back to meditating. What seemed like ten minutes passed, and Moye woke me up.

"Wakey wakey," Moye poked me on my arm. "You're next."

"Already?" I yawned.

"...I told you to meditate, not sleep."

"Close enough."

"Well, good thing Kasumi knew this would happen," Moye pointed towards a bowl with a small black and white swirl on top. "He made some refreshing tea for you. Even had it heated with a blob of his fire."

"He could honestly make a Thermos company." I chuckled and took a sip.

It was my turn again. My opponent was another disciple from the Kumoya Clan, famous for their arrow skills.

The fight went by quicker than I thought it would. I took my opponent out using only one Sorahoshi.

"See? Not everyone is a Shiya." Moye yawned.

"Well, I don't mind stronger opponents." I shrugged.

"Of course you don't, because if you only get easy fights, I'm going to throw you in hell again for training."

"Brings back... memories, huh," I shivered.

The next few days went by quickly, just like the first tier of the festival. Moye said it wasn't because my opponents were all at the same low level as my opponents from a week ago, but because I subconsciously leveled up my spirit.

My easy match streak ended when I reached the semifinals - my opponent this time was another Shiya.

"Yune Shiya, huh." I pinched my chin.

"Boss!" A hand appeared on my shoulder. "Want some intel of the Shiya family?"

"Who are you?" I brushed his hand off my shoulder.

"Some intel merchant." Speaking to me was a young boy with a decent appearance - apart from looking a bit... avaricious.

"And what do you want for that information, from which I would gain little benefit?"

"Trust me, boss! There's nothing in this world I don't know."

"What was the colour of the socks Nanao Shiya wore yesterday, then?" I smirked.

"Uh... excuse me?"

"I thought you knew everything."

"But... no one can know that! He has boots covering them all the time."

"I know," I said. "Because his spirit enhances his physical power, it would cause his muscles to grow and his clothes to explode whenever he uses his spirit. To give him cover, the Shiya family gave him shorts and boots that were made of the shedded skin of a specific snake that has insane stretching abilities."

"What does that have to do with his socks?"

"He didn't wear socks. The family can't afford to waste the precious material on socks, and since they'll just explode, there was no point of him wearing socks to the match."

"What about his clothes?"

"Probably wore them just for the explosion effect."

"I... you win," The intel trader said. "You're my boss now. Actual, full-time boss."

"Wait, when did I agree to that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I made a vow to become the loyal servant to the first person to outsmart me."

"I know you're not an intel trader. Tell me, what do you actually do?" I rolled my eyes.

"Glad you asked! Please listen to my dramatic life!" He stood up straighter. "I wanted to become a spirit wielder and become cool, but I have little spirit capacity... so I had to use a different approach."

"Instead of using spirit power, I use mechanical modules to enhance my abilities." He explained with a proud tone.

"Technology wielders, huh." Moye thought out loud.

"What are they?" I asked in my mind.

"Every parallel universe was in unity with each other - however, one event caused an inconsistency," Moye explained. "Your world decided to develop technology, while this world chose to continue using spirit powers."

"However, one branch of people by the name of Sumisaki still practices technology, similar to people who practice spirit energy from your world... you probably don't know, but that's what they are."

"Are you a Sumisaki?" I asked the "intel trader".

"Uh... I suppose I am." He smiled bitterly, hiding away something. I wanted to ask, but decided to shut up.

"Anyway! I saw your matches. I think you're really cool, so I want to join you." He pleaded.

"More the merrier. You'll need your own force to battle the invasion." Moye nudged me.

"Give me your name." I sighed. "You're in."

"Yay! Thank you!" He jumped up. "My name is Montei! Sumi Montei."

"Name's Kitano Reiken." I reluctantly shook his sweaty hand.