Volume 5 Chapter 18 Touma Yukinojo Assassination Plot IV： Are The Two Countries Burning？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A deafening boom pierced the air, echoing across the protective barrier. It wasn’t the kind of sound you’d expect from a battle between mere humans—it felt… wrong.
At the center of the arena, the source of the noise was clear: a match of pure strength between an exorcist from the Suwa clan and a super soldier from the American military. Despite their size difference, the two locked shoulders in an intense clash, each trying to overpower the other, much like a sumo match.
”Not bad,” Naoshi muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
Even he, someone who’d seen countless battles, couldn’t help but feel a little amazed. The Suwa clan’s patron deity, Takeminakata, was no stranger to strength—according to ancient texts, Takeminakata had once been crushed by the god Takemikazuchi with a hand like reed stalks. Yet, the man dedicated to that god’s service had thrown the strongest super soldier in history with nothing more than a deft move—a small yet powerful gesture that sent the towering African soldier sprawling to the ground.
A collective wow rose from the onlookers. They were impressed, of course, but it was more than that. It was the spectacle of seeing a smaller man toss someone with such ease. But this wasn’t a sumo match, and there was no winner yet. The super soldier quickly regained his posture and lunged at the exorcist.
The two locked hands and began grappling again, each trying to gain the upper hand. After a series of struggles, the super soldier’s grip tightened, and with a swift motion, he used a judo technique to throw the exorcist to the ground. It was clean and precise—a move that indicated his skill extended beyond military training into the world of martial arts.
The exorcist, adjusting his stance, stood, waiting for the next move. This was only the beginning. The fight was about to escalate into something far more complex, mixing brutal strikes with advanced combat techniques.
”Suwa-san’s got some style,” Naoshi observed, still relaxed in his seat.
Ako, standing beside him, straightened her posture, her eyes never leaving the combatants. “Yeah. The super soldier’s adapting too.”
”Quite a change from earlier,” she added with a grin.
There was a unique rhythm to this battle—an odd balance between intense rivalry and a sense of mutual respect. Was it because of the fighters’ personalities, or perhaps the careful consideration from the commanders behind the scenes? No one could tell for sure, but it was evident that this wasn’t just another clash for power—it was a show of strategy and wit.
”The Bureau of Onmyō was definitely stressing out,” Naoshi continued, voice low.
It was a subtle jab at the earlier match, where a French-born exorcist had faced a British witch from a noble family. A clash of cultures and backgrounds, their magic battle had been nothing short of a war—pure, unrelenting, and deadly. The grudge between them wasn’t just personal—it was something rooted deep in their very origins.
”Well, at least they learned something,” Naoshi mused, his eyes glinting with a trace of amusement.
The earlier battle had shown the differences in their abilities, but also the reality of the situation. Even if the fight didn’t go as planned, it was still a lesson for everyone watching.
Ako let out a small laugh. “I can just imagine what Yuzura would have to say about this.”
”Yeah, he’d probably complain about the ‘barbarism’,” Naoshi chuckled. “Though, I can’t say I disagree.”
The super soldier was slowly gaining the upper hand, a clear indication of his superior size and raw power. But it wasn’t just his physicality—it was his experience, the depth of his combat knowledge. Every move the exorcist made seemed to be predicted, countered, and turned against him.
”Looks like Suwa-san’s learning a thing or two from this,” Naoshi noted, his gaze sharp.
Despite his best efforts, the exorcist’s moves were growing less effective. His experience in spiritual battles didn’t necessarily translate into hand-to-hand combat. Every move he made was anticipated, his strengths used against him.
For Naoshi, who had once trained under his late great-uncle, this felt familiar. It was the cycle of life—a fight against time, age, and the inevitable decline of skill.
”I guess I’ll need to take some notes from my step-brother,” Ako said softly, almost to himself.
”Well, that’s fine…” He trailed off, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
The Suwa exorcist’s breath was ragged. After taking two clean hits to the face, he stepped back and raised his leg to deliver a sharp front kick, hoping to create distance.
The motion was fast and neat—but it was also obvious.
The super soldier had seen it coming. Without hesitation, he charged straight through the kick, slamming his full weight into the exorcist’s body. They crashed down together, the sound of impact echoing under the barrier dome. Before the exorcist could even recover, the soldier had already moved to control the ground.
His thick arms wrapped around the exorcist’s right arm—his dominant one—and locked it tightly. The movement was smooth, practiced. There was no wasted energy. Just pressure. Relentless, inescapable pressure.
”──That’s enough!”
The voice cut through the tension.
Another exorcist, standing on the sidelines as a referee, stepped forward and raised a hand. His voice was clear and calm, but firm.
The fight ended there, without drama.
The audience clapped, though the applause came a little late—like they weren’t sure if it was really over. The match had finished too quietly for the build-up it had.
* * *
”Ako-chan.”
Naoshi’s voice was light as he spoke. He didn’t even look at his sister-in-law sitting beside him.
”Yes,” Ako answered right away, her eyes still focused on the ring. “The moment that arm came up to block, the soldier changed it into a joint lock. If this were a real battle, it would be the same motion used to disarm someone or strike the throat with a knife.”
”You’ve got good eyes,” Naoshi said with a smirk. “So, what would you do in that situation?”
”In a real fight, I’d leave it to Step-Brother from the beginning.”
”And if you were on your own?”
Ako didn’t blink. “If I expected a fight, I would run. Even against someone stronger, I can still avoid direct combat—whether it’s guns or hand-to-hand.”
Naoshi gave a low chuckle. “Clever.”
It wasn’t that she was trying to avoid the question. She was simply thinking ahead, imagining what would happen if she really did have to fight a super soldier.
Ako’s face turned serious. “If there was absolutely no escape… I would go in close and grab them—ready to take us both down. If the rumors are true, and they’ve got machine parts inside them, they might be weak against very cold temperatures.”
”Hah… that’s a scary plan.”
Naoshi gave a dramatic shiver and rubbed his arms like he was freezing. She hadn’t been joking—and that’s what made it worse.
* * *
The sound of people moving filled the arena as staff and fighters prepared for the next match.
A group was approaching the seats near Naoshi and Ako.
Their facial features were East Asian, but slightly different from Japanese. Most of them wore matching black suits. They moved together, quietly and calmly—like they didn’t need to speak to understand what came next.
All except one.
A young woman, wearing a shiny jade-colored cheongsam, stood out immediately. She was the only one not in black. Her seat was closest to the ring, and even though she didn’t give any orders, the others didn’t question her presence.
”That’s a big group,” Naoshi muttered.
”There are about twenty of them,” Ako confirmed.
At first glance, they looked like normal people. But their movements were too smooth, too organized. There wasn’t a clear leader among them, either. No elder, no person giving commands.
The woman in the dress didn’t seem interested in leading, either. She just sat there, calm and silent, her face unreadable.
(That actually makes things simpler,) Naoshi thought. He had expected something strange to happen—and here it was.
* * *
’──The next match will start in five minutes. Please wait a moment.’
The voice from the speakers echoed around the hall.
Naoshi stood up.
”I’m gonna walk a bit. Bathroom.”
Ako glanced at him, raising her eyebrow slightly, but he just waved her off with a lazy smile and left his seat.
Notes:
• Suwa – Male. An exorcist from the Suwa branch family. He has a medium build and is skilled in combat, demonstrating both physical strength and supernatural abilities. His relationship with Naoshi is professional, as they observe and discuss the ongoing matches together.
• Yuzura – The beautiful man. Kazuramichi Naoshi’s childhood friend, and one of the few who knows the true nature of the Kazuramichi family. The nephew of Kanbe Taro, the head of the Kanbe family.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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