Volume 1 Chapter 39 True Form II： O Beloved, Die
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
There’s a difference in the spirit energy (reiki) that men and women give off.
According to the yin-yang and 5 elements theory, men are associated with the yang (positive) side, while women are linked to the yin (negative) side.
It’s hard to explain exactly how, but it’s clear that this difference exists.
”Really…”
That’s why, even though Mibu Itsuki was often called “more beautiful than a woman” and had an androgynous voice, Naoshi never questioned her gender.
”No kiddin’…”
In the first place, there’s really no need for an exorcist to pretend about their gender.
It’s not rare to have a female leader.
The overall ratio of men to women is probably around 6 to 4, or maybe even 7 to 3.
So, it’s strange to hear about someone using cursed tools to hide their identity.
With a slightly less intense expression, Mibu Itsuki spoke to the confused Naoshi.
”──You look more down than surprised.”
”Nah, just embarrassed at how plain shocked I was.”
”The values of the people here are really hard to understand… Well, I hope you can figure things out from this.”
”Ah──hold on a sec, lemme get this straight.”
Mibu Itsuki nodded in agreement.
Itsuki Mibu Itsuki is a woman.
Based on that, Naoshi thought about the first defeat and the reason why she had avoided a rematch for 8 years.
A duel between exorcists of different genders leaves a strong impression of who is better.
And between Kazuramichi Naoshi and Itsuki Mibu Itsuki, that had already been decided a long time ago.
”When ya said 5 minutes earlier, you weren’t talkin’ 50-50, were ya?”
”Yeah, I meant 5 percent.”
The chances of winning a rematch after winning a duel against the opposite gender are about 95 percent.
If it involves s*x after the duel and then leads to a third match, the winning rate is a hundred percent, with no exceptions recorded.
That’s an absolute wall that makes Naoshi hesitate to call it a challenge.
”So, ya been waitin’ for this moment, huh?”
”Exactly. I only have one more chance to win, and it’s a very slim one──yet you’ve been taunting me about being scared.”
”Don’t blame me. That’s what ya get for dressin’ like a guy.”
”…There’s nothing more annoying than hearing a reasonable point from you.”
”What d’ya mean by that?”
”I mean it literally──so, are you satisfied now?”
”Yeah, the underdog’s got guts. I’m impressed.”
”──Huh?”
”Oh, look at that. A rare reaction from ya. The truth stung, huh?”
”…That’s a cheap provocation. Your intentions are obvious.”
”Hmph, and what’s that make you, fallin’ for it?”
The understanding was complete.
Naoshi grasped the motives, circumstances, and background.
There was surprise, but doubts still lingered.
Still, Naoshi knew that what she needed to do hadn’t changed.
”Well, thinkin’ on it, your reasons don’t matter much. You’re the one who started this fight, so I’m just gonna take you down.”
”…Well, I figured you’d say that. For me, what’s important is that you’re not hesitating.”
As Mibu Itsuki swung a strike aimed at Naoshi’s face with the handle of her weapon, Naoshi caught it with her palm.
Their gazes locked, neither of them looking away, just staring deep into each other’s eyes.
”I’m gonna break every fang ya got this time. Gonna crush ya good.”
”──Yeah, that’s right. That’s how it should be, my beloved enemy.”
With a fierce grin, Naoshi said this, and Mibu Itsuki responded with a smile full of affection, like one would give to a lover.
”Then, will ya die for me?”
”You should be the one to die.”
With those expressions, their killing intent suddenly surged.
Mibu Itsuki’s body sank slightly.
With her legs spread wide to maintain distance, she swung her blade at Naoshi’s legs.
Naoshi had to lift her foot to dodge it.
”Raaah──!”
Immediately, a butterfly flew up from the ground where Naoshi had been standing.
Countless thrusts came raining down from above.
”Oh──!”
Naoshi dodged, using his arms, which couldn’t channel spirit energy, to block and deflect the attacks.
Still, some of the thrusts got through, tearing his skin and leaving many red lines on his body.
”Ha!”
As his eyes finally got used to the light, he suddenly had to dodge a quick sideways strike aimed at his neck without any hesitation.
”Here I go──!”
Just like that, Naoshi spread his legs and lowered his body to avoid the attack. Hhe then stood up while closing his legs and twisted his body to deliver a powerful kick.
But that kick missed completely.
Mibu Itsuki had jumped up to a height that was out of reach.
Naoshi, who was quite tall for a Japanese man at 184 cm (6’0″), usually didn’t have to look up at people when fighting.
Luckily, thanks to Suzuri, he had been getting a lot of practice with swords lately.
But her sword was tough and rough. Mibu Itsuki’s swordplay was much more refined and flexible, making it harder to predict.
Plus, Mibu Itsuki was dealing with an injury to her left arm and had lost her usual 2-sword technique, which made things even tougher.
”Stop bein’ a pain…!”
”That’s a compliment──!”
With that, Mibu Itsuki kicked off the ground again, letting gravity take over.
Her sword came straight down towards Naoshi.
”Raaahhh──!”
”Here I go!”
Naoshi jumped, trying to time his move perfectly with light steps.
He charged up his spirit power into her kick, which had just recently cut off an oni’s horn, and her right foot arched beautifully as it shot up.
The clash of spirit energy and steel echoed as their attacks collided.
After a high-pitched, hard sound, it was the steel blade that broke.
”──!?”
As his raised foot hit the ground, his left foot swung around, aiming for Mibu Itsuki’s neck.
This time, the sound was a bit duller.
Mibu Itsuki managed to block the kick with the flat of her sword, but it had shortened the blade even more.
”Still got that ridiculous strength, huh…!”
”Feels weak to me. Got yourself a cheap sword?”
Naoshi said this casually, but inside he felt relieved.
Even as an exorcist, it wasn’t easy to fight someone with a weapon, especially since Mibu Itsuki was technically on the same level as Naoshi.
He had just felt how sharp Mibu Itsuki’s skills were.
That’s why it was a big deal that Mibu Itsuki had lost the tip of her sword, which took away one of her advantages in reach.
”If ya wanna cry and say sorry, now’s the time──!”
”Ugh!”
Mibu Itsuki blocked Naoshi’s powerful upward kick with her left arm.
”Ugh!”
Naoshi quickly jumped again, this time landing a mid-level kick to Mibu Itsuki’s side.
”Ugh…!”
Right after Mibu Itsuki’s face twisted in pain, Naoshi’s right foot swept both of Mibu Itsuki’s legs, knocking her down into shallow water.
”Ugh, take this──!”
Without hesitation, Naoshi stepped down hard.
What made this so terrifying wasn’t just the impact of the hit, but that Mibu Itsuki’s body would hit the solid ground again.
”Ugh…!”
Having no choice, Mibu Itsuki dropped her sword and tried to catch Naoshi’s foot with both hands.
Just as Naoshi was about to crush her with her weight.
”Roarrrr──!”
A sound came from Mibu Itsuki’s throat that didn’t sound human at all.
It was a roar.
Since ancient times, beastly sounds were believed to have power, and it was said that a dog’s bark could drive away evil spirits.
Mibu Itsuki was part of the Ookami──wolf clan, so her roar naturally held power.
It was loud enough to shake the air around them.
”Tch!”
In that brief moment of being startled by the force of the roar, Itsuki took the chance to slip away from Naoshi’s foot and stand up.
But in doing so, he lost his weapon for good.
Even though it was already broken and short, it still felt like he was getting closer to finishing the fight.
”Whoa──!”
Itsuki charged at Naoshi with a spirit energy-infused hand strike.
As an exorcist trained in swordsmanship, his movements were anything but amateur.
But…
”Ya ain’t even close to my level, ya fool!”
Even with a weapon, they were still evenly matched.
To face Kazuramichi Naoshi, Itsuki’s skills felt too rushed and unprepared.
”Ugh!?”
Naoshi easily grabbed Itsuki’s arm and slid into her embrace without any difficulty.
He grabbed her collar and spun around, carrying her on his back.
With a swift movement, Naoshi performed a one-armed shoulder throw, causing a large splash of water.
Itsuki landed on her back, and Naoshi stepped on her forehead, pushing her face underwater.
”Ugh!?”
Itsuki struggled, flailing her limbs reflexively, trying to break free.
The average person can hold their breath for about a minute, but struggling would shorten that time.
Even an ex-level exorcist like Itsuki couldn’t escape the basic principles of biology.
Naoshi observed her with a cold gaze, deciding to wait for two minutes before taking any further action.
Itsuki’s eyes met Naoshi’s through the water’s surface.
She looked desperate, her arms grasping Naoshi’s legs, trying to escape.
”This is what ya wanted, ain’t it? A death match? Well, here ya go.”
Naoshi didn’t necessarily want to kill Itsuki, but to ensure victory, he was willing to cross that line.
It could be respect for MibuItsuki, or a sense of guilt, as someone had pointed out to him before.
Despite their differences, they had known each other for a long time, second only to KanbeYuzura among their peers.
Naoshi couldn’t deny that he felt a hint of friendship for her.
However, that didn’t stop him from potentially drowning her.
”────!”
Itsuki struggled with all her might, her claws digging into Naoshi’s skin, causing intense pain.
Naoshi’s spiritual power strengthened his body, allowing him to withstand the pain and eventually loosen Itsuki’s grip.
The water became calm, and Naoshi waited for another twenty seconds, making sure Itsuki was truly defeated.
He pulled her face out of the water, and her pale skin now had a shadowed hue.
Her lips were purple, and she couldn’t move.
”It’s done.”
Naoshi knew that reducing the number of ex-level exorcists would only make things harder for himself in the long run.
He laid Itsuki on top of Yoshikage and began the resuscitation process.
As he checked her breathing, he felt a chill and quickly pulled his hand away.
Itsuki’s teeth clamped down on his arm, biting down hard.
”You…!”
Naoshi swung his fist, but it landed on the water’s surface, covered by Yoshikage.
”Cough, cough…!”
Itsuki coughed, her body moving like a four-legged beast, kicking water to create distance between them.
”Cough, cough…!”
She coughed violently, and her movements stopped.
Naoshi ran towards her, ready to deliver the final blow.
”There ya are!”
But before Naoshi’s fist could connect, a silver flash pierced his throat, causing a burning pain.
”!?”
”I’ve been cut! But by what?” Naoshi thought.
Itsuki couldn’t have generated enough spirit energy to cut him with her bare hands, and a hand chop would have landed before Naoshi’s punch. The answer was in Itsuki’s hand – she had Suzuri-chan’s sword!
(This little sneak, usin’ Suzuri-chan’s sword…!)
”──I may not have the best nose, but even dogs have their uses.”
The sword saint, Mibu Itsuki, said, standing up with the sword in her hand.
The two wounded beasts locked eyes, their gazes intense and unyielding.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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