Volume 1 Chapter 40 True Form III： Kazuramichi Naoshi Is The Strongest In Kansai
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”──That’s a nice sword. I really have to thank Suzuri-san.”
Wiping her tear-streaked face, Mibu Itsuki said this in a tone that could be serious or just a joke.
Naoshi clicked his tongue at the light comment, then put a healing patch on his throat, tore his sleeve, and wrapped it tightly around his neck so he could breathe without trouble.
He felt a boiling anger inside him for getting hurt not once, but twice in one day.
”You cut me, and then you say that? You’re definitely gonna get stabbed… cough.”
”Is it really worth saying that?”
He decided to act normal to keep his feelings in check.
Anger can sometimes give you strength, but it can also make you make bad choices.
(I’m being too soft on myself.)
It would have been fine to just kill her──trying to take her down and failing was proof of that.
If he had just broken her dominant hand, he wouldn’t have had to worry.
──Forget about past victories.
Numbers are just numbers.
Past stats don’t guarantee anything.
Forget the impression you had of Mibu Itsuki.
The girl who runs away from a rematch and isn’t reliable when it counts is right in front of you.
She’s not someone to underestimate.
But at the same time, don’t get too worked up. The fight that was bound to happen was just because she was dressed as a man, was skilled, and the situation was dangerous.
She’s not someone you can’t beat.
”Hmph.”
He turned all those thoughts into a smile.
He knew he probably looked really bad.
That made him relax his shoulders.
”Can’t do it? Do I look that worn out I can’t even talk? That’s just bein’ careless, ain’t it?”
”──I don’t mind that about you. Honestly, I’m a little jealous.”
”Even if ya like me, don’t matter…”
He stuck out his tongue and waved his hand.
His spirit energy was still slow in his arms, but the pain was fading, and he was getting close to feeling normal.
He could hear Itsuki’s quiet, deep breaths.
The reason she didn’t attack right after surprising him was probably that she also needed time to recover from the damage.
He clenched his fist and got into a half-stance with his right side forward, while Itsuki, looking worn out, took a defensive stance.
Maybe it was the heat of the moment, but steam was rising from both of their bodies, which had already been drenched multiple times.
A drop fell from the hilt of Itsuki’s sword.
The sound of it hitting the ground was surprisingly loud.
”Let’s go──!”
”Raaah──!”
Naoshi took the first move.
He charged in like a gust of wind, and Itsuki met him with a diagonal slash.
The answer to that powerful strike aimed at his large torso was to take the initiative.
”Break it!”
”Ugh…!”
In the end, it was Naoshi’s right fist that first hit Itsuki.
The sword only made a shallow cut on his shoulder before he was knocked back, leaving a long, shallow wound.
”Yes!”
”Ugh…!”
He closed the distance in one leap, hitting Itsuki’s body with his elbow.
It didn’t feel as strong as before.
Itsuki’s feet were already off the ground, like a butterfly about to take flight.
”Don’t run away, you idiot!”
Using his left foot as a pivot, he jumped, filling the gap with a sweeping motion of his right foot.
Itsuki probably had the chance to counter, but after just having her beloved sword kicked away, she couldn’t make that choice.
Instead, her fist took the hit.
”Whoa──!”
”Ahhh──!”
A beast roared.
Itsuki’s feet slipped on the ground as she tried to take off.
”Raaah──!”
But before Naoshi could land, Itsuki’s blade came down.
It wasn’t a real threat because she didn’t have enough distance or speed, but Naoshi couldn’t block it with his tired arms.
”Tch…!”
In return, another red line was carved into Naoshi’s body.
The countless wounds were quietly draining his energy and strength.
It wasn’t just that. Both of Itsuki’s arms were poisoned by the giant snake, her left shoulder was torn by fangs, and her throat and torso were cut by Itsuki’s own sword. She was covered in wounds.
”Even if ya call it a badge of honor, don’t just keep gettin’ hurt!”
”You stepped on my face and now you act all innocent!”
Itsuki, on the other hand, had a left arm that should have been broken and countless bruises all over her body.
Plus, she had just almost drowned.
Most importantly, this was right after a fierce battle with a Great Youkai.
Both of them were using their willpower to keep going, even though they were close to their limits.
But Naoshi kept pushing forward, and Itsuki wouldn’t let herself be pushed back.
It seemed like neither of them expected the fight to end anytime soon.
Their pride and determination were driving them both.
”You really have the nerve to say that after you attacked me from behind!”
”I just followed the Kazuramichi style. Blame yourself for showin’ weakness!”
Their words mixed in between punches and sword strikes.
Naoshi was faster and controlled the distance, but he couldn’t use his fists, which were his best weapons. Itsuki also lost her small sword, which was important for defense and quick moves, and that hurt her too.
The turning point was the unusual ability──Butterfly Walk.
”Ugh!”
In a split second of defense and attack, Itsuki jumped lightly, trying to grab Naoshi’s left arm as he reached for her feet.
A silver flash aimed for Naoshi’s arm.
If he hadn’t pulled back quickly, it would have probably cut halfway through.
”I’ve got the advantage now!”
With about a meter of height, Itsuki re-positioned her blade lower, and as she said, being higher up was a big advantage after all the exhaustion they had both faced.
Itsuki could easily aim for Naoshi’s head, while Naoshi had to aim higher than his own head to land a solid hit.
This created a blind spot right below him, which he usually wouldn’t think about, but if Naoshi tried to slip under, Itsuki could just jump higher to avoid it.
”Here I go──!”
Suddenly, Itsuki went on the offensive.
Her sword moved quickly, not giving Naoshi a chance to counterattack, and she aimed for vital spots like the face and neck.
Naoshi, on the other hand, couldn’t fully protect those areas with his arms.
”Ugh! That’s a sneaky move, ain’t it?!”
Cursing, Naoshi moved his body back and forth.
When he tried to slip through, a big slash barely missed his back, and before he could turn around, a thrust came flying at him while he was upside down.
Her agile movements in the air were indeed worthy of the name “Butterfly.”.
”I ain’t lettin’ my guard down. I’m gonna take ya down here and now, get my title as the strongest back!”
”Ugh…!”
After several exchanges, Itsuki finally caught Naoshi’s left shoulder as he tried to slip under her.
The young man, who had been skimming the water, thrust out his right hand to break his fall.
Naoshi, kneeling and ready for a follow-up attack, turned to see Itsuki’s cold gray eyes watching him like a predator.
”You really missed a great chance, huh? Regretting it?”
”Maybe… but I felt somethin’.”
He was already injured by the giant snake. Blood flowed from his left shoulder down to his sleeve, creating a pattern in the water he had splashed.
His arm hung limply, and while there might be some bluffing, it was clear he couldn’t use it effectively anymore.
”I’ll ask you just in case, do you admit defeat?”
Itsuki asked this while still holding her sword, and Naoshi shrugged with a blank expression. After opening his mouth, he pouted, then closed it and moved his lips sideways to answer.
”──(Fool)?”
”Well, you just didn’t have the luck this time. If the ground had been better──.”
”Ha! That’s why ya lose. Strong folks win no matter where or who they fight. That’s what real strength is.”
”You never stop talking. So, shall I prove that I’m stronger right here and now?”
His words, filled with a bit of anger, probably came from his belief that he had gained absolute advantage.
”And also──I’ve got luck on my side.”
After enduring for 8 years, Mibu Itsuki showed her first emotional crack today.
Kazuramichi Naoshi wasn’t sweet enough to miss that.
From a low stance, Naoshi launched a diagonal slash from above.
He ducked under it and jumped forward, faster than before.
The two of them started to spin around.
Mibu Itsuki kicked off the ground and swung her sword in a diagonal 360-degree arc, turning her diagonal slash into a downward cut.
Naoshi, in response, rolled forward and twisted his body to the side, swinging his left arm.
They were too far apart for a punch to land.
”Ugh!?”
But right after that, it was Itsuki who groaned.
She closed her eyes for a moment because of the sudden pain on her face, slightly changing the path of her sword swing.
But of course, it just cut through the air.
She blinked, wondering what had happened.
”──This is where it counts.”
Naoshi scooped up some water with his long fingers and threw it at Itsuki’s eyes while laughing, splashing water at her feet.
”Raaahhh──!!”
Itsuki shouted and thrust her sword forward with all her strength.
It was a reflexive move──just as Naoshi had lured her to do.
”Gotcha──!!”
But there was no impact.
Her powerful thrust suddenly stopped as if it had hit a giant rock.
”Wha──.”
Naoshi’s hands were the ones that stopped it.
The tip of Itsuki’s sword was just a few centimeters from Naoshi’s throat and didn’t move at all.
He had disarmed her.
Naoshi, with a mischievous grin, had done it without much spirit energy flowing through his arms.
”Looks like I owe Suzuri-chan an apology──this was a darn good sword.”
He said this as if he was getting back at Itsuki, then kicked the sword in half with his knee.
Noticing Itsuki’s moment of shock from losing her sword, Naoshi jumped.
”I’m the best in Kansai! Nothin’s changed!”
”────!?”
He jumped at Itsuki, trapping her head between his knees, and then slammed himself backward, sending Itsuki’s head crashing down to the ground.
”Die──!”
”Gah!?”
With a smooth motion, he pressed down on Itsuki’s head with his legs and brought his fist down with all his might, finally knocking Itsuki out.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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