Volume 1 Chapter 33 Interlude – Strong Grass, Know The Gale
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Uuuuu…”
On a clear afternoon, the coldness in the blue sky was increasing day by day, and the training ground of the Nanjou residence had turned into a stage of tragedy.
About 20 men and women were curled up on the ground, all groaning in pain while holding various parts of their bodies.
Only one young man, who had caused this situation, stood firmly on the ground with his own feet.
His expression as he looked down at the surroundings was filled with a little disappointment and a lot of boredom.
”Haa~…”
With a huge sigh, the young man began to speak as if to himself while glaring at the surroundings.
”What’s wrong with ya all? Ya really lack seriousness. Do ya even understand what kind of opportunity ya have right now?”
Among the defeated exorcists, no one could answer his question.
Perhaps he hadn’t expected a reply from the start, as the young man continued without caring.
”From the beginnin’, it’s all just a hopeless charge with no creativity or skill. Are ya practicin’ to die honorably when ya face someone stronger? I wish ya would think about how it feels to be the one stuck with ya.”
Of course not, but even though they felt a sense of rebellion, no one could argue back.
However, this seemed to further irritate the young man.
”First of all, yer faces are terrible. Ya all look like drawn-out losers. I wonder if ya’d get a bit more desperate if I put yer loved ones or sisters’ honor on the line.”
He didn’t seem to want that in particular, but his serious words stirred up some fighting spirit in others.
”Please wait, Kazuramichi-sama.”
A clear voice from a girl broke into the tense atmosphere of the training ground.
”Oh…!”
”The 3 from ‘Kinoe’!”
With their chests puffed out, 3 girls walked confidently toward the young man, and those who had already fallen looked at them with shining faces as if they saw a ray of hope.
Leading the way was a girl with a half-bow, followed by a slender girl with a spear and a medium-height girl with a sword, forming a line on either side.
All of them were beautiful and young.
”I am Nanjou Yayoi, the leader of the Nanjou family’s exorcists. First, I apologize for showing you our inadequate state here today──.”
”Cut the formalities. Ya up next, right? Hurry up and come at me.”
However, the young man──Kazuramichi Naoshi──interrupted without being moved by their appearance or greeting.
Yayoi was taken aback by his rudeness but quickly tightened her expression.
Although she tried to appear calm, she couldn’t completely hide her inner dissatisfaction.
”I don’t need empty words or just show. What matters is whether ya’re real or not, that’s all.”
”Are you saying we are not real?”
”I’m tellin’ ya to prove it, but didn’t ya hear? Words can be tricky──well, if I’m wrong, I’ll apologize later as much as ya want.”
”──Then, be prepared for that.”
The 3 girls got into position.
The young man raised his right arm to chest height with his palm up, beckoning with his fingers like an action star from the past.
”Here I come.”
Chihaya, the first to charge, was a master of “Kongou Strength,” easily swinging a spear over a length of ten shaku with one hand, possessing strength that belied her appearance.
Although she couldn’t match Naoshi’s speed, there would surely be moments when her power would shine.
”Prepare yourself!”
The one in charge of this role was Azusa, a top-notch swordsman who was also skilled in the Nine Character Self-Defense Technique.
With the two in front taking the lead, it was Yayoi’s job to take down the target──though today, it might only be a matter of getting a single shot in.
While she was not as skilled in hand-to-hand combat as the other 2, she took pride in the power of her shots, utilizing her natural spirit power.
As a member of the main family, she had never slacked off in her training to stand alongside the others without shame.
The title of the strongest in Kansai was not just for show, and she would make them regret underestimating them──!.
”Uaaah!?”
The battle they approached with such spirit began to crumble when Chihaya, who had thrust her spear as a feint, was grabbed and thrown into the air using her own weapon as a lever.
”Chihaya!”
”Rin, Pyo, Toh, Sha (臨・兵・闘・者)──.”
Seeing this, Azusa hurriedly began to chant the Kuji-kiri while forming a seal.
Chihaya was becoming a wall as the vanguard, stopping the enemy’s movements with Azusa’s immovable binding, while Yayoi aimed to take them down.
”Damn──!”
In a hurry, Yayoi pulled back her bow and focused her spirit energy (reiki).
Chihaya was already standing, but her stance suggested she was thinking about defense and didn’t want to rush in carelessly.
Instead, they needed a move to help Azusa and draw the opponent’s attention.
”──In front! Immobile and paralyzed!”
However, before that support could arrive, the Nine Characters were cut.
There was no way they didn’t notice the movement for support; it seemed they were even more eager to activate their own attack.
”Azusa…?”
In a panic, Yayoi readied her bow again, trying to gather more spiritual power for a decisive shot, but then──
”Too weak.”
”What──!?”
Naoshi snapped his fingers with his right hand.
With just that quick sound, Azusa’s spell, which had chanted the Nine Characters (Kuji-kiri) and formed 9 seals, easily scattered into mist.
”Even after I gave ya time, this is what ya show me? I can’t expect much from ya guys.”
At that moment, Yayoi realized their critical oversight.
Kazuramichi Naoshi was the strongest exorcist in Kansai, but he was not the best ‘sorcerer’.
His true strength lay in hand-to-hand combat, enhanced by physical strength that could even defeat onis.
”Ten seconds from here.”
However, there was no doubt that when it came to breaking spells, he had the highest level of skill.
”If ya can endure that much, I’ll give ya some praise.”
”Ugh!”
Chihaya was swept off her feet, her legs knocked together, and as her body floated, a kick struck her.
Just like a joke, her body flew to the edge of the training ground.
”Eep!?”
Next, Azusa was grabbed by the collar and spun around 540 degrees with one arm, then slammed against the opposite wall, screaming.
The two who were knocked down, of course, and even Yayoi, who was far from Naoshi, couldn’t fully track all those movements, even though they were visible.
”Good job.”
”──!?”
Right after she heard the voice nearby, Yayoi tensed up, and her vision spun around until she found herself looking up at the sky──then she lost consciousness from a powerful impact to her abdomen.
* * *
”Ya weak. Shouldn’t ya quit? Exorcist.”
The winner’s words were emotionless, fitting for such a quick conclusion.
The atmosphere in the training ground had dropped to a pitiful low.
Having seen hope once, despair only deepened.
”With this level of skill, ya had that attitude earlier? Ya’ve been too pampered.”
It was like a single touch of armor.
The strongest man in Kansai easily brushed aside the team, and he seemed to have lost all interest, saying it with a face and voice that showed his disbelief.
He pointed a finger at Chihaya first.
”Ya thought ya couldn’t lose in a strength contest, but ya were too scared. Ya quickly gave up on attackin’ and only focused on defense. From the opponent’s perspective, there’s nothin’ to fear; ya’re just like a statue.”
”…Ugh.”
Ignoring Chihaya’s small groan, his gaze moved to Azusa next.
”And ya, ya got too anxious ’cause of that. Ya seem to be able to do various things skillfully, but if ya make a fundamental mistake in judgment, nothin’ will come of it. It’s like wastin’ a treasure.”
”Ugh…”
Azusa’s shoulders drooped, and both of them hung their heads without a word.
Their pride in reaching the second rank and the honor of being called the future of the Nanjou family was quickly crushed.
However, this was not the end.
Fortunately, even though they had lost, they were still alive.
”Both of you, let’s lift our heads. Let’s take this as a lesson and try again──.”
”No, no, that’s the worst thing ya could say, actin’ like it’s someone else’s problem.”
”──Huh?”
”These 2 are just inexperienced. Their anxiety and fear can be managed with practice and experience. But a fool who fundamentally misunderstands things is hopeless. Even if ya get stronger, it will only lead to arrogance, which is actually harmful.”
Naoshi’s voice, stating this, showed no signs of provocation; he was simply pointing out the facts. There was a certain atmosphere to it.
”W-What? Am I a fool…? What misunderstanding am I having…?”
”Can’t ya figure it out? Among the 3 of you, what role are ya supposed to play?”
”That is to take down the enemy…”
”Exactly. Yet ya keep glancin’ at the attack, distractin’ yer teammates. Why is that?”
”Huh?”
When Yayoi turned her gaze, Chihaya and Azusa both averted their eyes with serious faces.
Their reaction only proved that Naoshi’s words were correct.
”Ah, that was for support…”
”I’m sorry, but while yer 2 friends are tryin’ to hold back the opponent in their own way, ya, who were supposed to finish it off, are already showin’ off yer presence before the final blow, right?”
Naoshi continued, “What else can ya call that but foolishness?”
”Ya should only show yerself at the very end, when the match is decided. Yet here ya are, stickin’ yer nose in and lookin’ foolish, and ya haven’t even bothered to correct it until now.”
The revenge for the defeated clan, a battle approached with that intention, ended in a swift defeat, and on top of that, she was told she was the biggest hindrance.
It felt like everything they had built together as a trio was being denied.
The moment he thought that, her face suddenly grew hot with an indescribable emotion.
”I, I’m a second-class exorcist, and this Nanjou family──!”
”Well, if ya’re such a proud young lady, ya should just be a quiet student.”
It was probably lucky that her reflexive words were interrupted.
The moment she spoke, she regretted it, feeling a thoughtless and reckless emotional backlash.
”W-wait──…!”
That was pulled back by a greater anger, but it was still better than nothing.
”You should stop ‘playing exorcist’ with your friends before you get seriously burned.”
However, it was clear from Naoshi’s continued words, which showed no attempt to hide his contempt, that she wasn’t being kind.
”Why don’t ya just go on about trendy sweets, brand bags, and new cosmetics with yer classmates? It suits ya well.”
”I-I was born into an exorcist family, so I’m not interested in such things! This isn’t a game; I’m serious──!”
”If that’s the case, ya need to fulfill yer role properly. At this rate, ya’ll end up gettin’ these kids killed.”
”W-what──!?”
”Ya look like ya think I’m exaggeratin’, but that’s the mistake. When the time comes, those 2 will have to die to create an opportunity. Yet ya aren’t preparin’ for that.”
Just as she was about to say something, she noticed again that the two weren’t denying Naoshi’s words.
She realized, at the very last moment.
”What ya need to protect isn’t these two. A true exorcist would protect ‘ordinary people’ whose faces and names ya don’t even know, even at the cost of yer friends’ and yer own life.”
”──…”
Ah, I see──.
It hit her hard in the chest.
The two must have been prepared for this a long time ago.
The duty of an exorcist, the role they must fulfill, what they truly need to protect.
She (Yayoi) was the only one who didn’t understand this, being born into a family she could pledge her loyalty to.
She realized she had overlooked her friends’ resolve, dedication, and trust in her──what was heating her face was not anger but pure shame.
”So, what are ya gonna do, young lady?”
But the young man wouldn’t even allow her to look down.
”…Huh?”
”I’m askin’ if ya’re gonna continue or not. Ya really a slow one, aren’t ya?”
Their eyes met, and the strongest young man from Kansai wore a mischievous smile.
Was it just her misunderstanding, or did she feel a certain kind of expectation in his voice?
”Well? Today, I’m here as a volunteer. So, I guess I can stick around out of obligation until the time is up.”
””Please!””
Before she could respond, Chihaya and Azusa shouted in unison.
There was not a hint of darkness in their expressions.
”You two…”
”Let’s do it, young lady.”
”We can’t just let this end with us being talked down to! Not with someone who enjoys hitting girls just because he’s a bit strong and handsome!”
”What, ya prefer gettin’ hit in the face? Ya could’ve just told me.”
”Please stop!?”
”──Hehe.”
Seeing Azusa scream, she couldn’t help but smile.
Even though she had been shown the difference in strength, what was she so serious about? They could still get stronger; they hadn’t lost anything.
Just a moment ago, she was the one who wanted to encourage the two of them.
”──I would like to ask again, Kazuramichi-sama.”
”Ya got a face that looks like it might be worth trainin’──well then, I’ll get a bit serious, but ya 3 better do yer best not to break, okay?”
”Huh?”
──What awaited the three of them after that was an even greater hell.
She envisioned the sight of her friends being tormented and killed by ayakashi over and over again.
And just as they were about to move, unable to bear it any longer, Naoshi came to mercilessly cut them down, as if to reproach their weak hearts.
A time that was like torture, where they were forced to choose between their own death or that of their friend, over and over again. It was a torture, indeed.
It was only after a dozen or so times that it finally ended, when an arrow shot by Yayoi forced Naoshi to take a defensive move.
”Well, this should make ya a slightly better weakling.”
The youth was certainly sweating, but he still had plenty of energy left.
The three, who could no longer stand up, could only look up at Naoshi and wonder how far the distance was between them and this person.
”Thank you… umm…”
”Oh, Nanjou-san and this young lady. What was yer name again?”
For the first time today, Naoshi’s narrowed eyes focused on Yayoi with interest.
Her heart, which had been unsettled from fatigue, seemed to jump even more.
”It’s Yayoi. Yayoi of the Lunar, March (Kyureki Mitsuki)…”
”Yayoi-chan, keep practicin’ from now on. I hope I won’t have to call ya again.”
”Yes, thank you very much today.”
Later, the Nanjou family exorcist group, Class A, successfully defeated the three Intermediate Youkai that suddenly appeared in Takatsuki, despite suffering two serious injuries, and greatly enhanced their reputation.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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