Volume 8 Chapter 13 ② vs ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The first day of Golden Week. A Saturday afternoon. Onigahara Dojo was packed.
My group, Manaka’s companions, and Koki-san—Mitsuki’s older brother—with his group as witnesses. Over twenty sorcerers in total. The dojo was spacious, but that many people made it feel tight.
With Koki-san getting approval for his group, we now had six third-years from Shisei High School who’d never met us before. We barely managed greetings before starting stretches. Manaka’s group was doing the same, loosening up.
It had been almost a year since Manaka’s group last set foot in Onigahara. After Mitsuki left, they’d closed that chapter and stayed away. They must have kept up solo practice, but without proper dojo-level instruction, their growth had definitely suffered.
Compared to me—I’d only missed a few months when Mitsuki and I went separate ways last spring—Manaka’s people were probably seriously rusty. Today’s goal: knock that rust off.
”Alright, let’s start.”
”Thank you for having us!”
Today, Mitsuki’s parents—her aunt and uncle—were sitting in as instructors. Because Manaka’s group had arranged a proper visit, they’d made time to teach. Given this was a joint request to Onigahara from the Kuga, Nieda, and Futami families, they couldn’t afford to cut corners.
After warm-ups, we ran through the standard forms. The focus was on problem areas: poor posture, footwork, hand positioning—things you don’t notice in solo practice.
After group training, we split into small groups for combat-style drills. I was paired with Koki-san, practicing switching between attack and defense in close combat. Tense—he’s strong. No sloppy moves, but getting stiff would be just as bad. I took his advice as it came and stayed locked in.
Short break, then we sparred for the rest of the session.
Even a big dojo gets crowded when everyone’s using sorcery. With this many people? They wrapped up with a non-sorcery round, and training was over.
Koki-san’s group filed out of the dojo. We stayed behind, gathering against the wall.
I walked over to Manaka. She noticed me approaching, wiped her face with a handkerchief, then spoke.
”Huff. I did not realise it myself, but I might be a little out of shape. Looks like I shall need to retrain.”
”Really?”
She’d looked fine to me. Chifumi, standing next to her, seemed to agree.
”No way, Manaka-chan! You moved great for someone with that much time off~!”
”No, compared to the movements I picture in my head, I am still far from where I wish to be.”
”Oh~? Well, that aside… actually, compared to Manaka-chan, there’s a bigger problem here…”
Chifumi’s gaze dropped from Manaka to the floor beside her. Manaka was slightly out of breath, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. Next to her, Sawa sat on the floor.
”I’m like… more of a thinker, y’know. So like, calling it for today… spare me…”
She was completely wiped out. Not that Sawa’s out of shape normally. She acts lazy, but when it counts, she’s capable. The problem was she’d been sparring with Manaka, so she’d spent way more energy than the rest of us. Just bad luck with her matchup.
”Sawa-chan, good work today! ☆”
”Everyone, here’s water.”
Yuu and Yui handed out bottles. Those two mostly train together as sisters. Since they always get objective feedback from each other, their form is the most polished in our group.
”Megumi and Miku are ready ☆”
Megumi and Miku waited quietly behind Yui and Yuu. Since we had the real event later, they’d been saving their energy during training.
”Risa and Yurina are… good to go?”
Behind us, Risa and Yurina were also ready. As soon as everyone’s prepared, we can start the match.
”Sorry for the wait. The dojo’s all set.”
Mitsuki had finished checking the sorcery limiter’s settings. Her parents had agreed to stay as witnesses in case anything went wrong.
”Don’t worry about winning or losing today. Just have fun out there.”
”Got it.”
”Okay.”
At my signal, Risa and Yurina moved to the center of the dojo.
”Megumi-san, Miku-san, show us what you’ve got.”
”Yes!”
”Woof!”
”There might be, like, a reward for the winners too~”
””!?””
Sawa murmured it under her breath, and the two reacted instantly.
Don’t add that! Their eyes just changed completely! I shot Sawa a silent glare, but she was completely unfazed.
Megumi and Miku walked toward the center with fire in their eyes.
”Sawa…”
”Come on, you like, literally want to see them go all-out, right?”
”I do, but… Risa and Yurina didn’t get the reward talk. Isn’t that an unfair motivation difference?”
”Think of it as a handicap.”
”Geez…”
Last thing I need is someone getting hurt. The damage limiter here isn’t exactly something I trust. I haven’t forgotten the close calls we’ve had before.
”It’s fine. They installed the latest system last month. Even my brother’s group trusts this one.”
Mitsuki boasted about her family’s equipment. If it’s proven safe, that’s good enough. Either way, I just want this to end without injuries.
I took another look at the four about to start the match.
Risa and Yurina’s weapons were the same as during dungeon exploration. Risa carried three types of standard magic pistols. Yurina had a single katana—her initial equipment, without any attribute enchantment.
On the other side, Megumi and Miku had distinctive gear. Megumi’s weapon was a naginata taller than herself, with a long blade that had a slight curve—more like a nagamaki in shape. The shaft had a metallic sheen and looked heavy enough to be intimidating.
Miku wore leg armor over leggings, covering her from toes to thighs. Hmm… that equipment, if worn with, say, a leotard-style high-cut outfit, would look incredibly provocative. Might be worth asking for sometime.
Back to serious thoughts—this was also my first time watching these two fight. I was curious how they’d handle themselves.
In the center of the dojo, the four listened to the uncle’s instructions before moving to their starting positions.
Risa and Yurina’s team positioned Yurina in front, Risa in back—vanguard and rearguard, taking positions according to their roles.
Megumi and Miku, however, were both vanguards. They moved side by side, positioned to attack Yurina from both flanks.
All four readied their weapons. Yurina held her katana at mid-level, facing Megumi with her naginata. Risa aimed her AR-type magic pistol at Miku. Miku, meanwhile, was lightly bouncing on her toes with her knees slightly bent.
A moment of silence. The uncle’s voice echoed through the dojo.
”Begin!”
Risa moved first. Her magic pistol fired, rounds streaking toward Miku. But Miku had anticipated the attack and shifted so Yurina was in Risa’s line of fire, forcing Risa to hold back.
Yurina ignored Miku’s movement entirely and closed in on Megumi.
”Huff…!”
”Tch…!”
Katana versus naginata. At mid-range, the naginata’s wider reach gave Megumi the advantage. She wielded it skillfully, keeping Yurina from getting close enough to strike.
Yurina activated Severing Sorcery, reinforcing her whole body to forcefully sweep the naginata aside and close the distance. But Megumi reinforced her own weapon, countering the Severing Sorcery’s effect while using the naginata’s weight and leverage to push back.
I asked Manaka, standing beside me, about Megumi’s skill.
”Megumi’s naginata work is rather impressive.”
”As a pure naginata practitioner without sorcery, Megumi-san is quite skilled.”
Coming from Manaka, who wields a short staff, that evaluation carried weight.
”Controlling that heavy naginata so freely—technique alone isn’t enough. She’s using sorcery to assist.”
”You can tell? As expected of Minoru.”
I knew the details of Megumi’s Inherent Sorcery. Flexible-body Sorcery allowed her to control her center of gravity. The concept had been unclear when I first heard it, but watching her fight made it click.
”She changes the weight of different parts of her body. Makes her legs heavier for stability, swings her weighted arms for extra momentum. That’s how she uses it.”
Manaka didn’t respond to my muttering. She probably felt it was overstepping to explain a group member’s Inherent Sorcery in detail, even if they were on her team.
Megumi and Yurina continued their stalemate.
Meanwhile, Miku, who had dodged the initial magic bullets, moved behind Megumi—using Yurina and the others as cover to cross to the opposite side. She made a kicking motion in mid-air.
”!?”
A low thud. Then a sharp bang rang out, and Risa’s AR-type was knocked from her hands. A shockwave? Compressed air? She’d kicked something invisible and sent it crashing into the magic pistol.
Risa quickly gave up on retrieving her AR-type and switched to her SG-type. She aimed it at Miku. In those few seconds, Miku had already closed to within striking distance.
That heavy thud was Miku’s foot slamming into the dojo floor for a burst of speed. She dove low, skimming the ground. Risa still raised her SG-type faster.
BANG—the SG-type fired. Miku built a thick Defensive Sorcery barrier in front of her face, absorbing the blast.
”…”
”…”
Risa’s expression soured. Miku remained expressionless. The SG-type shot had shattered Miku’s Defensive Sorcery, but Miku herself was unharmed. Which would come first—Risa’s second shot, or Miku reaching her?
Miku grabbed Risa’s SG-type and yanked, wrenching the barrel away from herself. The SG-type fired simultaneously, the magic bullet flying off in an unintended direction. Risa released the SG-type and ducked just in time to avoid Miku’s flying kick.
Seizing the opening from the missed strike, Risa kicked Miku’s supporting leg—not to deal damage, but to disrupt her stance.
As Risa intended, Miku’s leg was swept out from under her, but she adjusted mid-air, swapping kicking leg and support leg for a follow-up. Risa drew a handgun from her coat and fired at Miku’s center mass.
Miku generated a Defensive Sorcery barrier in her palm to block the bullet.
I mean… Miku’s got some serious nerve. Usually, a guard covers a certain area, but she boosts its strength by keeping the defensive formula’s active range to the bare minimum needed to block a single magic pistol shot.
”Tch!”
Risa blocked Miku’s kick with her left arm. Her arm took the full brunt of it—major damage. Just as Miku moved in to finish off Risa, who’d been sent flying and collapsed on the floor, she suddenly launched upward. An AR-type round tore through where Miku had stood a moment before. As she was blown backward, Risa recovered the dropped AR-type, rolled across the floor, spun, and fired.
The Magic Bullet homed in on Miku in midair again. A shot that would normally be impossible to dodge. Yet Miku dodged it with a motion like a double jump from a fighting game. It seriously looked like she’d kicked off thin air. Some kind of Inherent sorcery that lets her move by kicking the air?
Miku’s kick caught Risa by the neck—Risa, who was sprawled on the ground with her AR-type raised.
The kick, which could easily have broken her neck if it had hit true, instead slammed into the floor right beside Risa’s throat. A heavy thud echoed through the dojo as Miku’s armored boot struck the wooden boards.
Risa’s voice came out flat and defeated. “…I surrender.”
The old man’s announcement followed without hesitation. “Naruse-san, combat-incapable.”
The referee confirmed Risa’s surrender and declared her out of the match. Miku had deliberately aimed wide. And Risa’s surrender in response was simply the courteous thing to do.
In a two-on-two match, the team that loses a member first is practically done for. Not that Yurina had been making much headway against Megumi anyway—and now Miku was coming for her from behind. Yurina fought tenaciously against the two-on-one disadvantage, but the sustained barrage from Megumi and Miku pushed her over the damage threshold, and she was ruled combat-incapable, just like Risa.
After the match, the four of them bowed in the center of the dojo and made their way over to us.
Yurina’s head hung low as she spoke, her voice thick with apology. “Minoru-sama, I sincerely apologise. We were defeated.”
I waved it off, keeping my tone light. “Don’t worry about it. It was a good match—helped us identify areas to work on.”
I patted the bowed Yurina on the head, praising her efforts.
Risa let out a low whistle, shaking her head. “Whoa, that was impressive. After you got your AR-type knocked out, Miku had you on the defensive the whole time. You never got a chance to reset—she just kept you pinned.”
Miku’s voice carried that aristocratic lilt, warm but playful. “Risa-san, even as Rearguard, I was so impressed how you dodged my kicks so many times, my, how delightful!”
Risa and Miku seemed to have found some common ground—they were chatting as they walked back together.
Risa’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “That double jump—is that Inherent sorcery?”
Miku’s smile turned coy as she tapped her chin. “That is… a secret, my dear. Woof!”
Risa let out a short laugh. “I see. Either way, one of your tricks is out. It won’t work the same way next time.”
Miku’s response came with a playful bounce. “Woof… that is precisely what I desire! I shall best you again next time!”
Miku was being evasive, and Risa didn’t press further. They had a comfortable dynamic—keeping just the right distance.
Mitsuki stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. “Risa. Let me see your left hand. I’ll heal it.”
Risa nodded, extending her arm. “Thanks, Mitsuki. I appreciate it.”
Mitsuki took Risa’s left arm—the one that had taken the most punishment—rolled up her sleeve to check the damage, and used Recovery magic. Fortunately, the bone wasn’t involved.
Nearby, Megumi was talking with Manaka.
Megumi’s voice carried a note of disappointment. “It ended without me getting a chance to shine…”
Manaka shook her head firmly. “You were holding Yurina-san back, were you not? You did an excellent job holding the line as a Vanguard.”
I called out to Megumi as well, wanting to offer my own praise.
”That was a splendid display of naginata technique.”
Megumi’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Thank you very much. I’ve been practicing since I was little, so I’m at least competent.”
I nodded, letting the warmth show in my voice. “A Vanguard protecting the Rearguard. You did well—you fulfilled your role.”
When we formed the group last year, I’d chosen Yurina over Megumi largely because of appearances. At the time, I’d judged that Yurina had more room to grow. But given how things look now, even if I’d chosen Megumi or Miku instead, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue when it came to playing the wall. …That said, considering how Risa and Yurina function as a pair, choosing Yurina overall was the right call. I kept that to myself.
”……”
Megumi was silent, waiting for my next words.
I blinked, caught off guard. “…What’s up?”
Her voice came out small, hopeful. “Um, my reward…”
She hadn’t forgotten about it, huh. Well, that had been the deal, so… I patted both Megumi and Miku on the head.
Megumi’s voice was barely a whisper. “I’m happy.”
Miku’s response was a cheerful bark. “Woof!”
That seemed to smooth things over for now. Risa was giving me a stern look, but she didn’t say anything here. Spoiling Risa would have to wait.
After the main training matches wrapped up, we ran a few one-on-one bouts with sorcery allowed. No cross-group matches—just within each group.
It’d been a while since I’d seen Yui and Yuu’s training matches with sorcery. Both of them fight in such tricky ways that I think it felt fresh for Asari and the others. As for Manaka and Sawa’s match, I’m pretty sure neither of them showed more than twenty percent of their real skill. They’re keeping their cards close to their chest, thinking of the future. The rest of us kept our matches moderate too.
Training continued until evening, and after dinner at the Onigahara Estate, we called it a day. During the meal, Manaka, Chifumi, and I hammered out the schedule for the next Exchange Battle. For the time being, we decided to continue joint weekend training sessions between our two groups.
After dinner, my aunt kindly arranged for a microbus to take everyone home.
Manaka and I tried to find some time alone like we’d promised the other day, but it never worked out. We settled on exchanging hand signals that meant “I’ll call you.” Self-management is more difficult than I expected.
—
Summary:
The training session at Onigahara Dojo reunites Minoru’s group with Manaka’s companions after nearly a year of separation. Minoru observes his friends’ growth while coordinating a two-on-two sparring match between Megumi/Miku and Risa/Yurina. As the fight begins, the tactical combat showcases each fighter’s unique abilities while the reward comment from Sawa raises the emotional stakes.
The training match concludes with Risa and Yurina defeated, leading to post-match reflection and character interactions including head-pats as rewards. Minoru’s internal calculations about group composition and his unspoken favoritism surface, while multiple characters reveal their dynamics through dialogue and silence. The session ends with a scheduling meeting and a deadpan admission about the difficulty of finding private time.
—
Trivia:
Golden Week is a major Japanese holiday period, making this training session significant.
The Kuga, Nieda, and Futami families jointly requested access to Onigahara Dojo, giving the session formal weight.
Mitsuki left Manaka’s group approximately one year ago, creating the separation that’s now being mended.
The dojo’s damage limiter has a history of unreliability that Minoru personally remembers.
Megumi’s Flexible-body Sorcery manipulates her center of gravity and body part weights.
Miku’s leg armor covers from toes to thighs and was recently installed last month.
Yurina is using her initial equipment katana without attribute enchantments.
The sorcery limiter and damage limiter are two separate dojo systems.
Koki-san’s group includes six third-year students who had no prior contact with Minoru’s group.
Yuu and Yui train together as sisters, giving them unique feedback advantages.
Miku deliberately missed Risa’s neck, prompting Risa’s honorable surrender.
Minoru originally chose Yurina over Megumi based on perceived growth potential, not skill.
Manaka and Minoru have a romantic subplot with promised alone time that never materializes.
Miku’s double-jump technique uses Inherent sorcery to kick off air.
The group holds regular weekend joint training sessions with Chifumi’s group.
Risa and Miku share a friendly competitive dynamic despite Miku’s evasion about her abilities.
Mitsuki uses Recovery magic to heal Risa’s arm, confirming the injury wasn’t bone-deep.
Megumi practices naginata since childhood, contributing to her competence as Vanguard.
The old man/referee oversees match rules and declarations.
Self-management refers to Minoru’s sexual frustration management.
Notes:
• Onigahara – Onigahara-san is a stern, disciplined mentor from an influential sorcerer family and Mitsuki’s aunt. Dedicated to her lineage’s legacy, she manages logistics and drives the family microbus for dungeon training. She maintains hierarchical bonds with dojo students and remains involved in the group’s situation after a pickup, potentially having received word from Manaka’s father.
• A – A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R’s high school squad.
• S – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• T – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• Mitsuki – Eldest daughter of the Onigahara estate, this 188 cm science-track classmate has short brown hair, a lean athletic build, an I-cup, and a mischievous grin. A determined vanguard and healer in Minoru’s group, she uses a golden mace and Oni-Transformation Sorcery. She bickers friendlily with Minoru, coordinates with Manaka’s companions, and uses recovery magic for service play and training.
• Manaka – Manaka Kuga is an elegant, sharp-featured Shisei High student, authoritative circle leader, and strategist for the top-tier Kuga family’s Founding Strong-Females. Minoru’s refined yet direct childhood friend, she uses a short staff for spatial/air-shaping sorcery. Known for her aristocratic bearing and “-chan” honorific, she manages security, led a year-long deception, and orchestrated an exchange battle request.
• Koki – Nearly two meters tall, muscular, and handsome, this second-year sorcerer is the eldest son of the Onigahara estate and Golden Oni-Transformation user. President of the Sumo and Shooting clubs and a cautious analyst, he provides vital dungeon data. He dotes on siblings Minoru and Mitsuki, obtained a subset in last year’s Exchange Battle, and is an acquaintance of the protagonist.
• K – A student from East Middle who followed N to National High School out of care, successfully remaining pure through N’s protection until a misunderstanding involving Anonymous Student 0008 led to her capitulation.
• M – A first-year student at District 13 High School and the childhood friend of Anonymous Student 0006, described as an atavistic strong-female who looks plain but possesses significant power.
• Shisei – An acquaintance involved in high-profile activities.
• Futami – The family name of twins Yui and Yuu, and their younger sister Mai. It carries a lower social standing, which factored into the group’s concerns about Yuu’s ability to lead at Shisei High School.
• Nieda – The Nieda family name, carried by Sawa. They are known for an ancestral Inherent sorcery involving plant manipulation.
• Kuga – Worn on Manaka and Marin’s garments to symbolize kinship, the Kuga family name carries heavy social weight and authority. This distant lineage, marking the farthest point from the narrator’s home, has a strained relationship with the Tatemiya family due to Minoru being abandoned by Manaka. A family member working as hotel staff also reports Anri’s visit to the sealed dungeon.
• B – A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S’s group.
• N – A student from East Middle with an eccentric personality who entered National High School due to complex family circumstances and used herself as leverage to negotiate a protective agreement for K.
• R – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has successfully built a squad and added multiple girls, including M and A, into his group.
• Chifumi – Eldest daughter of the Takino residence, this 160cm, J-cup kimono-clad sorcerer is Minoru’s childhood friend, Lead Majo, and trusted partner. Sporting a long brown side-tail, her bright, casual personality bridges his group with Manaka’s companions. Wielding a staff with flowing ice/water magic, she manages household admin and rearguard combat while secretly protecting him from the truth.
• Sawa – Voluptuous, broad-framed yet recently slimmed-down, this confident, bespectacled Nieda student and game otaku is an IT-savvy Shisei member and core strategist in Manaka and Mitsuki’s circles. An upper-middle tier green-manipulation sorcerer who uses a hoe, sickle, and scissors, she controls security. She is a competitive Onibara disciple who bluntly complains to her childhood friend Minoru.
• Yui – Yuu’s older twin sister, this blunt Shisei student from an upper-middle sorcerer line has short hair with a white lock and a downer Jirai-kei, pink/black gothic-lolita look. Minoru’s childhood friend and a protective, mocking member of Manaka’s circle, she defends Yuu and shares guilt in their deception. Composed but critical, she wields a knife and venom-sorcery before being eaten by the Phantom.
• Yuu – Minoru’s childhood friend and Yui’s twin, this Futami twin is a Mid-guard in Manaka’s group. Dressed in a striped swimsuit or Jirai-kei/gothic-lolita fashion, she underwent a character shift from soft and timid to bubbly with sharp commentary. A needle-using Shape-Proxy Sorcery user who teases Minoru, she motivated the Founding Strong-Females’ plan before being eaten by the Phantom.
• Megumi – A 162cm former District 13 student at Shisei High, she is a flexible-body Sorcery user wielding a naginata. Belonging to Manaka’s, Minoru’s, and Tatemiya’s groups, this plump woman has thick thighs, a generous belly, and a C-cup. Submissive, eager to please, and speaking with a pleading manner, she maintains a highly proactive and desperate physical intimacy with Minoru.
• Miku – Former District 13 student in Minoru’s and Manaka’s groups at Shisei High. Standing at 147cm with an A-cup, she has a chubby, long-legged build and a supermodel face, dressing to hide her figure. As one of Tatemiya’s “strong-females” and a courier with Megumi, she uses Heaven-kick Sorcery and leg armor. She is energetic, highly reactive, and prone to angry, Chihuahua-like displays.
• Yurina – A stoic, analytical 165cm Plain-folk vanguard with a black ponytail and G-cup. A humanities student and eldest daughter of seven, she uses a katana and Severing Sorcery in Minoru’s party. She protects Chifumi, fights alongside Mitsuki, and addresses Minoru-sama with polite deference. Efficient and loyal, she trusts his judgment despite feeling unsettled by his escalating violence.
• Risa – A curious humanities student (167cm, light brown semi-long hair, H-cup, black eyes) and the youngest Naruse sister. Playfully assertive and protective of Minoru’s group, this mid-guard sorcerer has no inherent magic but wields magic pistols and Hinoki’s power. When Asunaro takes control, her eyes turn red, enabling fire and lightning sorcery. She is also known to bake cookies for Tatemiya.
• Yuri – A cheerful, energetic, and curvy Higashi High first-year student dating Shibuya. While calculating, she is fiercely loyal, even winning a third-place Best Couple Award with him. She was an acquaintance of Kibe Yurina in middle school. Known for being aggressive toward Hayato and displaying overt favoritism, she is defined by her intense relationships, vibrant spirit, and distinct presence.
• Minoru – The protagonist and narrator is a black-haired Demon reincarnated from Japan, standing 183cm with sharp eyes. Pragmatic yet internally hurt, this eldest Tatemiya son wrongly believed his childhood friends abandoned him. Serving as ‘master’ to a mixed female group, he uses inherent spatial manipulation sorcery to command a handgun and subjugated monsters like Pape in mid-guard combat.
• Naruse – Naruse is the paternal surname of sisters Anri, Risa, and Momono, separate from their mother’s magical Shoji line. Led by their influential hotel/dungeon manager mother, this wealthy old-money sorcerer family and merchant guild provides institutional support to local establishments. They reside in an understated, modest private estate featuring an integrated dungeon and a small dojo.
• Asari – A tall (175cm), braided black-haired Kasakura honor student with an E-cup, this analytical, quiet, and pragmatic science-track strategist serves as Minoru’s devoted partner and Risa’s future host. Close to Mari and Nagase, she uses a hand-armor gauntlet and Silicic Armor to manifest crystal barriers, switching between Vanguard and Mid-guard. Polite yet lecturing, she is currently recovering from mana exhaustion.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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