Nagai Koto c8

Nagai Koto Chapter 008
The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

Don't Call Me Childish

It was decided much too quickly. This wasn't just a small fight, with the observers around us it wouldn't be a problem if it were considered a duel. Before we knew it, a crowd of spectators had gathered outside of the weapons shop, surrounding Shalt and I as we faced one another.

「Since combat practice starts next year, you haven't fought me before, right Velt? Today is a good chance. As the son of General Tiara, I'll show you the pride of House Sylvain with my strength.」 (Shalt)
「That's pretty exaggerated. To the distant kid of a n.o.ble, this filthy dog will teach you a lesson.」 (Velt)

Having said that, the flow of events was leading me to a fight with Shalt, and considering how we spoke, it was embarra.s.sing. To begin with, even though he was facing me head-on, I won't lose in anything aside from this sad excuse for a conversation. Like a martial artist challenging a novice in the arena of a dojo, it was if Shalt wasn't going to lose. Between the two of us, Shalt is the one accustomed to fighting.

「Well then, are the both of you prepared? There aren't any specific rules. I will make the call if someone is unable to fight, or you can surrender. However, if Velt is able to land a single strike on Shalt, then it will be his victory.」 (Taira)

The rule put on me by Taira seems simple, but in reality landing a single strike would be difficult right? It would take something like a miracle. I will certainly lose if I face him head-on, but I can't lose no matter what.

「Well then, begin!」 (Taira)

With Taira's signal, Shalt drew his rapier and immediately began an incantation for a spell with his sword.

「O militant G.o.ddess of Wind within me, residing in my blood, I release thee. Element Sword・Cyclone Saber!」 (Shalt)

Read the atmosphere will you... Why would you use something dangerous like a sword wrapped in a tornado against someone who can't use magic.

「In a duel I will bring out every bit of strength I have. This is the pride of my ancestors, and the courtesy to my opponent! Now come, face me!」 (Shalt)

For a seemingly slender brat, his spirit is overflowing with vigor. If he so much as grazes me, it'd probably blow me away and knock me unconscious wouldn't it? As for my weapon, it is a wooden sword made for training. I have no usable spells. There's only one way to win,

「The way to win against this well-behaved kid is with my wisdom and experience of a method he's never faced before, right?」 (Velt)

I turned my back on him and walked toward the crowd of people.

「Where are you going? Are you scared?」 (Shalt)

To the me that had suddenly turned my back on him, Shalt couldn't attack. The peanut gallery didn't seem to understand the meaning of my action. Well, it's fine if he doesn't understand. I began to mingle with the crowd, and looked back over my shoulder.

「What's wrong, Shalt? I'm waiting.」 (Velt)
「Wha- wai- what are you doing Velt!」 (Shalt)
「Nothing really? It's just, I'm waiting for you where it's easier for me to fight you?」 (Velt)

Shalt opened his wide with a shocked expression. Taira and Melma seem to be surprised too.
I began to run through the crowd, causing a commotion.

「Hey, Velt. Isn't it dangerous for us for you to be here!?」 (Crowd)
「That's right, you should fight at the center. How are you going to beat Shalt if you just run away?」 (Crowd)

I'll get other people involved if I'm out here so I should go to the middle? That's not it, it's anything but safe.

「Velt, are you seriously doing that?」 (Shalt)

Naturally, Shalt shouldn't be able to attack. He can't do so because of the possibility of hurting the people gathered here.

「You have to attack me if you want to beat me you know?」 (Velt)
「This guy... I'm a bit angry you know? Are you trying to threaten me?」 (Shalt)
「Threaten? Don't say something so foolish. Aren't you just scared of me?」 (Velt)
「Wha, what are you even saying?」 (Shalt)
「Even though I can hear you, are you afraid of attacking, because you might get the crowd caught up in it? Or is it that you’re afraid of me?」 (Velt)

Shalt is at a loss for words. On the contrary, he's trembling from having been found out. Not sure what to do, Shalt appeared to appeal to Taira for what to do next. However, Taira didn't say anything. He didn't stop my actions either. He simply looked upon the two of us in silence. At Taira's silence, Shalt seemed to have a conflicted expression and undid his magic.

「Hmph, if that's the case I won't use magic, and defeat you with my swordsmanship instead.」 (Shalt)

Here it is. He's going to resort to just swordplay. So as to not involve the others, he's going to aim directly for me with refined strikes, and take me head-on. It was, well, somewhat strange to me. I want to make fun of him a bit for being all too serious.

「Shalt, your opponent can't use magic, did you think about that for even a second?」 (Velt)
「!!」 (Shalt)
「Take this! Finishing move,」 (Velt)

Appearing directly in front of Shalt, I used my special attack.

「p.i.s.s SHOOOOOOOOOOOT!!」 (Shalt)
「WAI-WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」 (Velt)

I pulled down my pants for a second, and shot p.i.s.s towards him. There's n.o.body who could have expected this. Surprised, he jumped back. However, you cannot s.p.a.ce out for long in the middle of a fight.

「There!」 (Velt)
「*Guh... Ur, urg, ueegh.*」 (Shalt)

I delivered a kick straight to his stomach. He had an expression as if he was about to throw up.

「And another!」 (Velt)

Since he stopped moving, I immediately did a low kick. He's just a 10-year-old kid. Because he could use magic, his endurance was just that of a regular child. I did squats to strengthen my calves, so once should be enough for a weak child.

「*Kaha, ah, gaha, ugh.*」 (Shalt)

He can't breathe well after one kick to the stomach. My leg felt numb after delivering the low kick. He can't concentrate or use an incantation anymore. Now, if I give him an axe kick to the head while he's bent over...

「Hey, are you alright? Maybe I hit a little too hard.」 (Velt)
「*Buha, ah, gaha, urgh.*」 (Shalt)
「Ah, take it easy and pull yourself together.」 (Velt)

Well, anything more than this really would be overboard wouldn't it. I patted the back of the immobile Shalt. Either way, even if I don't do anything else, he can't do anything. That's what I thought, so I decided not to attack again... which means...

「You idiot! You think I'll accept this?」 (Crowd)
「You, I thought you were just a bad kid beyond any help, but this cowardly way isn't how a man fights!」 (Crowd)
「You're the worst, Velt!」 (Crowd)

The crowd was booing loudly.

「Wh- why! I didn't do anything particularly bad!」 (Velt)
「It's how you went about it! Something like p.i.s.sing at him, that's the worst thing you could have done!」 (Crowd)
「Don’t screw with me! Compared to the cyclone sword, what I did was a lot safer!」 (Velt)
「You don't have any pride as a man!」 (Crowd)

I thought it would be fine because I'm a child. Well, if Asakura Ryuuma did it as an elementary school kid, would his head have been beaten into a different shape by his dad? I didn't go overboard because it's just a fight between kids, and used what I thought was the safest method, did they really not understand that? But for some reason, sensei had collapsed. Could it be that even my high school teacher was affected?

「*Kukukukukukuku.*」 (Taira)

However, there was just one person who could be heard laughing in the midst of all the booing.

「Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Ah, I give up. This is the first time in my life I've ever seen a special move like that.」 (Taira)

Even though he was crouched next to his son, he was laughing loudly by himself. Seeing this sight, the booing settled down, as they all became confused.

「I seem to have underestimated Velt, just a little bit. He's overwhelmingly weaker than Shalt, and yet he overwhelmed him.」 (Taira)

Where n.o.body would admit my victory, Taira was different. There was no anger or criticism, only an expression of admiration. But, there was a child who would not accept that.

「Not yet!」 (Shalt)

Shalt jumped up from where he was previously keeled over, and flourished his sword. I instinctively took some distance, he is clearly mad.

「I won't, accept this loss, Velt. As a man, with no pride nor conviction in your actions, I cannot praise you!」 (Shalt)

Calming his breathing and recomposing his mind, Shalt prepared his sword. But, the rule was...

「Get him, Shalt!」 (Crowd)
「Shalt, give that bad kid a beat down!」 (Crowd)
「Even if this idiot becomes the king, it'll be fine because Princess Forna and Shalt will be there.」 (Crowd)

It should have been my win after one hit, so why are they getting riled up like this. To make sure I looked at Taira, but he didn’t say anything and smiled. This b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he changed the rules however he wanted. If that’s how it was going to be, there was no point in having done something as embarra.s.sing as shooting p.i.s.s.

「But well, there's no proof of having broken the rules. Unreasonable things like this happen quite often after all.」 (Velt)

It can't be helped. Shall we dance? I'll play with him a bit longer.

「Hey, General Taira, you sure it's fine to not put a stop to this?」 (Melma)
「Fufufu, which one of them are you worried about, Melma?」 (Taira)
「Both of ‘em.」 (Melma)
「Is that so? This is a good opportunity for me so I want to watch a bit longer. Someday, my son might run into someone who doesn't care about fighting fair with pride and honor.」 (Taira)

Shalt began an incantation. Compared to the large amount of magic of Cyclone Saber, it was a spell with a small range.

「O flowing tears of the G.o.ddess of Ice, pierce the heart of evil! Ice Shot!」 (Shalt)

A small chunk of ice. It's weak and probably doesn't have much power. Even though he's angry, he's obediently using a small and controlled magic.

「I'll return that right back to you with this batting strike!」 (Velt)

I planned to break it into a bunch of small pieces, and struck it with my wooden sword.

But it didn’t break.

Rather, at the moment of impact, the sword began to freeze.

「What the, the h.e.l.l is this!?」 (Velt)
「c.r.a.p, Asakura! Let go of it fast! You'll freeze too!」 (Melma)
「Woah, that's dangerous.」 (Velt)

Though I let go of the wooden sword and avoided a disaster, it was still dangerous... not. I wasn’t naive enough to give him an opportunity by being relieved.

「I’ve got you!」 (Shalt)
「Sheesh, ...too naive.」 (Velt)

Shalt came at me as I lost my weapon, thrusting with his rapier. Though he probably plans to stop just in front of my face, it's too honest. Even though the movement was elegant, he's still a child. Too slow.

Lowering my center of gravity and evading Shalt's stab, I grabbed his fluttering mantle, and pulled it between his legs and up into his crotch with all my strength and knocked him over.

「*Gya...O, owowowowowow.*」 (Shalt)
「*Kuhahahaha,* Though it's a symbol of pride for n.o.bles, doesn't the mantle get in the way during a fight?」 (Taira)
「Grr, Velt!」 (Shalt)
「Woah.」 (Velt)

Shalt got up immediately and began swinging his sword. Though he was still full of spirit, there should be quite a bit of stress built up.

「Come on, bring it, the devil is right here.」 (Velt)
「You, wa- wait right there!」 (Shalt)

I ran around in circles this time. Shalt may overwhelm me when it comes to magic and techniques, but I've got the stronger body between us.

「You, *haa, haa*, wait! *Haa,* Why won’t you fight fairly!? How can you possibly be a man!?」 (Shalt)
「You’ve already seen what I’ve been doing for some time now right?」 (Velt)
「That’s not the problem, it’s about a man's pride!」 (Shalt)
「What’s a man? I’m just some kid who hasn’t even kissed a girl before.」 (Velt)
「Haven’t you done things with Princess Forna before!?」 (Shalt)
「Aah... W-well there’s that... But well, I think I understand how boys and girls are together more than you? Well, since I know from my previous life.」 (Velt)
「I don’t get what you’re saying! Fight me! Fairly!」 (Shalt)

It’s just like a fight between kids. Well, by a fight between kids, it just means that Shalt’s been recklessly flailing around. As expected he’s a kid isn’t he. He doesn’t understand how a fight works. With his stamina, as long as he keeps swinging around he’ll quickly exhaust himself.

「*Haa, haa, haa, kuu.*」 (Shalt)

His feet stopped, here’s my chance. I’ll give him another low kick.

「Take this!」 (Velt)
「When di- Aaah!」 (Shalt)
「And another!」 (Velt)
「Uaaaaaah!」 (Shalt)

While he was in pain I hit him again. With this his feet had completely stopped. I hit him so he wouldn’t be able to take another step.

「Velt......」 (Shalt)
「Don’t look at me with those hateful eyes. It’s that you’re strong. If we had fought at a practice area or dueling grounds, then I’d probably be beaten instantly. But this is a street fight. Everything here is my weapon. With the set rules (or lack of rules), it was already your loss.」 (Velt)
「With those tricks, do you think I’m going to yield to you? I haven’t lost yet! I’ll show you my pride!」 (Shalt)
「Ah ha, if that’s the case, then let’s move a bit more to the center. If we’re too close to the peanut gallery then it’ll be dangerous right?」 (Velt)
「Eh?」 (Shalt)
「UUURAAAAAAAAAH!」 (Velt)
「WUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」 (Shalt)

I gave another low kick with all my might. It wasn’t so my leg would go numb, but delivered so that It’d completely destroy my opponent’s will. Shalt, who looked completely dumbfounded, had already lost the strength in both of his legs, so he hit the ground with his rear, and was no longer in any condition to stand up again.

「Look, for me it was a fight between kids, and for you it was a duel right? Don’t look away so easily.」 (Velt)
「*U-Uuuuuu, ku.*」 (Shalt)

Why didn’t I win? That was, quite possibly, what Shalt was thinking.

「W-what was that, Ve-Velt you... That wasn’t just unfair... But he made it a fight like that.」 (Crowd)
「He- He’s... A fiend...」 (Crowd)

The peanut gallery’s mood was ruined, huh. However, calling me a fiend was pretty mean. There are countless other people out on the street that are more ruthless. But, fiend or not, the result is the same. The winner had already been decided.

「That’s enough!」 (Taira)

Up until now Taira was quiet, but he had finally gotten his lazy a.s.s up and came in between me and Shalt.

「That was magnificent, Velt. Up until now I didn’t think you’d be able to get so close to Shalt. But throwing out your shame, pride, aesthetics, and using everything available to you for victory, that sort of dynamism and spirit is in a sense, the strongest form of combat.」 (Taira)

There was no sense of sarcasm. Even though I had beaten up his kid he didn’t seem to be angry.

「Truly unbelievable. By provoking him you interrupted his rhythm, and you struck as he exhausted himself by missing his attacks. Even more surprising was that in the face of his rapier and magic, you understood your opponent’s range well and dealt with it courageously. Well done.」 (Taira)

With true admiration, Taira applauded me.

「On top of that, you were able to calmly avoid Shalt’s attacks.」 (Taira)

And then,

「This match, is Velt’s victory!」 (Taira)

With the announcement of my victory, the duel reached its conclusion.