Chapter 63

,I was narrow-minded and made a ridiculous misunderstanding. I formally apologize."

Tsurugi bows her head deeply from a seiza position.

It's extremely unpleasant to bow to such an ugly man who can't even manage himself, but she must take responsibility for her own mistakes.

Anyway, as someone who walks the path of kendo, it wouldn't be strange for bad rumors to start if she didn't even properly know about the Chinporyu.

'Why didn't I remember it right away...'

Of course, there's a reason. In modern times, there are hardly any men who practice Chinporyu, and the countermeasures are treated as virtually dead knowledge in society.

Tsurugi had only heard from her father that she should respond this way, but she had never actually experienced it. Therefore, it's almost inevitable that there would be shortcomings in her response.

Of course, it's insincere to use that fact as a shield to make excuses. Therefore, she must bow her head with as much sincerity as possible.

Fortunately, the practitioner of Chinporyu is a reasonably cultured man,

,It's okay if you know now. Heeheehee, I'm sorry for suddenly pulling out my penis in front of a woman, too. Were you very surprised?"

And he forgave Tsurugi's rudeness.

In any case, could he also be called one of the martial artists?

Tsurugi internally adjusted the man's position upward.

,Ah, but it was really funny, you know? Despite having a dignified and handsome face, she screamed 'Kyaa!!' as soon as she saw my penis and fell on her butt. I guess a girl is a girl after all, no matter what. Fuhhihihi!"

It didn't even take 5 seconds for that adjusted position to plummet to the bottom.

Tsurugi expressed her rising anger in the most polite words possible.

,Would you please correct that statement? I am a martial artist before I am a woman. I am certainly ashamed of showing you an unsightly appearance, but I have no choice but to object to being accepted as just a girl."

,Ah, yeah, yeah. I'm sorry. You're just too cute."

The man apologizes perfunctorily. He doesn't show any sincerity at all.

Perhaps his magnanimous attitude when accepting the apology was actually due to the fact that he had no awareness as a martial artist and was just brushing it off as a trivial matter.

She wanted to question him, but she suppressed that impulse.

Because she was going to expose this man's true colors with her own hands soon anyway.

,...Let's move on to the main topic quickly. Um, so... what's your name, Professor?"

,Kimoda Hideo."

,So you're Kimoda-nim of the Chinporyu. The Chinporyu school is challenging another dojo to a match... Can I take that to mean you're applying for an Inyo Battle?"

Inyo Battle!

That is, that is one of Japan's traditional duel methods!

As Japan had a history of warriors occupying the top of the class society, many duel methods and corresponding etiquette were created to resolve social conflicts.

The Inyo Battle is a duel specifically specialized for battles between men and women.

Men and women can never be physically equal. Especially in the old days when sports science and nutrition were virtually barren lands.

Therefore, it's difficult to imagine men and women dueling with strength.

Not only can't women beat men, but men are also likely to lose honor for beating weak women.

But, despite that, it's impossible for there to be no conflicts between men and women at all.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The Inyo Battle exists to prepare for times like these.

Chinporyu is a swordsmanship specialized in this Inyo Battle!

'I never thought there would be anyone who would compete in an Inyo Battle in modern times...'

Now is the age of law and reason, not the age of savagery.

The era of determining victory or defeat and understanding through duels between two people is gone.

But, despite that, there are always people who try to continue the past traditions of combat.

Tsurugi is also included among them.

'Swordsmanship is not necessary in modern society.'

In modern society, if you swing a sword carelessly, even if you were attacked first, the person who defended themselves might end up in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jail.

In this kind of society, can keeping swordsmanship really be called 'practical'? No, it can't.

But, despite that, there is someone here who is trying to protect and pass it on.

Therefore, Tsurugi doesn't plan to laugh at this man who has learned the outdated duel method called Inyo Battle and the special swordsmanship to win it.

...She will laugh at him if this man shows unsightly skills, though.

,Oh, yeah. That. Inyo Battle, Inyo Battle. Let's do that. You're the only woman left in the dojo, so it's perfect, right?"

,...Certainly... I am the only woman in this dojo, even if it's not now. If Kimoda-nim applies for an Inyo Battle, I will be the only one who can respond."

Tsurugi has no experience in Inyo Battles.

But at least she definitely has knowledge in her head.

'There's no way you can do a real battle with just the knowledge in your head...'

But, as the person who is currently carrying the name of the dojo on her shoulders, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's also absurd to back down from the challenge.

Tsurugi held the pride of the samurai that had been passed down from ancient times in her heart and shouted confidently.

,I accept that challenge!"

,Iyeoool. You have a confident face? Do you think you can win?"

,Well, winning or losing is certainly important, but our school's basic principle is not to avoid challenges unless we consider the challenger to be ridiculously low in status. I'm a descendant of a samurai, you know."

The Kazakuraryu is a school founded by Tsurugi's ancestor, who made great contributions during the Warring States period.

Although the descendants quickly declined during the peaceful era because they had no talent for managing their territory, their powerful practical swordsmanship and dojo have continued to this day.

Tsurugi and her father believe that the driving force behind this is a constant desire for improvement and a mind that doesn't fear challenges.

,I see~ That's cool. Even if you lose, you'll be comforted by the fact that you challenged bravely, huh?"

,...I'm sorry to say this, but please stop talking as if you've already won. Wouldn't you be ashamed if you were defeated by me later?"

She tried to dissuade him in the calmest tone possible, but it wasn't easy.

Although she is refining her spirit with kendo, Tsurugi's true nature was a competitive twenty-year-old.

She is starting to get restless with the desire to put down the nose of the man who is acting like he has already won against her even though it hasn't even started yet.

,Kkukkeut. Well, that's true. Eeh, then how should we do the rules?"

,How about we do the basic rules of a Three Preliminary Battle and a Four Main Battle?"

Three Preliminary Battle, Four Main Battle, for a total of seven rounds.

This is the basic rule of the Inyo Battle, where three preliminary battles are held before the main battle, and four main battles are held.

The winner is the one who wins a total of 4 or more times, but if one side suppresses all three battles in the preliminary battle, it is judged that there is no need to go to the main battle, and the rule is that the side that wins three times declares a default victory.

Kimoda Hideo takes out his cell phone in front of people and seems to check something, then nods.

,Okay. Then let's do it with those rules. It's easy to understand."

,...It may be easy to understand, but it won't be easy to actually do it."

Shiori got up from her seat and started taking off the Dobok she was wearing. She was a little embarrassed to show her sweaty body to the man, but if she thought of this as part of the duel, there was nothing to be ashamed of.

,Since Kimoda-nim showed off his weapon first, I'll show you my weapon as well. It's this."

Tsurugi revealed her private parts, which she had never shown to anyone except her family, in front of Hideo.

It's not that she doesn't have any shy feelings as a virgin, but Tsurugi's mindset as a martial artist comes first.

The Inyo Battle is a battle fought by disregarding the genitals of men and women.

There's no point in hiding it.

,Ooh, it's a very cute vagina. Fuhhihihit, I thought it wouldn't be dignified since you look so dignified, but that's not the case."

,That's ridiculous... What's dignified or not doing here?"

,I guess so? So... what kind of training have you been doing here usually?"

Tsurugi answered Hideo's question in a subdued voice.

,Tr, training... Usually, about once every fifteen days... I just check to see if it's rusted."

,Aha, you're saying you masturbate about once every fifteen days? Isn't that a little too infrequent?"

,W, well, it's true that I lack training, but if you think about it the other way around, it also means that I'm maintaining a quality close to new."

She couldn't honestly accept the criticism and tried to make excuses, but Tsurugi herself didn't feel convinced by her own words.

She's not stupid enough to think that words that she can't convince herself with will convince others.

Tsurugi focused on training her swordsmanship, so she was lacking in training this weapon that she had to use in the Inyo Battle. She can't consult her father about this part of the training, and she has no choice but to rely on herself.

The Inyo Battle has been pushed back by the times and is now almost non-existent, but as someone who carries on the tradition, she couldn't completely ignore it.

It can only be said to be Tsurugi's mistake.

'If only I had tried harder usually...'

But what exactly would she have to do to try harder? Tsurugi couldn't even think that far.

,Then you've never ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠done an Inyo Battle before. Ah, right. Did you have a boyfriend or something?"

,N, no, I don't have anything like that! A boyfriend... It's too early for me... I can't allow it until I'm satisfied with my own skills!"

Tsurugi herself doesn't know when that time when she can be satisfied will come...

Maybe she'll never have a relationship and get married through matchmaking. Tsurugi will accept that as well.

,So you're still a virgin, right? Heeheehee... I'm starting to get really horny..."

As if to prove his words, Hideo's penis started to throb greatly.

'Wh, what a sword...'

The phallus, no, the flesh sword, which she checked again, was surprisingly dull and huge, and optimized for digging into a woman's soft flesh and enjoying it.

Even Tsurugi can't let go of her tension. But even so...

'There's nothing more embarrassing than giving up on the match from the start!'

Kazakura Tsurugi. First Inyo Battle participation!