Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Ahh! My Sponsor!
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I changed into my usual white suit combat uniform and gripped my greatsword.
And Aika donned her signature combat outfit, one I'd seen often in Blaze Blood.
An idol costume chosen for self-promotion, doubling as battle gear.
The sleeveless top and skirt hem were adorned with frills, and the overall color scheme blended red as the base with white and yellow accents.
To amp up the cute concept, it wasn't just the red ribbon fixing her usual short ponytail—small yellow ribbons decorated her waist and ankles, while a large one adorned her back.
But to reiterate, Blaze Blood was a high-level game with risqué outfits, even if not fully adult-oriented!
Aika's getup wasn't purely cute.
The skirt barely covered her upper thighs, and the sides were completely open, giving off a subtle erotic vibe.
In the Blaze Blood community, there were even regular posts from users joking about slipping a hand through her side to stroke her belly or diving straight under her skirt—Aika's outfit had drawn plenty of attention in its own right.
And this sexy-cute idol wielded a sturdy greatsword.
The gap, plus the romance of a greatsword character, had fans maining her.
For reference, Aika's strength stat was the highest in her party, fitting for a greatsword user, and in Blaze Blood story scenes, she often cleaved through massive monsters with it.
Whether to synergize her cute concept with the weapon's appeal, her early victory lines had her stowing the greatsword and cutely brushing it off, but later ones proudly boasted of her feats: swinging it with a whoosh! and asking, "Aika's performance? Did you see it?"
Such subtle changes tied to her growth delighted players.
"Alright, here I go, Rubelt~!"
Aika smiled, gripping her greatsword with both hands and assuming a stance.
"Right. Come at me with everything you've got, Nakazawa."
"Yes! Hiyah!"
With a cute battle cry, Aika charged, swinging her greatsword.
I met it with my own swing, clashing blades.
Claaaang!
The impact transmitted through my sword was weak compared to Iron Mountain.
Well, comparing her early-game self—even at chapter one—to a boss like Iron Mountain's strength wouldn't be fair.
"As expected of you, Rubelt! You blocked it so easily!"
"So you're not thinking of giving up already, are you?"
"No way! Aika's real power starts now! Haaah!"
Blades locked, Aika channeled her magic and called out her skill name.
"Flame Slash!"
Her magic instantly boosted her strength as flames enveloped her greatsword.
Flame Slash was Aika's early attack skill.
A fire-based greatsword move with effects similar to Isihoon's.
I could overpower her stats and halt the swing, but no need to dominate an early-game Aika in sparring like that.
I stepped back, dodging her skill.
"Iyap!"
Missing didn't faze Aika; she pressed forward, leaping high.
Both she and I wielded greatswords.
In greatsword duels, raw power to overwhelm trumped fancy technique.
But our stat gap was huge.
Even if she didn't know the details, common sense told Aika I was stronger.
So she leaped high for a full-force overhead smash to close the power divide.
She soared impressively, her skirt fluttering to reveal yellow panties.
But ignoring her exposure, Aika focused solely on me, swinging down.
Even wanting to impress, her serious approach to sparring was admirable.
So I should show some flair too.
"Hah!"
I faced her descending blade head-on, channeling power into a diagonal upward slash.
Claaaang!
"Ngh...! Kyaa!"
Despite her full swing, Aika couldn't overcome the difference and flew back with her greatsword.
She hastily righted herself midair and stabbed her sword into the ground.
Kagagagang!
The friction with the arena floor slowed her flight, stopping her just short of the edge.
"Good attack, Nakazawa."
"Rubelt~ You're too strong~ I put everything into that swing."
"This is the bare minimum for someone who'll carry on the Eldra name. So... ready to give up?"
"Not at all! If you think that's all I've got, you'd be leaving me heartbroken!"
Aika came at me repeatedly with greatsword swings.
I parried, deflected, sometimes barely blocking her strikes, playing along until sparring time nearly ended.
Aika had requested this to impress me, but as it dragged on, her idol charm gave way to a hunter's fierce drive in her swings.
When it wrapped, Aika panted, slick with sweat.
"Hoo, hoo... You're seriously strong, Rubelt... I didn't land a single solid hit."
"You held your own well, Nakazawa. Keep at it, and you'll get even stronger."
"Thanks, Rubelt~ But still~."
Aika caught her breath, stowed her greatsword in her Hepai, and approached me.
"Aika's heartbroken~!"
"Huh?"
"We've sparred and all now~ But you still call me by my last name. Call Aika by her first name too, Rubelt!"
She winked playfully, demanding I use her name.
This was Aika's real goal in challenging me.
We couldn't get chummy overnight, but she wanted to bond with someone hugely influential to her agency.
Starting with first names made sense.
And since Aika was a Blaze Blood heroine I aimed to conquer, no reason to refuse.
"Got it, Aika."
"Kyaa! Rubelt called Aika by name—I'm so happy!"
"Tch...!"
Outside the arena, Anastasia—who'd watched the whole thing—ground her teeth in frustration.
Aika's boldness today might stem from some spat with her.
'Score! I got Rubelt to call me by my first name!'
After classes.
Nakazawa Aika left the academy in high spirits.
The reason? She'd grown closer to Rubelt, her agency's sponsor.
After Rubelt called the office, Aika had trembled in fear and anxiety.
In showbiz, a financial sponsor was practically a god.
Entertainment cost a fortune, no matter what.
Albums, stages, outfits, makeup, coaches—idol revenue alone couldn't cover it, so a reliable steady sponsor was a true blessing.
And the one backing her agency? None other than Rubelt.
The top whale funding them since her debut.
She'd heard it straight from the agency president that afternoon, shaking like a leaf as he explained Rubelt—his face paler than she'd ever seen.
A boss who was a showbiz heavyweight himself looked like a drenched puppy, amplifying Aika's dread.
Offending Rubelt meant cut funds—and the end of her idol career.
All her hard-earned glory, gone to waste.
'N-No, that can't happen...!'
Aika resolved to win him back somehow.
But the fear of rashly approaching and worsening things kept her frozen.
So she'd stolen glances at Rubelt, agonizing over his view of her.
As time passed with no reaction or move from him, Aika wondered.
'Huh? He doesn't care that much?'
Her anxiety faded; watching him smash Strenzers and shine eased her mind, prompting reflection.
'Right! Come to think of it, Rubelt was just stopping that dummy Asya and me from fighting! Plus! He said back then—at the audition... he'd picked me!'
Recalling the past, Aika convinced herself he liked her.
'He wouldn't want to see his favorite idol fighting... Yeah! In a way, Rubelt's... my fan!'
Flipping to optimism, she decided.
'Alright! Time to charm him with Aika's cuteness and get closer! Sucking up to sponsors is showbiz 101!'
That resolve had finally given her the courage to approach Rubelt first.