Chapter 36

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 36

Chapter Title: A Rewarding Entrance Ceremony!

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"Now that it's practical training time, it's fine, right?"

Chisaki's eyes sparkled, eager to test my skills as soon as possible.

"You smell like a strong opponent, so I wanna get started! My body's itching for it!"

Just like in the original story, she had that slight battle maniac streak, and her keen sense of smell was as sharp as ever.

Denrai Chisaki was a character known for her exceptional nose—able to distinguish the scent of the strong from the weak through her senses. Even without that, her innate olfactory ability was top-notch.

That's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why the community nicknamed her "Dog Nose."

Fan art often featured her sniffing out fermented skate from somewhere, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

It had that vibe of Korean guy Isihoon introducing the true delight of fermented skate to heroine Chisaki!

...Should I actually have her try some real fermented skate later?

"What about using Hepai? Got the hang of it?"

"Picking up stuff like this is a breeze! Watch!"

Chisaki pressed the button on her Hepai and shouted the activation word.

"Set!"

She grabbed the katana that materialized before her eyes.

At the same time, a magic barrier enveloped her skin.

Since she hadn't registered any outfit, she was still in her cadet uniform.

"You're handling it great! So let's get going!"

"Alright, let's spar. But we need permission from the teacher first."

"Then hurry up and get it!"

We approached Jura Dias, the instructor for our class.

"Teacher Dias."

"Eldra and Denrai. What is it?"

"I'd like to do a test run with Hepai and spar with Chisaki."

"A spar? You're full of youthful vigor."

Jura Dias glanced briefly at Chisaki.

"Looks like Denrai's already mastered how to use Hepai."

"Just press a button and say the activation word—what's so hard about it~?"

"...Perfect timing to demonstrate for the other cadets. Approved. I'll prepare the space, so go ahead. But Denrai, deactivate Hepai first. Show everyone how to activate it together."

"Yes~."

Chisaki pressed the button on her Hepai again, returning the katana.

Moments later, Teacher Jura Dias announced to the cadets that we would be putting on a Hepai demonstration spar.

To make it easy for the other cadets to watch, Chisaki and I climbed onto the platform in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the auditorium.

The cadets sat in the chairs that hadn't been cleared away since the entrance ceremony, watching us.

For those farther back, cameras projected our images onto ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the monitors above the platform.

Chisaki flashed a grin at the cadets watching us.

"This feels like standing on stage at a school festival."

"Nervous?"

"No way. Whether there's an audience or not... a true swordswoman focuses only on her opponent."

Chisaki unleashed her fighting spirit toward me.

She really was a battle maniac.

Hearing Teacher Jura Dias's words through the microphone, we immediately pressed the buttons on our Hepais.

Click!

"Set."

As we activated Hepai, I pictured the first weapon I'd summon.

Magic barriers formed around our skin, and katanas appeared before us, which we gripped.

The only difference was that I'd changed into my pre-set outfit.

"What? You already set an outfit? Hmm~ It's like rich young master priest attire."

"Because I am a real rich young master. Chisaki, if there's an outfit you like, register it on Hepai. Hunter trends lately include a fashion boom."

"Not really into fashion~ Whatever, doesn't matter."

Shing!

Chisaki drew her blade and returned the scabbard to Hepai.

"Get ready."

"Got it."

I drew my katana and returned the scabbard to Hepai as well.

Chisaki and I assumed the ready stance of the Heavenly Thunder Style.

Teacher Jura Dias, watching us, spoke.

The moment the command rang out...

Mana crackled around Chisaki's body.

"Flash Thunder!"

Going straight for a skill right out the gate?

She's no slouch.

Flash Thunder was Chisaki's speed-priority skill, one of the few the protagonist could also use.

Its high paralysis chance made it a game favorite.

Land it right, and you could paralyze early-game; if Chisaki's turn came first, you'd often open with it.

Clang!

Of course, having learned the Heavenly Thunder Style myself, I blocked it cleanly—no paralysis for me.

"Whoa, you blocked that?"

"I didn't beg your master for lessons just to look cool... Hey!"

I poured strength into my arm, swinging my katana to force Chisaki back, then immediately pursued.

With the magic barrier up, attacks without infused mana would be blocked.

So I swung unhesitatingly for her neck.

But Chisaki, with her prodigious talent, wouldn't just take a basic attack without a skill.

"Going for the neck right away? Brutal!"

"Magic barrier's got you covered. Teacher'll stop us if it gets too dicey. Besides... you're one to talk, opening with a skill!"

"Hahaha!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Our blades clashed dozens of times in rapid succession.

Hunter aspirants, both mana-awakened.

And users of the same Heavenly Thunder Style.

We roughly anticipated each other's moves, so no quick resolution.

Sure, I could overwhelm her with my full stats.

But this was a spar, and for building affinity with Chisaki, I couldn't reveal everything.

Besides, her lips curled higher with each exchange, her whole body screaming how much fun she was having.

This spar was key for raising her affection.

"How about this! Falling Thunder!"

Power-priority skill: Falling Thunder.

If skills are ranked alphabetically, Flash Thunder is C-rank, Falling Thunder B-rank.

Couldn't block that raw without mana infusion.

Thus...

"Reverse Heaven!"

I countered with the Heavenly Thunder Style's upward slash.

"Yes, yes, yes! This is awesome!"

Thoroughly satisfied, Chisaki bared her teeth in a wide grin, eyes bulging.

"Let's... make it even more exciting!"

She's getting way too hyped.

No way...

Hummmmm!

A massive surge of mana erupted from Chisaki's body.

For real?

"Field...

"Deployment!"

Trying to pull out a super move in a spar!?

In Blaze Blood, there's the super special move—commonly called the ultimate technique.

It's not MP-based; a gauge builds through actions, and when full, unleashes a flashy personal super with epic effects.

Activation phrase: Field Deployment.

Mana floods the area on command, boosting the user's attack power and potentially manifesting imagery to alter terrain.

In-game, you'd see the area darken, rocks erupt, or even a roller appear post-super.

I'd wondered if that was possible in reality.

But in the Blaze Blood world, it was an accepted phenomenon.

Requires immense skill—the pinnacle of technique—so it's seen as the ultimate skill form.

Simply put: insanely powerful, so don't use on allies lightly.

Yet Chisaki ignored Teacher Jura Dias and fired it off.

True battle maniac.

No stopping her now.

Time to match her.

Hummmmm!

"Field Deployment."

I maxed out my mana to deploy my own field against Chisaki's.

"Trust me, Teacher Dias. Nothing major will happen."

"Yeah! It's just... a special fellow disciple duel!"

Tak!

Chisaki charged me, unleashing her super.

"Ultimate Technique... Vast Heaven Thunder Slash!!!"

A technique unlocked upon mastering Heavenly Thunder Style's ultimate.

One I couldn't use yet.

But...

I hadn't only learned Heavenly Thunder Style.

"Number 8."

In an instant, my katana switched to a large shield.

"...!?"

Chisaki's eyes widened in shock, but she didn't halt her swing.

Thud! I slammed the large shield into the ground and activated my super.

"Aegis Shield!"

This was the go-to defensive super in Blaze Blood—for the stranger's super or monster big skills.

Effect: Absolute defense.

Zero damage to the entire party for one turn, magic or physical.

Worked the same in my world.

Chisaki's Vast Heaven Thunder Slash was nullified by my defensive super.

"Wha... what the heeeeellll!?"

Chisaki stomped the floor, yelling in protest.

"What's with that shield! Why not use your katana! Weren't we pitting Heavenly Thunder Styles!?"

"Never said that. Just a spar. I'm not at ultimate level yet anyway—can't block an ultimate with Heavenly Thunder Style alone."

"Eeeeveeen sooo! Why pull another weapon and pour cold water on it!"

"I'd get hurt without it. Safest way to end the spar. Unless..."

I flashed a sly smile, pointing out a flaw no true warrior could ignore.

"You wouldn't tell me to hold back and only use katana in a spar, right? That'd be an insult to a fellow warrior."

"Ugh..."

"If I have a sure block, I use it. Obvious."

"Fine, but... aaagh! So boring! This priest is so boring!"

She was seriously miffed I ditched the katana for a shield.

But now wasn't the time to throw a tantrum.

"Denrai!!!"

"Y-Yes!?"

Teacher Jura Dias stormed onto the platform, face red with fury.

"What were you thinking!? Using an ultimate in a spar—are you insane!? Treating a fellow cadet like an enemy!?"

Chisaki broke into a cold sweat at the teacher's rage.

"N-No, it's like... a special~ fellow disciple spar..."

"Save your excuses! Stay after class—you're getting a lecture!"

"Nooooo...!"

Chisaki's wail echoed through the auditorium.