Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Aonia (3)
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Unexpectedly running into Yoru and spending the whole half-day with her.
After walking and walking nonstop, we arrived at a martial arts dojo said to have special plaques.
Far off, the signboard read ‘Ryuusei’.
Silent tribute to the Ryuusei Dojo, which would have its special plaques taken by me today.
“Is that the dojo with the special plaques?”
Ah.
Come to think of it, the person next to me had also said they wanted one.
Yoru, who had fussed over the Oni mask and poked and prodded at me from all angles.
She finally calmed down only after taking off the mask and showing her bare face.
And when I asked why she was leaving the Black Sword Court for somewhere else.
-I’m going to enter the Azure Dragon Tournament.
-Eh?
When I told her I was joining the Azure Dragon Tournament she had mentioned before, her eyes went wide.
-Why? Last time you said you wouldn’t. No interest, right?
-Circumstances changed. I absolutely need the prize for the winner.
-Hmm. Sounds like there’s a situation, but okay. I won’t pry. Tell me later if you feel like it.
It wasn’t hard to say my mother was critically ill.
I just didn’t because it would only worry Yoru more.
Her mother had already passed away, hadn’t she?
I didn’t want to see her shaken up hearing a friend’s mother was in the same state.
-But then going this way is wrong, isn’t it? The Azure Dragon Tournament’s in the opposite direction. You start from the round of 128, so you can’t waste stamina.
-Ah. I’m going for a special plaque. That lets me start from the round of 16.
-Eh? Really? How? What’s that?
The moment I mentioned the special plaque, Yoru’s eyes sparkled.
I thought she liked starting from the bottom, but apparently not.
Yoru seemed to want to skip the hassle and snag the good stuff too.
-Martial dojos have special plaques? They pretend to test nobles and hand them over? No way for commoners? Wow... I’m ashamed to be from here.
-Don’t sweat it. It doesn’t really create prejudice against Aonia folk.
-No? What’re you talking about, Kline. You absolutely can’t trust Aonia people. They’re two-faced. Special plaques are just the tip of the iceberg—don’t drop your guard.
-…
I wondered what her deal was, badmouthing her own hometown like that.
But I just nodded silently, figuring she had her reasons.
-Then let’s go! I wanna get a special plaque too. It’s not like only one person can have it, right?
-No way. They wouldn’t prep just one knowing nobles would swarm. Probably got a bunch.
-Sweet! Hurry then! Let’s roll!
-No, it’s night. We rest. What’re you on about?
-Oops.
I was pretty shocked when she forgot it was night and wanted to head straight for the plaque.
Why was her energy so jacked up? This girl.
I already thought she was lively, but she overflowed with vitality especially around me.
Or maybe not? I hadn’t seen her much with others, so who knew.
Anyway.
After bantering with Yoru like that, we finally reached the martial dojo.
Now we just had to go claim those special plaques.
Step-step.
We approached the main gate, footsteps echoing.
A single man stood there.
Looked like the gatekeeper.
“What? Who’re you punks?”
He scowled deeply the instant he spotted us.
Wow. How does someone make a face like that just seeing people?
Had this guy never learned basic manners?
“…”
The gatekeeper’s eyes raked over our outfits.
Both Yoru and I wore swords at our waists.
He’d figure out why swordsmen came to Ryuusei Dojo right then and there.
With the Azure Dragon Tournament underway in Aonia.
What other reason for fighters to trek to a dojo rumored for special plaques?
“You crazy... Commoner trash barging in here?”
The gatekeeper spat and hurled curses our way.
Hmm.
I could kinda see why Yoru said no need to think well of Aonia people.
Felt like a shortage of brains and common sense.
“One’s in a mask. The bitch has an eyepatch. What? Freaks? No handouts here—scram! Pffft!”
Cut.
No point listening anymore, so one punch sends him flying.
Bam!
The gatekeeper crumpled from a single hit, shaking violently.
Foam bubbled from his mouth, but whatever.
Disaster he invited himself—he owned it.
I dusted off my hands as Yoru laughed.
“Ooh. Manly, Kline. Hot stuff.”
“Hit him kinda hard. Would’ve gone easy if just me, but he dragged you into the insults.”
“Nah. I’d have done the same. Good call.”
Trading compliments, I booted the main gate.
Crash!
The doors splintered, wood shards flying everywhere.
“What!”
“Who’s the punk!”
Martial artists inside rushed out at the racket.
Dressed in doboks, they formed a semicircle around us.
All armed with swords.
Real blades, not blunted trainers.
Probably grabbed them after seeing their gatekeeper down.
Starting off like this meant steel incoming.
“Lots of people.”
“Yeah.”
We matched them, hands drifting to our sword hilts.
One martial artist bellowed at us.
“Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to pull this shit?”
“Can’t you tell? Coming to your dojo now—purpose obvious. Monkey?”
“You little... After the special plaque, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Crazy fuck. Think we’d hand those to scum like you? Not for trash like yours!”
“So?”
Boring scripted lines.
Commoners storming in demanding plaques—they should’ve clocked it instantly.
“Still not getting it? Here to smash your dojo. We’ll wreck it, take the plaques—get ready.”
“You’re deranged. Boys! Cut ‘em down!”
Shouts erupted as they drew blades in unison.
Shing-shing.
Their looks might make a lesser man quake, but no tension here.
Body forged crossing death’s door multiple times.
Not frail enough for these amateurs.
‘Plus, fully recovered now.’
The soul Ariel messed with was normal again.
Maybe why a quip slipped out naturally.
“Yoru.”
“Yeah?”
“Bet on who drops more?”
“Ooh. Fun. Penalty?”
“Loser cooks for winner.”
“Love it.”
We drew in sync.
Blades flashed under the sun.
We leaped at the charging foes.
**
Ryuusei Dojo’s master, Saburo, had been pulling all-nighters lately.
The Hiiragi family had tipped him off as the Azure Dragon Tournament neared.
-Tell us if you spot a blonde boy in a conical hat. Suppress if you can.
“Damn. Think finding that guy’s easy...?”
Like scouring all Aonia would spit him out on command.
Grumbling inside, but couldn’t voice it.
Hiiragi were volatile these days. One wrong move, disaster.
Eldest son Hiiragi Masato bloodshot for tournament victory.
Tipped outsiders to sideline them...
Tough spot for Saburo.
“Fuck. Since when we giving plaques to commoners. Just needless hassle...”
Deep breaths to quell his temper.
Saburo was a martial artist—knew mind control basics.
As he turned inward.
Noise outside hit him.
-Aaaagh!
-Die!
Crash. Clangor.
What madness outside?
“What’re these idiots doing.”
Ignored orders to lay low, avoid Hiiragi eyes?
Saburo snatched his sword, kicked the door.
And there—
-Aaaagh!
-Gahk!
“Wh-why won’t it hit!”
His disciples tumbling before mystery boy and girl.
Whoosh!
Disciple lunged at the girl’s back.
But Oni-masked boy parried.
Clang—as swords locked, another disciple struck the boy’s gap.
Thwack!
But the eyepatch girl booted the disciple’s solar plexus, sending him flying.
Husband-wife synergy, flawless.
Beautiful links sweeping his men.
Saburo couldn’t fathom it.
“What the hell.”
Disciples remained.
Few now.
“What the hell...!”
Grinding teeth, he vaulted into the yard.
Thud!
Flashy entry drew their eyes.
But unreadable.
Mask. Eyepatch.
Like fighting lunatics.
“Who’re you.”
Anger boiled from his dantian.
Time to dodge Hiiragi fallout.
Hiding from that dogshit conical-hat-blonde hunt.
What mess now?
Oni-masked boy faced him.
Answered one word.
“Special plaque.”
“What?”
“Here for special plaque. Dropped the pests blocking. Hand it over quiet—we leave.”
“Y-you crazy...”
Saburo gnashed.
Couldn’t yield plaque.
For nobles only—and Hiiragi watching dojos.
Hand to unknown, Masato flops win? Dojo toast.
He knew—drew steel.
“No more talk. Die here.”
“For real? We killed none? But you say kill?”
“No one gives a shit about commoner trash. Quiet burial—face your folly.”
“Hmm. Got it.”
Masked boy shrugged.
Like he understood.
“No holding back then. You look tough.”
Boy assumed stance.
Not Aonia style.
Saburo no expert, but knew of it.
That was—Imperial swordsmanship.
“You don’t mean—”
Conical-hat blonde flashed.
Too late as Saburo spoke.
Fwwoom!
Light gathered in boy’s hand.
Gripping radiant orb.
Kline spoke.
“Guess I’ll test the new move.”
Last sight before Saburo blacked out.