Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Friends Aren't Eternal. (4)
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"No way we'd send just the two of you. No matter how strong Lin is, the enemy is a fairly large criminal organization."
"Th-that can't be...!"
At the words of Branch Chief Terry, Lin fell into despair.
Kane, the on-site training instructor, and herself, who had taken the designated request.
She had thought this request would turn into a trip just for the two of them.
But that was merely her empty wish.
"They've already approved up to two companions on their end. One will be Instructor Kane. The other one..."
In truth, Branch Chief Teddy had planned to send just the two of them.
Even if he was participating as an instructor.
Kane was already a powerhouse on the level of an A-rank adventurer.
He figured the two of them could easily wipe out a criminal group lurking in a single city.
But as for why he was suddenly adding one more person to make it three...
"You have to add at least one more. Please."
It was because Jenny had suddenly shown up and earnestly begged Branch Chief Terry.
He'd been flustered at first, but once he roughly understood the situation, he decided to grant her request.
'Instructor Kane... Lucky guy. Can't send him off alone with her.'
Of course, he felt a twinge of jealousy toward his popular subordinate.
"So, who will the other one be?"
Kane, who had been listening from the side, asked.
For the record, Kane didn't particularly mind adding one more person.
Just...
'For some reason, I have this strange feeling like I've escaped a crisis.'
That was the only inexplicable sensation he had.
"Well, have Instructor Kane decide that one. An A-rank adventurer."
Anyone lower probably wouldn't be much help.
And an S-rank was too high-level a resource.
Of course, Hassler currently had two S-ranks stationed there.
But Veronica was out on another request.
And Scarlett had to standby in case an S-rank or designated request came in.
"Hmm... Who among the off-duty folks without requests right now..."
Kane pondered for a moment, then nodded as if he'd decided on someone in his mind.
"Okay. Once I recruit them, we'll head out right away."
"Yes. Take care."
After exchanging farewells, Lin and Kane left the branch chief's office.
"Who did you have in mind?"
The moment they stepped out, Lin asked Kane who he planned to bring along.
"Ah, there's a bit of a personal reason involved, but... don't worry. Their skills are top-notch."
"...A personal reason?"
#
"Who would've thought I'd get to party up with the famous Lin. It's an honor!"
A man in his mid-20s bowed politely to Lin.
He wore sturdy leather armor reinforced with iron plates, his build solid and toned.
It was Soma, the A-rank martial artist who had previously taught Kane some hand-to-hand combat.
"Ah, sure."
Lin returned the greeting casually and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'I was worried it might be a woman. Dodged a bullet there.'
She had been thinking that if it were a female adventurer, she might have to threaten her to stay away from Kane.
Thank goodness it wasn't.
'But a personal reason... Oh, could it be for that?'
She'd heard Kane was learning martial arts lately.
Maybe he wanted to receive combat lessons from him on the way to the Mera Federation?
'Ahh, even while excited about his first trip abroad, Instructor Kane doesn't stop pursuing knowledge and growth...! So cool!'
Her respect for Kane grew even deeper.
Meanwhile, Kane was saying,
"I've learned a lot of theoretical stuff lately. I wanted to get some practical pointers from you, Soma."
"Oh, really? Come to think of it, you went all the way to Carmen for that. Impressive."
"Haha, it's nothing. Looking forward to working with you."
The knowledge he'd gained from the Central Library and the Imperial Library.
Especially the fragments of the imperial family's secret 'Carr Body Arts' that he was eager to try out for real.
Of course, he'd tested it plenty on training dummies.
But on the road to the Mera Federation, he could use it on monsters and the criminal organization's thugs too.
So his excitement was understandable.
'Huh. Why do I feel like I'm the third wheel this time?'
That left Lin feeling a bit sidelined, but that's another story.
#
"Kweeeek!"
On the way to the Mera Federation, we encountered monsters fairly often.
This was already the third encounter today.
We'd only been traveling for a day.
And the sun hadn't even set yet.
We might arrive quite a bit later than expected.
"Kruuak!"
"Kweeik!"
This time, it was a pack of gray orcs.
Tougher hides than regular orcs, and stronger too.
So-called upper-tier species.
In rank terms, each one C-rank, the pack B-rank?
"Ice Lance."
"Hah... Burst Fist!"
Kwajik! Kwaang!
Of course, they weren't even opponents for the two A-rank adventurers.
Lin was a hero candidate, effectively S-rank or higher anyway.
But what was surprising was Soma.
He'd trained with him before, but he'd never had an A-rank or higher adventurer join for field training.
This was his first time seeing one fight in actual combat.
And it was seriously impressive.
His A-grade body tempering aptitude, combined with martial arts that pushed the body to its limits.
His physique had reached the extreme.
On top of that, aptitude for reinforcement magic that boosted weapons or the body itself.
Combined with his martial art, the 'Soma-style Burst Fist,' which exploded mana to crush enemies.
It produced explosive attack power.
There was a reason he was an A-rank adventurer.
No, at that level, a little more growth and he could aim for S-rank?
Pure attack power-wise, maybe on par with Veronica.
He'd seen it in training, but watching it shred monsters up close really highlighted the destructive force.
Kwaang! Jjeok!
"Kruk, kweeik...!"
The gray orc pack was sliced apart in an instant by the two.
One remained amid the chaos.
It wasn't that they'd missed it.
They'd deliberately left one for me.
"Sssup... Hoo."
Before, against weaklings like goblins or regular orcs.
He'd handled them with body warm-ups using basic punches, kicks, and dagger work.
This time, he planned to test the refined martial art he'd created by researching various styles and cherry-picking their strengths.
...Well, no idiot would openly leave their full martial art in a library.
So it was pieced together from parts of existing arts.
Still, enough superficial tastes add up to something flavorful.
"Sssup..."
He breathed.
Moved his body.
The movements were in his head.
Already etched into his body through training.
First, the imperial secret martial art.
Fragments of the 'Carr Body Arts.'
The basics of Carr Body Arts: Footwork Chapter One.
Swoosh─
His foot traced a circle on the ground, like drawing a round orbit.
Slow yet fast.
From steady circular motion, he irregularly varied the speed.
Seemed easy, but it was tricky...
Changing the irregular speed could easily disrupt his own rhythm if mishandled.
But erratic, irregular movement was a common pattern in 'Mu' martial arts and their derivatives.
Plenty of references made it easier to pick up.
Surprising that Mu martial arts were documented.
Someone who'd fought a Mu martial artist and recorded it, apparently.
"O, oh..."
Soma looked impressed, letting out admiring sounds.
Definitely different from his solid, hard-fist style.
But he didn't have that body tempering aptitude to forge steel-like hardness.
Nor the raw power.
So soft, agile techniques that redirected the opponent's force suited him better.
"Kweeik?"
The gray orc watching his movements hesitated briefly.
"Kweeiiik!"
Then charged without much thought.
A human might hesitate against unpredictable feet.
Limit of low-intelligence monsters, huh.
Of course, a mindless charge was perfect for him.
"Kweeek!"
"Hup!"
The orc swung its club.
He stepped hard sideways, pivoting his circling foot to evade.
Flexibility he couldn't have dreamed of before learning martial arts.
Back when he only knew daggers, it'd be straight dodges, throws, or countering the open side.
Now was different.
With versatile martial arts, countless options unfolded before him.
No need to hesitate over choices, though.
Just thrust a fist at the gray orc's head as it swung the club and lurched forward.
Not much power from his side.
But adding the orc's full swing force would amplify the damage massively.
Peok! Kwadeuk!
The orc's face crashed into his fist.
Its body pitched forward from the momentum, neck snapping backward with a crack. Instant death.
Thud─
The gray orc collapsed to the ground.
A throbbing pain shot through his fist and wrist.
Even if he hadn't put much power in, taking the full brunt of the hefty orc's body was burdensome for his frame still.
But hey, even he had to admit it was a clean counter.
"O, oooh! Amazing, Instructor Kane!"
"Kyaa! As expected of Instructor Kane. So cool!"
Cheers erupted from behind.
Heh heh, it wasn't that big a deal.
...No, really.
Compared to the gray orc corpses exploded by Soma-style Burst Fists around.
Or the ones pierced by Ice Lance, frost cracking over their frozen bodies.
His feat seemed downright modest.
"Incredible. What was that footwork? I honestly couldn't predict your movement."
"Ah, hahaha. Really?"
"Yes! Mind if we spar sometime? I want to experience it myself!"
Hahaha, saying it like that made him feel pretty good.