Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: 4.4 Yuuki's President's Guard Trial
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That morning.
After arriving at the academy, we headed straight to the student council's exclusive kendo dojo.
Kendo was such a major martial art at Rune Academy that they even had a dedicated dojo just for the student council.
They taught unarmed combat like judo or karate, too, but since Rune Holders fundamentally needed to prepare for battles against monsters, they had to learn how to wield cold weapons like swords or spears. In that case, it made perfect sense to emphasize kendo, Japan's premier martial technique.
Of course, as someone who favored practical combat, I had little interest in the kendo they taught at the academy.
It wasn't about how to efficiently kill monsters—it was all spiritual cultivation, etiquette, and empty rituals.
Monsters didn't follow kendo rules in the first place.
In a world where it was kill or be killed, what use was etiquette or mental and physical training? Efficiency was all that mattered.
That's why I spent those classes plotting ways to skip out.
They weren't helpful for real fights. It definitely wasn't because I was lazy.
"Yuuki. Yuuki."
"Yeah?"
I called over Yuuki, who was wearing baggy kendo armor.
And I whispered so only she could hear.
"Don't kill her."
"I know that much. I'm not you, Naibusu."
Yuuki shot back with an exasperated look.
Good, then.
Humans died a lot more easily than you'd think.
"And, um... this is a personal favor."
"Huh? A favor?"
"Could you go easy on Senior Sinozaki?"
"...Sinozaki? Why?"
Yuuki asked, sounding displeased.
I scratched the back of my head.
"Well... it's a complicated story."
When I went through the President's Guard trial.
I barely eked out wins against the other members.
I could've flattened them all if I'd wanted, but my goal was to join the Guard, not make enemies of them.
So I showed just enough skill to get accepted.
But against Shinobu, I deliberately lost by a hair.
To give her grounds to become the new Guard Captain.
It was true that Shinobu was the most skilled among them.
But having her take the captain spot after losing to me would've looked bad.
So I threw the match.
I'd built up her dignity as the new captain.
My own dignity took a hit, but I didn't see it as a loss.
Elevating my status wouldn't help me crush the masochists anyway.
And Shinobu was one of the rare hopes in this trash world.
I wanted her to live happily this time around, propped up and pampered.
"So if you win, it'll complicate things in all sorts of ways. You don't wanna end up as Guard Captain, stuck escorting the president 24/7, right?"
Of course, even if Yuuki won, she wouldn't immediately become captain, but it'd still stir up trouble.
Yuuki reluctantly nodded.
"...Got it. I'll try."
"Really?! Thanks, Yuuki! I'll pay you back for this someday!"
In truth, the idea of debts between Yuuki and me was pretty much nonexistent.
But you couldn't take someone's kindness for granted.
The closer you were, the more you had to show gratitude when they helped.
"Kurosaki! Get up here!"
At the senior Guard member's call, Yuuki moved to the center of the dojo.
"Yuuki, fighting!"
I cheered her on, praying she'd hold back.
Yuuki's opponents were three in total.
Third-year and fourth-year senior girls, plus Shinobu.
Of course, they wouldn't all rush her at once.
One at a time, in sequence. Kendo was one-on-one by default.
Seems they couldn't reduce the examiners like I'd suggested.
But with no spectators, that was a relief at least.
The other two besides Shinobu were trustworthy, so no rumors would leak out.
"Begin."
With the command from Shinobu, who was refereeing—
Ttak!
—the match started... or so I thought.
It was already over.
Yuuki's shinai struck the senior opponent's wrists and head the instant the signal was given.
The senior's shinai clattered onto the gleaming wooden floor.
Takgrak.
Good, she hadn't hit too hard.
The opponent had dropped her shinai but looked utterly bewildered, like she didn't even know what had happened.
"Winner: Kurosaki Yuuki."
Shinobu calmly declared the victory.
Yuuki gave a curt "Thank you" and bowed.
"Next."
The next opponent was the fourth-year senior.
Having seen the previous match, she radiated extra tension.
Well, it didn't change the outcome.
The two exchanged formal bows and took their stances.
Shinais pointed at each other, the match began.
This time, Yuuki didn't move first.
"Haat!"
The senior charged in with a kiai.
Ttak!
Takgrak.
They clashed, and once again, the senior's shinai hit the floor.
Yuuki had struck both wrists and the right side of her waist.
Naturally, the senior's shinai hadn't come close to touching Yuuki.
"...Winner: Kurosaki Yuuki."
She wasn't even a match.
And these examiners were supposed to be the elite of the elite.
The level gap was too wide to create any real variables.
The defeated fourth-year senior trudged back to her spot, and Shinobu donned her armor.
Hm. Was Shinobu planning to go for it too?
I wished they'd just call it here and head back.
I called out to the president, who was sitting on the sidelines watching.
"President, aren't you busy?"
Even if I suggested wrapping up, no one would listen to me.
If the president said she was busy and wanted to end early, that might work.
"Nothing on my morning schedule."
But she seemed totally free.
Did she even do president stuff? Maybe she left it all to the student council.
"Don't you need the bathroom?"
"I'm good."
"Class is about to start."
"We've got about thirty minutes."
"I saw a teacher looking for you earlier."
"I'll watch this match first."
"The flowers in the back garden were pretty."
"We'll check them out after."
Hm. No dice.
"Kurosaki's strong as expected. I'm curious what'll happen when she faces Shinobu."
Well... I could understand the president's excitement.
When I'd fought Shinobu, I'd made it look close.
The president knew I'd held back.
But since Shinobu had skill, she figured that's why it turned out that way.
She didn't know my true strength or Yuuki's, so she took Yuuki's word—"I've never beaten Naibusu"—at face value and hoped for a good match...
But in my eyes, there was an insurmountable wall between Shinobu and Yuuki.
At her current level, Shinobu couldn't land a scratch on Yuuki even in her dreams. Probably not even a drop of blood with a real sword.
To hurt Yuuki, protected by the Aegis Rune, you'd have to keep attacking until your magic ran dry. Yuuki wouldn't just stand there taking it, and even then, her recovery would outpace the drain.
Even if Shinobu used Daylight's ultra-vibration mode, her own magic would deplete faster...
"Begin!"
No matter how I sliced it, Shinobu had zero chance.
...Yuuki. Please hold back! For my sake, at least!
"Haat!"
Huh?
Ttaang!
Yuuki's helmet shook slightly.
Shinobu had rushed in and struck her head.
But Yuuki just held her stance, without even twitching the tip of her shinai.
"Winner: Sinozaki Shinobu!"
The third-year senior referee declared Shinobu's victory.
Her mind was thrilled: "As expected of Sinozaki!"
She thought Shinobu's strike had been too fast for Yuuki to block.
"Thank you."
Yuuki gave a curt bow and passed by.
As she did, she whispered something.
I couldn't make out the words.
And right after they brushed past each other.
Shinobu whipped her head toward me and shot a venomous glare.
...Suddenly? Why?!
"Naibusu told you to throw it? Naibusu... how far are you going to humiliate me?!"
Her mind was chilling enough to frost over even in early summer.
...Yuuki! You're supposed to be quicker on the uptake than me!
I said go easy, not tell her you were!
Shinobu had already taken a hit to her pride from our previous match.
The other Guards watching had cheered "As expected of Sinozaki!" thinking she'd upheld the team's honor.
But Shinobu knew I'd thrown it.
After that, like when she'd gotten her sword from the president, she'd pick fights whenever she wanted payback.
I'd hold back if anyone was watching, but crush her thoroughly when alone to show the gap.
I figured she'd stop challenging me once she knew.
But she still came at me over any little thing. This would probably give her fresh ammo.
What was the psychology of charging in knowing she'd lose? And getting mad every time?
Beats me. Was this the mindset of a true martial artist?
Ah well, I'd gone and gotten on Shinobu's bad side again.
I actually liked her, too.
Looks like this crush was doomed to unrequited love.
"Good work, Yuuki."
"Sorry, Naibusu."
Yuuki returned and hung her head glumly.
"I got pissed and said something stupid."
Maybe to Yuuki, Shinobu—who lacked the skill—came off as arrogant.
Shinobu wasn't a bad person, really.
I even thought her commitment to her own justice resembled Yuuki's in a way.
"Whatever. You're more precious to me anyway."
"...Yeah."
If Shinobu came at me again, I'd just flatten her and tease her some more.
"Naibusu, Kurosaki."
"President."
A moment later.
With the trials done, President Mizuki approached us.
"Congratulations. You're both approved."
"Ooh, as expected of Yuuki."
"...Thank you."
The two seniors had lost, so it was a given, and Shinobu had no intention of opposing the president's decision from the start. It was all just theater to convince the other Guards.
"Sorry for taking up your time. But no more annoyances from here on out. If any crop up, borrow the student council president's name."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Yuuki bowed awkwardly.
Then President Mizuki smiled brightly at me.
"Naibusu, now that it's over, shall we go see the flowers?"
"Huh? Now?"
"You were the one who said we should, Naibusu."
With that, she naturally hooked her arm through mine.
Everyone, Yuuki included, stared at us with grim expressions.
"Hmph. This is punishment for making my Shinobu sad, Kurosaki."
...President. This feels more like punishment for me.
And Sinozaki, if you're calling someone shameless, direct it at the president. She's the one arm-in-arm with me.