Auditors (3)
I was in the worst mood imaginable right now.
Just moments ago, I'd been thrilled, taking my first step toward spreading Battōjutsu far and wide.
But sinking into this foul temper so quickly? It was beyond unpleasant—it was downright shocking.
"You cowardly bastard, did you use magic?"
The nameless man with my sword at his throat spat the words, his face twisted in frustration.
"Huh... Magic?"
What I'd just done wasn't some magic trick. It was a simple application of Battōjutsu—drawing my blade with blinding speed.
Battōjutsu was meant for a single, lethal strike, but its explosive draw speed could be adapted for tricks like this.
"I didn't use any magic, but even if I had, calling it cowardly? That alone tells me everything I need to know about your level."
"You little—!!"
Had he forgotten his situation for a second there?
To remind him, I lightly slapped his cheek with the flat of my blade. His eyes burned with raw fury as he glared at me.
"If it pisses you off that much, use Battōjutsu yourself."
Even if it meant hearing "coward," you'd use every tool—magic or whatever—to win. That was obvious.
Hell, I was doing the same, wielding the ultimate sword art for efficiency's sake. Romance was just a bonus.
'But these idiots come at me three-on-one and cry foul? What the hell?'
Of course, considering the gap between a Battōjutsu master and an amateur, thirty-on-one wouldn't be surprising.
I should probably praise their wisdom for not coming alone.
"Don't bother saying it—I won't let you slip away in this district."
"What's... your goal?"
"Goal? Just doing to you what you planned for me. You two little rats in the back, follow along."
With that, I sheathed my sword and headed toward the training grounds, following the path described in the novel.
Their glares stung my back, but since they weren't attacking, I ignored them.
If I were in their shoes, I'd have slashed from behind already. For lynch-mob thugs, they were awfully naive.
The moment I reached the training grounds, I turned my back on the nameless trio and made for the sword rack in the corner.
It held academy-provided practice blades for free use. But looking them over, I couldn't hide my disappointment.
'No dice, as expected...'
I hadn't gotten my hopes up, but there wasn't even a dull-edged katana—let alone a proper one.
There was a similar blunt sword, but no scabbard.
And they called this the kingdom's top school? Even a stray dog would laugh.
'This is why I need a yoroi-doshi...'
Desperate times, I figured. I pulled my katana from its scabbard, planning to swap in the blunt sword...
'Fuck, it doesn't fit...'
I'd half-expected it, but it slid in smoothly at first, then jammed halfway.
"...Fucking hell."
One of my pet peeves—anything interrupting a clean draw—ignited my rage.
No choice. I set my katana and scabbard against the wall, tying the blunt sword to my waist in their place.
It'd lack friction, so less power than a true scabbard draw, but it'd mimic Battōjutsu well enough.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The trio behind me scowled uncomfortably.
"You... what the hell have you been doing?"
"What else? Getting ready to fight. Don't whine like a little bitch about waiting."
Ah, maybe they were pissed I wasn't going all-out, treating them like warriors?
I wanted to show them true scabbard Battōjutsu, but one slip could mean irreversible disaster.
Hate to admit it, but even Battōjutsu couldn't revive the dead.
"Heh, I get you want to see Battōjutsu, but against you lot..."
"Tying a sword to your waist without a scabbard and calling it ready? You're mocking us!!"
"...What?"
I couldn't process what this idiot was saying.
Sure, it wouldn't match a scabbard draw's power, but it'd crush just swinging it normally.
"I figured you were knight students from your builds, but do you even know what Battōjutsu is?"
"Of course we do! That's why it's an insult! Fighting head-on with a sneak-attack assassination trick? What else would you call it?!"
"Sneak-attack... assassination...?"
Sure, you could use it that way, but it wasn't the whole picture.
Thinking about it, this guy and everyone in this world had such fragmented knowledge.
They fixated on fragments, ignoring the essence.
"Sigh... Let me enlighten you ignorant fools. Battōjutsu is..."
With the patience of a sage schooling the dim-witted, I explained. Their faces twisted more with every word.
Seeing that shift, I thought they'd finally grasped new knowledge—
"...This guy's brain must be broken."
—until that dashed my hopes.
"Haa... Guess beasts like you only learn through violence, not words..."
Time to show them my pseudo-Battōjutsu.
'Crazy bastard...'
The moment Ian uttered "Battōjutsu," I knew his head wasn't right.
"So, the friction from the scabbard during the draw converts to kinetic energy..."
His eyes gleamed with utter conviction as he mangled basic science even a child could grasp.
Blasphemous as it sounded, he believed his theory like a saint worshiping a god—zero doubt.
Not stupid, just broken.
And unfortunately, this lunatic had real skill.
Couldn't let my guard down against his clownish antics.
'...Fuck, why do I have to fight this psycho?'
Thinking something lucky turns out unlucky? Common tale.
I sensed it instinctively as he took stance—not luck, pure misfortune.
A crushing pressure, like a massive weight on my shoulders. Screw the lady; I wanted to bolt.
Even knowing it was blunt steel, no death risk—the urge remained.
'Can I run...?'
If Jun and Leri stalled, maybe I could escape solo?
No, we'd flee together. Couldn't ditch them like a coward.
One path left: Fight. Win Jessica's trust, survive.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the madman genuinely believed that Battōjutsu was the supreme sword art.
No aura extension meant his range was just that blunt sword's reach.
Plan: Surround him. One tanks frontally, we flank. Victory possible.
'The opening after the draw... That's the key!'
I signaled my childhood pals: I'd block front; circle behind.
They caught it instantly, moving out.
"Hm... Not bad thinking. Don't know if you'll buy it, but no aura for this game. Of course..."
He added they could use it. My teeth ground.
'Fucking asshole...!'
Resolved to land one hit even if I fell, I charged his range...
"Huh? Why won't it—?"
The fool fumbled his waist-tied sword, grunting like an idiot.
'This is...!'
Not reason—instinct screamed it wasn't acting.
No hard proof, but the shoulder-crushing pressure vanished.
Trusting gut over brain, I yelled to the pair behind him.
"Charge!! Now's our chance!!"
They reacted sharp.
I from front, them from rear—we rushed as one.
'Psycho fuck... Gonna crack your skull!'
His Battōjutsu obsession his downfall, I thought—
'D-disappeared?'
Gone, leaving only dust. Right before my eyes.
"Young master! Above! He's above!!"
Jun's shout— I whipped my head up. Ian soared like an oriental heron, flipping gracefully behind us in one motion.
He landed lightly, stance more aggressive now. I knew:
'We're done.'
His strike blurred beyond perception. Me and the others floated airborne.
By the time we hit the ground, he'd circled opposite, murmuring softly.
"Battōjutsu: One Flash."
Battōjutsu: One Flash [Rank: B+]
Concentrates aura in the legs for an explosive leap, followed by a Battōjutsu draw to cleave the foe in one strike. Faster still with a lightning-infused katana. Needless to say, the draw isn't strictly necessary—no real advantage.