Moto Sekai Ichi – 168 | Sousaku – 創作

168　Issenza Match Part 3

【Swordsmanship】 Damage： STR Dependent.
《Dragon King Swordsmanship》 Powerful ranged attack forward + stun.
《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》 Powerful ranged attack in all directions.
《Rook Swordsmanship》 Very strong single-target attack.
《Bishop Swordsmanship》 Quick and powerful penetrating attack.
《Gold Swordsmanship》 Ranged attack in all directions.
《Silver Swordsmanship》 Strong, single-target attack.
《Knight Swordsmanship》 Precision attack＋added damage against vital points.
《Lance Swordsmanship》 Penetrating attack.
《Soldier Swordsmanship》 Normal attack.
(Rook＋Knight, Silver＋Knight, Lance＋Knight, Soldier＋Knight are possible for Combine)

Rave vs. Jerez Lumberjack, the first semifinal match of the tournament to determine the Issenza challenger.

I was observing them from the contestant's seats.

I was more interested in Rave, but the moment they were both poised at the same time with the referee's order…… my interest shifted to Jerez.

Jerez, that guy, could that thing be...?

"A zweihänder, right?
"Right. So, a two-handed sword…… Ahh, I see."

Ras, who was sitting next to me, discerned Jerez's weapon with a keen eye.

Zweihänder, a two-handed sword made of steel. This was a heavy, long, difficult-to-handle sword, although not necessarily a great sword.

……In the winter, Jerez used a long sword, I believe. Why has he changed his weaponry so drastically in the past six months? The reason was clear.

It was probably a way to try to counter my 『Seven System』 with the weapon's reach.

Not a bad tactic. He has a strong "aggressive" spirit. I can say this was exactly correct, as he tried to force me to decide by countering my first move. Therefore, I imagine that he was trying to take advantage of his reach to always be ahead of me and disrupt my pace.

"Oh, you seem to be having a good time, huh? "
"What? Did I smile?"
"That too. You have a really big smile."
"……Jerez has evolved so much. And it makes me smile."
"Ho~o."

He's thrown all common sense out the window.

The common sense saying that the one making the latter move, i.e. the defensing move, had the advantage.

Weapons, tactics, and common sense. Once you throw away everything you have, you start from scratch and try something new.

The road to hell that Silvia and Eko took, Jerez also went through it in his own unique way.

And all that to win over me. He wanted to win, desperately and at all costs, and with that single-minded determination, he must have spent six months in hell.

Oh. That, you know, is love.

"――Begin! "

The signal to start the match.

Rave, as usual, made the first move of the Seven System, an 《Soldier Swordsmanship》 and 《Knight Swordsmanship》 Combine, aimed at Jerez's right foot tip.

Jerez, on the other hand……

"Oh, nice move. "

From the lower stance, he stepped sideways in a countermotion.

That's right. Raspberry Bell was spot on, it's a good move.

If you aim to counter with a long sword and swing down with 《Silver Swordsmanship,》 you will fall prey to the Seven System. However, it is a different story when it is a two-handed sword instead of a long sword. Because the reach is too different to begin with, the two-handed sword reaches first before the first move of the Seven System reaches you, and you can strike back without a moment's hesitation.

"It's kind of funny."

Ras uttered this when she saw them closing the gap at once.

I understand what she's trying to say. In other words, a beginner who had just learned to use a Game Plan was trying to use it in a situation where it was not at all useful. I don't know if I should call it funny or something else…… but it indeed makes you smile.

But, you know, there's actually a continuity to some things.

Well, what will you do, Rave-kun?

Jerez, and even Ras, don't seem to have noticed.

If you are simply parroting my moves, then this is the end of it.

But if you're prepared to go "beyond" that――

"! ? "

The two were on the verge of clashing.

Rave suddenly canceled the skill.

Then, he spun around and turned two counter-clockwise rotations as he moved forward, matching his back to the Zweihänder that Jerez was swinging down, and in an instant, he was behind Jerez.

I knew this was coming……!

"You're kidding me."

Ras stands up in surprise.

Hahaha! That's funny.

The most frightening thing about both the great sword and the two-handed sword is having to approach them. In other words, the goal is not to attack. Approaching is the goal.

There is no advantage in rushing to attack here. There is no need to go out of your way to make an attack here.

Gaining an "advantageous position" on the first move is the primary objective of the two-handed sword shift in the Seven System.

"Oh, he's just great."

Rave-kun, you are awesome.
Perhaps he is a genius.

"That-! "

Jerez, now impatient, swung his 《Soldier Swordsmanship》 wide toward Rave, who was behind him.

However, because of its weight, it moved too slowly. In addition, because it was so long, it took a long time to turn and you had to swing as hard as you could to attack, so there was nothing good about it at all. Zweihänder's weaknesses were all over the place.

"Over."

One word, Rave muttered.

In such case, Rave's 《Silver Swordsmanship》 would be in time before Jerez's 《Soldier Swordsmanship》.

That was clearer than crystal.

Rave's sword will strike Jerez in the side of the head.

Victory or defeat, the game was decided……

"It's not over!!!! "

"――! "

……Or so I thought.

A moment after Jerez shouted, sparks flew.

Jerez caught Rave's 《Silver Swordsmanship》 with his 《Soldier Swordsmanship》.

Immediately after, a loud metallic clang sounded. That was the sound of Jerez's Zweihänder hitting the ground.

That guy…… he actually did it.

He threw away his two-handed sword and pulled out a short sword from his inventory!

"I have waited for this moment!! "

Jerez was outpowered by the 《Silver Swordsmanship》but used the momentum of being repelled to knock himself sideways and close his body to Rave's side.

……The positions were reversed.

In close combat, the long sword had an advantage over the two-handed sword, and the short sword had an advantage over the long sword.

He was reading into that. Jerez had read that as long as he was using a two-handed sword, his opponent would try to get in for close combat.

"……So he can do it, huh?"

Raspberry Bell's mutterings said it all.

It was mesmerizing, that guy.

The most exciting part of the match was successfully snatched away.

That's right. It was the sparkle of the moment that appeared only in serious competition and captivated all those who saw it. It sometimes generated a zeal that transcended victory or defeat.

"You're naive."

Rave's calm mutterings made Jerez instantly realize his imminent defeat.

"What……!? "

A kick.

Merely, a kick.

Not even a skill was used, just a single front kick. Just like that, the distance between Jerez and Rave grew…… to the ideal distance for the long sword.

"What a shame."

A merciless sentence.

Rave's 《Bishop Swordsmanship》 was sharply aimed at Jerez.

Yeah, it's a shame, really. The range of reach is too different. It would be extremely difficult to defend against that one.

"Tch! "

Yes, I suppose so. Jerez. You are that kind of guy.

He's the kind of guy who doesn't choose to respond with 《Gold Swordsmanship》 here, but instead tries to stab you with 《Silver Swordsmanship》.

But hey, if it was Gold, it would be a sword throw, and if it was Silver, it would be a reach-and-lose, and that would still be the end of it.

Either way, there's no way out for you.……。

"――That's enough! Winner, Rave! "

＊ ＊ ＊

"Your son is a very passionate competitor."
"Oh well, what a nice thing to hear. I'm so flattered to be praised by the Saint."
"We have to fight fiercely too, don't we? "
"……Ohh. This is going to be fun."

Raspberry Bell vs. Rothman, the second semifinal match of the tournament to determine the Issenza challenger.

They walked out to the center of the arena and exchanged a few words, smiling on the surface.

"You must be in despair, right? "
"You say strange things. For what, exactly? "
"You can never go back to that. Being the Issenza."
"Ha…… Hahaha! Hahahahaha! "
"What are you laughing at?"

Rothman stopped laughing and opened his mouth with a blank expression.

"Mostly about your jokes."

It was a very neutral expression that contained no frustration, anger, or any other emotion.
It could be said to be Rothman's true face, with the mask of a smile removed.

"Oh, scary. Is that who you really are?"
"Is this one of your mischievous provocation tactics, Black-hearted Saint?"
"Bullseye. You're not going to look at me unless I do something like this, are you? "
"Haha. Indeed, yes……"

Rothman glanced toward the contestant's seats.

That gaze that had been fixed for the past six months.

To Second Firstest Issenza, the one who ended his 20-year reign.

"Bow to each other! ……Ready! "

Rothman held his long sword in a relaxed stance, and Raspberry Bell, as usual, stood upright as a stick.

Rothman was willing to play her game.

The provocation did not work. But the funny thing was that he had "intended to have a good game".

Usually, he would be "planning to overwhelm".

"――Begin! "

They bowed to each other.

Immediately after…… Raspberry Bell took a long sword from her inventory.

"Oh! "

Rothman looked pleased.

Not a great sword, but a long sword. That meant that Raspberry Bell was serious.

……Or so, he was under that illusion.

"It will hurt if it hits you."

The next moment, Raspberry Bell activated 《Bishop Swordsmanship》―― throwing her long sword.

"Fumu, that's pointless."

It was a technique that he saw once when fighting against Second. It also seemed to Rothman, who had been working on countermeasures against Second for the past six months, to be just a yawn-inducing little trick.

Rothman closed the gap, darting lightly with his 《Lance Swordsmanship》.

"Next one's coming."

Raspberry Bell then took out a second long sword and threw it again.

Next, the third and fourth throws, this time with 《Silver Swordsmanship》, and the fifth throw with 《 Lance Swordsmanship》.

To top it all off, the sixth and seventh ones she threw with 《Soldier Swordsmanship》 narrowly missed their aim and flew past Rothman.

"……What is this? Are you making fun of me? "

Rothman, who handled the situation with deference, spoke up in frustration.

"Whoa, this is the spot, right here."

Raspberry Bell, on the other hand, moved only three steps to the left and nodded her head.

What was "here"?

"The end."

Raspberry Bell took from her inventory, as expected, a great sword.

She then prepared 《Rook Swordsmanship》 and quickly closed the gap between her and Rothman.

"Well well, what’s exactly the end?"

Rothman chose to respond with 《Gold Swordsmanship,》 which would be ready just in time.

It was the sixth move of the Seven System, a measure that Kasakari found. Rothman also focused on this area and had been taking steps to address it for six months.

"If you look down on it for being a great sword, you'll regret it."

"……? What!? "

Rothman, who did not instantly understand the meaning of those words, was in a deadly situation…… and only then did he realize it.

Raspberry Bell also threw her great sword.

At the same time as the motion of swinging up and down, the great sword pounced on Rothman with the blade rotating halfway around as if it were a guillotine.

――It will not be ready in time.

The 《Gold Swordsmanship》 will not be ready in time……!

"It can't be!! "

Rothman immediately canceled his skill, twisting his body in a desperate attempt to evade, but felt that even that would not be in time, and quickly brought his long sword out in front of his body in defense.

Bakin! A loud bang echoed, and Rothman was blown far backward.

"! ? ! ? ! ? "

Shortly thereafter…… The entire audience was taken aback.

And then they learned the meaning of Raspberry Bell's mutterings of "here".

The seven long swords she threw earlier in the game. They were placed at equal intervals, as if they were signposts, to where Rothman had been blown away.

"What!? "

As soon as he landed, Rothman hit the long sword and lost his balance.

Down―― Raspberry Bell would not let that opportunity pass.

Running at full speed to close the gap in pursuit, she pulled a long sword from her inventory and swung 《Silver Swordsmanship》 through the air like a golf club.

"Ugh! "

He was blown away again, and where he landed was another long sword.

Again, Down.

And again, a chase.

Again, Down.
Then again, another chase.

Again, and again, and again……

"……That's fucked up."

Second, at the contestant's seats, muttered with a wry half-smile.

If a specific item is placed at the landing point, it is judged to be a Down. This was a "chain combo technique" that took full advantage of these characteristics.

Second had no choice but to laugh.

Raspberry Bell had successfully pulled off a masterful chain combo technique against the former Issenza in this Issenza stage.

But Second laughed in dismay, yet at the same time felt like standing up right now and saying, "Great! " and applauding.

This combo technique, although simple in its mechanics, was too difficult to actually execute on a human opponent.

Raspberry Bell was the first, if not the only one, to pull it off so brilliantly.

The beauty of the work was so brilliant that one was even impressed, wondering if it was possible to achieve such a perfect result.

Yes, she had no intention of playing a "fierce game" from the very beginning.

The invitation to play a fierce game was an outright lie. She tried to draw attention to herself with a poor provocation in order to direct Rothman's attention toward a heated competition. And if he was conscious of a heated competition, Rothman would head straight for Raspberry Bell without any sneaky little tricks.

If Rothman moved even slightly to the side, everything would have gone poof. It was truly like threading a needle. However, it was Raspberry Bell's off-the-board tactics that still made it a success.

After all, everything was calculated with great precision.

"――Off bounds! That's enough! Winner, Raspberry Bell! "

======

Thank you for reading.

Cheat sheet

Status Details

HP　Hit Points
MP　Magic Points
SP　Stamina Points
STR　Short range attack skill power, strength, physical power.
DEX　Long range attack skill power, dexterity, hit rate.
AGI　Quickness, avoidance rate.
INT　Attack Magic skill power.
LUK　Good luck, critical rate.
VIT　Simple defense.
MGR　Magic defense.

Skill Ranking

From lower (16th) to higher (1st) class, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade

16th class
15th class
14th class
13th class
12h class
11th class
10th class
9th class
8th class
7th class
6th class
5th class
4th class
3rd class
2nd class
1st class
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9 (Can challenge Title when all related skills are at this level)

Types of combat skills

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

Pawn/Soldier (Fuhyou)
Lance(Kyousha)
Knight (Keima)
Silver General (Ginshou)
Gold General (Kinshou)
Bishop (Kakugyou)
Rook (Hisha)
Promoted Bishop/Dragon Horse(Ryuuma)
Promoted Rook/Dragon King (Ryuuou).

List of Swordsmanship skills

【Swordsmanship】　Damage： STR Dependent.

《Dragon King Swordsmanship》　Powerful ranged attack forward + stun.
《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》　Powerful ranged attack in all directions.
《Rook Swordsmanship》　Very strong single-target attack.
《Bishop Swordsmanship》　Quick and powerful penetrating attack.
《Gold Swordsmanship》　Ranged attack in all directions.
《Silver Swordsmanship》　Strong, single-target attack.
《Knight Swordsmanship》　Precision attack＋added damage against vital points.
《Lance Swordsmanship》　Penetrating attack.
《Soldier Swordsmanship》　Normal attack.

(Rook＋Knight, Silver＋Knight, Lance＋Knight, Soldier＋Knight are possible for Combine)

List of Jojutsu (cane) skills

【Jojutsu】Thrust・Strike・Sweep

《Dragon King Jojutsu》　Extremely powerful wide-area attack
《Dragon Horse Jojutsu》　Wide range defense + knockback
《Rook Jojutsu》　Very powerful ranged attack
《Bishop Jojutsu》　Rush piercing attack
《Gold Jojutsu》　Very strong defense
《Silver Jojutsu》　Powerful ranged attack
《Knight Jojutsu》　Rush attack
《Lance Jojutsu》　Piercing attack
《Soldier Jojutsu》　Conventional attack

List of Spearmanship skills

【Spearmanship】

《Dragon King Spearmanship》　Extremely powerful single-target attack
《Dragon Horse Spearmanship》　Powerful long-range attack (shockwave)
《Rook Spearmanship》　Rush attack (charge thrust)
《Bishop Spearmanship》　Powerful ranged attack (Cleave)
《Gold Spearmanship》　Counterattack (Counter)
《Silver Spearmanship》　Powerful single-target attack (charge thrust)
《Knight Spearmanship》　Forward leaping attack (leaping thrust)
《Lance Spearmanship》　Ranged attack (Cleave)
《Soldier Spearmanship》　Normal Attack (Thrust)

List of Archery skills

【Archery】

《Dragon King Archery》　Powerful on-impact ranged attack.
《Dragon Horse Archery》　Powerful piercing ranged attack.
《Rook Archery》　Very strong single-target range attack.
《Bishop Archery》　Strong piercing range attack.
《Gold Archery》　Range attack with added knockback.
《Silver Archery》　Strong single-target range attack.
《Knight Archery》　Precise sniping range attack.
《Lance Archery》　Piercing range attack.
《Soldier Archery》　Normal range attack.

List of Shieldmanship skills

Shieldmanship