Moto Sekai Ichi – 195 | Sousaku – 創作

195　Eishou Match Part 2

【Magic】 (Four attributes: fire, water, wind, and earth)
Advantages and disadvantages: Fire>Earth>Wind>Water>Fire
・First Form Normal Attack （Preparation time： Super short. Cooldown： Super short）
・Second Form Extended range attack （Slow. Long）
・Third Form Strong single-target attack （Short. Short）
・Fourth Form Powerful extended-range attack （Super slow. Super long）
・Fifth Form Very powerful extended-range attack （Slowest. Longest）

【Magical Magic】
《Combine》 Combines two magic skills into a single attack.
《Synergy》 Overlays two magic spells on top of another magic spell.
《Charge》 Magic attack that increases in magnitude the more it is charged up.

The moment Muratti Tricolori, the former Eishou, appeared in the arena, the room was filled with an unusually feverish atmosphere.

The cause of this reaction was his attire.

He was dressed as usual in a T-shirt, jeans, and sandals…… but on top of that, he was wearing a white robe with a hem so long it almost scraped the ground, and a black wide-brimmed sorcerer's hat on his head.

He might be also called a magician in white. But from Second and Raspberry Bell's point of view, he did not look like anything but a "mad scientist".

It was a very eccentric outfit.

Facing Muratti in the center of the arena was Kevin, who had defeated Nil to advance to the semi-finals. He opened his mouth, hiding some agitation.

"It suits you well, former Eishou."
"Th……Th...kyou."
"…………"
"……Eh? "

Thank you. Muratti tried to respond in that way, but his mouth did not move properly.

He had lived a life of not speaking to others for a long time, but the last six months had intensified this and he had not had the opportunity to converse at all. He had further developed his original communication disorder.

Not that this was the reason, but Kevin's off-the-board tactics did not work at all.

Seeing him like this, Kevin gave up on the idea early.

"That outfit, are you turning a new leaf or something? I think I might know the trigger to it."
"Huh? Uhー, uh? Somehow, uhh, no……"
"What’s wrong? "

He did not attack with words, but by drawing out words. Kevin's eloquence seemed skillful in his delivery―― But there was only one miscalculation.

He had underestimated Muratti.

"Uh, hmm, I wonder why you're not being more thorough. That's what I was thinking, but, it feels more like, kind of...... soft? Yeah, yeah."
"Soft? "
"Well, I mean, look, I used to be bullied a lot at the Academy, Sensei, so, I mean, if you don't go as far as them, then, yeah."

Yeah, yeah…… Muratti uttered with difficulty as he nodded his head.

"You can't win with something like that."

"……! "

It was basically: if you don't do everything possible to attack me mentally, you won't stand a chance―― But Kevin didn't quite understand what Muratti was trying to say.

For Muratti had said it as if it was all too obvious.

How on earth do you win without even being thoroughly evil? The question that Muratti honestly felt made him say these words in a very genuine way.

At the same time, it was also a source of confusion for Muratti himself. "Is it all right to be so shallow? " This was the first time in his life that he felt positively perplexed.

"……You need to correct your habit of saying "I mean" every time you begin to speak, Muratti-kun."
"Yeah, I mean…… I mean, thanks."

"――Bow to each other! Get ready! "

The off-the-board tactic ended in an unexpected victory for Muratti.
Kevin could only come up with one last way to attack him, by attempting to emulate a teacher.

In other words…… At this point, in Muratti's mind, his own victory was assured.

"――Begin! "

The referee signaled the start of the match.

Immediately after, Kevin sprinted and approached the very edge of the First Form's range.

Hit-and-run strategy. This was Kevin's aim, as in the first game. It is a surefire, safe, winning strategy.

"Lol."

Muratti, on the other hand, started chanting, grinning to himself in a whisper that could not be heard by Kevin, who stopped in range.

――A 《Synergy》 attack of 《Fire Attribute ・ First Form》 《Wind Attribute ・ First Form》 《Earth Attribute ・ First Form》.

"What, is, that……!? "

Kevin was unexpectedly taken aback.

It was undeniably terrifying.
It was as if a god of death, who can never be defeated, suddenly appeared in front of him, and was about to swing his scythe down on him at any moment.

In an instant, his mind went blank and not a single word came to his mind in response.

What on earth should I do against such a thing?

The correct answer was―― there's nothing that can be done about it.

"……Guh! "

A little later, Kevin chanted 《Water Attribute ・ First Form》.

He decided to counteract the fire attribute alone as a stopgap measure.

"Three minus one is two."

As Muratti voiced, 3-1=2.

The fire attribute can be blocked, but not the rest of the wind and earth attributes.

"! ? "

Kevin then took a direct hit from two First Forms spells and…… went down.

It was a First Form, so why!? He wondered as he found himself in the middle of a real mess.

However, in Muratti's opinion, this is also a natural result.

Their INT was too different.

The difference between Kevin, who had raised the water attribute's five forms to the 9th Grade, and Muratti, who had raised all four major attributes’ five forms to the 9th Grade, was almost in the magnitude of three.

"Wasn't it…… Too strong……? "
"Oh, I mean, I also think the okan-style is a bit too unfair."

Kevin had just gotten up from being down, and Muratti was waiting in front of him, preparing a 《Fire Attribute・ Third Form》 and 《Charge》 attack.

A deadlock, as it were.

"――That's enough! Winner, Muratti Tricolori! "

……Only two shots.

Not thirty seconds had passed since the match began.
A victory that was too stunning.

Only after it was over, that he was made to understand.

How this was a natural result.
For Kevin, it was a match that he could not resist in any way.

"……Haha, hahahaha."

As soon as he regained consciousness, Kevin couldn't help but laugh.

It was just as Muratti had said.

If you don't make a gap off the board, you won't even be able to compete on the board.
Even before the match, Kevin was completely outplayed.

And even if he realized it now, it was too late――

"The Eishou Tournament may be moving into a new era."
"……Eh……Ah, that."
"From now on, Muratti-kun and Second hexa-crown will lead the way."
"No, no, it is absolutely clear that Second-san is in the lead, while I am just a pig of such a low level that I can't even call myself a lesser version of him. So, being considered to be in the lead is, I mean, quite the honor, or what can I say? It's making me sweat profusely."
"……You're awfully talkative when it comes to him."

The final match of the tournament to determine the Eishou challenger, Zephyr vs. Muratti Tricolori.

Even before the game began, the atmosphere in the arena was very somber.

It can't be helped, one could say.

Because it was too obvious which side would win.

After being shown that thing in the match with Kevin, no one could any longer imagine anything but a victory for Muratti.

And some of them even made the mindless remark, "Hurry up and show us the match between Second and Muratti".

"……Fuh……"

Naturally, Zephyr could hear them.

The man in question, however, only meditated quietly and smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening with age.

Muratti became silent, not knowing how to address him.

Perhaps out of concern for Muratti, Zephyr said a few words to him.

"I'll be in your care."

He had already prepared himself to face a defeat from which he could not escape.

"……"

Muratti was caught off guard.

Zephyr's words were an immediate warning not to take it easy on him.

――Going easy.

He had never even once considered such an idea.

Now that I think about it…… Just how much restraint did Second have against me?

"…………"

The moment he thought of this, an indescribable chill crept up Muratti's back.

"――Bow to each other! Get ready! "

Not yet, he mused.

Muratti told himself.

A phrase that has been repeated over and over again.

"Deyufu."

Words that just made him smile.

Magic is an endless treasure chest, the bottom of which cannot be seen, no matter how much one tries to unravel it.

The same was true for Magical Magic.
This was also the case with the man named Second Firstest.

"――Begin! "

The order to begin.

At the same time, Muratti chanted 《Wind Attribute ・ Third Form》 and 《Charge》, while Zephyr chanted 《Wind Attribute ・ Fifth Form》.

No matter how high Zephyr's HP and MGR were, Muratti's high INT 《Charge》 was an impossible feat to overcome without going down.

However, Zephyr did not come prepared with any other method of fighting than this self-destruction.
No, he realized that even if he had taken any other tactic, he would have lost.

【Magic】 against 【Magical Magic】, truly there was no competition.

It was only on the day of the event that he finally realized such a natural thing.

"……Inevitable or unavoidable."

Zephyr's Fifth Form was not chanted in time, and Muratti's Charge was released after a sufficient charging time.

Zephyr muttered to himself as he stared at the mass of wind-attribute magic looming in front of him.

Defeat. The sense of being left behind by the waves of a new age, out of strength, unable to adapt. The times continue to move on without him, everywhere and nowhere. The distance kept getting further and further away. More and more, further and farther apart.

Zephyr, Captain of the First Court of Magicians. He turned fifty-six this year. The energy to chase, the energy to devour, was no longer……

"――That's enough! Winner, Muratti Tricolori! "

One blow.

A man who, until now, had never known anything about holding back, was still unable to hold back.

And he didn't even want to go easy on him.

He honestly did not care if he won or lost.

Working hard enough to be able to thank Second was enough for him.

More importantly, he was enjoying the moment and having fun.

The days of narrowing down the requirements for learning magical magic. Trial and error for acquiring the skills. Days immersed in research since learning them.

It was as if a new element had been updated to a game one loved, and one kept pouring one's heart and soul into it, day after day, without ever getting tired of it.

And it still was.

Not yet. He was not satisfied yet.

And yet, he still didn't know.

Not only the depths of the abyss of Magical Magic…… but also the depths of the abyss of Magic.

"Well, let's do it."

That is what this man will show him.

The 466th Eishou Second Firstest――

======

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 Shield Arts skills

【Shield Arts】

《Dragon King Shield Arts》　Very powerful ranged attack to the front.
《Dragon Horse Shield Arts》　Reinforced defense + all-range attack.
《Rook Shield Arts》　Powerful forward Rush attack (VIT converted to STR and added to net STR)
《Bishop Shield Arts》　Great Reinforced Defense (16th class: 250% ~ Grade 9th: 600% Defense)
《Gold Shield Arts》　Range homing defense ＋ Knockback（While active, attacks within a certain range would redirect themselves towards the shield）
《Silver Shield Arts》　Reinforced defense (parry grace time reduced by 0.01 second, successful parry triggers counterattack effect)
《Knight Shield Arts》　Defense + Knockback.
《Lance Shield Arts》　Piercing Reflective Defense
《Soldier Shield Arts》　Normal defense.
Success condition for parry: Activate the skill 0.287 to 0.250 seconds before the attack reaches the target.

List of Magic skills

【Magic】 (Four attributes: fire, water, wind, and earth)
Advantages and disadvantages: Fire>Earth>Wind>Water>Fire
・First Form　Normal Attack （Preparation time： Super short. Cooldown： Super short）
・Second Form　Extended range attack （Slow. Long）
・Third Form　Strong single-target attack （Short. Short）
・Fourth Form　Powerful extended-range attack （Super slow. Super long）
・Fifth Form　Very powerful extended-range attack （Slowest. Longest）

【Magical Magic】
《Combine》　Combines two magic skills into a single attack.
《Synergy》　Overlays two magic spells on top of another magic spell.
《Charge》　Magic attack that increases in magnitude the more it is charged up.

List of Thread Manipulation skills

【Thread Manipulation】
《Dragon King Thread Manipulation》　The most powerful single attack, limited to the restrained target.
《Dragon Horse Thread Manipulation》　Simultaneously emits multiple threads, forcibly restraining the touched object.
《Rook Thread Manipulation》　Very powerful single attack using a bundle of threads
《Bishop Thread Manipulation》　Powerful penetrating attack using thread like a needle.
《Gold Thread Manipulation》　Thread restraints on objects within a 4-meter radius.
《Silver Thread Manipulation》　Powerful single-target attack with a bundle of threads
《Knight Thread Manipulation》　Manipulate monsters, humans, and puppets using strings for a certain period of time.
《Lance Thread Manipulation》　Penetrating attack using thread like a needle.
《Soldier Thread Manipulation》　Single target attack with a bundle of threads
(Gold + Lance or Bishop can be Combined)

ToC