"Next up, Sakura Hina and Ming Yi!"
My eyes widened at who got called up to face Hina-nee.
"Ming Yi…? Isn't that the blacksmith from Xiyang City…?" I murmured to myself, frowning in confusion.
I knew his face - I wouldn't have missed it just now, when all sixteen contestants were gathered on the stage. Unless…
That's right! There was one guy wearing some kind of black oni-like Japanese-style mask, so I couldn't see how they looked like!
And indeed, just as I had guessed, the mask-wearing combatant was the one to go on the stage. He wore black robes covering every inch of his body, along with a pair of black pants and boots. On his back, crossed, were two long katanas, still in their sheaths. Ming Yi pulled them out and swung them around, getting into combat stance.
Hina-nee took out her own weapons as well, then smiled. "You're the one who crafted me these daggers, no?"
"…" the man did not respond for whatever reason, and instead gripped his weapons tighter, as if nervous.
