- Haha, I said that, didn't I? -Mashiro
- What? -Teruo
- As wizards and sorcerers, you are great samurai. -Mashiro
- Oh really? -Teruo
He has a serious expression on his face, showing animosity towards her, and yet he bows to her before doing anything else, greeting her, and to his surprise she does the same as him at the same time.
- I didn't think you really knew anything about our etiquette. -Teruo
And she answers him only with a smile.
- Huh… -Teruo
Then he draws his sword, and points it towards Mashiro.
His sword was a Katana, a traditional sword from the East, a sword that has a cut on only one side of the blade, unlike Mashiro's sword that has a Western style with cuts on both sides of the blade.
In the same way, she also points her sword at him.
They both stare at each other for a moment, until he takes a deep breath and begins to speak.
- I am Teruo, Samurai of the Akutagawa Clan. -Teruo
Mashiro places 2 fingers under his Adventurer's plaque on his neck, raising it a little towards Teruo, making it clearly more evident.
- Shihaisha no Majo and S-Rank Adventurer, Class 0, Mashiro Walker. -Mashiro
Katz, seeing this from the second floor, found it strange.
- What's that for? -Katz
- Why were they formally introducing themselves to each other? -Katz
- It is an Eastern custom to say their titles or how they are known, before a duel begins, although the order of these things can vary depending on the importance given to the title or how the person was best known. -Attou
- Hmmmm, interesting, I even liked that custom. -Katz
Attou smiles.
- I like that too. -Attou
While some were having their parallel conversations, Teruo was slowly dragging his front foot on the ground, thinking about how he would make his first move, at the same time observing whether Mashiro would attack first or not, whether she would have any reaction or not.
- Do you want a duel with or without magic? -Mashiro
- Hm? Are you serious? -Teruo
- Of course, I'm giving you the option to choose how you want to face me. -Mashiro
- Haha.. I'd be crazy to want to face you in a magic fight. -Teruo
- But.. If you're really giving me the option to choose how I want to face you… -Teruo
- Can we fight using only Mana Aatsu? -Teruo
- Oh, Mana Aatsu? -Mashiro
- Haha, I see.. -Mashiro
- Of course, why not? -Mashiro
- This has already become the greatest combat method used in the East for a few centuries now, hasn't it? -Mashiro
- So you know... -Teruo
- Of course, I've been there a few times. -Mashiro
- Anyway, we have a deal. -Mashiro
- And I'll use it with you guys who are waiting too, okay? -Mashiro
- If you want to change the format of the duel, just say so before we start, okay? -Mashiro
She looks at the Eastern Mages who were waiting and none of them spoke and just nodded their heads.
Teruo understood, that was a difficult fight for him, because from the beginning he knew what the result of that duel would be.
He was holding his sword with both hands, while Mashiro held hers with only her right hand.
- Here I go! -Teruo
- Mana Aatsu: Fortis. -Teruo
Teruo advances towards her, launching an open attack from below.
But Mashiro blocks the attack effortlessly.
Then they start exchanging blows while moving from side to side.
Their swords clash and Mashiro pushes him back with a blow.
Leaving them far apart from each other.
- If that's the case, then how about this? -Teruo
- Mana Aatsu: Impetus. -Teruo
He runs at high speed towards her and disappears for a moment and appears in front of Mashiro, launching a side attack.
But when he realized it, the attack had been defended.
- Hmm, Mana Aatsu: Fortis and Mana Aatsu: Impetus? I see. -Mashiro
As Mashiro spoke, she was pushing his sword back with hers.
- The adventurers' Mana techniques, also known by some as simplified magic, even though that's not exactly the case... -Mashiro
- And you used two, one for physical strengthening and the other for increasing speed. -Mashiro
- Both are Mana Aatsu that, once used, remain constantly active, allowing you to use them again without having to say your incantations again, unless you interrupt them, stopping the flow of mana that is going to them. -Mashiro
- There are several Mana Aatsu that are like this, and that is why they are great for combat.
- But their problem is the constant consumption of mana, they can drain your mana very quickly.
- It all depends on how much mana you have and how much you are using on them.
Meanwhile, his sword begins to be pushed upwards as she spoke, taking the sword out of the lateral position where it had been blocked.
- Well, in your case, the first one you have good control over and can use it well.. -Mashiro
- As for the second one... It was very well executed and intended to be a direct attack in a straight line, so you wouldn't have to worry about where you were going. -Mashiro
- You noticed the main flaw of this technique and used it to your advantage. -Mashiro
- Really good... -Mashiro
- For someone who doesn't know how to use it properly yet, of course.. -Mashiro
- But this clearly demonstrated your lack of control over it, you still can't use it properly.. -Mashiro
- The Mana Aatsu: Impetus, increases the speed of your body proportionally to the amount of Mana you use on it, it's very similar to the first one.. -Mashiro
Teruo tried to press her with all his strength, but her sword didn't even tremble, in terms of pure physical strength, she had an overwhelming advantage over him, even so he kept trying.
While Mashiro continued to push her sword back at the same time as she continued speaking.
- But despite her speed, she was able to even match that of the vampires as she managed to do now. -Mashiro.
- You yourself can't keep up with that speed. -Mashiro
- After all, it was only when you stopped moving that you were able to keep up with what was around you and in front of you again. -Mashiro
- Just like now, you only realized that I had defended your attack a brief moment after you stopped. -Mashiro
At this point, Teruo's sword blade was already straight up, in front of his chest and face.
- In simple terms, what gets faster is only your body, but not your vision, brain, and processing speed. -Mashiro
- Because of that, you can't keep up or understand what's happening when you're moving that fast. -Mashiro
He was being pressured, his blade was already getting too close to his face, from the beginning he had no way of retreating because of the force she was putting on him, if he tried, Mashiro would cut Teruo before he could move away.
- Although there are already some well-known ways to get around the flaw in this Mana technique, even if they are a bit complicated. -Mashiro
- So, the question is: Didn't you know about this or is it that you simply can't do it? -Mashiro
- Tsk. -Teruo
Teruo looks frustrated hearing all this.
- Even so, that wasn't bad either. -Mashiro
Mashiro then pushes his sword to the left and he clearly has trouble holding the pressure placed on his blade.
The moment their blades separate due to this movement from Mashiro, she quickly attacks him with a side cut in the opposite direction before he can recover to defend himself.
With the force of Mashiro's attack, he is pushed back and ends up letting go of one of his hands from his sword, thus holding it only with his left hand and leaving his guard completely open because of the impact.
At that moment Mashiro advances on him and launches an attack, cutting from his abdomen to his chest.
He tries to react by trying to strike by holding the sword with only one hand, but Mashiro is faster and kicks him in the stomach. At that moment, he spits blood and is thrown backwards, falling to the ground and begins to roll because of the force of the kick, unable to stop.
But when he hits the ground a second time, he supports himself with his hand during the fall, quickly managing to recover and fall, supporting himself on his legs, finally stopping his fall. But as soon as he stops, supporting himself on one of his legs, he begins to spit blood.
The cut was very deep, his organs were already severely damaged by Mashiro's sword attack, and the kick she landed on his stomach made them even worse.
He puts his hand over his mouth, trying somehow to stop coughing up blood, but it was in vain.
His integrity was already completely compromised.
His defeat was already visible to everyone there, both to his companions and to the other mages who were waiting.
Mashiro looks at him without expressing much empathy, while holding her sword with the blade lowered with only her right hand.
- What are your last words? -Mashiro
- Is there anything you want to say? -Mashiro
Teruo looks at her with frustration while holding her hand near her mouth, covered in blood.
- I'll ask one more time. -Mashiro
- Is there anything you would like to say before you die? -Mashiro
- You know? The moment we decided to come after you, I always thought about it... -Teruo
He begins to get up with difficulty until he is standing again.
- If I happen to face her, and I end up losing... -Teruo
- If I have the opportunity, what should I say in the little time I have before the flame of my life goes out, what should my last words be? -Teruo
His companions watch him with sad looks, as they listen to his words, except for one.
- Teruo… -Akutagawa
Mashiro seems to notice something and smiles.
- But it was now, just a few seconds, that I finally knew. -Teruo
- I don't need words. -Teruo
- I just need to act! -Teruo
Teruo disappears before everyone's eyes and the next moment he appears very close to Mashiro with the tip of his sword almost touching her chest. He was clearly much faster than before, which ended up surprising many of those who were there, with his last attack.
Mashiro then, before the tip of Teruo's blade reached her, put her sword in front, using her other arm as support for her blade, and because it was clearly wider, her sword ended up blocking and stopping the tip of Teruo's sword without much difficulty.
But at the moment of this last clash between the blades, Teruo's katana broke.
Everyone was surprised to see this happening.
However, Teruo, who was smiling thinking he had hit her, only realized that his sword had broken a few moments later, without even being able to touch her.
He takes a few steps back, coughing up blood, holding what's left of his sword.
- Action over words at this point? Bravo! -Mashiro
As he says this, Mashiro goes up to him and cuts his chest, and Teruo falls backwards to the ground, and a pool of blood quickly forms.
- Bravo, huh? -Teruo
Teruo smiles, and the sparkle in his eyes disappears; he had died.
Mashiro moves away from the body and his companions come to pick him up, some were sad and others crying.
- He died smiling, huh? -Akutagawa
Everyone had heard both his last words and Mashiro's, they seemed satisfied and closed their eyes.
At the same time, on the second floor.
- You said all that about her, but so far she hasn't seemed like the way you described her before. -Katz
- Is that true? We'll see. -Attou
- But, from my point of view, for me, everything she's done so far has been to buy time. -Attou
- And if I'm right about that, everything she was doing and has done so far is to buy more time, she may very well prolong this fight with them just to buy more time. -Attou
- They were wrong to decide to wait for her fight with these wizards from the east, just to be able to see how she fights. -Attou
- And she will still be able to gradually reduce the number of enemies by 5, it's not very advantageous when you look at it from that side. -Attou
- Attou, during the conversation between you two earlier, don't you think she may very well have lied to you about something to have your empathy in some way? -Katz
- After all, she is a monster and monsters love to deceive humans, luring them into traps to kill them and eat them later. -Katz
- Not all monsters eat people Katz. -Attou
- Even so, it's impossible, she once told me that lying is something that the weak use to deceive those they don't like and protect themselves from the stronger ones. -Attou
- And that's why she said it would never be like that. -Attou
- Huh? And can someone live like that forever? -Katz
- Who knows? -Attou
- But I believe in her, I believe that at the very least she has always been honest with me and has never told me a single lie to this day. -Attou
- You really believe in her, don't you? -Katz
- Well, she almost killed me a few times, and didn't, so she wouldn't have any reason to try to deceive me, would she? Since she could just finish me off once and for all. -Attou
- Maybe it's true. -Katz
- Hmmmm... -Katz
- Hey, so that thing about her sword was true? -Katz
- It was, her sword was made with crystallized Mana. -Attou
- She herself materialized, solidified and crystallized her own Mana in great density and quantity and made this sword. -Attou
- That's absurd, just crystallizing your pure mana is already extremely difficult, but she managed to give it such a specific and detailed form... -Katz
- So the magical runes carved on the blade of her sword, were also hers? -Katz
- Yes, it was hers too. -Attou
- Impressive, that's really incredible. -Katz
- It's really incredible, isn't it? -Attou
Attou smiles, and Katz sees this and turns his gaze to Mashiro, smiling as well.
- I'm going now. -Akutagawa
- Akutagawa-sama!? -Magician of the East 4
- You shouldn't do that Akutagawa-sama! -Magician of the East 3
- Wait a minute Akutagawa-sama! -Magician of the East 5
- Even if you guys went first and we continued like this, it wouldn't get us anywhere anyway. -Akutagawa
- So…-Akutagawa
Before anyone could try to stop him, he was already moving at high speed and stopping, drawing his sword in front of Mashiro. At the same moment, she was already looking at him, smiling with an ironic tone.
- I'll go myself… -Akutagawa
Hiroshi then points his katana at her.
- Hiroshi Akutagawa, Leader of the Akutagawa Clan. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Shihaisha no Majo and S-Rank Adventurer, Class 0, Mashiro Walker. -Mashiro
- Monster, isn't she?.. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
He gave a small laugh, looking to the side, and looked back at her with a serious look.
- Mana Aatsu: Fortis! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Mana Aatsu: Impetus! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Mashiro Walker, here I come! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
At the same moment he disappears, already starting the fight by moving at high speed, passing straight past Mashiro without her reacting and blood gushes to the side on the floor.
He was much faster than Teruo.
I see, you're not the clan leader for nothing. -Mashiro
Blood starts to run down Mashiro's arm, he had managed to hit her, and made a cut on her right arm.
- I admit, I didn't expect you to be able to be so fast, and I ended up not taking it seriously. -Mashiro
- But this clearly answers my previous question about whether or not you knew. -Mashiro
-. You got me. -Mashiro
- Besides, instead of aiming directly at me coming in a straight line, you moved to the side, directing the trajectory towards my arm. -Mashiro
- Did you want to rip it off? -Mashiro
She turns back to where Hiroshi Akutagawa was, and he takes a deep breath as he listens to her.
- Yeah, I wanted to, but you managed to dodge it by moving to the side, didn't you? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- You probably would have pulled it out if you had gone deeper into it, maybe on your next try? -Mashiro
- Well, that's if your body can handle it, the amount of Mana you used was much higher than what you're used to, apparently, that's clear from how you're panting. -Mashiro
- Panting? Who? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Haha.. You're good at pretending.. -Mashiro
- But it won't happen.. -Mashiro
- After my fight with your little friend, you realized that the speed you're used to wouldn't be enough to face me. -Mashiro
- It was risky, but it worked. -Mashiro
- You could do it a second time, against anyone else. -Mashiro
- But that won't happen. -Mashiro
She smiles at him with an arrogant look.
- There won't be a time to hold back. -Mashiro
He grits his teeth and prepares to advance on Mashiro again in the same way with another Mana Aatsu: Impetus, at the same time she does the same.
Even faster than before, they both disappear from where they are, their swords collide as they clash head on.
At that moment, Mashiro faces him.
- I told you there wouldn't be a second time. -Mashiro
She then slashes her sword with this attack, and thus passing straight through him and having her blade cut his chest.
Ending with him being thrown back and falling on his back on the ground.
This time, the attack had been stronger and much deeper, he didn't even have the strength to get up.
His companions react at the same time showing great concern for him.
Mashiro then points her sword at him.
There was already blood running down his mouth, and he no longer had the strength to fight. He had been defeated almost instantly, but he still smiled in that state.
- This is a worthy death for a true warrior. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
Mashiro closes her eyes for a moment and without saying anything prepares to finish him off, going with her blade towards his chest.
But before her sword reaches him, it is stopped by 3 other Katanas.
They were those other 3 companions of his, they intervened to prevent his death.
At the same time, Mashiro stares at them, without expressing any reaction, but she did not seem to be angry.
- Idiots, what do you think you are doing? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Saving your life, of course! -Magician of the East 5
- We have already lost our lord! -Magician of the East 4
- If we lose you now, the leader of the Akutagawa clan, what will become of our people? -Magician of the East 3
- That's right, we can't lose you now. -Magician of the East 4
- What's this contradiction now? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- If you die now, we'll be finished, Akutagawa-sama. -Magician of the East 3
- We've already talked about this before! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
Even though he was seriously injured, he couldn't hold back as he spoke while coughing up blood.
- We've already made up our minds!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- I've already made up my mind!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Do you think I'm going to back down now!!?? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- We thought we'd win by being on their side! -Magician of the East 3
- But now that we've decided to fight alone, it's clear what the outcome will be! -Magician of the East 4
- Now that things are, let's all just die without accomplishing anything! -Magician of the East 5
- Forget about avenging our lord, we won't be able to do anything. -Magician of the East 3
While they were talking, they tried to push Mashiro's sword back with force but to no avail.
- Akutagawa-sama, let's retreat, let's go! -Magician of the East 5
- Let's give up on this revenge! -Magician of the East 4
- Where is your honor? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Enough of this! There is no honor in death! -Magician of the East 3
- Of course there is!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- You bastards!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- How dare you! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- How dare you!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- You damned bastards! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- You dishonored me!!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- They dishonored our duel!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- My duel! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- How dare they do this to me!!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
Even after hearing all that, they didn't seem to change their minds, or care about what he said, they had clearly already decided what they would do.
- After coming this far!? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Don't mess with me!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Do you think I'll accept this dishonor?? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you myself!!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
They all continued to ignore what he was saying and began to direct their pleas and voices to Mashiro.
- Please, Mashiro-sama! Spare Akutagawa-sama's life! -Magician of the East 3
- Mashiro-sama, without him the entire clan will fall! -Magician of the East 5
- The people will also suffer a great loss without him, Mashiro-sama, please! -Magician of the East 4
A sudden display of respect that they didn't have before is demonstrated in the midst of their pleas.
They continued to beg her in different ways, but they were all similar requests and wanted the same thing, for Mashiro to spare Hiroshi Akutagawa's life.
As he screamed with difficulty towards them, he began to try to get up, but the deep wounds along with an immense pain prevented him from getting up and he returned to his initial position. Hiroshi looked at Mashiro in frustration.
He seemed even more irritated when he looked at those swords above him, blocking Mashiro's sword.
- I'm sorry, Mashiro. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Forgive me. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- I'm sorry. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
Mashiro directed his gaze towards him, it was visible how he felt, an uncontrollable mix of anger, hatred and frustration for them having done that.
- Yeah, me too. -Mashiro
- Okay.. -Mashiro
- Enough then.. -Mashiro
Mashiro stops pressing her sword against theirs, and they realize this since they were trying to hold her back.
She then steps back and moves her sword away from theirs, at the same time that she lowers her sword, Mashiro takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.
Seeing this, they instantly feel relieved and lower their swords too.
They understand that Mashiro is letting them go.
- Mashiro? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
Hiroshi seems dissatisfied with that.
- No!! That's not how it was supposed to end! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Not like this!!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Where will my pride as a warrior end like this? -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- Damn... -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- What the hell... -Hiroshi Akutagawa
While he was upset with that, his companions were different, they showed words of gratitude to her, while they all spoke together.
- Thank you very much Mashiro-sama! -The 3 Wizards of the East
- We are deeply grateful! -The 3 Wizards of the East
- We will not forget this for the rest of our lives! -The 3 Wizards of the East
- Thank you very much Mashiro-sama! -The 3 Wizards of the East
They looked at each other relieved and happy, while Hiroshi Akutagawa, who was fallen, did not seem satisfied with the situation, he was furious.
- Let's go home Akutagawa-sama -Wizard of the East 3
He extends his hand to Akutagawa, while the others prepared to help him get up and support him.
The group of magicians who were waiting for them to finish watched that scene.
Among them, some laughed discreetly, while others seemed disappointed given all their insistence before, but ended up not saying anything.
Hiroshi Akutagawa was irritated, he was not at all happy with what they did, and that was clear.
- I will never forgive you for what you did as long as I live! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
We know. -Magician of the East 3
The other 2 companions of theirs nodded their heads in agreement with what he said.
If it is your wish, we will commit seppuku as soon as we return with you safely to our land. -Magician of the East 5
Or you can kill us yourself or punish us personally when you are better in whatever way you prefer. -Magician of the East 4
- Seppuku? You will not have that honor. -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- You will live the rest of your miserable lives in disgrace!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- I promise you!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
- I will make sure you bitterly regret every day of your lives for as long as you live from now on!! -Hiroshi Akutagawa
They all smile and show agreement and acceptance of what he said.
They bow their heads for a moment, and raise their heads.
- As you wish Hiroshi Akutagawa-sama -The 3 Wizards of the East
- Tsk, damn you… -Hiroshi Akutagawa
At this moment Mashiro slowly opens her eyes, she was looking down, she raises her gaze, looking directly at them.
They look back wondering if she wanted to say something.
The next moment, Mashiro was already on top of them.
Mashiro then plunges her sword into Hiroshi Akutagawa's chest.
The moment Hiroshi Akutagawa is stabbed, they are in disbelief at what has just happened, they do not understand why this is happening.
As he is stabbed he says nothing, except for a small smile that appears on his face.
Mashiro spins her sword stuck in his chest, and then slashes from his chest to his neck, almost ripping Hiroshi Akutagawa's head off.
Even though she was right next to him, they couldn't even react to what she did.
She was clearly faster than she was before.
Then she heads towards the others next to her at high speed.
They couldn't react to her approaching, they had no way to prepare to defend or counterattack.
So before they could make any move, Mashiro passes through them, one by one.
Starting with the closest one who had reached out to Hiroshi Akutagawa, slamming her sword into his throat and ripping it out.
The second one was starting to raise his sword with both hands, so Mashiro cuts off both his arms with a single blow and with a second blow she rips off his head.
As for the third and last one, Mashiro hits him with a blow so strong in the chest that it separates his chest and shoulder, almost dividing him in two, finishing by passing straight through them.
When the bodies of the three finally fall to the ground, Mashiro was already in front of them, looking at that group of mages, at the same time swinging her sword against the ground, throwing the blood on it to the ground.
- Enough of this nonsense.. -Mashiro
- It's time for the massacre. -Mashiro