We were looking for Ami-chan... slowly. For half an hour we wandered around the mansion, stopping every now and then to talk with representatives of the highest aristocracy. During this time, I managed to get to know the parents of Ren and Mickey and was introduced to the members of the great Otomo, Takeda and Minamoto families. And even, during Ohayashi, he was able to exchange a few words with Princess Fusako, the sixteen—year-old daughter of Prince Naruhito, the eldest son and heir of the emperor.
And so we finally found her. A gaggle of twelve- to thirteen-year-old girls were playing darts, accompanying each hit with a loud squeal. I don't know what's wrong with this game, but it completely captured the children. So much so that Raydon had to approach his sister himself and recall her to us.
— Meet those who are not familiar, — he squinted at Miki. —My sister is Ohayashi Ami. Of course, she met each of you at the entrance, but all this ceremony cannot show how sweet she is. Ooty, you're my good one," he patted his sister's cheeks.
— Ugh, Ray. I got it already with my tenderness," she began to wave off Raydon.
Well, how can I not be touched here. Only after beating off her cheeks, Ami was attacked again, this time her brother went behind her and, hugging her, began to squeeze. As a result, after five minutes of struggle, the poor girl did not even resist, just stoically endured her brother's lisping. And judging by the expression on his face, this is not the first time this has happened. It remains to sympathize with her and hope that Raydon is the only one in their family. Although I must admit, Ami, humbly waiting for the end of the execution, looked so cute at that moment that I myself wanted to cuddle her.
Over the next half hour, I was finally able to feel that I was at a birthday party, and not at some high society reception. And if it wasn't for Sate, it would be cool at all. And then there's Chesue. The brat came up to us at the thirty-sixth minute of fun. He said hello, wished Ami all the best, and so casually, before leaving, scolded me that it was possible to fight for Ohayashi Aneko longer. Creature. Just a beast.
— To fight... Sakurai-kun? It looks like I missed a lot of things while I was away.
"Not so much, Sate-san..." I began. — It's just that yesterday I needed a partner for a Crystal Evening, and I couldn't invite Shin-chan due to certain circumstances. So Aneko-san gave me the honor of accompanying me.
— Crystal evening? Well, it's not scary. I've already managed to invent... everything for myself. — Will he really let go? "But then what did Chesue-san mean?"
—Nothing, Sate-san,— Aneko said. — He just wanted to quarrel with you.
Oh, you shouldn't do that, Aneko. If you're going to explain, then do it in full. And then it sounds like there really is something between us, well, or he's an unreasonable child. And this moral freak is clearly not like that. By the way, in his place I would be offended now.
— Hmm, — he twisted his neck. — Well, if that's the case, then la-a-adno. I have no complaints. — Phew. Got a ride. — But you know, he can not only approach us. And then I won't look good. However, nonsense, — he thought for a second. Come on, come on, translate the topic. — I think a formal duel will solve our question. — I give up. I will float on the waves of the situation. — We also have a ring for this. — Apparently, fate.
"I don't think it's worth reacting to the words of a person who wanted exactly that," Aneko said.
— And this, woman, let us men decide.
Not only Aneko frowned, but also Sheena and Ren. And Raydon. And even Miki. And I smiled.
"That's right, Sate-san. In the disassembly of men, women should participate only as a reason.
— I completely agree with you, Sakurai-kun.
By and large, I was not against our fight. More precisely, he was, but since fate had turned out that way, he saw no reason to wag and dodge. Moreover, this fight is almost the perfect way to get rid of the bastard. I have in my arsenal one technique that is essentially useless to me, which I studied for fun, not thinking that it would ever be useful to me. The so-called "delayed death blow". I was taught it by a familiar Eraser, who himself has never used it in a real case. But just in case I had. The fact is that all the really serious techniques of witchers are sharpened for a fight with their own kind. After all, for ordinary people, a blow to the bonehead is enough, well, or a bullet in the head. And for Destroyers like me, "the blow
is delayed
death" is not needed at all. How is it with us? If the target is gone, the mission is failed. This technique does not work against witchers either. Internal microfractures in the heart area, which, slowly increasing over time, "explode" at one moment and kill the target. Moreover, these gaps are really "micro", so the natural regeneration of witchers copes with them perfectly. We just don't notice this. Of course, I'm terribly far from Wolverine from "X-Men", but this is just nonsense for me. Although the last stage will probably kill me, too. That's just not going to come to this. And the bakhiroyuzers have no regeneration at all. There are healers, but there is no regeneration. It is also worth considering that death as a result of a "blow" is the same as death from fear. At the physiological level, the symptoms are identical. And now the joke. The second of the five suicide bombers died of fear. The first one from the brick that fell on his head, I couldn't resist then, he was standing too well, and the second one when he went to take a leak. So he died with his pants down. After all, I rocked the Yaks to the maximum. Death from a "blow", by the way, is almost instantaneous, so no one will have time to save him.
And at the ring, which we finally reached, pandemonium reigned at that time. Children, teenagers, adults. Men, women. Having singled out Brother Raydon from the crowd, we headed towards him. Hikaru was talking to a shabby guy a little younger than me at that moment and, patting him on the shoulder in farewell, turned to us. Glancing sideways at Miki, who was holding the younger Ohayashi's hand, he turned his attention to Sate and me, who were at the head of the company.
— Ho-oh-oh. Well, the rules are simple. Do not use a bahir, do not hit the eyes and groin, do not tear the mouth and nostrils, do not finish lying down. If the fallen person does not get up within ten seconds, he has lost. I repeat: do not use bahir. The battle will be monitored by two Masters, and it will not be possible to hide its use. Do you understand everything? — After waiting for our nods, he continued: — Then wait. You're next. Over there," he waved in the direction of a large tent, "you can change for the fight.
—Oh, it's not worth it," said Sathe, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. "I don't expect to ruin my clothes.
— It's your business. Well, what about you?
"I'm being screwed,— I said.
— Kha, ahem. Clear. As you wish, in general.
The fight of the guys who were in front of us did not last long. Ten minutes — and both are treated by healers. There was no blood, just a little fight of some kind. Actually, I didn't expect anything else from the kids. After the end of their fight, I threw the scarf and haori on Shin's hands. Smiling encouragingly at the girls and slyly winking at the guys, he approached Hikaru. After getting permission from the guy shaking his head, we finally entered the ring. Looking around, I made a note in my memory —
definitely
something to do Chesue. God, I felt like a monkey in a cage right now. Okay, Max, pull yourself together. It is easy to kill the enemy, the main thing at the moment is to lose competently.
— Go ahead, Sakurai-kun, I give you the right to strike the first blow.
What-what did he just say? "Kill me at last"? So we'll arrange it now.
— As you say, Sate-san. As you say…
His white semitransparent shirt, white trousers, and well-groomed face were screaming to be smeared with blood and snot. But, alas, if I do so, he may have a desire to get even more thoroughly. And in the few days that are measured out to him in the future, he may well have time to smoke.
Standing in a boxing stance, I approached the opponent in three steps. A right punch just above and to the right of the heart at the same time as the last step seems to have come as a surprise to him. Basically, that's it, goodbye, Sate. But the performance must be played out to the end.
From the left to the barrel, he defends himself with an elbow block and instantly reacts with a blow from above to the temple. I duck down and hit him already in the right side, which he does not have time to protect. I picked up the force of the blow so that he wasn't particularly hooked. Sensitive, but not dangerous. Immediately after the right I hit the left in the temple, in response, he again puts a block. I also adjusted my speed for him. Sate takes a short leap forward, simultaneously shooting me in the chest with his knee. The block with his hands protected me from the knee, but put me under a short uppercut with his right. And it was a great moment to finish the fight. I showed myself like worthy, Sate patted a little, and you can finish. And the fact that the fight is short is normal. This is usually the case.
The uppercut was good. So good that I was even lost for a moment. I am! A witcher of the Absolute rank! Got lost from an ordinary blow! If it wasn't for habit, then after his fist came into contact with my jaw, I would have just fallen. And so instincts and reflexes defeated the mind. In the end, I just took a couple of steps back, but the mind turned on, thank God, did not let me down. Retreating a little more, I abruptly fell to my knees, feigning prostration as best I could. Clapping his zenks, he turned his head towards the judge and fell on his side. The referee who ran up to me started counting down the time, and at that moment I turned over on my back and, still pretending to be inadequate, found the second judge with my eyes. Either I am blind, not following the surrounding space of a loshara, or Sate and I somehow fell into the zone of sensitivity of at least one Master.
Rolling over on his stomach, he somehow got to his knees. At that moment, the referee shouted "ten" and waved his hands over me, thereby ending the fight. All I cared about at that moment was where the Tire was now. Finally, having found her with a glance, I was convinced that the girl was still in the same company and there were no suspicious personalities next to her.
— Great fight, Sakurai-kun, — said Sate, who came up. — Let's hope that this is enough for everyone to understand...