The first preliminary round of the D-block was about to begin.
「Everyone is a small fry, huh!」
My name is Aaron, the grandmaster of Kaien-style, the sword style which
goes toe-to-toe with the Heineman-style in the Amelia kingdom. Right now,
I'm heaving a deep sigh while looking at the three youngsters belonging to
my school's sword art-style charging toward their opponents while
screaming like idiots.
If it were only that, I wouldn't find a problem. At least, they should let their
swords talk.
However, whether it was due to cowardice or caution, they didn't charge
toward their opponent at once.
But the moment I thought so, the three of them surrounded their opponent, a
petite youth. The first preliminary round is a round to test your tactics. In
short, there's nothing wrong with ganging up against your opponent.
However, the difference between the physiques of the two sides was too
big. Moreover, the one the trio was ganging up against was that infamous
Heineman-style's incompetent, Kai Heineman. I've met the lad a few times
when his grandfather, Elm, had taken him on a trip.
In short, the young generation disciples of my school went as far as to gang
up against the weakest opponent in the arena just for a single victory. It isn't
a wrong tactic, but it's more of a problem with their disposition as warriors
never bully the weak.
Even though this sounds funny, those three actually didn't go as far as to
attack at once; instead, they quarreled about who would fight the boy. This
meant that the fight couldn't be regarded as three versus one.
（It seems both Elm and I have a hard time regarding our successors.）
With such a situation, our school has lost in terms of gifts since they have
the rumored spear king with them. However, ability-wise, that spear king
lad is far too inexperienced to beat my personal disciple, Arnold.
The moment I reminisced about that, IT happened.
Kai Heineman slowly closed in toward the trio and clapped right in front of
their face. He used the moment when the trio had yet to recover from their
shocks to take their armbands and leave the arena.
「W-WHAT happened just now?」
My eyes almost popped out the moment I saw Kai Heineman's move. Not
even the screams of my personal disciple could snap me out of my stupor.
「W-What was that movement?」
Finally, I managed to squeeze through my parched throat and ask this
question.
I also saw what my disciple had seen just now. It was a perfect movement,
lacking any gap or opening. It was a movement only someone among my
peers, those who have reached mastery in their styles, could perform. Even
then, this movement was the best amongst the best.
「Was that a coincidence?」
「YOU FOOL!」
There are no coincidences in martial arts. The moment Kai Heineman
showed that movement, I confirmed that he's a person who stands on the
same level as us, someone who has mastered his style.
「But how? How can someone that young move like that?」
When I heard this question from one of the assistant instructors, I heaved a
sigh.
「Kai Heineman. He's Elm's grandson.」
I told him the facts.
「W-WAIT A MINUTE! Kai Heineman's gift is supposed to be
Incompetent, right?」
「You lots, do you really think he is an incompetent after seeing THAT
with your very eyes?」
From my perspective, Kai wasn't that talented. When I had seen him last
time, I wanted to recommend some other martial artist's path to him.
「But still, is that the same Kai Heineman? What's the meaning of this?」
「Maybe, Elm has been spreading false information all along.」
I couldn't hold back my anger. Incompetent my ass! As if an incompetent
could reach such a height at such a young age! It's definitely the result of
personal training by his grandfather. He's a sword saint at a tender age
along with his natural talent. Because that's the only possibility I can think
of.
The reason Elm spread false information might be to block his grandson
from the scouts belonging to others' styles.
But, that Elm fella, does he realize just how much his grandson has been
scorned because of that? No, in the first place, is he someone capable of
doing such cruel things? And then―
「That bast*rd Elm wanted to separate a good seedling from bad seedlings,
huh!」
He had crushed such a talent for the sake of the continuation of his style,
huh. He isn't allowed to use violence as a master swordsman.
「But, I hear that Kai Heineman was kicked out from the Heineman
family.」
「Is Elm seriously letting go of such genius?」
「Yes, the assistant instructor of the Heineman-style himself said that in
Luserhall. Since he didn't seem to be lying when he said that, it's most
likely the truth.」
What kind of nonsense is this? Elm, of all people, kicking out such a
talented youth? Or, did he simply fail to notice that talent since Kai
Heineman is his grandson? No, someone who has crossed the deadline in
many battles wouldn't miss such talent. Since that's the case, for what
reason did Elm kick out such a genius from the Heineman family? This is
the biggest mystery of this case!
「Maybe, the rumor about his gift being incompetent is also a false rumor.
But, there have been no movements indicating such an attempt. I mean,
remember, Heineman-style's base is in Lamour, a place where your gift
literally decides your life.」
Sure enough, that explanation from one of my assistant instructors did make
sense.
God grants us only one gift. This is a well-known truth. But, even if for
example, Kai Heineman had received two gifts from God, something that
has never happened before, to be honest, that explanation would still lack
the decisive factor to explain the height of the ability he showed us before.
At the very least, that level of mastery makes me want to believe that he is a
never-seen-before, a double gift holder, rather than an incompetent.
「If that's really the case, then they're truly unsalvageable idiots.」
「Yeah, indeed.」
We have to meet Kai Heineman as soon as possible right after the end of
this tournament.
If we manage to rope such a talent into our school, the position of the next
king's royal guard is practically guaranteed. And when that happens, it will
once again prove that our Kaien style, which doesn't rely on gifts, is the
right style.
「Good grief! I can't help but look forward to his next match now.」
Anyhow, I have a meeting that I can't miss in the neighboring city. But, in
any case, this tournament is definitely the turning point for Kaien-style.
I might be able to see the grand-final from a special VVIP box seat if I
return as soon as I finish my business in the next city. Let's just endure this
excitement until that time.
「Let's get going!」
I suppressed my excitement and urged my assistant instructors, who acted
as my escorts, to leave the arena.