Chapter 111: The Competition Commences
The Kendo Inter-High School Championship had an impressive lineup of 32 schools this year. The competition was carefully structured, categorized by gender, and featured a series of stages, including knockout, preliminary, initial, semi-final, and final rounds.
With the host's announcement, the competition began in earnest. Each match was limited to a five-minute time frame. Due to the large number of participating teams, a one-point system was employed, where the first to score a point would claim victory. If there was no clear winner within the allocated time, victory would be determined by the first point scored during overtime.
The moment had finally come for Hachiman and his fellow students from Sobu High School to take the stage. As soon as the audience caught sight of Saeko Busujima, cheers erupted from the stands. However, their opponents didn't seem to enjoy the same level of popularity.
Among the female team members, a sense of trepidation was palpable as they realized they would be facing Saeko, well aware of their slim chances of victory. Yet, there was an exception – a green-haired girl who observed them intently from the start.
As anticipated, in the female division, the girls had limited opportunities to make a move. They were quickly defeated by Kotonoha and the other three team members, with Kotonoha even taking on a two-versus-one challenge.
A wave of disappointment swept through the audience when they realized that Saeko hadn't taken the stage.
After the female division matches concluded, it was time for Hachiman and his male teammates to compete.
While their opponents in the male division were a bit more formidable than the female team, they still proved to be no match for Hachiman and Fujita, who effortlessly defeated their rivals.
However, since this was Hachiman's first-ever competition, he was paired against an opponent to get familiar with the rules. After a few simple defensive maneuvers, Hachiman quickly seized the opportunity to launch an attack. With expert precision, he struck his opponent's faceguard and secured a victory.
"Hachiman, that was a splendid strike," Saeko praised with a smile as he came off the stage.
"Yes, Hachiman-kun, you're really amazing," Kotonoha also joined in the praise.
"Well, it's because the opponent's team captain wasn't that strong, so I was able to win so easily," Hachiman shrugged modestly.
Indeed, that was the case. Their opponents this time didn't pose much of a challenge. Even the male team captain had only an advanced level of kendo at level three, which, while better than the average sword club member, still lagged behind Fujita Shuji's skills.
Furthermore, Hachiman had become the strongest member of the Kendo club. In the previous match, it felt like an adult picking on a child.
Most participants in the Kendo Inter-High School Championship had skill levels around level three, with only a few exceptionally strong ones like Fujita Shuji, who had reached the peak of level three.
And that was a rare exception.
But now, with both Hachiman and Saeko at level four in Kendo, they had the potential to dominate the entire competition if they chose to.
"How about it, Hachiman? Would you like to try one against five in the next match? I can have the Kendo club members cooperate with you," Saeko suggested.
"Um, one against five might be a bit too overbearing," Hachiman replied.
Hearing her proposal, a small, playful smile appeared at the corner of Hachiman's lips.
"But... one against three might be worth a shot."
Since they had decided to shine today, why not attempt some impressive feats as well?
The first day of the tournament eventually came to an end, with half of the thirty-two participating teams eliminated.
As Saeko Busujima and her team left the venue, they received thunderous cheers from the audience, and many curious onlookers shifted their attention to the men's team, particularly Hachiman.
Back at the hotel, they had some free time. Since they were in Fukuoka, the Kendo club members naturally formed small groups to explore the city.
However, Hachiman didn't share the enthusiasm for such activities and decided to return to his room.
Since he had committed to becoming a genius, he aimed to be an all-around one. After all, he now possessed a "system" that allowed him to automatically improve his skills by loading modules.
Most of the modules he had were already at level four, making him appear like a prodigy in various fields such as writing, kendo, and cooking to others.
His level four physique and level four learning abilities silently supported his endeavors. For example, a level three physique could rival that of a martial arts master, and a level four physique approached the limits of human capabilities.
While his body appeared ordinary in normal circumstances, he could effectively defend himself by tensing his muscles, leaving only white marks on his skin when struck with bladed weapons.
In simpler terms, it was akin to the protective golden bell or iron cloth found in martial arts novels or some magical buff often seen in isekai anime and Western fantasy.
His next objective was to load more new modules, a process not too complicated. As long as he had contact with something, he could easily acquire new skills.
For example, watching a chess match would allow him to load a chess module, playing basketball would enable him to load a basketball module, and so on.
As Hachiman pondered which module to load first, a knock interrupted his thoughts. He opened the door to find Saeko standing there, full of energy and enthusiasm.
"Hachiman, it's not every day we're in Fukuoka. Why not go out and explore?" she suggested.
"You know me well, Saeko. I'm not a fan of crowded places. I'm perfectly content on my own."
Hachiman's response was met with a shrug from Saeko, who then accepted his invitation to come inside.
"I do know you well, Hachiman, and when I say I know every aspect of you, I mean it," she said, taking a seat on the bed with a seductive smile.
Saeko had noticed a change in herself over time, becoming increasingly feminine.
Before she met Hachiman, she felt like a bloodthirsty monster. Ever since a childhood incident, she had struggled to suppress her violent urges, and the more she repressed them, the stronger they became.
Because of this fear of hurting others, she had always been hesitant to socialize. Even when people confessed their feelings to her due to her beauty and exceptional kendo skills, she rejected them all, convinced she wasn't deserving of love.
However, a chance encounter with Hachiman changed everything. During their first sparring match, she had to battle against her uncontrollable bloodlust. To her surprise, Hachiman had managed to calm her at that moment. This release of pent-up emotions had significantly diminished her inner madness.
Saeko found herself repeatedly seeking battles with Hachiman, and she even invited him to her family's kendo dojo. The thrill of pushing herself to the limits left her captivated. Simultaneously, she was delighted to discover that her once overwhelming bloodlust was gradually fading, and she felt like she was regaining her humanity. Moreover, she sensed that the formidable barrier that had held her back for so long was slowly starting to weaken.
This brought her immense joy, and with each sparring session, her feelings for Hachiman deepened. Eventually, Saeko Busujima was willing to wash his back in the bathroom and engage in more intimate activities...