"Rules are simple. The same as a normal Kisenshou match."
"...Uhm, is that so?"
After telling him the rules of the exhibition match, Ernte quickly calmed down, making seem his previous panic like a lie. He must've felt relieved knowing that he could play on his own specialty.
"Are you sure that's okay, Issenza? I am the Kisenshou, you know?"
"Yeah. By the way, it will be a two-piece handicap."
"What? Two-piece handicap?"
A "Two-piece" is one of the handicaps for Title Matches. It refers to one side not using the top two skills to fight, Dragon King (Promoted Rook)/ Dragon Horse (Promoted Bishop) as well as Rook/Bishop. (TLN: Shogi terms, I tried to explain this as clear as possible, for top two skills means the normal and the promoted skills)
"Hmm, if it's just that, I don't mind. But it would be a problem if I'm being looked down upon. But since I'm the Kisenshou, a two-piece handicap is――"
"Eh? I think you're misunderstanding something here."
"What do you mean?"
"The two-piece is not for you, it's for me."
" "
Ernte was at loss for words.
Then.
"Ahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA! You are pretty funny!"
"I'm not joking."
"Hahaha, then what is it, if not a joke?"
"Anger."
"..."
I'm furious.
Anyone who knew me knew this. About when I used handicaps. And why I purposely placed a handicap on me at this stage, for Title Matches.
"He's pissed off."...They would say. This is sorts of a declaration.
"Here, use this to recover."
"...This is not a cheap potion. You sure are being nice."
"I'll be troubled if your HP isn't full."
"Do you really hate to think I would go easy on you?"
"It would just spoil my fun."
"..."
I want to hit him as many times as I can.
"Participants, get ready."
Following the directions of the referee, we moved.
At that moment, all my idle thoughts disappeared.
This usual sensation, this calm spirit. With only one goal in mind, unwavering, and earnestly.
"――Begin!"
Alongside that voice, I released a "Soldier Archery" shot.
"What!?"
With a panicked reaction, Ernte turned away in a hurry to avoid it.
"You could see that?"
Probably so.
The key point of a Kisenshou match is to "don't let the moment you shoot show". To activate the skill in an instant right from the position of standing still. In truth, it would be almost impossible to completely eliminate the motions of "nocking an arrow, pulling the bowstring back, aiming and shooting" while "keeping the same shot quality", but this was a game, and this world is the same as the game. You could do it if you got used to it.
However, that's easy to say but difficult to accomplish. It can be generally divided into two categories: those who can do it innately, and those for whom this is hard no matter how much they practice. As for myself, I belong to the latter, it took me a year to fully acquire it. In my eyes, this is an advanced, and quite essential, PvP skill to have.
"Geh."
Immediately after, the "Soldier Archery" shot I released connected in between Ernte's eyebrows.
Hey, hey, don't be so lame. Like this, it will end faster than I would want.
"S-so that was your aim, how precise! To think you would try and copy my sneakiness."
He's quick to make complaints. And what's that about me copying him? Does he really think what he has done is the same as what I'm doing?
But hey, I'm honestly happy to receive the praise of this foolish old man, who has lived for 400 years. Makes me feel like the method I devised to become the world's number one wasn't wrong.
And, while thinking so, I ignored him and continued to hit him with "Soldier Archery".
I don't need to use or show him anything in [Archery] aside from the "standard move". Or rather, it would be a waste of damage to use anything else but "Soldier Archery". This skill, "Soldier Archery"is the least powerful, and thus, the one I can use to hit this old man the most.
"The Kisenshou Match is, before strategies, a battle where the difference in techniques becomes more apparent. For example, can you do something like this?"
As I said so, I shot "Soldier Archery" in a variety of angles while moving forwards, as eye candy for the audience.
In the opportunity presented the moment I did that, Ernte shot several "Soldier Archery" arrows, but the timing and the trajectory were terrible. There was no way they would hit me.
"Whoa–!?"
Right after that, five arrows landed at Ernte's feet almost at the same time.
It might look like a mysterious phenomenon that makes you think the five shots were fired at the same time. However, this is not a skill but simple and plain technique. This is an exemplification of the effect of adjusting the position, angle, and amount of force you have on an arrow.
"Well, I'm not showing it again."
After showing that acrobatic "Fantasy play", I returned to shooting normal "Soldier Archery" shots.
Getting 5 shots at once might be more decisive in terms of winning, but shooting one at a time is way more fun.
...My oh my. He's the Kisenshou and can't even break through such a simple "Soldier Archery"? I knew it already, but the world has surely gone to shit. It's great that I decided on a Ten-piece (only Soldier) instead of the Two-piece handicap.
"Do your best and keep running until the end."
15 minutes have passed.
Ernte was running around with a ragged breath. This as a result of me constantly pushing him around so as to not give him the chance to recover his SP (Stamina Points) while only using "Soldier Archery".
I've repeated this so much that I expected him to make a breakthrough by now, but as far as I've noticed, Ernte hasn't thought of anything.
Indeed, when you get the gist of it, the way to counter Soldier is to approach your enemy and attack. However, in this case, the difference in technique is so large that even when he approached, he couldn't do anything.
"Ohh, I get it, you're scared, right?"
I loosened a "Soldier Archery" shot while asking so.
"Wh-What did you–!"
"Booo, I'm scared. I'm scared to lose. I'm scared to get hurt. I'm scared to get close and attack each other."
"You're wrong!"
"You were scared of Silvia, of how she kept on getting up over and over again, right? That's why you stomped on her."
"You're wrong!! I was simply getting back at her!"
Getting back at her? 'She stabbed me with an arrow in her hand without using [Archery], that's why I stomped on her without using [Archery]'. What kind of elementary school student's excuse is that?
"That's a lie. You've been fighting that way all this time, don't you? And you crushed Silvia's spirit so thoroughly in a way that she wouldn't think to face against you ever again, didn't you?"
"And if that were true, what of it?! Kid!"
"Nothing really. The method you use isn't really smart, but the purpose isn't bad. It's important to make your opponent think that no matter what they do, they won't be able to beat you."
"...W-What?"
"You see, I'm not angry at you trampling over Silvia."
"Ehh...?"
You could see it in his expression, this old man looked at me as if asking "What the heck are you talking about?".
He didn't catch on? Whatever, looks like I have to explain myself.
"I asked Alfredo about everything. It seems you crushed his eyesight with magic, right?"
"What of it?"
"Apparently, you were also instigating your disciples, taking advantage of the fact they can't go against you, to crush the other participants of the Kisenshou title matches."
"What of it?"
"Isn't going around using the power behind the title of Kisenshou to force things to go your way, like you did back at the restaurant, wrong?"
"Like I said, so what!?"
"You even taught a half-assed Archery to your disciples, so that in case they get to the final match, you can easily win, right?"
"So, what!? I've always won like this! I'll do anything if it means my victory! That's the way I've always done things!"
"In that case, you can't complain if you get the same thing done to you, right?"
"...!!"
A Titleholder has tainted the Title.
"When we first met, I said it to you, didn't I? It's time to pay for all the time you've done as you pleased so far."
Only the winner can laugh in the end, right?
"...So long as I'm there, you won't be laughing ever again."
Using a combined shot of "Lance Archery" and "Knight Archery", I aimed it at Ernte's feet and released it.
Simply avoiding it was quite the challenge after being used to the slow "Soldier Archery" from before.
"Ooaaahhh!?"
As a result, the piercing arrow went right through Ernte's right foot. The big toe played an important part in movement, so this made a huge difference.
"Uhh, ghhh, guuhhh."
Immediately after, "Soldier Archery" arrows began to pierce into Ernte. This was the thumb-whip effect.
I aimed at both his legs and his left hand and shot "Soldier Archery". One after another, arrows continued to stick on him, and after some tens of seconds, dozens of arrows were stuck on Ernte's left arm and legs.
"En-Enough...This is im-impossible ...I g-giv――"
I won't let you say it.
How many contestants have you crushed without even giving them the chance to give up?
Or in other words.
How many people have you crushed down without even giving them the chance to participate in the Title Match?
"――e u, guuhh."
A "Soldier Archery" arrow stuck right in his throat.
Dropping on his back, Ernte was now silent after receiving that arrow.
His left hand being pierced by an arrow caused him to be unable to grab onto his bow. His legs were a mess and could no longer work to move his body. His throat was a wreck and no voice was able to come out anymore. His figure was the embodiment of wretch.
I walked towards Ernte and stood right above him.
"Thoroughly crush the other person's spirit in a way that they won't think to ever face against you again. This is your way."
A few centimeters from his face, I prepared a "Silver Archery" shot.
Ernte's expression was distorted, tears pouring from his eyes.
Well, time to say my farewell.
A farewell that will make him feel like in hell for the next six months.
"Let's meet again in the summer, Kisenshou."
And thus.
The intense Kisenshou title matches ended.
"The spectators were left speechless. Or rather, even I was left speechless."
"I bet. Even I felt a bit bad for that old man about that relentless beating."
The place was the Firstest state. Tonight, a small party titled 『Good job in the Kisenshou match』 was being held.
However, the servants were quite nervous. The reason being Maine Castall, the king of the Castall Kingdom, who wanted to participate in this party. Also, Alfredo, one of the contestants of the Kisenshou title match. These two came traveling incognito.
"But after that, His Majesty revealed the truth to the audience. So, I think they will understand the reason behind Second Issenza's exhibition match."
Alfredo talked to both Maine and me, quite upstanding I have to say. He sure is considerate.
"No, I wasn't sure it was the truth. After all, there's no clear evidence of it. And yet, I spoke to the audience as if it were a fact."
"Aren't Alfredo's eyes enough proof of it?"
"There's no proof of Ernte's involvement in that spell being cast."
"What a dilemma. Well, he now at least gives the impression of someone dishonest, and most people would think something like 'that old man is a small fry who was defeated by an Issenza titleholder even with a two-piece handicap, so he must have done some dirty tricks behind the scenes to win his title'."
"And I sure am guilty of at least half of that."
"It truly sounds bothersome to be a King and having to be careful of your remarks."
"Yeah, and whose fault you think this was?"
Ohh, Maine. Looks like you've learned to talk back.
I can somehow feel his growth. And it somehow fills me with a strange joy. Let's keep the alcohol coming.
"By the way, Second Issenza. About the summer Kisenshou title match."
While the celebration was in full swing, Alfredo asked me, going straight to the point.
I'm a bit concerned. I was planning on slowly munching at him until it became night, but thinking about it now, I feel like overkill to make him suffer that much."
"Hahaha, certainly, that might be too much for that old man."
"Well, it also...would depend on Silvia."
"You seem to want to participate in many other matches, right Second-san?
"Obviously."
"...If it's not too much, could you tell me for future reference?"
"This season, I will win the Issenza (Sword Flash), Eishou (Sage General), and Reiou (Soul King) titles. In the summer, I'm still planning, but aside from the defense of my triple crown, there are another five I want: Toushini (Battle God), Shisousei (Four Spear Master), Senjushou (Thousand Armed General), Tenmouza (Heavenly Seat/Celestial Bird), and Bishamon (The warrior god of the seven gods of luck). Kisenshou (Demon Piercer) and Kongou (Indestructible) are still on hold for now. And if I can, I also want to aim for Eiou (Shadow/Phantom King) and Amatsu Hoshikudaki (Heavenly Starbreaker)."
"..."
"..."
"...Say something. Don't look at me like I'm telling a joke."
"No, it's just there were three times more than I expected so I felt as if my father in heaven was trying to speak to me."
"I suppose you're not kidding. And you didn't sound like saying it just for the sake of it. I guess rather than Issenza, I should start getting used to calling you Second-Sankan (triple crown)."
I guess them saying funny things is the alcohol speaking.
With such an exciting ambiance, the party continued. And so, the hands on the clock went past the top.
During the party, nobody said, "Tomorrow is the Eishou Title match, so let's keep things in moderation". The reason being, the leading actress in this party, who would usually be quite noisy was following the three premises of 'not drinking, not eating, and not speaking'.
I guess it's about time to declare the end of the party.
And then, just as the people started to leave, I called out to Alfredo.
"About the purification of those eyes."
"!"
I heard that his eyes were cursed with magic. And that apparently, they can only be cured by the Saint.
That's probably due to a monster that lives in a certain upper-class dungeon. That monster was famous for using spells that blinded players. But that's a skill that was limited to monsters. In other words, Ernte most likely hired a skilled tamer.
There are two ways to heal this. One is to use the [Healing Magic]"Cure Status Effect" or "Cure All", and the other is to die and simply respawn. However, the latter is impossible in this world, so the former is the only reasonable one.
Still, there's one thing I'm curious about. The existence of this "Saint".
"Cure Status Effect" and "Cure All", or rather, the whole of [Healing Magic] is related to the 『Kamel Religion』. Those two healing skills can only be learned at the "Holy Land" in the Sacred Country Kamel.
But back in Mobius, there was no existence such as a Saint. There wasn't even a Pope. Moreover, the relationship between them and the Castall Kingdom wasn't this bad, and I never heard of a drug such as the Caramelia.
...Ohh, this is suspicious. Don't you think so too?
"I don't know when it will be, but I'll learn the skill. At that point I'll let you know, so for now, it's best if you don't involve too much with the Kamel religion."
"...! I have no words to properly convey my gratitude. And to even give me advice."
Alfredo bowed beautifully with an expression of deep emotion, and then went back home with his servant.
In an instant, the inside of the mansion became quiet.
All one could hear was the sound of the tableware that the servants were cleaning up.
It felt a bit lonely. But once again I was reminded that the Kisenshou match was over.
Well then.
"Silvia."
Calling out to the absent-minded heroine, we soon found ourselves alone in my room.
This is something I too experienced long ago.
...I totally understand how she's feeling.
To lose in a match you can't let yourself lose...
"You can cry now."
Facing each other, I spoke to her with a gentle expression.
"...Fu, uuu, uuuuh, UUUHHHH――!"
Suddenly, one after the other, tears began to pour from Silvia's eyes.
I welcomed her into my chest, and while hugging her trembling body, I stroked her head.
――It's vexing. It's vexing. It's frustrating.
Again and again, she kept saying that while sobbing.
Ahh, she'll be okay.
I'm sure she'll get back on her feet again, and face forward. She has the strength for it.
You're strong, Silvia, feeling frustrated and taking this as a setback, I guess there was nothing to worry about.
You really are amazing.
It makes me fall in love with you all over again.
And thus, we spent the night together, hugging each other tightly.
Next, the Eishou battle comes.