Chapter 38 - Let's Fight!
Mahiro ran, forming an afterimage, leaving Rias and the others, and arrived at the designated place—a mansion on the top of the mountain.
The second person to arrive was naturally Toujou Koneko.
She had the strongest physical strength with her Nekoshou bloodline and the enhancement of the Rook piece [Evil Pieces].
Even after reaching the destination, her breathing was smooth.
Kiba Yuuto was close behind. Aside from Mahiro, he was the fastest in the Occult Research Club.
His Knight piece [Evil Pieces] allowed for swift movements, and his physical fitness was impressive.
Akeno and Rias arrived together, as they were always inseparable.
Neither specialized in physical prowess, as they were both mages. However, as High-Class Devils, their stamina was not weak.
The three-minute run was relatively easy for them.
"You're so fast," Koneko said, staring at Mahiro with her golden pupils, unwilling to admit defeat.
She had a ten-second head start but was quickly overtaken by him.
"Mahiro-kun, how fast are you?"Akeno asked with a smile. Her complexion was rosy after the run.
Her eyes fell lightly on Mahiro, and she spoke meaningfully.
"Could you add the word 'running' to avoid misunderstandings?" Mahiro's face darkened.
This woman always took a chance to make a double entendre.
"Misunderstanding!?" Koneko asked innocently, not understanding the implication.
"Yeah, what's the misunderstanding? I'm just like Koneko-chan, surprised that Mahiro-kun is so fast," Akeno said, feigning innocence while licking the corners of her mouth in a charmingly seductive manner.
'You did it on purpose!'
Mahiro thought. He felt speechless. Akeno was trying to provoke him, but he had no choice but to let it slide.
"You don't know?" Mahiro asked lightly.
"I don't know. Why don't you explain it to me, Mahiro-kun?" Himejima Akeno blinked and asked innocently.
"Oh, it's fine! Anyway, you can't handle it." Mahiro replied.
Akeno almost lost her composure and gave Mahiro an angry look. She wanted to tease him, but he didn't respond, leaving her frustrated.
"Okay, let's rest for ten minutes," Rias said with a smile.
Ten minutes later, after everyone had rested, they moved to a spacious training ground equipped with various exercise items, such as sandbags and weights.
"Mahiro-kun, do you want to compete with Yuuto?"
Akeno suggested with a smile.
"With Kiba?" Mahiro glanced at Kiba Yuuto and shrugged.
"I'm fine with it. How about you, Kiba?"
Kiba Yuuto's eyes lit up.
"I'm okay."
"Ara Ara, it seems both Mahiro-kun and Yuuto are looking forward to this match. I seem to have done something superfluous!"
Akeno chuckled.
"Even if you hadn't mentioned it, Akeno-senpai, I would have wanted to compete with Mahiro," Kiba Yuuto nodded.
"It looks like Yuuto is the reason Mahiro joined the Occult Research Club," Rias said with a smile.
Mahiro's face looked strange.
'By the way, wasn't there supposed to be some romantic development for Kiba Yuuto in the original anime? Now that Issei is out of the picture, this guy won't set his sights on me, will he?'
He shivered at the thought.
"Mahiro is really lucky to join the Occult Research Club. It's tough for a swordsman to improve his skills alone. Having a strong opponent makes training more efficient," Kiba Yuuto said shyly, making Mahiro's expression even more bizarre.
"I'm really looking forward to the match between you two, but to be fair, Yuuto, don't use your demonic power," Rias said, a flash of understanding in her eyes.
"Ding! The side quest is being generated."
The system prompt sounded in Mahiro's mind.
Mahiro glanced at the newly produced side quests.
Side quest: Swordsmanship competition.
Mission Requirements: Have a sword fight with Kiba Yuuto [win or lose]
Mission Difficulty: Normal
Mission reward: Basic swordsmanship upgrade, instant-sword slash upgrade.
Side quests: Physical skills competition.
Mission Requirements: Have a physical competition with Toujou Koneko [win or lose]
Mission Difficulty: Normal
Mission reward: Basic physique upgrade, a random skill card.
The system generated two side quests, and the quest rewards were good, with no significant difficulty.
"Let's start," Mahiro said, walking to the shelf and taking a wooden sword.
"Please advise, Mahiro-san."
Kiba Yuuto said, taking out a wooden sword and giving Mahiro a slight bow.
"Please advise."
Mahiro replied, bowing as well.
The harmonious atmosphere was suddenly broken.
"Snap!"
The two figures shot forward, their wooden swords colliding with a crisp sound of wood hitting wood.
After the initial confrontation, the two figures staggered and approached each other again, accompanied by the incessant sound of wooden swords clashing.
Mahiro's face was calm as he swung the wooden sword with one hand, slashing toward Kiba Yuuto.
At this moment, he did not use the Mystic Eye of Death Perception, relying solely on his swordsmanship and physique to fight Kiba Yuuto.
"Mahiro-san, you are powerful, but your swordsmanship today seems gentler than what I saw that night," Kiba Yuuto said with a smile, excited to spar against such an opponent.
Kiba Yuuto's swordsmanship and vision allowed him to notice the difference in Mahiro's swordsmanship today compared to what he had seen before.
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