Chapter 0031: Beginner's Misfortune Talisman
'Yukiko is someone only I can tease; no one else is allowed to.'
Kogoro Mouri exchanged 1500 system points for a Beginner's Misfortune Talisman. With a flick of his hand, he threw it directly at Miyamoto Shinbu.
Miyamoto Shinbu, who was laughing triumphantly on the elevated platform, suddenly felt the belt tying his martial arts uniform loosen. In an instant, his pants slipped down.
The crowd in the gymnasium erupted in thunderous laughter. His tight underwear exposed the outline of his... feature, which wasn't much bigger than a worm.
Realizing the cold draft below, Miyamoto Shinbu quickly reacted and pulled up his pants. "Outrageous! This is a complete humiliation!" His face turned beet red.
Yukiko couldn't help but sneer. "With that tiny worm, you still dare ask me out for drinks? Go home and drink your mom's milk instead."
"How dare you!" Miyamoto Shinbu's face twisted in anger as he lunged forward.
Kogoro's speed burst forth as he instantly positioned himself in front of Yukiko to protect her.
Watching from below, Yusaku Kudo adjusted his glasses thoughtfully, seemingly deep in contemplation.
With Kogoro shielding her, Yukiko grew bolder and made a few funny faces, infuriating Miyamoto Shinbu even further.
As Miyamoto Shinbu charged, his foot suddenly stepped on a puddle left uncleaned by the staff. He slipped, landing flat on his back. To make matters worse, his poorly made pants tore apart during the fall, fully exposing his backside. Scars from whip marks were clearly visible.
The gym once again exploded with laughter. Members of Kogoro's karate club took the lead in chanting, "Worm Man! Worm Man!" The phrase echoed throughout the venue.
Miyamoto Shinbu scrambled to cover himself and stumbled off the stage in utter humiliation. Along the way, he kept tripping—over wires, water bottles—until by the time he reached the door, not a single intact piece of clothing remained on him. He had become a completely naked runner.
At that moment, a swarm of reporters entered from outside. Witnessing this sensational scene, they immediately captured the moment.
That evening, the news headline read: 'The Decline of the Miyamoto Iaido Clan—Their Young Master Goes Viral for Naked Streak in Gymnasium.'
The effects of the Beginner's Misfortune Talisman were truly remarkable and worth every point spent.
Yukiko, seeing how Kogoro had selflessly protected her, narrowed her eyes with a satisfied smile.
"Come on, stop attracting attention on stage. Let's go back and watch the matches."
'This guy.' Yukiko's forehead practically sprouted a hashtag in irritation. 'Why does he always say such annoying things?' She endured it as they returned to their seats in the audience.
Although the earlier scenes were rather unsightly, the host quickly restored order, bringing the gymnasium back on track.
The first match began: Kang Shin-cheol versus Oki Saddle.
From the outset, it was a fierce battle. Kang Shin-cheol's mastery of Taekwondo was evident in his precise and powerful kicks. He started with a triple kick and continued to maintain aerial dominance.
Oki Saddle, however, adopted a defensive stance. This burly man countered every attack with devastating force.
From Kogoro's martial arts perspective, Kang Shin-cheol was indeed impressive. However, Oki Saddle was stronger and seemed to be holding back.
Yukiko turned to ask, "Eri, Kogoro, who do you think is stronger between the two?"
Eri Kisaki replied, "Probably Kang Shin-cheol. Look, he's pressuring Oki Saddle. Right now, Oki is purely relying on his physical endurance."
Kogoro gave a simple response: "Oki Saddle will win."
Yukiko scoffed, "Then I say Kang Shin-cheol will win. Eri, let's bet on him. Kogoro, do you dare to bet with us? Loser treats dinner!"
"Sure, no problem. It's always nice when someone offers to pay."
…
To Kogoro's surprise, the match lasted nearly 30 minutes, and in the end, Kang Shin-cheol defeated Oki Saddle.
As the referee raised Kang Shin-cheol's hand on the stage, he waved a golden robe draped over his shoulders, drawing applause from the crowd. Kogoro felt something strange but was quickly interrupted by Yukiko's cheering.
"Yay! Someone's treating us to dinner!" Yukiko teased, making more funny faces at Kogoro.
The second match, between Kuroba Ichi and Toyama Ginshiro in a judo versus aikido bout, was one-sided. Despite Kuroba's lean appearance, he dominated Toyama Ginshiro. In under five minutes, a single over-the-shoulder throw knocked Toyama Ginshiro out cold.
The final match featured Miyamoto Shinbu versus Hattori Heizō. Miyamoto Shinbu, having changed into a pristine white samurai uniform and wearing a headband, carried himself with the air of his ancestor, Miyamoto Musashi. However, as he entered, the audience erupted in laughter again. Cries of "Worm Man" rang out, making his veins bulge with anger.
He wanted to flee, but the sword 'Chidori' on the stage drew him like a magnet.
Blocking out all external distractions, Miyamoto Shinbu steadily walked up to the platform. His expression was calm and focused.
When the referee gave the signal, both fighters readied themselves. Since this was an armed match, they used their own weapons instead of wooden substitutes.
With sharp eyes, Hattori Heizō gripped his long sword tightly, a cold glint flashing in his gaze. Miyamoto Shinbu crouched, slowly lowering his body and gripping his sword hilt.
The battle was on the verge of exploding.
Hattori Heizō quickly closed the distance. Miyamoto Shinbu saw his chance. Using the Iaido draw-and-strike technique, he unleashed a One-Sword Style slash in an instant.
'Whoosh...'
It felt as if a flock of crows flew across the sky.
Miyamoto Shinbu looked at his weapon—only the hilt remained. The blade had shattered completely inside the sheath.
The gym once again erupted into laughter. But Hattori Heizō wasn't planning to let him off. Earlier, Miyamoto Shinbu had mocked him, and Hattori Heizō was not one to forget grudges.
He knocked the broken hilt from Miyamoto Shinbu's hand with his sword, then landed a hard kick to his face. What followed was akin to a father disciplining his son.
Without his weapon, Miyamoto Shinbu lost 90% of his combat effectiveness. He was utterly defeated, left with no choice but to crawl under the stage and wave a white handkerchief in surrender.
Thus, the four semifinalists were decided: Hattori Heizō, Kuroba Ichi, Kang Shin-cheol, and the lucky one with a bye, Kogoro Mouri.
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