Black Iron Magician

Chapter 104 Confrontation of Fate

――――Boom!

「Wow, it’s amazing!」

「I-Is that so? Well~, this skill is quite difficult to control. I had a hard time getting to this point, you know?」

Haru applauded when Touko showed the stone giant’s body crushed again. Haru, without any sarcastic feeling, was honestly surprised by it and Touko, who was happy by her reaction, showed her unique skill over and over again. I’m fine with her showing it, but it’s about time I feel it’s a waste to destroy the stone giant’s material, so I’ll be happy if they are satisfied with that as the last one.

「Alright! Then, one more punch!」

「Waah~」

With Haru’s clapping, Touko tries to destroy the rock again.

「Wait. If you do more than that, you will be at a disadvantage in the mock battle… You have shown enough your ability and it was a good break time for Haru. It’s about time to start the next mock battle.」

「Uh, you are right, Deris-danna. Besides, if I use it too much, ah, it’s nothing, okay!? There’s no downside, okay!?」

Ah, yeah. There’s some kind of demerit if she uses it too much. Thank you for the easy-to-understand explanation. Well, if it completely ignores the endurance value, it will be completely upward compatible with the skill 『Penetration』. Skills that are too powerful usually have their downside, just like Satou’s skill that has the downside of status drop when the time is up.

「Okay, okay. Now, just get ready.」

「I-I’m serious, okay? There’s really nothing, okay!?」

Touko looked back and denied it many times until she reached the other side. Moved forward, turned back, moved forward, turned back, she repeated that.

「Hey, Chinatsu. Is Touko actually a little stupid?」

「In terms of academic ability, she’s much lower than Haruna. She doesn’t study at all since she’s a sports scholarship student…」

「I-I see…」

I guess Chinatsu, who has a chairman disposition, doesn’t get along with her in that part. Still, even if she’s a little stupid, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s formidable. It can be said that her battle sense is outstanding.

「Haru, how will you fight Touko after seeing her power?」

「Let’s see… I’m a little hesitating whether it’s okay to use the staff. I’ve been using this staff, which Gan-san made for me, quite recklessly, but I think that’s because of the staff’s sturdiness. As Touko-chan said, if she can attack without minding endurance――」

「―― It might break if it gets even one hit.」

Although it’s a practice staff, it’s a first-class staff made by Gan-san. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the best class if it is only the sturdiness. However, it cannot be said that its defense power is absolute. Just like Therese’s shield that has its durability, this staff also has its limit. If Nell tries to burn it seriously, it will melt, and if Lily tries to break it seriously, it will break. It would be pretty dangerous if it got hit by Touko’s punch or kick.

「I think I’ll follow Touko-chan here and use my bare hands!」

「That would be good. But, there’s no doubt that Touko’s attack can be a deadly blow. You should be careful about how you receive and parry her attack. It seems that she can’t use that ability too much, so aiming for a long-term battle may be a good idea.」

「Okay!」

「Alright. Then, Lily, be the referee again.」

「Yes, Goshujin-sama!」

Lily walked to the mock battle venue with Haru. Seeing the two, Touko also heads there with a cheerful shout.

「… She will be fine, right?」

「I’m not sure about that. By the way, what are the results of the two so far?」

「As far as I know, Haru won all the matches. Starting with karate, PE softball, lunch break speed-eating competition, and they even participated in free-for-all marathon competition. Basically, it was just Touko one-sidedly chasing after Haruna, though.」

「They did various things, huh…」

Even if she has been losing, it’s amazing that she is enthusiastically trying to fight her again this much. Is she acts straightforwardly because she doesn’t think much?

「Okay~! Then, we will begin today’s main event, Haru-chan vs Touko-chan’s mock battle~. Are you two ready? I will start it even if you don’t, okay?」

「Anytime.」

「Me too.」

Haru and Touko take their starting positions and take their respective stances after bowing. This is Haru’s first interpersonal battle between bare hands (Touko is using hands and feet protectors though) ever since fighting Tuds of the Midnight.

「Then~… Start!」

「Victore goes to the one who moves first!」

Soon after the start, Touko sprints to close the distance. Does she do that swift attack because she is wary of Haru’s throwing? Her speed, which is like an arrow being shot, is equal to or faster than Haru’s speed.

This speed… did she only pick up close combat type skills? Or, did she use 『Instantaneous Power』 skill to abruptly accelerate the initial action just like Nell…? Anyway, the distance between the two disappeared in a blink of an eye, and now they are within each other’s reach. However, Haru is still not moving.

「Sei!」

Boom! Touko’s fist makes an explosive sound as if it exploded. Just before entering the range, she kicked the ground and slid diagonally. By that time, she was ready to attack, and it took less than a second for the straight fist to be released. The fist is truly a deadly blow. Even if Haru’s HP has been growing quite a lot, it can be fatal if she receives it directly.

On the other hand, Haru tries to parry it. How? … With magic (martial arts).

「――!?」

Haru parries Touko’s fist with aiki. After doing so, she tries to use that momentum to slam Touko against the ground. I guess Touko doesn’t understand what’s happening. I’m sure that Haru was using aiki even before she came to this world, but this magic-soaked martial art was only developed after she came here. In the first place, it’s not a technique you use in a karate match. It would be heartless to tell Touko to predict that.

「Not yet!」

Oh, when I thought she would hit the ground, she regained her posture and landed safely. And as soon as her feet reached the ground, she leaps at Haru again. The way she switched back was splendid, and she made a quick decision as if there was no other option. It was to the point that it looked like she moved reflexively.

「………」

Still, Haru is not losing in her judgment. She calmy parries Touko who came back and blows her to the other side. Touko just came back, but she was slammed against the ground――

「Tei!」

――no, she landed and attacked again. It was the second time. No, Touko is repeating it over and over again. She’s like a bouncy ball bouncing around in a closed room, but her speed isn’t lowering at all. Rather, she’s getting faster with each repetition.

Blown off and counterattack, blown off and counterattack―― It’s only been a few seconds since it started, but it’s already being repeated over and over again. On the other hand, Haru has been intercepting the attack, which would probably result in her defeat if it hits, in the last minute. It makes me nervous by watching it. Next to me, even Chinatsu, who was on the edge of her seat, has finally stood up.

「It’s so fun, Haruna! Hahaha! What the hell is this!」

In contrast to Haru who is expressionless, Touko is laughing happily with her bare fighting spirit. You… You actually love Haru, don’t you?