“…Felter. You said Aoi is stronger than you?”
“I’m no match for her at all.”
Felter answered immediately, and Ramsey showed his teeth in a laugh. Showing an expression that this had become interesting, Ramsey took out heavy gauntlets from his waist. For Ramsey, who seemed to prefer light equipment overall, those gauntlets were greatly out of place. It would be more fitting to say someone had borrowed someone else’s equipment, but when Ramsey held them, they strangely suited him well.
While showing them to me, Ramsey floated a fearless smile.
“This is the reason why the Cairn Marquis family is called the strongest. It’s an ancient relic passed down through generations of the Cairn family, and the strongest weapon.”
Saying this, he lightly swung his fist to demonstrate. There was no particular change in movement, and there didn’t seem to be any special magical power movement either. Then that must be a magic tool triggered by a specific spell name. For a magic tool to make someone famous enough to be known in other countries, there’s a high possibility that it activates advanced or higher magic that affects a wide area.
“So you want to fight using that. That’s fine with me. However, if you use magic that’s too wide-ranging, I’ll create barriers around the area…”
When I said this, Ramsey spread both hands and laughed.
“Don’t worry. This is fine as is. However, I’ll give you a warning. Fight seriously.”
After saying this, he struck both fists together in front of his chest. A violent metallic sound echoed around, causing me to involuntarily furrow my brow.
Ramsey floated a fierce smile and opened his mouth.
“…Golden Lion Arslan.”
So that was the spell name. The moment Ramsey muttered it, magical power emitted a golden radiance and wrapped around Ramsey’s arms. That pale light was fantastically beautiful, and combined with Ramsey’s golden mane, it became a scene like a single painting.
“This is the real reason why the head of the Cairn family holds the alias of Golden Lion.”
When Ramsey, enveloped in golden light from his arms to his chest, muttered this, he took a big step toward me.
Immediately after, Ramsey accelerated as if his figure had been erased. However, perhaps intending it as a warning feint, he was simply coming straight at me.
When I dodged this by moving diagonally forward, Ramsey, who had stopped at my previous position, blinked and turned back to me.
“…You dodged? Even the strongest swordsman of the Bushmills Empire can only manage to raise his shield at this speed.”
To Ramsey, who said this without hiding his astonishment, I smiled wryly and nodded.
“It was indeed surprising speed. However, it was far too honest. Predicting an opponent’s movements can generally be understood from their gaze, the direction of their toes, and how they put strength into their thighs and shoulders. In Ramsey-san’s case, because you’re confident in your abilities, you don’t even pretend to hide your movements.”
When I explained this, the composure disappeared from Ramsey’s expression.
“…I see. Let me test whether those words are true.”
Saying only that, Ramsey kicked off the ground again. This time he must have devised something. Rather than coming straight at me, he moved to his right side in one go. He probably intended to disappear from view and prevent prediction of his next action.
He had derived a good answer in such a short time. There was no doubt that he had extensive battle experience.
However, it was still too naive.
“…Body Enhancement.”
I quickly activated magic and enhanced my entire body. Then I advanced two steps toward the empty front and turned around.
Immediately after, there was a sharp sound of cutting wind and a large fist passed in front of my eyes.
“…What kind of magic allows you to dodge without even looking once?”
Looking at me with eyes that seemed to see something unbelievable, Ramsey asked. I nodded lightly and answered.
“If straight ahead doesn’t work, then from left, right, or behind… this choice is also still too honest. And from your impatient personality, when you judge there’s an opening, you immediately go on the offensive. This was based on my prediction, but it was a perfect hit.”
When I sent this advice that also served as provocation, Ramsey furrowed his brow with a frustrated expression for the first time. Lowering his waist into a battle stance, he widened his eyes and pulled in his chin.
“Next time I’m really going all out. Make sure you can defend so you don’t die.”
“Then I’ll counterattack as well. Please don’t die.”
Not exactly tit for tat, but I responded in accordance with Ramsey’s line. After blinking at this, Ramsey laughed and kicked off the ground.
This time he probably wouldn’t charge immediately. Thinking this, I put plenty of magical power into casting magic.
“…Rock Spike.”
The moment I spoke, thick log-like massive stone spears thrust out to surround me. If he had been approaching, evasion would be difficult, and if he had been looking for an opportunity, it would force him to stop.
That’s what I thought, but the stone spear right in front of me was smashed, forcing me to revise my prediction.
“Don’t think you can stop me with something like this!”
Shouting, Ramsey charged forward. Just by swinging his fists, the stone spears were crushed like sand lumps. That didn’t seem to be simple enhancement of strength or speed. However, through process of elimination, I could imagine what kind of magic it was.
“…Tender Wall.”
I quickly activated the next magic to confirm whether my prediction was correct.
The moment I spoke the spell name, thin membrane-like walls covered the surroundings. Ramsey swung his fist at that membrane. However, the thin membrane absorbed the impact like thick rubber, merely changing shape and holding.
Seeing Ramsey stop moving in astonishment, I activated the next magic.
“…Black Blade.”
The moment I cast the magic, a black sword appeared from the ground. I had used earth magic to gather ore from underground and created a blade specialized in strength.
Taking that sword in hand, I looked at Ramsey.
“Now then, I shall counterattack.”
After announcing this, I held the sword in middle guard. Perhaps sensing something, Ramsey leaped backward, opening a large distance.
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Confirming this, I advanced with sliding steps. Anticipating the quick movements from before, I was careful not to move my hands too far from my body’s center.
As I gradually closed the distance, Ramsey moved right and left as if impatient, trying to blur the sense of distance. However, in kendo, which values interval above all else, such superficial tricks are meaningless.
When in middle guard, the sword tip always points at the opponent’s face. Don’t disturb your body’s center of gravity, and move using only footwork as much as possible so the target remains in front. This movement, this way of taking interval, is something that inevitably becomes ingrained through years of practicing kendo.
Furthermore, if the opponent doesn’t move, deliberately give them the initiative with low or side guard, and if they try to take distance, apply pressure by taking high guard.
Various psychological battles are conducted before the actual clash.
Having no experience with such fighting methods, Ramsey was unable to attack and couldn’t move.
“I’m about to enter my interval now.”
When I announced this after sufficiently closing the distance, Ramsey launched forward as if released by a spring. Whether he couldn’t form an image of attacking, or whether he clung to his most confident method, Ramsey came striking straight from the front at the very end.
However, middle guard has the highest defensive capability. I knocked down the fist extending from the front with the back of the black blade. As if anticipating this, Ramsey extended his other hand, but I deflected it by changing its trajectory with the sword guard.
I had blocked both fists. The moment I thought this, Ramsey’s right foot thrust toward me. Normally it wouldn’t be a posture from which he could deliver a kick. Excellent core strength and balance ability. By forcibly pulling back his upper body, he was able to thrust his foot forward.
Being able to make such a movement on the spur of the moment was praiseworthy.
“…!”
Somehow, I received the kick with the flat of the sword. While receiving an impact like taking a blow from a large magical beast, I was knocked backward.
While adjusting my posture, Ramsey turned sharp eyes toward me. It was wild intuition that wouldn’t miss an opportunity to attack.
However, the distance was far too great. Before my feet touched the ground, I cast my final magic.
“…Silver Shield Aegis.”
As Ramsey charged with terrifying momentum, a shield that was almost completely transparent appeared before me. The moment he collided with that shield, Ramsey was violently repelled. Blown away with momentum that would bury him in the ground, Ramsey rolled across the ground two or three times like a ball.
Even the spectators who had been holding their breath at the two’s battle raised voices of surprise at that sight.
Ramsey, spread-eagled on the ground, didn’t move at all.
“…Do you need healing magic?”
When I canceled my magic and asked this, Ramsey, still lying on the ground, opened his mouth while lying down.
“…Unnecessary. I’m not seriously injured.”
After only muttering this, true to his words, Ramsey stood up with natural movement. Lightly brushing off dust, he turned the front of his body toward me and crossed his arms.
“My loss. A refreshingly complete defeat!”
When he declared this with a shout, after a moment’s pause, the plaza was enveloped in great cheers. Bathed in applause and cheers, Ramsey looked down at me.
“To think I’d be defeated head-on after going at it with full strength. Not only tremendous magic, but fearsome sword technique! I’d like to fight you once without magic!”
After Ramsey praised me one-sidedly like this, he raised his face and began laughing heartily.
Really, what an interesting man.
“Told you so.”
Felter muttered this with his arms crossed. To this, Ramsey clicked his tongue and turned his face away.
“Shut up.”
At that brief exchange, I couldn’t help but laugh.
After the demonstration ended and we were about to leave the plaza, the excited Airu and the others called out to stop us.
“Aoi-sensei, amazing!”
“To beat Marquis Ramsey!”
While listening to the high-pitched cheers of “kyaa kyaa,” I walked to exit the plaza.
“Thank you. Ah, please let me go outside for a moment. I’m keeping Dean-kun’s mother waiting.”
While saying this and trying to leave the venue, this time I was caught by the high-spirited Middleton.
“It was a wonderful battle! I was moved!”
“Is that so. Thank you.”
“Indeed! I’d like to have you fight our country’s royal guard knights sometime, how about it?”
“No, I’ll pass on that.”
While lightly brushing him off, I somehow shook off everyone’s voices and left the plaza behind.
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